The Reader Page 18

  I froze, my back to the High Priest. The seconds ticked away.

  “Yes?” I smoothed my hair and turned to face him. Showtime.

  “You seem to be in a hurry. What’s the rush?” His eyebrow lifted.

  “Oh, you know. Wedding stuff.” That’s the best I could do? I tried to rebound. “I just had my dress fitting, and the hem is too long. I’m on my way to the laundry room to get some thread for the seamstress.” Better. I was in the general area, so he might just buy it.

  I had to get my breathing under control and manage to stop the perspiration from forming. The shaking from head to toe also needed to stop.

  There’s something not right. The High Priest was on to me.

  “Atarah was looking for you. She said something about the lighting in the Hub. It’s not bright enough.” I kept my expression blank.

  When this is over, I’ll make sure Atarah’s death is slow and painful. He frowned.

  The chance I needed. “Okay, they’re expecting me back. I’ll see you at the ceremony.” I turned and walked back to the door.

  Please don’t stop me.

  “Ann.”

  I held my breath.

  “Don’t be late. She won’t like it,” he said.

  I gave a respectful bow and went through the door and down the hall to the furnace room. Fool. He should have gone with his gut.

  I had ten minutes.

  Finding the locked box took seconds, exactly like our practice, but this time, I couldn’t get it open because my hands were trembling. I shook to loosen them a few times and rolled my shoulders. My fingerprints were the only ones programmed to detonate the bomb, so I needed to keep them steady. After a few tries, I was able to push in the numbers for the combination and lift out the device. When I placed my finger on the detonation button, the explosion would be instantaneous.

  I pictured Devon’s face again, his grumpy scowl the first day we met on the beach. I smiled. His surprised look when I flattened him during the Kubotan lesson. I chuckled a little. And the kiss, our spectacular kiss. His love blazed so pure and deep, even thinking about it now took my breath away. Oh, but his soulful eyes that told me so much was what I’d remember the most. That’s what I’d think of when pushing the detonation switch. That and the knowledge he’d be happy again.

  A light radiated from within as peace and contentment washed through me, and I wasn’t afraid anymore. I picked up the device, tilted my face up to the heavens, and smiled.

  “No!” Devon yelled.

  The switch dropped from my hand onto the table.

  “Devon?” Had I died already? Wait. We were still in the furnace room. “What are you doing here?”

  “He’s here to help us.”

  I swung around. Dread and disbelief at the sight of my mom and dad almost knocked me off my feet. “What are you doing? You’re supposed to be off the compound by now.”

  “We’re finishing what we started thousands of years ago. Our job has always been to protect you. We’re not quitting now.”

  “Mom, you don’t understand. I’m the only one who can detonate the bomb. I made a vow to the Elders.”

  She reached into a pocket and held up a pair of latex gloves. “Technology. Don’t you love it? I lifted a print from one of your glasses. Your Dad is a Seer and a molecular scientist. He’s quite handy.” She patted him on the arm, and they shared a smile. “Anyway, we transferred your prints onto these gloves.”

  No way. “I can’t let you.”

  “Ann.” Devon held both my arms and pleaded, “For me?”

  “I have to do this.” Tears streamed down my face. “Don’t you see? It was me the Elders asked. This is my destiny!” My insides were being torn apart. Go with Devon fought with my need to finish the mission. What if the gloves didn’t work? What then? Now sobbing, I added, “The Seers knew this all along—that it would be me to save one of the groups. I don’t mind the sacrifice, Devon. I promise. I can die knowing the Readers are safe and that you’ll be happy again.”

  His tormented eyes connected with mine. A mistake—I couldn’t look away. I grabbed him to me, blinded by emotion, and the need to feel him one more time took over.

  “Ann.” His lips met mine.

  My hands twisted in his shirt while thousands of sparks fired through my blood, the love so intense, it about shattered my heart.

  “I can’t leave you here,” he said.

