Resistance (The Institute Series Book 2) Read Online Free Page A

forest, surrounded by these people who were meant to be my family and friends, I realised I truly knew nothing about any of them.
    “Is there anyone who hasn’t lied to me?” I asked no one in particular.
    “It was too risky to tell you, Lia,” Aunt Kenna said. “I’m not Kenna to the Institute. They only know me as Kandice Randall. They don’t know I’m your aunt, they don’t know I’m Defective. I’ve been working for them for years and they’re none the wiser about my true identity. I couldn’t risk exposing myself.”
    Ebb suddenly appeared at my other side. She didn’t walk over to me, it was like she blinked and was suddenly there. I stared at her, wide eyed. “I can teleport,” she said nonchalantly, wrapping her arm around me.
    With each new reveal, it was like a wire in my tiny, naïve brain short-circuited. I furrowed my brows in confusion and pain.
    “I know how you’re feeling. I felt the same when Chad approached me to join them,” Ebb said, like it was meant to reassure me.
    “I—”
    “I’m really sorry, Allira. You need to make a decision,” Paxton cut in.
    “What happens if I say no?”
    “You won’t remember this ever happened,” Paxton replied.
    “How?”
    Paxton gestured to my mother.
    “I tamper with memories,” she simply stated.
    “What if I don’t want to forget? If what you’re offering me is real, I want it. I want it more than almost anything. Almost. But Shilah’s safety comes first.”
    Chad asked for a moment alone.
    “Two minutes,” Paxton said, gesturing for the others to leave us.
    Chad took Ebb’s spot next to me. “I wanted to tell you.”
    I didn’t respond. I didn’t know how to.
    “Come with me.”
    “Just like that? Leave and don’t worry about the consequences? You’re not scared about what will happen to Tate with you gone?”
    “He told me to leave. He also told me to drag you with me – kicking and screaming.” He took a piece of paper out of his pocket. “This is from him.”
    I was hesitant at first, but reluctantly reached for it. Placing it on my lap, I stared at it, willing myself to build the courage to open it. It didn’t come. “I want to. I want to go with you, be with you… and my family,” I added, suddenly aware of the words that were falling out of my mouth.
    “Then come with me,” he repeated. He reached over and tucked my hair behind my ear. With that one simple gesture, I was so close to saying yes.
    “Get Shilah out, and I will,” I whispered as a lump formed in my throat.
    That was it. I’d made up my mind.
    After that, there was little discussion. The others came back and I stated what I wanted. Paxton reluctantly agreed to leave my memory intact, assigned Chad as my handler, and I was home and tucked up in bed at my Institute house just before sunrise.
     
    ***
     
    As creepy as it is – knowing I have Chad watching me a lot of the day – it also gives me slight comfort that if I ever need him, he’s there. He’s made it pretty clear that he isn’t exactly pleased that I’m still connected to the Institute and to my ex-boyfriend, Drew.
    My head really begins to pound from where I hit the pavement during our scuffle earlier. Chad and I are silent as tension fills the air, not looking at one another. He’s fidgeting, and I’m standing unnaturally still. It has been pretty awkward between us lately. More so than usual. Chad and I have always had a bit of an odd friendship. We went from practically despising each other, to tolerating each other for the sake of our mutual relationship with Tate, to almost kissing during a training session one day, to what we are now… which I don’t exactly know what that is.
    “Maybe we should just stick to business talk tonight,” I say as I sit down next to him, leaning up against the tree. “I don’t know where they’re going to take the investigation from here. Licia’s gone and she’s untraceable, but they don’t know that. They know she’s left, but I