Phantom Universe (30 page)

“
We might have trouble,” says Jaden in exasperation. “Can’t we just have a normal day here without any trouble?”

“
What’s the fun in that?” says Rob with a smile, throwing an arm around her shoulder. Jaden beams up at him, and Summer wonders if Rob knows the look in Jaden’s eyes is more than friendship.

“
They’re comin’ over,” says Landon without moving his lips.

“
Great,” says Rob sarcastically. “I’d really prefer not to bruise up my other hand beating this prat’s arse again.”

Kayla’s the first to approach; she reminds Summer of one of the models she’s seen in the magazines Cameron brought her, but with no makeup. “Well, well,” says Kayla, her blue eyes glaring at Summer with vehemence. “You’re the new girl, aren’t you?”

Summer nods once, and Landon gently places a hand on her knee, instantly comforting her.

“
So what’s the story on you and that delicious Leaguer—Appleton?” asks Kayla, her blue eyes almost turning jade with jealousy. Even if Summer did talk, she wouldn’t know how to answer her question. When she says nothing, Kayla becomes impatient. “What? Hanging with the Leaguers and now you’re too good to answer my questions?”

“
She doesn’t talk,” explains Landon while glaring at Kayla, his brown eyes narrowing into slits. “To anyone.”

“
If I ask her a question she should have the courtesy to answer!” exclaims Kayla, turning to her friends for support. “Right?”

They all agree with her, some mumbling, some being overly enthusiastic. Kayla glances back down at Summer, obviously waiting.

Jaden comes to Summer’s rescue by answering for her. “That Leaguer was the one who found us and saved her from dying. He made sure she arrived safely to a hospital where he checked on her well-being during her recovery. What’s it to you anyway?”

“
Wait—is she the girl everyone was talking about? The one who was attacked outside the hospital three days ago?” Kayla holds up her hand to stop Jaden from answering. “And I want
her
to answer me,” she says, her eyes roaming over Summer as if looking for a reason for her silence—or a reason why Gage would be interested in her. Even Summer didn’t have an answer for that one. “And your hospital stay still doesn’t explain the hand-holding I saw going on between you two.” Kayla’s voice grows demanding. “I want an explanation, and I want it
now
.”

Summer’s heart gives a tiny jolt at the memory of her hand in Gage’s and his lips lightly caressing hers. Her first kiss. . . .

“
Well?” Kayla presses. Though her voice holds contempt, Summer doesn’t find her threatening now that she’s up close. Maybe she’s braver since the Blake incident.

“
She hasn’t spoken in twelve years—do you really think she’s going to start now to answer your intrusive questions?” snaps Jaden, turning angry. “Anything between her and Appleton is none of your business. Go take your posse somewhere else.” Jaden flicks her fingers in Kayla’s direction, gesturing her to move along.

Kayla’s blue eyes narrow. “Leave me,” she says to her friends. “I’ll handle this.” One of them opens her mouth to argue but Kayla juts her finger out, pointing away. When they’re out of earshot, Kayla leans over Avery and Lucy’s heads. “You listen here . . .” She pauses, realizing she doesn’t know Summer’s name.

Lucy’s lips clamp together as she holds in a giggle. It’s hard to seem menacing when you don’t even know the name of the person you’re being demanding of. Jaden doesn’t even hide her grin as Kayla waits for someone to fill in the blank for her, but instead everyone just watches her grow more frustrated.

Kayla growls out an aggravated huff. “What’s your name?” Then she decides to ask Jaden instead. “What’s her name?”

“
Summer,” says Jaden with a smirk.

“
Okay then. You listen here, Summer, Appleton is mine!” Kayla points at Summer, jabbing her finger forcefully at her. “I’ve made a claim on him, so stay away from him. You got that?” Kayla places a hand on her hip.

“
What about Carter?” asks Jaden, giggling.

“
He’s a coke head who’s not important.” Kayla’s eyes snap back to Summer. “You can nod your damn head, can’t you? Appleton’s mine.
Okay?
”

Summer’s not sure what to make of her demand, but this time Rob comes to her rescue. “Oh shut it, you harpy! Do you even know what his first name is?”

Kayla straightens, dusting off her clothes maddeningly. “Of course I do!”

“
Oh yeah, and what is it?” says Rob with a smirk.

“
Like I would tell you,” says Kayla exasperatedly. “Just . . . stay away!” She twists around, flips her blonde hair over her shoulder, and saunters away.

CHAPTER
33: IGNORED

16 years old

The rest of the afternoon continues without incident. Lunch is served on time (though the portions are smaller), and there are no more threats made. Dinner, on the other hand, never happens. The line outside the cafeteria grows as dinnertime passes, but the doors to the cafeteria never open. People in the camp are beginning to panic, but with classes starting tomorrow, and the promise of meals, people aren’t acting as crazy as they had during the early cutoff of breakfast.

Night falls upon them quickly, the stars and moon bright in the sky in this phantom universe. Summer lies awake, another rose held to her nose, as Jaden and Lucy both snore lightly in the bed next to hers. It’s not that she isn’t tired, it’s that she can’t seem to put the pieces of everything together in her mind. How her life was turned upside down. Moreover, how she came to be in this room with people who are nice to her. Who fill the silence that always trails in her wake without complaint. Who don’t stare at her scars when they peek from beneath her clothes, or the ones clearly displayed on her arms and legs. She’s also having a difficult time wrapping her mind around the fact that she’ll be going to classes like a normal teenager. And that she kissed an actual boy . . . and it was more amazing than she could ever imagine. Mostly, though, she wonders how she got so lucky. A lot of the kids complain, cry, or lash out at the fact they’re here. They really have no idea how lucky they truly are. Summer doesn’t complain—verbally or mentally. Most of these people have no idea how lucky they are to receive a free meal even once a day.

