Corinne (Book One of The Red Diamond Saga) (8 page)

After a few days of no contact with Conner, Corinne decided it was time she confronted her past. If she could not figure out how to reach Conner in the present, perhaps she could at least learn more about him in the past.

On a day she was certain Daniel would be working, Corinne placed a call and set an appointment. Her stomach was still sensitive to the slightest shift in her emotions, but she ignored its queasiness and dressed. Ever since she left the hospital her senses had been more and keener.

She was able to predict who was calling on the phone, and when Daniel would walk through the door.

She could peek in on his activities when he was in another room, though she tried not to. She would not like someone doing that to her, so despite her curiosity, she did her best to restrain herself from invading his privacy.

As she drove toward her destination, she could sense that something unpleasant was waiting for her. This did not surprise her, considering who she was planning to visit. She ignored her instinct and continued to drive. Her mind kept wandering to the memory of Aaron.

She could not help but be curious what he was like. What his life had been like. Did they have similarities that went beyond their hair and eye color? She recalled he had quite a bit of an attitude; it made her question how he had been raised. Had his life been as difficult as hers? Had it been better?

When she walked into the jail, she felt the pressure of the emotions of both the prisoners and the staff. It was a very oppressive place which actually made it difficult for her to breathe. Anxiety built within her as she began to feel like she might never be able to leave. She shook her head to dismiss the strange thoughts and emotions that were brewing within her.

As she walked up to the front desk, the woman behind a glass divider met her eyes with a frown. She quickly covered it with a polite smile, but not before Corinne sensed that she was very worried about something.

“Hello, I am here to visit a prisoner.” Corinne said shakily.

The whole place was giving her a headache, and her stomach flipped with the knowledge of who she was about to come face to face with.

“Name?” The woman asked as she scanned a list on a clipboard in front of her.

“Corinne Sanders.” She said clearly. “And I am here to visit Samuel Hudson.”

The woman surveyed the document in front of her twice before slowly lifting her gaze to Corinne.

“I am sorry but there is no prisoner here by that name.”

Corinne grimaced with irritation as she shifted the strap of her purse on her shoulder and leaned closer to the glass enclosure.

“I called this morning to arrange a visit, I am certain he is here.”

The woman scanned the paper in front of her but only ended up shaking her head.

“There is no prisoner listed by that name.” She insisted.

Corinne felt her heart begin to race, and her face grew hot with anger. She could not recall a time when she was so irritable.

“Look again, I know he is here.” She was ready to thrust her hand through the tiny opening in the enclosure when she heard a familiar voice drift from a nearby hallway. It was muffled, but she would know it anywhere.

“It is about time you got me out of here.” The man muttered.

“Your actions are the reason you are in here.” Another vaguely familiar voice said.

“Alright, alright, Doc, just get me out of here.”

Corinne gasped as the knowledge settled over her of whom she was hearing speak.

“Sam!” She shouted toward the hallway.

In the same instant that her rage rose to such an intense boiling point that she felt as if she might explode, an alarm rang through the prison. It was blaring, and bright red lights began fluctuating at a pulsating rhythm.

The woman behind the desk jumped up and reached for a lever that would lock down the front entrance of the jail, but not before Conner led Sam out of the hallway and out through the front door while the woman's back was turned.

Corinne ran after them, but the door swung shut before she could reach them, and the sound of the lock sliding into place was final.

She tugged at the handle of the door, but it would not open. She could only watch as Conner, with his hand on Sam's elbow, casually led him toward the parking lot. He glanced back once over his shoulder and caught sight of Corinne through the window of the door.

His eyes lingered on hers for a long moment as he realized that he had not moved fast enough. He could not take the time to try to explain, because the SWAT team was already arriving. Inside the jail, the woman behind the glass was yelling for Corinne to take cover.

“There's a riot happening!” She explained as she ducked down behind her desk after making sure that the entrance to the reception area was locked.

“It's been brewing all day,” She said more to herself than to Corinne.

Corinne sank down into one of the chairs in the waiting area. She could not imagine the riot spilling out into this area of the jail, but she was frustrated that she would not be able to chase after Sam.

What was Conner doing with him? Did he know Sam? Was he the one that had hired him? If so, why would he help a rapist escape from prison?

She had just begun to settle into the idea of trusting Conner, and now, as she watched the SWAT teams rush into the jail, she was beginning to think she had made a mistake.

