Cipher (4 page)

I almost rolled my eyes. I didn’t mind compromising my cover at all. I hadn’t used it for the past six months while I’d been secretly working for the Ravens. My tracking chip was being re-routed to make it look like I was hanging out at my apartment in Los Angeles, but I’d actually been in and out of hospitals saving Reds and tracking higher ups. Lady Eva liked that she could put me back undercover if she needed to, but I was at the end of my rope with taking orders from the Seligo. I couldn’t stomach working for them anymore, and Lady Eva knew it. That was why she’d pulled me in the first place.

“You know that’s not much of a warning. If someone’s going to compromise their cover, it might as well be me.” I crossed my arms. “And why the hell is Parson there? It’s way beneath his pay grade.”

“He suspects a Red is hiding in the area.”

I was suddenly cold. Lady Eva was only making my decision clearer. “Get me on duty at the Trials. It’s so chaotic there I doubt I’ll run into Parson, and even if I do, he won’t recognize me. It’s been too long. If I don’t find her after two days, I’ll assume she’s moved on and I can start tracking. And if he picks her up, I’ll be there.”

“Lights,” Lady Eva said, and fluorescents bloomed at full power. The matte-black walls were all that surrounded us. Lady Eva searched my face, and then shook her head. “This feels extremely unwise. I’m sending someone regardless, but I’m not convinced it should be you. If this is Emma—”

“If I don’t go and she loses control, then it’ll be too late for me to help her.”
Damn it.
I didn’t want to seem irrational, so I kept it to myself, but I knew this was Emma. My gut was never wrong. “It needs to be me. If you don’t agree, I’ll defect and go on my own.”

“I don’t like ultimatums. Especially from one of my top Ravens.” I started to apologize, but she waved it off. “This is why I didn’t want you reliving this memory. It’s affecting your emotions and judgment.”

She was being unreasonable. And she was dead wrong. “I disagree. My mind and emotions are clear.”

She stared at me hard. “I’ll send Oliver and Dex with you. They’re on an assignment near that area.”

“Fine.” I wouldn’t turn the backup down, especially from my two best friends. They knew how much Emma meant to me. The need to repay her had driven every step I’d taken since she saved me. And that was exactly why I’d joined the Shadow Ravens.

“You need to be there before morning. You’d better hurry,” Lady Eva said.

“Yes, ma’am.” I ripped the electrode assembly from my head, and the holo room doors slid open as I stepped toward them. “Computer. End program. Save file to Knight. Security psi one eight three beta seven one three.” My Go Bag was ready at all times. I strode through the Shadow Raven compound, making my way through the complex to my quarters.

My portacom device beeped. The screen’s readout told me it was a call from Dex. “What’s up?”

“Hey, Knight.” Dex and Oliver always called me by my hacker handle. It was what I preferred. “You hear the latest?”

Lady Eva was always fast when handing out orders, but this was really fast, even for her. “Our assignment?”

“Yeah. We’re working the Trials.”

Dex and Oliver weren’t going to like this job any more than I did. The three of us had gone through the Trials. We’d met at The School for Accelerated Learning. As the only guys in the school who weren’t from crème-de-la-crème DNA parentage, we’d formed a fast bond. “It was my idea.” I ignored Dex’s groan. “I know it’s bullshit, but it’s our best option in terms of finding her and leaves our nights free to search the Void.”

“Yeah, man, I get it. I don’t want a Red taken, but the Trials? Really? We’re going to be like monkeys performing for the masses. You hate that display of bullshit propaganda as much as I do.”

The Trials were how the Seligo kept the people happy. The traveling expo went from Void to Void, setting up tents for every helix with exhibitions and games that any non-helix could participate in like an old-school carnival. It made the helixes look cool. And the actual Trials, where kids could win a chance to attend a fancy academy and work toward getting a helix, were bullshit, too. Kids still tried, even though most failed. To pass into the pre-helix path, you had to go through rigorous aptitude testing plus a strength and stamina test. Each part was meant to evaluate the kid’s ability in the various helixes.

What they didn’t tell anyone was that each kid had to excel in at least two helix categories in order to get a shot at schooling. It was a nearly impossible feat for most kids in the Voids, who were lucky if they had an elementary-level education. If by some chance they made it, but washed out later at school…that was the end of them. The Seligo couldn’t afford for the truth about the Trials to get out.

