Frostbite (Touch of Frost) (30 page)

If everything went as I hoped, we’d be together.

If not, I’d probably be dead. Maybe that’s what kept me from telling him I loved him.

THIRTY-SEVEN

“O
kay little miss-commando-chick, what’s the plan?” I asked Jasmine.

She drove while Georgia and I sat crammed into the front seat of her SUV. Totally not a safe thing to do, but I was fine with it. I needed Georgia close. Like Zach, she was my rock.

“We’ll park outside the woods where we found you.”

I nodded, vaguely remembering the whole ordeal. It seemed like eons ago.

“Mandy, you’ll ice up. Georgia, you’ll flame up, and we’ll make our way to The Center, demolishing everything in sight.”

“And what are you going to do?” I asked.

“I’ll be darting around, knocking people down. Distracting them from you, things like that.” She smiled.

How could she be so calm? We were about to destroy a building and everything in it. And maybe everyone…

My stomach churned. “So, when you were out listening, you really didn’t hear of any other kids in there like us?”

“Nope. I didn’t hear anything. It’s almost like they don’t have anyone else. Or, they have this center just for you.”

“Why me? Or, us?”

“When I lived at The Center, they all talked about your mom. She was powerful and could heal. And when they found out she had offspring who might be even
more
powerful, they wanted to do what scientists do.”

“That sucks rocks,” I said.

“Not for long, we’re going to end this,” Georgia said. “For Mom.”

“And Dad.”

Fear weaseled its wicked fingers through my intestines and tightened like a vise. Could two teenagers and a recently legal-to-drink chick really destroy The Center?

“Here.” Jasmine handed me a tiny, white, electronic device. “Goes on your back tooth and the other piece in your ear. The guys have the same stuff so they can listen in, only I shut off their microphones. Don’t need them in our heads right now.”

“How’d you get all this?”

“You learn a lot when you’re on your own for five years. I hooked up with anyone who could teach me something. And, at The Center, I was trained by some of the best. This one instructor, wow, he was a wizard at operation tactics…well, a wizard at everything, really.” She tapped her ear.

“So, are we just going to storm the castle? I’m kind of new to my powers. Not really sure how well they work yet,” Georgia said as she pushed her electronics into her ear.

“It’ll come to you. It’s genetics. Look at Kelvin, here. When threatened or put in a situation, you reacted. Protected yourself.”

She must know about the
Coats
I’d frosted over the years.

“Jas, do you think this is the only place, though? Could there be more Centers around the country?” Georgia asked.

“I haven’t heard of any while listening. The Center is mobile, and they did tell Mandy that
for now
they were in California, so I feel strongly this is it. They’ve not mentioned any others.”

“This place was decked out. Didn’t feel mobile.”

“Everything’s mobile these days. A moving team could pack that place up and be out of there in less than a day.” Jasmine steered the car around a curve. The headlights splashed off rock that seemed to go on forever into the dark sky. “But really, who cares? The
Coats
will see the major damage we cause here and won’t touch us with a ten foot pole.”

“Or, they’ll come at us harder than ever if they think we’re too dangerous to have around,” I said.

“That’s true, too, but I’d like to see them try, baby. You two are so strong. Your mom was amazing from what I overheard and managed to read, so I trust that you two will be a force to be reckoned with.”

“How? What do you mean?”

“You saw how you healed yourself and Zach, right? How valuable would that be in war? You’re damn-near indestructible with that ice in you.”

“And if they can make more of me, what a great secret to sell to the highest bidder.”

“Exactly. Now, they were pretty tight-lipped about your mom and that side of things. But what I did overhear, she—and you guys—were a surprise. They needed to know more about her and you two to see what happened with their technology to produce the results that are you guys.”

“I can’t believe they injected her with organisms. Changed her DNA or genes or whatever they did.” I shook my head.

“I wonder if I can heal, too,” Georgia said. “Since Mom and Mandy can.”

“Don’t know. I figure yes, but genetics can be tricky. Like I said, though, it’ll come to you. Just be ready for it and trust it. You’re only a few weeks old, Blaze. Who knows what you might be capable of.”

“Back to Mom.”

“Well, your dad didn’t necessarily know what the research project was for. The Center told him about a bogus experiment for testing allergens in respect to some clean energy product prototypes. The subjects were ‘tested,’ the project declared inconclusive, and was discontinued.”

“But it wasn’t inconclusive,” Georgia said.

“Exact opposite. They were messing with genetics. Cleaning, manipulating, you name it. Your dad asked to see results of the so-called experiment. Of course they showed some bogus data to shut him up, but when your mom and some of the other subjects started demonstrating powers…all hell broke loose.” Jasmine took in a deep breath. “They kept a close eye on everyone, knowing—or more hoping—the subjects might change.”

Jasmine maneuvered the car down a dirt road. I assumed it led to the hotel-from-hell. “They got her a few times. Made her show them her powers.”

“How’d they get her to cooperate?”

“Probably threatened your dad or someone close to her. That seems to be the best tactic.”

Hearing all this fueled my anger, and my desire for revenge. Wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not. Probably good for boosting my powers, but I didn’t want to hurt anyone.

“Here we are. This seems to be as good a spot as any.” Jasmine steered the car to the gravel shoulder.

Almost pitch-black. Some light from the moon, but not much.

“Oh, wait. I hear something.” Jasmine slapped her hands over her ears. “Ahhh. It’s loud.”

I grabbed the steering wheel to keep the car from swerving.

