The Luminosity Series (Book 1): Luminosity Page 19

  “No.” I shook my head with quivering lips.

  “After the publication, she wanted to expose the truth about your family because she understood what was at stake. Survival. She knew we couldn’t buy our place within a colony. Revealing your secret was her only ticket to survival. That’s why we need to get rid of this evidence. Now.” He blinked fast. I heaved, letting him slip the documents out of my hands, tossing them into the flames.

  As the fire crackled, the glowing ashes rose higher. I closed my eyes. I was back within that moment again, my arm wrapped up in a twisted position, trapped inside my burning, overturned vehicle, Evan screaming my name from a distance. Then, I was at the hospital, being rushed into surgery, armed police guards restraining him behind the barricades in the hallways. The trauma became a form of time travel, plummeting me through a series of regrets and images of horror. Yet hope was prevalent in those moments. Much like the day of his father’s funeral, when even amongst sorrow and loss he saw what purpose remained.

  When my focus returned, he continued to feed the fire, sending each photo into it one at a time until they vanished. Standing beside me, he grabbed my hand and swallowed in relief as our history transformed to ashes. I turned my head to face him, giving him a serious look as my vision blurred.

  “Thank you,” I said, aiming my focus away from the fire.

  “Sometimes in order to move forward we have to stop looking back,” he said.

  He was quiet as we stood behind the glowing embers, the remnants of our forgotten childhood now withering away, disintegrating into nothing. Evan was right. We couldn’t keep reflecting on the past. But now, our history became a reason to fight.

  A few seconds passed while I looked up again. The sky was a beautiful entity, reminding us of our terrifying, fear-driven lives. The colors screamed out that night, making it impossible to ignore. And as the photons swayed, I found the purpose my mother once spoke of.

  “I still can’t believe this is happening,” he said. I focused my sight on him, fearful to see his expression. “Sometimes I wonder what our lives would have been like if this never happened. Think of all the places we could have gone, the things we could have seen. Knowing we had a future at all would’ve been enough for me,” he said, now looking me in the eye. I denied his glance as the tears came.

  “Don’t…” I said in a breathy voice, closing my eyes.

  “Don’t what?” he asked under his breath. By now, Evan’s expression was distant.

  “Don’t talk about us like we don’t have a future…” I stared at him numbly.

  “We might not, Aubrey...” he said. I sat in silence.

  The teal lights became more abundant, this time enchanting the entire night sky like low-lying clouds. The brightness illuminated the ground beneath our feet, everything glowing in a blue luminescence. The vision became infinite, repeating inside my head. I clenched my eyes shut as the onset of sorrow came.

  “Just promise me you’ll survive this.”

  “I can’t promise that...” he said tensely. It was then I recalled the first night we spoke since my return. I had uttered those exact words.

  “There’s no purpose for any of this if you don’t make it.” I looked up. After gazing at the sky, he blinked hard.

  “You know… after this all happened, I used to wonder what purpose I had left. But even after I learned who you really were, you were more to me than just a secret, Aubrey. That’s why I went after you. Protecting you was the only thing left that was important enough to fight for. And it’s the only reason I’m still here,” he said, staring upward, studying the stars before looking down. When he looked back, his eyes grabbed a hold of me, hypnotizing me before turning away. Everything inside me shattered. “You can’t forget how important you are, Aubrey. Even if we’re forced to say goodbye,” he said. By now, the fire had downgraded to a fading flicker.

  That night, as Evan slept, I listened to his tired breathing in my ear. I faced him as his hand gripped me, still forcing me beside him. His forehead rested on my long strands draped along the pillow. The softness of his hair brushed up against my cheek as the teal light from outside peeked through the blinds, lighting the room dimly. I wanted the fear to be over, but the uncertainty we faced became its own nightmare—an impending event we couldn’t avoid much longer. And as I lied awake beside him that night, I knew I couldn’t leave him behind again.

  ♦ ♦ ♦

  The next morning, I woke to tapping on the door. I sat up in the bed. Dawn was setting in as I blinked away the sleepiness and disorientation still lingering in my eyes. Evan was already downstairs by the time the front door creaked open, his faint mumbling echoing through the house until it downgraded to a whisper. I peered outside the bedroom as soon as her frantic tone emerged. Kylie.

  Out of curiosity, I tiptoed out into the upstairs loft that wrapped around the entire second story, overlooking the entry way. When I reached the area above the doorway, I brushed up against the wall, eager to pick up on their conversation.

  “She’s having problems. You need to talk to her,” Kylie said.

  “What is it this time? Begging for me to forgive her again? Forget it, I’ve already given her too many chances,” he said.

  “No… Ev… something is wrong. She’s losing her mind. And I think you know what this is about,” she said.

  “Well, she should’ve thought about that sooner.” Irritation lingered in his voice.

  “You were at her house… I saw you sneak in through the back and take a bunch of files out of the bookcase last night. What was in the files, Evan?” she asked.

  “This doesn’t concern you, Kylie… and you’d be better off not getting involved,” he said, shaking his head.

  “That’s where you’re wrong.” She pulled out several sheets of paper folded up inside her bag, Evan’s eyes broadening upon snatching them from her.

