Advance: (Advance Industries) (Book 1)

by K A Duggsy

  Locked inside the tube I pound on the transparent door, I kick and shout; I cry and beg until there is nothing. I open my eyes slowly, dreading what I’ll find and see kind eyes hovering over me.

  “It worked.” I hear him yell, before slipping into unconsciousness.

  I wake with a start to find those same eyes from my dream leaning over me, staring at me worriedly.

  “Bad dreams?” He ventures.

  I nod and sit up noticing I’m sat on some kind of camp bed similar to the ones homeless sleep on. A lamp illuminates the room from the corner and I take in the surroundings. I’m in a tent, a large green one. And I’m alone with Kye who sits on a fold up chair.

  “What was it about?” He asks gently.

  “Nothing, it was just a dream,” I answer dismissively. Why he thinks I’d want to converse with him is beyond me. Is it some kind of abductors code for politeness?

  “Sometimes... dreams are forgotten memories, Faith.”

  I look at him staring at me. He doesn’t strike me as having any malicious intent but he sure knows how to confuse a girl. “This wasn’t. It was just a dream,” I repeat firmly.

  He sighs loudly. “Faith I need you to remember, Sweetheart.”

  “Stop calling me, Sweetheart! And remember what Kye? If there is something I should know then tell me.”

  His eyes flutter closed for a second pulling off a wounded look. “I can’t tell you, it has to come to you without outside influence, only then will you know it’s true. Believe me I’m desperate to tell you. Do you recognise me at all?” The hope reflected in his eyes is so compelling. They bore into me and I struggle to look away.

  I weigh up my answer. This man abducted me but I don’t feel alarmed around him. I believe he won’t harm me because he’s had ample opportunity to do so already, but that doesn’t mean I trust him. The last few days have been crazy, learning everything I have and now he is saying there’s more for me to know.

  “I... dreamt about your eyes.” Falls from my mouth before I can stop it. I can’t believe I told him that, I’m blushing and want the ground to swallow me up. You’re an idiot, I tell myself. I dreamt about your eyes? Why would I admit that?

  Kye removes his mask and he’s smiling wildly. I gasp, a memory on the edge of my consciousness is pricked and as I try to grasp it, hold on to it and pull it to the forefront, it fades away before I can.

  “That’s good, Sweetheart, really good.”

  “Why don’t I remember you, Kye?” I ask suspiciously.

  Now his mask is removed I’m certain I’d remember a guy like this. His brown hair is slightly long and tousled no doubt from wearing the mask. He has a strong jaw and his hazel eyes are so bloody mesmerising filled with subtle gold flecks that I want to slap myself, anything to stop staring into them. He is definitely an unforgettable kind of guy. The kind of guy that if I had even just seen once I’d have had some very interesting dreams about. My face heats at my wayward thoughts and I’m grateful when he turns away from me. I can’t let myself develop a crush on my captor. Thoughts like I just had are dangerous; he’s holding me against my will. I can’t afford to get swept away with his good looks and let my guard down.

  “I... can’t tell you,” He rasps and puts his head in his hands. “I want to; I really do, but... I don’t want you to be manipulated more than you already have. Trust your dreams Faith, you’ll find your answer.”

  Fraser

  I’ve waited all day for word from the twins; I’ve pored over files and am enjoying working again. The thrill of designing a new invention always satisfies me and calms me completely. The Advance invention has tested my patience for too long which is strange as being a scientist is all about testing, waiting and validating or disproving theories. The Advance tubes could be life changing; they just need tweaking to make them perfectly functional.

  The first trials proved catastrophic. Many deaths were a result of our eagerness to test an as yet unproved method. We had many misalignment errors but gradually the results improved to the point where lives weren’t lost but limbs were, until all that was lost were memories. Improvement - absolutely, but still not something we can sell to the market.

  The only person to ever disappear completely was Faith. We tried to replicate the exact conditions used with her on numerous individuals but they never de-materialised. The excitement the day Faith did was palpable, even more so when she returned weeks later unharmed. She ignited our hope. We were getting weary with the deaths, mutilations and disappointing results. The only catch was when she returned she had no memory, we had no idea where she went, what she did or how she got back and neither did she.

  We thought it might have been a ploy, so set her up with zone status and a job and we had eyes on her constantly. In eight months she showed no signs of remembering at all, had no recollection of her time spent with us, being tested on. She believed she lost her parents, downgraded home - all a lie.

  Johnson gave me the go ahead to see if we could trigger her, with my story about the streets and kidnapping and still nothing. She bought every word I told her and didn’t once react like someone with the memories of her treatment would. We believed that if she thought she had an ally - someone else against Advance Industries that she’d talk, admit her knowledge of us. Her underlying hatred for Advance Industries was apparent, after all the years we’ve used her for it’s not surprising, but other than that - nothing.

  I watched her sit and watch the film feed with me and she showed nothing but shock and empathy. She needs to be brought back for further tests; we’ve left it long enough for her memories to surface but now is the time for action. We should have just taken her but if her memories really are still gone then doing so would cause more damage than we’re willing to risk. The mind is a very fragile thing and after entering her back into the city it was agreed that she needs to walk back in - willingly.

