“Yeah,” says Nick, filling the silence, “she isn’t gonna do that.”
“Yeah, he’s right, I’m really not.”
The leader’s face contorts. “She will not have a choice. It is her destiny.”
I groan. “If I do destroy the world, I’m destroying that word first.”
“Ashe doesn’t like people telling her what to do,” Nick articulates.
“Yeah, I really don’t.”
The leader’s eyes narrow. “What does he see in you?” he asks.
“Is he talking about me?” Nick asks. “Because I have this really long list. I’m quite happy to share. I could try my hand at putting it to poetry, if you like? Let’s see. A is for amazing, which she clearly is–”
I snort with laughter, wondering how I can be shackled to the floor, imprisoned, in pain, exhausted, and still be happier than I’ve been in weeks.
I’ve missed this.
“I wasn’t talking about you!” the leader snaps. The radio on his belt buzzes.
“They’re here, boss.”
“Perfect timing! Send him down.”
The door opens again, and down comes the Director, flanked by two armed guards. My stomach drops at the sight of him, and he smiles to see me shackled, prostrated and humbled. His smile is so like the leader’s.
“Ramses!” he says, opening his arms. The two men come forward to embrace one another. “You look well. It’s been too long.”
“It’s good to see you again, Ozy.”
Ozy? In all my years, I’d never heard anyone call the Director anything other than 'Sir' or 'the Director.; It seemed implausible that he should have any kind of name at all, least of all Ozy. He doesn’t seem that impressed by it either; his brow crinkles.
“I haven’t heard that name in a while,” he says stiffly.
“Sorry, Ozymandias. Is that what your subordinates call you?”
“Generally speaking, they call me sir. You, of course, are the exception.”
They must be brothers. The similarities in the way they speak and look, their familiarity with one another. That makes sense, that would explain the connection between the two organisations, their weaponry, their ability to contain me.
“Well, I would hope so,” he chuckles. His demeanour shifts. “You’ve brought me the manacles?”
“As requested.”
A guard brings forward a briefcase and opens it. Two shiny new manacles rest inside. My insides groan. Not those again.
“Excellent. Fasten them on, boys. No time like the present.”
The guards come towards me. I struggle against my chains –more out of habit than any desperate hope I can actually escape– but there’s no give at all. The guards still balk slightly.
“Carry on,” Ramses instructs. “She’s perfectly secure. She’s not going anywhere.”
Is the plan honestly to keep me here? Why is the Director content with that? It seems unlikely. The manacles can’t contain me, and they won’t be able to keep me chained up forever. I’ll find a way to escape here much faster than I escaped the Institute.
The Director says nothing, but watches on as the manacles are fixed in place. “Good fit?” he asks.
“Hmm, a bit snug, actually.”
He smiles, and then his gaze falls on Nick. “Who’s this?”
“Some boy we picked up with her.”
“A chimera? I don’t think I recognise him.”
“Doubtful.”
The Director creeps over towards him and crouches down by his side. He pulls up Nick’s blooded jacket, making him wince. I rattle in my chains. The Director presses the wound. The sound of Nick’s moans make me jolt involuntarily.
“Not a chimera,” he deduces. “Just a human. Why don’t you just dispose of him?”
“Don’t–” I yell, struggling against my restraints. “Please. I won’t struggle. I’ll do what you ask. Just don’t hurt him.”
“Interesting,” says the Director, standing back up again. “I knew you’d developed a taste for humanity, but it’s still strange to see you care about them. Looks like the boy has a use after all, Ramses. He’ll be useful for controlling her.”
He crosses over the room towards me. “Do you mean that, Eve? You’ll do what we ask? Because we might have some fairly large requests.”
I swallow, unable to look at Nick. I’m going back to the Institute, aren’t I? I’m going to be forced to do things, horrible things. And I won’t have a choice, because the alternative is losing Nick. Again.
I will do anything to avoid that.
“Anything,” I whisper.
