He sprang to his feet, and the bed bounced. The flimsy headboard rapped against the wall. “Why didn’t I listen to him?” His fist slammed on the dresser, and Gisa flinched.
Her gaze traveled around the room as if searching for something to use as a weapon. There was nothing at hand. He had stuck her bag in a drawer, or she would have been swinging it at him now, to judge by the look in her eyes.
Yet, she hovered at the door, making no effort to leave.
He looked down at his fist. “I’m sorry. I should have believed him when he said the baby is a clone.”
"Human cloning is impossible."
He pulled upright to stare at her, his eyes slowly refocusing. “Human cloning is theoretically possible. Some claim to have already achieved it. And with all that has happened, I'm convinced Cochran was telling the truth.” His face contorted, and his hair fell across his forehead. "At least, truth as he knew it."
Gisa shook her head slowly. “How could I be pregnant with a clone? Dr. Cochran told me safety measures were in place.” Her voice was calm, unnaturally so.
He breathed deeply and forced his muscles to relax. “Safety measures are in place to prevent accidents—to make sure the eggs are paired with the correct sperm. But this wasn’t an accident. This was deliberate.”
Tears welled in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks. She brushed them away with the back of her hand. “Whose clone is it?”
Rayden shook his head. “I don’t know. Dr. Cochran didn’t know. If I had listened to him, maybe we would have found out. Before all of this.” He sat on the edge of the bed.
She swallowed. “Dr. Brooks," she said firmly. "What happened in the lab?”
He fought to keep his muscles relaxed. He clenched and unclenched his fist. “Dr. Cochran called me while I was out of the office. He warned me that they were on the way to your school." The thought prodded him to his feet. They had to get going. Time was running out. "We've got to go.”
“Go where?”
“I don’t know." He looked deeply into her eyes, wanting to take her by the shoulders and shake some sense into her. "We don't have time to figure it out now. Just get on the road, away from here.” His voice grew louder.
She took deep breaths before she answered. “None of this makes sense. Why would I be carrying a clone?”
Rayden bit his lip. “You were selected.”
“Selected? What do you mean?”
He shrugged impatiently. “Dr. Cochran just said you were selected. He didn’t know why. At least, he didn’t tell me.” Waves of anger washed over him. He wanted to slam his fist into the wall. Why couldn't she understand they needed to hurry?
“Who selected me?” Her voice was shrill.
He fastened his gaze on her, and struggled not to shout. “Die Auserwählten.”
“Die Auserwhat?”
“Die Auserwählten. The Chosen Ones.”
GISA’S NAILS DUG into her palms. “The Chosen Ones? Auser... what?” Wow, she thought. He's lost it.
Dr. Brooks was eyeing her with interest, a muscle in his jaw twitching. "Auserwählten. Die Auserwählten.”
“That sounds German, Dr. Brooks.” She locked eyes with him, her forehead furrowed at the odd coincidence.
He rubbed his forehead. “Yes, it’s German.” He shrugged his shoulders. "That's all I know."
She focused on a crack in the wall above his shoulder. Her eyes shifted back and forth. "My maiden name is Ostheim. I’m of German descent.”
“I know. Adalgisa Ostheim.”
Her gaze swung to meet his. “How do you know?”
“I've seen your records. Remember? I examined you when Dr. Cochran was out of town.” He rubbed the dark stubble on his chin, anger flashing in his eyes.
Did doctors really notice their patients' maiden names? But he had worked closely with Dr. Cochran. “Dr. Brooks, it’s hard to believe any of this.” She perched on the edge of the lone chair.
He shook his head. “I didn’t believe any of this either. Now three people are dead because I wouldn't listen to Cochran. We could have stopped it, done something, if I hadn't dismissed his concerns.” His shoulders slumped, his arm covered his eyes.
He was either a good actor or something was causing his agitation. “If the police are searching for you, can’t they trace your car? Won't they know you're here?” Her eyes stayed glued on him.
“It’s not my car...a friend loaned me his.”
