Outbreak (25 page)

He snarled against the restraint, his nostrils flaring.

“You didn’t give me a choice, Liam.”

Again Seven’s brain jarred to attention. He reached for the Samurai’s thoughts, finding only a cold mental shield.

Seven grunted and groaned. A heartbeat passed as the Samurai closed his eyes.

Another.

A deafening explosion shook the building. Heat filled the room, along with smoke and debris. The doors flew backwards. Dodging the flying metal, the Samurai shoved Seven into the hallway.

Fire from the explosion consumed their path. Alarms wailed as the smoke and heat continued to grow. .

Dakota,
Seven heard in his thoughts.
Where are you? Dakota?

No answer.

Feral pain passed over the Samurai’s expression before he buried it deep in his thoughts. He pushed Seven down the hall, searching. Seven shook his head and pulled against the Samurai’s grasp. They were going the wrong way. If they went much farther in this direction, the Samurai was going to get them both killed.

Seven wasn’t about to sacrifice himself for
her
.

He inhaled a sharp, smoke-filled breath. His lungs choked and he coughed around his gag. He spun toward the exit, pulling the Samurai with him.

“No,” the Samurai said. “I have to find her.”

Too late
. Seven pushed into the Samurai’s thoughts, shoving past his clouded mind and the Samurai’s mental block.
We have to go now!

Betrayal turned to acid on Seven’s tongue. It clung to his thoughts, his emotions. The Creator would never forgive him for leaving. But he wasn’t about to become target practice for his master’s pet Assassin, not like the Architect had been.

He dragged the Samurai down the hall and through the large double doors just as guards filled the rooms behind them.

“Shit!” The Samurai raised a hand and growled.

The guard’s screams clawed into Seven’s thoughts.

Screams followed by the eerie sound of silence.

The Solomon Experiments 3.0

The Order

A Note from Dakota Harrison –

November 15, 2016:

My dearest David –

I hope you find this journal entry, hope that you know to look for it. If you meant everything you said, you will.

I love you more than I could ever express. And I know that you love me. If we were a normal couple, we’d run off and live happily ever after. If we were a normal couple, nothing in this world could keep us apart.

But we aren’t normal. We never will be.

No matter how much we wish we were.

At least, not while my father is alive.

There is only one way this can end; one way I can ensure your safety. Liam’s. LeMercier has to die.

He is only coming after us to get me. If I give myself to him, this will end. And as long as I stay, you and Liam will be safe.

I want to think that there is another way, something you and I can think of to get Liam away from my father, something to keep us safe. But we both know this is the only option. So, when it’s clear that I have no choice, I will submit to him.

I will offer to be his Assassin.

You’ll be hurt, be mad. But you’ll be alive. You’ll want to rescue me. Don’t. No matter what, you have to get away. Take Liam. Find Mom.

These journals will help you, guide you. She says she’s alive, says she’s close. Find her and reunite her with her son.

Don’t come after me, David. LeMercier will turn me into the monster I know lives inside me. He’ll reprogram me. I don’t want you to see me that way.

I’d like to think that we’ll see each other one day. Believe that I can resist my father’s programming and kill him without sacrificing my soul.

Impossible, I fear.

Hold me in your thoughts, David. Not as the Assassin I must now embrace, but as the girl who found herself in your arms. The girl who loves you too much to let you die.

Remember me as Dakota.

I love you . . .

Now and forever.

Fire coils around my spine, flowing up toward my brain. My thoughts swirl, threatening to drown me in a void I can’t seem to escape. Higher and higher the tide rises, until it overtakes my consciousness and envelops me in darkness.

“Very good, Daughter. You’ll feel better soon.” The voice slithers near me, through me.

I stiffen and the void releases me. I force my eyes open. Blinding light fills my vision. I blink and blink, desperate for relief.

None comes.

Panic seizes my throat.
Relax,
a voice says.
You can survive this
.

David.

Even now, he fills my thoughts. So many questions surge forward. Did he get away? Is Liam okay?

The questions circle, circle, circle until the deep blackness threatens me again. I close my eyes against the blinding light and consuming darkness.

