Flawed (35 page)

“Thank you.”

The doctor rose. Angry blue and red splotches colored his neck. Ellyssa looked away from her shame.

“The hour is late, so if you will follow me, I’ll take you back to your quarters.” Dr. Loki moved toward the door as everyone got to their feet. He paused after he punched in the code and turned around. Glancing at the hands being held between the two couples, he said. “We will make living arrangements more suitable for your needs.”

“Wait,” Woody said, standing. “One more question.”

“Yes.”

“With all the contacts working together, the Resistance in its entirety, how do you not know about the survival of the other underground communities?”

Dr. Loki smiled. “The same as your failure to realize.”

“I don’t understand.”

“You had contacts helping you, right?”

“Yes.”

“Did you know where your contacts got supplies from?”

“Ordered them?”

“All of it? Really?”

Pausing, Woody mulled for a moment. “Probably not?”

“Did your contacts help others of the Cause?”

Woody shrugged. “We never knew exactly what the others did.”

“There’s your answer. We do our job. We don’t talk. We don’t ask questions.”

As the wind howled, shaking the windows in their frames, Aalexis stared out the window. Not that she could see anything. It was like looking at a white wall, a complete whiteout. Even the spotlights from the towers couldn’t penetrate the thick sheets of unrelenting snow with nothing more than a dull glow.

On the window, Xaver’s reflection joined hers, his scent reaching her nose. He wrapped his arm around her waist. She leaned into him, his warmth caressing her. His lips brushed the top of her head; tingles cascaded through her body.

The intimacy of such an act felt strange, but good. Two parts struggled within her, one repulsion at the act, the other relishing every touch. As Aalexis became acclimated to the familiarity, the relishing was winning.

Xaver had been right. Once she’d embraced the connection instead of burying it, the apprehension had departed, the fear of becoming like Ellyssa. Plus, since she’d conceded, Xaver seemed to be even more devoted to her. More protective. A quality she would need if things didn’t go according to plan.

At all costs, Aalexis must live.

“Do you think she will come soon?”

“After the blizzard, I am sure,” Xaver responded.

A burst of wind rattled the glass. Snow continued to pound down across the plains.

“What if she does not survive this?”

“Do you think we would survive if exposed?”

“Of course.”

“She will, too. I would not be surprised if her inferior company froze to death, though. There is no shelter for them.”

The thought of them dying sent a forbidden pleasant thrill through Aalexis. Without the inferior people Ellyssa had formed relationships with, she would come alone. She would be vulnerable.

That was another thing Xaver had been right about, relationships had strengthened the vile Renegades. Unfortunately, Ellyssa had formed a bond with the wrong class of humans. If Ellyssa would’ve waited, her emotional connection could have been shared with her real family. Once Ellyssa returned home with them, she would learn.

Their father’s work would come to fruition. And born from her father’s vision, another experiment to accommodate them while they waited for their superior creations to reach adulthood. Aalexis was a little surprised her father hadn’t tried. An easy concoction to formulate to suppress the substandard humans’ emotions, so they could act as guards until his work was completed. Her father certainly would’ve benefitted from such an endeavor, instead of trusting an emotional, insane person such as Detective Petersen. If the female hadn’t interfered, Aalexis’ father might still be alive.

Anger twinged with her. Xaver noticed.

“What bothers you?”

“
Der Vater
,” she stated. “We have a lot of work to accomplish when we return home. I will not have someone like that detective in charge of security. We are capable of so much more.”

Aalexis had already handpicked the male to take part in the first trial, the one she’d seen before her meeting with Commandant Baer. She wondered if he would be honored at such a prospect or try to refuse. Either way, it didn’t really matter. Aalexis would have things her way.

“I cannot wait to get started,” Xaver said. “I actually feel excitement at the prospect. Strange, is it not?”

Aalexis heard it too, as the thump in his chest quickened. Xaver tightened his grip on her waist, and she rested her head against his broad chest. His heartbeat echoed in her ear. She felt her hair move under her brother’s soft breaths.

A loud thumping on the door disrupted the calm.

Xaver dropped his arm and moved away. “Come in,” he yelled.

