EVO Nation Series Trilogy Box Set

by K. J. Chapman

  “That’s him,” I shriek, banging on the side of the other van. “They have Adam,” I shout to Leoni. “We’ve found him.”

  Bo’s lips turn down in contemplation. “Is that why you were here?”

  “Just take me to him, right now.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  One hour turns to two, and Bo hasn’t spoken a word for the entire journey. I fidget in my seat, much to Cooper’s irritation. We lost sight of Leoni and Kesh’s van about an hour ago. Clearly, their driver isn’t such a wet blanket as ours. Jeez, just being in the presence of these people makes me mean. I’m sure it’s an illness. Or there is the alternative- this shit is rubbing off on me.

  “How much longer?” I snap. Bo starts, grinding her teeth in annoyance. “We must be somewhere in Devon by now.”

  “Somerset,” she states. “We have to keep off the main roads as much as we can. We’ll be arriving shortly.”

  A radio crackles into life. “Eyes peeled. There’s some kind of drone in the sky, approximately five miles south of base. The Kesh guy tuned in and says there is a signal transmitting nearby. It has to be military or Tagger.”

  “Got ya,” says our driver into the receiver.

  Bo sits forward, whispering something to him, setting my teeth on edge. As she sits back down, she grips her gun a little tighter. “That was the other van. So, your friend, Kesh, is a Technokin? We can use him for sure.”

  “I’m sure you can.” I say.

  Bo stiffens in her seat. “Do you have a problem with me?”

  Cooper elbows me. “She’s a bitch to everyone. Don’t flatter yourself.” Bo returns to staring out the window. “What’s a Tagger?” Cooper asks her, changing the subject.

  She scratches the side of her head with her gun. “Taggers are what we call the ass-wipes who capture EVO on behalf of the government. They’re essentially bounty hunters. They run the fight houses. Now, I know you’ve heard of them.”

  “I’ve heard them mentioned.”

  “Where the hell have you been? Taggers run EVO fight houses. They capture and fight EVO for entertainment. Rich Norms bet a load of cash, and the Taggers make a load of money. The government turn a blind eye as long as they turn over any EVO kids. They use DNA and brain scanners to determine EVO from Norms, and then they fight the EVO with defensive, dangerous abilities. The rest get handed over to the detention centres. They get paid per head. They see us as nothing more than dogs. Are your abilities Tagger worthy?” she asks.

  “Telekin and Pyrokin,” I reply. “You?”

  “Ergokin,” she says,

  “The same as Isa- as my Dad,” I say to her, forcing a smile.

  Isaac’s Ergokinesis had unnatural strength. If Bo can manipulate energy to a fraction of Isaac’s power, then she’s a force to reckon with.

  “There’s the drone,” the driver calls.

  We watch a zephyr-type craft no bigger than a car drift slowly through the air. Its light, outer shell is hard to distinguish against the cloudy sky, but it has a black box of some sort suspended below it.

  “What do you reckon it is?” one of the E.N.C members asks Bo.

  I watch as the drone crosses over our path. Cooper leans over me to get a better view, and then there is the loudest noise I’ve ever heard in my life. For a moment, my ears ring with a disorienting screech, and then we’re rolling. The seatbelt cuts into my chest, and the air is knocked out of my lungs. We come to a stop upside down, and I hang painfully against the belt. Cooper twists beside me, undoing his seatbelt and falling awkwardly onto his head and shoulders. His head is bleeding, but I’m not sure from where. He grabs the knife from the hilt at Bo’s waist and slices at my belt. I fall to the roof in a tangle of limbs, not knowing which way is up, or my ass from my elbow.

  Bo groans. “Taggers.” She reaches passed the driver to the radio. “We’re tagged. Change frequencies. Do not respond.”

  A canister is launched through the window, landing in front of me. White smoke spews from it, choking us.

  “Teddie, it’s gas,” Cooper shouts, pulling his shirt over his nose.

  I can feel myself drifting. Bo struggles to kick out the door, but her movements slow and she falls limp. Cooper holds his large hand firmly over my mouth and nose until he too falls still beside me.

