The lead asshole tapped his mic. “One moment.”
“Go to hell,” Geo hissed. “Let us out.”
When the lead lab coat waved a bored finger, the two guards moved forward.
I watched them with a close eye. They were ogling me with far too much interest after what they had witnessed. One of them unlocked the silver door and opened it, motioning for us to exit the room. I held still for a half-minute before walking toward the door. The rebellion leader followed after me. I was cautious as I stepped past the guard, giving him plenty of space. But he didn’t say or do anything torrid, and neither did his partner—except continue to eye me.
“Take them to the showers. Rinse them down, and then bring them to their cell.” The white-haired scientist wasn’t even looking at us, his attention wholly on his tablet while he typed. “And give them new clothes to wear. Those are unacceptable now.”
I blinked at the man. Our clothes were unacceptable?
He was demented. But I already knew that.
And, hopefully, he would be dead one day soon. With his eyes watching as it happened.
The hard spray of water mixed with antiseptic hit my bare body. They hadn’t separated us this time, leaving man and woman standing next to each other for the hosedown. I covered my face in a rush as the water bounced in errant streams from my body. The guards were snickering as they took turns shooting the high-powered sprayer between the rebellion leader and me.
“Turn around,” one barked.
I did as told and rotated to stand with my back facing them. The hard water hit my flesh, shoving at it more fiercely than it had before. My hands lowered, and I risked peeking over my shoulder. The guards were only five feet away from us now. I jerked my attention from them and gazed at the shower stall in front of me.
“Hey, Human,” the one on the left called. “Would you like to ride me, too?”
My nostrils flared, and I wiped at my eyes, too afraid to shut them.
The water hit me straight in the back of my head. I stumbled forward and caught myself on the wall with my outstretched palms. Only the water didn’t relent. It merely lowered to hit my exposed ass.
“I’m sure you’re nice and clean down there now,” he murmured, his voice closer. “I promise to be even more gentle than he was.”
I pushed off the wall and skittered to the side, out of the water’s spray. I covered myself with my hands while I glared at the two guards, who turned the spray on the bastard. “Leave me alone.”
Geo’s hooded gaze ran over the two guards, not bothered by the pressing water running down his naked body. “You’re being watched all the time here, gentlemen. Are you confident you want to risk your paychecks on a used piece of pussy? She wasn’t all that good if I’m honest.”
I held perfectly still, waiting to see if his tactic would work on the hired guns.
They glanced at one another, their hidden eyes somehow meeting.
And, then, they backed off.
I closed my eyes and breathed a sigh of profound relief.
They must be paid a hefty salary. That information was good to know.
The water was turned off, and two towels were thrown at us. Along with fresh clothes.
The guard who had propositioned me growled, “Dry off and get dressed.”
I did so in a fucking hurry, hiding my bare flesh.
They herded us out of the room and down the now familiar hallway. Many turns and two secured gates later, they were ushering us into the holding area. My wet hair drenched the back of my gray t-shirt, chilling my body further. I kept my attention forward. All eyes of the prisoners were on us while we walked down the center of the thin walkway.
The door to our cell was opened, and we went inside without a word. The door clicked behind us as we stood just inside the space. I couldn’t meet anyone’s gaze, my own attention on the floor before me. But they were watching us, the group of our cellmates unsure of what to say—or even do—in this situation.
The rebellion leader finally spoke. “Stop staring and just keep your mouths shut.”
Most turned their heads away immediately, thankful for direction. But others—not just the Kireg in our cell—were slow to turn their regard away, each person scrutinizing our wet hair and new attire. A few didn’t listen at all, their glares in full view.
A Kireg muttered, “Goddamn Human trash.”
“I said shut it,” the bastard ordered with more bite in his tone. “What happened in there isn’t any of your goddamn business, nor should you judge since you weren’t in our position.”
“Small favors,” a Human snickered.
I shook my head and went straight to the cot I had claimed as my own. “Everyone, shut up. I need to detox from what happened, and your snide comments aren’t helping.” I lay down on my right side with my back to everyone, resting my cheek on my hands. I curled into the fetal position, attempting to bring warmth back into my body. “Seriously. Just be quiet for a little while. Please.”
It was my honest plea that made the group quiet, no other comments issued.
I closed my eyes against the tears that wanted to fall. Done. I was done.
Our cell door unlocked in the middle of the night. Everyone who was asleep was instantly alert. My own attention flicked over my shoulder to the door. I blinked sleepy eyes as it suddenly opened. Two new guards stood outside the entrance, guns pointed inside, their typical stance. I rolled onto my back quietly as they peered into the dark cell. This wasn’t the usual routine, the late hour a whole new torture in itself.
The guard on the right stated loudly, “Subject 8. Subject 14. Outside.”
My entire body went on lockdown, utterly awake now.
One person deep inside our cell had the guts to shout, their voice bouncing off the walls, “What the hell do they want them for now? They’ve already done enough today!”
I agreed wholeheartedly.
The guard didn’t even bat an eyelash. “Now.” He lifted his gun and aimed it at the back of the room. “Or I’ll shoot just right for someone to suffer.”
