“Fourteen? Isn’t that a bit young? Weren’t you in school?” My mouth was full while I was talking. As usual, Henry looked past my lack of proper etiquette.
“Not really. I was a troublemaker in school and I lived in an orphanage. Roger would take in troubled boys and girls at around the age of fourteen.”
“And he works for the government?”
“Yes. He’s in charge of all this madness. Later, he decided his job would entail combat training us for the program, which he has used against the government, but we will get to that in a minute.”
“Did you know what was going on, or why?”
“No. He said that we no longer fit into society; that we were throwaways. He was going to turn us into the men and women that we desired to be.” I felt sad for him. A throwaway? It broke my heart to hear him say that. And knowing that he believed it made it ache even more.
“Is this what you desired to be?”
It took him a moment to answer my question. “Well, not exactly, but I liked being able to get my anger out on a punching bag. It hurt my hands a lot less than punching some foul prat in the face. We would train day and night. It was a bit like a military academy, except at a higher intensity. We had a few instructors: a weapons specialist, hand-to-hand combat specialist, explosives training. You name it, we learned it.”
“Did you learn how to crochet?” He laughed and I giggled. I just had to say it. I couldn’t help myself. As angry as I was at everything, I still felt that I needed to mask it and be the dependable Elaina that everyone knew and adored.
“Very funny. Anyway, we trained for a solid two years. No scheduled days off, no holidays. It was relentless. I know now they were trying to break us mentally and rebuild us. They wanted to shape us into fearless, emotionless machines.”
“Do you feel you reached that?”
“Yeah, for the most part. But I did question a lot of things. Roger wasn’t fond of my curiosity so I got a few beatings. Well, more than a few.”
“Wow.” I hurt for him and could feel his sadness.
He could see my sympathy so he smiled sadly at me, then continued. “When the group of us turned sixteen, we were accepted into the program.”
“So they moved you out of the orphanage?”
“Yeah, the complex was my home for many years, but it was more like a facility than a home. There were labs, scientists, guards, weapons, and a room full of caged animals. It was a cold and sterile environment.”
I sat quietly and listened to Henry pour his heart out to me. It was overwhelming. I could only imagine how all of this must have made him feel.
“We spent hours in classrooms rehearsing a new identity, learning the American accent and slang, along with more training. That went on for a few more years.”
“Wait, rehearsing a new identity? So Liam isn’t your real name, either?”
“No,” he whispered.
“You lied to me again,” I growled. I was pissed so I turned away from him, not knowing if I could handle any more of his lies.
“I know I did, but I had to get you to trust me, and the only way I could was to lie to you. I know it doesn’t make any sense, but we didn’t have enough time to dig into all of this.” He reached out to me. I pulled away. “Please, Elaina. You have to believe me.”
“How can I believe an ounce of what you are telling me?”
“I swear to you. I swear what I’m telling you is true.” I glanced back at him, and his eyes welled up with tears. I had to turn away again. I couldn’t stand to see him like that.
He swallowed hard, trying not to cry. He was in so much pain, emotionally, that he began to plead with me while the tears fell. “Please. I’m begging you. I know it’s a lot to take in. I know it’s difficult to understand, but I need to know that you can trust me. I need to know that we are alright.” Henry continued to try to get me to look at him.
I finally looked deep into those fading green eyes. “I don’t know who you are. I invited you into my home, shared my bed with you, and I was going to marry you this morning, for fuck’s sake.” I stood up in haste. He grabbed my arms.
“Please, Elaina. You have got to believe me. My love for you is real. I’m telling you the truth.” He wouldn’t let go of my arms, no matter how many times I tried to shake him off.
“How do I know?”
“If I didn’t, I wouldn’t risk my life telling you all this!” There was a very pregnant pause, and I stopped struggling against him. He let go of my arms, and I sat back down on the bed.
“Alright. Go on,” I whispered. “But I want to know your real name before you go any further.”
“Luke. Luke Richards.” I hesitated at first, but then I held out my hand to him.
“Pleased to meet you, Luke Richards.” He eyed me carefully, trying to figure out if I was being my sarcastic, smartass self.
“The pleasure is all mine, my love.” He took my hand and kissed it. I tried to fight it, but I blushed like a schoolgirl. I hated that he could still do that to me. I felt like such a fucking loser that I could fall for all of his flirtations. That was the way that it had been since the first moment.
“Go on...” My voice was shaky. It was obvious that I was still overcome with giddiness.
“The front of the building looked like a proper office building, remodeled from a broken down warehouse, just in case someone entered by accident. Harold and Margaret were also part of the program, in a sense. Essentially, they were handsomely paid actors to carry on the façade that I was their son, but they didn’t know what the truth was. Hence the whole American accent thing.”
“So there are more of you here?”
“In this country? Yes. We have coverage in all regions. I’m supposed to work the northern part of the east coast. So that’s why I’m in New York. I have connections throughout the country that help keep tabs on everything.”
“Do you know where the others are?”
