Heightened: The Federation Series (24 page)

“I have to check you for trackers,” he says.

He places my hand on a receptor. It only takes a moment for him to find the program. He calls for a man to come and take care of it.

“Someone has been keeping an eye on you?” he says, “any ideas?”

“Adam?” I think about it. “No one else cares.”

“I don’t think it’s your fiancé,” the man says. “It’s primitive but very sophisticated. Benson would have had a professional program you.”

Who else? I think about Chris and his friends. He’s saved me twice. He just showed up when I’ve needed him. But I don’t know him. Who could he be working for? I don’t mention them; I need to maintain some of my, secretes. I might need help.

“While we wait for Benson’s answer,” he says, “I have a use for you.”

“What’s your name?” I ask.

He pauses for a moment.

“Getting kind of personal, aren’t you?” he says.

“You know my name,” I say.

He laughs, “Ian Black.”

“Well, Ian,” I sigh. “It’s nice to meet you.”

I leave with him. We’re going topside and then to the North City. He has business there, and he thinks I might come in handy.

He has a car waiting. We go alone. I look out the window as we pass the city limits. I’ve never left the East; I’ve always wanted to leave, but now it seems unreal. It’s dark outside of the city. We go through farmland and empty areas. It takes almost an hour before I see the lights of the North City.

It’s not as big as the East city, but that’s because the East City is the port to the rest of the Federation. All trade and all business are run out of the East.

“The lights of the city are beautiful,” he says. “Don’t let them deceive you. You seem impressionable by appearances.”

“I can take care of myself,” I say.

“Not here,” he says. “You need to stay with me. Where we’re going is dangerous, and I need you in one piece if I’m going to get any money from Benson.”

“What are we doing?” I ask. “I don’t know how I can possibly help you.”

“I need you as a decoy, a distraction.” He says. “If you listen to me, you’ll be okay. We’re meeting Dante Rizzio.”

“Really,” I laugh.

“Again, don’t let the name fool you,” he says sternly. “He’s a dealer.”

“Of what,” I ask?

“Anything, anyone needs,” he says. “He finds it and delivers it for a fee and he is loaded.”

“Money means little in the Federation,” I say.

“He doesn’t just deal with the Federation,” he says. “He deals with the Unders, Rebels, and every country around. He’s from Canada, but he travels around and right now he’s here, and I need him.”

“So what is my part?”

“You just need to look pretty,” he smiles at me. “I’ll do the rest.”

“You can see, right?” I say. “I’m a mess.”

“What, your face?” he says. “That’s nothing. We can fix you up.”

We arrive at a large building with lights and a lot of vehicles. It’s similar to the Galleria, but everyone is dressed in formal wear. We pull up and stop underneath a large covered area and in front of a wall of glass. There’s a set of massive doors, and a man is holding one of them open and greeting people as they arrive.

“Are we at a hotel,” I ask?

“I take it; you don’t get out much?” he laughs. “This is the Grand Chester, one of the oldest hotels in Eleven.”

“It’s amazing,” I say.

He helps me out of the car and takes my hand as we walk into the massive lobby. We stand in line. He pulls me tight against him, as a man walks past.

“You are my wife,” he says. “We are celebrating my birthday. I uploaded all the information you need when we de-bugged you.”

“Great,”
I think. If only he knew how messed up my system is and how difficult it is for me to access my files. I just smile at him, afraid to tell him.

He gives me a kiss on the cheek and turns his attention to the man behind the desk. I’m looking around the lobby. I’ve never seen anything like it before.

I feel a nudge; I turn to him, “yes?”

“Your hand,” he looks to a receptor.

“Oh,” I say. I hesitate for a second and then place my hand on it.

There is a brief moment of panic that runs through my body and mind. I can feel my heart race and my head swirl. I’m thankful that he has a firm grip on my waist because I feel like I might just tumble over.

“Enjoy your stay,” the clerk hands him a key and we walk away.

“You’re acting too nervous,” he says. “We’re supposed to be having fun.”

“I’m sorry,” I say.

He’s still holding me. I scan the room. I notice the man that walked past us, in the corner; he’s staring right at me. I turn back to Anthony and lean in and kiss his cheek. He squeezes my side and turns me to face him. He looks over my shoulder quickly but draws his attention back to me. He smiles and kisses me on the lips. I can feel his hand on the small of my back.

I don’t resist. I think of Quinn, and that frightens me more than anything. I hope all my efforts will keep him safe. I need to convince Ian that I am on his side.

