Hero's Revenge (Keepers of Justice, Book 2) (16 page)

That would explain why Samson didn’t believe us when we told him the Blades returned.

I’m quiet as I think things over. Then I look at him again. “You said my mother was forced to work for the Blades?”

Because of her expertise, Vladimir threatened to hurt those she cared about
in an attempt to force her to work for him. He provided a house for her and your father, which contained a lab for her to work in
.
Once you were born, both Vladimir and Vlayne kept her in line by threatening to kill you.

I fist my hand. Damn
them for making her do their dirty work.

Vlayne had always been evil
,
Scar continues.
But as a result of what happened with her boyfriend, she worsened. She was determined to improve and strengthen the ShadowBlades.

“If that messed her up so bad, why didn’t you
think of giving her the antidote?” I know she’s a villain, but maybe she wouldn’t be so wicked.

Scar shakes his head.
Vlayne, like her father, wants all humans dead. All except for her boyfriend. If she were to get hold of the antidote, it would cure her love and cause him to be immune to the Virus Boy.
He pauses.
There would be nothing stopping her from releasing the virus and killing every human on the planet, since it would have no effect on her boyfriend. As long as she does not have the antidote, she won’t unleash the virus. That’s why it’s vital the antidote remains locked in your brain.

That would explain why the Blades never infected the
normies. The Keepers must have taken Virus Boy from them years ago, because Samson kept him contained somewhere where no one could reach him. Even though he’s dead now—a few weeks after Stretch’s death, I overheard Samson and Cindy discussing that Virus Boy had taken his own life because he knew how dangerous he was—I’m sure the Blades still have his DNA and could infect the normies one day. But not unless Vlayne’s boyfriend gets cured.

When Kale, Stretch, and I discovered that Lightning had been spying on the League for four years, I didn’t understand why the Blades never killed off the
normies. Now I understand. Vlayne would never release the virus because her boyfriend would die. She’d need the antidote first.

“
If you don’t care about the humans, why do you care about all of this?” I ask.

I only wish to keep your mother’s request
—to ensure the safety of humans.

I touch my
head. Something powerful is in here. Something I can control. As long as I’m alive, she’s not getting this. I won’t let her take any more lives. She’s done enough.

“How exactly does this antidote work?” I ask.

It contains two components.
One, it completely removes the virus from the infected body. Two, it regenerates the damaged cells.

Regenerates the damaged cells? The words ring in my head. It’s similar to what happened to Kale. His brain cells need to be regenerated. Would the antidote…

It is a high possibility
, Scar says.

My gaze shoots to his. Did I hear him right? “This cure could work on Kale?”

Yes. However, the antidote was created to cure humans. Kale has an ability. I am not certain what affect the antidote will have on him.

I stare at the floor as his words make sense in my head. This cure might not be a cure at all—not for Kale.
It might kill him. Do I take that chance?

I’ve got to.
If not, Kale will die anyway.

I leap to my feet. “We need to get
the formula to him. Brain and the other scientists at the League can work on it. Maybe they can recreate it.”

He doesn’t say a word.

“You’ll help me get it out?” I ask. “From my head?”

No response. He stares at the walls.

“Scar?”

He’s still quiet.

“You won’t help me? He’s my best friend. The only person I have left. We can save his life.”

His eyebrows are a bit furrowed, and I know this means he has his reasons.

I plop down on the floor. “Why?” My voice is rough and filled with anger. I clench my fists on my knees. “Please, Scar. Why are you against releasing it? I don’t understand.”

He faces me, his eyes dark.
I don’t want the antidote to be exposed.
If they fall into the wrong hands, the humans may die. I must uphold your mother’s last request. You must only release it if the humans are at risk and are in need of a cure.

“Vlayne won’t find out about it,” I say. “We get
the formula from my head, recreate it, give the cure to Kale, and then hide the formula.”

