Shadowmarked, p.14
ShadowMarked, page 14
We stepped into the foyer, keeping our heads down. I had a long green jacket on with a high collar pulled up to my chin. It flowed down past my knees to the high-heeled boots the woman had shoved on my feet. I struggled to walk in them and had to cling to Theo’s arm so I didn’t fall.
Theo was in a dark grey coat, and they’d outfitted him with gloves and a scarf. Two attendants at the front desk of the lobby were talking to some guys I recognized immediately as men of the North. By the front door, a small bar was packed with people. A few noticed the strangers walking through the lobby as we made our way towards the front door, but there was a smash of glass crashing to the floor, and each patron turned to find a woman bursting out with laughter over her clumsy act. She, too, looked familiar.
We reached the door and it slid open. As we’d been told, a small shuttle waited out front and the toothless grin of a tall lanky man I knew was one of Gustov’s men was smiling back at us.
“Right this way.” He held out an arm for me to step into the shuttle.
Theo sat down beside me as the door closed, and the man stepped into the pilot’s seat. Everything happened so fast. One minute the shuttles were right behind us, the next we were being whisked away by the men of the North.
“Where to?” The man winked. “Only kidding.”
The shuttle took off, and we circled around to the south before heading north and landing just outside of the building we’d been staying in.
Once we landed, we stood as the shuttle doors slid open. The icy wind swept in and stung my exposed skin. Theo stepped onto the concrete and offered his hand. As much as I wanted to hop down on my own, these heeled boots mixed with my throbbing leg wouldn’t allow it. I reached past his hand for his shoulders. He gripped my waist and guided me off the shuttle.
Theo’s expression softened as he grasped my hand, and we trekked to the old warehouse.
The driver followed alongside us and I asked, “How did you guys do that?”
“We have a talent for knowing when we’re needed, Miss.” The man reached the broken door hidden behind a dumpster leading to the warehouse. The few buildings surrounding this place were dark and not a sound came from anywhere nearby. He held open the door and gave another toothless grin. “And a little flare for the dramatics.”
JAYLA
“Now you’ve done it.” Simon paced across the dirt-filled floor of the warehouse. His long hair had come out of its tie and made him look even more furious than he already was. “I told you it was a bad idea.”
“Just relax,” Em hissed. “Since when are you so uptight?”
“Since they likely have orders to kill me on sight,” Simon yelled, throwing his hands up. “And the second they find out where we are—and they will find out—we’ll be dead before this mission even began.”
“My men were careful getting back here—” Gustov began.
“Not careful enough.” Simon whirled on him.
“You’re being a tad dramatic, even for you.” Em rolled her eyes. “And didn’t you take Jayla out just a few days ago? You think you’re better than they are—is that what you’re saying, Simon?” She had one leg slung over the arm of an old, moth-eaten chair, fiddling with her knife. I sat quietly across from her.
Theo and Sienna were a few feet away, the latter with her arms crossed and a glare aimed at Simon. He’d already let them have it. Screaming the second they arrived with the men of the North about how he knew they’d somehow screw this up. I had to give them both credit, because neither backed down nor cowered from the verbal lashing Simon laid out.
“That’s exactly what I’m saying,” Simon growled.
“Hey now.” Gustov took a step towards Simon, his cheeks jiggling with each step. “Don’t insult my men’s capabilities.”
“Haven’t you heard not to bite the hand that feeds, Simon?” I asked, leaning back into the worn couch. A spring dug into my back, but I kept my face impassive. “Your friends here might not be so understanding if you keep treating them like shit.”
Simon waved a dismissive hand.
“We were careful,” Sienna said. “And I’m sure no one saw us get into the shuttle that brought us here.”
“Oh, you’re sure, are you?” Simon stepped towards Sienna, but Theo blocked his path. “Just remember that when you guys are taken in and can’t get that little friend of yours back.”
Sienna’s face hardened, and she clenched her jaw. Theo looked ready to throw a punch, but Caspian stepped in. “That’s enough, Simon.”
Simon let out a little growl before he plopped down into a wooden desk chair with a thud.
“It’ll all be fine,” Caspian said just as a door into the warehouse slammed open at the far end of the room.
“What the hell were you guys thinking?” Officer Cortez, one of Commander Reyes’s Watchers, stormed towards us. “We just got word of genetic kids spotted in Cytos. The entire damn city is out looking for them.”
“It’s good to see you, Cortez,” I said smoothly.
His beady eyes narrowed, and his stocky neck tensed with rage. “I haven’t spent the last four weeks risking my own life to get you information just so you can screw it up the first week you’re here.”
Simon hadn’t mentioned who his inside man was at city hall, but it would seem he’d known which one of Commander Reyes’s men would still be loyal to her and willing to help us.
“I told you this is a royal screw up,” Simon said.
I let out a small breath of air and leaned forward, pressing my elbows against my thighs. “How did you expect us to get into city hall with three genetic kids without raising a few questions?” The group went silent. “Now we have our way in.” I shrugged.
“You knew we were going to be seen the entire time?” Sienna asked.
I nodded.
“And you didn’t think to warn anyone?” Theo added.
