Ten minutes later and I was climbing up a stairwell. I wasn't sure where it would lead, but something told me it would be safe and I decided to trust it. When I reached the top I pressed my ear against the wall, but after a few minutes of no sound I pushed the door open. I found myself in one of the far storage sheds at the northwest of the compound.
A quick peek out the window showed the place in pandemonium. Guards in black were running all across the place in groups of three or four. I could see many of the students being herded into the large open area in the center of the training area. I had to move fast, or I would be the only moving target out there.
I cast my eyes across to the supply sheds near the barracks back over the other side of the clearing. I discarded it almost right away. There was no chance of me getting supplies from there. I turned back to rummage around in the storage shed I was in, hoping against hope for something that would aid me on my journey. There was nothing but junk. Bed frames, and bricks, and the like. I was fresh out of anything for the journey.
I would be in the forest for weeks before I was even close to civilization. I strained my memory for anything about a town nearby, but came up empty. Either I can't access that knowledge myself, or I never knew it to begin with. I sighed and opened the door to look out over the forest. It was a good thing summer was on its way — there is no way I would be able to survive a winter in there without anything to help me.
I waited until I had a window and pushed open the door. I must have been conspicuous as a solitary member, but I stuck to the same movement patterns with my rifle raised so that a casual glance wouldn't raise any suspicion. Within fifteen seconds I was into the forest and leaving the compound behind me.
I knew the surrounding area must have been crawling with guards, but for the first time since I had woken up I took a breath. As long as I was careful from here, I was free. Free to starve to death in the woods maybe, but free all the same.
I started marching.
When I heard noises behind me I had to stop and hide to allow guards to pass me by without alerting them. I wasn't aware I could hold my breath for as long as I did when they swept the area. I thanked the stars it wasn't snowing. There is no way I would have been able to cover my tracks. When they moved on I picked up my pace and made my way deeper into the forest.
Twenty minutes later and I found myself in a familiar clearing. I frowned as I looked at the pond. Had I gotten turned around? This is the last place I needed to be. They would know to look here.
So why was I walking out into the small clearing?
Every instinct told me to run, to get out of here while I still could, but the moment my eyes fell on the place where Sarah had fallen I knew why I had come. Tears sprung to my eyes as I walked forward and collapsed onto the spot where she had been killed.
I hadn't even gotten to say a real goodbye.
I wondered if she had been buried. Knowing the military and it's stance on waste, she would have been cremated. Although not after the doctor harvested whatever he needed for his 'experiments'. I shuddered at the thought.
"I'm sorry, Sarah."
Sorry I didn't get her away. Sorry I didn't foresee that Bradley would betray us. Sorry I wasn't more prepared.
Sorry I didn't save her.
I sighed and picked myself up onto my knees. I had to get out of here before anyone stumbled across this location. It would be that much harder to get away if I had to leave a trail of soldiers in my wake. I checked the clip on the magazine. One bullet. How ironic. It was time to move on.
"I knew you would come here."
I spun and fell onto my backside. My weapon was raised and aimed toward the man who had walked up behind me. He was thirty feet away from me. I had one bullet. I wanted to use it. I sighed and kept my eye down the sights that were aimed at his nose.
"Hi, Bradley."
FORTY-SIX
"Are you hurt?"
I scowled at him. "That's rich coming from you."
Bradley inclined his head. "Touche."
His arms were raised above his head, and I couldn't see any weapon on him, but I wasn't taking any chances. I stood and walked sideway around him, not taking the sights from his head, until I had completed a full circle. When I was sure he wasn't holding a weapon I let the sights fall, but I kept the weapon's stock up against my shoulder. I wasn't the best shot with a rifle, but from this distance it wouldn't take much.
"What are you doing here?"
Bradley gave me a small smile. "I really just wanted to see how you were. To make sure you were okay."
I felt rage flood through my body. "How can you even say that?"
Bradley sighed. "There isn't enough time to explain now. You should get out of here while you can."
I looked over his shoulder at the dense forest. I knew he was right. I knew I should have just left and never looked back. There was only one problem.
I had to know.
"Why?"
"Because someone might come along at any second."
I shook my head. "No. Why did you do it?"
A look of pain crossed across Bradley's face. That more than anything made me want to put a bullet through his head. He knew nothing of pain. He knew nothing.
"I…" Bradley signed and shook his head. "I felt like I had to." He looked up and into my eyes. "I'm sorry for what happened to you."
I took a step toward him and raised the gun again. I was shaking so hard that I wasn't sure whether I would be able to make the shot or not. It didn't matter. I could kill him without the gun. I knew it, and so did he. I took a few deep breaths to get myself under control. For his part Bradley just waited while I decided whether or not to kill him.
"How can you say that like you weren't a part of it?"
Bradley cast his eyes downward. "I wasn't. I know you won't believe that, but I had no idea what would happen to you. When you dropped what you did on me I…" He shook his head. "I didn't want to believe it. I wanted anything else to be true, so I made a bad decision."
