Read Online The Human (The Eden Trilogy) by Keary Taylor - Free Book Online

said back.  “I think everyone has a bad feeling about this.”
     
     
    I was torn between duty and curiosity.
    Avian and I were in charge of watching the first floor, from the time we woke, until the time the newcomers were herded back to the fourth floor at night.
    My assignment was to watch.  To make sure nothing happened, that no one got out of line.
    But I wanted to know what was going on.
    Margaret and Royce spent most of their time on the sixth floor, in his office.  Elijah stood constant guard alone just outside Royce’s door.
    I wanted to know what they were talking about.  I wanted to make sure Royce didn’t spill our secrets, even though I trusted him not to.  I wanted to hear what was happening to the world outside of New Eden.
    But I wouldn’t abandon my duties.
    I finally had a job.
    I hung back in the lobby, watching.  We’d moved the elementary and other school classes to the empty third floor.  While Lin and the other teachers conducted class an armed guard stood watch over them.  The dozen people who were employed in the operation of New Eden worked as usual in the lobby, but these outsiders slowly wandered, watching, asking questions.
    I was proud of those around me.  They were careful.  They watched what they said.  
    But I had a bad feeling that eventually someone was going to slip up.
    I looked up when West stepped into the lobby.  West met my gaze for a moment when he spotted me.  He shook his head nearly imperceptibly before his attention turned to the outsider who approached him.
    I watched very carefully as West talked.
    I’d had trust issues with West ever since the day I caught him stealing food from Eden.  But back then those trust issues had only been important between the two of us.
    Could I still trust him to keep our people and our secrets safe?
     
    By the fifth day, I was so agitated I could hardly stand it.  I felt cooped up and blind.  I felt in the dark and out of the loop.
    “You okay?” Avian asked as we switched places.  We took shifts, either at the front of the hospital, with the lobby and restrooms, or the back, with the kitchens and medical wing.
    “I just want them to leave,” I said, my eyes sweeping the hallway.
    “Two more days,” he said quietly.  He placed his hand on the back of my head and pressed a kiss to my brow.
    “I can’t stand this,” I said, shaking my head.  “I need out.  I need trees and mountains.  I need—”
    “Hey,” Avian cut me off, pulling me into his arms.  “It’s okay.”
    “No,” I said.  It felt like something wild and dangerous was in my throat, quickly rising up, choking me.  “It’s not.  I need out.  I can’t breathe.”
    “Whoa,” Avian said, stepping back just a bit so he could look down into my face.  “Eve, if you need a break, I’m sure we could tell Elijah.  He’ll find someone to fill in.”
    “I don’t need a break,” I said, my voice sounding disgusted.  I instantly felt ashamed at myself.  “Forget what I said.  I’m…fine.”
    “Eve, you’re obviously not fine,” he said, concern flooding his face.  “You’ve been on the verge of a lash-out for the last week.  It’s understandable that moving into the city and having all these adjustments would be hard on you.”
    I shook my head, the back of my eyes stinging.  My line of sight rose to the ceiling and I couldn’t look back at Avian because I felt so disgusted with myself.  “I am not that weak.  I am not that human.”
    “Eve,” Avian said, his voice hard and stern.  It took me off guard enough to meet his eyes again.  “You are human.  And it is okay. ”
    “I’m going to talk to Dr. Beeson,” I said, taking a step away from him, my eyes falling to the floor this time.  “This last adjustment was too much.  You two were right.  I can’t handle any more of these.”
    Avian stopped short.  Everything in his posture and stance said that he didn’t know what to say.
    Gathering myself, I turned