As she waited for the authorities to handle the situation, she grew more and more angry with every passing moment.

Suddenly from beyond the doors the swat team had burst through, she heard the distinct sound of gunfire, and it was not too far off. Corinne began to take the situation very seriously as she jumped down from the chairs she had been sitting in and hid behind a small table. She heard one strong voice carry over the sound of the alarm.

“I will put a bullet in the first person that flinches.” The voice said with pure certainty. When the swat officers began to back out of the hallway with their hands in the air Corinne tried to shrink even smaller. She could not understand how so many officers had not been able to gain control of the riot, until she saw the prisoner emerge from the hallway.

He was huge, triple the size of an average man, and he had apparently been able to take a weapon from one of the guards or officers. The gun he held was pointed at the head of a young officer who did not look old enough to be in uniform. He was shivering in the man's grasp, who exuded a blood lust, as if he was begging for the opportunity to shoot someone.

Corinne could feel his emotions, the power and the panic that was rushing through him. He felt invincible with the swat team cowering beneath his command, but he knew if he did not make it out the door, he would be spending the rest of his life in jail. He looked directly toward Corinne but just before he could notice her he swung his attention toward the reception area.

“Open the doors.” He commanded through the glass. The woman who was huddled beneath her desk did not respond. “Open the doors now!”

The man shouted and punctuated the volume of his words with a bullet against the glass that surrounded the reception area. It was bullet resistant, and so it only cracked, but the woman inside knew as did everyone else present, that bullet resistant only held up against a few bullets and eventually it would shatter. The woman inside screamed as the criminal fired another bullet into the same spot the first one had ricocheted off of.

“Listen, just calm down.” One of the swat officers attempted. “Just tell us what you want, and no one has to get hurt.”

The man laughed as he swung the gun on the officer who was speaking. “No one has to get hurt? How stupid do you think I am?” He jabbed his weapon toward the hallway. “There are three bodies back there, and they are all on my head. If she doesn't open the doors now, it's going to be six.”

Corinne could tell from his emotions that he was serious. He would have no qualms pulling the trigger. Before she could understand what she was doing she slowly stood up.

The man with the gun froze when he saw Corinne. She was a perfect hostage and he eagerly shook the gun in her direction.

“Well well, what do we have here?” He muttered. “Come on and join the party.”

Corinne carefully stepped forward. She held her hands up by her shoulders, with open palms. She could feel his desire to possess her, to use her as a pawn to escape.

“You don't really want to do this.” Corinne said firmly. She met his eyes without hesitation. She was startled by her confidence, and yet it felt natural. She was not afraid as she walked toward him. In fact she felt more comfortable being close to him than she had any other person in her life.

“It was a mistake that got you put in here in the first place.” She said with understanding in her tone.

The man with the gun stared at her with wide, furious eyes. Not only was she not showing any fear, as she should be, considering he was brandishing a weapon directly at her, she seemed to know an awful lot about him. It had been a mistake that landed him behind bars. He had not been the one to pull the trigger, so many years before. But it did not matter now. He had pulled the trigger today, and there was no turning back.

“Open the doors or she dies.” He said boldly as he pointed the weapon directly at her forehead. Corinne stood before the gun, so close that she could smell the scent of it, without a hint of anxiety.

“You cannot pull the trigger.” She said softly, as if out of pity. The man glared fiercely at her.

“I can do anything I want.” He growled and suddenly he shoved the young man to the floor and pointed the gun at the back of his head. “Watch!” He shouted with a twisted grin. He pulled back as hard as he could on the trigger, but it would not give.

But before he could try pulling the trigger again the SWAT officer who had tried to talk him down, had tackled him to the floor. He wrestled and screamed as the officers pinned him down and cuffed him. The young officer was shaking with fear as he picked up the discarded weapon.

He emptied the ammunition from the gun, and then tried to pull the trigger. It moved with ease. The young officer looked up from the gun to Corinne, who was still standing perfectly calmly in the middle of all the chaos. His eyes possessed a certain knowing, as he studied Corinne, and then allowed a fellow officer to lead him away.

“Open the doors.” Corinne said flatly to the woman in the reception area who was peeking out from beneath her desk.

The woman did not wait for permission from the officers; she flipped the lever that released the locks on the front doors. Corinne turned and walked right out the doors, ignoring the calls of the officers behind her.

