by Skye Genaro
"They got you," he said. A lone tear rolled down his cheek. I had to remind myself that he had not seen me on the other side of the glass. He'd had no idea if Keenan was really holding me captive until right then.
Connor's arms were still chained to his side, but he took my hand. I cupped his in both of mine, tenderly, in case it was as bruised as the rest of him. He was cold, too cold, and the electric sensation that always coursed beneath his skin was gone. I worried that his injuries ran deeper than I could see.
"I screwed up," he said. "I came with Jaxon because I thought the faction already had you." He coughed, dry and hoarse. His breath was sour, from vomiting, maybe. I knew I would have, if I'd endured torture.
"It's okay."
He shook his head. "They used me to get you here. This is all my fault."
"Don't ever say that again. Do you hear me? They knew where I lived. It was just a matter of time."
With the lightest touch, I ran my fingers down his throat. It was the only spot of skin that wasn't swollen, bruised, or dirty. He didn't flinch, so I kissed him there.
He let out such a sweet sigh, I nearly broke into tears.
"I'll get us out of here," I whispered, if only to see the life come back into his eyes.
Connor untangled our fingers and slid his beneath my sleeve until he reached the raw patch of skin on my wrist. He dug his fingernails into my flesh—deeply—until they hooked onto the edge of the chip. Then he lifted the chip until it strained against the tender skin. I sucked in a breath. He locked his eyes on mine in a silent plan. He was prepared to rip the electronic device out of me, right then, if I promised to fight my way out of there and run.
There were a few problems with that scenario. Even if I could get to the elevator, I'd need keys to use it. Then I'd have to guess which of the key codes would take me to the ground floor. If I were caught, one of us would suffer for it. All of those barriers paled in comparison to the idea that he expected me to leave without him.
"Connor…"
"I'm not acclimated to your time anymore. If they don't let me go in the next few days…" his lip trembled. I rested a finger over it. I didn't need to hear the rest—that his body would eventually fail if he didn't get back home.
There had to be a way to get both of us out of there safely. "Contact the portal, get them to lock on to you," I said.
He shook his head. "This place is impermeable. No energy comes in, none goes out. And," he struggled to keep his voice steady, "I can't override the chip. You have to go."
He reached for my wrist again but I pressed his hand into my lap.
My brain spun and wove possible plans. "We'll tell them you need to get to a doctor."
"They have a medical team here. They're refusing to treat me."
"But why?"
Connor's lids closed. He shook his head once, such a miniscule gesture that I nearly missed it. He was keeping something to himself.
What good was it to let his wounds go untended? Infection would set in and he would become ill. He might die. Keenan knew this. There was a lot I did not understand about Keenan, but one thing was clear. Everything he did, or did not do, had a distinct purpose.
"They want me to see you like this," I finally said.
Connor gritted his teeth. "Keenan doesn't know where I'm from or what I'm capable of. If he did, he'd be using you to bait me. Do you understand? He's dangling my life in front of you to get you to push harder. When that doesn't work anymore, he will dispose of me."
Jaxon's warning came gushing back. If you want to hear Connor scream, let Keenan find out who Connor really is.
I wasn't sure I believed that. "Tell them what you can do," I said. "Once he takes your cuff off, you can fight. You're stronger than all of them."
He pasted me with a look like I'd lost my mind. "Did you not hear a word I said? If I'm the strong one, then you become the punching bag, and I don't know if I can even…" It took all his effort to lift his shoulders in surrender. The chip, the beatings, and too much time away from his proper place in time had all sapped him.
"Jaxon is keeping my paranormal ability to himself," he continued. "Why, I don't know, but it's got to stay that way. Do you understand?"
Considering Keenan's policy of getting rid of people once he was through with them, I was betting Jaxon was using Connor's true origination as a sort of leverage. They might be foster brothers, but loyalty didn't seem to factor into their relationship. Information about the portal was probably Jaxon's last bargaining chip. He'd hold onto it in case he had to trade it for his own life.