  Hence this little plan that was seriously flawed from the start.

  And now she’s disappeared again.

  Chapter 9

  Faith

  I wake to muffled voices and force myself to remain still so I can listen in. Kye is in a hushed deep discussion with another man and I listen while trying to maintain steady breathing.

  “What do we do next?”

  “I don’t know,” Kye answers.

  “Kye we trusted you, we left our homes without questioning you all for her, and you don’t know what happens next?”

  “What did you suggest I do Jonah? Leave her to fall into their clutches again? Would you allow that to happen to May?”

  “I wouldn’t have gotten involved with a woman from the wrong time era.”

  “Fuck Jonah. How can you say that? I thought you liked her?”

  “I do. I don’t like this... travelling, it’s risky, and it could change things back home for us.”

  “I don’t care. Don’t look at me like that, you knew the risks.”

  “How can you not care? We have no idea what we’ll be going back to.”

  “It doesn’t matter. I have to help her, they fucked with her long enough, and I won’t let them do it again. You can all leave if you want. I won’t command you to stay.”

  “We’d never leave, you know that. We’re with you, just figure it out quicker. Her presence is making us all jumpy. She’s a goddamn enigma.”

  What the hell are they talking about? I’m an enigma? Time zone? Who is Jonah and how does he know me? Who fucked with me? Why is Kye so determined I need rescuing? My life is good, a little lonely and unfulfilling but I’ve never been in danger. I’m not happy but I’m content enough, or I was until they started confusing the hell out of me with conspiracy theories.

  I hear Kye moving around the tent, the lamp goes out and I hear him swear quietly and sit on his camp bed across from mine. I clamp my eyes shut tighter as I hear him get up again and start pacing. Eventually he stops and I hear him drag his bed over until it’s right next to mine.

  I listen to him settl
e down and then he starts stroking my hand with his thumb. “Please remember, Sweetheart, remember me... remember us.” He says quietly to the air.

  He sounds so distraught that I instinctively reach out and grasp his hand in mine; I open my eyes as his grip tightens and stare into those eyes that are so strangely familiar, in the dark they’re shining fiercely.

  “I’m sorry I thought you were asleep,” He says.

  “It’s okay. I want to remember Kye. I want to know what all this craziness is; I just don’t know how.”

  “It’ll come in time. I thought maybe seeing me would trigger them, but...”

  “Kye, did I... did I... Love you?” Oh. My. God! Did I really just ask that? I’m queen of stupid embarrassing questions today. What a great time for me to come down with a case of verbal diarrhoea. Did I love you? Why would I even think that? I don’t know this guy; he may think he knows me but he’s wrong. Those words slipped from my lips without my permission and now he’s going to think I believe his memory loss theory.

  “Sweetheart... I can’t.” He breathes raggedly, “I hope you still do.” He moves slightly to get closer to me and his sleeping bag lowers exposing his hard, tanned chest. Look away, for God sake, Faith look away! Stop being a pervert!

  Somehow I drag my eyes away then swallow and lick my lips, needing moisture to help me talk. “But you won’t tell me how we met and why I don’t remember you?” Why is he so evasive?

  “Faith, you have been manipulated for years, you’ve been subjected to...” He stops and resumes with, “When you get your memories back you will be fearful again, untrusting and I don’t want you to think I planted any false information or suggestions. I need you to remember on your own. I’ve said too much already.”

  “Why do you think that? I’ve lived an unexceptional life; I have no friends or family. My life is boring. What is it you think I’ve been subjected to because I guarantee you you’re wrong, you must have the wrong person.”

  “Faith, you’re making this difficult, you always were too eager for knowledge, I’m not surprised they set you up as a reporter.” He chuckles, a deep throaty rumble that causes me to smile but then his words register and anger floods through me. I focus on that statement as I shout, “Who set me up? I got that job all alone thank you very much and I’m good at it.”

  He barks out a laugh. “Of course you are, you’re special, Sweetheart and everyone is clamouring to find out what it is about you that makes it so.”

  He definitely has the wrong person. There’s nothing special about me, though hearing that said without a hint of sarcasm gives me a warm fluttery feeling inside. If only it were true.

  “Kye, this is really frustrating, being drip-fed information. Am I the only one around here not in the loop?”

  Those hazel eyes bore into me, filling with uncertainty as he runs his hands through his mousey hair in frustration. I watch as he gets more agitated, until he jumps up and starts pacing, running his hand over his jaw.

  “You’re not making this easy, Sweetheart.”

  “No Kye, you’re not making this easy. I’m not trying to be difficult, but I think I deserve to know why I’ve been brought off-grid, against my will I might add.”

  “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you... You need to remember.”

  “We’re just going around in circles; you sound like a broken record. I want to go home. No... I demand to go home!”

  He stops his pacing and strides towards me crouching before me and gently placing his palms on my knees. He stares deeply up at me while I stare down at him watching as his jaw clenches. Neither of us seem able to look away. He’s staring at me so intently that I feel exposed, as exposed as his torso.

