Smith turned away from the window, his arms crossed. "I need to think about it."
"You can't be serious!" Ethan blurted.
"Now just calm down. I won't be putting Claire in any situation I think is dangerous." He moved to the bottom of her bed. "It was really brave of you to tell us this. After everything you've been through, you're still fighting."
A chill passed through her. She didn't want to think of the past. Just keep moving, keep fighting.
Smith tapped her bed rail. "I've got to go. Get things figured out, but I'll be back, okay?"
"Okay," she whispered.
"I've got to go, too," Ethan said.
"Really?" she asked.
"Yeah, but I'll be back in a couple of hours." He bent down and gave her a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Get well." He looked up at Logan. "Will you be here for awhile?"
"Of course," Logan said.
Smith opened the door. "See you soon, Claire."
Ethan followed him out, but before he disappeared he turned around and mouthed the words to her, "I love you."
After they left, Logan sat in the chair next to her and said, “Get some rest while you can.”
She nodded and was about to close her eyes when Steph showed up. She rushed to her bed and gave her a big, but gentle hug. "I'm so glad you're okay!"
"Thanks," Claire said. "Is my mom here?"
Steph glanced behind her. "She stopped to get a drink. She'll be here in a second."
"Do you know how Kate's doing?"
"She just went into surgery. I talked to her mom on the way in."
"How's she doing?"
"Surprisingly not freaking out. She asked about you."
Claire played with the corner of the sheet. "I hope she's not mad."
Logan frowned. "Kate’s your friend. Why would her mom be mad?"
Just then Claire’s mom appeared in the doorway. The door’s rectangle shape seemed to swallow her mother's small frame.
"Hi, Sweetie," her mother said, but even her voice was engulfed by the space.
Logan leaned forward to get up, but Claire whispered, "Don't leave.”
He looked at her questioningly.
"Please?"
He nodded and sat back down. She reached out her bandaged hand to him. He looked surprised, but took hold of it just as her mother reached her bedside.
"I'm so glad you're okay," she said. Her words slurred together, and she was having a hard time keeping her eyes open.
Claire patted her hand. "You look tired, Mom."
Most likely, she’d doubled up on her anxiety pills.
Her mother’s shoulders turned inward and she looked around the small hospital room. "I haven't been in a hospital since..."
She placed a hand on the bed to steady herself.
"I know, Mom. Why don't you get some rest?" Claire looked at Steph. "Would you mind?"
Steph took Claire's mom by the arm. "Sure. There's a waiting room on the first floor with a couch. You can rest there."
Claire's mom nodded. "Yes. A little rest and then I'll come back." She patted Claire's face lightly. "You're a good girl."
Claire tightened her grip on Logan's hand, ignoring the searing pain of the cut. "Thanks, Mom."
"I'll come back as soon as she's comfortable," Steph said as she walked out of the room guiding Claire's mom.
Before she disappeared, Claire called, "Steph?"
She turned around.
"I'm sorry we didn't get to play.”
Steph shrugged. "It's okay. There will be other opportunities."
After they left, Claire took her hand back from Logan and sunk into the bed. She tried to focus on her physical pain so she wouldn't have to feel the more unbearable inner pain that often accompanied the small conversations with her mother.
"We all grieve in different ways," Logan said. "Don't be mad at her."
She tightened the blanket in her good hand. "I think I'll get some rest for a little bit. Will you stay?"
He patted her arm. "I'm not going anywhere."
A short time later, Ethan returned. Claire was grateful for the interruption because she had yet to fall asleep. Only lie there concentrating on the pain.
Before he closed the door, Ethan stuck his head out into the hallway, looked around, and then closed the door behind him.
"What's with the privacy?" Logan asked.
Ethan crossed the room to her bed and said, "I've been thinking about the meeting with Gage.” He bent down and smoothed back her hair. "You okay? I saw your mom asleep on the couch out there."
