Emily

by Storm Jk

  ‘Where am I?’ she called to Valeskia.

  ‘Under the compound, in the laboratories.’

  ‘What’s happened to me?’

  Valeskia paused, ‘You have been changed, my dear. I’m sorry.’

  ‘Into what?’ Emily asked. She felt the fear rise in her.

  ‘I honestly don’t know,’ Valeskia replied softly. ‘The drugs that they are putting into your body now are suppressing it.’ Tears leaked out of the corner of Emily’s eyes, she felt so helpless.

  ‘Why?’ was all she could think to say.

  ‘Oh child, who really knows the mind of another, I only know that you’re in danger. Varrick will harvest your eggs and then he’ll kill you.’

  ‘Harvest my eggs?’ the terror began to overwhelm her. ‘Why would he do such a horrid thing.’

  ‘He can’t control you so he will breed from your eggs,’ Valeskia’s voice carried the sadness of such a horror. ‘I must go now Emily, remember your gift. We need to find a way for you to escape.’

  Feeling sleepy again, Emily drifted back into the darkness. Her last thought was, My gifts?

  Waking later and not sure of the time, Emily’s head was clearer. Her body still didn’t respond to her thoughts but she could think and an idea on how to free herself became clear. Concentrating for a moment, she looked at the fluid that was entering her body and visualised it, all of it, pulsing through her cells and moving through her veins. Then Emily moved the fluid out of her body and into the sink in the corner of the room. Instantly she felt better as the energy flowed back into her body. She could move her limbs again but as she flexed her toes the door opened again and the technicians walked in. Emily lay still, her eyes closed.

  The men starting checking her vitals and one said, ‘She looks good. I’d say we can operate on her today to remove her eggs.’

  ‘Such a waste,’ he murmured, ‘she’s a beauty.’

  The other tech laughed, ‘Maybe Varrick will let us play with her before we kill her.’

  ‘I really doubt that,’ the other tech responded. Varrick was strict with the abnormals’ blood-line; guards had been put to death for such things.

  ‘Come, let us tell Varrick she’s ready,’ he said, looking at Emily and again thinking, What a waste, and they left the room.

  Lying still for another couple of minutes, Emily tried to think of a plan. She jumped hearing her name.

  ‘Emily, are you awake?’ Valeskia’s voice was full of dread.

  ‘Yes, I am,’ Emily responded. Now, with her mind clear, she knew that the woman was Vladimir’s mother. Emily slowly got off the bed and walked to the door. Valeskia reached for her hand through the small window and Emily touched it.

  ‘I heard the techs say they were going to operate on me today.’

  ‘Oh my God, we need to get you out now,’ Valeskia said. ‘Emily, I don’t have a key.’

  Emily smiled and said, ‘I don’t think we need one,’ and released Valeskia’s hand. She disappeared and reappeared behind Valeskia.

  Surprised, Valeskia gasped, ‘Oh my,’ and took a moment to look at Emily before pulling her into an embrace.

  ‘Quick, come with me. We must hide you.’ Valeskia took Emily back to her cell and asked, ‘How far can you teleport?’

  ‘I don’t know. I have moved at least ten kilometres away but I need to be able to visualise where I’m going,’ Emily replied. She felt good, transporting from the lab to the hallway had left no tiredness. My powers have been amplified, she thought to herself.

  ‘I see,’ Valeskia responded. She was trying to think of a plan.

  ‘I want to see if I can connect to Vladimir, Eric and Applejacks,’ Emily told Valeskia. She ached to be in a connection with her family. Quietening down her mind, she sent out a connection to the men and then to Applejacks. Within seconds they all joined the bond. For a moment so much emotion poured into the connection, it was impossible to clarify words. Vladimir was the first to send clear thoughts.

  ‘Emily, are you alright?’

  ‘Em,’ Eric followed, ‘where are you?’

  And Applejacks formally greeted her with, ‘Are you well?’

  ‘My loves,’ Emily responded, sending joy down the link, ‘I’m free for the moment and with Valeskia. Where are you all?’ she asked.

  Vladimir responded, ‘Eric and I are in the camp of the free abnormals. I do not know where. Applejacks is with Vince and Rumour, but they are not far from our camp now.’

