Rebels Read online

  Levi walked past the reception desk and down the hall. He passed one door, a second, and stopped outside the third. It wasn’t locked and the door was open. He went inside. The room was long and narrow. One long table sat in the center of the room and was surrounded by chairs. A large white board covered one wall and was divided into a four-month calendar. Levi caught sight of Jemma’s name on the wall and paused.

  This appeared to be what they were looking for. “I found something,” he said to Zane. “A show schedule. It’s a four-month calendar and Jemma’s name is on it in dozens of places.”

  “Use the camera and take a picture,” Zane said. “But if it’s only the schedule for when episodes air, it’s not proof enough of where Jemma will be for each filming. We need exact locations. See if you can find Luella’s office next.”

  Levi pulled Zane’s tiny camera out of the satchel on his Owl belt and took several pictures of the calendar. Then he walked across the hall and into the office there. It had two desks, a round table, and some couches over by the windows. He paused at the first desk, looking over the papers on the desktop. He spotted the name Finley Gray on a nameplate, then walked to the second desk. He scanned for a similar nameplate and found it on the very back of the desk. Luella Flynn.

  “Here we go.”

  “What?”

  “Luella Flynn’s desk. And her calendar.” Levi took a picture of the open desk calendar, which was for the month of October. He flipped the page to November and photographed that page too. He kept going until there were no more entries. Then he flipped back to October and found the entries with Jemma’s name. “I think some of these will work.” There was an appointment at the To Dye For Salon next Friday and a shopping spree scheduled for two Saturday’s from now. But there were weekly appointments at the SC.

  Jemma really was pregnant.

  “Great,” Zane said. “Time to go.”

  Levi pocketed the camera. “On my way.”

  “Who are you talking to, trig?” a female voice asked.

  Levi jumped. He squinted, his eyes seeking out the bearer of that voice.

  A click. A lamp lit the room. Luella Flynn was reclined on a couch on the other side of the table.

  Maggots! Levi backed slowly toward the door.

  Luella straightened but didn’t stand. “Don’t leave so soon! Are you looking for something particular? I was asleep when I heard you talking, but I missed the beginning of your conversation with yourself.”

  “Get out of there,” Zane said. “She’s trying to stall you.”

  “What’s liberation?” Luella asked him. “At least give me a clue.”

  “Don’t you know?” Levi asked.

  She shook her head. “It’s the one story that’s always evaded me. Well, that and you, now. But here you are. What do you say? How about an exclusive? We could do it now. I just need to tab Alb. He’s my cameraman.”

  “No thanks,” Levi said, inching toward the door. “I’m well aware of how your exclusives are edited.”

  “Only when Lawten insists,” she said, “or when the camera makes me look fat. A girl has a right to look her absolute best, you know.”

  Levi sidestepped toward the door. Two more steps and he’d turn and run.

  “Just one more question!” She scooted to the end of the couch. “How did you get that footage of Mason Elias and Omar Strong? Did that happen in the RC?”

  “You’ll have to wait and see like everyone else,” Levi said, then for the sake of the fake mission added, “The Owl sees all. Trust the Owl.” And he ran out the door and to the elevator.

  “Take the stairs this time,” Zane said. “That cameraman of hers is waiting for the elevator.”

  Levi slowed in the reception area until he saw the glowing green exit sign in the opposite corner. He ran to it, bashed his glove against the SimPad, and it swung open.

  Down, down, down he went. He paused to make sure the lobby was empty, then ran back through the theater and out the long corridor to the garage, where he found the Highland Public Task truck. The passenger door was already sliding above the roof.

  Levi climbed inside.

  “You get it?” Nash asked.

  “Yeah, I got it. Luella Flynn was there, though.”

  “I swear I saw her leave earlier today,” Zane said through Levi’s earpiece. “I’m really sorry.”

  “You think that’s true what she said?” Levi asked Zane. “That she really doesn’t know the truth about liberation.”

