The lights went out, throwing the prison into darkness once more.
Better get to sleep, Deborah said. They’ll be coming for you soon, and you’ll need all the rest you can get.
****
The lights burst on, startling me from an uneasy slumber. Confused, I bolted upright. I knew I had gotten only a couple hours of sleep, at the most. My mind felt buzzed, my body almost numb from lack of rest.
“Hell,” I muttered, pressing my hands to my temples.
The thump of my heart mirrored the thump of feet coming closer…closer. I shoved my hands into the cot, trying to stand, but the cell spun, and I ended up falling back to the bed. I needed rest. I needed food. One meal a day wasn’t doing me any good. And I needed answers. Not knowing what they would do to me next was maddening. But I supposed the suspense of it all gave them the upper hand.
The guard arrived with her silent entourage. “Hands.”
With a glare, I stood. Lewis was sitting up on his cot, watching me helplessly. I read the despair in his eyes and it practically killed me. I knew the feeling well. He wanted to stop them; he hated the fact that he could do nothing. How often had I felt helpless in my life? I moved casually to the bars and slid my arms through. She slapped the cuffs over my wrists.
“Tell him I’ve got information,” Lewis demanded, his voice echoing down the hall.
He lied, and obviously they knew it as well. He was trying to get them to take him instead and I appreciated his effort, but knew it wouldn’t work. He didn’t realize I was the carrier and my father wanted no one but me.
“Step back,” she demanded.
I moved back and she pressed her hand to the keypad to unlock my door. I glanced once more at Lewis, realizing that this could be the last time I’d see him. How I wanted to act cocky, cool, but my nerves flared with every step down that corridor I took. Truth was I had no real plan, and I knew I had to come up with one fast. I wasn’t sure how many more of these attacks I could handle, and I knew they’d only get worse.
I moved past Deborah’s cell. She was watching me with sad resignation. If you have a plan, better put it in place soon.
I sent her a glare right before I was shoved out the door. I was taken up those steps, but we didn’t go through the door I expected, instead we stopped at a level below the interrogation room. Before I had time to question our new location, the guard shoved open the door.
A long, narrow room spread out before me. Twin beds were placed along the left side of the room, desks on the right. At least ten children were seated at those desks, facing adult S.P.I. agents. I took it all in with a sort of stupefied shock. Agents were holding up cards, while the children guessed what was printed on the back. Other children wore skullcaps with wires that connected to computers.
None of the children looked injured. Yet, I knew what their future held; either join the ranks, or suffer the consequences. A few of the children looked my way. Some, I swore I recognized from Aaron’s home that year ago. What sickened me most was realizing that they had been so close this entire time.
“Why am I here?” I demanded.
A chair screeched across the linoleum floor and my father stood up; he’d been half-hidden behind another agent. He smiled as he strolled toward me with an easy gait that made me more than nervous. This was not a man worried; this was a man sure he would win.
“Why am I here?” I repeated the question.
Dad stopped a few feet from me. “Why, I merely wanted to show you some of our team players.”
I laughed, drawing more attention. “Team players? Please, you kidnapped these children and are forcing them to work for you.”
“Cameron!” someone called out excitedly.
I jerked my head right just as a blonde child rushed toward me. She was a golden blur of hope. Her warm body hit mine with such force, that I staggered back. “Caroline?”
She looked up at me and grinned. “I knew you’d come for me.”
Her complete trust made me ill.
“Cameron has something important to do, my dear,” my father explained.
The female guard who had led me into the room shoved Caroline aside. It was then that Caroline’s gaze fell to my handcuffs. The child’s smile disappeared as the truth settled in. How I wanted to tell her not to worry, but I couldn’t say a damn thing. Couldn’t even send a telepathic message for fear that her reaction would betray us.
“Come along.” My father swept outside and I was forced to follow, shoved unceremoniously by yet another guard into the stairwell.
