"And isn't it true that you sought them out?"
I nod again, my stomach stirring. I can't tell if it's because of my nerves or maybe the drug is wearing off and I'm feeling the effects of the Kiss again.
"Why did you do that?"
Ebony's mouth twitches into what she probably thinks is a smile. She has me and she knows it. I answer honestly. "I needed help."
Diamond laughs. "So you needed help, an Original, and you turned to the Institute to get it, not HOPE."
"Yes," I mumble.
She laughs again and slaps the plush armrest. "There you have it. The Institute really is helping Originals."
"It looks that way," I say but I'm staring down, unable to meet her gaze. My vision focuses on the magazine cover. On those four words: Finding the Courage Within.
Diamond shifts her weight in the chair. "Tell me about HOPE. What kind of people are they?"
"I don't know much."
"I understand you spent time with their current leader, Colt Ricen. I hear he is reckless and unorganized. Would you agree?"
My eyes flicker to the camera. How can I say anything bad about him to the world? Or any of my friends, if asked? They are out there fighting, doing all that they can to get me out. What am I doing to help them?
I bounce my knee. "Reckless? Maybe sometimes. But he is determined. He believes the Institute is holding Originals captive in several facilities across the country. He also believes the Institute already found a cure to the Kiss decades ago, but refuses to give it away."
Diamond waves her polished fingernails in the air. "That's preposterous! First, they are hardly prisoners. Originals can come and go, but none of them ever do because they are treated so well. As for a cure, what benefit is there to withholding one? It doesn't make sense."
It might be her sharp tone that summons a scrap of courage within me, or maybe it's the way Ebony is glaring, all superior like, but all of a sudden words tumble from my mouth, and they don't sound soft or gentle.
"It's about ultimate control. They want to keep the population young to ensure no one ever challenges them or their methods. They've brainwashed Primes into thinking their way of life can't continue without the Institute and all of their oDNA."
Diamond tries to interrupt me, but I talk over her, unable to stop. If I don't stand up now, I may never stand up again.
"Even our government is at their mercy," I say, "all to ensure they live five more years. Time has become this country’s currency, and it's bankrupted us!"
Ebony takes a step toward me. I speak quickly. "To anyone watching this broadcast, do not trust the Institute! They are torturing and killing Originals! The only thing that can stop them, is HOPE!"
Ebony reaches me and pulls her hand back as if to slap me, but before she can I lunge at her with a sudden surge of energy. I grab a fistful of hair and jerk downward. My nails catch the front of her tall Techhead forehead, digging into her flesh. She falls to the ground with me on top of her. She tries to shove me off, but she's not used to fighting, and I easily outmaneuver her even though she's much stronger than me.
Diamond has scrambled to the other side of the room, screaming for help. Thomas sprints into the room, but before he can get to me, I punch Ebony in the face.
Thomas kicks me in the stomach, sending me flying into the opposite wall. I crumble to the floor gasping for air.
Ebony scrambles to her feet, her hair mussed and her shirt wrinkly. It's probably the only time in her life she's looked disheveled.
"I want her dead!" she shouts, her face twisted and cruel. "Kill her! Kill her!
Mr. Silent has snuck into the room. He whispers something into her ear. Her mouth closes tight, and her face reddens. Finally she says, "Just get her out of here."
Thomas grabs my hair and drags me behind him. At first I struggle, but when I do, I hurt more. I don't want to feel any more pain. And so I relax and just let him pull me out of the room by my hair like some bad, caveman comic strip.
Just then there's an explosion from somewhere inside the building. Thomas stops moving and looks around. "What the hell was that?"
"Get to the front!" Ebony calls.
I glance back. Mr. Silent is escorting her through several frantic Primes. It makes no difference to me that she gets away. I tighten my fist around her hair and blood.
A siren blares, making me grimace.
Thomas looks down at me. "What am I going to do with you?"
"Let me go?" I offer, my voice soft. A wave of dizziness accosts me, making the whole room spin.