As she was leaving the jail she walked right into a group of officers who were deployed as a second layer of protection on the off chance that the riot spilled out of the jail. Corinne tried to avoid them by ducking around the side of the building, but a firm hand grabbed her wrist and tugged her back before she could.

“Corinne what are you doing here?” Daniel asked with a severe frown. His fellow police officers hung back out of respect, but they were quite curious about Corinne's involvement.

Corinne was still reeling with the emotions of the riot and the criminal who had been so bent on murder. She found it difficult not to express those emotions toward Daniel as each time she tried to pull away from him; he drew her back closer to him.

“Tell me why you are here.” He demanded, finally slipping an arm around her waist to loosely restrain her. “You came to see him didn't you?” He asked just beside her ear.

She nodded as she crumpled into his grip and reveled in the pleasure of his closeness. “I just had some questions I needed answered.” She explained as he sighed with relief that she was no longer resisting him. Corinne was lost in a myriad of emotion, with her only anchor being the love she could feel pouring out of Daniel's heart for her.

Daniel's eyes glimmered with hurt as he looked at her closely. “Let me help you with this Corinne, please.”

When she sensed the hurt within him, she regretted not confessing her plans for the day.

“I knew you didn't trust Conner, so..” Her voice trailed off as she recalled the man escorting Sam out of the jail.

“I'm sorry.” Daniel said genuinely. “I trust you, and if you really think this guy is for real then-”

“-I'm not sure anymore.” Corinne interrupted. Her beautiful features creased with frustration as her head began to throb with the emotions of the others around her. “I have never been so confused.” She whispered as she let her forehead come to rest on Daniel's chest.

Daniel cupped his hand around the back of her head, and wrapped his other arm around her protectively as he wished he could somehow build a different world, a different life for her.

“I promise you,” He murmured. “We will figure it out together.”

Aaron sat alone in his small room. It consisted of a single bed with a thin mattress and a small desk and chair that was wedged into the corner of the room. It was lit by a bare bulb in the center of the room. Prisoners had larger living spaces, with more personal accommodations. But it this room was all Aaron had ever known as his home.

He was retrieved as an infant and brought back into this sterile environment to be raised by scientists and doctors. He was studied and evaluated on a regular basis, the way most kids studied and took tests in school. At first, because he knew nothing different, he felt as if his life was normal.

That was until he began to read stories about life outside of the walls. In the world outside, there were families. There was nature. There were even places specifically designed and reserved for children to play. He found it difficult to understand why he could not live this type of life. It was these thoughts that began to plant the seeds of rebellion within him.

Along with watching Lisa grow. She was his only playmate, and solace. He felt as if he was responsible for her, and though for some reason she had limited ability to express true emotions, she did bond with Aaron. Together they formed a makeshift family, headed by Conner, their dysfunctional father.

He insisted that they work on a regular basis, constantly challenging them and their abilities, pushing them to grow stronger both mentally and physically.

It created a sense of not ever being able to do well enough to please him. As Aaron grew into a man he found himself angry more frequently.

As he sat on the edge of the bed, his thoughts were centered on Corinne. He was jealous that she had lived outside of the walls. He was furious that she was given the freedom to walk away. He wanted more than anything to have that same freedom.

Ever since he slipped out to save Corinne, he had been on lockdown. His every move was being observed, and it made his skin crawl to be aware that there were eyes always on him. Until she had come into their lives, things had been miserable, but not unbearable. Now he felt as if they could only get worse.

“Corinne.” He mumbled into the darkness around him. “I know you can feel me.” He let his eyes fall shut, and he expanded his emotions within him. He was certain, that just as he had been able to sense her, she would be able to sense him. He wanted her to feel a little bit of his torture, as he had suffered with the unavoidable sensation of hers.

Corinne sat upright in the bed beside Daniel. He had insisted that she stay with him, as he was worried about the way she had been behaving, and the illness she had suffered. He felt as if no matter how he tried to protect her, he was never successful.

As she grasped at her chest, feeling a rage and resentment fill her with such bitterness that she desired to punch anything she could, her breath shuddered from between her lips and formed a name.

“Aaron.”

