Fear Tomorrow (The Fear Chronicles Book 4)

by C. C. Bolick

  For a long time, I’d hated the senator. He’d betrayed Angel for the sake of his politics. Now he’d brushed Rena’s death aside as if it were merely an annoyance.

  From the look on his face when he left, the senator wanted to throw something. Maybe for once we felt the same way.

  But I’d come to expect this lack of feeling from the senator. No thoughts of how others might feel or what he’d witnessed less than an hour ago. He was ready to work on this trade agreement which would get him advanced medical treatments. How ironic.

  Sylvia never called the senator by his first name. Did that mean she’d finally decided to stand up to him?

  “I thought the senator would never leave,” Agent Dallas said from three seats down.

  “Well,” Sylvia said, “we did give him the impression this was about a trade deal.”

  “No,” I said, “this was about killing Rena.” Everyone stared as all the words I wanted to say stuck in my throat.

  Across from Agent Dallas, Charlene stood. Instead of the black suits other agents wore, her green outfit felt out of place. She’d chosen sides and her choice wasn’t her background as an agent. “None of us had a choice in being here today. Trust me when I say I would have chosen otherwise.”

  Instead of focusing on her, I looked down the table at the queen. “Why didn’t you tell me what you planned?”

  “Because of a promise I’ll make,” she said.

  “To who?” I asked.

  She gave a sad smile. “To you.”

  The door to the conference room opened and in walked a woman about the same height as Charlene. She had the same brown hair but wore a solid black uniform similar to Dad’s, except for the band of blue fabric on her upper arm.

  Angel leaned close. “That’s Charlene’s sister, Lorraine.”

  I probably knew that somewhere deep in my memory, but I wasn’t thinking straight. What had the queen meant about making a promise to me?

  Lorraine walked around the table and stopped next to the queen. She locked her hands behind her back. With a slight nod, she said, “Your highness, the fleet is ready for your command.”

  Fleet? As in spaceships?

  Lorraine glanced around the table. “Where is he?”

  The queen held out a hand for Lorraine’s. Her words came slowly. “I ordered him to surrender himself to the agency. I felt we needed a show of good faith after what happened this morning.”

  “You mean after he killed Rena,” I added.

  “Van is in their containment zone,” she said.

  “On the isolation floor,” Charlene said. “That’s where they keep people with powers they can’t control.”

  Lorraine looked down the table at Sylvia. “What are your plans for him?”

  “He asked to be left alone,” Sylvia said. “I have merely honored his request for now. Van appears to be crushed by the weight of killing Rena.”

  “Should we brainstorm ways to contain him?” Agent Dallas asked. “If he can teleport, we couldn’t keep him locked in that room even if we wanted to.”

  For once Agent Dallas and I agreed. This was the same agent who insisted a relationship between me and Rena would be bad news for the agency. What was happening to me? First, I agree with the senator and now Agent Dallas.

  This made no sense. Van was a killer. He’d shot Rena right in front of me and we’d all watched her body disintegrate. “I can’t believe this. You locked me in one of those rooms and put me in a coma to contain my powers.”

  Lorraine turned to the queen. “Speaking of containment, we have a problem.”

  “What’s happened now?” Pade asked.

  “You know that special cell we designed for Paleris on the moon? He broke out and took Louis with him.”

  Pade stood. “That security field didn’t last long. Agent Payne is on his way there with the senator.”

  “Maybe you could lock up the senator,” Sylvia said. “At least for the next twenty-four hours.”

  Any other time and I would have laughed at her statement.

  Lorraine looked down at the queen. “Your father sends his regrets. It appears Paleris has outsmarted us.”

  “How does this guy keep getting away?” I asked.

  “My brother is great with technology,” the queen said. “I knew he would break out eventually, but it wasn’t time yet. Where are they now?”

  “Somewhere on Earth, we think. I’d like to assemble a team to search for them.”

  “A small team,” Pade said. “We keep this as quiet as possible.”

