Debra Driza - Mila 2.0 - Renegade

“I don’t know. Our last date at the carnival didn’t turn out so good.” It had been going well—up until I recalled torture inflicted at General Holland’s hands.

A devious grin crawled across his face. All of a sudden, he removed his arm from around my shoulder, closed his hand tightly around mine, and started jogging down the boardwalk toward the amusement park. I was able to keep up easily, could have outraced him, but all I wanted was to stay near him.

It seemed there were even fewer people now than when we first stepped out of the hotel. Only an occasional straggler. Hunter slowed down, glanced around, then walked past the entrance and continued on down the street, taking a turn down a dark path that seemed meant for special personnel.

“What are we doing?” I asked.

“Finishing our date from before.”

We stopped. I shifted my weight from foot to foot. “I’m not sure this is a good idea.”

“Just hold on.” He released his hold on me and began examining the wire fence in front of us. “Here,” he finally said. “I think we can get in here.”

“We’re going to break in?”

He shrugged.

“It’s illegal.”

“What’s the worst thing that could happen? They’ll kick us out. It’s not like we’re stealing, or damaging property.”

True. At least, that was the worst thing that could happen to him. He didn’t have my baggage with the law.

I chewed my lip. Even so, he had a point. If we were caught, surely they wouldn’t haul us in. But I didn’t know how far of a reach General Holland might have right now. Had he alerted authorities? Or had he hired some sketchy PI to track me down?

This seemed too risky. Until my sensors proved otherwise.

Search radius: 100 yards.

Human targets: Zero.

No threat detected.

Even so, I felt nervous.

“Look, if someone comes, you can tell them I coerced you.” Hunter bent down and intertwined his hands, providing me with a stepping place so he could vault me over the fence.

Never mind that I could most likely rip a hole through the fence with my bare hands.

“Brawk, brawk,” he teased. I let out easygoing laugh, but I could feel pinches of worry hitting me at the base of my neck. Still, I had to put my trust and faith in what my scans were telling me. Hunter and I were alone; no one would see us. With all the rides turned off, all we could do was walk around.

I owed him this silly and sweet romantic gesture.

More than that, I wanted it. For me.

I placed my foot on his hands, and he hoisted me up. I grabbed the fence and vaulted over, landing firmly on my feet. Then I watched in amazement as he scaled the taut web of metal and wires in the blink of an eye.

“Impressive,” I said.

“Used to go rock climbing with my dad.” He took my hand and began leading the way.

“Are you and your dad close?” I asked.

“Not so much anymore. But let’s not talk about him. This is a date. We’re supposed to talk about you. What’s your favorite ride?”

He was probably not going to believe that I had no idea because I’d never been on any rides, but as we passed the carousel, an image flashed through my mind—a wooden horse that was going up and down, small hands clutching the pole. The world spinning by, faster and faster.

Another errant pseudo memory. I was sure of it.

Only this time, recalling these thoughts caused the faux skin near my temples to burn and my vision to blur. When I tried to take a step forward, I stumbled and caught myself by latching on to Hunter.

Weird .

“You okay?” he asked.

“Yeah, sorry, just missed my step in the dark.”

He studied me for a moment. “You sure? We could head back if you wanted.”

I gazed into Hunter’s eyes and thought of how close we had been to kissing on our first date; how I had pulled away from him when those disturbing images of the first MILA being tortured had suddenly flashed before me.

How from there my life had crumbled to pieces.

But if I could just forget everything for a few hours—forget the reality of who I was and how I got here and what I’d lost along the way—maybe he and I would have a chance to make something out of whatever was happening between us. Even if it only lasted for a little while.

“Are you kidding me? We’re so doing this.”

“Yes! I knew you had it in you,” Hunter said, full of unabashed glee.

I smiled and took his hand, my sensors immediately recognizing his racing pulse. It seemed all too clear he was more excited about this adventure than I was.

“So you never answered my question,” he said, leading the way for us.

“Hmmm?”

“Your favorite ride.”

“Oh, right,” I said. “The carousel, I guess.”

Hunter gave me a funny look. “Seriously?”

“What’s wrong with that?”

He tapped his chin in faux concentration. “What isn’t wrong with it?”

My mouth fell open in mock dismay. “Take that back. The carousel is a classic.”

“Classic? How old are you? Forty?” he replied.

Um, more like a few months old. If we were using created-on dates. “You’re just jealous of my excellent taste in rides.”

“No. It’s just that I picture you on the front of a roller coaster, screaming your head off and laughing with your arms in the air.”

Something guarded inside of me gave way. I could see the image clearly, and I wanted it. I wanted to be that girl. Happy and free; excited about the unexpected. I wanted to see myself through Hunter’s eyes.

Acting on a whim, I leaned forward and wrapped my arms around him. His chin rested on my head, my cheek against his chest.

Subject’s heart rate: 92 bpm.

Inspiration levels: Elevated.

Hyperventilation unlikely.

“What was that for?” he whispered.

I glanced up at him, whispering the words in my head I wasn’t brave enough to voice. Because you make me feel alive. But ultimately, “Just because” was all I said aloud. His lips grazed my forehead. The contact was brief, but the warmth inside me lingered. “So, are you going to prove me right?”

“About what?”

He tipped his head in the direction of a gigantic roller coaster named the Blazing Inferno. The ten-foot sign for the ride was engulfed in flame-like streamers and the winding track was painted bright red.

“I would, but I don’t think we can run the roller coaster by ourselves,” I said.

“You happen to be looking at a trained professional.”

I raised a skeptical eyebrow. “You’re kidding me, right?”

“Nope. Back in California, I spent a whole summer working as a carnie.”

“You never mentioned that before.”

He took my hand and began pulling me along, his smile broadening. “So I have a few secrets.”

As we closed in on the ride, prickles of concern traveled up my arms. Starting up the roller coaster was going too far, wasn’t it? Were there silent alarms on these things? What if some security guard showed up and found us here trespassing? We’d be brought somewhere for questioning—and questions about who I was and where I came from were pretty unanswerable at this point.

“Hunter, this is crazy,” I said the moment we arrived at the Inferno’s entrance.

“We’re not going to get caught. Trust me.”

“It’s not that,” I lied.

God, I was getting so freakishly good at it.

He squinted at me curiously. “Would you rather go on another ride? The Ferris wheel would be easy. All I’d have to do is throw one lever, and we’d be up so high, we could see for miles.”

I had to admit, that sounded wonderful. So wonderful I was finding it hard to say no.

“Come on, it’ll be fun,” he pleaded.