Advancing ((Advance Industries #2))

by K A Duggsy

  “I’m on it,” he says. “I’ll find him!”

  “Pack up our shit too, we need our packs… Just in case.”

  Faith

  I read his message and tears fall down my face. It’s the nicest he’s been to me all week. I love him too and don’t want to be without him but losing a baby changes nothing, we knew we were going back it makes no difference if I go alone or not. I type out my own message then delete it, then try again. It just doesn’t sound right, I can’t convey my feelings and I don’t want him to stop me as a sense of duty or out of guilt.

  The President walks into the room with two AIG and a beaten Trask. His face is a mess. I wince just from looking at him, his lips are split, his left eye swollen and closed up but he’s still smiling at me. Why is he looking so triumphant?

  I jump up and rush over to him but they won’t let me close. I turn on the President. “What have you done? Why is he hurt?”

  “I assure you we never wanted this. He attacked my guards and this is the result.”

  “Trask...”

  “I’m okay girl. Don’t look at me like that.”

  “Will you let him go, please. This is all just a huge misunderstanding.”

  “Faith your safety is most important to me I can’t just let a Neanderthal loose in my home.”

  “He wouldn’t hurt me. He probably thought you were and that’s why he lashed out. Please, he won’t hurt anyone. Will you?” I direct at Trask.

  He shrugs noncommittally obviously not willing to agree to that. My eyes flutter closed, he’s not helping himself. I take a deep steadying breath. Why are the men in my life so hell bent on making things difficult for me?

  “Fine, send me back, then let him go?”

  “Agreed.”

  “Not agreed!” Trask shouts, “You’re going nowhere Faith, not alone anyway!”

  I pivot my body back in his direction. “What are you proposing Trask? That you come with? Don’t be so stupid. I don’t need chivalry or help. I’m capable of dealing with more than you give me credit for.”

  “I’m more than aware of your capabilities Girl. I’m doing this for me, for my conscience. Being with you is an added bonus.” He smiles and winks at me playfully with his good eye.

  Before I can respond he head-butts the guard to his right with the back of his head disabling him. The guard grabs hold of his nose in both hands and blood drips over his fingers. The other guard who was also concentrating on our exchange increases his grip on Trask’s arm after flicking a look at his mate. It’s useless, though, Trask is slightly shorter but better built. Before the guard has time to register what’s coming his way, Trask butts him too, this time using the front of his head. I squint at the brutality and notice the President has his comm prepped to call for backup.

  “Don’t!” I warn him as I move closer.

  He smiles at my command. “How do you propose to stop me Faith?” He asks with genuine interest.

  I look at Trask as his knife comes flying through the air still sheathed thank God and I catch it, thanking the heavens that my reflexes are still going strong. I pull it from the cover and step even closer to the President.

  “I don’t want to hurt you. I just want to leave. Trask doesn’t deal well with restraint and your guards got what they deserved after the beating they gave him. Just let me go back and let’s do it now before the rest of the team turn up.” I look at Trask needing confirmation that he ratted me out to Kye and he nods.

  “Please.” I try again desperate to leave before I have to face Kye and his compelling eyes, the eyes holding so much pain in them that it physically hurts me now to look at him.

  “I was always going to let you leave. There was no need for all the theatrics, the violence. I admit my guards get a bit rambunctious. On learning that this is the Trask my father spoke of he is, of course, welcome to say his goodbyes to you. Those are my terms. I can’t allow him to travel with you. You understand?”

  “Yes and I agree.”

  “Well, I don’t! It’s not fucking happening Faith,” Trask roars.

  I look at the President again. “Can you please give me us a few minutes?”

  “You have two minutes, any longer and our deal is null and void!” He turns and leaves the room.

  I walk to Trask his chest is still heaving, the guards throw him looks of pure hatred and leave with the President. We’re alone and I need to use this time wisely to get him to see sense.

  “Why are you fighting me on this? This was always going to happen. It was the plan from the start. You knew I had to go back.”

