“You continue to amaze me.” Flint leaned down to nuzzle my neck.
A surge of desire shot through me. I didn’t know if it was Flint’s smell, the feel of his large hand on my thigh, the residual excitement from the night, or all three, but I wanted him desperately.
“How so?” I closed my eyes when he kissed my neck.
“You’re fearless. Climbing that building without batting an eye.”
Heat grew between my legs. “You would have done the same thing.”
He growled and nibbled my neck.
As soon as we returned to our motel room, Flint had me against the wall and was ripping my clothes off. Afterward, we got in bed and pulled back the covers, sinking into the scratchy sheets.
He pulled me closely to him and kissed me tenderly. The second time we made love slowly, our initial desire sated. We explored each other’s bodies as he sank into me once again, filling me slowly and exquisitely, until he took me over the edge, a thousand stars clouding my vision as an orgasm rocked my core.
It was well after five in the morning by the time I curled up beside him and fell asleep. I knew I’d be tired when we woke, but I wanted Flint more than anything. What if the next few days are the last time we can do this? Love each other? Feel one another?
I pushed those thoughts aside as sleep came, but dreams plagued me anyway. Dreams of ghostly faces, dark chambers and medical devices. Dreams my subconscious pulled from our pasts that now seemed all too real.
THE NEXT WEEK we staked out the warehouse every night. After the first night, we no longer parked the van on the road for fear someone from O’Brien would eventually notice it. Instead, Amber and Jacinda dropped the six of us off and returned when we called them. Sometimes, they’d go to the shooting range and target shoot. Thankfully, both now felt confident and comfortable handling a loaded weapon.
To appease Father’s worries that someone at O’Brien would spot us in the city, we moved to a new motel every few days. They were all the same. Lonely, drab buildings off highways and interstates. Easy accommodation to hide in as we became one with the masses. We still kept a low profile. For the most part, we didn’t leave our rooms. When we did, it was only in groups of two or three.
The downtime in between stake outs wasn’t wasted. We practiced our skills over and over. I honestly thought I could form energy balls in my sleep by the time December rolled around. I finally felt confident in my ability. It only made me itch to get on with everything.
I knew I wasn’t the only one who felt that way.
The antsy feeling in the group grew as the weather changed. Each night the temperature plummeted to freezing, making it harder to continually spy on O’Brien. Laying on a roof in icy temps wasn’t fun. Neither was climbing up and down a building holding onto frigid ledges and pipes. Even Jet and Jasper’s initial excitement seemed to have worn off.
Surprisingly, the only one in the group who didn’t seem anxious to break into the warehouse was Di. Her manic energy that had plagued the group since finding the cabin in the Forbidden Hills had vanished. She was back to being the resolute, dependable leader we all knew her to be. Her decisions now were based on cool judgment versus impulsive desire.
I no longer worried about her. Those days of wanting to storm into O’Brien were gone. All of her decisions seemed to be based on calculated risk.
Now, we knew who the guards were, their routines, and how the loading schedule worked. We never did find out who drove that SUV the first night we staked out the warehouse. It could have been Marcus. It could have been Albert Darlington. We’d never know.
Interestingly, we never saw Father’s former associates. Neither Marcus nor Albert ever entered the warehouse at night. Perhaps their visits were restricted to daytime hours only. If they came at all. I had no idea how involved they still were. A part of me was curious to observe the warehouse at daytime. I could tell Di wanted to as well, but she felt it was too risky. The chance of being spotted with the sun streaming on our backs was much higher. Still, I wanted to do something more.
As per our now normal daily routine, we convened in Di and Jacinda’s room late morning after the previous night’s stake out.
“Ready for another session?” Flint murmured as we walked to their door.
“Can’t wait.”
The latest drab motel we occupied had horrible road noise. Heavy traffic from I-55 was so loud at times I was positive a semi-truck was about to barrel through the window.
“Here we go again,” Flint said.
