The Complete Pendomus Chronicles Trilogy: Books 1-3 of the Pendomus Chronicles Dystopian Scifi Boxed Set Series Page 7

  “That’s just what they want you to believe, brainless. Remember what we were just talking about? Besides, she wouldn’t have any idea. People inside do as they’re expected to do. They aren’t trained to search beyond the surface,” Kani says, rotating her spoon in little circles. “People are drones of society. They like to be told what to think rather than think for themselves.”

  Even to me, that was evident.

  “So, you gonna run back to Mommy and turn us in, then?” Kani’s accusatory tone resurfaces.

  Her words sting; she doesn’t know me, let alone my nonexistent relationship with my mother. Even if I did choose to go back, I would never bring up this group to her. There would be no point. She wouldn’t listen.

  “I won’t say anything, if that’s what you’re worried about,” I say. “Besides, I—I don’t want to go back.”

  Conflicted relief flickers across Kani’s face.

  “Why do you want to be out here, Kani?” I ask.

  “Because it’s better than the alternative,” she admits, taking another bite. “People inside don’t really have a life. They’re servants to the system, nothing more. They just don’t have the sense to realize it. At least out here, I’m in charge of my destiny. If I wanted to live in the Lateral, I could. If I want to live here, I can.”

  “C’mon. You’re no’ gonna eat any more o’ my soup? Try again. Make a guy feel special, would ya?” Fenton asks, pointing at my bowl.

  “What’s in this, anyway? It looks like mashed up tree bark.”

  “Probably better if ya don’t ’ave all the details,” he mumbles, stirring his own soup sheepishly.

  Kani’s head bobs up and down slowly.

  That’s not very comforting.

  “If our bodies respond better to—food,” I wave my hand in front of my soup, “what made us stop? Why create RationCaps at all?”

  “May ’ave something to do with tha supply,” Fenton explains. “Easy for us ta gather enough organic food fer our meals. Bu’ on a larger scale, tha’ would be next ta impossible on Pendomus. The hot side of tha planet burns up just abou’ anything edible, and the cold side ... well, no’ much can grow there, either. You ’ave ta be resourceful.”

  “Okay …”

  “Or, on a simpler level, by pushing RationCaps, they can control what everyone consumes,” Kani says, tossing down her hunk of bread. It bounces off her plate and rolls across the table.

  “But still, why would—” I begin.

  My stomach rolls, and my vision starts to blur in and out of focus. I shake my head, trying to clear the peculiar sensation away, but it doesn’t help. The light in the room tilts, and I put a hand to my mouth. “I don’t feel very—”

  Fenton’s voice is far away. “Uh—Kani, does she seem a l’il green ta ya?”

  “Already? She can’t be going through transition yet? We gotta get her to the allayroom—now,” Kani responds.

  Transition?

  Someone hoists my arms in the air, and my feet drag along the floor. The searing pain in my leg is no match for the nausea bubbling up, and I try my best not to be sick on both of them.

  Hushed whispers surround me…

  “I don’t get this”

  “This is way too early.”

  “What if she’s been on tha outside longer than we though’—”

  “I don’t like this. Not one bit.”

  Kani and Fenton lug me down the dimly lit tunnel toward a dark offshoot. The lights blur by in strange streaks, and it’s all I can do to keep my wits about me. They prop me up on my knees in front of an allay and back away. Without fail, I lean forward as all of the recent contents of my stomach abruptly hurl themselves back up.

  8

  Traeton

  I AM THE WORST HUMAN BEING EVER.

  I glance at the urgent message from Delaney.

  Ash tells me you’re having second thoughts about the mission. You need to regain some focus. We need you on this one, Traeton. Come see me if you need reminding on why.

  I swipe away the message and close my eyes. I should be focused on this upcoming mission. Or at least, getting my head in the game now that Runa’s awake. Instead, the more time I spend with her, the more I want to get to know her. Things are starting to get muddy and it’s only been a few hours with her. On top of everything, I have a million inappropriate images embedded in my mind, and no matter what I do, I can’t give them back. Worse yet—it’s not as if I hadn’t considered them all before I saw her naked—the curse of being a guy outside the Helix. She has no idea and as soon as she learns about this stuff, she’ll freak right out. Everyone does.

