The Scorned (The Permutation Archives Book 3)

by Kindra Sowder

  My mother sighed with frustration and looked me in the eye, licking her lips.

  “Okay, the plan is to wake him up. We’ll give them a little space to orient themselves before we throw them into anything. That’s when you can talk to Julius about what happens next. We will take you into a private room for your tests to be conducted, which will include a full battery of standard tests as well as an MRI and a CT scan of your brain and skull. No more genetic or nerve tests. We were able to get those results by hacking Fuji-O’Hara’s system. That is, before they locked us out.” She took a deep breath and paused. “After you are done, we will give you an hour to rest and get something to eat so you can recoup and then you’ll head into training with Famke. She’ll tell you more about what that entails when you get there.”

  I nodded. “Sounds good. Sounds like a plan.”

  “We do what we can to have a plan for everything and, for all the plans we have, we have a backup. That supply run came out of nowhere when we received a transmission. Obviously, they wanted to test out their Nanos on a few Specials and try to take you in. I’m happy this was the worst of that experience.”

  “The worst? Two of your soldiers are dead,” I nearly shouted.

  “A small price to pay in the scheme of things, Mila. A small price to pay in war.” She turned away from me and started to walk away. Pausing, she looked back at me and asked, “You coming?”

  I stood there, shocked at what my mother had just said. She felt no remorse about the losses as long as we could meet our ultimate goal. Complete and total freedom without King’s regime. Granted, I wanted that as well, but I couldn’t be so cavalier about death. It always haunted me one way or another, especially one that forced its way into my mind with a voice or a vision. But he did want me to move forward. To end this once and for all.

  “Umm, yeah. I’m right behind you,” I forced out.

  Taking off after it at a brisk walk, we moved into the room where Julius was being kept. He looked much the same as Ryder had in his own. Hooked up to machines and plastic tubing, being force fed fluids and medications to keep him asleep. I stopped at the foot of his bed and watched him. His chest rose and fell evenly. The heart rate monitor beeped in a steady rhythm. His temperature was normal. Everything was perfect as far as I could tell. Even most of the bruising on his hands was gone, leaving only traces of reds and pinks as well as some dried blood.

  “Madeline, do you want to take the lead on this?” my mother asked as she stood at his bedside.

  Everyone else hung back except for Rayna who was on the other side of his bed. She removed the IV and replaced the needle with a bandage and then began to remove the wireless pads off his chest for his EKG with her gloved hands.

  “Oh, I don’t know, Horatia. I’ve never woken someone from your particular cocktail before,” Doctor Aserov said humbly with a shake of her head.

  Without skipping a beat, Rayna chimed in.

  “If you don’t mind, Horatia. I’d like to take point on this.”

  My mother glanced at me and then back at Rayna, giving a curt nod of approval. I just stood back, watching in fascination as Rayna began to move beside my best friend. She produced a small bottle of clear liquid and a syringe. Filling it expertly, she held it in front of her face and used her gloved hands and tapped it to clear any air bubbles. She looked at my mother.

  “Ready?” she asked her.

  All she did was nod as the rest of us watched. I only hoped I’d be the first person he saw when he opened his eyes. My fingers gripped the end of the bed frame. My knuckles turned white, and my palms began to sting. My mom wiped the portion of his arm just above the bend of his elbow his forearm in front of Rayna with an alcohol swab, which I hadn’t seen her grab. I had been so wrapped up in what Rayna was doing that I completely missed it.

  “Injecting Ammodulize into the patient’s biceps brachii,” Rayna stated to no one in particular.

  Rayna pushed the needle into his arm. He didn’t move, didn’t blink, didn’t groan. She pushed down on the plunger, the clear liquid moving into his veins and waking him from his restful slumber. I had never seen this done before, didn’t even know it could be done. So, I stood there in anticipation with the briefest hint of anxiety as to what would happen next.

  When she removed the syringe and placed a cotton ball over the injection site, we waited in silence. And it didn’t take long. His eyes shot open and he took a deep, shuddering breath, eyes wide and hands trembling. He pushed air out in a loud rush of air, almost like a wheeze, and then took an even more steady breath next. The first person he saw was me like I had hoped. I wanted him to know that I was here for him, no matter what. Even with a new man in my life and world falling to ruin. A new purpose.

  “Mila,” he groaned while raising his head to look at me.

  I practically pushed my mother out of the way as I moved to his bedside, taking his shaking hand in mine.

  “It’s okay. You’re okay,” I assured him.

  His jaw was clenched tight and the pulse under his skin on his neck throbbed at a rapid pace. The others didn’t make a move, just stood back, and watched Julius’s interaction with the drug that they injected into him. When his breathing didn’t slow, I turned a stern stare to Rayna.

  “What the Hell was in that stuff?” I snapped.

  “The active ingredient is adrenaline,” she replied, nearly out of breath, but her face was the picture of calm.

  “Mila, what’s happening?” Julius begged of me.