The Director’s expression is difficult to read, but he looks like he might be disappointed. “Thinking with your heart again. Dangerous.”
“Better to think with my heart occasionally than not have one at all,” I spit.
This, at least, raises a wry smile from him.
“You should move her,” he tells Ramses. “We brought a tank with us. She’ll be easier to transport that way.”
Ramses claps his hands. “Excellent! I really am most grateful for the help you’re providing, Ozy. It’s great to see our interests aligned again, after all this time.”
“Quite,” he replies, looking perturbed about the slip of the nickname again. “Let’s get her up then. I doubt she’ll struggle much if we’ve got a gun pointed at this one’s head, but I have reinforcements upstairs if we need them.”
Reinforcements? Adam? Other chimeras?
At the same time, I think about our own reinforcements. Has word reached base yet? What is Gabe’s plan? If I were Gabe, or… if he were in this position…
I would have had Lili radio for back-up, have one person wait to direct them. The other two would scout ahead and observe the facility, seeing if it would be possible to attack alone. That would have happened by now, if it could happen at all. We must be heavily outnumbered.
But Gabe will be outside. He will be close by. If I can just get free…
The guards unchain me from the floor and yank me to my feet. My wrists are still shackled and bound. My legs, at least, are free. I could take out both of them this way. I could use the chain as a weapon. But Ramses has Nick in his grip, a gun pointed at his head. I can’t risk it.
We start to ascend the staircase, emerging in a huge, open space. Somehow, the cathedral looks bigger from the inside. Part of the ceiling has come through, spilling sunshine into the aisle. Carpets of flowers grow over the flagstones, trees and roots tumble into the space. It doesn’t look right next to the boxes of weapons and explosives.
Dozens of members of the cult stand nearby or in small groups, observing with hushed voices. Guards stand at the sides. Small camps suggest they’ve been here for a while, hiding in the wilderness. It was only the shipment that was new.
Standing at the centre, ready to receive me, are Adam and Eva. She doesn’t even seem to notice me at first. Her eyes are touching the skies, bright and searching. This is the first time she has been outside the Institute, really outside.
“Great to see you again, Eve,” Adam smiles. “Loving the accessories.”
I grit my teeth. “Adam.”
“Hi, Eve!” says Eva, with genuine chirpiness. “Why are you all chained up?”
“Been misbehaving again. It’s a habit of mine.”
“Oh…” She doesn’t seem to know what to say about that.
This is the first time I’ve spoken to her since I found out she was my genetic daughter. It may be my imagination, but now I can’t help but see Ben in her. A younger, sillier, less innocent version of my real, true, actual child… although the two are unlikely to be related.
“No time for chit-chat,” Ramses snaps, appearing at my elbow. Nick is dragging behind him, the muzzle now shoved against his back. “Come on!”
Something flickers above, as brief and small as the flap of a bird’s wings. I glance upwards, quickly, carefully, trying not to draw attention to it.
Xaph is hiding behind a pillar
, perched on a tiny beam. Oh no, did he follow us here, rather than get help–
Before I can panic, or lose all hope entirely, I feel another presence.
Gabe, Gabe is here.
We have never been able to share words, but in this moment, I don’t need them. I know what he wants. I need to stall.
“Where are you taking me?” I ask, pulling back against the guards.
“To somewhere easier to contain you. Come on!”
I catch Nick’s eyes, and something in my own expression must register with him. “Can we… can we slow down? My side is really hurting…”
“Enough!” Ramses drags him forward, but Nick trips deliberately and sprawls out on the floor. “Idiot boy!” Ramses hisses, leaning over him. He lacks the strength to drag him up himself. He gestures to one of the guards.
A smoke grenade flies through the door, followed by another. A small explosion erupts at the entrance. Pews go flying. A guard cries out. I spot Nick in the gloom, crawling away to the side, and don’t waste another second. My chains wrap around my sole guard’s neck. He thrashes outwards, and I direct him towards Ramses, knocking him to the floor. I choke out the guard and toss him out of the way, wrenching then weapon from his grip. The smoke begins to dissipate. Bullets are firing, left and right. Adam and Eva have bolted, and I can’t see the Director either. Are they protecting him?
