Flawed (31 page)

Turning, Dr. Loki gestured with his arm, inviting them out. “If you please.”

“No, I will not please,” Woody said, pointing his finger in the doctor’s face. “You brought us here against our will.”

The one he called Oliver stepped forward, but the doctor stopped him with a wave of his hand. “I am sorry to inform you of this, but I do have other duties. Our discussion will have to continue after dinner tonight. Then, I’ll show you the rest of The Pit.”

Glowering, Woody looked like he was going to say something else. Actually, he looked like he was about to demand answers, but before he did, Ellyssa placed her hand on his wrist.

“Woody.” She shook her head. “Not now.”

Surprisingly, Woody’s demeanor cooled and he backed away. “After dinner, then,” he said tersely. He glanced at Ellyssa, a strange look on his face.

“Of course. I assure you I do understand your interest. I am just as interested in you. Now, if you will excuse me.” Dr. Loki ushered them out and shut the steel entrance, leaving them outside with their new escorts.

“Come with us,” the one called Oliver said.

Oliver was a smaller man, about Ellyssa’s height, defined and wiry, with black hair pulled into a ponytail, amber eyes, and exotic light-brown skin. Glenn was much taller, big and bulky. His skin was as dark as Jordan’s, his hair curled tight to his scalp. Reminiscent of Rein, his arms crossed over his muscular chest as he watched Ellyssa and the others file behind Oliver to another section of the clandestine structure.

Oliver and Glenn led the group down one long corridor to another. Ellyssa assumed they were taking the scenic route to keep the newcomers confused. She didn’t blame them. If her own group had had a technological goldmine such as this, keeping any guests confused and lost would be an integral part of defense for them as well. Unfortunately for them, Ellyssa had a tight grasp of exactly where they were. And if she knew Rein and Woody, they too had the maze memorized. Their whole lives had been living in a network of dark passages where the development of such skills was necessary.

Bottom line, the place was still impressively huge. Layer upon layer of levels and a labyrinth of passageways.

Oliver led them down four flights of stairs, then down a very long passageway. Ellyssa could hear the thoughts of the occupants behind the closed doors as they passed, pleasant thoughts of companions or of work that needed to done. Nothing sinister. The family seemed to be as close-knit as hers had been. Living together, working together. But toward what end? Something more than just surviving?

Oliver stopped at the end of the hall. “You two,” he said indicating Trista and Ellyssa, “are in here.” He slid the door back on a track.

Ellyssa gave Rein a reassuring smile before she entered the room behind Trista. Unlike the other rooms she’d seen, the walls had a type of cream-colored padding—noise reduction?—and there was a thin brown carpet. A little more homey than rest of the institution. Two small beds, with thin mattresses and army-green blankets and a small bedside table nestled between, made up the furnishings. Off to the left was a wooden door left ajar. A sink and part of a shower were visible, leading her to believe there was a water treatment process somewhere within the steel structure.

On the beds lay their backpacks and one of the three tents rolled into a tight cylinder. Ellyssa went right over to her bag and reached inside the side pocket. Her fingers enveloped the smooth cave pearl. Relieved, she left the little pearl where it was and faced Oliver and Glenn.

“Where are our weapons?”

Glenn was the one to answer. “They’ve been stored away. You have no need for them.”

Scanning his mind, an image appeared of a rather impressive arsenal—pistols, rifles, grenades, launchers and crossbows for hunting, two floors above them, one level directly below the entrance to the tunnel leading back to the canyon.

Behind him, Rein clenched his fist. Ellyssa tossed him a comforting smile and shook her head. Rein’s hand relaxed.

Oliver opened the door directly across from Ellyssa and Trista’s room. “You three in here.”

With reluctant glances, Rein, Woody and Dyllon ventured into their room, which had the same décor as the girls’ room.

“The showers are on timers. Five minutes. I suggest you use them.” Glenn grimaced, flaring his nostril. “The doctor requests you to stay in your rooms until dinner.”

Rein’s worried eyes were the last thing Ellyssa saw as their escorts slid the doors closed. Only one set of steps left.

“Oliver is our guard,” Ellyssa stated.

Commandant Hans Baer stepped out onto the deck in front of his office. The morning was warmer than usual, but a chill still bit his skin. Anger gnawed his insides.

Blue skies housing an afternoon sun did little to brighten his mood. Not after the phone call he’d received from Xaver. He was to expect them later in the day, unfortunately before the blizzard the radar predicted.

Off to his left, prisoners walked into the newly finished rec center carrying gallons of paint, brushes sticking out of their pockets. A few stayed out in the cold, fingers sticking through thin gloves, finishing final touchups. Although still underweight, their steps bounced with a renewed vigor, and their frames looked less like scarecrows drowning in grey stripes and more like humans.

Doc stood among the ones outside, still on light duty as had been ordered, carrying a canteen of water to his fellow inmates. Doc glanced up at the Commandant when he stepped outside. He flicked his head to the side toward the sergeant-at-arms, and Hans’ gaze shifted to the enlisted man.

Like most of the soldiers, the sergeant stood along the stone wall, his arms crossed in front, a rifle slung over his back. Only, instead of observing the working prisoners, the Sergeant was staring at him.

Taking Xaver’s hand, Aalexis stepped out of the SUV. His touch still left a mixture of confusion and comfort. She was growing accustomed to their new arrangement, though. To embrace the emotions she’d felt for her brother had settled the unease, the anxious feeling. No longer did she fathom the insanity of such sensations or fear them weakening her. Aalexis’ head remained clear and focused.

