Annihilation: A YA dystopian adventure (The Mind Breaker Series Book 3)

by Marina Epley

  Troops from the second truck somehow managed to flank our position in the darkness. The gunfire is now coming from all directions. Kitty keeps close by, covering me from the right. She must realize I’m half blind and can’t see who’s coming from the right side.

  One of them has gotten too close. I empty my clip and drop the weapon to the ground. While Kitty keeps him pinned down, I pull a knife and spring out toward the guy. I have some ground to cover and he obviously sees me, but doesn’t fire. As I close the distance, his expression changes to one of surprise. According to Guardian’s propaganda, I’m proposed to be his commander. I stab the blade deeply into his stomach. The guy grunts, doubling over. The first cut is probably more than enough, but I can’t stop. Hatred and rage overtake me. I withdraw the blade and repeatedly stab him in the chest, splattering blood. As he falls, I grab ahold of his rifle. With a furious shout, somebody charges into me from behind. I stagger a couple of steps forward, but manage to keep my balance. I grab an arm reaching for my throat, and throw my attacker to the ground. It’s a young boy in camo, unarmed. He must have run out of ammo as well. I shoot him in the face then work my way back toward the barricade.

  A man engulfed in flames runs past, screaming loudly. None of us wastes a bullet to end his agony. Kitty finally emerges from the darkness, firing her rifle as she jogs. I watch Dave as he crawls between unmoving bodies, collecting ammo. His face is smeared in blood, although I doubt it’s his own. Another aircraft explodes in the sky, crashing down in a ball of fire. Guardian’s soldiers aren’t giving up their new positions easily. The fighting is intense. I’ve no idea how many we’ve already killed or how many of our people have gone down.

  The battle rages on and on for hours. Everything mixes together: darkness, flames, gunfire, shouts. I lose track of time and any sense of reality. I suddenly can’t understand where the heck I am or whom I’m fighting. Am I killing Elimination guards back in the prison during the riot? Am I fighting against Roger’s criminals back at the camp? It doesn’t really matter at all. All that matters is how I can survive and take as many lives as possible. My consciousness reduces into one single focus, the desire to draw blood. For the first time in my life I genuinely enjoy killing. I have no mercy left in me. No regrets and no doubts. I don’t even care so much what I’m fighting for, simply craving to continue killing the people in camo.

  This war has stolen anything good or kind left in me. I don’t think I’m any better than our enemies at the moment. We’re all the same, blinded by hatred and filled with a lust for violence.

  At dawn Guardian’s troops begin receding, leaving their dead and wounded soldiers behind.

  ***

  The new dawn reveals the horrific ugliness of the battle just fought. Numerous bodies lie spread across the concrete. I stand motionless in the middle of the street, still tightly clutching my rifle. Dried blood covers my hands and uniform. I can’t take my eyes off the dead.

  Kitty runs toward me, laughing loudly.

  “We won!” she yells, hugging me. “We’ve defeated Guardian’s breakers!”

  I don’t react.

  Kitty leaves me be and approaches Dave. She hugs him as well, shrieking in excitement.

  “Victory!” Dave exclaims.

  Marcus watches them blankly. I notice Jessie standing alone several yards away, also gazing upon the fallen. Victor sits on the concrete, nervously smoking a cigarette. So far, I count only three recruits left from our squad, each wandering about aimlessly with dazed looks in their eyes. I guess the other volunteers have been killed.

  Chase arrives on the scene, issuing a command to help collect the bodies. We start the gruesome work, dragging the corpses to one side of the street.

  A group of medics treat the injured, processing the more serious cases into the overcrowded hospitals. I try not to listen to their moans, focusing on the current task at hand. Kitty helps Dave and Marcus collect ammo. She has stopped laughing and is now quietly sobbing. Another girl outfitted in black weeps freely, kneeling beside a corpse. Nobody interrupts her grief.

  I continue moving the bodies. Strangely, I don’t feel anything at all. Neither sorrowful nor the slightest bit upset. I’m completely numb on the inside and my thoughts wander somewhere far away. This is war, and I simply can’t allow myself to fall apart now. So I force myself to mechanically perform my work, without thinking about what I’m actually doing.