The next breath she drew was a gasp as she suddenly became certain that Aaron was in trouble. It was not that he was in danger exactly; it was more as if he was captive. As Corinne's heart rate slowed to a normal pace she caught glimpses of Aaron's life. She gradually realized as she sorted through these memories that Aaron was as much a prisoner as the men in the jail she had visited that day.

“I am coming.” She murmured into the darkness that surrounded her.

The next morning Daniel agreed to show her the building he had tracked Conner Mitchell to, on the condition that she not sneak off without him present, and allow him to help her figure out what he was up to. Corinne had not revealed her concern about Aaron's safety, nor had she confided the full extent of her abilities. She was not even sure herself.

As they pulled into the parking lot, Daniel cast a worried glance in her direction. She had been silent for the entire drive, and her expression was darkened by an emotion he could not place. Daniel parked the car and opened her door for her. Then the two walked right up to the building. There was no way in. There was no way to ask for entry.

This did not bother Corinne. She closed her eyes and expanded her energy, summoning her most recent memory of Conner's face. She focused on his features intently, until she could feel the heat of his skin.

In his office, Conner suddenly felt a sharp headache start at the top of his neck. It raced up along the curve of his head until it settled in the center of his forehead. The pain was excruciating as it heightened with a demanding throb.

“Corinne.” He winced as he reached up and pulled off his reading glasses. He tossed them aside and rubbed at his forehead, hoping to ease the pain. It was in that moment that he realized she must be close by.

He tapped a few keys on his keyboard to summon up the video feed from the cameras on the outside of the building. He was startled when he found her staring back at him, expectantly.

Her fiancé was beside her. Conner knew that this might be a problem considering his profession. Still, he did not have much of a choice. That fact was augmented by a sharp resurgence of pain through his head.

He struck a button on the desk beside him, and a voice wafted into the room.

“Yes Mr. Mitchell?”

“Please send an escort to the front of the building. Bring only Corinne.” He said firmly.

“Yes, Mr. Mitchell.” The voice replied, after which the office was bathed in silence. Conner steepled his fingertips against the curve of his chin and contemplated how to handle what would happen next.

He watched the video feed as two muscular men in suits stepped outside of the building and spoke with Corinne and Daniel.

“Mr. Mitchell would like you to come inside.” The large of the two said.

Daniel tilted his head back as he laid a hand on the butt of his gun. “If she goes, I go.” He stated sternly.

“I am sorry sir, but this is a secure facility, and only Corinne may enter.” The other man said politely but with pure authority.

“Then I am not coming inside.” Corinne said flatly. She had made a promise to Daniel and she intended to keep it.

“Yes, you are.” The first man insisted. “Mr. Mitchell requested that we bring you inside.” When he reached up to place a hand on Corinne's arm, Daniel was quick to step between them. He had his gun out of its holster swiftly, but before he could aim it he felt a strange need to lower it.

In his office, gazing at the video feed, Conner was commanding him to lower the gun.

“Corinne will be fine.” He murmured within Daniel's mind. “Just walk away.”

Daniel looked over at Corinne vacantly. “You'll be fine.” He said casually. “I'll wait in the car.”

He was walking away before Corinne could protest. At first she was stunned by his behavior, and then she realized that Conner must have been behind it.

“Oh yes.” She said wickedly as the two men turned their attention back to her. “Let's go inside.”

Now she was the angry one as she was led through a maze of corridors to a single elevator. She did not like the idea of Conner toying with Daniel's mind.

When the elevator doors opened she was on the same floor as Conner's office. She began to walk down the hallway without waiting for her escorts, when Aaron stepped out into the hall from another room. He was startled by her presence, though in a way he had expected it. Conner had been right again. She did come to them.

“Corinne.” He said curtly.

“Aaron.” She responded compassionately. When she looked into his eyes, there was no animosity within her. “I am here.” She said clearly, as if to reassure him. Aaron lowered his gaze quickly, afraid that she would catch him in weakness.

Conner emerged from his office and smiled at the two as they turned to face him. They looked remarkable beside each other, like works of art to be appreciated. Their features mimicked one another’s, and their eyes held the same fire and fury that they had on the day that they were born, that their mother's eyes contained.

“Finally, we are together.” He declared as he spread his arms wide open as if he was expecting them to run into them. Instead the two siblings glowered equally at the man.

“I came for Aaron.” Corinne said passionately as she stepped toward Conner.

Conner took a slight step back as he could feel how intense Corinne's determination was.