“I used to, for the most part. But since I busted my phone minutes ago, I won’t have contact with them anymore. Plus, with all that has occurred today, who knows what has happened to them. And I assume the network will be going down soon, anyway…if it hasn’t already.”
“Right,” I snipped. I wanted to know more about what was happening than with whom Henry worked. “So where does the undead virus come in?”
“Well, part of our training was on undead animals.” I looked at him in disgust. “A team came in from the States who knew how to produce the virus, and our scientists would make it and inject the lab animals. They would monitor and study them, then we were forced to take care of matters.”
“What kind of animals?” I was pretty sure I didn’t want to know, but I asked anyway. My stomach was getting queasy again. One of my few soft spots was for animals so the thought of animals doing what I saw today saddened me.
“Everything from rats to chimps.” I held up my hands, trying to shield myself from his words.
“Wow,” was all I could muster.
“Now, it breaks my heart to think about it, but at the time, I was beaten into submission on a consistent basis. I had to have a lack of emotion, and be able to remove myself from the situation.”
“Why did you allow it to happen?” I was getting angry with him again.
“I didn’t have a choice! I told you, if I protested anything, I would get beaten. If I looked at them the wrong way, I was beaten. I was subjected to regular beatings and tasings to make me tougher and obedient. I was on the brink of death on a few occasions. Along with a few hospitalizations.” He looked down at his feet. Tears were forming in his eyes again. Our range of emotions had been off the charts. I was feeling sorry for him. His memories were obviously painful to recall.
“I’m so sorry, Henry... I mean, Luke.” I reached for him. He looked up at me.
“Please, call me Henry. I can’t have you calling me by my given name. That person does not exist anymore. He’s...” He cleared his throat, “considered dead on paper.
”
“Yes, sorry. So were the two countries working together to make this virus?”
“In a way. The States didn’t want their secret program to be discovered on their own soil so, when the opportunity came about, they moved the program to England.”
“Why did England allow that to happen?”
“The States were funding England to run the facility. The money helped refuel our economy. Not that it was doing well, but it would have been a lot worse.”
“So they don’t know about you? Who pays your salary?”
“The States, but they don’t know that a portion of the funding is paying us. If they knew about us, they would cut out some of the funds…possibly the whole program. Not that it would be a bad thing, but I felt obligated to stay faithful to my country. If they knew what England was doing with us, they would pull the program and fund it elsewhere.” I nodded. I was sickened about the involvement of the country I thought I knew and loved. It seemed like, no matter what, this program would have happened.
“Wait. They are paying you, and you’re spying on them? That’s rich.”
“Yeah, you can look at it that way, I suppose. Roger has them convinced that we were there at the complex to deal with the lab and security. He was convinced that the States would try to release the virus at any moment behind our backs. All they had to do was inject one person with a full dose, and boom. It would be like a nuclear weapon going off.
“The States idea was that they could release the virus and contain it at the borders, and it would wipe out the people of that country. A weapon of mass destruction of sorts, without the big boom. I believe it was Roger who wanted the power. He wanted to release it so he would have control and call all the shots. He wanted us to protect his agenda at any cost.”
“So that’s where you would come in? Protecting at any cost?” Henry nodded. “Why? That’s horrible. Innocent people would kill and be killed.” I began to get emotional again.
I was getting sick of the new Elaina. The past day’s events raced through my head. I felt a bit dizzy. I put my head into my hands. My thoughts were wild with sadness and anger. I kept seeing the death that was all around me.
“Elaina, maybe I should stop for now.” I looked up at him. I could see his pain and he could feel mine.
“No, go on. I need to hear this. What countries are on the list to be, essentially, executed?”
“The first one on the States list was North Korea. They felt it would be justified because of their crimes against their own people, and threats to other countries. The States would be able to get rid of one of their sworn enemies. There was plenty of intelligence that North Korea was going to rise up against the States. They have been launching what they call ‘weather satellites’, but we knew they were full of shit.”
“So they would kill all the people who are there by circumstance?”
“Yes.”
“But doesn’t that make them just as bad as Roger?”
“Yes. Yes, it does.”
“So where do you fit in with all this now?”
“Well, neither country trusts the other, and Roger doesn’t trust anyone. He has control issues, if you haven’t figured that out yet. He wanted full control, whether or not they wanted to give it to him. As it looks right now, Roger has won. I’m not sure how the virus was released yet, but I will find out. I do have my suspicions. And, mark my words, I will take care of it. Even if I have to die doing it.” He growled his last sentence.
I still had more questions. “How could they trust you, if they don’t trust each other?”
“The only thing I can think of is that I was on Roger’s payroll. I barely have an eighth grade education. They feel they can keep me honest by threatening to take away my income. I have no qualifications. I only have life and street skills. That’s not going to get me anywhere. They would expose me, and I would be left to my own devices. He had me by the bollocks.”
“But you ran the blood bank.”
“Yeah, I did, and they own it. I can read, write, and understand, Elaina, but I don’t have those important documents that declare me educated. I have spent a lot of my own time, through reading and research, educating myself the best that I could. Hence, all the books in the living room.” I decided to move away from the education part of the conversation. He was touchy about it. He always seemed intelligent to me. I would never have guessed that he had a lack of proper schooling.
