Jasmine
Ana Elise Meyer
Jasmine
ISBN-13: 978-1535090902
ISBN-10: 1535090901
Authored by: Ana Elise Meyer
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Cover Design: SelfPubBookCovers.com/Ravenborn
Special Thanks to: Janet Mary Bagley
Copyright © 2016 by Ana Elise Meyer
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author. The story is a work of fiction. Names and characters are a product of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
“True redemption is seized when you accept the future consequences for your past mistakes”
-Unknown
Chapter
1
It had been a couple days since Chessy and Greg had seen James, when they boarded the plane bound for California. They had the details of the facility and what they were looking for, but they were not sure if they wanted to find anything.
“I don’t like this,” Chessy let out, rubbing her blue eyes.
They sat in silence for three hours on the plane. “I’m not a big fan either, but it is our mission,” Greg replied calmly.
“James doesn’t know any of this, and we are snooping on his mother. I tried to call him, but he didn’t answer.”
“What? You called him? We weren’t supposed to be in contact with him.”
“I had to. He deserves to know the truth. If it was you, wouldn’t you want to know?”
“So what, you think a phone call, ‘Hey your mother was a super human killer, and we are looking for details of how they made her, how’s your uncle?’ Did you think that through at all?” Greg said, leaning back in his chair, crossing his arms across his muscular chest.
Chessy hung her head, running her hands through her short blonde hair. “I guess not. What if we find evidence of it?”
“Then we report it back like we were instructed. If we want to help James, maybe finding out more about his mother will help him come to terms with who she was.”
Chessy nodded. She knew Greg was right. “Ok what do we have on the facility?” Chessy sat up straight and reached out to Greg, who had the files next to him.
Greg reached over and pulled up a file. “It is abandoned. Nobody goes in there. They told the locals there was a chemical weapon that discharged and made the facility a danger to go near. It is in lockdown. It is monitored by cameras, but according to what I read and what President Warren told me before I left, the cameras will be disarmed, so we will be free to enter without possible intervention.”
“Intervention from who?”
“The military force stationed there to stop anyone from going in. They are off-grid militants, so no file.”
“Why not standard security? That seems a bit excessive. Plus, if they haven’t found anything there in over fifteen years, since they shut it down, why do they think we will find anything new?”
“Look, I don’t know, but we are being sent there to look, so we look.” Greg reached out and handed Chessy the file.
Chessy flipped it open and started going through the diagrams of the facility. Chessy saw it. “There is the research building. I guess that is where we are going to start?”
“That was my thought, and we just go from there.”
Chapter
2
The plane landed, and the two of them got their rental car, a jeep wrangler, and started the drive out to the facility. It wasn’t too long of a drive before they made the turn to go down the gravel road that led to the facility. As they approached the facility, they were taken back by how rundown it was. Barbed wire was everywhere blocking the entrances. Warning signs cautioning of chemical exposure were everywhere. They pulled up to the main gate and got out. Chessy brushed off her green tank top and adjusted her black cargo pants as she stood up. Greg saw the front gate and knew exactly what he was going to have to do. Greg walked towards it, rolling up the sleeves of his beige hunting shirt. Greg examined the lock on the gate and the barbed wire weaved through the chain-link. Greg turned back to Chessy, who was still standing by the jeep.
“Grab my small orange bag,” Greg yelled.
Chessy climbed back into the jeep and retrieved the small bag from Greg’s things. Chessy took the short jog to Greg and handed him the bag. Greg opened it, and Chessy took a step back. “So you can break into things professionally? That’s a lock picker’s kit.”
“I told you; I have some skills they didn’t teach us in training.” Greg quickly went to work, picking the complex lock. After a few tools, they heard the click of the lock opening. Greg smiled, placing the tools back in and grabbing two pairs of wire cutters. “Get to cutting. We need to get the barbed wire out of the way, so we can open the gate. As they were cutting, Greg kept looking behind them.
Chessy noticed. “What are you looking at?”
“I can’t help the feeling that we are being watched.”
“Well duh, there are cameras. I bet Warren didn’t deactivate them like he said he was going to.”
“No, that is not what I meant,” Greg replied, cutting the last wire to free the iron latch to open the gate.
Chessy scanned the surrounding woods. “I don’t see anything. You’re being paranoid.” Chessy turned back around to see Greg pushing the gate open. It creaked with the sounds of metal that hadn’t been moved in ages. As the gate opened, they stepped through to see the ruins of what was once a top of the line facility. The buildings were crumbling. Broken glass and burnt ruins were everywhere.
“Someone tried to burn it all,” Greg said, picking up a piece of burnt door.
“No, they tried to blow it to bits,” Chessy replied, pointing to the explosion marks on the building marked 'Training Facility'.
