Oceans of Red Volume One

by Cross, Willow

  Her chair fell back with a loud crash as it hit the floor. Gasping for air, her hands went out in front of her. “Mom? Mom! Stop it Mom! Don’t--don’t--”

  She felt the red eyes bore into her mind, digging, pulling, and probing. Trying to look away, wanting to shove her out, she could do nothing but stand in pure terror.

  “It’s okay. Just relax and let me in. I can help you. They are already here waiting for entry. You just have to open to me and then we’ll all be together and happy.”

  “No! It’s not okay. You’re not my mother! What did you do with her?”

  Miranda rose, and moving around the table, she grasped Remy’s arms in a cold iron grip. Upon physical contact, Remy felt the darkness inside her mother. It seemed to seep from Miranda’s pores, trying to infiltrate her skin. Adrenaline kicked in and she shoved hard, pushing away from her.

  A wicked smile played on her mother’s lips. “Well if it has to be the hard way, then that’s what we’ll do.” Lunging, Miranda tried to regain her hold over her daughter.

  Remy spun on her heels and rushed to the living room, her mother right behind her. Turning left, she bounded up the stairs to her father’s office. Barely having time to shut and lock the door, she rummaged through the desk drawers. The door held as her mother threw her frail body against it, screaming, “Open this door! Don’t you run from me when I’m speaking, you ungrateful, hideous child. How dare you treat me this way? You’re too stupid to understand what’s going on!”

  Thud after thud sounded as Remy hastily looked for her father’s gun. Hands shaking, she pulled back the slide to chamber a round just as the door splintered and gave way. Hair disheveled, and shirt in disarray, the thing that used to be her mother entered the room. “Remy Elena Martin, you get over here right now. My children will not behave like this in my home.”

  Tears flowing, Remy whispered, “If you are still in there and can hear me, I love you, mom. I’m sorry,” and aiming the gun, pulled the trigger.

  Sobs took her as she watched her mother’s body crumple to the floor. A small bloodstain over her heart grew larger, turning the bright green shirt crimson. Gasping, Miranda’s head tilted back. A dark oily looking cloud exploded from her eyes, nose and mouth with a whirring sound, and shot through the ceiling. Faint gasps for breaths shook the body on the floor.

  Rushing to her side, Remy’s tears dripped onto her mother’s face. “Mom? Mom?”

  Miranda’s eyes opened. Smiling, she whispered, “You did good, baby. Fight them. No matter what you have to fight them. Promise?”

  Remy nodded. “Stay with me mom, I’m going to call--”

  Her eyes became vacant as her head tilted to the side. Miranda Martin was gone.

  Wailing, she pulled the frail body into her lap, and rocked. Remy didn’t remember much after that until her father came home. That was where he’d found them two hours later. On the floor in the middle of his office, his wife dead, and her killer holding her and rocking, constantly repeating, “I’m sorry, I love you.”

  Chapter Three

  Cold water pounded her sore muscles, causing them to tighten and hurt even more. She always hoped the cold showers would somehow wash away the memories, but they never did. The pain from the cold was some help though. Her mind had no choice but to focus on the pain. Hurriedly, she dried and dressed. As usual, her mind was in overdrive and she needed to find something constructive to do before she drove herself crazy.

  Making her way to the cafeteria, she was surprised to see the halls and stairwells devoid of personnel. This time of day the entire building should be buzzing with activity. Greg and Shane stood just outside the cafeteria door, apparently waiting on her. Shane’s eyes lit up as she approached. “It’s about time. We’ve been waiting for twenty minutes,” Shane greeted.

  “How’d you know I was up?”

  “Went in to wake you up and you were in the shower,” she answered.

  “You guys didn’t have to wait.”

  A knowing look passed between Greg and Shane.

  Moving close, Remy whispered, “All right, what’s going on?”

  “Not here. Can you wait a bit to eat?” Shane asked. Waiting for Remy’s nod, she turned and walked down the hall. Motioning for his sister to go before him, Greg followed behind.

