Genesis Girl (29 page)

“You’re here again.” Beau smiles as I enter his cell.

“Of course. I said I would keep coming. Didn’t you believe me?”

“You also said we would escape.” Beau eyes the food plate and twitches.

“We
will
escape.” I hand him the tray. “I promise.”

“Do you have a plan yet?”

“Almost. I need to figure out how to get keys for all of the locks.”

Beau nods, understanding me. “There’re a lot of locks,” he says.

But it’s not only that. It’s something else too. I’ve been ready to fight Barbelo for a long time. But I’m still not sure what to do about Lydia. I don’t know if I could attack her. I don’t know if I still want to.

I’d rather Lydia come with us. I’d rather she
choose
to come with us. If she does want to come, then that’s how we can get out. That’s how we undo the locks.

I’ve had enough of being locked up.

“I’ll come back for you,” I say. “I promise.” I’m not sure if Beau believes me or not.

By the time Barbelo returns from the outside, I’m already in the hallway, scrubbing down Spanish tile. That’s when I see my mistake. That’s when I realize how stupid I’ve been.

When Barbelo walks through the front door, I realize that the door isn’t even locked. It’s been unlocked, perhaps this whole time.

The only thing keeping me in this villa is me.

The air is thick with heat. The cooling system has definitely stopped working, probably a couple of hours ago. Down here on the ground it’s still cool. The Spanish tiles feel cold against my legs as I scrub the floor with a bristle brush. Barbelo stands in front of me, holding a metal wrench. He looks ready to swing at any moment.

But I’m ready.

“Damn heat,” he says. “Damn fucking technology.”

I scrub the floor so hard the wooden brush scrapes my palm. I’m worried about Beau locked up in his cell. The heat is oppressive.

Lydia comes into the hallway, without her ice. “What’s wrong, Barbelo?”

“The solar system’s busted.” Barbelo wipes his forehead with a rag. Drops of sweat hit my face.

“I can fix it.” I set down my brush.

Barbelo stares at me with eagle eyes. “You?” he asks. “What do you know?”

“Please, sir,” I say. “Don’t be mad, but my purchaser made me learn all about solar energy systems.”

Lydia glances at me quickly, surprised by this.

I wipe my hands on my drawstring pants. “I can fix that solar generator. I’m positive.”

Barbelo rubs his chin, considering. “What the hell,” he finally says. “It’s either that or I have to go into town.”

“I could go to town,” offers Lydia. I can tell she doesn’t want me to leave.

“And get arrested? No, let’s have Blanca climb up there and see what she can do.”

“Yes, Father. I’ll try, Father,” I say. The chip-watch is in my pocket. As soon as I walk through that oak door, I’ll be connected to the outside world.

Hopefully somebody out there is waiting for me, looking for my signal.

With clarity comes responsibility. With knowledge comes action. Up here on the ladder on top of the villa, I see what’s wrong immediately.

This solar cell system is archaic and easy to decipher. One of the cells is broken, causing a break in the circuit. Slide in a replacement panel, and Beau won’t be in danger from the heat any longer.

“Well?” Barbelo calls up to me from the ground.

I walk to the edge of the roof. “I can fix this, sir. Do you have an extra panel?”

“I think there’s one in the shed. I’ll go look.”

This is my chance, my golden opportunity. I scramble back up the roof and away from Barbelo’s view. I take out the chip-watch and click it to ready.

“Call Seth,” I say clearly. But there isn’t any answer. There’s only a beeping sound and a robotic voice telling me to leave a message. I’m not even sure
how
to leave a message. Shoot! More beeping!

“This is Blanca,” I say. “I’m being held captive in rural Nevada by Barbelo Nemo and Lydia. They’ve got Beau too. They’re responsible for Ethan’s death.” I pause, trying to think of what to say next. What if this is my last chance to talk to them? “Cal and Seth, I’m sorry,” I whisper urgently. “I’m sorry I was so messed up. I’m trying to come home. I’m—”

I don’t get the chance to say anything else. All I hear is more beeping. What the hell does that mean? So I try something different.

“
Veritas Rex
,” I say clearly. “I want
Veritas Rex
!” I stand up straighter, trying to get a better signal, and the lion-headed cobra springs up from the chip-watch. When I see the few inches of silvery screen, my heart stops.

There’s a picture of Cal, Seth, and me!

