Code, p.3
Code, page 3
“They’re closing the gate.” Frank’s voice came through the earpiece. “The meeting is about to start.”
The meeting was held in the West Sector, Chang’s territory, and that gave them an upper hand. She had briefed Zen and his team on the layout of the stage and where to hide. She also had a hidden mic clipped to her so Zen could hear the conversations behind closed or open doors, no matter the distance. The other councilors had no idea Zen’s team was there.
People gathered in masses, standing shoulder to shoulder. Young and old. Families came with their children. The stadium was full of eager faces. Anticipation hung thick in the air.
Timothy Jones from South District, clad in a fine navy tailored suit, stood on the podium and spoke into the mic. “Welcome ladies and gentlemen, and children. We”—he waved to his fellow council members—“have heard your concerns; therefore, we have convened this meeting.”
He spoke about thirty minutes, addressing the topics on the agenda: the online school system, the recent hack of an app, transportation, and a few others. Then he got to the main topic for the assembled gathering.
“What you saw on the media, about those girls with supernatural powers, was a hoax. A completely manipulated video. I—we, your councilors—assure you that we will do everything to bring these women to justice.”
Chang had informed Zen during the last meeting that the Council had agreed to tell the citizens the truth—or rather, Verlot’s version of the truth. Pierre Verlot had informed the rest of the Council that his team had investigated a few of the captured girls and found nothing special about them.
Martinez and Jones had no idea what was going on behind their backs. Chang knew better but played along.
Loud murmurs erupted from the crowd.
Sylvia Martinez tapped her mic, the gentle breeze making her long red dress softly billow around her high heels. The assembly hushed. The last tap on the mic sounded like a loud drum pounding right next to Zen’s ears. He groaned and winced.
“Please. Know that you are safe, and we are doing everything we can.” Her tone—soothing, almost like a lullaby—did nothing to pacify the people.
“How can you guarantee our safety?” a man shouted near the front.
Verlot cleared his throat, the magnified sound echoing like thunder in the darkened sky. He pushed back his shoulders and straightened his navy suit jacket. “Didn’t you hear what Councilor Jones said? What you saw was a trick. Do you actually believe these girls have some kind of superpowers?” He chuckled.
A chorus of laughter rose out of the crowd.
The man said nothing more.
“Does anyone have any questions?” Verlot ran his fingers through his dark hair. He followed protocol, but his tone dripped sourness, like he didn’t want to be bothered.
“We haven’t heard from Councilor Chang. What does she think?” a girl on the right side asked.
“Yeah. I want to know,” someone shouted from the middle.
More murmurs joined them.
Verlot stiffened, but smiled and turned his attention to Chang, who stood at the podium beside him. When Chang raised her hand, her long black cloak shifted.
The people from her community seemed awed by her as they waited for her to speak. Even from the back, Zen could tell the public adored her. In dead silence, their eager expressions and sparkling eyes reflected her popularity.
How could they not adore her? She was a beautiful woman who carried herself with brisk professionalism. She radiated confidence and ability. Her photo was often on media sites, even those in other sectors.
They talked about her attire, her makeup, her speeches, and everything and anything about her. She had become a role model. An excellent choice indeed.
“My people. My family,” she began. The gentle breeze lifted strands of her short dark hair. “You may all rest assured you are safe. Had you been in danger, you would have been informed. Know that all of us put your safety first above all. Our nation has been through catastrophic devastation, but we have been recuperating. It isn’t time to doubt your Council. You, the citizens, elected us. You put your faith and trust in us, so let us do our job. Doubting and pointing fingers will only separate us. As our forefathers have said ... united we stand, divided we fall. May God bless you all.”
Cheers sounded in a raucous uproar, the applause like beating drums.
Somewhere in the middle, a girl with red hair shouted, “What about ISAN? My sister is locked up because they said she has superpowers. They’re holding her against her will and experimenting on her. What do you have to say about that?”