  “Faith, please... don’t do this. If you go back...” He leaves the sentence hanging in the air and drops his head.

  I stare at him, completely bewildered by the pain in his voice.

  “Give me something then Kye... anything.”

  Kye

  I weigh up my options, knowing that telling her will cause a freak out but desperate for her to remember so she can get on board with me.

  More than anything though, I’ve missed her.

  I knew it was likely she’d forget once she was sent back and that was if she made it back at all, but she insisted she had to try. I don’t know if she’ll ever get her memories back... memories of me... of us.

  It guts me to know she remembers nothing of our time together. How I found her, looked after her... loved her. How we were completely inseparable, our hearts beating as one for a short time, a time I cherished. I never should have agreed to let her go back, but her courage was something that called to me from our first meeting. She’d been coerced too much; I had to give her back her free will and I’ve been beating myself up for it ever since.

  I hoped our reunion would be better than kidnapping her and holding her against her will. I had no choice but I still feel as if I’m no better than Advance Industries. I just couldn’t leave her to go through it again. I’m desperate to touch her, to hold her. Being this close yet so far away is a special kind of torture. I’ve missed her more than I ever knew was possible. I’ve been walking around with an ache in my chest, feeling as though the world fell away below my feet. I’ve imagined being with her again thousands of times, it’s what kept me going and it’s breaking me knowing she doesn’t remember me... doesn’t want me.

  I know I need to be patient and generally I’m exceptionally good at that; just not where she’s concerned. I’ve waited to see her again for so long and even though I have my wish I want more. I want her to have missed me and pined for me as much as I have for her. I want to hold her against me naked and wanting. I want to bury myself in her over and over. I want the simple things like hearing her laugh. I want her back! Not this imposter playing at being the woman I know. I harden just from remembering what she tasted like. She’s staring at me, a picture of innocence. Her cheeks are flushed, her chestnut hair splayed over her shoulder. Her pools of sea blue eyes are wide, and her body language conflicted.

  She’s beautiful but doesn’t know it.

  She’s brave but doesn’t believe it.

  She’s mine but doesn’t remember it.

  Without thinking and wholly needing to, I indulge my impulse as I bring my mouth to hers, tasting her for the first time in way too long. I bring my hand around to the nape of her neck pulling her closer. She doesn’t fight, it’s as though she’s been waiting for me to make my move, she moulds into me, fitting as perfectly as I remember and my hope is ignited. Hope that I can still cause the same reactions, feelings, and emotions in her.

  I pour everything I have to give in to this kiss. I start gently; parting her lips with my tongue until hers meets mine in a tangled duel. Urged on by how responsive she is I deepen it. I tangle my fingers in her hair and kiss her fiercely, needing her to feel my need for her and more importantly my love for her. I’ve missed so many things about her, but kissing her, yeah that has to be top of my list. I kiss her like it’s the last time I’ll ever do so because I never know what’s next. If I’d known she was going to leave me all those months ago, I never would have stopped kissing her. I pull back quickly when she gasps and study her, searching her eyes and waiting for her acknowledgment that that kiss evoked a memory in her. A recollection of our past. She gives me nothing except her cute blush and my heart falls. What the fuck can I do to make her remember? I’m beside myself and starting to panic. I decide to plead with her once more. I’m not above begging... Not where she’s concerned.

  “Stay with me, Sweetheart... Please. I don’t want to let you go back, but I won’t force you to stay.” I hang my head unable to look into her beautiful blues as she tells me the words I can’t bear to hear. My chest is heaving as my heart rattles against my rib cage waiting for her to speak. To tell me that she’s leaving me... again.

  She gently caresses my face with her palm and her touch still sends sparks through me. She makes me feel the same way sh
e always did. I lean into her hand and close my eyes, savouring every touch she blesses me with. She puts her finger under my chin and coaxes me to lift my face until our eyes lock on one another again. They stay locked, losing ourselves in the intensity of the moment. She stares for a long time until her look changes from a mixture of bewilderment and confusion at my reaction to something more familiar. She searches my eyes for answers before breathily saying, “I’ll stay Kye. God knows why but I feel safe with you. I trust you.”

  My heart blooms, that’s a start. She should be distrusting by nature considering the life she’s led, but she feels safe and trusts me. That’s something I can work on. I hoped it would be a quick transition but she’s worth the wait. I’ll wait for her forever if I have to!

  I travelled for her.

  There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her.

  Fraser

  It’s late when I finally receive a call from the twins. It isn’t the good news I was hoping for.

  “No sign of her,” Alec informs me in a hushed tone.

  “She can’t just have disappeared,” I snap and then realise what a mistake that is, of course she could, but not without the tubes and she definitely couldn’t have gotten near the lab.

  “One of the homeless reckons he saw someone being dragged off-grid last night, worth looking into, but we’d need a team,” Ameera says.

  “I was hoping to find her without alerting Johnson.”

  “We should’ve taken her in before, in fact, we shouldn’t have let her out!” Alec hisses.

  “The president ordered it. Who am I to question his motives? Who are you to do so?” I question, although I agree with everything Alec said.