Twisted Stars (Hardest Mistakes #3)

by Dannielle Wicks

  “I’m so sorry. About everything,” he whispers. I turn my head away. I don’t want to hear this. Not now. “Hey.” His hand reaches between the bars and touches my arm. “Look at me.” I lift my chin up and meet his gold eyes. “I promise you I will get you out of here.”

  “You’ve obviously been here before. How did you escape last time?” He flinches at my question and turns away, taking his hand back.

  “Not really something I want to relive.”

  Okay, I’ll leave it alone, but I’m still curious. “Why are your eyes still yellow?”

  He shifts self-consciously before answering me. “Must be the sedative they gave me.” He closes his eyes and rests his head on the bars.

  “Jayden?”

  “Mmm.”

  It’s a question that’s been bugging me for a while now. Why not ask it now? Who knows how much longer I have to live? “Why did you stay?”

  His eyes snap open and he watches me for a moment, contemplating. “I—” A door slams, and footsteps tap across the cement toward us. Jayden pushes himself away from the cage bars to see our visitors. A familiar red-haired lady—Cait—and another tall, well-dressed woman stop in front of us.

  The unknown woman’s sharp eyes stare through the cage at Jayden. I glance at him to see he’s gone white in fear.

  “Darling, how are you? I missed you so much,” she says delicately, kneeling down in front of Jayden’s cage. He pushes himself back until he’s as far away from her as he can possibly get. She smiles and turns to me. “And who have we got here?”

  “Ashlee Reynolds,” Cait answers for me. Not that I was going to open my mouth to these horrible people anyway, but still. How rude.

  “Ah yes, Miss Reynolds. How very nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard so much about you.” I narrow my eyes on her. “Welcome to Paradox Genetic Institute. I am co-founder and owner, Dr. Gina Ross.” Ross? Why does that name sound familiar? I glance at Jayden again. He has turned away from everyone, his head on his knees in the corner. Gina smiles at Jayden and stands up, straightening her dark skirts. “Thank you for helping me locate my son, Miss Reynolds. I’ve missed him so much. It’s well past time he came home.”

  What?

  She spins on her heel and leaves the room without another word, leaving Cait to follow.

  I stare after them, my mouth hanging open in shock.

  Did she say ‘son’?

  Once they leave, Jayden uncurls from the corner and looks over at me. I can still see the fear in his eyes.

  “She’s your…?”

  “The woman gave birth to me. Yes,” he spits, turning away from me again.

  “You told me your parents were dead,” I say, feeling confused and a little betrayed.

  “My father is, and if I had the choice, she would be too.” I flinch at the venom in his voice. I seriously can’t wrap my head around the fact that he hates his own mother even if she is a monster.

  The room goes quiet. I don’t know what to say that won’t make this worse, so I lie down on my side and curl up. The chilly air makes me shiver. I want my own mother; I want one of her too tight hugs or her burnt toast. The tears start all over again; I let them slide over my face and onto the cold hard floor.

  ***

  Light blinds me, flashing across my vision, creating black dots. I gasp and sit up, trying to shield my face.

  “Wake up,” a voice orders. Someone grabs my arm and pulls me to my feet roughly. I’m dragged out of my cage and pushed down a hallway.

  “Ashlee,” Jayden calls after me, panicked. I try to shake the grip off my arm, but it holds fast.

  “Where are you taking me?” I can’t see a thing. The hallways are dark and full of shadows. I turn my head to look behind me at my captor, but the torchlight blinds me again.

  “Shut up, and keep moving.” The voice is male—one of the soldiers? I trip over invisible shapes in the dark as I stumble forward. A door opens in front of me, and I’m shoved inside, tripping on the doorjamb and landing on my hands and knees in a dark room.

  My eyes are definitely open—it’s just too dark to make anything out. “Hello?” I whisper into the darkness, running my hands along the floor around me. All I find are more cold tiles. It smells like a sterile doctor’s office. Where am I?

