The Other Half by Sarah Snyder (novels for teenagers txt) 📕

“I’m trying to understand. You are part of The Alignment then?”

“Yes, and please try to be a little more open dear. You Nimbrians are always so stiff.”

“I’ll try.” I looked down at my shoes. There was a bit of dirt on them. That would have gotten me an infraction in Nimbria…maybe she’s right. I might need to loosen up after all, but can I trust them?

Chapter 4

We arrived at The Alignment base three hours later;  I was surprised when everyone seemed to know exactly who I was. People would stop and stare at me, whispering to their friends.

“Leona,” I whispered, “Why are they all staring?”

“Most of them have never seen a Nimbrian hun, and those who have, don’t associate Nimbrians with good memories,” She said while putting her am around me, as if to protect me. Although, it didn’t look like any of them had intentions to hurt me. They just looked at me in awe. I tried to ignore the stares as we kept walking through the base halls.

The base was amazing. The people here took pride in being a part of The Alignment by helping to make the base an enjoyable place to live. There were quirky, colorful decorations everywhere, lighting up the cement walls. There were obviously no windows in the base but they somehow captured the essence of sunlight, illuminating the base with a new type of lightbulb they had invented. At the end of the hall was a room acting as their city hall. The leader of The Alignment was sitting inside waiting.

“Hello Miss Frade,” She smiled and shook my hand, “I’m Katarina Cage.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“The pleasure is all mine. I suppose you don’t know why you’re here, correct?”

“Yes ma’am,” I nodded.

“Let me fill you in. After Nimbria kicked us out, we built our base here. Both the Nimbrians and the U.S. are unaware of our position here, but they will soon find out. The genetic engineers in Nimbria are on the verge of creating a kind of . . . monster. You were on your way to help to control the project.”

“M-me?”

“Yes. After you arrived at the genetic laboratory, you were going to be sent to a secret laboratory in the U.S. There, you would’ve helped discover how to make a successful serum to finish ‘the monster.’ We want you to help us destroy the serum.”

“D-destroy the serum. . . why should I trust you. I was told not to trust anyone.”

“It is your choice, but you will not be going back to Nimbria. We have told you too much.”

“What would happen if I did help to destroy the serum?” Betray Nimbria? How could I?

“After the serum is destroyed, we plan to take down Nimbria. They plan on genetically altering everyone in the country and we won’t allow it.”

“Genetically altering everyone? Why?”

“They want complete control of the citizens. Any sign of rebellion must be destroyed. That’s why we were thrown out of Nimbria. . . because we had a mind of our own.”

“What will I do about my quest? I was supposed to find my pair. . . and if I fail, they will kill me.” I wipe the tears from my eyes. I’ve made up my mind. I trust no one. Not Nimbria. Not The Alignment. No one.

“You have to make a choice. Join us to help destroy Nimbria, or let them take control. If you refuse, Nimbria will use that monster to threaten the citizens, and once the entire country is genetically altered, we would have no chance of winning a war against the Nimbrian drones. Either way, people will die.”

“I’ll join you.”

Chapter 5

The next day I started physical training for our upcoming trip to the U.S. I had to learn hand-to-hand combat along with how to shoot a gun. I was pretty good with the gun but I was one of the poorest in the group regarding hand-to-hand combat. I’m short and I’ve had no experience with fighting, as it would give you an infraction in Nimbria.

“Katherine, follow me please,” Oh great. I get to go get one on one lessons with the instructor. He took me to a back room in the gym and handed me two five pound weights, “Get lifting Frade.”

“Uh sir, I’ve never really--”

“Just lift. Let’s go. We need to get you back out there and you need to start winning some fights.” I started lifting . . . and didn’t stop until an hour later, “Alright, that’s enough of that. Follow me.” Oh no. He’s going to have me run?! “Alright Frade. Give me two miles in less than twenty minutes and you’re done for the day.” He patted me on the back and sat down, “Close your mouth and get going girl.”  So I did.

“M-mr. Keegan, I’m finished,” I panted, shutting off the treadmill.

“Time?”

“Eighteen minutes flat.”

“Good, good. Well you’re free then. Training tomorrow begins at eight a.m. Don’t be late.”