Connor rested his forehead against mine. "I am going to die here. You have to let me help you escape."
I pulled his hand to my lips. "No deal."
Keenan marched in, his eyes bright. He had slept well last night. "Young love. How inspiring."
Neither of us answered. We didn't even raise our heads. Sitting knee-to-knee, holding hands, the Earth could have crashed into the sun and we would not have cared.
Roth came in with platters of food and set them in front of us. Then he dug a key out of his pocket and unchained one of Connor's arms.
"You two must be ravenous. Please eat. You've earned it," Keenan said.
Connor sprang out of his chair, aiming his fork at Keenan's throat. His injuries slowed him down, though, and Roth blocked the strike, holding his forearm high.
"Let Echo go," Connor spat.
Keenan touched a finger to his chin in mock contemplation. "Oh, yes. Consider it done. Perhaps we should put you in charge for the day? And then we can all join hands and sing the Star Spangled Banner?" He laughed, deep and feral. "I. Said. Sit."
Roth placed two fingers behind Connor's jaw below his ear. Connor reeled and fell into his chair. "My family will demolish you for this," he growled.
"Speaking of demolish, you should have seen the way Echo fought for you last night. She short-circuited the system, thus ending the match and blacking out your cell at the same time. When Luma found out she didn't win, she wanted to finish you off. But Echo has such an affinity for you."
Fresh realization dawned on Connor's face. "That was you?" He squeezed my hand.
"I tried to hold the ceiling back." My voice quaked. "She was so strong."
"You beat Luma." The corner of his mouth turned up in the tiniest of smiles. He began to pick at the food on his plate and nodded that I should eat.
My stomach grumbled. Butter and syrup dripped from the stack of pancakes. When I thought Connor was dead, I'd refused food, but now we both needed our strength. He was single-mindedly trying to find a way for me to escape without him. I had to stay sharp and figure out how to get us both out.
He and I were both right-handed, but I managed to eat with my left so we could hold hands under the table. As we ate, his body warmed.
Keenan was grinning at me. "What was the pivotal moment for you in the contest for Connor's life? What finally pushed you beyond your limits?"
"Anger," I lied. No way would I tell him the real source of my unexpected power. If he knew love had delivered me over the precipice and back again, he would take that away, too.
"I'm proud of you. Luma has been one of my top agents since she volunteered at twelve years old. Her Class A talent can psychically bring a military tank to a standstill. She has toppled buildings and brought jets crashing to the ground, and you, dear girl, crushed her in one challenge. My apologies for the crush reference."
Was I mistaken, or did I see a flicker of hope cross Connor's face?
"All Echo needed was the right motivation. By the way," Keenan reached in his pocket and flung a pile of fifty-dollar bills on the table, "that's your cut of what you won against Luma last night."
My eyes narrowed in disgust. "Like that's going to make up for what you've done?"
"There's more where that came from. With your potential, and my tutelage, you'll be one of the most extraordinary paranormal beings on the planet."
"That's never going to happen." I s
hoved the money back.
"Be quiet," Connor said.
"And when you're done with us? What then?" I spat.
"I said be quiet," Connor squeezed my hand hard.
A few tense beats passed. "Your friend is giving you wise advice. Take the money. You earned it," Keenan said.
"You can't buy me."
He looked at me squarely. "You're already mine."
Keenan nodded once and Roth hauled Connor to his feet. I threw my arms around his waist.
"Please let him stay," I begged.
"He's going back to his room," Keenan said.
"Let me go, Echo."
"No!"
"Let go of me," Connor wrested out of my grip. He pressed dry lips against my cheek in a kiss and nuzzled close to my ear. "You are stronger than the chip," he whispered. Roth dragged him away.
Chapter 35
My brain exploded and my heart broke into pieces. I sank into the chair. What was that supposed to mean? I wasn't brave enough to cut the chip out with my bare hands, and if Connor couldn't override it, there was no way I could.
