Every Missing Piece

Chapter Nine

A day later, the Assembly's threats still echo in my mind. I try and I try, but I see no way I can hide from their grim promises, not with everything already laid out on the table. There's no escape for me this time.

As these thoughts swirl around and around like a furious cyclone, every passing second is a reminder of how hopelessly naïve I was. It's so clear to me now, so obvious, that the Assembly was behind erasing our memories from the very beginning. If the so-called virus was such a threat, why was no one working to develop a stronger protection against it? Why were we given no assurance that all of our sacrifices are for the promise of a better future?

Because there is no better future. This is all we'll ever have.

Two weeks. Fourteen days, no, thirteen days now. Thirteen days until I'm dead because I can never, never say yes.

There's a sharp jab in my side. I flinch and find the blocker sitting next to me is staring. "They're starting to hand out assignments," he whispers with a nod toward the front of the room. "You might want to pay attention."

I mutter my thanks, but there's really nothing I want more than to miss it. Lurking in the back of the room isn't enough anymore; I want to escape the notice of Walter and the other blockers entirely. If I was left alone with my scattered thoughts, maybe then I'd find the solution to my problems.

But no, the Assembly intends to bombard me with assignments.

Just as Walter begins to pass out today's files, someone knocks on the door to the blocker offices, the sound hurried and frantic. We look at each other in confusion while Walter leaves to investigate, the pounding a steady accompaniment to the murmuring that slowly fills the room.

"You think the Desperates are up to something?" the blocker next to me asks. I shake my head, but I find myself leaning back in my chair, as if I can push it through the wall and disappear along with it.

The room falls silent when a young woman runs into the room with Walter close behind her. She's tall and holds her head high; still, I notice the way her dark eyes dart around the room and how she plays with her braid nervously before she speaks. "The Assembly sent me to tell you that as of this morning, there are two very dangerous criminals loose in Gotten. Warrants are out for their arrest, but everyone is to return to their units immediately until further notice is given."

The murmurs rise again, but I'm struck silent as I stare at the girl in front of us. Though I couldn't recognize her on sight, I've heard her voice when I was frightened and delirious, felt her cool fingers take my temperature. There's no way I'd forget anything about the first day I skipped the pill, and I see no explanation for how Nina could now be working for the Assembly.

Walter claps his hands and the room becomes deathly quiet. "Since the Assembly thinks it best, you'll all be returning home now," he informs us. "On your way out, please collect your assignment, as you'll report there as soon as this situation has been taken care of."

Slowly, we form some semblance of a line and we inch toward the door. Nina has taken half of the assignment files from Walter and she stands with him at the front of the room, distributing them to the departing blockers. As I move closer, I can hear the two of them deep in conversation.

"—did you say the criminals were?" Walter asks.

"Neil and Angela Barron. Do you know them?"

"Can't say I do—"

But even if Walter isn't familiar with those names, I am, and I almost trip over my feet when I hear them. Oh, Alexa, look how everything is falling apart.