  Ash would have a field day. Fenton, too.

  Maybe the best thing for me—hell, her as well—is getting as far away from her as possible.

  I stand up from my rocky outcropping and meander back through the twists and turns of the cavern tunnels. It takes less time to return than it did to get away. Isn’t that ironic?

  Up ahead, Kani and Fenton are standing outside the allayroom, and Kani’s arms are flailing wildly.

  What the hell is she so excited over?

  My chest clenches, and I take off running. “Runa ... is she—?”

  Kani glares at me and sticks out her tongue. “Barfing up a lung? Yes.”

  My body relaxes. “Oh, is that all?”

  “Is that all? Are you kidding me, Trae? Her body shouldn’t be going into transition for another twenty-four hours by our calculations. Am I the only one who sees the problem here?” she says.

  “Maybe she’s been outside longer than we thought?” I offer.

  From the other side of the door, Runa heaves.

  “Yeck.” Fenton sticks out his tongue. “I don’t miss havin’ ta watch ya all go through tha’ a’ all.”

  I tip my head to the allayroom door and ask, “How much did she eat?”

  “Not enough to still be going,” Kani says. “Was I this bad?” Her eyes dart between the two of us. “Don’t answer that.”

  I smile. She wasn’t a pretty sight, either. Chartreuse would be an accurate description.

  “Trae’s righ’. Ya musta miscalculated on how long she’d been ou’ there,” Fenton says.

  “Doesn’t matter anyway,” I tell them. “The sooner Runa gets better, the sooner she can decide where she wants to go. Regardless, she can’t go back to the Helix. The Labots won’t let her back in now without an interrogation. Or worse.” My mind wanders back to my sister, Ava, and a shiver runs up my spine. “Alina will help her.”

  Fenton’s eyes narrow, “Why ya want ’er outta here so bad all of a sudden? You’re not still plannin’ on leavin’ with Ash, are ya?”

  “Yeah, Fenton, I am. I’m the only one who makes sense to send out into the field. And it’s not that I want her out of here.” Though, if I was honest with myself, the thought of Runa here alone with Fenton doesn’t sit well with me at all. “It’s just—she has—she seems more a Lateral type to me. Besides, Kani doesn’t want her here.”

  Kani cocks an eyebrow and a lopsided grin sneaks across her face.

  “What?” I glare back.

  Fenton tilts his head and stares at me through the bottom edge of his glasses. “So, if she decided ta stay, you’re not against the idea?”

  “She can do whatever she wants.” I shrug nonchalantly.

  “Well, tha’s good, ’cause I wanna convince ’er ta stay wit’ us,” he pats me on the chest and winks. “Ya can thank me later.”

  “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, boys.” Kani props herself against the cavern wall and continues, “She’s not in the position to give a crap about staying or going when she’s heaving up everything she ever ingested. At the rate she’s going, she’ll be closing in on her momma’s breast milk soon.”

  I snort. As if that could even happen. No one in the Helix nurses babies.

  Fenton opens his mouth to say something, but the door to the allayroom swings open. Runa’s face is devoid of color, and she’s visibly shaking as
she holds the door for balance.

  “Are you okay?” I ask, taking a step toward her.

  Kani shakes her head and chuckles.

  I ignore her and keep my eyes trained on the white-haired girl in front of me. Runa sways, and I close the distance to pick her up before she passes out. The second I have her, she sinks into me, completely relaxed.

  This is starting to feel way too familiar. Hell, it’s almost comfortable.

  Still leaning against the wall, Kani says, “She’s going to go through the fever next. Best thing for her is rest. We gotta pump her full of fluids.”

  Fenton snickers to my left and hunches forward, his hand over his mouth. “Pump her wit summin’.”

  My eyelids slam shut, and my face flushes. “Fenton,” I groan.

  Kani rolls her eyes and says, “I’ll find something for her to drink.”

  “Oh, right. Drink,” Fenton snickers.

  A mischievous glint emerges from the depths of Fenton’s brown eyes as he stares at me. “Kani, all things considered, love, I think you an’ I should share a bed. Don’t ya think?”

  “What?” she utters, confusion crossing her face.

  “Runa can sleep on my bed,” Fenton says. His eyes cross over from her to me. “Should be more comfortable than tha bench she’s been on.”