  The three remained quiet all the way to the third level observation rooms. Shane checked to make sure no one was watching, slid an access card through a panel attached to a door, and hurried inside. The tiny grey room was more of a closet than anything. “Look,” Shane said, flipping a switch beside the large window. The room went dark, allowing them to peer through the now opaque window.

  On the other side a young blond girl that couldn’t have been more than nine, sat on the carpeted floor with her hands in her lap. All around her, multi-colored wooden blocks floated and twirled in the air.

  “And? I’m missing dinner for this?” Remy spouted.

  “Wait. Look at her eyes,” Greg answered.

  Leaning against the window, she peered in. “What the hell?”

  “Exactly. That’s what I was telling you this morning. She’s been inoculated and still has telekinetic power. Pretty cool, huh?” Greg responded. “It gets better. Show her, Shane.”

  Shane took a deep breath and closed her eyes. After a moment, the blocks dropped to the floor, and the girl rose and came to the window. Without speaking, she nodded, and continued to gaze into what would have been a mirror on her side. As the attendant in the other room began asking her questions, she smiled and returned to where she’d been sitting.

  “What was that all about?”

  Fingers rubbing her temples, Shane answered, “She can hear our thoughts. I asked her to come to the window without telling Steve we were here. She’s hungry. I promised we’d bring her some pizza in a little while.”

  Eyebrows furrowing, Remy asked, “Did you take the serum? I don’t get it, how did she hear you? You don’t have any psychic powers.”

  Shane winked. “Nope sure didn’t and I don’t, but that doesn’t matter. The residual psychic energy left behind is strong enough to hear anyone as long as you focus.”

  Remy rubbed her face. “He’s got you in on this hair brained scheme now? It’ll never work. It’s too dangerous.”

  Grabbing her shoulder, Greg turned her to face him. “It will work if Shane comes too. She knows--”

  “Are you out of your flippin mind?” Remy slapped his hand away from her shoulder. “She can’t go out there! They’d just love to get their hands on someone like Shane. She knows way too much!”

  Shane touched her arm. “Rem…”

  “No!” She moved away. “You’re not going. If you guys keep this shit up, I’m telling Dad. Period.”

  “Just listen! I have a great plan. Way better than Greg’s. We can do this. Think of what we could do, if the three of us had this kind of power at our disposal.”

  Reaching out, Remy grabbed her little sister’s arms. “You stop this right now. I swear if you continue with this, I’ll beat your ass myself. You don’t know what it’s like out there! We keep trying to tell you, but you refuse to listen.” Head snapping in Greg’s direction, she said, “I can’t believe you’d bring her into this. You of all people know how dangerous it is. She’s all we have left, Greg. For God’s sake!”

  “Just hear her out, Rem. She’s right. Her plan is way better than mine. She has it all figured out.”

  Releasing Shane’s arms, she moved to the door. “I’m not listening to one more word. And hear me…I’m watching both of you. All the time, everywhere you go, I’ll be watching.”

  Greg moved to follow her. Placing her arm across his chest, Shane said, “Let her go. She’ll cool off in a little while. We should have let her eat first. She’s always unreasonable when she’s hungry.”

  Shaking his head, he answered, “I don’t think so. I told you she wouldn’t allow you to go.”

  Blue eyes staring at the girl through the window, she muttered, “She
’ll let me. Dad’s plan sucks, and this mission tonight will fail. After that, she’ll have no choice.”

  ***

  Hunched down, Greg and Remy ran across the open area surrounding an old warehouse. Against the building, Remy made a quick motion with her hand. Three shadows broke away from a dumpster and raced around the other side of the structure. A different hand motion sent four more in the opposite direction. Unlike most of her missions, she had ‘no kill’ orders. The team was to extract everyone within the building, neutralize demonic influence, and bring home the rescued. For once, her father had taken her words to heart. Recon had observed fourteen scientists inside, along with a few guards. As many as possible were to be extracted. If they could bring in the entire lot, it would be a definite win.

