Mutiny (M.E.R. Series)

by Jacqueline Gardner

  ERIC

  9

  The Stalker

  When I opened my eyes, I saw Clark standing over me. Spotting him at the market confirmed my theory that he knew about regenerators. By then, I’d already made my first mistake. Frankie and had I tried to question Brian but he got upset. I’d slipped the tracker into the backpack of some guys on the bus. I couldn’t have other soldiers trailing me while I helped Mariella find a way home. That would throw the Commander off for a while, but eventually he would find me and demand an explanation.

  I immediately threw a fist in the air but Clark dodged it. His rough voice hadn’t done him justice. He was huge compared to me. My only advantage was genetics. Clark’s fist was about as big as my face, and his bald head was sweaty.

  “I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Clark said with a laugh. He looked thrilled he had found me. My second mistake was jumping up after Clark shot me. That’s when his entire expression changed and he looked like a little kid who was about to get a new bike. I did my best to get him away from the others. I remember pushing Frankie out of the way and running down the crowded street. Before I knew it, I’d run to the coffee shop where I left Mariella. She was crouched on the floor in shock.

  At that moment I realized Mariella wasn’t in the room. The smell of her perfume was coming from outside. Clark laughed again as I looked towards the kitchen.

  “You catch on quick, kid! I guess you know what happens next.”

  “I’m not the guy you’re looking for,” I said as I stood up.

  “Let me be the judge of that.” Clark grabbed my arms. His grip was so tight that I couldn’t break free without snapping my wrists first. Clark walked me out to the backyard where Mariella was being held. She stared straight at me.

  The sight of Mariella with an arm around her neck filled me with rage. I wanted to turn around and crack Clark’s skull but I couldn’t. Mariella was fragile. And if they were to hurt her, it would be my fault.

  “Let her go. She has nothing to with all this.” I looked around at Clark’s team. The guy holding Mariella was just as big as Clark. He had buzzed hair and thick arms.

  “Don’t you try anything, homes.” Two more guys stood in the yard. One was short and covered in tattoos. The other had chocolate skin and a smirk on his face.

  “We know your little secret,” Clark began. “See, we figure you won’t care much about our methods for getting information. Her on the other hand . . .” Clark pointed to Mariella. “. . . well I think you know what I’m getting at.” The short guy with tattoos laughed.

  “Get them out of here,” Clark said looking at Mariella. I couldn’t believe what was happening. Unfortunately, Clark was right. I couldn’t get hurt but Mariella could.

  She struggled as she was pulled towards an empty van out front. Mariella flailed her arms and kicked her legs but Clark’s team was prepared and they were tough. I admired her determination though. She did her best to break free. I’d always wondered what type of person I’d be if I was normal. Would I have had the courage to fight back?

  Clark pushed me towards the van and I cooperated. I couldn’t be sure what their plan was until I’d observed them a little longer. Clark grabbed my hands again and handcuffed them behind my back. The steel was cold against my skin and I could see Mariella standing still as she was handcuffed as well.

  The two of us were tossed in the back. We sat side by side as Clark’s team jumped in the van and took off down the cobblestone road. I bounced up and down as the van swerved around tight corners.

  “Sorry,” Mariella whispered. I looked at her, raising my eyebrows.

  “For what?” I asked. She tried to steady herself as the van turned a corner.

  “It’s my fault. I was an idiot and I wandered outside. I thought it was a cat, not a bunch of thugs.” Her brief smile made me feel better.

  “I’ll get us out of this,” I whispered back. “They already know I’m a regenerator. But I’m sure Frankie is looking for us. He might even be following us right now.”

  “Let’s hope so,” Mariella replied. She tugged at her handcuffs, rolling her eyes. I had an idea. I looked at Mariella and smiled. She gave me a strange look.

  “These guys made a classic mistake you know.”

  “You’re telling me. That tattooed guy smells like BO. Can’t these guys afford deodorant?” Mariella was back to her usual self, which meant that she wasn’t so scared anymore.

