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Chapter 224 - Michael's Turn

Juliet

To make things play out so it would only be Michael and me would be a little bit trickier… I couldn't help the smile playing on my mouth as I closed my eyes and thought about him. All our encounters and history played out in my mind in a story. I would have to go back even further, though; I couldn't have met Marcus yet. I missed Chris so much, and thinking it would be more years before I saw any of them again made me a teary mess. Sammy—I would maybe see during Chris's timeline in ten years. "Are you sure you have to do this?" Caleb asked. "You'll catch up to Chris… The fifteen years he was gone."

I nodded. It wasn't entirely the same situation. I had one of them—Chris was all alone with no hope… My story with Marcus had turned out so beautifully in its own way. However, it left me wondering how it would be without all the compound rules and regulations or free from the persecution we all felt for so long. I wouldn't even recognize Michael without all his tattoos and muscles, not that it mattered; it would be as natural as breathing.

I thought about the first day I met Marcus. The room took me back, and I opened my eyes in the bookstore. Soren had shooed me away when Marcus came in. Last time, I ran to get out of the way; this time, I ambled and turned to watch them. I wanted to look at Marcus one last time before I knew… I wouldn't for another ten years. The last time, I didn't plan on when I would leave, but I figured ten minutes was not too bad in the greater scheme of things. I stood frozen, watching the two men talk for a while. Marcus had taken a book, and his head lifted. He paused, seeing Soren's gaze on me and looked my way. Our eyes met; I almost couldn't do it—not tell him everything and leave him to his own devices. My heart was beating so fast, and my breath quickened as I thought about him getting married or visiting more brothels. I glanced from Soren to Marcus and remembered how my life really turned out. I wanted to remember Soren the way he was before he met me. "Juliet. Are you okay? Do I need to call—"

I cut Soren off before he could say something stupid, "Yes, please." Marcus looked at me as if I was crazy. And I was. What was I doing, wasting my time figuring out which person would make it all work out perfectly? Marcus's head tilted when I couldn't move. The two men were so different. The one with all the appearance of goodness. I caused it. I had pushed Soren beyond endurance. Both of them. I adverted my gaze and looked at the couch and the open space across the other. The two offending chairs. I chuckled—two chairs changed my life. Marcus came over to lay claim to his couch— I moved quickly, sitting down across from him. I would take the few minutes I had. Marcus moved around the space, making coffee and picking up his book off the table where he tossed it. I read the title and smiled. Oh, how my heart ached. It broke into a million pieces, and no matter what I did, I wanted all of them for as long as I could. I thought about adding one timeline and wondered if I could get it to work, but how? How do you get Marcus to let go of his jealousy? Neither I nor he could do it.

I had my book open and peeked over the rim a few times. "You know your book is the wrong way around." I laughed. Of course, I knew. But I had minutes. My shoulders shook as the sorrow overtook me. I wanted to go back and be in his arms on En-gannim. Although our relationship wasn't very deep, being alone bombarded with secrets, we had grown closer in a way I don't think we ever would've in my real life. I closed my eyes when the door opened. I felt the hand on my shoulders and looked up at my dad. "Oh, Daddy!" I burst out crying, flinging myself in his arms. The one constant in my life was that man. I'd not seen him since I left him on Earth, "I'm so sorry!"

"Are you hurt? What happened… Did you do something?"

"Me!? No! She's been weird ever since I came in," Marcus tried to defend himself. I pushed my father away before they could become friends. I took his wrist and pulled him out the door. "Soren, get me another slot." I was not spending four years there without reading. I only hoped Marcus would leave me alone.

On the drive home, my father tried to talk to me. I couldn't remember how a thirteen-year-old Juliet would sound. My tears at least subsided. I wouldn't have a trampoline or visits from Marcus. Once at the house, I focused on Michael. He was there even if I couldn't see him. I wondered if he would even fall for me… There would be no catalyst if I were stuck in the compound… I couldn't waste four years. I ran to my room, changing my mind. I closed my room door and stood in front of the mirror to try my manifestation. It worked. I bit my bottom lip and wondered if it was a good time for me to test it and change my plans completely. "Mom."

The door slowly opened, "Julie!"

I could at least indulge them. For my parents, it was my first manifestation. "Liam! Juliet manifested." My dad came running. I laughed at his eagerness.

"That's what was wrong at the bookstore." I nodded. "You'll see it's not so bad."

"No," I turned to the mirror. "I think—"

"What is it?"

"Dad… Do you have any family on Earth?"

Liam shared a glance with my mom. Cindy wouldn't interfere or tell me anything; it was his decision. I waited, hoping he would open up. The sooner we could leave—the sooner I could be in Canada. My dad's eyes were on the ground, thinking. "I do… have a brother. Why the sudden questions?"

"I saw the registry in your room."

