In the After

glance at me.

Where are they taking her? I stand to follow them, but the orderly is watching and I sit back down, on edge. I don’t want to think about all the things they could be doing to her. I distract myself by trying to remember again. There was another time I was being watched, not in the Ward, but in my mother’s apartment. I focus, willing my mind to clear and for the thought to become a memory.

* * *

I knew they would send someone to keep an eye on me, but I didn’t think it would be her. I knew they couldn’t spare a Guardian. I was hoping for a Minder, or someone who didn’t know me. My mother, on the other hand, was more than capable of seeing through my bullshit. Not that she was just sitting there watching me; she was working on her computer and talking on the phone. She tried to whisper so I wouldn’t hear, which drove me crazy. Even while engrossed in her work, she knew my every move.

“Where are you going?” she asked, not bothering to look up from her computer.

“My bedroom. Chill out.” While out of her sight, I grabbed the tiny headset I took from my synth-suit earlier and shoved it in my pocket.

Baby, can you help me with something? I asked.

Sure, what?

Let’s go up to the roof and I’ll explain.

I held Baby’s hand and approached my mother at her desk. “I can’t stand it in here,” I said. “I need some fresh air. I want to go up to the roof with Baby.”

“Absolutely not,” she said absently.

“Do you seriously think I would do anything to harm her?” I argued. “I just want to be outside, not cooped up.”

“Fine, I’ll come with you.” She stood.

“Mom, I kind of want to be away from you right now.” It sounded hateful, but I needed her to stay. She shook her head.

“You can watch us go up,” I told her. “I wouldn’t leave Baby alone on a roof. Also, I don’t have any weapons and I don’t even know if you all changed the plan after I left the room. I’m many things, Mom, but I’m not stupid.”

“Fine, Amy, go. If I find out you’re up to something . . .”

I rushed out the door before she could change her mind, dragging Baby behind me.

We found a spot next to the solar panels and sat down. Why are we up here? Baby asked. It’s hot.

I know, but I want you to listen very hard for me and tell me if you hear anything strange.

There are two people arguing downstairs about a broken cup. . . .

No, I signed, I mean if you hear the emitters turn off again, or a truck . . . something weird like that.

We sat on the roof and waited. I knew Baby was bored. Have you made a lot of friends at school? I asked her, although I already knew she had.

She nodded and named them all, spelling out their names. I was impressed with how fast she’d learned her letters.

Do a lot of your friends live in the dorm?

Yes. Most.

I worked up my courage and finally asked, Would you like to live in the dorm?

She looked at me, surprised. I want to live with you and Adam.

What if you can’t? I was a little ashamed because it was my decision that would land her in the dorm.

Then I guess it would be okay. I’d get to be with my friends at least. She paused, staring at me. Where are you going? she asked, worried.

Nowhere. Next month is my birthday and I won’t be a red anymore; I’ll be an adult. I may not be able to take you.

Why not? She stopped suddenly, tilted her head.

What is it? I asked.

A noise, like when we found Amber, only louder. She meant a truck.

Where?

She pointed and I grabbed the earpiece from my pocket and pressed the little button on the side. “Kay,” I shouted.

“Owww, what? Who is this and why are you yelling?”

“Sorry.” I lowered my voice. “It’s Amy.”

“How did you . . .?”

“Never mind. Look, Amber was wrong or they changed the plan. They’re not coming from the south. They’re northwest right now, near the lake. They’re in trucks.”

“We’re on it,” she responded. The earpiece went dead.

It only took me a second to make my decision. I hurried to the corner of the roof where I’d stashed a bag earlier. I took out the black clothes from the bag and hastily put them on.

The creatures are back. I’m going to go help, I signed quickly. You stay put. You’ll be safe here.

Baby nodded. I grabbed the last thing I stashed—my mother’s newly recovered Guardian gun. You just listen for Them and hide when They are near.

She nodded again and signed, I know, Amy, like how we used to live.

I made my way down the fire escape and hit the ground running, heading quickly toward the lake. On my morning jogs, it took about twelve minutes to get out there. I made it in ten.

It took me a moment to understand what I was seeing. The Guardians weren’t fighting Floraes; they were fighting ordinary people. Where were the creatures? The Guardians were being careful not to use their weapons, trying to subdue the gang without killing them. I tucked my gun into my waistband and rushed toward the nearest Guardian in trouble. Even though he was in his full synth-suit and I couldn’t see his face, I knew it was Gareth, fighting three large men.

I tackled the nearest assailant and put him in a headlock the way Kay had taught me. By the time he was knocked out, Gareth had already incapacitated the other two men. He tossed me a handful of plastic handcuffs and I cinched one around the unconscious man’s wrists.

Flooded with adrenaline, I hit the ground and crawled forward on my hands and knees. Someone, a woman, tripped over me and I jumped on top of her, struggling to keep her down. Pressing sideways with all my weight, I managed to rock her onto her stomach. She groaned loudly as I shoved my knee between her shoulder blades and handcuffed her as quickly as I could.

Crouching low, I made my way forward, more carefully this time. The trucks were now in sight, and a Guardian was trying to wrestle a man from the driver’s seat. The man got free for an instant and slammed the Guardian’s arm in the door. I recognized the resulting yell as Rob’s and I hoped his arm wasn’t broken. I was about to go help them when I spotted a group of Floraes in a cage in the back of the truck.

I reached for the gun at my waist, ready to shoot, but the creatures were bizarrely placid. They stood almost still, rocking slightly as if in a gentle breeze. Creeping up to the cage, I peered closely at Them. The creatures were wearing headphones over their almost nonexistent ears, held in place with duct tape wrapped securely around their heads. This was how they did it? Noise-reduction headphones?

Suddenly two gunshots rang out and I turned in time to see Gareth crumple to the ground. Behind me the Florae were going berserk. The gunshots were loud enough for Them to hear through the headphones. I glanced at the cage, which was holding, before I ran to Gareth.

“Are you all right?” I helped him sit up, scanning for the shooter. Kay already had someone on the ground and was kicking him repeatedly in the ribs.

“I’m . . . fine. . . .” Gareth told me between gasps. I pulled up his hood to examine his face. “The suit . . .