“Hilary, it’s me. Charlie, your friend,” she said, but no trace of recognition appeared on Hilary’s face. “Wake up. Don’t let Ms. Pitt control you. We have to escape. We have to find Jeanne! She’s your friend, too, isn’t she?”
“It’s no use, Charlie!” Madison yelled from behind her, yet Charlie didn’t turn away from Hilary’s gaze. “She doesn’t recognize you! I know, I was like that before! So, let’s just get out of here before Ms. Puppet Master activates her again!”
As if a switch was flipped, Hilary’s eyes snapped to Madison and sparks started to crackle inside her fist.
Heat brushed against Charlie’s ear. She turned in time to see Madison jump out of the way, evading the fireball Hilary directed at her. Madison rolled back to her feet and waved her hand. The bed in the far corner suddenly pushed toward the wall, pinning Hilary.
“Charlie, let’s go!!” Madison screamed. She grabbed Charlie as they ran for the door. But Charlie turned at the loud screeching sound. Pushing Madison aside, Charlie jumped out of the way as the burning bed rolled and slammed against the door. Hilary screamed her frustration. Charlie watched the girl hurling flames in every corner of the room. Fire spread quickly, devouring everything, from the wardrobe closets to the window curtains. Smoke quickly engulfed the room. Charlie’s eyes searched for Madison through the thickening smoke. Coughing, Charlie croaked out Madison’s name. When no reply came, she yelled forcefully, “Madison!” Light burst from nowhere and Charlie dodged it. Pain and heat reached her right shoulder as the flame grazed her skin.
A silhouette rushed towards Charlie, who tried to evade, but her assailant grabbed her hair and pulled her down. Charlie hit the floor hard. Hilary’s hand curled around her throat, but it didn’t tighten. She attempted to force Hilary’s arm off, but it remained frozen in position, pinning her to the ground. All at once, Hilary flew off her, her petite form propelled upwards. Madison emerged from the flames, holding Hilary in place. Charlie got to her feet and watched Hilary kick and scream, body stuck to the ceiling. The sight twisted Charlie’s stomach.
“Let’s go,” Madison appealed to Charlie when the other girl stopped screaming. But her eyes were glued to Hilary, whose fingers scraped the ceiling. Hell broke loose when Hilary ignited the ceiling and fire crawled across and down the walls and crept to the floor. Madison screamed at the sight while Charlie stood in front of her. Flames lunged at them and then reached back up to the ceiling. Charlie and Madison watched in fascination as flames danced around them, barred by an invisible wall that stood between them and the fire.
“Are you doing this?” Madison whispered to Charlie.
“I think so,” she replied.
A deep roaring sound reverberated against their shield. Charlie turned in time to see a giant ball of flame spinning towards them. It was too late to reinforce her shield and brace for the attack. The impact caused a shockwave and threw the pair off their feet. Charlie hit the burning wardrobe closet with such force it shook and collapsed on her. Trapped between the scorched floor and burning furniture, Charlie screamed and blasted the burning wood away, shattering the nearby window. She pushed herself up, head throbbing and skin stinging. She faced a burning inferno inside the room.
She strained her eyes to find the other two when she caught a glimpse of blonde hair amidst the crimson and black. A fist to fist combat ensued between the two, and Hilary proved why she was ANDREI’s number one. Her agility made up for the short limbs that Madison struggled to evade. Madison attempted to create the same shield as Charlie had, but hers was weak and broke upon contact with Hilary’s fists and kicks. Charlie rushed to Madison’s aid, but knew she couldn’t hurt her friend. Stopping abruptly, an idea sparked in her mind. She extended her hand and focused her power on the smaller girl. She imagined the small muscles and smooth dark skin of Hilary and then curled her hand. Like a bull caught in a rope, Hilary suddenly stopped her attacks because her limbs were pressed against her body.
Hilary resisted the invisible ropes. She fell to her knees with head down, trapped by her own body. Charlie felt a stab in her heart watching Hilary flail about like a tied up rag doll. Madison walked away from her as Charlie approached her friend. The instinct to comfort her overruled her impulse to leave, and Charlie knelt in front of the now subdued Hilary. She couldn’t see her face, and Charlie wasn’t sure she wanted to. “Hilary?” Charlie called.