  “Sure,” Zane said. “The woman can’t keep a secret. If it wasn’t worth telling, she’d know. And if she knew, so would everyone else. Which means it must be a big secret.”

  But there was nothing big around here, not outside the Safe Lands walls, anyway. Whatever liberation was, it happened inside. And if it was inside, they could find it.

  They got back to Zane’s house, and Levi changed out of the Owl costume. Then Zane loaded the images Levi had taken onto the Wyndo wall screen and they studied them.

  “Lots of opportunities,” Zane said. “But I don’t like any of these locations. Except that one. On December twenty-six.”

  “Dedication of the Prestige?”

  “They’ve been rebuilding it for the past year in the old Entertainer building,” Zane said.

  “But that’s two months away.” Levi didn’t think he could wait that long to see his wife.

  “The Midlands is my backyard,” Zane said. “I can help you here much better than I can in the Highlands. I mean, we could try to hijack her car as they head to any of these other appointments, but they’re all during the day. If there’s a chase, there’s no place for us to go. The only storm drains I trust in the Highlands are nowhere near these places.”

  Levi understood. If they tried to rescue Jemma and failed, the security around her would increase. They might not get a second chance. She was already pregnant. She’d be safe for two more months.

  Though Levi might go insane.

  CHAPTER

  19

  Shaylinn sat on her bed holding the letters Nash had given her. Letters that had been sent to the messenger. Three of them. A thrill pulsed inside her. What was she waiting for? She should open them.

  She ripped the first envelope and found a single card inside, the same size as the envelope.

  To the Messenger —

  Who asked you? Don’t send your sentimental musings again.

  C. Hydel

  Shaylinn’s breath shuddered. Tears flooded her eyes. She hadn’t expected such a response. Had she been wrong to write people? Omar had liked her letters. But he’d known they were from her.

  She wasn’t sure she wanted to open another one, but she did it anyway.

  Are you spying on me? Is this Ranj? Leave me alone. My life is none of your business.

  Tears streaked down her face. These people hadn’t liked what she’d had to say at all. She tore open the last one, eager to get it over with.

  Mystery Messenger,

  Thank you for your note. It made me cry. In a good way, though. I do feel alone, but not so much now that I know you’re out there. Please write back.

  Your friend,

  Elani

  Shaylinn cried even harder, though it was relief to know that she’d connected with someone.

  She immediately got out her paper and wrote back to Elani. Without her Wyndo, she couldn’t remember which person Elani was, though. She sat pondering what to say when it suddenly occurred to her that Levi had gone out with Zane.

  She quickly walked out of her and Penny’s room and tiptoed across the living room where Trevon and Grayn were sprawled out on the couches like shirts to dry.

  It felt wrong to invade Levi’s bedroom. But she did it anyway, quickly spotting her Wyndo on his bedside table. She sat on the edge of his bed and the smell of his room made her wrinkle her nose. A pile of laundry against the wall and the smell of his sheets were the obvious culprits. She would offer to do his laundry tomorrow. The poor man was hopeless w
ithout Jemma.

  She powered on the Wyndo and was surprised to find that it was not off but only asleep. Levi must have been using it.

  The screen faded into view on the grid page for The Finley and Flynn Morning Show. The title said “Safe Lands Crowns New Queen,” and there was an image of Luella Flynn, the task director, and Jemma sitting on two couches.

  Jemma . . . pregnant?

  She couldn’t help herself, she tapped play. The volume came through low enough that no one could hear outside the room. What she saw was horrible — couldn’t be true. Why would Jemma ever look happy holding that man’s hand, claiming to carry his child?

  She didn’t understand.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Oh!” Shaylinn jumped, shocked to not have heard Levi open the door. He was staring at her. But his face didn’t look angry.

  “This can’t be true.” She held up the portable Wyndo.

  “Give it to me.” Levi walked to where she sat and took the Wyndo away. “I asked you not to look at this thing anymore.”

  “I needed to learn something about someone I wrote a message to. She wrote me back, see?” She handed Levi the letter and wiped her eyes. “That’s not true about Jemma, right?”

