Mindsurge (Mindspeak Book 3) (21 page)

“And the sea will tell.” I looked from Jack to Coach. “What does it mean?”

“It’s a book,” Jack said.

“Jonas wrote down the name of a book just before he was taken?” I didn’t understand.

“
And the Sea Will Tell
is a true-crime novel about the Sea Wind Murders, a double murder from the 1970s,” Coach explained. “They happened on an atoll south of Hawaii called Palmyra Atoll.”

“Palmyra,” I said to myself. “Myra.” I looked at Jack, who was clearly already a step ahead of me. Jonas had told us while in the gorge that Sandra had ordered the incubators delivered to Myra, which could be short for Palmyra. “You think this is where Sandra located the new lab.”

“It makes sense.” Jack shrugged.

“What kind of island is this? Is it part of Hawaii? Meaning, is it part of the United States? Is it protected by our government?”

Seth looked up from the computer. “It’s not governed by Hawaii. It’s an unorganized incorporated territory of the United States. So technically it is governed under our Constitution.”

“How about non-technically?” I asked.

Seth bowed his head toward the computer again. “A portion of the atoll is owned by the Nature Conservancy. The rest by the federal government. According to the information I’ve found, no one is allowed to travel to Palmyra Atoll without prior approval from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department and from the Nature Conservancy.”

“So if Sandra has built a lab there and is running a controversial scientific operation, she’s gotten approval from the federal government?”

“More likely, she doesn’t care what laws she’s breaking,” Seth answered. “However, yes, she does appear to have the protection of the IIA.”

~~~~~

Even though it was three in the morning when we got to my room, Jack insisted I take a hot shower. Thought it might relax me. Little did he know, I did my best thinking in the shower. The heat soothed my tense muscles, but the steam went straight to my head as I thought about what someone would have to do to get the upper hand on Jonas.

Was he hurt? Would they kill him?

Those questions turned into thinking about the desperate look on Briana’s face when I’d visited her at the infirmary. She had received a severe blow to the back of the head, giving her a nice knot and a mild concussion. But her only concern had been finding Jonas. “You have to find him, Lexi,” she told me. “This can’t keep happening.”

While the shower cascaded over me, a sob escaped my throat, and I slammed my hand over my mouth, trying to suppress the sound. I was tired. And angry. And most of all, I knew what I had to do.

I finished my shower and dried off quickly. After pulling on a T-shirt and sweats, I went into my room. Jack was sitting in my desk chair, his chin on his chest. He had fallen asleep sitting up.

I couldn’t help but smile. He had refused to go back to his room. Said there was no way he was leaving me alone, yet the poor guy couldn’t keep his eyes open. What I needed to tell him would have to wait until morning.

I touched his cheek gently. He started at my touch, and I jumped backward, giggling. “Sorry,” I whispered. “Let’s get you to bed.” I grabbed his hand and led him to Dani’s bed. He crawled in, and I covered him up. Leaning down, I brushed my lips across his.

After making sure my door was locked, I set a proper booby trap: my desk chair with an unsteady stack of puzzle boxes balancing in the seat. If anyone opened that door, the boxes would tumble to the ground, making a terrible racket.

I crawled into my own bed, and listening to the soothing sounds of Jack’s breathing, I drifted to sleep.

~~~~~

The sound of a familiar voice woke me from a deep sleep. I sat up in bed. “Jonas!”

I looked to my right. Jack jumped out of bed and stumbled backward a little. “Lex, what’s wrong?”

We stared at each other for a moment. We were both extremely groggy. Neither of us looked sure of what had woken us.

“I… I guess I was dreaming.” I looked down at my covers; they had fallen to the floor. I was wearing nothing but a T-shirt and short pajama shorts. I quickly gathered up my covers and pulled them back on the bed and over top of me.

Jack came over and crawled behind me on top of the covers. He pulled me against him, my back to his chest. “Sleep.” He kissed the back of my head and held me tight.

I stared out into the room. My chair was still by the door, the boxes still piled high. I had just closed my eyes when I heard him again.

Lexi. Can you hear me?

