by Nana Malone
“Shit.” Wheeling, she tossed the clothes Lisa had bought at him and she yelled. “Seth, Trackers are coming.”
That did it. He lurched up out of bed, bleary eyed but alert.. “I didn’t get any flashes.”
“We can worry about that later. Right now we have to go.”
“According to the police, little Miss Wonder Woman here has been kidnapped and you're wanted as a person of interest.” Lisa grabbed a few Clorox sheets and helped Cassie wipe down surfaces in the room.
“Bullshit.” Seth’s voice was low and angry as he glanced at Cassie. “How far’s Peter going to go?”
Despair licked at Cassie’s sanity. “You should stay here with Dr. Trenery. I can turn myself in.”
His eyes narrowed. “Don’t be stupid. I wasn’t turned into Professor X just to have you go back to h—” He glared at her. “You’re trying to ditch me.” It was a statement, not a question.
She held up a hand. They didn’t have time to argue. She would sort out his hurt feelings later. “You and Lisa need to go somewhere safe. Get far away from here. Even better, neutralize Peter’s plan. Go to the police. Lisa can act as your alibi. They’ll clear you of any involvement and you never have to be part of this craziness again.”
“Have you forgotten I look like I belong in the NBA? I am part of this. Besides, you need me. You’re not going to find the others by yourself.”
She considered the flash drive Annabel had given her. She didn’t want to admit he had a point. “Seth, it’s safer if you’re away from me.”
He glowered. “For you or me?” He set his jaw, and even though she barely knew him, she recognized the stubborn glint in his eyes. “I’m a grown-ass man and I’m making my own decision. You turn me into a superhero, I get a say in the fighting of evil assholes.”
Cassie sighed. “Fine. Lisa, get your things, you have to come with us.”
The doctor halted her frantic movements. “What the hell do you mean?”
Cassie couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “We can’t leave you alone. It’s not safe here.”
“Cassie’s right, Lisa. Those guys coming, they won’t show you any mercy. They’d kill you just for seeing us. Never mind what they’ll do when they find out you helped us.”
“They might find out you’ve been here, but if Cassie mind pushes me, they don’t have to know I was complicit. I can’t just leave. I have patients who need me.” She turned her attention to Cassie. “How does your mind pushing work?”
Cassie blinked. She couldn’t put this woman in harm’s way. “It doesn’t matter if you don’t remember. They won’t care. Your choices are come with us, or you and Seth go somewhere safe and I’ll run on my own.” Guilt wrapped around her like a wet suit. How many more people would she put in danger?
Lisa rolled her eyes and turned her attention to Seth. “Look, take her to the cabin. It’s in Matt’s mother’s name. No one will look for you there. And if you can get your girlfriend to cooperate, I won’t remember I sent you there. When things die down, call me and I’ll meet you there.”
Seth’s brows furrowed as he darted looks between Lisa and Cassie, but Cassie wasn’t ready to give up. Patients or not, the doctor had no chance if she stayed behind.
“I’ve only been to the cabin once. You’ll have to give us directions in the car. Cassie’s right. Get your stuff. You can’t stay here.”
The brunette put her hand on Seth’s arm met his eyes. “Your attempts to protect me won’t make up for Matt’s death. Seth, I don’t blame you. You should stop punishing yourself. Matt would have gone into that village with or without you. He made his choice then. I’m making mine now.”
Seth lumbered back several steps. “Lisa, I—”
“This is my choice to make.” Lisa repeated.
Cassie fought the jealousy rising like bile in her throat. She did not need to witness this moment of intimate apologies. When Seth sighed, Cassie knew they wouldn’t be seeing the doctor again. Lisa’s mind was made up. With a weary sigh, Cassie said, “How much do you want me to erase?”
“Enough so I only remember you showed up. Erase Seth’s transformation, obviously, if you can. And erase memory of where you’re going.”
Before Cassie began, she tried pleading once more. “Dr. Tren—, Lisa, are you sure you won’t—”
“Time’s a wasting, Cassie. Let’s get this over with.”
