I follow Marla through the trees, with Rian close behind.
The farther we walk, the more certain I become that the settlement doesn't exist in any place the Authority would consider worth searching. There are no roads, no lights visible from the sky, no marker signals, and no electronic hum of surveillance equipment. Just trees, rocks, and the occasional narrow trail worn into the earth by people who had traveled it many times.
It feels wrong. Not so much as dangerous, just unfamiliar.
I have spent my entire life surrounded by technology. Doors open when scanners recognize my marker. Transportation systems map the fastest route automatically. School assignments appear on screens. Food dispensers calculate nutritional needs, and even the lights in my bedroom adjust themselves depending on the time of day.
Here, wherever this is, nothing seems to happen automatically.
Marla stops beside a large rock, "From here, you need to stay close to me."
I look around, "Why?"
Marla just gives me a pointed look before moving a branch aside. A narrow opening appears between two trees. Beyond it is a small valley, and for a moment, I forget to breathe. There are houses here, but not the smooth, identical government structures I know from the city. These are different. Some are built from wood, while others from stone. One appears to have been constructed from pieces of old metal and glass. Smoke rises from a chimney, and people move between buildings carrying baskets, tools, and bundles of clothing. Children run across a clearing, someone is chopping wood somewhere further in the village, and someone else is hanging clothes on a line. There are no drones, scanners, or glowing markers.
I stare. "This is a settlement?"
Marla smiles, "It is."
"It's..." I don't know what word to use. "Old?"
Marla laughs softly, "That's one way to put it."
Rian steps beside me, as he stares too. "This isn't connected to the grid."
"No," Marla says.
"How do you communicate?"
"Face-to-face."
Rian's eyebrows lift. Seeing his expression almost makes me laugh, but I hold it in. This isn’t the time for laughter.
"Shocking, isn't it?" Marla says, looking back at us.
“Very,” Rian says, looking at her.
We follow Marla down the hill. The moment we reach the settlement, the atmosphere changes. People stop what they are doing. A man carrying a wooden crate freezes. A woman steps out of a house. Several children are pulled behind adults.
The worst part is the looks.
They look at me and Rian with fear and suspicion. Some with outright hostility. Rian slows, and I glance at him. His expression has become guarded.
Marla turns around, "Keep moving."
Nobody says anything, but I can feel every pair of eyes following us. Finally, a man steps into our path. He’s tall, with gray hair and a scar running along one side of his face.
"Who are they?"
Marla stops, “This…” she quickly glances at me, “this is Felicity.”
The man’s eyes widens, as he looks at me from head to toe. Some of the other people nearby gasp and begin to whisper amongst themselves.
I guess I don’t really need an introduction.
The man finally shakes his head, looking back at Marla. “And what about him?”
"His name is Rian,” Marla says, gesturing to him.
"I asked who he is."
Rian answers himself, "Rian Vale."
The man's face hardens. Several people nearby move away, causing my stomach to tighten.
Marla steps between us, "He's with Felicity."
"He's Kane Vale's son."
The man's voice carries across the settlement, and a murmur begins to spread through the crowd. I feel Rian tense up next to me. I have to do something.
Stepping forward, I say, "He's not his father."
The man looks at me, "You don't know that."
"I know he's helped me."
"You don't know what else he's done.”
I hesitate. The man is right, I don’t know. That’s the problem. I don't know what Rian has done before I met him. I don't know what happened between him and Jax. I don't even know how much Director Vale has told him. However, I do know what Rian has done since the scan. He has helped me escape, protected me, and returned when he could have walked away. On top of all that, now, he’s standing in a settlement filled with people who have every reason to hate his family.
"He stays," I say. I just hope I don’t sound too timid.
Rian looks at me, as the man and I have a staring contest.
"You would bring Kane's son into this place?" the man finally asks.
"I would."
"Why?"
I swallow, "Because he came back for me… he… he saved me."
Silence.
