Escape from Eden (Original Series book 2) (17 page)

"It's complicated," he says.

"And?"

"And I'm going to leave it at that until after we take over Enfield, but then I promise I'll explain everything."

"Do you think she's in there?" I ask.

He averts his gaze. "I don't know, but your mother is smart, maybe too smart for her own good."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing. It means nothing."

"So that's it? You'll give me nothing else but lies and cryptic words?"

His gaze locks with mine. "For now."

"Then you need to leave."

My father stares at me for a long time before he finally turns and exits the room. A little part of me wishes he would've stayed and tried to talk to me more, but I know better.

After a few seconds, I walk to the door. Other than a dull headache, I really do feel fine. I glance down at my fingernail. It has fully regrown. Looking at me now, no one would ever know that I had been tortured. It's a good thing my thoughts and memories are all my own.

I peer out of my room. There's a short hallway that turns at the end. I sneak down it and look around the corner. The cabin opens up into a giant room of old couches and tables. Hushed voices are on the other side of the wall I'm hiding behind. I focus my hearing.

"When will you be back?" Colt's voice asks someone.

"Maybe in a week." It's my father.

"You know she didn't mean it." Colt again.

"Perhaps," he responds, then, "Whatever happens, you just keep that promise of yours. Sage is not to go into Enfield."

There's a brief silence, then my father adds, "Stay in contact with me. I'll be back soon." A door opens and closes.

"I'm tired. Are we about finished?"
Jenna.
This makes me wonder who else is out there.

"I want to go see her," a voice demands not a second after. I recognize it as Link’s.

"You can in awhile," Colt's says. "I just need to go over what to say one more time."

"I know how to handle Sage," Link says. "I’ve lived with her for the last six months, remember?"

There's a moment of silence before Colt says, "She's going to talk you out of it."

"I won't let her."

I sneak back to my room and close the door. They all want to tell me what to do, as if they know what’s best for me. Maybe they do. Maybe everything I've done up until this moment has been a mistake. And maybe my instincts have lied to me this whole time. I wish my father had stuck around. I would've liked to discuss this theory with him.

The sun has fully risen. I cross the room to the light-filled window. In the distance, I see even more small cabins lined in rows. Near a trail that crosses in front of my window, a weathered sign reads, 'Camp Walden'. Several Primes are up and about, but none of them are talking to each other. When a bell sounds they all head the same direction, but I can't see where to.

I get why they do it now—act indifferent, especially with each other. It's much easier to shut one’s emotions off, then deal with the harsh realities of this new world. I would be perfectly happy to never feel again, because if I feel then that means I'm going to have to remember the pain or the shame of not fighting back while others watched on.

Shaking my head, I turn my back to the window. I'm having thoughts I've never had before. I've always been able to overcome my challenges, but I simply don't have the strength for it now. Maybe if Colt came back and kissed me again, I could forget about the pain, but all I want to do is go back to bed. So I do.

Tomorrow I will fight.

A
few hours
later I open my eyes, even though I've been awake for a while. I don't allow myself to think about anything as I rise to my feet and stretch. Resting on a small table in the corner of the room is a tray of food. I stare at it for a long time, trying to decide if I'm hungry. I'm not.

I peer out the window. A few Primes are walking along the trail all looking exceptionally strong and beautiful. One of them spots me. I quickly move out of sight, my pulse racing. What is wrong with me?

I wait another hour before I finally decide to get dressed in clothes I found next to the food. I did manage to eat a little, but after a few bites I became too nauseated and had to set my sandwich down.

After staring at the back of the door for several minutes, I force myself to leave and sneak into the great room for a better view. It has a large stone fireplace that reaches the high ceiling. A kitchen is tucked into the corner and above it is a loft that overlooks the living room.

"Finally decided to join the living," a voice says. Tank steps out from within the shadows near the fireplace.

"Hey," I say and walk to the nearest sofa to sit down.

He lowers into a chair opposite me. "How are you doing?"

"Fine." I keep my gaze focused on the wooden floor. I'm hoping he doesn't want to talk about what happened at the Institute, because if he does, I'm going to have to go back to my room.

"Are you hungry?"

I shake my head. "Where is everyone?"

"At the lodge. Colt's meeting with everyone to discuss what we know about Enfield. We've had a drone circling the place for the last few days gathering intelligence. It's quite the operation they have going on over there."

I press my hands on the soft cushion and stand. "I should be there." I expect him to argue but he doesn't.

"Turn left on the path just outside the door. It will take you up there."

"Thanks," I mumble and head toward the door.

"Hey Sage?" Tank calls after me.

I turn around.

"I get it, you know."

"Get what?" I ask.

"Not wanting to talk about what happened to you. I still haven't, in fact, but don't let it eat you up inside. Focus on your goal."

I nod my head, at least I think I do, before I leave the cabin. Tank and I may have experienced some of the same things, but I doubt he ever felt weak or cowardly. If he hadn’t been trying to get dumped onto Purgatory Island, he probably could've escaped anytime he wanted to.

