The Aftermath (23 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

It takes several minutes for my sobs to subside long enough for me to remember the tablet that Declan gave me while we were in the holding facility. As the car speeds down the road, passing gleaming skyscrapers and turning on its own down wide, winding streets, I shakily type in his code.

I scan through the files, dragging my fingers across the screen slowly until I find the file he told me to look for. It’s labeled “Virtue.”

As soon as I place my finger on the icon, text flashes across the screen telling me to set the tablet down. The moment the tablet makes contact with the seat beside me, a life-size hologram pops up.

“Declan?” I whisper, and he turns his face toward mine.

It’s prerecorded, and judging from the concrete walls behind him, it was made while he was staying in the basement at the bar shelter. “If you’re listening to this, Virtue, I’ve either been captured or killed or both.” He smirks. “But for your sake, let’s hope I’m not dead.”

“You’re not funny,” I snap, bringing my knees up to my chest. I wrap my arms tightly around them.

Rubbing his hand over his face, Declan sighs. “I haven’t been entirely honest with you. I’m not a moderator. I’m a former character.”

I listen closely as he recounts to me everything that I already know. How he escaped LanCorp just before being deleted a year ago, how he broke into the game and how he tricked me into helping him save his brother, Wesley. But then the hologram of Declan tells me something that turns my blood to ice:

“The truth is, Virtue...I was sent into the game to find you.”

“What?” I whisper, even though I know he can’t hear me.

“I was hired to break into The Aftermath to recover you. I...was supposed to grab you from a mission and take you right to the border. You should have been alone—you were supposed to be alone—but you weren’t that day. I panicked, tried to knock out the kid you were with, but things didn’t go so well.”

I sink my teeth into my bottom lip until I taste blood. So that day in the courthouse was no coincidence. He was coming after me with a purpose, and Ethan stood in the way. But why?

Who hired Declan to come into the game to get me?

As this thought tumbles through my head, the car turns down a narrow alley and comes to a stop in front of a small building at the end. Shakily, I gather all my belongings and stumble out of the car. I walk to the front door of the building, hobbling because my leg is still burning from the shock I received back at the holding facility. The moment I reach for the doorknob, I hear the screech of tires behind me, and I whip around to see the self-driving car speeding off in reverse down the alley.

No. Please...no. Despite the pain racing through my body, I chase after the car. With each millisecond that the car gets farther away from me, my heart pounds harder, faster. And then the car is gone, and I’m left alone, watching as it speeds down the street. Holding my breath so I won’t release the sob threatening to come out, I return to the building in the alley.

If this isn’t where I’m supposed to be—if Declan has held anything else back from me—I’m screwed.

But the doorknob turns easily for me and the heavy metal door swings open. Hesitantly, I step inside, into the darkness. I keep walking until I reach the center of the room, and then all the lights come on.

“Hello?” I call.

“Back here! Just have to put in the code and then we can go.” I spin around to see a girl standing by the front door. Her back is turned to me as she types in a code on the security panel, but once she’s done, she turns to me.

My heart drops to the floor.

Once again, I’m staring at myself. That dark-haired, undamaged version of me. The me from my dreams.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” She walks toward me, the heels of her boots clicking on the hard floor. She tucks a long brown lock of her hair behind her ear. “Actually, you look like you’re going to throw up.”

I know that voice. Why do I know that voice? “I’m dreaming again.” I take a step backward. “I was killed back at that holding facility, or drugged, and I’m dreaming, and—”

She leans forward, placing her face—my face—close to mine. She squeezes either side of my shoulders and gives me a rough shake. “Oh, trust me—you’re alive, and this is anything but a dream.”

“Who are you?”

She draws back, her green eyes narrowing into a thin line of disappointment. “You don’t remember?” When I shake my head, she continues, “Declan didn’t tell you?”

I drop my gaze down to the floor. “Declan didn’t tell me much of anything,” I mumble.

Releasing my shoulders, she begins to walk away, so I follow her toward the back of the building and out another exit to where another car—this one silver—is waiting. “I’m your sister, Claudia. Your twin sister, if that’s not obvious enough to you.” She jerks up a dark eyebrow. “Get in the car.”

But I shake my head. Pressing my back up against the closed door behind me, I jab my finger at her. “I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what’s going on here.”