We were the last to enter the motel room. Flint closed the door behind us. The twins, Mica and Amber perched on one bed. Father sat on the lone chair, while Jacinda lounged on the other bed. Di paced the room. Flint and I opted to lean against the wall.
“What’s up?” Jet called to us.
Flint nodded. “Morning.”
Jet bent his arms behind his head and stretched his legs out on the bed. “A great morning indeed. Ah, I love living the dream.”
Jasper snickered while Mica muffled a laugh.
Di glared at them. “Let’s get serious.”
Her tone wiped Jet’s smirk off his face.
“Tonight, we’re going in. A snowstorm is predicted for tomorrow night. We can’t put off entering any longer.”
Jet bolted upright, his arms falling. “Seriously?”
“Yes, seriously,” Di replied.
Everyone eyed those around them with similar expressions: wide eyes, dropped mouths, and either a grin or frown. Nervous energy bubbled up inside of me.
Finally, the night had come.
“Remember everything we’ve talked about and the training we’ve done,” Di said. “You all need to act dependably and do exactly as I say.”
“Will do.” Jet’s joking demeanor was gone.
Father was the only one who didn’t look excited. A glazed look coated his eyes.
“Now,” Di said. “Of all the scenarios we’ve talked about, I’ve decided on a plan that I believe has the highest chance of success based on what we’ve observed. However, everyone needs to understand their role backward and forward before we can proceed...”
WE SPENT THE rest of the day rehearsing Di’s plan. In a way, it was no different from what we’d practiced for weeks. However, this time it was real. One misstep or wrong move could prove fatal.
It was an incredibly sobering thought.
That night, as we drove to the warehouse, nobody said a word. Road noise filled the void. I shifted my vision and focused on everyone’s clouds. Our energy felt tangible, like a rubber band that stretched and grew between my fingers. I mentally spread it wider. Within seconds, I had an energy ball hovering among us. If I threw it at full force, it would probably shatter the van’s door.
Flint’s hand clenched mine tightly during the drive. It was only when I let the energy ball evaporate, my senses returning to my surroundings, that I felt his grip. His hot, raw energy grew and expanded around him.
The only times I’d felt his energy this high was either in bed or when he was angry. Now, the cause was neither. I knew it was because of fear. For me. The only benefit of that fear was it gave me greater power to work with. With all of us wound so tightly, that meant greater energy balls.
I hoped it was power I could control.
Di drove the van to the industrial park. On day two of our stake outs, when Jacinda almost drove us into a guard rail, it was agreed she would not be the driver. At the time, it had been another thing for the twins to joke about. Now, nobody was laughing.
Not long later, we reached our parking spot. Di pulled off the street just short of where O’Brien’s camera surveillance started. The sound of her cutting the engine felt like a life support machine being shut off mid-breath. Gone were the familiar hums, rattle of wheels and comforting warm air that flowed through the dash. The next time the engine started, we’d either be fleeing the scene with three new people in tow, or we would be salvaging an operation that had gone desperately wron
g.
“Is everyone ready?” Di asked.
We all nodded. The silence spoke volumes.
“Ski masks on,” she instructed.
Everyone pulled the black, knit caps over their faces. When only our eyes were visible, Di nodded, “Let’s go.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
We crept out of the van with small, heavy packs slung over our shoulders. They carried the supplies necessary to destroy this place.
In the ski masks, our faces blended into the night. The only face not covered was Jacinda’s. Between her looks and charm, the twins’ ability to affect emotions and Amber’s enhanced olfactory abilities, we would know fairly quickly if a non-violent entry was possible.
Our quiet footsteps barely made a sound as we walked toward the warehouse. The familiar scents of putrid garbage, damp pavement and a lingering chemical smell hovered in the air.
I found Flint’s hand. His strong fingers gripped mine. I closed my eyes for the briefest second.
I’m safe. Right now, I’m safe.