  Rayna attempted to move closer to check his pupils, but I shot her a look of blatant disapproval. She took a couple of steps back. I turned my attention back to him and used my fingers to smooth his sweaty hair away from his forehead. His frightened eyes stared up at me. Sweat broke out on his forehead and upper lip because of the adrenaline coursing through his veins, no traces of the cocktail they used to put him to sleep left. Breathing heavily, he took my other hand in both of his large ones and squeezed so hard it was almost painful. Regardless, I clutched it back and made sure my gaze made contact with his.

  “It’s okay, Julius,” I crooned with a hushed sigh. “I’m right here. Everything’s all right. You just have to ride it out. It’ll be over soon.”

  His jaw clenched even more to the point I was terrified he’d crack or even break a few teeth.

  “Look, I need to tell you something. Okay?”

  Julius’s nod was nearly imperceptible.

  “I don’t know if they told you before putting you out, but your hands were broken. They injected you with something called….,” I began, looking up for help with a name of what they gave him.

  “Calcatan,” Doctor Aserov offered. “It is a compound that was created by Commander Hunter for the quick healing and regrowth of fractured bones. We had to inject it along with a narcotic cocktail to keep you sedated and comfortable…”

  “And what Rayna just gave you was to wake you up,” I interrupted. “But I need you to know what is going to happen next. Especially what’s going to happen to us. Okay?”

  “Okay,” he replied through gritted teeth.

  “First, what I want you to do, is take a deep breath in. Slowly.”

  He did as I requested.

  “And out through your nose. Slowly.”

  And again.

  After a heartbeat, I asked, “Better?”

  “Much. Thank you,” he sighed.

  I grinned down at him and replied, “You’re very welcome.”

  I felt his pulse slowing, his breathing becoming more steady as I leaned over him. He smiled back. The fear finally left his eyes and left behind fatigue and confusion. What better time to tell him that not only was I willing to become someone else’s pet project but, after that, we would learn how to use our powers with other Specials like us. All so we could take King down.


  “After you’re done here, you are going to go to a portion of the Fallen Paradigm where Famke will train you along with others to help you control your abilities,” I began.

  “And what about you?” He probed.

  Taking a deep, resounding breath, I braced myself for what I was about to say next.

  “I’m going to be staying here in the medical wing. There are some,” I paused, thinking of the best way to say this, “things that I want to get checked out. I’ll have to get some tests done, but after that’s finished, I’ll be coming to train with you. I’ll still be here. I just wanted you to know the plan.”

  “More tests, Mila?” He looked panicked as he said the words. “After what they did to us in that place?”

  “The Fallen Paradigm isn’t King, Julius. I swear, it’ll be fine. I made this decision all on my own,” I explained.

  And it was all the truth. I wasn’t going anywhere to do this. I would be right here, exactly where I needed to be. And I had gone into this willingly. None of it was a lie. I needed to know what Cato had done, and I wanted so desperately to know more about what I held inside of me. What flowed in my veins. I felt like the universe owed me solace now, and I would get it no matter what it took.

  “I have to do this. I need answers. Everything will work out. I promise.”

  Julius scanned my face, seeing the honesty there, and sighed in submission. While I didn’t like the idea of being a human pin cushion, yet again, this was what I needed. Not wanted. Needed. The dreams with my father, with Cato, the visions, and my growing power were already becoming terrifyingly prevailing and destructive. So, I made the decision. The more I knew, the better. The sooner, the better.

  And no better time than the present.

  “How sure can you be?” he asked. “Can you be sure you can handle this?”

  I nodded. “Absolutely. I can do this.”

  He squeezed my hand in a show of support for what I felt would be one of the best things I have ever done. I was going to be selfish and use their resources to get the answers I desperately needed. That was how I had to think of it during the tests and examinations, so I didn’t panic and throw my friends or anyone else around like a rag doll. Or worse. After the new display of my ability just the day before, I had no idea what I would do to them if I didn’t have control.

  And I would learn that too. With Famke and the others. There was no reason I should stop before we have even started. I couldn’t live with myself if I let the opportunity to learn more about myself slip through my fingers.

  “Look,” I began as I licked my dry lips, “I understand how you feel about this, but can I pass up this one opportunity I have to learn more? Without the fear of being taken advantage of? Without fear that someone will use what they learn for evil like King?”

  With a slow shake of his head, he muttered, “I guess not.”

  “Mila, we have to get going now. They are readying the supplies for your first run of tests,” my mother said.

  She, Gaia, Rayna, and the doctors had stayed so silent during our exchange that I had completely forgotten they were even in the room. Their presence had been undetectable the entire time as I looked into Julius’s bloodshot orbs. I smoothed his hair back again.

  “Try to get some rest. You’ll wish you had later if you don’t,” I said with a frail smile. Anxiety blossomed in the very center of my chest at the thought of needles and machines all over again. I just counted my blessings there would be no surgery of any kind. Never again, no matter what.

  He chuckled, “Yeah, I’m sure I will.”

  I laughed with him, even if it was a weak and overtired attempt at it, and squeezed his hand. “I love you. I’ll see you later.”

  “Love you too.” He grinned. “Now, get out of here before she drags you out. I’ll be fine.”

  With a short giggle, I took a few steps back and let my hand slide out of his warmth, never once taking my eyes off him as he lay in that bed.