Rian looks away. Is he embarrassed or ashamed that I’m saying this?
Marla finally steps forward, "We don't have time for this."
The man's gaze returns to Rian, "If he causes trouble…"
"He won't," I say.
The man looks at me again, "You'd better be right."
He finally steps aside, allowing Rian and me to follow Marla further into the settlement. We don’t speak until we reach a small wooden house at the edge of the settlement. Marla opens the door.
"You can stay here tonight."
There are two beds, a small table, a wood-burning stove, and shelves filled with books. There’s absolutely no electronics. It’s just a room.
I set my bag down, wanting nothing more than to lay down and get a proper rest.
Rian looks around, "I haven't seen a place like this since I was a kid."
"You've seen places like this?"
"Yeah, my dad used to take me outside the cities."
"Why?"
"I don't know."
I turn toward him. "That seems to be a common theme with your father."
Rian smiles faintly, "Unfortunately."
Marla places a bowl of food on the table, "Eat."
I stare. It doesn’t look very appetizing. There’s a mix of root vegetables and chunks of browned meat floating in a thick dark, goldish-brown liquid. Though, surprisingly, it does smell good.
"What is it?"
"Venison stew."
"From a dispenser?"
Marla laughs, "No."
I look at the bowl again, "Did you make it?"
"As a matter of fact… yes, yes I did."
I hesitate before tasting it, even though its aroma makes my stomach growl. Lifting the spoon to my lips, I blow at it softly until the steam disappears. As I eat the stew, the savoury liquid and tender meat seems to melt in my mouth. It’s full of rich flavors that cut straight through the heavy grease, balancing the mixture of earthy sweet and saltiness. It warmed me from the inside out, comforting me.
My eyes widen, "It's good."
Marla smiles. "Most things are when they're made by someone who cares."
Looking down at the bowl, I can't help but to think about my parents. Mom cooking on weekends and Dad pretending he can't follow recipes. The ordinary life I'd believed was mine.
A lump forms in my throat. Rian seems to notice that I’m feeling down.
He sits beside me. "You're thinking about them."
I nod, "Do you think they're here?"
Marla's expression changes. "No."
I look up. "Why not?"
"Because they couldn't come."
“Couldn’t?” I ask, my heart is aching now.
Marla shakes her head, "This settlement has rules."
"What rules?"
"No active government markers."
This is surprising.
“But you let me and Rian come here.”
“That’s only because you’re not a clone,” Marla says matter-of-factly. “Plus, your marker isn’t truly a government marker, it just mimics one.”
“Okay, but Rian is a clone and he’s here.”
“He’s with you… remember? Even you demanded that.”
I stand, putting my hands on my hips. "Then why can't my parents come here?"
Marla looks at me sadly, "Because if the Authority ever discovers that clones are living here, everyone will be endangered."
Rian's voice is quiet, "Even if the clones aren't working for the government?"
"Especially then."
The words hurt more than I expect and I hate the logic. I get it. It makes perfect sense and that’s the worst part of all of this.
I look between them, "Then where am I supposed to go?"
Marla reaches into her coat, pulling out another folded piece of paper. "Your parents anticipated this."
“They did?” I ask.
"They left instructions with us," she hands me the paper. "There is another meeting point."
My fingers tremble as I open it. Two sets of coordinates are written inside.
"Where?"
"Beyond the northern ridge." Marla points toward the mountains. "There's an old research station there."
"Are they there?"
"We don't know."
My heart feels like it’s sinking.
"But your parents wanted you to go there," Marla says, leaning back in her chair.
I fold the paper, "Then that's where I'm going."
Rian stands and squeezes my hand, "I’m going with you."
Marla looks at him. The suspicion in her eyes returns.
I meet her gaze, "He comes with me."
Marla sighs, "I expected you to say that."
I look at Rian and he gives me a small, uncertain smile. For the first time since entering the settlement, I realize something. I have brought Rian into a place where everyone fears him, and somehow, he is still choosing to stay.