Claire nodded but didn’t look at him. She wanted to tell him how she was feeling. To tell him how any mention of the past caused the dark hole in her heart to spread. One day she was afraid it would take over and she'd end up just like her mother—turning to any and every substance just to avoid feeling.
"Look at me," Ethan said.
She looked up. He was staring at her with such intensity that she averted her eyes.
"You're not her," he said. "You are so much stronger. Whatever happened in your past, what you're dealing with right now, it will go away in time."
“Ethan’s right,” Logan said.
But getting through those days, constantly being reminded of what happened, was often unbearable.
“So where did you go?” she asked Ethan.
Ethan drew up a chair next to them and sat down. "I don't like your idea, Claire. Using yourself as bait is crazy," he began.
She opened her mouth to argue, but he stopped her.
"That being said, I know you're going to do whatever you want. So I got you something."
"What?"
Ethan reached behind his back and pulled out the handgun he'd had earlier at the Festival of Lights. He laid it on the bed.
"You're giving her a gun?" Logan asked, incredulously.
"To protect herself," he said.
Logan was shaking his head. "Gage could use it against her."
"Not if she is fast enough. And besides, he will never suspect it."
"There's no way—” Logan began but Claire interrupted him.
"I'll take it." She picked it up and turned it over in her hand. The weight of it felt good, empowering. She looked up at Ethan. "Will you show me how to use it?"
"Of course," he said. "As soon as you’re released from the hospital, I'll spend as much time as possible teaching you how."
"This is crazy," Logan said, leaning back in his chair.
Claire tightened her grip on the gun. "It's perfect. I'm not going to wait around for someone to save me. I'm going to meet Gage, and I'm going to be ready."
"We all will," Ethan said.
She set the gun down, her skin chilling. "What do you mean?"
"Smith's going to have his own thing going on, but I want Logan and me there, too, just in case Gage tries to run." Ethan looked at Logan. "Unless you don't want to help?"
Logan returned the glare. "I'll be there."
The plan was set, despite how much Logan protested. Smith wasn't sold on Claire's plan either, but because he couldn't think of a better one, and he really wanted to get Gage, he moved forward. The only part of the plan he didn't know about was the gun.
Claire was careful to only let a few people know what was going on. She and Smith had tried to explain it to her mother, but she’d simply said, "Can you call me when it’s over?"
In addition to her mother, Ethan, Logan, and Kate, who was still recovering in the hospital, knew about it. Kate’s surgery went well, but Kate was devastated when the doctor had told her she might have nerve damage in her hand. Claire tried to talk to her about it, but Kate would barely speak to her. "Give her some time," Kate’s mother had told her. Claire hoped by telling Kate about the plan to capture Gage that she'd perk up, but not even that interested her.
As for Smith, he told only three of his men, and had threatened their lives if they breathed a word of it to anyone. Their secret was contained to a small circle. This should've made
her feel better, but it didn't. Something still felt wrong, but every time she tried to figure out what, another part of her stopped her from solving the riddle.
Claire stood next to Smith’s car, feeling the weight of the gun stuffed down the back of her pants. It was already dark and the cool air smelled salty, but when she inhaled deeply she could also smell rotten fish.
"Should we go over it one more time?" Smith said, but he wasn't looking at Claire. He was staring into the darkness, searching for any signs of danger. It was in his nature to be protective, and to always think of others over himself. She imagined him hundreds of years ago. He'd for sure be the leader of some rebellion to overthrow an evil tyrannical leader.
"Claire?" he asked.
She clung to the image of him as a great warrior.
"I'm good,” she said. “No need to repeat. It will only make me nervous.”
"There's no need to be nervous," he said, but Claire noticed he wouldn't look her in the eyes. "I've got three of my best shooters far enough away to go undetected but close enough to end this once and for all. And I'll be close by, too. Nothing will happen." He checked the time. "One hour." He opened the car door and motioned her inside. "I'm going to walk the perimeter one last time and talk to my guys. Then I’ll let you go."