  “I agreed to take orders from a man I respected whether I agreed with them or not. He no longer has my respect Faith. I’ve watched you these last few days; you’ve retreated into yourself. You remind me of when we first found you. I’ve watched him break your spirit. I’ve watched you cry and I’ve watched you wrap yourself in guilt. He may not be watching out for you anymore but I damn well will be. You really think I can let you go walking back into danger in the mind frame you’re in and be at peace with it?”

  “Trask, I...”

  “Faith he’s not the only one who loves you... we all do! Most of them see you as an annoying younger sister or an amusing friend. But we love you... I won’t watch you walk away out of a twisted sense of duty.”

  He strokes my face and stares down at me. He looks at me in a way he never has before, almost tenderly and I realise he has feelings... for me? Oh God. Does he? I love him too, love them all I suppose in a way but nowhere near the way I love Kye. How did I not see this? What do I say?

  “You can’t stop me, Trask. It’s my choice. Why would you all travel back to help change the outcome when I can do it alone and you guys can stay here and see the change has worked for yourselves. You’re thinking with your heart, we’re not supposed to do that, remember?” I smile gently and kiss his cheek. “I’ll miss you too, you know that right? I’ll miss all of you so much but this was never my time. I shouldn’t be here and I don’t belong... without him.” I drop my head feeling the unshed tears burning in my eyes.

  He tips my head up with the crook of his fingers under my chin. “He doesn’t deserve you. Tell me you know that much?”

  “No, he doesn’t, not as I am now. We don’t deserve each other. We tried and ... failed. I have to go before he gets here and you have to make your peace with him and convince him my leaving was for the best. Can you do that for me?”

  His mouth is on mine in a split second, warm, inviting and mixed with the tears I’ve let fall, salty. He holds me and for a second or two, I respond. I kiss him back knowing I’ll never see him again and this is what he needs to let me go. He tastes of mint but I push him away, blushing. I just kissed my friend, the third guy I’ve ever kissed. Donovan’s face flits in my mind momentarily and I push it away feeling revolted with myself. Trask kisses my forehead bringing me back to the moment we’re sharing. He leaves his warm mouth resting against my head for a moment as it sinks in that he’s really going to let me walk away. I hear him blow out a breath as he pulls back but his hands remain on my face.

  “I’m sorry. That was out of order.”

  “It’s okay, well, not okay but don’t beat yourself up. It was a goodbye kiss and it won’t happen again, right?”

  “Right,” he agrees, he composes himself and his eyes return to their steely determined green.

  “You be careful. Don’t do anything stupid and I will see you again. Hide that knife but take it with you. Understand?”

  I look at the knife I’m still holding and then at my dress. Where does he expect me to hide it? He sees my dilemma and removes his jacket before placing it over my shoulders. “I wish you’d dressed better for this Faith!” He admonishes.

  “Yeah me too!” I agree, now I think about it, summer sandals and a dress are a really stupid idea. I don’t know what I’ll be confronted with. If I have to defend myself, I’d feel much more comfortable in a jumpsuit and boots. His jacket drowns me but I�
�ve never been fashion conscious. I’m just glad I get to take a reminder of him with me.

  “You’ve always been impulsive! Don’t make me regret letting you do this. You watch your back. Be safe!” He commands as he takes the knife from me, stuffing it back in its pouch and then tucks it in the pocket of his jacket that I’ve now slid my arms into.

  “I will Trask. I won’t let you down. Any of you!”

  He huffs, “That’s not what I meant Girl. If failing the mission means you’ll be safe, then fail. Okay? No heroics Faith! Promise me?”

  I’m not sure I can but his eyes are burning into me.

  “I mean it Faith; promise me you’ll look after yourself or I won’t let it happen!”

  I hug him again. I’m glad I get to say goodbye to him, it’s not how I planned this but being with him before I go is nice. His concern is sweet. I whisper in his ear, “I promise Trask.”

  I feel him exhale a deep breath of relief.

