Page 14 of Dissent (The Dissenter Saga #1)

It was a brisk walk to the edge of the property, and I kept my head down as much as possible to avoid the cameras.

We came to the entrance Chelsea mentioned, and, sure enough, there was a guard standing at the gate with a scanner.

Chelsea slowed down momentarily, almost as though she were hesitating, but then quickly picked up the pace.

She stepped up to the guard and lifted her head, jutting out her chin.

He scanned her, it blinked green, and then she was stepping forward. It was my turn.

Taking a deep breath, I watched my feet as I approached the guard, and then lifted my chin, avoiding eye contact.

The guard lifted the scanner, but hesitated, tipping his head to the side with a pinched face.

Seconds dragged, and I felt my heart jump into my throat, making it impossible to breathe.

The guard cleared his throat before tipping the device, allowing it to scan my retinas.

It flashed green. He looked down at the screen, then looked back up at me.

I rubbed my lips together and turned my face, trying to appear bored.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught him looking back down at the scanner and then back up at me.

“What’s your name?”

I glanced quickly his way, licking my lips. My throat felt so tight, so dry. “A…I’m Melody Fearson.”

“ Fear son?” he questioned, emphasizing the first part of the name.

I instantly recognized my mistake. “No! No, I meant to say Pear son, Melody Pear son.” I snorted, “I’m so freaking tired, ya know? It’s been such a long day.” It wasn’t a lie. I was tired, and this constant state of panic was tipping me over the edge.

His eyes narrowed as he glanced at his scanner once again.

He made a clicking sound with his tongue, studying the machine, and then looking back up at me.

With a sigh, he finally waved me on. I stepped forward, trying my best to control the urge to bolt.

Chelsea ticked her head in a follow-me fashion, and my legs walked as fast as they could carry me without looking like I stole something from the damn house.

Once we were a safe distance from the palace, I exhaled loudly.

“Oh my god, I can’t believe that worked! ”

“Yeah, well, you almost blew it, rich girl. And we’re not out of this yet.

The second they realize you’re missing from the house, that guard is going to figure it out.

We’ve got to get to the extraction point ASAP.

Let’s move it.” This time, I didn’t even bother to ask questions.

She kept talking about an extraction point, which was totally lost on me.

I figured that whole fake identity thing just totally worked, so I was going to shut up and just do as I was told.

I knew time had passed as we navigated our way through the Noble Class District.

Chelsea kept us moving the whole time, and my legs ached from the unrelenting activity.

And I was thirsty. My mouth was like a desert, and I could barely summon up enough spit to keep my tongue from shriveling up.

I needed a drink desperately. Between crying for the last twenty-four hours and trying to follow Chelsea, who was evidently a track star, I knew I was super dehydrated.

We had to stop. I needed a serious minute to catch my breath. Just as I was about to tell her I needed water, she halted sharply, and I slammed right into her. She stumbled forward a step before glaring over her shoulder at me. “Watch it.”

“I’m sorry, it’s just…” I never finished my sentence.

A sedan with blacked-out windows rolled over toward us, turning to the left, and stopping just as the driver’s side window was parallel to us.

The window slid down and the driver—a fuller white man, probably in his sixties—looked at us.

I quickly averted my gaze, staring down at the ground.

Last thing I needed was some random dude recognizing me.

Then, a thought occurred to me…wasn’t it past curfew?

“Good evening, ladies,” he greeted us cheerily. “You both look like blue jays flying on a spring night.”

I raised a brow at that one, turning my head to face this guy. I couldn’t help it. Who the hell greeted anyone like that?

“Blue jays only fly by day on a summer’s eve,” Chelsea replied. The man nodded and then got out of the car. She spun on her heels to face me. “Get in.”

“ What? Are you nuts?”

The guy pushed a button on the dashboard. The trunk popped open in response. “Don’t be shy, sweetheart. Just hop in.”

“Just get in the car, Mara,” Chelsea urged through gritted teeth. And before I could argue with her any further, she grabbed my wrist and started pulling me.

“What are you doing? Let go!” I fought back, my voice shrill. I knew this was a damn set up. Helping me my ass! Who helped someone by shoving them in the trunk of a car? The murdering kind of people, that’s who.

“ Shh! Keep it down, you idiot. Get in the car!” Her grip on my arm was too tight, cutting off the circulation to my hand.

But there was no way I was getting in that car.

This was a bad idea. I scratched at Chelsea’s hand, reopening the wounds from Belinda’s punishment.

She shrieked as she let me go, drawing her hand to her chest, gripping it protectively as she muttered obscenities under her breath.

I turned to run but didn’t get very far.

I was so focused on Chelsea, I completely forgot about Mystery Man and slammed right into him.

Oomph!

“Sorry, sweetheart.”

WHACK!

A searing pain cut through my consciousness and total darkness consumed me.