by Mary Ting
“Move it, Gene. Now.” Tamara shot near Gene, making him jerk.
As Tamara turned to run through the fire, I looked over my shoulder one last time. Justine kept her eyes on me through the billowing smoke, alight with hatred and disgust.
So be it.
My last attempt to stay alert failed as I dashed through the flames with Tamara’s help, gasping for air. I tried to speak, but incoherent sounds escaped my mouth. The ground beneath me tilted, spinning, and fading.
A shadowy figure stood before me. All too familiar.
Home. My home.
“I’ve got you, babe ...” Rhett’s voice faded as he barked orders.
From the chaos, I didn’t have time to process my thoughts. I’d thought I was reacting from the Helix I had been dosed with, but seeing Brooke on the ground gave me proof it was entirely different.
Rhett, HelixB88. I tried so hard to get the words out of my mouth, but it clamped on the tip of my tongue and refused to release. I was good as dead.
Then something covered me, and strong arms wrapped around me just before I blacked out.
Rhett
Cleo and her team went to the side of the warehouse, while Frank and his team blew up the back wall as planned. Blowing up the back wall would cause less damage and less chance of anyone getting hurt, or so we’d thought. I hadn’t anticipated ISAN West being there to aid the mission. Therefore, we were outnumbered.
No biggie. We had the advantage of surprise. We’d be fine.
Ozzie and Reyna wanted to come, but I wouldn’t let them. They were still recovering. Besides, this was supposed to be easy in and out.
Don’t panic. You can do this. Stick with the plan.
My racing pulse eased a bit when I saw Ava and her team coming toward me, but something was wrong. She seemed less coordinated and struggled to move her legs, tripping over herself. There were many possibilities to explain this. She might have fallen and just got up, or the blast had thrown her off. But ...
Gunfire, broken crates, and unexpected fire blocked her way. More liquid drained out and bottles shattered. Zen hadn’t known the warehouse stocked wine.
Okay. No problem. Don’t Panic. Go to Plan B—Cleo.
Hansh and Miguel covered the back with Frank while Owen came with me.
The ground shook when the second wall blew. I had been too late to warn Cleo about the alcohol. How much firepower had she used? Cleo sometimes went overboard. I rushed to her, but she was crouched against a beat-up tractor and no Ava.
Unfortunately for the ISAN assassins, I circled the opposite side and ended up behind them. To my horror, I saw a small someone with dark hair standing before me with her Taser aimed at ISAN guards.
Momo! How dare she put her life on the line?
I almost bellowed in fury but clamped my lips together. I didn’t want to give her away. Too late. One guy turned. Before I could fire a shot, Momo ducked, rolled, and knocked him to the ground.
Momo shot him and shot the second one. Then she kicked high, connecting with the third guy’s face. She dove to the ground to escape gunfire and then twisted to shoot one pointing a weapon at her. After that, Momo slid between the fifth guy’s legs and shot him from behind.
I tried to get a shot in—so did Cleo—but everything happened too swiftly. She moved rapidly. So fast. I was worried I would shoot her. But damn. She had her enemies down. Had she been injected with Helix?
“Momo!”
She seemed more scared by my tone and expression than she did the ISAN assassins.
“What the hel—” I stopped myself. No swearing in front of kids. I had to be a role model. “What are you doing here? I told you to stay put.”
She backed away as I strode toward her.
Cleo came between us. “I’m sorry about the fire. I didn’t know.”
“It’s not your fault. None of us knew.”
“But did you see Momo? See what she did?”
“Yeah. Who gave her Helix?”
“I told you I’m good. I may be little, but I’m fast and smart.” Momo crossed her arms. “I don’t need Helix. I have natural ability.”
I didn’t have time to argue. “Whatever you say, kid. Now go back to the glider before I pick you up myself.”
She scoffed and shoved her hands on her hips. “Like you can. I’d like to see you try.”
This brat was going to drive me nuts.
“The people you are waiting for are still inside. I can hear them.” Momo’s voice softened, worry tugging her face.
“You can hear them?”