We didn’t go far, but moved through another door, reaching the room where Jake had broken my mind. I wasn’t surprised they were going to try again. Lewis and Deborah were useless to them. Their memories had been tampered. I was the only one who could give them the information they needed. I knew it. They knew it. Dad sat behind his usual table while the two guards took up residence in the corners of the room.
“What was the point of showing me the children?” I asked.
“As I said, merely to—”
“Bull.” I didn’t sit, but stood, towering over him.
He paused for a long moment, just watching me, his fingers steepled together as if he was deep in thought. “Then you tell me what you think. Why did I show you the children?”
I smirked down at him, refusing to give him the satisfaction of showing any fear. “I think it was a warning.”
He lifted a dark brow.
“You were showing me potential casualties if I don’t obey.”
“Cameron.” He shook his head and chuckled. “You have a very vivid imagination. You seem to think we’re out to destroy innocent people, when, in fact, we are merely trying to protect the ones we love.”
Heated anger flushed through me. “Let’s get to the point of my visit.” I jerked the chair away from the table and sat across from him. “No more bull.”
“Very well.” Dad gave a nod toward the guards and even before the door opened, I knew who’d arrived.
“Surprise, surprise,” I muttered as Jake shuffled into the room.
God, how I wanted to hate him, but as I got a look at his young face, my anger wavered. He was pale as he glanced at me from under his eyelashes. That arrogant set of his shoulders had been replaced with an awkward stoop. I’d never seen Jake this way, and I realized that he, like so many others, was just a pawn in these games my dad and I played.
“What’s it today?” I asked my dad. “Father and daughter dance coming up? You want to coordinate our outfits?”
Dad stood and moved aside, ignoring me. “Sit down Jake. Get comfortable.”
He sat, not even hesitating. That arrogant bravado was gone. He’d turned into a little lapdog just like Maddox.
“You know the drill, Cameron,” my father said, pacing the small room. “We can do this the hard way, or the easy.”
Yes, indeed I knew, for I’d said the very same thing only a few weeks ago to the prisoners here. A few weeks ago, when I’d believed my father was good, and all the prisoners were evil. “Easy? You mean betray my friends and family?”
“Since when is Aaron your friend?” My dad crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the wall. “Last I heard you hated the man who had erased your memory.”
“Yeah, well, when I compare him to others in my life, he’s actually not all that bad.”
Jake just sat there, his gaze on the table, his face flushed with misery.
“You had so many opportunities Cameron,” my dad said, sounding extremely disappointed in me. “And you’ve thrown them all away.”
I didn’t respond, what was the point? We’d never agree; he’d never see reason and he didn’t seem to care much what I thought.
Dad sighed. “Let’s start, Jake.”
Jake nodded, and lifted his head, meeting my gaze. I braced myself. From the corner of my eye I could see my dad stroll to the far side of the room. I wondered why he didn’t do the deed himself. Too weak, or was he a coward? I felt t
he push to my mental wall and stiffened. Jake might have broken into my mind once, he wouldn’t do it again. I pushed back, throwing my energy forward with such force that he actually jumped in his chair.
Let me in! his voice whispered through my mind. I don’t want to hurt you.
Like hell!
Jake surged to his feet, glaring at me. Damn it, Cameron.
A mental shove sent me back. I jumped to my feet just as my chair tilted, clanging to the floor. I heard the startled gasp of the security guards. I didn’t miss a beat, but focused all my mental energy on that chair. It flew across the room. My dad ducked just in time. The chair hit the wall with a bang, then fell to the floor.
“Cameron, don’t!” Jake begged me.
“Screw you!”
“Stop her now!” My dad demanded.
Guards surged forward. Firm fingers bit into my upper arms, jerking me backwards. With a strength I didn’t know I had, I managed to break free. One guard cried out, hitting the wall, thrown by my energy. I’d apparently turned into the Incredible freaking Hulk.
The chaos was immediate. An alarm went off, a high-pitched screech that made me cringe. The door flew open and three more guards rushed inside. I spun around, attempting to outrun them, which was hard to do in a twenty by twenty room. I knew my capture was coming, but that didn’t stop me from trying to escape.