My dad nodded, "Would've shown you eventually."

"Yeah, sorry I snooped."

"It's okay… It's so boring here—the smallest thing to you probably feels like an adventure."

"Daddy," Liam's eyes came up, still one hand and shoulder leaning on the doorframe of my room. "If there was a way for us to get to Uncle Samuel—" my dad wanted to speak, "Without anyone knowing! We would disappear and walk out… Would you take the chance?" My mom observed me, and her eyes went to Liam's. "Will they come for us? Or I don't know, is there no way we can get exiled without… having to deal with Qadir."

"Juliet… how do you know so much?" I used my ability and disappeared in front of them. They both took a step forward, feeling the air. I came back, and my dad dragged me into his arms, "How, when?"

"Everything happened today."

"How do you have so much control? It takes years."

"I would only take months… Dad, there is another thing I know of."

"Juliet, what could you possibly know?"

"I heard you and Mom talking about the brandings."

I covered my ear, knowing and remembering what it was like being thirteen. Liam laughed, "Fine… So what, you don't think there is one guy in this place who could help us."

"No… I know there isn't, and I don't think it would work anyway… Because it will cause too many complications… You want to do something that—"

"Will bring down a rain of fire upon us."

"Yes… Do you want to walk out with me?"

"Or else, you'll leave alone… Julie, you're only thirteen."

"Almost fourteen… and then fifteen, and then what? An auction because what the hell else are we going to do here." My dad bobbed his head. "You've been here for so long. What is the worst that can happen? I'm sure if we stay with Uncle Sam—"

Liam chortled, "You don't even know my brother, and he's already a favorite."

"He's your brother," my dad bumped my nose in response.

"How will we get out? No car. I don't even know where Sam is… We haven't spoken in two hundred years."

I smiled, "Yes, but I'm sure he knows more than you think. If he is out there… There must be a reason."

"Yes, there is, but—"

"The guy in the bookstore was Marcus Ahmed."

"Qadir's son… How—"

"I overheard him and Soren talk."

"Juliet… Have you been going out with your ability… It's too dangerous."

"No, I haven't… But if we stay, I probably will."

My dad bumped my nose again, "Okay, go on."

"He runs the barracks outside, doesn't he. He is the general of the army."

"Should we go sit down outside?" my mom asked, "I'm getting tired of standing."

My dad led us outside. Before they even sat down, I said, "If you start feeding a third person—"

"They will know about you."

"Right now… I think everyone has forgotten about you."

Liam couldn't sit still. His mind was working out the kinks. "So what does Marcus have to do with it?"

"Well, we get in his car, and they drive us out the gates. Once we are outside… we steal the car."

My mom laughed, "Julie, what have you been doing?"

"I want to leave! I would go right now into the gorge and walk out to the nearest town and call my uncle. That's how desperate I am. It's only going to get worse."

I looked at my mom for help. "It's not my choice." I sighed; my mom was still in compound mode.

"I can't figure out how we will find him."

I couldn't tell them Michael would probably tell Sam, and he would do something… "I can find out… with my ability."

"Go into… are you insane?"

"That's new… I thought I was overbearing, manipulating, and selfish… but insane? I'll add it to my list."

"What are you talking about?"

"Nothing… Ramblings of a book a read… Come on dad… I can do this… It's better than waiting for a guy who might never come. A situation that would make us a target for the rest of our lives."

Liam walked a circle around the fire pit, "We already know where Marcus is."

"Yes! Let me go. I'll be careful, I promise… or… is it still about taking over?"

My dad abruptly stopped his pacing and pointed a finger at me. I scoffed and turned my face away. "You know too much. You were lying. You've already been there. Figured out everything."

"No… the walls are thin," my dad's finger dropped, "You raised me this way for only one reason… Did you think I would never start asking questions?"

My mom laughed, "We thought you might when you reached fifty."

"I am, unfortunately, my father's daughter, not my mommies." I reached out a hand. She was, in her own way, the model of all En-gannim could be. I was the odd one out. My father and his brother.

"Okay, fine. Do it… If you can find out where Samuel lives or how to get in touch with him… We can discuss it again."

I got up and ran into the house and got dressed in clothes more appropriate for the occasion. I reached for a pair of scissors and cut my hair a little shorter—not too much—just the sheer amount was too heavy. I would've done it anyway. My mom watched and followed me with round eyes but didn't say one thing. I tied my hair and turned in a circle. "I'm a little scared of the new you..." she said.

"Don't be. What is the worst that could happen?" My mom didn't want to say. "Don't you want to leave?" She nodded. I ran past them and opened the front door. "Wait up for me." I checked my watch, "Give me three hours." I disappeared and ran. I couldn't come out and tell Michael everything off the bat—our relationship and life had to happen as naturally as I could manage. The only thing that could go wrong is if he were sitting next to someone who would see. I knew he was in contact with Kubra, so that was where I was headed—the bookstore. Then follow the one guy who could lead me to a screen, leave his phone unattended, or I didn't know what; I would figure it out as I went along.

