Falling & Uprising Page 16

  “You are all so uncooperative.” She drops the topic… For now.

  In Gardner, we spend an hour and a half unloading everything there so the train will be empty at the Kaycie station, then it’s back home. Right on schedule, Vogue and I walk through the streets arm in arm, as if we just left a nightclub around two o’clock.

  As soon as we enter our apartment, we both collapse onto the sofa. Vogue stretches her long arms in front of her. “My body hasn’t worked this hard since I quit ballet.”

  “Ditto about fencing.”

  “How old were you when you stopped?”

  “Fourteen,” I say. “When did you stop ballet?”

  “Twelve. I’m pathetically out of shape now.”

  I let out a satisfied sigh. Hard work and a job well done is a good feeling, albeit exhausting. “Do we have to do that again tomorrow night?” I groan.

  “No, we have to do even more tomorrow night.”

  “How?”

  Vogue pushes herself up and goes to her bedroom. She comes back with a couple of pills for me. “Take these so you won’t be sore tomorrow. We’ve come home this tired from going out dancing countless times. At least this time, we won’t have hangovers to deal with. Don’t fall asleep out here, though.” She yawns, pulling me up off the sofa. “Go to bed so you can sleep comfortably.”

  “Whose idea was all this?”

  “I say we blame Bram. Goodnight. I’ll see you tomorrow… afternoon.”

  A smile rises onto my face. “Goodnight.”

  I trudge to my bedroom and make quick work of getting into bed, careful not to disturb her highness Princess Snowflake in the process. My head hits the pillow, and for a moment, I wonder if my mind will settle enough to let me sleep. I left Kaycie. I went to three other islands. Can that be possible? My sixteenth birthday got me Adwin, my seventeenth took me to new worlds. Seventeen is going to be a fantastic age.

  My reverie can’t keep me going too long, though. As I think I’ll never fall asleep, I do.

  ***

  When I open my eyes, I’m surprised by how well-rested I feel. I slept like a rock. A glance at the clock tells me it’s almost noon. I stretch, pressing my palms into my upholstered headboard. “Window,” I command. The dark windows give way to the sunny summer day outside. So much is happening, and yet the city goes on unchanged and oblivious.

  I’d like to stay in bed, but I drag myself out and pop a dentalDrop into my mouth on my way to the dining room. Everything on the menu screen sounds good. Apparently, manual labor makes me hungry. I select a spinach and goat cheese omelet and a pot of tea and sit down as Vogue comes in.

  “Coffee.” She sets an empty mug on the table. “What sounds good today?”

  “I’m having an omelet.”

  “No, I want something sweet.” She taps away and joins me at the table as my pot of tea pops up, accompanied by her coffee, prepared with her requisite cream and sugar.

  “What does one do for a day in between two covert operations?” Vogue asks as she drinks her second cup of coffee.

  “I suppose we should be plotting, loading guns, sharpening knives and swords.” My omelet rises up, followed by a waffle with berries and whipped cream for Vogue.

  “I like our version better.” She gestures to the dessert masquerading as her breakfast.

  “It’s a little incongruous with everything else that’s going on.”

  “It is, but I feel like we are being eased into a new world. We get bits and pieces of revolution but still get breaks to go back to our old ways. Everyone else will be thrown into it with no warning. What is everyone in Kaycie going to do?”

  I bite the inside of my cheek. “I don’t know. It isn’t fair, is it?”

  “No, but they also don’t realize all of the ways the Establishment controls us, and we’re freeing them from that.”

  “Hopefully they like their newfound freedom.” Doubt sends a tingle down my spine. Adwin accused me of conspiring against everyone. How many will agree with him? I’m not sure what life looks like here after we’re done. Ideally, the lifestyles on all eight islands will even out—Kaycie dropping some of its excesses and the others improving to meet us. It’s quixotic to think it’ll fall into place easily, though.