My thoughts slog through my mind. Time slips forward. I continue to drown.

Until light reaches my eyelids.

The void recedes.

My thoughts are mine again.

I open my eyes, expecting to see David, something familiar. Expecting this to all be a dream. Instead I see a familiar lab. Machines beep, just like before. Lights flash and move. Something drips into my arm.

“You’re awake.” My father’s cold voice ignites a feral rage.

I pull against the restraints tying me to the chair.

“Are you ready to submit?”

Saying yes would make things easier.

“No,” I snarl.

“I thought not.” LeMercier nods and a young man in a blue lab coat plays with the line dripping into my arm.

My mind grows heavy. My mouth refuses to work. I am plunged back into darkness.

Time passes. I can’t distinguish day from night, one moment from another. I simply exist in a space between heaven and hell, riding a wave of torment that has no end.

“Whom do you serve?” LeMercier asks after he raises me from death once more.

“No . . . one.” The words scrape across my throat as new fire boils through me and I plunged into the abyss again. An eternity passes.

“Whom do you serve?” My father asks again.

“Me . . .”

A strong slap across my cheeks. Darkness. Shame.

Whom do you serve?

I can’t tell if the voice is real or in my thoughts.

Whom do you serve?

The answer rushes up my throat. I hold it back with every ounce of courage that still remains, every ounce of hope.

Whom do you serve?

Whom do you serve?

“YOU!” The scream rips from my throat, tossing aside all that I am, all that I wanted to be. My body convulses as a pair of hands grab my shoulders, steady me. “I serve you, Master.

“I am your Assassin.”

Fiction

Transcend

The Requiem Series

(completed re-edited, retitled and recovered. Coming in 2016):

Broken Wing
(Previously Dies Irae) – Book #0.5

Sentinal’s Tear
(Previously Lacrimosa) – Book #1

UnHoly Death
(Previously Libera Me) – Book #2

Redemption’s Kiss
(Previously Dominus) – Book #3

The Solomon Experiments

Collide
– Book #1

Outbreak
– Book #2 (March 2016)

Reckoning
– Book #3 (June 2016)

Christine Fonseca also writes self-help books for children, teens, parents and educators.

For more about her work, visit her website –
http://christinefonseca.com

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading Outbreak. If you loved the story, please remember to leave a review on any of the major sites that have my book. This is the best way to thank an author for the work they’ve done.

The final chapter of the Solomon Experiments, Reckoning, will be released in June 2016.

This project has been a long time coming, and wouldn’t have happened at all without the help of my readers, writing partners, friends, and family:

To my editor, Jen Hendricks – Thank you for knowing this story and these characters almost more than I do. Your careful read made the words match the ideas in my head. Thanks for your dedication to the craft, and insistence that I push deeper.

To my proofreader, Erika Fonseca – I always assumed those razor-sharp grammar skills would come in handy. Thanks for turning your keen eye to this story and catching my typos and other goofs!

To my amazing book designer, Ali Cross – You never cease to amaze me. Thanks for your friendship and your work on this project.

To my beyond awesome cover artist, Lisa Amowitz – You have been an absolute dream to work with. The covers for this entire series are nothing short of amazing. I am so excited for our future collaborations.

To my photographer, Fabiana Fonseca – Thanks for always being there with a camera to help me out. And yes, I know we need a new picture. SOON!

To my early reviewers – thanks for your enthusiasm with each new ARC. The feedback is exceptional. Thank you really seems inadequate.

To my ever-talented writing friends – WOW! I can’t believe how blessed I am to know you. Your talents, your willingness to walk your own truth, and your support of others who do the same is inspirational. Keep being you!

To my readers, fans and everyone who has welcomed me into this crazy world of writing –
Outbreak
was a long time coming. At times, I wondered if this book would ever be finished. Your support lit my dark times. Books are an agreement between author and reader. We need each other to feel fulfilled. Thanks for partnering with me.

And finally, to my family – Your constant love and support makes everything possible. Thanks for giving me the time needed to “birth” each book, listen to my endless book chat and give your opinions. Go Team Fonseca!