by Sarah Dalton
Daniel pulled me into a hug, gripping me tight. “I love you,” he whispered in my ear.
A roar of noise came from the border and I peeked around the toll booth to see the Blemished army storming through the new entrance. They were battered, blood covered, and exhausted, but the floodlights lit up the determined expressions on their faces.
“We have to find Angela and Sebastian,” I said.
We climbed up from our hiding place and rushed back into the chaos. I saw Compounders and Neds fighting side by side, Blemished and Glasgow acrobats, too. Even Perthans joined in. Some fought combat style, and others shot from their covers.
“Kitty, you’ll have to track them,” I shouted over the sounds of gunfire.
She led the way, keeping to the shadows cast by the remains of the wall. I clutched my gun. My heart hammered against my ribcage. An Enforcer leapt out behind a car. He aimed his laser gun, but Mike acted fast – shooting him in the abdomen.
“I smelled him,” Mike said.
I tripped on something soft and lumpy. When I gazed down I gasped, clutching my mouth with my hand. “Stevie.” Tears filled my eyes. “No! No! Poor Stevie.”
Daniel crouched and placed his fingers under Stevie’s chin. He lay on top of rubble, a deep gash through his chest. I already knew he was dead.
“We should go,” Daniel said, straightening up. “There’s nothing we can do for him now.”
I gulped, remembering Stevie’s kindness in the Compound. We had to find Angela. I forced back my tears and pressed on, leaving Stevie on the cold ground. I’ll come back for you. I had a job to do first.
We ducked through the new gap in the wall. So many fighters streamed through that I was almost caught in the crowd. Daniel managed to grab me before I drifted away with the mob. He pulled me closer to the bricks.
“This is getting hard,” Kitty shouted. “Her taste is everywhere. I can’t––”
A bullet whizzed past and slashed Kitty’s arm. Mike caught her and we ran along the wall with nowhere to go. The floodlights showed a sea of fighters in the middle of the courtyard between both walls. We found a heap of stones to crouch behind and check Kitty’s wound.
“It’s not so bad,” Kitty said.
I knew better. Her arm hung limply from her body. Her face had paled until it shone white and ghostly in the dark light.
“I think it’s broken,” Mike said.
Luce wrapped the wound with a strip of her shirt to create a tourniquet while Kitty cried out in pain.
“That’s the best I can do,” Luce said.
“Mike, you need to get her out of here,” Daniel instructed. “Go through the second wall and hide in the forest until this is all over. If anyone approaches you, and I mean anyone you don’t know, shoot them.”
Mike nodded. He lifted Kitty like a rag doll and set off through the chaos. My heart leapt to my mouth. They had to make it.
“What are we going to do now?” I said. “How will we find Angela? I need to know she’s okay.”
“We just keep moving,” said Daniel. “Unless…”
“Unless what?”
“Can you unarm them?” he asked.
I stared at him. “All of them?”
He nodded. “You need to use more of your power. You can help people here. You’ve not used it since we brought down the wall. Instead you fight and run.” His eyes shone sea-blue, filled with emotion. “Mina, use your power.”
He was right. I faced the scene before me and began picking off people one by one. With one thought I unarmed a clone, with another I tossed an Enforcer away from the Resistance. I threw a group of clones away from some Compounders.
“That’s good,” Daniel said. “Now keep doing that. I’m going to find Angela.”
“No!” I yelled. “You can’t go out there!”
“Cover me,” he shouted, running into the fighting.
I glanced at Luce in terror. “Keep going,” she said. “You owe it to him.”
She was right. I focussed my energy on Daniel. No one would put a hand on him or find him with their weapons. I hurled Enforcers from his path. I threw guns over the wall. The hordes parted for him as he ran through the darkness. And then, finally, I saw them. Angela tried to break the helmet of an Enforcer who had a choke hold on Cam. I saw a flash of red hair and there was Ginge, firing off her rifle to protect Sebastian against a clone. I set to work with the Enforcer and the clone – getting them away from my friends. Daniel hugged Angela and ran back towards us. I had to concentrate in the dim light, disarming those around them, tossing others to the side, splitting my power. It was more than I’d ever done or thought myself capable of. And I never once thought of the cold hatred Mum taught me.