I turn the rifle towards Ramses as he struggles to his feet, but I don’t have time to fire. He makes a short, sharp, gurgling sound, and his mouth dribbles blood. He falls back down with a knife in his back.
The Director pulls out the blade. “I’m sorry, my brother,” he sighs.
I stare at him for far longer than I mean to. “How… he… he was your brother.”
“He was a fool,” he sneers. “And remember, Eve. The blood of the brotherhood is thicker than the water of the womb.”
Before I can think of a suitable reply, Adam dives out of the smoke and knocks into my middle. I wrap my legs around him and flip him over, smacking him once in the face and darting away before he can kick me.
“Why–must–you–always–fight?” he curses, swiping at me.
I swipe back, just as viciously. “Why must you always do as you’re told?” I smack him squarely in the jaw, sending him reeling. “Seriously, have you ever asked yourself –really asked yourself– why you ally with them? Does it make you happy?”
It seems to take him off-guard, just for a moment. “Happiness is irrelevant–”
“Yeah, yeah, blah, blah. That’s a robot’s answer. That’s why you’ll never be the best, Adam. It’s because you don’t think.”
“And you do?” he laughs. “I’ve seen the world out there– you honestly think it’s worth saving?”
“I think it’s worth experiencing.”
Eva comes streaming out of the chaos, her hands bright with flames. I grab one of them instinctively with my own and snuff it out. Huh. I didn’t think that would work with the manacles still attached. Neither, apparently, did Eva.
“You’ve been practising,” she says coyly.
“I have.”
She drops her hand away, rolls across the floor, and punches me squarely in the back. “So have I.”
My back smarts, but I won’t deny the faintest, slightest sense of pride I feel. I square up between the both of them. This will not be an easy fight. I am still weighed down by chains. I could handle either alone, but both together?
Eva summons her flames again, and charges towards me. Adam lunges. I duck out of range, but Eva fires a succession of fireballs after me. All I can do is deflect and run. I could probably outrun them, but–
Where’s Nick?
I can’t stop to search for him. If I pause, even for a minute, I’m dead. Adam and Eva are not holding back. They’re relentless.
The hail of bullets has ceased. A dozen dead guards litter the flagstones. In the corners of this great room, unarmed cultists lie cowering, praying to be overlooked. I see Bullet at the far end, fighting with a member still standing.
Seconds after I feel his presence, Gabe comes soaring through the air towards me.
“Need a hand?”
“Can you take on Adam?”
“And leave you with your fiery progeny? If you’re sure.”
Eva and Adam stop their assault, reconsidering. Gabe and I don’t give them long to think. Gabe immediately bolts towards his opponent, narrowly missing him.
Adam grins, and I wonder if I’ve made the wrong choice. I never asked Gabe if he was ever able to best him.
“You always wanted to fight me for her, didn’t you?” Adam sneers.
“It won’t be much of a fight.”
“Winner gets to claim her?”
“See, Adam, that’s why she hates you. You never could understand that you can’t claim people.”
I try to ignore them, focusing my attention on Eva. She strikes with increasing intensity, her punches much stronger than I remember. Her balance is impeccable. She really is improving. If I wasn’t almost immune to her flames, I would have been defeated already.
I’m running out of energy, but she keeps coming. I can barely get at her to strike. Then, just when I’m almost run down, a glint appears in her eyes. They dart to the side. She throws up her arms, summoning a huge burst of fire, and sends it hurtling over my head–
Towards Nick, slouched against the wall.
The world slides into slow motion. I race ahead of her flames, watching as they fall out of reach, my own hands desperately extending as though I hope to claw them back.
Only, somehow, I do. Her flames swallow my arms and pour through me. I breathe fire. It rises to the ceiling, surrounds me, protects me. My very veins are filled with flames.
