Fearless

by Nicole Coverdale

  She faked another smile, sending this one towards Irena.

  “Just make sure you focus.” She whispered. “It’s all about focus and control. If you can remember that you can do anything.”

  “You should listen to her, Irena.” Bianca whispered, walking up to her. “She’s been out in the field for over a year now.”

  “What’s it like, Elena?” Tarianna piped in. “Is it great?”

  Elena shrugged. “You know, all the missions seem to blend together.”

  “But you’re so good!” Lilyana cried. “No one’s come close to any of your times in the ring. No one’s gotten even close to how fast you can run. To how many languages you can speak. You’re amazing!”

  “Come on, girls, let’s give Elena a break now.” Abel cut in, placing an arm over Elena’s shoulders. “And let’s all head to the auditorium. I have something to show all of you.”

  They headed for the auditorium.

  With each step she took, Elena was completely aware of Abel’s arms around her shoulders.

  Her stomach tightened.

  Nausea rose up in her throat.

  And she so badly wanted to push his arm away and run away from him as far and fast as she possibly could.

  But she didn’t.

  Instead, she stayed where she was.

  Her sisters walking in a line behind them.

  Wishing they could remember who they were.

  That they were family.

  And not act as if they were complete strangers, only tied together by one thing. Taking down the world for Abel.

  They stepped through the gates of the auditorium.

  The sound of the gates slamming shut echoing all around them.

  “Take a seat.” Abel whispered, his hand tightening around her arm. “Except you, Elena.”

  Oh God.

  She felt her throat tighten.

  She felt panic rise up inside of her.

  He knew, she thought to herself. Oh God, he knew that she had betrayed him. This was not going to be good. Not good at all.

  But how could he know?

  She had been so careful.

  She had been so freaking careful!

  “Good afternoon, my soldiers!” Abel cried out in the middle of the auditorium, lifting his hands to the air. “It’s a glorious day, because as of today many of you will finally be able to go out into the field and serve your country as so many people are already. Such as Elena.” He clapped his hands together. “Give a big round of applause to Elena everyone. The woman who single handedly took out the man responsible for distributing the bombs throughout the country.” He stopped. “Or at least, that’s the story she’s been telling.”

  He turned, his eyes boring into her.

  Elena froze, stumbling back a step.

  Two guards came up, each grabbing her by the arm.

  “Let me go!” she shouted, struggling against them.

  “Oh, Elena, did you really think I wasn’t going to find out?” Abel asked, taking a step towards her. Lifting a hand, cupping her cheek. “Did you really think you would really get away with it?”

  “Away with what? I don’t know what you’re talking about. I did everything you asked! Everything. I’ve done everything without questioning a damn thing. I have been the perfect soldier, father!”

  The moment it slipped out, she immediately regretted it.

  His face suddenly went beat red.

  And he raised a hand, slapping her hard across the face.

  She gasped, her head snapping back.

  “You ungrateful little bitch!” he shouted. “I gave you everything! Everything and this is how you repay me! This is what I get!” he raised his hand again, slapping her across the face again.

  Elena tasted blood.

  “You might think you have all your memories back Elena, but you have no idea just how clueless you really are.” He lifted the tablet that one of the guards handed him, pressing a button. “Let me just show you how much smarter I am than you are. I will always be smarter than you.”

  The lights dimmed around the auditorium.

  And she lifted her head, watching as an image of herself came on overhead.

  An image of Victor at his office came into view.

  It was from when she’d been on the rooftop, she suddenly realized, the blood draining from her face.

  The image was dark. She was on the rooftop, and staring ahead of her, at Victor’s house.

  She was watching his family, as his wife cooked dinner. As his children played or studied in the kitchen.

  She heard the phone call between Victor and the FBI director.

  She saw Victor get up from the desk, staring out the window, the monitor behind him showing the FBI symbol.

  And then the video feed started bouncing.

  She was running.

  She heard the gunshot, watching as the man fell to the ground.

  “You’ll never get out of here alive.”

  And then she was in the house.

  She was in pure darkness.

  She saw the man fall against the wall, blood spreading across his chest.

  She heard herself talking to Victor’s children.

  She heard Erik’s voice.

  And she heard her own voice.

  “You deserve to die.”

  And then she was running again.

  She was on the rooftop again.

  And she watched, as Carmella fell of the roof, crashing on top of the car far below.

  The lights suddenly came back on.

  “You’re a traitor to all of us!” Abel shouted. “And for that, you must pay for your crimes!”

  Elena laughed, suddenly. The sound cold and dark coming from her throat.

  “I’m the traitor?” she whispered, staring at him. “I’m the traitor!” she shouted. “Really, father, is that the card you are really going to pull because let’s face it if anyone is a traitor it is you because you sent me in there to kill a freaking FBI agent. Do you have any idea how many people would be looking for me if I had pulled that trigger. Better yet, how about I tell the people in this room about how you are the man building the bombs and selling them throughout the country.”