She almost snorted but shrugged instead. "I don't know what to think...how can I trust you?"
He was probably conning her. But why? Why would he make up such an outrageous story?
Rayden straightened and rubbed his temples, the muscle in his jaw still twitching. “Listen, men from Die Auserwählten are looking for us. Not to mention the police. We've got to go."
“Why did you bring me here if it's so dangerous?"
That gave him pause. He looked embarrassed, a tint of red in his dark cheeks. "You were so still. I wanted to make sure you were okay."
"All right." She gave a curt nod. "But listen—the police are after you, not me. And I only have your word the Auserwhatzits are after me. If this is a clone I’m carrying, the problem can be easily solved. I’ll abort, and that’ll be that.” She paused and had the urge to brush her hands together in the universal sign of washing her hands of this mess. But she refrained. “I would like to check the fetus’s DNA before I do so.” Warmth flooded her cheeks, but she spoke calmly.
He gave a slight shake of his head. “Amniocentesis will have to be performed, and you need to be at least eleven weeks pregnant—usually around sixteen weeks. You’re only nine weeks.”
Gisa grimaced and took a deep breath. “A clone. It sounds so ...ridiculous.” She moved restlessly.
He frowned. “Listen, I’m tired, and I’m hungry. And we don't have time to debate this." He ground his teeth.
His tone angered her, and she narrowed her eyes. “How can you expect me to trust you? You gave me a shot of God-knows-what. And why do you think I'm in danger? If I'm carrying a clone for Die Auserwhatzits, why would they want to hurt me?”
He stood and gave her a long, hard look. “Listen, Gisa. What do you think will happen after the child is born? Will they need you then? You're just a human incubator. Besides, their cover is blown. No telling what they might do."
She studied him and shrugged. "It just doesn't make sense."
"I had to get you out of there, away from the school." He narrowed his eyes at her. "I’m going to find something to eat. I’m sure there’s a vending machine around here somewhere." He sighed heavily. "And then we're leaving.”
She sat rigid, hearing the door open, and then click shut. Should she make a run for it now?
She needed to call someone. But who? Her parents were dead, her husband, too. She had only the friends she had made at school this year—her college friends were too far away. Would anyone be willing to help her? Get involved in this? She wrung her hands in her lap.
Rayden had explained... or tried to. The way he looked when he said why he had brought her here. He had been worried about her... or so it seemed. What if he was right and Die Auser...wählten was after her? But why would they be? Her head ached from trying to make sense of it all.
The wisest choice would be to call the police. But... he would be arrested. Did she really want that? What if he really was trying to help her?
Gisa pushed herself from the chair. She rummaged around in the dresser until she found her bag and pulled out her phone. Her hand wavered. She had a message... from Dr. Cochran.
She stood stock still, listening to his voice.
"Mrs. Jackson, I only have a moment. You're in danger. Trust Dr. Brooks. Please believe me. I am so sorry..."
She listened to sudden shouting and then silence. She walked outside, her legs weak.
Rayden, his arms laden with food and drinks, headed back across the parking lot. Gisa leaned against the wall outside the door, her bag slung over her shoul
der, her face grim.
He nodded at the car. “Open the door, please?”
She hesitated and then complied. He placed the food and drinks into the back seat. She backed up when he turned to face her.
His face scrunched, and he licked his lips. “Gisa, we’ve got to go.”
She met his eyes without flinching. “I had a message."
"A message?"
"From Dr. Cochran.
"And?"
"He told me to trust you."
"Did he say anything else?"
"That's all." She took a deep breath. "I'll go with you."
Relief flooded his face. "Get in."
As she slid across the seat, she heard the sound of squealing tires. Rayden turned his head toward the noise. Already partly across the seat, Gisa twisted to follow his line of sight. A dark blue van and a black SUV pulled into the parking lot. The SUV swerved around the van.
Rayden’s eyes sought Gisa’s before he jumped in and slammed the door. He cranked the car, threw it in reverse, and gunned it.