Whoever was on the other side of the door didn’t respond.

“I do not think they can hear you.”

As if in affirmation, the wind moaned noisily as it beat against the building. The knock came again.

Xaver opened the door. Wind whipped through the entrance and cold spread across Aalexis’ skin.

“Who are you?”

“Sergeant-at-arms, sir, here with the report,” a male said, his voice deep and rough.

“Let him in, Xaver.”

Her brother stepped back, and a male wearing a long olive green coat with a matching bomber hat and scarf entered, dark blue eyes peeking over the knitted material. Snow covered the male from head to foot; his boots were caked in frozen ice. He took off his gloves as Xaver shut the door.

“Heil,” he greeted, arm extended.

“At ease,” Xaver ordered.

The male pulled down the scarf, exposing a crooked nose and a fierce square jaw. Coincidence that the male Aalexis had seen earlier in the day showed up just as she had thought about him. Of course, her father had always said coincidences don’t exist, only science and facts.

“I apologize for the intrusion,” the male said. “I was just informed you have relieved the Commandant of his duties.”

“That is correct,” Xaver said.

“This is rather unusual.” He paused, his gaze moving between the both of them. “I’m not sure I understand.”

Lifting his chin, Xaver stepped closer to Aalexis, fully in protective mode. She thought it unnecessary. The male was no match for her. If she chose not to use her gift on him, she could just as easily break him with her own hands. Xaver was aware of this fact, but he was insistent he be the first line of defense. Aalexis didn’t argue. Her brother was simply carrying out
der Vater’s
wishes.

“I do not believe your understanding is necessary to carry out orders. Who are you?” Xaver challenged.

The male stilled, his lips parting. Impressively, he did not succumb to fear. Of course, he hadn’t the slightest clue about either of them.

After a moment, he seemed to compose himself. “Yes, sir. I am the sergeant-at-arms. My duty is security of the camp. I have come to deliver to you the daily rosters and report.” He unbuttoned his coat, then reached inside and produced a set of papers that were clipped together.

Aalexis stepped forward, under her brother’s watchful eye, and took the papers. “What is your name?” she asked as the sergeant took an at-ease stance.

The sergeant studied her for a nanosecond, apparently unaccustomed to answering to a young nonmilitary female before he responded, “Sergeant Lukas Gersten.”

“I see.” She walked around him. “Security, you said?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Perfect.

“So part of your duties is to keep the Commandant informed of any unusual activity?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Please continue” she urged.

“Yes, ma’am. Since the camp is under your command, I should report to you. No unusual activity reported.”

“What of the prisoners?”

“There are a total of fifty-six prisoners. Forty-one males and fifteen females. Two females perished today,” Sergeant Gersten said, smugly.

“I do not care about the number. How have they been treated?”

“I don’t understand.”

An impulse to send the sergeant to the floor reared in Aalexis. To watch him writhe. So inferior, even if she wanted to use him as part of her select team. “It has come to my attention they seem well-treated here. Do you understand now?” Aalexis asked, keeping her voice steady.

“Yes, ma’am. Their food intake has increased by fifty percent and they were recently assigned new uniforms and coats.”

“Why?”

“It was my understanding the Commandant ordered the improvements due to the new Recreation Center.”

“How nice of him.”

“May I speak freely?”

“If there is more.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Please,” she invited.

“One prisoner has been lifted above the others. The name he goes by is Doc. He has had several meetings with the previous Commandant of the camp.”

Aalexis didn’t respond, her expression remaining blank, but the mention of Doc’s name both piqued her interest and stirred her anger. Why would the Commandant seek meetings with a lowly prisoner, even if she wanted him kept alive? Unless an agreement had been reached between the two.

Apparently, the Commandant hadn’t been truthful with her. Not entirely. If the former commander had withheld information about Ellyssa, he would pay.

With her hands behind her back, Aalexis started to move around the sergeant again. Melted snow puddled under his black boots. He remained rigid, as if her presence didn’t bother him. His stoicism was rather impressive for someone of his standing. Plus, he seemed to remain loyal to those over him.

