Joshua shrugged. “I didn’t choose it. They wanted to be able to move forward without forgetting the past.” How could they ever forget what they’d done, breaking families apart?
I kept walking alongside Joshua. “What else did you find?” We hadn’t seen each other since he’d left for Torv.
“This way,” Joshua said. He pointed towards the tree. “Tree moss grows thickest on the north side.” I raised an eyebrow, wondering how he knew that. “It gets the least amount of sunlight.” He glanced at me with a faint smile. “I did ask around to see if anyone else from Shadow was still alive.”
“And?” I tried to keep up with him. Joshua was taller than me, though just barely but he seemed to be faster at walking. Or maybe he just hoped to cover more area by moving quicker through the forest.
“Hazel is.”
“What? How?” My eyes widened. “Are you sure?”
“Positive. She’s also pregnant.” My mouth dropped in astonishment. “She’s one of their new recruits for the pregnancy initiative.” My stomach sunk at the words. They were seeking out volunteers.
“Did you talk to her?” I couldn’t believe he hadn’t mentioned it sooner! I could only imagine Hazel with a round belly cursing every time the little critter inside her kicked or moved around.
“For a few minutes,” Joshua admitted. “She hadn’t heard the news about Shadow though I’m not sure those in Torv may have known. I think they were trying not to worry her because of the pregnancy.” It made sense to not put the baby’s or mother’s life at risk any more than they already had been. “I tried to convince her to come back with us, but she wouldn’t,” Joshua admitted. “Now that I think of it, maybe that’s why Isaura took me? To keep me from meddling?”
I didn’t say anything, unsure exactly what to say. I grabbed his hand, pulling him along as I saw the trees grow thin as we reached the clearing. Staring up at the sun I glanced at the sky, realizing we’d been traveling north and the light above cast down as if it were noon.
I pulled back from Josh’s grasp, spinning in a circle, staring up at the sky and then the forest we’d just traveled through.
“What’s wrong?” Joshua asked.
“It’s all wrong,” I murmured beneath my breath. Don’t you see it? I asked him. Joshua didn’t answer me. I took a tentative step back and felt my body free falling towards oblivion.
My eyes opened and through the haze of beeps and machines attached to me, I pulled the plugs and sat up in bed. Glancing down I noticed an ugly gray gown covering my body. My feet were bare and my arms chilly as I climbed off the cot.
It had all been a dream, a hallucination of some kind. Joshua wasn’t here. I hadn’t spoken with him since he’d left for Torv. My heart ached and stomach sunk. Walking took extra effort. The cold tile on bare feet caused me to shudder. I’d been drugged. I didn’t know how long I’d been out. My vision was hazy and as I attempted to walk towards the door, my body swayed with each step. The white walls spun like a merry-go-round. The room blurred and I followed the motion as the handle to the door held me up. Pulling it open, I desperately roamed the empty hall searching for an escape.
Joshua? Could he hear me? This had to be real. Why would anyone dream up this place? I received no response and as I navigated the hallway, I swayed from one side to the other as if the waves lapped against a small boat as I tried to acquire my footing. I fumbled down the hall. Hearing voices from around the corner, I found a door to my right, gripped the handle and pushed it open, stumbling inside.
The room was dark and I felt around, grasping for a switch to turn on the light. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust again. Although the drugs coursing through my system still made things sway, my vision was clearer. Joshua? I mentally called out again, hoping he was nearby and at the same moment wishing he was out of harm’s way. The room I had escaped into was no different than the one where I’d been held captive. It was small and though empty of a subject, had a bed and wires prepared for whoever they were after. I didn’t want to hang around any longer. Though my mind was in a haze, I pushed through the clouds and fog doing my best to focus. I waited a moment, pushing my ear against the door for the voices to fade before quietly turning the handle. Again I moved down the hallway, searching for the nearest exit in sight. Reaching the end of the hall I hit the button for the elevator, stepping inside.
The elevator offered seventeen floors, not including the basement where I’d been stashed away. I pressed the button for the lobby, hoping no one would be watching. I’d stand out in the starch gray gown. The elevator dinged as I stepped out. Two armed guards stood by the door, their backs to me. Another guard was posted at the front desk.
Coming out of the elevator, I waited for the guards to move. Taking a tentative step forward I felt a hand grab my arm, pulling me out of their sight.
“What are you–” My words were cut off as a hand clasped over my mouth and I saw who grabbed me. Joshua? My eyes widened as I studied his face. Is it you?
It is. He confirmed. He kept quiet by communicating telepathically. We don’t have much time. Follow me, he insisted leading me towards a janitorial closet. “Take this. Put it on,” he instructed once we were inside the closet, keeping his voice to a minimum. Joshua handed me a change of clothes, black jeans and a black t-shirt.
“Thank you.” I didn’t ask him where the clothes came from or how he knew I was here. Those questions were for later. We needed to get out alive. Joshua watched the door, making sure no one was coming as I spent a matter of seconds stripping down. I wasted no time, knowing at any moment we could be caught. “How do we get out of here?” I asked, turning around, leaving the gown on the floor.
Joshua pointed up. “The rest of the team is upstairs. We’re not leaving. Not yet.”
“What’s going on?” I asked, relieved the drugs had begun to wear off. Joshua opened the door, peering out to make sure no one paid attention to us.
I’ll explain later. He assured me, hitting the button for the twelfth floor. The doors closed and I breathed a sigh of relief that we hadn’t been spotted. It was only now that I had the opportunity to study Joshua and I noticed the black pants and matching long-sleeved shirt. The elevator doors opened and I gripped his arm, wanting desperately to find another way out. Whatever was planned, I wasn’t sure I wanted to be a part of it.
“We may not have much time,” I said. “Isaura had me in some sleep chamber?” I didn’t know how else to describe what she’d done to me. “I told her about you, Henry, and Cate.” I whispered staring at him. I wanted him to see how desperate I was to get out of there. If we waited too long, there might be no escaping at all.
Joshua let out a sigh as he led me down a dark hallway and into a room on the left side of the building. He knew where he was going. Stepping inside I was surprised to find my father Gavin, his brother Hunter, Aidan, Elsa and the advisors Henry had sent to Torv. “I found her,” Joshua told them as he led me into the small room and shut the door behind us.
“What’s going on?” I still hadn’t gotten answers and I wanted some understanding of what we’d gotten ourselves into. “Where are we?”
Gavin stepped forward, wrapping me in his arms in a hug. “Glad you’re okay, kiddo.” It felt weird to hug the man I hadn’t been particularly close with in quite some time, considering I’d thought him dead. He was growing on me, even if it was just a little bit.
“I’m fine.” I said. They were all in the same black pants and matching black shirts. “Did you find Isaura? That’s why you’re here, isn’t it?” There was a map situated on the table a few feet away. Gavin and Hunter stepped aside as I approached the table in the center of the room.