Zen wished he could speak to that girl. Who was she? He crept closer, but couldn’t move any farther without being spotted. Verlot blanched, but raised his chin with a disdainful glare. Under the mask of arrogance, he was a coward.
“Young lady, I welcome you to our next private Council meeting and we will address this issue,” Verlot said. “I would like to know more about this group you are speaking of. Now, I’m sure all of you would like to go home and spend your time with your families instead of discussing nonsensical theories. Enjoy the rest of your evening and have a wonderful, prosperous week. The meeting is adjourned.”
Verlot turned toward Zen with uncanny accuracy. Zen scurried to the darkness. He’d thought Verlot had spotted him, but instead Verlot pointed to the nearest guard on the hovering glider and spoke into his chip.
Zen read Verlot’s lips. “Find that girl and bring her to me.” Though from that distance, Zen wasn’t sure enough to bet on it.
“I think that went fairly well,” Jones said to Chang as they walked side by side to the back of the stage, toward the stairs.
Chang’s gaze remained rooted to the crowd shuffling away toward the exit. She must be worried for that redhead, as Zen was.
“Zen. What do you want us to do about the girl? Should we look for her?” Frank’s voice came through his earpiece.
“Stand down,” Zen said.
Zen decided it was best to wait, though Frank brought up the same question he’d been mulling over. They would intervene only if the guards caught her.
When the stadium was completely empty, a whoosh tore through the air, and a flash of red caught Zen’s eyes and a bullet whizzing by.
“For my sister, asshole. For ANS,” the redhead’s voice rang in his ears.
A girl flickered to life close to the platform, then disappeared, as if she was an apparition. At first Zen doubted his own senses. The guards still in formation hadn’t seen her. She was too fast for human eyes.
Zen had spotted her because of HelixB88. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t have been able to hear her words, nor see the girl. He almost lunged to cover Chang when the girl appeared, but halted before anyone could see him. The bullet wasn’t meant for her.
Verlot collapsed. The councilors and guards gathered around him in a rush of yells and pounding footsteps as the other soldiers encircled the remaining councilors.
Verlot had been shot in the chest, blood pooling on the cement under him. The bullet had penetrated the heavy shield under his clothing, which meant specialized ammunition. Someone would had to have known what kind of armor he was wearing. His suit jacket had a perfect hole to his left chest.
Chang pushed through the guards protecting her and straightened her cloak. “You.” Chang pointed at the soldier talking into his chip, who was calling for help. “Stop. I’ve got this.” Then she pointed at the guards nearest to her. “Put Councilor Verlot inside my glider now. I have a medical hub inside. Go.”
Something about the way Chang took charge seemed fishy. Zen had a feeling Councilor Chang was behind the shooting.
Chapter Five — My Prison
Ava
I jerked awake and sat up, my eyes opening to a blinding light. No shackles. No restraints. No one else in the room, as far as I could tell, but surely someone was watching through a hidden camera.
The gray, doorless walls were the same, but the room smelled floral, like spring, and my clothes felt different. Softer. Cooler. The ISAN assassin suit I’d worn coming in had been replaced by a pink silk pj set—long sleeve with buttons.
Someone had changed my clothes. The thought unnerved me.
I ran my hand from my neck to my collarbone. My necklaces were missing. I didn’t care much for the necklace Mr. Lee had given me, but the one from Rhett was precious. The pendant was a small, pressed dandelion, encased in a flat see-through locket. I would get that back.
How many days had passed? I tried to pull up my map, but the dimensions of the walls only flickered. This room might have some kind of power deflecting mechanism. That had to be it, or they had injected me with something.
A single chair was stationed in a corner, on it a fabric doll. Chills prickled my skin. It couldn’t be. It couldn’t be the same doll my mom had given me when I’d turned thirteen. I’d lost it when she was taken from me, on the night she had supposedly died.
That day I’d run out of our apartment after we’d fought over something trivial. When I’d come home, the ambulance had been there. I had lost my mother and my doll that day.
