Page 84 of Kingdom of Tomorrow
A smile bloomed and fell. My book. The story of my life. Supposedly past, present, and future.
With great trepidation, I turned to the first page. Hmm. Written in an unfamiliar language. Flip, flip, flip. Lots of words and symbols I couldn’t read. Oh! I came to a portion of text I comprehended and gobbled up the sentences.
I rush down the hall as fast as my feet will carry me, determined to get my hands on Cyrus’s transmitter. All I must do is adhere the camera to a mine cart, and I can watch the feed to see what’s being mined.
Uh ... That was the only tidbit I got? I didn’t even know what it meant!
“Show me the rest,” I demanded, my voice echoing off fading walls. No, no, no. I clutched the tome to my chest. I wasn’t ready to leave. “Don’t send me away.” But the book was fading too. Then the library and Domino vanished completely, and my bedroom reformed.
I sank to the mattress. Frustrated and unsure, I glanced at the digital clock displayed above the dresser, then performed a double take. I’d lost hours. Had spent most of the night inside that library, though it had felt like only minutes. Now, morning was here.
I rolled my lip under my teeth. According toCured, what I’d experienced was the first sign of the Madness. But I didn’t feel sick. I felt normal. So what was I? In between, as Shiloh had been?
A choking sound left me as I sprang to my feet. I padded to a private bathroom, where I showered and worked to center myself. Once I convinced myself I wasn’t teetering on a break, I realized I’d forgotten to send a report about Cyrus. Not that I knew where to send it.
First day on the job, and I was already failing.
I’d do better. I dressed in clean fatigues stacked in the walk-in closet. Oh, wow. The clothes were softer than usual and in my exact size. Cyrus had anticipated my acceptance, proving his claim: he knew me well.
A hard rap pierced the air. I sheathed a dagger in my boot as my host called, “Let’s go.”
Showtime. I exited the room and followed his ambrosial scent to the kitchen, where he waited, freshly showered and at ease. He looked good. Very good.
“You need to test me for Madness,” I stated. For the good of all.
“There’s no need. If you were infected, an alarm would go off.”
I blinked. “Tests are airborne now?”
“Only in Theirland, insideCuredbuildings.” He poured a red concoction into two glasses and thrust a beverage at me. “I ordered you to rest, Pink. Drink every drop and tell me why you appear exhausted.”
I accepted, relieved and disturbed, saying, “I’ve had trouble sleeping my entire life.” Truth without sharing the whole story.
“Guess I’ll have to play hardball to help you,” he replied with a pleasant smile before draining his glass.
I would’ve asked what he meant, but a sip of the juice awakened atrophied taste buds, and my mind hopped on a new track.Must have more.Down the hatch! Mmm. More than delicious, the liquid invigorated me from the inside out. Cells came alive, and muscles plumped with strength.
“What is this stuff?” I asked, practically slurring my words.
“Bait.” He winked and offered his hand, sending my heartbeat into overdrive.
I licked my lips, reached out, and reluctantly twined our fingers.Ignore the warmth of his skin. The calluses on his palm.Impossible. “Hand-holding doesn’t fall under the category of babysitter,” I said, embarrassed by my breathlessness.
“Ah. But it does fall under the category of pre-dating.”
Well. “We should talk about the best way to introduce my new position to the team.”
“No need. I’ll make the announcement, and that will be that.” He led me from the apartment and into a private elevator, where he released me.Don’t protest.“You’ll be pleased to know I should receive the requested documents when we return to the base.”
“I am, thank you.”
Tone dry, he told me, “Do us both a favor and remember this feeling of gratitude.”
Um. “That’s kind of ominous.”
“I know.”
The elevator doors dinged and opened, revealing a hallway. Cyrus hit me with a mind-melting smile, then shuffled me and my liquid brain along a winding path. At the first security point, he logged in my ID chip, ensuring I received all access. I noted a second glance from some of the soldiers, their curiosity palpable.