“It’s a noisemaker or something. I hear cars—” She slammed the brakes, thrusting me forward. I gripped the dash. It crumpled, leaving finger-sized dents.

Jasmine thrust open her door and leapt out.

Georgia followed suit.

As I emerged, three black vans approached. Two from behind us and one from the front. Jasmine flopped onto the ground. Blood oozed between her fingers.

“Run, Jasmine, get away from the sound.” I screamed and raised my hand at one of the vans speeding in our direction. “Georgia, fry them.”

My arm immediately froze over. Not a light frost, either. A solid layer of ice. I focused on making ice bullets, and they flew out of my palm like a machine gun.

Holy hell where’d that come from?

Wherever it did, I was thankful. And ready to kick ass.

From the corner of my eye, bright flames flickered. Georgia shot fire from both her hands. The tires of one van exploded, catapulting the vehicle into the air. I turned my spray on it, and it landed as a solid ice cube.

The power coursing through my body made the hairs on my arms stand on end. Like electricity was nearby.

I whirled around, still spraying frozen bullets on the one van. I lifted my other hand toward the last vehicle and a mini-blizzard blew out from my fingertips. The force of it sent me stumbling, but I leaned into it and stayed on my feet.

A wave of heat brushed me from behind, and I glanced over my shoulder. Georgia stood back-to-back with me. Her warm body fueled my chill even more. Strength flooded my limbs, and my ice thickened.

“People coming in on foot.” Jasmine’s scream came through my earpiece loud and clear.

“Jas, where are you?”

“In the woods. The noisemakers must have been in the vans. The sound is gone. I can’t hear very well right now, but I see tons of people. At least fifty, hoofing it through the woods.”

“Start messing with them, we’ll work our way to you.”

Something pinched my thigh. A small hole appeared in my jeans. Blood trickled out. It stung like a drop of acid had fallen on my skin.

“Ah.” Georgia flinched.

Another pinch to my shoulder. An arctic rush pulsed through my body.

“More people behind us,” Georgia said.

“They’re coming in from all sides. Fire it up, girl.”

A blast of heat grazed my back. I turned my head. Flames encapsulated Georgia’s entire body. It scared me at first, but she turned her head, and through the orange glow, she winked.

Wait. She winked?

That blast of encouragement fueled my cold. A tiny, silver object slipped out of my thigh and clanked to the rocky ground.

Silver bullets? Did they think I was a werewolf?

“The bullets are bouncing off me,” Georgia screamed.

Ping. Ping.

“Me, too.”

Georgia and I stepped in unison toward the thicket. My thoughts drifted to Mom. I wished she were here to fight with us. Her two daughters, gifted because of what she’d endured, taking out the very thing that changed her and ultimately killed her.

Soldiers dressed in black fatigues advanced. What were they carrying?

It resembled a gun, but with a wider muzzle.

“Nets.” Jasmine’s voice rattled my earpiece.

At that instant, a dark object shot out from the strange-looking gun. It expanded into a big, round circle. It was hard to track against the black sky, but suddenly a streak of orange cut through the air, and it disintegrated.

“Don’t let the nets get over you,” Jasmine screamed.

Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.

Three shots from those cannon-sized guns. I streamed ice from both hands, each aimed at one of the nets. The force of the hit knocked them away. Georgia catapulted a fireball at the third, and it vaporized.

We continued forward, nearing the trees. Jasmine’s whirl of wind whipped by me, and three guys approaching us fell to their knees.

I frosted them.
Thanks, Jasmine.

Two more on the other side, Georgia turned and shot them with flames. Screams shattered the darkness surrounding us.

A nauseating lump tightened in my stomach. I knew these guys were evil, but to kill so many....

No, we have to end this or we’ll never be free.

Side-by-side, we marched deeper into the woods protected by a sheath of ice and a wall of flames.

“I got your back, ladies,” Jasmine said.

“Let’s go, sis.” Georgia slid her hand into mine.

“For Mom and Dad!”

THIRTY-EIGHT

T
hrough the swaying trees, the brick hotel-from-hell came into focus. An army of people surrounded it. They looked like astronauts in silver suits. I couldn’t see their faces through the mirrored glass, but what I could see were the guns they held.

And they were all pointed our direction.

We pressed forward. I let the snow fly and Georgia flamed. The torch streaming from her hands touched the shingles of the roof, and it crackled under the heat.

Like a cannon, I fired bowling ball-sized ice balls at the creeps standing in front of us. I took out windows, splintered doors, and cracked bricks. Steaming shards of metal pierced the ground beside my foot.

But none made it through the ice protecting me.

“Focus on the house,” Jasmine said. “Georgia, aim your fire into the open windows. Get that shit in there. All over.”

We advanced. The line of people in their shiny suits receded. They should run. I didn’t want to kill them. They were only hired help. Probably had no idea what they were even defending.

They must have
some
idea, considering what they saw the three of us doing.

The house smoldered. Flames burst from every window within my sight. My heart swelled as I imagined burning records, equipment, and needles.

No more needles. Ever again. I kept repeating that to solidify my resolve.

We veered right, headed to the side of the house. Six four-wheelers zoomed out from the surrounding trees with a roar. Georgia shot fireballs at the first two, sending the drivers airborne. She raised her other hand and streamed liquid heat at the house while she torched two more four-wheelers.

I sprayed my lethal ice bullets at the remaining pair.

“Ah!” Georgia stumbled forward. Blood beaded out from a small hole in her shoulder. A bullet got through?

She looked up at me from the ground. Her chest heaved. “I’m tired.”