Samantha Sharp Chronicles 2

by C C Roth

  She glared at me but stormed out as she was told.

  I’d been there before…a million times. Sitting in an office with an adult behind a desk ready to flip out all over me. Some remained calm, trying to put me at ease and gain my trust. Some yelled and went off about manners and obedience. Some asked me questions about my family and tried to guilt me into behaving, wouldn’t my mother be disappointed in me, etc. Suffice to say I’d pissed off a lot of authority figures in my short life, so I wasn’t exactly sweating. Mitchell took a deep breath and thought for a moment as he looked at me, but I didn’t see the same disappointed face I’d been seeing from across desks my whole life. I didn’t see him judging me. I didn’t see a person who wanted to change me. He seemed almost pleased and completely unsurprised.

  “Well, Samantha. You don’t disappoint, do you? I understand why Karina feels the way she does. Do you understand it?”

  I shrugged, a knee jerk reaction to such a question. “I don’t really care what Karina thinks or why to be honest with you. But you know that already.”

  “Yes, I do. Samantha, I need to discuss something with you. This mission I’m sending you on is a crucial move in more ways than one and it will be a pivotal moment preceding the election.”

  I listened intently. Apparently, I wouldn’t be getting a lecture.

  “Do you remember Gabriel Ross?”

  “The man on TV the other night?”

  “Yes. The same.”

  I nodded.

  “Ross has managed to obtain an awful amount of power whilst our government has been taken apart piece by piece. He used to be an annoyance, someone who could be kept in check by the system. But there is no more system and he has managed to use that to his advantage. He is now the backbone within a corrupt system, and he has been pivotal in recruiting dangerous people to segregate and imprison our innocent citizens.”

  “Any chance you could get to the point, Mitchell?”

  “Of course. As always, I appreciate your bluntness. He is the man who is heading up the initiative to use our nation’s youth as lab rats. He is the man who is wielding our corrupt military on his whims. He is the man who wants to design our country as he sees fit. A country where people like me, people like you, and thousands of others won’t have a voice. He wants us silenced. He wants a country without diversity, freedom, or progress.”

  I twirled a piece of string in my fingers as I thought this over. “You’re saying he is responsible for arming and ordering militia to kidnap kids and take them to labs?”

  “Yes.”

  “You’re saying he is responsible for what happened to my family in Hillsboro?”

  “Yes.”

  I could hear an echoing thunk as my insides flipped and my cold friend was suddenly thirsty for blood. I had wanted so badly to blame someone, it’s all I’d wanted from the moment my parents were ripped from me. I had been blaming myself, even though Mike told me not to. I tried to let it go and ignore the nagging thought that I was the only one responsible for their deaths. It all seemed so simple to me and I couldn’t grasp why Mike insisted there was no one to blame. Hearing that this man, Ross, was truly at fault was like a pardon on a life sentence. I couldn’t ignore a tiny bit of something resembling joy at the notion that I wouldn’t have to carry that weight any longer. I sat calmly, but underneath the surface I was buzzing.

  “So why are you telling me this Mitchell?”

  “Because it just so happens that Mr. Ross will be at Quantum in two days’ time when you infiltrate and rescue our people.”

  “They’re your people, not mine.”

  “So true. But I hope they will be your people as well.”

  I could hear Mike’s voice in my head, I don’t trust him. “Mitchell, you know what I am. Why are you telling me this?”

  “Because I care about you, Samantha. I truly believe that you are an integral part of our future. Our nation needs more strong women and you are exactly that. I need you in the days and years ahead to help shape our country. You are special and you deserve a seat at the table one day.”

  “If you’re suggesting that I have political aspirations you must be crazier than I am.”

  This amused him. “Well perhaps not yet, but one day you might surprise yourself. I keep telling you there’s more to you than you’re aware. Maybe the people in your old life just couldn’t see it. You have a light within you, you just need someone to guide your strengths in your new life. And do not fool yourself, Samantha that is exactly what the world is creating…a new life. It will either be terrifying, the culmination of all that is wrong with humanity or it will be utopia, the labor of good and thoughtful people rising together.”