“I hear ya, but I think it’s her. I really do. I feel it in my gut.”

“No shit?”

“Yeah.”

Dex huffed. “I can’t believe I’m going back to the fucking Trials… We’re in. We’ve got your back. But you owe me.”

I knew he wasn’t keeping count, but I had his back whenever he needed it. “Thanks, man. Where are you?”

“New Mexico. About to hit the Arizona border. I’m on my bike. Oliver’s behind me. He doesn’t like it either. Feels like a good way to get our asses killed.”

“Don’t be a pussy. Let’s just get this done.”

“Faster is better.”

“That’s what she said.”

“Asshole.”

The double beep sounded, signaling that Dex had hung up. I chuckled as I put my com away.

I coded the lock outside my door and grabbed my pack. I didn’t need much.

As I exited the building, the cool Colorado air hit my face. It wouldn’t take me too long to get to Arizona. I pressed my thumb to the lock on my bike, and fired it up, praying to every God I could think of that the Red in Arizona was the one I’d been looking for.

I left the Ravens compound finally feeling like I was finishing what I’d started so long ago. Now I had to get to Emma before Jack did.

Chapter Three

CIPHER

I’d pulled apart my computer. Its bits and pieces covered my table and it was official—the comp was toast. So beyond busted.

I banged my head on my desk a few times.

This was beyond sucky. The processor was totally fried. I pulled on a pair of latex gloves and carefully pried it from my motherboard. The sucker was basically brand-new. I’d replaced it before the hack-a-thon, using the last one in my stash. I’d ordered more, but the guy who made them was on the road and wasn’t going to send them for another week or so.

There was only one thing to do. I had to go to Marx’s and find someone with processors in stock.

Nerves crawled their way into my stomach, and suddenly I wished I’d skipped that stupid burrito. I didn’t like making electronics deals in person. Black market parts meant shady people, but there weren’t a ton of options.

I grabbed my small backpack and stuffed my wallet and rubber-coated portacom inside. Before I could think twice about my plan, I activated the lock on my door and started toward Mona’s.

My gaze darted around as I searched for anyone who might not belong. Anyone with a helix who could be hunting me down.

The manager’s building and a pool took up the center of the complex. I’d never gone in that pool. No one with a brain would trust the brown-colored water. The park was packed tight in the shape of a really messed up wagon wheel with rings of RVs and trailer homes around the center building. Getting through the rings was precarious. Little breaks and empty spaces were the only way, and the spacing had no rhyme or reason. My new spot was in the seventy-second ring, around four o’clock if the park were a clock face. The only real problem with this particular park was that they hadn’t graveled or cemented the ground. Desert sand got everywhere.

Mona’s trailer was five down from mine. It used to be bright yellow, but had faded to a dirty off-white years ago.

Mona answered the door quickly. “Don’t tell me you’re thinking about bailing.”

I cringed. I did tend to bail on her a lot. Probably not my best trait. “No. I’m not going to bail, but I need to head over to Marx’s a little earlier than we’d planned.”

“Really?” She moved over, and I stepped into her trailer. Her place was a mishmash of colors and textures. For someone else, I’d say the hot pink couch, green carpet, orange pillows, and patterned throw were too much, but not for her. It suited her bright, eccentric personality.

The trailer was smaller than my RV. A tiny room in the entrance served as living room, dining room, and kitchen. Her bathroom was decent-sized for a trailer, and her bedroom was the same size as mine. Although it looked significantly smaller with all her clothing containers.

“I need to pick up some parts.”

She made a face. “You sure about that? Deals there can be a little scam-ish.”

“I don’t have much of a choice, unfortunately. It’s the fastest way and I was kinda in the middle of something when my system blew.”

She chewed on her lip. “Okay, but we need to get you dressed in something other than”—she motioned up and down at me—“that.”

“Great.” I needed to change anyhow. I was still in my clothes from earlier—the ones I’d been wearing for three days straight. Gross.

Mona grinned, showing the single dimple in her left cheek. “You’re going to let me dress you? Please, tell me that ‘picking up some parts’ is Cipher code for meeting a boy.”

I rolled my eyes. “No. I’m not meeting a boy.” I paused. “Well, I probably am, but not in the way you mean.” Anyone who was dealing black market stuff was mega off-limits.

