His only option was to try and mind connect to see if she could answer him. He would also try and sense where she was. If that didn’t work, he would search every room until he found her. The chances of finding her before the alarm was sounded, were slim.
He leaned against the wall and took a deep breath before focusing. He sent out a mind connect for Grace, putting all of his energy and desire into that reach. Silence was all that greeted him. He tried again. This time there was a faint sensation of a tingling in his head. He focused on that sensation and tried to pinpoint where it had come from.
He turned right.
It was a long hall, but Grace had to be close. He’d walked several hundred feet before stopping. Grace felt near enough for him to touch, but he still did not have a clear idea of where she was. He opened the first door and looked in. It was a small laboratory, full of glass and steel, but empty. He shut it and went on to the next door, when a sharp cry pierced his head.
He stopped and turned in the opposite direction. He ran past the elevators and stopped in front of another door. It was identical to the all the others in the hall, but there was one difference. This was the room where the cry had come from. There was only one person that he would have been able to connect with like that.
Grace.
Chapter 15
There was a keypad on the door.
He swallowed back his fear and focused on Grace. “Tell me the code.” Over and over, he repeated his request, until there was a faint response. He swore he heard the numbers nine, eight, and four in his mind. He punched them in. Nothing happened. He tried reversing them. Again, nothing.
He focused on Grace. “How many?”
The response was faint, but he heard a four. He needed one more number. He punched in each combination of the three digits with other numbers, until the number eight unlocked the door.
He eased his breathing and readied his weapon.
He flung the door open.
Grace was strapped to a steel table and there were two Albireons on either side of her. One of them had a needle in her arm. Partlan clenched his jaw as he fought to control the surge of anger and disgust that filled him. He slammed the door shut and shot the first Albireon in the head.
Grace’s eyes widened and then she twisted her body in an attempt to break free of her bindings. The second Albireon turned toward the wall.
He had the syringe filled with Grace’s blood in his hands.
His fingers were a few inches away from an alarm button when Partlan reached him.
He pulled him up by his neck, grabbed the syringe, and shook him. All the pent up fury and disdain he had for the race came through as he gripped harder. They had dared to touch Grace and for that they would die. He held tight until the life drain from the creature and then, he threw him to the ground and shot him between the eyes to be certain he was dead. Albireons were notoriously hard to kill. They drew breath not only from their lungs, but also from breathing holes on their skin.
He would not hurt another human.
Partlan took the syringe over to the sink and broke it. He turned the water on and washed all of Grace’s blood down the drain. No one would use Grace’s genetic material for their experiments.
“Partlan.” Grace’s voice sounded weak.
He turned to her. “Are you harmed?”
She shook her head and pointed to the machine in the center of the room. “They used that to pump a sedative into the air. It’s made me weak.”
Partlan went to the apparatus and pulled the plug from the wall. He made certain it was off before going to Grace. He tugged at the bindings, but they held firm. He grabbed a knife from the instrument tray beside her.
“Do not move.”
Grace inhaled. Her eyes were on him as he sliced through the leather bindings. When her hands were free, she rubbed her wrists and waited while he worked on the restraints at her feet. She sat and swung her legs over the edge of the table the moment she was released. Partlan grabbed her to him and held her tight.
“You called to me and I heard.”
“Thank God.” Grace’s voice was a low sob. “I thought you were dead and that there would be no escape from these monsters.”
Partlan edged away far enough to look down at her beloved face. He brushed a hand over her cheek and curled her hair behind her ear. Even bruised and covered with dirt, she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. His heart should have exploded with the joy that rushed through him as he held her. Instead, it beat strong and steady.
He had found her.
Now, they had to escape.
He cleared his throat. “Eogan has a plan, but we need to get to the surface.”
Grace nodded and jumped down. Her body trembled and she grabbed the edge of the table to steady herself. After a few seconds, she straightened up and shook out her legs.
“I’m ready.” She walked to the door. “Do you have an extra gun?”
She was a true warrior.
She was perfect.
Partlan grinned as he pulled the pistol out of his waistband and handed it to her. “I did not see anyone when I came to get you. There is a camera at the end of the hall, but I have pushed it upwards. Stick close to the wall and we should be safe.”
Partlan opened the door. “Stay behind me.”
“I can take lead.” Grace tried to move ahead of him.
“It is best that you stay hidden behind me.” Partlan was in command mode. “If we are detected on their surveillance they will only be expecting me.”
“And you want me to be a surprise.”
“It is a simple plan, but effective.” Partlan’s body blocked Grace as she wedged close to him.
Grace put her hand on his back and stayed near as he sidestepped down the hall.
They came to the intersection where the elevator was located. He pressed the button. The whirling noise let him know the car was in motion. He stood to the side and waited for the doors to open. The car was empty when it arrived. They rushed in and pressed the button for the upper level.
He sent out a mind connection to Eogan. “We are in the elevator. What do we do when at the top?”
“I’ve secured a four wheeled vehicle for you.”
“Any guards?”
