by Jen Talty
Alexis strained. The voice didn’t sound familiar at all, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t pick up on something, such as slight accent. Anything that might help her decipher who held her captive and where.
“How do you know it’s too early?” a male asked. His voice had a harsh edge to it. Angry energy surrounded his physical presence.
Alexis fluttered an eyelid, but the florescent light blurred her vision. It would take some time for her eyes to get used to the brightness of the room.
“You’re seriously asking me that? She and the quad brother have only been together for a week, and let’s not forget he’d been badly tortured,” a gruff sounding male voice said. “But if she is, we shouldn’t be giving her this dosage of medication.”
Alexis bit the bullet and peeled open both eyes, forcing them to remain open regardless of the thundering throbs rippling across her forehead. A woman wearing a lab coat stood at the foot of the bed holding a clipboard as she flipped through the attached pages. A man in all black leaned against the far wall, his arms folded across his chest. Neither person looked familiar.
“I’m weaning her off,” the female said. “Caleb is coming in this afternoon anyway. Just make sure the extra protective layer is switched from Hunter’s cell to her room.”
“The synthetic wrap won’t last much longer. It’s almost pointless to move it. Besides, her energy and abilities are doubling as well, maybe even faster if she’s pregnant.”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself,” the woman said.
“Caleb had a premonition about this very thing,” the man said. “It’s a reality we need to face, and she’s going to become one very powerful psychic. He’ll want to wait until after the baby is born before zapping her.”
Alexis shuddered. She hadn’t a clue what the man meant by that, but it didn’t sound pleasant.
“Perhaps, but it’s going to weaken her in some ways too,” the woman said, setting the clipboard down. “Looks like she’s waking up.”
Alexis blinked slowly and moaned, dropping her head to the side. The woman pressed her finger over Alexis’ lid, prying open her eye and flashed a small, bright light. Alexis did her best to have a nonresponse.
The woman repeated the action on the other eye before reaching down and taking Alexis’ wrist. “Pulse is still slow. Could be about an hour before she’s fully awake. When that happens, we need to make sure she can’t communicate with Hunter.”
“I’ll deal with that piece of shit,” the man said. “And I’ll enjoy it.”
“Why is Caleb keeping him conscious? No one is protecting his psychic energy. We can start tapping into that right now.”
“These people are the same as the North Koreans. At least in what they want to do with us,” she projected, hoping it would land on any of her sisters or Hunter’s brothers.
No response came back, but that didn’t mean they hadn’t heard it.
“Caleb has his reasons, and I suspect they come right from the top,” the man said. “And it gives me time to administer some payback. If it weren’t for that miserable asshole, I wouldn’t have to hide out. Hell, I would have been given a goddamned medal, and that bastard would be hooked up to tubes, being kept alive only for his powers.”
Alexis’ lungs burned for more oxygen as her pulse kicked up a notch. She focused on the air around her body, pushing away all the negative energy prickling her aura. Fear did her no good right now. She needed a plan.
And she needed Hunter.
“Caleb isn’t due in till ten,” the woman said. “We might as well go grab some breakfast.”
Their rubber soles screeched across the floor. A swish of air filled the room as the door opened and then subsequently slammed shut.
Alexis took in a couple of deep, calming breaths. She raised her right arm only to have it jerk back to the gurney. She tried her legs. Same thing.
A hint of pumpkin spice filled her nostrils. She lifted her head, scanning the sterile room. Some kind of hospital or clinic. Or maybe she was being kept in Frankenstein’s lab.
Particles of white dust floated in the bright lights. They stirred as if a slight breeze pushed them. Blue, red, and yellow specs filled the beams streaming down from the ceiling.
“Hunter?”
“I’m here, babe.” Hunter’s voice echoed in her brain. “Are you okay?”
“I think so. Where are you?”
“My body is down the hall. My soul is standing right next to you.”
Her fingers twitched as warm air trickled across her skin. “Are you trying to hold my hand?”
“Indeed I am.”
“Why are you remote viewing over coming to me in person?”
“I’m a little tied up at the moment.”
Her heart kicked up, causing a machine near the head of the bed to beep. She took in a long, slow breath, doing her best to keep calm. No need to send off any alarms. “They haven’t hurt you, have they? I’ve been trying to reach you for as long as I’ve been awake. Which hasn’t been that long.” The machine continued to make noise, causing her a tad bit more panic, making it difficult to regulate her breathing.
“They haven’t touched me.”
“Yet.” Tears stung at the corners of her eyes. She could handle absorbing his pain, but she couldn’t bare having him tortured again.
“I’m working on a plan to make sure that doesn’t happen. And I’ve been in contact with Brett and Chad, so they should be able to get a lock on us soon. What have you seen or heard?”
“Just a woman and a man I’ve never seen before.”
“I saw them coming out of the room. I don’t know the chick, but the man is Karl Homer.”
“I’d like to hook jumper cables up to his chest and give him a good shock,” she projected, clenching her fists.
“You’ll have to wait in line for that.”
“They are going to continue to try to keep us from communicating. Something about a synthetic wrap.”
