Iris

by Yolanda Sfetsos

  Iris sucked in a deep breath. Her limbs filled with immense power.

  She dropped his broken arm to wrap both hands around his shoulders and flung him against the door. It ripped from the hinges, as both man and door exploded out into the corridor.

  A scream tore through the silence around her.

  She didn’t know if it had been hers or his, but she stood up and headed toward Snap.

  Then, everything turned black.

  Chapter Ten

  Fox had expected to find the corridor filled with spectators. Surely, he wasn’t the only one who’d heard the primal scream. Yet, as he stepped out of the room and rounded the corner, he stood alone in the corridor. One hand hovered over his gun—which he’d gotten back from Rue—and the other clung to the brick wall in front of him.

  What the hell’s going on? Had the bounty hunters located them?

  He stopped in his tracks when he spotted the big man, Snap, in the middle of the corridor up ahead. He lay flat on his back, one arm limp at his side. Blood trickled from his nose, mouth, and ears as he attempted to sit up, but he only managed to slide his spine along the door lying beneath him. He held one hand out in front of him as he tried to sit up.

  “Please, I’ll leave. I won’t touch you. I promise,” he called to someone Fox couldn’t see yet.

  Fox closed his hands into fists when Iris stepped into his line of sight. The coward kept backing away from her. Her long hair lifted, as if an invisible wind was revolving around her. The ends were static with the same electrical buzz he’d noticed on the stairwell.

  “Who did you sell me out to?” Her voice sounded deeper, different, and her gaze was fixed on the brute, as if she couldn’t see anything else.

  “I don’t know.” Tears streaked the blood on his face.

  “You said they would pay you.” Her monotone pitch sounded almost robotic, and it made the hair on Fox’s arms stand on end.

  Snap nodded. “If it’s the credits you want, I’ll give them to you. They gave me half. Here, it’s all in my pocket.” He reached downward.

  “Don’t move!” She took a step forward. “Tell me who they are.”

  “I have no idea.”

  “Who are they?” Iris lifted a bare foot and pressed it down against Snap’s chest. He fell back against the floor.

  “Ow, man. That fucking hurts. I told you I don’t know. They’re bounty hunters. They all look the same to me. I don’t know any names. Please, you’ve got to believe me.” Even from his vantage point near the wall, Fox could see the cowardly tears continue. He also noticed Snap’s pants were down around his ankles when he’d reached for his pockets.

  The bastard snuck up on her. Anger surged inside his body. Snap had probably tried to ambush her, but how did the bounty hunters fit into all of this?

  “Where are they?” Iris asked.

  “I don’t know.”

  “Don’t lie to me. You promised me to them. Now, where are they?” Her foot pressed harder against his chest. A creak echoed down the corridor.

  Snap screamed in pain. “Okay, okay. They’re waiting…outside one of our…barriers.” Sweat, tears, or both, trickled down the sides of his face as he closed his eyes.

  “You were prepared to risk your own people for credits?” The anger in her voice crackled the atmosphere.

  Fox opened and shut his mouth in an attempt to pop his ears. The amount of energy built up in these corridors was playing havoc on his system. Where was she drawing this much raw power from? He’d never seen or felt anything like it before. It all seemed so unnatural.

  “They’re not my people.” Snap opened his eyes. “I was unlucky enough to be born down here, but these freaks aren’t my people.”

  Iris glared at him, and pressed her bare foot further into his chest.

  “If you felt this way about us, why didn’t you leave?”

  Fox looked up, and watched as Rue approached the scene from the other side of the corridor. Her hands were at her sides, eyes shiny with unshed tears. He sneaked back a little more, not wanting to draw anyone’s attention.

  “Rue?” Snap turned his head to stare at the woman. “You’ve got to get this crazy bitch off me! She’s trying to kill me. Please, get her off me.”