  He’d done it again and I was feeling all warm and mushy at the notion of being needed instead of just being a burden as I’d always felt. I should have put more thought into it. I should have doubted and questioned him. I should have done a lot of things but…what fun ever came from should?

  “Where will he be? Ross?”

  “Do you recall the upper levels of the facility reserved for offices? He will be in his office on the fourth floor. Room 405. I have confirmation that he will be occupied at his desk when your team goes into the lab. We can orchestrate it this way…if you like.”

  “You would do that for me? Put him there for me to pick off?”

  “You need to move on, Samantha. I need you to move on if you’re going to be of use to me. You’re stuck in the past. I do not believe that someone with your talents will be able to go forward until you’ve settled your past. Do you feel that this man disappearing from our world would help you move forward?”

  I pictured my parents lying in the dirt back at our cabin. Their graves overlooking the lake for eternity.

  “Yes.”

  “Then I will make it happen. This will be my gift to you, young warrior. Please don’t waste it.” He held my gaze with intensity for a moment. “Samantha, I have never cared much for false faces, but I must insist that this side-operation of ours remain between us only. Will that be a problem?”

  “No. I understand.” I stood to leave. “Thank you, Mitchell.”

  “Anything for you, Samantha. I hope that this will be only the first in many successful endeavors for us.”

  My body moved calmly, hiding my secret, but I was doing flips on the inside. I couldn’t stand the anticipation. The opportunity to remove the slug responsible for my parents’ death was like a dream. I was bursting but I couldn’t tell Mike because he would undoubtedly stop me or try. Maybe Navin would get it but he wouldn’t be okay with it either, not really. I had to keep it to myself, locked up and hidden from everyone around me. Luckily, I’d had years of experience doing just that. Too bad, though. Karina would have been so pissed to know that Mitchell and I had a secret. What was it with those two anyway? I mean I get that he was like a father to her but geez, she needed to lighten up a bit.

  I flopped on the couch in the rec room next to Navin, ignoring the worried look he was giving me as I nuzzled next to him. We weren’t exactly alone and discreet wasn’t my strong suit.

  He tried to shrug me off, failing. “You’re trying to get me killed, aren’t you?”

  “Of course not. Who would I talk to if you died?”

  “Right, probably the voices in your head.”

  “Hey, I only have one voice.”

  “So how was your chat with Mitchell? I could hear Karina screaming from down here. You know, I don’t think she likes you.”

  “No kidding? It’s fine, we’re cool.”

  He paused his game to look at me. “You’re cool? That’s it? I was ready to pack our bags.”

  “No. No packing. The mission is still on.”

  “Do I want to know why?”

  “Probably not.”

  “Hmm,” was all he said and un-paused his game. “Here, you’re player two.”

  “Thanks.”

  We had maybe ten solid minutes of gaming before Mike came in and stood over me with
a seriously ticked off face. “Video games? Really? You’re playing video games right now. Of course you are.”

  “What’s up, bro?” I didn’t bother to look away from the screen.

  “I just talked to Karina. She wants you out of the house.”

  “Yeah, that’s not happening. Mitchell and I are good.”

  “Karina says—"

  “I don’t give a crap what Karina says, Mike. This isn’t her house, is it? It’s Mitchell’s and he and I have an understanding.”

  “Why does that not surprise me? Sam, you can’t be this naïve.”

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m fine.”

  His voice shook as he tried not to yell. “Dammit, Sam you are not fine! He is using you for something. He has his own goals and he does not care about you. Do you get that? I see the way he’s looking at you and it is not for your own good that he wants you around.”

  I tossed my game controller on the couch to glare at him. “Is that what Karina told you? That he’s using me? Because from where I’m sitting, we’re the only ones benefitting from our presence here in this messed up version of Full House. Free room, free food, free weapons, and we get a red carpet rolled out for us to get into Quantum which is why we came to this crap-city in the first place. We’re getting what we wanted. What are you so upset about?”

