That took me by surprise. “You did?”
Chloe's face was hard, the smile faded. “About fifteen years ago I was an assistant on a genetics team in Genesis. I suspect there was genetic engineering going on along with implantation. I didn't stay around long enough to be fully entrusted with information.”
“Why did you leave?” I couldn't fathom a reason she would want to leave and go through the hell Joshua and I had endured.
Chloe sighed, “I was from a different Genesis town, Genesis Beta. The rules were much the same where you grew up,” Chloe explained. “I had just turned twenty-one and already had a daughter. When my name was called at ‘The Day of the Chosen’ for the lottery, I was devastated that I would have to conceive a second child who would be given to the government. That night, before going to the medical center to begin the process, I fled with my daughter.”
“What about your husband?” I asked.
“He died protecting us,” she answered solemnly.
“I'm sorry,” I whispered, knowing it wasn't my fault but still feeling terrible for Chloe.
“Don't be.” She shook her head. “It was awful,” she admitted. “But my daughter, Zarrah, knows freedom. Something I could never have given her without his help.” She turned her attention to the kit, pulling the tubes out. “I'm going to need a blood sample from you, if that's okay.”
“Yeah, sure.” I nodded, watching as Elsa grabbed a vial and needle along with a rubber band to draw blood. I turned away. Elsa was good though: I barely felt the needle as she pricked me. I couldn't say the same about Sydney when she'd taken my blood. A moment later she filled the vial and gave me a small cloth to hold against my broken skin.
“Do you need my help with anything?” I offered, wanting to be of assistance. I still didn't fully understand what they were doing with my blood but if it could help save lives, I was willing to try anything.
Chloe glanced at me. “We'll run the tests. It may be a few hours before we have any results. You're free to go.”
“I'll be outside if you need me.” I gestured, heading out of the building and into the cool winter air. The weather here was much more bearable considering I'd lived in Genesis most of my life. The winters in Genesis were brutal and matched in intensity by its scorching summers. My mother used to tell me the intense weather was a result of our destruction on the planet hundreds of years ago, and that we were paying the price for it. Shadow hardly seemed affected in the same way and I wondered how that could be possible.
Stepping out into the cool winter air, I wrapped my arms around myself as I glanced around. I saw Chancellor Collins coming my way and he gave me a brief wave and called out to me, “Olivia.” With a heavy sigh I walked over, approaching him. I had no idea what he wanted. “How are you doing?” he asked as I stood before him. He stood tall, looming over me as I kept my arms around my body.
“Okay, I guess.”
“I wanted to talk to you about Torv and the guests we brought into town.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You told me once, we don't have guests here.”
“Usually, we don't,” he acknowledged with a weak nod. “But obviously times change. We brought in Adelaide, Madeline, Taron, and Preston from Thena. Come with me.” He gestured, escorting me into the building I was all too familiar with. It was where we held our weekly meetings and where our test of honesty had taken place. To this day I still felt a chill as I stepped into the foyer.
I followed him inside and into his office. I glanced around at the furniture, nearly untouched. The couch I'd sat on hadn't moved an inch. I'm not sure why I thought it would have. I walked over towards the sunlight, staring out the dirty window. “Why am I here?” I asked.
Chancellor Collins sighed. “I wanted your opinion on our newest recruits.”
“Is that what you're calling them?” I scoffed. “They are staying where Joshua and I stayed.” I nodded slowly. “Do you plan on doing the same procedure—Mindonsiphan—and requiring them to undergo the same training that we had?” I was appalled at the notion that they brought back a handful of allies only to kidnap and torment them.
“Hardly.” Chancellor Collins shook his head. “I hoped you could provide some insight, seeing as how you've met Chloe?”
I shrugged. “She seems all right.” I didn't know what he expected. I wasn't capable of reading someone's mind. I could only share thoughts; it was completely different. “Chloe seems plenty knowledgeable.”
The Chancellor took a seat as I remained by the window. “They are an interesting community, Torv. Just hours on foot from the government, yet untouched.”
“You don't trust them?” I asked. “If that's the case then why did you let them come here?” It made no sense to me.
The Chancellor sat in his chair, his hands folded together as he considered his words. “I trust they believe they're doing what is in the best interest of the rebel alliance back east.”
I walked from the window towards the couch, plopping myself down. “You think they have different motives?” I tried to make sense of this new information.
“I can't be certain about any of their motives without further information from their own council. Yet, not a single member from their council was willing to join them on the trip here. I find that bewildering.” He paused for a long moment. “Did you hear the news?”
“What news?” He stared at me for a long moment, only making me ache with anticipation. “What?” I asked again, hating the games. “If you know something,” I demanded, expecting an answer in return.
“I know quite a lot, Olivia. I'm just not sure you're ready for it.” He paused, thinking another long hard minute about it. “Mason relayed some news to me,” Collins admitted. “I'm not sure what to make of it, if anything. We had agreed not to discuss who you were with the council or anyone in Torv but Jaxon went against better judgment.” I wondered if Collins was worried for me; he looked puzzled by the news, as was I. “He met with the council at Torv, trying to negotiate a deal between our towns, an alliance if you will. In their talks, it seems as though someone in Torv already knows you.”
“Knows me?” I frowned. “That can't be possible.” I didn't know anyone from the rebel alliance in Torv.
His eyes pierced through mine as he let out a soft breath. “Perhaps there were some survivors in Haven.”
“That's what you've heard? There were people who lived through the attack?” I felt guilty for abandoning the city, running away with Joshua when they needed our help. Perhaps his mother was still alive. My heart quickened at the thought.
Collins sighed, “I don't know, Olivia. I wasn't there. I can only relay what I've been told. My best guess is that someone survived. Torv has been looking for you. I can only assume it's because there are survivors from Haven.” Collins laughed softly and as he leaned closer, he rested a hand on my back. “Don't look so upset.”
“How can I not be upset? They're looking for me and now they know where I am!” I didn't feel safe. I wasn't sure why but I had the sneaking suspicion they wanted me as a guinea pig. I hoped I was wrong, but the fact they were impregnating women and not entirely successful in their attempts made me think otherwise.
“Elsa asked that you join her and Chloe on a return trip to Torv in the coming weeks. They have several pregnant women in their town and from what I hear, they need all the medical help and expertise they can get. I think you should join them.”
“I'm not a doctor.” A soft sigh slipped past my lips. My mind was in a fog. “I don't know how I can help.”
He didn't answer my question, not directly. “I think it'd be good for you. Believe it or not, Olivia, I've been on your side since we first met.”
That got my attention. I glanced up, giving him a disbelieving look. “Yeah, right,” I muttered. I remembered when we'd first met and he put a gun to me. After that, he'd forced me to train with the other recruits, drugged me with Mindonsiphan, and lied to me at every opportunity. Somehow, I felt like Chancellor Collins only looked after himself.
In the evening, as we headed for bed, I was glad to see Joshua again. “So how was your day?” I asked, sitting in the darkness of our bedroom at the edge of the mattress while Joshua stripped down to his boxers for bed.
“Good.” he smiled, pulling back the covers before he climbed under the sheets. “Missed you though,” he
