Read Online Jackson by Leigh Talbert Moore - Free Book Online

light. “Looks like more Zoraquel.”
    “Is that what...”
    “Yes,” he fisted the pill and looked down at me. “I’m sorry.”
    “I don’t want to talk about it.”
    We stood for a moment not knowing what to say. His hand twitched as if he wanted to reach for me, but he didn’t. “The way you sang, the ritual you observed was very beautiful.”
    “You’ve never been to a funeral?”
    “Yes, but it’s different for us. When you’ve lived five hundred years it’s more of a celebration.”
    “I’m going to get D’Lo.” I couldn’t listen to him speak of five hundred years when Flora didn’t even have eighteen.
    “I’ll try to wake this one.”
    * * *
    B ack in the dorm, D’Lo was snoring with his arms over his head. As usual the drugs had knocked him out, but after two weeks, he’d grown somewhat used to their effects. Still, I had to yank on his arm for what felt like hours before he stopped talking in his sleep and opened his eyes.
    “They’ve got Jackson,” I hissed. “I need you to help me get him out.”
    “Who’s got... what?”
    “Dee, please wake up,” I pled, jerking his arm again. “Jackson’s in the dining hall. He’s with Gallatin. Unconscious. I need you to help me get him out of here.”
    “But what about—”
    “There’s no chip. There are hardly any soldiers anymore. It’s like I told you, it’s all mind games to keep us under control.”
    “The cutting I saw wasn’t a mind game. Cleve wasn’t a mind game.” He moved like he would lie back down.”
    “You can’t ignore this!” My heart ached like it would burst if he didn’t start getting dressed. “If they get Jackson, they’re going to neutralize him. You know that can’t be good.”
    He was still reluctant.
    “Help me, Dee!” I was near tears now.
    “We just buried one of ours,” he whispered. “I don’t want to do it again.”
    My breath hiccupped as I tried to speak. “Then you have to help me get him out.”
    That seemed to register with him, and at last he started moving in the right direction. I exhaled a sigh of relief and stood.
    “Meet me at the front.” I turned away, giving him privacy. In another moment he was with me, moving slowly but moving nonetheless.
    “Where is he again?”
    “Dining hall. Gallatin’s waiting for us.”
    I ran through the dark not caring about the puddles now. D’Lo huffed to keep up with me, but I knew it was the effects of the drugs still in his system.
    “He’s helping us? You must’ve really let him get close to you.”
    “I had to get information is all.”
    “It was more than that. I could see it.”
    Shaking my head, I pushed my feelings aside. “Jackson’s here now. That’s all that matters.”
    We went through the door and Jackson was now seated in a chair with Gallatin’s shirt on. It was too long for him, and he was leaned over with his head on the table still unconscious. I appreciated the effort all the same.
    “I couldn’t get him to come around. But you can take my shirt. I have more.”
    “Thank you,” I whispered as D’Lo hoisted my lifeless boyfriend over his shoulder. “Follow me, Dee.”
    I started to go, but Gallatin caught my arm. “Wait. Prentiss—”
    “I’ll be in the kitchen,” D’Lo said.
    I watched them disappear through the back doors, wishing I could follow and not face this moment. I knew it would be painful, and I’d had enough pain in the past two days to last me a lifetime. I didn’t want any more.
    “I know it’s a bad time, but we might not see each other again,” he said.
    I didn’t answer. Instead I studied the copper pendant hanging to the middle of his bare chest. In the dim light, it seemed to match the color of his skin. I studied its iridescent finish, the black pearl absorbing light in the top corner. Everything about him was different and special, and I’d only tried to make it normal. Like me.
    “I don’t want you to remember me this way,” he said. “With hatred.”
    At that my