  “So?” Kani snorts.

  I stand frozen, slack jawed.

  I see where this is going. Fenton hasn’t overly wanted me to go with Ash from the beginning and he’s seen an opening. Not to mention, he loves any chance at making me uncomfortable.

  Fenton’s smirk widens at my recognition. “Tha’ll work ... right, Trae?”

  I swallow hard in response. He knows me way to well.

  Sighing in defeat, Kani says, “Be sure to change the bedding. Who knows the last time that lump of fabric has been washed.” Shuddering, she takes off toward her bedroom. “Then again, why do I care? Do what you want.”

  The wattage of Fenton’s grin is so bright, we could use it to light the entire Haven. When Kani is safely out of earshot, he says, “I’m no’ blind, an’ certainly no’ stupid. Do ya think I can’t see tha way ya look at ‘er?”

  “So what? Is there a law against it? Besides, you look at her, too. Don’t say you don’t.”

  “Yeah, bu’ fer some reason, ya feel the need ta defend yerself about it and I’m tryin’ ta figure ou’ why. Runa’s awesome, I won’t lie. But when ‘ave you ever known me ta hurt tha girl I’m with by bein’ with another one?”

  I raise my eyebrows, knowingly.

  “Okay, except tha’ one time. Doesn’t count,” he waves his hands dismissively, “Tha’s not tha point. Tha point is, Kani gets me. I dunno why, but she does. And as much as I think Runa’s got some amazing womanage goin’ on, I’m not gonna hurt either o’ them. ‘Sides, Kani’d stab me dead in my sleep.”

  I nod in agreement.

  “Furthermore, I ain’t about ta go traipsing in on my bes’ friend’s source a infatuation.” He raises his eyebrows and glances at Runa’s limp body. “When were ya supposed ta leave?”

  “Twenty-four hours, well less, now.”

  Fenton tips his chin toward Runa. “She’d be devastated.”

  “You don’t know that.” I start walking down the corridor toward our room. “She’s so new— There’s so much she doesn’t—”

  “I’m telling’ ya, something’s stirrin’ wit her. She’s diggin’ ya as much as I see ya diggin’ her. Yer always off on missions, searchin’ fer summin’. Wha’ if it’s her—an’ ya just gotta give ’er time?”

  “That’s a bit presumptuous.” I snicker.

  “Nah. Tha’s one possible hypothesis, an’ jus’ as likely as any other ya migh’ cook up.” He follows along side me and pats my shoulder. When we enter our room, Fenton immediately goes to his bed and strips away the jumbled mess of blue fabric covering mostly the floor.

  “Ya know, why didn’t I think a this sooner?” he says, throwing everything into a heap next to him.

  “Dunno,” I mumble. My thoughts revolving around possibilities and varying futures only Fenton knows how to make a person consider.

  With a flick of his wrists, the new fabric for the bed flutters open. Fenton haphazardly tucks in the edges and grunts, “I dunno how ya’ve managed all these years, I really don’t. Off galavanting tha planet an’ other such nonsense. Yer practically impervious to tha power a women.”

  I glance down at Runa’s sleeping form. Oddly enough, the scabs on her eye don’t seem as angry as they had before and the color is slowly returning to her face.

  Especially to her lips …

  Oh, yeah. Impervious, all right.

  Fenton finishes replacing the covers and steps aside with a flourish of his hands. “The bed ... is remade.”

  I laugh at his idiotic behavior and step forward to lie Runa down. She barely seems to notice the change but moans softly when she sinks into the pillow. I tuck her in, pulling the quilt up to her chin, and take a seat beside her. Her white hair seems to glow against the dark blue pillowcase. I sweep a few strands caught in her healing skin and I gently push them aside. Droplets of perspiration pearl across her forehead, and I place my hand on her burning skin.

  “An’ ya wanna leave.” Fenton says, his watchful eye trained on me.

  “I … I just wanna make sure she’s doing okay.”

  “Is tha’ all?” Fenton asks, his smile sliding into one of triumph.

  “That’s all. Dammit. I just—we just met her, Fenton,” I reply.

  He grunts, and the middle of his eyebrows upturn. “Tha’ doesn’t mean nuthin’.”

  “Well, it should,” I fire back.

