“I don’t understand why they have us out here. We’re also part of the special government program and are just as valuable to them as she is. Aren’t they afraid of what could happen to us out here?”
The sergeant exhaled. “You’ve been sent to be used solely as a tool to find her. That’s it. Because you don’t possess the same powers she does, you are…how do I put this nicely? Expendable.”
“Expendable?” Chase snapped. “Screw them.”
One of the soldiers spoke. “She couldn’t have gone more than a hundred miles in any direction. We’re thinking she’s heading east because the west mountains are filled with Arvies. We’re hitting every town on the map she could have or will travel to. They said she left with a group. Her family—”
“She’s no longer with them,” Dr. Simon interjected. “The last time I had contact with her was right before she left the bunker. She’d said she was leaving the group, wanting to set out alone to find a safe place. She’ll be traveling alone.”
“She’s a smart girl, but she has to know there is no safe place in this country, especially while it’s filled with mutants. No one is safe without military protection.”
“You underestimate her then,” Dr. Simon said.
“Enlighten me, doctor,” the sergeant sneered.
“It means she’s an advanced Reader, with a gift that could either save or destroy us.”
“So, in other words, she’s God’s gift to humanity?” The sergeant laughed, his words were spoken with a little too much sarcasm.
“She’s a gift all right, genetically enhanced by science,” Dr. Simon replied. “But we have no idea how she’s managing, or if she’s experienced any adverse reactions. For all we know, she could be dead. The same serum nearly killed another one of our other female Readers.”
“After her little display, or should I say massacre, I doubt this girl has a weakness,” the sergeant added. “If we do happen to run into her and she is less than cooperative, I’ll have to use you as a bargaining tool.”
“If you think she’ll bat an eye to save us, you have another thing coming.”
The sergeant chuckled. “Unless that serum desensitizes human emotion, she’s still a girl who was under your care. I doubt she’ll want to watch you suffer…or die.”
“She’s a girl who is passionate about her life and refuses to be locked up in a room, being poked and prodded like some animal. I don’t think that’s unreasonable,” Dr. Simon said.
“It’s not a matter of reason, doctor; it’s the mere fact her life is an important part of our future.”
“Do you believe in destiny, Sergeant?”
“Yes, I do. But if there’s a way to shape it and use it to my advantage, I will. I have a wife and son to look after, and they depend on me. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep them safe. That’s not unreasonable either, is it?”
There were no more words exchanged.
I sighed. It was every man for himself, which was the way of this world. No one wanted to die. It was a survival mechanism, and something we’d become accustomed to over the past thirteen years. I couldn’t blame any of them for wanting to survive and keep their families safe. It was a shared dream.
In a perfect world, there would be no Arvies. We would have all emerged from our hives and built new communities. But this world was far from perfect, and it would take every single one of us to get it back.
I decided not to converse with the Readers but was dying to know who the third one was. Whoever it was hadn’t spoken a word.
Switching gears, I needed to find a way to get out of the heat, and then I’d focus on finding a way to escape. I started crawling along the outside of the wall, until I came to a break. The wall was providing a foot of shade, and right now, I was upwind and free from the smoke. The heat was sweltering, but at least it was breathable.
As I peeked through some rubble in the break, I saw soldiers dragging Arvy corpses to the center of the town, while others finished setting the buildings on fire. All, except one. It was where they’d taken the readers.
Then, I saw the sergeant. He was a large man, over six feet tall with a broad, muscular frame. Salt and pepper hair was shaved high and tight, and beneath the scowl was a moderately handsome face, reddening from the sun. His fret lines were deep, bearing the stress of his years.
He walked toward the pile of dead Arvies, at least fifty or more, and took a swig of the moonshine. He then spewed it onto the bodies. He did this several times, then reached into his pocket, took out a lighter and a handkerchief, lit it and tossed it directly on top. The bodies caught fire. Thick black smoke billowed from the pile. I was profoundly grateful the plume was headed in the opposite direction from me.
As I looked to the sky, darkening with smoke, I couldn’t help but think of all the Arvies who would see it. The smoke was evidence humans were here, and it was only a matter of time before they’d come. They weren’t mindless monsters. They were smart and hungry. They’d come, if not for revenge, then for a meal.
I knew their telepathy was much broader than ours, but how far was the big question. I’d heard the desperate screams for help in my head, from the ones being murdered. So far, I didn’t hear any response and prayed it would stay that way.
I stayed pressed up against the wall, keeping my body within the bit of shadow it cast. It wasn’t much, but it was better than being in the direct sunlight. I waited impatiently as they continued to set buildings ablaze, trying to plan my next move. The cover of darkness would be my ally, but we still had hours left before it made its descent.
Both Dr. Simon and Chase made attempts to contact me. I recognized their desperation as they pleaded for me to answer, but I couldn’t answer yet. Because if I did, I could get caught, or they could get hurt.
The soldiers, especially the sergeant, would know they were lying. I had a feeling he was good at reading people.
But who was that third reader? I didn’t hear another voice, and it was driving me crazy.