  She shook her head in response. Disappointment hardened her weathered face as she stared at Iris with wonder. “I heard everything, Snap. Nothing you say now will save your fate. You’ve led hunters to our level for selfish reasons—”

  “I was doing it for us. You have no idea how much they’re offering. You’re always talking about getting some of the younger ones upside for a better life. This much credit will help us.” The exertion on his face increased when Iris twisted her foot into his ribs.

  “He lies,” she said. “He wants the credits for his own gain. He doesn’t care about any of you. He came into my room with the intention of rape, before handing me over to whoever these people are.”

  Fox watched the two women as their gazes locked. Rue spared a quick glance at Snap before returning her attention to Iris. As they shared a moment of understanding between them, the bastard stretched his one functioning arm downward. The hilt of a knife strapped to his ankle glinted under the light. He squirmed far enough to touch it with his fingertips.

  “I don’t approve of rapists within our small colony,” Rue said, never removing her gaze from Iris. “If that’s your claim, I’ll be forced to throw him out.”

  Snap’s eyes widened in horror, but it didn’t matter. His hand was already wrapped around the hilt of his knife.

  Fox didn’t waste another second. He charged out from his hiding spot. He didn’t need a weapon of his own, though there were enough strapped to him. He dropped to the ground, his knees hitting hard on the concrete as he grabbed Snap’s hand and applied enough pressure to yank it back. The blade slid from his grasp. The big man cursed and spat, but Fox squeezed harder. He didn’t think he’d be able to snap the bones as easily as the other wrist, but it would still hurt and slow him down.

  “Snap! You disappoint me. I would never have expected such betrayal from you.”

  Iris lifted her foot off his chest, leaned over, and dragged him to his feet by yanking on his shirt. She held onto the fabric tightly and said, “I’ve got my eye on you. One more strike, and it’s the end for you. Do you understand me?”

  “Yeah, yeah.” He nodded frantically.

  Fox pocketed the knife.

  Iris let him slip from her grasp, and he fell to his knees. Snap attempted to rise but fell again because of his pants. It took him a few tries before he finally pulled them over his hips.

  Fox met Iris’s eyes and noticed the gleam of something that usually wasn’t there. What the hell was wrong with her? Her breasts rose and fell in quick motions. Her eyes rolled back into her head, and she collapsed.

  He couldn’t remember moving, but she didn’t get a chance to reach the floor. He had his arms around her, sitting on the dirty floor as others now started cautiously piling out of their rooms. Snap got lost in the crowd as they gathered around them.

  “What happened to her?” It was Honey who’d crawled forward, hovering to get a closer look.

  “She just revealed a rat amongst us,” Rue answered.

  White appeared beside Honey. He peered down at Iris with sad, cat eyes. His vertical pupils were large. He was amazingly beautiful, yet creepy to look at. Once again, Fox suspected there was no way these people could have naturally evolved into a human/cat hybrid. It just wasn’t possible. Not unless cats physically bred with humans, which happened to be an even further impossibility.

  His mind filled with memories from a past he preferred not to remember. There were too many holes, too many suspicions and acts of violence in his life he’d rather pretend hadn’t happened.

  “Dad, what’s a feline?” He’d been about six years old when he asked his father the question. Staring up at the man with the dark hair and trimmed beard, he remembered how much he’d wanted to be like his Dad bac
k then. It was funny. As a child, one’s parents were practically gods. It didn’t take long for his father to fall from grace, though.

  He’d brushed Fox’s hair away from his face. “You sure like to ask a lot of questions, don’t you, Fox?” He smiled down at his son. At this stature, he’d looked ten feet tall. Nowadays, he was taller than his father.

  “I like to know things.”

  “Feline means cat.” He gave him a little push toward the open office door. “Now, why don’t you be a good boy and wait for me outside. This meeting won’t take long, and then I’ll show you something very special. I promise.”

  That’s all it took to get his short legs moving. He gave the white-haired man sitting on the visitor’s side of his father’s desk a quick glance and kept moving. The man’s eyes were bloodshot and brown, almost crazed.

