Elimination (The Mind Breaker Book 1)

by Marina Epley

  “Drop your weapons!” Chase commands, but nobody heeds his order. That nobody surrenders is fine and everything is going according to our plan as long as nobody gets killed. The terrorists aren’t expected to surrender. At least some are expected to escape and take me with them.

  “Don’t shoot!” I yell. “This is me! Rex!”

  “Rex?” I hear Kitty’s voice. “Hold your fire!” she commands. “It’s Rex, don’t shoot him!”

  Just as I’m about to reach Kitty, a guy with a scarred face presses a gun to my forehead. Hammer, I remember. The remaining terrorists, with the exception of Kitty, continue shooting at Elimination officers and my team.

  “Drop your rifle,” Hammer commands.

  I place my rifle on the floor and say, “We’re on the same side.”

  “Get away from him!” Kitty yells.

  “Shut up!” he growls and asks, “Why are you wearing Elimination black, if you’re on our side?”

  “They forced me to,” I answer. “I’m trying to escape. I’m hoping to join your group.”

  “Hammer! Don’t you dare hurt him,” Kitty shouts, reloading her gun.

  A long moment passes. I don’t know if Hammer will kill me or not. Then he lowers the gun.

  “What the hell is going on then?” he asks. “How did you learn of our plans?”

  “Elimination has breakers that were able to locate you,” I answer.

  “That would be you,” Hammer says. “You located us and led Elimination here, traitor!”

  He puts his gun back to my head.

  “Quit it, Hammer,” Kitty screams. “Rex would never sell me out. He’s with us! He’s a breaker!”

  Somehow I feel guilty. Kitty is going to be very disappointed when she learns the truth.

  “We need to get out of here!” a terrorist exclaims.

  Hammer thinks for a moment and then commands, “Put on your masks!” He removes a gas mask from his backpack and places it over his face. The other outlaw breakers follow his lead. Hammer takes out several small round objects from his pockets. Grenades, I realize, panicking. He tosses them as fast as he can pull the pins. I collapse flat on the floor and cover my head, expecting explosions. Instead, I hear hissing noises as the room fills with suffocating white gas. I gasp, choking on the fumes and unable to breathe. My eyes and lungs are burning. The room blackens. I can’t see a thing.

  “We can’t leave him again!” Kitty screams nearby. “Drake will want Rex with our group!”

  Somebody’s arms pull me up, dragging me off.

  I pass out.

  Cold water splashes onto my face. Coughing and snorting, I drift back out of the dark and open my eyes. They’re still burning.

  “It’s okay,” Kitty says softly, wiping my face with a towel. “You’re safe now.”

  Disoriented, I take a careful look around. We’re inside a moving van. I’m on the floor and Kitty is sitting at my side.

  “How are you feeling?” she asks with concern.

  “I’m fine,” I answer, rubbing my eyes. My throat hurts. I’m still having trouble breathing from the gassing. I wonder what’s happened to my team and the hypnotized cops back inside the station.

  “What kind of gas did you use?” I ask.

  My thoughts tangle and my speech is slightly slurred. Kitty understands anyway.

  “It wasn’t lethal,” she answers. “Only good enough to knock somebody out in case our mission failed.” She hands me a bottle of water. “Here, drink and wash your eyes.”

  I drink the water greedily and splash some on my face. It helps ease the burning a little, but I’m still feeling suffocated.

  “You’ll be fine,” Kitty says, hugging me and kissing my face. “I can’t believe we’re finally together again! Now everything will be fine.” She grabs my hand and doesn’t let go. I notice her fingers trembling.

  “Hey, leave that traitor alone,” Hammer says. “Don’t waste any more of our good water on him.”

  Several other terrorist breakers are also inside the vehicle.

  “Shut your mouth, Hammer!” Kitty growls. “You shouldn’t treat Rex that way.”

  “He’s a traitor,” Hammer says matter-of-factly. “He’s betrayed all breakers, working for those killers.”

  “I said shut up!” Kitty shouts. “I can’t hear this nonsense.”

