Immersive

by Becky Moynihan

Instead of heeding my warning, she sucked in a deep breath, more and more. Stars above, she was pulling energy to her. Then she released it all in a scream. “Stop!”

  The arrow froze to my fingers. I was ice. A prisoner in my body. And I wasn’t the only one. No one moved around me. Not even the chargers. It was like she had stopped time itself. Except the guards and elites stirred. Renold raised a hand and so did their weapons. Volt guns, arrows, throwing knives. All poised to take us out.

  I thrashed against the invisible bonds. My body didn’t budge, but my mind . . . it whirred awake. She was strong. I could feel her power now, a rush of water that swirled in and around me, holding me in place. But I could sense the weak spots, the water stretched to a mere trickle. She was controlling dozens of minds, and her hold was slipping.

  If I was going to save us all from certain death, I had to do it now. Now! Aiming for a thin spot in Iris’s mind control, I sent my power hurtling toward her like an arrow.

  It buried deep, deep, deeper. I clung to her subconscious and shouted into that terrible void, “Sleep.”

  She crumpled like a ragdoll at Renold’s feet.

  Time restarted with a jolt. My bubble of power burst and I immediately blacked out. The darkness grabbed me but I kicked away, swimming toward the surface. I broke through only to emerge into chaos.

  “Attack!”

  Chargers screamed. Hooves pounded.

  My body was lifted, borne into the air and held in a viselike grip. I struggled to see, to make sense of the world.

  Zip, zip. Shots were fired.

  “Get to Iris!” a familiar voice bellowed in my ear.

  I jerked upright and the world refocused. Grays and browns painted my peripheral. Chargers. I was weightless, flying among them. No, I was astride Stalin. Bren must be at my back. A volt gun slid into place beside me as he fired at the guards and elites. One went down.

  “Iris.”

  “Lune,” Bren said with obvious relief. “You all right?”

  “Yeah, I—”

  Stalin suddenly reared, bugling a shrill neigh. As he started to tip over, Bren wrapped me up in a bear hug and jumped free. Gravity sent us tumbling over the ground, knocking the wind from our lungs. Bren was up in a flash, dragging me with him. Everything tilted but I shook off the dizziness, relieved when Stalin stumbled to his legs again.

  “Where’s Renold?” I shouted, reaching for my daggers.

  “There.”

  I followed the point of his finger to where the Supreme Elite stood protected by a ring of his elites. Ryker, Asher, and several others fought to break the circle and reach Iris still asleep at his feet. I advanced on him only for a blond-haired behemoth to block the way.

  “It’s been awhile, trainee,” said Drake, my old Trials instructor. He raised a massive broadsword with a challenging sneer.

  Bren stepped beside me, twirling his su-yari in a lazy figure eight before widening his stance, prepared to fight.

  The older man’s eyes visibly widened at the sight of Bren’s enhanced form. His gaze shot to me. “What, you can’t take me on by yourself?”

  “Oh, didn’t you know?” I flipped my daggers. “I learned a new fighting technique. It’s called teamwork.”

  As surprise settled over his face, I rushed him. Steel striking steel shivered up my arms. I blocked out everything but me, Drake, and Bren locked in a fight that would surely end in death. I ducked as the broadsword swooped toward my head, popping up to see Bren engage him. He thrust the spear tip forward only to have it batted aside. But he wouldn’t let up, swinging the staff around again and again with pounding force.

  I snuck underneath Drake’s guard and drew first blood. He hissed, freeing up a hand to throw a fist. Even as my head whipped to the side from the blow, he cried out. I pushed past the throbbing in my skull to see Bren yank the su-yari from his side. Bren’s fury was palpable. His fangs were bared, eyes flashing with heat. To spare him more guilt, I lowered my daggers and dove into Drake’s mind.

  “Knock yourself out.”

  His broadsword thunked to the ground. Then so did he as my command was obeyed.

  Bren was still fighting for control of his inner rage when I toed Drake’s prone form, muttering, “Now that technique was all you. Fight dirty, remember?”

  I threw Bren a wink despite my pulsing headache, then took off toward Renold. Halfway there, I saw an elite aim a throwing knife at Ryker. Barely breaking stride, I halted the throw with a, “Stop.” Then, “Punch yourself.”