I felt someone come up behind me a moment too late. Just as I started to turn, those wire probes pressed into my neck. Electricity shot through my body, taking over my system. I cried out, losing control of my muscles, and falling hard to my knees. With a groan, I fell back. The lights wavered in and out of focus, human faces that appeared, then disappeared.
Jake leaned down close, so close I could feel the heat of his breath on my face. You idiot. I’m trying to help you.
It was the last thing I heard before I drifted off into the darkness.
Chapter 11
“Cameron. Cameron, wake up.”
I felt a sharp nudge to my thigh, a persistent nudge that tore me from the dredges of unconsciousness. For a brief moment I thought I was back in Savannah, but I remembered all too soon where I was truly located. I groaned and brought my knees to my chest. I only wanted to sleep, to be left alone, to sink into the darkness, but whoever stood next to me wouldn’t allow it.
“Cameron, wake up now.” I lifted my lashes to see Maddox kneeling next to me.
I smiled slightly. “Maddox.” Maybe he’d decided to change sides and was going to help me escape.
“Wake up.”
The hardness of his tone startled me, brought me back into reality. I bolted upright, but the movement sent my mind spinning, my body off balance. I clutched the frame of the cot for support as Maddox’s serious face blurred in and out of focus. I blinked, then kept blinking until the cell came into clear view. How long had I been out? Frantically I tried to recall the moments leading up to my current situation.
Jake. I remembered Jake trying to break into my mind. The chair. I’d thrown a chair across the room, then the stun gun.
“Damn it,” I yelled, my voice echoing across the cell. I shoved my hands into Maddox’s chest, but I was so weak he didn’t even budge. “Did you stun me again?” My words came out mumbled, as if I’d been numbed at the dentist, but he still understood.
“No, I didn’t. But I would have to keep you from getting injured.”
I rubbed my jaw, trying to make my mouth work properly. “Oh yes, you care so much about me.”
He stood, stepping back. “Whether you believe me or not, I do.”
His kind words caught me off guard, made me feel highly confused. I’d labeled him; he was the enemy. But it was hard to remember that when he looked at me with such a softness in his eyes. Craving Lewis’ reassuring presence, I shifted my attention toward his cell. It was empty.
Panic shot bitterly cold through my body. “Where is he?” I demanded.
Maddox glanced at Lewis’ empty cell, his face revealing no emotion. “He’s gone.”
“Gone where?” I jumped to my feet, stumbling as the room spun. He started to reach for me, but I jerked back. I didn’t want him to touch me, couldn’t stand for him to put his hands on me.
With a sigh of frustration, he moved away and paced the small space. It was then that I noticed Maddox wore a dark suit, an expensive suit, and the memory of the party at the compound came back to haunt me. Maddox, the Maddox I thought I had known. How could he do this to me? Was it payback for choosing Lewis?
He dragged his fingers through his hair. “Why? Why the hell did you return?”
“You know why!” I sank onto my cot and covered my face with my hands, too exhausted to deal with him now. The sleep deprivation was driving me insane. My skin itched, my insides were numb, my head muddled.
“Yeah, I do know why, to save your boyfriend. Problem is he’s worse off now!”
I jerked upright. “What do you mean?”
He flung his arms wide. “Where do you think he is? Getting a freaking massage and seaweed wrap? You think they’re not going to use him to get to you?”
I shivered. I believed him, but I also didn’t dare trust him. There had to be a reason why he was spilling his guts, and I didn’t believe for a second that he cared. “You’re just trying to scare me.” I surged to my feet. “I know they’ve got cameras on us. I know they can hear everything you say. You’re just telling me this to frighten me and get what you want.”
He stepped closer, seething. “Yeah, they now know I’ve told you, but I’m only here to warn you, nothing more. I’m telling you because at one time we were friends.”
“Yeah, great friends who betray each other. Just like you and Nora, huh?”