  “Zane says they faked some of it. There’s no way to know what was really said until Jemma tells us.”

  Shaylinn sniffled. “So you’re not mad at her?”

  “Mad at Jem? How could I be? She’s only doing what I asked of her.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “If any of us got caught, we were supposed to pretend to switch sides, to try and learn anything we could about the government or liberation. Anything.”

  And now Jemma had to play the traitor. “I’m sorry, Levi.”

  “It’s fine. Just, please don’t come in here again.”

  “No, I mean, I won’t. I meant that I was sorry this happened. To you and Jemma.”

  “I’ll get her back.”

  And Shaylinn knew he would.

  The next morning, after she’d started Levi’s laundry and she, Penny, and Nell had taken the kids to the park, Shaylinn walked to Nash’s apartment, let herself into his foyer, and knocked on the inside door.

  Nash opened the door wearing a tank top and shorts. His feet were bare, and his hair was sticking up. He also had creases across his face.

  Oh, dear. She’d awakened him. “Were you sleeping?”

  “Just got up seconds before you knocked. You want to come in?” He stepped back and opened the door wider.

  For some reason, she felt embarrassed. “Um . . . I was hoping to borrow your Wyndo.”

  “Electronics aren’t allowed below.”

  “Yeah, but I know you have one. I saw it in your bedroom.”

  He pursed his lips and cocked his head to one side. “And that’s what I get for letting a girl into my bedroom.”

  Was he mad? “You didn’t let me in. I let myself.”

  He smirked and folded his arms. “What do you want it for?”

  “The answers you gave me? The answers to my messages? One of them wants me to write back, but I couldn’t remember who she was and wanted to refresh myself with her story so I could do a good job writing to her. I wanted to look up her profile on the grid.”

  “Only one wants you to write back?”

  “Yeah . . . The others weren’t very happy with my letters.”

  He waved her inside. “I hope you won’t let that discourage you.”

  “Only from writing to them again.” Shaylinn walked inside, greeted by the sweet smells of the garden inside.

  “I have another letter for you. From Tym. You’ve really lifted his spirits.” Nash walked into the kitchen and handed her the message.

  She took it and smiled at Tym’s childlike handwriting. “Do you mind if I read it now?”

  “Not at all. Sit down, though. Here, let me move that.” He darted past her and moved a stack of cowpots off the couch and set them on the floor.

  Shaylinn sat, feeling shy since he was staring at her. Why did he always have to stare? Was it wrong for her to visit? He was the only person willing to help her with her messages. What else was she supposed to do?

  She opened Tym’s letter.

  Dear Messenger,

  Thanks for writing to me. Where I live is probably different from where you live. I can’t say more than that, but I’d like to leave someday. Not forever. I just want to know what’s out there. Does that make sense? Sometimes I feel really alone here.

  My mom doesn’t understand. I know my dad will support me whatever I decide, but not Mom. She’s stubborn about anyone leaving. She doesn’t trust me at all. I know nothing’s going to happen to me. But she thinks I’ll mess up like my brother. So she’s always watching me. I feel like a prisoner. I can’t do anything without her thinking it’s bad.

  I’m not a bad person. Just curious. Is it bad to be curious? I know we’re not supposed to think about the world above. And Mom says God hates that world and thinks it’s evil. But I found a place in my Bible that says that God loved the world so much he gave up his son. Don’t you think those things contradict each other? I’ve been wanting to ask my dad, but I haven’t yet.

  One other thing. I met a really nice girl. She’s pretty too. But I know my mom wouldn’t want me to talk to her. I said good night to her once when I saw her walking with her friends. And she said it back. Anyway, I’m afraid my mom will be angry if I make friends with her, since she’s not like us. What do you think I should do?

  Write back soon!

  Tym

  Sweet Tym. She ached for him, but she also understood Tova’s fear. It must have crushed her when Zane left home. But when she found out he’d contracted the thin plague . . . Shaylinn couldn’t imagine a mother getting such news.