He growls and drags me toward the nearest empty room. He tosses me in; my head catches the side of the doorframe in the process. The pain is instant and intensifies when a warm liquid runs down the side of my face.
Thomas examines the doorknob. He must not like what he sees because he straightens and slams his fist into the door.
"Security system is out," he says and stares at me for what seems like a long time, his head cocked. "You look sick enough and it's only going to get worse, so be a good girl and stay put. If you're not in this same spot when I get back, I'll have you begging for death before nightfall." He storms from the room, leaving the door open.
I move to get onto my feet, but fall over sideways. The room is still spinning and tilting a way that makes me think I've broken my eardrums, but I know that's not possible. It's probably just a side effect of the Kiss or from me bashing my head.
The extreme dizziness, combined with a throbbing ache that has settled deep into my bones, makes me think Thomas was right. I'm not going anywhere. It even hurts to lift my hand to wipe the blood running into my eye. With my other hand, I'm careful to keep a tight grip on Ebony's hair. It's all that matters now.
Another explosion rattles the building. Slivers of dust and debris fall from the ceiling, sprinkling my body. I can only assume it's Colt and the others trying to get me out. As much as I want to close my eyes and sleep for a very long time, I need to do all that I can to help them. It's not about my safety anymore.
Clenching my hand tight around the hair, I push myself onto all fours and begin to crawl to the open door. It takes every ounce of mental and physical strength I have to fight the dizziness and pain. Sweat runs down the side of my face, mixing with blood and tears. Every few seconds, a wave of nausea wracks my body, but I don't stop. I will rest later.
I stick my head into the hallway and peer down each side. The halls are empty, but frantic voices sound in the distance. An exit sign isn't too far away. From there I should be able to get to the roof, but that feels so far! I lower my head to the floor, thinking about how strong Primes are. If I only had a fraction of their special DNA, this wouldn't be so difficult. Maybe I could pretend.
I am special. I am strong. I can do this.
Gritting my teeth and breathing heavily through my nose, I crawl forward. It's a painfully slow process. Every movement nearly cripples me, but I fight the blackness threatening to overtake my vision.
Voices shout in the distance. I need to hurry. If Thomas or any of the others saw me trying to escape, they could easily kill me. I move my arm forward, but all of a sudden I'm throwing up again. My spine arches high until I think it will break. By the time I'm finished, my arms are so weak, they shake just from keeping me upright.
The door isn't much farther. Keep going! I begin to count in my head, focusing on each number. One… two… three… four…
At thirty-five, I arrive at the door. A deep voice grows louder from down the hall. They're coming! My heart races as I reach for the knob and turn it. I scramble inside the stairwell and collapse to the ground just as the door closes.
I allow myself three deep breaths before I push onto all fours again. My right hand is still in a tight fist to protect the one thing that could save my mother and the other Originals. Very slowly, I climb the stairs. The stairwell is spinning so much that I nearly fall over several times, but the metal rail stops me. I press my forehead to the cool metal. I'm burning up,
yet chilled at the same time.
The voices grow louder, like they are just outside the door. I think I hear Thomas among them. He's probably coming back to either take me or kill me. I'd prefer not to see him again.
I search deep inside me for any reserved strength. I think of Max, then my mother. If I fail, then there is no hope for her. This thought has me moving again. I'm drenched in sweat, and my teeth ache from biting down too hard, but I don't stop.
I reach the next floor when I hear the door to the stairwell creak open. I press against the wall, hoping I won't be seen. I don't see anyone, but I know someone's there, listening. Just like I am.
After several seconds, the door closes. I count to thirty before I return to my painful ascent. I make it up three stairs before a deep and slow laugh echoes in the stairwell. Thomas. He tricked me, and I fell for it.
"You can't get away," he says. "But I'm impressed you made it this far. Too bad you have to die now."
I still can't see him, but his footsteps are moving quickly up the stairs.