“It had to be believable. If anyone thought this was a set up, then we really would be in trouble.”
Simon looked like he was ready to toss the table while Cortez was likely planning the same thing, but Em and Caspian both wore smiles.
“Now what?” Gustov asked.
“They’ll be sweeping the north within the hour. We’ve been ordered to check every residence and every building,” Cortez said.
“Then I guess we’d better get going.” I winked. Standing, I walked over to Simon and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t underestimate me, Simon. It just makes you look bad.”
Simon shrugged off my hand, cursing my name under his breath.
It wasn’t perfect, but Em had managed to cut my hair with a dull pair of scissors she found in one of the desks attached to her room. It was now just below my shoulders and she had added a few shorter layers by my face to hide my features as best she could. I wasn’t about to fool those who knew me best, but I might get away with it long enough to get those kids out. I hoped I would anyways.
She’d also added dye to my hair, making it look dark black with subtle hints of purple throughout. The last touch was contact lenses to change the color of my eyes. Caspian had to do the same. That was the only change making me feel different. My soft brown eyes had always reminded me of my mom… now they were dark blue with hints of purple.
“Ready?” Caspian asked, stepping up behind me. He watched me in the mirror, taking in my new look, his own a bit foreign to me. “You still look just as beautiful as always.”
I rolled my eyes with a mock groan, and he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into his chest.
“We’ll get through this. It’ll be quick, and we’ll be fine, all of us will be.”
I nodded, wanting to believe him, but still feeling a tug in my chest slowly building again. Breathe, just breathe, I recited. It helped. Cas pulled back, and I looked up into his now dark brown eyes. It was funny how one small change could make him look so different, but his teal blue eyes had always been unusual and unique. I already missed them.
“We’ll be fine,” I repeated.
“And we’re going to be late if you two don’t stop making out,” Em said from the door as she passed by with a smirk.
Cas stuck up his middle finger to the back of Em, who somehow saw it coming and yelled back, “One more time, Cas, and I’ll break that finger.”
I was nearly ready to leave but knew there was one more thing to do. “Em, we need to talk,” I said.
She stopped, glancing over her shoulder at us. I’d told Caspian about Em’s sister. We both agreed it’d be better for Em to know what was going on than to keep her in the dark, but still I’d waited until the last minute to tell her. She made her way back to my room while Caspian slid out, ignoring the suspicious glare Em gave him as he passed.
“I’ll let the team know we’re nearly ready,” he said and closed the glass door.
Em stood in front of it, her arms crossed and a scowl on her face. “What is it?”
“Simon showed me something that I think you deserve to see, too,” I said, pulling out the Linked projector from my pocket. I placed it on the desk beside us. “I debated not telling you, because we all need to be focused right now—”
“But you knew I’d find out eventually and be pissed that you didn’t tell me?” Em finished.
I nodded. “Something like that.”
“Go on then.” Em waved a hand to the desk.
I let out a breath before pressing the button to play the video. I didn’t watch the image moving over the desk like a miniature hologram; I only watched Em. Her eyebrows knit together, trying to understand what she was seeing before they widened with recognition. She leaned in, and I knew she was talking in every little detail I’d likely missed the first time. Her sister was identical to her in every way but their eyes. Em’s sister’s were entirely black in this image.
“When was this taken?” Em asked as she replayed the video.
“Three years ago.”
Only a slight flinch was any indication Em heard me. All her attention focused on her sister.
“Do they know where she is now? If she’s still alive?”
I shook my head.
“You should have showed me this as soon as you got it,” Em said, though her voice held less condemnation than her words.
“I know,” I replied. She was right, I should have showed her right away, but I was worried what it would do to her.
Em’s face was neutral, her eyes scanning the video for a third time.
“Whatever they did to her, it’s what they’re using the genetic kids for,” I said softly. Em finally met my gaze. “Simon said they’re a second wave, a more elite army to defeat the Reeks.”
“Have any been seen outside of this video?”
“No.”
“Good.” Em let out a breath and turned off the Linked projector. “That means we still have time. She was likely one of the first test subjects if they still haven’t sent any out in the years since this.”
“I’m not sure if she’s still alive or if she’ll be there, but I also don’t know what they’ve turned her into, Em.” I rested my hand on her shoulder. “They could use her as a weapon against us… I just wanted you to be prepared.”
Em nodded, handing me back the Linked projector. I tucked it into my pocket. “Thank you for showing me this,” she said, her voice tighter than usual. “We better get going.”
I nodded, putting on the grey Cytos Guard jacket. Gustov had provided everything we needed, and I was grateful to have his help. I secured the buttons and smoothed my hand down the front over the embroidered star insignia over my left breast. My fingers peeked out of the sleeves, inches longer than it should be, but it would work.
Em kept her head high and didn’t show any sign what she’d just learned rattled her as I knew it had. She was a professional, and I trusted her to not let this affect the mission.
We walked down the narrow set of stairs where everyone was already gathered. As I moved, I checked my weapons. I had to leave my usual gear behind, including Azreal, which I hid in mine and Caspian’s small room. Too many other Watchers would recognize it, and it wasn’t worth the risk, even if leaving my gun behind felt wrong. I felt for the two knives stashed inside the jacket, another secured to the inside of my boot. The standard Cytos Guard pistols were on both hips, and I ran my hand over the extra clips attached to my belt.
