Page 19

There lies a riot in you. With your very first breath, you cried in protest.

The entrance into Genesis was a massive, gleaming elevator. The doors were see-through with a gold G insignia written on the glass, signaling its sole destination. Serene squeezed her hand as they drew closer to the forbidden area.

When Serene learned that Khalani had been requested as a servant in Genesis, she carefully swiped a pad from an unsuspecting guard and switched Khalani’s number with another prisoner’s. Khalani objected, but one stern look from Serene made it clear that it wasn’t up for negotiation.

Khalani was grateful for Serene’s intervention, however, when they were later given extra soap and ordered to scrub themselves clean in the shower.

She changed back into her uniform and afterward, Dr. Francis arrived at her cell with an apologetic expression, strange clothes in hand, and holding a white metal stick.

“Sorry,” he said, his lips pressed into a thin line. “They want the servants completely clean before seeing the Governor. Obviously, we can’t give prisoners razors, so I have to use this.” He held up the thin white object with a firm grip. “It emits a laser that will permanently remove the hair. It will probably hurt.”

Khalani closed her eyes and swallowed hard. Of course, the Governor and his Council wouldn’t tolerate anything sullied or dirty in their precious city.

Her nails dug into her palms as she said through gritted teeth, “Just get it over with.”

The procedure hurt nearly as much as the initial branding, with fiery electric shocks coursing up her skin. He worked as quickly as possible. By the end, her legs and arms were completely smooth and she felt sick to her stomach.

Dr. Francis stepped back, swallowing nervously and not quite meeting her gaze.

“You’ll need to change into these clothes,” he said regretfully.

That was how Khalani found herself at the entrance of Braderhelm, joining Serene in a tight black dress and matching high heels that made her fear for her ankles’ safety with every step.

Were they headed to a dinner or a brothel?

They were joined by two other prisoners, one male and one female. The girl had pale skin, a pretty, heart-shaped face, and flowing black hair that still held a shine. Khalani recognized the auburn-haired boy as the prisoner who had been shoved around the food line her first day in Braderhelm.

At least the guard gave him pants to wear. She might as well have been half-naked.

Their transport swiftly hummed to a stop before the elevator. Khalani gulped at the number of guards standing at attention around it. The stone-faced men wore gold uniforms, and the leader approached their group.

“These the prisoners?” he asked.

“Yes, sir,” the Braderhelm guard responded.

The Genesis guard tilted his head. “Check them. ”

One of the guards abruptly invaded her personal space, starting to search her body for weapons. She kept her eyes forward and went rigid as rough hands patted down her whole body, including her chest and groin.

Serene made a sound of disapproval but was quickly silenced.

“All clear,” the guard said, resuming his position.

“Follow me.” The Genesis guard turned and walked toward the elevator. He placed his hand on a panel, and a light flashed green before the doors opened.

Khalani and Serene exchanged wide-eyed glances but crossed the threshold.

The Genesis guard held up his hand in salute as the doors closed. “Loyalty to Apollo.”

The two Braderhelm guards saluted and shouted the words back, but Khalani and the other prisoners remained silent.

The elevator jolted and began rising. She shifted her weight from side to side and rubbed her palms down her legs as the elevator climbed higher.

And higher.

They turned their heads to look out the glass. All of Apollo lay below. The pristine, white Council Chambers grew smaller, and the people walking the streets looked like black specks.

Her anxiety spiked when they were suddenly surrounded by rock, dirt, and soil.

Earth.

They were almost to the surface.

Khalani’s body jerked to the side when the elevator came to a screeching halt. The back door opened with an electrical buzz. The prisoners turned in unison, and Khalani witnessed something she’d only ever dreamed of.

Sunlight.

The brightness was overpowering. Blinding.

Golden rays filtered through Khalani’s fingers as she shielded her face. She peered over her shoulder and spotted Serene and the other prisoners covering their eyes as well.

Even through her dirty fingers, the sun was captivating and compelled her to move forward.

Her nostrils flared. The very air tasted different. Clean. The lingering stench of the cramped underground dissipated.

She didn’t know air could taste so… pure .