Mona pushed me into her bathroom. “Well, don’t count anything out before it happens. Who knows who you might meet?”

The girl had lost her mind. I wasn’t meeting anyone good. I had one friend, and that was about all I could handle right now. I was already staying here longer than I should. Avoiding any more ties was priority number one.

One day, that would change. Hopefully. But not yet.

As soon as I was showered, Mona shoved me in a robe and started in on my hair. It was thick and hung halfway down my back. Most of the time it was a wavy mess of tangles, but Mona tamed it to fall in delicate curls. The navy I’d dyed it two weeks ago had faded to a light blue. It had been so long since I’d been my natural strawberry-blonde that I wasn’t sure what it would look like anymore.

Maybe tomorrow I should re-dye it electric blue. Or maybe teal.

When Mona started in on the makeup, I grabbed the brushes from her. “I got this.”

She stared me down. “You sure about that?”

“Mm-hmm.” I fake grinned, showing my teeth.

“You’re cute when you smile. But what you did just now with your face was fucking creepy. Don’t do that tonight.”

“Shut up.” I shoved her out of the bathroom. “You figure out the clothes thing. I got this.”

She came back five minutes later. “I’ve got some options…” She took a good look at me and then stepped in closer. I nearly took a step back as she inspected my makeup. “Holy shit. You look awesome.”

I couldn’t tell if she was being over the top, or if I usually looked like crap. It was most likely the former. “I’m not inept. Just lazy when it comes to girly things.”

She grabbed up the clothes and threw them over the empty towel rack. “Close your eyes.”

I did.

“Holy shit! You need to do my makeup.”

I laughed. Mona got on strings of cursing. Sometimes it was “bitch.” Other times it was “fucker.” Right now it was “holy shit.” It was really cute. “Okay,” I said.

“I want to look like that. Will you do exactly that to my eyes?”

I shook my head. “No. I’ll use different colors to bring out your brown.” I pointed to the closed toilet seat. “Sit.”

My eyes were hazel—brown in the center with green around the edge. The ratio of green to brown changed depending on my mood. I’d used dark olive around my eyes to bring out the green, and a semi-sheer chocolate on the lids. With her, I used golds on the lids and a dark chocolate brown shading and liner. For once, Mona took orders well, looked up when I told her to and didn’t blink, so I was done quickly.

She spun to face the mirror. “Holy shit. I look hot.”

I laughed. “Holy shit. You do!”

“You’re making fun of me?”

“Holy shit. Why would I do that?”

She shoved me as she laughed. “Bitch. Let’s get you dressed.”

“One sec.” The last thing I needed to do before heading out into public was cover my raven. I had other tattoos that I’d added to myself. Different stars—some small, some big, some just outlines, others filled in—for every place I’d lived since my parents died. I had thirteen so far, and was hoping that I might be at the end of my adding stars phase. Maybe only one or two more before I was done. A tattoo in Morse code took up space on the inside of my right forearm. It spelled out:
Run to Survive. Survive to Live. Live to Love.
It was my goal. A distant one, but it was there. My light at the end of the tunnel.

I also had my nose pierced with a tiny gold heart, and the left side of my bottom lip pierced with a hoop. I messed with my looks to express myself, but also because without all of it, I still looked like a pre-teen. At barely over five feet, people mistook me as someone they could push around. It was dangerous for them and for me.

But I didn’t want anyone to see the bird tattoo. It was tiny—maybe a couple centimeters wide—in the shape of a bird in flight, inked in the fleshy space between my thumb and first finger.

I’d had it since I was little, and I’d always questioned why it was there—did it mean something worse than a Red Helix? I’d never dared ask around, just in case, but I’d figured out pretty quickly that no one else could see it. Even the way the ink shimmered wasn’t normal. For a while, I’d almost thought I was crazy and that the tattoo didn’t exist, but then I had a run-in with a guy who had an identical one. He’d chased me for miles before I lost him.

Now I tried to remember to cover it before I went anywhere. I didn’t like to trust people. Even if we had matching tattoos.

I grabbed the concealer container and paused. With the new intel I’d found on Lady Eva and the Shadow Ravens, I thought for a second about not covering it up. Maybe that guy had been some kind of undercover agent? Had I been wrong to run?