He expunged the offending object, and I coughed and spluttered, relieved. Before I could question my own foolishness, I rasped, “What did you do to Mrs. Peters? Is she still alive? Did you kill her?”
Simms snarled at me, yanking so painfully on my arm I yelped. “Shut up. You don’t have the privilege of asking questions. Ask any more stupid questions and I’ll stuff this back in your mouth.” He held the gag right up to my face in warning. I said nothing. Waves of pain shot through my clenched jaw as I bit back a snide retort.
“That’s what I thought,” he smirked. “Now come on kid. Let’s get this over with. My shift is almost over.”
He hauled me along the sidewalk, my hands still secured tightly together in front of me. We marched through a revolving door into a beautifully furnished main lobby. My feet sank into a plush periwinkle blue carpet. I looked around. Gilded couches with overstuffed cushions, as comfortable as soft clouds dotted the area and beautiful paintings of various happy scenes adorned the walls. So this is where all the money went.
Agent Simms pushed me forward toward an elevator on the far side of the room and shoved me inside. He pressed the button for the twenty-ninth level. Warm air, smelling of cinnamon and spice wafted through the vents above us. I inhaled deeply; it smelled so good. As we ascended, each floor ticked by on the digital screen of the menu panel, and my mind scrambled. If the only way to leave this building was through the elevator, how would I ever be able to escape? I tried to control the rising panic that clawed up the back of my neck, threatening to strangle me. No. I couldn’t go there. There had to be a set of stairs somewhere. I clung to that small ray of hope.
When we reached the twenty-ninth floor, the lift dinged, and the doors opened. I found myself in another reception area, similar to the one before, except this lobby had floor to ceiling windows that offered a stunning view of the city. I gazed out, fascinated to see so many towering buildings dazzling against the dark winter night sky.
I’d stopped walking to take a closer look, but Simms thrust me forward so hard I almost fell on my face. “Stop gawking, kid. It’s time for your close up.”
“Close up?” I rasped, my throat still raw from the stuffed cotton handkerchief.
“Yeah. Your debriefing. It’s standard procedure. My advice? Don’t mess it up. And don’t try any of your tricks. My boss won’t be as accommodating.” He grinned derisively, almost as if he loved the idea of me getting into even more trouble.
I snorted back a laugh. Accommodating? He’d stabbed my friend with some drug and left her on the street. Still, I was smart enough to keep my comments to myself. I’d pushed him far enough.
At the end of the long hall, we came to a door marked with the insignia D5, and a sign that read High-Security Area—Use Caution. Agent Simms scanned his badge on the secure electronic lock and strode inside, dragging me with him.
Adrenaline surged through my veins and roared in my ears. The urge to run was potent. But as we turned the corner it became apparent we weren’t alone, a massive man sat behind a cold metal desk in the center of a white, sterile room. His forced smile and rigid posture filled me with a dark, unfathomable foreboding. I’d never make it out of here, pitted against these two.
“What is this?” I demanded hoarsely. “Why are you doing this? Please let me go.”
“Simms, fetch the girl some water, then leave,” the brutish man said dismissively.
Simms dropped my arm like it was a hot potato and stood to attention. “Yes, sir. Right away, sir.”
He disappeared around the corner, and within seconds had returned with a paper cup full to the brim with water. He pushed the drink into my bound hands and gave me a warning look.
My toes curled in my shoes as I tried to resist the urge to throw the water in his face. In the end, I decided not to part with the precious liquid. My throat burned, and I wouldn’t waste the deliciously cold refreshment on this pond scum. I gulped it back greedily.
“That will be all, Simms. See you at fourteen hundred hours.”
“Yes sir,” he said, raising his hand in salute.