The next day breakfast is only served to those who receive their class schedules. While standing in line, Summer sees Carter for the first time—he’s hard to miss being so tall. He’s also drenched in sweat and becomes violently ill several times in the grass. People stray far away from him, except Kayla who attempts to hold him up, even though he’s almost a foot taller than her. She’s clearly frustrated with him and displays a disgusted expression. Luckily, Summer is far enough behind them in line that the chances of a confrontation are few.

At the base of the stairs to the Leaguer building are several tables, a Leaguer standing guard with a strangely dressed person at each one. Their clothes are basic, plain, yet are complicated in their style. They wear full suits made of stretchy material in multiple colors. The device that Doctor Rose used on Gage and Cameron is being employed at each table. It was several days before Summer had the neural transplant implanted into her ear, but the other Outlanders were taken immediately to a center to have the procedure done. That’s what they meant by “tagging.” She’s come to find that, not only do the transplants allow telepathy, they also allow for GPS tracking and are the equivalent of a driver’s license and credit card—all of your information can easily be accessed using the device. This is what they intended to use as roll calling. They know where all the Outlanders in this camp are at all times, even what their vitals are. None of the Outlanders are given the option for telepathy, which Summer finds odd considering Doctor Rose did want to include this in Summer’s neural transplant. Part of her reasons was because of Summer’s silence.

“
So what do you think they’re going to teach us?” asks Lucy excitedly. She sounds almost as thrilled about class as Summer is; she’s glad she isn’t the only one.

“
I dunno, but I want to learn to drive one of those!” exclaims Avery as he points overhead to a hovercraft that flies by.

“
I really don’t give a rat’s ass as long as they teach someone around here to make a decent cup of tea,” grumbles Rob. “The last time I asked for tea I got something cold, and it tasted like peaches. Disgusting.” He makes a show of shivering.

They move forward in the line. “And what’re we going to do if one of us isn’t with Summer?” asks Jaden nervously.

Her question frustrates Summer, but at the same time she knows they just want to look out for her, and she can’t help but appreciate that. Then again, she hopes to become more independent in this new world. With everything that has happened this could be the perfect opportunity for her to start over.

“
We could always ask Gage,” says Landon, his gaze focused on something over Summer’s shoulder. They all follow his gaze to where Gage is talking quietly, yet urgently, with Cameron, clearly arguing.

“
Why don’t you go ask him?” suggests Jaden. Her attention focuses on the intense discussion they’re having. “I mean maybe he could help out, right?”

Landon waves his hand high in the air when Gage’s eyes do a quick sweep of the crowd. His gaze stops on Landon, and he stares with the intensity of a lion crouching in the weeds, preparing to pounce. Landon changes his hand gesture from getting his attention to waving him over. Gage doesn’t acknowledge the change, doesn’t even acknowledge Summer standing right next to him. Cameron says something to him, and he turns back to her, their discussion becoming heated. Cameron’s hand is waving around in exasperation while Gage only shakes his head, rubbing at his neck and face. He says two sharp words to her and then marches into the Leaguer building, his back ramrod straight.

“
Wow, what was that about?” asks Jaden, undoubtedly disturbed.

“
I don’t know, but I have a bad feeling,” says Landon as he watches Cameron who’s still staring in disbelief at the door Gage went through.

While Summer’s friends all contemplate what their discussion could have possibly been about, she’s feeling incredibly hurt by his neglect. Then she feels silly for thinking that—he still left a rose for her last night, and it isn’t like he’s at her beck-and-call, really. She tries to swallow down the rejection while the line continues to move forward, though her gut twists uncomfortably. Something’s off.

When they reach the table, they’re asked to immediately turn their heads and show their implants. Then the long rod that sticks out from the “roll calling” device is inserted. “Summer Waverly,” the lady says without interest. “Wrist,” she demands.

Summer does as she’s told and is stamped on the inside of her wrist just like she had been at the hospital, but this time it shows a class schedule. The tattoo-like ink on her skin from the hospital faded within a day of being there, though it kept a magnetic chip under her skin that was scanned every time a nurse came into her room.

“
You have three days to remember your schedule before it fades. Scan your wrist before and after each class, and once for each meal. There are no exceptions to this rule. If you do not scan your wrist for all classes, you will receive no meals. Do you understand?” the lady drones on, obviously spilling this little speech for the millionth time today.

Summer nods, holding her stinging wrist close to her chest.

“
Information about the classrooms is posted outside the cafeteria,” she says quickly and then looks behind Summer and shouts, “Next!”

Landon waits for her outside the cafeteria while the rest of her friends go through the same process. “Hey, let me see yer schedule,” says Landon as Summer makes her way through the crowd carefully. She holds out her wrist, and he reads it for several seconds, comparing it to his. “All of our classes are the same!” he exclaims. “I guess Gage hooked us up after all.”

Summer holds her wrist up so she can read the schedule. There are only four classes listed; two before lunch, and two afterward, though they’re for two hours each. Her wrist reads:

0615-0715 Breakfast

0730-0930 Fusion Energy in 2210

0945-1145 History and Pop Culture