She opens the car door and begins to get in, but then she groans. “We don’t have time for this crap. Just trust me when I tell you that there are people after us. People who want to use us. You can save your questions for later.” Slamming her small body down in the driver’s seat, she tilts her head to the side and glares up at me. “Where did Declan take the car you broke out in?”

The mere mention of Declan and breaking free of the facility makes my chest hurt, and I swallow hard. “He didn’t make it out.”

My sister drags her hands through her dark hair and snorts. “I told him to stick to the task. I told him not to let his emotions get in the way of—” The sound of a siren stops her words, and she casts a warning look at me. “Get in the car, Claudia.”

I comply because, once again, I have no other choice. As I buckle my safety belt, I turn to her. “Can we help him? Can we save him—and Wesley and Mia?”

Releasing a harsh sound, she starts the car. “I need Declan Hastings, so yeah, we’ve got to get him out. And I have a feeling he won’t be doing anything without his brother—he’s made that much clear with all the crap he’s pulled. Though maybe he’ll be deleted before we rescue Declan, and then—”

My gasp cuts her off. “And then
what?
” My sister wants Wesley to be deleted? Just so dealing with Declan will be easier?

She gives me a look that makes me feel as if I’m an idiot, but then her features immediately smooth into a sympathetic smile. “I wasn’t being serious, Claudie.”

Claudie. The nickname—which is so obviously something from our childhood—should bring about some kind of memory, but it doesn’t. And I hate that. I hate it almost as much as feeling like my sister just lied to me.

She meant what she said about Wesley, but why?

I dig my fingernails into my palms. Now isn’t the time to grill her about Declan or Wesley—not when LanCorp is after me and there’s the chance that Olivia might try to get into my head, even from out here. “What about our parents? Can they help? Isn’t there anyone—”

The corners of her mouth tighten. “Our parents might as well be dead.”

As she starts to move her fingers along the flat screen on the center console, I let those words settle into my head. I have a sister. I have parents...even if it sounds as if they won’t be much help. I have...

But the sight of her entering her six-digit code freezes all my thoughts: 117908. I’ve seen that code once before, and I turn toward my sister slowly. “You...you went as far as to steal my gamer’s information?” I demand.

As the car takes off, she stares down at her lap for several seconds. Finally, she lifts her green eyes to me and gives me a sad smile. “You don’t remember anything?”

“No, nothing.”

She drops her head back against the headrest. “Well, that’s disappointing. After everything I’ve done for you? After I lied and dated that crybaby for years, just because his parents had information?” She takes a deep breath and turns her head until her green eyes lock on to mine. “After I
killed
for you, Claudia?”

I grip the armrests. Shake my head from side to side. I welcome the denial even before my sister leans in close to me and opens her mouth to finish speaking.

“Claudia...I was your gamer. I’m Olivia Lancaster.”

* * * * *

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Writing
The Aftermath
was such an amazing experience for me, and I’m so grateful to all the wonderful people who helped me along the way.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to my wonder-agent, Mollie Glick. You are brilliant, and your enthusiasm and hard work are fantastic. Thank you so much for believing in
The Aftermath.
Thank you to the Foundry Literary + Media team, especially Katie Hamblin, Emily Brown and Emily Morton. I’m so appreciative to you three for always being so quick to answer my emails and questions (and sometimes there were many!).

Many thanks go out to the incredible team at Harlequin Teen. I’ve been in love with Harlequin novels for many, many years, and to be a part of this family still amazes me. To Natashya Wilson, thank you for taking a chance on my book—you made my dreams come true! And to Annie Stone, my patient, butt-kicking editor, your editorial insight is wonderful.
The Aftermath
has grown so much because of you.

One of the first people to read my book (back when it was called
The Way the World Ends
) was my critique partner Michelle. Thank you, lady, for always being so honest with your critiques and taking me seriously when I said, “Rip it to shreds!” I appreciate all of our long chats and the jokes—you’re awesome, friend.

Another huge thanks goes to Taryn Albright, owner of The Girl with the Green Pen. You read
The Aftermath
so fast, and so many times, and gave me such detailed feedback. You are insanely talented!

Last, I have to thank my family. I once read that a writer’s most important tool is a strong support system, and I’m so proud of mine. To my parents, who call or email to check on my word count every other day; my younger sister, who reads everything I write; my grandparents, who are always willing to volunteer to babysit; and finally, to my wonderful children and husband. I’m so blessed to have you all. I appreciate your love and support more than you’ll ever know.

