“Damone attacked you. You had every right to defend yourself. If you hadn’t, you’d be dead. If I didn’t trust your judgment, I wouldn’t have brought you the gun. The only question is whether you know how to use it.”
I clutch the wooden handle, remembering the feel of pulling the trigger, the kick of the weapon, the way eyes widen when the bullet you shot punches into a body and ends its life. The scars on my arm tingle.
“Yes,” I say, sliding the gun into the pocket of my bag. “I know how to shoot.”
“Good.” Raffe checks his watch and heads for the door. “After what I heard on those recordings, I think there’s a good chance that even if everything goes according to your friend’s plan, you’re going to need it.”
Raffe leads the way as we ride through the sunlit Tosu City streets. Though we are both tired, he sets a fast pace. Every couple of blocks, he points out a landmark as though giving me a tour. Occasionally, he waves to someone as they pass. I understand. He wants us to be seen and remembered as two University students enjoying a beautiful day. Because no one who sees us would believe we have caused death and are now working hard to bring part of the government down.
My muscles are taut. My pulse races but I smile and laugh. I tell myself that everything I have done will be worth it in the end. The recordings are the proof the rebels have been looking for. The president will play them on the Debate Chamber floor. Those who support Dr. Barnes will have no choice but to vote with the president and remove him from office. The Testing will end without bloodshed. No one else will have to die.
We arrive at the fence and look for the tree Michal indicated. I spot it four hundred yards from where Tomas, Raffe, and I entered before. We hide our bicycles in a thicket of weeds, scale the fence, and wait for Michal. Fifteen minutes later, he appears on the horizon from the south.
“Ranetta and the other faction’s leaders are scheduled to meet soon to finalize plans for their attack. As soon as that happens, they’ll start deploying to positions around the city as well as coordinating with the rebel University students and Tosu citizens who are willing to fight for their cause. Symon plans to make one more plea for peace. He’s at headquarters now, trying to come up with a way to convince Ranetta and her faction to hold off on their attack. You can’t go inside headquarters without being seen, but there is a broken shed in the middle of a copse of trees where you’ll have a good view of the building. That’s the best I can do.” Michal holds out his hand. “Before I take you inside, I want to hear one of the recordings.”
“Fair enough.” Raffe digs into his bag, pulls out the recorder, and hits Play.
“I guess I’ll be walking the rest of the way.”
I jump at the sound of my own voice.
“Don’t worry, Cia. You won’t be alone. I’ll walk with you.” Tomas.
“You don’t have to.”
The words are familiar. I close my eyes and try to remember. I see a road. A bicycle broken into pieces.
“Yes. I do,” Tomas says. “I guess this is where we part company again. Cia and I wouldn’t want to hold you back.”
“Funny, but I was just going to say the same thing.” Will’s voice. Then a gunshot.
Suddenly, I am back on the road. Tomas doubles over. His hands turn red as blood from the gunshot spills over them.
“What the hell are you doing, Will?”
I see Will smile at me from behind his gun. Feel the fear as I relive the understanding that I have been betrayed by a friend.
“Isn’t it obvious? I’m getting rid of my competition. I didn’t lose my brother and come all this way just to be told I’m not good enough to make it into the University. I made that choice early on. Only you wouldn’t die. Thankfully, a couple of the others were easier to kill before I ran out of quarrels. Both Gill and I are championship crossbow marksmen. He always takes first, but I give him a run for his money.”
“And you think I’m just going to let you shoot me now? I’ve already proven I won’t go down without a fight.”
“You’re smart, Cia, but you don’t have the killer instinct. I could walk away right now and you wouldn’t fire at me.”
“You wanna bet? Go ahead and try me.”
For a moment everything goes silent. I hear Tomas whisper my name. Then gunfire fills the air.
And I remember. My knees buckle, and I grab the trunk of a tree to keep from stumbling to the ground as whatever barrier Dr. Barnes and his officials created to keep my memories at bay disappears.
Ryme offering me corncakes.
Will and Gill at the dinner table, laughing.
Hol
ding Malachi’s hand as life drains out of his body. His blood staining the tiles as officials carry him out of The Testing room.
Jumping across a bridge.