Whispers in Autumn (28 page)

The word catches my attention. “Purge?”

“Yes, the yearly purging. The Others set it up as a tradition, but the point is to give them access to large groups at a time. They drain the bad feelings: the passionate urges, the trapped resentment, and anything else that won’t work in their favor from behind the veils. If veiled humans aren’t purged, they Break.”

After years of wondering what is wrong with everyone, this makes so much sense.

Most of it, anyway.

Lucas interrupts the silence. “So, even though we don’t get purged, we aren’t Broken because the Others never put up veils in our minds.”

“Because they didn’t know about us until this autumn.” I never thought I could feel so thankful for being different.

“Yes. Your minds are your own. Mostly.”

“You said the Others communicate through some kind of tunnels. We’re part Other. Can they get inside our heads, too?” It’s a concern that’s been plaguing me since the first time I heard Fire’s voice tonight.

Worry lines crease Cadi’s smooth forehead. “I have never sought you out in the tunnels, but it’s possible. They can enter mine—and Ko’s, as you saw.” She studies my face with great concentration for a moment. “The Others, the way their minds are connected, it’s like a huge cavern. A hive. They exist on many levels, in countless tunnels, down twisting paths. Each Other has their own alcove. They could find you, if they suspected you had one.”

It’s always when my guard falls that Fire’s voice spreads through my mind. I resolve to try harder to keep her out. If she can find me in there, what’s to stop the Prime Other, or Deshi, from doing the same thing? They’re both staring at me, so I change the subject. “The Elements are different than I expected.”

Lucas nods. “Me, too—warmer somehow. They seemed more human than Other to me.”

Cadi’s eyes soften as she hears the longing we’re trying to hide. “They are Other, children. Before experiencing love and parenthood, the Elements were as callous and merciless as the rest of their race. I will not tell you lies about the things they have done, the worlds they have helped destroy. Still, they are changed. Loving their Partners instilled humanity inside their alien bodies. I am not surprised you sensed it when you saw them for yourselves.” Her eyes hold no judgment. “We need to go soon. The Others monitor my whereabouts.”

Lucas gives me a sideways glance full of suspicion. “Why does she look like that?”

Cadi laughs, the infectious tinkling putting a grin on my own face. “The two of you have most likely not even grazed the potential of your abilities. Your natural season brings them closer to the surface.”

“Wait, what do I look like?”

He screws up his face. “It sounds stupid.”

“Oh, come on. I want to know!”

“Like you’re glowing, okay?” His cheeks deepen to a scarlet red.

Cadi and I both laugh, and after a minute Lucas chuckles as well. I grab his hand and hold it in my lap.

“One last thing. You told us how they control humans, but how do so few Others conquer whole planets?”

It’s a good thing Lucas is here, I’m too infused with glee over being in the warmth to think up proper questions. Cadi leans over to pick at her big toenail. I notice for the first time that her toes are fused together.

“They do it by not making a show, not presenting a threat. The Others land on a new planet without detection, and the first thing they do is determine the most significant rulers in each quadrant. Then they send the Elements in, one to each.”

I pipe up. “I thought it hurt them to be separated.”

“It does, but it’s not for long and they can communicate in their way. Voluntary separation is easier.” She sits back, scratching her cheek. “On Earth, the Others sent Pamant to a place called China, Apa to France, Vant to Brazil, and Flacara, your mother, to America. Each had a small contingent of Others with them. They began slowly, but within six months the leaders of those countries were veiled and under the control of the Others. They began peaceful negotiations with more humble countries to join them. The ones who resisted were taken by force. Many people died, more were Broken and disposed of. For a few years, the four original countries remained. Eventually Earth’s population dwindled until now everyone resides in what used to be America.”

My mind reels. More places exist on our planet than just the Other cities. Until a few weeks ago, I never guessed something more than animals and death lay outside the boundaries. I want to see a map, a picture of this America, these places the Elements fell in love.