“So the government probably knows the intent now?”
He took my hands and looked me in the eyes. “More than likely. That’s why this is confidential between us. If this gets out and your government is still up and running, they will figure out everything, hunt me…us down, and kill us.”
“Right.” I said it so matter-of-factly that it startled Henry. “I’m still not understanding why you’re here, instead of protecting England.”
“So we can contain it. The further away from our shores, the better.”
“Then how do you think the virus got out?”
“One of the other agents…” Henry swallowed hard. “There are a few possibilities, all very plausible.”
“Perfect.” I became suspicious that maybe it was Henry, but I didn’t let on that I was.
“It’s not me, if that’s what you are thinking.” Damn it. How did he do that? “I saw the light ages ago and abandoned the program, as you heard when I was giving Roger an earful. The day I proposed, I threw in the towel.”
He still hadn’t convinced me. He could have released the virus. I was trying not to think ill of him, but how could I not after what had happened?
“Was it the butch chick that’s coming?”
“No. I can trust Sophie with my life. Besides, she was in England. Roger thinks she’s going to make me go back. Not happening. And she isn’t butch. You’ll see.” He seemed excited about her coming. Great, I thought. I felt the heat of jealousy flare up in the pit of my stomach.
“So you think Roger sent this agent with the virus in on purpose?”
“Oh, most definitely. It was the only way he could prove a point and feel like he was in control. Why not take out the super power? He would have the world at his mercy and feeding out of the palm of his hand. It’s precisely what he wanted, the ego-driven son of a bitch.”
“I just don’t understand why he would do that.”
“He’s mental. I do wish I had all the answers for you. The only thing I can really think of is that Roger felt like he could get the upper hand. If he could release this virus and have the agents contain it at the borders, then England…or shall I say, Roger…would have control of the world, essentially. Now I need to try to protect the innocent. The virus is here and we need to fight it.” He took a deep breath.
“Elaina, I am so sorry I got you into this mess. This is killing me. Because of me, you have lost most of your family and friends. And you may even lose me, if Roger’s bleeders find me. Obviously, he doesn’t want me to release the program information or his agenda. They will protect their secret at any cost.”
“Henry.” I reached out to him. I was really worried about his safety. “I believe this would have happened with or without you. If I didn’t have you on my team,” his eyes lit up at that term, “I might be one of the undeads right now. Or true dead in the streets somewhere.”
“I’m not even sure if survival is the best thing. You saw how rapidly it spreads. They are savages. This will change the human race. It may even eliminate it.”
“Right. Well, I’m glad to take on this fight with you.” Henry looked at me with intensity. I could see the love in his eyes.
“I hope you don’t regret this.”
“Honestly, I don’t really have a choice, do I?” He shook his head, then cupped his hands around my face and started to kiss me.
I returned his kiss, and it became more passionate by the second. He tipped me back and positioned himself over me. My body was buzzing with excitement. He groaned as his tongue attacked mine, expl
oring every part of my mouth. He ran his lips over my jawline, and laid soft kisses down my neck…then someone knocked on the door.
“Fuck me,” Henry grumbled.
“Nope.” We both laughed a little. He got up and cracked open the door. Nick was standing there with his arms crossed. I sat up and tried to look casual. Nick looked down and ran his hand through his hair. He was embarrassed, but probably not as embarrassed as I was.
“Uh...I’m sorry if I interrupted anything, but I have been pacing back and forth. I want an explanation. You promised me that.” Nick looked at Henry.
“Yes. Yes, I did. Give us a moment, please.”
“Sure.” Henry turned to me. Nick stayed in the doorway, arms crossed. I looked at Nick so Henry knew he was still there. He mouthed Thank you to me and kissed me on the forehead. I smiled and we walked out to the living room.
Chapter 4
I
t was a bit of a cold reception for us in the living room. I was wondering what they were talking about. Then again¸ they were probably wondering what Henry and I were talking about…or maybe doing. The thought made me blush. Everyone was cleaned up and trying to relax some. I didn’t realize we had been talking that long. Henry nervously cleared his throat.
“Has everyone eaten something?” Henry asked.
Nick chimed in, “Yes. Thank you for your hospitality.” Henry nodded at him. Then Nick continued, “Okay, here’s the deal…”
Henry put his hand up. “Wait a moment. Keep in mind that I am calling the shots here.”
Nick was appalled and barked out, “Who the fuck died and made you captain of this ship?!”
“Shut it, Nick,” I snapped. “He’s the only one here right now that is equipped to deal with this situation.” Nick sat down, crossed his arms in front of his chest, and glared at Henry. He was pouting like a five-year-old.
“Thank you, love. Now, you all deserve an explanation.”
“You’re damn right,” Nick mumbled.
“Nick, we aren’t going to get anywhere if you continue to give me shit,” Henry said in an irritated tone.
Broken Dreams Page 12
