Species Traitor: A Science Fiction Dystopian Novel by Kate Mary (universal ebook reader .TXT) 📗

“No.” I felt his shoulders lift and drop as he let out a sigh. “There are probably two really nice neighborhoods left in the city. The rest is like this.”

“Only two?” I couldn’t believe things had gotten that bad.

In school, I’d had to keep track of things like that for my current events class, and back then the city had been pretty divided. Fifty percent of the population had been on some kind of government aid while everyone else had been self-sufficient, but if there were only two nice areas left, it had to be more like eighty percent now. I’d known the middle class was shrinking—my aunt and uncle, Ione’s parents, were among the few still hanging on—but it still blew my mind to think about how many people had joined the ranks of the needy.

“At this point, only people like Veronica Waters can afford to have much more than the basics. Those areas are full of news personalities, politicians, and doctors.” Dean slowed to a stop and turned the motobike off in front of a dingy-looking building with a sign across the top that said Luigi’s in shaky, faded print. “This is it.”

I untangled myself and slid off, studying the building as I did. It didn’t look like much—and the little bar in the District was way nicer—but if Dean said it was good, I’d trust him.

The interior was as dark as the Veilorian bar, but not as cozy or welcoming. My feet stuck to the floor as he led me across the room to a round table covered in a red and white checkered tablecloth. Only it wasn’t cloth, something I discovered when I sat down, and like the floor, it was sticky to the touch. I did my best not to grimace every time my fingers brushed the surface, but it wasn’t easy.

If only we could have stayed in the District to eat.

“Want a drink?” Dean asked, nodding to the wine list.

I eyed it, tempted, but shook my head. “No. It’s too much.”

He gave me a warm smile. “I’ve been saving up. Go ahead.”

Tentatively, I picked up the list, studying the various wines. It was something I’d only tried twice. Once when my high school friends who hadn’t been forced to drop out had graduated and I went to a party with them, and again just a few weeks ago when Ione and Rye announced they were getting married. Where Rye had managed to get the wine, I still didn’t know, but like the first time I’d tried it, the dry liquid had left a good impression on me. The problem was, I had no idea what kind of wine I’d tried or what I would order if I did decide to splurge.

Then there was the idea that I’d owe Dean if I allowed him to spend that much money on me, which was something I didn’t want.

“I don’t know what’s good,” I finally said, putting the list down, “Plus, I’m okay with water.”

He grinned. “Water it is, then.”

The waiter came, and Dean ordered what he said was his favorite—pepperoni pizza. It was another thing I’d never tried but was anxious to taste. Not only had I heard good things, but it seemed to be a favorite dish of the past and was constantly featured in the movies left over from the old world.

Once the waiter was gone and Dean and I were alone, I wasn’t sure where to steer the conversation. My thoughts were still on the current crisis—the impending election and how it would affect Ione—but it was a topic I wasn’t eager to reintroduce. Yes, I wanted to take this chance to get to know the man across from me a little better, but I also needed a break from reality. Something I tried not to feel guilty about.

After chatting about family life for a bit—yet another subject that didn’t thrill me—and getting nowhere, the conversation naturally turned back to the District and what would happen after the election, and I found myself unable to stop it from happening.

“She won’t be able to change much right away,” Dean assured me as he drummed his fingers on the table. “It will take time and will be a process.”

“That’s what I keep telling myself,” I said. “But knowing Ione is at risk still worries me.”

Dean paused as if thinking something through then said, “You know there’s still time for her to save herself, right? Waters is going to win, there’s no doubt about it, but the election is still two weeks away. If Ione leaves the District now, she can forget about this whole thing and go back to her life. It’s not like the marriage is even legal. It’s just not illegal.”

“She loves Rye,” I argued. “You expect her to walk away from him like that doesn’t matter?”

“She could go to prison, Ava. Maybe worse.”

“Worse?” I sat up straighter. “What are you saying?”

“A lot of humans want to see species traitors severely punished. People are talking execution, and even those opposed to the death penalty want them branded as traitors for life.”

“Branded?” He couldn’t mean that literally, could he? They wouldn’t brand Ione like she was no better than livestock. It was ridiculous.

“I’m only repeating what I’ve heard.” Dean lifted his hands at the shocked expression on my face as if trying to calm me. “I don’t know anything for sure.”

“That’s—” I was at a loss for words. “They can’t. Even Veronica Waters couldn’t make that happen.”

“Right now, I think given the right circumstances, she might be able to make anything happen.”

I swallowed, my thoughts on Ione and what the future might hold for her, which naturally got me thinking about the children living in the District. And about Finn. “What about half-humans? What will happen to them?”

Dean’s expression hardened. “I don’t know.”

Once again, I was struck by the thought that he wasn’t telling me everything he was thinking, and the realization not only made me uncomfortable, it made me wish I was