  There’s a rap on the door and the President walks in with two new goons that have replaced his injured ones. Trask takes my hand and walks me out of the room. He kisses my head before I walk over to the Eleview and I watch him have a heated discussion with the President before the President walks over and joins me. He says his command but I’m too focused on Trask standing alone, his good eye latched on to mine, I can’t look away. I can’t believe he gave in so easily. I’m relieved he did but why? The Eleview starts rising and soon he’s gone from sight. I breathe out a huge breath of relief. I’m nearly there.

  We step out and walk down a carpeted corridor, the walls are a burgundy colour and in heavy gilt frames, pictures span the length of one wall. I look at them as we walk past and stop when Johnson Franks smiles out at me from one of them. He’s less obese in this picture, he has more hair but it’s definitely him, I glance at the next picture and it’s Fraser.

  “It’s the presidential wall.” The explains, “Every President is added the day of their election.”

  I nod as I see his picture next to Fraser’s. We turn and enter a room on the left. It’s dark in here, there are no windows or natural light but what I can see, standing gleaming before me is an Advance tube. I spin to face the President. “A tube? I thought the Comms were used now.”

  “They are but only because society got lazy. When these tubes were first introduced they were adored, revered even. But eventually just walking to a tube in order to travel became a chore. People wanted an even quicker way to get around, without having to get off their backsides. So they worked a programme into the Comms with slight changes to enable the installation. Those changes are what I believe caused the insanity and if I’m responsible for sending you back and righting our wrongs then I’m going to do it in the safest way possible.”

  “So I can’t just appear anywhere? I’ll have to travel through a tube and end up at Advance Industries?”

  “Yes, you will. But you have to realise, the point I’m sending you back to will be unmanned, you’ll be returning to a week after you originally left. The labs had been partly blown up, the AIG had been hit pretty badly. My father needed time to recover from his injuries. The labs have been abandoned. They needed time to regroup and explain the scandal. You’ll have a few days once you arrive to get a feel for how your time has changed. Prepare for the big election and find your sisters. Do you still wish to continue?”

  “So I’ll be going back to the mess we made as we left?”

  “A week after. Be prepared, though. In that week, a lot of changes were made, put in place. The city will not be the beaten down city it once was. The homeless have a purpose now.”

  “Well, that sounds good, why would I need to be prepared against that?”

  “It’s better for you to see than for me to explain. Ready?” He asks as we walk over to the tube. Am I ready? I hate these tubes; I hate being enclosed. I step in and the sliding door closes behind me clicking as it locks me in place.

  “How do you know all this?” I ask him as panic sets in and doubt starts overtaking. I want to get out. Fear has me in its grip. What if this doesn’t work? If no one uses these tubes now how do I know I won’t end up as ash? I try to calm myself but thinking of worst case scenario comes naturally. My mouth feels dry and I’m breathless.

  “My father drilled me relentlessly about what happened back then. One cannot just take over as President. I had to learn all about the history leading up to my leadership. My lessons were long, informative and eye opening.”

  The door flies open, banging against the wall behind it. I look over the President’s shoulder and see him.

  He’s petrified and I want to run to him, wrap myself around him and promise him he’ll be fine. He looks how I feel. How he made it up here is a mystery I haven’t got time to ponder. He still looks angry but his eyes are focused on the tube so that’s no surprise. He flicks his eyes to me and I see his sorrow. I have to stay strong, though. I have to for him. He might not think he needs this but he does. Me leaving will help him in the long run. I drink in the sight of him and commit it up top knowing I won’t see him again – if this works. I draw on my resolve and it gives me the courage I need. It stamps all over my panic and leaves me feeling bold.

  I think back to all the hurt I’ve been through. It’s been a lot; more than any person should have to face but this...this cuts the deepest. Knowing that neither of us wants this but also knowing I have to. My heart is silently screaming in pain; I can literally feel it breaking. Not the kind of breaking people describe over mundane things but actually falling apart, crumbling into minuscule pieces and falling away like dust. It’s taking every ounce of determination; I’m drawing on every scrap of strength I have not to let that show because if I do he’ll stop me. He’ll stop me and his heart will suffer instead.

