Antidote Trilogy: The Complete Box Set

by Taylor Hondos

  “You remember me?” she asked cautiously. She made a sound as if she were a wounded animal.

  “Yes. I remember you and you have betrayed me.” I looked down at myself, in shock that I could remember Holland. “Look what you did to me.” I felt her grip waver and I took my chance. I grabbed her neck and squeezed as hard as I could.

  I watched her become lifeless and felt a sick pleasure in my belly until a hand touched mine. I felt the spark before I had to turn around to see who it was. My shoulder felt numb from the touch that could be only left by him.

  “Let her go.” It was Jared and he looked at me with concerned eyes. I was, however, unconcerned because I was sick of being treated like dirt by everyone. “We are here to save you. Don’t kill her. That is not you.” I turned slowly to face Holland, she was turning purple under my grip and I released her. She gasped for air while holding the wall. All of the guards were unfazed by her. They continued to rip apart new people. I realized that I was fourth in line. I shuddered. I would die and Jared helped them do this.

  He reached for my hand and I pulled back in a panic. “I knew it. You’re going to kill me. Look where I am.” I felt the fury build up in me so fast that I couldn’t stop it. Just as I couldn’t make it stop in the training room. The room began to shake. The guards looked my way and before I could stop myself, four bricks fell upon their heads.

  I turned to Jared and his face was afraid. Holland ran to the four people who were just about to be ripped apart. And helped them to their feet as the light beams fell to the ground.

  “I love you.” I heard him before I felt him. He took my hand in his own and I looked at him with wide eyes. “Stop this. I wont kill you. You can kill me. I don’t care. I want to make you better. Let me take this away. Let me try.” He told me and I believed him. Either I was the biggest dumbass around, or he really cared for me. He leaned down towards me and I froze.

  He searched my eyes for a quick second and I felt my heart race. The room still rumbled. The heart I thought I didn’t have, started to pick up speed. I had to capture the moment I knew I was alive. As he pulled away, probably confused by my suddenly worried face, I reached for his face and lifted my lips to his.

  At first it was tender and soft. I forgot how to breathe and that was okay because I didn’t have to breathe anymore. I felt the kiss grow into something more. His hands ran through my hair and I bit down softly on his lips and felt his intake of breath. I was afraid I hurt him until he tugged back softly. I was so lost in the moment that I forgot where I was. Holland touched my shoulder impatiently. I pulled away from Jared and the rumbling stopped immediately. “We have to go. Now.” She extended her hand and I was hesitant but with one look at Jared, I conformed.

  She grabbed my hand and gave a reassuring squeeze before looking at Jared with a meaningful glance that I didn’t understand.

  Before I could squeeze back, she was falling to the ground. She slammed her head across the pavement and blood began to spill. I panicked and reached my hand out but then she was screaming. “Help! Kaley. Lena is escaping.” I looked on in disgust. Was she tricking me? I stood up straight as she glanced up at me and winked. Then I was being dragged away from the scene. Kaley’s red hair was as red as the fire and she screeched into the air. “Stop!”

  Jared gripped my hand tightly and put his hand around my waist. We were lunging into the air but fell quickly. I felt dread raise in my chest because we would be caught. He was panting as he tried once more. A groan left his lips and I stared at him in confusion.

  He was shouting in my ear. “Fly! Make us fly, please trust me.” As soon as he said the words, I willed myself to fly and we did. Many of the prisoners looked on in awe.

  “I don’t have many powers.” I yelled to him. “Why can’t the others like me escape, they have the same powers.”

  “No they don’t.” he shook his head with doubt as I realized he was clutching onto me for dear life.

  “Are you afraid or something?” I laughed into the night. We weren’t far from the building, but no one had followed us out.

  “Of course not.” He smirked at me and let his grasp soften. “Lena, they don’t have your powers because you were meant for this. They weren’t.”

  “I don’t understand. They could all burn things with their stares. The only thing I can do is fly, that is it and we all can.”