  I could get used to this.

  Ryker glanced over his shoulder and our eyes locked. He nodded his thanks, wiping blood from his face before jumping into the fray once again. Some of the people from inside the village had broken through and joined the fight. They brandished tools as weapons, many getting shot down by arrows and volt darts. We were still outnumbered, the fire keeping our inside help at bay.

  But The Ridge would come. If we could hold on for a little while longer, victory would be ours. I wouldn’t accept anything less.

  A villager next to me wailed as a guard jabbed her with a volt stick. I swept a dagger at the guard, catching his arm. He dropped the stick and my boot lashed out, striking his gut. Bren grabbed him then, knocking him out cold. An elite rushed me from the side, but before I could engage, Bren was there, whipping his su-yari through the air to block the man’s weapon. As he continued to protect my back, I turned toward Renold.

  He was already staring at me. The screams, spraying blood, and smoke-filled air drifted away as I held his stare. “Surrender,” I said, knowing he could hear, “and I won’t tear apart your mind.”

  His nostrils quivered with barely restrained fury, but he managed to smile serenely as he replied, “You surrender and I won’t press this button.” He waved the flat device to taunt me.

  “Iris isn’t wearing her collar anymore. Your days of playing fake daddy are over.”

  His expression flattened. “This device isn’t for her collar. It’s one I never planned on using, but you’re giving me no choice. I’d rather see my city destroyed than let you take control of it. Their deaths will be on your hands.”

  “What are you talking about?” I snapped. “What does it do?”

  “It unlocks every single cage in the bunker. Not even a power outage can stop these locks from opening if I were to—” He paused, glancing at the device before slowly raising his eyes to mine. “Oops.”

  Horror crashed into me and I stumbled back.

  “Better hurry if you want to save them,” Renold called. “The beasts go wild at the scent of fresh blood.”

  A hand gripped my shoulder from behind. “It’s just me,” Bren’s voice rumbled in my ear. I didn’t even flinch, my thoughts a wild disarray of disbelief and consuming fear. He came around, scanning my face and body, worry lining his forehead. “What’s wrong? What was Renold saying?”

  As I struggled to speak, a twisted mass of friends and enemies, spraying blood and undulating flames danced before me. In the center, swirling so fast that no one detected him, was my best friend. He dipped and pivoted, pulling my sister to safety. He carried her away, away, away. I felt nothing but dread. Because no distance was great enough. No one could escape what was to come.

  “The beasts are loose,” I whispered to the wind, the very thing that would draw our scent to the ravenous animals and doom us all.

  I looked for Renold, the harbinger of death, but he was gone.

  Ignoring Bren’s shout, I whistled for Freedom and ran.

  I caused this horror.

  By pushing Renold over the edge, an entire city would pay the price.

  “Lune, wait!”

  “Protect Iris,” I yelled, jumping over a fallen villager. “Protect them all!”

  Because this wasn’t about him protecting me right now. I quickly resheathed my daggers and swung into the saddle. Bren grabbed both the reins and my thigh, holding us captive.

  I clenched my jaw, then steeled my gaze. “I need to warn t
he others. Nothing you say will make me stay. I have to go.”

  “I know.”

  My mouth fell open. I expected him to fight me tooth and nail, not—

  The hand on my thigh shot up and gripped the nape of my neck. I sucked in a gasp as he brought my head down, kissing me soundly. His lips were hot and urgent against mine. He poured an ocean of words and feelings into that one soulful kiss. A plea and a prayer and a thousand whispered confessions of love.

  When he pulled back, I clung to him, desperate for one more moment. But he gently removed my hands and wrapped them around the reins. He stepped away, giving me the most devastating half smile.

  “Fly, little bird,” he said. Then slapped Freedom’s backside.

  We shot down the road like a bullet. Away from the fight. Away from him.

  He was finally letting me go. Not because he wasn’t scared or didn’t love me. But because he believed. Utterly and completely believed in me, harnessing his worries so I could fly freely.

  And I ached all over from the joy of it.

  I carried the feeling with me, holding it tight when panic threatened to unhinge me. The entire city was in grave danger. Most were unaware of the upcoming threat, and I needed help warning them.

