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

‘Will she be okay?’ asked Dom.

‘Time will tell. She may want to learn about her old life, or she may start anew.’

Agatha looked like she wanted to ask him something.

‘What is it?’

‘Your tech. Your body is riddled with it.’

Anya slid her hand around his waist. In that moment, he was glad for her support.

‘It is.’

‘I was wondering if you wanted us to remove it.’

He widened his eyes. ‘You can do that?’

Agatha nodded. ‘We can do anything here. All the tech that existed in the Region came from here. From Quintus’ mind. He learned about it here and replicated it in there.’

Dom had made his peace with it. Agatha had been surprised to see his tech, so he must have had the surgery after he entered the Region, a year ago, and not at age seven. But now she was telling him he could get rid of the tech?

‘And replace it with what?’

‘Donated human organs. The tech in your arm might be tricky to remove but we can do it, if it’s what you want.’

Dom looked down at Anya. ‘What do you think?’

She stared up at him with her cobalt-blue eyes. Their beauty always calmed him, no matter what mood he was in. ‘It’s not my decision, Dom.’

He took a deep breath and cut his eyes to Agatha. His tech was a reminder of what his father had done, how he’d sold him to Quintus for money. Whatever the real story, it was his last tie to the man.

‘Take the tech out.’

‘And your arm?’

Dom looked down at it. He flexed it. His shoulder still hurt but other than that, it gave him no trouble.

‘I’ll keep it.’

32

Anya

A bout of nerves hit Anya in the stomach. She clutched it, in an attempt to settle them. Dom, on the other hand, looked cool. And it wasn’t because of his green shirt and black tie. He was a walking refrigerator. She, on the other hand, felt like she’d just jumped from two floors up and landed in a heap.

Sheila entered the dorm room with Imogen. Both of them were laughing and chatting. Sheila’s eyes slid to Dom in his suit and she did a double take.

‘Well, well, don’t you look nice? Where are you off to?’

Dom fussed with his tie. Sheila clucked her tongue and strode over to him. ‘You never were good at fixing ties, Dom. Let the expert handle things.’

She redid the knot and fixed it into place. Imogen watched her, a soft smile on her face.

Sheila’s gaze flicked from Dom to Anya. She gave her a long look that did nothing for Anya’s nerves. The summer dress with the floral pattern was a gift from Agatha. Anya pulled on the edges of the dress, which didn’t quite make it past her knees. At least she had a soft cardigan to cover her bare shoulders.

‘Why do you both look like you’re off on a date?’ Her eyes widened. ‘Are you off on your first date?’

Anya blushed. She and Dom were past first-date anything. Although, it would be nice...

‘Agatha has invited us to dinner,’ said Dom.

Her eyes lit up. ‘Oh? Is that an open invite?’ She glanced back at Imogen. ‘Because we could do with a good feed.’

‘No, just me and Anya. She wants to talk to us about what happens when we leave this place.’

Sheila’s expression darkened. ‘It can’t be good things if they haven’t allowed us to leave yet. They’re preparing us for the worst.’

‘Or everything’s fine and we’ll be okay.’

Sheila folded her arms. ‘Not what Charlie says.’

‘None of us know anything, Sheila. Let me and Anya talk to Agatha first. Then we’ll report back. Where are the others, by the way?’

‘Some are having dinner, others are relaxing in the lounge area.’ They shared the area kitted out with sofas and TVs with Agatha’s team. She pointed at him. ‘Make sure you report back. And bring Imogen and me back a doggy bag.’

‘Every word. And no promises.’ He looked down at Anya.’ Ready?’

She took his hand. ‘No.’

They arrived at the base of the stairs leading to Agatha’s office. It was where Agatha had told them to come once they’d changed into their outfits. A soldier waited at the bottom of the stairs.

‘Follow me,’ he said, climbing the metal steps. Both of them followed him to the top. Anya had expected them to go to Agatha’s office, but the soldier crossed the walkway leading to the only other door on that level.

Anya frowned. ‘Where are we going?’

‘To the commander’s private quarters.’

On the other side, he opened the door. Anya entered after the soldier, Dom behind her. She stepped into a dark corridor covered in concrete panels. To the left were three closed doors. Ahead was another door. The soldier stopped and knocked on it.

Agatha opened it and smiled at the pair. ‘Right on time.’ She turned to the soldier. ‘Thank you, Enright.’

The soldier nodded and left.

‘Come in,’ said Agatha, opening the door wider.

Anya entered the space. It had the same concrete-walled panels and the ground was made of the same smooth concrete, but there were rugs on the floor. Agatha led them down a short corridor that opened out into a large room.

Anya stopped and gasped. One wall was covered in floor-to-ceiling glass. It was dark, as though the world outside was the same. In one section of the open-plan room, three black-leather sofas sat, arranged in a C formation. Next to them was a small table dressed for dinner. Anya smelled food and instantly forgot about her nerves.

‘Drink?’

Agatha walked over to the table, which held an open bottle of wine. She poured three glasses and handed one each to Dom