Lok returns a few minutes later, a concerned look on his face. “I can’t locate him.”
“What?” I ask before Garrett can.
“I have his frequency, but he’s not showing up anywhere in Tarsus.”
“That’s not possible,” Garrett says.
“I know. It doesn’t make any sense,” Lok says.
Silence falls between us. I look around the room and notice that the display isn’t on. Lok follows my gaze, a laugh forming in his throat.
“I bet Frey has those music videos playing all the time, doesn’t he?” Lok asks.
“Unfortunately. I don’t see the need to watch such stupid behavior, or listen to that kind of noise.”
“Those videos didn’t used to be that outrageous. It wasn’t until about a year or so ago the media outlet changed them. They’re aiming more for the younger kids now, but some people our age have caught on to the budding trend.”
Garrett gets up and goes to the kitchen, returning a few minutes later with some hot tea and small sandwiches. He hands me a cup, but when I begin to sip it, anticipating the warm cinnamon flavor, I’m met with a smoky tang instead.
“What kind of tea is this?” I ask Garrett.
“Tarsus Delight,” he replies. “It takes some getting used to, but it’s good.”
“I wonder what kind of tea Frey has been serving me,” I say without thinking.
They both stop mid-drink. Their cups hovering just below their lips. Each with an uneasy look upon their faces.
“What?” I ask, putting my cup down into my lap.
Garrett is the first to respond. “Does it taste like cinnamon?”
“Yes, why?”
“Don’t drink that stuff again,” Lok says, almost shouting. “It contains a mind and body altering drug. Leader Fallon outlawed it a few years ago, but not all supplies were confiscated. If he gives it to you again, dump it. Do something that will prevent you from drinking it.”
I suddenly feel sick to my stomach. My head begins to pound and all I want to do is curl up in a ball and hide from the world. Garrett scoots closer to me, pulling my head onto his shoulder. Lok takes the cup from my lap and replaces it with a blanket. I pull my feet up onto the couch, sitting on them, and wrap myself further into the blanket. Garrett hands me a sandwich, which I take and slowly eat.
“Lok, do you know where the Archive is?” I ask, as I start to feel a little better.
“Yes, why?”
“Is it easy to get into?”
“Why would you want to go there? I mean, it’s open to the public, but it doesn’t contain any information on anyone from the Outer Limits.”
“Okay, but can you show me how to get there?”
“Max, what’s this about?” Garrett asks.
“I’m looking for someone,” is all I say.
“Well, that’s cryptic,” Lok responds. He stands and signals for me to follow him. “Come on, I can program the map into your wristband.”
We go down the hall and enter the bedroom on the right. Lok has me sit on a stool next to an elaborate array of electronic equipment, tools, and computers. He pulls up a complete schematic of Tarsus, the Dead Zone, and the Outer Limits. He moves the files over to another screen that has the data from my wristband listed. The device on my wrist begins to glow blue as the images download. It only takes a few minutes for the information to transfer.
Lok takes my arm, touches the screen on the bracelet, and scrolls through the items till he locates the maps. Each one is nicely labeled. He taps the one for Tarsus and an image projects from the screen, levitating a few inches above my arm. I’m able to swing the image around, zoom in and out, and tap my finger to a structure at which time it displays the description of the building, entrance locations, and the active population of those inside.
“This is awesome,” I say to Lok. “Why did you put all three on here?”
He smiles. “You never know when it may come in handy.”
I smile back then deactivate the map just as the doorbell rings. Lok turns to another bank of monitors to see who’s at the door. It’s Frey.
Shit.
Lok tells me to take deep breaths, then shouts down to Garrett, telling him to take his time answering the door.
“Just remember what we told you. You can always come here if you need to.” He gives me a hug after I stand and escorts me to the door.
Garrett opens it when I’m next to him. Frey at first has an expression of complete hatred and anger, but it softens a bit when he sees me. No one invites him inside, and Frey doesn’t step past the welcome mat under his feet.
“I was wondering where you disappeared to,” he says, trying to sound concerned.
“I went for a walk and got lost. These two found me. We’ve just been having lunch,” I lie. I’m not surprised it comes quickly to me. I’ve been telling them for most of my life.
“Well, come on, let’s get back to my house,” he says, then steps aside so I can exit.
I thank Lok and Garrett, then follow Frey down the path to the main road. He takes my hand, pulls me against his side, and begins kissing my neck while we walk. I don’t want him to think anything has changed between us, so I play along.
Both his parents are gone when we enter the house, however Brink is sitting on the couch in the common room. His face is slightly swollen and badly cut above the eyes. I stiffen and stop. I’m surprised Frey let him in the house since he almost killed Brink last night. Troy walks