  I’m being pulled from the van, and although pain smarts at my stitches, I don’t have control of my body to cry out. I try to focus, but my mind is drifting.

  “Fifty says these guys are E.N.C,” says the Tagger, lugging me to another vehicle.

  ***

  The glint of light against metal bars comes in and out of focus. I’m sat upright, my head lolling on my chest. I force myself fully awake and find I’m staring into the face of a Tagger. He looks to be in his mid-thirties with short, black hair and one of those neatly trimmed bum fluff goatees. The man with him is severely overweight and his blonde hair looks as greasy as hell. Large sweat patches stain his underarms and produce a horrendous stink. He looks younger; mid-twenties at a guess.

  Goatee throws a dressing through the bars. He nods toward an unconscious Cooper. The pair of them walk off without a single word. Cooper is slumped in an uncomfortable position on the floor with blood covering the majority of his face from the nasty gash along his hairline.

  Bo is awake- sat against the wall- staring at her wrist. “They must reckon we’d be ashamed of this. I’m proud of who I am and what I can do.” She spits the words at nothing.

  I’m aware of a stinging pain from my own wrist. My head is still fuzzy, but I lift my wrist to my face and focus on the scarred skin. The word EVO has been branded on my wrist and looks blistered and angry. The heavy weight on my shoulders is familiar, and the memory leaves an acidic taste in my mouth. I run my fingers along the collar as thoughts of Facility One swim in my mind.

  I crawl across the floor to Cooper and try to lift him into a better position. He’s like a dead weight. Bo finally gets up and gives me a hand. They both wear collars too.

  “I heard them talking. They call those drones Hunters. They read kinetic energy rises within a mile radius. The government has commissioned hundreds of thousands of them. I’m guessing that when your mate Kesh tuned in to it, it alerted the Taggers that EVO were in the area. He pretty much handed us to them on a plate.”

  “He didn’t know,” I snap. “Anyway, you haven’t exactly been discreet.”

  Bo glares at me, but doesn’t respond. She sits back down against the wall and stares out of the bars.

  “How long have I been out?”

  She shrugs. “I think it’s early morning now.” She gestures toward a narrow window beside the staircase. The glass is filthy, but I can see it is dark outside.

  I call Cooper’s name and slap at his cheek. He stirs, groaning in pain and grasping at his head.

  “Well, this is just brilliant,” he seethes.

  I peel the back off the dressing and attempt to stick it over his wound, but he swats my hand away, snatching the dressing out of my fingers.

  “I’ll get it,” he snaps, eyeing his brand with a mild curiosity.

  I return to my spot on the floor. The three of us are in this together, but sat at opposite ends of the cell. It could be worse; I could be in a cell with strangers. Better the devil you know, right? Only, I hardly know either of them well.

  The sound of coughing, shuffling, and voices carry through the cells. I can’t see anyone or any other cells, but I know they’re there. More EVO trapped by people set on hurting us for money. There is an open space leading to the stairwell, and the only source of light comes from an exposed bulb hanging in the centre.

  “Where are the other members? The driver?” I ask.

  Bo shrugs. “Herded off to some detention centre I expect. Their abilities are not impressive enough for these assholes. They’re trained in manual combat, but Taggers aren’t interested in that. That sweaty guy said something about a Boss man. Apparently, he’s particularly interested in you,” she says, pointin
g at me. “I told them our abilities before they stuck us in the cattle wagon too. I’m guessing this place is the lesser of two evils. Oh, and I also told them we’re E.N.C.”

  “What did you do that for?” Cooper growls.

  “Because we are, and the E.N.C doesn’t hide. Don’t worry, I didn’t tell them who you are. I said you were called Teddie and that was all I knew.”

  “Thank you,” I say.

  “Why are they interested in you? Is there something you’re keeping from me?”

  Cooper and I share a tentative look. They must have picked up my strength. The brain scans may have shown something out of place. “Yes, but I don’t trust you enough to tell you just yet.”

  Bo laughs out loud; the sound is out of place in this dungeon. “Fair enough, although, if your secret can result in me being six feet under, trust shouldn’t factor.”