Trying to wait out the sun, I decided to exercise my new gift to see how strong it was. Knowing I could move things with my mind gave me a bit more confidence and a well-needed boost to my waning optimism.
I levitated the small pieces of stones speckled across the sand to see how far I could throw them. It took a few tries, but as my mind got the hang of it, the rocks flew across the desert at an unbelievably fast speed. So quick, I could barely see them. I had no idea how far they went, or where they landed. It must have been well over a hundred yards.
My insides cheered, and I felt a bit more optimistic. I was completely baffled, but under my current circumstances, this was freaking awesome.
This new power was another major weapon in my growing arsenal. If Hellfire ran out of ammo, I would be able to use anything around me as a projectile. My ammunition was limitless.
“Sir, every building has been set on fire, and there is no trace of the girl.”
“We’ll find her,” the sergeant growled. “And if any of you do, remember not to look her in the eyes.”
“Hey, what about that drink Sarge? You said after the town was burned we could have some,” one of the soldiers asked.
“One drink each. We still haven’t fulfilled our mission, and each of you needs to be fully coherent and aware of your surroundings.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And make sure the readers are still trying to make contact.”
“Yes, sir. When are we leaving?”
“A second team will be sent out this afternoon. We’ll be rendezvousing with them at the next town. We’ll rest here where it’s safe and then leave in time to meet them. That town is triple the size of this one, so they’ll need our assistance.”
BY THE SOUND OF THE soldiers, it didn’t take much for them to become intoxicated. One was extra loud and obnoxious, with profanity flowing from his mouth like a faucet.
“They all need to die,” he slurred. “Every one of them, including the freaks. They’ll kill us
all! It’s in-vebby-bubble.”
“The word is inevitable, and that’s it for you, Daniels. You’ve had a little too much.”
“Don’t tell me what to do, Stevens!” Daniels shouted. “I’ll shoot your head off.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“Sarge! They’re gonna kill each other.”
I had to look. I saw the guy I put under the trance, Stevens, standing face to face with Daniels. Both had weapons aimed at each other.
“Stand down,” the sergeant hollered. “Stevens. Daniels. Lower your weapons.”
“Not unless he lowers his first,” Stevens shouted.
“Daniels, drop your weapon!” The sergeant ordered.
Daniels, the darker haired one who was a little taller, finally lowered his weapon and began crying. He was totally wasted.
“I can’t go back to the bunker with Johnston’s dead body,” Daniels sobbed. “He was my family.”
“I know, son. I’m sorry,” the sergeant said, putting his arm around Daniels, then turned to another soldier. “Get him out of the sun, and give him water.”
“Yes, sir.”
I ducked back behind the wall, not wanting to be seen.
“Hey Sarge,” another soldier yelled from the house. “The female has some information.”
“Bring them here,” the sergeant ordered.
“All of them?”
“Yes, all of them!”
In seconds, I heard sounds of struggling.
“Easy,” Chase snapped.
“Have you made contact with the girl?” the sergeant questioned.
“She’s close. Somewhere near,” a young female voice replied.
“I want details,” the sergeant barked. “Where is she?”
I pressed myself closer, wanting the details just as badly.
“Sergeant, this girl is not a reader like us,” Dr. Simon explained. “She’s a visionary. She arrived at the bunker a few days ago. However, despite any real examination or verification, the leaders insisted she come anyway.”
“She’s a witch!” Daniels screamed, his words slurred. “She’ll enter our minds and kill us all!”
“Get him inside!” the sergeant commanded.
“She’s a witch!” Daniels bellowed.
“What’s your name, girl?” the sergeant asked.
“Lacey,” she answered.
“They said you had some information, Lacey. What can you tell me?”
“The girl is near,” she replied.
“How do you know?” the sergeant questioned. “What is your gift?”
“I can enter a mind and see whatever that person is seeing,” she responded. “Abigail’s mind is strong and won’t allow me to enter, but she’s definitely here. She’s close. I can sense her.”
“If she were here she would have made contact with us,” Chase growled.
“Why would she want to make contact with you?” the girl argued. “You’re a threat to her.”
Who the hell was this girl?
I took a chance and peeked through the rubble again. All three of them were on their knees with their hands bound behind their backs. The girl looked to be in her teens with short, black hair that looked like someone had hacked it with a dull knife. She was thin and small in stature.
The sergeant raised his gun and pushed it against Lacey’s forehead.
“How sure are you she’s close? Don’t bullshit me, girl. Your life depends on how accurate you are.”
The girl looked up at him. “She’s here,” she answered without hesitation. “I’m sure of it.”
“Get up. All three of you,” the sergeant ordered. Three soldiers came and assisted them to their feet. “If she’s close, then she can hear me. Men, aim your weapons at the Readers.”
As the sergeant turned toward me, I slid back behind the wall.
This can’t be happening.
“Abigail Park,” he roared. “If you don’t come out and give yourself up, I will have my men kill the Readers, one by one, starting with the girl. You have ten seconds.”
My heart was hammering against my chest.
