The Torrent (The New Agenda Series Book 4) (11 page)

22

A
va hadn’t expected
the city center to be fully operational. “Whoa,” she said, spinning around to take it all in.

“It’s majestic, isn’t it?”

Majestic wasn’t the first word that came to mind. Artificial was more fitting.

They stood in an alley next to one of the shops, scoping out the scene and staying out of view of the monitors and residents. Ava’s heart jumped when a team of Beautifiers flitted by, chatting in their typical singsong cadence. They looked a little different than she remembered. Instead of wearing white chiffon robes, they wore black jumpsuits. That was strange. Looking around, she noticed some other differences. The cylindrical dwelling towers in the sector weren’t illuminating in colorful hues like they usually did. No floating orbs drifting about, or classical music streaming from the trees. Things moved at a slower pace, and overall everything appeared less glitzy than her days on the Inside.

“It’s different,” Ava said.

“I’m trying to figure out the year. It’s one of the earlier generations, way before your time.”

“It does seem lower tech. And less people.” Everyone headed in the same direction––toward the Arena. “There must be a big event,” she said.

“Looks that way.” Morray stared off, contemplating.

Ava marveled as she observed the people. Not all of the residents used the moving sidewalks, some walked down the main street. “I know they’re not real, but they
look
so real. Like we’ve traveled back in time. Or entered a parallel universe.”

“Most definitely,” Morray muttered.

Time was ticking and they needed to make a move before the monitors, or the guards, picked them up. She wanted to ditch Morray and make a run for the Administrative Building, but that didn’t seem strategic.

“Are we just going to stand here?” she prodded.

“What do you suggest? We can’t just meander into the city. We’ll stand out. I might be Chief Morray, but these people don’t know
this
iteration of me. I’m sure it will clash with whatever version is out there.” He leaned against the building, staring at Ava, waiting for her to come up with a solution.

She didn’t want to waste another minute. “I’m going to the Admin Building while everyone is at the Arena, locate the servers and get to work.”

“Get to work?”

“Yes. I’m getting out of here. Out of this program. Out of the mainframe.”

He chuckled. “My dear, sweet, beautiful Ava. We’re not leaving the program. I’m going to find whichever version of me is running the place, get rid of him, and take back my reign––with you by my side. You didn’t think you’d actually get away, did you?”

She knew damn well Morray intended to bring her deeper into the mainframe and add another layer of entrapment. The whole thing was becoming more and more meta. Now Morray had her inside the city center, within Dickson’s program, somewhere in the mainframe. They were three layers deep. Which meant nobody on the outside would ever be able to track her down. But that didn’t matter, because she wasn’t relying on anyone else to do the job. She had access to the city’s powerful servers, and she was ready to go to battle.

“When will you learn, Morray? I’m the one who always gets away.”

He yanked her arm, wrapping her in a stronghold. “Not this time.”

Adrenaline pumped through Ava’s body and she kicked Morray’s shins a few times, but he grabbed her neck and squeezed. She swung at his face and chest. One punch made direct contact with his throat. He coughed and lost his grip. She kicked him in the groin, causing him to double over, then she came down on him with a powerful roundhouse kick to his upper back. He toppled to the ground.

She stood over his body and kicked him in the ribs over and over. “You think I didn’t know what you were up to? It’s
never
going to happen. I’m getting the hell out of here, and making sure you stay trapped Inside. And when I’m out, I’ll demolish the entire mainframe. You’ll finally be gone.”

Ava darted out of the alley onto the main street. The residents stopped to stare as she sprinted and weaved between them, heading toward the Administrative Building in the center of the city. Morray wouldn’t be down for long. She needed to get to the servers before him. But she hadn’t contemplated the next phase of her plan. How would she convince the guards to grant her access to the servers? What did she plan on telling them?
I’m not really here, neither are any of you, but if you just let me get to your servers, I can fix everything …
They’d lock her up.

But what if she faked out the guards the same way she had when she escaped years ago? If they thought she belonged in the Administrative Building, they wouldn’t give her any trouble. Then she could find a way to the main server room. She couldn’t just waltz into the lobby in slacks and a T-shirt. She needed to blend in with the others.