  An hour into the task I bend over a dead girl, gripping her legs and pulling. I glance at her blood-smeared face and freeze. It’s Chelsey. She’s still holding the trophy gun in her stiffened hand.

  I drop to a knee beside her body, checking her neck for pulse. I already know she’s dead, but refuse to accept it. I close my eyes and sit unmoving for a few moments. I suddenly smell a whiff of chlorine from Carrel’s lab, something I haven’t experienced for a while.

  I envision Chelsey bouncing around on one leg and giggling in anticipation of regaining her freedom. I remember her asking me to help locate her parents. I think of Chelsey fiercely slamming the gun into the head of a guard, helping me out in a desperate fight. She was a brave and funny girl, someone who just wanted to be free and return to her family.

  I realize her blood is on my hands. If I hadn’t given her that gun, she wouldn’t have participated in the battle. If I hadn’t included Chelsey in my plans, she may be still enslaved in the Death Camp, but she’d still be alive.

  I remember Lena falling into my arms, after being hit by a bullet from Wheeler’s gun. I get a flashback of the girl with a doll-like face bleeding to death back in the woods. I think of Jimmy shielding me with his body and taking my bullet.

  It feels like I’m about to cry.

  But I never cry, so I instead just stagger several yards off and plop down on the curb. I notice a rifle lying a few feet away from me. An image of a gun barrel pressed into my head comes to mind. I can almost hear the gunshot. I realize it’s just a long-term effect after Drake’s hypnosis. It seems I often think about shooting myself these days, especially when on the edge of losing my sanity.

  “Are you all right?” Vogel asks, approaching.

  I force myself to take my eyes off the rifle.

  “I’m fine,” I lie.

  “Elimination is very grateful to you and Oliver’s breakers,” Vogel says in an official tone of voice. “You all fought very well last night.”

  “Thank you,” I say.

  Vogel sits down beside me. I sneak a glimpse at the rifle, thinking of Chelsey.

  “Elimination now has approximately eight hundred officers,” Vogel says. “Oliver has four hundred recruits left. We haven’t yet counted how many city volunteers were killed, but I suppose we can both imagine the number.”

  “We won’t be able to withstand another attack,” I say.

  “No, we won’t,” Vogel agrees.

  “We can’t win this war, can we?” I ask. “Do you still really believe we can win, major?”

  “I absolutely believe we will prevail,” she answers. “Many more good people will die, but at the end of the day we’ll win this war. How about you, Rex? What do you believe?”

  I don’t answer.

  “Rex, look at me,” Vogel says softly.

  I turn to face her.

  “Are you sure you’re all right?” she repeats.

  I should probably pretend that I’m fine, but I’m tired of pretending.

  “People around me keep dying,” I blurt out. “No matter what I do or where I go, it always ends up with mass graves and burying somebody. I don’t know how to stop it. No matter what decisions I make, it always turns out to be a mistake, and more good people get killed.”

  I begin telling her about burying the bodies of the recruits killed by Roger’s gang. I suddenly catch myself, realizing whom I’m talking to.

  “Well,” I say. “I guess I don’t need to be telling you all this. You’ve certainly seen enough ugliness in your life.”

  “I’ve seen my share,” Vogel adm
its.

  “Why did you return to Elimination?” I ask. “I heard you weren’t even on duty when all this started. You could have just as easily stayed away.”

  “It’s my job, Rex,” she answers. “There was a thousand young boys with rifles, but no commander. They had no clue what to do. How could I leave them?”

  I understand very well what Vogel means.

  “Why did you choose to work for Elimination?” I ask.

  “I followed my father’s example,” she explains. “I wanted to protect innocent people from criminal breakers. That’s what Elimination was originally created for, before Guardian changed everything.” She pauses, smiling slightly. “My entire family has served Elimination. I couldn’t possibly think of choosing any other career. So it came as quite a surprise when my son chose to study medicine. He explained how he wanted to save lives, not take them.” She looks at me sharply. “But saving lives is ultimately what we’re trying to do here, isn’t it?”