  “It shouldn’t, but it does. Tell me everything you know about this place.”

  “All we found out is that they brand us, hence why we call them Taggers. They keep the EVO with the most impressive fighting abilities, dispense the rest back to the government for cash, and they make us fight to the death for money.”

  “It’s blood sport,” Cooper says in disgust.

  “I know where we are. The other members at base know too. We’ve been sussing this place out for the last week, trying to map their movements and schedules. The trouble is, they’re erratic; they have no time keeping, the only thing that is set in stone are the fight nights. They hold two a week on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.”

  Cooper’s brow furrows. “Was the E.N.C planning a raid on this place?”

  “Nah, we changed our focus to the detention centres. The kids take priority.”

  Cooper nods. “Fair enough.”

  Bo shifts position, leaning closer to me. “But I bet that will change once they learn that you’re here. You’re infamous. So, you were in Italy when it all went down. What actually happened?”

  The door to the stairs swings open and quick footsteps resound through the cells. I’m glad of the interruption. The light from the stairwell illuminates the damp squalor we’re in a little more. A man strides towards us in an expensive looking suit and well-polished shoes. His black hair is neatly styled, and his full beard groomed to perfection. His grey eyes stand out from their sunken sockets like headlights in smog. He is a young looking fifty something at least. He stands with a less impressive man in jeans and a t-shirt.

  He clears his throat. “Listen up. I’m the one they call Boss, and I run this house. We feed you, we water you, and we fight you; nothing more, nothing less. There’s no point lying about eventualities. Fight a good fight and you’ll live another day. You will get one bottle of water per EVO per day, so make it last, and yes, the buckets are for what you think they are. However, ladies can request the use of the toilet stall if accompanied by one of my men. After all, we’re not savages.” A grin creeps at the corners of his mouth. “Telekin,” he says, pointing in my face. “You’re something else. What grade are you?”

  “Grades are bullshit,” I reply. I think of Jude. He knew the centre was deserted. Cooper was right, he has been trying to protect me- oppress me. He’d never have allowed me to leave if he thought I’d be in danger. I worry for him and his sanity once he finds out what has happened.

  Boss steps closer to the bars. “Okay, let me ask you a different question. Why was your brain activity off the chart?”

  “What can I say? I’m special,” I keep my voice light, sarcastic.

  He turns to the Tagger. “I like her. It’s a shame the cocky ones die first,” he says, walking away. He’s trying to rattle me, but I know I have irritated him. He doesn’t seem the type of guy to be messed around- especially by a woman- an EVO woman.

  “You have a death wish, girl,” Bo says, laughing.

  “Like I said, my secret is my secret, for now.”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Cooper has spent the entire day working out. At one point, he asked Bo to count his crunches, but she told him to do it himself in not as many words. I know why he is doing it, I want to be occupied myself, but there is nothing to do other than pace.

  “I need to lift,” Cooper says, panting. He looks to me, but I turn my back on him and continue pacing. Then, he looks to Bo.

  “Lift this,” she says, flipping him the bird. “Will you quit with the strong man routine. We get it; you work out, now do us a favour and give it a rest. I’m done with your grunting.”

  Cooper spits into the piss bucket and comes to stand beside me at the bars. “And I thought you were bad,” he mutters.

  I ignore his comment. “Our only chance of escape is during a fight. We could attempt to fight our way out manually, but the Taggers have weapons. If we did over throw them, the only exit is up those stairs and god knows what or who is up there. I was so close to seeing Adam, and yet again, things have blown up in my face. I need to know if he is alright.” I lower my voice. “But I can’t link with this thing stuck on my neck.”

  Cooper grins to himself. “Lovick will be alright, although, I bet he’ll shit the bed when he wakes up and sees Mummy dearest is back from the dead.”

  I never thought of that. How will he handle it? She lied to him, manipulated him, and is now out for forgiveness. I know Leoni did what she did to protect him, but I’m not sure if Adam will accept that as an excuse.

  “What is it with you? Do you get off on other people’s misery?”

  Cooper holds his hands up and backs away. “I’m just saying.”

