Untamed Series, #1 Read online

As I look at him, I can’t tell whether he’s amused or serious. He’s the kind of mystery that can’t be solved. I swallow, my throat feeling rough.

  “They… No. Just the Untamed.” I blink hard. Can’t think properly. Do they have another name for themselves? A long, long time ago maybe… Didn’t my father say they’d embraced the name that the Enhanced had given them, becoming proud of it? I can’t quite remember. Everything is too hazy.

  After a few minutes, Raleigh gets up and leaves. Just before he opens the door, he turns back. “You look better already, my butterfly. And, soon, you’ll feel perfect. Welcome to the Chosen.”

  It’s almost funny. All my life, I was taught that being Untamed is the safest and best thing to be, yet I have never felt better than I do now. There’s no worrying about safety or shelter. They feed me three times a day, and I’m allowed as much as I want. They’ve said if I’m good I can see my mother soon. I have my own room, with a bed and a wardrobe and a mirror. They’ve even given me a teddy bear. I’ve never had a teddy before. I think I will call him John.

  I pick John up and head over to the mirror on the wall. My breath catches as I see myself. For a few seconds, I can’t breathe.

  “My eyes….”

  I stare at my reflection. My heart rate speeds up. The eyes reflected are silver. There’s no white at all. No color in my iris, only the mirror-silver. I lean in closer and can just about see a faint line around each iris that moves as I look at the different corners of the wall mirror. Then I look down at John, in my arms. I can see him perfectly. My vision’s the same as it was when I was Untamed, despite my eyes being mirrors now. I’d thought that the Enhanced Ones’ vision would be altered somehow, but mine’s not.

  Actually… I frown as I stare at my teddy. My vision is different: it’s better. Sharper. I look around the room. My sight is perfect. A smile forms on my lips as I turn back to the wall mirror.

  I look like an Enhanced.

  We do not call ourselves the Enhanced here.

  I flinch at Raleigh’s sudden words in my mind.

  “The Chosen,” I say, but the word doesn’t taste right. Still, I do try. Again and again. “I am one of the Chosen. The Chosen. I am one of them.” I frown, then try the alternative. “I am one of the Enhanced.” These words come out easier.

  The Chosen. The Enhanced. I test the words out, over and over again, mumbling, hoping that the Chosen will sound better with use. But it doesn’t. Not when I’m talking about myself.

  I turn back to the mirror again. Look at my Enhanced eyes.

  Other than that, I’m the same as before. Dark skin, black hair. Full lips and a fairly long nose. I am tall, very tall—or at least I was among the Untamed—but here, all the women have perfect bodies. Willowy, tall frames, the right amount of curves… Everyone looks perfect. And I know I will soon.

  This morning, Raleigh said he’d book me in for some appearance-altering augmenters.

  “We’ll make your nose shorter…and your hair softer,” he said.

  I expected to feel self-conscious under his evaluation of my physical appearance, but I didn’t. I felt calm.

  “And once we’ve got your appearance exactly how you’d like it, it will be easy to maintain.” He leaned closer, and the strong smell of liquor wrapped around me. “The first session’s always harder with physical alterations… Takes longer. But Dr. Jade is excellent. And then it’s just a matter of keeping it that way.” He pointed at his own jawline, rubbed two fingers across it, emphasizing its strength. “I only need to take three augmenters a day to keep it this well defined.”

  After that, Raleigh told me more about how the appearance-altering augmenters worked, but I found it hard to concentrate. His voice isn’t the nicest of tones, and he kept tapping his fingers on my shoulders. I didn’t like that.

  I sigh, still staring at the mirror.

  “You will look perfect, Shania, with the right treatments and time.”

  I turn to find Rosemary standing in my doorway. She looks energetic and lively. Her pale skin is glowing, and her red hair is as shiny and neat as before. Perfect. Unreal.

  “My eyes,” I say. “They’re mirrors… But I can see?”

  Rosemary smiles. “Of course you can see normally. Our eyes are highly developed. They say eyes are the gateway to the soul, so we need to protect that entranceway. A one-way mirror is the ideal solution. We can see perfectly. And no one can see into us. Our souls need to be guarded. That’s the problem with the Untamed, their eyes are too expressive, and that’s a weakness. You don’t want everyone who meets you knowing your secrets, do you? This—” She indicates her own eye-mirrors. “This is the perfect solution.”

