Page 46 of Pet: Genesis

“I remember thinking how great it would be when the world fought back and sent him home... But we never did. We shut off our borders. We blamed each other. We fired a nuclear missile at Remus’s location. A location that had millions of civilians. Innocent people. But it didn’t matter. Because the few should always outlive the many. Or at least, that’s what our world leaders believed at the time.” Jude releases a bitter chuckle before continuing. “Do you know what happened to that missile? It never reached its destination,” he says eerily.

My mind travels back to Remus’ words.

“Where your people focused on building physical objects in mass and volume to do their bidding, we learned to manipulate matter.”

A sick feeling of terror claws at my gut. Could it be possible that Remus had something to do with its disappearance? Did hesomehow manipulate it? Jude continues speaking, which pulls me out of my thoughts.

“We tried everything. Everything we could to injure them, but none of it worked—none of it. Our efforts were laughable. Missiles, bullets, bombs, chemicals. None of it worked. All we succeeded in doing was destroying ourselves. So, when survivors with a will to fight slowly gathered, the resistance was formed over time. And for once, we have a real fighting chance,” he finishes.

“How are you so sure? Your people were literally caught only a few weeks ago,” I say. But instead of anger, excitement appears behind Jude’s warm eyes.

“Zaya took me with her once when she went to conduct business. I saw more of my comrades. They’re here in the city hiding. They’re undercover as slaves. Zaya sends me once a week to run errands on her behalf, and I meet with them, passing along any information I can give. Zaya’s problem is that she doesn’t believe that I would do anything so bold, especially when she’s clearly stronger than me. Arrogance will be her downfall, and it has truly helped. Since she’s a general she has important paperwork around all the time. She thinks I don’t know what I’m looking at.”

I stare at Jude in fascination.

“So you can read their language?” I ask. He shakes his head.

“Their language is all but impossible to decipher. I copy what I can and send it to the resistance to decipher on their own. It’s too complex of a language without a guide,” he complains. I can’t help but be impressed that he’s been able to do all of this.

“Does Zaya suspect?” I ask. He shakes his head.

“If she did, I would be dead,” he says simply. Slowly, my brain starts to connect the dots of our conversation. Jude’s heavy involvement with the resistance, his importance because of who his owner is, and the direction of the sentence he never got to finish because we were interrupted.

“So… why do you think we have a fighting chance?” I keep my eyes focused on my hands. It’s all I can do to remain calm.

“We need your help,” he says, confirming my suspicions.

“The information we’ve gotten has helped us with the Leviathan race as a whole, but we still know nothing of their leader. It’s obvious he’s entirely different from them. Our weapons affect the Leviathan, but it’s a completely different ballgame when Remus shows up, and we have no idea why,” he says.

I narrow my eyes as I realize where this is going.

“You’re the first inhabitant Remus has ever taken. You’re the first one to not only survive, but Remus seems to have some twisted form of leniency when it comes to you. And you’re the only person on this planet who can get close to him and get the information we need. When I saw you at that party risk your life, knowing the consequences, I just knew that you were different. You hate them just as much as we do. But I had no idea how I could possibly get to you even to ask, and then, Zaya brought me right to you. It has to be fate. You are the answer to so many people’s prayers, Iris.” He takes a deep breath.

“You have to find his weakness. We need you to give us all the information in his grasp. Help us defeat them. Help us get our planet back.” Jude’s words force my chest to tighten as hecontinues speaking. And I stand, having my own outburst with fear fueling me.

“Are you crazy?” I shout. Jude looks behind me in fear at my sudden outburst and back to me.

“Shhhh!” he hisses, but I shake my head in disbelief.

“You said it yourself: Remus isnot like the rest of them. You saw what he did to me at that party. Can you imagine what he would do if he found out I wasspyingon him?” I ask.

“I know that I’m asking a lot of you, Iris. But I wouldn’t be asking if I didn’t think you were capable,” he says desperately. I sit back, considering his words.

He’s right. I am the only person close enough. And Remus is the key to the Leviathan race as a whole. His mother is the one who had a hand in shaping it into what it is today. I think back to the humans in that horrible place Remus took me to. I think of all the humans that suffered in the blight, including Margot, who continues to suffer daily without a prayer. And now, if there is truly a fighting chance, thanks to Jude, I am what stands between the human race and victory.

I heave a deep sigh.

“If I do this, you have to promise me something, Jude,” I say. I finally look up with tears in my eyes. Scared is an understatement. I’m terrified. And I know that if I get caught doing this, Remus will kill me. It won’t be a merciful death, either. He will make me suffer as he has every time he’s caught me doing something as simple as disobeying him.

“If you find a way to escape, you have to promise to take me with you,” I say. Jude’s eyes widen as I speak.

“I’m not going to lie, I’m scared. But for the sake of humanity, I will do it so that they can be free. I don’t want to die at the hands of that monster. I want to fight alongside my people, and I want to enjoy that freedom as well once we win,” I say.

I shift closer to Jude, my eyes remaining focused on the humans whose freedom has been taken away just like ours.

“If I get caught, Jude, Remus will mutilate my body and do everything he can to make sure that I stay alive through it all. He won’t take this betrayal lightly. I know people will want me to be brave, but I’m not. And I don’t want to die that way. You say you saw what he’s done to our people... I’ve lived it. If you think I’m close to being broken, just think about how I’ve gotten here. So if you find a way to escape, once we have all the information we need, you have to promise to take me. You can’t leave me behind,” I say.

He gives me a knowing smile, his dimple appearing again.

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