The three of us lapse into silence and float, gently rocked into a daze by the rippling water. It’s so lovely. As the sun slips toward the horizon a new whirring noise greets my ears. “What’s that?”

Lucas answers. “Cicadas. They’re bugs. Huh. Guess you wouldn’t have heard them before.”

The sound is wonderful. I kick off my shoes and copy Cadi, dragging my toes in water as warm as a bath.

Lucas sits up so fast the boat nearly tips over. “What time is it?”

As the sun slips away, Cadi snaps her fingers one last time. An overwhelming sense of sadness conquers me as we find ourselves back in the collection center. Cold air worms its way under the door and around the windowsill, chilling me.

A clock chimes five times.

“Althea, we’ve got to go. It’ll take us more than an hour to get home and wake up is at seven.” Lucas pulls me to my feet and we yank on our coats and boots. Cadi follows us out the front door and to the edge of the clearing, stopping abruptly.

I look back at her. It’s not fair that she knows everything about me when
I
don’t know the first thing about me. The urge to break the rules, to stay out here talking all day and night, claws at me. Cadi catches me off guard and hugs me tight. She stares at Lucas for a moment, a fond expression tilting her mouth. “It’s odd, Lucas not wanting to trust me. He’s always been more trusting than you. It’s rather sweet.”

I wonder what she means by Lucas’s distrust being sweet. “Can’t you come with us, or stay longer? What are we going to do about the interviews?”

Her eyes darken and look deep into mine. “I am not free to come and go as I please, Althea. I can’t even step outside this clearing unaccompanied. Come back tomorrow night, if you can manage it. I can help you escape, if it comes to that. I still have hope Ko’s work will hold.”

I nod, hugging her back and breathing in her woodsy scent. Lucas and I adjust our sky bearings to take us east, and use the stars to navigate our way back to town. The night is cold and dark, but the blackness eases to a silky blue over the next forty minutes. We don’t speak. The revelations of this night crack and sizzle along my synapses, warm my heart and chill my bones.

Who—no,
what
—we are is so unthinkable.

A loud growl knocks me out of my thoughts and back into the real world. Lucas stops, looking as dazed as I feel. We slip through a couple of bushes, stopping short when we see some animals in a standoff.

Small and grey with black stripes ringing their tales and eyes, the creatures don’t notice they have an audience. Two bigger ones have a smaller one cornered against a tree. The little one vacillates between whimpering and growling as the larger ones advance, loud snarls ominous and menacing.

One attacks the little guy and he squeals. Lucas runs forward with two sticks in his hands, banging them together. When he gets closer he uses one to fling the assailant off its victim and into the bushes. It scurries away, and the second bully follows suit. My heart races and all four layers of my clothes soak through with sweat in seconds as Lucas bends down to check on the littlest creature.

I scream for him to stop and run straight at him, but it’s too late.

CHAPTER 25.

The animal launches from its huddled, protective stance into Lucas’s legs, knocking him backward onto his butt. It snarls and bites and claws; Lucas struggles and grunts with the effort to get free. I race over to kick it, but it lets go and runs the opposite direction of its attackers, disappearing into the forest.

I shoot a panicked glance around the area, but we’re alone again, at least for now. Lucas’s face is white and slick with sweat. He takes several deep breaths as I drop to my knees and wrap my hands around his face. His left pant leg is ripped open and dark red blood colors the frayed edges.

“Are you okay?”

Pain flickers as he tries to smile. “Fine. I guess you were right about the animals.”

My hands drop to my sides. “You shouldn’t have gotten so close. He was frightened to death already. You look like some sort of giant to him.”

Lucas reaches out a shaking hand to tug his ruined pant leg over the injury. “Well, well, what’s this? Althea defending the animals?”

“I’m not defending them, exactly. I’m saying
you
were stupid. This isn’t our world, out here. It’s theirs.”

