Saintsville

by Brittani Louise Taylor

The path that Maggie had chosen was a foregone conclusion.

  “Enough moments have been taken from us, Eve,” Maggie roars.

  Marching straight up to Riley would normally be comical, her being only half his height, but Maggie has that same “Beth” edge. When she means business, Maggie is a force of nature.

  “Let’s get the bastards.”

  Not waiting for Riley’s response, she nods for Eve to follow her, as she walks straight out, and back into the dark tunnel.

  Chapter 22

  Eve and Maggie are officially enlisted members of the Electric Mutation Task Force, and Eve really has no clue what that fully means. There isn’t a brochure or a website that she can visit and get an idea of what they are in for, not that she even could if she wanted to.

  Irrational and upset, Eve and her sister signed on the dotted line without even reading their contracts very closely. Even mutant-hunting organizations have paperwork and legality issues, it seems.

  As a minor, Maggie is still required to obtain her GED, but will be allowed to train and pick her studies via homeschooling at Evergreen in a year. Her disappointment is evident after hearing that West has already obtained his. It seems the youngest Quinn’s brief appearance at Saintsville High was purely for show.

  Their phones are taken away next by Riley. Eve is only allowed to shoot Jill a quick “We’re safe, miss you, will be MIA for a bit” message before she is required to hand over her lifeline. Like any militaristic type training, minimal distractions are required to get maximum focus from cadets.

  Do they call Zappers-in-training “cadets”? Sometimes Eve wishes she could just hit the off switch to her brain, and for a little while not have to speculate.

  At least now the sisters have a clear direction of where they are headed, and a stipend to cover any extra expenses. Only when they’re on “active duty” will they receive a full salary, according to Beth. She’s been assigned by Riley as their point of contact, should any questions or complications arise.

  Both Abbotts are more than okay with this arrangement. Beth, with her warm personality, has already provided them a welcome comfort. They’re also issued more of the black clothing they’ve already been provided by the friendly older cook, who apparently is also in charge of inventory and apparel. Next, they’re instructed to report to the underground ultraviolet training area in the morning.

  For the rest of the day, neither sister discusses what they witnessed on that screen—not even later when they’re all alone in their room. They don’t need to discuss it…. Witnessing just one instance of their parents’ brutality was enough. The Quinns have been telling the truth.

  Day one in “the cave,” as the other Zappers call it, isn’t so bad. Mostly assessment and evaluation. Testing flexibility, muscle mass, and their current levels of fitness. Running, pushups, sit-ups, and more running, all while their vitals are recorded wirelessly into one of Martin’s many contraptions.

  But day two is when hell begins. Four in the morning, on the dot, Beth and Luca charge into Eve and Maggie’s sleeping quarters, physically drag them out of bed, and bring them directly to the cave. No shower, no breakfast, though thankfully they are appropriately attired. Beth had warned them that their new uniform was to be worn at all times, including sleep.

  Sent directly to the track around the edge, they are forced to run. Luca and Beth effortlessly maintain a brisk sprint, while Eve and Maggie keep falling pathetically behind. Only after their clothing is soaked and they feel like they can’t move another inch does the fight training begin.

  Eve, facing off against Beth, is slammed repeatedly to the floor. No matter how fast Eve is, Beth is faster.

  “Don’t be so sloppy! I can read every move before you even try to execute. Don’t think so much, let your instincts take over!”

  Trying to let go only seems to make things worse.

  At nightfall, covered in bruises, the sisters crawl their way up the stairs and take turns soaking their sore muscles in the large tub.

  Day three is more of the same. Early to rise, hours upon hours in the cave, and only a quick lunch and dinner. Eve takes to glaring at Riley when he pops his head in to observe, for he is the sadist that has ordered the Quinns to be in charge of their training. Beth isn’t so bad—though she is giggly and sweet one moment and terrifying the next. Demanding, but patient, Eve can already see improvements in their fighting through her tutelage.

  But Luca…Eve can’t believe she had ever found that man appealing.