Marcus was luckily still on the couch. I went in with Soren, lifting the tarp, and plopped down next to my first husband, "Phew!" At least I could watch Marcus a little. See what he was doing. I wondered how long he would avoid going home. Another half hour passed before he shifted, and his gaze traveled to the table. My book was still there. "Oh shoot."

Marcus sat forward and picked it up. "What is this?" he asked Soren.

The boy came around and stood in the doorway, "A novel."

"That girl was barely a teenager... Why would she… You know what I don't want to know." He tossed it back on the table. Marcus got up and handed his book to Soren. There was no friendship. Marcus was still in compound mode like my mom. I followed closely, and when Kubra got out to open the door for Marcus, I jumped into the driver's side and sat on the passenger seat. The moment was weird and uncomfortable—I was going to confuse and manipulate the people I cared about most. 

We drove to Qadir's house and took the lane with no trees yet—the scene left a dreary prospect. The unpainted wooden gates stood open. Inside, there were no plants, no pool or deck. It was as barren as Marcus's life was before he met me. I followed them, and Kubra went to his own room. I waited till Marcus opened his door and followed him in. Our rooms were not linked, and his had no books, only a bathroom out into the mountain where Marcus got into a boring shower. I turned and had to take a breath after seeing him naked. I was not there to stalk Marcus. Both were going to be busy for a while, so I went to his study, rummaged, and didn't care how I left the place. Found nothing. I checked Kubra's room and found not one personal item or anything to tell me what I needed to know… His house wouldn't yield any results; Marcus knew nothing back then. Where was Kubra recording Marcus's feed to? The tunnels? Would he go there at the end of the day?

A few moments later, Kubra came out dressed a little bit less military. Guess I would get lucky. I followed him, and he went straight into Qadir's home and stepped through the house towards where Fahan had taken me down into the tunnels. He unfortunately closed the door on me. I had to wait and tried to open it slowly. I stepped through and disappeared, hearing Kubra's footsteps hurriedly coming back up the stairs. He heard the noise and saw the door half open. Kubra was so alert. I waited until he finished his examination of who could possibly have come through the door. He ruffled his hair, and we took the stairs down together. Luckily, there were no more barriers. We didn't move through the tunnels; his little office was right there.

Michael was probably in high fidgets about what I was doing. Kubra dumped the files and sent them to a tube. What they needed it for beat me. If it wasn't for all those rolls, nothing terrible would ever have happened. Kubra picked up his phone and swiveled his chair. There was a packet of cigarettes on the table. I ducked down and pulled it off the table. Kubra spun his chair around, hearing the crinkle of paper. I was already gone. His eyes flickered to the table. He pushed his chair forward and looked everywhere, patting the desk down like a maniac. I giggled. Kubra checked the floor and every pocket. "If there is one thing you would not be able to do without is a packet of cigarettes."

The dumping was taking longer than he would like. He was contemplating going and coming back. "Yes, leave… So I can search your phone." Kubra got up and went into a slow jog out of the room. I grabbed his phone before it locked—scrolled his contacts, and checked if he would have Samuels's name. It was there. I scribbled it down. Took a cigarette out of the packet and lit it. I disappeared again and went back up the way we came, waiting for him to fling open the door and snuck out. Easy peasy.

***

Michael

Juliet was insane. What the f— was she doing? F—ing hell, I never had such a crazy, nerve-racking day sitting behind that screen. I phoned Kubra repeatedly after she went through his phone, looking out over the floor filled with thousands of small cubicles. The Watchers's hub was a warehouse consisting of many floors packed with men staring at screens. Each one had a cot next to his desk for when their wards decided it was bedtime… And so we didn't go insane; we got some time off during the day. All we had to do was check what we missed and report if anything ever happened. With Juliet, nothing ever did. The most exciting thing she did was the reading room. Her sessions with Soren only started a year ago, and every time she went, I was freaking out. Liam was also insane for allowing her to stay there unattended. I wished I could've given him a piece of my mind.

When Marcus walked through the tarp earlier, I had to stand up. Soren's watcher was across from me. His eyes also came up, and we both made some nervous gestures. Juliet's reaction upon seeing Marcus was so strange. I wanted to shake her awake—make her sit down. But she just stood there staring. The fact that—

Kubra picked up, "Hey."

"Hi… You seen your feed today?"

"Busy." Kubra was moving around on the other end. I knew he smelled the smoke. I smiled, thinking Juliet had actually had a cigarette. Manifested and had an ability. She got her father to let his almost fourteen-year-old daughter run around unattended.

"What's going on?"

"I don't know… feels like I'm being followed."