Dried blood had settled in the creases of my palm. I'd been careful not to touch his wounds but somehow, his blood found its way onto me. I ran my thumb along the red streaks and my insides shook.
From the first day we met, Connor's ability had awed me. The suggestion of power in those green eyes was enrapturing. I accepted him as a superior being. Indestructible. Invincible. Now his vulnerability stained my hand.
"Are you ready for your first mission?" Keenan startled me back to the present.
Only one answer would keep Connor safe. I dug my fingernails into my palm. "Just tell me what to do."
Keenan smiled his madman grin.
*******
Jaxon, Ivan, and I sat in the parking lot of the Columbia Marina. It was the off-season, but sailboats were still tied to the piers, gently swaying in the river's flow. Their owners clambered on and around the dock, sweeping, washing and polishing their boats with care.
My mission was simple and, for everyone involved, painless. Everyone except for one boat owner.
"See the sailboat in slip number three?" Jaxon handed me a pair of binoculars. We weren't that far away, but he must have wanted me to get a good view of my target. The twenty-foot boat named The Kubrick bobbed in the winter water. A man in a green rain slicker unraveled a thick pile of rope on its deck. I recognized Mr. Lauer.
"That's my principal!"
"He's got something Keenan wants," Ivan said.
"The list of gifted kids," Jaxon added. "That Crane guy must have given it to your principal. I doubt he knows why it's valuable, but he won't hand it over. You're going to change that."
"Mr. Lauer isn’t one of you," I said with new understanding.
"One of us. No, he's another ungifted," Ivan replied.
"What happens when Keenan gets that list?" I asked, afraid I already knew the answer.
"What is this, an episode of Jeopardy? Get out there and do the mission so we can get back for dinner," Jaxon barked.
Not long ago, his attitude would have stung. Now, I felt nothing.
"Whatever." I reached for the SUV's door handle.
"The kids'll be tested and if they pass, they'll be trained for our army," Ivan answered. "Same as you."
"Keep opening your mouth and you'll lose your other eye," Jaxon warned him.
"She deserves to know," Ivan replied. Then, to me, "You know what to do, right?"
Bile ate away at the back of my throat. My conscience begged to weigh the consequences of what I was about to do. On one side was Mr. Lauer and a list of kids whose lives depended on remaining anonymous. On the other side, Connor's life. I was sure others would struggle far longer in internal debate, calculating the morality of risking many lives for the well being of one. For me, the decision took a mere second.
I got out and pulled the hood over my head. Mist dampened my face. Fog settled between the piers and over the water, making the river resemble a long, low cloud.
I turned my attention to The Kubrick. I inhaled, breathed out in one long flow, and closed my eyes. My stomach soured at what I was about to do, yet I pushed myself into the imagery that guaranteed I'd be able to do the mission.
As I let out another long, slow breath, I let the image of Connor fill the space behind my closed eyes. I pictured him kissing me, and felt every sensation from his body: the taste of his tongue, the sweet smell of his hair, his fingers slowly drifting down my shoulder, to my back. My heart raced. Heat swirled across my forehead and down my arms. The energy build-up became so powerful, my arms ached. I directed all this onto the river dock.
Down in the marina, a loud tearing sound echoed off the water. Fiberglass crunched and wood split. Men yelled. I opened my eyes. The boat's fiberglass body was dented on one side. The mast snapped, spraying wood shards.
I blocked out the angry shouts and sank back into my vision. I love you, I heard Connor say. I love you forever across time.
Mr. Lauer dove off The Kubrick and onto the dock. His mouth dropped open as his boat folded itself in half. The vessel took on water and began to sink.
My principal spotted me hiding under my hood in the lot above the marina. He saw the black SUV, and his face went gray. He would not have been able to identify me, but he had gotten the Mutila's message, loud and clear. The river frothed and The Kubrick disappeared below the surface. Mr. Lauer's hands went to his face.