  “I think I’ll go see my parents today,” Vogue says. “Want to come? I can always use support or someone else to distract them.” Vogue’s parents didn’t take to the idea of their daughter being in such a dissimilar field from them as well as my parents did. Espy still wishes her daughter was in fashion.

  “I might visit mine too. Mamá wasn’t thrilled about me blowing off my birthday, and I haven’t seen them in a week.”

  We finish our breakfasts, and I check with my mother to make sure they’ll be home. I put on dark shorts and a breezy yellow top and catch Vogue when we emerge from our rooms. Contrary to my relaxed look, she is in a shimmery orange cocktail dress with a plunging neckline.

  “Where’s the party?” I ask.

  She rolls her eyes. “I wish we could trade, but you know I can’t let my mother see me looking comfortable.”

  “The unspoken struggles of a fashion designer’s daughter.”

  “An autobiography by Vogue Taylor.” She swipes her hand through the air as if she’s looking at the book cover.

  We walk out together and go our separate ways. A lot of people are out and about today. The weather is perfect, warm and sunny with a light breeze. As I walk, I wonder what summer is like on the islands. Especially the ones without so many buildings. What is it like on Eudora with its pastures, in Gardner’s farms, or the forest on Greenwood? It’s strange to think I was at three of the islands just a few hours ago and didn’t see anything. I want to explore them.

  I stop at a flower stand on my way to pick up some sunflowers for my mother. The guard lets me in when I arrive.

  “Hi Mamá, I brought—” As I step into the living room, I freeze. Sitting with my parents is a man I’ve only seen from a distance, in photographs, or on holos.

  “Serenity,” my father says, “come in. Meet Lieutenant Governor Agnar.”

  “Casimir,” the tall older gentleman says as he rises and shakes my hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Serenity.”

  “The pleasure is all mine,” I say, struggling to steady my voice.

  What is Agnar doing here? Does my father’s position on the council earn him the courtesy of a warning that I’m being arrested? My heart races as I force a deep breath.

  “Those are lovely,” my mother says as she comes to me and gives me a light hug. “Let’s go get a vase for them. We’ll be right back,” she says to Agnar and my father.

  I follow my mother into the pantry, where she pulls a vase from a bureau. “Can you imagine that these are the types of visitors we get now?” Her hands shake as she arranges the flowers.

  “It must be exhilarating,” I say. “Are you all right?”

  “Yes, I’m fine. This was a bit of a surprise, that’s all.”

  “Right. Why did he stop by?”

  “Oh, just to discuss an upcoming event with your father.” She pauses, inclining her head toward the doorway, seemingly listening to the conversation she walked away from. “Let’s get back to them.”

  When we reenter the living room, both gentlemen are standing, and Agnar turns toward us. “Grace, thank you for your hospitality, and Serenity, I’m sorry to intrude on your family time. Anton, I’ll see you Monday.”

  “Yes, thank you for coming by,” my father says as he walks his guest to the door.

  I sit down on the sofa as my mother taps a screen. A glass of wine rises onto an end table. She picks it up before sitting in an armchair. My father walks back in and sits next to me.

  “Your new position certainly garners you prestigious friends.” I try to sound casual, though my fingers tap away on my lap. Usually, my parents would notice such a thing, but they seem just as agitated as I am.

  “I suppose so,” he mutters.

  “How are
you doing, sweetheart?” my mother asks. “We miss you around here.” She has her actress face on now. Perfect and polished, and far too rapid from her anxious one a moment ago. What is she hiding from me?

  “I’m fine. I’ve missed you, too, but I’m here now.”

  “I know, but I wish you’d move back in. This house is cavernous, and it feels empty without you.”

  The ridiculous statement pulls a laugh from me. They don’t spend much time alone.

  “Really though, Serenity,” my father says, “it is closer to the Establishment Center for you, and we would prefer to have you around more.”

  “I can’t do that to Vogue. I’m sorry I don’t visit enough, I’ll come by more often, I promise. Dinner once a week. I’m not moving back in, though.”

  My mother takes an anxious sip of her wine, and my father’s lips press together in a thin line.