No one else made a peep.
My eyes flicked to the cot across from mine when it squeaked.
“Subject 8 exiting,” the rebellion leader answered, rising from the cot. His hands were lifted in the air and his steps cautious. “Don’t shoot.”
I closed my eyes and wiggled my fingers next to my hips, trying to regain a piece of composure. The scientists wanted us again. As a pair. Whatever they had planned, I would have to deal with the bastard once more.
“Subject 14 exiting,” I stated softly, controlling my breathing. I rolled off my cot, my own hands raised in the air and followed the rebellion leader outside our cell. I altered my gaze from the shirt stretched over is broad muscled back to watch as the guards shut the cell door, quiet and confused and worried rumblings now heard from inside.
One guard walked in front, the other behind us, while we moved down the walkway.
When we stepped out of the two security gates, I lowered my arms, following the bastard’s lead in front of me. The guards were silent as they led us to a new section of the facility. I kept my head down, but my eyes were constantly flicking to count security cameras. This time of night, there were less Kireg around, only a handful noted so far—even if the guard count was still high.
The tiling under my bare feet wasn’t as cold as during the day, the air-conditioning turned down at night. Our trek further through the twisting hallways was less abrasive on my body. Except for the walls, still the horrid white, always smelling of fresh paint, even in this different section. When we finally stopped walking, it was to wait for the lead guard to open the only door in this hallway.
He twisted the knob, the door unlocked. “Go inside.”
I walked in after Geo, our bare footfalls silent.
The door shut, clicking behind us, the guards leaving us alone.
The room was similar to the other observation enclosure. There were three solid walls wi
th a see-through glass partition as a barrier to another chamber beyond. The lights weren’t on in the other room, but it contained three chairs and many cameras—none turned on—all aimed at the area we were in. There were no Kireg inside there—yet.
I didn’t move. My sight remained on the object in front of us. “Hell. No.”
The bastard didn’t comment, but he did move forward to examine it. His purple gaze was cold and thoughtful, his attention meticulous as he strode in a circle around the object. He shook his head slightly, then took a step back and crossed his arms, glaring at the item. He grunted, his consult quiet. “I honestly have no clue what they plan to do with it.”
I pointed. “It’s a barred enclosure. What do you think they’ll make us do?”
His gaze flicked in my direction. Irritated. “It’s a cage. And it’s too small for two people. Unless we’re supposed to fight over it, having us both here isn’t useful to their wants.”
I shook my head and marched forward, my regard on the cage. “We could both fit.”
“If we were smashed together maybe—”
“Exactly.” My nostrils flared. I couldn’t look at him. “But there has to be a catch. We already share a cell together, and we’ve already had…” I couldn’t even say it. “Anyway, making us lie close to each other after that doesn’t seem like the next step in their experiments.”
He bent at the knees, squatting to study the cage closer. “True enough.” He poked at it. Even grabbed one of the black metal bars to give it a good shake. It didn’t budge, the grim object bolted to the floor. The rebellion leader finally stood to his intimidating height.
“We’ll see soon enough what new, twisted game they have in mind. Because, as I said, unless they only plan to put one of us in it, I can’t fathom what this will be. I’ve only done this with one person before, not two.”
It didn’t surprise me he was an expert torturer.
War isn’t won without ‘intelligence’ given—at the expense of other lives.
The quiet that ultimately settled over us was stubborn. We had nothing else to speak about of use so we went silent, neither of us looking at each other any longer.
The time kept ticking by, and no Kireg entered the other room. Geo eventually sat on top of the small cage and closed his eyes. He appeared to be taking a nap while I paced the room and eyed the glass barrier. But I knew he started watching me under his hooded gaze, the sheer power of his hidden regard sufficient to keep my spine stiff.
I tapped on the barrier and quickly shook my hand out. It was charged with electric currents.
When no one showed even fifteen minutes later, I became daring.
I tried the doorknob.
And…the door opened a crack.
I swiftly took my hand back, as if it had burned me. “Uh…it’s not actually locked.”
Geo was already on his feet and striding toward me. “I can see that.” He shouldered me aside, taking the lead, and grabbed the handle. In slow increments, he opened the door a little further. I held perfectly still, staying quiet, as he peeked outside. His actions stalled, and then he stuck his head out the door. The rebellion leader looked left and right before ducking back into the room. His white brows were drawn together, his voice a dangerous rumble. “The guards are gone.”
It took a second to register. “What?”
He pulled the door open wide, showing clearly no one was outside.
My own eyebrows puckered in confusion. “Think it’s a test?”
The bastard released the door and placed his hands on his hips, staring at the ground deep in thought. I took the opportunity to peek out the door myself, glancing both ways. The hallway was completely empty. I gawked…at an exit sign at the end of the corridor. There was something seriously wrong with this scenario. I ducked back inside and contemplated what the hell we should do.
The rebellion leader finally peered up and glared at me. “I have something.”
I lifted a brow, my eyes flicking between his. “You don’t look happy saying that.”
His cold gaze ran over my features, and then he raised the right side of his shirt. He lifted a knife from the edge of his pants, stuck under the waistline. “I took it off the guard in front of me.”
