She felt her hand brush something cold in the long grass.
She turned her head.
And stared at her gun lying in the grass.
She wrapped her hand around it.
Rising to her knees.
Watching as he raced towards her again.
And pulled the trigger.
The gunshot echoed in her ears.
His body jerked.
Blood spread across the front of his shirt.
And his body fell to the ground.
He raised a head.
“You’ll pay. He whispered, just before his head fell to the ground with a thump.
“Like hell.” Elena whispered, rising to her feet.
And a click sounded in her ear.
She froze. Slowly turning her head.
Staring into the barrel of the gun that was pointed right at her head.
And her mind flashed back to when she’d been that little girl watching those men drag her mother towards the door, and the gun that had been pointed at her head.
Tears filled her eyes.
She couldn’t move.
She couldn’t think.
She was going to die.
“Goodbye, Elena.” The man whispered in her ear. His finger cocking the trigger.
And a gunshot sounded.
Elena gasped. Closing her eyes. Waiting for the bullet to go through her.
A thump sounded in her ears.
Her eyes snapped open. And she stared down at the man laying at her feet. Slowly raising her head and looking behind her at Kieran.
“Kieran.” She whispered, taking a step forward. “It’s about freaking time!” she cried. “I was surrounded!”
“I know.” Kieran whispered. “There was more of them than we thought. I took out a half dozen of them before I came running after you.” He stopped in front of her. Touching a hand to her cheek. “Why didn’t you yell?”
“I thought I had it handled.” She closed her eyes. Leaning into his touch.
And another gunshot exploded through the air.
Her eyes snapped open.
Kieran’s eyes widened. He turned his head, blood oozing from the bullet wound in his shoulder.
“Kieran!” she screamed. Watching as he fell to the ground. Stumbling back a step, and watching as Sabrina stepped out from the shadows.
“Sabrina.” She whispered.
“I told you I’d be back.” Sabrina told her, taking a step forward. Stopping next to Kieran, a smile spreading across her face as she stared down at him. “It’s been a while since you’ve been shot, hasn’t it, Kieran?” she squatted down next to him. “Hurts like a bitch doesn’t it.” And she raised a hand. Pressing her thumb into his wound.
He screamed.
“Yeah. Yeah. Shut your mouth you little pussy.” She rose to her feet. “That was quite a show you two gave me.” She whispered. Turning her head, staring at Elena. “But now, the show is over.” She took a step forward, raising her hand, and aiming her gun at Elena. “And now it’s just you and me, Honey.”
“Don’t you ever call me, Honey.” Elena whispered, raising her head. Red flashing before her eyes as she stared down at Kieran and she let out a scream. Lunging towards Sabrina. Grabbing her by the shoulders, and slamming her against the tree.
“You fucking, bitch!” Elena screamed the words. Her hand wrapping around Sabrina’s wrist and slamming it against the tree. “You shot him!” She slammed Sabrina’s arm into the tree once more. The gun falling into the bushes.
“Oh, he’s not dead.”
“It doesn’t matter!” Elena screamed, slamming her fist into Sabrina’s face. “You just do whatever they want, don’t you, Sabrina? You jump at Dominic’s every command. You come running to Abel’s aid. You’re just loyal to the end now, aren’t you? God you’re pathetic. Believing in everything they preach. I’m going to enjoy killing you.” And she slammed her fist into Sabrina’s face again.
Sabrina laughed.
“Oh, Honey, you’re not going to kill me.” She smiled. “I’m going to kill you.”
Sabrina’s hand shot out. Grabbing her around the wrist. Her leg wrapping around Elena’s, and swinging her around. Slamming her against the tree.
“I told you. I never lose, Elena.” Sabrina whispered in her ear. “You see, Elena, there’s a big difference between the two of us. We both might have been trained by the same people. We may both be the most dangerous weapons, but the truth is there’s only room for one of us in this world and that is me. You know why? Because I’m better than you. Because I can fight better than you. Because I believe in what Abel is doing. Because, I am not weak.” And she slammed her fist into Elena’s face.
Elena gasped, her head jerking back, slamming against the tree.
Her vision blurred.
She saw Sabrina’s hand reached out. Reaching for her neck.
Elena sprung forward. Her head connecting with Sabrina’s chin.
Sabrina stumbled backwards.
Elena fell to the ground. Her hand wrapping around the handle of the knife that was sitting on the ground next to her. She turned, raising her head.
“You’re wrong, Sabrina.” She whispered, staring at the woman. “I’m not weak. In fact I’m stronger than you are, and I am damn well better than you.” And she jumped to her feet, racing towards Sabrina, her hand high above her head. The knife lying there.
Sabrina’s hand whipped out. Wrapping around her wrist.
“Oh, Honey.” She whispered. “You are way out of your league.” And she kicked her leg out. Getting Elena in the stomach.
Elena gasped, stumbling backwards. Feeling the knife slide from her hand.
She felt her feet sink into the ground.
Her feet lost their footing.
She felt herself losing her balance, and she fell to the ground in a heap.
