40.
I told the girl inside to stop sobbing, stop screaming, stop feeling sorry for herself.
A whisper of water touched my hand and all agony eased. The soothing darkness enveloped me.
Just breathe, I told myself. A cool draft washed over my skin. Voices floated around me. Familiar yet foreign at the same time.
“She needs to be trained,” Ty said. “She knows nothing.”
“Jag’s been with her for almost a month,” Jake said over the tech-comm. “He’s been putting her through some tests. And he left her a note for the simulator.”
“But she’s had zero training. Jag said she didn’t even know who she was—”
“She knows now. Jag told me how much she’s already done. We don’t have time for formal lessons. I trust Jag. You should too.”
The darkness lightened and Jag floated in my mind. I reached for him, my Choker, the part of me I needed to feel complete.
Sitting up abruptly, I clawed the black cloth off my face. Ty knelt in front of me, an anxious crease in her forehead. No one else was in the room. I wondered if I’d just dreamt about Zenn or if he had really been there.
I flung my arms around Ty, the stupid tears falling again.
Her shoulders shook as she cried. “You’re unstuck.”
I examined my left hand. It looked like I’d submerged it in hot water for a long time. A small band of white scar tissue circled my pinky where the ring used to be. A permanent reminder of Zenn.
“Vi . . . how do you know about the Resistance?”
I looked up into my sister’s eyes. “I’ve heard Jag talk about it . . . in his dreams.”
“In his dreams?” Ty raised her eyebrows. “That’s some wicked powerful mind control.”
I shifted uncomfortably. “It’s not like I enjoy taking a trip inside his nightmares.” I exhaled as I ran my hands over my face. “What do you know about it?”
Ty smiled, the kind smile of an older sister. “I have an incredible talent—I can see things others can’t. That’s why I was taken away. When I wouldn’t use my power the way he wanted, Dad let me rot in prison for a few months. I was allowed to go home—to check on you. See if you had any gifts. Remember that?”
I nodded, watching tears trickle over her cheeks.
“I was sentenced to Freedom. But Zenn came and helped me escape from prison. He had the proper ID card to cross the border. My new name. He gave me food and water for my solitary walk to the Badlands. He provided the code words so I could find and recognize Jag.”
She paused, focusing on something only she could see. “Zenn saved me.”
I knew how she felt. He’d saved me countless times. “But I thought he was working for Dad. Isn’t he?”
Ty pulled herself out of her memory and looked at me. “It seems that way, Vi. Early last year, Zenn stopped all communication with the Resistance. I was already living here in Seaside, but Jag asked me to contact him. That’s when we learned he’d switched sides.” She exhaled loudly. “He said he did it for you, but you had no gifts and it didn’t make sense. I’ve never seen Jag so mad. He was practically spitting fire.”
She smiled, but it didn’t extend past her mouth. “So, well, I don’t know where Zenn is right now. Jag thinks he’s solidly with Thane.”
A long silence followed while I contemplated all I’d seen and heard in Jag’s nightmares. Everything between Zenn and Jag. How Zenn had controlled Blaze. The way Jag blamed Zenn for his brother’s death.
“So, what do you know about Blaze?” My voice sounded too hollow.
A steely glint entered Ty’s gaze. “You know about Blaze?”
“I—”
“Does Jag know you’ve invaded his memories?”
“No. And you can’t tell him.”
A mixture of frustration and sympathy moved across Ty’s face. “All right. I won’t tell him. I told him to tell you everything.”
“Everything? There’s more?”
“Blaze died maybe a year and a half ago. During a job for the Resistance, with Zenn. I—I saw it happen.” She ducked her head, her words fading into whispers. “Jag thought he was responsible. For assigning Blaze the mission to Freedom. I mean, he was already the Assistant Counselor here. But learning it was Zenn’s fault? That broke Jag into so many pieces. He and Zenn were best friends.”
I struggled through what Zenn had said in the forest. What I’d seen in Jag’s nightmare.
“Ty . . . was Zenn really responsible?”
She cleared her throat. “I don’t know the answer to that, Vi. No one does. Not Jag. Not even Zenn, I expect.”
“I’ve seen it,” I whispered. “I’ve seen what you’ve seen. Inside Jag’s mind.” I gripped her with a desperate look.
“Then you have what you need to decide for yourself.” She stood and left me on the couch in her office.
Thoughts of Zenn clouded my head. Had he helped Blaze or not? Had he really helped me? Not only on the beach, but in the Goodgrounds? Had he really abandoned Jag’s Resistance to save me? Or was he my dad’s personal assistant?
Zenn is very loyal. Dad’s harsh voice sliced into my thoughts. You can still have the future you’ve always wanted with him.
But—
Who do you think matched the two of you? Dad continued. Zenn really loves you. Would do anything for you.
I knew he would. Which meant Zenn had defected and joined my father. And for what?
For me.
But he knew I would suffocate under the blanket of a controlled life. He couldn’t live that way either. Could he?
I trailed my fingers around the scar. Dad . . . how can I get my sticker off?
Only the person who put your sticker on can get it off. I invented that tricky bit of security tech myself.
So Zenn would have to remove mine.
Yes. And I would have to remove his.
Thoughts battled in my mind. The ring was gone. So Zenn had helped me. He was—
We all have methods of persuasion for our cause, Dad taunted. Zenn . . . Jag . . .
I squeezed my eyes shut. Just stop. Please.
It’s all about what you choose to believe, V. So . . . who are you choosing to believe?
Good question, Dad.