  Kitty has changed dramatically. Her face seems more mature and hardened. Her tone of voice is authoritative. Kitty has developed into a tough fighter and somewhat of a stranger, no longer my sweet little sister. Only when she’s speaking to me does her voice soften and her facial expression becomes gentle again.

  “I won’t let them hurt you,” Kitty assures me.

  “Where are we going?” I ask.

  “Tell him and I’ll have to shoot him,” Hammer threatens. “He doesn’t need to know where we’re heading or the location of our headquarters.”

  Kitty glares at him with anger. “We’re going to a safe place, don’t worry,” she explains.

  I try to sit up, but my body doesn’t respond. Seems I’ve lost coordination.

  “Easy, just relax,” Kitty says. “The effects will wear off in a couple of hours. Just rest now.”

  I lie back on the floor. My ribs ache from the impact of the bullets slamming into my vest earlier. I’m lucky they didn’t go through. Chase said bulletproof vests sometimes fail. I could be dead by now.

  “We should shoot him and toss his body,” Hammer suggests.

  “There’s a reason enforcing bad ideas like that are outside your rank,” Kitty answers. “Let’s wait for Drake to decide what to do next. I’m pretty sure Drake will recruit Rex for Retaliation.”

  “Whatever you say, Peaches,” Hammer says derisively. “Of course Drake will recruit this traitor to join us.”

  “Don’t listen to him,” Kitty says to me. “Drake will like you. You were our hero after all.”

  I remember them leaving my photos inside the police stations they’d attacked.

  “Who’s Drake?” I ask.

  “Our leader, and a great man,” Kitty explains. Then she asks, “What happened? We thought Elimination had killed you.”

  “The execution was only for show. Elimination kept me incarcerated at their research facility to use as a lab rat. They wanted me to join them. I was searching for a way to escape and decided to pretend to be working for them until I got an opportunity.”

  “You don’t have to explain now,” Kitty blurts out. “I know you would never join those butchers.”

  I feel bad lying to her. It lasts only an instant. I remind myself why I’m doing all this, to save Kitty from these terrorists and to stop their cruel and meaningless killing.

  “He’s lying,” Hammer says.

  Kitty holds my hand tightly.

  “Never leave me again, Rex,” she demands. “We need to be always together. You and I.”

  I close my eyes and rest, thinking of what may be coming next.

  The minivan finally stops and we get out. I can hardly walk, but my eyes are no longer so painful and my coordination is slowly improving.

  I look around. We’re in a desolate part of the country. A thick layer of ash covers the land and ruins of a long abandoned city. Nobody lives here anymore. Everything is gray and crumbling with an air of hopelessness.

  The sky is getting dark which means we’ve been traveling for a few hours. Elimination could have followed us, but I think they didn’t. They don’t need to pursue because of the tracking device in my arm. Hopefully Elimination knows where I end up.

  “Let’s go,” Hammer commands as he walks toward one of the dilapidated buildings. Hard to know what it was before the Eruption, but I’m guessing it used to be a church. I notice fresh boot tracks in the ash, leading from the entrance to something that used to be a highway many years ago. This probably isn’t the headquarters, but only a temporary shelter on the way.

  Kitty steadies me, helping me to walk. Other members of the group follow behind, holding h
andguns on me. They’ve taken off their ski masks. Most of them look under thirty, stoic-faced and tough. Somehow Kitty now fits in with their company perfectly.

  Inside the church, there are several rows of dust covered pews as well as some chairs and sleeping bags set up around the altar.

  “Strap him down,” Hammer commands.

  Two breakers shove Kitty away and grab hold, dragging me toward a chair.

  “Leave him alone!” Kitty yells angrily. “Stop this!”

  “Shut your mouth, girl,” Hammer says.

  “Drake won’t appreciate this, Hammer,” she warns. “He’s gonna be mad as all get-out at you.”

  “Yeah, whatever.”

  I don’t resist, letting them strap me to the chair. It’d be pointless to fight now. Hammer approaches and asks accusingly, “Well, why did Elimination send you to us? What’s your mission, traitor?”

  “I don’t have a mission,” I lie. “I just wanted to be with my sister again.”