Images of my earliest memories at O’Brien flashed through my mind. A dark square cell, a single bed, desk and chair. The room was devoid of color except for my favorite pink teddy bear and the colorful bedspread that Father had bought me. I opened my eyes and stared ahead. What happened to that bear? I had no memory of him once we reached the cabin. Father must have left him behind.
I pictured myself entering a cell tonight, searching for one of the captives, but instead spotting that bear. My heart thudded almost painfully against my ribs. It so easily could have been me still locked away, still experimented on, still clutching that ragged stuffed animal. If it wasn’t for Father, I’d still be captive too.
The irony of it made me chuff. After all, if it wasn’t for Father, I never would have been captive in the first place, but without Father who knows what kind of life I would have led. It was possible Jacinda and I wouldn’t have survived. With a dead mother, non-existent fathers and no means of taking care of ourselves, we may have died if Father hadn’t stolen us. Or perhaps someone would have found us and turned us into the state. I could have grown up in foster homes, separated from my sister, never to have known a true family.
Flint squeezed my hand. “Be careful tonight,” he whispered. “I love you.”
I met his gaze in the dark night. His irises were as black as his cap. “I love you too.”
I barely had time to utter the reply before Di made a motion. That signal meant it was time to split into our designated groups. The camera monitoring was about to begin.
Stark fear lined Jacinda’s features before she turned.
“You’ll do fine,” I whispered.
She nodded tightly. “Stay safe, sis.”
My heart clenched. I silently prayed she’d be okay. Jacinda was a gentle soul. She wasn’t made for this. And while I wasn’t necessarily either, I wouldn’t think twice about blasting an energy ball at anyone standing in our way, but my sister wasn’t like that. Even though she had a gun, concealed in her clothes, I knew she’d hesitate. That hesitation could get her killed.
With her head held high, her blond hair shimmering down her back in the moonlight, Jacinda walked quietly away. I tried not to succumb to the worry that it was the last time I’d see her.
“Move,” Di hissed.
Jet, Jasper, Amber and I turned right. Di, Flint and Mica turned left.
In hopes of avoiding detection for as long as possible, everyone stuck to the shadows. Our forms were barely visible in the night.
As the warehouse came into view, I hunched to the ground. The others did the same. Getting through the perimeter fence wasn’t an issue. A few snips from a bolt cutter, a torn hole and we were in.
The two regular night guards stood at the entrance. I switched my vision so I could monitor everyone’s positions. Colorful clouds appeared around my family like radiant bubbles. Di, Flint and Mica hovered behind a wall about twenty yards away. It was the only area the cameras didn’t reach. Jacinda waited behind a building for her cue to go ahead, while the twins, Amber and I huddled motionlessly against a wall. At the moment, the shadows covered us, but one misstep and we’d be exposed.
“Go.” Di’s voice was crystal clear in my ear piece.
Jacinda walked forward, her footsteps now audible on the pavement. The twins tensed before they closed their eyes and channeled emotions to the guards. I knew their powers were turned on full force, not the subtle manipulations they’d done in our stake outs.
Amazingly, Jacinda got within ten feet of the guards before they noticed. In the warehouse lighting, her hair trailed down her back in a golden waterfall. One of the guards smiled a suggestive grin. The other stared mutely. It seemed the twins had mastered their powers well. Regardless, I pulled up my energy and formed an energy ball just in case.
“Hey, fellas,” Jacinda said pleasantly. Any sense of her earlier fear was well masked.
“Hi, gorgeous,” the grinning one replied.
The other stared, swaying listlessly.
“Say you couldn’t give me a hand, could you?” Jacinda flung her hair over her shoulder. “My car broke down a block away, and my cell phone’s dead. I’m new to town and accidentally drove into this area. I’m not sure where to get help.”
I smiled at her tone. Jacinda played the damsel in distress brilliantly.
