The Alliance (4 page)

 

UNCORRECTED E-PROOF—NOT FOR SALE

HarperCollins
Publishers

....................................

Chapter
9

In a strange turn of events, I committed a felony. No telephones were in working condition and I had few other options. I stole a car parked at the shipyard and am driving toward Wallace.

—­The diary of Megan Jean

Mia had slept surprisingly well. She did not miss her cramped cabin at Affinity. She appreciated the absence of Carter and Andrew. Mia went to her closet. She chose a pair of purple shorts and a white long-­sleeved T-­shirt. The material was soft on her skin. She pulled her long blond extensions up in a ponytail and went into the hall.

Flo had not given her directions on the day's events before she went to sleep. Then Mia remembered Albin's advice. She was not a prisoner here but a guest. So Mia decided to take a walk down to the dining room. She didn't notice another soul in the giant house as she walked through the halls. When she entered the room, Albin and Flo were eating. They stood when she entered.

“Good morning, Mia,” Flo said. “How did you sleep?”

“Well,” Mia said. “Thank you.”

“I would have sent someone, but I thought you might need some extra rest. I am pleased you felt comfortable enough to come down here. We were just discussing today's activities. Please, have a seat.”

Mia took one of the open chairs. Flo passed Mia an egg dish and Mia scooped some onto her plate. She took a bite and was not surprised it was just as delicious as the dinner from the night before.

“Your friends are arriving today,” Flo said. “They will be staying in the employee houses though.”

“You must act like you don't know who they are,” Albin said.

“Why?” Mia asked.

“Because they have been hired as extra protection for Madame Martineau's overseas trip, and you are her equal.”

“That doesn't mean you have to ignore them,” Flo said. “But you shouldn't treat them like you have survived a great deal together.”

After having spent the last few weeks in such close quarters with Andrew and Carter, Mia was fine with having some space, but being near Andrew would be difficult. Mia was having a hard time not grabbing on to him every second she could.

“We leave in six days,” Flo said. “That means there is little time to teach you how to behave.”

“What do you mean?”

“The ­people here think you're an American guiding me,” Flo said. “But once we arrive in America the ­people there will think you are a Frenchwoman accompanying me on my trip.”

“They'll know I'm not as soon as I open my mouth,” Mia said. “Your accents are so different from mine.”

“You will learn how to imitate ours,” Flo said.

“What else will I have to learn?”

“How to stay under the radar,” Albin said.

Flo gave Albin a dirty look.

“Outside of my bodyguards American agents will also accompany us,” Flo said. “We don't want any of these men to think you stand out from the rest of my group. So you will learn how to behave as one of us.”

“How is your behavior different from mine?”

“We see ourselves as equals to men,” Flo said. “I am certain you do as well, but you must not show the slightest bit of fear. They will prey on it. There are also a few customs; we greet everyone with light kisses, and I know that is not the American way. It will be more in the way you carry yourself. Mia, you are a strong woman, and that must be reflected on the outside as well as in.”

Mia nodded her head, but in reality she wasn't feeling very strong lately. She felt more like a puppet and less like a contributing member of a team.

“Once you're done eating, take a walk with me,” Flo said. “I want to hear everything about your journey this far, and maybe I can answer some questions you have.”

That was all the incentive Mia needed to eat quickly. This woman radiated power and Mia wanted to know how she'd gotten that way.

 

UNCORRECTED E-PROOF—NOT FOR SALE

HarperCollins
Publishers

....................................

Chapter
10

I sat in my stolen car outside my apartment complex and mustered up the courage to make my way inside. I am not sure if my pause was out of fear that Wallace wouldn't be there or fear that he would.

—­The diary of Megan Jean

As Mia predicted, the lawns were even more beautiful in the light of day. They walked along the path toward the employees' house and Mia divulged her entire life story.

“You have lived a more extraordinary life than most in your few years on this earth,” Flo said. “And you had no idea that enrolling in the Registry was a bad thing until your sister showed you.”

“And she lost her life because of it,” Mia said. “Her husband wrote and said she became ill, but I know he killed her.”

“Your parents must have been so upset,” Flo said.

“They weren't at all,” Mia said. “All they cared about was money. And me and my sisters' marriages brought them plenty of that.”

“You shouldn't bear ill will toward them,” Flo said.

“They deserve it,” Mia said. “I told my mother I didn't want to get married and she slapped me.”