She lifted her head.
Watching as Sabrina walked towards her. Reaching down to pick up her gun and aimed it right at Elena.
“Good bye, Elena.” She whispered, pulling the trigger.
Elena gasped. Rolling out of the way.
The gunshot sounded in her ears.
And her hand hit something cold.
Her gun.
She wrapped her hand around it. Swinging her arm around, and pulling the trigger.
She pulled it again. And again. And again. Watching as the bullets hit Sabrina in the chest.
She rose to her feet. Watching as Sabrina stumbled backwards. Falling to the ground.
“There’s just one thing you should know, Sabrina.” She whispered, stopping a few feet in front of her. “I never miss.” And she raised her gun, and pulled the trigger one last time.
Watching as the bullet hit Sabrina right between the eyes.
The gun slid from her hand.
Elena stared at it. Watching as it fell to the ground, and dropped to her knees. Staring down at Sabrina. Every muscle in her body aching.
She held a hand to her injured arm. Feeling it streak with pain.
Tears ran down her cheeks.
She lifted a hand. Wiping them away. Her hands wrapping around the knife that lay in front of her on the ground.
“Elena.”
She raised her head. Watching as Kieran rose to his feet. Walking towards her. Blood running down his arm.
“Kieran!” she jumped to her feet. “You’re hurt!”
“I’m fine.” Kieran told her, holding up a hand as she rushed towards him. “Where’s the knife?”
“Here.” Elena held it up in her hand. “Why?”
“I need to see it.”
“Kieran—“
He ignored her, and took it from her, plunging it into his wound.
“Kieran, are you crazy!” Elena shouted. “It’s not sterilized!”
“I need to get this out.” He said between clenched teeth. Feeling the edge of the knife hit the bullet. And slowly eased it out with the tip. “Hold out your hand.”
Elena raised a
brow at him, but held out her hand. Watching as the bullet landed in the palm of her hand.
And she stared at it. Her eyes widening.
“Kieran…” Her voice trailed off, and she stared at the small, dart shaped bullet in her hand. “That doesn’t look like an ordinary bullet.”
“That’s because it’s not.” Kieran told her. “I heard about this. It’s a new form of a bullet. Where they combine a regular bullet and a tranquilizer dart.” He shook his head. “God, the bitch planned this! She freaking planned this!” his hand clenched into a fist. “No wonder I got so weak after I got shot. I didn’t understand it. It was just a flesh wound. There was no reason why I should have gotten so weak. But it was all part of her plan. Her plan to get you alone. She wanted it to be just the two of you, Elena.” He raised his head, staring at her. “I’m proud of you, Elena. You defeated her. You didn’t die on me.”
“How could I die?” Elena whispered. “I have so much to live for.”
Kieran laughed. “Yes. Yes you do.” He pulled off his shirt. Wrapping it around his arm, and then draped an arm around her shoulders. “Come on. We’re going to miss it.”
“Miss what?”
“This.” They broke free of the trees and Kieran pointed down towards the Pavilion.
Elena raised her head, watching as the president escorted by the secret service walked up to the podium. Staring at the people standing. The applause echoing in her ears. The reporters who were hovered around the podium.
“Oh my.” She whispered.
“We did that.” Kieran told her. “We saved him. We saved the world. We stopped Abel’s plan. We can be proud of that, Elena. We did good, and the world will never even know it.”
Elena swallowed. Staring down at the president. Not being able to take her eyes off of him.
“We did it.” She whispered. “We really did it.”
“Yes we did.” Kieran whispered. Staring down below them. “You ready to get out of here?”
“And go where?”
“Home.” Kieran whispered. “Let’s go home.”
Chapter Nineteen
The bitch had to die.
There was no question about it.
Abel narrowed his eyes. Slowly lowering his father’s journal, and stared at the television screen. Watching as President Nicholas Schmidt stepped up to the podium.
“Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.”
His voice radiated from the small box. Grating against his nerves.
His hand tightened into a fist.
And he stared down at the journal in front of him. Staring at the picture of Nicholas Schmidt. Remembering that same voice in a recording his father had once played. A recording of his father’s graduation. When Nicholas had been the Valedictorian.
Nicholas and his father had once been good friends. They’d grown up in the same neighborhood. They’d played at the same playground. They had been friends all through elementary school. All through middle school and in high school, everything had changed.
The moment his father had fallen head over heels for a girl.
Abel picked up the journal. Flipping back a couple pages.
Staring at the face of Peggy Harris.
To many men she was gorgeous. Beautiful bright blue eyes. Flawless white skin. Curly, blonde hair. And had legs that any man would drool over.
But to Abel, she was fake.
His eyes narrowed on her picture.
She was too perfect. There was no such thing as perfect.
But his father had thought she was perfect.
Only, Nicholas had taken away his father’s one true chance at happiness, and had gotten to the girl before he’d even had the chance.
Now Abel stared at him on the television screen. Looking oh so mighty. So important. That every fiber of his being wanted to fly through the television and choke the very life out of the bastard.