  The room bursts into bright white light. I’m blinded until my eyes adjust to the sudden illumination. Slowly, everything comes into focus, revealing a stark white room, tiled floor to ceiling, with a full-length mirror covering one wall. Sort of reminds me of all the cop shows I’ve watched—an interrogation room with a two-way mirror.

  A microphone blares to life, screeching into the room. I wince at the sudden noise.

  “Ashlee Reynolds.” A female voice, it sounds familiar. I turn and stare at the mirror. “We have brought you here to ask you a few important questions. If you answer truthfully, we may let you live.”

  “What?” I sputter out surprised. Live? They’re going to kill me already?

  “First off, you live in the town of Blake Pike and attend the local university?”

  What did she just say? “Umm, yes?”

  The microphone buzzes loudly with static. “How long have you known the other prisoner?”

  Jayden? “A few months?”

  “Have you been informed as to why he was seeking refuge in your home town?”

  “No?” I answer, confused.

  “Do you know what he is?”

  Well, that was blunt. “I’m not sure I know what you mean.”

  “Answer the question, Miss Reynolds.”

  “Then, no, I’m not sure what you’re referring to.”

  “Your parents are Jocelyn and Mark Reynolds, currently divorced. Jocelyn is on a cruise overseas, and your father resides in Boulder City?”

  I stomp toward the mirror, ready to hit something. “You leave my family out of this, you monsters!”

  “Very well. That is all…for now.” The microphone buzzes again, and the lights shut off, plunging me back into darkness. I sink to the floor and wrap my arms around my knees. Are they going to kill me now? Are they going to hurt my family? My mom? My dad?

  Light in the shape of a door appears on one side of the room. I stay where I am, not game enough to move, especially if they’re here to kill me. A shadow covers the doorway as someone enters. I shake my head and push myself back until I hit the wall.

  “No, please,” I plead as the shadow grabs my arm in a tight hold and drags me from the room. I let my weight fall, so they have to lift me up again. As I’m dragged into the hallway, I look up at the person holding my arm. He’s dressed in a white lab coat and gloves. I try to tug my arm out of his grip, but he just squeezes tighter. “Let me go, please,” I plead again, trying not to break into hysterics.

  The man looks down at me in disdain. “Stop. I’m not here to kill you.” I don’t believe him, but I let him lead me along the bright corridor. We enter another room—this one looks more like a laboratory.

  “Sit.” The man points to a white plastic chair beside a chrome bench full of instruments. I sit hesitantly and look around at the white room. What is it with scientists and white?

  The man in the lab coat digs around in a drawer under the silver bench until he brings out a syringe and a couple of sample jars. He turns to me and pulls my arm open, jabbing the needle into my elbow before I have a chance to flinch. He draws blood and labels the sample jars. When he’s finished, he stands and leaves the room, locking the door behind him. At least he didn’t turn the lights off. I’m so sick of being left alone in the dark.

  Voices chatter outside the room, and then Cait strolls in, holding a clipboard.

  “How are you this morning, Miss Reynolds? Sleep well?”

  I raise an eyebrow at her. “Apart from the fact that I’ve been kidnapped and forced into a small, dark cage, oh, and then you threatened my family and told me you were going to murder me…yeah, I’m great. Thanks for asking.”

  “Unfortunately, sarcasm w
on’t get you very far, my dear.” She scribbles something down on her clipboard and turns back to the door. “Shall we go?” Go where? Not game to ask, I stand and follow her from the room. Two soldiers flank us as we walk down the corridor.

  Cait opens the door to the room with the cages. I glance at Jayden as I’m pushed into my cage. The way he’s lying along the tiles makes me think he’s asleep.

  The guards leave with Cait, and the room goes quiet. I can just hear Jayden breathe softly. Leaning up against the cold bars, I fiddle with the hem of my shirt.

  I wonder if Mom is okay. I wonder if she’s found out I’m missing yet. Surely Dylan has raised the alarm?

  Jayden groans under his breath and turns onto his back, laying his hands on his chest.

