Chapter 33 #2
“But there’s more,” Rex adds, pulling my mind back into focus before it hazes into a daydream. “Without sounding harsh, we hope this will be good motivation for you … to get you through the next part.”
I close my eyes, resigned to admitting that more is needed of me. “My commitment to the world?”
“Well, yes. We’ve found a specialist to work with,” Rex says, catching my attention. It’s been over a decade of failing to find a scientist we can trust and work with, since President Beckett has thoroughly groomed anyone qualified, containing and controlling them within Eden.
My brows press. “Oh. Really? Outside Eden?”
“No, he’s in Eden,” Roscoe says dryly.
“But surely not. He’ll be in Beckett’s pocket.”
Rex gives a little smirk. “He is not a qualified biologist. He’s a physicist and an engineer. We worked closely with his father before Beckett got his hands on him. His father was an esteemed biologist and taught his son everything he knew.”
“Uh-huh. Okay. So, how am I going to get in and out of Eden?”
They’re fidgeting as I try to catch their gazes, and even Rex seems to struggle, thinking of the right words to say, but that alone is enough to tell me.
“Ohhhh… Right. I get it. I’m off to Eden? My Unity Index opportunity…” I close my eyes and rub my rigid fingers into my forehead, pressing the growing headache away.
“Hey, hey. It’s not like that, baby girl.
” Roscoe rests his hand on mine. “We’re working hard at getting other people in with you this time.
We can control the system better now. You won’t be alone, and it won’t be a creepy arranged marriage job.
You’ll just be living together while he works with you. ”
“What do you mean, ‘other people’? And yes, it will always be an arranged marriage. Who is this guy? How do you know he won’t crank the creepy up when I get there?”
Malcolm says, “I can vouch for him, little sparrow.”
“We’ve met him,” Rex says. “And we’re assuming Atlas will leave with Miko and his daughter, so we figured Leon would be prepared to go with you as your brother.
We’re working on getting a few others in.
Kris and Ren have already volunteered. The more of you we get in there, the faster this whole thing will be over.
” Rex plants his finger atop Joey’s profile. “Hence, your motivation.”
Ah, we’ve come full circle. Joey’s my motivation to get me through my next chapter, and my conflict is met with comfort. To hold on a little longer. To endeavour through the next few months? A year? And then I can live my life.
“It’s a lot, Everlee, we know.” Rex winces, leaning forward to plead with me.
“But we’ve all met the guy. When it comes to you, we’re not taking any risks.
He’s been eligible for the Unity Index and never applied.
We’re certain you’ll be safe and comfortable there. Otherwise, we wouldn’t ask it of you.”
“We don’t want to let you go,” Malcolm says, “but this is the finish line now. Fixing the Eve Project is our strongest leverage against Beckett. We’re so close.”
“Okay,” I say, forcing a smile, “I’ll do it, obviously. This was always the endgame, anyway.”
Rex’s shoulders relax with my compliance, and he stands from his chair, walking towards me.
“What we need you to do right now is take a few days. You and the guys. We’ve got some towns west of here that need scouting for salvage.
After seeing how well you work together, I think junking will be the perfect distraction for you all right now.
Enjoy some freedom before you have to get back in the game.
You got it?” He rests his hand on my shoulder.
“Okay. Yeah. That sounds good. I’ll talk to the guys,” I say, nodding as I stand to leave.
But I lean on the back of my chair and clear my throat, looking between them all.
“Just so you know, I’m not mad at you guys—I never have been.
I’m mad at the world, at Beckett. I hate him so much.
I know what I have to do, and I’ve always known.
It’s just … inconvenient.” I try to smile, but it’s difficult.
Instead, my lip dimples as my eyes grow wide, threatening tears.
With a shivering voice, I say, “I’m the luckiest daughter in the world, and I hope you know that… I love you all.”
“Oh, baby girl…” Roscoe leaps to his feet, throwing his arms around me. “We’re the lucky ones.”
They gather around, holding me between them, repairing my strength as I prepare to move on.
I return to the trailer to find a fresher-looking Leon sitting at the top of the steps. He’s smoking again, with his fingers drumming against his tobacco tin.
“Hey, kid,” he says, “where you been?”
“Figuring some shit out with my dads.”
He throws the butt of his cigarette into a small tin can, stale and putrid with warm ash and filters.
We walk in together to find Atlas sitting on the couch.
Surrogacy. Adoption. Forced. Forced. Forced!
The words rattle around in my mind as I stare at him, and when he looks up at me, I have seconds to decide what kind of person I’m going to be.
Am I going to bow to the pressure and drag them down with me, or am I going to be brave to protect them?
Like an act, I pull my shoulders back and chin high, projecting a false confidence in the hope of inspiring my friends.
I plant my hands on my hips. “Right. We’re going on a road trip. We’ve got a job,” I say, only to be met with groans. “Hey, guys. Come on. We’ve got to get moving. We can’t keep doing this. I can’t keep doing this.”
Atlas stands, the tips of his dreads an inch from the trailer’s ceiling as he stretches his back, resting his linked fingers behind his head. “You’re right.”
Leon looks confused to see Atlas willing to move, but with that, he reluctantly resigns himself to the job.
After packing a few days’ worth of supplies, we head to the pantry for provisions.
Kris and Ren catch us at the armoury, chatting while awkwardly dancing around the horror of Zeke’s death.
Ren optimistically shares that he should recover in time to join us for the next mission, but that’s about as much conversation as he can muster, and I don’t have the energy for his hit-or-miss friendship right now.
Roscoe meets us by the truck, readjusting his hat as the sun reaches beyond the brim, reddening his crooked nose.
He hands us a map and an extensive shopping list of essential items to excavate from the abandoned towns.
With one last hug, I leave him and hop into a pickup truck, all three of us squeezing into the front seat, where Leon takes the wheel as I sit between them.
“This is cozy,” I say.
Atlas flinches with his temper. “Lee! I can’t be any smaller.” He tries to inch over as his movement makes suspicious farting noises against the leather upholstery, causing me and Leon to spit giggles between our pressed lips.
“You’d best roll the window down, Leon.”
Atlas shakes his head disapprovingly. “Wow. So mature.”
“I know. This is going to be fun,” I say, tickling the scruff of his beard, sparking a reluctant smirk as he slaps my hand away.
“So, where are we heading?” Leon asks, turning the key. He fiddles with the radio as high-pitched squeaks and groans filter through until he finds the pirate station, bouncing out a familiar guitar riff. He throws his hands up, giving us a little air guitar demonstration while I pull out the map.
I trace my finger along our route. “Pffft. It’s a bit zigzaggy. It looks like quite the journey.”
“Ahhh, good. They’re the best kind, kid,” he says with his toothy grin, nudging me with his elbow.
I never thought I’d miss that pearly smile so much.
As we pull away, I look behind us to see the fences of the Cornerstone growing distant. Ahead of me is a new road to travel down with my brothers, and if this is as free as I ever get, I’ll take it—but I still hope for more. Not just for me, but for my lost boys.
We all deserve a happily ever after.