Compliance (28 page)

“She gave me a mission and claimed that it came directly from Rolph.”

“What mission?”

“She wants me to kill a VP.” I look down, then straighten to defy my fear. “She claims if I don’t do it, she’ll kill me. But frankly, her death threats are getting old.”

He takes my shoulders in his huge hands. “I won’t let her hurt you.”

“I can take care of myself. If she threatens me again, I’ll grab her by her cold heart and squeeze. Assuming she’s got one.” I grin, hoping to lighten the mood.

Burn’s dark gaze is so strong, so intense, that I can’t control my emotions. I shift my focus from his eyes to his mouth, but his lips remind me of the kiss.

Warmth spreads inside me, and his hands, still on my shoulders, create a strong sense of comfort and security. But I’m not positive that even Burn could protect me from Zina. She can appear anytime as anyone. How would anyone protect against that?

“Do you think the mission really came from Rolph?” I ask.

He drops his hands and rakes his hair back. “Could have. Things are moving quickly.”

“What’s going on?”

“Lots.”

“Good or bad?”

“Some of it good, some of it—” He stops short. “We’ve
made contact with other groups of survivors Outside.” He frowns. “Rolph’s made some questionable allegiances, but the FA’s numbers and capabilities are growing.”

There’s more, I can tell. Something he’s not telling me. “What?” I ask. “Is it my family?”

“They’re fine. I’m not telling you more because it’s too dangerous for you to have details while you’re inside.”

“You don’t trust me.” I cross my arms over my chest.

“I trust you.” He steps closer and the heat from his body penetrates mine. “I don’t believe what Zina said.”

My shoulders fly back. “What did she say?”

“Zina told Rolph you’re feeding the Comps information about the FA. She thinks you tipped them off and got Clay killed.”

I feel like I’ve been punched. “I’d never. No.”

He shakes his head. “I believe you.”

“Why would she say that? Why does she hate me? She barely knows me.”

“It’s not about you. It’s about me and your dad and her brother. Plus, you should have told someone as soon as you were put into Comp training. Finding out didn’t help build trust with Rolph.”

Guilt pushes inside me. I begged Clay not to tell Rolph when he first found out. I’ve held so much back from so many people, and after my conversation with Cal, I feel like the most untrustworthy person on the planet. “Do you still trust me?”

His hands grasp my arms and draw me forward. “How can you even ask that?”

Avoiding his eyes, mine land on his chest, and the sight of his body, its breadth and strength, muddles my thoughts. I close my eyes and try to ignore the heat from his fingers as it radiates through me, urging me to slide forward and into his embrace. But I can’t do that. I’m with Cal, and Burn’s too dangerous.

Burn seems to have forgotten that his Deviance means we can never be together. On the other hand, he kissed me and didn’t change. Is it possible that he’s gained more control over his Deviance?

“Look at me.” He crooks a finger under my chin and urges it up. “I trust you because I know you. I know who you really are.”

“Who am I?” My voice comes out weak. I thought I knew just hours ago, but I don’t know—not anymore.

“You’re Glory,” he says. “You’re strong. You’re good. You’re loyal.”

I lurch back, breaking the physical bond between us.
Strong?
Maybe.
Good?
I’m less sure.
And loyal?
To whom? My loyalties have never felt more divided.

Burn’s eyes narrow at my silence, so I lift my face toward his again. “You’re right. I am loyal to my friends, to my family. But there is something I haven’t told you. Something I didn’t tell Clay.”

He nods, encouraging me to continue.

“Mr. Belando thinks I’m going to spy for him. He’s ordered me to find you again, to infiltrate the FA, and to feed information back to him.” I look into his eyes and shake my head. “I would never, ever, betray you or the FA.”

“I know.” His arms lift a few inches, like he’s going to touch me.

It’s too much. This time I’ll cave, so I increase the distance between us.

My back hits the door. “As for me being good, I’m confused. I’m not sure I know what that word means anymore, especially after you told me that Rolph sanctioned the scaffolding collapse.”

He shakes his head. “Sometimes bad things have to happen to bring about good.”

“That’s no excuse. Scout is still in the Hospital.”

His eyes emote sympathy, but he doesn’t respond.