  “But how?” I ask. My fingers pinch at the fluffy texture of John’s back. “The mirrors? Is it…an operation? Bio-molecular?” I struggle to think of the words.

  “Our augmenters contain the ingredient. You have looked like us for a while, Shania. It only takes ten to fifteen seconds for your eyes to change after an augmenter has entered your system. And the effect, from just one augmenter can last for days, although we all try to top-up at least twice a day.”

  It’s then, as she’s talking, that I notice the tray she’s holding. Or, more specifically, the contents: augmenters…and food. In the center of the tray is some sort of cake. A soft, airy-looking cake. Light. It’s a pale beige color, with darker specks in it. I can smell the cinnamon and ginger from here. Honey’s been drizzled all over it, glistening. It’s a huge cake, already cut into twelve slices.

  I look at the woman’s face, then back at the cake. Six slices each, if she’s hungry… My stomach rumbles, feeling uncomfortable. I’ve only had cake a handful of times before, at celebrations. Normally we just have semolina pudding or baked sweets or dried mangoes… But here, they’ve got actual cake. And I could have it whenever I wanted, I’m sure. I start to smile.

  “So, how does it feel to be civilized?” she asks as she crosses the room toward me. “How does it feel to be safe?”

  Nowhere is ever safe—that was one of the first things my father drilled into my head, after making sure I could recite Rahn’s survival lessons, of course. It’s when you believe that you’re safe, that you’re at your most vulnerable. But my father’s not here, he’s one of the wild ones. He lies and commits acts of violence against the Enhanced Ones who never lay a finger on him.

  It’s my father who lies. Of course some places are safe! They have to be. And this place—I look around again—is safe. The colors are happy, and the air pulses with calmness. Of course this is a safe place.

  “It’s good,” I say.

  My hand stretches forward. And, before I can help myself, I’m scooping up a slice of the cake from the tray. My fingers shake as I pull it toward me. I take a big mouthful as the woman laughs. And it’s bliss. Sweetness and softness and spice explode in my mouth. I inhale the aromas and lick honey from my fingers and lips.

  Rosemary smiles as she sets the tray down on the little table by my bed. She brushes down her silk dress, even though it’s not dirty in the slightest. None of the cake got on her.

  “We have not had any violence within our own society for over two hundred years.” She beams at me widely. Her lips are scarlet. “You need not fear that any of us will harm you. We all work together in harmony to ensure that we are living in the perfect world. No violence. No crime. No poverty. Everyone is equal. I am sure you can see already how much better it is to be civilized and safe and in control, rather than wild and angry and living in fear?” She does not wait for my answer, but continues. “We are free of negative emotions.”

  I squint at her groggily. There’s something, a memory somewhere that contradicts this.

  “Everyone is entitled to this life. It is our job, as the Chosen, to help the poor Untamed creatures into this way of life—to rid them of the evil that possesses them—for everyone can be saved, making this world a better place. We will help everyone; we have no prejudices. And it will help us lead a better, m
ore prosperous life where violence and evil intentions will soon be forgotten, completely eradicated. I am so glad we’ve enlightened you. Now, which augmenter would you like?” she asks, still smiling. Always smiling.

  “Calmness.” I say the word automatically. I eye the cake, but she doesn’t offer me another slice, and it would be rude to help myself again, wouldn’t it? Even if there are enough slices for both of us to gorge ourselves with. Never again would I have to be so hungry I couldn’t sleep.

  “Calmness. Good choice,” she says, then leaves the room, humming under her breath.

  A few minutes later, she returns with a bottle full of the familiar blue liquid. I close my eyes as I drink it. It feels wonderful. Sublime. Worries flee. This life is perfect. This is the life everyone should have. Why was I ever trying to avoid it? Why would anyone try to avoid it?

  The woman looks down at me, the usual smile plastered on her face. Maybe it’s a permanent feature. “You agree that this is better than being an Untamed creature who only knows how to be wild and unruly?”

