by S. E. Meyer
There was another loud slap as Cornelius hit the top of the table again.
“The monkey thought it was all in good fun.”
'Whack!'
“Pop! Goes the weasel.”
The baby continued to cry in the background and Cornelius sported a wicked smile through nicotine-stained teeth.
“Tell me everything you know!” Cornelius demanded.
“I-I,” Anna stammered. “I don't know anything.”
Anna caught more movement on the floor and realized the snakes had companions. Hundreds of spiders crawled over top of the snakes.
Anna shook in her chair, the baby's piercing wails pounding her thoughts.
Cornelius raised his hand again and continued singing in a soft throaty gurgle.
“Half a pound of tuppenny rice.”
'Crack!'
Anna jolted.
“Half a pound of treacle.”
'Crack!'
“That's the way the money goes.”
'Crack!'
“Pop! Goes the weasel.”
Cornelius paused a moment. “Quite fitting, that old rhyme. I like it. I've added my own verse. Would you like to hear it?”
Anna trembled in the chair as Cornelius continued. “You're crazy!” she spat.
As she opened her mouth, a spider found its way between her lips.
“All around the city walls.”
His hand came down with another crack and Cornelius crept to within inches of Anna.
Anna gagged at the smell of his breath and the spider tickling the back of her throat.
“The Shepherd herds the sheeple.”
'Crack!'
“The Shepard thought it was all in good fun.” Cornelius stopped for a moment to spew a wet laugh that turned into a hoarse cough. He brought his hand down one more time in an ear-splitting smack.
“Pop! Goes the weasel.”
Cornelius disappeared, and Anna was once again left in darkness.
All the while the cries continued without cessation, and the spiders crawled over Anna's body.
Think good thoughts. Think good thoughts. I would rather die than think any harm towards the baby.
Anna continued to squirm in her chair, trying to fight her own mind. After several more hours, she lost the strength to continue and hunched over in defeat.
Dropping her shoulders and slacking her restraints, Anna cried out.
“Someone please put me out of my misery!”
Anna's eyebrows came together beneath a wrinkled brow. A thought popped in her head beyond her control. She couldn't help it. It was just suddenly there, in her mind, like someone had planted it.
Or someone should put that baby out of its misery!
Another gunshot thundered through the darkness, and then silence.
Shit! Shit! Damn it! I didn't mean it.
“Nooooo!” she sobbed.
No, no, no. I didn't do it. It‘s a coincidence. It has to be a coincidence.
Anna closed her eyes and wept, letting her bladder go.
When she opened them, Atticus was standing in front of her for the second time. He stared into Anna's eyes. “I love you!” he said.
“Help me. Oh please, help me Uncle Attie,” Anna begged.
Atticus held Anna's gaze.
“I love you,” he repeated, “Margaret.”
Margaret? Anna thought.
Anna closed her eyes again and this time when she opened them she found herself in a room with bright lights. She was strapped to a hospital bed.
Anna heard someone speak. It was a man's voice. “She's waking up.”
“We're almost there, just a few more minutes,” another male voice replied.
A man leaned over Anna and looked at her with bright green eyes. He had a scarred face, and only a few tufts of hair growing out above his ears. To Anna, it looked as though he had been burned, but it was the man's eyes that struck her the most. She couldn't quite place what she saw in them.
Caring? Empathy?
Anna and the scarred man locked gazes. She felt a strong connection with him. As though they were both looking out at each other from behind their own unique scar tissue; a mutual understanding of pain.
“Just another minute, I think we have it,” came the voice of the man that Anna couldn't see.
The green-eyed man injected Anna with a syringe. “No,” he said.
“I think she's had enough.”
CHAPTER 10
2 YEARS EARLIER
Damarion barged into the drawing room of Cornelius's mansion with the butler in tow. Cornelius spun around from his view of the city through the twelve by twelve antique windows at the far end of the room.
“Cornelius,” Damarion bellowed.
“I'm sorry sir, he forced his way in,” the butler apologized.
Cornelius waved his hand in reply. “It's of no matter. I know why he is here. It's fine.”
“Cornelius,” Damarion repeated. “What the hell is going on? You released my son and had William arrested?”
“Yes,” Cornelius replied,.
“You had no authority to do that. Richard is the one that threw Billy over. Richard is the one that must pay the penalty.”
“But there is no proof of that,” Cornelius replied.
“What do you mean?” Damarion asked with raised eyebrows. “We have every square inch of this city covered by video cameras that record every minute. If I find out you have tampered with the video, I will call for a full inquiry.”
“You speak above your station Damarion,” Cornelius replied. “You will sign the order.”
“Never,” Damarion declared.
“Let me show you something,” Cornelius squeaked. He turned the monitor screen on his desk around so Damarion could see the display. Cornelius wrapped a few keys and video played. “You see this? You accuse me of tampering with evidence and yet, there was no evidence to tamper with.”
Damarion watched the video feed of the section of wall where the incident occurred. The wall was empty for several minutes and then the sun began to set. A glare appeared from the sun's rays, and the video went blank.