"I'll be waiting," she said and slid into the backseat.
"Lock the doors and honk if you see anything strange." He was about to close the door, but paused and stuck his head back into the car. "I hope your boys don't show up tonight. You told them to stay home, right?"
"Sure. Ethan and Logan are home safe in their comfy beds while I'm stuck in a car that smells of stale donuts and bad coffee."
"Good." Smith closed the door, which she locked.
Around Smith, and everyone else for that matter, she tried to put on a brave face, but the truth was she was terrified. If Kate hadn't been hurt in the accident, she probably wouldn't be doing this.
Claire took a deep breath and relaxed into the seat. The hard metal of the gun pressed against her back, reminding her that she wasn’t helpless. Ethan had spent every possible second with her the last few days teaching her how to shoot. Surprisingly, it came naturally for her. Even Logan was silenced when he saw how accurately she shot the targets.
Claire was about to pull the gun out to inspect it for the tenth time that day when her phone vibrated. She looked down at its lit up screen. Ethan. She answered it.
"I'm so glad you called," she blurted. "I'm so nervous."
"You should be," a deep voice said, sending a paralyzing chill throughout her whole body. Even through a wireless connection she felt his dark power.
"You didn't do what I asked,” he said and waited. “Are you listening, Claire?"
Claire's brain tried to reason why Gage would be on Ethan's phone.
"Where's Ethan?" she managed to ask.
"I'm following him right now. He's on his way to make sure his beloved is safe."
She closed her eyes and tried to think of something to say that would keep Gage’s focus on her and not on Ethan. "What do you want?"
"You lied to me." Gage paused, as if waiting for her to disagree with him, but she remained silent. "I told you not to tell anyone about our secret rendezvous. Don’t you know what the word secret means? Now you've put the people you love at risk. In three seconds I could have your lover’s neck in my hands. In four he'll be dead. Is that what you want?"
Claire didn't hesitate. "Tell me what to do."
"I want a private meeting, and I want it in exactly ten minutes."
"Where?"
"At the top of the cliffs, near the trail where we first met. And, Claire, keep your pretty little mouth shut."
The phone went dead.
She stared at the phone. The glowing time stared back. She'd have to sprint to make it there in time.
Claire didn't think. She threw open the door and ran.
Chapter Four
Gage stepped on the edge of the cliff and looked out over the sea. The moon was full and cast its light in a never-ending trail across the dark ocean. He felt so good he actually believed he could run on that lit-up path.
This was all so easy, Gage thought. He tilted his head back and inhaled the sea, feeling as if he were Poseidon. In minutes, Claire would come. If Bodian wanted him to do their bidding, he didn't want to do it alone. What's the fun in that? Claire would make the perfect accomplice and together they'd be unstoppable.
The thought of unleashing her sent a wave of pleasure rippling across his body. Calm down. Not yet, but soon.
In the distance, his super sensitive hearing heard pounding on pavement. The steps were fast and hard, as if someone were running for their life. Or running to save one.
He smiled, and retreated into the shadows of the forest.
A few moments later, Claire appeared, out of breath and glistening with sweat. She didn't glance around frantically like anyone else would. Instead she returned to the steady stillness he loved. She stared out to sea, as if she knew he would come to her when he was ready.
She was right.
Gage paused a minute longer to ensure she was alone before he approached her. While he waited, he thought of Bodian and Albert’s father. Gage had yet to be contacted, but every once in awhile he had the feeling he was being watched. He didn't like the idea of having a boss, but he hated the thought of a cure even worse. As it was, he loathed the small amount of time he needed to retreat back into Albert’s mind to recuperate.
But not for long. Soon he wouldn’t need Albert at all. Poor Albert. He was trying so hard to take back control, but his efforts were useless.
"Gage?" Claire whispered. A gentle breeze carried her voice to him. The sound tickled his ears.