  I stared at him, piecing together the last of the puzzle. The fancy outfit, the way he gave orders in lieu of the queen. “The senator was right to wonder why you’re calling the shots. Want to share who you really are?”

  Pade opened his mouth, but the queen held up a hand. “Thank you for not killing him when you had the chance. I know you feel justified—”

  “Justified?” I asked. “You killed the person I cared about most.”

  “We released her powers,” the queen said. “Rena will be back. I expected you to hear from her by now.”

  I shook my head. “How can I hear from her? She’s gone.”

  “Rena is the key to saving Earth,” she said. “Haven’t you realized why there was no other way?”

  Instead of answering, I turned to Pade. “You didn’t answer my question. Why are you in charge?”

  “This isn’t about who’s in charge,” he said. “It’s a team effort.”

  “A team effort to commit murder.” I glanced at Angel. “I’ve heard enough of this. I’m going back to my room.”

  “You can’t run from this,” the queen said.

  I stood. “When I get my powers back, you’ll be the one running, your highness.”

  “Call me Kayden.” She brushed off my threat with a slight laugh. Did no one think I was capable of taking revenge?

  “A small team is a good idea,” Sylvia said. “We could provide cover from anyone who might discover you here.”

  Charlene nodded to her. “We could use your help. You should consider joining us.”

  “You know I have responsibilities here,” Sylvia said. “Who will lead this agency if I leave? At a time like this leadership is important.”

  “Yes,” the queen said. “But as a leader you must know when to lead and when to step aside and allow others to bloom as leaders in your place. It will take all of us working in harmony to save our worlds.”

  “My world is already over,” I said. “Excuse me if I don’t care what happens to yours.”

  I couldn’t take any more of this. Without another word, I turned and ran out of the room. As I reached the elevator, Angel stopped at my side.

  “We need to talk,” she said.

  “I’ve heard enough. What can I say to that?”

  “You don’t have to talk. Just listen.”

  “How can you be so calm about this? Rena’s only been dead for…” I glanced down at my wrist, to the spot where my watch usually sat. It had been removed during my coma and I hadn’t thought to ask the doctors to return it.

  The fact Angel was so calm made me wonder… “Tell me you didn’t know yesterday.”

  She stared up at me.

  I didn’t want to believe, but I couldn’t deny the guilt on her face. “I’m done with this agency.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  I pressed the elevator button. “I don’t know. Right now, I can’t even look at you.”

  “Talk to me Travis. You owe me that much. I’m your sister.”

  “If you’re in this with them, you’re guilty of taking everything from me.”

  “I did my part in saving lives.”

  “You made your choice.” My voice shook as I fought back a sob. No way could I break down until I was alone. “You’ll pay like everyone else.”

  She grabbed my arm. “Are you going to try and hurt me? Is that your plan?”

  The words were a struggle to get out. “If that’s what
it takes.”

  “You know I can’t die. Listen to yourself. You’re not making any sense.”

  “Your father was like you. He died.”

  “It took me to kill him. There’s no one left with my power.” With her super-human strength, she forced me around to face her. “Travis, look at me.”

  I stared at the floor.

  “What can I say to reach you? I get you loved Rena and it breaks my heart to know she had to die. I didn’t sleep at all last night thinking about what would happen today.” Her voice lowered. “I wanted you to be happy. It’s all I’ve wanted since finding out you’re my brother. I liked Rena.”

  “But you let them kill her.” The pain… the tears burning my eyes… this wasn’t me. Nothing around me felt real. I couldn’t deal with the sudden pain, like a knife twisting in my gut. No way could I make eye contact.

  “I didn’t stand in their way, but I also didn’t pull the trigger.”

  If only I could go back to feeling numb. “No, that was Van. He’ll be the first one to regret this.”

  “He already regrets this. Trust me, I’ve used my power to read his feelings. He grew attached to Rena and now he’s crushed.”