Hilary’s head snapped up, startling Charlie. In one swift move, Hilary bent one leg down and swung the other counterclockwise, causing flames to erupt from the floor. Charlie lifted her arms to cover her face as the flames leapt towards her, but they did not burn her. Hilary spun around to stand and aimed a foot at Charlie. Before she landed the kick, her leg reeled back and pressed against the other. Madison created the same binding force Charlie had used on Hilary’s arms. Charlie turned her attention back to Hilary and focused her force on both her arms and legs. The flames all around began to die down and Hilary weakened.
“I got her, get the door open!” Charlie ordered Madison. She released Hilary to Charlie’s control and scurried towards the flaming bed that blocked the door. Madison pushed the bed out of the way and flung the door wide open. As the confined smoke escaped to the hallway, Madison fell on her knees, choking and coughing. Charlie backed away from Hilary, careful not to trip as she retained Hilary’s binding force. She made it to the door, prepared to run, but she stopped mid-step at the thundering sound of boots approaching.
Around the corner, five men clad in uniforms and holding guns hastened to their location. Madison reeled back, intending to shut the door. Charlie disagreed, “Madison! Don’t close the door! They want us trapped in here!”
The blonde girl turned to her in horror, understanding the implication. With no time to think, Madison moved forward and flung the first man she saw. He flew back, knocking into two more men who hit the wall with groans. Another man fired his gun. Intense training allowed Madison to dodge the bullet. Then another man yelled, “Don’t shoot! Don’t shoot!”
Madison took advantage of the distraction and peeled the weapons from their hands. Adrenaline fueled Madison as she stepped forward, hurling fireballs at the men. Madison switched between Hilary’s power and Charlie’s, sending flames and invisible forces to drive away their pursuers. Though they outnumbered her, the guards were no match for the superhuman. They pulled out Tasers to subdue her, but Madison was familiar with the device and forced them out of the guards’ hands. Pleas for mercy followed when Madison lifted the guards to the ceiling before letting gravity flatten them back to the floor.
Charlie watched Madison’s movements with awe. This was the first full display of Madison’s mimicry powers, and it was unbelievable. When none of the guards moved a muscle after Madison’s favorite trick with her power, Charlie was concerned. “Are they--?”
“They’re unconscious.” Madison whipped her hair out of her face. A smile was plastered on her face. “Come on, Charlie. You think I’m really that evil?” she asked, and Charlie shook her head.
She sensed movement and her eyes widened at the sight of the Bradley’s burly physique. “Madison,” she warned, nodding her head in his direction.
Charlie’s attention returned to her captive. Hilary kneeled on the floor with her hands and feet bound. The fire in her eyes haunted Charlie. Her head throbbed like a hammer pounding against her skull. And then, time slowed. Hilary broke Charlie’s force, throwing her off her feet. Hilary jumped free and hurled a ball of flames at Madison, who had her back to the two of them, watching over the guards.
“No!!” Charlie screamed. Her hand stretched out and a current of powerful energy flowed from her arm to her fingers. It was an entirely new sensation that jolted Charlie. Madison turned to see the fireball approaching her, but it was too late to protect herself. Charlie watched in horror as the ball exploded inches from Madison’s face. It was smothered without touching the girl by Charlie’s protective wall.
The two stared at each other i
n confusion but quickly realized what happened. Charlie turned to face Hilary, blocking all attacks directed at Madison, who in turn anticipated Bradley. Hilary finally turned to Charlie with gritted teeth, fury burning in her eyes. Fists on fire, she pummeled Charlie with punches, who struggled to evade the fiery fists.
I can direct my shield onto Madison? Charlie thought as she stared at Hilary, somehow reading her movements better than before. She used her shield again and again, blocking every attack, frustrating Hilary.
“Hilary!” Charlie tried calling to her friend once more. “Hilary!” Her movements didn’t change. The attacks kept coming, and exhaustion began to wear Charlie down. Hilary didn’t seem even the slightest bit tired. Then an idea popped up and fueled her. Charlie tried it.
Sidestepping one punch, Hilary stumbled to the ground as she missed her opponent. Charlie gripped her hand once more and Hilary’s arms bound to her body. Angered like a bear trapped, Hilary charged at her opponent, who easily dodged her attack. With one more push, Charlie sent Hilary against the wall, pinning her arms and legs.
