Saving Eden (Original Series book 3)

by Rachel McClellan

  "I take my orders from Rafe," he responds.

  "And did Rafe order you to bomb all those people in the building too?"

  Several of the soldiers behind him look at each other. They probably had no idea there were people still inside.

  "They were hardly innocent," Shred says. "They've been helping the Institute for years."

  "Did anyone give them a chance to do anything else?"

  No one answers.

  I step close to Shred. "When we return to Enfield, a lot is going to change."

  "We'll see about that," Shred growls. In the distance, a hovercraft comes into view. "Looks like your ride is here. Better go see if there are any bad guys you can save."

  I cast him a dangerous look, before Link and I jog over to where we see the hovercraft land. People from within the town are beginning to come outside of their shops. When they see the damage, especially at the MSR building, they burst into tears and run toward the destruction. I bet many of their loved ones have been killed.

  I hate that I played a role in it. I hate that the only way to stop the fighting is through violence. I can see why Rafe feels the way he does. Focusing on revenge keeps you from thinking about all the horrible things you're responsible for.

  "Get in!" a Prime yells when the ramp lowers. "We need to get you to Colville as soon as possible."

  I don't ask him why. After what I've just seen, I can probably guess.

  I lean my head against the cold glass window of the hovercraft as it lifts into the air. Link sits next to me bouncing his knee up and down.

  "Do you want to tell me what happened back there?" he asks.

  I lower my head. "Everything Rafe told you was a lie. The drug they gave us did make us a super Prime, but it's also going to kill us."

  "Maybe in a few years," Link says. "Right? But by then we can get the cure from your father."

  I look at him and shake my head. "We don't have that much time. Maybe a month."

  Link jumps to his feet. "Impossible!"

  I turn away from him and stare out at the landscape below. It rushes past, the tops of the trees green and lush. I focus only on it. It's the only way I can quiet my mind after what just happened.

  After some time, Link sits back down. "If you knew this, why did you still get the injections?"

  "I was angry. They had just killed Anthony. I wanted to save Colt. And," I hesitate, “because he told me if I didn't take it, then he would get you to take it. I didn't want this for you." My gaze meets his. "I wanted you to have a long and happy life."

  He is quiet. Then, "What about you?"

  "If I can save my brother, then it will all be worth it."

  "I don't think Max will feel the same way," Link whispers.

  "I did what I had to do." I inhale a hitched breath and lower my head into my hands. "I don't know what I'm doing anymore. I feel like I've lost my way."

  Link rests his hand on my back. "I think a bunch of us have. Let's find our way back together. And I swear to you, when we get back, I'm going to expose Rafe for the fraud that he is. I can't believe he's stealing Fenoquel! Do you think your mother has been helping him?"

  I clench my teeth. "Something has been going on between them."

  It takes us almost thirty minutes to arrive at Colville, a city almost twice the size of Merrick. We circle high above it assessing the damage. Several buildings are on fire, including many homes. The largest building of all on the outskirts of town is practically in ruins. There are many institute guards still in the streets firing their weapons at our soldiers.

  "Hurry!" I call up to the pilot.

  He lowers us into a part of the town that is mostly empty. As soon as the ramp descends, I sprint from the craft only slightly bothered by the wound in my side. Link is a little slower behind me on account of his leg, but not by much. We are still faster than we've ever been.

  The center of town is a war zone. There are more bodies than I can count lying in the street or crushed beneath rubble. And if they aren't dead, they are fighting using anything they can get their hands on. I withdraw my gun and keep running toward the sound of gunfire a few blocks over. Tank has got to be here somewhere!

  Rafe should be here too, but I don't see him either. Another explosion goes off shaking the ground beneath me. I keep moving, smashing anyone who gets in my way. I attack a female Dresden who just stabbed one of our guys. I fight many more. They are easy to take out like this, so distracted by the fighting around them. But it doesn't come easy. My body is sore, my knuckles bleeding, and my heart broken.