  “You ready for me to kick your ass later in training? I think I’ve gotten pretty good since the compound,” I joked as I continued to back away from him and toward the door. I wasn’t ready to leave him and, if it weren’t for the importance of what would happen next, I wouldn’t have.

  He adjusted in the bed to sit up, wincing a little when he put pressure on his hands.

  “Get out of here, you. Before your mom stares daggers into the both of us,” he replied, his voice filled with amusement.

  I waved a dismissive hand at his statement.

  “Oh, don’t worry about her. She’s all talk when it comes to you, remember?”

  I turned toward the group in the room, and my mother was watching me. She looked so tired I wanted to wrap her in a hug and tell her that once this was all over, we could all finally sleep. Once the world was without King, we could finally rest. Gaia had seen this type of exchange before, so she rolled her eyes with a wide grin plastered on her face. Doctor Aserov, Doctor Devi, and Rayna all watched in amusement. Apparently, it hadn’t been that light-hearted in the place for quite some time, and I was perfectly content with bringing a little light into the darkness that surrounded us. Even if it were only for a moment.

  “What do you say we get this over with, huh?” I said.

  Without skipping a beat, my mother looked at Rayna and Gaia. I could already tell that she was about to give orders that better be followed to the letter. Or else. I wasn’t sure what she would do to them if they didn’t, but it couldn’t be anything good. Not when it comes to the health and safety of our people. Especially the Specials, all of who could be a pivotal weapon against King and his recruits. And I was the one he was after.

  At that point, I sure as Hell wanted to be the one to take him down for good.

  “Rayna and Gaia, please take care of Julius’s needs while he is in the medical wing. Make sure he is hydrated and fed. He can be released in two hours after he has had time to recuperate. Doctor Devi,” my mother said as she pointed at the two women, “you may shadow Gaia and Rayna if you’d like to learn our process. If you’d also like to take on some patients here, you are more than welcome. We need as many doctors as we can get these days.”

  Doctor Devi stood there, her warm brown eyes studying my mother incredulously, not sure if she meant her words or not. One thing she needed to learn about her was that she didn’t say anything if she didn’t mean it. And everything she said had a purpose, even if it didn’t seem as if it did.

  “I would be happy to,” she answered, regardless.

  The corners of my mother’s mouth lifted slightly in a grin, and she nodded, reaching out and placing her hand on my shoulder as if to reassure me of something. With a tight squeeze, she stared at me, the look in her eyes turning grave despite the grin on her face.

  “Let’s get this over with, shall we?” she beamed.

  “Yeah,” I replied with a curt dip of my chin, “let’s get this over with.”

  Chapter

  TWELVE

  Cold air caressed the naked flesh of my back exposed by the small gap in the paper-thin gown provided to me by my mother for my testing. My mother had wanted to begin with the blood tests, but Doctor Aserov thought it best to begin with an MRI. Magnetic Resonance Imaging was one of the many tests planned for me as well as many other Specials within the compound that they had never gotten to thanks to the Fallen Paradigm.

  I shivered as the fluid from the IV bag hanging beside the hard plastic bed of the MRI machine made its way into my veins, but that wasn’t why I was cold. Remembering anything that happened in that place was the culprit.

  “Would you like a blanket while you are in the machine?” Doctor Aserov asked as her and my mother worked in front of me.

  Her blonde hair looked almost red under the lights in the room. I couldn’t see her eyes behind her glasses because
of it, but I knew she was watching me intently, waiting to see if I would panic at the sight of the tubing and the needle in my skin. Even though I forced myself to be the picture of calm and serenity on the outside, my mind and heart raced on the inside. Yes, the memories that surfaced were enough to make a grown man grovel and weep, but I didn’t have room for any of that now. I had to remain strong if I were to help anyone. If any of us were expected to survive this in one piece with a new world to live out the rest of our lives in.

  My mother stood silently beside her with arms crossed over her chest. She watched Doctor Aserov as if she still didn’t trust her, even after everything we had been through in the last weeks.

  “What are you thinking, Horatia? One with contrast and one without?” Doctor Aserov asked.

  Her words had broken the awkward silence that surrounded us. I didn’t want to say anything because I wasn’t sure what needed to be done or not. I had no medical knowledge to speak of and was just learning about weaponry and my abilities still. Granted, I was powerful before, but I had no control. Now that power was growing exponentially, but control was a factor I was still missing.

  “Yes, but I want to go ahead and get her blood work. There were a lot of tests you all ran in the Spartan Compound, but I want to rerun them as well as run a few more. The samples you all took were enough, and we have all the information from their labs. So, let’s get the blood taken first and then we will handle the MRI,” she paused. “One without contrast, and one with.”

  “Are there any supplies stored in the observation room?” the good doctor probed.

  My mother shook her head. “Nope. We don’t keep the supplies in here. You’ll need to go out to the nurse’s station and get one of the staff to give you a blood collection kit we have put together for all the tests we perform on the Specials. If I had thought of doing an MRI with contrast before now, I would’ve grabbed one already.” She glanced up at Madeline as she took my arm in her gloved hand and inspected the IV site in my arm. “Do you mind getting one?”