Lost Atoms

Chapter 7

There are a few things I know for certain about Cail. I know they used to doodle on their schoolwork to help them pay attention in class. I know they can do an impression of every kid they've ever lived with at the group home. And I know they hide a soft side of them under their tough person façade.

But if there's one thing above all I know about Cail, they hate zoners.

So, I'm already positive these two aren't the real deal by the time Zenith and I manage to get to our feet.

"They're here to help!" Navani shouts as we draw close.

I should feel happy to see her. I should run up to her and kiss her like I thought I was going to die. Because I did think that. I want to feel genuinely happy to see her.

But for some weird reason, the fact that she's stating the obvious irritates me.

A minute ago, I was clinging to all hope that my girlfriend was alive, and now there's a ringing of annoyance in my ears. What the hell is wrong with me?

I still manage to give her a hug and a kiss on the forehead.

One of the imposter zoners walks past me with long, quick strides towards the beast. She pulls off her mask. Her face is etched by deep wrinkles, weathered by time, not unlike my mother's. But this woman's composure lacks maternal warmth. Her posture is rigid. Her expression, serious. A grey bun, tied impeccably tight at the nape of her neck, doesn't even bob as she leans down and looks the animal over. After a few seconds she stands, walking back toward us.

"Do you know what it is?" Zenith asks her.

"A common coywolf," she says matter-of-factly. "It's a coyote-wolf cross-breed. This one was female, probably about 12 kilograms. They don't usually attack, but it looks to have been a while since it had a meal. Must have thought you looked... slow."

Although she talks with urgency, she pauses before her last word, as if emphasizing it. Zenith takes a half-step back and stutters in surprise at the sudden onslaught of information. "Sh-she went after Asher, not me. I'm not slow."

The woman looks me up and down. "You're lucky then," she quips. "I think you've only managed to outrun her because of the tumour on her right front paw. A lot of the animals here have them. Hers was sizable, probably caused a lot of pain, and likely why she hasn't been catching prey."

"I'm sorry, who are you?" I ask.

"Daniela Mendez," she says, straight-faced.

"And I'm Albert," the other guy says, pulling off his own zoner mask. He looks to be a similar age to Daniela, but his long hair is pulled back in a ponytail. He extends his hand to each of us in turn.

I want to know more about our two new acquaintances, but before I can ask anything, Zenith speaks.

"There are zoners by the road," he says. "Do you think they might have heard the gunshots?"

"Real zoners?" Daniela asks. Her eyes dart to Albert, and then back to Zenith, who nods. Daniela raises her wrist and taps a black wristwatch several times. It suddenly projects a hologram in the air in front of her.

A rendering of several zoners appears. It seems as if we are looking down on them as they stand by the main road, a mess of drone parts at their feet. Daniela de-activates the hologram. "You should have said there were zoners earlier, boy."

"I didn't—" But Zenith doesn't even get his words out when Daniela turns to Navani.

"Come help me hide the animal," she says.