Scar doesn’t say anything.
He still won’t help me. I’ll have to take it from my mind on my own. Even if I have to stay up day and night trying. I
am
going to save Kale.

I get
up and head for the door. “I’m willing to take the risk. This is my best friend we’re talking about.”

I won’t fail him
like I failed Stretch.

***

I spend a few minutes saying goodbye to my sewer mates. Blaze thumps my back. “Getting sick of us already?” He laughs. “Good luck with everything. I hope Kale recovers.”

“Thanks.”

We stare at each other for a bit before he pulls me into his arms. “Bye, bro.”

“I’ll see you.” Even though I’m pretty sure I won’t.

“Ray.”

I turn arou
nd. Phase is standing before me. “Will you be back?”

I don’t answer, because I can’t. These people
will always be special to me, but I don’t belong anymore.

She hugs me.
“Have a good life,” she says before returning to her room.

I start toward the exit. Leaving everyone for a second time isn’t any easier. I’m going to miss them terribly.

Ray
.

I turn my head. Scar’s standing beside me.
I’d like you to have these.
His eyes narrow and images fly through my mind. A man dressed in a black suit, a woman in a white wedding dress. I recognize her as my mother. The man must be my father. He has light brown hair and green eyes, and he’s smiling widely at the camera as he holds his bride close. Next is a video, also from their wedding. Scar’s memory. He’s standing on the side as the bride and groom dance and kiss. The next image is the two of them smiling even more widely as my mother holds a black-haired baby in her arms. Me. Only a few weeks before their deaths.

Scar also gives me images of my parents when they were younger. Scar is in some of them, but from his memor
ies, I know he usually stood on the side.

“Thanks
,” I say.

He nods.
I’d like to accompany you to the League and inform Samson and Cindy of our plans.
His eyes flicker.
You don’t have to do this alone.

“But you don’t believe in releasing the formula.”

Your friendship with Kale Zenith is important to you.

He doesn’t elaborate and I don’t press him further. Together, we head for the Tower.

They’re staring at us with eyes and mouths wide. Samson’s arm is wrapped around Cindy’s shoulder as they drink in Scar’s words like they haven’t tasted water in days. We’re in Samson’s office. Scar is sitting across from them with one leg crossed over the other. No emotion is on his face.

“Why haven’t you told us of this antidote?” Samson
asks.

I did not wish
for anyone to discover its existence. The less people knew the safer it was. Had the ShadowBlades indeed unleashed the virus, I would have informed you of this cure. Since they did no such thing, I kept it a secret.

Samson and Cindy exchange a glance. I know what they’re thinking—Scar does what he does and there’s no reasoning with him.

My eyes wander to the hospital room. I watch Kale sleep. I try to shoot thoughts into his head, telling him we found a cure and he’ll be as good as new in no time. He doesn’t even blink.

After what feels like a century, Samson clears his throat. He frees himself from his wife and walks over to his large office window. He peers out. “How
sure are you of this cure’s success?” he asks, his voice hoarse.

I am not certain what effect this antidote will have on a person with an ability.
It may kill him.

Samson lifts his
hand to the window and touches the glass.

“
We don’t have any other options, Sam,” Cindy says.

He
faces her. “There’s always hope for another cure. What if it kills him?”

Cindy
’s breathing escalates. Her eyes stare ahead as though she’s considering that possibility. After a bit, she says, “He doesn’t have much time left as it is. We have nothing to lose.”

She and Samson stare at each other for a little while. Seems like they’re exchanging telepathic messages. Arguing.

Scar says,
The best option for your son is to take the cure. Then you must destroy it and safeguard the formula. You will need it in the future.

Samson’s gaze moves from
Scar to his wife. She nods, her face shining with hope. Samson sighs. “We understand the consequences of exposing this antidote.” He walks over to Cindy and draws her into his arms. “Alright. Let’s try. Then we’ll destroy it and make sure Vlayne never gets her hands on it.” He looks at Scar. “How exactly do we…?”