***
Maybe she made a mistake taking Seth with her. Cassie slid a glance toward the driver's seat. He was angry, and he had every right to be. This was another impossible situation of her making. She should have just mind pushed him into staying. But she made the best decision she could. She changed his life forever and she hadn’t asked his permission. She was no better than her brother.
“You need to think of next steps, Cassie. You can’t just run forever.”
She sighed, and desperation dripped from her simple breath. “If I can shake these Trackers for a minute, I can get the information I need. The flash drive Annabel gave me. It has information about the other Gentech facilities. I tried checking at Lisa’s house, but the files are encrypted. I need to find someone who can decrypt them.” She shrugged. “The only other thing I have to go on is the town of Riddenwell. Annabel mentioned it before I ran. It’s a little north of here on the coast, but I need more information to go on. All I know is it’s got a population of a hundred thousand and is a science and tech hub. Smaller haystack, but still a tiny needle.”
Seth tightened his jaw. “I know someone who can help with the decryption. It’s a long shot, but I can try and track him down. You can’t keep running. Even after you free the others. You all can’t keep running forever. Peter has to be stopped before anyone else dies.”
She frowned. He was pissed, but she couldn’t have changed Lisa’s decision any more than she could Annabel’s. “Look, give me another couple of days and I’ll be out of your hair. Then you can do whatever you want with the information you have about me.”
He took his eyes off the road to glare at her. “You really think I would turn you in? You seriously think that's the kind of person I am? Let's get something straight. I'm pissed about all kinds of things. I’m pissed Lisa wouldn’t listen to me and pulled the guilt card. I’m pissed about you trying to leave me behind and how you never got to live your life. And that with all my new found Superman skills, I still don’t know how to use them. What’s happened to me isn't something I planned. At least not since I was ten years old and dreamed about being able to fly and see through walls. But I'm not going to hang you out to dry because I've got abs that put Billy Blanks to shame. Once you figure out what to do about your brother, I can get back to my life.”
“I promise I will clear your name. Whatever it is I have to do. If there’s a cure, I’ll find it. I won’t be responsible for ruining your life.”
“Yeah, now where have I heard that before?” The corners of his lips turned up in a smirk.
Cassie knew he was trying to lighten the mood, but his comment still pricked her conscience. “I—”
He slammed on the brakes. They met each other’s gazes and the fear swirled between them. “Seth, did you flash? Any images?”
He shook his head. “But I hear something.” His eyes narrowed and he cocked his head as if listening for something.
The sounds finally filtered through her shields. Cars, lots of them. Muted voices. Clanging machinery. They had company on the road. Police maybe? “How much further until the cabin?”
He checked the GPS on Lisa’s car. “A couple of miles, but how did they find out about it? They can’t have had time to get to Lisa’s and be already after us.”
Peter had all kinds of resources at his disposal. He could find anything. “Not likely. They could have just hedged their bets and be putting up a barricade in case we did come this way.” But she didn’t believe in coincidences.
He blanched and slowed down. “Cassie, I’m sorry. I—”
“No time. How are
you feeling?” She scanned their surroundings. He wouldn’t be as useful if they had to fight, but at least he would be less likely to get killed. She had asked Seth to drive to help him get accustomed to his new body. As training went it was minimal, but she’d take what she could get.
“Strong enough, I think. The driving helps with my hand-eye coordination.”
Cassie breathed deep as they approached the police checkpoint. Seven officers. Holy shit. She never pushed so many at once before without seriously incapacitating herself. She risked a glance at Seth. His jaw was set and his eyes narrowed. They didn’t have any other options. If she failed, her brother would yank her back to his house of horrors faster than she could ask, ‘“Can I get a phone call?”’
Seth pulled up to the barricade and rolled down his window. “Morning officers. Is there a problem?”
Cassie blocked out all distractions and focused on being invisible and erasing her image from the men present. Luckily, no dogs were present. Dogs might not see her, but they would smell her. Seth’s answered the officer’s questions in a reassuring voice while she concentrated.