Jonas? Where are you?
I smelled the familiar scent of smoke—a scent I remember only from the times when Jonas had a tracker. My eyes sprang open, but I remained very still. Sitting on Dani’s bed was a figure leaning forward, his elbows on his knees, holding a cigarette. Memories of Jonas controlling my mind and actions flooded back. My pulse quickened.

Lexi, listen to me.
The figure took a drag, then looked over at me as he blew the smoke out.
Sandra has me. She plans to come back for you.
His voice sounded strained, like he was in pain.
You have to fight her.
He grimaced.

What is she doing to you? I can’t let her hurt you because of me.

Don’t worry about me. I’ll figure something out. She won’t do permanent damage.

Are you still close? I found the note you left. We know where the lab is. I know what I need to do.

No! Lexi, don’t go near Palmyra. Promise me. I shouldn’t have left that note. If I had known.

But Jonas, I can—

No. Promise me. If she catches you there, she’ll never let you leave. I finished reading your dad’s journals. He hid the formula inside you. Your DNA has the key to producing the perfect healer. We had only just begun to figure it all out. Your dad, Lexi… He made sure
you
were the key. Sandra knows this. If you die, she destroys any chance she has of perfecting the healing mechanism that can be placed inside the trackers.

That’s why she hasn’t killed me yet, despite all the chances she’s had,
I thought mostly to myself.
She’s only tried to scare me into needing her.

Or into running. If you were to run, you’d be vulnerable. You’re somewhat protected at Wellington.

I tensed, and Jack’s arm held me tighter.
Until Roger tried to kill me.

He got greedy. But he’s locked away now.

Which was only a tiny relief: smart, rich people tended not to stay locked up.
Tell me where you are.

I don’t know.
With a shaky hand, he lifted the cigarette to his lips. The end of the cigarette flared as he inhaled.
I’m okay for now.

How did Sandra get into Wellington?
Furthermore, how had Maya been getting in?

There must be someone on the inside. Be prepared, Lex. Sandra’ll be coming back for Maya, too.

What makes you say that?

Because she hasn’t killed her yet. She would have terminated a tracker clone if she wasn’t right where Sandra wanted her. Haven’t you wondered why Maya hasn’t forced someone to let her out yet? You can’t lock up a tracker clone without disabling the tracker.

I sat up.
Oh my gosh, you’re right.
Maya would have simply used mind tricks to force someone to let her out. She must
want
to be here. Or Sandra wants her here.

“Lex?” Jack placed a hand on the small of my back. “Can’t sleep?”

Jonas disappeared, and the smell and haze of smoke went with him. “I have to see Maya.” I threw the covers back, grabbed a pair of jeans off the floor, and shimmied into them.

“Right now? You need more sleep. We’re no good to Jonas or anyone else if we’re zombies.”

“I can’t sleep. Jonas says he’s okay for now.”

“Wait. You talked to Jonas?” Jack sat up. “Did he say where he was?”

“He didn’t know.” I grabbed my weapon-ring from my desk and faced him. “We have to stop Sandra, Jack. She won’t stop until she’s won. We can’t let her.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“Are you sure you can do this?”

I nodded once. “I’m sure.” Jack had his hands on my shoulders, and his gaze was directed at me, looking for any sign I wasn’t up for a one-on-one mental battle with Maya.

Seth unlocked the door, ushered me in, then closed and locked the door behind me. Maya sat on a sheet on the floor in the lotus position. She appeared to be meditating.
Good morning, Lexi. You’re here awfully early.

“Don’t you sleep?”

I slept.

“What are you meditating about?”

She opened one eye and directed it at me. Heat spread across my neck. I broke eye contact and began circling the room, stopping briefly by the one-way window. I knew Jack was on the other side of it.

He can’t protect you if you go to Palmyra, you know.

I spun around. “Palmyra?” It was the first time Maya had mentioned the island. “Have you been there?”

She cocked her head. A sly grin reached all the way to the evil sparkle in her eyes. In one fluid motion, she lifted her body from lotus to a standing position. I flinched, and hoped she hadn’t noticed. Someone had given her some blue scrubs that she’d rolled at the ankles.

Yes, I’ve been to Palmyra. You’re going to like it.

“What makes you think I’ll go there?”