  Senses tingling, she detected a quiet, shuffling noise just inside the doorway to her left. Head snapping in her brother’s direction, she waited for his quick nod. The door opened with the loud, grating noise of metal grinding on metal. A white-coated man stepped outside. Before he could look in their direction, Greg had his arm around the man’s neck and injected a small cylinder into his shoulder. The man gave a slight gasp before going limp in Greg’s arms. Moving fast, the siblings carried the man to the side and entered the door.

  The front half of the warehouse, stacked high with boxes and crates, allowed them to sneak close to the working lab without being noticed. Like ghosts, they moved around and through the debris, closing in on their prey. The building’s well-lighted center held a working lab full of equipment covered tables and white coated workers. Other than the hum of machinery, there were no sounds. Those working did not speak and barely made rustling noises as they moved.

  Scanning the other side of the room, Remy found what she was looking for. Unusual shadows against crates informed her that her men had made it inside. Examining the tranquilizer rifle in her hands, she shook her head. They only had seconds to dart everyone there before a call went out for help.

  “On my mark,” she whispered into the small microphone attached to her collar. “Three, two, one, mark.”

  Soft huffs followed by the faint whistle of darts flying through the air preceded the stiffening of several white-coated bodies. For just a moment their eyes registered some sort of recognition, but before any could speak, they crumpled to the floor. Confused, the other workers momentarily stood silently looking around. Another huff and several more fell. One yelled out and ran toward the West wall. Before he could make it, he joined the others in their chemically induced sleep. The three left standing ducked and took cover under tables. Red lights began flashing on each wall as a loud siren sounded.

  “Go, go, go!” Remy yelled.

  Shadows broke away from their positions as a large van crashed through the back wall, sending sheet metal and debris flying.

  “Get those three down! Damon, get the others loaded,” Remy ordered.

  A small door on the upper level opened and armed guards spilled onto the catwalk, firing as they ran. Her team had managed to load four of the downed scientists, but was taking heavy fire. Still in position beside the crates, Greg and Remy remained unnoticed. Glancing at each other, they moved in opposite directions, tranq guns hanging at their sides, they freed their 45’s from their holsters and began firing.

  Five guards went down, then two more, and still they were filling the catwalk. “Move!” Remy ordered. “Get those coats loaded.”

  “This isn’t going to work,” Greg yelled back. “There’s too many. We need to go…now, Rem.”

  “Damon’s down,” a voice came over her earpiece.

  “I’m hit,” Steve’s voice squeaked.

  Still firing, she moved towards the truck, jumping over bodies on the floor. Beside her, Greg checked the faces as the moved. If they didn’t get the one they really needed the whole mission would have been pointless. “Someone check and see if we have Michaels. We’re not leaving without him!”

  “Michaels is in custody,” a voice answered.

  “On my last clip,” Remy grunted. “Get in the bus, kids, this field trip is over.”

  “That’s a go, that’s a go,” Steve yelled back.

  “Cover,” Remy ordered. Slipping behind Greg’s back, she pulled a grenade from the leather binding on her side. She yanked the pin and threw it over his shoulder, before sliding back around beside him, once again firing on the guards. Screams punctuated the loud explosion and the catwalk began breaking away from the wall. “Go!”

  Racing, they leapt into the back of the van. Tires squealed as it sped away.

  “Everyone make it okay? Steve? Damon?” Greg asked.

  “Damon’s unconscious, I just have a shoulder wound,” Steve answered.

  “Where’s he hit?” Remy asked as she maneuvered around the others to reach Damon’s side.

  “Head wound, just grazed, but close enough to knock him out,” Steve answered.

  Remy glanced at her watch. They wouldn’t make it back to the complex for another thirty minutes. “Let me see,” she ordered the young man holding Damon’s head.

  Pale and shaking, he nodded and released the other man’s head. Immediately, blood gushed from the wound. Remy quickly reapplied pressure. Head wounds always bleed badly. It might not be as bad as it looks. “Driver, move. We have to get back, now.”

  Still breathing heavy, Greg watched his sister. “So much for no kill order. I’m pretty sure we weren’t supposed to bring grenades.”