  Just as I round a corner, I spot him. Tank is trapped behind a metal garbage can while several Institute guards fire their weapons at him. They are slowly closing in on him. My breath catches in my lungs.

  I can't lose another friend.

  23

  I call over to Link just as he shoots at a guard. "Circle around to the left. I’ll take the right. We have to help Tank!"

  I sprint down a long alley, turning right when I reach the end of a clothing shop, many of its windows broken. It's a dead end. I glance up. The rooftop might give me better access anyway.

  Squatting down, I leap as high as I can and just manage to catch the lip of the roof twenty feet above. I flip myself upward and hurry to the edge on the opposite side. Tank is just below me with his hands covering his head in an attempt to protect himself from all of the bullets whizzing by.

  Link isn't far away, firing his gun, but now he too is drawing more gunfire than he can handle.

  I run alongside the rooftop until I’ve come behind the Institute guards. I quietly jump from the ledge just behind a taller Trix. I crack my elbow on his head, and he falls over unconscious. I do the same to three more guards. From there it's easy. I just take their weapons and fire at the backs of all the guards. In just a few heartbeats, I have killed over ten people. I drop to the ground in a river of blood.

  Tank peeks around the garbage can. His eyes widen when he sees me, and he scrambles over, his feet stepping through blood.

  "You saved my life," he says and helps me to my feet.

  I inhale, grateful he's alive. This is why I changed, to save my friends. I may have been naïve about all the people I would have to kill to do it, but I have to accept that this is war. Only one side can win. One day I will deal with the horrors I've both seen and caused, but until then, I'll keep fighting.

  "Where's Rafe?" I ask.

  "He already left." Tank's words are bitter. "He cleaned out the lab while we were fighting off guards, then escaped with the drug. Not before blowing everything up, though."

  "He did the same at Merrick." I slowly walk back to the center of town, the pain in my side worse. "Did you know he was going to do that?"

  "Hell no!" Tank snaps. "That was never part of the deal."

  "What do we do now?" Link asks.

  "We get back to Enfield and find out what Rafe is really doing and put a stop to it." Tank turns a corner and surveys the damage. His reaction is similar to mine. The city is in ruins. People crying and yelling. Chaos everywhere.

  "We need to gather our men and get out of the city." Tank presses the button on his earpiece. "Everyone meet back at the convoy. We're leaving as soon as possible."

  It takes longer than I expect to gather everyone together. There are many wounded. Ash is already on the large hovercraft ready to help those who need it. There are a lot who do.

  I stay in the cockpit with Tank and Link as we fly back to Enfield.

  "How did the attack on Rainer go?" I ask.

  "I haven't heard yet," Tank says. "But I'm sure just like all the others."

  "We need to find out what Rafe did with all of the Fenoquel and destroy it." My voice sounds distant almost as if it isn't me speaking. I'm trying to keep it together, push back all the killing and violence from my mind, but I feel it bleeding through my sanity. It was necessary, I remind myself.

  "We need to do a lot of things," Link mumbles.

  The sun dips below
the horizon, casting pinks and oranges across the sky. A golden glow reflects off the thick canopy of trees. By the time we return, darkness has fallen upon Enfield.

  "Are you guys seeing this?" Link asks. He sits up straighter and stares out the window of the cockpit. Tank and I do the same.

  There's a line of people spilling into Enfield through the front gates.

  "Where are they coming from?" Tank asks.

  I glance back the road for as far as I can see. Every once in awhile there's a break in the trees, and I spot lights where more people are lined up.

  "We'll find out soon enough," I say.

  The hovercraft lands. I'm anxious to see Colt. I hope he got plenty of rest because something tells me he's going to need it to challenge Rafe's authority. Rafe had a lot of men come from the West with him, and they are fiercely loyal.

  As soon as the ramp lowers, I want to rush to Colt, but there are simply too many people to help. Me, Tank, Link and any others who aren't seriously injured help load people onto small electronic carts that take them to the hospital. Many Originals jump in to help. There is barely enough room to fit everyone. Sometimes we have to put four people in one room.