Because that’s the only way to save Jonas.
She smiled again.
Does he know?
She nodded to the large window where Jack stood watching us.

I turned my head and looked over my shoulder at the window. When I turned back, she was standing slightly closer. “Does he know what?”

That you have a connection with Jonas.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Sweat covered my palms. I wiped them on my jeans.

Don’t I?

“How long has the lab been at Palmyra?”

A while.
 

Stop being so vague
, I mindspoke as I entered Maya’s head. Her brain was an organized web of red neurons.
Tell me now. How long has the lab on Palmyra existed?

Instead of mindspeaking, Maya spoke aloud in a monotone. I had her. “I was taken to Palmyra as a baby. The lab has existed since before you and I were born.”

When we first met, you called me your sister. What did you mean?

“We were created at the same time. We were supposed to be implanted in the same surrogate, but after the explosion, something happened. We were separated.”

Maya’s neurons began firing a little more, and changing in color. Darker.

How can I get inside Palmyra without being seen?

“You can’t. Not without help.”
Her neurons darkened further, but only momentarily before they sparked again. She gave her head a shake before slipping back into a trance. She was fighting my control. “Why would you want to sneak in? I can take you there. They’re not going to hurt you. They’re expecting you. You’re going to love it there.”

Sandra had said the same thing—that I would love the beach where the new lab was. Only it wasn’t new, just new to the clones she had here at the University of Kentucky.

How have you been slipping in and out of Wellington unseen?

Maya closed her eyes. Her head twitched to one side, then the other. Another presence invaded her mind and pushed against me. This presence was like a water balloon. When I pushed against it, it moved, but barely. Who was it?

Tell me who’s inside your head
, I commanded.

“No. I can’t.” She shifted. Her eyes remained closed. She brought both hands to the sides of her head, and screamed. “Gaaah!”

Jack, someone else is inside Maya’s head. Can you see who it is?

No. The presence is too elusive. I can’t get a good read. Wait a minute…

What? Who is it?
I slipped back inside Maya’s brain. I recognized Jack’s presence immediately—straight-edged, easier to move and shove out—yet this other presence was familiar, but constantly changing. Who was that powerful? One of the seven? No.

Who is it, Maya?

And then I realized. I spun around and stared at the window. I didn’t have to see through the glass to know Jack had already fled in search of the one person capable of stopping my mind invasion and getting Maya in and out of the school. How could we have been so stupid?

I heard the noise behind me, but by the time I reacted it was too late. Just as I lifted my elbow, preparing to nail Maya in the face, her arms were around me, and a needle was in my arm. I only just managed to turn the switch on my ring and drive it into her neck before I sank to the ground. My only consolation was that she went down with me.

~~~~~

“Hey, Lex. It’s Kyle. Can you hear me?”

My eyes fluttered open. “Kyle?”
 

His figure knelt beside me. “Jack sent me. Let’s get you out of here. I need you to stand.” He placed a hand on my back and helped me to my feet. I swayed, and my vision was off.

Maya was beside me. Her glassed-over eyes stared blankly up at me, barely blinking. I had no idea how long I’d been out, but she was still paralyzed. I bent down and whispered in her ear. “I would have helped you.” She remained motionless. I must have gotten enough of the paralyzing agent in her before I crashed to the floor. I rubbed the spot on my arm where the needle stuck me. “So, am I unconscious?” I asked Kyle. “Are you controlling me in my sleep?”
 

Like before, he spoke out loud to me, and because of his mind control, I was able to move and speak despite the drug Maya injected me with.

“Yes, and I’m not sure how long you’ll be unconscious. I don’t know what she gave you, or how she got it.” He put an arm around me. “Now walk. We’re getting out of here. Coach is on his way to deal with Maya.”

“I know who it is, Kyle.” The volume of my voice climbed. “I know who’s been helping Maya and Sandra.”

“Shhh. Calm down.”

“It’s Addison. That’s how Maya and Sandra have gotten in and out of Wellington unnoticed. Addison made them invisible.”

“I know. Jack’s looking for her.”

Kyle guided me through the door and down the hallway. We had just reached the stairs that would lead us to the main floor of the infirmary, when Addison appeared from out of nowhere.