  Flashing him a smile, she answered, “Well there was definitely a don’t get killed order. I had to compromise.”

  ***

  “It’s not my fault,” Remy said between clenched teeth while avoiding her father’s glare. “Your people should have done better recon. How were we supposed to know there were tons of armed guards there?”

  Red-faced, he answered sternly, “That is not the point and you know it. You were given a direct order. No kill means do not kill. Are you thick headed, or do you just enjoying going against everything I tell you?”

  Crossing her arms, she leaned back in the seat in front of his desk. “Like I’ve already said, I didn’t have a choice, or would you rather we’d all been taken hostage?”

  He sighed and began rubbing his mouth. After a brief pause, he answered, “You’re off missions for a while, Rem. Your thought process is clouded. Maybe it’s the Dren, I don’t know. I can’t have my own child disobeying protocol. If I let you get away with it, everyone will start doing it.”

  Rising, she placed her hands on her hips. “Fine, Admiral. It’s your call. I’ll stay off missions, and hopefully the others will realize that your thought processes are clouded and you’re going to get them all dead.” Giving him an overly exaggerated salute, she pivoted and marched out the door.

  He shook his head and muttered, “She’s got her mother’s temper.” Then pushing the call button, asked, “Sally? Can you come in here?”

  ***

  Greg and Shane listened quietly to Remy’s ranting about their father’s incompetence without agreeing or disagreeing. Occasionally, they would exchange knowing looks and furtive smiles. Their sister was wound up tight, and neither of them was brave enough to voice their opinions…yet.

  Shane knew she had to wait for the right moment, when that moment came, Remy would be putty in her hands. It was all a matter of timing.

  “The whole flippin thing is ridiculous! He knows I had no choice. How could he even send us on a mission with a ‘no kill’ order? Like they would ever be reasonable. I’m sure had I yelled ‘we’re not here to hurt you’ that would have mattered to them. Ugh!” She kicked at a chair, sending it flying across the room to slam into the wall.

  Spinning to face them, she said, “Well? Say something. You know I’m right!”

  Greg glanced at Shane who gave a slight shake of her head. Returning his gaze to Remy, he shrugged.

  “That’s it? You’ve got nothing to say? So you’re on his side…well that’s just great. See if I save your ass the next time
.”

  Eyebrows rising, he answered, “Now hold up, girl. I believe I was the one covering you while you prepped the grenade. So who saved whose ass? And I didn’t say you were wrong, I just don’t know what you want me to say. He gives the orders; we take the orders. That’s how it’s always been, and that’s how it’ll always be.”

  “He’s giving shitty orders. Give me one good plan he’s come up with in the last three months? Just one!”

  “He’s just following logic. What else can he do? I mean it’s not like we’re playing on level ground here,” Greg replied.

  Winding down, Remy sat on the bed staring at the floor. “We need something different. What we’ve been doing is not working. We’re out manned, out gunned, and with all the psychic crap, we’re out brained. He needs to start thinking outside the box. We have to acquire the shroud.”

  Smiling, Shane exhaled. Finally! Her sister was a pretty smart cookie, but thick headed too. Sometimes it took her a long time to come around to original thinking. “Well, there’s only one way to get the shroud. Just one way, and it’s terribly dangerous.” Her eyes darted between her brother and sister. “Do we agree that without it, all the rest of this is pointless?”

  Both heads nodded.

  “Okay then. You two need to decide how far you’re willing to go to win. We can keep following orders and doing what we’re doing, or we can make a difference. It’s up to you.”

  “Shit,” Remy muttered.

  Greg flashed her a grin. “What happened to today is a good day to die? I thought you loved that old Indian saying.”

  Defeated, she looked at the floor, and almost whispered, “You’re all I have left.”

  Moving to her side, Shane placed her hand on Remy’s shoulder and squeezed. “That’s why we have to do this together. We could never trust anyone else with something so important.”

  Greg stuck his hand, palm down, in front of them. “Just like always, The Three Musketeers. I’m in.”

  Shane placed her free hand on top of his. “Me too.”