Into the Fire

by Victoria Smith

  She closed the heavy doors over the halls, hoping no one would notice the change. There were three doors on each side of the hall. She opened the first. The elderly body on the table lived, but the soul inside was long gone, turned inside to protect itself. She wanted to wiggle things around a little to make sure the flat brain didn’t want to live before moving to the next room, but it was too risky. Olivia wondered who these people were that Jenner kept them in such important splendor, when they were basically just breathing corpses.

  On the third try, she found her mother. She was weak and confused, but recognized Olivia and cried out. Olivia hushed her, telling her to stay calm while she searched for her father. Her dad was in the next room. He was stronger than her mother, and he was furious.

  When she saw him, she knew why security measures weren’t in place down this hallway. She guessed the money had dried up before Dan got to this area, and he’d decided to do security the old-fashioned way. Her father was restrained on what reminded her of one of those stretching contraptions from horrible history. He smiled when she closed the door, but he didn’t move.

  “I knew you’d come. I’d hug you, but if I struggle it tries to pull me apart. Not very comfortable.”

  “Will an alarm go off if I unhook you?” Olivia studied the mechanism.

  “I don’t know.” He grimaced.

  She nodded. “Mom’s next door.”

  “I know. Dan thinks he’s doing so much good. You should hear him talk. He believes his vision is what will make this sector great again. Perfection. Unity. I don’t know what happened to him.” Her father’s voice was full of sad resignation. They’d been friends since they were children. “Underneath. He wouldn’t put the mechanism where I can see.”

  Olivia found the control panel under the head of the table. “Got it. Hold on.”

  She fought panic as she concentrated on the mechanism. There didn’t seem to be an alarm hardwired into the contraption. Within seconds, the mechanical click released her father.

  Her dad rubbed his wrists as she held out her hand to help him down.

  He gathered her into his arms as she told him about her brother.

  “Let’s grab your mother, get Marcus, and go from there. This is bigger than any of us knew. There are a lot of hurting people here.”

  “We have to save as many as we can.”

  “Probably not today. They’ll come to check us soon. Dan might not do experiments on Wednesday, but his guards keep constant watch. Or they’re supposed to.” He opened the door and peered out before motioning her to follow.

  Olivia touched her mother’s forehead, but no healing energies came. “I can’t do anything in here. It’s like my abilities are muffled.”

  “I know. The field should only extend to right before the fence. Dan told me. He was trying to scare me.” He picked up her mother. “I can carry her. Let’s get Marcus.”

  Olivia nodded, unsure now. She hadn’t expected this. But then, what really had she thought would happen? She’d waltz in while her folks and brother were having tea and crumpets? They’d wave and tell her how nice it was to see her, and after she explained the plan, they’d jump up full of energy and strength? Delusions.

  The last stair creaked as they descended into the basement. Olivia expected guards to advance from both sides, but the area was deserted. She led the way to her brother’s cage. Her father gasped at his son’s condition. Her father moved her mother into her arms and broke the lock to lift Marcus.

  “Let’s go. We’re running out of time. That bastard is going to pay for this.”

  “The door’s over here,” Olivia said, taking Marcus. Her mother was lighter, and her father was too weak to carry her brother.

  Olivia retrieved her bag from the shrubs and skirted the edge of the building while her father rested against the wall. The guards were trying to fix the gate.

  “Can’t go out the way I came in,” she said.

  “That way.” Her father pointed to the rear of the building. “Other side of the body pit. I saw it when we were brought in.”

  Time was running out. Her dad moved quickly. His urgency made her nervous. Freezing the camera at the rear of the building with the last of her spray, she moved Marcus to a patch of grass, so she could cut open the fence.

  Her father went first. They slid her mother through, then Marcus. Olivia crouched to clear the chain-link when gunfire erupted over her head. She glanced back at the dozen or so soldiers that now stood on the other side of the body pit.

  “Cease fire. He wants her alive,” the guard in front said, reaching for the tazer at his side.