  I reached up and cupped his cheek. I needed a moment to look at him. So handsome, with eyes so dark and intense. It was more than that though. His beauty went right to his soul. One more kiss. I stood on tiptoes to reach his soft, full lips. His arms wrapped around me in desperation, his lips fused on mine, unrelenting. My mission became murky. I was losing myself. I couldn’t leave him.

  No. I pushed him away.

  Devon’s eyes met Mom’s. He nodded. They had a plan?

  “I love you, Ann. Please don’t fight me on this.”

  “Wh . . . what do you—?”

  He moved with lightning speed, lifting me off my feet, and slung me over his shoulder.

  “Get her out now,” my dad shouted.

  “Wait.” I squirmed and struggled. “Let me go.”

  “They’ve made their choice, Ann. And it’s you they want to save.”

  “I won’t let them!” I tried to kick and hit myself free, but he held on like a vise.

  “I love you, Ann.” Mom had already put on the gloves.

  “I’ll love you forever, Sweet Pea,” Dad joined in.

  I remembered the pet name he had for me in a surge of warm love. Oh, Dad. “Dad. I remember Sweet Pea.” I struggled. I’d get free somehow and save my parents.

  His eyes misted. “That’s exactly what we hoped for. You’ll remember us clearly soon. When you do, you’ll understand this better. Your mom and I love you very much.”

  “I love you, too. Both of you. Please don’t do this.” Sobs racked through me.

  “Time to go.” Devon swung back to the exit. Before we left, he told my parents, “I’ll take good care of her; I promise.”

  Using my hands to press against Devon’s back, I lifted my head to see them one last time. “Mom, Dad.” Tears clouded my vision, but my parents’ smiles came through.

  They held hands, and Mom said, “We know you will, Devon. Thank you. It’s time now.”

  Devon still had me over his shoulder and began the run down a darkened hallway, out of the compound. The furnace room was right by an exit, so it wasn’t far. “Please don’t make any noise. If anyone hears us, we won’t make it out.”

  I had accepted my death, but Devon needed to live and love again. So I remained quiet.

  Once we were in the Jeep outside the compound gate, Devon’s shoulders seemed to relax.

  In one quick move, I had the glovebox open, handcuffs connecting Devon’s wrist to the steering wheel, and the key out of the ignition.

  “I hope you’ll understand why I have to do this.”

  Devon’s eyes doubled in size, and he shouted, “No. Ann. No!” He struggled against the restraints, swearing and pulling at them.

  I stepped out of the Jeep. “I’m so sorry.”

  “There’s no time to save your parents!” He pounded his free hand against the steering wheel.

  “Please forgive me . . .” I couldn’t continue.

  He struggled with the handcuffs. After a few moments, his body sagged, and his head rested on the steering wheel. “I forgive you.” His head came up and his eyes met mine. “What you’re doing right now is exactly why I love you so much. But listen to me. I can live without anything else on this planet. But not you. Don’t do it, Ann. Don’t make me live without you.”

  “Remember my vision? You’ll be happy again. It’s the only way I can do this. I love you so much.”

  I allowed myself one last look before I turned and ran with every ounce of energy left in my body. I had to stop my parents, even if it meant knocking them out and dragging them to safety.

&nb
sp; I entered the compound again from the back exit. The lights were off, so I used the walls as my guide. Hurry. I had only seconds. I rounded the last corner and ran right into a large body. An arm gripped me, a cloth with a sickly, chemical smell clamped over my face and nose.

  The world faded and disappeared.

  Devon

  Two Years Later

  “I know this is a hard day for you,” Lucy said, eyeing me. “A hard day for all of us.”

  Every year, on the anniversary of the extinction of the Jacks, we’d booked the same cabin at Cannon Beach, our favorite place in the world. It sat fifty steps up from the sand, but it was well worth the hike up and down. I could heal here under the starlit skies

  “I’m okay.” I gave her shoulder a shove. “Go hover over someone else.” I smiled so she’d know I was only kidding. We sat on the sand, alone for the first time in days.