  “Besides that, they threw us back here alone.”

  “What are you planning?”

  “Don’t watch,” I replied. “This might freak you out.” Mariella turned her head. I bit my lip and pulled my hands free. I’d done this a few times before and it stung almost as much as a dose of serum. I pulled so hard at my handcuffs that my fingers ground together. The sides of the steel cuffs cut against my skin until I bled.

  The best way to make something painless is to do it fast. I whipped my hands free, looking at the bloody mess I’d left behind. My skin tingled and rose.

  “Can I look now?” Mariella turned around and watched my hands return back to normal. “I hope you don’t expect me to do that.”

  “When I say go, we bolt out of here.” Mariella nodded and looked back at her cuffed hands.

  “But what about my cuffs?”

  “We’ll get those things off soon.” I lifted my head and looked out the window. We were headed away from the city. Blurry lights passed by until the van slowed to almost a stop. “This may be our chance.” The van jerked forward again before we could make a run for it.

  “Don’t people use stoplights in this country?” She muttered. I chuckled and watched out the window for another opportunity. The van slowed down again and I kicked the back doors open. Mariella jumped out and barely missed being hit by another car. I grabbed her arm and took off towards the sidewalk. Clark’s van skidded to a stop and I heard the unmistakable noise of cars colliding.

  I pulled Mariella into the bushes. It was dark and difficult to see through the dense row of trees. We ran through leafy plants and overgrown shrubs until we were on the outskirts of the city. The both of us would be useless until we could see our surroundings. Mariella and I finally slowed down, taking cautious steps.

  “We need to find a place to rest,” I whispered. “And then we can figure out how to get those cuffs off. I’ll have to find something to pick the lock.”

  “What about that tree?” There was a thick, knotted tree in front of us with long branches and patch of grass resting underneath.

  “Uh, nope. There are too many wild things that live around here.”

  “Right,” Mariella said. We kept walking until we saw a glowing light in the distance. “What about there?”

  “That could work,” I answered. “Whatever that is.”

  I’d never been to Curitiba even though I’d learned some Portuguese at Neptune House. I marveled at the glowing green house in front of us. I had to admit, it was beautiful. And in all our missions around the world, I’d never had the chance to stop and admire beautiful things.

  “What is that?” Mariella stood still by my side. Her hands hung behind her. I tore my gaze away from the shining lights and went over our objective in my head. First, I had to free Mariella from her cuffs. Second, we needed to find a safe place to rest. And third, I had to figure out a way to find Frankie and ditch Clark in the process. Clark and his team were arrogant, but smart. They’d be more prepared next time.

  “Come on,” I said. “And try to act casual.” Mariella just giggled, kicking the grass in front of her.

  “Yeah, I’ll try not to let on that my hands are cuffed behind my back.” We walked closer to the greenhouse. A brightly lit path led up to the entrance and a soft, white statue stood in the middle of a circular fountain. There were few people here compared to the streets of downtown. Plus, it was late. I watched as a group of stumbling girls giggled and crowded around the fountain. I wiped the sweat from my forehead and pointed.

  “Are
you going to ask them for directions or something?” Mariella said. “They don’t look too bright if you ask me, and they’re plastered.”

  “No, they’re going to break you free.” I walked closer to the group of scantily stumbling girls. I was inches away and they didn’t even notice me. Mariella watched, looking amused. Her jeans were spotted with dirt and her black t-shirt was starting to rip at the sides. Her dark hair hung to the side and I noticed that she had a pink color streak.

  I put my hand to my ear and mimicked talking into a cell phone. The group of girls was still oblivious to my presence. All I needed was a single hair pin. I’d picked a pair of cheap handcuffs before with a lot less.

  “O gatinha, da lesenca por favor.” I pretended to stumble into a girl whose hair was pinned up. The girls giggled and laughed as I walked away.

  “Got it,” I said, showing Mariella the hair pin I’d swiped.