  “I don’t know,” I say. “I’m afraid I’ve taken far more lives than saved.”

  “You really think so?” she wonders.

  “I believe you realize why Guardian attacked the city,” I answer. “He must know I’m here. He probably wanted to prove what he can do in case I disobey. All these people are dead because of me.” I motion toward a pile of bodies. “If I hadn’t shown up, they’d be still alive.”

  I continue speaking, although I’m not sure why I’m telling all this to Vogel. She frowns, saying quietly, “Please stop.”

  I become silent.

  “Rex, you’re just a very young man who had to go through too much in life,” she says. “You shouldn’t blame yourself for everything that’s happened. This war is not your fault. You really need to quit thinking that way.”

  I remember Emily slapping my face and blaming me for anything she could come up with. I look straight into Vogel’s eyes. They seem kind and worried.

  “You’re not planning to kill me, are you?” I suddenly ask.

  Vogel lets out a laugh. “Do you really think I’d tell you, if I planned to kill you?”

  I can’t help from grinning. The question was ridiculous.

  “I’m not your enemy,” Vogel adds, and I believe her.

  She looks at me with concern and touches my forehead in a kind, motherly gesture. Her hand feels pleasant and warm. I remain motionless. Emily has never done that for me.

  “You have a fever,” Vogel sighs.

  I don’t reply.

  “You need to rest,” she advises. “Return to headquarters and get a few hours of sleep. Tomorrow, we’ll begin planning a mission to obtain Holtzmann’s drug from the Death Camp. I’ll provide you with an aircraft and support team.”

  Having spoken, Vogel gets to her feet, heading off toward a group of officers. I follow her with my eyes.

  I no longer think about shooting myself. All my thoughts now focus on the coming mission. That is exactly why my team has come here, to gain use of Elimination resources for Holtzmann’s experiment.

  I smile widely. I choose to believe we can still defeat Guardian and win this war. And I still have a chance to fix some mistakes.

  I rise to my feet to go look for Kitty and my team. We all need to get some rest. Tomorrow’s a new day.

  Part 2

  Chapter 13

  By the time Kitty and I return to our quarters, we can barely stand. I fall flat on the bed, thinking how I could probably sleep for the rest of my life.

  Not today. I hardly begin seeing my usual nightmares before somebody starts banging on the door. I sit up, staring around blankly. The room is spinning. A few long moments pass before I realize where the heck I am and what the source of the bothering noise is.

  “Who’s there?” I ask, hardly recognizing my own voice.

  “It’s me,” Victor answers. “Holtzmann requested your and Kitty’s presence.”

  “Gosh,” I groan, falling back down on the bed. My head hurts. I feel beaten up and unrested. I glance at the alarm clock, but can’t focus my eyes well enough to see the numbers. “What time is it?” I ask.

  “4 PM.”

  It means I’ve slept for 5 hours, but it feels more like 5 minutes.

  “C’mon, champ,” Victor calls. “Get a move on.”

  “No way,” I answer. “We’re too tired.”

  I turn over and press my face back into the pillow.

  “Holtzmann needs you and Kitty to help hypnotize the injured,” Victor says. “Doctors are running out of anesthetic and have to perform the surgeries without.”

  My mind suddenly clears.

  “Give us ten minutes,” I sigh. “We’re coming.”

  “Hurry it up,” Victor repeats.

  I reach for Kitty who’s curled up in a fetal position on the other side of the bed.

  “Wakey-wakey,” I say softy, touching her shoulder. “Holtzmann needs our help.”

  “No, please,” Kitty sobs, wrapping her arms tightly around her pillow as if it’s the most precious thing in the world.

  “I’ll be coming alone,” I say to Victor.

  “Holtzmann requested the both of you,” he protests from behind the closed door.

  “I don’t give a damn what Holtzmann wants,” I answer. “Kitty needs to sleep.”