Her knees shook as she stepped off the elevator and her heels sank into grass. Was that what it was called? Yes, green grass all around them. She’d only seen it in pictures before.

The blades were uniformly one inch tall, the purest green she’d ever seen. Khalani had a near undeniable urge to remove her shoes and feel the grass beneath her bare feet.

She flinched as the elevator's doors shut and glided back to Apollo, a metallic cover sliding over the hole.

Her eyes finally adjusted to the blazing sun, and she mustered the courage to remove her shaky hand and look up.

Instead of being surrounded by a desolate wasteland, she found herself in an open field. Colorful butterflies fluttered around her in a meadow filled with flowers of all different colors, shapes, and sizes. Her mouth formed an O when she realized there was no dome overhead, only massive trees encircling them in the distance.

The luscious green trees stood tall, towering higher than she ever imagined. She squinted in disbelief when a brown creature swung through the branches.

Was that a monkey?

“How is this real?” she whispered.

“It’s not,” the dark-haired prisoner said, sliding to stand beside her.

Khalani whipped her head to her. “What do you mean? Where’s the dome?”

“You’re staring at it.” The girl pointed to the jungle. “It’s like the virtual windows in Apollo. The dome is translucent and will depict any illusion that keeps the Genesis citizens content. The temperature is regulated too. The only parts of the dome that aren’t an illusion are the sun and the rockfalls.”

Khalani tilted her head up further. The sun rode high in the sky, bathing them in a bright glow. The virtual trees swayed as if actual wind blew through their branches.

“They make it look so real,” she said in awe.

A stunning rock waterfall extended from the dome, roaring down into a long, winding river. The water was the clearest shade of blue, and a cloud of beautiful mist floated over the air. A gorgeous, white-stone bridge lay directly in front of them, built over the river that stretched ahead and circled a sparkling city.

The city of Genesis.

The city was far, and only tall white buildings were visible from this distance, but even from over there, it was beautiful. A torrent of emotions threatened to overcome Khalani, and tears prickled the back of her eyes.

If only her parents had lived to see it.

“Stop dawdling!” the guard with the copper beard yelled.

The guards strode toward the stone bridge, and the four of them quickly followed suit. They walked through the sun-lit, grassy meadow until they reached the river crossing.

The waterfall roared next to them, and a myriad of colors appeared through the mist. She’d heard of this before.

Rainbow. Yes, that’s what it was.

A rainbow.

She stopped momentarily, mesmerized by the sight, when Serene grabbed her arm.

“C’mon, Khalani. We have to keep going.”

Khalani could barely tear her eyes away.

It was like being transported into a real-life fairy tale filled with color, after living in a black-and-white world.

When they crossed the elegant bridge, a winding road made of cobblestone led to the city. The buildings in Genesis were ivory-colored, some as high as the dome, with elaborate pillars for support .

As they approached the buildings, she noticed statues of animals—gargoyles—embedded on top of the pillars. From animal history class, she vaguely remembered the names of some of the creatures. Lions. Elephants. Horses. The whole city was a mesmerizing work of craftsmanship, designed to attract attention.

Her neck ached as she craned her head at the wondrous sights.

Genesis citizens milled about as they were escorted through the city. The women wore a mix of metallic, silver, and white dresses, and the men wore silver, gold, or black tuxedos. Each person dressed as if they were about to enter a ball.

Everything about them was different. Even the way they walked.

In Apollo, everyone kept their heads down, hurrying to reach their destination and complete their work. There were rarely any smiles or greetings exchanged between strangers. Happiness was as absent as the sun.

But there, everyone smiled and lazily glided along the streets as if they had all the time in the world at their fingertips.

Khalani glanced at some of the shops lining the street. The windows were filled with dresses, tuxedos, jewels, furniture, elaborate cakes, and even gold bicycles.

Everyone gave their group a wide berth, as if they could sense the underground on their clothing. Khalani made eye contact with two older women holding golden umbrellas as they strolled past. Their faces twisted in disgust, and they abruptly turned the opposite direction.

Khalani scowled, and she had half a mind to take the umbrella from their hands and smack them across the head with it.

What kind of idiot blocked the sun anyway?