I follow the path for a while, scolding myself for being so negative. I thought the crack in my mind was healing, but it was just Colt's presence that had made the chasm seem smaller.

Just up ahead, the trail ends at the top of a small rise. The forest opens up into an area filled with small cabins. Most of them are in fairly good condition, but a few of them, the ones closer to the tree line, have collapsed roofs. Just beyond those, I spot what must be the main lodge.

I peer into a few of the cabins as I pass. People have been living in them, at least two per dwelling from what I can tell. This makes me wonder how many Primes are working with HOPE. It wasn't so long ago when few people believed in HOPE, but that seems to have changed.

Before I go into the lodge, I peek inside the window. The place is so packed that people are standing along the wall. Colt is in front projecting an image of several buildings surrounded by a tall wall. I strain my ears to try and catch what he's saying but I can't hear. Near him, I spot Jenna, Anthony and Link. There are a few others I recognize, but not many.

If I want to know what's going on, I'm going to need to go inside. I place my hand on the doorknob and twist slowly, hoping I can get in without being noticed, but as soon as I push on the door it groans loudly. I grit my teeth and push it open just enough to slip inside.

Everyone turns and looks at me, including Colt. Those beautiful electric, blue eyes bore into me the most. It lightens a bit of my darkness. He clears his throat and continues speaking. As soon as I'm relieved of their stares, I exhale the breath I'd been holding.

"We expect to know the function of each of these buildings today, but until then, I want you all to get familiar with the layout. When we finally get in, I don't want anyone confused."

A hand rises.

"Yes?" Colt asks a woman with long black hair.

"How are you getting your information?" she asks. "Do you have someone on the inside?"

Colt's eyes flash to mine. "Not on the inside, but from someone who knows the ins and outs of every building there. And before you ask, the 'how' doesn't matter. The intel does. Any other questions?"

A few more hands lift. While Colt answers their questions, which are mostly about the conditions around camp, my eyes lock with Jenna. She grins big and flashes me some kind of hand gesture. It could be an insult or some kind of greeting. I never know with her.

Next to her, Link's attention is focused solely on Colt. I wonder if he's nervous about sneaking into Enfield. I wish I could convince him that he doesn't need to go.

My gaze shifts and connects with Anthony's. He smiles at me kindly. I force myself to smile back then glance away.

Colt speaks for another ten minutes before he excuses everyone. I step away from the door to let people by. As they do so, several of them stare at me in passing like they want to say something. Do they know what happened to me? My face reddens at the thought of everyone knowing my weaknesses.

I recognize Maisy as she walks toward the door, the Prime I met when I first arrived in New York. She was the one who told me that Primes shouldn't be protecting Originals if they’re just going to leave the island. Instead of going through the door, she stops, blocking anyone else from getting out.

"I just want to say thank you for what you did," she says. "It was very brave of you." She holds out her palm like she wants to shake hands with me, an action I've never seen a Prime initiate.

I stare at it in shock. "I didn't… I wasn't…"

"This feels really awkward holding my hand out like this, so could you just shake it already?" she asks, and grins.

I quickly do as she says, a swarm of emotions crowding the black space inside me.

The Prime after her, one I don't know, stops and does the same.

"Thank you," he says.

I weakly grip his hand, too dumfounded to say anything. More come after him, all giving their thanks. I begin to tremble and tears cloud my vision. I manage to contain it, but when the last Prime leaves I slump to the floor, shivering and tears flowing freely.

Colt, Anthony, Jenna and Link crowd around me. Anthony and Colt drop to the floor on each side of me. I can't look at either of them.

"What are they seeing?" I ask, my voice barely a whisper.

Anthony rests his warm palm on my back. "One of the strongest, bravest people they've ever met."

This makes me cry even harder.

Jenna lets out a long drawn out sigh. "You're killing me, Patch! A bunch of people just told you thank you and you're crying like a baby! I'll never understand you."

Anthony flashes her a deadly look, then looks back at me. "It may not be easy to feel special surrounded by people who seem so gifted, but there is no greater gift than to show love to others through your actions," Anthony says. "You volunteered to go to the Institute, not because you're trying to prove something, but because you care about your friends and even complete strangers. That is an attribute Primes are just learning. Just like I said you would all those months ago, you're going to change the world."

"But I'm no one," I say.

"You're someone to me," Colt whispers.

"And to me," Link adds, folding his arms across his chest.

"Ugh," Jenna moans. "We all like you, most of the time. So get up, dry those tears, and get ready to fight. We need to save your mother, remember?"

I wipe at my eyes, suddenly embarrassed. Jenna's right. I need to clear my head and focus.

Anthony straightens. "Come on, Link and Jenna. Let's leave these two alone so Colt can fill Sage in on what's supposed to happen."