  “You’re good at that. You were just saying when you wanted me off the yacht, right? You know, the time when Adam handed you your ass?”

  Bo smirks. “I like the sound of this Adam guy.”

  Cooper growls and slinks to the far corner of the cell, lies down, and closes his eyes.

  My chest burns with agonising clarity. I touch my dressing and it feels damp. I can’t see the wound clearly, so I ask Bo to take a look. Her scrunched up nose tells me everything.

  “It’s opened up a little. Is that a stab wound?”

  I nod. “A friend of mine had a breakdown. She killed Fabian, Cooper’s friend, and almost killed me.” My voice cracks and I cough away the emotion. “I haven’t had time to think about it to be honest.”

  I’ve not once mentioned Fabian to Cooper since I woke up. I haven’t once given Fabian a second thought. Guilt only adds to my pain.

  “Why did you help me?” I ask Cooper. He appears amused by my question. “You can’t stand me, my friend killed your friend, and you still helped me.”

  “That’s not usually how you thank someone. And besides, you killed her right back.”

  “I am grateful, thank you. I’m sorry about Fabian. I’m sorry about this whole bloody mess.”

  He waves my apology away. “Just before we saw you and Jude that night, I was trying to convince Fabian to steal the guns and ditch you guys. He told me that I was a coward, and that I was afraid of trusting you because it meant things were going to change for the better, and I can’t allow myself anything good. He saw something in you, and I know you said that you’re not the girl Syndicate needs, but you kind of are, Teddie. You’re important, somehow.”

  “What the hell do you mean, ‘Syndicate’?” Bo advances on me, until I’m pushed against the bars.

  Cooper jumps to his feet, dragging her away from me. “Yeah, that’s right, Syndicate.”

  “You said you were E.N.C,” she shouts in my face. “Are you even Theyda Woodman.”

  “No, I’m Theyda Leason. Isaac Woodman is not my biological father. He let me believe he was, so he could use me, but that man was a psychopath.” Rage boils in my blood as I round on Bo. “That man killed his own mother for being Non-EVO- his own mother!” Bo’s lips curl in disgust, if only briefly. “The Dual EVO he claimed was his weapon was, in fact, his sister, Tess, but when she refused to carry out his sick plan guess what happened? Yep, he killed her too! He killed his nephew, his be
st friend; do I need to go on? You talk about him like he is some idol and that sums up everything that is wrong with the E.N.C. You target Non-EVO because you need someone to hate, to blame your shit lives on. Well, now, it’s time to face facts, Bo. I’m going to tell you the same thing I told Isaac right before I killed him- your hatred is all your own.”

  Bo looks to Cooper for confirmation of all I’ve just said. She is physically sweating, but I guess that’s what happens when everything you think you’re fighting for crashes around your ears.

  He nods, wiping his hand through his beard. “I was E.N.C, but it never sat well with me. I hated the Norms because my Dad was a Norm and he was a bastard, but he was just one Norm. I can’t blame them all for my shitty childhood. I’ve met good people- Norm people. They have risked their lives to help us.”

  Bo backs away from the both of us, clearly agitated and looking like she is about to puke. I wish I could read her, to judge her stand on this, but I have to stick with intuition and my intuition is telling me to press her further.

  “My boyfriend, Adam, the man you rescued from the military, he was E.N.C, so were many of my friends and my Uncle. They wanted what was promised: safety, freedom to be who they are without prejudice, not this fear that the E.N.C spreads now. Isaac was unstable, and if you follow his twisted legacy, the E.N.C becomes unstable by proxy. Syndicate wants to do right by—”

  She shakes her head vehemently. “Enough. Why are you telling me all this?”

  “Because I know you’re too intelligent and too empathetic to discount anything we’ve just said. Sometimes, it just takes someone to spell it out to you. If Cooper understands it, you should understand it.”

  Cooper’s eyes bore holes into the side of my face. “Cheers.”

  “Isaac was a high-grade EVO, and you expect me to believe that you killed him.”

  “I was there. She killed him,” Cooper confirms. “And he deserved it.”