  Olivia squeezed through the hole, her father yanking her the rest of the way through and moving her behind him. He raised one hand to the sky, placing the other on the fence. Static electricity buzzed through her as he gathered the energy and discharged it into the metal. Her dad’s electrical ability had always fascinated her. She would have rather inherited that than the recessive firestarting gene.

  “Let’s go.” His sharp tone snapped her back to reality.

  She picked up Marcus and followed him, realizing her father had also shrouded them with illusion. Shots were being fired, but nowhere near them. They wouldn’t get far enough with the condition her mom and Marcus were in. Being away from the compound wasn’t good enough. As they reached the woods, Olivia tried contacting Luke. She should have waited like they’d planned, but she’d been sure she could handle the rescue alone. Damn it.

  A clearing came into view. She pointed, and her father nodded. He was so winded, he could no longer speak. Olivia knew how he felt. Her arms were on fire, and even though Marcus weighed hardly anything, she needed a break.

  After laying her mother on the dark, dry leaves, her dad stood in the center of the clearing and held up his hands. Grunting, Olivia placed Marcus beside her mother. Hopefully her father’s illusion would hold and they’d have a few moments respite. Maybe she’d finally be able to contact Luke.

  Marcus grabbed her hand as she touched his side. His hand was limp and cold. “You promised.”

  “I did. And here you are beside Mom. Stop trying to move. I have to check the damage.” Olivia wished she had a blanket.

  Her father moved to her mother’s side. “I don’t know what to do for her. She’s in there. I just can’t reach her mind.” A fat tear rolled down his face.

  “In my bag is a vial of antidote.” Olivia motioned with her head, blinking back tears.

  “We should restrain her. Last time she almost choked me to death.”

  “She’s so weak. Putting her in restraints wouldn’t matter.”

  He drew up the antidote, murmuring soothing words. Her mother didn’t even flinch when he stuck her with the needle. Her legs twitched as the antidote was forced into her veins. An evil twist came across her face, and she reached as if to yank the needle from her arm.

  Dread twisted Olivia’s stomach as she grabbed her hand. “Don’t.”

  “It’s too late.” She dug her fingernails into Olivia’s hand, too weak to do any damage.

  “It’s not. Stop. You’re going to be fine. Relax. Let the antidote do its job.” Olivia used the same stern tone her mother used on her as a child, though inside she felt like a scared little girl.

  “Fucking bastard. Dan. I can’t . . .” Her head rolled back against the dirt

  “No. No,” her father sobbed, laying his head on hers.

  Olivia resisted the urge to scream as she placed her hand on her mother’s head. How had Dan stolen her mom’s desire to live? There was nothing Olivia could do. Marcus’s injuries required immediate attention. She wouldn’t be able to mourn her mother until she stabilized her brother. A siren blared.

  “Am I going to lose my son, too?” Tears streamed down her father’s face as he held her dead mother’s hand.

  “He’s in terrible shape. I’m doing the best I can, but I’m not sure it’s enough.” She had to save him. “I don’t know how he’s even still alive.”
r />   Maggots were in his wound, a wound that started under his ribcage and extended around his side to his spine. His liver had been sliced in two, and his stomach was no longer connected to his esophagus. Olivia concentrated on getting maggots out first, gagging when they began pouring out of the precise incision in uncountable amounts.

  She placed her hands over his liver and envisioned the organ knitting together, but nothing happened. “Come on, Marcus. Help me. We can do this. You’re going to be fine.”

  Tears streamed down her father’s face. Olivia turned away before his grief released hers. She had to heal Marcus, for all their sakes. She shook her head to dispel the buzz of doubt.

  Putting her hands over Marcus’s heart, she focused on the circulatory system, trying to detect any poisons she’d missed. He was dehydrated, but there was no reason for him to be in this terrible condition after being missing for less than three days. There was something there, but it wasn’t the poison she expected.

