Program 13 Book One (16 page)

I knew he’d be asleep for a while, so I decided to bolt down the house, just in case we were to receive any surprise visitors. I wasn’t sure if Tina would actually bring Howard back to Vesta Corp and tell them what happened. She cared about Thirteen, but that didn’t mean she cared about me.

Hayden made sure to install security features if we were to
ever
need them. I tried to avoid using them
,
as I didn’t want to scare
Colton
, but I didn’t have a choice now. I ran to the laptop to activate the cameras outside, setting them up on a monitor above the Pod so that I’d be able to keep an eye on things. Once that was in order, I made sure to bolt the windows and the door shut. I’d left a note for
Colton
on the ta
ble, just in case he woke up
while I was still in the Pod and I wasn’t able to speak.

Colton
,

I’ll explain once I’m freed from the Pod. Don’t be worried.

-Emile

Once I was sure that we’d be safe for
the night, I entered the Pod, t
he d
oor latching closed behind me,
and prepared myself for the horror awaiting me in my mind.

21
ISLE OF HIM

I
was expecting to see my mother or McVeigh, but instead it was Tommy Miller waiting for me. He was my first and only boyfriend before I died. We were together for six months, and I truly cared about him. It could have been love, but I wasn’t sure. I didn’t get the chance to fully understand what love was in my short life.

His tousled blonde hair glistened under the sun, his mesmerizing green eyes sear
ched
for me in the darkness. “Emile!" he called out my name, h
is hand extended for me to grab
. He pulled me into his arms, wrapping them gently around my waist. I could feel my heart beating out of my chest each time he touched me. It was captivating. His smell, his smile, his beating heart, his voice
– every piece of him drew
me in.

“Where were you?” he asked, brushing my hair behind my ear. “I’ve been waiting here for you. I was beginning to think you weren’t going to show.” His hand cupped my cheek, and I could feel myself blush.

“Sorry,” I whispered, unable to say anything else.

It wasn’t real, but it felt like he was there with me.

It felt right.

“Come here,” he whispered, leaning down to kiss my cheek. “I brought you something.” Tommy reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a box. “Here, open it!”

I took the box from his hands, my heart racing from excitement. I gently removed the white ribbon surrounding the silver box and opened it. Inside was a white gold bracelet, a heart dangling from it. “It’s absolutely beautiful.” I leapt into his arms, not wanting to let go. “Thank you so much, Tommy.”

And before I knew it, he was gone.

I hadn’t spoken of Tommy after my death. In fact, I tried my best to act as though I never knew him because it hurt less than knowing I’d lost out on time with him. I knew that I’d never be able to experience what I felt for him again, at least not in this life. I was incapable of feeling that way towards anyone in this body.

As I lay there in the Pod, I thought over everything Tommy and I had planned together. We were going to move in together after we graduated high school. We were going to start a life together. But that life never came, because mine was taken away from me before ours could even begin.

Everything was taken away from us in that instant.

I was supposed to call him the night I was killed to let him know I’d made it home safely, but I never did. He never knew what happened to me. Nobody outside of my family did.

Those six months, although short, I would forever cherish. Even if Tommy forgot about me, I’d still hold dear the times we had together. It was all I had left of him.

I wondered if
Colton
had ever experienced what it felt like to be in love, or if he’d ever met that special girl he pictured himself spending his life with. He never spoke about anyone outside of his family, so I couldn’t be sure.

“Emile.” I heard a young boy screaming. I tried running towards the voice, but no matter what I did, it
kept slipping farther
until it eventually disappeared. Then he appeared before me covered in blood, his blonde hair caked in mud, his skin scabbed and b
ruised. “Emile, help me, please,
” he cried, reaching
for me
.

I wanted to grab onto him, to pull him back from whatever danger he was in, but I couldn’t. It was a trap, he wasn’t actually here, and I knew that even if I didn’t want to believe it.

There
was a banging on the Pod window.
Colton
had woken up. He mus
t have noticed I was zoning out
again, because his eyes were full of worry. “Emile,” he said, tapping on the glass now that my eyes were open. “You need to hear this.”

Colton
pointed
at
the television, using the remote to adjust the volume.

They were reporting another death, one much like my own, but this time it was a boy - Tommy Miller, 18. They weren’t going to stop until they took everything away from me, were they?

I wanted to cry, to let the pain find its way out of my body, but I was incapable of crying, incapable of exhibiting heartbreak. They were slipping from my grasp, every single person that I cared about. They were all in danger because of me.

I continued listening to the news broadcast.

“Tommy’s girlfriend, Emile Reed, was killed just yesterday in another automobile accident. As of right now, police are stating both were accidents, and that they will not be holding any further investigations.”

So it was the Seattle Police Department working with McVeigh and his men, then? I should have figured as much. How else would they be able to cover up so many deaths? How else would they be able to avoid investigations for the missing people?

But why would they go after Tommy? I hadn’t tried contacting him since I was brought to Vesta Corp. I purposely made it a point to avoid looking for him when Hayden brought me back. What were they trying to prove by killing him?

That they could destroy me?

I was already aware of that, because they already had.

My life was taken from me, not once, but twice. I was living in hell, unable to see my family, unable to go home, because if I did it would put everyone around me in danger. They were already winning this battle.