  “Is everything okay?” I ask.

  My mother shoots a poignant look at my father. “Yes, everything is fine,” he says. “Are you staying for dinner?”

  My face twists. The combination of Agnar and this palpable anxiety right in the middle of our distribution makes my stomach knot. I need to go see Sophos before tonight’s operation.

  “I don’t know if tonight is the best…”

  “Oh, come now,” my mother huffs. “You said you’d be around more. Start now.”

  “I have plans with Vogue. I’m sorry. Can we plan for Thursday nights?”

  “Fine,” she sighs. “Every Thursday.”

  “I can’t wait. I should be going now, though.”

  “So soon?” My father says the words but looks too preoccupied to care.

  “Yes, I…” What won’t my mother invite herself to? Her nails are freshly manicured. “…I’m going to get my nails done.”

  “Oh, tell Lalita I said hello.”

  “I don’t go to Lalita anymore.” I don’t need her fact-checking my excuse.

  “Why not?”

  “I found someone else.”

  “Who?”

  “I don’t remember her name.”

  “Well, that’s rude, Serenity.”

  “Oh, for goodness sake!” I hop off the sofa. “Goodbye Mamá, I’ll see you Thursday. Love you, Papá.”

  “Goodbye, sweetheart,” my father says.

  “And learn your manicurist’s name!” My mother tsks.

  I let myself out and go straight to Sophos’ house.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  BRAM

  Entertainment here is ludicrous. People who live charmed lives can’t come up with realistic drama. How are there this many shows about people marrying strangers? The door chime brings this sad exploration of Kaycian programming to a halt.

  Sophos didn’t mention expecting any visitors. “Who is that?” he asks as he descends the stairs.

  “Door.” The image changes to the view from the front door. What is Serenity doing here? I beat Sophos to the door and let her in.

  “What’s going on?” I ask.

  “Something’s wrong. Agnar was just at my parents’, and they looked terrified after he left.”

  “Did they tell you anything about why he was there?” Sophos asks.

  “My mother said he was discussing an upcoming event with my father, but what couldn’t wait until Monday?”

  “That is a little odd,” Sophos says, “but I don’t see it as terribly urgent.”

  “Could Martel and Agnar have decided to tell my father about the islands?”

  “They may have but—”

  “And don’t you find the timing to be more than a little odd?” she demands.

  “Slow down,” I say. “Let’s take it one step at a time.”

  “We’ll double-check security before you go off tonight,” says Sophos. “I will check with Gardner to make sure they didn’t have any problems with the shipment you delivered last night. You check the train program.” He leaves the room to go to his home office.

  Serenity sits on the couch and opens a holoScreen from her cuff. She taps around for a minute and then groans and slumps back.

  “That doesn’t sound good,” I say, taking a seat next to her.

  “I can’t get in. The credentials have been changed. They must know we were breaking into it. Do you think they know who did it?”

  “I think if they did, we wouldn’t find out like this. We’d find out by being arrested.”

  Her anxious expression is unimproved. “I knew my father getting on the council would complicate things.”

  “Whatever is happening isn’t happening because your dad is on the council. It would have happened anyway, except you wouldn’t have had an early warning.”

  She leans her chin into her hand and sighs. “I guess so. What happens if we can’t finish the job tonight?”

  “Gardner would be pretty well off with enough weapons for three islands and food for five.”

  Her eyes are glassy as she taps her fingers on her lips. “It’ll be okay,” I tell her. “Just a delay of game.”

  “What?”

  “Football term.” Her lips crack into a bit of a smile at that.

  “Aster will see if she can get in to check,” Sophos tells us when he returns, “but there hasn’t been any commotion that they can see from the outside. Are you still able to get into the trains?”

  “No,” Serenity and I say in unison.

  “Ah, I see. All right, well, under new scrutiny, our timeline will have to be accelerated. Serenity, on your way home, collect Frey and Dixon so they can help Vogue get back into the system.”