I arched my brows. Roaring fire bellowing filled the air. That was the craziest thing I’d heard her say so far. I didn’t have time for games. I admired her courage, but she’d better not get in the way.
Then I’d thought about the girls in the news and what Momo said. I don’t need Helix. I had to dismiss it for now. Time was running out.
Where was Ava, and what was taking her so long? All shots had been exchanged outside the perimeter of the fire. I couldn’t see past the flames. I tried to go through, but our suits weren’t fireproof.
“You can climb the crates, they’ll hold you. I’ll go get something. I’ll be right back.” Owen took off to the glider.
I was just about to ask Owen to get something for the fire, but he beat me to it. Quick thinking. I liked that guy.
Smoke rolled through the building and flames spread. Every second that passed with no sign of Ava felt like an hour.
I couldn’t stand it. I climbed on the first wooden crate, then hopped to the adjacent one. It was scorching hot and the bottom caught fire, but I didn’t care. Ava was in there, and I wasn’t going to leave without her.
I went up as far as I could, but the rising smoke covered my view. Red and orange flames licked the walls and covered the ceiling. My eyes stung. My lungs burned. I couldn’t stop coughing.
Oh hell.
“Ava!” I yelled, but my voice got lost in the din of fighting and flames. I caught smoke again and coughed relentlessly.
When Owen came back, I draped a fire repellant blanket over myself and prepared to rush through.
“Rhett, no!” Cleo yanked me aside. “Are you crazy?”
There was no time to argue or explain. I pushed past her and my breath caught in my throat. Four people rushed out. Ava and her friends—more friends than I had expected.
Owen and Cleo sprinted to the guy who was supporting an unconscious girl, while I bolted toward Ava, along with the girl holding her. Ava’s eyes opened and closed, and she tried to tell me something. Something about Helix, fire, and Brooke, but nothing made sense.
Slapping the girls with the blanket, I put out the lingering flames, muttering prayers of thanks for making it out alive.
“I’ve got you, babe.” I lifted Ava in my arms.
“Hi. I’m Tamara,” Ava’s friend gasped between coughs.
Her face was sooty and hair dusted with ashes.
“Keep a gun pointed at the guy, Gene. Or sedate him.” She gestured toward him. “I’m sorry I had to bring him. I couldn’t carry two. Besides, you’ll need his blood sample. I believe Ava and Brooke have been injected with HelixB88.”
Ava
“Hello, Pumpkin. I’m here to tuck you in. You have a book for me to read?”
My dad’s voice, but I couldn’t see his face. My mattress slumped a bit from his weight. He smelled of citrus and earthy things.
No. The smell was wrong. That was Rhett’s scent, the one I’d come to know and love.
I tried to shake out of my dream. I wanted to get to Rhett.
My father faded.
Stop.
I changed my mind. I wanted to see my father. Go back.
The dream yanked me back with invisible hands. I grabbed a book from the nightstand next to me and handed it to him.
“Goodnight Moon?” My father read the title. “Again?” He chuckled lightly.
I smiled, showing all my little teeth. “It’s my favorite.” I
lowered my blanket, nestling my head on the pillow.
“I know. How was your day?”
“Good,” I said eagerly. I was ecstatic my dad was spending time with me. “How was yours, Daddy?”
“Very good. I’ve made big progress today.” He turned to the first page.
“What’s a progress?”
“It means that what I was working on is doing well. One day you will thank me for it.”
I crinkled my nose. “Oh. Thank you, Daddy.”
He caressed my cheek. “You’re welcome, pumpkin.”
He read the book and closed it when he had finished. “The end.”
I exhaled and drifted toward sleep. “Goodnight, Daddy.”
The mattress shifted, the weight of him lifting. “I love you, pumpkin.” He kissed my forehead.
My body felt like it was on fire. Too hot. Sweat soaked my clothes. Smoke filled my lungs and stung my eyes. Fire engulfed my bed. I couldn’t move.
“Daddy! Daddy, help me,” I cried out, but he couldn’t hear me. He was in his office, like always. He loved his work more than me.
The scent of earthy things replaced the smell of smoke, and I was no longer three years old.
