“Then find me some better targets. I need stronger minds if I’m going to have any impact,” Hawkins responds, sounding bored. “Kids are too weak.”
“Without the Authority breathing down our necks, I’ll get you access to as many Primes as you want.”
Holy fuck. This is actually real. They’re talking about corrupting minds. Innocent minds. Kids.
Cross was right.
I had dismissed his concerns as paranoia. I told him Adrienne would never do that.
I was right, too. Adriennewouldn’tdo that.
But apparently Kallister would.
I suddenly feel sick. Gulping down waves of nausea. If Hawkins can both incite and corrupt, that makes him one of the most powerful Mods on the Continent. Maybethemost powerful.
I think about all those times I saw them training in the Temple. Chatting in the mess hall. I thought Kallister had taken Hawkins under his wing because he felt sorry for him. Meanwhile, he’d been scheming and colluding with him this whole time.
“…your head down until I handle this Adrienne situation.” Kallister’s voice cuts into my thoughts. “No more solo flights to the wards until it’s taken care of.”
The low thud of their footsteps approaches at the entrance and Kallister strides out of the cave. My heart leaps into my throat, but he doesn’t see me.
I watch his retreating figure, walking away. I wait for Hawkins to do the same, but when he emerges, he doesn’t head for the path. He moves in the other direction, continuing up the ridge.
Where the hell is he going?
Pulse racing, I wait a few seconds before easing away from the wall. I keep my distance, moving like a ghost as I ascend the narrow trail that leads up the bluff.
The path grows steeper, the rocks more jagged, but I use the rugged terrain to my advantage to tail Hawkins. Anger burns in my gut as I stew over what I heard. They’re using corruption against children. They’re planning on using it on every Prime they can find.
When Hawkins reaches the top, he stops to light a cigarette, and I seize the opportunity, moving in behind him to catch him off guard. I don’t have a weapon on me, but he’s unarmed and I’m confident I can knock a scrawny prickhole like Hawkins on his ass.
And if all else fails, incite.
“You’re a corrupter?” I demand.
He slowly turns, amusement on his face. “Didn’t your parents ever teach you that eavesdropping is bad manners?”
My parents were both traitors. I don’t think they were overly concerned about etiquette.
“You’re not going to deny it?” I say coldly.
Posture relaxed, Hawkins lifts the cigarette to his lips and inhales. “Why would I? You heard what you heard.”
“How long have you been working with Kallister?” I shake my head in disapproval, repulsed by them both.
I feel stupid for believing Hawkins just liked to take those planes out for a spin, to get off the base and “clear his head,” when all this time, he was flying to the wards and experimenting on Primes.
There I was, outraged that the Company was experimenting on us, and now I find out the Uprising is over here doing the same damn thing to them.
“Kallister got tired of having to rely on Adrienne for his corruption needs,” Hawkins says, chuckling.
I don’t return the laugh. “Adrienne doesn’t want to corrupt innocent minds.”
“No? Then what do you call the General’s wife? Was she not innocent?”
I falter. “Vinessa Redden was an unfortunate casualty.”
He sneers. “Adrienne corrupted her to try to weaken the General. She doesn’t have a moral leg to stand on. What I’m doing is no different. One mind or a thousand minds, what’s the difference if they’re innocent?”