  She struggled to encourage Marcus to help her heal him, but his body had deteriorated too far. His intact organs barely functioned. Olivia wasn’t sure she could make a difference in whether her brother lived. No matter what she tried, Marcus’s body wouldn’t respond. She touched his mind, encouraging him to live.

  “Dad, come and hold his hand,” she said, glancing over. He didn’t move. “Dad. Now. There’s nothing we can do for Mom, but together we might be able to save Marcus.”

  He finally moved over, his quiet sobs adding to her frustration and determination. Healing was mostly a participatory endeavor. If the injured person didn’t want to live, there was nothing she could do but wait until they decided they wanted to live or allow them to die. She could bring people back from the brink, but not if they preferred the dark sleep of death. She nudged Marcus again. His will to live was there, as was a strong desire for revenge. Olivia tried to build on that to spark his body into recognition, but the connection consistently failed.

  Sweat dripped into her eyes as she tried again to knit together his damaged organs. Marcus opened his eyes and blinked before taking a long, rattling breath.

  He was dead.

  Olivia sobbed. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t save him.”

  Her father grabbed Marcus’s lifeless hand. “This is Dan’s fault.”

  “Where do you stand?” Luke asked inside of her head.

  “We’re out. Mom and Marcus are dead.”

  He was silent for several long seconds.

  “Where are you?”

  Olivia looked up and around, trying to get her bearings. “The sirens are about two miles south of us. We’re in a pine clearing.”

  “We’ll be there in ten minutes.”

  She sobbed into her sleeve, her failure and grief breaking over her. No matter what they did, things were never going to be the same.

  ~ ~ ~

  The odor of death hit Luke before he found Olivia between the bodies of her mother and brother. She didn’t move as he approached, her face void of expression. He pulled her up and into his arms. She stayed stiff, not responding to his embrace. He leaned back, but she only laid her head on his chest and took a deep, sobbing breath.

  Matt and Theo took the bodies to the back of Matt’s truck after wrapping them in sheets from Jillian’s stash. Olivia’s father followed, his countenance as shriveled as hers.

  “We have to go,” Luke said.

  Olivia nodded and followed, climbing into the back of the truck with the bodies. Her dismay was a palpable force, but there was more to her distress than the family deaths.

  “She’s been through a lot. Give her time,” Jillian said after they were sure they weren’t being followed.

  He nodded, but something had turned inside Olivia. Luke was pretty sure he’d lost her. And he had no idea if he should even try to get her back. By the time they reached his house, the sky had turned dark, and a frigid breeze tainted the air. Olivia climbed out of the back of the truck and stared up at the sky. Luke joined her, grabbing her frozen hands and forcing her to look at him.

  “What are we doing?” He nodded toward the bodies.

  “Cremation. The best we can. I can control the burn so the woods won’t be in danger.” She pulled her hands from his.

  “Fine.” He walked away, nodding to Matt as he returned from settling Jillian’s crew inside the house.

  They worked silently and quickly, building two crude structures to keep the bodies off the ground. When he’d driven the last nail, he turned to see Olivia carrying the smaller corpse, and her father carrying what Luke assumed was her brother. He stepped back.

  Jillian and Matt stood at the other side of the clearing. Luke stepped back farther, not wanting to hamper Olivia. She glanced at her father, raising her hands when he nodded. No one spoke as tendrils of fire built along the edge of the wooden structures. Within seconds, the bodies were engulfed, though there was no heat or smoke and only a tinge of wood fire in the air.

  Minutes later, the fire died. The only evidence of the blaze were the green edges of grass, curled but not burned. Olivia wiped her cheeks and turned to walk away. Her father grabbed her hand, walking with her.

  As they reached the back of the truck, her father gripped her arm and went to his knees. Luke thought grief had taken him down, but at Olivia’s panicked expression, he ran to her side.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, getting on his knees.

  “Heart attack.” She covered his chest with her hands. “Dad. No. I can heal you, but you have to fight.” She touched his forehead with one hand, tears streaming down her face.

