CHAPTER 52: SANCTUARY
16 years old
Gage steps away from Summer after a few minutes, his gaze focused on something behind her. She hastily peers over her shoulder before completely spinning on her heels. It’s her mum, still standing there with unease. She’s adorned in her white “SCS” lab coat, though underneath is a woman who’s grown in age since Summer’s last seen her, and is undoubtedly her mother—even if she was created. Regardless, the feelings are all there. This woman is her mum.
“Hey,” murmurs Mindy as her eyes search Summer’s. “I’m . . . there are no words. I can’t believe I found you after all these years.” She closes her eyes and swallows thickly as tears stream down her porcelain cheeks. “I was afraid you were dead.” Her voice is choked.
Summer’s not quite sure what to think or say (if she’ll say anything at all). She knows her mother ran away with her when she was a child, but she was working with the Secret Clock Society in that building. Relief and suspicion roll off Summer in waves, but relief washes over everything else. She doesn’t even know why she’s hesitating. She literally jumps past the space to her mum and lands in her arms like she used to do when she was a child.
Mindy sobs loudly and holds Summer so tight it hurts, but neither of them care. It’s a reunion that should’ve happened years ago. They break apart after a long minute, and both sit, exhaling gratefully. Mindy and Summer stare at each other wordlessly, which is how Summer prefers it anyway. Mindy’s face is full of wonder—not like how Gage looked at her after she spoke—but in pure, raw love. It’s a look that takes Summer right back to her childhood, when everything was safe and warm and loving. All she can think about is curling onto her mother’s lap like old times. Memories rush her as she thinks about story time, being tucked into bed, or waking in the middle of a storm to curl up next to her mum under the covers, knowing her warmth and strength would keep her safe. Without conscious thought, Summer practically sits on her mum’s lap. Mindy embraces her and pulls her closer. It’s all so overwhelming. So necessary. As if Summer’s suppressed everything to protect herself, because thinking of her previous life hurts and burns deeper than any physical scar could. But now? She can let it all go, let her mother’s touch cleanse the filth in her life.
They’re both crying, and Mindy keeps murmuring, “my baby, my baby,” as Mindy positions Summer’s head in the crook of her neck. Mindy strokes her hair in a calming gesture she used to do whenever Summer was ill. They stay like that for twenty minutes as everyone remains quiet—besides murmurs from Cameron and Avery in the cockpit.
Gage perches next to Summer and holds his hand out to her which she takes appreciatively. Her eyes strain to see his expression, but she can tell immediately that it’s apologetic. I’ve given you time, but now we’ve got to join reality, his face expresses. She sits up and stares at him expectantly.
“Listen—I’m sorry, but it’s important,” says Gage ruefully. “We know how they found us.” He glances at Jaden in a mixture of regret and disgust.
Summer’s eyes go wide as they jump between the two, her breath catching in her throat at his implication.
“It’s not true!” screeches Jaden angrily. “Dammit! Why won’t you listen to me?” No wonder she looks so pissed—it all makes sense now.
Gage shakes his head. “She had a tracking device on her this whole time—in her Astropad.”
“Mindy,” pleads Jaden, “tell them I would never do this. Please! We all have Astropads—how the hell was I supposed to know mine was bugged?”
Mindy bites her bottom lip and frown lines form on her forehead. “I don’t know what your role is with the Society,” she says truthfully. “They barely trusted me when I went back to them in desperation to find Summer. I can’t vouch for you, nor can I prosecute you.”
Jaden’s dark eyes seek out Summer’s. “You couldn’t possibly believe this. Don’t you think I would have brought you to them sooner if that were the case? I rescued you off that ship and everything!”
Summer wavers, unsure what to think. Jaden’s been a true friend to her, helping her when she was in need. Was it all a lie?
“Unless they wanted Summer to trust you,” counters Gage. “You forget I’ve been trained. And one of my specialties is to uncover spies. I will find out the truth; you can count on that.”
“Quit bragging,” jokes Cameron good-naturedly from the cockpit.
“Anyway,” says Gage, “we were able to use Jaden’s GPS to find the Secret Clock Society’s headquarters, thanks to Ethan. He suggests we go straight to New York. Afterward we destroyed the Astropad.”
“Can’t they just physically follow us?” asks Mindy, clearly frightened.
Cameron laughs jovially from the cockpit. “I’d like to see those splashy pieces of work try. Last night I snuck onto their property—thanks to Ethan’s suave hacking skills—and disabled all of their hovercrafts and cars. They’ll be searching for the solutions on how to fix them for a long time.”
“We almost didn’t let Mindy come along,” admits Gage sheepishly.
“I’m glad you did,” Summer writes on his palm, retreating back into silence. Then she writes, “Thank you.”
Gages sighs. She knows it’s because she’s writing on his palm instead of speaking, but he gives a small nod. “She’s your mom—she was sincere. Plus, when she realized what was happening she disabled two of the lab techs.” He grins at Mindy. “She’s like a ninja or something.”
Mindy chuckles.
“We’ve crossed the border into New York, though President Montgomery’s requested we be escorted,” says Cameron as several hovercrafts appear on her radar screen.
Several minutes pass in silence, and Summer leans her head on Gage’s shoulder and holds his and her mum’s hands. Her breaths finally grow even as her eyes close in relaxation. She’s exhausted and slightly terrified at what the future holds for her—for them all, really—but in this one moment she’s content.
EPILOGUE
Julian sits on an examination table as he pulls on a shoe. He’s roughly six feet tall with a thin, muscular build, and has hair as dark as the night’s sky. His deep voice, crisp and annoyed, fills the room. “Is that all?”
“Unless you want a lollipop?” says Doctor Zhar comically.
He’s not amused. “I’m not six anymore,” barks Julian as he seizes his other shoe.