But then a voice caught me off guard. It sounded inside my mind, loud and clear. Des has a bomb. He’s going to use it on the GEM. I lost concentration and an Enforcer seized Daniel.
“Mina! No!” Luce shouted.
You have to stop him, Mina.
“Hiro?”
A dark-skinned man ran through the crowds and I found my attention drawn to him. He wore a bizarre jacket with lumps and wires.
“No,” I whispered.
The floodlights highlighted him as he fought an Enforcer to the ground.
I tore my eyes away and a clone ran at Sebastian, knocking him to the floor. I gathered my focus and threw the clone against the stone wall, striking him unconscious. Then I worked on Daniel’s attacker, lobbing him away. The group ran on towards us.
Mina. Stop Des!
Why, Hiro? Why should I stop him?
There are scientists inside the building. That’s why he’s doing it. And your mum is one of them.
I faltered. With just a few feet to go, Daniel and the others sprinted towards us. I tried to hold stones up to create a barrier, but I couldn’t get Hiro’s message out of my mind. My eyes caught Angela’s. My heart soared with relief to see her again. I went to stand, to fling my arms around her, when a bullet flew straight into her chest and Angela’s joyful expression changed into one of distorted terror. I screamed, “No!” and everything seemed to slow down.
I shot up from behind the stones, ignoring Luce’s shouts, and lurched forward to catch Angela as she fell into my arms. Blood poured from the middle of her chest and her fists gripped my clothes. Her face turned a grey shade of brown. Cam rushed towards us, his face red with fury.
We helped Angela to the floor and Luce examined the wound. “The bullet is still in there. I can’t tell if it hit any major organs. I think it’s hit a rib.”
“Is she gonnae be all right? Is she gonnae pull through?” Cam crouched next to his girlfriend.
Daniel fell to his knees next to his adopted sister. He stroked her face.
“Mina!” Sebastian cried out. He pointed to a clone about to aim his gun. Fury ripped through me and I pushed him away with my mind. “You need to keep us safe.”
Luce used strips from Daniel’s shirt to stop the bleeding. Angela lay unconscious with her arms flopped to the side; just a shell without her smile and personality shining through. Why did she always get hurt? Why the people I love?
Because of me.
I caused pain.
46 ~ Mina ~
Panic constricted my chest. I couldn’t breathe.
“She’s as stable as she can be,” Luce said, wiping a combination of rain, sweat and blood from her forehead. “But we need to get her somewhere safe.”
“The forest is the only secure place right now,” said Daniel. “Mina can help you get there.”
“She was meant te get us here without harm.” Cam never moved his eyes from Angela. He held her hand protectively.
Ginge propped her rifle up on the stones to take out a couple of Enforcers. I sucked in air to try and calm myself. My hands shook. The cacophony of the battle filtered through my ears like sound through water.
“She did her best,” Daniel said.
I closed my eyes, trying to focus and stop myself staring at Ange
la’s body. Had she always been so small?
“Don’t argue just get her out of here, now!” Luce yelled.
“Mina.” Daniel shook me. “You need to get it together.”
It was time to step up and be the leader. I clenched my fists and concentrated on what to do next. “Cam, Ginge and Sebastian take Angela to the forest. Luce should go with them – make sure she’s okay.”
“What about us?” Daniel asked.
“We have something we need to do,” I said. I struggled to maintain eye contact. I needed him. “Please, just trust me.”
“Okay, I’m with you.”
Cam and Sebastian lifted Angela, hooking their arms under her armpits and dragging her across the ground. Ginge took out another Enforcer with her rifle as they prepared themselves for the escape to the forest.
“Ready?” I asked.
Cam nodded. His jaw set in determination. Our eyes met, and I felt anger emanating from him like heat from a fire.