Before attracting too much attention, she turned down a side street and ducked into an alcove of a high-end boutique. A team of Beautifiers headed down the narrow road toward the main street. She crouched low and honed in on the smallest lady, trailing behind the others. Just as the group passed, Ava slipped out from the alcove and grabbed the Beautifier, covering the woman’s mouth and pulling her into the shadows. The young woman’s eyes widened, but she remained calm and didn’t attempt to scream. Insiders weren’t familiar with violence, except for the lies they heard about the Outsiders.

“Not a word. Understand?” Ava whispered.

She nodded.

“I need you to remove your jumpsuit and switch clothes with me. And I’ll need your beauty kit. Are you going to cooperate?”

“Mm hmm,” she mumbled, nodding.

Ava slowly removed her hand and stepped back, giving the Beautifier some room to remove the black jumpsuit. She then took off her slacks and T-shirt and switched clothes with the woman.

“Are you from the Outside? Are you a terrorist?” the Beautifier asked.

“I’m here to save the city. There’s a man claiming he’s the real Chief Morray and he’s going to cause great harm. He tried to stop me from telling everyone, but I got away.”

She handed Ava the jumpsuit. “Why do you need my clothes?”

“I need to be disguised so he can’t track me.” It was a weak lie, but it wouldn’t take much effort to outsmart the Beautifier.

She gawked at Ava in admiration. “Ooooh, how exciting! But you must let me enhance you so you look like a
real
Beautifier.”

Ava grinned. “Even better. What’s your name?”

“Katherine. But my friends call me Kat.”

Kat opened her kit and went to work. First, she brushed Ava’s long auburn hair and whipped it up into a high bun. Then she smeared radiant colors and glittery creams all over Ava’s face and neck. She sprayed perfumes, filling the small space with the scent of gardenias. For the finishing touches, she painted a quick-drying coat of polish on Ava’s fingernails.

“Perfect!” Kat sang out.

Ava patted the woman’s shoulder and picked up the kit. “Well done, Katherine. For your protection, you must stay here and wait, then go back to your dwelling unit and stay there. I’ll be sure to tell the real Morray of your heroism. Thank you.”

“No, no! Thank
you
!”

Ava crept out of the alcove and headed toward the main street. She waited until a group of female teens passed by and stealthily joined them, blending in.

“I heard a rumor that Chief Morray might make an appearance tonight. Some big announcement or something,” a slender girl said.

Another girl clapped her hands. “I think he’s announcing Graduation Day festivities. I’m so excited!”

Ava cringed at
Graduation Day
. If only the girls knew the real meaning behind the ceremony. The graduating generation would move into their pre-selected positions for the next eighteen years, sending the older generation off to retirement, which meant they’d being shipped to Ret-Hav for Morray’s experiments. It was only a program, but she still felt sorry for the Insiders.

“Which Graduation ceremony is this one, again?” Ava asked. She needed more information before she got to the Administrative Building.

The group of girls glanced back, surprised to hear her voice.

One of the girls giggled. “What do you mean?”

“Aren’t you supposed to be beautifying someone?” Another girl teased.

Ava batted her eyelashes and cocked her head, trying to appear flighty and airy, like all Beautifiers. “I mean … Like how many ceremonies have we had to date? I can’t remember.”

“Silly, this is the
first
one.”

Dickson had set the program way back to the beginning.

Ava sang out, “Oh, that’s right! I got it mixed up with Inception Day.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Um, I, um … Oh, this is where I leave you. I must get to the Admin Building. I have some beautifying to do!” She curtsied and dashed off.

Ava approached the lobby of the Administrative Building, conjuring up her acting abilities. She found it funny that she was trying to get back into the building she had escaped so long ago. Security probably wasn’t as advanced, but the guards might be more alert. Taking a breath, she flounced into the lobby with a sparkling smile.

“Helllllo!” she announced to the two guards standing by the elevator door.

The shorter guard stepped forward, holding out his hand. “Whoa, slow down there, miss. What are you doing here?”

“I have an appointment to beautify our dear and most gracious leader, Chief Morray,” she trilled.