  He does as he is ordered. Luca has no choice but to help in the training of the infamous daughters of Adel and Orion Abbott, and he doesn’t let them forget it for a second. He likes the sound of his own voice, and he uses it to point out their every flaw. They would hinder every mission and be a liability in the field. At first, Eve thinks it’s a training tactic, a cruel form of motivation, until Beth begins to speak up, mincing words with her beloved brother. Their relationship becoming strained by his ongoing behavior.

  Day by day by day, they wake, train, then take their broken bodies to bed and start all over again.

  The conditioning works.

  Both Eve and Maggie are soon able to run flat out for over an hour, and spar for countless more beyond that. The boring, mindless repetition begins to translate into muscle memory. But while Maggie is excelling, Eve is falling more and more behind. It makes sense, really—Maggie, with her authority issues, thrives on Luca’s belittling. It fuels and focuses her, while it rips Eve’s confidence to shreds.

  Eve wouldn’t have mentally survived without their daily, private lessons with Martin.

  They learn about the different kinds of mutants. Level ones are called smokers. The one that had attacked Eve in her bedroom had been a smoker, and the mildest form of the enemy they would soon face. Level two, fliers, are basically smokers with wings. Great, Eve thinks. Like those things need the ability to zip around in the air as well. Level three, jumpers. They couldn’t fly, but they could leap twenty feet in the air and move faster than the first two, making them next to impossible to immobilize. And the fourth and final classified mutations are the rollers, the most advanced.

  It takes five Zappers working together to take down one roller. Martin is their tutor during their daily “learn what you’re up against” talks. Using holographs and projections, he replays footage from previous encounters, thankfully no more involving their parents, explaining in detail the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents.

  And these are only the mutants the EMTF researchers have been able to closely study. Adel and Orion were apparently always hard at work, coming up with yet more genetic twists—providing Martin with endless material to teach his pupils.

  Lesson by lesson, Eve’s skin crawls, and her hatred for their parents and their part in all of this grows.

  Before Adel and Orion’s experiments, there had been only one kind of mutant. Smokers had been the only enemy. Now, they truly didn’t know what they were up against or what twisted version of a former human would be popping up next.

  A month passes before Eve finally feels herself getting stronger—before she ducks, rolls, and deflects more often than a foot or fist connects with her flesh. She is still behind her sister, but she is gaining a certain immunity to Luca’s verbal attacks.

  Many other fighters training in the arena agree with Luca’s assessments. If he treats Eve and Maggie like outcasts, then they are going to follow his lead. The only living creatures that will say more than a few words to them—unless forced—are the Quinns, Riley, or the cook.

  Things become even lonelier for Eve when she and Maggie are separated.

  Since her sister graduated to instruction in weapons way before her, Eve steals every moment she can to watch Maggie off with Rowan. She isn’t jealous of the ferocious little redhead. If anything, she is impressed by Maggie’s quick comprehension of anything Rowan throws her way. Her little sister is calmer and more confident here. At Evergreen, Maggie is coming back to life again
.

  And Eve is pretty sure that her little sister is falling in love.

  Two months into her training, Eve is awakened by another nightmare. This time, her father Orion had been injecting needle after needle into her limp body, strapped to an operating table. Each syringe that had been emptied into her veins causing her body to convulse and seize. Sobbing, she bolts up in bed, begging him to stop.

  Looking from her bed to Maggie’s, she notices that her sister’s is empty—just a rumpled comforter with the pillows askew. The small clock on her nightstand reads midnight. Panicking, Eve hops out of bed, checks the bathroom, and then hurries over to the window, looking down onto the driveway illuminated by the moonlight. Frantically searching for movement, she notices what looks like someone in the hot springs. Cursing her nearsightedness, she grabs her glasses from her nightstand, running back to the window. Sure enough, there is a voluptuous ginger swimming in what seems to be her bra and underwear.

  Maggie.