“Looks like you have all the state troopers out here.”'
The cop flashed a light at the car, but he seemed not to notice her. “We’re looking for a woman, traveling with a man. She's a kidnap victim. Her name is Cassie Reeser.” He paused. “Dark hair, green eyes, about five feet tall. Have you seen anyone matching that description?”
Seth casually shook his head and asked a couple of questions. The lies rolled off his tongue with ease. Cassie felt the heat of the cop move further away from her.
“Go ahead on. If you see anyone matching the description, we recommend you call the police immediately. We’re holding an ongoing investigation.”
Cassie waited a full minute after the barricade before she took a breath. She sat back against her seat, unable to fathom that they just avoided a huge problem.
“How did you do that?”
Cassie's didn’t answer until she did a mental check of her abilities. “Practice.”
Just as Seth picked up speed, a tingle ran up the back of her neck. Something wasn't right. Seth’s tight, grim expression said it all. “What do you hear?”
“Trackers. In the woods. Six of them.” She listened again. Definitely six. Could they fight off six? It didn’t matter. If the Trackers knew they were here, they would find them again. Better deal with this batch first. “We'll have a better advantage on foot. At least we won’t be sitting ducks.”
“Are you kidding me? You really want to get out and fight these assholes?”
She kept her expression neutral. “If we stay in the car, we’re toast.”
Chapter Twelve
Seth followed Cassie's lead as they alighted from the car. She hiked north, but it wasn't long before she put up a hand signaling him to wait. He strained to hear any sound—footsteps to their right. Every step gave away the Trackers’ position. Cassie held the gun out to him. “You’re sure your aim is good? Your shoulder feels okay?”
He nodded once, swiftly. “I managed to avoid hitting that douche bag the other night, didn't I?”
She rolled her eyes. “Remember, that gun is for protection only. Do not engage. Let me know their movements. If you need me, call out.”
“It’s easier for you to read me now, huh?” He opened the magazine and counted his bullets before shoving the clip back in.
She nodded. “Ever since you changed. Although you’re still pretty thick-skulled. Reading you still takes some effort, but if I’m listening for you, I can hear you.”
In a fight, her mind pushing abilities would come in handy. Didn’t mean he had to like it though. “How do you want to do this?”
“I'm going to take out the guys on the left. See if you can distract the guys to the east. Just keep them out of my hair until I can get back to them.”
The fuck he would stand by and twiddle his thumbs while she risked her life. Stepping lightly, he used the trees as cover. The first Tracker he came upon was headed back toward the police barricade. For several moments, Seth wondered if he'd be able to pull the trigger. This time his aim had to be true. One mistake and that meant trouble for Cassie. A gunshot would also bring this asshole's buddies running.
Lifting his arm, he leveled the gun and fired. The Tracker turned toward Seth just as the bullet hit the right side of his chest. His body flew back made a soft thud in the sodden grass. “That's one.”
He reached out to Cassie with his mind even as he approached the downed Tracker. One is down. How many left?
Her answer was like a soft brush against his skin. I told you not to engage them. He smirked as her irritation filtered through. I took one out. About to engage another. You've got two heading south west in your direction. Will you listen to me if I tell you to leave them be?
Nope. He isolated his hearing. As leaves rustled in the direction Cassie warned him about, Seth wondered how far her powers could reach.
As he approached the Trackers, he cursed. They converged in a clearing and cover was sparse. When he spotted the ubiquitous black military boots and head-to-toe black camouflage, he aimed his weapon. He was so focused on his one target he didn’t hear the one behind him until Cassie screamed in his head. Watch your six, Seth!
He managed squeeze a shot off before he got slammed in the side by something the size of a refrigerator. The fall he anticipated. What he didn't expect were his automatic reflexes. He executed backward summersault into a fight stance. The mountain man in front of him grinned in that sinister way of douche bags everywhere.
Seth sneered at him. “Game on Asshole.”