“Unbelievable, isn’t it?” the dark-haired prisoner whispered next to her shoulder. “They live like kings up here while we fight for scraps underground.”

Something inside Khalani tightened as the prisoner’s words made her think of Takeshi .

“Someone once told me that Genesis was beautiful on the outside, but up close, it’s just as empty and corrupt as Apollo. I didn’t know if I believed them then, but I’m starting to now.”

“Whoever told you that is smart. What’s your name?”

“Khalani. That’s Serene,” she whispered, nodding at Serene, who flipped her finger at two old men who were noticeably leering at her.

The girl gave a half-smile. “I’m Fiora. That’s Jack.” She pointed toward the short boy, who lifted his head in greeting. “Jack had his tongue cut out shortly after he got sentenced to Braderhelm. He can’t talk,” Fiora explained.

Khalani inwardly shivered. She ran her tongue over the roof of her mouth to ensure it was still there.

As the streets began to clear, tall metallic lampposts along the road lit up. Khalani lifted her gaze in wonder as the sun dipped lower, casting a multicolored sky that shifted from the brightest blue to a pinkish hue with hints of lilac. She nearly tripped over her heels as she kept staring at the dome.

If Khalani was alone, she’d lie in the middle of the street, back against the cobblestone. She’d study the buckets of color in the night sky and simply breathe.

Khalani rubbed her fingers down her arms as the guards guided them away from the imposing buildings, and they started down a long, winding gravel path.

Her mouth fell open when her eyes fixated on an enormous white mansion supported by giant pillars.

The house was too big for one person to live in.

Or twenty.

“That’s the Governor’s house,” Fiora whispered, answering the unspoken question. “It’s a replica of an old leader’s house before the Great Collapse. They called it the White House because they couldn’t come up with something more clever.”

“How do you know all this?” Khalani asked.

“I used to be a teacher before I got jailed in Braderhelm. Kids always asked questions about it, so I learned as much as possible. This is my third time serving on Genesis.” Fiora shrugged .

Khalani had more questions forming on her tongue, but her lips formed a grim line as they neared the entrance.

Multiple security guards lined the path, assault rifles at the ready. Their bodies were as still as statues, except for their eyes, which tracked the prisoners with an unsettling intensity, making her want to wrap herself in a thick cloak.

They marched up the mansion steps to an extravagant golden door. One of the guards gave three solid knocks on the door and waited.

“Follow orders, or you’re dead.” The final warning came just before a butler opened the door.

The butler was a short man who appeared not too far off from the mandatory euthanization age. He had a shiny, bald head and was dressed in an immaculate suit.

“Good evening. Governor Huxley is expecting you. Do come in.” The butler opened the door wider for them.

The first thing Khalani noticed was a grand chandelier hanging over the foyer. The crystals gleamed in the light and highlighted the luxury of the room. The floor was made of white marble with a gold G insignia etched in the center. Two guards stood at the top of the double staircase in the background, eyeing them dangerously.

“Welcome to the Governor’s house.” The butler held out his hands as he turned to them. “Guards, please proceed up these stairs and talk with Captain Strauss. He is the head of security here. The four of you, please follow me to the kitchen.”

The butler whirled around, marching through the center of the foyer, and the prisoners hastily followed him.

A painting of a woman in a black dress hung in the center of the wall, a strange smile highlighting her face. Khalani had a peculiar urge to stop and inspect it, but she had no choice but to follow the butler down the hall.

The butler pushed open a swinging door that almost banged Khalani in the face when it kicked back. They entered a spacious kitchen filled with unfamiliar culinary equipment and servants running around frantically .

She instantly started salivating at the sweet aroma of food.

“Pick up the pace, people!” the butler yelled to the kitchen staff.

The staff kicked it up to turbo speed, pulling food out of multiple ovens quickly and running toward a dozen metallic refrigerators. It was controlled chaos.

The butler turned, studying the four of them closely. “You prisoners are here to help serve tonight. Remember these rules because your life depends on them. Do not talk to any of the guests unless asked a direct question. You are to be invisible, there to help deliver drinks or food, then fade into the background. If you have any questions, come and ask me, understood?”

