A disheveled guard rushed over to them. "Excuse me for interrupting, but Mr. Black, the Seeker would like to speak with you in his chambers."
"In person?" Seeker's powers scared the shit out of Mr. Black, not that he would admit it to anyone. Still, he avoided face-to-face meetings when at all possible.
The guard shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot. "Um, yes sir."
"Very well."
He turned and walked as quickly as he could without actually running.
Tension poured from Higgins as clearly as the sweat dripping from his face.
Mr. Black shoved Higgins out of the way. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a lunch date."
***
Footsteps clicked on the tile floor. Mr. Black waited in a room that was entirely dark. His foot tapped the floor in time to the person who walked the hall.
A sliver of light appeared as the Seeker entered and sat in a chair across the room. "I trust you had a nice meeting with our illustrious Headmaster?"
Mr. Black couldn't make out any of his features—that was the point of the darkness, he assumed. Well, one of the points. "It was fine. How's the hunt for Sam and Drake going?"
"We have them in our sights. They should be our guests shortly."
"Care to define what you mean by 'shortly?' I'm trying to keep this school safe and in lockdown, but it would help if I knew what was happening."
He heard the Seeker shift in his chair. "You need not worry about my business. Focus your attentions on your own job. You seem to have a problem keeping order among the children. If any more escape, you are done here."
"I've got it under control. These kids had too much freedom under Higgins, but soon they will not question my commands." The darkness set Mr. Black on edge. He rested a hand on his gun, ready to use it should something unexpected happen.
"And this is your idea of maintaining control? To whip and shoot children? They are young. They do not deserve such treatment."
"You want to put a group of incredibly powerful kids in one place, train them to use their powers, and expect them to stay in line? It's insane. They're dangerous, and they have to know that someone bigger and stronger can stop them. My sources say they're planning something. A group called the Freedom Fighters has formed, led by those twins you just sent on assignment. They're the most dangerous of all. They're experienced, good at what they do.... Mark my words, they're planning a rebellion, and we can't allow it."
"There are many pieces to this puzzle that you are not privy to, Mr. Black. Know your place and keep to it. Soon, we will have Sam with us. Combined with the encrypted data you secured in Russia, we will have the two most dangerous weapons in the world. We will be unstoppable."
That thought frightened Mr. Black. No one should have that much power, especially not genetic mutations who considered themselves the next evolution in mankind. He would destroy them if he could, but he needed them too much. "Do you have family? Kids, siblings?"
The Seeker's laugh filled the dark room. "I have an interesting family tree, one with many divergent branches. Sadly, I do not know my family well—a circumstance I am working to remedy as we speak. I do know that family should be cherished. I was sorry to hear of your wife's accident. We have not spoken of it, but know that I feel your loss."
Loss, misery and shock warred in Mr. Black's heart. The night of his wife's death played through his mind in Technicolor....
***
"Do you want the cheap wine, or the cheap beer?" Laura's smile lit up the run-down convenience store. She held up the choices and posed with each like a magazine model—and her beauty rivaled any model ever to grace those glossy covers.
Mr. Black wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him. Her lips tasted of mint gum. He kissed her deeply without shame or modesty.
Laura put the alcohol back on the shelves. "Guess we don't need libations to celebrate, do we? I think this new job of yours will be just what we need to cover Sarah's medical expenses. I can quit my job and stay home with her. Things are finally looking up."
Sadness filled her bloodshot eyes. The dark circles spoke of the many sleepless nights she'd stayed awake with their daughter while he worked graveyard.
The curves of her body, the soft honey-colored hair flowing down her back, her womanly scent—all distracted him from the two teenage boys who entered the store.
He didn't see their guns until they pointed one at the cash register and one at his wife.
He didn't react in time to save her. The gun thundered and his wife fell dead at his feet.
***
...The Seeker's hand on his arm startled him out of his thoughts.
"I am sorry. I had no idea."
"You were in my mind?" The violation rankled Mr. Black, but he forced himself to feign a calmness he didn't feel.
"You projected that memory so forcefully, I had little choice in the matter. I understand better why you reacted the way you did today with the boy, but I do not approve of killing these children. I have plans for them that your puny, normal mind cannot comprehend."
Pain shot through Mr. Black's head. He moaned and fell to his knees. Tears streamed down his face.
"This is only a sample of what I could do to you if I so chose. Get control of these children, without death or permanent injury, or you will spend the rest of your life so miserable you will wish you were dead. Are we clear?"
The pressure eased as fast as it had started. Only a low-grade headache remained, but Mr. Black ignored it and got back into his seat.
He seethed internally but kept his voice level and calm. "Yes, we are clear. If I can do this... if I can keep the kids in line, without killing any of them—"
"Or permanently damaging them."
"Right, or that. Will you help me with something?"
"If I can. What is it you seek?"
A dash of hope. A seed of luck.
"A miracle."
Chapter 21 – Lucy
The silver sphere glowed brighter each day. Lucy pressed it to her chest as she sang along with the music playing gently through her earphones. She hid the sphere in her pocket when Luke knocked and walked through her locked door.