“Oh yeah, of course.” The smiling guard leered. “We could call you a tow truck or I could take a look. I’m pretty good with cars.” The guard didn’t seem fazed that Jacinda had sauntered up to him when a perimeter fence should have kept her out. The twins were obviously doing a good job.
“I bet you are,” Jacinda replied. “Do you think your friend could help too?”
The guard who stood docile didn’t respond. He was the one with the white cloud that I was hoping we could get on our side, but considering he seemed too lost in the twins’ spell, I wasn’t sure that was an option.
“Ethan, let’s go help this lady,” the guard said.
“Ah,” Ethan replied. “Um…”
Jacinda waited a moment before turning back to the first guard, apparently giving up on Ethan. “Do you think you could come with me?” She grinned.
The guard’s mouth dropped.
Supermodel smile. Works every time.
“With strong hands like yours, I’m sure you’d be able to fix my car in no time.”
The guard snickered, his chest puffing up.
The twins shuffled beside me, and for the first time, I looked at them. Sweat beaded along their eyebrows. Jasper gave a small groan. I tried not to be concerned by the sweat glistening around their eyes, but my stomach flipped. If they were struggling to control the guards, we could be in trouble.
I nudged Amber. “Do you smell anything concerning?”
“No,” she whispered. “They’re both feeling happy.”
Jacinda smiled at the first guard again and tugged Ethan.
“Oh…um…I suppose we could go.” Ethan seemed to shake himself.
“Yeah, we’ll help you,” the other guard said.
“Great!” Jacinda beamed. “Follow me.”
The guards trailed behind her like lost puppies, arms at their sides, docile expressions. Jacinda led them to where Di, Mica and Flint waited. It was the only area where the cameras weren’t able to get a full view. If we’d all been able to hide in that area, that’s where we’d have waited. However, it was a small patch. Fitting three bodies in there was pushing it.
When the guards rounded the corner to where Flint, Di and Mica waited a slight commotion sounded and then…silence.
“Done,” Di said a moment later. In other words, Flint had successfully knocked both guards unconscious and hid them in the shadows.
I let out a sigh of relief.
Both twins’ eyes opened, gasping exhales escaping them. An aching fifteen seconds passed, and then Di’s voice came on again. “Mica’s ready.”
Closing my eyes, I gathered my energy deep
inside of me. It hummed through my veins as I became centered. Using that control, I pulled my cloud off my shoulders and opened my eyes. I mixed my aura with the twins’ and Amber’s. Molding our clouds into a tangible ball, I struggled slightly until it hovered above us. In case some unknown guard appeared from inside, alerted that the outer guards had disappeared, I needed to be prepared.
“I have one ready,” I said through the communication system.
Flint and Mica abruptly burst from cover. They moved in a blur, Flint carrying Mica. With how fast Flint moved, the cameras wouldn’t be able to accurately see them. Even in slow motion, their ski-masked faces would probably be distorted.
They reached the guard’s station before I could blink. A loud smash signified the camera had been destroyed, a single punch from Flint doing the trick. Flint quickly went to work on the guard’s panel. If he was successful, each camera stationed around the warehouse would be shutting down one by one. We didn’t know how long we had before that raised any security flags at other O’Brien locations, but we weren’t foolish enough to think it wouldn’t. We needed to move quickly.
Mica positioned her eye in front of the retinal scan after swiping the guard’s security badge. Just as Flint’s voice sounded in the earpiece, the door slid open.
“Done,” he said.
All of us ran to them. Without working cameras, we no longer had to worry about our movements being detected. I tried to keep my ball together, but it fell apart when I began running. Dammit!
Di and Jacinda stationed themselves outside. Jacinda acted as the lookout while Di stayed in the guard’s station, continuing to hack into the system as much as she could. I started over with my powers and readied another ball.
None of us said anything.
Moving as a team, the twins, Flint, Amber, Mica and I stepped into the warehouse. Mica clutched the security badge as if her life depended on it. My heart pounded as I finally formed another ball.
Remembered Page 19