  I nod, and my neck cricks slightly. I feel pain, but only for a second. I look back over at the cake again.

  “There’s more to our food than just the cake,” she says. “We’ve got every food that you could ever want. Doughnuts, cookies, baked sweets, honey, oranges, mangoes. Antelope, couscous, meat pies, stews, beef, fish, lamb, goat, maїs grillé, beans, rice. The list is endless. And that’s just our food. You needn’t worry about a lack of food or shelter, or warmth or security, or stability with us.” Still smiling. “So, you think that your Untamed friends should experience this too?”

  I nod. There’s no comparison between the two lifestyles.

  The smile gets even wider. “And you remember where they live?”

  I nod. Just the thought of seeing my family and friends again fills me with warmth.

  “Good. Shania, will you lead them to us?”

  There’s something about her voice. Something irresistible. Something beautiful. There’s no way I can refuse. Not when this will help my friends. I think of Rahn. He’ll be an even better leader when he’s Enhanced. And my brother, Three—he’d be even faster at thinking and making radios. And Rahn’s nephew and niece—they’d be even stronger and faster. Not that Corin needs to be any stronger or faster; he’s strong and fast enough already. But Esther could be.

  They all need to be.

  They don’t know the danger they’re in, the evil that’s controlling them. I clench my fists, trying to block out the way the room is moving around me. I squint.

  “Will you lead us to them?” the woman asks again. “We’ll be able to save them sooner if you’re able to help us.”

  Don’t ever lead the Enhanced toward the village, no matter how scared you are. Sacrifice yourself.

  But I’m not scared, and this isn’t a sacrifice. This will help them. Rahn doesn’t know what he’s missing. None of them do. I have to help them. I have to show them. They’ll be thanking me in the end.

  “Yes,” I say. “I will lead them to you. We will civilize them. It is for their own good.”

  And that’s when the first gunshot goes off.

  “Give Shania to me!” Raleigh appears in the room in an instant. His face floats for a few seconds. But then I see his body, joined to his head, and it makes me feel strange. “We need to get her out. Her system won’t handle sudden stress yet.”

  Another gun goes off. My body freezes, and I drop my teddy. I’m passed from Rosemary to Raleigh.

  “Come on, Shania. Walk,” he barks at me, his hands on my shoulders, pushing my body in front of his. “Rosemary, get some teams out there. We’re under attack.”

  Then Rosemary’s gone. She left her cake behind, as if it wasn’t the most amazing food in the world. I can still smell the soft spiciness and taste the sweet tanginess of the honey.

  Under attack. I rub at my arm. The skin feels strange, tiny raised bumps. Under attack…the Untamed? They’re here… They can’t be…they wouldn’t come for me now, after so long…and I don’t need to be rescued, they don’t understand.

  As Raleigh leads me out into the corridor, I try to look around. Try to see something. But it’s just the corridor. The normal corridor. There’s no one there. No Enhanced, and no Untamed.

  “Come on, you need to be faster.” Raleigh pushes at me. He’s speeding up, behind me, his feet catching mine.

  I stumble forward, my legs aching. I turn again, but all I see is Raleigh. I feel exposed, vulnerable. The flimsy gown I’m wearing isn’t enough. It’s too revealing, too….

  Nearby, someone shrieks. Shards of icy sleet burrow into my skin.

  Raleigh’s hands get harder around my waist, squeezing me slightly. “Turn left.” He steers me into another corridor, and I feel him falter for a few seconds, then we continue again.

  Another gunshot. But it’s farther away. Raleigh curses.

  “Hurry up. It’s that way.”

  Right. We turn right. And then right again. My legs ache too much, my feet hurt. I slow down, unable to—

  I see the fight.

  It is horrible.

  It is violence.

  It is evil.

  Six people, no seven—all wearing dark glasses—wave guns about. They’re shouting, and, as I look at the nearest man, I think—

  “That way!” Raleigh shouts, pushing me forward. I catch a glimpse of him pulling a radio from his belt, as he turns. He shouts into it as another bullet fires.

  Figures fall. More screams. A body flies across the room. Blood sprays everywhere.

  The Untamed are ruthless.

  My eyes widen. Nausea rises. It’s horrible.

  I need more Calmness.