  “Get out!” He demands.

  I shake my head.

  “Out!” He shouts again but I realise it’s directed at the President. He seems to grow, I mean I know that’s not possible but he seems to tower over the President, looming over him, challenging him to refuse.

  The President is still in shock, probably wondering as I was how Kye got past security and even found this room. He walks past Kye and as he does I think I hear him say, “Just in time.” He tips his head at Kye and leaves the room. I suddenly feel very exposed. I’m locked in a tube and have no choice but to listen to Kye. I can’t run, I can’t leave and I can’t stop him from talking about this.

  I’m trapped.

  Chapter 10

  Kye

  Looking at her now prepared to do the worst thing I’ve ever asked and expected of her, I hate myself. This isn’t right! It took me long enough to find her, even longer to hold on to her and I was prepared to let her go... just like that? What the fuck was I thinking? If I’d known she was out there waiting for me, I’d have found her sooner. This is the reality check I needed. Fuck everything else. I’ll survive without grandparents; it won’t be easy but I could do it. I can live in this place; I don’t want to but again I could. The only thing I couldn’t live without is stood in front of me. A vision of beauty preparing to do the thing I expected of her, doing it because I said it needed to happen and only doing it because it’s what she thought I wanted. It’s what I thought I wanted but I was wrong. I just want her... Her and the baby!

  I walk closer to the tube and get ready to release her but I can see from her warring blues she’s made her mind up. If I let her out she won’t listen to me and I need her to hear my words. I need to convince her this is wrong, I was wrong. I need to earn her trust again, make her believe in me. I stop before her and touch the transparent pane. I wish it was her I’m touching but this will have to do until I’ve said my piece. This is what I’ve reduced her to. My heart is rattling against my rib cage, I swallow heavily ready to beg, plead and fight. I can’t lose her!

  “Kye I can’t do this. Just activate it please,” she begs cutting me to my soul; she’s desperate to get away from me. I’ve never experienced thi
s before. The woman I love is begging me to leave her be. I’ve hurt her this badly that she wants to escape from me?

  “Sweetheart...”

  “Don’t Kye!”

  I stare at her puzzled.

  “Don’t do this Kye! Don’t let me off the hook because you’re scared I’m going. Don’t say things you think I want to hear and hope that will change my mind. If I’m forced to listen to you then speak the truth. Get it off your chest before I leave.”

  “Faith, I’m so sorry! I... I’ve treated you in a way I’m so ashamed of. I love you baby. I have no excuse for how I’ve been but I can’t lose you.”

  “I said the truth, Kye!”

  “That was the truth!”

  “Parts of it, but you know why you’ve been distant and cold. Get it off your chest. Hit me with it. I won’t fall apart!”

  I run my hands through my hair, she’s always pushing me. How do I confront her about lying - it’s no longer important. Yes, I brooded, felt crippled by her deceit but I know her. I know she’d never deliberately hurt me; she didn’t set out to cause me the pain I felt. She was dealing with her own pain and I abandoned her. We let each other be consumed by not being a unit, a unit that together can take on anything.

  “I was angry, okay?”

  “Tell me why.”

  “You know why.”

  “You need to say it!” She fixes me with cool blue eyes.

  “You lied to me, you hid it from me. Something I should have been included in was held back until it was too late!”

  “I did,” she says.

  “Why? Just tell me why baby. Was it me? Were you scared to tell me? Were you worried I wouldn’t be good enough?” My voice breaks so I clear my throat and level my eyes at her again.

  “It was never you Kye. From the first moment I suspected I was carrying I knew you’d be great. You’d be the best dad in the world. It’s me that would be lacking. I was worried I’d let you down, that I couldn’t do it, would never compare to you. I couldn’t risk being exposed as the failure I am. I kept quiet so I had time to process it and so I could find out for sure before getting your hopes up. I never wanted to hurt you baby.”