  “No one will ever believe you.”

  “They will when I finally wake them from their trance.”

  He laughed. “Trance? What trance?”

  “The drug.” Elena whispered, lifting her head. “The drug you gave us to turn us into these freaking monsters. It’s the only way you could get any of us to go along with your plan. Especially me.”

  “So you know.”

  “I know.” Elena smiled. “I know everything.

  Abel shook his head. “Elena. Elena. You still haven’t changed have you? You’re still that rebellious little girl you were eight years ago when I first brought you here. I really thought I had beaten it out of you. I thought that girl was gone, but it seems, you’ve just gotten stronger. More rebellious as times rolled on. That’s why I had Erik and Carmella follow you. Erik didn’t come to me with any concerns, Elena. I knew something was going to happen. I had this feeling deep in my gut, and I didn’t trust you. I’ve never trusted you, and I was waiting for the moment you defied me and it happened. And now, you Elena, must pay for your actions!” he gestured his right hand. “Bring them in!”

  What?

  Elena turned her head.

  And watched as Victor and his family were lead into the auditorium.

  They fell to their knees in the middle of the room.

  “You see, Elena, no matter what I always get my way.” Abel told her, walking around her in a circle. “And when you defy me, well, let’s just say I end up having to clean up your mess.” He lifted the gun that lay in his hand, and pulled the trigger.

  And she watched, as Victor fell to the ground.

  Another shot sounded.

  His wife.

  Three more.

  His children.

  “No!” she screamed, struggling against th
e men who held her by the arms. Tears streaking down her cheeks. “No!” she shouted again. “Dammitt, you son of a bitch. They didn’t have to die. No one else has to die! No one!”

  “That’s where you’re wrong, Elena.” Abel whispered. “More people have to die for me to get what I want.” And he pointed the trigger right at her.

  Chapter Four

  Elena felt her heart thump in her chest.

  She had to do something! She thought to herself. She had to do something now, or she would surely die.

  She slammed her elbow back.

  It caught the man right in the chest.

  He gasped, loosening his grip on her arm.

  She jerked her arm free, spinning around, and kicking the other man right in the chest.

  She heard the click of the trigger.

  She turned, diving to the ground, the bullet just missing her, and jumped to her feet. Raising her fists.

  Lifting her chin, staring right at her father.

  “You’re not going to kill me.” She whispered, her voice deadly quiet. “Because I am going to destroy you if it’s the last thing I do.”

  He laughed. “You really think you can take me and this whole organization on by yourself, Elena?”

  “You said yourself, that I am the most dangerous weapon you have ever created.” Elena whispered. “And it’s high time I use it for good rather than bad.” She reached down, jerking the gun out of the holster of the man that lay on the ground, spinning around to aim it at the man who was coming up behind her. “Another step and I’ll blow your brains out.”

  A cry of outrage escaped his lips.

  And he lunged towards her.

  She pulled the trigger.

  And he fell to the ground, blood pouring from his body.

  “I will never be anything like you, Father.” She whispered. “And don’t worry, I know how you got that footage from the other night.” She smiled. “I’m still not as dumb as you might think I am. I always knew there was a reason for that tracker being placed inside me.”

  “You’ll never get out of here alive, Elena.” Abel told her. “Because no matter where you go, I will find you. I’ll see everything you see and I will send more men after you. You’re my soldier Elena, and I will have you back at my side when I reach my ultimate goal.” He raised the gun.

  Elena raised her own.

  The gunshots sounded simultaneously.

  She lifted her head, watching as they shot in the air.

  Oh God.

  She turned, diving to the ground.

  The bullets exploded overhead.

  And suddenly, she heard commotion.

  She turned, lifting her head, watching as her sisters suddenly raced off the bleachers and towards her.

  She jumped to her feet, racing across the auditorium.

  She lunged toward the gate, pressing the button.

  The gates swung open.

  She dove through them, racing towards the entrance to the arena. Her breath coming out hard and fast. Her feet barely hitting the ground.

  And slid to a stop, as a man turned from the entrance, a rifle in his hands.

  “Good bye, Elena.” He whispered, aiming the rifle towards her.

  Elena lunged forward, grabbing the rifle, jerking it out of his hands before he could pull the trigger.

  “No. Good bye you bastard!” she muttered, smacking him across the head with it.

  He crumbled to the ground.

  She threw the weapon to the ground.

  And arms wrapped around her.

  “You owe Abel an apology!”

  And she was thrown to the ground.

  Her gun flew out of her hand.

  Someone kicked her in the ribs.

  Someone stepped on her hand.

  Another punched her in the head.

  She lifted her head, staring around at her sisters, and with a cry of outrage she jumped to her feet.

  They lunged towards her.

  She jumped in the air, kicking outwards with her feet.

  Her feet connected with two heads, sending them to the floor in a heap.

  Her feet landed on the ground.

  She raised her fists, turning and slamming her fist into a face.

