“Take your dog out of my cell.”
I turned into the direction of the voice. Through iron bars, another Native American leaned over, with her palm extended towards me. We were sitting on a stone floor. The walls were made of some sort of metal and there was a main exit door with four different locking mechanisms. Where the heck was I?
“Look what they did with your dog.”
I turned. Pig was in the same cell as the Native American. She appeared frightened. “He won’t hurt you,” I whispered.
“Dr. John wants to kill me. I’m their beginning. They’ll try to kill you next.”
“Why does he want to kill us?”
“We hold all the power. We own them.”
“I’m the newest one.”
“No, you’re a double.”
“A double?”
“Yes, Alex and Ally, they both struck you, giving you their power, and weakening them.”
“This doesn’t make any sense.”
The woman’s eyes were as black as coal. A glimmer of purple swirled through them like snakes. She made my skin tremble. Who was she? Her long black hair fell in her face and strange dots glistened on her skin. Were those her freckles doing that? I’d never seen a Native with freckles.
“You’ll get these too if you’re not careful,” the woman said. “They mean you’re not human anymore. These mean I can be destroyed. The more I change, the more jewels I gain.”
“Those are jewels?”
“No, but soon, I’ll shatter.”
“Shatter?” I tried to stand. My legs felt numb and I couldn’t focus. “I’m going to die because I’ll shatter?”
“Don’t link with anyone—ever,” the woman whispered. “They’ll insist you link. It’ll only make you weak. They can’t control you if you don’t link. You’ll grow into your strengths with training. I’ll train you. Then, we will take Dr. John down. He won’t rule me anymore.”
“Why did he lock you in here?”
“We’re too powerful. If we attack in here, the walls absorb everything. We’re trapped underground in a bunker.”
“I don’t want to shatter; why do I feel like I’m about to become someone’s science experiment?”
“Because you will be, if Dr. John calls for you.”
“Who is this Dr. John?”
“He was a Puritan and a doctor. I thought he was a good man. He made me link with him.”
“I was at a high school and there were more like us. Is that possible? How many others of us are there?”
“Amie’s link,” she said. “He brought them to us. The other John saved them. Ally helped save them, too. There’re many more of us.”
“Ally helped change a whole school? Exactly how many of us are there?”
“No, only a few were saved. Dr. John wanted them all dead.”
“Why is this guy allowed to be this way? He’s like an evil dictator of our kind.”
“Yes,” she said.
“Who are you? Why are we really stuck here? How come those kids are in a real school with regular people? How come Alex’s school doesn’t have real students mixed in? What’s going on? How many of us are there?”
“You ask a lot of questions.”
“I’m sorry, but all of this is so new to me and I’m not sure how to feel about any of it.” I inched closer. “Why are you locked in here?”
“You made me weak.” Her eyes lowered. “I grew many jewels on my skin. Soon, I’ll shatter.”
“Why? How can I stop it from happening?” My heart hurt. I didn’t want to harm anyone. She seemed a little nutty, but nice all the same. No one deserved to die.
“I’ve lived a long life. I’m your beginning.”
“What’s that mean?”
“I’m your mother.”
“I already have a mother.”
“No, I’m the mother of our kind.” The woman looked maybe thirty—if that. How could she be the oldest of all of us? “I’m your mother, your creator. I need you, Alex and Ally. You’re my only hope of leaving this place. Once Dr. John realizes how to kill me, he will. We’re all linked. My death will have repercussions.”
“On all of us?”
“Yes, on a lot of people, including my daughter.”
“Kimi?” I asked.
She nodded. “Yes, she’s the only reason I don’t want to die.”
“Why don’t we just lock this Dr. John up?”
The woman cowered in the corner.
“What’s wrong? Lady, are you okay?”
“She doesn’t like me,” a thin guy around maybe nineteen said. He wore long sleeves and faded jeans. His lip was pierced and his brown hair fell in his face.
“Who are you?”
“I’m Tobey. I’m going to do the diagnostics on you.”