I stared at the item. “This is too convenient. The guards took us out of our cells at an unusual time, you were able to lift that off the guard, both guards are now gone, and there’s a fucking exit at the end of the hallway.” I raised my muddled gaze to his dark eyes. “What the hell is going on?”
He twirled the knife between his fingers, staring at the ground again. He spoke his thoughts out loud, “There are two options. One, this is another trial. Or, two, someone is giving us the opportunity to escape.” His eyes were cast in shadows when he barely peeked up. “Did you recognize either of the guards?”
“No.” I shook my head. “They’re new ones.”
“Hmm.” His regard returned to the ground, and he tapped the knife absently against his right leg. “Something’s going on, but we’re missing a detail. This doesn’t seem right for a rescue mission. If those guards were on our side, they would have given us—”
I slapped my right hand over his mouth, my head cocking.
He went still at my demand, and then he jerked back and swiftly shut the door.
There were people at the end of the hallway, their boots loud against the tiling. Those were standard boots for guards, the slight clink against the tiling now familiar. They were coming closer at a normal speed, not rushing toward us.
Geo and I promptly walked backward from the door. He stuffed the knife back into the waistband of his pants and pulled his shirt down over it, hiding it from sight. I turned away from the door completely, pretending I was bored, just in case they walked into the room—as if we didn’t know the door was unlocked.
It did swing open, but my head jerked in its direction at the individuals coming inside.
Two new guards, not the same ones as before.
The guards shut the door behind them, staring mutely at Geo.
Absolute mischief entered his purple eyes. “It’s about time you men showed up.” He turned his head and raised a single brow. “They’re mine. You can calm down.”
My entire body trembled at his announcement. “Please tell me there are more than two of them here.” I sucked in a large lung full and fisted my hands, my eyes narrowing as true freedom shined like a light of hope. “Because there are a shit ton of scientists I want dead. A few guards, too.”
The bastard patted the air. “We’ll get to that. Don’t fret.” His attention returned to the guards. “Who were the other two guards who brought us in here?”
The Kireg on the left stepped forward and removed the cloth from his head, revealing a pair of sparkling green eyes. “They’re rebellion. They’re new, but they’re smart. They were only meant to retrieve you. We wanted individuals you didn’t know so no one would act any differently.”
Geo tilted his head in my direction. “And why is the Human here?”
“It would have been out of character for a guard to take only one.” He hesitated briefly and then hurried to explain, “Our intelligence told us the two of you had been paired before. We stuck with what the assholes had already initiated.” He turned his head toward me and glared. “I’ll eliminate the Human now if that’s your wish.”
My spine stiffened, any elation of freedom quickly diminishing.
The rebellion leader lifted his right hand, earning the guard’s attention. “That isn’t necessary. What I do need is to know how many of you are here and what’s the plan?”
The Kireg on the left nodded and stepped forward. The cloth around his eyes was also removed and dropped to the floor. “We’ve done our surveillance on the facility—as much as we could in a short timeframe. We brought what was needed to burn the place to the ground during the ideal day and time. There are one hundred available on site or nearby.”
The rebellion leader asked, “Did you brin
g weapons for us?”
The first Kireg’s green eyes sparkled. “Yes. For you. I believe you already have yours.”
“I do.” He dipped his head. “Thank you.”
No weapon for me. I suppose that was better than being killed instantly by the guard.
“The plan is simple. There are two members in the surveillance room right now hacking into the Dynasty’s security system. One is controlling the cameras and the electrical power, and the other is downloading all the information of the employees, their families, the prisoners they’ve had in here, the experiments run…” He glanced at me but quickly peered away. “We’ve heard of a few already, but we’re getting all the information.” He glanced at his watch. “And we’re getting the two of you out right now. The rest of the team will enter the facility when you’re clear.”
Geo’s lips thinned. “I’m not leaving my people behind.”
I lifted my chin. “Neither am I.”
“In this situation, you must. You are too valuable to lose. Not when we’re so close to accomplishing our goal.” The kill-ready Kireg flicked a finger at me. “And she can’t return, either. That’s not in the plan.”
The room was silent. The ultimate purpose was to keep their leader alive.
I understood that. I had even done the same.
The bastard wasn’t pleased. But this time, he didn’t argue.
There was a plan in place. A thought out plan. His people had this under control.
“Do you plan to save the Humans, too?” I asked quietly. My people were at their mercy.
Geo instantly answered, “Yes, they do.” Purple eyes stared hard at the guards.
Both nodded their heads, understanding his order.
I would have to trust them. The Kireg.
The talkative one lifted a silver device from an open pouch on his waistband. He handed it to his leader. He rolled a finger and glanced at his watch again. “Make it quick. We’re on a tight schedule.”
I stared in fascination as the rebellion leader used the device to remove the white spheres from his temples. He wiped away the two drops of blood that formed on his skin and tossed the inhibitors to the ground. He stretched his arms above his head and arched his back, the hem of his shirt riding up to show his ab muscles. When he lowered his arms and rolled his shoulders, he merely commented, “I’m ready.” He handed the device back to his man and palmed his hidden knife.
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