“I won’t let that happen.”
The rainbow of particles dancing in the reflective light changed to white.
“Where are you going?” She lifted her head off the pillow, following the red and blue particles as they floated across the room.
“Getting a knife.”
A scalpel lifted off the counter and sailed across the air like a boat cutting through the waves.
“Wow. I can move this object with my mind.”
A spark flicked over the metal blade before it disappeared into the colors swirling around the room. The various pigments danced over her hands.
“I can’t seem to untie you or cut through the ropes. Something is stopping me.”
“That protective wrap.”
“Wonder if it only works on psychic power. I’m going to head back to my body and see if I can cut through my restraints.”
A chill settled across her skin. “Hunter?”
“Yes?”
“Be safe. We’re going to need you.”
8
Hunter stepped around the phone booth that had appeared in front of the door to the cell where he’d been locked up. His gut twisted as he approached his physical body. He’d heard from other psychics with the ability to remote view, that being too close could potentially kill them.
Or make them insane.
It’s why everyone created their own form of transportation from one place to the next. It was a way to mentally disassociate and keep from snapping back too quickly.
So far, not an ounce of dizziness or even a tinge of nausea.
He stood behind his body, studying the knots that bound him to the chair. Holding up the knife, he twisted his hands until they resembled the exact position of his physical body.
A wave of queasiness gripped his stomach. He raced to the booth and snapped back to his body. The knife dug into his palm as he shifted, getting the right angle to cut into the ropes. He ignored the sharp stab and continued jerking the knife back and forth, nicking himself a few more times befor
e the first of the restraints fell to the floor.
“One down, two to go,” he projected to Alexis.
“Good. Not to rush you, but I don’t like being tied up one bit.”
He smiled at the sound of her voice echoing through his mind. He’d never heard anything so sweet in his entire life. “Too bad. I was thinking maybe when this is over, we can, you know, tie each other up.”
“Well, I might like THAT.”
He chuckled as he bent over and cut through the thick rope. Around her, he felt like he could do anything.
Be anything.
Every self-doubt that had ever crept into his brain melted like ice cream dripping over a cone on a hot summer day. “I’ll keep that in mind.” He rolled his neck before grabbing the door handle. Sucking in a deep breath, he inched his head out, glancing down the hallway in both directions, thankful no one roamed the area. He looked up at the ceiling. One security camera, that he could see. He had only minutes to untie Alexis, contact his brothers, and get out of the building. “How are you feeling?” he asked, needing to be in constant contact with Alexis. The second their connection was broken, they were both dead.
“Better.”
“Good. We’re going to make a run for it.” He jogged toward the staircase with his back against the wall, constantly looking over his shoulder.
“That’s not a good idea without backup,” Brett’s voice echoed, ricocheting between his ears.
“And you’re going to tell me you’re not ten minutes out.” Hunter had been keeping all channels open. He’d never been so reckless that he didn’t know when to call in reinforcements. Besides, deep down he knew Brett and Chad would always have his back. They were brothers-in-arms…
And brothers in blood.
“Eight minutes out, actually, but who’s counting,” Brett said. “Hazel and I will take the back. Chad and Savanah will take the front. And Willow will cover from the roof.”
“Might want to punch that gas pedal. They have to know I’m not in my cell anymore.” He took the stairs two at a time as he made his way up three flights of stairs. He barreled through the door and raced toward the room where Alexis was being held. His heartbeat scattered uncontrollably, banging about his chest like a bumper car. His mind grappled with the fact that no one was waiting for him by the door. No guards with weapons. Not even a nurse anywhere to be found.
Eerily empty and quiet.
His breath hitched as he pushed back the door, half expecting to come face to face with a dozen assault rifles.
“Finally,” Alexis said, jerking her hands, rattling the side rails. “For the love of all that’s holy, get me the hell out of these.”
“Gladly.” He tugged at her right hand restraint, pulling the buckle apart until it freed her hand. “Untie your other one while I do your feet.”
“Sounds like a plan,” she said.
“Can you hold your own?” Carefully, he lifted her from the bed, setting her feet on the floor.
She smiled, patting his chest. “I’m at full strength.”
“What are you? The Starship Enterprise?” He found her clothes in a plastic bag on a chair by the gurney. After tossing them toward Alexis, he clenched his fists. “Did they hurt you?”
She yanked her shirt over her head, fluffing out her long, dark hair before pulling it back in a ponytail. Inching closer, she smiled, cupping his face. “No. Now let’s get out of here.”
“Stay behind me.” He laced his fingers through hers, tugging gently. He stuck his head out the door.
No one in the hallway.
He swallowed.
No mission extraction or escape went this smoothly.
“They’re watching,” he projected, focusing only on blood relatives and the sisters. Knowing he’d successfully blocked anyone else from hearing his thoughts made him smile. He could get used to all these new abilities. Not only would they come in handy in his line of work, they gave him a sense of belonging. His parents had created a safe and positive environment for him growing up. They had loved him unconditionally, yet part of him always felt as though he was an outsider looking into his own life.