  “Your sister?” Hammer looks at Kitty. “She isn’t your sister. Kitty told me she was your fiancée.”

  “Oh,” I say and glance at Kitty. Her face flushes red and she hides her eyes. Why in the world would she tell them that? It doesn’t matter right now, I decide. “Kitty’s my sister,” I insist.

  “I really don’t care where you’re at with your relationship,” Hammer answers. “It’s not my concern. I want to know why Elimination sent you here.”

  He brings another chair and sits down in front of me. We face each other for a minute. I don’t divert my eyes.

  “You know you can’t lie to me,” Hammer says. “You can try to lie if you choose, but it’ll do no good. I already know everything. You’ve been sent here to spy on us. And I believe you led Elimination to us back at the police station. You must be a telepath. How else could you have tracked us otherwise? Of course you’re a telepath. And a traitor.” He spits on the floor. “You used to be an example for our soldiers, a martyr. Kitty told how you saved her life and died for her. Now I see that wasn’t true either. You sold out to survive and made a conscious choice to work for Elimination. You deserve to die, Rex.” He speaks very calmly.

  “No!” Kitty screams, running toward us. Two breakers stop her.

  “If you’ve already made up your mind, why don’t you just shoot me now and quit wasting my time?” I ask.

  Hammer thinks quietly, holding a gun on me. He says, “Usually we don’t kill breakers. We rescue them. Our main purpose in Retaliation is to free and protect breakers from Elimination.”

  “I guess burning buildings with innocent people trapped inside is just a secondary purpose,” I suggest.

  Hammer frowns, shaking his head, “We didn’t do that. Elimination misinformed you.”

  I don’t believe him. There’s not a second group with terrorist breakers.

  “Gimme a knife,” Hammer commands and a breaker hands him a long sharp blade. He cuts the sleeve of my shirt, revealing my arm.

  “What are you doing?” Kitty screams.

  “He has a microchip implant in his arm,” Hammer answers calmly.

  The cold blade slices into my skin. I don’t resist because this isn’t my mission. My mission is to make my way to their center. It takes only a second to remove the microchip. Our plan has failed, I realize. Without the tracking device, Elimination won’t be able to locate me.

  “What’s this, Rex?” Hammer asks, smiling and showing a bloody microchip.

  “No idea,” I say. I don’t really expect him to believe me.

  “Rex?” Kitty asks in confusion.

  “I didn’t know it was there, Kitty,” I say. I don’t care how stupid it sounds. I have to continue my charade.

  “Of course you didn’t, traitor,” Hammer smirks, throwing the microchip onto the floor and smashing it with his boot. “Unstrap him,” he commands, pointing his gun in my face. “I’ll show you how we deal with traitors.” A couple of breakers free me. “On your knees!” Hammer shouts. I don’t obey and he nods to his breakers. They come behind and forcefully kick the back of my knees, dropping me onto the floor.

  “Hammer, don’t,” Kitty says. “Please, just let him explain. I’ve known Rex a long time and I’m sure he can explain everything.”

  “I’m not about listen to more of this Elimination rat’s lies,” Hammer answers calmly. “My face bears the scars Elimination inflicted on me,” he says, pointing at his scarred face. “I don’t want his explanations. I want revenge.” He presses the cold barrel between my eyes. “Beg for your life scum.”

  “Nothing doing,” I answer.

  “Stop it!” Kitty screams desperately. Two breakers drag her away. “Let me go,” she yells, kicking and clawing. “Hammer! I swear I’ll kill you if you hurt him! You know I’ll do it!”

  I don’t expect Hammer to take Kitty’s threat too seriously, but he does. He holds his gun on my forehead a moment longer, then takes it away.

  “She’s saved your life for now, traitor,” he says.

  I can’t understand why Hammer doesn’t shoot me. I see no reason for him to keep me alive.

  A breaker puts a hood over my head and pulls me up from the floor. Then he leads me away.

  “Drake will order you to be shot anyway,” Hammer says. “We don’t forgive traitors where we’re going.”

  Chapter 22

  I’m barely conscious when the helicopter finally lands. Somebody commands me to get on my feet, pulling me up. Struggling, I make my numb body get in an upright position. They drag me outside.