Go! I force my body into action, crawling faster. Bits of red and black flash in my eyes. I glance up. I still have about ten steps left.
Somewhere in the building another explosion goes off. If I can just get to the roof, I know Colt will be there.
"It will be a pleasure to kill you," he says. "You are the one who killed the Canines after all. We talk about you here at the Institute sometimes. We always wondered how an Original was able to beat two of our best fighters, but I understand now. You actually believe in something and are willing to die for it. Not many will do that, even on our side. We care too much about our own survival."
Only four more stairs. Even though I know it's useless, I scream as loud as I can and continue moving until I feel myself being thrown backwards into a wall. I crash into it and slide on my back, head first, down the stairs.
"Time's up!" Thomas says from a few stairs above me. He points a gun at my chest.
The small part of me that has fallen inside the exposed, dark crack in my mind, relaxes. No more pain.
My eyes slowly close, but just before darkness swallows me whole, there's a popping sound at the roof door and it flies open. Thomas stumbles back surprised. My gaze slowly lifts upward. In the entryway, the silhouette of a dark figure stands tall, great black wings extended. If I didn't know any better, I would think he was an angel, an angel of death.
27
Fragmented images flash in my mind. One second there's gray sky; the next burning fires. It's followed by heavy darkness, but then the images begin all over again.
It feels like I'm being carried, but I can't turn my head to see by whom. Soon there are voices and more flames flashing in and out of my vision. I think I'm screaming, but then the world is black again.
I'm not sure how much time has passed when my eyes open. My vision is still blurry, making everything around me look like a far off, watercolor painting. There's something cool against my skin. I moan, but it comes out more of a whimper. Someone touches my forehead and strokes my hair until darkness returns. I welcome it and fall into a dreamless sleep that I wish would last forever.
But it doesn't.
I wake up screaming. Memories shock my mind, and I clutch my head to try and force them away.
The door flies open, and soon I am in Colt's arms.
"Just breathe," he says. "You're safe, far away from the Institute. I'm here. I'm so sorry!"
Many more words fall from his lips while he crushes me to his chest. My voice quiets down until all that's left are hitched breaths. The room I'm in is a small space with only a bed and a chair in the corner, but at least there is a wide window to keep me from feeling squished. The walls are made out of logs stacked on top of each other. It reminds me of the bedroom I grew up in.
"I'm so sorry, Sage," Colt says again, over and over. The words do nothing to soothe my soul, but not because I blame Colt for what happened to me. How could I? It was my decision to go to the Institute. I could've backed out, especially when Tank told me that I might be tortured. I give Colt a reassuring squeeze.
"I want you to know that I did everything I could to get to you," he says.
"Please. You don't need to talk about it," I whisper. I wish I didn't have to say them at all.
He keeps talking as if he didn't hear me. "I knew the moment they made you go to sleep that we were in trouble. I wanted to go save you right then, but the others wouldn't let me."
"You don't need to—"
He tugs at his hair. "I fought to get to you, but at one point they locked me up."
"Don't—"
"To let me out, they made me promise that I wouldn't do anything stupid. They said we needed to give you a chance to get at Ebony."
He keeps talking, but I don't try to stop him anymore, even though I'd give anything to not relive what happened to me. I sense that Colt needs this. He needs to absolve himself from the guilt he feels for sending me into the Institute, as if that was something he made me do. I know that he will feel better if he can make me understand how hard he fought to get to me. Maybe he thinks I'm angry, but I'm not. Not at him anyway.
And so I let him talk, but I don't listen anymore. In my mind, I go to better times. It's a difficult place to get to because I have to sift through so much pain and sorrow, but soon I am there—in the woods with Max at our cabin. My mother is there too, smiling and cooking in the kitchen wearing her combat boots. They were her favorite, and she rarely took them off. Max has flour on his nose.
