“Have you found the boy?” Lettie asked. She was at her desk, studying something on the screen in front of her. Ayn knew there was no point in evading that truth. “Yes, but you need to give me some time alone with him.” “I’m afraid I can’t do that,” Lettie said. “The Black Suits will…
Category Archives: Teenagers
“Ayn, you’ve seen the vid that’s now circulating about the Terrestrials and your father? Good,” she continued when Ayn nodded. “What he may not have told you was that the vid has generated death threats against your father.” “What?” Ayn leaned back against the door, looking at her dad, who was busy looking at the…
“Rather ugly words coming from the mouth of such a beautiful young woman.” Ayn turned at the sound of Father Gheraeld’s deep voice. She watched him walk through the other Counsel members, who made way for him wordlessly, until he was standing in front of she and Lettie. On the other side of the door,…
Ayn’s question was unanswered when the office door glided open. “Dad,” she said, yanking herself away from Lettie. “Will you please tell her to leave me alone?” She moved towards him, but his frown stopped her. “Why didn’t you tell me?” he said. His voice was flat, as flat as the look in his eyes.…
It was obvious as soon as the Counsel began arriving that everyone was on edge about something. They stood in the living room, not even bothering to sit, drinking cocktails and eating finger food, their conversation a buzz of topics Ayn mostly didn’t understand until Professor Chirwnoff said, “That’s right, the mine’s been closed now…
“Why?” she said, her voice shaking with disbelief. “Because of his ‘associates’? Why not take them in? Why do this to Nev?” Her dad stared at her, wordless, shaking his head. Zoe whimpered and went to him, resting her head on his lap. He stroked her back, and ruffled the fur between her ears, then…
Her dad pulled the chair from her desk and turned it to face the room. He sat, and indicated with a hand for her to do the same as she walked in the room. Ayn waited for the door to close behind her before sitting on the edge of her bed. Zoe sat at her…
A Black Suit was outside the door of Ayn’s last class. She stood frozen with anger in the doorway, her classmates asking what was going on behind her, until the Black Suit took her arm and pulled her out of the way. Ayn yanked her arm away, annoyed that she couldn’t at least walk herself…
The Black Suit waited at the door of the solar craft as she got in, as if he were afraid she would run off. She wished she were brave enough to do that. But she was too afraid of disappointing her dad. Part of what Lettie said was true, he was working on something that…
“What an unusual place to sleep,” Lettie said from across the room. Zoe jumped from the sofa to stand in front of Ayn, hackles raised. “It’s okay, girl,” Ayn soothed stroking the beastie’s back. If I had hackles, she thought, they’d be just like Zoe’s right now. She stared at the iron-haired woman. Impeccably dressed,…