But they were too late. The van blocked the only way out. Gisa gasped. Perhaps Rayden told the truth.
A man exited from the van, a cap pulled low over his eyes, and pointed a gun at them. A sagging chain link fence surrounded the rest of the area, cutting off any means of escape. Her heart pounded in her ears, and she bit her lip to keep from screaming.
Rayden spun the car around. “Hold on.”
He floored the car while Gisa slid to her side and fumbled with the seat belt. It clicked in place as the car hit the fence. Rayden’s head hit the steering wheel. The impact flung Gisa forward.
But the car broke through, and they fishtailed down an embankment into the parking area of a store. The tires screeched as the car went into a tailspin. Rayden regained control and swung out into the road amid the blaring of horns.
He wove in and out of traffic as he sped away. Gisa glanced in the side mirror, her hands shaking. The SUV swerved around a car, coming inches from their bumper. The van was right behind the SUV.
As Rayden turned down one road and then another, the SUV sometimes fell behind, sometimes closed in. Hands clutching the seat, Gisa had to swallow her screams.
When they reached the city limits, they continued down a two lane road into the countryside. Gisa’s eyes continually darted from the rearview mirror to the side mirror.
She twisted in her seat to look over her shoulder, and no longer saw the blue van. But the SUV was just a few car lengths behind them. Rayden swerved down a road lined with trees. They passed a farm house surrounded by fields of peanuts just sprouting from the ground. Round bales of hay dotted the fields beyond.
When she could no longer see the SUV in the side mirror, Gisa pressed her forehead against the glass, letting its coolness calm her.
RAYDEN HAD TO get Gisa to a place of safety. How had they been found? He threw her a glance. “Where's your cell?”
Her eyes widened. “Why?”
“Get it now!”
She fumbled in her bag, too slowly, and he snatched it from her. He rifled in it with one hand until his fingers curled around the phone.
He rolled down his window, and she clutched at his arm as he slung it out.
"Are you crazy? My cell! All my numbers, my voice mail...my last message from David..." She glared at him, and her hands clenched into fists.
He ignored her, glancing in the rearview mirror. So stupid not to think of the cell. At least he had gotten rid of his. The SUV came into sight, and he floored the car, taking a road at random. He kept his eyes on the mirror. The SUV veered down the road after them.
He swung down another road and prayed it didn't lead to a dead end. The SUV fell out of sight, at least for now.
This road led farther from the town. Fields gave way to thick stands of trees. A road on the left, nothing more than ruts in the ground, snaked between some pines and oaks.
Rayden swerved down it, stirring up a cloud of dust. He followed the rutted path until the trees engulfed the car in the shadow of their leaves. He pulled to a stop and prayed the SUV would bypass them.
Gisa gasped when the black vehicle drove by. "They didn't see us," she said softly.
He could get back on the road, head in the other direction. But what if others were following? What of the blue van?
He made a quick decision to continue down the road, if it could be called that. He dodged washed-out places and fallen limbs, going deeper and deeper into the woods. Limbs scraped against the sides of the car, and a pang for the ruined paint job struck him. He shrugged it off. Their safety came first.
The ruts ended, and Rayden pulled between two large trees. Vines entangled the limbs, and through its greenery, the rays of the setting sun sparkled on water, a stream.
Rayden peered around the small deserted clearing. He glanced at Gisa. “It looks like someone’s fishing hole, but it hasn’t been used in a while.”
“What do we do now?” Gisa asked, her cheeks pale in the glow of the fading light.
“We wait.” He twisted the ring around his little finger. Somehow, the touch of his mother's wedding band gave him comfort. He had been eight when she had died. He bit his lip and jerked his mind away from her memory.
Yet, when he did so, he became very aware of Gisa's closeness. Sitting in the enclosed car as the shadows deepened, heightened his senses. Even after all they had been through, a fragrance, a slight smell of lavender, drifted to him, inviting him. No. He would not let his thoughts go there.