A tear rolled down my cheek and I let Connor's peaceful, beautiful image fade. My ability was not strong enough to crush fiberglass like the hand of God, unless I called on the deepest love I had ever known. Hearing Connor's voice ringing in my head, hearing him say he loved me, supercharged my power. It enabled me to do unthinkable things. By following Keenan's orders, I was turning into my worst nightmare.
I did not deserve the love that fueled me.
*******
When we returned to Feller Industries, Keenan's entire army was gathered in his living room. They cheered when I walked in. Some of them patted me on the back. The guys grabbed cold cans of beer and popped them open, hitting me with bitter spray. Gianna handed me one, too. She gave me a tight smile.
"Good job not getting yourself killed yet." She tipped her can against mine and wandered back into the crowd.
"Did you see the look on that guy's face? If he doesn't hand over that list, he's crazy," Jaxon said.
"Smooth as a long-time recruit." Ivan nodded at me, sipping his beer. "You've got an in with Keenan now. Don't mess it up."
"She won't. She doesn't want to end up looking like you." Jaxon looped his arm around Ivan's neck and wrestled him into the crowd.
Cold, thin hands bore down on my shoulders from behind. There was no mistaking Keenan's attempt at warmth. "I watched everything from the SUV's video feed. You did a remarkable job," he said.
"Are you sending me home?" I asked. If he said yes, I did not know what I would do. Connor would still be here.
"Tomorrow, after you complete one more mission. We can seal that deal right now."
Keenan pulled my phone out of his pocket, punched in a number and began dictating. "Hi Kimber, sorry I've been out of contact, but the time away has been good and I'm feeling much better. I'll be home late tomorrow, 'kay?"
He sent the text. A chill bloomed on my neck. He was so certain I'd follow through on his orders, so confident tomorrow's mission would go as planned.
"Aren't you excited to go home?" he asked.
"Yes, of course," I answered flatly.
"You need to know what to anticipate once you leave Feller Industries. You'll no longer work at the Smoothie Shack, but I have a part-time job lined up for you at one of the malls. The owner is a close friend. He'll schedule you on the days that I need you, except when you arrive for your shift, Roth will be there to take you to your next mission. When you finish, he'll take you back to work. If I need you during the day, Roth will pick you up outside your school. You'll continue living at
home as long as your missions go well. For the most part, that will be up to you."
"What about Connor?"
"Hmm. What about him. That is a good question. Would you like to see him?"
A full minute passed. He cleared his throat and startled me back to the present.
"Yes. Of course," I said again. This would be my stock answer from now on. Yes, I will do the mission. Of course, I will destroy, harm, collapse, or terrorize for you. Otherwise, Connor would pay.
I'd be able to follow through, do whatever was required, as long as I could use love as my source of strength. If Connor's body failed him, and he died because he could not acclimate to my time, that would only make me love him more.
But the missions would get harder. Keenan would push until I was as heartless as Luma. When I became that person, love could not possibly survive. I understood, then, why Gianna had wanted to jump off the West Vista Bridge. She had come face to face with darkness so bleak, she lost sight of the light. Instead of allowing it to eat away at her, to devour her day after day, she chose to let the darkness swallow her whole.
"Echo."
That velvety voice caressed my ear. A warm hand stroked my cheek. I lifted my chin and stared into pools of green.
"Hi."
"Hi," Connor replied. He wore clean clothes and his cuts were bandaged. They'd made some effort to clean him up, but his strength was waning. Fine capillaries webbed his skin. His cheeks and neck were sunken, like he was deteriorating from the inside out.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
I nodded weakly. His wrists were chained together but at least they weren't locked to his sides any more. He lifted his arms over my head and drew them in behind me. He squeezed me against his chest.
"I'm starting to reacclimate to your world," he whispered. "It's touch-and-go but I think I'm getting better."
This was both great and horrible news. He might survive jumping time, and for that I was eternally grateful, but that meant he would be imprisoned for longer. Used as bait while I went out on missions.