I snorted. Understatement of the year.
He looked up at me, a fire behind his eyes that until this moment his features had been lacking. "If I could make it again, I would choose differently. That doesn't mean anything now, but it's all I have."
I nodded. "You're right. It doesn't mean anything."
He shook his head. "I'm sorry."
I glared at him. "You know I would almost believe you if it weren't for everything that came after. The things they did to me… I don't even remember most of it, but the things I do remember I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy."
"I didn't know about any of that—"
"Oh don't give me that bullshit!" I took a breath and tried to calm myself down. It was risky enough sticking around for this conversation, and I didn't want people rushing toward us at the sound of my voice. "You did see me. I remember."
Bradley lifted his eyes to mine. "That was the day I was almost executed for treason. Did you know that?"
I frowned at him. "What are you talking about?"
Bradley sighed. "It had been months since you were taken away. I was assured by the general that you were only being held to prevent harm from coming to you, and that you would be released when they were sure that you wouldn't try to attack anyone." I snorted, but Bradley continued on like he hadn't heard me. "That excuse got harder to swallow, and I decided to start doing some digging. It wasn't until two months later that I found one of the entrances to the area you had told me about." Bradley winced. "Can I lower my hands, please?"
I inclined my head and he let his arms fall to his sides. I kept the rifle on him as he stretched his shoulders. He began talking again once he had finished. "Anyway I went down into the area and found you there. Do you remember what happened?"
A sour taste entered my mouth. "Not… exactly. I remember that you saw me there, not much else. It's a bit of a blur."
Bradley nodded. "I was walking down one of the walkways overhead when I saw you walk ou
t of your room. I rushed down there as fast as I could, but it wasn't until I was close enough that I could see the marks all over you." Bradley shivered. "You were covered in scratches. Gouges you had made with your own nails."
I frowned at him. I wanted to tell him he was lying, that there was no way I would do that to myself, but a flash of something in the back of my head convinced me that he was telling the truth. "Okay, fine. What then?"
"You refused to come with me." He shook his head. "Refused is the wrong word. It was like you couldn't even hear me. You were… gone." His voice sounded watery.
I shivered. There were flashes where I knew what he was talking about. Those are memories I would rather stayed lost. I didn't like thinking about what I had been then.
Bradley cleared his throat, and his normal voice returned. "When I got my wits about me I went right up to the general's office."
I smirked at him. "Oh did you go to submit a complaint?"
Bradley shrugged. "Something like that." When I raised an eyebrow, he elaborated. "I punched him in the face."
I felt my eyebrows raise of their own free will. "You… punched him?"
He stared at me, his eyes filled with passion. "I did. I wanted to kill him. I'd known he had lied to me, and I wanted to tear him apart. Shame his guards ran in and pulled me off him, or I might have been able to do it too. Catching someone off guard gives you quite the advantage."
I nodded. "Okay, so what happened then?"
He shrugged. "I was put into a cell for a few days while they decided my fate. One day Gus came to me and told me he convinced the general not to execute me as a traitor. I owe my life to that man."
I laughed. "Well isn't that just all nice and cozy for you. Meanwhile I was rotting in one of their torture rooms."
Bradley nodded. "I know. That's why I worked as hard as I could to get the general's trust back. It was the only way I could get you out."
I sneered at him. "You had nothing to do with getting me out."
He inclined his head. "At first I thought they were just keeping you for no reason. It wasn't until I got back in the general's good graces—two months later, I might add—did I discover what their real plans for you were." He looked like he was about to be sick. "I didn't know that they would stoop so low as to take away a human beings free will."
I felt my skin chill at the reminder. I still had no clear memories of my times as a slave. In a way I hoped they never returned, but I knew in the long run I would rather know than not. I could never be a whole person until I knew what I had become. I looked up at him. "So what was the plan? Order me around some, have some fun, and then what?"
"The plan was to get you back to who you were before. I worked my ass off to get back to a position where I could become your controller. From there I was going to develop a plan to get you back to us. Back to me."
I spat on the ground in front of him. "No matter what happened, I would never have been yours again."
His shoulders dropped. "I know."
I shook my head. "How could you even think it?"
He shrugged. "It was a foolish dream. I don't know. Just know that, no matter what happened, I never meant to hurt you. Or anyone."
I shrugged. "That still means nothing. It won't ever."
He nodded. "Fair enough. I can't change that now, but I did intend to help you."
I smirked. "Well it looks like you were beaten to the punch."
The moment the words left my mouth I realized they were a mistake. His eyes widened and he stared open mouthed at me. "Someone else got you out? But… who?"
I waved a hand. "That is none of your concern. I'm out now, and I'm never going back there."
Bradley nodded. "I understand." He turned and pointed toward a bush nearby where he had entered the clearing. "In there is a pack I made up for you. It contains enough supplies to last a few weeks. If you head southeast from here you will hit a town before it runs out as long as you keep up the pace."