  “Are you okay?” I flinch at the way my voice echoes through the room too loudly.

  He tips his head toward me. “You’re back,” he says softly, pulling himself up into a sitting position. “Did they hurt you?” Concern creases his brow as he studies me.

  “I’m fine.” I shake my head and look at the tiles on the floor in front of me. “What are you? What I mean is, why do they keep asking me questions about you?”

  Jayden hesitates, watching my face carefully. “In the lab, they started calling me lögun-breyting. It means shape-shifter. I guess they want to know how far my abilities have developed. As far as I know, I’m one of only two experiments that worked. The rest of them died…including my brother.”

  I’m silent for a moment then ask, “How does this place even exist? Who would do something like this to you?”

  “My parents.”

  “Excuse me? Your mom and dad? They did this…they killed your brother…?”

  He shakes his head. “I guess some people are just pure evil—my mother especially. Always seeking something better, something superior. They had this dream of creating a super race. Obviously, they’re not even close.”

  I drop my head into my hands. “This is it, isn’t it?”

  “What do you mean?” He moves to the bars and leans against the cage beside me.

  I close my eyes, a stray tear dribbling down my cheek. “We’re going to die in here, aren’t we,” I say it as a fact rather than a question—I suppose I already know the answer.

  Jayden reaches between the bars and catches my tear on his finger. “I won’t let you die here. I promise.” I glance up at him in surprise. He nods once before turning away and avoiding my gaze. I watch his T-shirt stretch across his back as he lays his head on his knees.

  “Why would you stay in Black Pike if you knew they would come after you? Why not run? Why attend a class at the university, of all places?” Why make me fall for you?

  “I didn’t want to be alone anymore,” he whispers, lying back down on his side, facing away from me.

  I have no words.

  Chapter Nine

  I wake from my nap, alone. The doors at the end of the room slam, and voices reach me.

  Jayden is pushed back down the hall and back into his cage by two heavily armed soldiers. They give me a sneer as they pass. He spits out a mouthful of blood as his knees hit the cement. As soon as we are alone again, I shuffle over to the bars separating us.

  “What did they do to you?” I ask. His gaze flicks to mine briefly before he coughs up another mouthful of blood. I rest my forehead against the bars. “We can’t just escape. We have to stop this…it isn’t right, and no one else should ever have to go through what you’ve gone through.”

  He moves closer, leaning up against the bars beside me. This close, I can make out the dark shape of a bruise forming over his right cheek. The striking color makes the scar on the side of his face stand out sharply. I slip my hand through the bars and run my fingers gently down the ruined edges of his skin. He closes his eyes with a soft sigh, leaning into my hand.

  “What are we going to do?” I whisper. I don’t expect an answer, and I don’t get one. We sit in silence together, just being. It’s all we can do…

  ***

  Sunlight hits my closed eyes from the window above me. I squint and roll over, stretching my arms above my head. Ah, my back. The cement does not make a good bed. Jayden is already awake on the other side of the bars. How many days have we been here now? I’ve lost count.

  “Morning,” I mumble, sitting up. He doesn’t answer. Frowning, I move closer to the bars. “Hey?”

  His head tips toward me.

  “What’s wrong?” I ask quietly.

  He shakes his head and turns away. “I don’t know how.”

  “How to what?”

  He smacks the cement with his palm. “I have no idea how to escape, Ashlee. Not a single clue. I promised I’d get you out of here, but I have no idea where to start.”

  “It’s okay…” I reach a hand through the bars. “Hey, look at me.” He drops his gaze to mine. “It’s going to be okay. We’ll figure it out. Together.”

  His eyes glisten with the promise of tears, and he turns his face away. My heart clenches in my chest. I just want to hold him.

  I didn’t want to be alone anymore…

  Suddenly, Jayden rolls onto his side, convulsing and shuddering. I pull my hand back from the bars and move away from him. Something pops loudly as if it’s breaking. I turn away, nauseous.

