Free ARC: Essence by Lisa Ann O'Kane Page B

bathe this morning.
    Rex smiled as Daniel reached for a cotton swab. “Daniel and I are the only people who will ever see your results, and we promise to keep everything between us. Now open up, and let’s see what your first swab has to say.”
     
    I couldn’t get out of that clinic fast enough. I understood why Rex’s tests were necessary, but that didn’t stop me from viewing my new wristband as a hidden camera or a secret thought recorder. Could it really track everything?
    My cheeks burned at the impure thoughts that had been swirling around my head the last few days: the way I’d been so affected by the sight of everyone’s mud-covered bodies on the Slip ’n Slide, the way I’d been flattered by Ryder and Javi’s attention.
    Would the wristband have been able to detect that ? And would Rex have known I had been having impure thoughts about his own son ?
    Without realizing it, I began tracing my fingers over my pendant necklace. Neutrality is the key to longevity, neutrality is the key to longevity, neutrality is the key to longevity …
    I remembered the Community’s counter-mantra – Abundance is the key to longevity – but the words felt wrong in my mouth. Abundance? What does that even mean?
    I was so preoccupied that I nearly bypassed the girl signaling to me from a nearby Jeep. Cody and Javi nodded and disappeared through the trees, and I approached the rusted vehicle to find a stranger waiting inside for me.
    “I’m Kadence,” the girl said, extending her hand. “I’m here to take you on your orientation tour.”
    She was short and curvy, with round eyes and a spray of wispy blonde hair. Her skin was luminous, and her lips were a perfect pale rose. Although I couldn’t put my finger on why, I decided I liked her right away.
    “What about Javi? Doesn’t he need to go on a tour, too?”
    “He’ll go on his own tour later this afternoon.” Kadence turned the ignition switch and patted the faded passenger seat. “Are you coming or not? This thing’s ancient; probably can’t get it moving again if we don’t go now.”
     
    As Kadence accelerated through the towering pine trees, I realized my first instinct about her had been right. She was funny. And unpretentious. And as she pointed out the Valley’s natural and manmade landmarks, I could tell how much she loved it here. That made me feel a little better, too.
    “It’s a pretty sweet setup,” she explained, pointing out a handful of trails that apparently led to waterfalls, lakes and hidden caves. “The Community really is a family, and we chip in equally to keep this place running.
    “Well, not exactly equally,” she amended. “Job assignments are based on seniority, but you can petition to get your job reviewed twice a year. So, if you don’t like your assigned job, you can always move on to something else.”
    She took a breath. “Our days are fairly organized. Six days a week, we wake up, eat breakfast, and then most of us have three to four hours of chores. Everyone breaks for lunch, and then we do Essence research for a few hours before nightfall. We meet again for dinner, and then we go about our business. The rest of the night is ours.”
    “Essence research?” There was that phrase again.
    Kadence smiled. “Don’t worry; it’s not nearly as scary as it sounds. Basically, we just have free time. We can spend it doing whatever we want – but whatever we choose needs to be something that will awaken our senses. Hiking, climbing, dancing… pretty much anything the Centrists would describe as ‘emotional’, because Rex thinks that’s critical to our rehabilitation. He also uses our readings to prove his theories.”
    I nodded. “Rex takes this whole thing really seriously, doesn’t he?”
    Kadence chuckled. “That’s an understatement. Rex used to be Cedar’s number two, so after everything that happened in the temple… I think Rex now realizes what a gifted manipulator Cedar is. He wants to save everyone else