  “I guess I was wrong about you.” Mariella’s comment was a little confusing. “You can be charming when you want to be.”

  “Who says I’m not charming?” I grinned and pulled Mariella to an empty spot in front of the glowing greenhouse. “Just give me a minute or two.” I went to work on her handcuffs. They were easy to crack. I didn’t know where Clark had picked these cuffs up but we were lucky they were poor quality.

  “Eric.” My chest leapt as she whispered my name. She wasn’t being sarcastic either. She sounded concerned.

  “Yeah,” I replied.

  “What’s gonna happen to us?” I knew what would happen to me. Whether I found Frankie or not, I’d go on living with uninjured until I turned one hundred. Despite our abilities, all M.E.R. soldiers aged normally and eventually did die of old age. Until that day though, we regenerated from all worldly ailments.

  “We’ll be fine. I’ll find my team and you’ll find your way home.” The first part wasn’t necessarily true but I couldn’t dampen Mariella’s spirit. My chances of finding Frankie weren’t too high. Luckily I had enough serum to get me through a week. After that, who knew what would happen to me.

  “For some reason I think you’re just being nice. It’s okay to tell it like it is. If you haven’t noticed, I prefer things that way.” Mariella finally had her hands free and she rubbed her wrists.

  The beads of sweat underneath my shirt were starting to make me feel uncomfortable. Mariella ran her fingers through her hair and placed her hands on her stomach.

  “What do you say we find some food?” My suggestion made her smile.

  “Will we find anything this late?”

  I nodded and grabbed her hand again. “We’ll find something.” We needed a distraction to give our minds a break. Mariella wasn’t used to this kind of stress. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like for a normal person to be pushed into this type of situation.

  Tons of things raced through my mind as we walked in the humid night air. There was no doubt the Commander would be furious if he knew what I was doing right now. I could only hope that he’d never find out. At least he had no idea where I was.

  Actually, I wasn’t sure I even wanted to be found. I wasn’t sure of anything anymore. What would I really gain by following orders for the rest of my life? Commander Z obviously didn’t care about my future.

  “It feels strangely liberating doesn’t it,” Mariella commented.

  “What?”

  “Purposely going against the wishes of your superiors. It makes you realize that you have more control over your life than you thought.” She smiled, staring at the lighted pathway in front of us.

  “Speaking from experience?” I waited for her to make some kind of smart comment, but she didn’t.

  “Sort of.”

  “Oh come on, I saw the look on your face that night. You thought running away would fix things. Maybe force your father to notice you?” Mariella looked surprised. I got the feeling she didn’t have friends who disagreed with her.

  “And look at me now. But honestly . . . I’m glad I followed you. I don’t regret it.”

  “Well, I did warn you a few times.”

  “Like that was going to stop me.” Mariella’s voice drifted off. She was a tough girl to figure out. Growing up in an all male orphanage, I didn’t have much experience with girls but I knew a lot about people. The more time Mariella and I spent together, the less guarded she was. She was more than just a rebellious teenager. She was lost . . . like me.

  “Thanks for bringing me the flash drive,” I admitted.

  “What?”

  “I know you heard me,” I responded.

  “I know. I just wanted to hear it again.” We walked faster towards a side street with a few lit shops. It was late but I was set on getting food, whether I bought it or stole it.

  “I think everything is closed,” Mariella whispered.

  “Not a problem,” I replied. She looked amused again. I jogged up to a store front window and eyed a counter full of covered bread. It wasn’t as good as fresh bread, but it would do.

  “What are you going to do?” I showed her the hair pin I’d used to pick her handcuffs.

  “This place seems low key enough.” I studied the brick building and made the decision to climb around to the side door. Mariella kept watch as I climbed a tall, wooden fence. I could have easily smashed the door down but I didn’t want any trouble. I just wanted food.

  “Hurry up,” Mariella whispered. I threw her my small, black backpack.