I concentrated more than ever before, determined not to lose any more loved ones. I threw fighters away to clear a path. They scurried through with Angela. A petrol bomb hurtled towards them and I caught it with my mind, lobbing it over the wall into the empty countryside beyond. I watched until Cam’s red hair disappeared through the border.
I turned to Daniel. “We need to go.”
“Where the hell are we going, Mina?” He resisted as I tried to move him away from the border.
I hardly heard him. Instead my eyes drifted towards Des, fighting his way through a line of Enforcers. He broke away and started running.
I let go of Daniel and ran. “Des!” I yelled.
Laser streams shot towards me and I redirected them with my mind. Clones bounced from me like a force field. Daniel caught up to run by my side.
“What are you doing?”
“Hiro spoke to me.” I panted. I kept my eyes fixed on Des. He dodged around an Enforcer and between two groups of fighters. “Hiro spoke to me in my mind. Des has a bomb. He’s taking it to the GEM.”
We negotiated our way back through the collapsed wall.
“So? We need to be here. We should be with Angela,” he said.
“My mum’s in there, Daniel!” I screamed.
I saw Ali fighting with an Enforcer and pulled him free, shoving the Enforcer back. “Ali, come with us,” I called to him.
Ali frowned but followed as I chased Des through the streets. He caught up. We ran as I explained.
“We have to get to the GEM, Ali,” I said. “Des is going to blow it up and my mum is in there.”
Ali swore. “Ye certain? They didnae evacuate?”
“Evacuate to where?” I said. “The Areas aren’t safe and neither is London.”
“All right. I’d appreciate ye using some o’ ye mojo as we go.” Ali dipped low to avoid a clone’s punch.
I pushed the clone back and I disarmed anyone near us. After such free use of my power it waned and my body weakened. I’d never used it so much without passing out before. My muscles trembled with the effort. I had to keep going. I had to keep us safe.
I swore. Des disappeared into a throng of fighters. I slowed down and pressed my hands into my knees, trying to catch a breath. “We’ve lost him.”
“There!” Daniel yelled.
Des ducked behind a car as an Enforcer chased him, shooting the laser gun relentlessly. One of the lasers caught Des on the calf and I saw the red blood of his wound. Des aimed a pistol at the Enforcer and shot him before sprinting ahead, limping every few steps.
“He’s heading towards the Underground, too.”
“I need to warn Hiro,” I said. Hiro, Des is coming. Stay hidden.
We hurried back through the fighting. Daniel tripped over a body and I helped him up. He swore and shuffled a few steps.
“Are you all right?” I asked.
“Just twisted my ankle.” He hobbled along with a grimace.
“We have te keep going.” Ali punched an Enforcer in the stomach and rushed back to us.
The entrance to the Underground station approached. Daniel led us down the steps with Ali following.
Hiro,” I shouted when we reached the entrance. He appeared from the shadows with Elena. “You’re safe!” I pulled him into a quick hug. “Which way did he go?”
“I saw him. He has strapped a bomb to his chest.” Hiro pointed through the dark tunnel.
I hugged him again. “Be safe. Go down to the next station and stay hidden away from all this. Use your power and listen out for anyone approaching.”
“Okay.”
“Go!” Elena urged.
Without saying a word I thanked her. And then I turned around and left them there, my stomach twisting with the thought of anything happening to them. I owed them both so much. A lump formed in my throat.
“Do you know your way?” Daniel asked Ali.
“No,” he said. “But we can track Des.” He pulled a torch out of his pack. “He’s bleeding.”
Sure enough, Ali’s torchlight found a few drops of blood along the platform. We picked our way through the tunnel – running along the narrow space left between the tracks and the walls for servicemen – all the time not far behind Des. His fresh splatters of blood left a trail like breadcrumbs. A smudge of blood showed us how Des pulled himself up onto another platform and snaked through the station to the exit. Ali climbed up first, then helped us both.
“Looks like he headed straight through the exit,” Daniel said.