He flinches as his fingers graze a gaping slash along his calf. My stomach turns at the metallic scent of blood but I push it away and lean in to inspect the wound. Flaps of jagged skin open to reveal red tissue and bubbles of something white.

“It’s deep, Lucas. We need to get home. Can you walk?”

He nods and struggles to his feet. I pretend not to see him wince, and set a slower pace as we walk the last twenty minutes to the boundary. Lucas doesn’t have as difficult a time with the climb over the fence as I expect. But the incident with the animals makes us later—it’s nearly six forty-five before we get back to our street. No time to fix Lucas. “Get that thing cleaned and bandaged.”

“Remember dinner tonight, with Mr. Morgan.”

It’s Tuesday, time for our Parent Sanction. If Mr. Morgan approves of our courtship, then we’ll have to schedule one with Lucas’s fake parents, too. If we live that long. “Right. See you in a bit.”

I race home, shutting off my alarm about five minutes before Mr. Morgan shouts a good morning up the stairs. My heart thumps as I take a shower and stuff breakfast in my face.

Mr. Morgan is even keeled this morning. “I spoke with the Crawfords. Lucas will definitely be coming here this evening for dinner. I’ve ordered something special.”

I nod and take our dishes to the sink, kissing him goodbye and hurrying out the front door for Cell. The sight of Lucas waiting for me, looking clean and healthy, eases my tension a bit. “How are you? How’s your leg?”

“It hurts, but I’ll live. I cleaned it in the shower and made a bandage out of a shirt.”

“Is it still bleeding?”

“Yeah, but it’s slowing down.” He tries to hide a limp.

I choose to ignore the development, instead punching him lightly on the arm. “So are you ready for our Sanction dinner with Mr. Morgan tonight?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.”

We fall silent when students litter the sidewalk in front of us. We pass through the front doors of the Cell and go about our day. My legs jiggle all the way through, fingers tapping tables and desks. A super annoying twitch finds my right eye after lunch and refuses to vacate the premises. A reminder to calm down, issued to myself every few minutes, keeps the sweat to a minimum. Lucas joins us girls at lunch, but his presence isn’t as soothing as usual. Since my brain resists focusing in block or paying any type of attention to the Monitors, I let it linger on all the reasons fueling this crazy, trapped feeling.

Cadi.

Learning the Others are looking for me.

Hearing that the Others murdered my human parent, that Fire is a prisoner.

It’s everything. Most of all, it’s not being able to ask Cadi all the questions we need answered. It’s driving me completely crazy.

By the end of chemistry, my heart races with anticipation. In a few hours we’ll be back with her, maybe figuring out how to get out of here.

Lucas and I plow through the front doors when Cell ends, but not fast enough to avoid Deshi. Tearing my hair out—or his—doesn’t seem wise, so instead we agree to join him on a trip to the pizza parlor.

Our Cellmates must have decided on bowling, because the restaurant is all but empty when we grab a table. We’re alone. With an Other. One who seems very interested in the two of us. After last night I second-guess every move, wonder if I’m giving us away.

The video screen on the table takes our order, and five minutes later three hot slices of pepperoni pie slide off the conveyor belt and onto our table. It should look and smell wonderful.

Should. But doesn’t.

Eating wouldn’t be easy even without Deshi’s rotting mushroom smell permeating the air, but I’ve got to try. Lucas blanches as he takes a bite but Deshi is too intent on his own meal to notice. He looks up after a minute, still chewing. It doesn’t stop him from talking, and keeping a smile on my face while I watch strings of mashed-up cheese hang from his teeth is excruciating.

“So, why do you guys think the Wardens are
really
in town?” He watches us both with measured intensity.

I don’t know what period Deshi has chemistry, but I suppose it doesn’t actually matter.

Lucas swallows his bite of pizza with some effort before he answers. “I’m sure it’s no big deal. Maybe they’re looking for some of us to work for them or something. That would be cool.”