  And she isn’t alone. West, his baby face unmistakable, swims with Maggie to the waterfall as they both climb out onto the small ledge. It looks as if they are set to dive, racing each other back to the other side, when West grabs Maggie’s wrist and straightens. Pulling her toward him, he takes his hands, cupping her cheeks, bending down to softly kiss her mouth.

  Eve does not need to see that.

  Backing away from the window, she feels like she’s intruding. She just observed a steamy moment between two young adults and has no desire to witness what happens next.

  But now Eve is wide awake. Fearing if she goes back to sleep, she will only fall back into her dreamscape, Eve puts on her boots and quietly makes her way downstairs. Before she knows it, her wanderings take her into the tunnel off the kitchen and back into the cave.

  At this early hour, it is empty, smelling strongly of some sort of cleaning agent. She has noticed another entry to the right of the arena, with swinging double doors. Zappers frequently enter and exit throughout the day, but neither Eve nor Maggie have asked where it leads.

  Her inquisitiveness getting the best of her, Eve looks over her shoulder and up at the many cameras on the walls. Whoever is currently stuck monitoring the security of this place hasn’t stopped her yet, and she takes that as a sign that it is okay to proceed. Emboldened, she walks down the steps, over the mats, and up another set of stairs to the double doors.

  Pausing before entering, she quietly pushes them open and steps through. Another tunnel sharply curves to the right, and a light source shines from somewhere around the corner. Cautiously approaching, she turns and sees a set of lockers and benches planted against the wall on either side. Also, two more doors. Checking each, Eve sees they lead to locker rooms which she assumes to be male and female (the obvious hint being the urinals in one).

  Exiting the men’s locker room, Eve explores the source of the light, a circular hole in the ceiling, last. Moving to stand right below it, she shields her eyes, and she notices metal rungs inserted in the cement wall. Evenly spaced, they had been installed purposefully, leading all the way up.

  The rungs form a ladder.

  She’s gone this far already—there’s no stopping her as she heads up and into the room in the ceiling. Her eyes are temporarily blinded by the intensity of the light. She is now in a round dome, every inch covered in small white bulbs.

  Eyes watering from the intensity, she notices four more sets of benches in the center, and a man. Shirtless, he is only wearing a pair of loose-looking cotton shorts. His tattoos cover his muscled chest and legs, and they seem to pulse, drinking in the power of this place. Relaxed and laying across a bench in the middle, Eve is definitely intruding.

  He looks up as she takes a step back, hearing her boots connecting with the floor. A pair of odd sunglasses are fitted over his chiseled, angular features.

  Luca.

  Chapter 23

  “I am so sorry. I’m leaving….” Eve croaks, whipping back toward the ladder. Before she even takes a step, Luca quickly responds, “No…it’s okay.”

  She freezes. Eve is used to rude, intolerable Luca. Not polite Luca.

  “I was awake and went for a walk. Ended up down in the arena, and I was just wondering….” Eve speaks softly, embarrassed.

  “This area isn’t off limits. If it was, the doors would’ve been locked,” Luca states, matter-of-factly. “You’re in the recharge room. The lights in the training area help to maintain our energy levels, but in here, we can recover quicker if needed.”

  Luca rises, coming to his full height. He then maneuvers over to a white stand and picks up a pair of glasses identical to the ones he’s wearing. Walking over to Eve, he hands them to her, and she accepts gratefully. Sliding them over her lenses, she breathes a sigh a relief. The strain on her eyes from the dome’s intensity is grueling. It takes several seconds for the spots in her vision to clear.

  Now, truly able to see Luca before her, Eve’s stomach tightens. His chest and back are covered in the same barcoded designs as his arms, and they extend all the way down to his ankles. Each pulse, as they brighten and fade, is entrancing. She feels herself wanting to touch his skin. She wants to see if the tattoos are warm, or tingle under her fingertips. Luca lets her examine him, wordless and unabashed. She hasn’t noticed before the small scars scattered across his limbs and strong body. Some white, old and healed, and others pink and still recuperating.

  Realizing how creepy this must look, her slobbering over his half naked form, Eve blushes and starts to retreat.