Colton
shot a glance at me as he realized that Tommy was a part of my human life. He looked confused. I imagined it was because I never told him about Tommy, but I couldn’t. I was trying to protect him, much like I was
Colton
. Could I even protect
Colton
if they managed to find Tommy?

He walked over to the PC and brought me out of standby mode and then released the latch on the Pod door. “Why didn’t you tell me about him?” he asked me, his eyes filling with tears.

I couldn’t look at him. I didn’t like seeing him upset.

Grabbing onto the Pod door, I lifted myself to my feet and stared at the television screen which was showing Tommy’s body being carried away.

“I’m so sorry, Tommy,” I whispered.

This was entirely my fault. People were dying because of me. If Hayden hadn’t brought me back, everyone would have been able to live their lives normally, no one would be in danger. But it was too late for that now. I was here, and I had McVeigh’s prized
possession, Thirteen, a
nd he’d get her back; he’d make sure of it.

Colton
came from behind me and wrapped his arm over my shoulder. “This isn’t your fault, Emile. Clearly they have no respect for the living. Even if you hadn’t come back, I don’t think that would have stopped those monsters from killing innocent people to use as their Program hosts.”

Part of me knew that he was right, but the other part still believed this was entirely my fault. “Maybe I should just go back, then everyone can go b
ack to living their lives,
” I suggested, turning to
go
to
my room.

“And what good will that do, Emile?”
Colton
was screaming, trying to keep me from running away from the conversation. “The second you go back there, that’s it. You’re done. What about me? What about your family? Do we not mean a damn thing to you?”

His voice was breaking as he struggled to hold back the pain he was in.

“You know that isn’t the case,
Colton
.” I turned to face him, standing beside my bedroom door. “In fact, if I didn’t care about all of you, I wouldn’t have even suggested that I go back
to Vesta Corp
.”

“That is where you’re wrong.”

I didn’t bother to argue with him. He wasn’t going to listen to a word I had to say.

Not like this.

“The girl I’ve spent the past few days with, she wouldn’t give up so easily. Just remember that,” he said, storming off to the guest room. The door slammed shut behind him.

Yes, but that girl was slowly dying more and more each day. Soon there’d be nothing left of her but a shell of what she used to be. Thirteen would eventually come back.

I walked back into the living room, watching as Tommy’s photo flashed on the screen once more. In order for them to have found Tommy, they would’ve needed to study me for some time before my death. They would have needed to plan every detail, track my every move, and become familiar with my daily schedule. They would have needed to stalk me as if I was their prey, and I was, I had been.

Colton
was right; even if I went back they wouldn’t stop.

They were only just beginning.

Who was to say that they wouldn’t find some other girl, some other person that they’d turn into a Program? No one was safe, not my family, my friends, no one. And there was nothing I could do. I couldn’t save them all. The thought scared me more than it should have.

Annoyed, I stormed off to
Colton
’s room and banged on the door until he finally decided to let me in.

“What do you want, Emile? Have you come to tell me that you’re giving up?”

His voice was cold and full of anger.

“Actually, no, I’m here to tell you that I’m going to stay. My going back there won’t do a bit of good. It won’t stop them.”

He smiled, shaking his head in disbelief. “Come here,” he said as he walked over to his bed, motioning for me to sit beside him. I walked over slowly, unsure of what it was that he wanted to speak about. “I owe you an apology,” he said. “Wait, let me rephrase that. I meant every word I said earlier, but I probably could have said it a bit nicer.”

I put my hand up to stop him from going any further. “
Colton
, as much as your words stung, I needed to hear them. Seeing Tommy’s face on the screen, I was letting them win, letting them tear down what was left of me. Everything you said, it was true.”

He looked up at me curiously. “Even still, Emile, I’m sorry. I won’t ever speak to you that way again. You didn’t deserve it.”

I laughed before grabbing hold of his hands. “You don’t give up, do you?”

“Nope,’ he replied, a smile forming on his lips. “I suppose I learned from the best.” He jerked his head at me. I looked at him and smiled, lowering my head as I did.

“You loved him, huh?”

“I’m not sure, honestly.” I raised my head to meet
Colton
’s curious eyes. “I don’t think I had enough time to with him to know if it was love or just a strong attraction. I cared for him deeply, though.”

Colton
nodded. “And knowing that he’ll become like you hurts you because you cared for him.” It wasn’t a question, but a statement.

“Yes,” I whispered, trying to block the image from my mind.

“You’re a strong person. You do know that, right?”

“Person may be pushing it, don’t you think?” I responded, gesturing toward my body.

“I don’t care about what’s on the inside.” All signs of joking pushed aside. His voice was calm, yet forceful. “You are Emile Reed, and you are a person as far as I’m concerned. You have feelings, family, and a heart, even if it doesn’t beat.”

“
Colton
…” I tried stopping him, but he wouldn’t let up.

“Look, Emile, you can argue with me all you want, but you won’t be able change my mind.”

“I’m aware of that,” I said, leaning my head on his shoulder.

We sat like that for hours, the television still blaring from the living
room
. Tommy’s death was still airing on the news, my own death occasionally airing in between. I could feel myself flinch.
Colton
placed his hand on my mine, trying to help me relax.