I swung my legs off the bed and my feet met a warm, soft, white rug. Standing, I surveyed the walls, the corner, the ceiling. Not finding any cameras, I bolted for the doll across the chilly tile floor. When I picked it up, a familiar warmth enveloped me. I felt like a little girl again.
My mother had handmade the doll. She had used a too-small beige sweater of mine and stuffed it with the leftover materials. Then she’d taken one of my pink T-shirts and made a dress. She’d used buttons for the eyes, but the nose and lips had been hand-embroidered. Black thread for the nose, and red thread for the lips.
This was my doll. It even had a small ketchup stain on the front of the dress.
I dropped the doll back on the cushion and spun around when the door whooshed open—the door I hadn’t seen because it blended with the wall. My brother entered, dressed in a dark suit with his hair sleeked back. He remained in the center of the room, keeping his distance. Glacier chills racked me and it took all my will not to pounce on him.
“Hello, sister.” His tone was upbeat but his sharp glare told me he wanted to cut me open.
Standing in the far corner, I had no way out. I could probably bring him to his knees, but I stood straight and laced my fingers through my hair. Play smart.
“Are you going to just stare at me? No greetings for your brother?” He leaned slightly, looking past me. “I see you found your doll, or rather it has found you. Mother told—”
“Where is she? I want to see her.” I wrung the silky fabric of my pj pants to tame the blazing rage ready to explode.
I had to see for myself if this so-called mother of ours was real. The last I recalled, I had followed a hologram into this trap. Was he even real? I should punch him and see for myself.
“Soon. I promise, little sis. By the way, did you know I was born a few minutes before you?” He shoved his hands inside his front pockets and shrugged, trying to act all cute and innocent.
I wanted to throw up.
I slumped on the edge of the chair, hopeless. The Helix had made me think I was invincible. I knew better. Nothing was ever certain, never guaranteed, especially going up against ISAN.
“Tell me, Gene, am I the only prisoner?” I tried to be inconspicuous. I didn’t know what to trust.
“Prisoner?” He sounded appalled, blinking those beautiful dark lashes he didn’t deserve. “Look at your wrists and your ankles. You’re not shackled. You can move freely about this room.” He extended his arm in a grand gesture.
I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt for about two seconds, but he was crazy. Beyond crazy. Psychotic. I walked toward the door I couldn’t see, Gene watching my every step.
“If I’m not a prisoner, why won’t the door open?” I slammed my fist on the wall.
He flinched. “All in good time. But first you need to speak to our father. Then he will decide if you’re ready to move out of your chamber.”
Father. Finally. Maybe he would give me some answers.
“I don’t understand. Why did you get to see and talk to our mother and father, and I was left in the dark?” Something sliced my heart.
Gene’s features twisted, the corner of his eyes crinkling like he felt sorry for me. He reached for my shoulders, but I backed away until my legs hit my bed. I’d seen his true self. No way did he feel sorry for me.
Gene frowned, his silver eyes darkening. “Because you sided with the rebels. I used to blame you, but I don’t anymore. I understand everything now.”
The buttons on my pajama top pressed into my skin when I crossed my arms. “Why are you trying to sound nice? Cut the crap. You wanted to kill me back at the rebel base. You said you wanted to dissect me.”
“I don’t anymore. I feel sorry for you. You were grossly misled. Rhett made you abandon us.” His nostrils flared, jaw clenching. “He’s at fault, and he will pay dearly for taking you away.”
“You don’t touch him, understand?” I raised my voice.
I searched around the bed for something to use as a weapon. Something sharp or hard. But of course I couldn’t find anything. ISAN was thorough.
I recalled the question I’d wanted to ask him. Actually, I dreaded asking. Whatever the answer, it would crush me.
“How did you get out?” I planted a hand on the edge of the mattress to brace for the answer.