They wouldn’t kill them. Would they? They were bluffing. They had to be.
“Five seconds.”
He was calling my bluff.
“Three.”
They were innocent.
“Two.”
Shit!
“Stop!” I screamed, standing with my arms up in the air.
“Abi, no!” Chase yelled.
Two soldiers pointed weapons at my chest and ran toward me. Both, not making eye contact. They quickly tied my hands behind my back and walked me over to the sergeant, then forced me to my knees.
In a split-second, I watched Daniels exit the house with a gun in his hand. It was aimed at Lacey.
“Witch!” he screamed, as he pressed the trigger, firing at the girl. The bullet exited the center of her chest, her body dropping to the ground.
“No!” I screamed.
Everyone started hollering.
“Stand down, Daniels!” the sergeant shouted.
But he’d gone mad. His eyes were bright red, and his gun was now aimed at Chase.
A dark sack was thrown over my head. There was another gunshot.
“Chase!” I screamed.
There was a blow to the back of my head, and everything went dark.
“ABI,” A VOICE CALLED OUT. “Abi, can you hear me?”
“Dr. Simon?” I asked. The last thing I saw started to replay over a
nd over in my mind. The sound of the gunfire and Chase; I couldn’t help the tears falling down my face.
Yes,” he replied, “it’s me. Are you okay?”
“I think so. Chase?” While I didn’t want to know he was gone, the slightest hope he was alive made me ask.
“Chase is fine, Abi.”
“How?” I gasped. “I saw Daniels point the gun at him. And I heard the shot.”
“No. The gunshot was from the sergeant. Daniels is dead.”
“What?” My emotions were going haywire, and it was all I could do not to sob in relief. I took a deep breath. And another. Focus, I told myself.
“He was drunk and inconsolable. The sergeant did what he had to, and I’m glad he was quick with his decision.”
“Me too,” I exhaled. “I’m sorry about the girl. I tried to save her life.”
“It’s unfortunate,” Dr. Simon sighed. “She was young and had a unique gift.”
“Abi,” Chase called. “How are you?” The sound of his voice flooded me with relief.
“Fine now,” I sobbed. “I thought they killed you.”
“I didn’t know you cared so much.”
“It’s mostly the lack of sleep,” I sniffled and let out a weak giggle. “It’s making me irrational.”
“How’s your head?” Chase asked.
“They knocked me out, so I won’t feel it until I wake up.”
“We’ve missed you,” Chase said.
“I’ve missed you too,” I replied. “How’s Chloe?”
“She’s fine but still weak. They’re keeping her in the medical ward for a few more days of observation.”
“That’s good. I’ve been so worried.”
“She was asking about you,” he said.
“Really?” I never would have thought she’d think of me.
Chase chuckled. “Duh. You’re one of our few friends.”
“Ditto,” I said.
“We’ve been concerned about your well-being.” Dr. Simon added. “Have you experienced any new side effects?”
“Just sleepless nights, which have been taking a toll.”
“It’s affected all of our sleep patterns,” he noted. “But we have much bigger issues to address.”
“I know. I—”
High-pitched shrieks and cries filled my mind, sending a cold shiver down my spine.
“Oh my God,” I exhaled. “The Arvies are coming. You both have to warn them!”
“The Arvie
s. I can hear them,” Chase said.
“I do too,” Dr. Simon added.
“You have to hurry,” I begged, wondering if I could force myself to wake up. “They sound like they’re close.”
“We’ll tell them. Hang in there, Abi,” Dr. Simon said.
“I will.”
I WAS JOLTED AWAKE. SOMEONE was running with me in their arms toward the sound of the chopper.
“The Arvies are coming,” a soldier hollered.
“Brace yourselves behind the wall. Aim for the ones in front. Make those shots count!” the sergeant ordered.
Gunfire exploded, and I was helpless to do anything. If I didn’t get free, I was good as dead.
“Get in! I’m gonna lift this bitch into the air,” the pilot shouted.
I could feel the chopper rise off the ground.
Pandemonium erupted as bodies piled in. I could still hear the others firing their rounds at the Arvies outside. The helicopter was sitting right outside the wall.
“Get us out of here!” a soldier yelled.
“Incoming,” another screamed.
Something slammed incredibly hard into the chopper. Instruments started beeping loudly as the chopper rocked and then started tipping over.
“Goddammit,” the pilot hollered.
I was thrown like a ragdoll over the soldiers and landed hard on something metal. Excruciating pain radiated down my left arm.
Fear filled me as I heard a familiar sound…the distinct noise of the chopper blades snapping off, just like the crash outside of Sanctum. The smell of smoke was now heavy in the air.
“Everyone out!” The pilot yelled. “Out! Out! Out!”
“Help me,” I screamed, still bound and blindfolded. “Somebody help me!” But my cries were muffled by the panic and screams.
“Make your shots count!” the sergeant bellowed.
I struggled against my bonds, but my shoulder was throbbing and my left arm was weak.
“Sit tight,” the man in the front yelled. “My foot is jammed. I’ll get you out as soon as I’m free.”