Jenna snorts. "Yeah, I'm sure that's what he's going to do. Come on, Link. Let's go wrestle or something."

I can feel Link's eyes on me. After a few seconds, he nudges my foot. "I'll talk to you later, got it?"

I mumble "sure," then lower my head to my knees while they exit the lodge. Colt slides his hand over my back, gently rubbing up and down. "It may take awhile, but everything is going to be okay. You'll get through this."

I shake my head and whisper, "I feel broken."

He moves his hand to mine and grips it tightly. "Then we'll put you back together. Let me be the first piece. I promise it will be solid and immoveable. And with time, we'll find the other pieces until you discover the fire that I know still burns inside you."

"What do I do in the meantime? I don't want to feel like this."

"You have two choices. One, you can take a much-needed rest. Return to Eden, return to New York, wherever you want. I'll even go with you, if you like."

"What's the other option?"

"Fake it."

"What do you mean?"

"Have you heard the old phrase 'fake it til you make it'?"

I shake my head.

He shifts his position so he's kneeling right in front of me, his gaze burning into mine. "It means go through the motions. Do what you've always done, act the way you used to. Let your body remember your father's training, run through those scenarios, be that person that was fearless, kind, and compassionate. Inspire. Motivate. Serve. Remind us why we are doing all of this." His eyes circle the room.

"How do you know it will—"

"Because that’s how I've been living my life for the last six months, ever since I learned it from you. But I'm not faking it anymore. It's become a way of life for me, thanks to you."

My chest expands with a great breath, and I exhale. I don't know what to think. Just like my emotions, my thoughts are scattered too.
Fake it til I make it.
I say the words in my mind over and over. What would the old me do? The answer is immediate. She wouldn't be sitting on the floor. She would be figuring out how to get her mother and the other Originals out of Enfield. And she wouldn't waste a second of her time doing anything else.

I lift my eyes to meet his. "What can I do to help?"

He stands, taking me with him, but he doesn't let go of my hands. "I need to know about Enfield, every little detail you can remember. Link needs to memorize as much as he can before he goes in. He already knows the general layout of the compound, but we aren't sure about the inside of each building and what their functions are."

"I can give you that, but it's not necessary. Link doesn't need to go anymore. I'm going to do it."

He shakes his head vehemently. "There's no way. Not after what you just went through. Besides, like I already said, we voted. Link's going."

I let go of his hands. "But you just told me to fake it til I make it. This is me faking it."

"There are lots of other ways you can do this, but you can't put yourself back into immediate danger. Link will do a great job. He's highly skilled."

I stare at him for a few seconds until I realize I'm not going to win this one. "Fine. Get me something to write everything down with."

His shoulders drop like he's relieved. He was probably expecting me to put up a much bigger fight. "I'll be right back, and I'll snag Link too, if he survived being with Jenna."

He turns to leave, but I stop him. The old me wouldn't have let him go so easily. I reach up and press my palms on each side of his face before I pull him in for a kiss. He doesn't resist and lowers his lips until they press into mine. His mouth is warm and moves tenderly across my skin, kissing a little bit of the hurt away. He ends it much too soon.

"I could get used to this." He grins and gives me a quick kiss again. "I'll hurry."

I keep the smile on my face until he's gone, then it disappears. The kiss was wonderful, Colt is wonderful, but the hole is still there.
Fake it til you make it.

I turn around and scan the room. On the other side, near the projector Colt used earlier, are some items. Probably things he was showing to the group. I walk over to them and pick up the one that looks like a gun, but it's missing a trigger. Instead there's a button on top. I lower it and move on to the next one. It's black material. I shake out the folds, revealing a one piece uniform. A patch on the side reads IHRD.

The next item makes me freeze. It's small and round and looks very similar to the communication device Max gave to me. I wonder if it does the same thing. I set it back down, making a mental note to speak to Colt about it later.

The flat electronic screen he had been using earlier is still there. I press a button at the top, and large images fill the space in front of me. It's similar to the image of Enfield I saw earlier, but this time it appears to be live feed, as if there is a camera directly above the compound. There are several people walking around holding the same gun-like weapon next to me and wearing the same black uniforms. They must be guards.

From the outside, the compound doesn't look too bad. It's clean with small, well-trimmed trees lining the roads. There are even a couple of playgrounds, but not a single child plays on them, despite it being sunny. At the rear of the property, there are rows of small houses. They might've been nice once, but now several are in disrepair with porches shattered and roofs collapsed. A few even looked partially burned.
What happened?

"Does it match with what you know of Enfield?"

I look up. Colt is walking toward me with Link trailing behind.

"There are a couple of newer buildings here and here." I point at two tall structures standing next to each other. "Where are all the Originals?"

Link nods toward where I just pointed. "In there."

"From all the footage we've gathered," Colt says as he circles the image, "we've been able to determine that they are let out daily in small groups every hour. Guards let them walk around for about ten minutes and then they have to go back."