He pulls me tight. I bring my arms up his back and rest them on his shoulders. I can feel his guns, one under each arm. He pulls back and looks at me, and then over my left shoulder. He’s noticed the man too.

Our room is fabulous. It’s finished with the finest furnishings and there’s a balcony that overlooks the city. I step out onto it and gaze. My heart is heavy. I look over the side, and I think it might be a nice way to die. I could lose myself in the view; the lights from the city and the stars above.

I turn and look into the room, Ian’s talking on the phone. He looks up at me and smiles. I wonder what his plan is for me and what will happen if I allow myself to pretend that this is real, that we are here as a married couple, happy and in love and not controlled by the Federation laws.

He is broken, just as I am. We can feel; we can love, hurt and hate. I think about Quinn. He can feel more than the average Federation citizen, but only the senses and emotions that are allowed, all the others are dulled.

Is that why he was able to make the decision to reset and give up on me? I can’t hide my emotions any longer. I’ve been doing it for a long, time and I’m tired. I want to live. I want to be free.

I smile at Ian. If it were a different situation; if he hadn’t murdered my friend, maybe I could love him. Maybe I belong here because I know I don’t, belong top side or any place in the Federation.

A life of crime, who would have thought me, with my perfect scores and heritage, would end up here.

He puts down the phone, and he walks towards me. I realize that I’m staring at him like a school girl. I straighten and avert my eyes as he approaches. I lean against the rail, hanging on with both hands.

“You need to get changed,” he says. “We have a party to go to.”

“Why,” I ask. I need to know. “Why irritate the Federation? What does it do for your cause?”

“We need to be a thorn in their side,” he says. “We are forced to hide in the Under, with little rations and no services. But we are the lucky ones because we are still part of the Federation, unlike the banished.”

“I didn’t even know that the Under existed until the night Marcus was killed,” I say. “What’s the difference?”

“Between the Under and the Wastelands?” he asks. “We are considered useful. We run the mines, the power stations, the sewers. We are slaves to the Federations.”

“But you’re not online?” I say. “They can’t control you.”

“They control us,” he says,” they starve us, take our healthy citizens; they trade us and exploit us.”

“What about the wastelands?”

“The rebels have strongholds, but it’s wild and dangerous,” he says. “It is chaos…you wouldn’t survive. Most people are willing to take their chances with the Federation, than risk the dangers of the wastelands.”

I don’t say anything. He steps closer to me.

“I’m not sure what your plans are, but you can stay,” he slides his hands around my shoulders and pulls me close. “I can protect you.”

“Have you heard from Adam?” I push away from him.

“Still holding out for your freedom?” he says.

“He won’t care,” I say, “nobody cares about me.”

“So what are you going to do?” he asks. “Where are you going to go…the wastelands?”

“I want to be free,” I say, but I have no intentions to go to the wastelands. There is only one way to be completely free, and that’s death.

“If that’s your choice,” he shrugs, “but it’s a shame.”

“You’re different than I expected,” I say. “What happened to ruthless and cold?”

“You haven’t given me a reason to show you that side of me yet,” he says. “But if you betray me; I will kill you and everyone you care about, and it won’t be quick, and it won’t be pleasant.”

I look into his eyes, and he is telling the truth. He scares me and entices me, in a mix of heat and hatred. He pulls me to him, and he kisses me hard. I lean my head back, revealing my neck; he kisses me gently below my ear, my shoulder, just above my heart.

I look up at the stars. I close my eyes and think of Quinn. I think we once shared a night full of stars; I can see it in my head, but I don’t know if it’s real.

Each kiss draws me deeper. He’s a promise of freedom, a promise that I will finally be able to rest and finally be able to save Quinn. My mind shifts from pleasure to pain, as I remember Quinn with his hands around my neck; the same neck that Ian is kissing, making feel desired and safe.

I open my eyes, and I am no longer looking at the stars. I search the darkness between their light, hoping for answers, wishing for peace. I make a promise to forgive him. As soon as I’m done helping Ian; I will return to my orchard, and I will finally find peace, the only way I know how.

I try to open my eyes. My right one is swelled shut. The room is dark, except for the outline of light around a doorway. I roll onto my back, and a sharp pain shoots through my body. I feel my chest and my ribs. I’m sure a few of them are broken. I try to sit up, but I can’t; the pain is intense. I try to breathe, but each inhalation sends my lungs into an excruciating spasm.