Em had changed into worn jeans and a jacket with holes in both elbows and was pulling her hair into a messy twist of a bun as we approached. Smudge marks meant to resemble blood and dirt marred her cheeks. Anyone who knew Em would expect her to put up a fight before she was caught, and we were all aware every Watcher we met would know who Em was. Gustov had provided us a location where Em, Sienna, and Theo would say they hid. If anyone went to investigate, they’d find supplies and food there.
Theo and Sienna were waiting in the warehouse room on the main floor, both covered in fake dirt and blood just like Em was.
“You know, if we want to really make this believable, you should probably have a few bruises on your face, too… I’m not likely to go down without a fight.” Em smirked.
“Are you trying to make this more believable, or get back at me for not showing you that video sooner?”
Em shrugged. “Bit of both.” She took a step towards me, and I gave her a warning glare.
“Don’t you dare,” I said through clenched teeth.
Em took another step forward. “What? Just evening the score.”
I took off before she reached me, sprinting past a bewildered Simon and nearly knocking over Cortez as I rounded the table he sat at.
“You two are a couple of children,” Caspian called after us, and I couldn’t help the smile spreading on my face. It’s what Em and I were good at, distracting each other before we went into a mission that could get us killed. Even if she was mad at me for not telling her and confused at what this all meant, she would make sure we both got there and back safely, so we had time to work it out together when we had a chance.
I tried not to think this might be the last time we got to do something like this. Breathe, just breathe.
CASPIAN
It didn’t take long for us to reach city hall. The five of us set out on our own, leaving the men of the North and Simon to hold their breath and hope no one was caught. The tracker Em had put in the back of my calf itched. It was unlikely anyone would look somewhere like that, but it didn’t really matter because the trackers were undetectable, so it’d just be a tiny incision if anyone saw.
City hall was the only building still lit up with neon lights like the rest of Cytos once was. Many buildings still had pockets of lights floating from the windows, but the life of Cytos was in the lights outside—it was dead just like the streets were. Instead of the usual advertisements and city wide bulletins, warnings scrolled across the screens and windows of the tall building. All Carbons must report to the city guards immediately or risk disciplinary actions. We all knew what the discipline would be—death.
As we approached the large building, encased in black glass so you couldn’t see into it, I released a breath. Tall wood doors stretched out at the top of a wide set of stairs, and I noted a few Cytos guards stationed around the building. Jayla and I wore the same uniforms as they did, but still we only managed one pace before they stopped us. I froze mid-step as a spotlight flashed down on us, and at least ten guns were aimed at our heads.
“Identify yourselves,” a guard ordered.
“We’ve found the genetic kids who were seen earlier,” Jayla said. “We’ve come to take them for processing.”
The guards at the top of the stairs hesitated before finally waving us up. I shoved Theo in the back, causing him to stumble a bit harder than I intended, but I kept a scowl firm on my face.
Jayla kept her gun out and nudged Sienna and Em to follow Theo. The latter made a good show of resistance before Jayla pushed her and shouted, “Move!”
Inside the front doors of city hall, there were even more guards. I recognized a few of the Watchers who were stationed there, but Cortez had assured us they were his men and could be trusted. Still, I kept my head down. I needed to remain focused, but I couldn’t help worrying this would all go wrong.
“I guess we can call off the search?” Officer Cortez said as he stepped towards us. He’d left an hour before us, preparing for our arrival. “Where’d you find these filth hiding out?”
“Few blocks north of the DEZ, some shithole in the basement of an apartment building,” I answered.
“Well, good job finding them. Let’s go.” Cortez pushed Theo towards the elevators at the back so hard Theo fell to his knees. The room burst out into laughter.
I joined them, pulling Theo back to his feet. “Can’t even stand on two feet?” I sneered.
The elevator doors opened, and the six of us slid inside. As soon as the door closed behind us, Jayla and I began removing the Cytos Guard uniforms that had gotten us into the place and threw on the black Watcher uniforms Cortez handed us from the bag he’d stashed in here moments before we arrived, as planned.
“You have two minutes,” he said. “Cameras will be back on shortly.”
“Sorry about that,” I said over my shoulder to Theo who was wiping off the dirt from his knees.
“It’s fine,” he said. “They seemed to believe it.”
“Let’s hope they do,” Cortez grunted.
The black uniforms were familiar, yet oddly foreign to me. Black pants I slid on over my boots to save time, and a jacket covering down to my fingertips and up to my neck. The hood slid over my head and blocked out even more of my image from view. Jayla did the same.
“I can get you as far as processing, then it’s up to you to get on that train. I can’t risk exposing myself any more than I already have,” Cortez said. He shoved the old Cytos guard uniforms into the bag and slung it over his shoulder. “They’ll leave tonight, I’m sure of it. There are a few other genetic kids, but not many, so you’ll need a good excuse to be allowed on that train. They have ways of keeping the kids in line, so they don’t send a ton of guards to transport them.”