In a matter of seconds he stood soundlessly behind her. The smell of her hair was a mixture of sweat and strawberries.
"Behind you," he whispered.
Claire jumped and turned around. "I’m here. What do you want?"
He smiled, loving how she always got straight to the point.
"First thing first,” he said. His hand snaked out toward her and touched her stomach. She didn't flinch, but panic flashed in her eyes. Especially when his fingers slid under her shirt and touched her smooth skin. His hand continued its progression until it was all the way behind her back. Cold metal. He took hold of it and pulled it out. "You won't be needing this." He tossed the gun off to the side, far out of her reach.
Any strength she might’ve had was gone. He saw it drain from her eyes, leaving behind only fear.
"What do you want?" she said again. She began moving backwards off the trail and toward the cliffs. He followed closely, purposely steering her away from where she’d jumped from before. At her back was a cluster of tall bushes and a large pine tree. She was trapped.
"How’s Kate?" he asked.
Claire’s nostrils flared. "Don’t say her name. Ever. I can’t wait for Smith to get his hands on you."
This made him laugh. "And what do you think Smith can do to me? Do you really think he stands a chance? I'll break his bones, every last one of them."
At this, Claire stopped moving. In fact, she leaned toward him, challenging him with fists clenched tight. "If you hurt him, I'll—”
"What?" he said, as her eyes searched his, probably looking for any sign of weakness. She wouldn't find any.
She stepped away from him again. "Just tell me what you want.”
"I want to help you."
"Help me?"
He reached up to touch the skin on her face, wondering if it was as smooth as her stomach. "I want to release you from your suffering. The darkness hiding inside you, threatening to suffocate you every time you breathe."
She jerked away from his touch. "You're crazy."
He gripped her chin, forcing her to look at him. "You and I are more alike than you think, Claire. I see the pain in your eyes, hear it every time you speak. The hurt is festering inside you and if you don't release it soon, you'll beco
me like the rest of them—ruled by emotions, unable to really experience life.”
Claire cocked back a tight fist and propelled it forward, but he caught it before impact and brought it to his lips. "The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem. Denial is a dollar store Band-Aid."
She snatched her hand back and moved backwards. One step. Two steps. Three. "And how do you plan on ridding me of this darkness?"
This was the part he was waiting for. Gage reached into his pocket and removed a syringe. "A magic potion. Three full injections are all it takes and then you're hooked. And a few more after that and you'll be free. With me. Together we'll do what Bodian wants."
Claire kept moving backwards. He pursued.
“And what exactly does Bodian want?" she asked, glancing behind her.
"They're having some staffing issues."
"I don't understand."
He flicked the plastic cover off the needle’s tip. "It doesn't matter. Not now, anyway. I’m going to need you to hold still, okay?"
He attempted to close the distance between them, but she backed up into the bushes, lifting branches as she went. He laughed. "Where do you think you're going?"
Her eyes drew down thin. "I will never let you change me." She moved even more into the bush. Leafy branches twisted all around her.
"You don't have a choice," he said and frowned. "What are you doing?"
She was almost covered by the thick foliage.
Claire looked at him once, then turned and disappeared.
"What the hell?" he said. He moved to follow her, but he was only halfway in before he almost lost his balance and fell off the cliff’s edge, his feet dangling below. He grabbed onto a branch just in time and used it to pull himself back onto solid ground.
A hundred feet below was the sea, waves crashing against a rocky cliff face. He punched the tree and growled. How had he missed it? He knew the trail ran parallel with the cliffs, but because of the large pine and brush, half hanging over the edge, he missed how close the cliff’s border actually came. But Claire must've known. He chuckled. So full of surprises.
Gage peered over the edge, this time being more mindful of the sharp drop-off. He couldn't see her, but knew she had to be down there. Hopefully she wasn't drowning. That would really mess up his plans.
Unleashed: Part 3 (Unleashed Series) Page 2