“No, you certainly aren’t.” Doctor Zhar sighs exhaustedly as she makes a note in his file. Her silky black hair falls in her face, her skin dark due to her Middle Eastern ancestors. “I know you hate these examinations, but if we can’t fix you so you’re useful to us, then we’ll have to terminate the project.”
Julian stands to his full height, which is ten inches taller than the tiny Doctor Zhar. His eyes are a boiling, deep blue. “I’m not stupid. I know what ‘terminate the project’ means.” He marches toward the door, flings it open, and continues down the hall as the door bounces off the wall.
“I know you’re not stupid,” says Doctor Zhar as she follows in his wake, her legs having to move twice as fast to keep up with his gait. “A fool, most definitely, but not stupid.”
Julian stops and swings around, his hands in fists at his side. Doctor Zhar almost runs into him. “I’m no fool,” he shouts, his teeth gritted. “If anything, you’re all the fools here. It’s not my fault you miscalculated twice”—he holds up two fingers in her face—“and expect both of us to perform the same when we are obviously built so differently!” He pivots and continues to march down the hall, scowling.
“But you’ve got to think rationally here, Julian—if you keep resisting my examinations and the treatments then you’re only asking for death,” reasons Doctor Zhar as if she cares. She does—only because she’ll lose her job if she fails.
“I am thinking rationally,” he snaps.
“Then why’d you deny our request?”
“Because,” he practically growls out, “if I seek her out then I’ll definitely be terminated.” H
e stops and spins around on her again, his face full of irritation. “Or you’ll terminate her, and I can’t have that.”
“Why?” she asks smugly. “Are you that in love with her?”
Julian takes in a deep breath and turns away. “You did this.”
“Did what?” She’s just messing with him now, making fun of him. He hates that.
“Made me love her.” His voice is soft. “I don’t even know the girl—never even met her.” He twists back around, his irritation flaring again. “Why did you do this to me? Can’t you leave well enough alone?”
“I needed you to be more complacent,” argues Doctor Zhar.
“You’ve never been in love, have you, Doctor?” asks Julian, rubbing his temple as if the whole conversation’s giving him a massive headache. It kind of is.
“Why do you ask?” she asks defensively.
“Because it’s irrational! That’s why,” snaps Julian. “And no matter how ‘rational’ I think I’m being, I know I’m not!”
Doctor Zhar only blinks at him in surprise.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to pack and find our little Time Bomb.” He whips around and stomps the rest of the way down the hallway.
“Does that mean you accept our request?” she shouts after him.
“Yes,” he yells back bitingly. “I don’t have any other choice!”
Doctor Zhar stands stunned, her jaw hanging loosely. She doesn’t follow him this time. Did she make a mistake? She hopes not.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
FIRST: the fans. I just don’t even know where to begin. Thank you.
Thank you, beautiful, lovely, splendid Lisa Langdale a.k.a. Lucy Wofe. You’ve kept me in line, given me great advice, and have constantly been a source of . . . bestfriendness? Is that a word? I dunno. It is now! Without your notes, ideas, and encouragement, I’d be nowhere. Love you greatly. (Shout out to the whole Langdale family for letting me steal Lisa many nights. Kisses for my girls ‘Kayla and Elf Princess. Fist bump—or we could sword fight?—for Donnie!)
Cesya Cuono: you always push everything aside when I need you, and I love you for that. You catch my silly mistakes and make me sound smarter. Together we’ll move forward in our writing careers, helping and cheering each other as we excel at and exceed our goals.
Brianne Villano’s a very special person. She’s so incredibly smart everyone should bow to her intelligence. She’s also my snarky editor that doesn’t let me make “that” mistake . . . you know what I mean? The one you can’t believe you made? Anyway, Bri, I love you much.
Jenn Baker, for being my lovely assistant. Brenda Pandos for her awesome books and being my fantastical business partner. Michael Kreitzer and Nate Shaw for being such amazingly awesome brothers; I couldn’t ask for better. Jennifer Murgia for our chats about mean reviewers and how we’re going to kill them off in our novels!
Shanda, Holly, Erika, Kat, and Traci for the support they’ve offered me during the hardest time of my life. (Breezy, Cherry, Pixie Kat, E’s Erika: without NJ I would have never pulled myself from the floor.) A big thank you to Tiffany Madison for her positive attitude. She may never know how much better my life is with her in it—and Fictionista Workshop. Such amazing ladies; I’m so lucky.
Oh, my dear, dear parents: Debbie and Tony. You can blame EVERYTHING on them. It’s all their fault. Yup—they’re the ones that created this monster. They’re also the ones who molded me into the person I am today, and there aren’t enough thanks, acknowledgements, book dedications, or words in the entire universe that would expression my undying gratitude to them.
J.D. for helping create my “nook” and then buying me one so I’d get the two confused often. Love you dearly. Thanks also Linda! Chris Emberton, because his love outlives him, and for Ava, the daughter he loved unconditionally. Angie Vaughan for her friendship and love through crisis—and long afterward when it still just hurts. The Jepsons, the Camerons, Grandma & Grandpa, and all my family out in Utah. Thanks for supporting me through everything.
FORSAKEN HARBOR
BOOK TWO
SUMMER CHRONICLES
The Secret Clock Society has infiltrated every aspect of the government. You can’t hide from them, you can’t out run them—the only choice is to surrender or die fighting. Well, Summer’s found her voice and her confidence. She’ll fight if necessary, but for now she’s on the run. And the only place that can offer her refuge is the one city that’s been devastated with disease and death. Full of savages, Forsaken Harbor holds her life on the edge of a knife. Is there still hope to be found here after all? Or will survival mean savagery?
February 15, 2012
https://laurakreitzer.com
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