It was the night of that party, the one where I met all the McNeal Solar people. One of those board members must have snapped my picture after all. There I am in my white dress with a McNeal on each side.

missing
, the headline reads.
blanca mcneal
. Then underneath that is a message for me, it says—

But there’s no time to read more. I hear footsteps on the ladder. I look frantically at the buttons. I’m trying to turn off the visual, but I can’t remember how it works. Everything seems foreign. Then before I get the chance to fix things, it’s too late.

Barbelo stands in front of me, holding the solar cell.

“So,” he says. “You thought you could trick me.”

“No,” I answer. “Of course not.”

“Technology is never the answer, Blanca. You used to know that. Sometimes the simplest ways are best.” Then he sideswipes my leg, tripping me before I know what’s happening.

Before I get the chance to fight back.

I slide down the roof, struggling to stop my fall. But I can’t. Solar cells and roof tiles spin around me, evading my every grasp. The adobe walls whip before me, and then there’s nothing. Nothing but white-hot pain.

I see the dirt first. My vision has doubled, but I can still make out the dust. I feel the dirt smeared across my face. If I concentrate hard enough, maybe I won’t feel the searing pain, splintering into my side. I can barely move my arm, and I think my leg is broken.

“Blanca,” Barbelo calls. “Come out where I can see you.”

I hear him coming, perhaps to finish me off. There is no shelter. All around me is dust and the white walls of the villa. So I start dragging myself, right there through the dirt. Maybe if I get to the end of that wall I’ll find freedom
. I’m a survivor, I’ve got good instincts, and I can think for myself.

“What’s going on?” I hear a woman asking. It’s Lydia.

“Blanca fell off the roof.”

“Oh God! Is she hurt?”

“Let’s hope so,” Barbelo growls.

I’m crawling now, up on three limbs, dragging myself away.
I’m a survivor, I’ve got good instincts, and I can think for myself.

There’s some sort of orchard up in front of me. I see some garden tools. I see a hoe. I grab it.

“What are you doing?” Lydia screams. “Why do you need a gun?”

I’m in the long grass. Curled up under a fruit tree. I’ve got my hand on the hoe, and I’m waiting. I’m waiting to fight.

“Blanca, dear?” It’s Barbelo, coming my way. “Blanca, come out, girl. We need to talk. I need to tell you something. I need you to know your secret.”

He can’t see me, hidden. So I wait, hoping that the pain won’t stop me.

“Your mother, Blanca. Don’t you want to know who she was?” Barbelo’s voice is stronger. He’s closer and closer. “She was a Vestal, like you.”

“Stop!” Lydia’s here now. “Don’t hurt her!”

“Shut up, woman!” There’s the sound of flesh hitting together. Then Barbelo’s voice goes soft again. “Your mother, Blanca. Do you want to know the truth?”

I’m a survivor, I’ve got good instincts, and I can think for myself.

I see my chance. Barbelo doesn’t see me at all. He’s still looking in the wrong direction, and his ankle is a few feet away. So I take every last bit of strength, and I strike him with the hoe. The sharp metal edge bites into his backside. Then, when he’s down on the ground, I pull myself up to sitting and bash him one more time. I aim for the head, but the hoe hits his shoulder instead.

That’s how Barbelo still gets the chance. That’s how he shoots me.

I’m going in and out of consciousness. One instant, I’m looking at the sky, at the white clouds blowing across the blueness; the next, I’m looking at the dirt. Through the grass blades, I see Lydia jump Barbelo and tackle him to the ground.

“No!” she shouts. “I won’t let you kill her.” They’re wrestling together. They’re struggling over the gun.

I hear a popping sound and then there’s Lydia.

“Blanca, baby. Are you okay?” She lifts up my head, cradling it in her hands. The blood from my shoulder stains her skirt. She takes off her scarf and tries to staunch the bleeding.

“My mother,” I whisper. I have to know. I’ve never cared so much until now.

“My sister,” she whispers back. “Barbelo harvested my sister.”

“You’re my aunt?” I ask, my voice fading.

“I love you so much,” Lydia says. “And I am
so sorry
. I never should have brought you here. I ruined everything!”

“No,” I whisper.

“You’re my daughter now,” Lydia says. “I’m going to help you. I’m going to make it better.” She’s frantic, trying to make me comfortable, trying to stop the bleeding.

I think I hear something. A buzzing sound coming from the sky.

“I need you to know the truth,” Lydia says. “Can you forgive me, Blanca?”

“Yes, Aunt Lydia,” I say. Even though I’m not sure that’s true.

Lydia smiles at me, but she’s weeping at the same time. Her heart-shaped face seems almost broken. Then I hear another popping sound. And Lydia’s face disappears.

It explodes right in front of me.