42

BRIDGER

APRIL 29, 2146

My footsteps slam against the floor as I stalk back and forth in my cell. I don’t know what time it is. The sun isn’t shining through the tiny excuse of a window anymore. It has to be late afternoon.

Closer to my sentence being carried out.

I didn’t get a trial. And now I’m scheduled to have my memories extracted today. I’m going to be nulled.

Everyone I requested for my final visitation has come, except for Professor March.

Mom was the hardest to deal with. She alternated from ranting about Dad and how he ruined everything to swearing she was going to appeal the sentence. And then she did something new.

She blamed me.

Her words still ring in my ears. “You’re just like your father, Bridger. You could’ve made something of yourself, but you had to ruin it, didn’t you?”

I said some not-so-nice things to her. I’m not sure exactly what I said, but I remember using the word “bitch.” I feel horrible about it now. Especially since Shan was with her.

Elijah and Zed visited next. I thought they would act all depressed or even pissed, but they weren’t. They were both full of nervous energy, pacing the cell. They tried to make small talk, but I couldn’t focus. Right before they had to leave, I finally asked, “Have you talked to Professor March?”

Zed and Elijah exchanged a look. Elijah shook his head. “Just in class.”

“Did he say anything about coming to visit me?” I was really trying to find out if the professor had said anything about helping me, but I couldn’t exactly say that out loud.

Zed glanced at one of the cameras. “No, not a word. Nothing.”

Now I’m sitting on my cot and rubbing my fist. My mind is fixated on Professor March. Maybe he’s still working on getting me out.

Or maybe he lied.

The door opens and my gut clenches. This is it. I’m ready to take action, but what if nothing happens? What if Professor March doesn’t help me? I hate not knowing for sure.

I expect the guards to enter. Instead, General Anderson saunters in like he’s on an evening stroll. He’s dressed in a black uniform decorated with pins and medals. Furing show-off. “Time to go, Creed.”

“What, are you here to gloat?”

The general pretends to think, stroking his chin. “Not at all. I’m just here to make sure your sentence is carried out.” He marches across the room and cuffs my hands behind my back. His voice lowers as he says, “Nothing is going to stop it.”

I swear, if I get out of this mess, one day I’ll get him back. I can imagine how good it’ll feel to wipe that damn smirk off his face.

I follow General Anderson to the outer courtyard while the two guards trail close behind us. Everything is bathed in the dull glow of the dying daylight. Now that I’m about to become a Null, a pang of regret pierces me. I’ll never be able to go to the mountains again. Or if I do, it’ll be as a mindless servant.

I’ll never be me again.

After a short ride on the transport shuttle, we arrive at a squat building. The lights of the transport glitter off the glass walls. We descend to a circular landing pad surrounded by a landscaped area. Two Nulls are working in the flowerbeds.

The general exits first. The guards usher me out next. I’m shocked to find Professor March waiting outside. He’s standing with a short woman dressed in a white uniform. She has bright blue hair.

The woman greets General Anderson with a slight bow. “I’m Dr. Santos. I’ll be conducting the procedure following the extraction session.”

I swallow hard and look at Professor March. He remains silent. I glare at him, but he continues to ignore me.

A cold sweat covers my body when we enter the building. Still, I check my surroundings, searching for an escape route. The lobby is large. A giant TeleNet screen takes up most of the left wall. A smiling woman appears on the screen as soon as we’re in the room and recites how to get to the various offices in the building. Three elevators line the far wall, while several chairs are spaced out on our right. A hallway stretches on both sides of the elevators. I wonder what’s down there.

“Don’t bother looking for a way out,” General Anderson says.

My head snaps in his direction and I snarl, “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

When we reach one of the elevators, Professor March finally enters my thoughts. Bridger, it’s time. Good luck.

Adrenaline floods my body. But before I can ask what he means, I see a movement through the outer glass door. The two Nulls are heading in our direction. That’s not normal—Nulls don’t go anywhere without an overseer directing them to their next task.

They break into a run and crash through the entrance, firing stunners. They hit everyone except me. I start to run for the hallway, but one of the Nulls gets to me first. He grabs my arm and yells, “You idiot! Come with us.”

We sprint across the courtyard and board the transport shuttle. Behind us, several guards appear from around the med facility. They fire their weapons at us.

Once we lift off, I peer at the ground. Someone will undoubtedly follow us. But nobody does.

I turn to the Nulls and grin. They’ve removed the helmets.

It’s Elijah and Zed.