“You see, Damarion?” Cornelius continued. “It just so happens that the cameras recording that particular section of wall are incapacitated for about an hour every day before sunset. I don‘t understand how it could have been missed, but apparently, we have one dead spot in our perimeter. One camera lens reflects off the other, and they both become useless.”
Damarion pressed his lips together in thought, forming his rebuttal.
Cornelius continued. “Don't you see what happened here? Richard knew what he was doing. He was able to get rid of that mutt of a boy with no evidence to convict him. He found the only place in the entire city he could pull it off. It was a brilliant plan.” Cornelius clapped his hands together and then pulled a cigarette from the silver case on his desk. “Your son obviously got all his genes from my daughter and my side of the family.”
“But there are witnesses!” Damarion argued.
“Hearsay. Your word against his.” Cornelius lit the cigarette between his wrinkled lips. “Damarion, I have to ask. Why are you so intent on sending your own son through the wall to die?”
Damarion let out a long breath. “I think mostly because he reminds me of you. He's too much like you. I love my son, damn it! But I will sign the order to send him through the wall. The law, is the law. If we don't have that Cornelius, what do we have?”
“I thought you might say that,” Cornelius replied after sucking in a long drag. He cocked an eyebrow. “When's the last time you saw your daughter?” he asked as thick tendrils of smoke trailed from his nose.
“Isabelle? What does she have to do with this?”
“Yes, Isabelle. The daughter you had right after my daughter died giving birth to Richard.” Cornelius frowned. “Seems she was born a few months premature?” he asked. Cornelius took another long drag of his cigarette. “More likely you were whoring around while your wife w
as pregnant and sick at home. She was the one that would take over the family business. She was perfect!” Cornelius snarled.
“I loved Candice, but she was as crazy as you are!” Damarion spat. “I'll ask you again Cornelius, what does this have to do with Isabelle?”
“I’ve taken her into custody.”
“Why? For what purpose?” Damarion asked through flushed cheeks. He clenched his fists and shifted his weight to the balls of his feet while awaiting an answer.
“Why do you think? She will be collateral. If you want her kept safe, you will sign the order to switch the banishment to William Wool. I've already sent it over.” Cornelius paused a moment to take another long puff and then smiled.
Damarion's eyes widened. “You son of a bitch!”
“Oh Damarion,” Cornelius cooed. “Did you really think I would allow my grandson to go through the gates? He has so much potential. After seeing this video I can tell he has more guts, and more of a brilliant mind, than I would have ever thought. And because of his planning, there is no proof. So no, William Wool will go through the gates at tomorrow mornings wall ceremony, and that's final.”
Richard walked into the room sporting a smug grin. “Good morning Grandpa,” he said and then looked at Damarion. “Father,” he added with a nod.
Cornelius walked around his desk to put an arm around Richard's neck. “Ah, my boy! You made it back. How was jail?” Cornelius croaked.
“Dreadful. I'm not cut out for it,” Richard replied, shaking his head. “I knew you would get me out of there.”
“Don't worry, you won't be going back,” Cornelius replied while maintaining eye contact with Damarion. “And really, it was the brilliance of your plan that got you out,” Cornelius explained.
Richard cocked his head. “What do you mean?”
“Oh, don't play coy. I was explaining to your father here how you planned the whole thing, and how you knew you would get away with it. Amazing how you found the only place around the entire perimeter of the wall, and at the right time, so you wouldn‘t get caught on camera.”
“Oh,” Richard replied, and then realized the opportunity to take credit for something Billy had done. He smiled. “Yes, well, covering your ass is something you taught me well, sir.”
Cornelius crushed his cigarette in the ashtray on his desk and then turned to face Richard.
“Richard. I have been considering this for some time now, but considering current events I have made my final decision.” Cornelius stared into Richards eyes. “I need someone with an iron will and tenacity to take over the business. I need someone that can control their conscience when needed and do what's necessary for our family, and for the businesses we run.”
“So a sociopath then, is what you mean,” Damarion growled.
Cornelius ignored him and rattled in a deep breath. “Richard, I have selected you as my heir. You will be preened, instructed and brought into the inner circle. I will teach you everything. You will be the next in a long line of the Cromwell dynasty!” Cornelius finished, his voice crackling with excitement.
Richard smiled. “Really? Me?” He paused for a moment in disbelief. “I won't disappoint you Grandfather.” Richard moved closer and hugged Cornelius, who tolerated the gesture without reciprocation. “Thank you, sir. So what will happen to William Wool then?”
Cornelius laughed. “They will send him through the wall in the morning.”
“Good!” Richard smiled again. “Billy's getting banished.” He turned to face Damarion. “I think that has a nice ring to it. Don't you, Father?”
“I think you're both fucking crazy,” Damarion shouted. “Must run in the family.” He pointed a finger at Cornelius. “Not one hair,” he said, shaking his arm vigorously. “Not one hair will be harmed on Isabelle's head, or I will make sure you pay, old man!” Damarion turned and left the room.
“Don't forget!” Cornelius called after him. “I'll be looking for that signed order.”
“She is to be released the minute I send it over,” Damarion yelled back from the hallway.
Cornelius turned to face Richard. “You see my boy? One perk of being a Cromwell. We always get what we want.”