  Kani walks in with a small box in her arms and sets it on the night table between the two beds. “Water. It has added electrolytes, so when she wakes up, give her some,” she tells me. Her eyes rest on Runa, and she lets out a soft sigh. “She may not be as bad as I originally feared. Doesn’t mean I like her, though. And sure as hell doesn’t mean I want her lurking around.”

  “She’s no’ tha’ bad, Kani,” Fenton protests.

  “Regardless, Trae’s right. She’ll do better with Alina,” Kani says, “and we need more medical supplies now. Fenton and I can make the trek. Then we can stop by and ask Alina what she’d like us to do.”

  “Good idea. That would be great, Kani, thanks.” I tell her.

  Kani tips her head in acknowledgement and grabs Fenton by the hand. “We’ll head out in a couple minutes. I, for one, need to finish eating, since we sort of came to a screeching halt with all the puking going on. Still can’t believe she’s going through transition so soon.”

  “Everyone’s a little different,” I offer.

  She gives Runa a once-over, “Some more than others.”

  My eyes return to Runa. For me, being different’s not a bad thing.

  Sighing, I follow the two of them to the kitchen. From the stovetop, I fill a bowl and take a seat. Fenton’s soups are the best.

  “Mushroom chowder? I love this one,” I tell Fenton, shoving a spoonful into my mouth.

  “Can ya believe she didn’t like my soup?” Fenton says indignantly. “How do ya no’ like this?”

  “Well, I like it.” I take another big bite and savor the taste. If I leave with Ash, it will be months before I get a meal like this. Universe knows, I can’t cook.

  We sit in silence for a while, enjoying our food. No talking. No arguments. Everyone seems to be wrapped up in his or her own thoughts.

  Even Fenton quietly scarfs down a second bowl before speaking up. “I dunno wha’ tha two of ya are so afraid of, ya know.”

  “I’m not afraid of anything,” I say, probably a bit too quickly.

  Kani wrinkles her nose. “We don’t need another person messing things up. You two are enough to contend with.”

  “C’mon, guys. Tha’s it? Really? Tha’s all ya got? Wha’ if I just walked on by when I saw ya and yer family in the woods, Trae? Or you, Kani? Wha’ makes ’er so d
ifferent tha’ ya wanna dump ’er off?”

  “What’s wrong with the Lateral? As I recall, we all started out there,” I say.

  “Yeah, but it migh’ be nice ta ’ave ’er ’round,” Fenton counters, dropping his spoon into his bowl. “Once the RationCaps are flushed, and ’er moods regulate, tha’ is.”

  Kani snickers. “That’ll be hell. As it is, we have her injuries to deal with. When her hormones spike, she’s going to be like a pregnant lady on whack. Besides, what’s in it for you?”

  Fenton wiggles his eyebrows and says, “Wha’s wrong wit wantin’ another sexy beast in our band of studs?”

  Kani shakes her head and pops a piece of bread into her mouth. “Oh, please.”

  “Guys, I don’t know why we need to go around and around about this. Let’s just talk to Alina and get her take on things. Nothing wrong with inquiring, right?” I say.

  “Right,” Kani snaps back.

  “Fine. But I’m no’ gonna give up tha’ easy,” Fenton adds.

  “I didn’t expect you would.” I chuckle.

  Shortly after eating, Kani and Fenton set off for the Lateral and everything in the Haven becomes eerily silent.

  I stay nearby, in case Runa wakes up, which could be anytime. Unfortunately, I don’t have a whole lot I can do, and I sure as hell don’t wanna be stuck alone with my mind. Aimlessly, my fingertips trace the desk beside my bed. My woodcarving tools and my beat-up copy of Across the Multiverse all lay where I last left them. I really should be packing them up so I’m ready to go. I glance at my watch. A little over fourteen hours.

  At least I haven’t gotten another reminder message from Delaney.

  I pace back and forth in my bedroom, sneaking glances of Runa more often than I should.

  I need a new book.

  Reading the written word is an acquired taste, but I love it. The eLink breaks concepts down, gives you the words without needing to view them, but everything is more abstract. Thank goodness Fenton’s a good teacher.

  Kneeling down in front of my shelf, I stare into the sea of colors and vertical spines. I stand for a few minutes before I realize I’m not even taking in their titles.