I wasn’t surprised to find I was glad to see the last of Agent Simms. I detested him and what he’d done to Dara. On the surface he appeared considerably friendlier than the officer sitting before me, but we all knew the truth. This gentleman looked to be in his early fifties, with greased salt and pepper hair slicked back in a weird, old-fashioned style that came to a point in the middle of his forehead. The harsh lighting of the chilly room only accentuated the sharp planes and angles of his features. His large belly protruded over his navy uniform pants and dark spectacles hid the masked eyes of a hunter. Definitely a man that commanded authority, and clearly always had a price for every deal he made.
I shivered, but not from the cold temperature of the room. Then I heard Mama’s voice echoing in my head.
Never let them see your weakness.
I shook off my trepidation and stood tall, my eyes blazing furiously at the odious man. As much as it annoyed me to say so in this moment, Mama had taught me well.
The anger fueled me as I squared my shoulders and flung my hair back in a gesture of defiance.
He ignored me and continued shuffling papers on his desk. He’d probably seen it all before.
“Sit down Miss Redwood. I’ve been expecting you,” he said, not looking up.
I lifted my chin. His indifference didn’t bother me. I’d dealt with worse. I could freeze him out, but my curiosity was stronger, so I broke first.
“How long have you and my mother been in cahoots?” I blurted, trying to cover my discomfort. “Am I just a piece of meat to you?”
The man regarded me, raising his bushy eyebrows in surprise. He rose to his feet, hands splayed out on the desk and leaned forward, towering over me.
“I suggest you sit, Miss Redwood, if you know what’s good for you,” he said in a low tone. “While I admire your fire, there is a time and place for it. Don’t be stupid and be quiet.”
My heart pounded in my chest as I stared into his eyes. He wasn’t bluffing. I needed to stay alive—so I sat.
“Excellent choice. Let’s get down to business, shall we?” he said, lowering himself back down behind the metal desk.
I clenched my teeth to prevent myself from saying something I’d regret and surveyed the frigid office. It was a study in desolation. The room, a stark contrast to the warm reception areas, was cold and uninviting and housed only a desk, and an examination table. Strange instruments hung nearby, and a computer sat in the rear corner.
The ugly man’s voice returned me to my senses. “Now, you may be wondering who I am.”
“Not really,” I said, rolling my eyes.
He frowned, the lines in his face deepening, his cheeks mottled red with rage. “I’ve had about enough of your insolence Miss Redwood,” he bellowed.
I raised my chin and looked at him head on. This guy didn’t intimidate me. He had no idea who he was dealing with.
“My name is Officer Arden, the operating director in charge of the placement of all returned government property. You should deem yourself privileged that you were considered for such a trade in. It’s not as common as you might think.”
He steepled his fingers together and peered at me intently, as if waiting for me to thank him for his so-called virtuous deed.
I burst out of my chair and glared down at him, ready with an insult. But I found it died on my lips. Something he’d said had sparked my curiosity. I narrowed my eyes. “Why was I such a good trade in?”
Arden smirked. “I knew you would come around,” he said. He rose and skirted the desk, with a dangerous, predatory grace. He leaned forward his hot breath on my cheek. “You’re a fighter, girl. You kept your family alive practically single-handed. We like that kind of tenacity here at headquarters.”
The paper cup I was holding crushed under my fingertips. “You were spying on me?” I shouted enraged.
Arden pulled back and returned to his desk.
His sagging jowls twitched in agitation as he spoke. “I would prefer if you kept your tone civil, Miss Redwood. And no, spying is not how we conduct business here. We simply checked into your background. We do that on all our offered trade-ins. To see who will be suitable.”
“Suitable? How dare you? I am not your property Officer Arden,” I said seething, jaw clenched. I leaned in as close as I dared.
“Ah. But I’m afraid you are, Luna.”
Hearing him say my name like that ran a chill down my spine.
As if sensing my unease, his mouth quirked up at the corner. “Miss Redwood. I’m pleased to inform you, that as property of the United States government we are bestowing upon you the highest honor. You, my dear girl, are going to be sent to an alternate universe. You have the skills I believe to really make a go of things. Though I would try to control your temper. No one likes a hothead now do they?”