The other guard pulled out his clipboard and ran down the list of names. “No mention of that on this list,” he said.

“Well, that’s rude! I came all this way! Let me see the list.” She reached for the clipboard and the guard lifted his arm, blocking her advance.

“Miss.” He kept a firm stance.

Ava fake tripped, falling against his chest and grabbing his arm, holding on tight. “Oh, dear.” She pressed close against his body, using her allure to throw him off.

The scent of gardenias laced her body. He inhaled the intoxicating scent and awkwardly assisted her back to balance. “I’m sorry, miss.”

“It’s quite all right. But I really don’t want to be late for my appointment. You must have heard Chief Morray has a big announcement at the Arena this evening. You wouldn’t want him looking drab, would you?” She tilted her head, peering into the guard’s eyes.

A blush spread up his neck. “Well, I suppose I could take you up there myself,” he said.

“Oh, that would be most helpful!” She curtsied.

The guard stepped into the elevator, motioning for Ava to enter, and they rode to the fiftieth floor.

“Are you taking me to the presidential suite?” Ava dug around in the beauty kit, rummaging through the products

“No, he’s currently in his office with Planner Dickson.”

“I suppose I’ll just have to work on him in his office, then.” She removed a bottle of glitter spray, holding it close to her side.

The elevator door opened and the guard escorted Ava down the long corridor to Morray’s office.

“You wait out here,” he instructed.

Ava moved in closer. “But wait …”

“Hmm?”

He turned around and Ava aimed the glitter spray in his eyes. He screeched, holding up his hands.

“I’m so sorry! Here let me help you!” She got close and kicked him in the groin, bashing him over the head with the beauty kit. He collapsed to the floor and she dragged him across the hall, dumping him into an unoccupied office. She ran back to Morray’s office just as the door opened, and a middle-aged man wearing an expensive charcoal gray suit stepped into the hallway. Chunks of gray streaked his dark hair. She recognized him from one of the archive files.

“Dickson,” she whispered.

“What’s going on out here?”

“I’m sorry. I tripped, Planner Dickson, sir.”

“What are you doing here? You don’t belong on this floor. How did you get up here?”

“I’m here to beautify Chief Morray, sir.” She bowed, keeping her head lowered.

“Please get up,” he said, pulling her arm. “I apologize for the mix-up, but Chief Morray won’t be needing your services this evening.”

A man stepped into the hallway. “I beg to differ, Dickson. Step aside and let this fine young woman come in and do her job.”

Ava glanced up to find a much earlier version of Chief Morray standing in the doorway. She remembered him from the archive files. This was the very first body Dickson had used to upload Morray’s consciousness into. Handsome and debonair, but still welding the same menacing grin.

“Oh, Chief Morray, sir.” Ava giggled and performed another curtsy. The act grated her nerves, but she was pulling it off. The key to her freedom was behind that office door––access to the mainframe servers.

“Please, my dear. No need for such formalities.” He assisted her up. His touch sent chills up her arm and down her spine.

“We need to work, Morray. There isn’t time for this,” Dickson said.

“I’ll let you know what I have time for. Why don’t you go back to your office and I’ll call you when we’re finished here.”

“The event begins in forty-five minutes,” Dickson warned.

Chief Morray wrapped his arm around Ava’s shoulder. “Plenty of time, isn’t that right, Miss … I’m afraid I don’t know your name.”

“Ava,” she blurted out.

“Miss Ava and I won’t be long,” he told Dickson.

“I’ll keep working on your speech while you, um, attend to your business.” He scowled and walked off.

Chief Morray steered Ava into his office. The room looked similar, only this Morray had more furniture. In the future, he removed the clutter and installed technology. Walking to the couch, she pulled the glitter spray from the pocket and prepared to attack Morray. But he had other plans. He pounced, shoving her onto the black leather couch. In the commotion, she dropped the bottle. His hands groped at her as he devoured her neck with kisses. She tried prying herself away, but he had her pinned down tight.

“Sir, please,” she choked out.

“Shhh, keep quiet. We don’t have much time.”

“But, sir, I came to do my job.” She writhed underneath his body. He pressed down harder, her form now melding into his.