Scar sweeps his hand
toward me.
Ray is the only one with the ability to retrieve the formula. Unfortunately, he has had no practice and doesn’t have the knowledge to uncover it.

“Teach him,” Cindy says. “We’re running out of time.”

Scar’s eyes harden.
I will not be part of this. I only accompanied Ray here to inform you of his wishes. I will take my leave now.

“Scar,” I plead.

You do not require my assistance. Good luck.

He
exits the room, and we make no move to stop him. Samson and Cindy know just as well as I do that once Scar makes up his mind there’s no changing it.

Cindy heads over to me and touches my shoulder. “I’ll help you
.” She drags her chair closer to mine and sits down. She takes my hands. Hers are colder than ice.

She closes her eyes, her grip on my hands tightening. A light shines in my eyes and I shut them tight. When I open them, I’m no longer in Samson’s office, but in a dark hallway. Doors are lined up to my right and left. As I squint further down, I see many more doors. Using my
power, I try to look into the rooms, but my x-ray vision doesn’t seem to work.

Someone is on my right. Turning around, I discover Cindy. “Where are we?” I ask.

“In your mind.”

I
survey the area. This is in my head?

“Behind these
doors are your memories,” she says, walking over to the closest door and opening it. Samson, Cindy, and I are sitting in Samson’s office. My memories from a few minutes ago.

She
shuts the door. “The closer the room, the more recent the memory,” she explains.

I nod. “The formula would have to be further down, since it was placed in my mind when I was a baby.”

“Yes, but it won’t be that simple.”

I turn to her.

“Some of these rooms have doors which lead to other doors,” she says. “Since memories connect, overlap, cross paths, they will be mixed together. Scar hid the formula well. We may need to search each room.”

“I can’t use my vision.”

“No.” She heads toward another door.

“Should we separate?” I ask.

“I’m afraid you might get lost or trapped in your own mind. I don’t know what we’ll encounter and I’d like for us to work together.”

I nod and follow her through the first few rooms, all which
contain recent memories. The sewers with Scar, Phase, and the others. My throwing beer bottles against the wall. Cindy watches all this, but doesn’t say a word. We reach other rooms within those rooms. These show more memories of my year in the sewers when I was twelve. I was stealing and doing drugs. So very messed up.

Cindy pats my shoulder.
“You’ve come a long way.” She gives me an encouraging smile. “Let’s try the doors further down,” she says, and we return to the hallway.

We open doors which display memories of the past few months.
My hunting. Glen’s death. Kale and I discovering the Black Nightmares. The two of us conspiring with Lindsay and Stealth. Stealth on her missions. She and me on my bed, talking and laughing. Our mouths pressed together, our hands exploring.

I s
tare at the former me for a bit. Glen’s death broke me, but I learned to not let it hold me back. I was full of emotion—hope for revenge, a closer friendship with Kale, love for a girl who ended up being nothing more than a fraud. The last few memories need to be erased.

Except, I don’t want
them to be erased. Not really.

I back up.
“No need to go further.”

Cindy nods.

My throat constricts as we pass through Stretch’s murder. His eyes were wide and terrified as Lightning stood before him, his hands raised to fire electricity at him. His body crashed to the floor, completely charred. Even though it’s only a memory, I can still smell the smoke and burnt flesh.

I stop and shut my eyes to rid the tears. These memories haunted me for months. I was getting over them, finally learning to cope. Seeing them now undoes all my progress.

“Ray.” Cindy rests her hand on my shoulder. “Do you need a minute?”

No. I don’t want to waste any more time. Kale needs this cure. I shake my head. Cindy gives my shoulder a squeeze and we move on to the inner door. Stretch, Kale, and I were at the sewers asking Scar to prove to Samson that the ShadowBlades
planned to assassinate him.

We continue on. To memories before Kale saving the world. These are good. I forgot how kind Kale and Stretch were to include me in their activities.