  Applejacks added into the link, ‘You feel different in our connection?’

  ‘I am different, I teleported without getting tired. I think the gene therapy has amplified my abilities.’ Emily answered.

  ‘That is a good thing Emily. Can you lock onto us and transport here?’ Vladimir asked.

  Pausing, Emily tried to sense if that was possible but it didn’t feel like she could.

  ‘What about to me?’ Applejacks asked. Their bond had always been stronger.

  Reaching out to Applejacks, Emily could see through his eyes to where he was. ‘Yes, I can come to you Applejacks.’ Then turning to Valeskia Emily said, ‘Hold my hand,’ but Valeskia pulled back.

  ‘I can’t go with you child.’

  Emily was surprised. ‘Why not?’ It hadn’t occurred to her that Valeskia wouldn’t want to be free.

  ‘Because of this collar. If I leave the laboratory, my head will blow off.’ Pausing she added, ‘And also, it is my duty to stay.’

  ‘Vladimir will want you to be free,’ Emily countered. She knew what his wishes would be.

  ‘Tell my son that I am waiting for him to free our people. We may be created as dark creatures but there is good in us, I know it!’

  Realising that she wouldn’t be able to change Valeskia’s mind, Emily embraced the woman and told her, ‘We will return, I promise.’ And, connecting to Applejacks again, she popped out of the room.

  Valeskia calmly sat on the edge of the bed. Varrick would be along as soon as he discovered that Emily had gone and she hoped that his anger would not be too great. As much as he loved her, Valeskia knew that he could kill her if he lost control and for the first time in years, Valeskia desperately wanted to live.

  *

  Applejacks had stopped again and Ross could see that his focus was far away. Stopping the group, they waited for Applejacks to mentally rejoin them. After a moment, Applejacks turned his body back to the group and pushed them out of the way. In the next instant, Emily was besides Applejacks. Rumour immediately started barking with joy. She was so happy to see Emily, her whole body trembled with excitement. Emily pressed her head to Applejacks’ for a long moment before embracing Vince and Ross. They were both surprised at her affection.

  Vondra and Janak had returned to the group and had both changed into human form. As Ross introduced them to Emily, Vondra didn’t look happy; she had seen Emily hug Ross.

  ‘How far are we from Vladimir and Eric?’ Emily asked. Her whole body ached to be near them.

  ‘Less than an hour away,’ Janak replied.

  Turning to Applejacks, Emily asked formally, ‘My friend, may I ride you? My body’s not strong.’

  ‘You are always welcome,’ Applejacks replied, just as formally, and Ross lifted Emily onto his back.

  ‘Oh, my friend, I’m so glad to be with you,’ she thought to Applejacks.

  ‘You do feel different,’ he replied, thankful they were together again.

  Picking up on the thread of his joy, Emily projected it outwards. She noted that Vince, Ross and his men had picked up on the mood.

  ‘This is new,’ Applejacks thought to Emily, she had never been able to affect humans before.

  ‘I just hope it’s a good thing,’ Emily replied. Her mind felt powerful and she could sense she was stronger somehow.

  *

  It was almost dark when Emily’s group reached the free ones’ camp, and as the group entered the compound, children gathered around them. Emily looked at their faces thinking to herself, what
beautiful children, and while they were a little skinny, the hope on their faces was beautiful.

  Seeing Vladimir and Eric come out of the tent almost overwhelmed Emily and she slipped off Applejacks and ran towards them. Eric ran to meet her and scooped her into his arms, lifting her and spinning her around in a circle. He planted kisses on her face and neck before putting her down in front of Vladimir. Emily couldn’t stop laughing as Vladimir wrapped his arms around her. Then Eric wrapped his arms around both of them and for a brief moment the three merged into each other as one. Then Vladimir and Eric greeted Applejacks and the men. Rumour was bouncing around, caught up in the joyous reunion.

  Helena greeted Janak with his clothes and as he dressed they couldn’t take their eyes off each other. Only Vondra stood apart, she was unsure of what to do. Then Emily went to Vondra and, taking her hand in own, she led the woman over to Vladimir and Eric.

  ‘This is Vondra,’ she stated simply.