They nodded wordlessly, and he clapped his hands together. “Good. You three, go and help Bridget with any extra food that needs to be prepared.” He pointed Serene, Fiora, and Jack to a heavyset woman in a white apron, pulling a thick pie out of an oven.

The butler turned to Khalani. “You, take that tray of drinks there to the lounge area. It is the room to the left of the painting. The Governor and the guests are in there until dinner is ready. Offer the guests some champagne. When you are done, come straight back here. No talking.” With that, the butler turned with a flourish and barked more orders at the rest of the staff.

Khalani took a deep breath and grabbed a silver tray with several champagne glasses filled to the brim. Her hands shook, but she carefully opened the swinging door with her back and managed to walk steadily to the lounge area.

Men and women, impeccably dressed in suits and gowns, stood around, conversing and laughing. In the center of the lounge was a grand white couch, adorned with a myriad of gold pillows. The entire back of the lounge opened onto a veranda that overlooked a stunning garden.

She immediately spotted Governor Huxley.

His pristine, white suit was a statement in itself. He stood a foot taller than everyone and held himself like he owned the room and everyone in it.

He flashed a heart-stopping grin as he chatted with two women in the corner, both dressed in pastel ballgowns that cinched their waists into unbelievably narrow proportions.

Was breathing for the poor too?

A line of people indiscreetly formed behind the skinny women laughing obnoxiously loud, waiting for a chance to speak with Alexander Huxley.

Khalani lowered the plate, trying to hide her head, and entered the lounge.

She approached people with the tray of drinks, avoiding the corner where the Governor stood. No one made eye contact with her as they grabbed champagne glasses and continued their conversations.

It was almost too easy to be invisible.

That was fine by Khalani. She wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. The lavishness of the party, the mansion, and the opulent guests made her uncomfortable. She couldn’t place a finger on what it was, but her hair stood on end like her body knew she was in a den of hungry monsters.

She recognized one of the councilmen from the street cleanup.

Wyatt, that was his name. The one who argued with Governor Huxley about the Death-Zoner.

He also appeared to recognize her because he gave her an icy stare as he grabbed the last champagne glass on her plate.

“Get going,” he hissed.

Khalani put her head down, only too happy to oblige. She tucked the serving platter under her arm as she exited the room. When Khalani reached the foyer, she took a deep breath, feeling as if she’d just navigated a minefield.

She found herself halted in front of the alluring painting of a woman. Her simpering gaze seemed to pierce through Khalani, as if she knew all her deepest secrets.

She leaned in closer to the painting, studying the strange backgroun d behind the dark-haired figure.

“Do you like the painting?” Alexander Huxley’s voice drifted over her left shoulder. Her body tensed, and a chill shot through her like a stray bullet. She hadn’t even heard him approach .

“Governor Huxley,” Khalani breathed out shakily as his liquid-blue eyes locked onto her own. “I didn’t mean to…I was on my way back to the kitchen.”

The Governor’s ash-colored hair was gelled back, and his perfect face curved up in a slow smile, highlighting his clear, alabaster skin and strong jawline as he stepped toward her.

She fought the urge to run away with each sly step he took. Her feet locked in place, and she met his gaze, suppressing every emotion that screamed for her to flee.

“I told you we’d meet again.” Alexander Huxley was only a foot away.

Her brows furrowed at his grin, and she clutched the empty tray with a death grip, preparing to use it as a weapon.

It might be one of her only chances to hurt him.

Imagining his face bleeding beneath her fists filled her body with sweet anticipation.

She glanced to the left and noticed an armed guard at the front entrance, too far for hearing distance but close enough to shoot her at the first sign of aggression. Despite herself, Takeshi’s warning rang in her mind.

“A smart person knows when to choose their battles.”

Her teeth clenched, and it was like Takeshi—the bane of her existence—was there, reminding her to be smart. She wanted to curse because fuck , she knew he was right. If Khalani attacked the Governor there, she’d be shot within a second.

And she could hardly kill him with a serving plate.

“And what an honor this meeting is.” Khalani plastered on a smile, trying to remain calm while plotting a gruesome death in her mind. “But I really should be getting back.”