  “He’s a killer,” I said. “There’s no hurting his feelings.”

  “Travis.”

  Angel released me as the queen approached.

  “Can you give us a minute?” she asked.

  Angel nodded. “I’ll be inside.”

  There was no escaping the queen. I took a quick swipe at my eyes before glancing up. We were alone, which meant I could choke her if I wanted. This was my chance for revenge. If only I could take my revenge.

  How would it feel? Would I go crazy like I’d always assumed killers must be? “What do you want, your highness?”

  She cringed. “Call me Kayden.”

  “I don’t want to call you anything but what you are—a murderer.”

  “If we save my planet and everyone on this planet, I can live with being called a murderer.”

  “Everyone except for Rena. No one worried about saving her.”

  “What do you want from me?”

  “Honesty.” I raised a hand and made a fist. Could I harm her? She watched with curiosity as I considered how to make her feel my anger.

  My desperation. No, this was pointless. I couldn’t avenge Rena’s death just like I couldn’t escape the pain of losing her.

  The door to the elevator opened and I stepped away from the queen. Bethany Kruger walked between us.

  “Agent Payne,” she said. “Willful harm is not a good look for you. My daughter would not approve.”

  I watched her in shock as I lowered my hand. This wasn’t Bethany talking, but none other than Rosanna Castillo. She’d taken over Bethany’s body to return to the agency and help us fight Louis.

  “Where is Rena?” I asked.

  “On the way. I suggest you take your seat and wait patiently with the rest of us.” She walked toward the conference room and I followed. Inside, she sat in the empty seat next to Agent Mason. Rosanna put a hand over his and he nodded as if in silent agreement.

  Stunned, I took my seat. The queen went back to her seat and Sylvia restarted the meeting.

  “Everything on schedule?” she asked.

  Rosanna smiled. “There’s been a slight change.”

  “We don’t have time for changes,” Pade said.

  “My daughter thought otherwise.”

  “Sometimes change is good.” The queen put a hand on Pade’s shoulder. “For everyone who hasn’t been officially introduced, I’d like for you to meet my husband, the king of Golvern.”

  Some of the remaining agents looked on in shock. Rosanna and Agent Mason showed no shock and neither did Sylvia.

  Agent Dallas said, “Wow. Didn’t see that coming.”

  No one in green registered surprise.

  He was her husband, the king of Golvern. I realized if I’d killed Pade when I had the chance, it would have meant the ultimate revenge. The life of the woman I loved for the life of the man she loved.

  Some small part of me felt relief I didn’t pull that trigger.

  Before anyone else could respond, the door opened again and in walked Erin Watts with Agent Lockhart. Tyler’s eyes zoomed in on her. For the first time, the mask of control he wore seemed to slip.

  Sylvia had hired Erin to be the agency’s new genetics specialist, but Tyler had no idea she was back. She’d been his first and only love back in high school. I’d never understood his obsession with loving Erin until I met Rena.

  Instead of taking a seat, Erin stalked toward Sylvia. Agent Lockhart hung back by the door.

  Agent Dallas stood. “You shouldn’t be here.” She glanced at Agent Lockhart. “You had no plans to return until after her memory was erased.”

  After her… Erin was leaving? She was Rena’s friend. How had I missed this?

  “We were on the flight to Chicago when she changed her mind. Got out before they locked the door.” Agent Lockhart waved for Agent Dallas to sit. “You’ll want to hear what she has to say.”

  Sylvia watched as Erin approached, not with surprise but curiosity. “I’m glad to see you changed your mind about leaving us.”

  Across from me, Tyler sat with his mouth open and eyes wide. I’d never seen him shocked like this. If Erin had noticed him, she didn’t look our way.

  “I didn’t change my mind.” Erin put her hands on her hips. “I can’t believe you sold Rena out. I thought you were trying to help her.”

  Sylvia leaned forward and rested her chin on her hand. “My job is to keep this planet safe. At this point, I’d sell my own soul if that would make it happen.”