  He shook his head lightly. “Did you not just see what you did? You almost caused the building to collapse.” I shook my head.

  “I can’t even control that power.”

  “It’s okay. Gabe made me some weapons and gear to protect us. Also, for the record, I don’t think you have tapped into your full potential yet.” He looked out into the town. “Stop here. We have to wait until Holland is out of there. Then we are blowing that place up.”

  “But there are people in there. People I don’t want to see get hurt. Although they are like me and people seem to hate that, I can’t have them dead. I want to go and save them please.” I pleaded with him but he cut his eyes from me.

  “We can’t risk your safety.” I nodded but I would find a way in there.

  We soared through the air until I heard the sound of swooshing. I almost stopped to see where the sound came from, but I knew as soon as I heard it by instinct. I picked up my pace as fast as I could to escape them. I let the wind whip through me and move me forth even faster.

  Just as I thought I had lost them, I saw an explosion ahead of me. I turned around to see that my friends had new weapons on them. On each of their arms, held a large disk. Each disk held a bomb of some sort, and I felt as if my world were shattering around me.

  Before I knew it, many were surrounding me, with pointed arms at me, because I was foolish and slowed down. Many of their eyes glowed and a few talked into their arms. Each person had a finger on his or her button to blow Jared and I up into obliteration. I couldn’t help but feel shocked when I saw his green hair over his dark face flowing in the air. Theo was here to kill me.

  “Theo.” I said softly. He lifted his eyes to mine but they were glowing emerald. He didn’t even seem to recognize me.

  He prowled menacingly through the air to capture me. I moved my arms up in defense to block Jared and myself. Before I could think, I moved my arms in a pushing motion to push him when he approached us but as I did this, he froze before being flown across the air as if I had actually touched him.

  I watched, as many of their faces grew fearful. Some even backed up in the air. I looked down at my hands and saw that they were glowing a golden color. I couldn’t help but notice my necklace seemed to be glowing as well. I watched their faces as I swiped my hand to the left and watched as people tumbled through the air to the left. Then I began moving them all to the left or the right so that Jared and I could get through. I began laughing as I took my hand and placed it directly in front of a boy with dark brown hair who fumbled with his bomb on his arm before shooting my hand towards the ground. I watched as he splatted on the ground. He attempted to get up but couldn’t. I wasn’t sure if he was too stunned or just hurt.

  My laugh died down as they all soared away. “How did you do that?” Jared asked curiously.

  “No idea.” I laughed crazily. Jared’s gaze never left my face and I smirked back at him. We flew far enough to see Holland and still be away from them.

  We waited on the top of the building across the street. The house looked sinister, I could even hear screams from within the room I almost died in. “Let me go and save my people, please.” Jared just shook his head. He had a grip on my arm but I nudged it to the side and took off running. I heard him shouting for me to come back but I couldn’t. I dived off the building and landed lightly on the ground. I ran inside the side door but was welcomed by a gun in my face. “We meet again.” I knew her voice and I shook with fear.

  “Kaley.” I said through gritted teeth. The barrel touched my forehead.

  “Shoot bitch. I welcome it.” I smiled at her and her face s
crewed up in confusion. “Your bullets don’t kill me.” I said to her shocked face.

  “I’ve killed plenty of you. With this very gun. Do you mean to tell me that you can survive a gunshot wound? Even if it obliterated your pretty little face?” she smiled and I took a deep gulp. What if it blew my face off?

  I didn’t care. I had to save them. If I were a robot, then I would have metal. I could lose my face if it meant I could save them.

  A new voice broke the silence. “Maybe Lena wouldn’t die, but I can assure you that you’ll die.” Her hair was bloody now and she had the gun raised on the back of Kaley’s head.

  Holland clicked the gun once and Kaley flinched. She tried to turn to face Holland but I grabbed her arm as hard as I could. I heard a faint crunch. I broke Kaley’s arm. The scream was ear shattering. The power within me was a little frightening.

  “Thirty seconds and this building blows to bits with us in it. Or I can shoot you so you feel no more burns. Your choice.”

