The Beyond: Dystopian Survival Fiction (The Breeder Files Book 4) by Eliza Green (most popular novels TXT) 📗

Inventor turned her back and reconnected the discs. ‘I need you to sit still.’

118-C did as she was told. The data displayed on screen again. Carissa found mention of the battle and Alex and Jerome’s capture. She continued her search for new mentions of the pair—designation or otherwise. But when Quintus’ name popped up, she switched her focus to all mention of him.

A hidden message between the Collective members was buried deep in the encryption.

She frowned at 118-C. ‘Were you called to the Great Hall in the last couple of days?’

The only way 118-C would have had access to the Collective’s thoughts and conversations was if she’d been touching the podium.

118-C blinked. ‘I don’t remember.’

Carissa looked at the data once more. Before her was a transcript of what the Collective had discussed while she’d been connected.

They were arguing over 118-C’s proposed punishment for helping the prisoners to escape. Then the conversation veered to a new topic.

A sentence stopped her cold.

We may have found a way to replicate Julius’ success.

It was from Septimus to Quintus. She read on.

Yes, the newborn proved to be not only useful, but controllable.

And the new prisoners?

One is a newborn, lost from the city. The other, one of our Breeders.

How soon before we can fit the behaviour modifier? asked Unos.

Quintus replied, Soon.

The Originals will be coming for them. We must leave.

Our success with Julius will give us a way out...

Carissa stepped back, feeling sick.

She swayed. The Inventor’s hand on her arm steadied her.

‘What is it, miss?’

118-C was staring at her, too. ‘What did you find?’

Carissa swallowed and focused on the Inventor. ‘The Collective mentioned a behaviour modifier it used on Julius and plans to replicate that success elsewhere.’

The Inventor’s eyes widened. ‘You’re saying someone else may be under the Collective’s control? Jerome or Alex?’

With no mention of surgery in 118-C’s memory banks, she wasn’t sure he’d had time to do anything. ‘Ever since the others escaped through the door, I haven’t heard from Quintus.’

‘Silence doesn’t mean anything bad,’ said the Inventor. ‘It’s possible he failed and went into hiding.’

But 118-C’s stare unsettled her. ‘The Collective cannot survive outside of the system.’

‘If the Ten aren’t here, where did they go?’ asked Charlie.

Carissa wished she knew.

Vanessa said what Carissa was thinking. ‘They must have found another way.’

25

Anya

Anya woke to the sound of gentle snoring beside her. Sheila’s long mane of hair covered her face. She grunted, then swiped at something imaginary in her sleep. Anya suppressed a giggle and turned to Dom. He was awake, sitting up, fully dressed.

Ready for action.

Anya had slept in her clothes last night, despite Agatha leaving her a pair of pyjamas on the end of her bed. From a look around the room and its twenty-four beds, some had opted for the new clothing. Many had not.

She sat up and rubbed her eyes. But when she saw the worry on Dom’s face, her spine stiffened. ‘What’s the matter?’

Dom’s eyes flickered to her, then away. ‘Nothing. I couldn’t sleep.’

Neither could she at the start, but exhausted with grief at losing Jason and full from her meal last night, she’d eventually conked out. Things weren’t right here, but at least she’d slept a little after her confrontation with June. In the cold light of the dorm room, she knew what had to be done.

She pulled on a hoodie, also from Agatha’s stash, with the words New San Francisco emblazoned across it. Similar to the poster in Agatha’s office.

The name sounded familiar, but not enough to evoke any specific memory of it.

Anya stood. It prompted Dom to do the same.

‘We need to get that door open,’ she said.

‘Just what I was thinking.’

Dom strode out of the room; Anya chased after him. The others slept on.

He followed the corridor back to open-plan area that Agatha’s elevated office overlooked. He crossed the space with trucks to the corridor that led back to the door and the Region.

Nearing the place where the Collective ruled slowed Anya’s walk. It wasn’t like she was going back, but it still made her skin prickle with fear. She imagined the others trapped with a small army of Copies. The thought spurred her on and she overtook Dom.

‘Wait up!’ he said.

Their weapons were gone, exchanged for safety.

She slowed when the door came into view. Two of Agatha’s soldiers were guarding the exit.

‘How soon before the door opens?’ she asked them.

One soldier looked at her like she was crazy.

Dom repeated the question.

The soldier said, ‘The door isn’t opening again.’

Not what they’d been told.

‘Agatha said it was on a twenty-four-hour timer,’ said Anya.

The soldier shrugged. ‘It’s not opening again.’

‘Then why are you here?’

‘Agatha doesn’t want anyone leaving. The Region cannot be accessed again.’

Anya looked to Dom, who wore a deep frown. He turned and marched back to Agatha’s office. She followed him up the steel stairs and he knocked on the door.

There was no answer. He tried the handle. The door was locked. Next to it was a flat plate, like in Arcis. Like in Praesidium.

‘Where is she?’ he asked, his voice rising in anger.

‘We should check the rest of the base.’

Anya crossed the walkway and tried the door on the same level. It was also locked. She returned to the ground level and began her checks in the rooms closest to the area, needing to do something. Many of them refused to open. The ones that did were occupied by doctors or lab technicians. This military base—that’s what it felt like—was feeling stranger by the minute.

‘Maybe it’s too early.’

She wished she knew what time it was. Jason’s watch, the one she’d borrowed and taken to Arcis, was still there.

Dom’s lips turned