  “Where did you get these?” he snapped.

  “They were in a box on the shelf, hidden underneath a stack of books you left for her to find. Don’t worry. I cleaned up your mess, but I want to know what the hell this is about. Why does she have all these records?” Kylie asked, her breathing out of control now.

  “Listen… I can explain… but you need to calm down…” he said through his teeth. Kylie winced.

  “It really is her, isn’t it? That’s why you avoid your mother. These are dated back to her birth… there’s even a copy of her fingerprints in there. Why else would your mom have them?” Kylie asked, her eyes wandering. Evan swallowed, unable to speak.

  “Kylie—”

  “I can’t believe I didn’t see it sooner… Andrew Ellis was her father… They never died in that fire… They escaped,” she trailed off, letting out an exasperated breath as she put one hand across her face. Just then, Evan reached out to grab her arm, pulling her inside, shutting the door behind him.

  “Keep it down, okay? Aubrey’s upstairs. I’m keeping her here until this whole colony selection passes. You can’t let anyone know she’s here. Especially my mother,” he pressed.

  “What do you mean? She’s that man’s daughter. You have to tell the authorities, Ev, before they find out you’re an accomplice in her escape,” she cried. Evan lost it as he silenced her.

  “Quiet, or else you’ll get us all in trouble. Swear to me you’ll keep your mouth shut,” he lashed out. Kylie appeared frightened by his reaction before nodding. A few moments passed before Evan spoke again. “Their deaths were a cover-up,” he said.

  “You think?” Kylie’s eyes were wide.

  “What the media said was a lie, Kylie. The whole thing was set up. Andrew worked for the Department of Defense when he found out what was happening. They were designing a blueprint for some underground operation. It’s what led him to the truth. He wanted to warn the public about the discovery, but the feds went after him to keep him quiet. He staged the fire so they could get away,” he said.

  “That’s crazy talk, Evan…” She took a step back in
tears before he jerked her forward again.

  “No. You’re wrong to believe those stories. I believed them too until his name popped up on the internet by some awareness movement revealing her father’s true cause. But people still think of him as a rebel leader. There’s a bounty out for his entire family,” he said. Kylie shook her head.

  “But… they said the reason they kept that information from the public was to protect us from a panic. They had a plan. Now look what’s happened,” she said.

  “A plan? No. Not for us. The colonies were a response to public outcry. Otherwise they never would have been built, at least not for civilian capacity,” he said. Kylie stayed silent. “If anyone had insight into this, it was Andrew. Why would he make this up? He wouldn’t put his family’s life on the line just to cause a panic. It’s bigger than that.”

  “But—”

  “He knew what was coming, Kylie. He urged our leaders to prepare, but they wouldn’t because of the risks of getting other countries involved. The collapse didn’t happen because of her father. It happened because they kept their knowledge a secret.”

  “But what about the rebellion? All those riots and suffering?” she asked.

  “People didn’t want to start a war, they just wanted a fair chance. All this time, we’ve been tricked into thinking the people who fled were our enemy,” Evan snapped.

  “What about your mother? Have you told her about this?”

  “I tried, but she won’t listen. She’s too afraid to believe any of it. After I found out she knew about Aubrey’s identity, I made her a deal. If she ever tried to expose them, I’d escape the border and she’d never see me again. But after seeing these files I don’t trust she’ll stay quiet much longer,” he said.

  “Oh my god…”

  “You have to help me, Kylie… If they find her, it’s over.”

  “She’ll never make it out of this, Ev. Sooner or later, they’ll find out who she is…” she said.

  “Then you better do everything you can to keep her hidden. If you don’t, you’re putting every one of our lives in danger…”

  “Your mom knows the files are missing, Ev…” She blinked.

  “What? How?” His eyes were wide with fear.

  “I saw her looking through the bookcase after I grabbed these.” Kylie nodded to the papers in his hand. “She was acting weird. She even asked me if someone had been in the house since she left this morning. I denied it, but I don’t think she believed me,” she said with a wince. He sighed impatiently.

  “I had no idea how deeply involved she was in this until now. So I—I burned the files. And now I have to burn these too before she or anyone else gets to them,” he said, glancing at the records in his hand. Kylie was shaking.

  “She must suspect who took them. Once she realized they were missing, she ran back out to her car. She didn’t say where she was going… but she seemed paranoid,” she said.

  “Did you see which way she went?” he asked. My eyes widened. And in that second, worry over my mother’s safety flooded my brain.

  “No. I got here as soon as I could because I knew something was weird about all of this.”

  “Shit…”

  “Evan… before you burn these, think about what you’re doing. You’d have a life. You could carry on our family’s name and be a part of history. She’s one girl. Don’t you remember what she did? She left you behind,” she said. My face tightened with disgust.

  “She means more than that. The only thing anyone else has ever done for me was keep me from the truth, including my mother. Aubrey’s made mistakes but she doesn’t deserve this. She’s the only person who’s been on the right side of all of this,” he said.

  “This isn’t about what side we’re on, or what’s true. This is about survival. Without leverage, you won’t survive this. Remember, they’re the ones who choose whether to keep you alive. So you either save her, or yourself. You can’t have it both ways,” she said.

