Lucas
My assignment surely is a rare sight. It's like she is purposely making this whole operation harder. At school, I don't see her very often, a few glimpses of her coppery hair, to break the dullness of the monochrome hallways. In class, she's always the last to enter, completely ignoring my presence. Then, within minutes before the lecture ends, she keeps glancing towards the exit. Is she looking for new ways to avoid me even more? The only other place where she dares to show her face is the cafeteria, but then she's always with Blondie. What's the deal between them anyway?
Much to my annoyance, our table is getting more crowded. I know I am enjoying my senior days, still, Matt and Elias are having a blast. All these new chicks joining us, are giving me a headache.
We weren't that lucky to have a normal high school experience, and they certainly are making up for it. Military school is not something you "enjoy", but rather get-up-and-getthrough-the-day. Wake Up. Endure. Repeat. That was our secret slogan.
The girls, Cassandra and Sam, have already blended, dressing like them and making new friends nerds, but otherwise, cool. More often than not, they ditch us and join them in the front. Not that I'm complaining, nor does our table lack in female presence.
One day, Matt catches me frowning at the obnoxious clique, where Tammy usually spends her time with. They all look like a bunch of stuck-ups to me, some stiffer than others. What is really pissing me off, now more than ever is seeing her wearing Blondie's uniform jacket. She looks so carefree, laughing and chatting nonstop. The ginger sitting close to them, joins their conversation, luring her into a subject close to her heart. Her lips move fast, yet I manage to pick up a few medical terms. Clearly, she's in her element, her eyes radiant and focused on him. Then, Blondie intervenes only to make them laugh at his expense, giving Tammy a fraction of a second to cast her eyes around. Her face falls instantly, as she meets my gaze, her cheery mood fading away.
Lucas, why are you death staring my mission?' Matt asks, amused or confused. I can't really tell.
Startled, I jerk my head up to him, pulling a muscle. What the hell? Words fill my head, making me dizzy.
Which one?' I ask impatient, rubbing my neck and flinching at the sharp pain. I have a feeling I won't like his reply.
The blonde dude. The one sitting next to that chick, with weird eyes. They are always together.' He blurts nodding towards them, then slurps noisily the last few drops of soda through his straw.
I am slack-jawed, unable to believe my ears. My mission has officially turned from complicated to dangerously complex. As a team, we have one objective, to oversee the experiment and make sure it reaches its final stage.
Our task force is one of a kind, made up of best of the best, perfectly capable to operate parallel, individual commissions. The errands', as we like to call them, involve protecting some important teens, until they turn 18 and take part in the final Selection. For the sake of their safety, we decided to keep their identities a secret, but finding out my target is so close to Matts', makes both our jobs more difficult.
Don't tell me the chick is yours. Man, why does it have to be this way?' He whinges, after reading my face and figuring it all out.
My thoughts exactly. That's what others call it a conflict of interest. Let's not go there. We'll figure something out.' I lie, knowing too well that, if it comes to choose between them, I'll have to choose her. Work comes first, always.
Then, he says something I haven't thought of myself. He leans closer, speaking in a hushed tone.
Lucas, listen to me.' He starts his appeal, the spark in his eyes giving away his excitement.
Why don't we join our forces? I mean, they seem to be friends. Let's both watch over them, instead of working against each other. We all want the same thing, right? Them to be safe until the test.' He adds, gesturing his hands haphazardly in the air.
I can tell he's nervous as hell, clenching his jaw muscles tight while waiting for my answer. My mind is racing, playing all the scenarios that might go wrong. He's right. This might work. It doesn't matter how we do it, as long as we complete our missions. I nod, extending my hand and sealing our pact in the same way we did when we pledged to be a team.
Ok, tell me everything you know' I demand, hungry for any piece of information that might salvage the anaemic connection I've made with her.
And FYI, what you said about them being always together, you were wrong. I've never seen her with him elsewhere than here. She usually spends time with a dark-skinned girl'. I continue, feeding the urge to correcting him for what he had said earlier.
Oh, you mean that girl?' he replies, pointing at the chunk of curls, as she enters the double-doors and walks to her friends.
Sesh!' Matt calls her name, making everyone stare.
She smiles cheerfully, her face beaming with joy. Then, she babbles something to Tammy, who refuses to look in our direction, and marches on our way.
