Girl Jacked (27 page)

Hahn sat back down. “Now, where was I? Ah, the methods I have used to locate the God spot. I tried love, meditation, happiness, and then fear. None worked. Then I thought of pain. That had to be it, but there are so many rules in science now about the methods that one can employ. For years, I used animals, which was repugnant. I needed pure data. Human subjects were a necessity, but I had to pick ones that would not be missed; drug addicts, prostitutes and such.”

“They’re not subjects. They’re human beings.” Jack tried pulling the rail attached to his wrist up but it held. “You’re like that sick Nazi Doctor. Mengele.”

“Mengele understood it too. They are a means to an end. People like that are invisible. No one cared enough about them to even look. At least their lives were useful at the end. I experimented on so many, but their lifestyles deteriorated their minds. This made them inferior test subjects. Even though I gathered so much data, it was still flawed.”

Replacement continued to struggle against her restraints.

“During that time, I created a drug that enhanced the feeling of pain. That is what I injected you with Jack. It is a derivative of methamphetamine. It opens all the pain sensors in your system to make them even more receptive to pain impulses. That is the warm glow you are feeling right now. Soon you will feel as if you are being roasted alive.”

Jack’s whole body felt like it was smoldering.

That’s what was in Michelle’s system, Hahn’s drug.

“It was then that Brendan came to the college. From his papers, I saw that we shared the same views. In time, he has become my protégé.”

“You use him to do your dirty work.”

Hahn looked back into the control booth. “No Officer. Brendan loves the work. Once the test is done, Brendan gets to dispose of the body.”

Brendan grinned.

“We usually just dump the bodies. Because of the people we select, no one has actually looked for them before. Isn’t it ironic Officer? If one disoriented dolphin swims into New York harbor it is national news. Everyone rushes to save it and worries about its wellbeing. Yet, I have been working for years. All of these people have disappeared and all you hear is silence.”

“Why Michelle? She didn’t fit your pattern.”

“No, Michelle was… unfortunate. You see, I hand selected her to work on the computer system. I knew we would have to keep a close eye on her because of the sensitive nature of the work so we added a layer of security. That is why I had her assigned to room with Missy.”

“And I did what was asked of me,” Missy cooed.

“That you did darling.” He smiled up at her. “Pardon me but I have been negligent in recognizing an amazing woman.” He gave a small head bow towards the control room.

Hahn’s smile vanished as he turned to look at Replacement struggling on the table. Jack could only wonder what Replacement wanted to scream.

“I had no intention of using Michelle for my study. She was too gifted with computers. She found a file that Brendan had created.”

Hahn glared into the control booth.

“She came back with the purpose of finding out more information. Her mistake was being so trusting. She confided in Missy who, of course, informed me. Now Michelle was far from discovering the complete truth, but Brendan got a little too eager and it was then too late to turn back. Since we thought that she had no living relatives I decided to include her in the experiment. There was an ironic bonus because the data that we got from Michelle was so informative. Her brain images were spectacular… C’est la vie!” He smiled.

Jack screamed and thrashed against his bonds. Hahn looked backward, and Missy and Brendan were smiling as they looked at the readouts on the monitors.

“Can you imagine my surprise when you showed up claiming to be her relative? Her foster brother, how quaint. We were still under the impression that our little ruse about Michelle transferring across the country would continue to hold up however.”

“It would have if Brendan just put the car in the lake,” Missy chided.

Brendan shot her a look.

“We were shocked when you came snooping around but after you sent the email to Missy, I felt we needed to act.”

Replacement gasped.

“It was Brendan behind the wheel.”

Jack glared into the control room.

Hahn patted Jack’s arm, and the cocktail of drugs sent daggers slicing through him, he couldn’t help but wince.

“Oh good. It is taking effect I see.” He leaned in to examine Jack’s eyes. “In some ways I am glad you were not killed instantly. Now you too can become a part of this marvelous benefit to humanity. The impact this will have on research and mankind is tremendous.” Hahn puffed up and smiled, oblivious to how deranged he was.

“Now, when we found out that Alice had come to our school, we welcomed her with open arms. We still needed a way to keep watch over you and wait for another time to remedy the situation. That led to Brendan’s inept attempt to hire a meth addict to keep an eye on you.”

Hahn leaned in close and examined Jack’s face.

Replacement thrashed against her bonds.

“Leave her out of this.” Jack growled as the pain began to intensify.

“That was your mistake, Jack.” Missy’s voice over the speakers was taunting. “You screwed up bringing her along.”

Replacement stopped struggling and stared at him. There was something in her look besides fear.

Hope. For some reason… she thinks I can do something still. She thinks that I’m going to get her out of it. Stupid kid. I don’t save the day! I got Chandler killed. I got you into this. Hahn knew we were coming. I’m no hero. I’m not even a good guy…

Jack’s shame added to the burning in his body, and he groaned.

Now I’ve gotten her killed too.

“To the task at hand!” Hahn announced as Brendan walked through the door.