My breath came raw in my throat as a cold fist closed over my heart. I’d heard the rumors, understood what happened to those who got sent away. They would wipe my memories. I wouldn’t remember my sister Trinity or Dara, or anything for that matter. All that would be left of me was my name.
The Luna Redwood that everyone knew would cease to exist.
Chapter 5
Officer Arden left me alone.
He’d gone to process my paperwork for transfer and threatened bodily harm if I so much as moved an inch. Upon exiting, he’d slammed the door shut so hard the walls shook, then locked it with a flourish from the other side, as if to say; you’re not going anywhere.
He certainly didn’t know me that well. I thrived on a challenge.
Alone, the room seemed smaller now; the walls closing in on my confined prison, the stale, antiseptic air suffocating. The trifle of water I’d had earlier had done nothing to satisfy my thirst, and I licked my dry lips.
Right. It was time to pull myself out of this hellhole and get Dara help. She was not dead. I refused to believe that. First things first. I needed to remove these handcuffs. Arden had also shackled my ankles before leaving, thinking that would stop me, but he didn’t know about my hidden pin.
I stared at the ceiling, counting the tiles to calm my jangled nerves. All the while slowly using my sweater to pull down the apparatus I’d hidden in my sleeve.
One. Two. Three. Four…
By the time I counted to ten, the little tool rested in my palm. Beads of sweat formed on my forehead, despite the coolness of the room. I had minutes. This may be my only shot. When he came back, he would take my memories for sure.
With shaking hands, I maneuvered the pin into the hole of the handcuffs. With a satisfactory click, the restraints popped open, and I quickly moved to my ankles to free my feet. With that done, I stood and looked around; I needed to figure a way out of this mess. I bit my lip, noticing the lack of windows; that meant no fire escape, so that option was out. The only light came from a fluorescent bulb hanging above the desk. The incessant buzzing from it rattled me, but I tampered down my jitters and concentrated.
Think. Luna. Think. The electronic lock on the door indicated there had to be some kind of security system in place. My eyes flew to the small laptop in the corner of the room.
Without making a sound, I rushed over and opened the lid, pleased to find it already booted up. The government defense emblem flashed onto the screen, asking for my thumbprint scan or authorized user name and password. My heart pounded. The only way around this was to hack into it.
I’d never actually used a computer before, but I’d stolen a book about them and had learned everything in it cover to cover. Besides, I’d mastered how to extricate people’s information from their wrist ID’s to steal money, hadn’t I? How different could this be? I set to work. According to what I’d read, a login may be bypassed using hardware vulnerabilities such as an open port. From there I could get into the mainframe and hack the security, including the lock on this room.
Every minute that ticked by felt excruciating as I searched for a back door to outsmart the system. After what seemed like an eternity, I finally cracked it. But once inside the network there were a lot of firewalls; the government had certainly done their homework, but I was determined to take every barrier down. This system was wireless; radio frequency signals were being sent from every door and window sensor to a massive control center housed somewhere on the premises. The signal would deploy if any of the doors or windows were breached. The signals were encrypted, but by some mercy, I managed to get around that.
With a shaking finger, I hit enter on the keyboard and shut my eyes, willing it to work. Within seconds a distinct click echoed in the room as the door unlocked.
No alarm.
I grinned. I’d done it. I quickly exited the program and closed the computer lid, leaving it exactly the way I’d found it.
Unable to believe my good fortune, I sagged against the wall for a moment. Now to get out of here without being spotted. This wasn’t Nova anymore; my skills at blending in would be put to the test—dodging security men I’m sure were hiding in the shadows, just waiting to pounce.
My eyes lighted on Officer Arden’s jacket that he’d tossed on the back of the desk chair. I darted over to it and plucked it up, quickly pulling it on. Then I pulled my dark hair up into a bun using my pin. Nobody would consider looking for it there if I was caught.