  His breathing slows. I glance over to find a wolf with shiny black fur and with white tips on his ears lying in the corner, unconscious. I move back to the edge of my cage and stretch my hand through to touch him.

  He lifts his head, making me jump. I snatch my hand back and watch him curiously. His tattered shirt falls off his back as he stands.

  He lifts his nose, scenting the air. I shift, and he spins around quickly to look at me, ears flattened against his skull. He snarls, lips peeling back to reveal a line of deadly, sharp fangs. The scar on his face stands out oddly between his fur.

  “Jayden?” I whisper, still trying to wrap my brain around the fact that Jayden is a shape-shifter.

  The wolf snorts and pads across the cage toward me, his teeth still bared in warning and nostrils flared as he sucks down my scent.

  As if he suddenly realises who I am, he cocks his head to the side and whines, moving closer and sticking his nose through the metal bars of the cage. I stretch my hand out cautiously toward him. He licks my fingers then bolts to the other side of his cage playfully, making me laugh.

  I lay down on the ground beside the cage wall facing Jayden, my left hand halfway through the bars. Jayden whines softly and then slowly lies down, resting his nose in the palm of my hand as I drift off to sleep.

  I wake to the horrible sounds of bones cracking and soft whining noises. I keep my eyes closed until it goes quiet. I don’t want to see the pain and suffering he has to endure. I open my eyes, my gaze immediately landing on Jayden. He groans as he rolls toward me, his eyes flashing gold before darkening to their original black. His mouth opens and closes as if he’s speaking. I can barely hear my name as it leaves his lips. I reach through the bars to him. “Oh, Jayden, what have they done to you…?”

  Day becomes night quickly. At least I can tell the time of day here. Jayden breathes softly in his sleep. I sit in the dark—in the quiet—and stare at the brick wall across from us.

  We’re never getting out. It’s impossible. The doors are electronically locked. You need a passkey to open them, and from what I can tell, there are guards posted twenty-four seven. Impossible.

  A shadow flickers at the edge of my vision. I turn my head, but I can’t see anything. Frowning, I turn back to the wall.

  Suddenly, something blue glows in the corner of my eye. I turn my head again.

  Nothing.

  I’m going crazy.

  Being locked up in this small cage is making me loopy.

  Shaking my head, I lie down against the bars separating Jayden and me and close my eyes. Surely if I keep them closed long enough, I’ll fall asleep.

  ***

  Jayden stands as the door at the end of the
hallway slams, and three soldiers walk up the hall toward us. One really big soldier stops at my cage door and smiles. He has a large, nasty bruise stretching across his nose and cheekbones.

  “Hey, it’s the pretty girl from the forest,” he says in a nasally voice. The other soldier comes back to stand beside him. I smile at them both. I remember hitting the idiot over the head with a tree branch.

  The big brute looks back the way they came then pulls a key card off his belt and unlocks my cage. The other soldier stands watch as he pulls me out by the front of my shirt.

  “Leave her alone,” Jayden growls from his cage, sounding more animal than human.

  The smaller soldier nudges his friend’s arm. “Hurry up, James. We’re supposed to be on duty.”

  James nods to his comrade then without warning slams his fist into my ribcage. I fly backwards from the force of the hit. All of the air in my lungs escapes through my mouth in one big whoosh, leaving me breathless. Blood leaks from the edge of my mouth. He’s bruised my lungs. I glare at James. What a coward, hitting a girl. He grins triumphantly.

  Jayden growls dangerously. I glance over to see him pulling at the metal bars between us, his expression full of anger and determination.

  James picks me up again and hits me across the side of the face. Agonizing pain spreads over my jaw, and I yelp. He yanks me up one last time and hits me in the ribcage again. Black spots form in front of my eyes as I fall backwards in a heap. They laugh as they lock up my cage again and continue down the hall.

  I turn my head to the side to rest my sore cheek on the cold cement. Jayden is on his knees, clutching the bars beside me. I watch his pained expression as I drift into the darkness.

  ***

  My whole body aches. I lay on the cold floor, awake but refusing to move.