  Kaley shivered as she laid her gun slowly to the ground. “Okay, I surrender to death.” Holland kicked the gun across the room and looked at me meaningful, “Get the hell out of this room.”

  As soon as Holland ran past me, I followed. That was when I heard Kaley speak up. “She can’t die but you can.” The gunshot was so deafening, I could almost hear the defeat of us in it. Holland fell to the ground and I screamed. Crimson spilled from her arm. Only the arm. Thank God.

  “Ten seconds, Lena. Get me out of here.” Holland said through gritted teeth. I wanted to kill Kaley. I turned to face her in a flash. But to my horror and dismay, she was gone.

  I gave the room a quick lookover but she was nowhere in sight. I should have killed her already.

  Holland made a half shriek and I remembered we had to get moving. I picked her up in one swift movement and ran. When I felt the night’s air on my back, I flew up to where Jared stood on the roof. He was pacing back and forth. “Great choice. No way to get down from this damn building.” He shouted to me. He was angry but I didn’t care.

  Then there was an explosion. I turned slowly and felt a bitter sadness inside me. The entire building was in flames. They were all burning. No. No more killing from Kaley and her clan. They were burning as they tried to kill and burn all of my people. My kind are dead in there too.

  What struck me was how easy Jared and Holland could kill so many people. So many people just like me.

  Chapter Fifteen: Blind

  WE LANDED BY a river that was far from the house we just blew up, and I was taking unnecessary big gulps of air. Holland lay limply in my arms. “What do we do?” but Jared was already in motion. He worked quickly.

  “Give her something to bite on.” I nodded and took my shirt off in a swift motion. Thank god I have a bra. Shouldn’t he give her his shirt? Ugh.

  He looked over to me in shock and quickly cleared his throat. He focused his eyes back to Holland and I smirked at him. Dream of that. The way he kissed me, I wondered if he and I ever.. I stopped myself. This wasn’t the time or place for unclean thoughts.

  “Hold pressure here.” He showed me where to hold and I pushed hard. She gasped and he gripped my hand. “Lighter.” He grunted and I knew I would be blushing if I could.

  He went about patching her up, and I watched him work with awe at his ability to think so quickly. Holland’s breath returned to normal. “How did you know how to do that?” I asked softly.

  “By yours truly.” Holland spoke under her ragged breathing.

  “Holland had to teach us all about cleaning wounds and dressing them properly. Especially with so much death and injury in this rotten world. Pun intended.” He chuckled and Holland rolled her eyes.

  “On the other hand, we were awesome.” Jared smiled and looked to me fast.

  “Now Lena.” He shook his head in disbelief. “I told you it wasn’t safe and yet, you go in after people and then come out with Holland shot.”

  “Not to mention, Kaley escaped.”

  I stood fast. My arms over my bra. Jared stood fast. He pulled his shirt over his head. He was wearing two shirts. What is up with boys? He placed it in my arms. I faced away from him and put his shirt on myself.

  I turned back to him embarrassed. “And I gave you my shirt, why?” I rolled my eyes and he laughed.

  “For the view, I suppose.” I had the urge to hit him but I didn’t want to hurt him.

  So instead, I ignored his comment and went for my explanation. “First off, Kaley would have escaped either way. She wasn’t harmed at all. Second of all, you killed all those people.”

  “Lena, we killed the Earth Saviors. And also, we were pretty awesome about it.”

  “What are you so happy about? You just killed people.” I said bitterly.

  “Lena, they were killing innocent people. Those people were humans once before. Some were dying of disease and others were robots. She was killing more people than we just did.”

  “We just killed people too. We killed those innocent diseased people too.” I glared at him.

  “Lena, just give it a rest. We can talk about this later.” He turned her back on me and I reached for his wrist.

  “We can talk about this now.” I said as fearsome as I could manage.

  He shook his head and I heard Holland grunt on the ground. She was slowly rising herself up. “Stay right there, Holland.” He said loud enough for her to hear.

