Jenetta Penner > Quotes

“Who needs a virus like the Collapse to exterminate the population when there's fundamental human nature and the desire for power?”
― Jenetta Penner, Actualized

“flicker?" He points to the screen and pauses the vid. "That's when they switched the footage." I stare at the screen. "How do I know you're not the ones lying?" "You saw it yourself on the street," Meyer says. I glance up from the pad and lock eyes with Meyer. "What else are they lying about?" Jayson chuckles. "Well… that's going to take longer than we have." "Here's one," Meyer says. "Remember that last viral outbreak that killed a bunch of Level Ones?" "3005B?" My heart races. That's the virus that ultimately killed Ben thirteen years ago. "That's it. The one they use in all the broadcasts to remind citizens how important it is to get your MedVac updates? It wasn't an accident." We were always told a virus swept through Level One because they hadn't gotten their updated VacTech yet. Hundreds of people died in the day it took to get everyone up to date. "My brother died because of that." Everything I've found out over the last week suddenly grips me with fear. This can't be real. My breath shortens, and suddenly my head starts slowly spinning. Everything goes blurry. Then black. ~~~ "It's all right, kid," a distant voice, which must be Jayson's, echoes in the back of my mind. The room swirls around me. Their faces blur in and out of focus. "Meyer, get her." Blinking a couple of times, I try to sit up. I guess I fell. Meyer's warm hands rest on the back of my neck, my head in his lap. "Don't stand. You could pass out again," he says. He helps me sit up. "Are you okay?" "No, I'm not okay," I mumble. "This is too much." I feel like I should be crying, but I'm not. The reality is that the anger I feel is so much greater than any sadness. Neither Meyer nor Jayson speak, and let me mull over what I've just heard. "Why did they do that?" I eventually ask. "Two reasons, kid," Jayson says. "To cull the Level Ones, and to scare Elore into taking the VacTech. If viral outbreaks are still a threat, no one questions it, and continues believing inside the perimeter is the safest place for them." "I'm sorry about your brother," Meyer says as he stands, offering me his hand. His words are genuine, filled with the emotions of someone who has also experienced loss. "I hate to end this," Jayson interrupts, "but it's time to go." Meyer eyes Jayson, and then me. "I understand if you're not ready, but you need to choose soon. Within the next few days." I take his hand and pull myself to my feet. Words catch somewhere between my heart and throat. The old me wants to tell them to get lost and to never bother me again. It's so risky. Then again, I can't stand by while Manning and Direction kill people to keep us in the dark. Joining is the right thing to do. Feelings I've never experienced before well inside my chest, and I long to shout, When do we start? Instead, I stuff them down and stare at the ground. Subtle pressure squeezes my hand, bringing me back to the present. I never let go of Meyer's hand. How long have we been like that? He releases my hand as he mutters and steps back. The heat from his touch still flickers on my skin. You didn't have to go. I clear my throat and turn toward Meyer. Our eyes lock. "I've already decided," I tell him. "I'll do it. For Ben. Direction caused his death, and there's no way I'm standing by and letting them do this to more people." I barely recognize my own voice as I ask, "What do I do?" A slap hits my back and I choke. Jayson. "Atta girl. Meyer and I knew you had it in you." "Jayson, you have to give Avlyn some time." Meyer steps toward me and holds his handheld in the air toward Jayson. "I'll bring her up to speed." "Sure thing." Jayson throws his hands in the air and walks to the other side of the room. "Sorry," Meyer murmurs. "Jayson is pretty… overwhelming. At least until you know him. Even then…" "Oh, it's fine." A white lie. "He's a nice guy. Now, why don't you tell me the instructions”
― Jenetta Penner, Configured

“Defiant thoughts roll around in my brain. Why is it that a few people get to decide how we should live? No one should die for the right to love. That kind of freedom is worth fighting for.”
― Jenetta Penner, Configured

“A lifetime of tired eyes and hungry bellies. A circular pattern. And then you die.”
― Jenetta Penner, Collapsed

“Avlyn, this world is both beautiful and broken." She closes her eyes, and her breathing slows. "Make more beautiful moments than broken ones.”
― Jenetta Penner, Configured

“Safety and security is not most important to everyone. People have a need for freedom. Happiness.”
― Jenetta Penner, Configured

“Meyer stops dancing and makes space between us. "You aren't getting it. I believe in freedom. If you thought yours was threatened, I needed to support you. If that meant coming out here and getting some breathing room, great. If it meant I'd need to help you disappear, then I'd do that too." He inhales deeply. "I've seen too many people I care about die, and I don't intend to waste time wondering how life could have been. Avlyn, I love you. I don't want to be without you."...Meyer shakes his head in amazement as I step closer to him and rise up on my toes to whisper in his ear. "I'm pretty sure I love you, too." The smile I see on Meyer's lips as I pull back is wider than I've ever seen it, and he leans in and gives me a gentle kiss. If only time would freeze right now...”
― Jenetta Penner, Immersed

“Do I have a choice?" I ask. "You always have a choice." He still holds my gaze.”
― Jenetta Penner, Immersed

“Then I tell them the story of how it wasn't Intelligence Potential or extraordinary abilities that changed the world. In the end, it was love that saved us all.”
― Jenetta Penner, Actualized

“That Aves was planned." "Planned?" I ask, my mind tumbling. "By who?" "The big guns, the politicians in charge. Had a goal to shape the world the way they saw fit. The worthy survived, unworthy died. The point is, more than one group, with unique ideas, created their viruses, unbeknownst to each other. After their release, the viruses merged and mutated, and from the looks of it, the whole problem spread like wildfire before it was nipped. But that all got buried. Everyone was moving on with surviving. A few leaders emerged with what they thought were the most plausible ideas, and cities were formed.”
― Jenetta Penner, Immersed

“So how is it that a girl who wanted to remain in the shadows somehow keeps thrusting herself into the light?”
― Jenetta Penner, Immersed

“I glance”
― Jenetta Penner, Configured

“My heart pounds in time with his. Not quite sure of what I'm doing, I rise up on my toes and guide his face toward mine. Not missing a beat, he grasps me tightly around my lower back. My lips brush his and electricity shoots through my middle. His warm, soft lips press into mine.”
― Jenetta Penner, Immersed