  At one point, my wristpad vibrates. I quickly scan the message. It's from Jenna asking me to come see her at command. Rafe has probably called a meeting. I don't leave right away, however. There are simply too many people to help.

  When things calm down, I head to the other side of the hospital where Colt is staying, but his room has been converted into a waiting room for those with minor injuries.

  "I thought I would find you here."

  I turn around. Jenna's brows are drawn together in worry.

  "Where's Colt?"

  "He's fine, but he's expecting you. Did you not get my message?"

  "I was busy. Where did all the extra people come from?" I ask.

  "You'll find out soon enough. Hurry. We don't have much time."

  I follow after her as she maneuvers through the crowded hallways. I stop when I see Link walking out of a room wearing hospital-issued shirt and pants.

  "How's your leg?" I ask glancing down.

  "It's feeling much better. Have you been looked at yet?"

  I shake my head, surprised I hadn't thought about it. My whole body is numb.

  "We're going to meet with Colt in command," I say. "Come with us."

  Jenna snorts. "I thought he was team Rafe."

  "Not anymore," Link says. "Let's go."

  Outside, we cross the Green. Several tents have been set up all over the massive lawn. One of them has a long line of people waiting to get food. The smell of chicken broth fills the air. I spot Rafe and his men near the make-shift stage. They each have a drink in their hand and are toasting each other, laughing hard and cheering. It makes me sick.

  I keep walking. "Where's Tank?"

  "He’s already there," Jenna says.

  As soon as I enter command, my eyes lock with Colts. He takes a step toward me and stops, his face paling. By the way his eyes are slowing moving up and down my body, I must look a horrible sight. I should've cleaned up before I came here.

  Colt looks better than he did when I left. He still has dark circles under his eyes, which means he hasn't rested, but he appears much stronger. There's a fire in his eyes I haven't seen since he returned.

  "What happened here?" I ask. "Why are there so many people?"

  Raven and Jet sit near Colt. They look exhausted and beaten. No doubt they experienced much of the same when they went to Rainer.

  Colt paces and locks his hands behind his back. "Tank just gave me a report of everything Rafe did today, and I was shocked to find out that Rafe's been stealing Fenoquel. I have someone searching for where he might have hidden it, and as soon as we find it, we'll destroy it for good.”

  Link and I look at each other in relief. Destroying the drugs that were stolen will make some of what we did right.

  Colt keeps talking. “After you left this morning, I came here to monitor the Institute's activity. There wasn't really anyone left behind to do this. Besides, I felt like I should get caught up on everything that has happened. I learned some very valuable information. Information that I think Rafe was trying to keep from us."

  "Why would he do this?" Link asks.

  "Rafe has his own agenda. Sure it involves taking down the Institute, but not in the way we all expected. He wants to control them just like the Institute is trying to control us with Fenoquel. About ten o'clock this morning, I hacked into the Institute's Boston facility. There was a single transmission. At first it didn't make sense. It was a string of words that didn't go together, but I knew they had to mean something because they came directly from Ebony's office. That's when I remembered how Max was able to decipher a code they had embedded in news feed when they were trying to find you, Sage." He looks at me. "Do you remember that?"

  I nod my head. Max had saved us that day.

  "Anyway," Colt says, “I decided to think like Max. I printed out the whole transmission and separated the words. Eventually I cracked it."

  "What did it say?" Link asks. He's practically on the edge of his seat.

  Colt looks at each of us before he speaks again. “It was giving orders to gas the entire city of Boston with Fenoquel at exactly midnight tonight when everyone would be sleeping."

  My legs weaken, and I drop into a nearby chair.

  "But how could they deliver it to the whole population?" Tank asks.

  "That part I'm not sure of yet. The message didn't say, but I assume it would be through the ventilation system. Most houses and businesses all use natural gas pumped in from a central line."

