Defect - By Ryann Kerekes Page 0,63

and look at him. “How much time do we have?” I suddenly realize this is the thing I’m most afraid of losing. Will. Losing the one person who understands me and accepts me just the way I am.

He swallows. “Three days.”

The whole ride back I have impossible conversations with myself. I can’t ask him to come with me – that’s crazy. Why should he give up his life – put himself in danger for me – to be with me? But my mind stumbles over ways to ask him, just the same. I glance over at him. He’s quiet, concentrating on the road ahead of us. When we reach the compound, he parks and we climb out. I’ve missed my opportunity. The moment is gone. Admitting how I feel about Will, telling him what I want is harder than any of the physical challenges they’ve put me through.

He stops before we reach the door, a determined look on his face. “I don’t want you sleeping in the dorms unprotected. If it’s okay with you, I thought you could stay in my room.” He’s looking down as he says this; like there’s something he’s not telling me.

“What about the tracking device?”

He shakes his head. “The radar room’s been empty since the challenge. I don’t think anyone’s watching. They don’t suspect anything.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll come for you at lights out.”

I nod, already anticipating that delicious feeling of being safe in his arms again.

Chapter 23

In the bunker that night, I’m torn about what to tell Sam. Part of me doesn’t want her to know anything. It will be safer. That way, if she’s questioned after my disappearance, she truly won’t know anything that will get her, or me, in trouble. But I also hate the idea of running away, leaving my friends to forever wonder what became of me. I want Sam to picture me running through the forest on my way to freedom, rather than think something terrible has happened.

After debating over the decision, I decide to pull Alex and Sam aside. It’s not easy, with Sam and Jake locked together on a sofa. They are inseparable now.

“What’s up?” Sam asks when I pull her away, her eyes still on Jake. His hair stands in disarray from her roaming hands.

“We need to talk.”

Sam’s eyes dart from Jake to mine, focusing. “What was with you getting pulled out of training this afternoon? What did O’Donovan want?”

I walk them to the side of the room. “I didn’t really have testing with O’Donovan today. Will took me to the fence.” At the word fence, Sam staggers back like I’ve slapped her. Alex shakes his head, trying to erase the word from between us. “Things are changing in the capital. People are questioning the mindscan. And my presence here is becoming a problem.” I speak matter-of-factly, like I’m discussing something business-like, rather than my planned death. “They’re going to kill me.”

“No.” Alex shakes his head. “They wouldn’t, they can’t …”

His sentence is left unfinished. We all know they can and will do whatever they want. Our imprisonment here is proof of that.

“What are you going to do?” Sam asks, her eyes widening in understanding.

I swallow, suddenly regretting that I’m even telling them. What if the bunker is bugged? What if Sam or Alex turns me in for trying to escape? I release a deep sigh. “I don’t want you guys sucked into this. I just wanted you to know … if I go away …” I can’t finish. I look down and fumble with my hands.

“Away?” Sam looks at me like there is something big I’ve missed. She takes my wrist and holds it up in front of my face. “Away?” She drops my arm, disgusted.

My chip. How could I have forgotten about my chip? They’d track me anywhere I went. And even less likely, how could Will have forgotten? I knew he wouldn’t have. I had to trust him. He was probably working on a plan right now that would take out the monitoring system. I don’t know how, but I know he’ll have a way. “It will work, Sam. I just wanted you guys to know, that it in a few days when I go missing, not to worry.”

Sam glares at me for a second. “Not to worry? Eve, you really do have a death wish. And this is the stupidest idea you’ve had yet.” She turns and walks away. She sits down next to Jake, tense and seething on the edge of the sofa.

Then I