“Not quite yet.” Alexander smirked. He tilted his head as if he were studying something amusing.

“I must confess that our last conversation intrigued me. I grow bored of the same tired talks with council members and incessant guests. It’s unending fawning and monotonous discussions. Suffocating for someone like me .

“But there was something different in your eyes,” he continued. “A need to survive. An intelligence that bypassed the emotion swimming in them. Indeed, as I grow older, I find that my body craves to find stimulation in any form,” the Governor’s voice flattened, and his expression turned forlorn as if he was lonely.

A lonely psychopath.

The fact that she couldn’t stop staring at his angelic face made her sick.

“Is that why you requested me to be a servant? To stimulate you?” She’d rather be carved into tiny slices and served with the pork.

He blinked, the faraway look receding from his eyes. “I assure you that my intentions are completely honorable. You have nothing to fear from me. But you never answered my question about the painting.” He gestured to the picture of the woman.

Khalani found it hard to concentrate as the Governor stood right next to her, shoulder to shoulder.

“It’s um… it’s a nice painting, Gov—”

“No.” He shook his head. “You can hold the formalities for now. Indulge me. This is a place for honesty.”

She honestly wanted to see him dead. But that wasn’t the name of the game they were playing.

Khalani turned fully to the painting but kept him in her peripheral. “At first glance, it looks like an old portrait of a woman who doesn’t seem particularly captivating. But if you study her face, it feels like she has a whole story to tell in her eyes alone. She’s in a strange place but doesn’t look afraid, as if she knows something we don’t.”

“Hmm, very good.” He nodded. “Do you find yourself in a strange place, too?”

“Yes,” she whispered. And let the truth slip. “Genesis is stranger and more terrifying than Apollo.”

He raised his eyebrows. “And why is that?”

She hesitated and glanced at the painting. The woman stared directly into her eyes, daring her to speak.

“They’ve already forgotten where they came from and are perfectly content to sit around and eat bonbons while their neighbors struggle beneath their feet. Ignorance is their sword and shield.” Her forehead creased at her rising emotion. “I’m not like the woman in this painting at all. Nothing I see here is amusing.”

Khalani feared she’d revealed too much and at any moment he would call the guards to arrest her for treason, but Alexander gave her an assessing look.

“Would you be shocked to know that this used to be the most famous painting in the world? They called it the Mona Lisa,” the words dripped from his tongue like silk.

She tasted the name in her mouth.

Mona Lisa.

“I thought Apollo kept the famous art in the Archives where no one could view it.” Khalani frowned.

“And do you know why we keep it that way?”

“Because art inspires people?” she hesitantly asked, remembering Winnie’s lessons.

He grinned and shook his head. “I was right. You would make a better council member than those simpletons. In many ways, the focus on art and foolish fantasies in human culture led to the Great Collapse. They weren’t focused on the real problems. People were more inclined to sit at home and live in a screen versus worrying about climate change, declining resources, and mass extinction across different animal and plant lifeforms. The warning signs were all there. But they knew they wouldn’t be alive when the destruction they sowed came about. They waited for someone else to fix their problems, but it never happened. And here we are.” Alexander held out his hands.

The Governor turned back to the painting, seeming to glare at the mischievous woman. “Unfortunately, that plague of ignorance was never cured, as you correctly surmised. I keep this painting here as an ode to that lost generation, and a reminder of my duties.”

She studied him as his voice carried on, and those eyes became lost in a different world.

The way he spoke…it sounded like he agreed with her, but they were saying something completely different .

Her ire was directed toward a particular group, but his disdain was toward everyone .

An eerie, prickling sensation centered on her insides. She opened her mouth to ask him more about his duties, but the kitchen door opened.

“What has taken you so long with those dri—Governor Huxley! F-forgive me, sir. This servant knew she was supposed to come straight back here. I take full responsibility,” the butler stammered and bowed low to the ground.

The Governor chuckled. “There is no need for that, Arthur. I was just having a quick chat with our prisoner here. Run along now, Miss Kanes,” he whispered the last part in her ear.

Khalani quickly rushed away, skin crawling at the feel of Alexander Huxley’s gaze trailing her retreating form, a sly smirk resting over his face.