  "At Excelsor," I say, remembering the layout of Boston. I had memorized it when I had to save Max from the IHRD.

  "Right," Colt says. "So I focused our satellite on Excelsor and found an unnatural amount of security. Something was definitely wrong."

  "What did you do?" Link asks.

  "I contacted Rafe right away, of course, but he dismissed the threat. He wouldn't even hear me out. He said their mission was the important thing today, not a random threat toward Boston." Colts paces the room again.

  "Why didn't you just call us?" I ask him. "We would've come back to help."

  "I thought about that, but by the time I figured out what was going on, you all were already well into your mission. I couldn't wait for you to return." He stops walking. "Without the proper support, I knew I couldn't stop the release of Fenoquel, so I decided to try and evacuate the city instead. I sent a video transmission and uploaded it into the television feed, but Ebony cut it off quickly."

  "That's when I came up with a brilliant idea," Jenna butts in. "We would give the city a message Ebony couldn't destroy. I made a basic paper flyer warning the city of what was to come and offered them safety at Enfield. We then flew over the city and dumped thousands of the messages. People began arriving a few hours ago."

  "But what about the people who don't leave the city?" I ask.

  Colt's gaze lowers to the floor. "I don't know what to do about them. Your father has been analyzing the drug. He might be able to come up with something to counteract it, but it could take months, possibly years. Unfortunately, that's not our priority right now. What we really need is to find a way to mass produce a cure to the KISS. If we could tell people we have that, it may tip the scales in our favor."

  "I agree," I add.

  Colt walks over to me, his eyes focused at the wound on my side.

  "What are we going to do about Rafe?" Raven asks. It's the first time she's spoken. It's strange to see her so quiet.

  "We have to stop him," I say simply. "Challenge him maybe, and take him out of power."

  The door flies open, crashing against the wall behind it. I jump, as does Jenna.

  “And who exactly is going to take me out of power?" Rafe demands.

  Colt squares his legs beneath him and folds his arms across his chest. "If it comes to that, I'll remove you myself."

>   "I would like to see you try," Rafe says. There are a few tense seconds, before Rafe's eyes flash to me and Link. "I've come for my assets."

  "Assets?" Link says, his nose wrinkling.

  "We were successful today,” Rafe says. "But we're not finished. We have one last facility to conquer. This will be our biggest yet. They have more Fenoquel than anywhere else, and we must get our hands on it."

  "Why do you need it so bad?" Jenna asks.

  "We plan on using it in L.A, the last institute stronghold in the West. If we can neutralize the people there, the Institute will be no more."

  "You can't do that," I say. "There are innocent people living there."

  He exhales a sharp breath as if he's tired of dealing with us. "It's not like I'm going to kill them. They will still have a good life. They will no longer suffer or feel pain."

  I close my eyes in frustration. "You sound like my mother."

  "Your mother is a special woman," he says. There is something in his tone that turns my blood cold.

  "Why would you work with Scarlet?" Link asks him. "She's with Ebony."

  "She works for herself," he growls.

  "This arrangement you have with her," I say, "She helps you get Fenoquel, and then, you what? Give it to everyone?"

  "Not everyone," he adds.

  "Well, I won't help you," I say. "I'm done."

  He steps close to me. "You don't have a choice."

  "Do you really think you can take me?" I ask him. "You know what I'm capable of."

  He moves even closer until his face is inches from mine.

  "Rafe," Colt warns.

  Rafe keeps speaking to me. "Do you really think I would create you without some sort of safeguard in place?"

  Link comes to his feet. "What's that supposed to mean?"

  Rafe takes a step back from me. "Each of you has had a chip implanted in your head. If you disobey me, all I have to do is press this button in my arm, just beneath my skin, and you're dead."

  Colt darts across the room and has Rafe in a headlock before anyone can do anything. "What's to stop me from killing you right now?"

  Rafe chuckles, his expression calm. "You can't kill me. If this chip does not detect a heartbeat, they die too."