Inheritance (19 page)

Reese shrank back into the couch as Cole spoke, his pale eyes bright in the studio lights. He spoke with such paranoid
conviction that even Sophia seemed taken aback. The scene cut to Sophia alone in the studio, who said, “Cole’s theories have not arisen from nowhere. They’re firmly rooted in decades of conspiracy theories. In Cole’s scenario, Earth’s sovereign governments will be destroyed and turned into a single global totalitarian regime: a new world order. I spoke with conspiracy expert Peter Vikram, a professor of history at Harvard University, to get his perspective on Cole’s theory.”

Vikram was a middle-aged South Asian man dressed in a crisp, dark purple shirt and stylish glasses. He was interviewed in his office, sitting at his desk in front of a wall of books. “The new world order typically refers to the idea that there is a secret cabal of powerful men who wish to rule the world,” Vikram explained. “This cabal is often believed to be comprised of businessmen, particularly Jewish bankers. In many ways it’s an anti-Semitic theory. Many of those who believe in this theory fall into the category of right-wing extremists who also believe in stockpiling weapons and building secure bunkers to defend against the coming of this so-called new world order, when individual liberties will be severely curtailed. Mitchell Cole has a slightly different perspective. He’s from the camp that believes that a new world order will be brought about through an alien invasion.” Vikram gave Sophia a wry smile. “At least this version of the theory is a bit more progressive, since it’s not humans of any stripe who are out to get us; it’s only aliens.”

“Do you think that Cole’s theory bears any weight?” Sophia asked.

Vikram grew serious again. “If you had asked me a week ago, I would have said absolutely not. One of the things that is
fascinating about conspiracy theories is the way they express anxieties about the modern-day world. They’re an expression of paranoia, and a way of exercising control when one feels powerless. If you believe the world is going to hell in a handbasket, you can take steps to ensure that you survive the apocalypse by stocking up on supplies, building a safe house, et cetera. With regard to Cole’s theory, we can no longer simply call him paranoid. The Imria have revealed themselves. Aliens truly do exist, and I must admit that even I have found their initial statements to be confusing and a little frightening. That changes everything.”

The next segment of the show centered on Dr. Brand’s explanation of the adaptation procedure, followed by interviews with a neuroscientist who had begun to go through the documentation the Imria had released on Thursday afternoon. “I can’t understand it all,” he said, “because much of it involves science that is far more advanced than what I’m knowledgeable about. It seems as if the Imria used a viral-like vector to introduce Imrian DNA into the teens’ cells. The information provided also states that the adaptation is now fully heritable—it would be passed on to children of anyone who was adapted, male or female. I’m not entirely clear on how this works, since the Imrian DNA is added to our mitochondrial DNA, which is only passed on through the mother—at least in humans. But somehow this adaptation procedure has caused the male to also be able to pass on mitochondrial DNA to his offspring.” The scientist seemed a bit awed. “If I’m correct, this is a huge revolution in medical science.”

As the show returned to the interview with Reese and David, explaining their ability to communicate through touch, Reese glanced at her phone to check the time. The show was almost over;
there were only ten more minutes. Maybe, Reese thought hopefully, Sophia wasn’t going to get into her relationship with David after all. Another text message from Julian made her phone buzz.

She texted back:
You trust the Imria?

On television, David’s father was talking to Sophia Curtis about setting up an academic review board to test David’s and Reese’s abilities. Her phone vibrated again.

David nudged her.
What are you doing?

She showed him Julian’s text messages and saw a skeptical expression cross David’s face.

Why does he have such faith in the Imria?
David thought.

He’s an optimist. Although he does think the government is shady.

They’re all shady.

Reese heard Chloe catch her breath, swallowing a giggle. Reese glanced at David’s sister and then at the television. She froze. The scene had changed to Mr. Chapman’s old classroom. She and David were looking at each other as Sophia Curtis said, “… would bring a lot of friends closer together. What about you two?”

The tension in Reese’s face that had made her look angry was gone. Now she looked shy, and her cheeks were tinged pink.

Sitting on David’s parents’ couch, Reese felt the air drain
from her lungs. She could barely watch the screen as David reached for her hand and said, “We’re together now.” All she could think about was how the students at school on Monday morning would react. Her internal organs seemed to shrivel up in anticipation.

“Aw, you look cute,” her mom said from across the room.

Reese was mortified. She slouched down on the sofa, wishing she could hide somewhere. What had made her think it would be a good idea to watch this with her parents?

“You both look very sweet,” David’s mom said.

And David’s parents!
Maybe she could skip the first day of school. Or the first month.

Thankfully, the show was ending, and Sophia Curtis was delivering a closing statement that Reese couldn’t hear because of the buzzing sound in her ears. All the blood must be rushing to her head in embarrassment. Her phone vibrated again. She looked down to find a short message from Julian.

Several television vans were parked outside Kennedy
High School when Reese’s mom dropped her off Monday morning. The front steps were crowded with students hanging out before the first bell, and some of them were being interviewed by reporters. Photographers were waiting on the sidewalk as well, long-lensed cameras in hand.

“The reporters can’t follow you inside,” her mom said, reaching out to squeeze Reese’s knee. A flash of encouragement came from her touch, but the knowledge that the reporters weren’t allowed in didn’t make Reese feel better. She knew they’d simply be lurking outside.

“Your dad’s going to pick you up after school,” her mom said. “Wait for him inside, and he’ll call you when he gets here.”

“He doesn’t have to pick me up. I can walk home like usual.”

“Not today. We don’t know whether those protesters will be back, and I want you to be safe.”