“Where’s this Dr. John?” I leaned against the wall. “What’s he plan on doing with me?” I pointed at the woman. “What about her?”
Tobey shrugged. “Dr. John is busy with a new project. She’s not his concern right now.”
“I suppose I’m the high priority?”
He grinned. “Would you rather it be Dr. John that completes your diagnostic screening? I can fetch him.”
“No, I want to be healthy for when I finally meet him.”
Tobey unlocked my cell and took the shackles off my wrists and ankles. “Diagnostics is simple and doesn’t hurt, so don’t worry.”
Every fiber in my being wanted to run. Was there an exit? Could the police save this poor girl from these psychos? What about me and Pig? Were we ever going to get home? Home, it had never seemed like much until now. All I wanted was to be home with Alex and even Ally. Her snide remarks would be comforting right about now. I missed Donna and Michael, even Reginald with his silly groupies, especially Celeste who seemed to watch out for me.
If I ran, what would they do? Tobey looked easy enough for me to take on; he wasn’t buff like Charles. As soon as I was out of this cell, I could blast Tobey out of my way and make a run for it.
I glanced back at my dog. He stood with his smashed in nose against the iron bars. Pig whined, his bug eyes wet.
I couldn’t leave without him.
“What about my dog? It’s not nice to leave him in the same cell as this woman. She’s afraid of him and really shouldn’t have to be tortured and captured. Wouldn’t it make sense to let Pig out?”
“Why, so that he can bite someone?” Tobey shook his head. “If he’s so safe to be around, then our mother will be safe, don’t you agree?”
He didn’t miss a beat. “Sorry,” I told the woman. She nodded, hiding her eyes from Tobey. Was she afraid of him? He seemed okay to me.
The woman shivered, leaning her face against the bars. She motioned for me to come close. I did, nearly touching noses with her. “Dr. John will kill if he thinks it’s in his best interest,” the woman whispered. “Get home to Alex right away if you want to stay safe.”
“Follow me,” Tobey motioned to the secure door. “Please don’t try anything. You’ll just end up in Dr. John’s care. If you’re good, you’ll only have to deal with me and then get to go home.”
“What makes me so sure you’re safe?” I questioned. Tobey wasn’t threatening in the least bit. His eyes were gentle; he didn’t appear to work out, ever, and his voice was soft and kind.
“I don’t think you should trust anyone,” he said. “This isn’t really a safe haven for our kind.” He held the door open and I stepped into a narrow hallway. Red lasers pointed at my heart. “Don’t mind the security system.”
“Can a bullet kill me?”
“Sometimes. Depends on the person. You’ll probably regenerate seeing as you’re so strong. Those guys at C I N would die in a heartbeat. Alex’s school will die just like—”
“Tobey,” Charles interrupted. “There’s an issue in level five. Francisco is out of control again.”
“You were telling me something. The kids at C I N would die like what?” I tried to speak. It was useles
s. Tobey disappeared through a side door. When it opened, all I heard was screaming. What was going on in there? What were they doing to Francisco in level five? What was level five? What did Charles mean? What did Tobey mean by the C I N kids would die? They’d die like who or what?
“Charles,” I spoke sternly. “What is level five?”
He was out of his football gear and stood inches from me in a dress shirt and slacks. I could feel his breath on my face. Charles leaned closer and whispered in my ear. “You’ll know soon enough.”
“That’s not funny.”
Tobey came back, slamming the door to level five. Before the door closed, I heard the most mortifying sound. I cringed, feeling my insides crawl up into my throat. Was I going to make a sound like that soon? Would it be Tobey or Charles to initiate it?
“I feel sick.” I covered my mouth, ready to hurl. Nothing came out, but my body convulsed anyway. “What’s going on in there?”
“Dr. John has decided to eliminate Francisco,” Tobey said. “He’s being decommissioned tomorrow morning.”
“What does that mean?” I couldn’t believe the things Tobey said. Who talked about killing a man as if it was an everyday occurrence? I vomited in my mouth. Was it an everyday occurrence?