  My feet test the floor behind me. I step back and press myself against the wall. Raleigh’s to my left, and I watch as he throws something at the dark figures. A flash of white burns my eyes. I scream, turning away. My hands slap against my face.

  “Shania, move, that way!”

  Raleigh’s right; I need to get out of here. There’s too much blood. It is wrong. I turn, and I sprint away. My lungs burn, trying to stop me. My legs are wobbly, too wobbly, and I can’t stop shaking. Can’t see properly. Need more augmenters.

  My feet pound against the white floor, sounding like a countdown to my death. I’ve always wondered what my death would look like…and, for a split second, I see myself lying on the cold tiles, my skin lusterless, lifeless. I shake my head, jerking my body as I force one foot in front of the other, as fast as I can. I push my head up. Adrenaline rushes to my head.

  “Keep going! Get out of here!”

  Raleigh’s voice pulls me back slightly. I hesitate, my fingers lingering on the white walls. Someone screams behind me.

  I keep running. Ahead, there are two smaller doors and a thick, heavy wooden box against the wall. A cupboard. A glowing cupboard.

  It is straight ahead of me. It’s glowing, like it’s lit from within. It looks perfect. I didn’t think I could get any faster, but suddenly I am, and it’s like the cupboard’s also moving toward me. My fingers tease the handle, but then I can’t stand it. I pull open the door, savoring this moment. The jewels spread out before me. Thousands of them; thousands of beautiful colors, teasing me with their sparkling, flirtatious glances.

  Walk away, Seven.

  I reach out and pluck out the brightest yellow one. I don’t know what it is, but that doesn’t matter. It’s an augmenter. Made to be good, a delicious chemical that will help me. In my hands, it feels beautiful. It is the most precious thing in the world.

  I unscrew the lid. I smell the liquid, letting the honey and beauty and love fill my nostrils, my head, my mind. Saliva pools under my tongue. My teeth taste stale.

  Bringing the vial to my lips, I tease myself with the faintest of tastes. I shut my eyes, breathing deeply. Faintness and darkness wash over me. I’m sure I’m falling, but I know the rows of augmenters haven’t moved. They’re smiling at me. Congratulating me.

 
I take a gulp of the sweet liquid, feeling the wonderful way it beads on my tongue, how it slips down my throat, how it—

  How it’s gone.

  Knocked clean from my hand.

  Glass shatters. My ears cry.

  I scream. My eyes spring open. Light darts toward me, as I turn away from the man—the horrible man—in front of me. Doesn’t he know what he’s done? I drop to the floor, my bare shins hitting the glass-laced tiles heavily. A whimpering sound escapes my lips. The liquid’s running away from me.

  “No,” I cry, the sound drawing out, on and on and on and on.

  My fingers dabble at the beautiful liquid. Shards of glass stick into my skin, but I don’t care. It’s not significant; nothing is…just the augmenters.

  I get a bit on my finger—it’s all gloopy, and I’m licking my finger, hyperventilating and delirious—when a hand clamps around my wrist. The person’s fingers are strong and firm. My hand’s yanked down.

  “Get off!” I cry, but my voice is weak with the effects of the last augmenter. I try to force my hand to my mouth, but I can’t. I lunge forward, reaching for more with my other hand, but the man stops me again. I cry out.

  “Sev, stop it! Come on.” His voice is dark and dangerous.

  Dangerous. He is dangerous. He has not been saved yet. He needs to be saved. The evil’s still inside him. He’ll hurt me. I need to save him quickly, before he hurts me.

  I look up into Corin’s warm face. His dark glasses have gone. His eyes are Untamed. Fire leaps through my veins, my blood’s alight. I will save him. I have to save him, then we can save everyone.

  “Seven!” He shakes me. He has a gun in his hand. It’s a semi-automatic 17C Glock pistol, and it’s pointing at me.

  I choke, my throat burning. I look up at him, and all I can think is how he looks a lot older than his twenty years. His skin is lined, coated in grime that covers his peeling sunburn and light scars. But we could sort that out, if he became one of the Enhanced, if I saved him. I can see him now: beautiful skin that longs to be touched, eyes that dance and exhilarate me until I want to—