Crux Year

Chapter Twelve - Shay

Why would my parents keep this information from me?

I don't understand how they could look me in the eye and lie straight to my face. They've clearly been lying about a lot of things. I'm disgusted and hurt. But, beneath all that, I'm also angry.

I've always believed in the Crux system. There was no reason for me to question it. Life was great for me.

Now...I have a lot of questions.

I want answers to them, too. Something tells me I'm not going to like what I discover either. If it was all pleasant, my dads wouldn't have any reason to keep certain truths away from me. Like this...genetic washing.

Earlier, at the reproduction facility, Royal didn't look well. He, and every other student, seemed extremely uncomfortable with Mr. Preston's revelation. The bus ride back to school and the rest of the day was somber and reflective. I could see the questions burning in everyone's eyes. Even Trace and Nicky weren't happy with what they learned.

How could they be?

Their parents have been lying to them too.

I want to know why the libraries and stores don't carry anything pertaining to our history before the 2X virus. It's as though we started human life here in Rock City. Sure, they give us a generic version of how the disease ravaged the people and killed off the females, but they never go into how things were before.

We're allowed books written by men in Rock City. Nothing from the outside. Why is that? It can't simply be because they're trying to protect us.

There's more to know and understand.

I'm going to find out.

"Knock-knock," Dad Spencer says from the other side of my bedroom door. "May I come in?"

"Yep." I grit my teeth, forcing my gaze out the window into the darkness.

At lunch, me and Royal hashed out a strategy for tonight. I promised him I'd meet him at the rehabilitation center. We have a plan for me to hack into the AI bot at the reception center to grant us entry and then use whatever means necessary to get Morgan out of there. I don't exactly know what "whatever means necessary" exactly entails, but Royal seemed as though he would use his fists if he had to. It's unnerving and could go wrong a hundred different ways. I won't back out, though.

My match needs my help.

Helping get his dad out seems like the right thing to do. Especially as we continue to learn things about our city. After Royal is gone, I don't have any plans to quit my dig for information. I'll just have to be discreet about it. Grilling my dad as to why he didn't tell me about the genetic washing isn't going to solve anything. If anything, I'll get grounded or they'll be extra watchful. I can't afford that right now when Royal needs my help so desperately. This can wait until after the Crux ceremony.

"You're sad," Dad Spencer says, entering my room. "Ollie and I both felt it tonight at dinner. Want to talk about it?"

About how you both lied to me?

Nope.

"I'm not sad," I lie. "Just tired."

He sits beside me on the bed and gives me a side hug. "Tomorrow is a big day. You'll meet your match, which I know is scary and new, but you'll get through it. I know how much you've looked forward to it over the years. Now that it's here, it's natural to be nervous."