What if she were part of the Chosen Ones? He studied her. If she worked for them... No. He refused to believe it. He remembered how happy she had been when Dr. Cochran had confirmed her pregnancy. But... what if she had been happy to be pregnant with the clone? He shook his head. He almost laughed out loud. No, he couldn't believe that.
Her body was turned, and she looked out the side window. Her silky blonde hair hung midway down her back, inviting his touch.
“I suppose they did trace my cell,” she said without looking at him. Her voice sounded strained, as if she held back tears.
He rubbed his tingling fingers against his jeans. “No matter how. They found us. I'm sorry...”
She held up a hand, and he fell silent. After a few moments, she stirred. “I'm thirsty. Did you get any water?”
“Sure.” He extracted a bottle of water from the backseat and handed it to her.
She examined the cap before she twisted it off. Did she think he had tampered with it?
He fished up a bag of chips. “Are you hungry?”
"No." She shook her head and looked at her bottle of water as if avoiding his scrutiny.
He wrenched his gaze away and opened the bag of chips. Except for the sounds of crunching, it was eerily quiet in the car. Darkness descended.
She turned to face him, her face masked by the dusk. “Rayden...What was in that hypodermic?”
He waved his hand. “Just a benzodiazepine. Shouldn’t harm the baby.”
“Shouldn’t? But it could?”
“All drugs can be dangerous. But there are no known cases of it harming a fetus.”
Her eyes flashed blue in the dim light. “How could you have done that? You drugged me, kidnapped me, threw away my cell, my phone with..." Her voice broke. "I know it was probably used to find us...but still...couldn't you have..." Her voice faded away.
He moved restlessly. “Perhaps your husband's messages can be retrieved—one day when we..."
"When we what? Our lives will never be normal again. You've made sure of that." Her voice was harsh.
"You need to understand I’m trying to help you. I know it may not seem that way. But do you really think I would ruin my life to make all of this up?” His fingers tapped against the steering wheel.
“No. Nothing makes sense. But, if this is not my child..." Her hand lowered to rest on her stomach. "I want an abortion."
He swiveled in his seat to face her. “Please think about this before you make a decis
ion.”
“Why do I need to think about it? If this is a clone, why would I go through a pregnancy?”
Rayden shrugged. “Clone or not, it’s still a child.”
“A child? Is a clone even human?”
“How would a clone be less than human?”
“It doesn’t matter.” She made an impatient gesture. “Even if a clone is human, life doesn’t begin until birth.”
“That’s debatable.” How could she actually believe that? He frowned at her. He looked away and gripped the steering wheel tighter.
“Why do you care if I abort?” she asked, her voice firm.
He took a deep breath and strove to keep his voice neutral. “You have to realize that I’m a fertility doctor. I help bring life into the world, not destroy it.”
“Even clones?” She laughed harshly, almost a snort.
“Humans are humans.”
She shrugged. “But, if you're telling the truth, this is not even my child! And you expect me to carry the baby to term and go through childbirth?"
Rayden didn't answer. It was a lot to ask, he knew. Yet, the baby existed. What was done was done. The baby deserved a chance. He winced as her voice took on a sharper tone.
"And this Auserwhatsit group—whom would they want to clone?” She leaned closer to him, forcing him to look at her.
“I don’t know. Perhaps a scientist? A diplomat? A terrorist leader? Who knows?”
“But wouldn’t that mean this...this clone could be evil?”
He cranked the car and gave her an appraising look, although he only saw her silhouette in the gathering darkness. “Gisa, no baby is born evil.”
And he backed up the car and drove out of the dark shadows of the trees.
RAYDEN DROVE IN silence, and Gisa considered his words. Babies were born with unique personalities—the few she had known. Couldn't that mean some children could be, if not evil, at least prone to it?
She was an only child, as had been both of her parents. She had no cousins, no other relatives, and had rarely been around young children. Perhaps that's why she had longed so much for this child.
While she was growing up, her parents had kept her busy with activities—gymnastics, piano lessons, soccer, even Latin lessons and archery. Her busy life had left little time for friends or socializing.
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