  I sit on the edge of the bed for a minute, steadying myself. My head is still dizzy and I can barely will myself to keep my eyes open. I have to do something to snap myself out of this zombie-like trance.

  Swaying and stumbling, I stagger into the bathroom, crawl into the shower and turn on the cold water. The shock takes my breath and I suffer a flashback from when Elimination guards sprayed me with cold water from a hose. At least I begin to wake up. Shivering, I return to the room and begin dressing.

  Kitty sits up, gazing over at me. Her eyes are slightly crossed and her hair is sticking out in all directions, giving her somewhat of a resemblance to a scarecrow.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” she asks.

  “To help out over at the hospital,” I answer.

  “Why didn’t you wake me? Are you trying to slip away without me?”

  I don’t say anything.

  “I’m coming with you,” Kitty says decisively as she rolls out of bed, dropping to the floor.

  “Careful!” I exclaim.

  “I’m all right,” she assures me. “I have to protect you.”

  I finish dressing and wait for Kitty to get ready. She struggles with her boots.

  “Something is wrong,” she complains. “It doesn’t fit right.”

  “You’re putting the left boot on your right foot,” I explain, trying not to laugh.

  “Really?” Kitty asks, staring at her foot in confusion. I don’t think she fully comprehends what I’ve just said.

  I kneel in front on her, help put her boots on and lace them up.

  “You saved me,” Kitty utters. “But I’m still not sure I can walk.”

  “If you can’t walk, you can’t help hypnotize patients,” I say. “Why not just go back to sleep? I’ll return in a few hours.”

  “No please, don’t leave me!” Kitty complains, reaching out for me.

  I end up having to carry Kitty all the way down to the main exit of the building.

  “Be careful, don’t drop me,” she grumbles, as we’re descending a staircase. “If you drop me, you’ll be in really big trouble.”

  “One more complaint and I know somebody who will have to walk,” I warn.

  We pass by a crowd of protestors outside, ignoring their hateful shouts, and head toward the large Elimination SUV. We get in the back seat, and Victor settles in up front. I see Dave behind the steering wheel smiling in the rearview.

  “Hey guys!” he exclaims. “I’m your driver today! Here you go, I brought sandwiches. Thought you might be hungry.”

  He hands me a paper sack.

  “I feel sick and don’t think I can eat anything right now,” Kitty states, reaching for the sack. She ends up wolfi
ng down two sandwiches without much chewing. After she finishes, Kitty throws a still hungry look my direction. I offer her half of my sandwich, which she promptly devours.

  “I feel much better now,” she says.

  “Where’s Jessie?” Dave wonders. “I thought she’d be joining us.”

  “She’s only a borderline level 2 breaker,” Victor answers. “Not strong enough for Holtzmann’s task.”

  Dave seems disappointed. I feel sorry for him. I still don’t understand why he chose Jessie for his love interest. She’s at least 5 years older and hates Elimination officers. He has no chance.

  We finally arrive at the overcrowded hospital and enter the hall, searching for the professor. We have to walk around the injured sitting around on the floor. This place simply doesn’t have enough beds for this number of patients.

  Holtzmann approaches our group, a joyful grin spread across his face.

  “This is a significant step in developing trust between ordinary humans and breakers,” he says. “Hypnotizing patients during surgeries is a perfect example of utilizing breaker abilities in a peaceful, productive way.”

  It might seem being in the presence of so many suffering people would distress the unstable professor. But I can’t detect the slightest bit of worry in him. Holtzmann seems almost giddy. Maybe scientists don’t react to tragedies the way as common people do.

  We proceed toward the surgery rooms to assist the doctors. I begin hypnotizing the patients, trying not to pay too close attention to their wounds. I don’t bother asking their names and don’t look at their faces. I try to make everything as impersonal as I possibly can because I can’t allow for any disruptions to my concentration.

  Two hours later we take a break, walking outside to get a breath of fresh air. I hold a sobbing Kitty, rubbing her back and telling how everything will be all right. Victor nervously smokes several feet away. I have a splitting headache from hypnotizing so many people. I don’t want to return inside, but what other choice do we really have?