Pausing behind the sergeant, she looked at Xaver. Her brother’s gaze flicked to her, then back at the male named Lukas.

Lukas continued. “His treatment was the first to improve. The only reason I was given was that Commandant Baer had been ordered to do so.”

She continued circling the male, then stopped in front, a lot closer. The top of her head reached a little below his chin. She stared at him, hard. He didn’t blink.

Impressive.

“How old are you?”

“Twenty-seven.”

“How many years’ experience?”

“My promotion came into effect six years ago.”

“Your record?”

“Exemplary. I graduated at the top of my class and have received leadership commendations and service medals.”

“Your experience?”

Even under his thick coat she noticed his chest puff out in pride. “I have been at Amarufoss for five years. Recommended by Colonel Fiedler and requested by Commandant Baer. I am the best of the best, ma’am.”

The Sergeant’s conceit was laughable. He had no idea of what the best of the best consisted of. But Aalexis was impressed with his attitude and his loyalty. He would serve as a perfect test subject that, hopefully, would lead to a spot on her own elite security team if he survived.

Aalexis flicked a glance over her shoulder. “What do you think, Xaver? Should we offer?”

“I think he will do.”

Aalexis faced the Sergeant, and his first real show of emotion etched two vertical lines over the bridge of his nose.

A deep sense of foreboding made a home in Ellyssa’s psyche as she stood in the steel corridor. Harsh fluorescent light sputtered menacingly, casting eerie flickering shadows. The low hum of electricity sizzled in the air.

She looked around.

Something was amiss. Familiarity surrounded her, but at the same time, The Pit held an alien ambiance.

Ellyssa cast a glance over her shoulder to confirm that she was right. Sure enough her room was behind her, the door closed. Frowning, she looked straight ahead and took a step. The tap of her shoe echoed loudly, bouncing down the metal hallway. Then she understood what was wrong. Besides the fading ring of her step, emptiness filled the entire facility.

Someone had to be there. Rein wouldn’t have left her alone. Neither would the rest of her family.

Sliding her eyelids closed, Ellyssa opened her mind to Rein. She couldn’t find him. Maybe he was too far away? She shifted her concentration to locate Woody. Nothing.

She lowered her entire wall. Like a fisherman, she cast the mental net to latch onto anyone’s signature. Nobody. She was alone.

Her pulse elevated as anxiety poured in her veins. Ellyssa’s heart responded in her chest cavity.

How could she be alone? Not including Ellyssa’s group, there were two hundred fifty inhabitants. They couldn’t have all slipped away without her knowing.

Ellyssa opened her eyes to a changed scene. She still stood in the same corridor, but now the hall ended at a large grey door. Yellow light seeped through the crack at the bottom.

She felt foolish.

Nothing more than a dream
.

Silently laughing at herself, Ellyssa started toward the door, her footsteps echoing with a lonely, hollow tone. With each step closer to the door, the ominous premonition returned and burrowed into her stomach. She tried to brush it off—
it’s just a dream
—but it haunted her.

The door loomed ahead like a presence in itself, large and dominant in the dreamscape. The sides seemed to inflate and deflate as if breathing. Cool air brushed by, catching strands of her hair in its breezy grasp, and carried with it a whisper. She stilled, the beat of her heart in her ears and the hairs on the back of her neck standing erect, and sent her mind outward.

Silence.

Fear flowered in the pit of her stomach and incapacitated her muscles.

She had to get a grip. This was just a dream. A dream and nothing else. Clinging to that knowledge, Ellyssa willed her feet to move, and with a flash-forward moment, she suddenly stood at the beckoning entrance. She reached for the knob.

A shadow disrupted the flow of light, followed by the familiar voice of her father. “Come in, Ellyssa.”

“
Thump, thump, thump
,” her heart responded.

Ellyssa fought the urge to retract her outstretched hand and retreat back down the hall. How could her father’s ethereal voice bring such anxiety? She swallowed the fear, the flight instinct, and unleashed anger. Her skipping heart slowed to its normal patter. Without another thought, she put her hand on the doorknob and twisted. The latch slid back and door swung inward.