Page 42 of Captured Immune

By the way Katie talks about this place, it sounds like a well-functioning establishment—not a place that houses kidnapping criminals.

I finish the bite I’m eating, then say, “So, this is just a job to you? Like, you’re getting paid for this?”

“Yes, technically this is a job. Just like anyone else, I get paychecks, and I have days off where I’ll go see my family and stuff. But to me, working for ZIRDA is much more than that. I want to build a career here. When I’m old and retired, I want people to say my name and think,Wow. She saved a lot of lives.”

How can Katie talk about saving lives when I feel like mine is at risk? “What does ZIRDA stand for?”

“Zordinary Innovations Research and Development Agency. We began as an organization who designs and improves inventions that progress the lives of Zordis. For example, our agents are the ones who created the z-net, which is an Internet that only Zordis can access. It was also our agents who invented z-ink, which is the ink our kind uses to print books that only our eyes can see. Over the decades, ZIRDA has become more than just inventors. Now we also work to fight off the Royals, who are the biggest organized Zordi crime group in history.”

I take a sip of water and ask the question that’s been on my mind since this morning. “What’s Trey’s role here?”

“Field agent.”

That’s not the answer I was looking for, so I try again. “What’s his mission?”

“I’m not sure exactly. Agents aren’t allowed to speak in detail about our missions with each other, but it’s only right to assume that his mission is to get you to give Victor what he wants.”

A little piece of my heart breaks as I flashback to meeting Trey on the side of a busy highway. It’s hitting me now that maybe my flat tire wasn’t an accident. I choke back some tears and say, “I’m going to assume that Trey’s mission is to figure out how I’m immune to your people’s powers, but what happens after that?”

“I’d assume that ZIRDA will try to replicate your immunity so we can use it to take down the Royals.”

“What makes them so bad?”

“Everything. While most Zordis believe that living in peace with Ordinaries is optimal, the Royals believe that because Zordis have powers, we’re the superior humans. They think Zordis should be the ones running the show, and they hate that we are the ones who have to hide our true selves. Some Royals even go to the extreme and believe that all Ordinaries should be eradicated. They’ve gone as far as mass genocides and biochemical weapons that cause worldwide viruses killing off only Ordinaries. The Black Plague, the Spanish flu, SARS—all started by the Royals.”

I have no idea if she’s feeding me lies or not, but for now, I’ll assume she’s telling the truth. What reason does she have to lie about where the Black Plague came from? “And Ordinaries are...?”

“People like you.”

“Is that like muggles in Harry Potter? Non-magic folk?”

Katie scolds me. “Again, it’s not magic. It’s called gifts or powers.”

“How did you get them?”

“We’re born with ’em,” she says, like it’s common knowledge. “It’s passed down by genetics. Which reminds me, would you mind if I held your hand for a moment? I’m curious to see if my powers will work.”

I respond by holding my arm out to her with full confidence that she won’t hurt me.

After setting her half-eaten sandwich down and wiping her fingers off on a napkin, she takes my hand and closes her eyes. A few seconds later, she lets me go and picks up her sandwich.

“Did it work?” I ask.

“No. I can’t control when my body power works, anyway, but it’s safe to assume that no matter how hard I try, it won’t work.”

I don’t have a clue as to whatbody powermeans, and I don’t care to ask. My brain is too overloaded with all this information. Secret agents with magic powers fighting the bad guys who apparently caused the Black Plague? And they want to usemeand my strange immunity to their magic to defeat them?

I never signed up for this.

8

TREY

“Son,your mama and I wanted to make sure that you’d be safe and taken care of. That’s why everything we have is now yours, including a safe house by our secret rock.”My father’s words replay from the button-size device I found in my old teddy bear. I don’t know why I’m listening to this. I’ve played the recording so many times now that I have it memorized.

My mother’s voice comes next.“When you get to the rock, take a hundred steps away from Cheesy. There, you’ll find the safe house. You’re the only one who can get into it. Remember that Trackers can’t sense you once you’re inside and underground.”

No matter how many times I play this recording and scour the woods, I can’t find the safe house. Before, I searched for it out of curiosity. I wanted to see what my parents left behind for me. Now it’s the only way I can keep Arella safe. Ineedto find it.

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