“The FA put Scout in the Hospital. That makes us responsible. You need to help me get him out.”

“Not possible.”

“I’ve got the access code for the back door.”

Burn doesn’t respond so I continue. “I found Tobin, Gage’s son. He is a Deviant and you need to get him out, too.”

“I don’t
need
to do anything.”

“Yes you do.” I step forward. “And Jayma. You need to get her out.”

“What? Why? She’s not a Deviant.” His eyebrows rise. “Is she?”

I shake my head. “She got depressed after Scout went into the Hospital. She caused an accident at work. If you don’t get her out of Haven, they’ll ex her.”

Burn doesn’t argue, which I take as tacit agreement. “When should I bring them here?” I ask.

“Where are they now?”

“Hidden. In a metal box on the roof of the Executive Building.”

He charges forward. “Why there?”

I put a hand up between us. “It’s the only place I could think of. Mr. Belando disabled the cameras up there so I could get to and from our meetings. It’s the best I could do.”

His fingers form fists, then unfurl. “No. That’s good. That works. Leave them there for now and I’ll let you know when to move them. Right now I’ve got other priorities. I need to complete my mission.”

“The rebels.” My stomach roils. I can’t hold back the information I have. Not when he’s helping my friends. “The rebels are planning an attack on the Hub on the President’s Birthday.”

“Rebels?” He steps forward. “An attack on the Hub? What do you know? How did you find them?”

My stomach tightens. “I found Adele Parry and she led me to them.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” His brow furrows. “If they’re planning an attack I need to tell Rolph. You need to take me to them.”

“I don’t
need
to do anything.” I throw his words back at him.

He crosses his arms over his chest and raises an eyebrow.

“Don’t worry,” I tell him. “I’ll take you to meet them.” I can only imagine the rebels’ motives for bombing the Hub, but maybe Burn can convince them not to. At a minimum, I hope they’ll postpone their plans until they can discuss them with Rolph and the rest of the FA.

T
HE HEAT FROM
raging fires assaults me as I lead Burn into the building that was on my note.

“What is this place?” he asks.

“Metal recycling, I think.” Piles of metal scraps lie all over the concrete floor, sorted by type, and at the far end of the long room, workers are pouring liquid fire from a vat into molds.

Adele steps out from a shadow. “You were supposed to come alone.”

“You wanted contact with people Outside.” I nod toward Burn.

“Your kidnapper.” She shakes her head in what looks like disbelief. “I recognize him.”

“I wasn’t kidnapped,” I tell her.

“The plot thickens.” She crosses her arms over her chest.

“I’m here representing the Freedom Army,” Burn tells her. “My mission is to make contact with your group so we can coordinate our efforts against Management.”

She raises her eyebrows and nods. “Then you’d better meet Sahid.” She gestures for us to follow.

We walk past raging fires, which wash the space in yellow light, to the far corner and then through a door to a room that’s lined with piles of unsorted metal, some of which must have come from Outside, based on the rust. Burn tugs out a long piece with a sharp edge. “This would make a great knife.”

“Leave it,” a voice says, and we turn to see a man with brown skin, about my dad’s age, his dark hair sparked in places with silver.

Burn drops the metal and straightens. My nerves vibrate along with the sound. This room is cooler without the fires, and the light is harsh.

“Are you Sahid?” Burn asks. “I’m here representing the Commander of the Freedom Army.”

The man nods. “Are you really from the Outside? The girl claimed to have contacts, but some of us don’t trust her.” He looks at Adele.

“Clearly Adele was wrong,” I say. “And now that you’ve made contact with the FA, there’s no need to set bombs inside Haven. No need to hurt more innocent employees. Setting bombs is not the answer. There are other ways to change things. If we coordinate—”

Adele grabs my arm. “You don’t tell us what to do.”

Burn glares at Adele and she drops my arm.

“We don’t take orders from either of you,” she says, although it’s clear she’s intimidated by Burn.

Sahid raises his hand and Adele backs off. “There’s much to discuss and no time to waste.”

“I agree,” Burn says. “Let’s talk.”

Sahid narrows his eyes and his jaw twitches. A long elegant finger taps on his opposite arm. “We’ve got a mission in less than forty-eight hours. How can your people help?”

“Bombing the Hub?” I push forward.