  She spun on her heel, sending a round house kick to someone’s chest.

  Another lunged towards her.

  She grabbed them by the arm, throwing them to the ground.

  She threw another against the wall.

  And she stood there, surrounded by the prone bodies of all her sisters, tears running down her cheeks.

  “And so she cries.” Abel whispered, walking forward, his eyes staring at her. Cold, dark, and cruel. “You just created more trouble than your worth, Elena.” He whispered, lifting his gun. “I have no more use for you.” He pulled the trigger.

  Elena turned, diving to the ground once more. She rolled, until she felt something hard and cold against her hip.

  Her gun.

  Her hand wrapped around it.

  She jumped to her feet.

  And she pulled the trigger.

  Abel’s eyes widened.

  He screamed, holding a hand to his arm, as blood poured out of it.

  And Elena smiled.

  “Asshole.” She whispered.

  Nearby she heard the sound of a door slamming.

  A bell sounded somewhere.

  More were coming, she thought, turning her head watching as her sisters stood up from where they were laying on the ground.

  It was time to go.

  She swung her head around.

  A group of men were coming from the south.

  She turned her head again.

  A group of women were coming from the north.

  Her sisters crowded around her.

  She stumbled back, her back slamming against the wall.

  She raised her head, staring above her at the fence above her.

  “You have nowhere to go.” Abel whispered to her.

  Elena laughed.

  “That’s where you’re wrong.” She told him, before she jumped up on the platform in front of the fence and started climbing.

  Her arms screamed in pain.

  Her foot slid.

  And she threw her foot over the fence, turning to look down at the faces that stared at her.

  “I’ll be back for you.” She whispered to her sisters. “I will never give up on you.”

  A gunshot sounded.

  A blinding pain shot through her leg.

  She lost her balance, and she fell over the fence.

  She screamed. Her body flying through the air, and landing with a thud in the hard thump.

  “Ow.” She groaned. Placing her hands in the grass, and pushing herself to her feet.

  Gunshots echoed in her ears.

  She lifted her head. Turning, watching as the bullets ricocheted off the bullet proof glass, casting one last look over her shoulder. Staring at Abel. Her sisters, the soldiers, before turning and racing off into the distance.

  Chapter Five

  “No!”

  Abel lunged forward, slamming his fist against the wall. Watching as Elena raced off into the distance.

  “No!” the word slipped from his lips again. She was gone. Everything was ruined. His most dangerous weapon was gone.

  “We’ll get her, sir.”

  He lifted his head, turning, staring at the man who stood next to him.

  “You’ll get her?” he asked, taking a step forward. “You’ll get her!” he grabbed the man by the arm, and slammed him against the wall. “Just tell me, how are you plan on doing that? Look at this place! Look at the damage she has done. She’s one girl! One fucking girl, and she beat all of you! How can you stand there, promising me you’ll get her when everyone here just failed!”

  “She’s highly trained, sir.”

  “I know that.” Abel said through gritted teeth. “I trained her.”

  He’d trained her to fight.

  And now, she was using i
t against him.

  He turned his head. Staring behind him at the people standing behind them.

  The bodies that lay all over the ground.

  The blood that was streaked down their faces.

  The bruises that marred his skin.

  His blood boiled.

  Elena had done this.

  She had beat all of them.

  She had beat him!

  He lowered his eyes, staring at the wound on his arm. Watching as the blood oozed from the wound.

  And a smile spread across his face.

  “Oh, Elena, you have no idea what you’ve just done.” He whispered.

  He chuckled, turning to the man next to him.

  “Get a team out there.” He whispered. “Get a team out there now. I want her back. I want her back now! She’s a danger to me. To the organization. If she gets in contact with the wrong people, I’ll be done for. She will not ruin this for me. She will not!”

  He blew out a breath. Staring at the others. At his soldiers.

  “As for you, you all have work to do.” He told them. “Because this, will never, ever happen again! Now, get back to work!”

  He watched as everyone scattered, and stared around him at the masterpiece he had created. What his father had started long ago.

  Elena might have her memories.

  She might know how to fight.

  But she would not defeat him.

  She wasn’t that strong.

  And she would not ruin his plans.

  She might think that she could take him, the entire organization down.

  But she was wrong.

  Because she would be exactly where she should be.

  She would be standing next to him.

  She would be his soldier once again.

  And she would once again, help him destroy the world.

  He guaranteed it.

  Chapter Six

  The roar of the wind echoed in her ears.

  She gasped, stumbling forward, her breath coming out hard and heavy.

  Her vision blurred.

  She reached forward, her hand wrapping around the trunk of the tree in front of her, and she stopped. Bowing her head. Dragging in deep breaths.

  Her stomach rumbled.

  She swallowed. Her throat was so dry.

  Exhaustion set in.

  She fell to her knees.

  Blinking away the dots that swam before her eyes. Fighting away the nausea that rose up in her throat. Lifting her head.