We followed Ali’s torch along the grimy stairs to the streets above. My heart skipped a beat when I saw the Ministry building. So many memories flashed through my mind: Dad hurt by my powers in the lobby; Mum looking after me, cooking for me, staying up late and watching the screens with me, training me to hate. Despite everything, I still wanted to help her. I remembered the words my dad said to me as he lay dying. I still love your mother and so should you.
“Are you all right?” Daniel asked.
I nodded and pulled myself together. There was no way I’d let my pain and anger get the better of me. We slowed, approaching the entrance with our guns raised, waiting for Des to leap out of the shadows. I wrapped my arms around my body, still physically weak
The lobby was deserted. “They’ve evacuated, Mina,” Daniel said.
“They can’t have.”
Where would they go? They wanted people to believe they’d evacuated. The screens depicted images of happy, healthy GEM workers getting into cars and waving at the crowds around them. Subtitles showed: GEM workers evacuate the Ministry HQ for maintenance. Please remain in your homes. Road works continue on the streets of London… There is nothing to worry about… Bolt your windows and doors. A temporary measure. Good day.
“Road works?” Ali said. “It’d be funny if it weren’t so effin’ tragic.”
“It’s all fake,” Daniel said. “These images are old. Look at the weather, there’s snow on the ground. Do people really believe this?”
“Come on, let’s find Des.” I waved towards the stairs, not wanting to look at the fake images anymore. With a gulp, I noted the smashed doors no one bothered to replace. My stomach clenched.
I forced myself to take the stairs two at a time, even though my body wanted to rest. Des’ blood splatters continued up the steps. We were close. At the top of the first floor I had to slow and put my hands on my knees. Daniel touched my back.
“Are you all right?”
I straightened up. “I’ll be fine.”
His blood trail led up to the eighth floor. The same floor Mum showed me the DNA machines and the lab where the babies were grown. I burst through the doors onto the landing.
“STOP!” I yelled.
Des turned to me. His eyes bulged wide and white. He quickened and I chased him. My feet pummelled the floor. I skidded around the corner. With my power I tried to throw him aside but I was too weak.
As I passed one of the offices, a familiar voice caught my attention. I slowed to hear more an
d Ali overtook me. Daniel came to a halt by my side.
“You’re not going anywhere, Ethan. You made this mess, you’re damn well going to stay and face it.”
“You stupid bitch! It’s not my fault your army is getting a beating. Let me go and begin phase 2 of the plan––”
“Why don’t I just implement phase 2 now?”
“Because we’ll all die!”
“Well, I’m getting out of here while you two kill yourselves,” said a separate voice, one which made my legs turn to jelly. Mum.
I forgot all about following Des. I lurched towards the sound of her voice with hot anger building up from my gut. The heat spread all over my body, to the tops of my ears and the tips of my fingers. She did this. All of this. She created us. She brought us into this world as a weapon for her to use – to gain power. Well she didn’t have the power. I did. And I was going to show her.
“Mina, wait,” Daniel shouted behind me. I ignored him. “Mina, we have to stop the bomb!”
From somewhere I heard Ali shout, “I’ll get Des, ye sort yer lass out.”
I burst through the door into an office – my mother’s – to find Mrs Murgatroyd holding a gun at a man strapped in a chair.
“Mina!” Mum appeared from around the door. “It’s so good to see you.”
I willed her to lift from the floor. I wanted to toss her against the wall like an unwanted toy. I wanted to show her what she’d done to me. But my powers fizzled out and she only stumbled backwards. She laughed and picked herself up.
“You’ve burned yourself out, love,” she said, smoothing down her skirt.
“So, this is your daughter,” the man in the chair said. I’d heard Murgatroyd call him Ethan when I was in the corridor. “I thought you said she was powerful.”
“She is,” Mum said. “When she’s under my influence.”
“What a cock up that was,” he continued. “You were supposed to be my back-up plan in case this one turned on me.” He gestured to Mrs Murgatroyd.