Rhett. I must get to Rhett. Get up. Save your team. Brooke. Tamara. Must get them out. Rhett. Get up.
Get up!
Warm hands covered mine when I opened my eyes. Rhett’s scent filtered through my confusion and I wondered if I was still dreaming. White light filled the space. Crumbling walls told me I was in Hope City. The same place where I had awakened when I was brought here the first time. Not ISAN, thank God.
I craned my neck and found a mop of dark hair.
Rhett had his head pressed next to mine on a makeshift pillow, draped over the stool on the bed. How long had he been there? Happy tears slid down my temples, relief flooding through me. Safe. I was safe and Rhett was here. My insides exploded with gratitude.
Since I’d made it out, Brooke and Tamara must have too. I was sure of it. I couldn’t believe we’d escaped. But I shouldn’t be lying down and so weak. Unless I was dreaming.
I shifted and spotted movement from the corner of my eyes. Reyna. Ozzie. Tamara.
Not a dream.
Where was Brooke?
“Hey.” My voice was gruff, sounding not like my own. I had so many questions.
Rhett jerked up, rewarding me with a welcome back smile as he squeezed our entwined fingers. He combed back his hair with his other hand and rubbed his eyes.
“Hey. How’re you feeling?”
Rhett’s voice sounded just as hoarse as mine.
“I feel fine. Did I—”
Everything came flooding in. The warehouse. The blast. The fire. Justine and Payton trying to shoot us. Brooke flat on her face. HelixB88.
Alive. I wasn’t dead. If I was fine, then Brooke should be fine, too, right? No Brooke meant ...
Panic struck.
“Brooke.” I tried to shout her name as if she was hanging in the back somewhere, but my throat hurt.
When no one said anything, anger replaced my serenity, and I sat up. My head spun, and I saw two Rhetts. I held my head between my palms until my vision came into focus.
“Where’s Brooke? Where is she?”
Please. Don’t let her be dead. Please. Please. Please.
Dread ate through me like a parasite, growing as I flicked my eyes at everyone. I needed an answer now. Silence stretched too long. They were all glancing at each other but not at me.
When I lowered my legs to the floor, Rhett grabbed my hand. I also noted I was out of my ISAN uniform and wearing something soft and comfortable.
“Brooke is ...”
I braced myself for the worst when Rhett couldn’t finish.
No. Don’t say it. Please. Not that. It can’t be true.
“She isn’t doing well. She’s in a coma.”
My heart felt like it had been literally ripped out of my chest and slammed back in. I tilted my head. Being in a coma was better than being dead.
“Brooke was ... she, I tried to ...” I relived the shock of seeing her down, surrounded by fire. She hadn’t been shot at or knocked out. And I had been hot and sweaty and disoriented. “She fell and I couldn’t help her. Something was wrong with me. I think we’ve been dosed with—”
“Tamara thinks your team was dosed with 88. Zen conducted some blood tests.” Rhett flexed and unflexed his fingers.
“I believe so, too.” It took a second to wrap my mind around our fate. My throat squeezed. “You think Mitch ...”
“If he did, I’ll kill him myself.” Rhett blew out a fuming breath. His nostrils flared, and a line creased his forehead between his eyebrows.
I felt the deadly ring of his declaration.
Reyna placed a hand on Rhett’s shoulder. “No. Mitch wouldn’t have. You know I don’t like that boy, but he wouldn’t. He also might not have known he was dosing them.”
“Are you sure about that?” Ozzie crossed his arms. “Let’s wait ‘til we get the results.”
“How long was I unconscious?” I asked when I realized I had no idea what day or time it was.
“You’ve been resting for five hours,” Rhett said.
I relaxed. Five hours was better than days.
Tamara came around from the foot of the bed and leaned against the wall, twirling a pocket knife. “Hey, Ava.” She paused as if unsure what to say next. “I have things to tell you. Even these guys don’t know. I haven’t been honest with you.”
What now? I couldn’t handle more bad news.
“Okay.” I waited for her to continue.
Tamara stopped rotating the knife and wrung strands of hair behind her ear. “I’m not as shy or scared as I pretended. As you know, Zen knew your father, or knows rather. Zen promised your father he would send someone to look after you. Well, Zen sent that girl, Amber, who was on your team, but she died.”