  “It’s nice to get a little breather from the kids, pets, and spouses, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, although it gives me time to think about it, you know?” I closed my eyes to hear the sights and sounds of the ocean. The crashing of the waves calmed me. The salty smells, kids playing and laughing, gave me hope.

  “It’s a tough day, but a lot of good things happened when the Jacks died.” She put her head on my shoulder.

  I nodded, because I couldn’t speak. I hadn’t been able to save them.

  “We’ve been able to rebuild our lives.” She glanced back toward the cabin.

  “Yes, the sacrifice was huge. Have you seen the statue they’ve built? They plan to place it in the entry of our new compound.” Just like Ann’s vision had predicted, the bomb had destroyed Samara, exploding it into tiny fragments. The new site was nearby, in Verlot, Washington, another small town that sat at the foot of a large mountain.

  “Adam told me. Have you been there lately? It looks great.” Lucy’s eyes lit up.

  “I visited last week. I’m glad we decided to keep our identity from the world a bit longer. I don’t think they’re quite ready for us.” I smiled.

  “The world is healing though. The crime rate has already decreased by fifty percent, the restructured United Nations is stronger and has implemented new peace programs, the extreme religious cults have nearly disappeared. Who knew the Jacks controlled most of those? All of this in only two years,” Lucy said all at once, running out of breath toward the end. Yeah, my sister, the dreamer. I was glad to see some of them come true.

  “So, Adam, huh?” I asked.

  “Now, don’t go teasing me. He was obnoxious in the 1920s, but he’s really changed.” She smiled and dug her feet into the sand.

  “I guess having to wait a hundred years for a proper kiss will do that to a guy.”

  “He said I was worth waiting for.” She giggled, then became serious. “Do you ever wonder what your life would be like if things went differently on that day?”

  “Every day. I think about it all the time.”

  “What do you think about all the time?” My wife joined us and sat on my lap, putting her arms around my neck. “Hi, Lucy,” she said and smiled.

  Lucy jumped and brushed the sand from her jeans. “Now that you’re here, I’m going to try to steal some time with my nephew. You two hog him all the time.”

  I wanted to talk to Lucy a little more, but neither of us had figured out a way to discuss that day two years ago. Whenever the subject arose, we’d try to change it. My new wife had all sorts of questions, but she sensed it wasn’t a subject Lucy and I wanted to rehash. Maybe in time. Perhaps I would talk to her a little more once the guilt subsided. The beach had me in a mellow mood, perhaps I could speak about my failure on this trip. “We’ll be back in a few minutes to take over Henry duty,” I told Lucy’s retreating back.

  “Sure thing. I’ll see you two later.” She trotted off toward the house we’d rented.

  “I thought she’d never leave.” I wrapped my arms around my love and flipped her over onto her back. She giggled as I leaned down and kissed her sweet, full lips, leaving us both breathless.

  “I love you so much.” Her hands ran through my hair as tears escaped her eyes.

  I wiped them and kissed her again. “Don’t be sad.”

  “I can’t help it. They gave up their lives for all of us. I have you, and now we have Henry. I’m sad and happy at the same time. It’s confusing.”

  My lips brushed against hers again. It never got old. The love I had for her filled every molecule in my body, making me almost burst from it.

  She pulled me closer. “Wow. The tingles keep getting stronger and stronger. If it keeps going like this, every time you kiss me, I’ll faint or something. That’d be embarrassing.” She laughed.

  She stopped and gazed into my eyes.

  I said, “I didn’t think it was possible, but I love you more every day.” I ran my fingers through her soft hair.

  “Me, too.”

  I kissed her again. Even better.

  “Break it up, you two. Henry’s hungry, and he won’t take the bottle from me.” Lucy was back interrupting the moment. But I didn’t mind, because she brought our beautiful son. I considered ignoring them for another moment to get another quick kiss, but a loud gurgle snapped me from my plan. Three months old, and he had to be the happiest child on earth. His eyes sparkled with innocent joy. Or was it because we were so happy? I glanced at my wife again, her smile even more beautiful.

  I sat up, and Lucy plopped Henry in my arms. “I’ll start the barbecue. Dinner should be ready in about twenty minutes.” She headed back up toward the cabin.