I felt myself falter. He had tried. He really had. I opened my mouth to thank him, but then remembered Sarah. My mouth snapped shut. I took a few breaths to get my heart rate under control again.
I looked Bradley in the eyes. "She was my only friend."
His eyes filled with water. "I know. I think about her every day."
I felt my spirit falter. I knew it was stupid, but I said it anyway. "Come with me."
His mouth fell open. "What?"
"I said come with me."
He looked lost for words. "But… why would you want me to?"
I snorted in laughter. "I don't. I am seconds away from pulling this trigger and killing you. I don't know that I could even stomach being in the same forest as you, let alone have you traveling with me." I sighed. "But, like I said, I wouldn't wish what happened to me on my worst enemy."
Bradley gave me a small smile. "That means a lot, it really does, but I can't come with you. I have my reasons, and I'm going to stay. Don't worry about me though, I've put measures in place to make sure that no-one will know I helped you. Also if I stay I can sabotage the search mission. I can still help you from here, even if I have failed you."
I felt disappointment fill me, but I pushed it away. I was better off alone. "Fine. Tell me one thing, though."
He lifted his eyes to mine. "Anything."
I took a breath and swallowed my pride. "I just want to know. Did you ever really care about me?"
A moment passed between us where I wanted to take the question back, but that moment passed and he responded.
"More than anything."
Tears threatened to sprinkle my eyes, but I fought against them. There would be time for sorrow and remorse, but now was not that time. I nodded and lowered the weapon. It fell from my grip, but the strap around me neck prevented it from falling to the ground.
I gave him a small nod. "I guess this is goodbye then."
He nodded. "I guess so."
Another voice came from the other side of the clearing. "Not so fast."
Bradley and I both spun to the source of the comment, and the blood left my face when I saw who it was. General Walker was standing alone holding at large pistol aimed at my head. There was no way I would be able to get to my own weapon, which now hung at my side, before he could pull the trigger.
The general smiled at me. "I knew he would lead me to you. Gus tried to convince me he could be trusted, but I knew better. There is something about you that makes him forget his duty."
I grit my teeth and opened my mouth to respond, but Bradley beat me to the punch.
"You always knew how to make an entrance, didn't you, dad?"
FORTY-SEVEN
I stared between them with my mouth hanging open. "Dad?"
General Walker inclined his head. "Yes. This miserable excuse for a soldier is my son."
Bradley snorted, but didn't say anything. I grit my teeth and looked at the gun that the general was holding. It was the pistol he had used to kill Sarah.
"Admiring my revolver are you? This right here is a .357 magnum. If I pull this trigger we wouldn't be able to find every piece of your head."
I believed him. The thing was massive compared to the pistols I was used to.
"So what's the plan? Take me back and brainwash me again?"
The general inclined his head. "If at all possible. You're a useful tool. One of the best young performers I have ever seen, in fact." I sneered at him to hide the pride that I felt upon hearing those words. He disgusted me, but I still held the opinion of this man in high regard. Maybe there was something wrong with that, but I wasn't about to question it now. The general sighed. "It's that attitude that's the problem."
My mouth dropped open. "Attitude? Are you kidding me? You're all a bunch of murderers! You hide behind this mask of protecting the people, but all you're doing is grasping for more control and power. You people make me sick."
A small smile played over the general's lips. "That's quite the bold statement coming from someone who ju
st killed seventeen people."
My blood went cold. Seventeen? Had there really been that many? I wanted to be sick. "T—That was self-defense."
"You keep telling yourself that, Alex. I'm sure it will help you sleep soundly each night."
I glared at him. "Don't you dare try to compare what I did with the atrocities you have committed."
The general shrugged. "Everything I've done has been for the greater good. It is not my issue that you have so narrow a world view that you can't see that. I sleep like a baby."
I felt my lip curl in disgust. "You're a psychopath."
The general sighed. "I grow weary of this. You can't fight me, not when I have my weapon on you. I know you used your pulse, and there's no way it's back up already, even at your best estimates. You can either come quietly, or with bullets through your knees. The medicine we have can fix you up either way. Your choice."
I felt myself start to sweat. He was right. There was no way out of this for me. I swallowed hard and tried to think. My mind was running at a hundred miles a second, but I couldn't see a way out of this.
I grit my teeth and looked him in the eye. "I'd rather die."
The moment to words left my lips I knew them to be true. There was no way I would ever go back to being the thing they made me. Death was better. I tensed my legs, ready to run. I wasn't going to survive, and I accepted that. With a deep breath I started to turn.
"Stop."
I froze and turned to look at Bradley. I had almost forgotten he was there. He looked between me and his father, and I could tell he was torn with what to do.
General Walker sneered. "Stay out of this, child."
Bradley seemed to come to a decision. "No. I'll not let you do this."
The general turned to look at him with his eyes wide. "Let?"
Bradley raised his chin. "She might not have her pulse, but I have mine. Lower the gun now, or I'll take you down."
The Pulse Series (Book 1): Pulse Page 27