Show off!' I dig him in the ribs before she reaches us.
He grins, full of himself, only to ignore me a second later, as Sesh takes a seat next to him. Her dark complexion contrasts beautifully with her honey-yellow eyes. Long, black lashes caress her upper lids, outlining her ophidian features. He whispers something in her ear and she starts to giggle. Shiny locks jump up and down in tandem with her slender shoulders. I can't believe Matt is flirting with her in front of me. He's not playing fair.
From what our superiors told us, the inhibitor doesn't oppress all their hormones. It paralyzes a small part of their brain activity, however, their sexual chemicals don't seem to be affected. Pure lust, a need shared among all living things, contributes to the perpetuation of their species. My species. It's amazing how their brains work, desiring someone based solely on physical attraction a fine line that can potentially activate the virus and shut down any rational behaviour.
This is Lucas' he clears his throat. Then, smiling deceivingly, he adds. My best friend'.
Your what? I narrow my eyes at him. That's not how you address your captain. As if that is not enough, his next comment makes me choke.
Hey, Sesh, why don't you invite your friend to sit with us next time? My boy here', he pauses, putting his arm around my neck, is eager to meet her'.
I laser him with my stare. Damn you, Matt. Although, the longer I think about his stupid idea, the more it makes sense to me. It would definitely make my job easier if she and I become friends. Sesh studies me, intrigued and agog to see how that would unfold. Her reptilian glare makes me uneasy like she can see right through me.
It won't be easy to persuade her. She's not that into people', she responds, breaking the stare and shifting her focus on Matt.
She doesn't mind Blondie', I give voice to my thoughts, annoyed by her hint. Matt hits me under the table, but she doesn't seem to mind my indiscretion. Nathan. His name is Nathan.' She retorts, grabbing the rest of Matt's sandwich from his plate. Then, before taking a bite, she continues.
They've been friends since they were kids and, yes, their bond is quite strange, if you ask me. Perfect match for the Selection, though.'
Matt raises his eyebrows surprised by her chatter.
Take notes, bro' he brags in a low voice.
I don't pay attention to him. Her last words have pissed me off. I don't even know the guy, and I hate him already.
We both stay quiet, observing her movements. It's part of our training. Usually, the most important clues reveal themselves when you pay attention. After she finishes her loot, she greedily licks her fingers, ready to sail off.
Besides the lab, she doesn't go out much, except for the Navion competitions.' Did I imagine or she just winked at me?
Gotta go. See you guys later', she adds, waving her hand at us and walking towards the
exit.
Halfway there, she comes to a halt, sending Matt an aerial kiss and mouthing a Thanks for the treat'.
You've got to be kidding me.' I spat, disgusted.
Hey man, who said we cannot enjoy our time here?' Shrugging his shoulders, he defends himself, his smirking face on eyebrows raised and smiling creepily.
His allusive remark irks me even more. I'm not used to chase some chick, especially one like Tammy. I hastily get up, smacking my hand on the table.
Let's go, pal! The try-outs start soon.' I command, glad to be back in business. He stares at me puzzled. Mr Smooth Talker has lost his smug face, resuming his inferior
rank.
We have to make it in the Navion team.' I explain, before he could ask anything. I can't let Blondie have all the fun.' It's my time now to pull a conceited smirk.
Oh come on. You can't be serious' Matt complains, rolling his eye. Count me in.' Elias appears out of thin air, consenting blindly, without actually knowing what it's all about. At least, he's eager and pleased, and that what it counts.
The three of us get up at once, determined to make the team. We join the horde of students, squeezing through the swinging doors, and heading to the Sports Hall. The others scatter chaotically as the pitching chime announces the end of the lunch break.