She sent a pillow flying in his direction. "Dude, privacy."
Normally, Luke enjoyed a good pillow fight, but he let this one fall to his feet. He frowned. "We're being summoned. The guards are here to take us to our 'assignment.' They're in the living room, waiting."
"What? We're supposed to have the rest of the week. They said Sunday, and it's only Wednesday."
"What can I say? They're here now. Time to go." He then used sign language—something they hadn't done since they were kids—to tell her they needed to get away and activate the Freedom Fighters' escape plan.
She nodded and grabbed her jacket and backpack.
Before they left the dorm, Luke and Lucy turned on the two men escorting them.
With a front snap kick, Lucy disarmed one guard and planted her foot into his face with a side kick. He fell to the floor just as Luke finished off the other guard.
They picked up the guns, dragged the bodies to a utility closet and locked them inside.
Their actions synched perfectly after years of training together. Luke smiled and dusted off his hands. "You haven't lost it. Good job, Sis."
Lucy massaged kinks out of her wrists. "We need to get Gary and the gang for the first phase of the plan."
While the mandatory dorm time sucked, it did make it easy to find people. They split up, gathered the team, and regrouped in the meeting room.
Greg closed his eyes for a moment, then nodded and opened them. "We're clear. All systems are looped so that they can't see us." He reached for Gary's hand. "Be careful. Don't do anything stupid."
They hugged, and Lucy thought again about how many people would be hurt or killed, no matter how well their plan went. Her shoulders slumped. The responsibility of leading such a team weighed heavily on her.
Mary cleared her throat. "Thi
s is all very touching, but can we please go? I was in the middle of painting my toes and now they're all smudged."
Lucy rolled her eyes and searched the small crowd for Neil—their secret weapon. "Mary, honestly, it's freezing out there. You're wearing boots. No one gives a crap about your toes."
Gary smirked.
A minute later, Lucy, Gary, Mary and Neil headed out to start phase one of their escape. Luke stayed with the rest of the group to initiate the second phase. "Good luck, Sis. See you soon."
"You too. Be safe." Lucy led her team through campus to find Mr. Black.
Though it wasn't yet past curfew, unless they had good reason to be out, this many kids together would alert the guards that something was going down. They stayed in the shadows and avoided direct routes, taking paths through bushes and off the cobbled walkways to avoid detection.
Mr. Black liked to patrol this time of day to catch any stragglers who hadn't made it to their dorms. He'd be around somewhere.
Lucy glanced at her watch. "He might be getting a snack at the guards' break room."
Gary fidgeted with the zipper on his jacket. "How will we get there without getting caught? Maybe this isn't such a good idea."
Lucy scowled at him. "You're the one who recruited me, remember? Luke and I would be leaving right now if not for this plan, so we do it now or it doesn't happen. We just have to be careful."
A cold breeze blew through the four of them huddled behind the Student Center. Lucy shivered and zipped up her jacket. She peeked around the corner to the break room just across the corridor, but they had no other places left to hide. They'd be exposed for at least sixty seconds, assuming Mr. Black was even in there.
"We're just going to have to run for it," she said. "Head straight to the back door of the building. We'll sneak in that way and look for Mr. Black. Most of the guards should be at their posts right now, so we shouldn't run into anyone else." She peeked around one last time. "It's all clear. Ready? One, two, three—run!"
Lucy pumped her legs as fast as they would go. She could hear the breathing of the others beside her as they crossed the corridor and made their way to the back of the building. Her heart slammed against her chest in rapid beats. Her stomach cramped, not from running but from nerves and fear. If they were caught, it would all be over, and it would be her fault for leading them into this.
Just as they approached the side of the building, a guard walked out the front door, presumably coming off break. Lucy pushed herself around the corner just in time to avoid notice, with Gary, Neil and Mary right behind her. They pressed themselves against the wall and held their breath.
Footsteps clicked outside like the sound of gunshots. Lucy tensed. Were they getting closer? The footsteps stopped, a pause so long, Lucy thought she might die. Then, click, click, click, the guard walked away from them and into the night.
The breath she'd nearly choked on whooshed out of her mouth. "We need to get to the back door."
They followed her to the door, one seldom used by the guards. She turned the handle, but it was locked.
"Gary, little help."
The air around them sizzled with little currents as Gary worked his magic on the metal lock. The door popped open and the four of them walked through.
No one so much as breathed on the walk through the long corridor. At the corner, where it turned into the main break area, they stopped, and Lucy peered around.
Mr. Black sat at a table alone, reading a magazine and drinking a soda. Her sweaty palms left a streak of moisture on the wall, and she nearly fell forward into the room when she lost traction. Neil caught her by the jacket and pulled her back.
They had to get close to Mr. Black. She waved for them to move forward when he rose and walked into the men's room a few feet from the table.
Perfect.
With no other guards around, the four walked into the men's room.
Lucy hoped Greg still had control of the cameras; otherwise, they'd have guards all over them in seconds.
Mr. Black's feet peeked out from the middle stall. Lucy nodded to Mary, who presumably started leaking pheromones or something.