“How long is Dad going to be here?” Reese had thought he would go back to Seattle after the Sophia Curtis interview. “In San Francisco, I mean.”

“We haven’t decided yet,” her mom said, pulling her hand away, but not before Reese glimpsed the reluctance within her.

Reese gave her mom a sharp glance. “Is something going on?”

The expression on her mom’s face was closed off. “Nothing you need to worry about, honey. You’d better get inside. I don’t want you to be late.”

Reese could tell her mom was being cagey, but it was clear she wasn’t going to talk about it now. Irritation flared inside her. She hated it when her mom treated her like a kid. “Fine,” she said, and opened the door.

“Reese—”

“I’ll see you tonight, Mom.” She stepped outside.

She had intended to put up her mental walls, but the last-minute conversation with her mom had distracted her. She wasn’t prepared for the force of interest that slammed into her as the reporters and students thronging the steps noticed her. Snatches of thought seemed to strike her like a rain of pebbles, and once it started, she couldn’t find the mental focus necessary to shield herself.

Here—she’s here—Reese—interview—Reese Holloway—

All she could do was put her head down and ignore as much as she could, keeping her gaze on the ground as she ran up the steps. When she pulled open the heavy metal door and went inside, the lobby was full of students and teachers, but she didn’t
see David. They had talked the night before, and he said he’d meet her in the lobby first thing.

The door slammed shut behind her. Everyone seemed to turn toward her at once, and the volume of conversation dropped to a sudden hush. She took a deep breath, trying to calm the racing of her heart. Where was David?

Across the mosaic-tiled lobby, Reese recognized Madison squeezing her way through a clump of cheerleaders. Behind her were Bri and Robbie, and all the way in the back Reese spotted Julian’s curly-haired head bobbing above the others. On the other side of the space, a knot of senior guys was standing by the trophy case near the front office, and she thought she recognized a couple of them from Eric Chung’s party. But no David. She began to cross the lobby alone, deciding to go directly to her assigned locker. The students swirled around her as she walked, silent but curious. She felt the intensity of their interest in waves of heat on her skin.

She was halfway across the lobby when someone grabbed her arm. “Reese,” David said.

She jerked in surprise. His hand slid down to hers.
Snap.
The connection between them was sharp and bright, like a lifeline to a drowning person. “Hey,” she said. As she looked at him everyone else’s emotions rolled back. Breathing room.

David was wearing a gray-and-white-striped oxford shirt with the sleeves pushed up, his shirttail hanging out of his dark jeans. He had done his hair the same way the stylist did the day of the TV shoot. He smiled at her, and she felt a little woozy inside.

What’s the rush?
he asked her.

I didn’t see you.

I’m here.

The night before she had lain awake for hours, anxiety making her sweat as she thought about the scrutiny she would face when she walked into Kennedy. Those who had been at Eric Chung’s party on Friday night knew about her and David already, but after the Sophia Curtis interview, the whole world knew.
The whole world.

David had tried to reassure her over the phone, but he didn’t entirely get it. She wasn’t upset that her relationship with David was in the open. She was happy that she was with him, and she was happy that he wanted to be with her. It was the fact that people might now be thinking about
her
that made her feel sick. She had always thought celebrities who said things like “I’m a private person” were protesting too much, but now she understood what they meant. The idea of strangers thinking about her love life made her skin crawl. She knew what people said online; she had seen it. It made her want to hide in a hole.

Reese became aware of the fact that she was standing in the middle of the school lobby holding David’s hand, and her face heated up. Whispers whirled around them, but she couldn’t make out what anyone was saying.

I have to go to my locker
, she thought.

I’ll go with you
.

They headed across the lobby together. The emotions of the gathered students hovered in the background of her consciousness like fog waiting at the top of a hill. As long as she focused on her connection with David, she could keep the fog at bay. By the time she and David crossed the whole expanse of the lobby, her friends were gathered together: Madison with an excited smile
on her face; Bri looking self-conscious; Robbie dressed extra goth for the first day of school; Julian with an ironic grin as he saw her clutching David’s hand. As they crowded around her and welcomed her back, she thought:
I can do this.

They were walking down the hall toward the lockers when Reese saw a familiar man standing outside the door to Mr. Chapman’s old classroom, talking to the assistant principal. It was Alex Hernandez, the CASS liaison who had been at the meeting with Charles Lovick. She couldn’t tell if he saw her or not; he didn’t look away from his conversation with the assistant principal.

Keep going
, David thought.

She passed Hernandez and tried to focus on her friends, who were teasing her about her most recent television appearance, but she couldn’t help wondering if Hernandez was taking over Mr. Chapman’s class. Lovick hadn’t specified. Mr. Chapman had taught Principles of Democracy—the required social studies class for seniors—in addition to coaching the debate team. Obviously, the school district had to hire someone to replace him.

As she reached her assigned locker, she turned back to look down the hallway. Hernandez was still there, but this time he was looking directly at her. She glanced away quickly. The idea of him replacing Coach Chapman filled her with frustrated rage. She knew he had nothing to do with Mr. Chapman’s death, but it felt linked. If Mr. Chapman hadn’t died, she and David might not have crashed onto Area 51, and none of this stuff with the Imria and the government and CASS would have happened.

“Hey,” Madison said. “What’s going on, Reese? You’re like in a different world or something. We have to get to class.”

David looked grim.
I saw him too
, he told Reese.

“Sorry,” Reese said to Madison. She pulled the slip of paper on which she had scribbled her new locker combination out of her pocket and turned to the lock, trying to ignore the feeling that Hernandez was watching her.