  “But if they—” I start.

  “Not to use tonight, but it will need to be ready at a moment’s notice when the fuse is lit, and the uprising ensues.”

  “Okay,” Serenity says but remains in place.

  “Go now,” Sophos orders.

  “But what is plan B? What are we going to do now?” she asks.

  “I’ll take care of it. We each have our jobs to do, and you need to get to yours now.”

  “Fine.” She stalks out like a spoiled child who didn’t get her way. I understand it, though. I don’t enjoy being left in the dark either, which seems to be happening a lot lately.

  “Bram,” Sophos says once we’re alone, “go to Tori. Let her know tonight is off and to remain well-armed at all times. Collect extra weapons to keep on your person from now on—she keeps her own armory. If she doesn’t hear from me before it all begins, she needs to meet us at the train station to go to Lawson.”

  “What about Krisalyn and Jase?” I ask.

  “I’ll call them.”

  ***

  Tori's elevator door opens, and she stands in the foyer in a skimpy green tank top and black underwear that doesn’t entirely cover her butt. “This can’t be good,” she says, pulling my focus up to her face.

  “Uh, I could have waited if you need to get dressed.”

  “Don’t tell me this makes you uncomfortable.” Her eyes bore into me in a skeptical glare. “What’s going on? The combination of you showing up and me getting called into work today is making me nervous.”

  “Tonight is off. Why are you going to work?”

  “I don’t know, but I don’t suppose it’s a coincidence. What do they know?”

  “It looks like the Establishment knows that the train system has been tampered with. We have no reason to believe they know anything else.”

  “But they might.”

  “Well, we could play that game all day.”

  “I don’t like this.”

  “None of us do, but all we know is they changed the credentials to get into the train system, and Agnar had a suspicious talk with the Wards.”

  She crosses her arms. “Am I going into work because they are at heightened security levels or to be arrested?”

  “None of the rest of us have been arrested, and why would they bother calling you in to do that? Just act natural. It’s fine for now.”

  “Okay.”

  “Als
o, give me some weapons.”

  “That demand makes me feel at ease,” she says, rolling her eyes. “Take whatever you need.” She opens a closet door and gestures to it before striding toward the bedroom.

  The closet she left me at is like a miniature armory. I grab some smoke grenades, sedation gas pellets, and ammunition. I may be the only chance for the others to gain arms, so I grab some extras. As I tuck a couple of handguns into my waistband, the memory of Serenity holding a gun makes me nervous. Whether getting her a weapon is a favor or setting her up for a trip to the hospital, I don’t know, but I take them either way.

  Tori returns in uniform. “I’d tell you to keep me updated, but at this point, I fully expect to find out things are moving when I’m being shot at or something.”

  “We’ll do what we can, but things will probably be moving quickly now.”

  She presses two fingers into each of her temples. “All right, and when things begin?”

  “Train to Lawson.”

  She nods, and we both leave. My nerves are on edge as I recount today’s events. Agnar’s visit with the Wards, access to the trains cut, Tori called into work. It’s too much to be a coincidence. The sidewalk is steady, so why do I feel like the ground is crumbling under my feet?

  ***

  The evening sun is still high when I get back to Sophos’ house. As soon as I’m through the door, he stops me. “I can’t get a hold of Jase. You need to go head him off.”

  “What?”

  “He isn’t answering calls. Krisalyn went to his apartment, but he isn’t answering there either. She’s running around looking for him now, but we have to make sure he doesn’t try to go into the station.”

  I drop my head back and look up at the ceiling. “How am I supposed to do that?” My hands clench to fists. “I can’t be seen speaking freely to him. They have to be watching the building.” If they know someone was prying into the train system, the station will be under surveillance.

  “Security patrolling is exactly my concern. Figure out a way to stop him.”

  Sure. I’ll just figure it out. He’s due to arrive there soon, and we don’t know where he’s coming from. I’ll have to block him off en route to the train station, but I can’t guarantee what direction he’ll come from. I’m going to need help.