Enders(68)

That awful metallic voice came from Hyden—the Old Man’s voice. “I’m sorry, Callie. I wanted to tell you.”

“Oh, the creepy voice,” Trax said. “I really missed that.”

My skin felt like tiny bugs were crawling up my arms, my legs. “No,” I said, fighting the horror inside me. “You’re not him. He was taller. Bigger.”

“Use a little imagination, dear,” Trax said. “He had a full costume with special tricks. The coat, the gloves, lifts in his shoes … and with a wig and hat, he made a very believable Ender. I believed him until Brockman told me.”

This was insane. It had been Hyden all along. Not his father. Him.

“You never should have left me out to dry when Prime got busted, boss,” Trax said to Hyden. “I’d be stuck in jail like Tinnenbaum if your dad hadn’t gotten me out.”

“I found out you two were spying on me and reporting to him,” Hyden said, still with that electronic voice. “Why should I save a traitor?”

The mask glowed that eerie blue light as different faces cycled in random order. I reached out and ripped the mask off his face, breaking the strap. The mask tore at the edge.

I threw it on the ground. It still played a face from the residue of Hyden’s energy, but now flickering and dying like a confused chameleon. Finally, the face disappeared and only the blue pixels glowed.

“You lied to me,” I screamed. “The whole time!”

“Would you have listened to me if you knew the truth?” he asked. “Would you have let me protect you?”

I punched Hyden across the jaw so hard my fist throbbed. He didn’t even try to defend himself. I started to go at him, but Trax yanked me by the arms.

“How many lies have you got in you, Hyden? How could you?”

Trax pulled me back to the jeep. I was so focused on Hyden, I didn’t put up much of a fight. But before Trax could open the door, Michael leapt out from behind the jeep, surprising Trax by grabbing him from behind. Michael pulled us both backward, and Trax had to loosen his grip on me to fight off Michael, giving me my chance to get loose.

I twisted out of Trax’s hold and ran forward. I turned to see Michael holding Trax’s gun arm, and Trax resisting, aiming it wildly in the air, then at Hyden, even me. Hyden rushed to help, knocking away Trax’s gun with his own. It fell and spun on the ground. Trax tried to go for it, but Michael held him back.

Then Hyden pulled out his plexi-cuffs and Michael cuffed Trax’s wrists and ankles.

I watched and rubbed my arm, sore from Trax’s grip.

“Is it true Brockman didn’t know you came out here?” I asked.

Trax nodded.

“So you knew we were coming,” I said.

“I saw you on the grid,” he said. “That’s part of my job.”

“Why didn’t you tell anyone?” Michael asked.

“Because he had his own agenda,” Hyden said. “Revenge.”

Trax’s long white hair hung over his face. He shook it off. “I got what I wanted. Humiliated you in front of your girlfriend.”

“I’m not …” I couldn’t even repeat the word.

“He’s never cared about anyone the way he cares about you.” Trax looked to see if he’d gotten a reaction out of Hyden.

I kept my eyes on Trax during the awkward silence when no one wanted to speak.

“What do we do with him?” Michael asked.

“Leave him here.” Hyden patted down Trax, taking something metal from his pocket.

Michael pulled me aside, away from Hyden.

“What do we do now?” he asked in a low voice.

I rubbed my temples. The desert was playing tricks on me. The cacti seemed to be moving, vibrating.

“My father’s so close.”

“But can we trust Hyden?” Michael said. “Talk about a trap.”

Doubts crowded my brain. But I needed to make this work.

“You can trust me!” Hyden shouted.

I turned back and took a few steps closer. “Why?”

“Because one thing Trax said was true. About me and you.”

“It’s a trick.” Michael took my arm and pulled me away from Hyden. “You can’t listen to him.”

My stomach ached. What Michael said made sense. But we needed Hyden.

“If Hyden was leading us into a trap, I don’t think Trax would have come out the way he did. Trying to separate us. And Hyden never helped Trax, he fought against him.” I shook my head. “I don’t know. I can barely wrap my mind around this.”

I looked back at Hyden, standing there in the desert moonlight.

“All this time,” said Michael, “he was the one behind the mask. Think about that.”