Free Shymers by Jen Naumann Page B

remains stiff in my arms for a moment before bringing her arms around me and squeezing lightly. “I said I’d see you tomorrow!” She pulls away, laughing.
    “I know. I just wanted you to know how much I appreciate your kindness today when I really needed it. Thank you.”
    She shifts her weight, uncomfortable with my words, and looks to Harrison for help that he won’t give. “Yeah, well, I guess part of knowing your DOD is that you know you’ll see me another day, right?”
    “I have yet to find out my DOD,” I remind her with a small shake of my head. “Could be tomorrow, for all we know, right?” I force a laugh that catches in my throat.
    “ I wil l see you tomorrow,” she promises. “They wouldn’t have bothered to bring you to the orphanage if your time was that close.” She takes one final, almost pitying look at me before turning around to leave.
    Guilt engulfs me when I watch her walk away. I should tell her the truth. I may have the Shymer mark, but somehow I have been registered by the government as a Future. Is it a mistake? Has my DOD changed, like Kai and Bree said it could sometimes do?
    I am so wrapped up in my thoughts I almost jump out of my skin when a hand yanks at my arm. I whirl around to find Harrison. “This way,” he says, motioning to where the soldiers stand.
    My steps are hurried in an effort to keep up with Harrison’s long strides. As we near the soldiers, my heart thrums in my chest. What if something unusual shows up on my registration and they say something? I wouldn’t want Bree to find out from Harrison that I had lied to her.
    Following Harrison’s lead, I stand before the two soldiers. The shorter one produces the same scanning device as before to check each of our eyes before giving a quick nod of his head, excusing us. I close my eyes momentarily, relieved.
    Harrison clasps his fingers around my arm, leading me off in yet another direction. We follow a narrow path behind one of the tall buildings. The space is tight and crowded, forcing me to walk closer to Harrison than I intend. This side of Society is deserted, and the path formidable, like there is something lurking in it, waiting for us.
    “We have fifteen minutes from when the shuttle arrives to when we have to report to the orphanage,” Harrison says. He won’t look at me. “It isn’t good to hang around.”
    “How long have you been in the orphanage?” I ask.
    “Two years,” he answers, still holding my arm. My skin feels like it will ignite into flames where his fingers rest against it.
    “I’m sorry about your family.” Almost immediately after the words cross my lips, I wish I could take them back. I bite down on my lip, waiting for his reaction.
    He glares down on me with dark eyes. “Why would you be sorry? What di d yo u have to do with it?”
    I stop walking, breaking his hold on my arm. Now I know that saying something so personal was a terrible idea. I feel like I’ll never understand what I can and can’t say in this new world. “I…I didn’t mean…” I stammer.
    I only wanted to let him know how terrible I feel for him. Why should it make him angry? As much as he seems to hate me, I am still drawn to him. Earlier in the day I thought I had seen the same interest reflected in his eyes, but maybe I was wrong. His eyes refuse to soften as they burn into me. I remind myself that living your whole life knowing your family will die on the same day had probably been like a horrible nightmare that didn’t end until that day finally came.  
    Then again, what if he isn’t upset with me? What if he’ s jealou s that I don’t yet know my DOD an d jealou s of the life I once lived in the Free Lands with my parents?
    “You don’t know anything about me,” he says coldly. “You don’t want to, either. My DOD is coming soon, so I’m not worth getting to know.”
    I nearly cry out. His statement is ridiculous. “You’r e wron g !” I snap, trying to narrow my eyes in the same