Forged(25)

Snippets of the conversations I overheard when first stepping off the boat flash through my mind. Shipments to Radix and Haven and Taem. Others still heading to Lode. Domed cities. Frank is manning them with Forgeries.

But for what? What is he planning?

I hear footsteps at the far end of the lab. I’m about halfway up the aisle with nowhere to run. Stupid curiosity. I shouldn’t have stopped to examine the tanks. Shouldn’t have stopped for anything but Blaine and Emma.

The footsteps grow louder. Harvey steps into view at the end of the aisle. He sees me and his face goes blank.

I pull the rifle up, the butt against my shoulder, the sight trained. “Freeze right there!” I say. “Point out the way to the holding cells. Then get down on your stomach and let me pass!”

The silent alarm cuts out without warning, throwing the room back into an odd state of glowing, iridescent blue. It’s harder to see now. It feels vaguely like twilight—depth is difficult to discern—and everything seems suddenly familiar. Harvey at the end of my narrowed line of vision. My finger on the trigger. A palpable tension in the air.

I’m going to have to shoot him.

I need to do what Bree prevented that day in Taem.

“You couldn’t just wait,” he says, glaring.

Wait for what? To be tortured, inspected for scars?

“I had a plan,” he says, “and you’re ruining everything. I could have—” Harvey flinches, bringing the heel of his palm to his temple. A half dozen armed Order members spill into the aisle behind him. I turn to flee, but my Forgery is already there, thrusting an arm out. He’s holding something small and compact. My body seizes up. There’s a burning sting—everywhere and relentless—and then the sensation of falling.





TWELVE


I’M IN A NEW ROOM, with a panel of glass separating me from my Forgery. I’m only vaguely aware of the guards behind me because I can’t take my eyes off Blaine and Emma. They are sitting on wooden stools, each bound and blindfolded. I pound on the glass, yell Blaine’s name. They both flinch at my voice.

“Do you think this is a game, Gray?” my Forgery asks. I can hear him as clearly as if he were in the room with me. I reach for the knife I tucked into my waistband only to find it gone.

Forged Me draws his gun and motions between Blaine and Emma. “Pick one. Who lives?”

“What?”

“You seem to think there aren’t consequences for your actions—for attacking me, for threatening Harvey’s life, for trying to escape. Not the case, and I want to make that crystal clear.” He jerks the gun again between Blaine and Emma again. “So choose.”

There’s a dull throb in my side from where he shocked me earlier, and while I’ve heard his words, I can’t seem to process them. Choose?

“I’ll select for you then.” He takes a step toward Blaine.

“No! Wait!” I slam a palm into the glass. I hate him, this version of myself, this horrible thing I can’t believe is somehow built from me. I hate myself even more for what I have to say. Because there is no choice. I knew the answer the moment he first made the threat. I feel a tear trail down my cheek.

“I’m so sorry, Emma,” I whisper.

I can see the shock on her face even though her eyes are covered by the blindfold. Her entire body tenses.

I hate myself.

“Okay then,” Forged Me says. “The girl goes.”

But he doesn’t move toward Emma. He turns on Blaine, puts the weapon to the back of my brother’s head, and pulls the trigger.

The stool kicks out from beneath him and I’m screaming before Blaine even hits the floor. My fists are against the barrier, banging, punching, willing the glass to shatter. But there is so much blood beneath his head. It’s done. It’s done and no matter how many times I blink, it’s not changing.

“This was a reminder,” Forged Me says. “You cross me, and I cross you. But if you work with me, Gray—if you are honest—I’ll be sure to keep my word. Here: an example.” He turns the gun on Emma. “Tell me what the man named Badger was planning, and I’ll spare her.”

I can’t find my voice. I see the gun and the threat but I can’t find my voice, can’t stop staring at Blaine. And I certainly can’t bear to look at Emma. Emma who I just handed over like she meant nothing.

“Three . . . two . . .”


“We wanted to know what the Compound was,” I manage. The words come out hoarse and ragged from how much I’ve screamed. “I saw everything we were after downstairs.”

Forged Me looks pleased. “Good, good. This is progress. And when is your team coming?”

“Gage would have killed them by now, and if not, they should have been here yesterday.”

He lowers his weapon. “That was perfect, Gray. You see how this works? You give me what I want, and I don’t have to shoot anybody. Remember that. It will make tomorrow’s session go much smoother.” He holsters his weapon and hauls Emma to her feet. “Take him back to his cell, Maldoon.”

Harvey waits for them to leave. Then, rather than dragging me out, he opens a door that connects the two rooms.

“It’ll be your only chance,” he says, “if you want to say good-bye.”