“Then we need to be careful, as there may be leftover explosives.” Greg scanned the buildings in front of them. “The map indicated that research building is the one.” Greg pointed to the building to their left. No sign remained to verify their information, as the building appeared to be barely standing. They cautiously approached the front door and pushed it open. As they did, a gush of dust-filled air rushed out. “Nobody’s home I take it.” Chessy chuckled as she stepped in.
Greg followed her in, cautiously, as he checked behind them again. The nagging feeling that they were being watched wouldn’t leave him.
Greg was right. In the shadows, in the tree line, sat Marie and James, watching as Greg and Chessy broke into the facility. “Why are we watching? Why don’t we just go up and join them?” James questioned, confused.
“Because they are being watched.”
“By who? Other than us?”
“Not sure yet, but they don’t mean to make friends. We wait, and we watch for them to strike.”
“How do you know they are being watched? I don’t see anyone.”
Marie gave James a sideways glance. “So, because you don’t see them, that means they aren’t there? Trust me. I can smell them. We stay in the shadows. Don’t worry. I won’t let anything happen to your friends.”
James held his breath as he watched Greg and Chessy push through the gate.
“Ok, they are in. Follow me,” Marie ordered, standing up slightly and pulling one of her knives from the harness on her back. James saw this and pulled his gun and readied it in his hands as he followed her. James followed Marie as she made her way through the trees to the back of the facility. James scanned as he went, looki
ng for these ‘other people’ she was talking about, but he saw no sign. James watched as Marie found the latch she was looking for. It was unsecured.
“How did you know that was there?”
“Because I made sure it was still there. I have been back more than once.” Marie pulled the latch and opened the gate. As they entered, they stood behind a dilapidated building. Marie peered around it. James could see her smile and tried to look around the corner, but Marie stopped him. “Stay back and let me take care of this.” Marie pulled out her second knife and twirled them in her hands. Marie moved quickly from behind the building. Despite his orders to stay put, James moved, so he could see where she was going. She was right. There were other parties involved. He could see them dressed in camouflage combat gear, approaching the research building. James hesitated. He wanted to help. There were five of them; she needed his help. What if they got to Chessy and Greg before she could stop them? James watched, gripping his gun tight, as Marie approached the man closest to them from behind. Marie struck fast, with a slice to the back of the man’s neck, dropping him to the ground with a yelp. His cry drew the attention of the other four. James saw them turn and pulled his gun. He had to help. He fired, striking one of the men, but his help wasn’t needed. He watched in awe as Marie made quick work of the other three, dropping them one right after another, while avoiding the hail of gunfire in her direction. As Marie finished with the last one, she pulled her knife from his back and turned to face James. “I told you I had it. You needed to stay hidden,” she barked.
“I…I…I just…” James couldn’t finish. He had never seen anything like what she had just done.
Marie could see that James was in shock. “Just relax. We are both ok.” Marie placed her hand on James’ back. “Let’s go get your friends.” Marie walked towards the research building with James in tow. Marie stopped right before the door and stepped to the side of it. James ignored her movements and went straight for the door knob. “Wait, don’t open the door,” Marie ordered, grabbing James by his arm to move him from the doorway.
As James found himself standing next to her against the wall, he looked at her. “How do you suggest we go in if not through the door?”
Marie laughed. “Did they teach you nothing, or are you forgetting already? There was just a big fight out here, guns fired and such. Don’t you think they heard it? They are in there, guns drawn, ready to shoot whatever comes through that door, and I would rather it not be me or you.”
James nodded. “Well, get the door, and I will identify myself, so they won’t shoot.”
“Fine,” Marie replied, kicking the door in and quickly moving out of the doorway next to James. There was silence, no shots fired. James started to move, but Marie stopped him.
“Identify yourself!” Greg’s voice called out.
“Ok, now you can talk,” Marie looked to James.
“Guys, it’s me, James. The coast is clear. Lower your guns. I am coming in.” James took a deep breath and looked at Marie, then started his way into the doorway, his arms raised. “See, it’s me. Don’t shoot me, please.” James chuckled.
Chessy and Greg were positioned behind the metal tables, guns drawn. Chessy saw him first and ran to him, throwing her arms around his neck. “We were so worried about you!” she exclaimed. As she released her grasp, she noticed Marie standing in the doorway. Chessy stepped back and drew her gun again. “Hold up. Who are you?” Chessy questioned.
“Tell the twit to lower her gun,” Marie snipped back to James. James had no time to answer.
“Who are you calling twit?! James, who is this bitch?” Chessy’s nerves were showing, the gun shaking in her hand.
Marie grimaced. “She is dumber than I thought.”
“Who, whoa everyone chill. Chessy, gun down, she won’t hurt you, and I don’t plan on you hurting her.”
“Like she could.” Marie delighted in Chessy’s nerves. Marie walked into the room, climbing up onto the table to Chessy’s right side. Chessy kept her gun locked on Marie.
James placed his hand on Chessy’s gun. “Lower it and relax.”