  “Then I choose her. Because I’d rather die with dignity than survive knowing I got another innocent person killed,” Evan snapped, tearing the remaining evidence into pieces before lighting another fire.

  23 WARRIOR

  I pretended to be asleep as Evan left for the fields that morning. At the hospital, I couldn’t count how many times I glanced at the clock that day. Sonya disappeared after my scene with Charlie, and even though I was glad not to have seen her again, I often wondered what happened to her, but I presumed I’d never find out.

  The fifth floor, once full of crying infants, was now dull and vacant, the black lining on the windows giving way through a vicious cycle of cracking and peeling. Tiny beams of sunlight seeped through them, making eerie, haunting patterns on the walls. The hollow silence rung in my ears as I delved into the empty hallways, chasing for a trace of new life. But as the dead air continued, the roars of protesters bordering the parking lot interrupted.

  Power to the city failed that day, forcing our more privileged citizens and authorities to run on the backup generators. My paranoia remained at an all-time high as I crossed through the barriers of Cedar Ridge—the obnoxious blare of the buzzer ringing as the red light converted to a cool green. The fence opened in a jingle-like chime, authorizing me to pass, but it was only a temporary reprieve. Each time I pushed through those gates I dodged a bullet—a shot that would one day hit me.

  With most of our military patrolling downtown, I turned through the barren streets leading to Evan’s. The entire neighborhood was a shadow now, with only the gentle glow of the auroras overhead to escort me through the streets. Fear arose in me within the emptiness. It was common to see guard trucks lined up on the streets during blackouts, even in places that had been long isolated by this crisis. But that night, as I inched forward, they remained absent.

  In front of me, a set of black tread marks burned the pavement, like someone had taken off in a hurry. My heart plunged as I pulled over beside Evan’s house, which from a distance appeared as if it had been looted. I took a sharp breath getting out of the car. After a moment of hesitation, I strolled into the street, his home coming closer into view as I adjusted my wavering vision. But to my disappointment, my intuition hadn’t deceived me. Jagged glass outlined the window, the front door partially open, just how Janelle and I found it the day he confronted Jake. But this time, over-sized, muddy footsteps tainted the doorstep in a detailed outline. Combat boots. Military.

  Without thinking, I flung forward. The door slammed against the wall as I put a hand over my mouth. Flames faded in the fireplace, the shadows of overturned furniture looming against the walls of the house. Light from the auroras gleamed through the windows. And as I put one foot forward, I froze. Evan’s belongings had been mangled and shred, pictures once hanging in gracious alignment now shattered. Floorboards were torn up in certain areas of the living room, and every cabinet in the kitchen gaped open, revealing broken dishes and glasses. The pantry, once stocked with a plentiful supply of food, was empty, leaving just a few soup cans that had crashed carelessly to the floor.

  “Evan?” I whipped my head around in each direction before rushing up the stairs. Panicked by the silence, I called his name again, but there was no answer.

  After bursting through the door to the guest bedroom, I found him sitting against the wall. His arms were bound behind him, his mouth taped. Adjusting to the darkness, his face glowed a pale blue through the moon’s beam penetrating the patio doors. A scratch ran along his jaw, blood smeared across the darkened bruises on his cheekbone.

  He winced, keeping his focus forward as I kneeled down beside him, ripping off the tape in a raging grimace. My eyes stung, my pupils dilating before darting to every angle of the room, searching for something to free him with. After pulling a sharp piece from the broken vanity mirror, I kneeled down, slicing through the rope, releasing him from its constricted grip. He moved his hands forward, his wrists marked up from the loss of circulation. Then, he let out a groan, his eyes filling with
dread.

  “Did you see anyone?” he asked. I shook my head repeatedly.

  “Who did this?” I asked. He clenched his fists, as if to squeeze away his temper.

  “They had guns,” he said, blinking in exhaustion.

  “They?” I gave him a look of confusion.

  “I think they were rebels. They weren’t with the military, Aubrey. The guy… he—he had longer hair and a tattoo on his arm. A girl and two other guys were with him.” He coughed.

  “What were they looking for?”

  “You.” Evan scowled in confusion. My eyes widened at the memory of my father’s compass. I reached in my pocket, grasping ahold of it for reassurance.

  “What?” I asked, giving him a staggering look. His breathing raced as I helped him to his feet, his focus dancing around the floor in contemplation.

  “They told me they’d be coming back for you. I don’t know how they knew who you were,” he said, giving me a worried glance.

  “Shit…” I sighed.

  “They took every fucking thing I had. But they won’t take you, you hear me?” he snapped, looking away.

  “What are we going to do?” I panicked.

  “We have to get rid of them. We can’t hide from them, that’s for sure. These people seemed highly trained. They must’ve outsmarted our military and created a diversion in town just so they could get to us.” He drew back his glance in defeat. My eyelids fluttered in fear at the thought of my mother.

  “How will we get rid of them? Look what they did to you. We have to tell the guards. We can warn them rebels are getting across the wall. They’ll increase protection at the border. They’ll have to!” I panicked. He sighed in frustration.