  Henry still squirmed a little, so I stood to rock him. The sun sat low on the horizon, and the sky had taken on its nightly show of blended colors before sunset. I swayed back and forth with Henry, kissing him before I sang in his ear.

  “This is it,” Ann gasped.

  “What’s the matter?” I asked.

  “This was my vision. Remember? I saw you with a baby by the ocean. I didn’t see myself because I was doing the watching.” Ann laughed. “I guess I should have figured that out.”

  “Was that the same vision you talked about right before you almost pushed the detonation button?”

  “Yes.” She reached over and caressed Henry’s soft hair. “Right before you and my parents came in.”

  “After the Elders told me their plan, I knew there’d be no stopping you, my brave warrior.” I held Henry in my right arm and embraced Ann with my left. I kissed each one on their cheek, lingering a little longer on Ann’s.

  Her eyes softened and she asked in hopeful voice. “You ready to talk about it a little?”

  I nodded, but was unsure if I could go there.

  “I know this is what my parents wanted, but sometimes I feel guilty.”

  I took a deep breath and forced myself to talk. “I feel the same. I keep replaying those last few moments, trying to figure out if there was a way to save both you and your parents, but I come up empty every time. There’s nothing we could’ve done.” The guilt lifted a little. Maybe talking about it would be a good thing.

  “I still can’t believe she had my fingerprints duplicated.”

  “She was smart, like her daughter.”

  “And my dad. He wouldn’t leave her.” She closed her eyes. “I understand it. I wouldn’t want to live without you either.”

  “You’ll never have to.” I squeezed her shoulder.

  “I guess we have Archer to thank, as well,” she said.

  “Yeah. I’m still shocked when I think about his deceit and betrayal. Sure, he pulled through at the end by stopping Atarah. But he would’ve spent his life in prison for killing Markus. Sometimes I think it’s better that he died.”

  “You’re right. I couldn’t imagine him behind bars. I’m still conflicted about Archer though. I can’t help but think that Atarah was somehow able to influence his thoughts. Do you think it’s possible?”

  “Perhaps.” I wished for an hour with him. After I beat him to a pulp, I’d make
him answer all my questions.

  She stared at the ocean for a long moment. “Do you think it could’ve been Archer who dragged me to safety? If so, he might be alive.”

  “I don’t think so. It goes against his character to remain silent. I would think he’d try to reconnect somehow.” Archer was never one to sit back. My hands curled into fists thinking about it.

  Ann took my clenched hand, kissed it, and placed it against her cheek. My anger and frustration evaporated, and a flood of love and contentment filled my soul.

  How does she do that? Calm me when no one else can?

  She giggled. “Because we’re Soul Mates, that’s why.”

  “My thoughts are still coming through?”

  “Just the strong ones.” She quit laughing and placed her hand on my cheek. “I feel the same.”

  We stood for a quiet moment with our hands linked. I smiled and leaned down to kiss her as the sun relaxed its hold on the painted sky. Another spectacular day. And I knew tomorrow would be even better.

  The man observed the young family from a bench set off behind some beach scrub. He enjoyed the ocean and would often come just to listen to the waves hit the shore. A pretty, young woman, around nineteen years old, came and sat next to him. Her cheeks turned pink as she spoke.

  “They’re a beautiful family.”

  “Yes. I like to people watch. It can be entertaining,” he said.

  “Do you know them?” she asked.

  “I knew a girl like her a long time ago. I loved her deeply, but I made mistakes and I couldn’t fix them.”

  “That’s too bad,” the girl said.

  They watched the family play in the surf for a few minutes.

  “Did you ever try to make things right?” she asked

  “I sacrificed my happiness for hers. Painful, but worth it. I saved her life, but it was she who really saved mine.”

  “Oh, that’s so romantic.” The girl placed her hand over her heart.

  Mortals, the man thought. They’re so simplistic.

  The man had never considered it romantic, because he had lost her, the woman he loved. A pulsing ache ripped through him.