TammyHer condition is getting worse, despite all her futile attempts to avoid him. Faith decided to act against her will, meddling with both her patience and her sanity. How can she forget about Lucas, when he keeps popping up like this? Especially now, that Sesh is spending so much time with his friend, Matt. Twisting the knife further still, his name has become a powerful weapon against her weakness, an ever-present sound on everyone's lips that's confusing her even more. If it's not about his looks, it's about his arrogant attitude, which, like a magnet, attracts vilifying rumours and lustful wishes. Her life has turned into a sinking ship, going down fast in nauseating swirls, and with ELISA supposing to be next week, she's on the verge of losing it.She has never been afraid of the test before, not like this at least. The symptoms are getting more obvious, impossible for her to ignore them anymore. Besides, deep down, she kn
LucasNavion is exactly my type of sport. It's fun, edgy and dangerous. It makes my blood pump like crazy, but what it's not going to kill me, it surely makes me feel alive. They should definitely introduce it in the Colonies. It might teach them a few things instead of just running after a ball.The try-outs were a joke, but at least we had some fun. We smashed a 30-minutes session in half the time and we still had plenty left to come up with a plausible story for why we were so good at it. Apparently, they dug the idea of us playing a similar game back in our city, and thanks to Elias, who is a master of improvisation, it could have been the best sport ever. The team is alright, not that I had high expectations. As I assumed they are awfully stiff, with few exceptions that are not that bad. I can't say that about the captain, though. Blondie is the worst. He's like a machine, a god damn robot, in the way he moves, talks and even
TammyThey've been less than 10 minutes in Sesh's room and it already looks chaotic. In her attempt to find the perfect outfits, she ventures in the hidden world of her built-in closet throwing clothes everywhere. Some end up lying on the floor, while the rest either get stuck in the makeshift chandelier or hang from the top of the wooden door.Much to her dismay, Tammy, who is sitting on the bed, watches her friend fooling around as she tries on different pieces she thinks suitable for the party. She can't stop wondering, how on Earth Sesh has gathered so many of them in one place, the old kind before the city was created. Her collection looks more like a museum, yet much more colourful and so different than her plain and monochromatic wardrobe.Inside the house and away from the prying eyes, Sesh is back to being herself, singing and dancing with the pinkish robe she's about to wear next. She has always been like an op
LucasDamn it! Where is she? I searched in every nook and cranny and there's no trace of her inside. My head is filling with horrifying thoughts each one worse than the last. Icy shivers puncture my chest forcing me to stop for a second and breathe out the air from my lungs. I ignore the strange pain as I try to clear my mind and focus on the next step.Alright, think Lucas, think goddammit. I haven't spotted anything suspicious all night. That's good. If Iron Guard decided to gate-crash the party we would definitely know. I've seen Blondie earlier with the rest of the team and Sesh is with Matt. If everyone is here, then where is she? Great, I start to puff again. I haven't had any drinks tonight, why am I so slow? I bite my knuckles in despair as I always do when things get out of hand. Somehow, it calms my nerves grounding me to here and now. Knowing how stubborn and childish she can be sometimes, she must have gotten out
TammyHe loosens his grip after she stopped fighting him. With no other choice but to give in, Tammy decided now it's not the time to make a scene and attract unwanted attention. Especially at this time of day when the fog is starting to reveal the hidden city below and break their protective shield.This is the moment her grandma prepared her entire life for. Sometimes is better to leave things be no matter how hard her heart is trying to fight for its rights. She would like nothing more than to yell at him and then get away from there as fast as possible. It might be the illness giving her a surge of courage, although she is far from losing her mind yet.Jerk or not she welcomes his silence like a mask of fresh air, his words still stinging from before. A shy peek in his direction and her insides start to ache. There's no way she will ever talk with him after this. One night, that's all it took for her whole wor
LucasWhat is this place?' Her voice echoes in the whole terminal, cascading in infinite waves. Chaos prevails for a short minute as the vibrations scare off a few birds that found a home under the pitched roof.It's so strange to have her here. No one else has set foot inside the depot for more than a century, and the odds of her knowledge of this place were practically non-existent. I must be punished for something I've done in my previous lives.Before coming on Terra 1, the boys had asked me if I plan to live with them. I bet my face had said it all, as I didn't have to put it into words for them to even know it. It's not that I don't trust my team, but rather I enjoy my own company too much. I can't even imagine them barging in here and breaking the serenity of this place. That's definitely not going to happen. I reassure myself recalling the times we spent together in camp during our training. Let's just say