  Vladimir was overcome with emotion at being with Emily. He wasn’t sure what to do with Vondra so he pulled her into a hug and they stood together for a long moment. When they pulled back, Vondra was crying.

  ‘Little sister,’ Vladimir asked, ‘why are you crying?’ He wasn’t sure if he had done something wrong.

  Smiling back at Vladimir she replied, ‘Because I am a little sister,’ and the pair embraced again.

  Jonas approached the group and announced, ‘There’s hot food for all of you by the fire.’

  The night was cool but the group didn’t care, the fire was warm and the food was good. Vladimir felt a bit guilty eating so much of the food as he knew that the group didn’t have much to spare, but he resolved to make plans to obtain better provisions for the group. Janak had pulled Helena aside and explained Vondra’s predicament.

  ‘What do you mean, he doesn’t want her?’ Helena gasped.

  ‘I don’t know,’ Janak replied. ‘Maybe it’s because he’s a full human.’

  Looking across at Vondra, Helena could see that her eyes were constantly on Ross and her heart went out to the woman. An idea came to Helena and she smiled. Calling to one of the women helping with the food, she gave her instructions. Satisfied with her plan, she joined the group for dinner. It was close to midnight when the group began to disband for sleep. Eric had flung Emily over his shoulder and the trio laughed all the way to their tent. Helena walked over to Vincent’s men and gave instructions on where they would be sleeping.

  She added, ‘One of you will have to share a tent with Vondra. There is not enough room for you all in the other tent.’ Everyone’s eyes fell on Ross, who turned bright red, and on seeing his face Vondra turned and fled to the tent, throwing herself on the cot. She gave herself over to tears that turned to sobs, but after a few minutes her fatigue took over and she fell asleep.

  The next morning, as Vondra slowly came awake, she heard soft snores. As she opened her eyes, she saw that Ross was asleep in the cot beside her. Vondra allowed herself a moment to look at him. His face looked ordinary but, as she took in his strong jaw, full lips and square face, she decided that he was handsome in an exotic way – she had never seen an Asian man before. He looked so gentle while sleeping that it took all of Vondra’s willpower not to give in to her desire to run her fingers over his face. Ross made a snuffling sound and Vondra realised that he was going to wake up, so she lay back down, turning her back to him and pretending to sleep. This way, she thought, he can leave without having to talk to me. She could sense him stretch, yawn and sit up – but he didn’t leave the tent.

  After a few minutes she felt his hand on her shoulder and he gently shook her saying, ‘Vondra, please wake up.’ Cursing under her breath, Vondra pretended to wake up and as she sat up, Ross was straightening his shirt and running his fingers through his hair. A section stuck up and Vondra resisted the urge to run her fingers through his hair and put it in place.

  Ross was clearly uncomfortable with what he was going to say and then suddenly he blurted out, ‘I’m not very good with women! I think I’ve hurt your feelings.’

  Vondra shrugged her shoulders and replied, ‘You tell the truth, you don’t like me.’

  ‘No, no, that’s not true. It’s just…like I said before, I’m not very good with women.’

  ‘Oh.’ Vondra paused and then said, ‘You prefer men?’

  ‘What? No! Umm, I don’t think you understand.’ Pausing to find the right words he said, ‘Maybe when we free your people, we could, I mean, if you want, umm…we could go out to dinner.’ Ross’ face had gone red and his heart was pounding in his chest.

  Vondra was confused. ‘Dinner? But we have to go to breakfast now.’

  Ross stood up – this was not going very well. ‘I mean, I can take you to a restaurant.’

  ‘What is a restaurant?’ Vondra stood up too, a puzzled look on her face.

  ‘It’s place where we go to eat. Usually it has soft music and then we can dance and we can see if we like each other.’ Ross’ voice was shaking.

  ‘I like you already,’ Vondra responded, moving closer to Ross.

  Ross had turned bright red. Looking into Vondra’s face, he could see that she really meant it.

  ‘It’s just,’ he stammered, ‘the way my family does these things.’

  ‘Oh.’ Vondra replied, finally understanding. ‘I get it now, you have a custom. We free our people then we go to this restaurant and then we are bonded.’

  Ross breathed, ‘Yes, I mean no, I mean…’ but Vondra wasn’t listening anymore, she was excited.