  “Sounds like you already have. Rena’s here.” Erin glanced at me. “You can’t see her but she’s standing next to Agent Lockhart.”

  My heart pounded in my chest. Rena was back. I wanted to run to her and… but I couldn’t touch her. I couldn’t see her. I watched the spot next to Agent Lockhart, but saw only empty air.

  “You can see her?” Sylvia asked.

  “She came to me in a dream while I was on the airplane. She’s willing to help this end right.”

  “I don’t know how this will end,” Sylvia said. “But knowing she’s with us makes me feel better.”

  “It ends with saving lives,” Erin said. “That’s the only way it can.”

  She smiled at Erin. “I’m proud to hear you say those words.”

  “You’re not going to like my next words.”

  Sylvia laughed. “Let me guess. You’re still out.”

  Erin nodded. “You said it was my choice.”

  “What will you do? Go back to your life in Chicago? To that lonely apartment and job with no one you care about? No family?”

  “That isn’t fair.”

  “You’d rather go back to the life you hate,” Sylvia said.

  “I didn’t hate my life.”

  “Then why interview for the job? Why come to this base?”

  Erin pointed an angry finger at Sylvia. “You tricked me into coming here.”

  “Do you want me to remove her?” Agent Dallas asked. She whelped as her coffee cup rose above the table and spun around.

  Laughter sounded from the other agents. Agent Dallas slid her chair back from the table and the coffee cup landed with a light thud on the wood. “Tell her to stop. Please. I don’t do ghosts.”

  “I didn’t trick you,” Sylvia said. “I recruited a doctor working in the field of genetics, one of the best in this country, if not the best. By bringing you here, I was doing my job.”

  Erin sighed. “When this is over, we’re going to have a long talk. This isn’t how a director should act. Rena trusted you.”

  Sylvia grinned. “If you know how a director should act, perhaps you should try the job for a day.”

  “Are you making fun of me?” Erin asked.

  “No.” Sylvia stood. “I’m giving you a promotion.”

  “Promotion? I don’t wor
k for you anymore.”

  “You’ve been promoted. You’re no longer just a doctor here. You’re now acting director.”

  “What?” Erin asked.

  Gasps came from around the table.

  “You heard me. For the next twenty-four hours, you’ll be director of this agency.”

  Erin glanced toward the door and shook her head. “I came here to give you Rena’s message. That’s all.”

  “You came here because of a calling like the rest of us.” Sylvia approached Erin and put a hand on her shoulder. “You came here to save lives. I’ve served this agency as director for the last fifteen years, not because I wanted to but because the agency needed me in that position. I can do my best work as an agent. For the next twenty-four hours, this planet needs me as an agent.”

  “Everyone here knows I can’t do that job.”

  “Yes,” Tyler said, “you can.”

  Her mouth gaped open as she met his stare.

  “I share my grandson’s judgement in this.” Sylvia glanced across the table at Charlene. “Looks like my schedule has an opening. You were saying about needing help?”

  Charlene smiled. “You can join our team to track down Paleris.”

  “The rest of us will proceed with our plans to challenge Rena,” the queen said.

  “Challenge?” I asked.

  She nodded. “Rena needs years to build her power, but she’ll have only hours. First there will be a bomb. Then we’ll use our fleet of fighters to stretch her limits.”

  “If your fleet is for her,” Rosanna said, “my daughter will have a busy day.”

  Chapter Six

  Rena

  As I watched Travis, I wanted to touch him more than anything. I thought of the feeling of electrical shock from the airport when a person passed through me.

  I didn’t want to feel that when I touched Travis. The longer I stared at him, the more the tears threatened.

  “I need a few minutes,” I said.

  No one could hear me but Erin and Mama. Erin glanced my way and nodded slightly. Her eyes held fear and more than the usual shock of our adventures. I doubted if anyone in the room noticed her motion except for Tyler.

  He couldn’t tear his eyes away from her.