  “I’m upset because my little sister just blew up a bunch of people with a grenade and she doesn’t care!”

  “They’re fine. Probably. And why should I care?”

  “Because they’re people!”

  “How is that a qualification for survival? Mom and Dad were people. The millions that Avian-X wiped out, everyone in D.C., they were all people. In case you haven’t noticed being human isn’t exactly a free pass for life anymore.”

  “So, what then? You just become the monster, is that it? You kill who you want because the world went to crap? This is why Karina doesn’t trust you, Sam. This is why she wants you out.”

  “I don’t give a shit what Karina thinks of me or where she wants me to go. What I care about is she seems to think that she can say that to you and get away with it. You’re my brother. What have you been saying to her about me? Does she think I’ll just leave here, and you’ll stay?”

  He shook his head in frustration, but it wasn’t a denial. I was raging on the inside, the pain of Mike turning against me was a weight I couldn’t carry.

  “Why would she think that, Mike?” I stared at him hard.

  “Because following you around, hoping you don’t kill yourself is scary. You scare me sometimes and I don’t think I’m helping you. Not the way I should be. Not the way Mom and Dad wanted me to.”

  The betrayal cut me, and I couldn’t hide it. “Well if I’m so scary maybe you should find a new room. I don’t want you losing any sleep worrying about your scary sister sleeping in the next bed.” I flipped him off and stormed up the stairs. I wanted the hell out of that house and out of my own skin.

  You’re fine. We don’t need him.

  “No, we don’t.”

  The front door slammed loudly against the wall as I threw it open, looking for an escape, but all I found was a wall of rain. Ugh. Whatever, that wasn’t going to stop me. I grabbed someone’s parka off the closest hook and was ready to bolt when Navin came up behind me.

  “Sam, wait. Where are you going? It’s awful out, just come back in—”

  “I’m leaving.”

  “Don’t. We can go talk, just stop.”

  Navin, ever my hapless and loyal sidekick, trying to figure out what I wanted and how to give it to me. But I was too mad to be comforted. I was losing my brother all over again, just as I knew I would. Just as I’d feared. I wanted to cry but an icy knot in my throat wouldn’t let me. I felt as though I might explode from the pressure.

  Mom and Mike’s voices looped in my head on repeat, …I find myself wondering if I should be scared of her, you scare me sometimes. I stared at Navin and wondered what it was he saw in me when all anyone else could see were flaws. I wondered if he would leave with me, right then. If I just took off and never looked back, would he come? Without asking, I knew the answer. Suddenly, I felt a twinge of adrenaline shift towards something devious and a lightbulb went off.

  Grabbing his hands and pulling him close I whispered, “Come outside with me. We’re going for a drive.”

  His face was half fear, half delight, but he nodded and grabbed the keys before darting out the door. The rain assaulted us as we stepped outside and by the time we made it into the car we were both drenched.

  He looked at me expectantly, “What’s going on?”

  I started the car and took off down the block without responding, our tires fighting for traction in the downpour.

  “Um, Sam you’re freaking me out a little.”

  “Here. This should be far enough.” I pulled the car to a screeching halt around a corner and threw it in park.

  “Okay. Far enough for what?”

  I tried on my innocent face, “Far enough for us to be alone.”

  And before I knew it, I was sitting on his lap pulling him into a deep kiss that lasted a lifetime. All the anger I’d felt a moment ago had channeled into delicious heat. My body was suddenly on fire, all the agitation, the boredom and frustration was stripped away and replaced with something else. Pure adrenaline. Sweet and addictive it coursed through me, pounding my heart and controlling my every movement. No thought could penetrate my brain. Kissing Navin, moving against his body was like free falling from an airplane without having to hit the ground. He responded with soft moans of pleasure and I knew in that moment I had him. He pulled me closer and moved with me, our bodies exploring new territory, yearning to go further. I have never wanted anything more and that was as true as possible for a girl with severe impulse control issues. Blinded with urgency, I pulled my shirt up over my head and threw it to the floor.