Aaron was surprised by her words as she pushed past him. It had never occurred to him that Corinne might want to rescue him. Or even truly, that he needed to be rescued.

“Corinne I understand that you are confused.” He paused as he shot a warning glare in Aaron's direction. “You saw me today with Sam, which must have upset you.” He gestured toward his office. “Come in and sit down, I can explain everything.” His patient tone was very convincing, but Corinne could not lose sight of the memories she now shared with Aaron, or the fact that Conner had influenced Daniel's mind.

“There's no way to explain it.” Corinne insisted as she folded her arms across her chest and refused to budge from where she stood.

Conner took a calming breath and reminded himself inwardly that he needed to tread carefully around Corinne.

“I hired Sam because you were placed in the system before I could get to you Corinne. Once you were in foster care it was hard to find you. I hired a police officer to help me find you, and when he did, I continued to pay him to keep track of you.

At that point if I tried to take you out of the system it would expose our work, something that the world is not ready to understand.” He sighed as he leaned back against the doorway of his office and watched her steadily. It still amazed him that she was standing before him.

“I had no idea of his activities, I swear to you.” He shook his head remorsefully. “I would never have allowed him near you, if I had known.”

Corinne frowned as Conner's words sank in. His story made sense to her. It also explained why she was never adopted, she was sure that Conner had something to do with preventing that. Although her entire childhood was riddled with deception, Conner's story actually made her feel a subtle warmth inside. For her entire life she had assumed that there was no one else out there that had any interest in her well-being. It was comforting to think that Conner had done his best to protect her.

“You know what he did now.” Corinne pointed out, not completely swayed. “And still you broke him out of jail. Why?” Corinne reached up and touched her cheek lightly as she recalled the beating she had suffered at the hands of the only man she had ever envisioned as a parental figure. She did not overlook a mark that resided in a similar place on Aaron's cheek.

Conner folded his hands in front of him in a pleading manner. “Sam knew too much, Corinne.” He grimaced as he thought of the mistake he had made by hiring the man. “He knew my name, your name, and that there was a connection between us. He had ideas about this place. If I had let him sit in jail for too long, he would have begun talking. How can I risk all we have learned, all we have worked so hard for?”

Aaron shifted uncomfortably as he felt a surge of annoyance. Conner was rambling about the research, and the work, but had not once mentioned the safety of Aaron or Lisa. He was showing, as usual, what his priorities were. Corinne did not notice this.

Instead she was being drawn in by Conner's words. She could believe what he said about the risk that Sam posed. She could even forgive him for it. Still the memories she had felt of Aaron's plagued her. The control he had exerted over Daniel infuriated her. She needed him to prove that he was not running a prison rather than a research facility.

“If everything you are saying is true, then I am free to leave?” She asked as she began to turn away.

“Of course.” Conner said in a friendly tone. “Though I would rather you stayed, at least for a little while.”

Corinne smiled pleasantly as she took a step back, until she was side by side with Aaron. She reached up and placed her hand gently on his forearm, which tensed instantly beneath her touch. She knew that reaction. She knew what it meant, when even a soft touch frightened you into anticipating violence and pain.

“Well, I would prefer to leave. In fact, I was hoping Aaron and I could spend some time together.”

Conner raised his eyebrows swiftly as he realized her intentions.

“Uh, that's not such a good idea.” Conner argued, he had not anticipated this turn of events. “If you want to visit with Aaron, you can do it here.”

Corinne pursed her lips mildly. “Why? Is he not free to leave?” She waited expectantly for an answer. Conner was briefly at a loss as he tried to summon a good excuse as to why Aaron could not leave.

“Is he your prisoner?” Corinne pushed; she was not going to give him a moment to think up an excuse.

“No, of course not.” Conner smirked faintly as he glanced at Aaron's hopeful expression. He could tell that the young man was yearning for the chance to leave. He knew it was a risk, but Conner was masterful at playing the hand that he was dealt. “If you insist, and Aaron agrees.” He smiled charmingly at Aaron. “You two may spend as much time as you like together.”

Aaron was stunned by his agreement. He did not let himself fully believe it was true. Surely Conner would let them get halfway out of the building, and then send his security to retrieve them, or at least Aaron.

“Do you want to go with Corinne, Aaron?” Conner asked, showing his teeth as he grinned.