Whisper (Whisper #1)(36)
I’m desperate to ask Falon all the questions he’s yet to answer. But I can’t. I can’t open my mouth, because …
Because I can’t control what will happen if I do.
Even though there are now others like me, I’m still a monster.
I always will be. And no one — no one — can convince me otherwise.
“You’re a part of the Exodus Project now, Jane,” Falon says, his voice quiet but heavy with meaning. “In saving Abby’s life today, you showed us what you can do. You proved your worth to the program. And now it’s time for you to begin your real training.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
I don’t have a chance to process his last words, because the door hisses open and Ward walks into the room. He nods once to the director, but his eyes skip over me as if I’m not here. There’s not a hint of warmth on his face, and I wonder about his icy reception. If anything, I should be giving him the cold shoulder, especially after everything I’ve just learned. Everything he could have — should have — told me in the past month.
“Perfect timing, Landon. We’ve just finished our history lesson.” Falon turns to me and says, “Landon was a stroke of genius on my part. I knew you weren’t being receptive to any of the other evaluators, and after so much testing, as I said earlier, I’d all but given up hope. But then I thought, why not try something different? After all, you’d been isolated for so long — perhaps what you really needed was a companion. A friend, even. Someone you could learn to trust, someone who could … chip through those walls you’ve built around yourself.”
I can’t help flinching violently at his word choice, one that alludes to far more than all the rest put together. Ward makes a sudden, jerking movement, but he then freezes in place, stopping himself from what, I don’t know. I don’t turn my searching gaze to him, because Falon isn’t done yet.
The director continues mercilessly, “Someone who could take you out of your comfort zone enough that you would eventually … slip up. And I must say, Jane, Landon played his part perfectly, don’t you think?”
He might as well have punched me in the stomach, so gut-wrenching is my understanding of his words. Was it all an act? Everything that happened during our month together? Is that what Falon is saying?
“In defense of his character, Landon wasn’t eager to play along, especially after he first met you. But one day he will be the next director of Lengard, and he understands what that requires more than most,” Falon says. “He listened dutifully to my suspicions about you, and he was aware that I wanted him to get close enough to see what you would reveal. He had to make you like him, Jane. His job was to make you trust him, and he performed better than I could have hoped.”
I stare at the wall. No, no, no. He’s wrong. I never trusted Ward. I wouldn’t let myself. All along, I was careful.
But … somehow along the way I must have slipped, I realize. I wouldn’t be hurting so much right now if it wasn’t true. I wouldn’t be feeling so completely and utterly betrayed.
“I can see this upsets you, but you must understand, Landon was just doing what was required of him, Jane. We all have a part to play. The Exodus Project is too important to let a talent like yours be ignored. You’ll eventually realize it was for the best, that the end justifies the means.”
The end justifies the means. I can’t believe what he’s telling me. But I know it’s true, because when I force myself to look up at Ward, there is not one drop of warmth in his expression. He might as well be a different person.
He was Falon’s puppet all along.
“The good news — and there is good news, Jane — is that you already have a rapport with Landon. Once you accept that his actions were necessary, you’ll find it easier to acclimatize to your new training. He’ll be in charge of teaching you everything you need to know about Speaking. The sooner you realize that he can help you, the better off you’ll be.”
My stomach roils at the thought of having to spend more time with Ward now that I know the truth.
Oblivious to my inner turmoil, Falon sounds almost affectionate as he says, “I’m very much looking forward to seeing what you can do with that enormous talent of yours, Jane, especially now that you’ll be staying with us indefinitely.”
Maybe I would have been better off leaving this world in three days, if this is the alternative. But while I now understand that I was manipulated into this situation, part of me can’t help feeling a trickle of hope at the possibilities my new future might bring.
Assessing me one last time, Falon gives a satisfied curl of his mouth and turns to Ward. “She’s all yours, Landon. Are the others on their way?”
I still can’t bring myself to look at Ward, but from the corner of my eye I see him nod as he answers, “They’re just finishing their training for the day. They won’t be long.”
Falon makes a sound of approval. “I’ll leave you to it, then. Report back to me when you’re done.”
He doesn’t wait for Ward to agree before he strides purposefully from the room.
The moment the door seals behind him, silence descends between the two of us. I sneak a glance at Ward, noting that every line in his body is rigid, like he’s waiting to see what I’ll do now that we’re alone. But I can barely think straight, since I keep replaying Falon’s words in my head. As much as I don’t want to believe him, I know he was telling the truth. Ward was just playing me; trying to get me to open up, to trust him enough that I would lower my defenses and let him in. Every soft look, every dimpled grin, every gentle touch, every hand squeeze was a part of some grand manipulation.