Cindy stops before a room where she’s lying in the hospital, in a coma. A great mastermind trapped her in her mind. It was Kale—who had just gotten his telepathy—who rescued her. Cindy watches her family sit around her with their heads bent, their fingers clasped. I was at the doorway with Stretch and some of the other League members. The place was quiet.

Cindy shifts and smiles sadly. She places her hand on my arm. “Kale will be healed,” she assures me softly. “Just like I was.”

Hope so. I nod and we move on, passing through happy, sad, fun memories. As we walk deeper, the place grows darker. Eerie. A chill runs down my back as howling cold winds circle me. Cindy wraps her arms around herself.

These memories must be of my year living on the streets.

Cindy opens a door, and a strong gust of wind knocks into us, followed by loud shouting. Eleven-year-old me was surrounded by the group of guys I was living with. They were cursing, beating me up. I swallow, my gaze locked onto the images playing before me. Telling Stealth about this was hard, but seeing it, reliving it, is something completely different. Every punch, every bash, feels like it’s happening to me right now.

Cindy pulls me out and shuts the door after her. With her hand on mine, she leads me further down, ignoring the other rooms of this moment in my life. But as we pass through the hall, the doors burst open
and more wind and howls attack our ears. We’re being sucked into one of the rooms. The door slams behind us as the memory fills the room.

I was on the streets, alone in some alley. Moments after I ran away from home. It was a dark, cold, rainy night. I
sat huddled under a pile of cardboard, shivering, hugging my knees to my chest. A part of me regretted my decision to run away from home, while the other stood firmly behind my choice. My body begged for warmth. And food.

Sleep didn’t come, but when it finally did, I was woken up by shouts. Squinting through the rain, I made out three guys. One had a knife in his hand and was threatening another guy. After a few more shouts, the guy stabbed the third man a few times before chucking his body to the floor.

I was trembling so hard that the cardboard over me shifted, attracting unwanted attention. The one with the knife grabbed me, holding the blade against my neck. Tears splashed down my cheeks and my heart was about to burst out of my chest.

“Leave him,” the guy without the knife said.

The guy holding me gave me such a fierce glare it felt like his eyes cut through me. “He’s seen too much.”

“He’s just a kid.”

The guy’s eyes narrowed. “You talk, kid, you die.” He shoved me aside, and the two of them dashed away. I stared at the dead, bloody body, my chest heaving. I scrambled to my feet and fled the area.

The memory restarts.

I run out of the room and slump against the wall. “I’m trying to be strong, but I can’t do this.”

Cindy crouches down near me. “I’m sorry you had to experience that again. Are you okay? Take some time to relax, and we’ll move on to another area.”

I inhale and exhale through my nose, feeling my body calm down. I would like to have a minute to compose myself, but we can’t waste time. I need to do this.

I get to my feet. “I’ll be fine. Kale needs us.”

With my teeth and fists clenched, and my heart beating rapidly, we trudge through the darkness and enter a room which contains many inner doors. These are my memories of my adoptive parents. One door leads to my memories of the orphanage. It seems like I was treated well. Walking deeper inside, we reach a large barricaded door. I raise my eyebrows to Cindy.

Her gaze travels around the door.
“These are your repressed memories.”

I step closer to the door and finger the silver lock and chain. “How do we open it?”

“You need to will your mind to allow us access.”

I stare at the door. What lies inside? What terrible things have I repressed?

Cindy’s hand is on my back. “I’m almost positive this is the room that leads to the formula. I’m sorry. Had I known we had to look for a locked door, I wouldn’t have put you through all of that.”

“It’s okay.”

Her hand tightens. “Whatever is in there, you need to face it.”

I nod.

“Are you ready?” she asks.

Closing my eyes, I
steady my breathing and order my mind to let me in. Slowly, the chains loosen and the lock disappears. I twist the knob and enter the room.