Chapter Twelve
The next morning, Imara caught Gemma wandering to the hall with her plate of breakfast in her hands.
“What—you don’t want to sit with us anymore?” Imara snapped.
Gemma frowned, still facing away from her teammate. Eating supper alone had been both relaxing and lonely, though it definitely had put things into perspective: She needed to avoid getting emotionally close to those who might be the reason she failed.
Reymond had never included How to Shut Off Your Emotions during their training, and Gemma sensed her soul aching for friendship. She’d been so alone for the past three years; building camaraderie felt amazing. What would growing relationships between her teammates mean for her mission?
Yet, by alienating herself from them, she was also pushing away those who might help her win.
She sighed. She couldn’t hide herself away just because she was afraid.
Gemma faced Imara. “No, it’s not that. It was just nice to have quiet during dinner last night after that long day, and I wanted to relax before today’s tests. But maybe it would help to join you guys and strategize.”
Imara stared at her in a long, uncomfortable silence, like she was reading Gemma’s every thought. But then she smiled and nodded toward their table. “Come on. That’s a good idea.”
Relief washed over her as she joined her teammates.
“Strategizing” instead turned into another round of playful bickering between Hawk and Imara, leaving Gemma to avoid looking at Christian while Alfie gabbed, causing Colton to pinch the bridge of his nose and mumble he was “getting a headache.”
The doors to the cafeteria banged open, and the Kaizen marched in with her lieutenants. Neither Gemma nor her teammates jumped anymore; the captain’s expressive entry was now expected.
The room quieted in seconds.
“Listen up, babies,” the Kaizen began. “There are ten teams left, but it’s time to weed out the weak from the strong.” The androids, all identical, filed into the room. “When one of your teammate’s numbers is called, get off your asses and follow your instructor. Understood? Good.”
Gemma rolled her eyes. The woman was insufferable.
Teams began to hurry from the cafeteria, and then Hawk’s number was called. The six of them shadowed their android until it stopped outside a single white door.
Odd. She’d expected they’d return to their simulated environment. What did Rami have planned this time?
“You may enter,” the android said, and the door slid open.
A brightly lit room awaited them, with sofas and lounge chairs in a makeshift circle. In the center stood a small, round table, on which sat a black glass bowl, six strips of paper, and black felt-tips.
Gemma’s stomach sank. Reymond warned her this scenario might happen.
They were about to vote off a teammate.
“Você só pode estar de putaria,” Colton griped from behind Gemma. She didn’t need to know his language to understand he, too, knew what this test would be.
“Take a seat,” the android said. When everyone had done so, it continued. “Only teams of five may proceed from this moment. You must vote off a player. Good luck.”
“What?” Hawk and Imara shouted almost simultaneously as bile rose in Gemma’s throat. This was so unfair, so cruel. No one should have to live with the guilt of sending someone back to Perileos.
Their instructor ignored their cries of anger and just left the room.
Christian dropped his forehead into his hands, his elbows on his knees, and dug his fingers into his light brown hair. Alfie’s face had paled, and Colton glared at the bowl with fury.
Gemma bit back tears. I will kill you, Rami.
“Well, this is fucking stupid,” Imara mouthed.
Hawk sat back in his seat, an exasperated noise escaping through his pursed lips.
For what felt like hours, the room was silent. So quiet that Gemma’s heartbeat was the loudest noise in the room. Who in the blazes would be willing to start this conversation?
“It should be Alfie,” Colton said a moment later.
“What?” Alfie exclaimed. “I was your partner, man. You can’t choose me.”
“Well, I just did.”
Gemma’s heart stopped when Alfie flung out his arm, motioning to her. “But what about her? She’s the weakest person in the room. If the next tests are physical, do you really want someone that small on your team?”
Gemma’s bottom lip quivered. This isn’t happening.
“Don’t forget,” Christian said, “if it weren’t for her saving your life in the first round, we wouldn’t even be having this discussion. We need her.”
Gemma’s stare caught his. Something unguarded flashed in his eyes before he quickly looked away.
Alfie flopped backward in his chair, a deep scowl on his face.