  ‘Come, let’s free my people today. Yes, today,’ and she left the tent then returned to take his hand and drag him outside.

  Ross had a sinking feeling that his go-slow speech had backfired but he did notice that it felt good to hold her hand.

  Chapter 23

  Varrick walked into Valeskia’s cell followed by Ivan and Roy. He looked at her for a full minute before ordering Ivan to take her to the white room. Valeskia felt a wave of fear go through her body but outwardly she showed no sign of the emotion. As Ivan approached her she simply stood up and walked to the door. She wouldn’t plead or beg for her life, she wouldn’t give Varrick the satisfaction.

  Roy had a small smile on his face but Ivan looked terrible. He was distracted and he looked like he hadn’t slept in days. Valeskia was almost sorry for him but she remembered all the killing of their kind that he had performed and her pity disappeared.

  Valeskia was surprised at how strong her body still was when she stood, she had thought her legs would turn to jelly with the initial wave of fear but she walked to the lift as if she had purpose. When they got into the lift, Varrick turned to Valeskia and laid one of his large hands on her shoulder.

  ‘I had hoped for so much more from you,’ he said. ‘Tell me where our son is and I’ll let you go free.’

  Valeskia replied softly, ‘I feel sorry for you, Varrick, this is the reason everybody looks to betray you. You don’t have the right to decide who can be free. Our son will free us from you.’

  Varrick responded by slapping Valeskia so hard she fell to her knees. Pushing the button to the lower floor, Varrick struggled to keep from hitting her again. As the doors closed he told Valeskia in a cold voice, ‘I’m looking forward to our conversation in the white room and don’t worry my dear, it won’t be a short one.’

  Valeskia, who was still on her knees, felt tears form in her eyes knowing she would not escape his anger this time.

  *

  Valeskia could hear a woman screaming. It was so loud she thought to herself, someone please help that woman, but the screams continued. After a moment, Valeskia realised that the woman screaming was herself and she became fully conscious to the pain exploding through every cell in her body. Varrick had decided not to physically torture her, instead insisting that Roy use chemicals.

  Her blood was turning to acid – the pain was excruciating and she worried that she would break. Her mind was fuzzy. She knew too much about the free people
as, in a way, she had been in one of the first groups to defy Varrick many years ago. There had been six of them, three women and three men. Their faces popped into her head so fresh, it was like she had seen them all yesterday. Sweet Dusana – her dear friend Thora, dependable Jonas, Thomas – whom she never really knew, and Sven, so keen with his gift of foresight.

  Valeskia’s head hung down, she was tied to a metal table that was pitched vertically. Sweat dripped from her body and all the colour had drained from her face.

  Varrick lifted her head, realising that she had lost consciousness. Frustrated he turned to Roy and Ivan, ‘I need answers,’ he barked.

  Roy responded, ‘The woman is strong; you know she won’t break easily.’

  Ivan was almost unapproachable. He just sat in the corner, rocking back and forth, muttering under his breath, ‘Kill the witch, kill the witch,’ over and over. Varrick looked at Roy. They both knew Ivan was lost to his madness.

  Whispering to Roy, Varrick told him, ‘The moment he no longer follows commands, destroy him.’ Roy nodded – he was ready. Ivan was their best killer but only Sarah could call him back when he was let loose. He made Roy nervous, he always had, and right now even more so. Ivan followed orders from Roy and Varrick more so than ever and this was what worried Roy, that Ivan was, seemingly, compliant.

  The phone rang and Varrick picked it up. After a moment, Roy heard him say, ‘Ok, I’ll come,’ and then he turned to Roy and said, ‘Make sure she doesn’t die before I return,’ and he beckoned for Ivan to follow.

  Roy was relieved that they had both left. He went over to Valeskia and checked out her vitals. While they were steady she was still unconscious. What Varrick saw in this woman was beyond Roy, she was beautiful but she defied Varrick at every turn. Roy preferred young girls who thought he was a God even if they bored him after a few days. Still, there were plenty of young girls. He always thought that loving someone was a weakness and he felt superior being a full human. He didn’t need to bond with anyone like the people Varrick had created. Checking Valeskia again, Roy sat back on a stool and wondered, for the thousandth time, why he followed Varrick at all.