  I can’t stop wondering where the terrorist group got money for a helicopter. Somebody must have sponsored them. It’s also possible they’ve just stolen it from the military or confiscated one during a police station raid. They’re breakers after all. Only Elimination is a real bother to them, the regular military not so much.

  I’m still wearing a bag placed over my head. I see nothing, but smell a mixture of salt, water and fish. We’re somewhere near the ocean. The temperature outside is much higher than back in the Republic. As I walk, I feel sand under my feet.

  I know Kitty is somewhere nearby, although she doesn’t speak anymore. She’s been quiet since my interrogation. Hammer is giving me curt commands. Two other breakers hold my arms, pulling me forward. I stumble a few times.

  They throw me into a cell and leave. I manage to untighten the rope around my neck and pull the bag off. I look around. There’s nothing to see. The room is completely dark. Extending my arms, I take a few steps and find the wall. It’s cold and solid. I locate the door and check it. It’s made of metal and too strong to pry open. There’s nothing for me to do, but sit down and wait.

  I think of Lena. Now that I’ve lost my tracking device, she’s the only hope I have of being located. Lena found me once, she may be able to find me again. Maybe I’m too far away. I couldn’t see where we were flying, but I get the feeling we’re on an island. I’m trying to recall the maps I studied long ago at the library.

  Can you see me Lena, I think, concentrating. Do we still have a telepathic connection at this distance? I call for Lena in my mind, trying to trigger a vision. No luck. I don’t sense any sign of her presence. I keep trying anyway, having nothing better to do.

  In about an hour I take a break. Looks like it’s time for a plan B. Unfortunately, I don’t have one. It now seems stupid to have been relying only on a tracking device for location, although back at the lab we didn’t think anybody would check under my skin. It’s my own fault, I guess. It was arrogant to think that the terrorists would fully trust me only because of my being a breaker.

  I can’t stop wondering how Hammer knew about the microchip. Is he a telepath as well? Or somebody else told him? Anything is possible.

  I sigh in disappointment. I may have to escape from here with Kitty by my own means.

  Kitty. I’m still shocked by how much she’s changed. Only a few weeks ago she was like a sister to me. Now Kitty is almost a stranger, not the same little girl I knew.
She suddenly grew up and then became so distant when the chip was found.

  I wonder why Kitty doesn’t come and check on me. Perhaps she’s disappointed with my working for Elimination. Although it’s worth considering that I just always needed Kitty more than she needed me. I thought I knew her so well, but Kitty remains an enigma. She has her secrets. Is it conceivable Kitty only pretended being family for food and shelter all those years?

  I think on it for a few seconds and decide it doesn’t really matter. Nothing can change what I feel for her. I’ll always be taking care of Kitty and looking out for her as long as I’m breathing.

  Exhausted, I lie down on the floor, unsure if I can fall asleep. I close my eyes, and the next thing I know somebody is opening the door. I sit up, slightly groggy with sleep. The door opens and the light from outside temporarily blinds me. I turn away, letting my eyes adjust.

  “Rex, how are you doing?” Kitty asks, walking in.

  “I’m all right,” I answer.

  She approaches and places a plate of food on the floor beside me. “This is for you,” she says, handing me a fork. I eat the still steaming plate of spaghetti with meatballs. Delicious. The terrorists aren’t starving here for sure.

  Kitty kneels to a sitting position in front of me, watching attentively. I sneak a glance at her while eating. She’s changed her military uniform for a mini skirt and blue blouse, resembling her school uniform. Her reddish hair is put up in a high ponytail. Even in dim light I notice her bright make up, which makes her older than her years. I realize she’s dressed up for me.

  “Sorry I couldn’t come earlier,” Kitty apologizes. “I wanted to stay with you, but I had to see Drake and explain everything. He’s willing to meet with you soon.”

  “What are you doing with these guys, Kitty?” I ask. “Why didn’t you stay away from trouble as I asked?”

  “I did exactly as you requested,” she protests. “I travelled south and found the group of breakers Jessie had spoken to us about. And she was right, they do help out other breakers.”