When Mr. Black came out of his stall, his eyes had a glazed-over, lustful look that made Lucy want to puke. "What are you— Who are—"
Mary sashayed over to him with her come hither look. She ran her finger over his cheek and lip. Her voice came out as a purr. "Don't worry about them, just focus on me. I'm here to make you very happy."
Lucy stifled her gag and focused on the mission. "We should ask him about the other kids—the babies and little ones. We need to know where they are before we escape, so we can rescue them next."
Gary checked his watch. "Just hurry. Greg can't keep his powers going for long. We need to get to the command center."
Lucy faced Mr. Black. "Where are they, you son of a bitch? Where are you guys keeping the other kids?"
His eyes didn't waver from Mary's body. "Nowhere important. Nowhere with such a view."
Lucy raised her hand to slap him but Mary grabbed it. "My thrall will only work if he's focused on me. Now, can we go? I'm bored."
Disappointment surged through Lucy. How would they save the other kids and shut down Rent-A-Kid for good? She wished they'd had more time to plan this out.
They led Mr. Black to the command center right next to the break room. Two guards stopped them at the gate. "Sir, you know we are not permitted to allow unauthorized personnel back here."
Gary flicked a finger, and the soldier dropped his gun. Mary used the distraction to whisper in Mr. Black's ear.
The thumping of Lucy's heart could be heard in other countries. Their entire plan hinged on getting into the command center. If Mary couldn't get Mr. Black to do what she wanted.... Lucy didn't want to think about that scenario.
Mr. Black addressed the men. "I have been instructed to interrogate these students in a secure location. The Seeker himself issued these orders. Do you dare question him?"
The Seeker's name had the intended effect. The guards stepped back and allowed them through.
"Take a break, boys. This is top secret, and I need you out on patrol making sure no other kids create problems."
They entered the control room and discovered a third guard still on duty. When he saw Mr. Black, he snapped to attention.
Lucy cursed herself for not getting better intel on this location. She raised an eyebrow at Mary, who nodded and leaned into Mr. Black again, rubbing her body against his just enough to entice him.
The guard in the room stared slack-jawed at the scene in front of him. No one moved for several long moments as they waited for the guard to follow the command. He adjusted his gun, setting everyone there on high alert. "Sir? What's going on? Do you need help with these students?"
"No, I just need time alone with them to ask some questions."
He looked from Mr. Black to Mary, then back again. With skepticism in his voice he asked, "Are you sure, sir?"
Mr. Black's arrogance still claimed the stage, even under Mary's spell. "Yes, I'm sure. Do you dare question me?"
Lucy remained still and waited to see how this would play out. The guard headed to the door as if to leave, but moved his gun a fraction of an inch towards the group.
It was enough for Lucy.
She whipped Mr. Black's pistol out of its holster and knocked out the guard with a blow to the head.
Gary backed up and covered his mouth. "Holy crap. Did you kill him?"
"No. He's just unconscious. Neil, you're up."
Neil had the unique ability to mimic any sound at all, including any human voice. He got on the radio and, in the voice of Mr. Black, spoke to the guards. "Units One, Two and Three, there's been a schedule change. Please report to the main headquarters for further instructions."
Neil went down the list of snipers, guards and patrol units, until he'd sent everyone to the main headquarters, where another team would set fire to the building and trap them in. Once they'd eliminated that thre
at, Gary could use his metal power to tear apart the gates, and those who wanted could escape in the chaos.
"Neil and Gary, go get the others. Mary, keep Mr. Black happy." Lucy didn't want to think about what that would entail.
Lucy took control of the main computers and permanently looped the cameras so Greg could take a break. With their abilities fading in and out, they needed to do as many things without powers as possible.
Luke arrived a few minutes later with a team ready to collect supplies and initiate phase two.
A metal case on one wall housed weapons and other fancy equipment. Luke called to Gary. "You ready?"
Gary held up his hands and pushed them apart as if he was swimming. As he did, the metal on the doors pried themselves apart. Luke smiled and handed out guns and earpieces to the team leaders.
Lucy walked over to Luke. "Guns? Really? I'm not sure that's such a great idea."
Gary cocked his weapon and practiced levitating it with his powers. "We need them, especially if our powers give out or the guards fight us. Not all of us can beat them up. We have this one chance to escape, and we can't blow it."
Luke shrugged. "I don't disagree with the kid, Sis. We're not inviting these guys out for a tea party, we're inciting a rebellion. We need weapons."
"All right. Luke, you and your team start a fire in the main HQ where all the guards are. Man, you've got to love the military mindset of obeying orders without question. Gary, you back him up and attack any guards that try to escape."
When everyone had cleared out, Lucy pulled up a chair next to Mr. Black and his lap-warmer, Mary.
"I need him to tell me where the other facilities are."
"You are just no fun," Mary purred.
"Come on, Mary, we don't have much time."
"Fine." She rubbed her leg up and down his and massaged his arm. "Mr. Black, tell us where the other kids are, please."
"They're not here. But they're not far."
"Mmmhmmm... that's a good boy. What else can you tell us? An address perhaps?"
Forbidden Fire (Forbidden #2) Page 13