AUTHOR’S NOTE

The concept for
The Aftermath
came to me after staying up late to play a video game and the horrible dream that followed. After sharing the nightmare with my husband, who very sleepily told me to write it down, I began to put Claudia’s story on paper. Although the book has changed quite a bit over the past two years, one thing remained the same: the role video games played in my creative process. As a big fan of video games, I’d like to share with you some of my favorites. I promise no characters were harmed in the process.

10. “Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII”

I’ll admit it—I wasn’t the biggest fan of the previous “Final Fantasy XIII” installments, but the conclusion of the trilogy is spectacular. It doesn’t hurt that Lightning is a butt-kicking heroine. The ending has been a bit controversial, but I may have said aloud, “Best. Ending. Ever.”

9. “Lost Odyssey”

I preordered this game the day I saw the trailer, that’s how excited I was. Not only did it not disappoint, I still have my fingers crossed for a sequel. Immortals, great world building and a solid plot—what’s not to love?

8. “Resident Evil 2”

When this baby came out, I was still living in the Stone Age of video game consoles. I played this at a friend’s house, and I was hooked. I needed a PlayStation. I had to have one. It took a little convincing, but eventually my mother caved. Thanks, Mom.

7. “God of War: Ascension”

You think Claudia has issues with her dad? Meet Kratos, son of Zeus. He’s easily the best antihero I’ve ever seen, and the “God of War” games are some of my favorites.

6. “Assassin’s Creed II”

I have a bad habit of starting video game series out of order, and that was the case with the “Assassin’s Creed” games. I’ve since played the other games in the series, but Ezio’s story will always be #1 in my heart.

5. “Final Fantasy VII” and “Final Fantasy VIII”

Remember that PlayStation I had to have? Well, it played a huge part in some of my most memorable gaming moments as a kid. “Final Fantasy VII” and “Final Fantasy VIII” were two of those games I discovered for PlayStation, and they feature some of the best characters in the entire series!

4. “Contra”

This was the first first-person shooter game that I ever played, and I can still vividly recall the code for thirty lives. The characters looked like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone, and it was such a cool game. Come to think of it, maybe it’s time to find that old Nintendo and pull this game out....

3. “Final Fantasy X”

I didn’t think I liked this game at first, but then I played a few minutes longer. And then a few hours more. Before long, I couldn’t tear myself away from what was happening on screen. “Final Fantasy X” was visually stunning, with a solid plot and lots of romance. Needless to say that when I discovered this video game was being remastered in HD for PS3, I immediately preordered it!

2. “BioShock”

I’ve played quite a few first-person shooter games, but this one definitely tops my list. The story line was amazing, and it’s one of those games that I’ve played multiple times.

1. “God of War III”

Kratos is back, and he tops my list of favorite games! I’m not going to tell you how fast I played this game (I’m embarrassed to admit it), but I will tell you that it was addictive. Kratos is definitely one of my all-time favorite video game characters, and I’m hopeful that another installment will follow!

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1. In this novel, live-action games like The Aftermath serve as treatment for young people who are prone to violence. Putting aside the moral implications of using human beings as playing pieces, do you feel that this kind of treatment would be effective? Can games be used as more than just entertainment? If so, how?
   
2. At the end of the book the reader discovers that Olivia’s motivations are quite different from what Claudia had thought. Does the fact that Olivia is acting to help her sister change how you view her? To what extent do her motivations justify her actions? What would you have done in Olivia’s place?
   
3. Another character with noble intentions but imperfect actions is Declan Hastings. How would you compare and contrast the characters of Declan and Olivia? Does one character seem to be more morally upright than the other, and if so, why?
   
4. The Aftermath is a futuristic game created to eradicate violence within the American population. If we were to develop the technology to screen children for a “violence” gene, do you think people should be genetically sorted and subjected to treatments in order to prevent violence? Why or why not?
   
5. What obligation, if any, do Claudia and Olivia have to the victims of LanCorp’s games, given their family’s involvement with the creation and implementation of this “treatment”?
   
6. Declan explains to Claudia that games like The Aftermath are partially a result of several civil wars that had a devastating impact on America as we know it currently. Do you think it’s realistic that the American government would resort to extreme techniques such as these live-action games to keep its citizens from rebelling a third time? Are there periods in history you can point to where extreme policies have been implemented after a period of violence?
   
7. Put yourself in Claudia’s shoes at the very end of the novel. What would you do next?