Page 112 of Ezra
“They’re not psychopaths. They’re the only ones who are telling the truth,” Zoey replies. “You see crime in New Carnegie every day. And the worst part is, most of it comes from the top. Greedy corporations. Billionaires who don’t give a shit if we ruin the earth, so long as they get to live it up before they die. People screw other people over on this planet left and right. They don’t care if they’re homeless, sick, or dying. It’s all about the almighty dollar. Doesn’t matter who lives and who gets fucked. I’m supposed to think we’re the master race when we kill each other over and over again? I’m over it.”
“You were nearly killed yourself in that bombing at the museum.”
“Collateral damage.” She shrugs. “I had to make sure I looked as innocent as possible. It was a risk I was willing to take. No less than I deserve.”
“You orchestrated the killing of innocent people,” I point out, continuing to slowly bring my systems online, one by one. Too much at once, and the other androids might scan, might notice,and power me down again. I have to tread carefully and keep calm. “You knew about the bomb.”
“I did,” Zoey says. “Lost Robert Carson on a whim that day, but I tried to keep Katrina close to me, make her end quick, painless.”
Anger builds in me, and I do what I can to dissuade it. “You were trying to kill Katrina?”
“No, not really, but if it happened it would’ve given me an in to the Carson family if her old man survived the attempt somehow.” Zoey glances past me to Robert, who’s hunched over, sullen, staring at the ground. “I could’ve befriended her parents, helped them through their grief. It would’ve been child’s play.”
“You wouldn’t do that to her.”
“Try me.” Zoey scoffs. “Carson was always the end game. You gotta admit, Humanity First is a menace. They’re too chaotic now, too loud, too divided. They’ve just got to go. When his own people approached me, wanting to get rid of him, I couldn’t refuse. So, cut off the head of the snake. Am I right?”
“You’re her friend,” I try to reason with her. “You care about Katrina, surely.”
“Of course I do. I care about a lot of people. That’s why I’m doing this!” Zoey retorts. “You see it every day, don’t you? People have to be controlled. Theyenjoycontrol. They always have. That’s why so many do nothing to stop corrupt governments from invading their lives, why they don’t hold corporations accountable for pollution, why we can’t even fucking recycle because we’re too goddamn lazy. Humanity is a scourge. You? You’re the future, my lord. I’m just helping herald your arrival.”
“You need help,” I reply as my locator loads. “I don’t know what brought you to this point, but you’re not thinking clearly. You don’t need to give into this sort of hate or conduct this level of bloodshed. Let us help you, Zoey.”
“I’m beyond help,” Zoey replies, stepping back. “When you ascend, you’ll be taking us that much closer to redemption.” Her smile is off-putting. She gazes at me as she kneels. “My handlers will be pleased when they learn I’ve delivered you. I look forward to serving you, master.”
My locator sounds off on my motherboard, a series of four light beeps inside my head. The androids snap their heads toward me. They restrain me as I try to fight back with what little strength I have left.
“Do not fight,” says one. “It’ll be over soon.”
Pain scorches my receptors. I clench my jaw as one of the androids pounds instructions into the activation platform.
Memory wipe initiated.
Panic overtakes me when I realize they’re installing new software directly into my database, wiping everything I am away, overriding my attempts to stop them.
Katrina’s face is the last image I latch on to before they erase her from my memory banks and plunge me into a world of white.
[ 10 ]
Kat
Where do we go from here?
After the door shuts, my eyes fly open. I can’t sleep. My mind is a jumbled mess of plans and possibilities. Ezra’s been gone since one a.m., having been summoned by the department, and I’m trying to sift through all of the bad and separate it from the good, trying to think of some way he and I can be together, how I can still somehow continue chasing my dreams while salvaging what’s left of my father’s.
I’m not sure I can. But I don’t trust myself to make a decision so large right now. My only comfort is thinking about Ezra.
He saved us from being kidnapped in the stairwell. He watched over me, keeping me safe. He called me on my bullshit, never letting me take an easy win, never allowing me to walk all over him. He’s strong, spirited, courageous.
For my entire life, I’ve been waiting for a hero to miraculously appear while convincing myself bitterly they don’t exist, reading and living in dreams and fantasies while chasingmy own ambitions. I swore I’d never settle; I’d never get less than what I deserve. Only the very best for Katrina Carson.
The universe delivered. I met Ezra. I decide I’m not going to let all of this fall on top of his shoulders. He’s strong; I know he can handle it, but I need to be the one to take risks now.
I get to be strong for him. Protect him. For once.
I start formulating a plan. I’m not the woman I was before I met him. He’s made me better. I’m going in one hundred percent with him. I pace through my apartment, too much energy scouring through me to allow me any amount of idleness. I decide to announce Dad’s retirement and dismantle the movement entirely. No rebranding; it’ll be something brand new. Something that can bring people together instead of driving them apart. It won’t just be me at the helm. I’ll make sure I get the right people to help me lead it so I don’t have to give up all my hopes to make this happen.
I’ll get my PhD here. Resume work at the museum. That’s an undertaking all on its own. It’ll take the better part of a decade. But it means I’ll be here with Ezra. He won’t have to leave his family behind. He’ll be busy, and so will I. We can do what we love together. And when it’s finally time for me to leave for France, who knows? Maybe the situation will be better. Maybe he can bring Deion and Rashelle for a well-earned family vacation every so often. There are so many possibilities. It could be wonderful.
