by Lucy Rains
My eyelids became heavy and I had to stop fighting, knowing there was nothing I could do anymore at that point. I prayed desperately that I would not fall asleep. My attacker set me down on the hard bench and moved in front of me. I peered through slit lids to try and see who I was dealing with. He looked young, younger than me. Probably around 16. Light hair cut close to the head, steely blue eyes. He was dressed in all black with a tiny black earpiece in his right ear. He pulled my hands in front of me and tied them together with force. When the zip ties were secure, he pulled me into sitting position and draped a black blanket around me, to cover my hands and arms. My neck muscles were slack, and my head dropped onto his shoulder.
As the subway car slowed for the next stop, I was picked up and carried off the train car like I weighed nothing. He pulled me into his chest and stepped off of the car as soon as the door slid open. His movements were swift, powerful. Like, he had a destination in mind and knew where he was going.
My attacker pulled me in close to his chest as he walked. His smooth rhythm rocking me softly. I was mentally gagging, hating being so close to him. His smell repulsed me, the feel of his hands on my body twisting my stomach. He reeked of plastic and cheap deodorant.
Pierce I mentally called out, seeking for a response.
After several minutes of walking, we stopped. There were traffic horns, engine noise, footsteps all around us. My ears perked up at the sound of a smooth purr of an engine coming closer to our bodies. Next thing I knew, I was being lifted and laid on smooth surface, not gently but not without care. Car doors slammed.
“Move” My attacker ordered.
Thankfully, he had set me down facing forward and I worked hard to squint out through my heavy eyelids. My 6th sense reached out and I could feel a trickle of emotion. Hope surged through me that the toxin was beginning to clear out. I flexed my toes in my shoes, flexed my leg muscles, moved my fingers. The movements were small, but it was progress.
The SUV moved slowly through traffic, light after light, stop after stop. We weren’t going anywhere quickly.
“Target is in possession,” I heard my attacker murmur quietly, followed by a quick beep and clicking noise.
“How did it go?” the driver asked.
“As planned,” my attacker answered.
At this simple statement, questions began filling my mind. How did these guys know where I would be? How did they find me? My run into the subway station was a sudden decision, unplanned. I must have been followed.
I saw my attacker move slightly, to turn and look at me I assumed. “She’s not bad to look at,” he commented casually. I focused my ability on him and wasn’t surprised to feel a hint of lust and curiosity.
“Don’t even think about it,” the driver growled. “Doctor Parker will throw you in the ice box for a week.”
My body stiffened and my eyes widened. My mother.
The attacker scoffed, “What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.”
“You would disobey a direct command from her? Are you that stupid? Hell, she’s probably listening to our conversation right now.”
The guys grumbled at each other for another minute, their emotions coming to me as the seconds ticked by. I rolled my shoulders subtly and began twisting my wrists slowly under the blanket. I couldn’t free my hands, the ties too tight, but I could reposition them enough to face a palm outward.
The driver let out a string of swear words about the traffic. “It’ll be midnight by the time we make it to airport,” he complained.
We were stopped again. City lights blinked in and out of our windows. I debated on the timing of my energy release, if I should send out a surge while we were moving or stopped.
While I was trying to figure out my plan, a soft hum began to build within my chest. My eyes closed involuntarily, sinking into the warmth.
Pierce! I mentally shouted.
Are you okay? His deep voice filled my head.
Yes. I’m in an SUV, I think. We’re heading to an airport, though I don’t know which one.
We see you. He responded.
There were so many questions waiting to rush out of me, but I couldn’t stop that first one that surfaced. How can you talk to me?
I’m not sure. I just...direct my thought towards you and it seems to penetrate your mind.
Can you do it with the guys?
Yeah. Scared the shit out of them.
I could hear his smile as he said this.
I paused, thinking about this new ability. Can you hear all of my thoughts?
Unfortunately no. I could hear his smile again. Only the ones you direct to me.
I mentally thanked my stars. How did you find me?
He paused for a second, Through your phone.
My eyebrows came down. But wait….My phone GPS was turned off. How did you…
We’ll talk about that later. Have you tried using your energy as a defense against them?
I can’t, they drugged me. I can’t hardly move at all, but I can feel the drug starting to move out of my system.
There was silence for several seconds. Pierce?
Sorry, letting the guys know what you said. So you are awake, but you can’t move?
Yes.
More silence. How long do you think it will take till you can move around?
I’m not sure, it could be 10 minutes, could be 20. What are you doing to do?
When I give you the warning, brace yourself.
Wait, what?
It’ll be fine. Just be ready.
Pierce!
I cursed his lack of response and redirected my focus back to my body. I kept twisting my hands, both palms were facing out, and I would be able to use my energy when the time was right. We began moving again, picking up speed, the city lights disappearing.
“How much longer?” My attacker asked.
“About 15 minutes,” the driver responded.
“Eta in 15” my attacker mumbled again, followed by the same beep and click.
My chest continued to vibrate, so I knew the guys were still behind us somewhere. Wherever we're going, we’ll be there in 15 minutes.
Roger that.