“Please work…” Charlie prayed. She closed her eyes and imagined Hilary, the sweet girl she’d met in Boston who had tried to lead her to Jeanne. Hilary had unwittingly led her to danger, but Charlie knew better than to put the blame on her.
She felt and allowed Hilary to struggle free from her power. Charlie needed intense focus to envelope Hilary with her own shield. “Please, Hilary,” she begged. Soon a prickling sensation began at the top of her head, traveled through her spine, and spread across her body. Charlie lifted her arm towards Hilary and opened her eyes.
A groan came out as a whimper. Hilary’s struggle began to weaken, her brow relaxing from anger to confusion. Charlie kept her concentration. If she faltered, all her efforts may be for naught. “Break away, Hilary. Please,” she pleaded repeatedly in her mind, imagining the message traveling to her friend’s mind.
A stabbing pain pierced through Charlie’s brain. She bit her lip and fought it.
Fire crackled at the tip of Hilary’s fingers, but it died down. She breathed heavily, her head hung low.
Is it working? Charlie thought, her head throbbing only a little now.
A figure speeding back into the room snapped Charlie’s attention away from her friend. Madison hit the wall hard, knocking the air out of her. Charlie went to the fallen girl, assisting Madison to an upright position. By the threshold, Bradley stood with arms akimbo, sporting his devious grin as he often did.
“Wanna beat up your boyfriend?” Charlie asked Madison, who gave her an incredulous look.
“Sure. And from now on, it’s ex.” she replied with sarcasm.
Entering the training room as an Unlocked with her Awakened sparring partner once again, Charlie bent her knees and planted her feet on the floor. She and Madison braced for an attack. Bradley’s nostrils flared as he stormed inside the room. Charlie pulled his leg. Bradley lost his balance momentarily, but it was enough for Madison to charge at him. Her arm curled around his neck and brought him down to the ground with strength that was surprising to see in a girl with Madison’s physique. He bounced up, so Charlie hurled him up against the ceiling and back to the floor with a thud that reverberated the entire room.
Bradley lifted himself and grabbed Madison’s arm. He swung her wildly before releasing her, slamming her forcefully into the wall. Charlie created a force to cushion Madison’s speed, allowing the girl to get back on her feet before she hit the wall. When Charlie faced Bradley again, he was only an arm’s length from her. His hands curled around her throat and he lifted her off the ground. Charlie scratched his arm with her nails, hoping for release. She saw Madison rushing to her aid, but Bradley saw her and flung Charlie in her direction. Charlie and Madison crashed against each other.
Rolling back to her feet, Charlie spotted the overturned bed and hurled it at Bradley. Hands fixed on the bed’s edge, he battled her telekinesis with all his strength. He smiled at her and angled the bed enough for her force to push it above his head. He threw the bed towards the girls, but Madison stopped it in the nick of time. Charlie took control and chucked the bed back at Bradley. This time, he couldn’t catch the furniture and it plummeted towards him.
“We need to go before the rest find us,” Charlie told Madison, who agreed with a nod. They reached the door and Charlie found Hilary slowly waking.
“Wait!” Charlie exclaimed, rushing towards her friend. “Hilary! Hilary, are you okay?” Charlie grabbed the small girl by the shoulders.
“What are you doing? She’ll attack you again!” Madison warned her, but Charlie banked on her little faith.
She watched Hilary’s brown eyes open and stare blankly. For a moment, Charlie feared that Madison was right, but Hilary opened her lips and uttered, “Charlie?”
After what seemed an eternity, delight filled Charlie’s chest. “Hilary, are you okay?” she asked again, and the girl looked at her confused.
“I am, but--” Charlie cut her words off with a tight embrace. Hilary laughed nervously. “Hey, what’s going on?”
Charlie studied her face. There was no trace of the girl who’d attacked them minutes ago. It was only Hilary she saw, and it was her shield that freed her from Amanda’s control.
“Is that really you now, Hilary?” Madison asked incredulously.
“Of course, it’s me,” Hilary replied.
“Hilary, what do you remember?” Charlie asked.
“I’m not sure. I feel like I just woke from a dream.”
