Pegasus and the Flame (22 page)

Scanning the area, Paelen couldn’t take it all in. He simply couldn’t understand how these lovely homes could hide such a dark and dangerous secret. There was no way anyone who looked at this pretty little island would suspect that it held such horrors as the CRU.

Now outside the facility, he wondered where Emily’s father was. Just a short way away from where he was suspended, Paelen saw an ancient, squat brick building with bars on the windows. It looked just like a prison. Paelen guessed it would be as good a place as any to lock up Emily’s father.

‘Take me to Emily’s father,’ he ordered, expecting the sandals to move him towards the brick building. Instead, they drew him higher into the star-studded sky. They carried him over a large body of water and away from the island. When they finally past over land again, Paelen ordered the sandals to stop.

Wherever he was being held, Emily’s father was not on Governors Island.

‘Take me to Joel instead.’

They headed back towards Governors Island. Paelen could see boats in the water, and a few lights on in the houses on the island itself. But as he looked, he didn’t see anyone moving around beneath him.

‘Wait,’ he called. ‘Take me down to the ground.’

The sandals settled Paelen gently down in the grass. As he ducked down, he listened for the sound of soldiers or anyone else moving around. All he heard were night insects on the island and the sounds rising from the huge city just across the water. He was alone.

Paelen scanned the area. He suddenly realized that if he wanted, he could simply put on the sandals and tell them to take him anywhere. He could remain in this world, or go back to what was left of Olympus. For the first time in his long life, Paelen was well and truly free.

But even as he considered leaving, he recalled the horrible sight of Pegasus lying on his side. Broken, wounded and defeated. Then there was proud Diana, chained to a wall, starved and unable to move. Finally Paelen’s thoughts were drawn back to the girl, Emily, and the sounds of her agonized cries as Agent J pressed down on her wounded leg.

If he left now, he might be physically free. But he could never escape those nightmarish images. And though he may only ever be a thief, Paelen knew he couldn’t live with himself if he abandoned the others to the fate of the CRU.

Standing again, Paelen lifted the sandals in the air. ‘Take me high enough over the island to look for Nirads.’

Obeying his commands, the sandals lifted him in the air. Paelen used all his senses to look for signs of Nirads attacking the small island. After a thorough search, he was content that there were none. Perhaps they couldn’t find a way over here. As he looked out over the short stretch of water that separated them from Manhattan, he wondered if it was enough to keep the Nirads away.

‘That’s enough,’ Paelen finally said to the sandals. ‘Take me to Joel.’

Paelen arrived at the vent outside Joel’s room, still shaking from the harrowing journey back into the facility. Getting out through the fan had been terrifying. Going back in was even worse.

Joel was being held on the same level as Diana. Paelen crawled forward and peered through the louvred grill. The boy was asleep.

‘Joel,’ Paelen called.

The boy in the bed stirred and moaned.

‘Joel, wake up.’

More moans rose from the bed.

Paelen knew full well how brutal Agent J was. If he was capable of hurting Emily while she was wounded, he feared what he might have done to Joel.

He forced the vent open and entered Joel’s room. Paelen stood beside the bed and touched the sleeping boy’s shoulder. ‘Joel, wake up.’

Joel opened his eyes and looked hazily at him.

‘Leave me alone,’ he moaned.

‘Please, Joel,’ Paelen whispered, ‘Emily has asked me to find you.’

‘Em-Emily?’ Joel repeated.

‘Yes, she is hurt, but recovering. I have seen Diana and Pegasus too. Please, you must wake up.’

Joel’s face was bruised and swollen, his eyes bloodshot and heavy. As he pushed the covers back and struggled to sit up, Paelen saw more black bruises on the boy’s neck, chest and arms. There were also marks from where the people here had injected Joel with their drugs.

‘Who are you?’ Joel asked as he tried to focus.

‘I am Paelen.’

‘Paelen!’ Joel repeated. He lunged forward and caught Paelen around the neck. ‘You caused this,’ he roared as rage cleared his head. Springing from the bed, he slammed Paelen against the far wall.

‘None of this would have happened if you hadn’t taken the bridle. Pegasus wouldn’t have been hit by lightning! Emily wouldn’t have been hurt by the Nirads! I should kill you for what you’ve done!’

Paelen felt Joel’s fingers around his neck, but there was no real pressure there. Joel was furious, but he was no murderer. Paelen also knew that Joel had every right to be angry. It was true. He had caused all this. So he did not fight the boy, even though he knew he was much stronger. Instead he let him rant and rage to get it out of his system.

