Emily (24 page)

‘
Emily, Emily, can you hear me?’ Emily could hear the voice and while it was now familiar, Emily couldn’t respond. Her grasp on reality was slipping and she was unsure of who she was. Her whole body was so sore and it didn’t respond to her commands to move. For a moment on waking, she had experienced a pulse of connection that was so familiar, but it was too hard to hold onto.

‘
Fight, Emily. You must fight the drugs,’ the voice pleaded.

Drugs?
Emily thought, and slowly she remembered the purple fluid that had been put into her.
What had it done?
But Emily didn’t want to think – it hurt to think.
I am alone
. But there had been a voice and it called again.

‘
Emily, fight it. Come on girl, you can do it.’

‘
No,’ Emily choked and she slipped back into the darkness.

After some time had passed, Emily became aware of herself again. Her body hurt less but she was still unable to move her limbs. Turning her head slowly to the left she saw that a drip was being fed into her arm. It was not purple but a pale, yellow fluid and Emily guessed it was what was making her so sleepy.

‘Emily, are you awake?’ the woman’s voice called again.

‘
Yes. Why do I feel so bad?’ she croaked, her throat hurt to talk.

‘
It’s the drugs, they’re making you sleep. You need to fight the effects.’

‘
I’m so tired,’ Emily responded. Talking was too wearying for her.

‘
Emily,’ Valeskia’s voice was sharp, ‘Vladimir and Eric are safe. They have escaped.’

‘
Escaped?’ Emily replied and for a second she didn’t know who they were. Then the memory of the three of them laughing hit her, they were her lovers! The news that they were safe cleared her head a little and she became more aware of her surroundings.

‘
Where am I?’ she called to Valeskia.

‘
Under the compound, in the laboratories.’

‘
What’s happened to me?’

Valeskia paused,
‘You have been changed, my dear. I’m sorry.’

‘
Into what?’ Emily asked. She felt the fear rise in her.

‘
I honestly don’t know,’ Valeskia replied softly. ‘The drugs that they are putting into your body now are suppressing it.’ Tears leaked out of the corner of Emily’s eyes, she felt so helpless.

‘
Why?’ was all she could think to say.

‘
Oh child, who really knows the mind of another, I only know that you’re in danger. Varrick will harvest your eggs and then he’ll kill you.’

‘
Harvest my eggs?’ the terror began to overwhelm her. ‘Why would he do such a horrid thing.’

‘
He can’t control you so he will breed from your eggs,’ Valeskia’s voice carried the sadness of such a horror. ‘I must go now Emily, remember your gift. We need to find a way for you to escape.’

Feeling sleepy again, Emily drifted back into the darkness. Her last thought was,
My gifts?

Waking later and not sure of the time, Emily
’s head was clearer. Her body still didn’t respond to her thoughts but she could think and an idea on how to free herself became clear. Concentrating for a moment, she looked at the fluid that was entering her body and visualised it, all of it, pulsing through her cells and moving through her veins. Then Emily moved the fluid out of her body and into the sink in the corner of the room. Instantly she felt better as the energy flowed back into her body. She could move her limbs again but as she flexed her toes the door opened again and the technicians walked in. Emily lay still, her eyes closed.

The men starting checking her vitals and one said,
‘She looks good. I’d say we can operate on her today to remove her eggs.’

‘
Such a waste,’ he murmured, ‘she’s a beauty.’

The other tech laughed,
‘Maybe Varrick will let us play with her before we kill her.’

‘
I really doubt that,’ the other tech responded. Varrick was strict with the abnormals’ blood-line; guards had been put to death for such things.

‘
Come, let us tell Varrick she’s ready,’ he said, looking at Emily and again thinking,
What a waste
, and they left the room.

Lying still for another couple of minutes, Emily tried to think of a plan. She jumped hearing her name.

‘Emily, are you awake?’ Valeskia’s voice was full of dread.

‘
Yes, I am,’ Emily responded. Now, with her mind clear, she knew that the woman was Vladimir’s mother. Emily slowly got off the bed and walked to the door. Valeskia reached for her hand through the small window and Emily touched it.

‘
I heard the techs say they were going to operate on me today.’

‘
Oh my God, we need to get you out now,’ Valeskia said. ‘Emily, I don’t have a key.’

Emily smiled and said,
‘I don’t think we need one,’ and released Valeskia’s hand. She disappeared and reappeared behind Valeskia.

Surprised, Valeskia
gasped, ‘Oh my,’ and took a moment to look at Emily before pulling her into an embrace.

‘
Quick, come with me. We must hide you.’ Valeskia took Emily back to her cell and asked, ‘How far can you teleport?’

‘
I don’t know. I have moved at least ten kilometres away but I need to be able to visualise where I’m going,’ Emily replied. She felt good, transporting from the lab to the hallway had left no tiredness.
My powers have been amplified
, she thought to herself.

‘
I see,’ Valeskia responded. She was trying to think of a plan.

‘
I want to see if I can connect to Vladimir, Eric and Applejacks,’ Emily told Valeskia. She ached to be in a connection with her family. Quietening down her mind, she sent out a connection to the men and then to Applejacks. Within seconds they all joined the bond. For a moment so much emotion poured into the connection, it was impossible to clarify words. Vladimir was the first to send clear thoughts.

‘
Emily, are you alright?’

‘
Em
,’ Eric followed, ‘
where are you?
’

And Applejacks formally greeted her with,
‘
Are you well?
’

‘
My loves,’ Emily responded, sending joy down the link, ‘I’m free for the moment and with Valeskia. Where are you all?’ she asked.