As soon as Aalexis had agreed to stop fighting the innate urges, Xaver had embraced her with a fierce hug. He fell into the role of loving her just as easily as he had protecting her. Perhaps because Xaver had already accepted the feelings way before her.

Aalexis looked over at her brother. Xaver rummaged in the back of the SUV and pulled out their bags. The coat he wore hid muscles she knew bulged under the weight. Hands full, he straightened, his azure eyes catching hers. His full lips lifted briefly, then fell back to their previous placid state.

They’d agreed that what happened between them would not show to the outside world. Only inferior beings were stupid enough to wear their hearts on their sleeves. Excluding Xaver, she’d found the barrage of feelings did not include the lowly creatures, anyway. Aalexis’ detestation of them remained as active and strong as ever.

A cold breeze lifted her hair from her shoulders and fanned it around her head. She pulled the hood of her parka up and gazed out across the camp. Prisoners milled around a building that hadn’t been there at their last visit, folding tarps and cleaning paintbrushes. They seemed stronger, the clothes they wore newer, gaunt expressions lessened, and hope seemed to spring in their steps.

Guards stood watch, bored looks on their inferior faces. Except one, whose face remained shadowed under the cap he wore, a square jaw set tight. Although he wasn’t facing her, his eyes were on her, watching.

For a moment, Aalexis played with the idea of sending the male to his knees, the mere thought of pain incapacitating him. Removing his cap, the male turned toward her. Blond hair cut short shelved over a hardened face. Fearlessly, his eyes carved into her. Aalexis recognized the look. She’d seen it enough times in the mirror.

“Who is he?” Aalexis asked Xaver.

Xaver glanced over and subtly curled a nostril.
Was he jealous?
“I do not know,” he replied, turning away.

Keeping her eyes firmly set on the male, who didn’t carry the good sense to flinch away, an idea started to take shape.

“There might be a use for some of the subhumans. The detective proved to be useful to a certain extent.”

“She betrayed
der Vater
.”

“Yes. He did not have the insight we do now. We could rectify the problem.”

Xaver turned and studied the male. “I see,” he stated, understanding Aalexis’ train of thought.

“The Colonel has been helpful.”

“He is thinking with a narrow mind of how we might be able to benefit him and the State.”

“Yet he has his uses for now.”

“I agree. The Commandant will not be happy.”

“He will cooperate or die,” Aalexis said with no inflection, still looking at the soldier. “Some inferiors might prove useful while we prepare.”

“They will need to be young. Strong. Have a bit more intelligence than the average.”

“We could formulate an extensive training program. One to help eradicate those who are too weak.”

“Until our creations are of age.”

“Of course.”

“We can help them achieve an even higher state.”

Tearing her gaze away from the male who stood his ground, Aalexis looked into Xaver’s eyes. “Exactly what I was thinking.”

As Xaver processed the possibilities, he held a faraway look. “I see where we could utilize such a person while we are preoccupied with our creations. A substandard human better trained, enhanced, would prove beneficial and quite effective against those who are not.”

“I think we should start formulating the process tonight.”

“I agree.”

Aalexis’ fingers itched to entwine with Xaver’s. Fisting them instead, she turned and headed up the stairs. She wanted to be done with the business with the Commandant and start on the new project as soon as possible, their first candidate already chosen.

Foreboding tumbled and ground in Hans’ gut even before he watched the gates clank shut behind the SUV. It’d started thirty minutes earlier when he’d spoken with Colonel Fiedler. The Colonel had ordered him to cooperate fully with the children.

What in the hell did he mean by the order, anyway?

Cooperate with children!

Regardless of the symbols of Aryan purity, they hadn’t the experience to do…what? What were their plans? He knew Aalexis and Xaver wanted the man who’d shared information about Ellyssa kept alive.

But why? A trap of some form? Did they expect their sister to come to this establishment and rescue the Renegades?

Laughable.

Was it?

After what he’d seen Aalexis do and what Doc had told him about Ellyssa and Dr. Hirch’s plan, Hans could see a trap being set.

The SUV coasted to a stop in front of his building. Xaver got out. The boy looked even bigger than the commander remembered. Maybe the thick pea coat created an illusion.

Doubtful
.

The coat certainly didn’t add centimeters to the teen’s tall frame.

He turned around before Aalexis emerged from the passenger seat, then returned to his desk. Never in his life had the Commandant felt such apprehension. The unknown plagued him. He pulled opened his desk drawer and retrieved a bottle of pink antacid.

He had to gain control. After pulling a long draw from the bottle and returning it to its drawer, Hans dragged in a deep breath, slowly let it loose, and waited. After a few minutes, much more time than should’ve passed, he heard the outside door open and Corporal Kraus extend a tentative greeting. The next second, his office door opened.

The Commandant stood, straightening his uniform as the corporal entered.
“Heil.”
Hans returned the greeting. “
Fräulein
Aalexis and
Herr
Xaver, sir.”

“Yes. Thank you, Corporal Kraus.” He nodded as Aalexis and Xaver entered. “Please come in.”

Commandant Baer extended his arm, offering the seats across from him. As before, they dressed in civilian clothes, she in a bright red coat that hung to her thighs, and him in the black pea coat, no expressions troubling their faces, their eyes bright with danger. They seemed to float across the floor and took the proffered chairs.