He slammed his fist down on the desk.
The sound echoing in his ears.
And he closed his eyes. Remembering the story all too well. The words etched in his memory from his father’s journal.
He and Nicholas had never been friends again after that day.
No, instead, Nicholas had gone on to be the most popular kid in high school.
He’d become the starting quarterback. He’d become the star shooting guard for their basketball team. He’d become the starting pitcher for their baseball team. He’d become the best goalie their hockey team had ever seen.
And his father had been left in the dust. All alone.
And soon, to be the center of Nicolas’s cruel bullying.
Abel opened his eyes. Staring down at the journal. Staring at his father’s neat writing. As he re-read about his father’s miserable four years in high school. Where he’d been taped to the flag pole multiple times courtesy of Nicholas and his jock friends. His car had been spray painted. Words such as no balls had been painted. Weak. Pussy. Nicholas had even gone as far as to spread a rumor around the school that his father had chlamydia. Causing every girl to stay away from him. He’d been single throughout all of high school without a single date.
Soon more rumors had been spread. Rumors that his father had cheated his way through every test. Through every assignment. That he did favors for certain teachers, so he didn’t have to do any work. Eventually, no one in the school had wanted anything to do with his father. He’d been completely isolated.
And Dominic had never forgotten about it.
And it was something Abel, would never forget.
How a man like that, could end up the president. He just didn’t understand it. Abel thought to himself.
If only the bastard knew how close he’d been to dying today.
Abel felt a smirk cross his face.
A chuckle rose up in his throat.
If only Elena hadn’t gotten in the way.
The bitch was ruining everything.
A growl escaped his throat. He rose from the chair, walking across the room. Blocking out Nicholas’s annoying voice, and instead stood in the middle of the room. Staring in front of him at the monitors.
And watched, as each tracker went out one by one.
His soldiers. They were dead.
His blood boiled.
And watched, as Sabrina’s tracker, went out.
“No.” he felt panic rise up inside of him. “No!” He screamed the word. Turning, and punching his fist into the wall next to him.
“No! No! No! No!”
Tears filled his eyes.
His throat tightened.
His body fell back against the wall. Slumping. And he slowly raised his head. Staring at the screen. The flat line seeming to taunt him.
Sabrina was dead.
And now there was only one person left who could take out Elena.
Himself.
“Should have done it yourself in the first place, Abel.” He muttered out loud to himself. “Lord knows the only way to get anything done is to do it yourself.”
He pushed away from the wall. Turning and walking across the room. Stopping in front of the mirror and pushing the button.
The mirror flipped over.
And he stood there, watching, as his soldiers trained harder. Faster than ever.
And sadness rolled through him.
Why couldn’t Elena be like this? `He wondered to himself. Resting his hand against the wall. Why couldn’t she just do what he asked? Why couldn’t she still be under the serum? Why couldn’t she be his most dangerous weapon? Why couldn’t she believe in him? Why couldn’t she see that what he was doing was for the better? Why was she fighting him!
Because she was strong, he thought to himself. Stronger than he had ever given her credit for, and that, was his own damn fault.
And now, she was ruining everything.
She was destroying everything.
And now, she had saved Nicholas Schmidt of all people!
Another growl escaped his throat.
His fingers du
g into the wall.
“Oh, how I wish I could wrap my fingers around that small neck of yours and choke the very life out of you.” He whispered out loud. Enjoying all too much the thought of watching the life drain out of that body of hers. Enjoying the thought of her staring at him. Watching, as she realized, that no one would ever defeat him.
A laugh escaped his throat.
He stared out at the facility.
At the girls.
“You have to be ready.” He whispered out loud. “You will be ready. I assure you. I will not fail this time.”
Because it was time.
He lifted the phone to his ear.
“It’s time.” He whispered. “It’s time. We have to do it now. Before it’s too late.”
He flipped the phone closed.
Elena had done exactly what he thought she would do.
The girl had a heart of gold.
She had the patience of a saint.
And her biggest flaw was that she cared about everyone.
Something that he would never understand. How could she care about so many people? People who wouldn’t even give her the time of day? Why did she feel as if she had to go and save the world? To help it? To go see it? Why did she care so much, especially when she had been there when that man had taken her mother?
Didn’t any of this affect her?
Didn’t any of this mean anything to her?
Hadn’t any of this changed her?
It had changed him.
He had turned into a person he had thought he never would become. He had become his father.
And he didn’t regret a second of it.
But Elena would regret it.
She would regret getting in his way.
It didn’t matter that once she had been his daughter.
It didn’t matter that she was the most dangerous assassin he had ever trained.
Nothing mattered.
All that mattered was that she was trying to stop him from reaching his ultimate goal.
And he couldn’t let that happen.
He wouldn’t.
Chapter Twenty
The darkness of the night surrounded her.
Elena stepped out onto the rooftop. Shivering, as the cold breeze whipped through the air. Wrapping her arms around herself. Trying to ease the chill that ran through her body.
Her footsteps echoed on the concrete.
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