“In her way,” Flo said, “I am certain she was trying to protect you. She didn't think you had a choice but to be a bride. She didn't want to send you off into that life without you realizing that. It wasn't her fault, she is just part of the injustice in the world.”

“I don't see it that way,” Mia said.

“Does hanging on to your anger help you at all?”

“It gives me some motivation,” Mia said.

“You should not focus on the past,” Flo said. “If it weren't for her actions maybe you wouldn't have run away.”

“So you think she wanted me to run?”

“I don't pretend to know answers like that,” Flo said. “Yesterday you asked me how I became so self-­assured, and letting go of unnecessary anger led to my happiness.”

“How do you tell what is necessary anger?” Mia asked.

“Does it benefit you to stay angry? Will it help with your personal development?”

“I don't even know what personal development is,” Mia said.

“Of course you do, Mia,” Flo said. “What kind of person do you want to become?”

The question was so powerful it almost knocked Mia down.

“I want to have control of my own life,” Mia said.

“My question runs deeper than that,” Flo said.

“I don't know,” Mia said. “I guess I never really thought about it before.”

“Well, start,” Flo said. “Ask yourself questions you've always been too afraid to answer. Once you confront your issues you can really start living and appreciating everything around you.”

Again Mia was at a loss for words. She thought Flo was a little off base. Of course Mia should be angry with her parents. Whatever Mia was feeling on the inside didn't seem to have much relation to her actions. The world was what it was and Mia merely felt part of it. They stopped walking. Mia didn't realize they'd arrived at the employees' house.

“I thought you'd like to greet your friends,” Flo said. “Let's go inside.”

Flo held open the door and Mia entered. There was a set of stairs that Flo walked past. They were in a main room, with several couches and a television set. Mia was happy to see Carter sitting on the couch along with Bryan and Jesse. Everyone rose, but their eyes were on Florence.

“Madame Martineau,” Zack said.

Mia spun around to see him and Andrew walking down the steps. Andrew took two long strides toward Mia and wrapped his arms around her. Mia returned his hug.

“I'm so glad you're all right,” Andrew said. “I was worried.”

“Why?” Mia asked.

Andrew didn't respond at first.

“Because we were apart,” Andrew said. “I always worry about you when you're not with me.”

Mia knew he meant the words to comfort her, but she didn't appreciate his tone. It was as if Andrew had forgotten all of Mia's accomplishments. The way that she rescued him when the militia held him hostage, or how she was successful in figuring out what the militia wanted in order to get them to leave Affinity alone. She dropped her arms and backed away from him.

“I was fine,” Mia said. “I can take care of myself.”

“That doesn't mean you have to,” Andrew said.

Their attention was diverted back to the rest of the group.

“I wanted to welcome all of you to France,” Florence said.

All of the men stared at Flo with blank faces.

“Two of you should come with us,” Flo said. “Start following us around the grounds. That way your presence will be known to my other employees. Fake papers have been drawn up for you. Once we land in America you are all playing the role of men in the American armed ser­vices handpicked to accompany me. Memorize your parts, because I fear you will be questioned.”

“I'll go,” Andrew said.

“No,” Mia said. “Bryan and Jesse. I know them the least. It will be easier for me to ignore them.”

Andrew looked hurt, but Mia didn't care at the moment. The idea that he would be watching her every move like she was a child was too much right now, and she didn't think she could handle the temptation to speak with him. The two men stood up and walked over to them.

“I'll see you soon,” Mia said.

She leaned in and gave Andrew a kiss on the cheek before walking back toward the door. Mia wasn't sure if Flo was ready to leave, but Mia didn't care at the moment. What kind of person did Mia want to become? Right now, a self-­sufficient one.

 

UNCORRECTED E-PROOF—NOT FOR SALE

HarperCollins
Publishers

....................................

Chapter
11

I regret not staying in the parking lot, I regret not staying overseas. I opened the door to my apartment and was greeted with a horrid stench. My deepest fears were realized. Wallace lay on the floor, unmoving and long bereft of life.

—­The diary of Megan Jean

Jesse and Bryan didn't say anything to Mia as they sat outside and waited for Flo. Mia felt a pang of guilt for wanting to avoid Andrew, but she didn't appreciate his demeanor toward her as of late. She didn't know much about the two Affinity members. They'd spent two weeks preparing for this journey but never got to know each other. Mia had spent most of that time with a trainer, honing her hand-­to-­hand combat skills. Mia had wanted to work on the strategy of their mission, but Zack insisted she be fully capable of defending herself. At the time Mia thought he was right, but now she realized those skills would never come into play and Affinity was trying to keep Mia distracted.