  Fox glanced at the tunnel entrance to his left, wishing for the hundredth time that he could find out where it led. He prepared to close the door behind him and listened for a few moments as he did.

  The man sat forward and said, “I think I’ve made a breakthrough, sir. The feline DNA just wasn’t sticking with the human one. You see, not every human can become a hybrid. There are specific DNA traits which need to match completely. Humans and cats share many genetic codes, but only some will mesh.”

  “Then get to it. I want to see results.”

  “I need subjects—”

  “It’s already taken care of.” His father waved a hand to one of his goons. He opened the other door—the one near the massive window behind his desk—and another goon tumbled in with a woman in front of him. Her hair was short and dark. She looked pretty but average. Although, Fox had decided at that time she would probably make a good mother. His had died only a year before, and he still missed her. Sometimes, he secretly wished for another to replace her, and he felt guilty about it, not wanting her to think he had forgotten or forsaken her. It was just so hard to live without her. His father hardly ever tucked him into bed or told him stories like she had. She would sing to him and fill his mind up with tales of a world with a shiny sun, grass, and blue skies.

  The woman’s dark eyes met his, and a small smile spread along her thin lips.

  “Start with her. I’ve got plenty more where she came from. Now, get started!” His father dismissed the other man.

  It was then that Fox closed the door and ran out past the empty reception desk and into the corridor outside his father’s office. He usually had a pretty secretary sitting there, but not when he was taking care of his special projects...

  Fox shook his head, clearing the flood of memories while meeting the dark eyes of Rue. At that moment, he realized he’d met her all those years ago but hadn’t connected the pieces until now. The suspicion of mind control he suspected his father of conducting, even on him, was suddenly confirmed.

  It made him look down at Iris. What if she was one of his creations, too?

  He shook his head again.

  “Is everything all right, Fox?” Rue asked, taking a step forward.

  He nodded, prepared to lie. He was saved by Iris murmuring in his arms.

  “What happened?” she asked, rubbing her head.

  “Iris, you were attacked.” Though technically, he’d only seen her attack and not the other way around.

  “Attacked by whom?” Her eyes were bright and filled with confusion. Unlike they’d been just moments ago as the self-assured version of her had pressed a foot against Snap’s chest.

  “Snap,” he answered.

  “I’m so sorry for his behavior, but I promise he’ll never hurt you again.” Rue looked down at her, apologetically.

  “Hurt me? I don’t remember.”

  The sound of an explosion shook the floor beneath them and rattled Fox’s bones. He clenched his teeth, rising to his feet with Iris still in his arms.

  “What’s going on?” Honey asked, looking around horrified. She grabbed White’s arm.

  “We’re under attack,” Rue yelled. “Everyone, get back into your rooms. Activate the seals on your doors immediately, and do not open them for anyone. I repeat, don’t open the door for anyone.” She turned her attention to Fox. “You two, come with me.”

  Commotion ensued seconds after her order. Everyone rushed back into their rooms. The electronic clicks echoed up and down both sides of the corridors as he rushed after the older woman. Iris held onto him, her head pressed against his chest and eyes closed, as he carried her in his arms.

  Their closeness made him feel alive. His pulse quickened. After this threat passed, he’d personally make Snap pay.

  Things just seemed to be getting worse by the minute. At least now, he knew for certain that the bounty hunters were after Iris. He would do whatever it took to keep them away from her and get to the top of the Wentworth Corporation Tower, so he could finally get some well-deserved answers to many of the questions plaguing him since childhood.

  Chapter Eleven

  “Where are we going?” Fox asked as he carried Iris in his arms. His voice rumbled inside his chest as he cradled her. It comforted Iris, and since the extra weight didn’t seem to bother him, she relaxed against him.

  “We’ve got a hiding spot for everyone, and that includes you two. Now, come on.” Rue jogged up ahead, leading the way through the now almost-deserted corridor.