  Trusting Freedom to fly true, I gave her control, retreating into my mind to form a tether with Jaxon.

  Please tell me you’re in the city, I quickly spoke into his mind.

  His reply was instant. Affirmative. There were a few casualties, but we’re heading your way.

  Meet me at Tatum House. I’ll tell you more when you arrive.

  I disconnected and leaned over Freedom’s neck, urging her to sprout wings. When we arrived at the main entrance, I reined her in sharply. She skidded on the gravel road, rearing as bright headlights sliced our way. I slipped from her back while she pawed at the air.

  Four black vehicles ground to a halt before us, and I grabbed Freedom’s reins before she bolted. Jaxon jumped down from the driver’s seat of his Rover, striding toward us with a slack-jawed expression.

  Slinging the longest gun I’d ever seen across his shoulders, he pointed at Freedom. “That’s a . . . that’s a—”

  “Charger?” I supplied helpfully. “Ogle her later. Right now, we have a bigger problem than Renold, the elites, and a village up in flames.”

  “Flames?” Yukiko came up alongside Jaxon, straightening her black bulletproof vest.

  “I’ll tell you everything on the way, but I need you to send half your team across the river to defend the bunker’s main entrance. There are people over there unaware of what’s just been unleashed.”

  “Help me out here, Lune,” Yukiko prodded, even as she waved one of The Ridge’s guards over and handed him a map. “What are we walking into?”

  I realized then how frantic my voice sounded compared to hers. I worked on slowing my galloping heartbeats before saying, “Every single mutant beast inside the bunker has been released. There’s a tunnel on the sub-basement level of this house that leads directly to the bunker. We need to get down there now before the beasts find the men we sent to block off Renold’s escape.”

  “Where is the sneaky villain anyway?” Jaxon asked while Yukiko stepped aside to issue orders.

  I opened my mouth to fill him in, but lost all track of thought as someone new joined us. “Bells?” I said incredulously before scowling at Jaxon. “What is she doing here?”

  Jaxon groaned. “For the love of salami sandwiches, I told you to stay in the Rover, Bells. Under no circumstances are you to leave its bulletproof sanctuary.”

  “But I have a vest on,” she argued, inching forward. “And I can shoot. Bren made me learn, remember?”

  Jaxon dragged a hand down his face. “I blame this on Prince of the Bad Boys. Ever since he came back into the picture, this keeps happening.”

  She perked up. “Is he here? In the house?”

  The growl of an engine drowned out my reply. I tightened my grip on Freedom’s reins as two of the Rovers kicked up gravel and sped away. Yukiko rejoined us, rolling her eyes at Bells before handing her a gun. “Stay in the center of our group. And don’t even think about sneaking off to find Ryker. He’s a big boy and can take care of himself.”

  “I wouldn’t—”

  “I mean it, Bells. No heroics. Even if there’s a lost fluffy kitten.”

  “Is there—? Okay, I promise.”

  I was only slightly reassured when she checked the gun with practiced movements. At least she had a bulletproof vest on. Someone held one out to me but I declined. I had too many weapons strapped to my back and no time to readjust them. I barely had time to loop Freedom’s reins around Lennie’s statuesque lion head before we were mounting the stairs.

  “Once inside, be prepared for anything,” I warned, sparing a second to accept the gun Yukiko handed me. “I don’t know how many elites or guards were left to defend the house.”

  “Roger that,” Yukiko muttered. “Just like our war games but with real ammo.”

  When we reached the front doors, I paused, hoping Ryker was telling the truth about his inside man. If not, this could get awkward really fast. I bypassed the annoying bell and knocked.

  Almost immediately, the doors swung inward. Guns cocked, ready to fire. Hooded gray eyes peered down at us all with a bored air. “Your name and business, miss?” Dobson droned.

  “Beast-Taming, Kick-Butt Warrior Princess, here to save the day.”

  “So epic,” Jaxon whispered in approval.

  The doors widened further. “Of course. This way, Warrior Princess. I’ve been expecting you.”

  Was this a dream? I must be dreaming.

  Dobson swiftly led us to the staff stairwell without instructions. He was observant, I’d give him that. Maybe he was a closet Intellect. It explained why Ryker confided in him though. Besides their quiet and broody nature, they both knew more than they let on.