  She wondered what girl he’d met. “I’ll write him back tonight,” she told Nash. “Now, could I use your Wyndo, please? I left Penny and Nell alone in the park with all the kids, and I don’t want to be gone too long.”

  Nash went into his bedroom and handed Shaylinn his Wyndo. “Best hurry.” Once again, he gave her that wide smile.

  Shaylinn looked down, focused on finding Elani on the grid. She recognized her face right away. She was the girl who’d been depressed, who’d suffered two miscarriages. Shaylinn would write back tonight — Elani and Tym — and she’d bring both messages to Nash first thing in the morning, before the kids awoke for breakfast. Her morning sickness was still waking her early enough that she had no doubt she’d be back before anyone missed her. But maybe she shouldn’t bother Nash so early. Perhaps she’d just slip the messages under his door. That way —

  “Hello, Katz? Are you here, son?”

  Tova.

  Nash looked over to the door, eyes wide as his mother’s voice came from his foyer. “Oh . . . She won’t be pleased to find you here.”

  Shaylinn scooted to the edge of the couch. “Should I leave?”

  “It makes no difference now.”

  Oh, dear. “I’m sorry.”

  His eyes latched onto hers. “Absolutely not your fault. I won’t hear of you blaming yourself.”

  The inner door opened and Tova let herself in.

  “Hello, Mother,” Nash said. Shaylinn started to stand, but Nash waved her back in her seat. “Please don’t trouble yourself, Shaylinn. You should rest whenever you can.”

  “I’m not an invalid, you know.”

  Tova stopped in the opened doorway, staring at Shaylinn. “What is she doing here?”

  “She’s borrowing my . . . uh . . .” His eyes narrowed, looking at the Wyndo in Shaylinn’s hands.

  Shaylinn shoved the Wyndo under a couch pillow.

  “She’s just visiting, actually,” Nash said.

  Well, that hadn’t been at all suspicious.

  Tova slammed the door. “This cannot be, Katz. I will not have my son breed with an upsider.”

  Breed? Shaylinn’s cheeks burned.

  “Mother! Please.
You’re embarrassing yourself.”

  She walked up to him. “I’m making myself clear. Haven’t I lost enough? If you do this, what will Tym do? With two older brothers leading him astray? Becoming exiles?”

  “Mother, Tym won’t go astray. Nor will I.”

  She poked his chest. “You both must obey the law. Only then will God protect you.”

  “That’s not true,” Shaylinn said. “Kindred laws are not all the same as God’s laws.”

  Tova turned her angry glare on Shaylinn. “Don’t you tell me about the law. I know the law.”

  “Your law, perhaps. But nowhere in the Bible does it say that a man must live underground all his life.”

  “The law protects our people.”

  “I understand that. But stop judging your sons for sins they haven’t committed.”

  “You have no right to speak to me that way, Shayleen, especially about my children.”

  “You’re right. Forgive me. I was out of line. Nash, I’ll visit you another time. Thank you for your help.” Shaylinn stood and walked to the door. Tova was standing in her way. Shaylinn looked into the woman’s eyes. “Excuse me, please.”

  Tova pursed her lips and stepped aside. And Shaylinn left.

  She chastised herself on the walk back to the park. She shouldn’t have fought with Tova. She shouldn’t have spoken to Tova at all. For some reason, that woman continually needled her.

  Lord, help me to love Tova. Help me to see the good in her and not only her faults. I know I have faults enough of my own. And thank you for Elani, that she wrote back. Help me encourage her to make the most of her life. And help me make the most of my own, with or without Omar.

  Shaylinn suddenly found herself at the door to Levi’s house. Why had she come here? She went inside and put her letters in her room, then pulled out a chair at the kitchen table and flopped down onto it to rest a moment.

  And she sat in a puddle of water. She jumped back up and looked at the chair to see what she’d sat in. Water trickled onto the floor from the chair, and her pants were soaked.