  “Time me.” The side door lock clicked open. I pushed it in and found my way to the main room. The counter with covered bread looked as appetizing as ever. I grabbed a sack of bread rolls and pulled a few coins out my pocket. I could see Mariella’s shadow through the window. She was nervously pacing back and forth.

  I tiptoed back to the side door and grinned. After the day’s events, breaking into a shop and taking a bag of bread didn’t seem like a big deal at all. I made little noise as I pushed the side door open and stepped back into the night. My forehead was still sweaty. I was so keen on getting back to Mariella that I’d almost missed the dark figure staring at me.

  Adrenaline rushed back into my system and I slowly turned around with clenched fists. A man in a long coat walked towards me. His boots hit the sidewalk and echoed down the alleyway. He wasn’t in a hurry and didn’t look dangerous, but I couldn’t take chances.

  “Who are you? What do you want?” The man kept walking closer until I could see a glimpse of his face in the moonlight. He looked worn and tired. Something shiny dangled from his neck, and I gulped. It was the symbol – the same one from Davis’ bunk.

  MARIELLA

  10

  Blood and Body Parts

  Just when I thought things were slowing down, Eric hopped the fence and yelled at me to start running. I couldn’t stand the thought of being captured by a sweaty, stinky thug again.

  “Run,” Eric repeated. I followed him the best I could. My legs were so tired that I couldn’t feel them anymore. I tried to ignore the pain like Eric did. Easier said than done.

  “Is it them? How did they find us so fast?” Eric didn’t have time to answer me. We ran down the street and towards another neighborhood with painted brick houses. I wanted to stop but Eric wouldn’t let me. He pulled me forward until we found a dark alley to hide in.

  I dropped to my knees to catch my breath. Eric looked perfectly fine as he studied the street with his hand in his pocket. It sounded weird, but I was starting to get used to this whole survival thing. Once you’re chased and kidnapped a couple times, it starts to seem like old news.

  “No, it’s somebody else. There’s no time to explain right now.” Eric looked at the ground and handed me a sack full of bread. I ripped it open and shoved a roll in my mouth. It was a tad dry but it still tasted good. I chewed my roll and tried to catch my breath at the same time. Eric just watched.

  “You try going two days with no food,” I muttered.

  “Are you ready for more running?” The street was dark and Eric looked both wa
ys, deciding where to go next.

  “Are we going to break into another empty house again?” Eric shook his head and grabbed a piece of bread.

  “That’s not going to work very well.”

  “Why not?” I looked up and down the street. There was no sign of any movement or lights in most of the house windows. There definitely had to be an empty house somewhere.

  “I think we should go back to the greenhouse,” Eric suggested. I rolled my eyes at the thought of going back towards a place where we’d been spotted.

  “You’re the boss, I guess. What do I know?”

  “Seriously, Elle. No one will look for us there again.” It made sense. Anywhere was better than a dark alley with dumpsters full of stinky trash.

  “Okay. You lead the way.” Eric nodded and studied the street again before he grabbed my hand. I grabbed the rest of the bread and handed Eric his backpack.

  We walked briskly down the empty, dark street. I didn’t have the energy to sprint again, although Eric would’ve preferred it. I could feel drops of sweat running down my back and my arms were damp and sticky from the humidity.

  Eric turned around and watched the empty street behind us. He suddenly jerked my hand and took off running.

  “They’re back!” he yelled. I turned around and couldn’t see a thing. The street was black and the only lights around came from second story windows. I heard a screeching sound on the cobblestone but I was still couldn’t make sense of anything. The street was clearly empty.

  “What are you doing? RUN!” Eric took off but I still couldn’t see a reason to sprint. My legs were killing me and I wasn’t going to run another inch unless there was a good reason to.

  “Eric, if this is a joke, it isn’t funny!” I shouted. Eric was a block away waving his hands.

  “Mariella! They’re right behind you!” He sprinted back towards me with a wild look on his face. I turned around again and at first glance I could still see nothing. Then I noticed a glare followed by another screeching noise. A van had pulled up beside me and it took me too long to notice. The van was dark and there were no shining headlights.