At the next-to-last intersection, Rein’s signature flashed like a beacon. His presence filled her with longing for his smile, his touch, his kiss.
She stopped in the middle of the intersecting passageways, vulnerable to enemies. Surprisingly, the halls remained empty; only shadows moved in the corners.
Unease twisted her gut. This was too easy.
Three doors occupied the small hall, two to the right and one to the left, all leading to rooms she’d never frequented.
She stepped. His signal grew stronger. She stepped again, reaching for him with the wisps of her mind.
The last door on the right.
Pain flared, resonating within his being, his every fiber, and filled her as well. Fear terrorized his mind. Darkness swirled.
“Rein!” she yelled.
His name?
The sound rang in Rein’s ears, but the pain overshadowed it. By the time the fire subsided, he wasn’t sure if he’d ever heard his name at all.
“Rein!”
Ellyssa?
Panic twisted his stomach. She couldn’t come in here.
His eyes snapped open to blackness, thick and mucky like an oil slick. He drew in a breath to warn her, to tell her to run, but when his lips parted, all he could manage was a desperate whimper. He swallowed and tried again. His voice refused to cooperate.
Ellyssa.
He hoped she could read him.
Don’t come in here.
It was the best he could do.
Trap!
Rein’s voice echoed in Ellyssa’s mind. His thoughts were disoriented, his fear and pain immense.
She glanced over her shoulder. No pounding footsteps. No minds to read.
She turned the knob and pushed the door open. Light spilled across the floor in an arc.
The room stood empty, except for a few old wooden chairs and a rickety metal desk that was missing a leg. On the far wall, a chalk board hung under an old round clock, its hands frozen long ago.
Rein?
For a moment, Ellyssa thought she’d made a mistake. That the confusion in his thoughts had misled her. She hesitated, about to turn around and check the adjoining room, but a shadowy movement in the far corner caught her eye.
“Rein,” she breathed. She took a tentative step inside.
Rein’s head bobbed at the sound of her voice, like he was trying to raise it. Instead, it lolled to the side and came to rest on his shoulder.
The sight of him brought relief…and fear…and anger. What had they done to him?
Forgetting caution, Ellyssa ran to him and dropped to her knees. She placed her hands on the sides of his face. “Rein, it is okay. I am going to get you out of here.”
His lips parted and one corner rose as if he was trying to smile. His face was bruised and dried blood caked the sides of his head and matted his hair. His jade eyes shone with relief, with happiness…with love. The shine flashed, then was gone. The green hid behind darkened clouds of pain.
Face twisting, Rein’s teeth gritted together. “Trap.” His voice barely rose above a whisper.
“We have to go.”
She wrapped her arm around his waist and pulled him to his feet. As soon as his legs locked under him, bright light swept the room. Ellyssa’s pupils contracted painfully.
“Ellyssa, my daughter,” her father said in German, “I have waited long for your return.”
Ellyssa should’ve felt surprise since she’d felt no other presence, but she didn’t. She turned and blinked several times in rapid succession. Three silhouettes wavered in the corner behind the door. She squinted, trying to focus. Details emerged from the blond hair to the porcelain-like faces.
Her father had aged. His skin was not as smooth as before; worry lines etched his forehead, and his hair looked more grey. He smiled, as he had throughout her childhood. The smile that never reached his eyes.
Next to Dr. Hirch, standing with their hands behind their backs like good little soldiers, were Aalexis and Xaver. Both as she remembered, beautiful and expressionless and deadly, just like her.
Ellyssa helped Rein back to the ground. He looked up at her, his eyes apologetic. The black and purple marring his face shadowed his cheeks, making his injuries look much worse under the light than she’d first thought. Fury enveloped her.
“I will get you out of here,” she mouthed. Ellyssa brushed her lips quickly against his before she straightened. Squaring her shoulders, she faced her creator.
Dr. Hirch’s eyes rounded at her display of affection.
“Der Vater,” Ellyssa stated, her voice as deadpan as her face.
The blue of his eyes sparked with anger. “I am glad you have returned.”
“Not by choice.”
“Yes, I know. Your adventure has clouded your judgment. Something we will have to remedy.”
“I am fine as I am now.”
Dr. Hirch strolled closer, the hated smile plastered onto his face. “You disappoint me. You showed the most promise of them all. Your gift is exceptional. Of all my creations, none could read minds. To be able to seek people out before opening a door. To know how many were present. Truly a worthwhile addition.”
“Apparently, I am flawed.”
He shook his head. “Not flawed. Confused, is all. Nothing that cannot be fixed. As you are aware, your brothers’ and sister’s gifts have evolved, as I am sure yours has. Xaver simply pulled his shield around us, blocking our thoughts from you.”
Although shocked at the news, Ellyssa’s expression showed nothing. “I see.”
“It is time for you to return home.”
“I think not.”
Displeasure narrowed his lids into thin slits. For a moment, she thought he was going to lose control. Although they were infrequent, bursts of emotion sometimes plagued the doctor, like when he’d slapped her when she was a child. After a moment of indiscretion, he pulled himself together.
“After all I have done for you. I created you, made you a superior being,” he said calmly.
“You made me into an unfeeling killing machine. Amonster.” Ellyssa looked at her sister and brother. “He never told any of us his true plans. The extermination of humanity. Not just impurities, but all humans.” Her eyes moved to her brother. “Then the extermination of us—his so-called children. To be replaced with soldiers far superior even to us.”
She faced her father. “There is no room for us in your perfect world.” Despite Ellyssa’s outward demeanor, her voice seethed with loathing.
“Enough,” her father said, calmly. “You will come with us now.”
“I do not think so.”
“Xaver is not the only one who has honed his talent.” He indicated Aalexis with a nod. “Aalexis.”
Aalexis stepped forward. “Der Vater.”
“Would you care to demonstrate?
“Of course.”
Aalexis’ smooth forehead bunched and, an instant later, Rein squealed. He fell to his side and writhed on the ground.
Ellyssa’s feet remained anchored to the ground as she watched him, his face contorted in misery, and his arms wrapped around his midsection.
Scared for Rein, angry at her helplessness, Ellyssa bolted toward her little sister with every intention of ripping her apart. Aalexis was no match for her. But before she reached her, she slammed into Xaver’s barrier. She placed her hands on the invisible surface and pushed.
Rein screamed again, a tormenting cry. She couldn’t bear to watch him suffer. Ellyssa turned away. “How?” she asked her father.
“One’s body and brain are nothing more than matter. Just a little manipulation of the thermal nociceptors,” replied the doctor.