Every once in a while, Colt's voice breaks through my thoughts. "That guy standing behind you kept pressing that strange device to your skin. I lost my mind then…"
It's late at night in our cabin. My father and mother are dancing across the floor to music filled with violins and French horns. Max is asleep on the couch. I sit at his feet near the fireplace, sucking on a candy cane, while I watch them dancing and laughing. I remember wondering if I would ever be as happy as them.
"I heard you screaming in the stairwell…"
I think back to fishing with Max. He could catch twice as many fish as I could in an hour, probably because he was always so quiet.
Colt's words break through my memories one final time. "I swear no one will ever hurt you again. I will kill every last one of them if I have to."
I don't tell him that he's promising the impossible. I will experience more abuse in my life. It's the world we live in, but I let him believe that he has control over it, that somehow he can stop me from ever hurting again. This is what he needs. And maybe what I need too, I realize. If I can let myself believe his words, then maybe I can get rid of this black and rotten feeling inside me. It wants to smother everything that was once good about me.
"It's okay," I soothe, speaking to both him and myself.
Colt finally lets me go and leans away, his hands gripping my shoulders. He stares deep into my eyes and says, "I fell in love with you three times. The first was at the club where I dragged you away from that freaky Prime, Spit? Do you remember? We were in Bram's office. Anthony was making plans to get you safely out of there to Eden. He asked me to come and help, but I hesitated." His Adams apple moves up and down. "You must've noticed, because you said that you could do it on your own because you didn't want anyone to get hurt."
I remember the moment clearly. I had felt so helpless. If it weren't for their generosity, I would never have survived.
He slides his hand up to the base of my head, cupping it gently. "The second time was when we were discovered at the safe house, and we had to escape from the rooftop. I had to expose who I really was to you and fly you away. I was afraid that when you saw my wings, that you'd be frightened, but you weren't. Instead, and I'll never forget, you touched my wings. That small caress filled me with a warmth that still burns bright today."
It's my turn to swallow, my eyes watering.
He lowers his forehead to mine. "The third moment I fell in love with you was after you escaped from th
e tunnels with Tank, and you got stung by that creature. I saw you writhing on the table, near death. I nearly died inside, and I knew if anything were to happen to you, I would never be the same."
He brings his other hand up to my cheek. "You didn't know it, but I gave you my heart that day. It is and always will be yours."
I glance into his eyes, stunned by his confession. I had no idea his feelings for me were so strong. Suddenly, that dark crevice in my mind doesn't seem so deep.
I shift my body forward, closing the gap between us. My lips brush against his, light and hesitant. I hold this position, breathing in the same air he's exhaling. Slowly, my mouth begins to move. Colt is gentle in his touch, his lips caressing mine as soft as silk across my skin. I press harder, wanting to deepen the kiss. It feels so good not to think about pain, but then he pulls away and smiles kindly.
In a strained whisper, he asks, "How do you feel? Physically, I mean."
I take a quick inventory. Other than a mild headache, I'm not too bad. It's my mind I'm worried about.
"Ash gave you the cure to the Kiss and did everything she could for your other injuries," he says.
I want to ask if there's anything she can do for my brain, like erase the memories of the last— "How long have I been out for?"
He pauses before saying, "Eight days."
My breathing quickens. "Eight days! I have to go—"
"You're not going anywhere."
"What about Enfield?"
"We’re still preparing. Please just rest."
Tension leaves my body. There's still time. I curl my fingers into fists. My hands! I glance down at my right one. It's empty and there is no blood beneath my fingernails.
"Did you get it?" I ask.
Colt's eyes flicker to my open palm. It's several seconds before he says, "We got it. You did really well. Ebony’s DNA is in the key card."
I breathe a sigh of relief. "Then it was worth it."
His eyes darken. "It was not worth it. I will forever be haunted by what I saw them do to you. I can't imagine how it must be for you."
I avert my gaze to the window near the foot of my bed. By the gray light seeping in, it looks like early morning. There are several trees beyond the glass, and even further I spot a few more cabins.
Escape from Eden (Original Series book 2) Page 17