I swallow them, forcing them down into my very fingertips.
Eva is horrified. “But… your manacles!”
“What? These things? These are just accessories.”
I have no idea why they’re not working, or how I am able to overcome them, but I don’t want to question it. I advance towards her. Every fireball she spits out is a mere spark. I take it as my own, extinguishing each in turn.
“Stop… stop!” she begs.
“Then surrender.”
“I… I can’t. I won’t!”
She sounds like me. She won’t stop. She won’t stop until I make her, and I’m running out of ideas for how to do that peacefully. I reach her side, grab her still-struggling form, and wrap her in my chains. I hold a flame to her face.
“Adam!” I yell. “Stop fighting!”
Adam ceases his assault on Gabe, just for a moment.
“Make another move, and I burn her.”
Adam halts, but still edges towards me. “She’s tough. She’ll heal.”
I swallow, already despising myself for the words I have not yet uttered. “Not if I burn her eyes.”
Adam’s jaw tightens. “You wouldn’t…. not after… not to her.”
“I will do it. To escape from this place, to protect the ones I love, I will do it.”
“You wouldn’t. You can’t.” His voice catches, like fabric snagging on a wire. “She’s… she’s your daughter.”
Eva stiffens in my arms, and I can tell this is news to her. I’m sorry. I’m sorry you had to find out this way.
“Genes don’t make a family,” I whisper. “But the question you should ask is… is she yours?”
The fear on Adam’s face is palpable, his face as pale as I have ever seen it. “Yes.” His voice is hoarse. “She is.”
Gabe’s arms fasten around his neck. Adam retaliates, driving him back against the wall. I keep my grip tight on Eva as she struggles against me, wrestling to help him.
“Touching,” Gabe whispers, as his fingers slide to Adam’s nerves. “Maybe hold onto that thought the next time you threaten my family.”
Adam crumples to the floor, and Eva soon follows him. I don’t know how long they’ll be out, but I watch her lying there, my stomach tightening
into knots. “I wouldn’t have hurt you,” I whisper pointlessly. “I would never have hurt you.”
The battle is over. The smoke is clearing. Xaph drops down from the ceiling, scurrying over to Bullet and Lili, who are tying up any survivors. They look unscathed, which is more than I can say for The Chosen. There are so many dead...
In the corner of the room, sitting on an abandoned pew, the Director starts to clap. “Excellent stuff, Eve. Truly good work.”
I wheel back to Gabe. “Get Nick outside.”
“But–” they both start at once.
“Out! I need… I need to have a few words with the Director alone.”
Gabe glares at me. “I don’t like this.”
“You don’t have to like it. But you do need to listen. Please.” I touch his arm, but he jerks away. Does he know? Does he know what happened between me and Nick? Or is he just guessing at this point?
“Fine,” he snips, yanking Nick somewhat roughly off the ground. He groans. Gabe stops. “You can feel again,” he says.
“Yes, quite a lot actually, and it’s rather inconvenient, I must admit.”
“Inconvenient?” Gabe must be thinking the same as me. Inconvenient doesn’t really cover it.
“Yes, very inconvenient. So if we could stop talking about it and just get out, that’d be great.”
Gabe stares at him.
“He’s joking, mostly,” I rush.
“How would you know?”
“I’m hopeful.”
Gabe looks at me, a shaft of his feeling cutting into my chest. He’s upset, disappointed, worried… and he has every right to be.
What have I done? What am I going to do?
I try to raise my eyes to his. “Later,” I say.
He can only nod in reply, swinging Nick’s arm over his shoulder. Bullet and the others follow them out.
I turn back towards the Director.
“Your manacles were faulty,” I tell him. “That doesn’t seem likely to be an accident.”
His smile widens.
“I had no intention of taking you back today. I just had to get you out of my brother’s hands. I don’t think you’re ready, not quite yet.”
“Ready for what?”
“To lead us, Eve.”
His words crackle in the air between us, electric, whirring.
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