“Amber? Yes. I remember her.”
Amber had died of a heart attack when she came out of MM, so I had been told. She had joined our team before Justine. I hadn’t known Amber that long—in fact—I hardly got to know her at all. Now, I wondered if Mr. Novak knew she was a spy and terminated her.
“I don’t know what happened to her, but anyway, I replaced her. Zen sent me.”
All eyes flashed to Tamara. Everyone was stunned to silence. Back in my room before the escape, Tamara had said she wanted to tell me something before Brooke interrupted her. At least she attempted to tell me, but then wasn’t the time.
Be actors. That’s what we do, anyway. Tamara’s words.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I tried, but regardless, I was told not to tell anyone under any circumstance.”
It all made sense, but it was pure luck she had been assigned to my team. At that moment, I had no care in the world that she had lied to me. I was just thankful we had made it out of there.
“How could Zen guess you would be placed on my team?”
Tamara shrugged. “Zen told me to act all scared and shy. He said that might give me a better chance of being placed on your team, since you looked after your team members. He thought Russ might pair us up, hoping you would be able to bring me out of my shell. I just want you to know, I’m not that girl I was in ISAN.”
More surprises.
“I hope you’re still my friend. I do really like you. That wasn’t fake,” she added when I kept silent.
“We’re still friends,” I said as I tried to process. “You had to do what you had to do. We all played a part. You saved my life. Thank you.”
I meant every word. I was grateful for her, for her friendship, and for risking her life for me. And the thought I’d almost left her there, almost hadn’t trusted her, gutted me. I had more questions, but they’d have to wait.
Zen walked in, his stride swift and urgent. “Ava. You’re up and looking well. You feeling fine?”
I didn’t answer. I didn’t care about me at the moment. “How’s Brooke?”<
br />
He pressed his lips together. “So, you know.” He released a long, heavy sigh. “Sorry. Not well. I have things to share. This might take a while. Get comfortable.”
“I’d like to see Brooke right now. Where is she?”
I was in no position to make demands, but I didn’t care. I needed to see Brooke, needed to see her myself.
“She’s next door. We can hold our meeting there.” Rhett exchanged a nod with Zen as if getting his permission. “Can you walk?”
“Yes.”
Rhett led me to a room he hadn’t shown me before—a medical room. Unlike me, Brooke slept inside a glass casket, something like Dr. Machine, but far less sophisticated. She looked so pale and cold, like the glass my hand touched. The monitors beeping steadily were the only proof she was alive.
Being told your friend was in a coma was one thing, but seeing her ... I fought my chest from caving and the tears threatening to fall. I couldn’t stand the agony drowning me. Why couldn’t this be a dream?
“I’m so sorry, Brooke.” My lips trembled and I blinked from the sting in my eyes. “Please wake up. Don’t you dare die on me. We made it this far. You promised you would be there for me. I need you, okay? I’m going to do whatever it takes to get you back on your feet. You’re going to get better, and we’re going to bring ISAN down together. Do you hear me?”
I inhaled a deep breath as the others congregated at the table, giving me space. I had to pull myself together. No time to fall apart.
I studied Brooke’s face once again, hoping she would open her eyes.
“Wake up. Wake up. Please wake up.” My fingers pressed harder on the casket, urging her to feel my desperation.
When she didn’t, I made my way to the table with my head down. My friends gave me a sympathetic tight-lipped smile, and for a heartbeat, silence froze everyone in the room.
Zen held up his handheld TAB and read from his notes when I pulled out the seat next to Rhett. “First, I processed blood samples from Brooke, Ava, Tamara, and Gene.”
“Whoa, wait.” I stalled midway from sitting. “Gene? As in Gene from ISAN West? Why is he here?”
“Ava.” Tamara reached across as if to comfort me but dropped her hand. “I had to kidnap him to help me take Brooke out of the warehouse. I couldn’t carry the two of you. Besides, I took Brooke’s advice: ‘kidnap a guy and drag him off to the rebels after he gets injected with 88.’”