Jack was helpless to resist as Brendan followed Hahn’s instruction. He taped Jack’s eyes open, strapped his head in place, and then slipped a bit into his mouth.

“Did you check him for metal?” Missy joked.

Brendan positioned the gurney inside the fMRI scanner, sliding it into the tube. Behind the glass was a video camera and monitor. Brendan used a remote control to angle the screen directly over Jack’s face.

“You should be feeling quite a bit of discomfort now.” Hahn reached in and squeezed Jack’s upper arm again. This time it wasn’t daggers, it felt like a chainsaw was ripping into him.

“Good. You see, my pain formula is quite effective. But for you, I think emotional pain will be far more efficient. Pain that hurts you at the core of your being; agony that crushes your heart and defeats your will.” He turned toward Missy in the control room. “Put the imager up to full power.”

Brendan walked around to the back of the machine. As he leaned down above Jack’s head he spoke, “I really hope you have some shrapnel embedded in you.”

Jack struggled against his restraints.

Hahn and Brendan steps retreated as they headed to the safety of the control booth. The sound of a low buzz began vibrating around Jack. Then the hum began to increase. He tried to calm his breathing but his heart pounded louder than the roar of the machine as it whirled.

Hahn’s voice echoed out over the speakers. “I had planned a tape of the battlefield to show you. I thought maybe reliving some of the horrors you saw in Iraq might help elicit that mental punishment but then you gave me the perfect idea. Play the new tape, Brendan.”

The monitor crackled and a video began to play. It was of Michelle. Her eyes were taped open, and she was strapped to the stretcher. Her nose was bloody, and her cheek was swollen. She was terrified.

“Do you remember when you asked me to see video footage of Michelle? You wanted to be a ‘fly on the wall.’ Well, here is your chance.”

“No!” Jack attempted to break free from his head restraint, but all he could do was watch.

“Brendan, please turn up the volume,” Hahn ordered.

Jack heard Michelle pleading as she cried and begged, “Help me. Please!”

He lay there powerless. Jack knew her cries for help would never be answered.

“Please stop.” She wept. “Please.”

Her mouth twitched and trembled. The memory of her when she was a little girl crying after she broke her leg ripped through him.

She continued to plead for her life. She screamed as he heard something snap.

Bile rose up in Jack’s throat. He broke.

He stopped struggling. He stopped fighting. Jack hadn’t surrendered. He was defeated.

All of his demons rose up inside of him and tossed him into the void. He felt himself tumbling down into the nothingness. No feeling. No pain. Nothing.

He lay there with his eyes forced open but saw only the abyss. His mind had lowered an invisible curtain.

For how long he stayed shrouded in the empty shifting mist, he didn’t know. It enveloped him. A grayness swirled around him and senseless he hovered. The only thing he could tell is that the vapor was becoming darker. The murky gray haze transformed into ashen clouds.

Far away, he heard a sound.

He wanted to continue his free fall into the vacuum and embrace death but from somewhere outside the nether a voice called to him.

“Jack!”

The mist began to vanish and he could see the monitor.

It was Michelle’s voice. She was looking directly at the camera straight at him calling out his name.

“Jack!” she called to him again.

“Jack!” Replacement’s voice echoed in the tube.

“Please!” Michelle and Replacement called out at the same time. One voice in the here and now and the other from the tape but their pleas blended together.

“Stop her! Stop her!” Hahn screamed from the control booth

“The scrawny bitch is loose!” Missy shrieked. “Brendan you idiot! I told you to make sure she couldn’t wriggle out of the restraints.”

Jack felt the stretcher being pulled out of the tube. Replacement began tugging at the strap on his wrist.

As Replacement yanked on the restraint, Brendan came rushing up behind her. He grabbed her around the waist and hoisted her into the air as her legs flailed wildly.

She twisted around in his arms and her fingernails raked his face.

Brendan shrieked as he cried out. “Bitch!”

He dropped her and she fell down against the stretcher.

“Punch her in the head!” Missy screeched.

“Get her away from him!” Hahn yelled. “She is ruining the data!”

Replacement turned and began tearing at Jack’s leg straps. She managed to pull the first part of the restraint out of the buckle. She flashed a brief smile before Brendan’s fist slammed into the side of her face.

The strike was so hard that her little head snapped around. Her body went limp and she crumbled over Jack’s legs. He looked down into her face. Her eyes were open but they were black and dilated. Jack knew the vicious blow had knocked her out cold… or she was dead.

Brendan grabbed her limp body and pushed, dumping it on to the floor.

“What are you doing?” Missy hissed. “Make sure the bitch is dead!”

Brendan looked towards the control booth.

Hahn waved his hand. “Go ahead and kill her. She is of no use to me now.”

Brendan turned around and walked over to a cabinet. He reached in and took out a syringe.