“Well that was awkward,” Flo said. “I thought Andrew was your . . . man?”

“He is,” Mia said.

“Trouble in paradise?”

“Excuse me?” Mia asked.

“I find it so strange that you're unfamiliar with clichés,” Flo said. “Is there a problem with your relationship?”

“Not exactly,” Mia said. “He's starting to make me feel like I'm not capable of taking care of myself.”

“Well, is that a problem with him or a problem with you?”

Mia raised an eyebrow.

“Let's keep walking,” Flo said. “You're meeting with an accent coach this afternoon.”

“What will he teach me?”

“
She
will teach you how to sound French,” Flo said. “It won't be very exciting.”

“I like learning new things,” Mia said.

“Tell me, Mia, have you ever thought about the spiritual side of things?”

“Like ghosts?”

Flo let out a loud cough mixed with laughter.

“Not exactly,” she said.

“I don't understand,” Mia said.

“You're very sensitive,” Flo said. “You harbor anger; you get angry with your boyfriend because of the way you feel about yourself, and I mean no offense. Yesterday you mentioned wanting to know how I came to trust myself. I know that I alone am in charge of my own destiny.”

“Isn't that a contradiction?” Mia asked. “If destiny is predetermined, how can you be in charge?”

Flo flashed a warm smile.

“Those are two separate schools of thought,” Flo said. “Do you think things are predetermined? You could never have ended up anywhere but here?”

Nobody had ever asked Mia anything remotely similar to this. She wanted to prove to Flo that she was capable of answering tough questions. Rather than responding with an “I don't know,” Mia thought carefully.

“No,” Mia said. “I think I could have ended up a number of places.”

“And was it your series of decisions that led you to this point?”

“No. If I hadn't forced Andrew to help me I never would have left America. If I hadn't learned from Riley I never would have rescued Andrew and Carter. Other ­people have assisted me.”

Flo nodded her head.

“You're a giver,” she said. “You give lots of credit to those around you, instead of allowing yourself to receive some.”

“Without Corinna's pushing I never would have run in the first place. I owe all of this to my sister,” Mia said. “She's the one who should be here, not me.”

“Aha,” Flo said. “Do you think that has anything to do with your motivation?”

“No,” Mia said. “I can't help her. She's dead.”

“But you can help all the women in America in her place,” Flo said. “Set them free as your sister did you.”

“Stopping the Registry and mandatory ser­vice just seems like the right thing.”

“Always look deeper,” Flo said. “That is how you can harness your energy.”

“How do I do that?”

“Never stop asking questions.”

When Mia was learning how to form strategies with Riley she had asked questions nonstop. Her mentor had scolded Mia for asking too many.

“I ask questions all the time.”

“To other ­people,” Flo said. “Ask them to yourself.”

Mia went silent. Flo stopped walking and turned to face Mia. She reached out and grabbed ahold of both her hands.

“We can't change other ­people,” Flo said. “We can only educate them and give them the option to change themselves.”

“Are you talking about Andrew?”

“I'm speaking about every soul who walks this earth.”

Flo squeezed Mia's hands.

“I have some official business to attend to,” Flo said. “But one last piece of advice. If you're angry with someone, clear and open communication is the best way to get over your fear.”

“I'm angry, not afraid.”

“Anger is only a form fear takes,” Flo said. “And there's no shame in being afraid. Particularly for a person like you with a challenging road behind and ahead.”

Flo released Mia's hands and leaned in, giving her a kiss on each cheek. Mia watched as she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small box. At first Mia thought she was getting a present, but instead Flo turned to walk away.

“What is that?” Mia asked.

“A gift,” Flo said. “For your grand commander. I am sending it ahead. It should arrive in a day or two and will hopefully help with your cause.”

This was the exact sort of information Mia wanted to know—­how the small gift would help—­but Flo had given her so much to think about that she didn't have the urge to ask. There was nothing this woman would keep from Mia and if that small gift was meant to stop the injustices in America, that was all Mia needed to know.

“Enjoy your lessons,” Flo said. “I'll see you at dinner.”

“Good-­bye,” Mia said.

Flo walked off. Bryan and Jesse followed her. Mia debated walking back to the employees and speaking with Andrew and Carter about their recent behavior. Open and clear communication. Instead she decided to focus on Flo's other advice. Mia needed to ask herself some hard questions and not be afraid of the answers.