TammyHis lips are moving, yet everything around her it's frozen in time. Golden specs of dust fly in the air as complete void wraps them both in nothingness. Soon his mouth stops forming words, his bottomless eyes examining the vastness of the sky. His silence is compelling her to glance at him, yet the sight of Lucas touching the stars is something out of her imagination. He looks like a fallen angel trying to reach Heaven again. Her eyes are scanning hungrily all of his features when a particular mark on his wrist captivates her attention. There it is, blank ink on olive skin, the number 99 stands out above what looks like a part of a puzzle. Some of the shapes are thicker than the others creating intricate patterns down on his arm. Unaware she was gawking, Tammy sighs in frustration when he swiftly hides them all behind the thin fabric of his sleeve. He jumps to his feet, then puffing the air out from his lungs he invites her back inside. How can someone be
LucasI-DID-NOT-SEE-THAT-COMING. Pain radiates through my leg, crawling up my spine and sending icy needles along its way. It takes me a while to fully understand what happened, that I had fallen for such a low trick, especially one coming from her. I used to be the top of my class, for god's sake! The ache doesn't bother me that much as I am used to it by now, however, my ego has suffered the worst. And as if that's not bad enough, I let her go. Again. I press the heels of my hands to my eyes, then drag them both across my face hoping to wash off the shame and annoyance that rooted deep inside my mind.Stupid move Lucas, stupid move! I scold myself between curses as I follow her out the trapdoor and down the ladder. My leg still hurts like crazy regardless of how much I try to ignore it. She's fast, but not as fast as I am. I let the thought escape my mind while I slide down and jump off on the platform below. Hissing in pain, I
Nathan Come, Nathan, a few more steps. You can do it. Talk to me!' Grace's raspy voice keeps bringing me to reality. I am not sure how many times I've dozed off. Every move feels like the skin is tearing off from the bone. The pain is unbearable and I don't know for how long I'll manage to stay awake. Grace's weak body struggles to hold mine, still, she doesn't show any sign of giving up any time soon. The truck, a foggy illusion in the distance, roars abandoned for us to get in. Those monsters have kept their part of the bargain and left us alone. Tears start to pile up thinking about the price she had to pay for our lives. Tammy, our saviour. We leave a trail of salty droplets behind, feeding the scorched land with our sadness. She helps me with my mask, silent and mournful. Any words would be useless right now. I lay hopeless in the back as she steps on it, propelling us closer to safety and to a pointless life. I would have rather died t
TammyDon't do anything stupid!' Luther jumps off of his throne, shaking and visibly awestricken. You heard her! Bring them in!' He adds through gritted teeth, his eyes fixed on the gun pointed to her head.Soon the door slams open revealing two rebels carrying a barely conscious Nathan. His foot is still bleeding and the wound has doubled its size. He slowly raises his head towards the centre of the room, choking with blood when he sees her bargaining for their lives. Tammy gasps in horror at the sight of him, once a beautiful face now painted in bruises. A swollen black eye covers half of one side, while the other is bleeding, leaving out only the light blue in a sea of red. She tightens the hold around the grip as a burning wish of punishing everyone present flames her entire body. They lock their gaze for a second while she watches him being dumped at Grace's feet, his cracked lips begging her not to die. Tammy moves her to stare away, battling the tears that are gat
TammyWhere are you taking him?' Her desperate cries are growing louder and louder as the door closes shut behind Nathan's body.She's on the verge of losing her self-control. The adrenaline has made her muscles weak and soon her legs turn to jelly. This is not happening!', she keeps telling herself, yet the pool of blood at her feet is more than a cruel reminder her best friend just got shot. What's worse, is the crowd's noise only intensifies her meltdown and the lack of response drives her insane.Where is Nathan?' Tammy asks again, this time shouting to cover their cackles. Her hands are shaking and it feels like thousands of pinpricks are crawling up to her shoulders.The room turns into an uproar. Her pain entertains them and they are having a blast. Suddenly, Lucas's words fill her mind stopping her train of thought and bringing her to reality. They are not to mess with, Tammy. They are not stable.', he had told her