He actually flinched at the comment, and I wondered for a brief moment if he still cared about her.
“At one time we might have been friends, but no longer. I trust you as much as I trust my dad.”
He shook his head. “You won’t listen to reason, but you’ll see soon enough.”
Without another word, he turned and opened the cell door. I wanted to call out to him, to beg him to help us, but my pride wouldn’t allow it. He locked the door behind him and left. I waited…waited until his heavy footsteps fell silent and the corridor went empty.
What does he mean? I threw the mental message down the corridor, hoping Deborah would catch it. For a brief moment only silence met my question, and I feared they’d taken her as well.
I believe they’re trying to break into Lewis’ memory again.
I gripped the bars to my cage. But he doesn’t have any memories!
But by trying, they can cause pain, and not call it out-right torture.
I wrapped my arms around my stomach and stumbled back to my cot, feeling completely ill. Maddox had been telling the truth after all. It’s because of me, isn’t it? They’re torturing him so I’ll give up.
She didn’t bother to spare my feelings. Pretty much.
I sank onto my cot, curling into a ball. I wanted to cry, I wanted to hit someone, I wanted to find my father and make him pay.
It comes with the territory, Cameron. You want to be with us, this is what happens.
I jumped to my feet, anger spurring me toward the cell bars. I don’t want to be with any of you! Not my dad, not Aaron, not…
I almost slipped and mentioned my mom. Damn, I was losing it. They were getting to me; making me weak and stupid. I took in a deep breath and managed to control my thoughts. I assumed Aaron had erased my mom from Deborah’s mind. Frustrated, I slammed my fists against the bars.
What kind of people are you? I asked. Do you have no conscience? No soul? You torture each other, torture your own family, for what?
For freedom.To be able to live without fear.
I gripped the bars and shook them, although they didn’t budge. But you’re just creating more fear!
I don’t expect you to understand. You’re new to this life. You’re young. Yeah, people get hurt, but there are alw
ays casualties in war.
How could they not see how stupid they were being? I thought S.P.I. was bad, but you’re worse because you supposedly still have souls, yet you perpetuate this nightmare.
She didn’t respond and I felt no thrill of victory over my win. I spun around and paced the small cell, worried about Lewis, thinking about Maddox. I’d missed something, I knew it. A shiver of awareness that told me I’d not noticed a vital clue. But what?
A door screeched open from somewhere in the prison. I stiffened, waiting.
Hard footsteps thumped down the corridor. Two? Three? No, at least four. From the shadows the hulking forms appeared, dragging Lewis with them. His head hung down, his chin at his chest; his body unmoving. I couldn’t see his face, for some reason I needed to see his face. I stepped as close to the bars as I could get.
Lewis? I called out mentally to him.
No response.
Panic tore at my insides, a tortured scream that burned deep within, but refused to be released.
They wouldn’t bring him back if he was dead, Deborah said, and I believed her, because I had to for my own sanity.
They opened his cell door, laid him upon the cot, and I finally got a good look at his face. Blood trailed from the corner of his mouth, contrasting starkly against his pale skin. Without a word, they turned and left. I waited until their footsteps faded and the door closed.
“Lewis?” I snapped.
Nothing.
I gripped the bars and looked up at the ceiling, hoping to spot a camera. “Let me help him, damn you!”
My voice echoed down the hall, bouncing eerily off the walls. But no one responded. No one came.
The lights went out, the prison dark. Lewis lay still and quiet. I could do nothing.
Overwhelmed, I slid down the bars to the floor, tears burning my eyes.
I knew, without a doubt, this was all my fault. All my fault.
****
As some point I’d fallen asleep upon the cement floor. I wasn’t sure how many hours had passed, or what had woken me, but I suddenly became alert, awake almost instantly. I pressed my hands into the cold ground and sat up. The cells were silent, pitch-black. My foggy head was gone, my mind clear. But the thing that stood out the most was my body…tingling with energy. My powers were back.