Page 71 of Privilege

“This is a secure link,” my mother tells me. “Tell us what you’re supposed to steal.”

“Me and Vale. We’re supposed to steal a laptop that has information about the Peaceful Society that the Forge wants. We find the laptop and bring it to them.”

My mom and the other woman exchange a glance. This has happened my whole life. At home, at school, and out in the community. My mom and the other CSOs: always whispering, giving each other significant looks.

I'm annoyed. Here I am, in Alaska, ready to risk my neck.

“What?” I say, pointedly.

My mom stares back at me, cold now.

“What, Mom? Can you fill me in, please? You said the link was secure,” I add a little petulantly, even though I try not to. “I deserve to know.”

My mother’s lips purse. The other woman starts to speak, and apparently she’s allowed to tell me what my own mother can’t or won’t.

“We believe the Forge is preparing to move to a location much closer to the Peaceful Society. There are reports of a site being prepared in West Virginia.”

“Zeph said something about that, that they were going to try to negotiate with the PS,” I tell them.

“Nonsense. We believe they are getting ready to strike the Peaceful Society, organize an attack that will cause widespread injuries or destruction. It could be plans for our electrical grid, something to take down our servers, or even a biological agent or poison.”

I suddenly remember the trucks and buses. “There were trucks, so many trucks, lined up outside the building. And buses.”

“What were they doing?” my mom asks, urgently. “Were they loading them?”

“Walking up and down.” I picture the scene in my head, what I saw before Vale whisked me away. “They were checking them, inspecting maybe. I don’t think Vale wanted me to see.”

“I’m sure he didn’t,” the other woman says.

“Ami, we need that laptop. We need to know what they’re planning, to prevent the Forge from terrorism.”

Terrorism? That’s not how I see Vale at all. I think of him: protecting me, laughing with me and teasing me, swimming powerfully beside me in the pool.

“Go with him tonight and get the laptop, but you must keep it away from the Forge. We can tell you where to drop it off later.” My anxiety spikes at my mother’s words.

My mother sees me breathing in, a sharp double breath, and knows what I’m up to. “Ami, listen. It’s going to be okay. Do this and then you’ll be done. We’ll make arrangements to get you back here and you can start training with the other girls.”

“Why me?” I can’t help asking.

“The boy, he cares about you, right? He trusts you?”

Does she mean Zeph? He still cares about me, but I don’t think he’ll ever want to go back to the PS unless things change. But Vale’s father keeps dangling him, using him to control me. Cooperate and we’ll help Zeph. Cross us and he’ll struggle.

“Vale,” my mom clarifies.

“Oh. Yeah, I think so,” I say, my eyes shifting.

“It’s okay,” she reassures me. “You’re doing great. Getting close to him is an excellent strategy. There’s no way they would involve you so quickly in the work of the Forge otherwise.”

There’s a knock on my door and I have a fleeting sense of relief. I don’t want to know any more. I don’t want to know if Vale is planning to do something terrible to the PS.

“Hey, Ami?” Ren pokes their head in. I try not to twist the phone away immediately. It’s already angled towards the wall.

“Yeah, Ren?”

“I’m going next door to see if they need help with lunch. Want to come?” My eyes travel around the room, skimming over the phone. The link has been shut down. My mom is gone.

A message pops up.

We will get you info for a secure location where you can drop off the equipment.

Love you, honey.

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