"You? I doubt that."

"NO! Really… Maybe Marcus and I need a break again."

Happy Juliet was off his trail, I said, "Sure, I can set that up."

"Who is the girl, and why the hell is she in a reading room?"

"Mine."

"Oh, is that why you're calling… Don't think Marcus will talk."

I didn't even think about that, "Yes… I kinda want to ask for a favor."

"You want me to cut it?"

"If you would be so kind… Usually, there is no one there."

"Me… Have nothing else to do… May I ask?"

"Uhmm… I'm sure you will find out eventually."

"Okay, won't ask… How is Sam doing?"

"Great… just great…"

"Things going to get heated on my end?"

"Maybe… We will talk when the time comes."

"Okay," Kubra cut the call. He wasn't a very friendly guy.

I reached over to Soren's Watcher—he placed two tubes in my hand—they would be replacements for both of them. In exchange, he gave me the actual feed of that day I needed to get rid of and pushed them into my pocket, sitting back but checking my watch. I gave Juliet half an hour to make it back home—if she was running. I was fidgeting more than usual. "I took out my phone and sent Samuel a message. I'd been waiting the whole day, figuring out what the hell I would tell him.

Me { We have a problem }

Sam { What? Is it Liam? }

Me { Juliet… She manifested. Has an ability, and they are going to steal a car and make their way to you }

I could only imagine what was going on over there. The call came through a moment later.

Sam [ Michael… If this is some kinda joke ]

Me [ No joke. She can actually f—ing, ] I leaned down and whispered into the phone, [ disappear ]

Sam [ No!? ]

Me [ Yes, and it was all her idea… Wait for their call. They want to make it before they order their next feed ]

Sam [ Get lost for a while… Okay, we need to plan this properly… I have to go—too much to do ]

Me [ Wait! What about me? ]

Sam [ I… Well, you think of something, and I will… Let's talk as soon as they leave the house ]

My first thought was I would also have to disappear or I'll get a bullet to the head. Or I would have to lie and later get a bullet to the head. Juliet was definitely not thinking about me when she was walking around doing stupid s—.

I sat forward when her feed appeared on screen; I picked up the headset and pushed it over my ears. I had switched the rest of the night to live feed; it would not be recording for a few days. Juliet was in the shadows, resting back against the wall and knocking on a window. Liam came into view, flinging back the curtain. Cindy was pacing in the background. "Yes, I feel exactly the same." Liam almost dragged his daughter through the window and caught her in an embrace. "Okay, Dad, I'm fine. It was a piece of Cake." How did she know all she knew? I never saw her going through the registry or her father's files. I was doubting my abilities. How could I have missed anything? Was I getting sloppy? And I never heard Liam and Cindy talking about the brandings where she could hear them. Maybe my equipment was failing… I paused… My equipment was failing… Would it work? I opened a log book on the table. How long has it been? Two years… Yes, it could work.

Juliet gave Liam the paper. He scanned it, "Juliet, how in the world did you do it?"

"I… followed the plan."

I smiled. She knew just what to say to put her father at ease—too clever for her own good. "Can you at least leave the rest to me?" Liam squeezed her shoulders.

She nodded, "I'm hungry."

Cindy took her into the kitchen. I used those few moments to run upstairs to Bertram's office. The man was almost always there till the late hours of the day. I knocked and handed him a form I had quickly filled in. I had already walked back towards the door when he asked, "Michael, how long?"

"Just now. Came immediately."

"Good." I left, not wanting to miss anything.

Over the thirteen years I've watched her, I grew a little attached to their small world. The first nine were excruciating; I almost begged Sam to let me go. However, the immediate bullet to the head for deserting your post was a large factor in keeping my mouth shut and in my chair every day. The money we received was kept in controlled accounts—another incentive. All the men who went to En-gannim and came back changed their tunes drastically, knowing what was at stake. And so did I. Juliet wasn't only a job anymore. 

After Juliet ate, she called it a night and went to her room. I only had a few minutes to get ready and make it to my cot before she closed her eyes, and I did the same. My mind worried, wondered, and couldn't quiet down. I had been to En-gannim four years ago to get connected to Juliet. Luckily, the upgrading was done at the French embassy. Didn't really want to meet with Raas again, but it couldn't be helped. Half an hour later, I checked my watch—looked at the screen, and wondered what she was doing. I got up and scanned the floor; a lot of the men were already sleeping; some were waiting patiently for their compliant's to go to sleep. The name was given to the thousands who did everything they were told and had no idea they were being watched. One guy was tossing a ball up in the air—repeatedly. Another scribbling onto a pad, probably doodling. I pulled the headset over my ears and listened. I smiled. Juliet was singing one of my favorite songs. I sat and lifted my feet onto the desk. It seemed the excitement of the day was keeping my ward up.