Chessy slowly lowered the gun and holstered it in the back of her pants.
“Look, she’s trainable.” Marie laughed.
“Stop it!” James yelled, pointing at Marie.
“Ok, what the hell is going on?” Greg had enough of the yelling. “Who is she and what happened out there?”
James took a deep breath. “There was an ambush sent for you two. She stopped them.” He pointed to Marie.
Greg looked over to Marie. “And who are you? Why are you helping us?”
“I’m not helping you. I am helping him.” Marie pointed to James.
“I see; what this is? When you ran off, you weren’t checking on your uncle; you were hanging with this slut,” Chessy berated James, pushing him away from her.
“Please let me kill her. She is so annoying,” Marie complained.
“No! Chessy, chill the fuck out! She is not my lover…. she is my mother.”
Shock fell over Greg and Chessy. They both pulled their guns again.
“James, she is dangerous. Ray told us what she has done. You can’t trust a killer.” Chessy’s voice shook with fear.
Marie pulled a knife from her holster and began twirling it in her hand. “I told Warren they were going to be a problem. They need better manners,” Marie retorted to James.
“Everyone stop. Chessy and Greg, guns down. Put that knife away, now! We are working together.” James turned to face Chessy and Greg. “If you trust me, then please, put them away and listen to what she has to say.”
Slowly, Chessy and Greg lowered the guns and holstered them. All eyes were on Marie.
“So you are ready to listen and not freak out like little children?”
Chessy’s hateful glance was locked on Marie. Greg was calm and listening.
“They will listen; please just explain,” James reassured Marie.
“Ok fine, I am here to pick up you two to join us. We have a mission from the President, and I chose you three to work with me.”
“You chose us?” Chessy snarled.
“No, I am staying with him and Greg, and I am stuck with you,” Marie retorted. “You have no idea what you are in for, you little tart. This is serious. So I suggest you drop the fucking attitude with the one person who can keep you alive.”
“Ok, ignore her. I am listening to you. Please explain this to me,” Greg calmly interjected.
“See, the chocolate one gets it. I knew you were the smart one.” Marie chuckled.
The three cringed.
“Ok, you three are boring. Do you two know why you were sent here?”
“To find out more information about you.” Chessy pointed back to Marie.
“Don’t point; it’s rude,” Marie corrected Chessy. “No, actually, you were sent here to meet with us. I picked this location, because I wanted to make sure all three of you were aware of what you were getting yourselves into. I always believed this is where it began, but I was wrong. This was where everything went wrong.”
All attention was on Marie.
“This is where they made me and the rest of my team. However, they tangled with the wrong scientist. Dr. Carl Stanley was my creator, so to speak; he deceived them and didn’t give them and army as they ordered. He only gave them me. He taught me better than to trust them, and he was right. They tried to kill my child, so I ran. So they took everything from me. I swore to take everything from them. However, in the process, I learned there was so much more going on than just an evil company with dark intentions. They had bigger plans, so I had to grow my plans as well. One of their own is ready to betray them, and together, we can bring an end to all of it.”
“An end to what?” Greg inquired.
“To their domination. They are planning ‘world domination.’ I know it sounds cliché, but they sure as hell think they can do it, and a lot of people will suffer if they succeed in what they are planning
.”
“Ok, that doesn’t explain anything. What are they planning?” Chessy huffed.
Marie looked to James. “She is on my last fucking nerve. She isn’t allowed to talk, ok?”
James took a deep breath and looked to Chessy. “Just listen.”
“First things first, you will find out soon that the first lady is missing. She has been kidnapped…or at least, that is what the news will report.”
Shock fell over the three of them.
“How do you know that?” Greg pried.
“Because I made her disappear. Well, not really. I mean, they will find her body in a day or so. Before you start freaking out, she was one of Ming’s girls. She was placed with President Warren, as you know him, to keep him under control. I got rid of her for him.”
They heard the words, but struggled to understand. Their blank stares gave Marie the indication she needed to explain more. “Look, it is simple. Just like the situation with the gal at the Embassy in France, there was a girl in place with President Warren. He is defecting from the plan. The plan was for her to ‘go missing’ and turn up as a hostage, which would be staged, to give them grounds to put their plan into place. Instead, I made her actually disappear to place the blame elsewhere. She was an idiot. I just told her Ming sent me, and she helped me get her out.” Marie laughed.
The other three were still silent. Once Marie stopped laughing, Greg spoke, “So what do you want with the three of us? You seem to have things under control.”
“Now, don’t you start getting snippy. I left my calling card. I will no longer be a secret, and they will come for James, and to punish him, they will come for you. The safest place the three of you can be is with me.”
James glanced to Greg and Chessy. “I’m in if you two are.” Chessy looked to Greg.
Greg could read her. “James, we trust you, and if you trust her, we will stay with you.”
Jasmine (Teumessian Trilogy Book 3) Page 1