“Then how are we going to get out of here?” Alexis asked, pressing her warm hand against his back. Her fingers dug gently into his shoulders. Everything about her made him yearn for the future he believed he’d never have.
At least not with Ellen.
Alexis exuberated passion and a love of life. She had a way of making everyone around her at ease with her light and non-judgmental personality.
Ellen had been the complete opposite, always making rash assessments of everyone. Ellen also expected the world to be on her schedule. He had to do what she wanted, when she wanted, or she’d get so mad, the rest of the evening proved to be dreadful.
Hunter couldn’t manage that Alexis could be anything other than pure pleasure in even a quiet stroll through the park, or watching a football game, or…anything.
“We’re looking at the layout and the security system right now,” Chad interjected. “They have a camera in what appears to be all the medical rooms, all the hallways, staircases, and elevators.”
“Can we shut them off?” Hunter took in a calming breath. Getting out of a high tech security firm, if they were any good, would be impossible. “We’re unarmed in here.”
Alexis waved the knife in one hand, and then turned and pointed to her hip. “Idiots didn’t secure my gun.”
“I’ll take that and thank you.” Quickly, he brushed his lips against her silky cheek.
“I guess you can have it considering you’re pretty good handling your own—”
“None of us want to hear about your sex life,” Brett interrupted. “Cameras will go down on three. When that happens, you will have approximately five minutes to climb into the vents. I’ll meet you there and guide you out. Just make sure we don’t cross organic material because that makes me sick which just pisses me off.”
Hunter inched the door shut. “Ready when you are.”
“On three,” Brett repeated. “One, two, three.”
“You’re up first.” Hunter pushed a chair over by the bed. Climbing up, he opened up the drop ceiling. “Let’s go, babe.” He clasped his hands together like a stirrup and hoisted her up as if she were as light as a feather.
That would change soon.
He coughed. No way was he ready to be a father.
Much less a husband to a woman he barely knew but hadn’t been able to get out of his mind since the day he’d met her.
“Do you feel that?” Alexis asked.
“I’m sure it’s chilly in there.”
“No. I sense psychic aura filtering through the vents. It’s only particles. Like they are draining someone.”
“Don’t heal them,” Hunter said, pulling himself up. A sudden burst of cold air smacked his face. When he let his breath out, it turned blue-green in color.
Definitely someone’s aura, which shouldn’t be this far from their soul.
“I can’t help it. Whoever it is, they are going insane.”
“It could be a trap. Please, try to ignore it.” Once in the air-conditioning duct, he closed up the ceiling. “Brett?”
“Right behind you.”
The tunnel was barely big enough for him to crawl around in, so how he was going to change directions was a bit of a mystery.
“Go straight until the second turn intersection and then go right,” Brett said.
Mystery solved.
They continued through the dark vent for another three minutes, twisting and turning on Brett’s command. Hunter split his focus between the aura still moving about and the task at hand.
“Stop,” Brett said. “We’re taking a little detour right here.”
“Where is here?” Alexis asked, glancing over her shoulder.
“I did a sweep of the building before picking the best escape route, and I found something interesting,” Brett said.
“Are you going to share?” Hunter asked wit
h a dose of sarcasm. He wanted Alexis out of this building and away from these crazy witch doctors who wanted to bottle their powers and use it for God only knows what.
“Our parents,” Brett said. “They don’t know I’m here, yet.”
Hunter’s pulse soared. He helped lower Alexis into the small office before jumping down himself. He stared at Mallard, who sat behind a desk, sipping coffee. “You look—”
Mallard pressed his forefinger against his lips.
“What the fuck is going on, General Mallard?” Hunter asked through telepathy.
“What has to so that the Collective Order will be reinstated,” Mallard responded.
“And exactly what is that?” Brett asked.
“Letting them think we’re going to cooperate,” Riley said. “I’m the only one that understands how to strip all of our powers so they can use it at full strength.”
“But they are doing that now with someone. I feel it.” Alexis let out a long breath as she twisted her hair into a braid.
“Their system is antiquated, and much of the aura seeps into the air, making it difficult to contain all of it. When that happens, it weakens the powers and makes it impossible to keep it going. They’ve tried adding different elements that they found in the coding in my book, but I did that to throw them off.”
“Now that they have taken her,” Mallard inched closer, resting his hand on Hunter’s shoulder.
A bolt of loving warmth spread across his skin. Flashes of Riley’s past bombarded his mind. The tears of saying goodbye to her babies trickled down her cheeks in a vision. It was quickly replaced with another vision of Riley and Mallard sitting in the park, watching the Raven sisters. Hunter blinked, pushing the visions aside. He jerked his body, not wanting to feel Mallard’s aura entangle with his, showing an undying love he wasn’t prepared to accept.
“Don’t fight it,” Riley said, pointing to the back wall.
He blinked. “Obviously, they’ve turned,” Hunter projected just to Brett.
“No, they haven’t,” Brett said. “Don’t shut them out. Trust me, okay?”
“Why?” Hunter asked.
Hunter never blindly trusted anyone, not even his superiors in the Navy, except for Mallard.