Numbness takes over, and I drift into darkness. My mind searches for something. I can feel it near, but I can’t see it or touch it. I run, but I cannot feel my feet upon the ground. I hear words drift down to me from someplace above. I listen, until all I can feel are the words, but I do not know what they are saying to me. Then they are faint, and all I can feel is my heart bursting against my chest, taking over every part of me until all I am is the beat. A shadow crosses in front of me. I see it dance against the moonlight. I know it, it feels safe and free. I run after it, around a corner and into the woods. I hear it, as it prances amongst the trees. I feel it as it swirls around me, touching every part of me. I come to an empty area; there’s nothing but me and my emotions. I can taste them, touch them, and smell them; they are sweet and pure. I open my eyes, and I see the tree. I sit under its branches and wait. I will wait until I can no longer wait until the days cease and the nights consume me. I will never give up on the feeling. It is all that I am and nothing more. I lean against the rough bark and look straight up into the branches. The moonlight shines down, and I feel alone. I look for the shadow, but the light has gone. A cold fog wraps itself around me, and I feel myself slipping. I hear it; it’s searching for me. I try to call out to it, but I am lost. I hear its voice, it’s worried, it’s sad, it’s frightened. I tell it I’m safe and to come to me, but it cannot hear me. It’s drifting, fading away. I call her name. I hear myself say it. I hear her words as they find my ear, but it is too late. I am lost.

A hard blow wakes me, and I moan in pain. I can’t see anything, but I am choking up blood; I can taste it.

“Get up!” another blow to my ribs.

I can’t move. I’m ready to die. I close my eyes; I want to fall asleep, find her in my dreams.

“You’re not getting out of it that easy,” the voice is cruel, “pick him up and bring him to the infirmary. We need to patch him up so I can beat some more.”

I can feel them carrying me, each movement causes blinding pain. I vomit. I close my eyes and beg death to take me.

When I wake up again, I’m in a bed. I look around the room. I still only can see out of one eye. I’m hooked up to a machine and an I.V. I feel pain but it is tolerable. I look down at my chest; I’m wrapped up in bandages, all around my middle. I have no clothes on. I look around the room. My pants are on a chair. I try to stand up but fall back to the bed.

“How are you feeling?” another voice; this one is soft and sweet.

I open my eyes. My vision is blurry. I see a shadow with dark hair framing a pale face. I squint. I reach out for her. Something grabs my hand, and I close my eyes, hoping for darkness to take me again.

I hear the soft voice, “Why did you do that?”

“Emma,” I whisper. They ignore me.

“He is dangerous,” a deeper voice speaks. “Don’t let him touch you.”

“He can hardly move,” again the soft voice, “he’s so close to death. Why keep him alive?”

“We need him,” the deep voice is sharp and cold.

“Is he awake?” a different voice, a male but smaller.

Someone shakes me.

“Open your eyes,” the small, male voice.

I obey. I see them. I look at the women; she is not the one I seek. Her eyes are dull and brown. I can’t remember the face, but I will never forget the eyes, icy blue, deep and dark.

“Is the receptor ready?” the deep voice says. “I need him to feel pain, fear, loss, and every other emotion.”

Someone picks up my hand and sets it gently on the receptor. It must have been the soft voice; the women. I look at her. I see pity in her eyes.

“I want him heightened,” says the small male voice.

I can feel myself ooze with fear.

“That’s interesting,” the man says, “he’s already heightened.”

“A broken Defense officer,” another man says. “He won’t be worth anything.”

“I’m going to be short and sweet,” the small male voice says. “We have her and we’re going to kill her, as soon as she is no longer is useful to our cause.”

“Why,” I ask?

“Here’s your last chance to be the hero,” he says. “If you give us your access codes; I promise to shot her in the head and not pass her around to each and every jackass in the Under.”

“I don’t believe you,” I say. “I think she’s already dead.”

“And you’re willing to take that chance?” he says. “I guess I was wrong about you. I think I will have my turn with her, as soon as she gets back from the North City. Black took her for a test run…bait for Rizzio.”

“No!” I sit up and try to swing at him by I collapse in pain.

He doesn’t miss; he hits me square in the jaw. I groan in pain.

“Oh yeah,” he says. “She should be wrapped tight against him right now…I heard he’s rough: breaking and cutting. I wonder if she’s thinking of you; if your face is all that is keeping her sane.”

I jump up, ignoring all the pain. I throw myself at him; hitting him with every ounce of energy that I can manage. I knock him over, and he lands hard on the floor.

He gets up, and all I remember is his fist, coming right at my face.