“Two at the doors to the outside. I’ve taken care of the two at the elevator. Several truck engines are running. The noise will provide cover.” Eogan hesitated a second. “Above ground is where most of the video surveillance is.”
“How many guards can they mobilize?”
“There are over forty on standby. You need to get out of here as fast as possible. Surprise and speed are your best weapons.”
“You will be there?”
“Yes.” Eogan’s voice was firm. “Turn right at the elevator. There’s a small guard office. I will be waiting for you.”
Partlan braced himself at the door opening. He raised his pistol and steadied his breathing.
Grace raised an eyebrow. “Is there a problem?”
Partlan shook his head. “Eogan is waiting for us above.”
The elevator came to a stop.
He motioned Grace to the other side of the door. She nodded and readied her gun. He had no intention of putting her at risk, but it was good to know that she could defend herself if something happened to him. He cocked his pistol as the door opened.
The area was clear.
Partlan stepped out of the elevator and motioned her to stay behind him.
“We’d better move fast or we’ll be overrun with military types.” Grace’s voice was low.
Partlan nodded and turned to the right. The air was filled with exhaust fumes and the noise of the running trucks. Eogan’s cover was effective. The office was where Eogan had said it would be. A large truck was parked in front and blocked them from the cameras.
He opened the office door a crack and scanned the room. Eogan glanced up from the bank of computers he was working at. There were two guards dead at his feet. Partlan
motioned Grace to enter and then he shut the door behind them.
“I’ve sent the video feed into a replay loop.” Eogan stood away from the desk. “That should buy you a few minutes.”
“We’ll need it.” Grace leaned against the wall. “What’s the plan?”
“There’s a fully stocked All-Terrain Vehicle by the side door.”
Eogan picked up two guns from the dead soldiers. He popped out the magazines and checked the cartridges before handing the weapons to Partlan. Then, he pulled what looked like a scanner from his inside jacket pocket. He flicked it on and held it out to Grace.
“What are you doing?” Grace jerked away.
“I need to know if they put a chip in you.” Eogan motioned for her to hold her arm out and then he scanned it. A loud ringing sounded where the needle had been inserted into her. “We have to get that out.”
Grace’s expression was dazed. “They took blood from me, that’s all.”
“They injected the chip first and then let the syringe fill up.” Eogan put the scanner on the desk and took out a small black bag from his pocket.
“How quickly can you get it out?” Partlan glanced out the office door.
“It moves up the bloodstream and implants into soft tissue at joint junctures. If we put pressure on her arm, we should stop it from progressing.” Eogan unzipped his bag and handed Partlan a rubber tourniquet. “Put that just below the elbow. I doubt it has moved far.”
“It happened less than ten minutes ago.” Partlan helped Grace out of her jacket and then held her arm. A tremor ran through her and he sent her a wave of calm.
“I’m fine.” Grace’s voice shook. “We might be able to use this to our advantage.”
Eogan scanned her arm again and stopped about one inch from where the needle had been inserted. “Put your thumb just above the area so it doesn’t migrate when I cut.”
Partlan applied the pressure where Eogan instructed and then watched as he used a scalpel to cut into Grace’s arm. Grace’s muscles tensed for a second and then relaxed. Eogan used tweezers to poke about the incision. He pulled out a small oval of metal with leg-like protrusions. It looked like a silver bug. He held it up for them to inspect and then put it on the desk.
“I never felt it.”
“They microchip every human who comes into this facility, including the employees.” Eogan put the chip into a small plastic bag and handed it to Partlan. “It’s a precaution in case there’s a problem or a prisoner escapes.”
“I told you the Albireons were to be feared.” Partlan placed a couple of strips of adhesive over Grace’s incision. “We can use the chip to mislead them.”
“Anything to throw them off the scent.” Grace shrugged into her suit coat and flipped her hair over the collar. “We have to get out of here.”
“The ATV is ready. I will distract the men while you punch in the security code to open the doors.”
“Are you certain you will not come with us?” Partlan
“I’ll follow when the time is right.” Eogan put the scanner and black bag back into his pockets. “If I leave now, they’ll double their efforts to find us. I’ll contact you when it is safe.”
Partlan shook his head. It was unheard of for a Hunter to deliberately separate himself from his brothers. They worked as a team. That is how they survived. Years of training had made them effective, but then Eogan had not had the same training. To do something alone, was risking failure and death.
“What is the code?” Partlan handed Grace a second weapon.
“Four, eight, nine, three.” Eogan opened the door and pointed in the opposite direction. “The side door is at the end of that line of trucks. Once you’re outside head north toward the MacDonnell Ranges. When you get through the outer fence, head southeast.”
“Why southeast?”
“It’s easier to meet up with the road and get to the town. You can also follow the creek bed.” Eogan lowered his voice. “The town is twenty miles away and has an airport. That’s your best hope of getting out of here before they capture you.”
“Anything else I should know?” Partlan eased his shoulder muscles and put an arm around Grace. To lose her before they were free was not an option.
