47. Water Capitalism
Water Capitalism
Dylan
They got into the lift at the Royal Car Wash later that evening. It had been a long day, and every time she had a moment to think, her mind filled it with thoughts of Talia, and whatever Astrid was doing to her.
Dylan took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
“How do you feel?” Isaak asked.
“Like I want to jump out of my skin.” She forced a tired smile. A few weeks ago, her desire to enact some positive change in the world seemed like nothing more than a pointless quixotic errand. Since then, her world had changed so many times she was barely keeping up.
“Tell me about it.” He’d been staring forward, but it didn’t take long for his eyes to meet hers. “I like the jacket. Can’t help but think I’m starting a trend.”
“This old relic? My dad’s.” She’d traded the snakeskin jacket for her dad’s faux-leather one. “You really like it?”
“It suits you. And it looks a bit like mine.”
Her skin warmed. “I wanted something that felt closer to the Apocalypse Revolt… It’s a coincidence that it happens to look like yours. But I’m glad you don’t mind. I mean, you’re ecstatic about it.” She grinned.
He scratched the back of his head. “I’m new to this,” he said, nerves in his voice.
“New to what?”
“Don’t make me say it.”
“Say what?”
“Us! New to a relationship. It’s been… forever for me.”
“Oh… You don’t have to be nervous.” Who was she kidding? She was a mess herself. “The secret is finding something to distract the both of us. Look.”
Dylan opened the side of her jacket, flashing him the logo stitched on the inner lining.
“The Apocalypse Revolt logo. Hidden?”
“They were being hunted,” Dylan said. “Notice anything else?”
“That red stain. Looks like—”
“Blood.” Dylan touched it with her finger. “Yes, sir.”
“Your father was shot?”
“He never admitted it. But he wouldn’t get rid of the jacket either. Before we left, he handed it to me and said, ‘See if it can survive two revolutions.’”
He went quiet for a beat. The lift was approaching the top floor.
“Did you tell your mother anything about our plans?”
“No, like we agreed.” She fetched her phone from her pocket. “I was thinking we could record a message for them. Explaining everything. If we don’t make it…”
He clasped her hand in his. “We’re going to make it.” The intensity of his voice was matched by the strength of his grip. Not strong enough to hurt her, but making his trust and belief in the two of them known.
She embraced him, hand on his chest. “I know.” Deep inside, doubt compromised her conviction. She held him close, wishing the fear away. His warmth was a balm.
Isaak was in his own mind again, looking out to London through the slit in the lift.
He wasn’t one to open up easily, only with surgical attention to detail and patience.
But she loved him. He was different from all the other guys she’d met.
The truth, her truth, was that she wanted him more and more.
She could just eat him whole, again and again.
He turned to look at her.
Oops. She turned her fear-driven lustful grin into a kind smile.
Ding.
Elodie was waiting for them when the lift doors opened. “I hope you’re well rested.”
Dylan exchanged a glance with Isaak.
Elo had traded the blue transparent Mackintosh and purple top for a black turtleneck that hugged her body, paired with black trousers and a trenchcoat.
“You’re coming in with us?” Isaak asked.
“You didn’t really think I’d let you go on your own? Sacha!” She snapped her fingers, and Sacha came out of the room where Talia’s bed was.
Dylan hurried to his side. “Can I see her?”
“Go on. She’s stable. We’ve got her on fluids.”
Isaak squeezed her hand, the silent sign that she should go be with her friend without worrying about him. She gave him a nod and walked into the other room.
The rhythmic beep of the machine monitoring Talia’s vitals was the only sound. An assortment of dimmed lights kept the room from darkness.
A shiver rose up Dylan’s spine. She held her own arms for comfort.
Talia looked so fragile, all of her boldness stripped away and replaced with a grey hospital gown, limbs tucked into the gurney’s bedclothes.
This is what they all were, really. Just delicate flesh, grappling with the technological nightmares humanity itself had created. We are made of paper.
She zeroed in on the plastic headset covering Talia’s eyes. Her blood boiled at the sight of Astrid’s enslavement device. She let the anger gather inside her, giving her the strength she needed to go through with the plan.
“We’re coming for you, Tal. And I’m going to get that bitch.”
Dylan, Isaak, Sacha, and Elodie were huddled around a screen. Aerial shots of East London.
“This was the beating heart of London’s water capitalism.
The river shores are riddled with warehouses, but they were turned into housing in the years before the revolution, then completely abandoned afterwards.
The perfect place for Astrid to hide her Sleeper victims. Our algorithms have pinpointed Cardinal Row to a warehouse here, near St. Andrews Wharf.
” Elodie delivered the briefing with a serious and measured tone, standing and pacing away from the screen.
“We have to be quick and discreet. We don’t want the police involved.
Both the Met and the NCA are in the Queens’ pockets.
They won’t do anything to hurt Astrid or Crypterra. ”
“So we have to save everyone ourselves,” Isaak said. “You say you don’t know what becoming a sleptigrade does to someone. And we’re just going to use the lobster phone on them?”
“Yes. Do you have a better plan?”
“No, but—”
“Then we’ll roll with the punches. You, come here.” She beckoned Dylan to her.
She obliged. “What?”
Elodie put a finger to Dylan’s temple. Her eyelids fluttered of their own accord, and she let out a quick involuntary moan. Isaak jumped up. “What the—”
“There,” Elodie said. “I’ve loaded you with a gift you can use in the Tapeworld. Use it wisely. Can’t let Isaak have all the fun with his Gunkatana.”
“Huh?” Dylan glanced at Isaak, who looked cluelessly back at her.
“Take these.” Elodie handed her a case stuffed with rolls of tape.
“We have tape…”
“Not this kind. This will prevent Astrid from being able to summon you just by thinking about you and saying your name.”
“How are you doing all this?” Dylan asked, suspicion rising. “A Kingdom has to be sponsoring you…”
“That’s for me to worry about. Get yourselves ready. I’m refuelling the copter. We leave in an hour.”
“The copter?!” Dylan asked, mouth hanging open.