Vladimir responded,
‘Eric and I are in the camp of the free abnormals. I do not know where. Applejacks is with Vince and Rumour, but they are not far from our camp now.’

Applejacks added into the link,
‘You feel different in our connection?’

‘
I am different, I teleported without getting tired. I think the gene therapy has amplified my abilities.’ Emily answered.

‘
That is a good thing Emily. Can you lock onto us and transport here?’ Vladimir asked.

Pausing, Emily tried to sense if that was possible but it didn
’t feel like she could.

‘
What about to me?
’ Applejacks asked. Their bond had always been stronger.

Reaching out to Applejacks, Emily could see through his eyes to where he was.
‘
Yes, I can come to you Applejacks
.’ Then turning to Valeskia Emily said, ‘Hold my hand,’ but Valeskia pulled back.

‘
I can’t go with you child.’

Emily was surprised.
‘Why not?’ It hadn’t occurred to her that Valeskia wouldn’t want to be free.

‘
Because of this collar. If I leave the laboratory, my head will blow off.’ Pausing she added, ‘And also, it is my duty to stay.’

‘
Vladimir will want you to be free,’ Emily countered. She knew what his wishes would be.

‘
Tell my son that I am waiting for him to free our people. We may be created as dark creatures but there is good in us, I know it!’

Realising that she wouldn
’t be able to change Valeskia’s mind, Emily embraced the woman and told her, ‘We will return, I promise.’ And, connecting to Applejacks again, she popped out of the room.

Valeskia calmly sat on the edge of the bed. Varrick would be along as soon as he discovered that Emily had gone and she hoped that his anger would not be too great. As much as he loved her, Valeskia knew that he could kill her if he lost control and for the first time in years, Valeskia desperately wanted to live.

* * *

Applejacks had stopped again and Ross could see that his focus was far away. Stopping the group, they waited for Applejacks to mentally rejoin them. After a moment, Applejacks turned his body back to the group and pushed them out of the way. In the next instant, Emily was besides Applejacks. Rumour immediately started barking with joy. She was so happy to see
Emily, her whole body trembled with excitement. Emily pressed her head to Applejacks’ for a long moment before embracing Vince and Ross. They were both surprised at her affection.

Vondra and Janak had returned to the group and had both changed into human form. As Ross introduced them to Emily, Vondra didn
’t look happy; she had seen Emily hug Ross.

‘
How far are we from Vladimir and Eric?’ Emily asked. Her whole body ached to be near them.

‘
Less than an hour away,’ Janak replied.

Turning to Applejacks, Emily asked formally,
‘
My friend, may I ride you? My body’s not strong
.’

‘
You are always welcome
,’ Applejacks replied, just as formally, and Ross lifted Emily onto his back.

‘
Oh, my friend, I’m so glad to be with you,’ she thought to Applejacks.

‘
You do feel different
,’ he replied, thankful they were together again.

Picking up on the thread of his joy, Emily projected it outwards. She noted that Vince, Ross and his men had picked up on the mood.

‘
This is new
,’ Applejacks thought to Emily, she had never been able to affect humans before.

‘
I just hope it’s a good thing
,’ Emily replied. Her mind felt powerful and she could sense she was stronger somehow.

* * *

It was almost dark when Emily’s group reached the free ones’ camp, and as the group entered the compound, children gathered around them. Emily looked at their faces thinking to herself,
what beautiful children
, and while they were a little skinny, the hope on their faces was beautiful.

Seeing Vladimir and Eric come out of the tent almost overwhelmed Emily and she slipped off Applejacks and ran towards them. Eric ran to meet her and scooped her into his arms, lifting her and spinning her around in a circle. He planted kisses on her face and neck before putting her down in front of Vladimir. Emily couldn
’t stop laughing as Vladimir wrapped his arms around her. Then Eric wrapped his arms around both of them and for a brief moment the three merged into each other as one. Then Vladimir and Eric greeted Applejacks and the men. Rumour was bouncing around, caught up in the joyous reunion.

Helena greeted Janak with his clothes and as he dressed they couldn
’t take their eyes off each other. Only Vondra stood apart, she was unsure of what to do. Then Emily went to Vondra and, taking her hand in own, she led the woman over to Vladimir and Eric.

‘
This is Vondra,’ she stated simply.

Vladimir was overcome with emotion at being with Emily. He wasn
’t sure what to do with Vondra so he pulled her into a hug and they stood together for a long moment. When they pulled back, Vondra was crying.

‘
Little sister,’ Vladimir asked, ‘why are you crying?’ He wasn’t sure if he had done something wrong.

Smiling back at Vladimir she replied,
‘Because I am a little sister,’ and the pair embraced again.

Jonas approached the group and announced,
‘There’s hot food for all of you by the fire.’

The night was cool but the group didn
’t care, the fire was warm and the food was good. Vladimir felt a bit guilty eating so much of the food as he knew that the group didn’t have much to spare, but he resolved to make plans to obtain better provisions for the group. Janak had pulled Helena aside and explained Vondra’s predicament.

‘
What do you mean, he doesn’t want her?’ Helena gasped.

‘
I don’t know,’ Janak replied. ‘Maybe it’s because he’s a full human.’

Looking across at Vondra, Helena could see that her eyes were constantly on Ross and her heart went out to the woman. An idea came to Helena and she smiled. Calling to one of the women helping with the food, she gave her instructions. Satisfied with her plan, she joined the group for dinner. It was close to midnight when the group began to disband for sleep. Eric had flung Emily over his shoulder and the trio laughed all the way to their tent. Helena walked over to Vincent
’s men and gave instructions on where they would be sleeping.