Secret Aversion

Chapter 11

*Arian’s POV*

          Property of Hector and Ulysses Donegan, built in 1913. The same golden name plate remained under the antique for over a century, cycling through renovations so the words could never fade. As a child, I was told tales about this ancient building and the family heirloom carved by the first mayors of the land. The heirloom stood on a garnet pedestal, but was now trapped in a glass cage and guarded by an alarm.

          I didn’t think anyone would rob a rusty artifact that looked like the burned wings of an ostrich. It must be a Donegan thing, a silly sentiment to protect their hideous heirloom. Mostly, their pride was what bothered me. 

          The room was vastly empty except for this pedestal and a white disk of light flashing upon the glass display. The Treasure Room, they called it. It was the strongest room in the mansion, the ideal place to hide during natural calamities or if someone bombed the mansion for good.

          The door swished open and I sensed a dreadful figure approaching me. Generally, no one should be allowed in the Treasure Room. I must be someone special to Emerson.

          “Training will start tomorrow at noon,” he said. His presence alone irritated me, but thanks to him, I had built tolerance to all types of assholes. Nothing fazed me anymore, not after Archie’s death ten years ago. “Wait until all the pesky Platform members get to work, and then you can lead the A1 groups.”

          “That’s a lot of trust you got there,” I said dryly.

          Emerson chuckled and walked around, standing beside me and staring at the antique heirloom. “I gave you access to this room and you didn’t steal the Kernel of Unity. Besides, I have something of yours to blackmail you with if you disobey. You’re smart. You know what to do.”

          I gritted my teeth. “I don’t know. That’s why I’m taking orders from you, right?” He shrugged and leaned to closely examine the heirloom. “That’s a nice ostrich you got there,” I commented. “But sorry to say, I have no interest in taking it.”

          I turned and began to walk out. “An ostrich?" he said, laughing. “Arian, you sure have a wild imagination. You know why I haven’t killed you yet, don’t you?”

          I waved a hand without looking back. “I’m not interested. I’ll see your face tomorrow at noon.”

          Outside the room, standing like a statue with an earpiece and shades, was Rufus. He was Emerson’s personal assistant—in other words, his overly attached follower—but didn’t necessarily seem dangerous to me. I usually didn’t acknowledge him beyond an occasional glance.

          I could feel his eyes follow me as I strode down the hallway, and I counted each echoing footstep until I was out of this mansion. Although it was a peaceful night, I felt compacted inside. Controlled. Training the other agents wasn’t the issue; I didn’t want to support the Project. I had no choice but to cooperate for now.

          Once I climbed onto my bike, I sped off the mansion premises and towards the custom-built streets and homes housing the agents. In name it was called the ‘Golden Zone’, but it was a living nightmare. I wasn’t going “home” today, though. 

          I stopped at a house a few blocks away from mine and knocked on the door. It was surreal to live so differently from the people prisoned in those minuscule cells. It was frustrating, and I understood how Ari felt. To some degree, she and I weren’t that different. We hated sitting quietly without doing anything about our ridiculous situation.

          Rowen opened the door and his brows puckered anxiously. “Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked me. “We’ll be doomed if we get caught.”

          “We have to,” I said, heading back to my bike. “If you’re not willing to, I’ll do it myself. I don’t need you if you’re going to slow me down.”

          “Jeez, Arian,” Rowen said. “You’re going to seriously get yourself killed.”

          “I didn’t come here to hear you complain. We already did this before. All I need is for you to take my bike with you when you go to guard the cells. The rest, I’ll do on my own.”

          He sighed and locked the door behind him. “It’s you that I’m worried about. Just because you sneaked past the wall to see Ari a few times doesn’t mean—”

          “Get on,” I snapped. He quickly got on the bike. I detoured over a large patch of grass and joined a dirt path along the fence. I made an abrupt stop behind a bunch of bushes and got off the bike.

          Rowen grabbed the handle. “You’re lucky I’m a guard at the cells. Who else would carry your a*s, huh?”

          “Shut up.” I spread the branches of the bush and glanced at the large arcs of the Golden Wall a good twenty feet away. NR Agents paced at the entryways with rifles. “Same drill. Meet me at the Platform C board.”

          “Roger that,” Rowen said, and grinned. “This is the only time you’ll let me use your bike.” He rode himself out of hiding and met with the patrols at the wall.

          No other agent was allowed to pass the wall if he didn’t have guarding duty at the cells. Emerson knew I’d do something uncalled for so he didn’t put me on the job, but his attempts were a clear failure.

        I grabbed the branch of a nearby tree and hoisted myself up. With a swift jump, I landed on the other side of the fence. I took off, sprinting down the barren land to catch up with Rowen at the board. Running was one of the things I didn’t mind doing often. I breathed in the cool air as it brushed past my face and sunk in the heat of my working muscles. I always managed to reach the Platform C board before Rowen did, whether it was due to my speed or his inability to accelerate on a motorcycle.

        I could see the headlights nearing me from afar and moved my gaze to the entrance of the tunnel as I waited. Just a few feet away from me was Ari’s cell. For a second, I wanted to change my plans and take her out with me, but I didn’t want to involve her in this f*******n quest nor did I want to disturb her sleep.

        Rowen and I exchanged places on the bike and he wished me luck before retreating to his guarding position at Unit 1. If only I was a guard, this scheme would be much easier to pull off. Right now, my ultimate goal was to explore as much of Nightingale’s land as possible before dawn.

        I needed to find another adequate place to shelter more wounded children from Platform A. An antsy feeling clung onto me for a while now. Ever since Ari brought my family closer together, I didn't  want it severed again. If I found out either Andy or Liara were one of the injured kids, I’d do more than just cuss at Emerson.