Sahid turns toward me. “Who told you that?” He turns to glare at Adele.

“Is it true? You can’t do it. You’ll hurt so many innocent people.”

“Nothing’s been decided.” He gestures for Burn to follow him. More people come out from the edges of the room until we’re surrounded. Sahid and Burn talk in hushed tones just out of my earshot, and I want to listen but tension builds inside me. I want to scream at these people. I want to accuse them of being monsters, but looking around, it’s clear they’re not monsters.

They’re just like me. Many of them were here the night I met with Adele. I spot Joshua. He nods and I instantly recognize the resemblance between him and Sahid—their brown skin and long noses. I’ll bet Sahid is his father.

Just observing these people, knowing their faces, their approximate ages, some of their first names, I have more than enough information to feed Mr. Belando.

But I don’t want to turn fellow Deviants in. If I turn them in, these rebels will be exed, but if I don’t, they’ll bomb the Hub.

I step closer to Burn and Sahid.

“How are you keeping ahead of the Comps?” Burn asks.

Sahid gestures for someone to join him, and a muscular male body steps out of the shadows.

I freeze. My throat closes and every muscle inside me tenses.

It’s Captain Larsson.

I back up into the crowd but Larsson turns and stares straight at me; he doesn’t look shocked.

Is it Larsson, or Zina? I wish I had some way to be sure.

Is Larsson the mole?

I spin, scanning the crowd, checking my exits, and I spot Zina at the edge of the crowd, her arms crossed over her chest.

Larsson grabs my arm. I try to pull away, but he’s too strong.

“Are you the mole?” I ask in a hushed voice.

“Mole?” he asks. “What are you talking about?” His eyes narrow. “Whose side are
you
on?”

“Whose side are you on?” My heart is racing so fast I think my chest might explode.

As he looks at me, I can tell he’s got as many questions about me as I’ve got about him. Every scenario I consider that explains his presence turns out badly for me.

If he’s here on Comp business he’ll assume I’m a terrorist. If I claim I’m here spying for Mr. Belando, no one will trust
me. If Larsson’s a terrorist, he’s against me in other ways.

Confusion clouds my mind. I can’t safely ask or answer any questions. All I can think of are the ways his being here makes my situation worse.

I wrench away, but he grabs me again. Before I can react, Burn grabs Larsson, pulls him off his feet, and throws him. One of the piles of metal rains down on top of the captain.

I run.

Burn’s at my side. “Who is that?” he asks as we’re crossing the other room.

“He’s a Comp. The Captain of COT.”

Burn pushes the door to the building open, and we race down the narrow alley between this factory and the next. The moon light is barely reaching between the walls of brick and stone and concrete that press in on both sides. After the bright factory, it’s hard to see.

“Get on.” Burn reaches for me and I climb onto his back, piggyback style. He leaps and grabs onto the bottom of a ladder. After climbing the ladder, he pushes off and grabs the bottom of a small balcony that sticks out from the next building.

We’re hanging and I’m about to reach out and grab a slat to relieve some of the weight, but he pushes down with his arms—doing an exaggerated version of a chin up—propelling us up in one forceful motion. His feet land on the platform with a clang.

I’ve seen Burn’s strength before, but nothing like this. He’s become stronger, even in his unchanged form, and it thrills me as much as it scares me.

He leaps off the platform to a rope that’s hanging down from the roof and pulls us quickly, hand over hand, until we’re at its top. Without stopping to wait, he runs across that roof and leaps to the next, then the next, until we’re at least twenty blocks from the metal factory. He stops and twists his body as a signal that I should jump down.

I survey our surroundings. We’re near the edge of the north quadrant and the sky is only about six or seven feet above, sloping sharply, and almost devoid of blue paint. Burn’s chest heaves as he takes long breaths of the hot air, and droplets of sweat spray back as he pushes his hair off his face.

“Did you see Zina?” I ask.

“Yeah.”

“Did you know she’d found the rebels too?”

“We don’t exactly swap plans.”

“And the Comp, do you think he’s part of the rebel group? Or do you think he was there as a spy?” I know these are questions Burn can’t possibly answer and I’m expecting a gruff response, but instead he slowly shakes his head and looks down at me with questions in his eyes.