A metallic clinking caught their attention as Bradley lifted the bed off him.
"Come on, we need to go,” Charlie urged Hilary and pulled her up. Still dazed and weak, Hilary leaned on Charlie for support.
Outside, the guards Madison knocked down were out of sight. Charlie had no time to entertain her suspicion. When they reached the corner and rounded it, the crackling sound of a Taser made Charlie duck, narrowly avoiding an electric shock. She pivoted and pinned the guard against the wall, his feet several inches off the ground. More guards arrived, but she knocked them down like bowling pins.
Madison sped up the stairs but stopped short. "Up!" she ordered, so Charlie pulled Hilary up the steps with shadows looming close behind them. Taking two steps at a time, they reached the fourth floor. Gunshots fired over their heads. Charlie created a force that sent the men crashing into each other.
“What’s going on? Why are we running?” Hilary asked.
“We’re trying to escape the institute and everyone else is pursuing us,” Charlie declared.
“Escape?” Hilary repeated.
Charlie feared her shield was weakening around Hilary’s mind. She stopped in her tracks when they reached the fifth floor and grabbed Hilary by the shoulder. “Hilary, do you remember what they did to you? The serum, the missions?”
“I--” Hilary shook her head, confused.
Madison stepped forward, taking Hilary away from Charlie. “They’ve been using us, Hilary. Don’t you remember? We were their puppets! We were taken from the orphanage to be experimented on and then used as soldiers! But the strings are cut now, so we have to get out before they stitch us back.”
A flash of recognition showed in Hilary’s eyes. It was only for a moment, but that was enough for Charlie. She locked Hilary’s hand in hers and ran with Madison following closely behind. Recalling the building layout, opposite Amanda’s secret office were the stairs leading to the rooftop. Charlie led them until she found the locked door leading to the stairs. Charlie broke the lock with her mind. She coaxed Hilary but Madison was not behind them. "Madison!" Charlie yelled.
“Charlie?” Amanda’s voice was sweet and alluring, unlike the vamp who had drawn blood from her.
"Stay here," she instructed Hilary before stepping out the door. Welcoming her was Amanda with her phony motherly smile. Behind her were three guards - Cassandra, Vladimir and Bradley. Bradley’s thick arm was wrapped around Madison's neck. Charlie glared at the headmaster,
no longer buying her charms.
Her boldness faltered at the sight of Otto coming around the corner. All the light in his eyes was gone; he stared at her like a mannequin. She wanted to free him as well, like she had Hilary. But time didn’t give her the luxury to create another shield when the entire school body was getting ready to pounce on them. Charlie swallowed her despair. She had Hilary and Madison to worry about right now.
“Please stop this before anybody else gets hurt,” Amanda ordered.
"I didn't know you cared about getting your soldiers hurt. What do you think they risk when you send them on government missions?" Charlie snapped back, but Amanda's smile did not fade.
“Where’s my sister?” Charlie demanded.
Amanda shook her head slowly, “Jeanne is where she’s supposed to be. Don’t worry, she’s safe. Why don’t I take you to her?” She turned to Otto and a silent command was made.
Otto walked to Charlie, extending his hand to take her arm. A bitter taste filled her mouth when his skin touched hers. Cold like the ice he creates. Charlie bit her lip and glanced at Madison, who watched the scene with both trepidation and vigilance. Charlie nodded and a silent agreement was forged between the two.
Otto pulled her arm, but Charlie stepped back, drawing her other arm up and swinging it against the boy's jaw. Madison sank her teeth in Bradley's arm, who cried out as he pushed her away. Charlie reached for Madison, and together they created a force that threw all of them several feet away. Amanda and her army fell hard on the floor while Otto crashed onto the door.
"Otto." Charlie breathed his name, wondering if she could save him too. She and Madison went to him, but his eyes glared and he grabbed their arms. Cold spread fast on their skin, making the two pull away, but his grip tightened. A blizzard wind blew the two girls away, sending them skidding across the floor. They moved to rise but floated instead. Madison screamed while Charlie searched for Cassandra, who had switched gravity off for them. She focused her power on the gravity manipulator, but the door to the stairs opened and Hilary walked out.
The Unlocked (Charlie Hartley Series Book 1) Page 22