Charles sighed. “It means Francisco is going to die.”
“What sort of monster is this Dr. John?” I exclaimed. “Why would he do such a thing?”
“How can you make judgments without first knowing all the facts?” Tobey asked. “What if Francisco was a mass serial killer, would you feel like Dr. John is a monster still?”
“Is Francisco a serial killer?” I touched Tobey’s arm. Volts of electricity zapped me, only they weren’t the kind I exchanged with Michael or Alex, they were different, human…
Tobey froze. “No.” He stepped back, eyes wide. “How’d you do that?”
“Do what?” He was getting to be about as confusing as Alex. “Stop trying to change the subject. I want to know what Francisco did that was so horrible.”
“You’re extremely stubborn.” Tobey avoided my gaze. “He disobeyed a direct order. The punishment here is a bit more severe than what Alex promotes.”
“How old are you? You’ve got to be older than Alex with the way you talk. When I first met Alex, I thought I was in the twilight zone but this place is worse. This tyrant in charge, Dr. John, he’s a nutcase. Maybe he’s the serial killer and needs to be executed.”
Charles stepped in front of me. “Tobey, let me take her to the examination room before Dr. John hears her.”
Tobey nodded, tight lipped. “She’s very different from any of the others Alex has created. She’s nothing like that Amie girl, and she quickly forgets that she is the prisoner.”
“Amie?” I resisted as Charles flipped me over his shoulder. “Not again; Charles, put me down.”
“It’s much more fun this way.”
“Do as she says,” Tobey said.
“Who’s Amie? Is she the girl Alex won’t tell me about?” Charles placed me on the floor and led me through a door called Level One. “Why are there so many levels? What is this place and where am I?”
“Stop with all the questions.” Charles groaned. “How does Alex put up with you? And Ally? She’s not one for conversation.”
“Ally is fun, actually. She just needs to trust you first.”
Charles frowned. “Good luck getting her to tell you her secrets.”
“What secrets?”
“Alex and Ally have a fair share of them.” He opened another door. This time it read “Examination Room”. I stopped, pulling away.
“You’re going to experiment on me!”
“No, Lisa.” Charles took my hand. “I promise it won’t be like that in this room. Stay out of level five. It’s the only room you need to worry about being in.” His eyes softened. “I’m not saying you may never get put in there—”
“Stop while you’re ahead,” I snapped. He allowed me to enter first. “Just when I thought you were being nice.” I shook my head and Charles laughed.
“Sit on the table. Tobey will be in soon. Try to be nice and not badmouth Dr. John. He watches everyone. You don’t want to encounter the doctor, trust me.”
“This guy needs to be stopped. Why does he get to decide who lives or dies? And Francisco has to die for disobeying the doctor? That’s stupid.”
Charles smiled, yanking my hair.
“Quit it!” I punched him.
“Don’t try anything down here, power-wise, especially don’t try to escape. Your good treatment will go right out the window and you’ll be in level five until Dr. John can figure out how to kill you.” Charles was serious. “If you’re good for Tobey and he can approve your report, then he’ll recommend your release to Dr. John.”
“My report?” I grimaced. “Are you all mad?”
“This is the place all new ones are taken. We need to assess your probability for various actions, like murder, theft, exposure, mental breakdown and so forth. If you pass each test and learn to control your abilities then you’ll be able to go home.” Charles leaned forward, holding me around the nape of the neck. “I’ll personally bring you back—you and your death-dealing dog.”
“Would you let Pig out?” Tears flooded my eyes. “He doesn’t deserve to be locked up.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” He stepped back, still glancing in my direction. “Ally and I were friends once,” he told me. “She’s not speaking to me now, though.”
“Why not?”
He looked away. “I don’t like to talk about it. If you want to know what happened then ask Ally. It was her marked link that Amie went after.” Charles disappeared, leaving me alone on the exam table.