  “Look, I want to know why I couldn’t go back and save them?” I shouted through the air. Jared threw up his hands and walked in a circle.

  Holland was moving slowly to us. She looked like a zombie with dried up blood all over her arms.

  “Oh, what about your beloved?” she said eagerly. Her eyes were piercing into my body. Her body was weak but her eyes were the most alive part on her at the moment.

  “What the hell do you mean?” I spat out.

  “Jared isn’t sick, now is he? If he were to go into that room again, he would have the disease. If he doesn’t already.” She looked away and spoke angrily. “Jesus Christ. It is always about you, us risking ourselves for you. Well you know what? I am sick of this.” She rolled her eyes and threw her good arm up while walking backwards away from me. Jared gripped her wrist to pull her back forward; a ping of jealousy ran through me. I didn’t want him to be on her side.

  “Lena didn’t do anything wrong,” That’s more like it. He turned to face me, “and neither did Holland.” Or not. I scowled at him and he winced a little at the sight. “Look, we all just have to regroup and talk this out. Okay?” I nodded. “Okay?” he faced Holland and she shrugged her good shoulder. “Now do you forgive one another?” We both nodded and he pulled away. Holland locked eyes with me and I felt pure hatred for her.

  “I want to know what you were doing in there?” Holland looked down and I could tell she was about to lie. “Before you lie to me, I think this should be our honesty hour because I am sick of being torn between two things. I just want the truth.” I shuddered because I couldn’t stand not knowing what was really happening here.

  “First off, I wasn’t going to lie.” She glared at me and then to Jared, who sat down on the ground beside us. “Second off, I was there to save your ass as always. You are always getting us into a mess. From the moment you made it to the-.” She stopped because Jared held up his hand as if to wave off something. She hesitated but continued on. “Lena, I was sent here to keep an eye on you because you just don’t know what you’re actually dealing with.” Holland was unsteady and Jared reached up to plant her beside him on the ground.

  “What am I dealing with exactly then? I woke up a few days ago remembering nothing. And when I saw Jared’s face, I remembered I was supposed to capture him. That is all I have in my brain. Other than how much I love him and my first memory of him ever.” I smiled down to him and Holland looked on annoyed.

  “That’s all very touching, but I want to know how you remember things. Those people that are turned are mindless but with you it seem
s to be wearing off. Why?” she asked as her eyes glazed over. Jared from the grass glanced up at me.

  “I don’t agree with that at all. I met a boy named Theo, and he seemed to remember things like I do. I didn’t get to talk to much of anyone else because I was busy with my target.” I hesitated. “Theo was out there tonight. He seemed to be brainwashed today.”

  Holland huffed under her breath. “Lena, what do you remember? We really need your insider information.” Holland told me and she didn’t look as livid as before.

  “Well, first off, they are looking for you. Obviously.” I said to Jared and he took a big gulp. I turned to Holland to fill her in. “I was given Jared the moment I woke up.”

  “I know the gist of that. Jared and I do talk all the time.” She rolled her eyes and I continued without a moment’s reluctance.

  “Jared, they want you bad because you have been snooping around or something.” Holland momentarily froze. “There is a voice inside my head and my eyes become blurred up. I am guided over an ocean and am given my vision after I reach land.”

  Holland spoke up louder than I had ever heard her. “Why the hell would they give you Jared? Did they want you to know? This has to be a trap.” She said alarmed as she began searching from the ground of the perimeter for signs of life. She laid flat on the ground, wincing, as she crawled between bushes. I felt like laughing but then she spoke again. “Jared, we have to leave.” She whispered as she threw a hand to her chest as she rolled over. “They are watching us. Oh my god.” Tears spilt down her face and Jared lifted himself up off the ground to her hiding spot.

  “Holland. Calm down. What are you talking about?” Jared said in soothing words.

  “They know we are here. Oh my god.”

  “Everything is going to be fine.” Oh god. A feeling came over me. “Jared,” I said through gritted teeth. He glanced over at me and Holland peeked around the bushes. “What time is it?”