  “Wait, Eve, don’t!” Luca rushes forward and grabs her arms, yanking her toward his chest, inches before she would have fallen down the circular entrance.

  Stupid. Dumb. Eve always manages to feel inept in his presence. Looking up, she is about to whisper “thank you” until she realizes how close her face is to his. White teeth peek through his perfect lips. His eyes are unreadable, covered by the protective eyewear.

  Eve is pretty sure that anything that adorned Luca would look sexy on his chiseled features.

  He leans forward, coming even closer, until she can feel his hot breath pressing on her mouth. Luca smells like pine and peppermint. Heart pounding, blood racing with adrenaline, she thinks he’s going to kiss her, but he pauses.

  Slowly taking a step back, he releases her arms. After another pause, he walks away, depositing his glasses back into the basket. Refusing to look at her, Luca walks straight past and down the metal rung stairs.

  Eve. Is. Mortified.

  And she can’t help but feel hurt. Plain as plain could be, Luca had an opportunity to initiate something with her. Her body language had been clear. If he was going to kiss her, she was all in. Instead, she had been rejected.

  Ripping the glasses off, she tosses them, not caring how the rays pierce her irises. Eve just wants to get the heck out of this arena and back to the security of her assigned bedroom. Quickly climbing down the rungs, she skips the last four. Landing with a thud, Eve pivots, preparing to make a run for it when she sees Luca, now sitting on one of the benches outside the lockers.

  He is still shirtless, his head in his hands, fingers massaging his scalp as he gently rocks back and forth. He’s radiating frustration—evident from his body language.

  Indignation fading to concern, Eve wants to ask him if he is okay when the door to the female locker rooms open. Walking out, with her hair damp and freshly washed body barely contained beneath a short towel, is Sophia.

  For the past two months, she and her sister Lucia have treated Eve like she was a carrier of a life-threatening disease. Avoiding contact and conversation at all costs, she has not spoken to her since their first encounter.

  “I’m ready to go again if you are….” Sophia purrs knowingly, her long legs glistening in the soft lighting.

  Scratching the light stubble coating his jaw, Luca looks to Sophia, then seemingly remembers Eve.

  His forehead wrinkles in concern, eyes locking with hers. Luca’s about to speak when Eve sha
kes her head and walks straight past them. Almost to the double-doored exit, she stops, turning back to the obvious lovers.

  Her words are directed at Luca.

  “I was wondering why I wasn’t learning anything from you in practice. Maybe if you spent less time fooling around, and more time actually trying, I might get better. Just a thought.”

  The smile on her features doesn’t reach her cold eyes as Eve breaks away from the scene before her, numbly heading back toward her room.

  When she peeks inside their moonlight-filled chambers, Maggie is back in her bed. Thinking her asleep, Eve tiptoes to her own mattress, the down comforter and luxurious sheets softly crinkling as she climbs beneath the covers. Laying her head gently on the soft pillow, she’s about to close her eyes when she hears Maggie utter, “I’m sorry.”

  Rising to her elbows, she looks across the room.

  “Sorry about what?” Eve questions.

  Yawning, a sleepy Maggie mumbles, “I came back and you were gone. West showed me the control room, and we watched you guys on the security camera screens. Luca is a tool….”

  Eves is humiliated once more.

  “It looked like Captain Serious and you were gonna get it on…but you and Sophia, in one night? Ew. Be glad you didn’t touch anything that has come in contact with that Zapper groupie.”

  Eve is touched by her baby sister coming to her defense. “You’re right. I love you.”

  “Same. Now shut up, please, I’m tired….” Mumbling the last part, Maggie rolls onto her side, grabbing one of her pillows to hug. Within seconds, she is fast asleep.

  Eve wants to sleep but can’t. Tossing and turning, at some point during the early hours she must have dozed off, because the blaring of her alarm jars her awake.

  Resentment.

  She’s sick and tired of all the hours she has wasted fighting her feelings toward Luca. Last night, everything became clear.

  He isn’t worth it.