Track 27

“Creep”

Present Day

As Hayden watched Cassidy drive away from the lake, his gut churned. He knew his kind was made of steely stuff, but every time he lied to Cassidy, he felt parts of his soul corrode.

“It’s not lying,” Sam tried to explain to him more than once when Hayden brought up the topic. “It’s survival.”

“What the hell are we doing here if we’re merely surviving?” Hayden asked.

“That’s a question all humanoids must answer for themselves, wherever they are.” Sam gave him a wry smile. “But our task is clear. Gather intelligence. Don’t interfere. Don’t draw too much attention to yourself. That’s all.”

So while he was “allowed” to join the track team—because habitual refusal to participate in activities can also attract too much attention—he had to hold back. Not break any Earth records. Aim for mediocrity. Whoo.

Hayden stared moodily at the water lapping around the tethered boat.

He never asked to be in this stifling position. However, that’s how things worked on Agua. Life was mission-based. Everyone had a role assigned to them from birth, depending on which family unit you were born into. His unit just happened to be Observers, the most passive on Agua.

The longer Hayden walked on Earth, the harder it was to maintain the delicate balance of being a bystander as opposed to being a regular teen guy.

Right now, the scales were leaning toward the latter.

He wanted to get involved.

Be involved.

With Cassidy.

It was at first difficult to not see Kalexy when he looked at her. But the more he observed Cassidy, the more he realized she and Kalexy were like night and day. Kalexy was fun but reckless. She could never be described as deep. Cassidy’s dark eyes were often full of shadows and vulnerability. But whenever she squared her shoulders, he sensed grit. A never-give-up spirit.

Every time she got within inches of him, he felt electricity jangle every nerve. Which wasn’t as painful as it sounded. Rather, exhilarating. He felt like he could talk to her about anything. Loosen up. Show her who he was.

Whether she would accept the real him was another thing.

As far as he could see, he had only two choices—be his authentic Aguan self with Cassidy. Or remain tied to the family unit and its finite mission.

And if he chose unwisely, someone was going to get hurt.

His gaze zeroed in on the boat. He was reminded yet again that he could never be a regular teen or a bystander. He wanted to make things happen, be not just an Observer but a Protector.

Providing protection was way outside his job description. As Cassidy said, though, when you get new facts, you’re allowed to change your mind. Surely that could be extended to changing your mission. Once he had more facts about who had kidnapped him, then he’d think about consulting the family unit on their next moves.

Water rumbled and roiled beneath his dangling feet. He closed his eyes and focused his mental energy on the rusty chain below, on the anchor. Pictured it wiggling loose from its moorings.

Somewhere nearby, a bird shrieked. Concentration shattered, he opened his eyes. The boat was no longer trapped. It was free.

Hayden looked at it with envy, and right then, he made up his mind.

He chose freedom.

He chose Cassidy.