I trudged back to my room, feeling my muscles burn with every step. I didn’t bother to change my clothes and fell asleep right away.

I woke up the next morning feeling well rested and full of energy. I looked at the time and went to take a shower. It’s already nine-- wait. Training! I quickly changed and grabbed my stuff, sprinting to the training room. I could feel every muscle in my body burn as i ran through the halls. I got to the training room . . . and it was empty. “Hello? Mr. Keegan?” I called as I walked through the room.

“Everyone went home Frade,” He was sitting in the back of the room with his arms crossed, staring me down, “You were supposed to be here an hour ago.”

“I know sir. I just woke up a little bit ago. I forgot to set an alarm last night.”

“Forgot to set an alarm? That’s your excuse? You’re going to run a mile for every five minutes you were late. That’s twelve miles Frade. I suggest you get started.” Twelve miles?! He must be joking. Well he’s still staring at me, so I guess not. I got on the treadmill and started running, “You better be done in less than three hours. I’ll be waiting in the weight room.”

I finished my twelve miles in two and a half hours. I may have paused the treadmill a couple times but Mr. Keegan doesn’t need to know that. I gathered up my stuff and started walking to the weight room. “Ew is that all sweat?” I turned around and saw The tall boy from The Alliance van. He had brown hair and eyes as blue as the sky.

“Does it matter?” I rolled my eyes, “Who are you anyway?”

“I’m Cade Pell. Nice to meet you too,” he laughed.

“Well Cade, next time you meet someone, try not to make fun of them,” I glared at him and he put his hands up laughing.

“Hey, hey. I was just asking. I admire a girl who works hard.”

“I had to run because I was late. Do you admire that?”

“No need to get snappy, I like sleep too. It’s alright, it happens to everyone. You’ll get better getting up.”

“Then why was Mr. Keegan so angry with me?”

“He’s just giving you a hard time Kat.” I’ve hardly met him and he’s already given me a nickname. Who does he think he is?

“My name is Katherine,” I turned on my heel and walked out of the room.

“Okay, well I’ll see you around Katherine,” he called.

Chapter 6

Three weeks later, I was told to report to the training room at eight p.m. and tell no one. I was on my way when I heard him jogging after me.

“What do you want Cade?”

“To know where you’re going.” “Sorry Cade, I really wish I could tell you but sadly, I can’t. Oh darn,” I shrugged and he looked puzzled, “I hope you can sense my sarcasm.”

“No, no I can. I’m just surprised that you, serious as you are, tried to be funny,” he smirked and I punched him playfully, “You’re going to the training room aren’t you?”

“H--How. Cade how did you know?”

“I’m going too. I think it’s about the trip to the U.S.”

“Do you think they’re cancelling it?”

“Kat, they’ve been working towards destroying Nimbria for fifty years. There is no way they’ll cancel the trip.”

* * *

“You’re canceling the trip?!” Both of us yelled.

“Children please--”

“We’re both sixteen,” I spat.

“Oh a bit stubborn, are we?” Ms. Cage smirked. Cade stepped in front of me and crossed his arms.

“Kat has a reason to be upset. We’ve been training for this for three weeks.”

“We aren’t ready Mr. Pell. We cannot--”

“What do you mean we aren’t ready?” Cade shouted throwing his arms in the air.

“Cade calm--” he grabbed my shoulders and looked me right in the eye.

“Don’t try to tell me to calm down. You know we’re ready Kat. You know how hard we’ve been training.”

“Cade if she doesn’t think we’re ready--”

“No Kat, what are you saying? What happened to the strong, stubborn Kat that was just demanding to know why the trip was canceled?” He’s right. We’ve worked to hard to back down now. I turned back to Ms. Cage.

“We’re going to the U.S. whether or not it’s authorized.”

“See it’s funny Miss. Frade, I don’t remember putting you in charge of this mission. Can you tell me who did?”

“I did,” I smiled and walked out of the room. Cade came laughing behind me.

“Kat you should’ve seen her face when you left! She didn’t know what to do,” He was laughing so hard his face was bright red.

“Cade it’s not really that funny.”

“No you don’t understand. No one has ever talked back to the almighty Katarina Cage,” He put air quotes when he said her name, “She really didn’t know what to do. You stunned her.”

“Great.