  Other than the faint squeak of boots against marble, the house was silent. We could be walking into a trap, but I doubted it. Dobson was stuffy, but he’d never been malicious. Maybe he felt like a prisoner too and was jumping at the chance to set himself free. At the stairwell door, he bowed, holding it open for us.

  I saw him in a different light then. Instead of bored, his well-worn face simply looked tired. For the first time in several years, I gave him a genuine smile, speaking without sarcasm. “Thank you, Dobson.”

  He wordlessly inclined his head, but I could have sworn his mouth twitched into the barest of smiles.

  A light clicked on, illuminating the stairs. Jaxon tapped my shoulder and handed me a flashlight. More switched on behind me, casting bright beams as I swallowed my trepidation and descended.

  When we hit the basement level where most of the in-house staff slaved over the elite’s needs, the usual clank of pots and pans as the cooks prepared breakfast was missing. Was everyone at the village? Ironically, it was probably the safest place to be now. Every single one of those elites knew how to wield a weapon.

  The sublevel was pitch black. Not even faded moonbeams from a window broke through the inky depths. Only the flashlight, slightly trembling now, chased away the shadows. I veered in the direction Lars had taken me, hardly daring to breathe.

  I almost leapt out of my skin when Jaxon whispered, “So tell me about this bunker.”

  “Now isn’t a good time,” I hissed, expecting to see flashing yellow eyes at any moment.

  “Now’s the perfect time,” Jaxon insisted. “You’re super jumpy and animals can—”

  “Smell fear. I know, I know.” I huffed, training my light on the door leading to the tunnel. Crap. It was open.

  Yukiko slid around me, signaling us to halt as she crept through the doorway. No one moved a muscle. I held my breath. As silently as she went in, she returned. “All clear.”

  She took the lead then, entering the tunnel. Stars, it was creepy in the dark. A tube. We were in a cement tube with a possible horde of ravenous beasts on the other end.<
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  “Tell me, Lu Bear,” Jaxon said, walking beside me now. His voice echoed faintly, and I cringed. “Yukiko will warn us if anything with pointy teeth is coming. I need intel on that bunker.”

  “Why?”

  “‘Cause it’s my job,” he replied, all seriousness. “I watch, listen, and piece together information to better understand what’s going on in the world. I wasn’t kidding about that. But it’s all to discover threats that could wipe out humanity again. The bunker seems suspicious, so I’m hoping you can tell me a few things.”

  I snorted softly. “I could tell you a lot. It’s where I spent the last week—or longer. Which reminds me. Don’t stare at Bren’s teeth when you see him next.”

  Before he could pepper me with questions, I told him the short version of Renold’s diabolical family history, from the Silent War virus to plans for creating an Elite human race. When I finished, he was eerily quiet.

  Finally, he made a sucking noise with his teeth. “Wow. I was totally wrong in my theory.”

  “Not really. He is trying to build a cult, in a way. And . . .” I drew in a tight breath, focusing on Yukiko’s back. “He turned Iris into a mindless robot. Bren was going to be next, then probably me.”

  Jaxon suddenly stopped. “Sugar Plum,” he called softly, but Yukiko heard, reversing course.

  “What is it?” she said, still on high alert as she scanned our surroundings.

  “I have an idea.” He turned to me. “Do you have the ability to check if there are any humans left inside the bunker?”

  “Uh . . . since I’ve been inside, I could probably feel my way through the darkness and search for anything living. Why?”

  Before I’d even finished speaking, he was removing a backpack, unzipping it to rummage inside. “I’ll tell you later. Hurry, we don’t have much time left.”

  “I need someone to watch over my—”

  “I’ve got you,” Bells said reassuringly, slipping an arm around my waist.

  And surrounded as I was by friends that I knew without question could be trusted, I didn’t hesitate to leave my body behind for them to protect.

  It was surprisingly easy to cast my mind out, like stretching a well-used muscle. The desire to check on everyone at Antler Hill Village was strong, but I wouldn’t be able to tear myself away if I did. So I forced my consciousness to stay on target. Upon arrival, I felt the beasts. Their minds were all the same: instinct and bloodlust. They were on the hunt, and the only thing available was human flesh.