Before long, Joel’s energy ebbed and he released Paelen. ‘Why?’ he demanded furiously, ‘why did you do it?’

Paelen saw Joel swaying on his feet. Agent J had hurt him badly. More than just the bruises showing on his arms and body, it was the way Joel was holding himself. His anger had given him strength, but the damage from their interrogation was catching up with him.

Paelen reached out and caught Joel gently by the arms. ‘Please, Joel, get back into bed. You are not well.’

‘I’m well enough to kick the stuffing out of you!’ Joel challenged, looming a full head taller than Paelen.

Paelen smiled. Despite the dire situation, he really liked the spirit of this young human. ‘Of course you are. But you should save your energy for the fight to come. Right now, Emily needs you.’

At the mention of Emily’s name, Joel calmed and let Paelen lead him back to the bed. ‘Where is Emily? How is she? What have they done to her?’

‘She is frightened,’ Paelen explained. ‘She has cause to be. Agent J hurt her. Though I suspect he has hurt you more.’

‘I’m fine,’ Joel said defensively.

‘Did they give you the drug that burns fire in your veins?’

Joel nodded, a shadow creeping across his face. ‘What did they do to Emily?’

‘Agent J asked her a lot of questions. When Emily refused to answer, he squeezed her wounded leg. The pain was so intense, she passed out.’

‘I’m gonna kill him,’ Joel spat. ‘I don’t care if they lock me away for life. I’m gonna kill him for hurting her.’

Paelen chuckled. ‘I believe you are going to have to fight Diana and Pegasus for that privilege. You should be very proud of your friend. She told them nothing.’

‘I’ve tried not to talk,’ Joel said in a hushed whisper. ‘I don’t think I told them about the war in Olympus but I can’t be sure. I’m so used to fighting, when they hit me, I just laughed at them. But then they used the drugs …’

Joel started to shake. The haunted expression was back in his eyes. Whatever they had done to him, it would have a lasting effect.

‘It is going to be all right, Joel,’ Paelen said softly. ‘We will get out of here.’

‘How?’ Joel asked. ‘I don’t even know where we are.’

‘Emily does. She said we are on Governors Island. We are deep underground, but I am free to go wherever I choose. There are serpents’ eyes watching everything in the corridors, but not in the tunnels I use or in our rooms.’

‘Serpents’ eyes?’ Joel asked.

Paelen nodded. ‘Agent J says they can see everywhere in here. That is how they knew when I escaped my room. I was in the corridor and they saw me.’

‘You mean cameras,’ Joel said, finally understanding. He looked around his room. ‘You’re right. There aren’t any. I guess they don’t want them in the rooms in case someone made a record of the tortures they do to their prisoners.’

‘Perhaps,’ Paelen agreed, wondering what horrors they would have witnessed being done to Joel. ‘But that leaves me free to visit all of you as long as I use the tunnels. And when Pegasus is well enough to move, we shall escape.’

‘What’s wrong with Pegasus?’ Joel asked. ‘Is it his wing again?’

Paelen dropped his eyes in shame. He explained about the stallion being shot. ‘I have taken him all the food he needs, but it may be too late. He is gravely ill. I fear Pegasus might be dying.’

Joel’s hands shot out and gripped Paelen’s arms. ‘He can’t!’ he cried. ‘If he does, we’re all dead. Pegasus is the only one who can find the Daughter of Vesta!’

Paelen frowned. ‘What does Vesta have to do with Pegasus?’

‘Hasn’t Emily told you why Pegasus came here?’

When Paelen shook his head, Joel told him what he knew of the Daughter of Vesta and the Flame of Olympus.

Paelen started to pace. ‘So this is why we were not destroyed when the Nirads extinguished the Flame in the temple,’ he said. ‘We must get out of this place. Pegasus must complete his mission and get the Flame back to Olympus!’

‘No kidding,’ Joel said sarcastically. ‘What do you think we’ve been trying to do all this time? But now that we’re here—’

‘We can get out,’ Paelen insisted. ‘We just have to ensure that Pegasus lives.’

‘You’re an Olympian, right?’ said Joel after a moment.

‘I am.’

‘Are you strong like Diana? Can you break me out of this room so we can get to Emily?’

‘I am very strong,’ Paelen agreed. ‘And I can break down this door if needed. But now is not the time to make our move. Pegasus needs time to recover, and so do you.’