Gene’s gray eyes shot to the ceiling, and then back to me. His lips curved in amusement. “Oh, that’s right. You don’t know.”
“Tell me.” I balled my fists on the comforter and ground my teeth together.
Gene retreated a couple of steps. “You and I have special gifts. Unlike you, I know what I’m capable of. I made you think I was this quiet boy, nothing special about me. In fact, I’m the most dangerous assassin you’ll ever encounter.” He walked to the chair, picked up my doll, and stroked her hair.
I scowled with the need to protect her.
He tossed the doll back to the chair like it was trash. “Mr. Novak put a tracker on me, the kind that can’t be detected by any machine or tech. On the day of your escape, you and Brooke had been injected with HelixB88. I made sure to be where you’d see no choice but to kidnap me to help you.” He paced back to the wall, where he had entered. “Tamara was a surprise. Never expected her to go against Novak, but then again, she did seem a bit obsessed with you.”
“Then what?” I snarled and squeezed the blanket harder.
“I made you think you had the upper hand. Manipulated you to take me where there was reception. Then my exact location went straight to Novak.”
I wanted to punch him. No, I wanted to mutilate him.
“Go on,” I encouraged. I was afraid he would change his mind and stop sharing.
He rested his back against the wall and steepled his fingers. “Then boom.”
“Boom?” I shuddered.
“Then more boom.” He made the same gesture again. “It was beautiful ... the way the ceiling dropped, smashing their bones to dust. I wish you could have seen the little ones’ powers. Too bad they had to die. Don’t worry, sister, a handful of ISAN guards went down too, but not as many as yours. But they’re not your people now. You belong to us.”
I don’t belong to anyone but to myself.
Defiance faded as his story sank in. I went weak at the knees and swayed on my feet. I’d done this. I’d fallen right into his trap.
A little part of me had thought our relationship was salvageable, that he would finally see the light if I gave him an inch. I had been a fool. He’d taken a mile from me. My mind filled in unspeakable images of destruction raining on the people of Hope City.
Rhett and Ozzie had gone back and found—what? What was left? A few survivors, maybe, if any at all.
“Oh, by the way.” He cleared his throat. “You know that friend of yours, Brooke? I caught on she had the gift of hearing but it wasn’t enough to save her.”
“What do you mean?” I reached for Helix even though I knew it was to no avail. Like a candlewick at the tail end, it had fizzled out.
“She challenged me after I punched out the ‘unbreakable’ wall. I broke every one of her ribs.” Gene dusted something off his sleeve and adjusted his tie. “Then I hit her hard enough to make her bleed internally. She was good as dead, as I am sure the rest of your underground rebels are. Our weapon not only destroys the building—it reduces everything inside to dust.”
Until that point, I’d endured his taunts with my head high. But I stopped breathing. I stopped hearing. I lost any remaining control.
Not Brooke. I had never told him about her. I had purposely kept everyone’s name out of our conversations.
He rocked on his spit-polished dress shoes with a smug grin. “By the way, in case you’re wondering, Brooke came down to see me. I didn’t know how much she meant to you then, but she made it clear you were her best friend. I was going to go easy on her, but she kept coming at me, and I might have lost control.”
Lost control? I’ll show you what losing control looks like.
Rage was an entity of its own. It took control of my mind and body. I couldn’t see anything but my target. I had no thought but to destroy. Heat flamed in my chest like a bomb ready to detonate.
“I hate you,” I seethed. “You’re a monster. I’m going to kill you with my bare hands.”
“Careful, sis.” He dangled something in front of him.
My necklace, the one Rhett had given me. “Give it to me.” I placed out my hand.
“Does this mean that much to you? I think I’ll hold onto it a bit longer, or maybe I’ll burn it.” He shoved it inside his pocket.
That was the last straw. Not only had he stolen something precious from me, he was using it to keep me compliant. He hurt everyone I cared about and killed others. Many had died because I’d wanted to give my psycho brother a chance. No more. Never.
I pounced.