  “Sam,” his breath was heavy against my neck.

  “Yes,” I slowly lifted his shirt and kissed his chest, soaked from the rain.

  “Sam, stop a second.”

  “Why would I do that?” I moaned as I tried to pull him back in for another kiss.

  “Because, I just…”

  I moved against him again, earning another moan of pleasure.

  “God, Sam just stop a second,” he grabbed me around the waist and pulled me back a bit, so our eyes were locked. “It’s just, I know you’re upset, and I also know you don’t have a pause button. I just don’t want you doing something you’ll regret later. I’d hate myself if you looked at me differently, like someone that took advantage or something.”

  “That’s okay. Take advantage,” I kissed his neck again, trying to recapture the moment.

  “Sam. Don’t be mad at me. I don’t think we should.”

  I scowled at him, trying to process his words. He was being kind, and thoughtful, and I hated him for it. All of my much-desired adrenaline started to fade, and I could feel my anger rising up again.

  “Let me see if I understand. I pulled you out here, drug you into the car, drove you down the block and attacked you…and you think you’re taking advantage of me? Did you hit your head or something?”

  “Sam, stop it. You know what I mean.”

  “No, I don’t. Because it sounds like you don’t want me to have sex with you because I’ll regret it later. Well let me put your mind at ease, I won’t. I don’t do regrets.”

  “Sam.”

  “Shit, Navin. All I wanted was one hour of distraction from all this bullshit and you’re turning into the virginity police.” I was pissed. Awkwardly I climbed back over into the driver seat, completely severing the tangible heat between us. Shivers ran through me as my rain-soaked clothing quickly released all of his luscious body heat.

  “I’m sorry, Sam. Don’t be mad. You know how I feel about you I just…”

  “What? You like me but you don’t want to have sex with me?” I asked annoyed.

 
“No,” he huffed, “I’d do anything for you. And of course, I want to have sex with you, I’m a guy. I always want to have sex. I just don’t want the reason to be because you’re mad at your brother.”

  Leave. He doesn’t want you. No one wants you.

  My hands clenched into fists and I wanted to smash something, anything. I knew if I didn’t get away from Navin I would break him.

  “Get out,” I said through gritted teeth. “I’m leaving.”

  “Sam, wait. Where are you going?”

  “Navin, just go. Now.”

  His face was pained and he didn’t want to leave me, but he also knew better than to mess with me when I was upset.

  "Just put your seatbelt on first."

  I complied so he would go.

  Reluctantly he stepped out into the rain. The second his door closed I slammed my foot down on the pedal and swerved down the street. A feral scream escaped me and tore through the night. The image of me half naked, screaming, and driving like a drunk stunt man must’ve been epic. But I didn’t care. I needed an out. Any out. And the coldness inside me kept urging me on.

  Faster, faster.

  The rain was coming down so hard on the windshield it was like driving through an endless wall. It pounded the car like a hammer trying to bash my skull in. I veered around a corner, skidding to a stop on Main Street. Revving the engine, I could see little of the road ahead, but I knew from memory it was a straight shot for at least 12 blocks before coming to a T right in front of an old bank. The building was so tall and such an obvious part of the city skyline, it seemed a simple enough target for a novice driver such as myself. Desperate for a rush, any kind of rush I slammed my foot down, gripping the wheel as I spun wildly down the street. Metal crunched as I grazed abandoned cars and light posts, rocketing toward my goal. I tried to keep count of the blocks that passed by in a blur. I think I counted eight before finally hitting a large puddle and spinning out uncontrollably. The car did three or four rotations, buildings passing by in a haze of brick and glass. Then I came to a crashing halt up against the corner of a deli, a Fresh Meat sign still hanging in the window. The last thing I saw was a giant sheep’s head the size of a house, but that couldn’t be right. Could it? Then total blackout.