‘I’m fine.’ Joel rubbed his bruised chin thoughtfully. ‘OK then, here’s the plan. Keep feeding Pegasus sugar, lots of it. The moment he is up again, come back here and break me out. We’ll free Emily and then Diana and Steve. There should be enough of us to fight our way out of here. Then we’ll go get the Daughter of Vesta and Pegasus can take her back to Olympus.’

Paelen moved back to the vent. He decided not to tell the boy that Emily’s father was not at this facility. Instead, he nodded. ‘Very good. I will see Emily later today and tell her how you are. If they come back for you, do your best to avoid their questions. It will not be long, Joel. You will be free soon.’

Emily was feeling better. The antibiotics they were using were driving away the infection from the Nirad wounds, while the painkillers took the edge off the throbbing pain from her leg. Lying in her bed, she watched the nurse changing the dressing on her wound.

The nurse kept blocking her view of the actual wound.

‘How bad is it?’ Emily asked.

‘Bad enough,’ the nurse answered. ‘I’m afraid there was a lot of damage. The surgeons did what they could, but the infection went very deep.’

Emily was almost afraid to ask, but had no choice. ‘Will I be able to walk again?’

The nurse stopped what she was doing and turned to Emily. ‘I really don’t know. Possibly, but you’ll need help; perhaps a cane or even a brace. But don’t think about that right now. Your job is to concentrate on getting better.’

‘Then what?’

The nurse stared at Emily a moment longer but then returned to the task of changing the dressing on her leg. Her silence told Emily more than she really wanted to know. The answer was simple. She had no future. When the CRU had finished with her, she would simply disappear.

‘Have you seen Pegasus?’ Emily finally asked.

‘Your winged horse?’

Emily was fed up with correcting the people here. If they wanted to call Pegasus a horse, let them. She knew the truth, and that was enough.

‘I’m not allowed to see him,’ the nurse replied. ‘They’ve had vets in, though. But from what I’ve heard, it’s not looking too good. I’m afraid the soldiers put a lot of bullets in him. It’s doubtful he’ll survive.’

‘Pegs is going to die?’ Emily cried. She tried to climb from her bed. ‘I’ve got to see him.’

‘Emily, stop,’ the nurse warned, struggling to hold her down. ‘You are not strong enough. You could do more damage to your leg.’

Emily began to panic. ‘You don’t understand. I have to see him. He saved me from the Nirads. I can’t lose him. Not now!’

As Emily fought with the nurse, she didn’t hear the code beeping at the door. Nor did she hear the two men entering her room. All she knew was she needed to get to Pegasus.

Suddenly more arms were holding her down and keeping her from leaving the bed.

‘Let me go!’ Emily howled. ‘I have to go to Pegasus!’

‘Emily, stop!’ Agent J ordered.

‘Leave me alone!’ Emily shrieked. ‘I have to go to him!’

‘All right!’ Agent J shouted as he and the other man overpowered her and pinned her down. ‘All right, if you want to see him so badly, fine. Just stop struggling.’

Emily was panting heavily. She looked up at the agents, her eyes blurred with tears. ‘Please, take me to him.’

‘We will. But with one condition,’ said Agent J. ‘After you’ve seen him, you will answer all our questions. No fighting us, no lying. If you want to see Pegasus, you promise me that you will tell us everything we want to know.’

As Emily stared into his cold eyes, she recalled her conversation with Paelen and how he told her not to hold back but to tell as many lies as she could think of. She nodded. ‘If you take me to him right now, I promise I’ll answer all your questions. But only after I’ve seen him.’

Agent J turned to the second man. ‘Arrange for a wheelchair, Agent O. If Emily wants to see Pegasus, she will.’

A short while later Emily was settled in a wheelchair and being pushed through the halls of the facility. She almost forgot the pain in her leg as fears for Pegasus overwhelmed her senses.

When they reached the elevator, she noted that Agent O had pressed the very last button. They were keeping Pegasus on the bottom floor.

Once there, they travelled down to a room at the end of a long corridor. As Agent J stepped up to the security lock and prepared to press the code, he looked back at Emily. ‘I have your word? You will see the stallion and then answer my questions?’

Saying nothing, Emily nodded.

When Agent J entered the code, he made no attempt to block the key pad. Emily could see each number he pressed and the order in which he pressed them. As the green light flashed and door clicked, she burned the code sequence into her memory.