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LUC HAD ASKED EVALENE to read a “quick memorandum” on live television, just a week after the revolutionaries had won.
“I accept my nomination to be a council mem-” halting immediately, Evalene read the rest to herself, jaw dropping. Whipping her eyes up to find Luc in the audience, she glared at him.
He frantically waved for her to continue. Lifting the script, Evalene reminded herself this was live TV. She ground out the rest of the sentence, “...a council member for Eden, in our new government system, speaking up for my fellow citizens, and helping to create our new, Number-free world.”
She’d stormed off the air, feeling manipulated. Luc had argued with her for hours. “No other council member voted in had anywhere near your popularity. Everyone wanted the girl in purple. You understand both high and low Numbers – no one else is more qualified.” He spoke in percentages. Annoyed, Evalene thought he was a born politician. But Olive sided with Luc, and when she reminded Evalene that “this was the system of leadership Jeremiah always wanted,” Evalene had been persuaded.
Now, six months had passed since the revolution ended.
Since the world started over.
Since being catapulted into a new life – one she hadn’t necessarily asked for.
Evalene stepped outside of her new apartment that she shared with Olive, heading in to work. She missed her home and her father, but Ruby was furious with Evalene and all the rebels. As far as Ruby was concerned, some people were more special than others, and this equality business, getting rid of Numbers, was ridiculous. Though Evalene’s father had begged her to come home, Ruby had loudly expressed that she was far from welcome.
Olive said it would take a while for the higher Numbers to adjust to the changes, to give up certain privileges, and earn others. And truth be told, it would be so much harder to re-learn who she was if she stayed home, with Daeva and Ruby and the others around, constantly reminding her of her past.
Entering the Capitol building, the previous Number One’s home, Evalene quietly made her way to her office. The idea still boggled her as much as it had on her first day. She, Evalene Vandereth, had an office. She was a council member.
Though people nodded as she passed, with friendly smiles, she didn’t stop, preferring solitude. That was one of her absolute favorite things about her office. She smiled as she entered her sanctuary – she was in charge of who entered, who spoke to her, and who she worked with. Well, mostly.
Settling into her desk chair, she touched the letter hidden in her pocket, out of habit. It was wrinkled and soft from carrying it with her everywhere. Jeremiah had never come back. Never even sent word. Had he gone back to the island like he’d said he would, only to find she wasn’t there? She was such a different person now, was it really worth wondering what might have been?
A knock sounded on the door. Her first meeting.
“Come in,” she called.
A short, balding man entered. He wore multi-colored clothes, and his tattoo was covered, yet his entire demeanor, hands folded, head bowed as if in prayer, screamed that he’d been a Priest prior to the revolution. He bowed slightly, honoring her.
Evalene waved it away immediately, uncomfortable no matter how many times she experienced this. “Please, sit. There’s no need for ceremony. What can I do for you today?”
He came to sit in the chair across from her desk. “Actually,” he pitched his voice to almost a whisper, the way people had in the past when they were near a television or a potential eavesdropper, “I’ve come with a bit of information, that I believe will help you.”
Unable to help herself, Evalene leaned in. She had no idea what he was referring to.
“By all means, go ahead.”
He leaned in as well, whispering in earnest now. “I knew your mother years ago, during the Bloom Rebellion.”
Evalene stopped breathing. Her chest tightened. This man had known her mother? Taking a deep breath, she said, “Do you have any information on her death? On where they put her body?” It was almost too much to hope, that she might finally be able to bury her mother, after all these years.
“I can give you better than that,” he said, smiling now. “During the Bloom Rebellion, we were able to help many refugees escape. Pearl was one of them.” Evalene blinked at him trying to understand what he was saying. Her heartbeat was erratic, blood flowing to her ears, and she almost didn’t hear him as he confirmed what she had never thought was possible. “Your mother is alive.”
END OF BOOK ONE.