“There’s more than one fence around the perimeter. I put wire cutters on the ATV.” Eogan pulled a folded paper out of his jacket and pushed it into Partlan’s hands. “Here’s a map. They patrol the area day and night. Use evasive tactics. The boundary around the facility is prohibited, so if you run into someone, they’re either an employee or security.”
Partlan nodded. “We will hide until the search quietens down.”
“It’s desert and mountain. There’s some scrub trees and rocks, but not much cover.”
“Understood.” Grace glanced around Partlan to look outside of the office. “I’ve had basic survival training for all terrains.”
“You’ll need it.” Eogan slipped through the opening. “Give me the chip. If they spot you, I’ll send this off in the opposite direction.”
Chapter 16
The sound of gears grinding and then an engine being revved, filled the upper level. Partlan waited until he heard voices yelling from the direction Eogan had gone, before grabbing Grace’s hand and moving toward the side door. They would only have a small window of opportunity and he could not waste any time.
Footsteps sounded near him.
They ducked behind one of the large trucks just as a guard ran by them. He was headed toward Eogan. Partlan eased around the vehicle. No one was in sight, so he motioned Grace to follow him to the side door. There was a keypad at the large metal entryway.
“Ready?” He looked back at Grace. “You get the ATV started while I get this open.”
Grace pointed to a square shaped, smaller vehicle that was parked away from the trucks. “That one?”
Partlan nodded. “Go.”
Partlan keyed in the code that Eogan had given him. The keys lit up and then there was a clicking noise as if a latch were unlocking. There was a loud whirring sound and then the doors slid open about four feet before stopping. It was just enough room to get the small vehicle through. He raced to Grace and jumped onto the ATV that she had already started up. She pulled away with a speed that sent them up in the air before settling back to the ground. He leaned close so that his body would shield her from danger.
They emerged from the side of a mountain.
Partlan squinted to protect his eyes from the blinding intensity of the sun’s glare. Ahead of them was a series of white domes and buildings. That looked to be the main facility and they needed to head in the opposite direction. Grace turned left and they skirted the edge of a dark reddish mountain until they reached a gorge that headed north.
“This must be where Eogan wanted us to go.” Partlan pointed to the opening.
“Are you certain?” Grace looked back at him. “There’s a road. That suggests an entry point for vehicles and a gate.”
“We will try and detour around the gatehouse.”
Grace headed down the road. Partlan sensed her unease, but there was no way around a confrontation. Escape and safety were their priorities. They were on a dirt road inside of the facility, driving a vehicle with an insignia on it. They should blend in.
A small guardhouse was within sight when Partlan noticed another road heading north. He touched Grace’s shoulder and pointed. She veered to the left and detoured several hundred yards before the guardhouse. With any luck, they would assume that they were supposed to be there. They continued unhampered until they reached the first fence.
Grace slowed and came to a stop.
Partlan grabbed the bolt cutters and threw a rock at the fence. Nothing happened. It was not electrified. He cut the chain-link fence. They drove through and continued for several minutes until another two fences blocked them. Ten feet separated the last two fences. Beyond the barriers were mountains and desert.
Freedom.
Partlan eased himself off the ve
hicle and after ensuring it was safe, he made quick work of opening the chain links.
Grace glanced behind her. “Hurry. I see dust from approaching vehicles.”
“Drive.” He held the links apart.
She sped through the opening. Partlan ran to the second fence, where he repeated the same process. Grace raced through and waited until Partlan jumped on behind her.
“Drive north.”
“We don’t have a compass.”
Partlan pointed in the direction of the mountain range in the distance. Grace took off. Dry, parched land surrounded them as far as they could see. Behind them, billows of dust were filling the air. One plume was where they had cut through the first fence, and then a second billow was coming from the western side of the base.
It was imperative that they reach cover soon. He did not want to chance being tracked by thermal imaging equipment or helicopters. They needed to get as much distance between them as possible.
“They have sent out reinforcements.” Partlan spoke above the roar of the all-terrain vehicle. “Gun it.”
Grace nodded and even though the vehicle moved faster, their pursuers were still gaining on them. There was no way they could outrun them. Partlan needed to throw them off their track. He scanned the vast desert in front, looking for an area with a variation in topography.
“Turn left here.”
“That’s opposite of where the airport is.”
“This vehicle is too slow. We need to find a place to hide until nightfall.”
“You think there is a cave or rock outcrop there?”
“It’s our best chance.”
Partlan pointed in a northwestern direction. “Head there.”
It looked to be a small outcropping of stone. They were still several miles away and beyond that was a drop in the terrain. If he planned it right, Grace would be in hiding before he sent the vehicle off in the opposite direction. He would be within an easy distance to run to the outcrop and yet far enough away from the trajectory of the ATV that no one should guess where they were hidden.
“Stop.”
Grace hit the brakes. The vehicle came to a grinding halt within a billow of red sand. Partlan jumped off and opened the storage container. He rummaged through until he found a length of nylon rope. It should keep the engine going when it was tied around the thumb throttle.
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