CHAPTER 11
Anna's Present
Anna awoke to find herself in the same predicament as she was the last time she opened her eyes; strapped to a bed in the middle of a room. Except her captors had moved her. She was at one end of a furnished dining room, intact with a twelve foot long table and buffet. There was one chair pulled away from the table on Anna's end of the room, and there was a computer set up in front.
Is this real? Anna whispered.
“Yes,” a man's voice replied from her left.
Anna snapped her neck around to find the burned man with green eyes coming towards her.
“It's real. What you’ve been through is over now Anna. I am sorry to have had to put you through that.”
“Who are you?” Anna asked, although she already knew. She recognized his voice, but it was his eyes that grabbed her attention. She remembered them from the street, looking out from behind the same scarf, now hanging around his neck. “The Lone Wolf, I presume.”
“A lonewolf,” the man corrected her.
Anna pulled on her restraints.
“What, there's more of you?” she asked. The anger of being abducted flowed out of her with bitter sarcasm. “Like a collective or something?” Anna glared. “You're one of many lone wolves? Only not good enough to be the lonewolf? Well, that wouldn't make you a lone wolf at all. Would it? You would all be a pack of wolves. And why the hell am I strapped into this bed like a prisoner?”
Lonewolf smiled, stretching his scarred cheeks. “Anna. You've always had a way with words and speaking freely. It's one thing I most love about you. Your spirit.”
“You know nothing about me!” Anna scowled.
“The Lonewolf was the name given to me by Cornelius and the citizens of this city. I had nothing to do with that.”
“So who are you then, really?”
“I can't tell you that. The timing isn't right. Not yet.”
“So, why am I here?” Anna asked. She twisted her wrists and opened her palms. “Your prisoner.”
“You're lucky to be here with me. If I hadn't intercepted the message, and got to you in time, Cornelius would have grabbed you. If that had happened, you would be in the real Chamber right now. That would have been much worse than anything you've already experienced.”
Anna shook her head. “So the Chamber is real?” she asked.
“Yes. You've had a taste of it. What Cornelius does to people.”
Anna let out a long breath through her nose. “Well, great. Thanks for saving me and being so kind to only give me the watered-down version of the Chamber. Because, I mean, that was an awesome experience. I feel like one lucky girl right now.” Anna growled. “Are you going to let me go?”
Lonewolf moved closer to the computer and clicked several keys. “Look, I'll show you.” He turned around again to face her. “This is about your mother Anna. It always has been. She called me the day before she died. She said she had finally linked everything together. She wanted to meet with me and give me all the information in person.” Lonewolf lowered his head. “That was the last time I heard her voice.”
“So what does it have to do with me?”
“Because the wireless smart drive is biometric, Anna. It has a brainwave interlock. I figured out, after analyzing it, that your mother is the only one who could open it. You, being her daughter, are the closest thing we could come to matching that brainwave pattern. But to do so we had to hack in to Cornelius's database and download his chamber files. Then we had to build a replica of his chamber here. Cornelius records all the sessions. So we downloaded Margaret's session and then strapped you in the Chamber.”
Anna frowned as Lonewolf continued.
“Then we uploaded her session into yours. We were hoping it would recreate what happened to Margaret, in your mind. It wa
s the only way we could match her unique brainwave pattern and fool the drive in to thinking you were her.”
“What?” Anna asked. “That was something my mother endured?”
“Yes, that was Margaret's memory of the event. Or a small portion. Once again, I apologize for you having to go through that, but I'm sure it was much worse for her,” Lonewolf finished, shaking his head.
“So, what's on the drive? Did you open it?” Anna asked. Although tied to her bed, she was still keen on learning anything about her Mother, and why she might have been murdered. “And how long have I been here, anyway?”
“Last question first,” Lonewolf replied while running his right hand over the few wisps of hair on his otherwise bald head. “You have been here for a little over a week.”
“A week! What? I've been your prisoner for a week?” she said through reddened cheeks.
Anna looked around her bed and the equipment standing next to it. There was still an IV in her arm with tubes connected to it.
Oh, thank God. At least he's making sure I'm getting my treatments.
“And yes, to answer your other question, we opened it.” Lonewolf clicked a few more keys, and the screen came to life with lists of files.
Anna leaned as far as her restraints would allow. “What did you find?”
Lonewolf shrugged and then threw his hands in the air. “That's the problem Anna. We have countless files and data to pour through, but none of it links anyone to anything. It's like all the information we're looking for is there, but the files in not in any kind of order. Like a puzzle Anna, except we can't fit the pieces together.”
A younger man entered the room. He had short dark hair and was carrying a tablet computer. He sat down at the chair next to Lonewolf.
“This is Jax. He's the brains behind figuring all of this out,” explained Lonewolf. “He can probably explain it better than I can.”
Jax turned in his seat to look at Anna. “There's an underlying code in the drive. To open it completely, I have to enter an algorithm. Kind of like a password. All we know for sure is it's eight digits. We're sifting through all of your mother's files and history to keep guessing at what it is, but so far we've had no luck. On top of that, we can only try guessing so many times. There's a fail-safe that shuts the drive down and destroys the data.”