TammyThe underground is nothing more than a complicated maze of tunnels and quarries. Down there the oxygen is scarce and the air so damp soon their skin gets covered with sweat. They keep running, their boots splashing in puddles, and growing the distance between them and the guards with every single breath. Still, the deeper they get into the unknown, the more unbearable the smell. It started as a mixture of dust and grease and something vaguely metallic, only to morph into a defensive odour of sulphur and mould. The walls have long lost their human touch, concrete turning to hard clay and wood pillars barely holding up the roof. Whoever continued the digging must have been in a rush, determined to never coming back, for their sloppy work is a miracle it hasn't collapsed.They continue following the winding tracks and looking over their shoulders every time they hear the distinctive sounds of splitting and cracking of timber. The white beams of their flashlights captu
TammyYou need what?' He snaps at her, his whole body shaking in denial, shocked and unwilling to believe her words.Nat, listen to me, please.' Tammy starts begging and furrows her eyebrows at him. She truly needs him to focus. There's no time to waste.You must be joking, Ner. What the heck do your need dad's gun for?' He continues in the same harsh tone, ignoring her insane plea.Then, puffing out the air from his lungs, he moves away, pacing the room and combing his fingers through his golden hair when the locks fall over his forehead. He had shown her the weapon when they were kids, long before his father got promoted. He's seen it one more time since then but never dared to ask any questions. Why on Earth is she bringing it up now?Tammy walks to him and gently grabs his arm. Her touch compels him to look at her, in spite of his efforts to keep his stance. An instant later and all his barriers are shattered to pieces. One a luxuriant forest and th
NathanAnother flawless presentation, Mr Oaks. We wouldn't have expected anything less from you.' The chairman's adenoidal voice breaks the silence.I have always disliked him. There's an air of double-dealing and deceit hanging over his words. He would constantly praise my father's abilities during his fancy dinners, yet his face had betrayed his hollow actions every time. We started as poor and we will forever be tainted by our inferiority.Today's meeting is held in the old Library, a sign of power and fatuous attachment to our history. The room oversees the whole campus and it looks more of a vault rather than a boardroom. The glass wall that encircles us seems too fragile to protect all the leaders of the state gathered in one place. Still, I know better than all, the invisible shield is nothing more than a honeycomb mesh of trillions of nanites programmed to emulate the strongest material on the planet. Nothing comes in or out, other than air.Everyone
TammyGolden rays filter through her long lashes bringing the thin layer between reality and dreamworld to life. Darkness turned into a rather bronze-coloured veil, cut across by a bright golden halo. With the shimmering aureole growing bigger and bigger, the more absorbed her entity becomes into the present realm. Every single muscle and bone in her body twitches lightly as it lands where it belongs until she's completely awake.Her cheeks feel warm and she's ready now to let the morning light invade her being. As she slowly opens her eyes, the memories of last night start rolling one after another. Suddenly, the soft pillow becomes more rigid, moving slightly up and down to match her breathing. Then, his steady heartbeat cancels out all the bird songs and the leaves fluttering noisily in the wind, leaving her frozen and trapped in the chaos of her mind. Has she really fallen asleep on Nathan's chest? Remorseful, she gently raise
NathanLet me out, Mommy! I promise I won't do it again. Please, let me out!' I beg and I beg long after I hear the basement door shut behind her.Silence and darkness. I'm all alone in the blackness. My hands are throbbing from all the splinters that got caught in my skin. The box is made of raw wood, but somehow it shrank since the last time I've been here. Now I barely fit and I have to lower my head every time I try to stand.Mommy says I have to be punished and think of what I've done. I am a bad boy. I made mommy angry. I told her I love her. Again. I wonder how long it will take this time until she lets me out. Days? Weeks? Last time it's been a month.But then she saved me....She looks straight into my eyes when she lies. I watch closely, absorbed by those beautiful and unique eyes of hers two different worlds, one more perfect than the other. Does she f
TammyThe next few hours drag painfully as her mind keeps reliving the heinous meeting of today's morning. Everything she knows is a lie. Everything she believed in is nothing more than a product of well-forged propaganda, a deceitful agenda of someone else's. Moving her carcass from one lecture to another, her thoughts are too busy to even notice the critical stares of the others. Harsh, judging rumours pass her by for no one has ever been called upstairs to be praised.The fog starts to dissipate only at midday, leaving her standing alone in front of an empty table that once had been the heart of the lunchroom. Tammy stares hesitant and brokenhearted at the window-wall in front of her, frozen and unable to feel the burning tears that are flowing down her cheeks. The right hand on her heart tries in vain to stop the hole in her chest growing bigger. However, when she feels the metal pin attached to the fabric she starts cho