I glanced at the clock. It had taken me ten minutes. I probably didn’t have much time to escape. Possibly only seconds once someone discovered the security system was down. I sped to the door and opened it, wincing as it hissed in protest. I froze for half a beat, but no one jumped out at me. I placed a hand on my heart to steady myself before peeking out to look both ways down the corridor. Coast clear, I stepped out cautiously, then tiptoed past the elevator before breaking into a full run, stopping short when I reached the end of the long hallway. Which way now? The sign for the stairwell indicated left. With the system down, I would have easy access. Taking one cursory glance around, I made a beeline for the stairs, wrenching open the door. I breathed a sigh of relief, so far so good. Without a second thought, I headed down the steps, almost tasting my freedom.
I leaned against the wall for support. Suddenly, the familiar tenor of voices came from behind the exit I’d just left and I froze. Officer Arden and another man were talking—but I was unable to make out what they were saying. But it didn’t take an idiot to figure out I was in grave danger. My stomach knotted even as I launched myself down the steps. I had to get out of here, fast. Only twenty-eight more floors to go. Sure. No problem.
Exhausted and sweating, I finally made it to the ground floor.
And then the lights went out.
I turned every which way in the pitch-black, reaching out to find the door, fumbling for the knob I had seen only seconds before. I grabbed it in relief. Surely, this would lead me to the lobby.
I was right, I’d found the lobby, also shrouded in darkness, save for the emergency exit light above the doorframe that provided a tiny sliver of illumination in the large expanse. From my vantage point, the coast was clear, but my line of vision was minimal. I strained to listen, but heard nothing but the sound of my own breath, seemingly too loud in the eerie silence. Could I really be alone?
A horrible feeling of dread caused me to stop short. This was too easy. Where were all the guards? Were they that confident, to leave this area unattended? No. Something didn’t add up. I paused; straining against the blackness. All I made out was the furniture, looming like black globs against the walls. I gulped hard. Somebody might be out there. Still, I had to risk it. What choice did I have? If I didn’t move now, every second that ticked by gave me more chances of being caught. I took one cautious step forward and let out a yelp of surprise as very large hands descended out of the gloom and clamped down on my shoulders.
“Going somewhere, Miss Redwood?”
Chapter 6
I was moments away from losing all my memories.
They had taken us to an undi
sclosed underground facility, the place where we would leave W1 and head to our so-called new home. It had been two days since that awful meeting with Officer Arden and I was exhausted. My world had become full of debriefings, and propaganda about what happiness and freedom awaited me.
There was a hole in my stomach bigger than an ocean that didn’t come from hunger, but from knowing that none of this was right. However, there was nothing I could do to stop it now; time marched forward whether I liked it or not. My breath came raw in my throat, my dread palpable, as our small group of “trade-ins” walked like obedient toy soldiers toward our fate. I felt sick wondering what had happened to Dara. The agonizing torture of not knowing if she was alive or dead twisted my gut to shreds.
The air lay heavy with a heady floral perfume, giving me a horrible headache as we headed into the crowded terminal. The taste of sweet cinnamon lingered on my lips from the breakfast pastries they’d provided for our last meal. It had been the most opulent food I’d ever eaten, but it crumbled like sawdust in my mouth.
The main guard ordered us to a halt and I had a chance to observe my surroundings. We appeared to be on the platform of P8, one of the so-called alternative universes. Earlier, we had been told that this single terminal accommodated eighteen gates, each leading to a discovered cosmos. The place sparkled with immaculate, white-tiled floors and walls. Colorful photographs of people laughing, playing and living their best lives lined the bulwarks, sending a message that “transfer” equaled happiness.
Sweat trickled between my shoulder blades. It seemed as if every single one of my nerve endings was on alert. The government wanted to make you complacent, make you believe you were going on holiday for fun to a warm tropical destination. But I wasn’t buying it. Nobody played me for a fool.
Cage of Glass (Cage of Glass Trilogy Book 1) Page 3