  The older man took a shaky breath and reached for his daughter’s hand. “I’m sorry, baby. I can’t live without her. I don’t want to fight.”

  “Damn you. Don’t be a coward. I still need you.” She shook off his hand and went back to covering his chest.

  She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. Luke watched her father’s chest, but it didn’t move. He was gone.

  “Daddy. Come on. Don’t go.” Her voice broke on a sob.

  Luke touched her shoulder, nodding to Matt to build another wooden structure. He glanced to where they’d cremated her mother and brother, the formerly damaged grass now alive with tiny white and purple flowers. Luke’s heart cracked for Olivia’s pain. In one day, she’d lost her entire family.

  “Dad.” She lifted her face to the sky and screamed before falling across her father’s chest. “No. Please.”

  Urging her up, Luke gathered her shaking body in his arms and held on tight while she sobbed. She clutched the front of his shirt, twisting the material in an angry grasp. Wetness touched his skin. He held her, knowing the exact moment she gathered her despair. She took a deep breath and stepped away.

  She glanced to where Matt finished the platform. “It’s not right I’ve brought this to your home.”

  “You’ve brought nothing bad here.” Luke rubbed her back, not knowing what else to say.

  She nodded, following when he and Theo picked up her father. Her body shook as she started the fire. This one burned quicker, and within a few minutes, the slightly damaged grass was all that remained. Olivia stood with her eyes closed. Luke motioned to the others, pointed to the house, and followed, so she could have time alone.

  He made coffee, everyone silent as they gathered around the table. Theo’s eyes were wide, and he held onto Jillian’s hand like she was his lifeline. Luke got out cups, watching Olivia out the window.

  “It’s okay, Theo,” Jillian said when Theo rested his head against her shoulder.

  “It’s sad. Too sad.” He hiccupped, reaching up to twine a strand of Jillian’s hair around his finger.

  “I know, buddy.” Jillian patted him, looking over Theo’s head to Matt. “You were a big help. Thank you for that.”

  “Olivia is sad inside her heart. Broken.” Theo rested his head on Jillian’s shoulder.

  Luke could not have felt more alone. He glanced out the window, realizing Olivia was gone. Going out the front
door, he caught up with her at the front of the house. She’d gathered a bouquet of the tiny flowers that had grown, yellow added to the purple and white.

  She handed them to him. “At least something beautiful came from them.”

  He took the flowers, inhaling the scent of regret and pain, and grabbed her hand. “It did. You.”

  Olivia shook her head. “You can’t know me anymore, Luke. It’s too dangerous.”

  “That’s bullshit. I won’t accept that.” He didn’t let go of her hand even though she tried to pull away.

  “Can I borrow your old truck? I’ll leave it someplace safe and send word. I have to go.” She met his eyes, tears simmering under the surface.

  “I’ll come with you,” he said.

  “You can’t. You’re vital to the resistance. It’s up to you to save those people. I can’t. Besides, I don’t want you to come.” The toughness he was sure she tried for, didn’t translate. Tears filled her eyes as she tugged her hand.

  “Where?” He released her.

  “If you don’t know, then they can’t make you tell.” She met his eyes.

  “Running away isn’t going to bring them back.”

  “Is that what you think I’m doing?” Her chin quivered.

  “Isn’t it?” He dug into his pocket for the keys. “Fine. You know how to reach me. I’m here if you need anything.”

  “I won’t.” She turned, but not before he saw the tears streaming down her face.

  He resisted the urge to make her stay, to hold her and let her cry for as long as she had tears. Theo had been right, she was broken, and it was something he couldn’t fix. He didn’t want to let her go, but she’d resent him forever if he didn’t.

  She didn’t look at him as she started the engine. Luke watched her pull away. So that was how it was going to end?

  Then, so be it.

  Chapter 10

  Matt watched Luke and Olivia’s exchange knowing whatever had started between them was now over. Why couldn’t he and his brother find happiness at the same time? He glanced over his shoulder to where Jillian comforted Theo.