The rest of the time passed by silently, giving my body enough time to process through the numbing toxin. My limbs responded to my commands and I could feel my muscles twist in anticipation. We made a few turns when suddenly Pierce was in my head again, They’re going to know we’re following in a minute, be prepared.
Sure enough, a few seconds later the driver cursed, “We have a situation.”
“Are they following?” My attacker asked.
“Ready your weapons,” the driver directed rather than answering the question. “It’s time for another dose for her.”
Oh hell no, he would not touch me again with a needle. I would be defenseless for another 30 minutes. Now Pierce!
Hold on to something.
My hands appeared from under the blanket, reaching out to push against the seat in front of me. When I turned my head to look at my attacker, there was a shimmering vial in his hand, a bright silver needle pointing skyward. A jolt of panic pushed me into action as I brought my knees up to my chest and threw them out. My feet connected with his hand, the syringe flying backwards and hitting the window. His eyes widened in alarm, and then narrowing in anger. He began to reach forward for me when I repeated the same movements. I smashed my feet into his face, knocking his head backwards into the window. The driver started to yell, twisting his head back and forth to look at us and the road.
Before my attacker could retaliate our vehicle jerked forward violently. Crunching metal screeched, tires screaming, loud cursing echoed around me. I pushed myself up and leaned into the car door. The driver braked hard, and since I wasn’t buckled my body flew forward, slamming into the back of the driver’s seat. I quickly scrambled back up onto the seat, feeling hands grasping at my legs. My attacker had blood running from his ear, his face bright red in anger. His teeth were ground together and his
eyes blazed with hot rage.
Gunshots ripped through the glass, the driver side mirror exploded into shattered pierces.
“Pull over!” My attacker hollered, “Let’s finish this!”
“Doctor said not to engage!” The driver answered.
“She didn’t account for this,” my attacker responded, pulling out a black glock and taking off the safety. “We won’t make it to the airport unless we kill them.”
I blinked slowly, energy trickling down my arms at his words. His ease at which he spoke of hurting the guys moved my body without thinking and I aimed a palm at his head. He looked at my hands and his upper lip curled in a sneer. When his eyes met mine again he opened his mouth.
“Stupid bi-”
His words ended quickly as I released a thick pulse into him. His head knocked backwards into the window again, this time cracking the glass. Shots rang out against the metal exterior and he turned deadly eyes towards me.
Our SUV skidded to a stop and whipped around in the street. The second the car was stopped my attacker opened his car door, and rolled backwards out of the car. I let out another blast of energy, but he was out of sight.
The sound of gunfire filled the night air. When I looked out my window I saw that the guys had stopped their own SUV a dozen meters back, pulled off on the side of a road. We were in a dark commercial warehousing area, with little to no street lights and no human presence. My driver darted out his door and rolled behind an old beater red truck, missing a front tire, parked on the side of the road. My attacker was out of sight, except for his gun and the hands that gripped it, using the front passenger door as cover.
I threw the blanket off of me and turned around. The guys were standing behind the black SUV doors, their guns in our direction. My heart jumped at the sight of them, their heads barely visible as they took cover. I wanted to run back to them, but knew I could be more helpful at a closer proximity to our threat.
Throwing open my car door, I looked at the driver and aimed my hands at his body, throwing out a blast that threw him off balance. With him distracted, the guys were able to get a couple hits on him. I expected his body to fall to the ground any second. My eyes widened as he went back to his position and began firing again.
Shots were hitting him, but he wasn’t going down. Shots that should have incapacitated him. Paralyzed him. Blood was flowing down his arm, his neck, his thigh. But as I narrowed my eyes in the dark and studied him, the blood was slowing. Almost to a complete stop. Sick realization hit in my chest and I groaned.
Pierce, these guys are going to need a direct hit to the heart or head.
Why?
They’re like us.
He cursed colorfully.
My attacker paused his shooting to change his magazine. He leaned back on his heels, looking down at his gun. I used his distraction to send another energy blast to him from my back seat position. I flicked my hands at him, sending pricks of waves. Hitting him in his head, in his chest, trying to slow down his movements. The effort did not work as much as I expected. He was fast, efficient, trained. With incredible reflexes.
Heavy footsteps sounded right as he finished reloading, beginning to lift his gun again. Next thing I knew Kyson was behind him, ripping him out from behind the truck. Landing a heavy blow to the side of his already bleeding neck. It was a shocking sight. Friendly Kyson, tender in his touch, dealing out lethal blows with no mercy. His eyes were focused, his movements graceful, the driver rolled to the side to avoid more abuse but Kyson was faster. The driver’s head suddenly in Kyson’s hands and being twisted with a loud crack.
Knowing that threat was gone, I looked towards the front and saw my attacker throwing his weapon to the side and pulling out a new smaller gun. Blood was oozing from his shoulder. I aimed my tied palms towards him and took a deep breath, letting the anger from his actions fuel my energy strength. Remembering his hands on me, restraining me, the needle. I let out a violent energy blow, jerking the car door back with a crunch of metal, and was able to shove him back a step, causing him to pause and regain his balance.