The Tracker might have been huge, but the brute was quick. He sprang into action, launching himself at Seth. Seth braced for the weight, but ended up on his ass.
The two of them rolled around on the ground, arms and legs flailing. Seth was unaccustomed to his new bigger body. The first image flashed, catching him unaware, and he staggered backward. Seth’s mind filled with a visual of the mountain man bracing himself on a nearby rock, leveraging himself to sit on Seth’s chest. It wasn't hard to guess the rock. In the clearing, only one was big enough to support either of them.
As they rolled in that general direction, Seth forced his body to go limp. His assailant seemed temporarily surprised by the move and let up on his hold for the barest moment. Seth flipped him onto his back, pinning him to the ground. Two feet away, Seth’s discarded gun lay in a pile of wet leaves. Could he get to it fast enough? Another picture filled his vision—Mountain man jumping on his back spider-monkey style, braining his head into the rock. Going for the gun was a bad choice.
Seth rained punches in the brute's face, hoping one of them would knock the guy out. But the behemoth beneath him writhed and flailed his arms trying to get a punch in. Finally, Seth used all his strength and pressed his arm like a bar across the guy’s neck. It seemed like hours. Like weeks. Like months, but finally the Tracker stopped struggling.
Leaning back, Seth checked for a pulse. It was weak, but present.
Dragging in deep breaths, he refused to acknowledge his shaking hands. He almost killed three men. What the hell had he become? Before he could get too maudlin, Cassie called for him.
Seth, I need you. Been shot.
On instant alert, he mentally called out for her, but she didn't respond. Shit. Forcing his body to a stand, he turned in the direction he'd last seen her and ran through the trees. Before he went three hundred meters, he picked up the scent of citrus and vanilla. As powers went his heightened sense of smell was certainly handy. Running faster, he followed the trail, coming upon one downed Tracker. He checked for a pulse, but didn't find one. He was smarter this time and snatched the guy’s weapon and ammo. Even if Nisulin wasn’t lethal to people without powers it would slow anybody down.
When he finally stumbled upon Cassie, he found her propped against a tree, two dead Trackers at her feet. Kneeling before her, he checked her for wounds. There was a hole j
ust above her knee. Thick red blood slowly seeped from the wound in time with her pulse. She also had a few bruises, but no other gunshot wounds.
He held her face in his hands. “Cassie. I need you to wake up.” She didn't budge.
Shit. He should have insisted they stay together. Instead, he’d let her go off on her own.
He scooped her up in his arms. Stepping over the bodies, he ran as fast as he could back to the car. He couldn't lose her like this.
Chapter Thirteen
Deafening cries ricocheted in Cassie’s mind. Her head shrieking with pain, thudding, pounding, threatening to consume her from the inside out. She knew what they were going through. Every visceral scream pierced her soul. The pain of the injections. The slice of the surgeon’s blades. She wasn’t the only one who suffered at Peter’s hands.
Cassie gasped and jerked upright. The dream clung to her consciousness. Shadows surrounded her, but not the same oppressive darkness of her blackouts. A quick check of her senses told her she was in a structure with one other person. For at least a mile, she registered only breathing of one other person and the scurry or forest animals. Nothing out of the ordinary. Or dangerous. She relaxed slightly. Deeply inhaling, she smelled coffee, but not the bitter roast they used in the labs—something rich and chocolaty—mixed with a woodsy musk. Seth. He’d come for her.
Tears pricked at her eyes as she turned into a downy soft pillow to hide her relief. She all but kidnapped him and forced him to help her. She'd nearly gotten him killed more than once. She turned him into something freakish and still he stayed with her. He hadn’t left her to die.
Out of the darkness, Seth's voice was gruff. “Why are you crying?”
Cassie swiped a tear from her cheek and pushed into a sitting position. When dizziness struck, she lay back down. “I'm not crying,” she lied.
“I can smell your tears,” He dragged in a breath. “Light. Salty.”
No point denying it. His senses were now as keen as hers. “I—you didn't leave me.” She snuffled again, annoyed with the relief and joy muddling her thinking process.