“I mean . . .” Hawk ran his hand down his face. “You did freeze in that first test, Alfie. If the next tests are physical, how do we know you won’t do it again?”
Alfie flapped his arms. “I didn’t freeze in this last trial, and it wasn’t exactly easy.” He turned to Colton. “Come on, man. You know I did good.”
Colton ground his teeth, his dark brown eyes catching Gemma’s. She gripped the edges of her seat so hard; her fingertips ached.
“I still vote Gemma stays,” he said at last.
Gemma let out a shaky breath through her nostrils. That was three of them, and Imara had promised she’d be Gemma’s ally. She would be okay. Stars, please let me stay.
Imara crossed her arms and glared at Colton. “What about you? Alfie was your partner in that last round, and you so easily turned on him. How do we know you won’t do the same to us?”
Colton looked at Gemma, raising an eyebrow.
“Colton saved my life,” Gemma admitted. “I trust him.”
Alfie pounded his armrest. “This is so ridiculous.”
“Do we vote, then?” Hawk asked. He grabbed a slip of paper and felt-tip from the table. “Let’s do it anonymously. We’ll write the name of the person we have to send home.” He grimaced. “Then we’ll ask the AI dude to tally the votes. Agreed?”
Christian snatched paper and a felt-tip. “Let’s just get this over with.”
With shaky hands, Gemma took her slip of paper and felt-tip, wiping the traitorous tear from her cheek as she wrote Alfie. She swallowed deeply before folding her paper in half and dropping it in the black glass bowl.
When everyone had entered their vote, Hawk got the android and explained the situation.
“As you wish,” the AI said, taking their votes in its metal hands. Its eyes scanned every piece in a matter of seconds then announced, “Alfie has the most votes. Please follow me.”
Alfie screamed. “You all are the worst. I hope you fail miserably.”
He stormed after the android, and Gemma placed her fist over her heart.
Sobbing punctured the silence in the dormitory, where only fifty contestants now remained. Gemma lay curled on her bed, trying to calm the agony in her heart. What they were forced to do to Alfie was unforgivable. If roles were reversed and her teammates had voted her off instead . . .
She squeezed her eyes closed, unwilling to imagine the level of heartache that would follow.
The doors to the dormitory burst open. Gemma dropped her face into her pillow, groaning as the Kaizen entered.
“Oh, cheer up,” she said. “Comrades die every day in real life. You should be thankful you’re still here.”
Gemma grasped her pillow so tightly her hands hurt. If she ever got the chance to punch that woman in the face . . .
“Now, you can either lay in here like the milksops you are, or you can go find your testing room and practice for your final two tests,” the Kaizen continued. “And based on what I’ve seen so far, every one of you desperately needs the practice. Your choice.”
Gemma frowned as the Kaizen stormed out of the room.
She did need the practice. What Alfie had said about her was true.
The Dissent never showed her how to use a firearm; she’d only sparred with other members a few times; and she was barely taller than sixty-two inches.
She was the weakest in the group, physically.
Hawk’s appearance startled her. “Sorry,” he apologized before speaking to both her and Christian. “I don’t know about you guys, but I could use the extra training.”
“You can’t be serious,” Imara said, popping out of nowhere. “We’re literally getting a chance to rest.”
Hawk crossed his arms. “I don’t know about you, but I’m not wasting a chance to make sure I pass the Trials. I haven’t seen my parents since I was two years old. I’m not failing this thing.”
Imara’s eyes softened as Gemma’s chest pinched. She’d had eight years with her parents and, though remembering was bloody painful at times, at least she had memories.
She couldn’t imagine not knowing from which parent you got your eyes, or your hair color, or your sense of humor. Gemma looked so much like her father but had her mother’s personality. Those were things that would always help her remember them.
Her heart ached for Hawk.
“It’s not a bad idea,” Christian said, interrupting the contemplative silence. “I could certainly use the practice.”
All in agreement, the four of them waltzed to Colton’s bed and were met with an exaggerated eye roll. Yet, he wordlessly climbed off his bunk and followed them from the dormitory.
Minutes later, they were inside their sleep chambers, and the world around them brightened.