He scrambled to move back into a crouching position but Alex flew into my line of sight, throwing a hard kick into his face before he could move back behind the car door. Gavin appeared too, grabbing his wrist that held the gun and twisted it with a hard crack. The gun clattered to the ground as my attacker screeched in a blend of anger and agony.
A gunshot turned my attention towards Kyson, who was now standing over a dead man, with his gun pointing at his head.
The sound of fist meeting flesh jerked my head around. When I turned back to Gavin, my attacker had somehow twisted out of his hold and was on his feet. He shook his injured wrist slightly, and I knew he was healing, his bones and ligaments mending back to perfection. His eyes darted to me, rage filling his vision. He took a quick step forward and stopped as Gavin and Alex moved in front to block me from his vision. Both holding guns. Both firing off a single shot into his head. My attacker was jerked backwards and fell limp into the empty parking lot.
A gush of air escaped my mouth, and I collapsed onto the back seat. Exhausted. Weak. Trying to let go of the bloody images that ran on repeat in my head.
Someone wrapped their hands around my waist and pulled me out of the SUV. I turned to see Pierce bringing me close to his chest I launched myself forward, wrapping my legs around his waist. A tremble began rocking my body at the feeling of sweet relief the smell of his skin brought to me.
“I’m so sorry,” I sobbed, not knowing when my tears started. My bound wrists were smashed in between our chests, our hug awkward. “I was going to get off, I was-”
“Shh, I know.” He held me close, and I could hear the other guys walking around and talking. I caught my breath and pulled away to wipe my face.
Pierce set me down and flicked a knife out of his pocket. I held my hands up and he quickly sliced through the ropes.
I shook my head and rubbed my nose. “I’m sorry.”
Pierce put both of his hands on my face and forced me to look up at him. “This would have happened eventually.” His warm blue eyes held mine and I bit back an ugly cry sob. I felt his warm joy, nowhere was there disappointment or frustration.
When he let go of my face I looked at the other guys hesitantly. I cleared the sobs from my throat. “They were sent by my mother,” I said looking around at the bloody scene. Kyson had pulled the two bodies together and the guys were standing over them.
I felt Gavin stiffen and I tried not to look at him.
Pierce nodded, “We figured.”
“She knew where I was,” I continued, “knew right where to find me. How is that possible?”
“Jason.” Kyson stated, walking over to us. “She used him. He probably ratted you out. My guess is that he knew just what to say to make you want to leave us. And that was what your mother needed, an opportunity to get to you without us close to you.”
“Because she knew it wouldn’t be possible with any of us around,” Gavin added.
“Damn straight,” Alex said while uncapping a bottle of water and handing it to me. I grabbed it wordlessly and drained it quickly.
“So,” I paused thinking, “does that mean my mother and Jason are working together?”
Pierce leaned forward, folding his arms. “It’s possible. But it's also likely that Vera bribed him to get you away from us.”
“Or blackmailed,” Kyson added.
“Why would she blackmail him?” I asked.
“Because the government wants what she can produce,” Pierce answered, pulling his hair back into a low ponytail to get the strands out of his face. His bulging biceps hung low as his arms were pulled up behind his head.
“More like those guys?” I wondered out loud. Pierce and Kyson nodded. I thought about how they so easily scooped me up and into their possession. How easily they drugged me, and whisked me away.
“Why?” I asked. “Why were they like that? Strong? Healing? Were they other test ex
periments?”
Pierce and Kyson glanced at each other, their faces grim, their jaws clenched.
“No,” Gavin said. “They weren’t.”
“I didn’t recognize them.” Alex said.
“I think they were injected with our DNA,” Kyson said softly, still looking at Pierce. “ It somehow mutated them to have our abilities. They were beginning to weaken, the longer we fought. Like it was slowly leaving their system.”
The guys stood there, all with crossed arms, and scowling faces.
My mother had created weapons using our DNA. With this advantage, I wasn’t going to be safe anywhere. “We have to do something,” I said in realization.
“Yes,” agreed Pierce.
I looked up from my feet where I had been lost in thought. “Something about the lab, and my mother.”
Heavy dread creeped into my bones. I paced in the street, my hand on my chin, rubbing as I was thinking. This was only the first time. I had been lucky. Lucky that Pierce was with me. She would try again. Send more people. She had unlimited resources to find me. Running would never be enough. She wanted me so badly, I didn’t doubt the lengths she would go to to get me. I suddenly felt incredibly exposed, unsafe, vulnerable. And making attempts to obtain me would only put the guys at risk. Constant risk.
I stopped pacing, looking up. All four guys watched me. Patience in their eyes while I was lost in my thoughts.
“The only way I will ever really be safe is to destroy her work, and her experiments.” I said, knowing that would not be enough. “And her,” I said quietly. My hands went to my stomach. “Oh gosh,” I croaked. Knowing what had to be done made me feel even worse than before. Knowing the risks, the lengths we would have to go so that we could live a life of freedom, free of risk and capture. “Oh gosh,” I repeated. My hands went to my head. “You had been trying to tell me this.”
“We couldn’t force you to understand. Or make that choice,” said Kyson. “It had to be you.”
“Me?”
“We knew when you were ready, you would be able to make that decision.”