What was a marked link? The Native American woman in the prison cell said something about a link. What was that about? Never link with anyone, she said. Charles never did tell me who Amie was and I still didn’t know what was to happen to me. Was this Amie girl the one Alex loved? He said something about her to Ally and then ran away from us. I thought I was the only one he ever cared about romantically. Alex lied. Apparently, I was stuck longing—wait, I wasn’t thinking about when I could touch Alex. What happened?
I looked at my arms and legs. Everything looked the same. Why didn’t I long for Alex? Had something happened?
More questions ran through my head while I waited for Tobey. Why would Dr. John kill someone for disobeying? I thought Alex was harsh. Maybe Alex had so many rules because he was afraid of Dr. John coming for a visit and hurting the warehouse kids. A horrible thought came to me. Alex knew I was sick. The Native knew.
I couldn’t lift my head. I was going to turn into a statue and shatter. What was the cure? I needed to talk to the lady again. She was a bit of a loon but hadn’t I learned the hard way that sometimes crazy isn’t really what it seems? Alex and Ally seemed nuts at first until I learned their secrets—some of them anyway.
How could Alex keep all of this, Dr. John, my condition, the others, from me? I still needed to learn how to control myself. Didn’t Charles say that if I could control myself that they’d release me?
I jumped at the sound of the door opening. Tobey stepped closer, holding a stethoscope in his hand. He didn’t smile or greet me. I watched him place the earlobes in his ears and wait for me to uncross my arms.
“I have to check your heart rate,” Tobey said, placing the stethoscope inside my shirt. His hands were warm against my skin. My heart jumped and a tingling sensation flooded my stomach.
“I’m not longing for Alex anymore.”
Tobey glanced into my eyes, still pressing the reader to my chest. “You mind being quiet? Everything you say is amplified right now.”
“Sorry, it’s just really weird that I’m not pining for his touch.”
Tobey gave me an angry look. “You can’t be quiet, can you?”
I tensed as he pressed the stethoscope against my ribcage. His fingers brushed along my back. What was happening? Did I leach on
to every guy who touched me or what? Tobey wasn’t even my type; neither was Alex. They were both scrawny and odd.
“I’m done, you can speak now.” He rummaged in a plastic rolling cart. “Now where did I put—”
“Who was Amie? Alex was in love with her, wasn’t he?”
“She was the female version of our Dr. John. Only, Amie didn’t show her true colors to Alex. She was nothing but a plotter and a fake. She took Alex for everything he had and I’m surprised he ever got over it.” Tobey continued searching his bin. “Amie is someone you’ll have to ask Alex about.”
“Does that mean you’re going to send me home?”
Tobey shrugged his shoulders. “Yes, if your report is good why not?”
“Why are you so cold?”
Tobey pierced me with his eyes.
“How old are you, Tobey?”
“You ask a lot of questions.”
“I’m sorry but this is a lot to take in.”
He nodded. “It is.”
“What do you call yourselves?”
“We have different names. The ones Alex saved are the Warehouse Kids, the football players you met are the Team, our mother is called The Beginning, you know about the Groupies, we have the village and then there’s us, the leaders.”
“The leaders? The Groupies? Does that mean they aren’t the same as the Warehouse kids?” My head spun. “Where did the Native American come from? A village of people like us exist?”
Tobey slammed his drawer shut. “I can’t find my—”
“Forget about the exam for a minute, please, and just answer my questions. I need to know things.” I held Tobey by the shoulders.
“You’re a conniving woman.” He snapped, backing away. “Dr. John—”
“I’m not afraid of Dr. John.”
Tobey’s eyes narrowed.
“He’s a man who thinks he’s got the right to take life from others. No one has that right except God. Is he God? No. He’s not and how dare he try to hurt Francisco.” I wiped tears from my cheeks. “He’s a monster and I can’t wait till I get my chance to speak to him.”
“I’d be careful with what you say. The doctor isn’t a very forgiving man.”
“I’d say exactly the same thing to his face. What’s he going to do to me that he wasn’t already planning to do?” I reasoned. “He can only kill me once.”
The C I N Series Bundled Page 24