  For a moment, Iris closed her eyes and buried her face against his chest. Fox smelled nice—musk and leather. She wanted to pretend they weren’t running, wanted to forget all of the chaos around them and the strange blackouts she seemed to be suffering, so she could pretend he was sweeping her off her feet in a fit of romance.

  Her head ached. The throb at both of her temples drummed continuously, even louder than the footsteps behind them, or the second explosion now rocking the floor beneath them.

  She couldn’t remember much about what happened beyond saying goodbye to White for the night. Everything that happened after was scratchy and out of sequence, just as it had been inside the basement. Whatever had caused the temporary blackout then had done the same now. Was it possible that her mind vacated the premises when things got too scary or violent around her?

  “Inside,” Rue called, holding the metal door open enough for them to slip inside. She shut the door behind them.

  “Can you stand on your own?” Fox whispered near Iris’s ear.

  Shivers raced up and down her spine, but she managed a quick nod. Her aching head wouldn’t be enough to keep her down. Whoever was out there, they wanted blood.

  Who wants me dead and why?

  “What’s the plan?” Fox asked Rue once he left Iris standing safely by the wall.

  Iris pressed her back against it for a few minutes, drawing in a deep breath and then letting it out slowly. Nerves tightened around her body, but she felt calm for the moment. She wished Fox wasn’t halfway across the room, focusing his attention on the other woman.

  “We’re going to stay in this room until they get bored and leave.” The older woman locked the door by pressing several keys on an electronic pad beside it. She then removed a brick and pulled down a lever.

  “What’s that for?” Fox stood behind her. He was taller, by at least a head, so he watched as she performed each quick action.

  “This will fill the corridors with UV light.”

  “Just like you had in the room we dropped into?” His words were almost a whisper.

  “With that much light, it’ll make it harder for them to see where they’re going. We’ll have the advantage. There’s no way they will be able to see individual doors.” Rue popped the brick back in place and pressed her spine against the wall. She slowly slid to the floor and held her face in her hands.

  “I thought cats had trouble seeing in the light,” Fox continued his ramblings.

  “We’re not like other cats.” She offered him a lopsided smile. “We’ve adapted to this life better than most.”

  “You know, you keep saying you’ve adjusted, but I find it hard to
believe evolution is responsible for what’s become of your people.” He stood by the door, hand near his thigh holster and ready for action. The goggles still sat on top of his head. The dark blue uniform was baggy around his legs but fit snug around his torso. The one-piece suit had a black belt running around his waist, and the bottoms were tucked into the top of calf-high boots.

  It was just a simple uniform, but on Fox it made him look like a man of action. A man ready to protect those who were in danger. The insignia patches had been removed and left only darker blotches of fabric on his chest and one bicep. Other than that, Iris could pretend he was her savior.

  Did she need a savior? Iris sighed. She believed she did. A woman without memory and blackouts definitely needed some kind of help. If he could offer her that, she’d be grateful.

  If only she could ignore just how sexy he looked, no matter what he did. Even as he hounded the poor woman who’d just helped them seek shelter from the bad guys.

  Rue glared at him with dark, steely eyes. “If it’s not evolution, then what else could it be?” It came out like a question, but Iris suspected it was more a challenge than anything else.

  “I don’t know. Maybe you can tell me.”

  “Fox, I don’t think interrogating someone who’s willingly risked her life and those of her people to help us is a good idea.” Iris couldn’t shut up anymore. As much as her body and mind reacted wildly toward him on an emotional and physical level she was pretty sure she’d never experienced, she knew what he was doing was wrong.

  He turned to answer but stopped when something smacked against the locked door. A second thump made him jump back. “I thought you said—”

  “There should be no way for them to see with the amount of light I’m projecting out there. No way—” Her eyes widened in terror, “—unless whoever’s out there has also…adapted.”

  “Maybe Snap is guiding the way. I’m not sure how much you heard of the exchange between Iris and him, but he confessed to having the hunters waiting in the wings.” Fox’s face darkened. “He sold all of you to the gutter, just so he could hand Iris over and claim the credits.”