Deep down inside Jack knew that he was a violent man. There had always been a beast inside of him that wanted to break out of its cage. He feared it. He knew what it was; it was hate, pure and simple. He locked it away but the monster didn’t die, it grew. Finding Michelle that day had begun to release it. The hate remained just below the surface, semi-restrained inside of its broken cage. Part of him wanted to close his eyes and run from the blackness that burned through his veins, but now… Jack embraced the hate. He released the beast.

Jack yanked up, his chest muscles tightened and he felt like his ribs were splintering apart. He was frothing at the mouth and biting the gag as he screamed. Spit flew upward into a red mist. Jack felt something on the gurney begin to crack as he contorted his body. The burning from the drugs flowed even hotter through his veins but he didn’t feel the pain. He only felt the hate. He pulled his arms down tightly against the restraints and his eyes rolled back in his head. His legs shot up as fast as he could and he felt the gurney bend. Screaming, he pushed with everything he had.

Brendan walked over and stood next to the stretcher.

“Go ahead and fight. You’ll never break those straps.”

Brendan pushed the plunger of the syringe and a reddish liquid sprayed out. He walked around the gurney and began to lean down over Replacement.

Jack planted his heels and thrust with all his might. The restraints on his legs ripped free from the stretcher and pieces of molded resin flew through the air.

Brendan turned and Jack kicked him squarely in the face. The force of the blow sent him back into the glass wall and he fell to the floor.

Jack struggled to release his arms but the restraints held them fast.

Brendan shook his head as he stood back up. He looked around for the syringe.

Jack roared in frustration and pulled against the wrist straps.

Brendan picked up the syringe from the floor. He sneered as he slowly approached Jack, raising the syringe in the air.

Jack twisted and angled his legs towards the oncoming attack.

Brendan chuckled.

“Get him Jack.”

The familiar but unsteady voice came from below him. As he turned, he realized his restraints had been set free. Replacement slid out from underneath the stretcher. She held up two cotter pins in her trembling hand. Tears mixed with the blood on her face, but she still smiled up at him. “You want at him boy? Go get him!”

“He’s loose. Kill him!” Dr. Hahn’s shout echoed over the speakers.

Jack leapt to his feet and Brendan stepped back surprised by the sudden turn of events.

Jack staggered and his vision blurred as he ripped the bit from his mouth and the tape off his eyes.

Brendan charged with the syringe held in front of him. Jack’s left leg flashed out and smashed into the side of Brendan’s hand. The syringe flew out but Brendan’s momentum kept him coming forward. Jack stepped to the right, and his elbow crashed into the side of the Brendan’s head. He grabbed Brendan by his collar and belt. Pulling him against his leg, he twisted his body and pivoted his hip. Brendan’s feet went straight up, and Jack cried out in agony.

As Brendan reached the pinnacle of the flip, Jack slammed him down. Brendan hit with a sickening thump and his body went limp on impact.

“Jack!” Replacement cried and pointed to the control room.

As Jack spun around, he saw Missy through the glass. She was holding his gun and pointing it straight at him. Her lips curled back in a triumphant snarl. Then she turned and aimed the gun at Replacement’s chest.

Everything slowed. Jack stumbled sideways. He pushed off his rear foot, pain tearing along his thigh as he ran forward.

He was too late. He saw the muzzle flash. Small flames flicked out of the barrel of the gun and the recoil kicked it up and to the left. The glass in front of Missy spider webbed.

“Alice!”

Jack heard a high-pitched scream as he lunged forward, tackling Replacement. They crashed onto the floor and slid across the black tiles.

He jumped up and knelt over her. His hands frantically searched her body looking for the entry wound.

She gazed up at him in bewilderment shaking her head as she turned her palms upward.

They turned and stared in disbelief at the window. The round lodged in the glass; the bullet had not passed through.

Missy was screaming and holding her bloody hand.

Jack smirked. He knew what had happened. She had wrapped her fingers around his gun too high and the slide action had probably broken if not removed her thumb.

Jack and Replacement got up and stumbled for the door. Jack attempted to turn the handle but it was locked.

As he turned to look at Replacement, he saw her eyes go wide. “Jack!” He tried to move but he wasn’t fast enough. Brendan smashed into his back, slamming him up against the wall.

Brendan’s fist caught him in the jaw and Jack’s head snapped to the side. He saw stars and his feet slipped. His left arm grabbed for the wall as Brendan’s weight drove him to the ground. The back of Jack’s head smashed into the floor and his whole body shook.

Brendan knelt down on top of him and raised his fist.

Block!

Brendan punched right then left. Jack’s head whipped to the side with each blow. Jack knew what to do but his body was not responding. Punches continued to rain down on him. A blow from the right split his lip open.

A loud twang rang out and Brendon’s eyes rolled back. Replacement stood triumphantly behind him with the stool clutched in her hands.

Jack pulled his hands up and then thrust them down.

Spear hands to the groin.

Brendan groaned and he fell forward, his hands landing on either side of Jack’s head. Jack reached up and grabbed the back of Brendan’s hair in his left hand. He pulled down as he struck Brendan’s jaw with his right hand. Jack’s hands moving in opposite directions twisted Brendan’s head with such brutal force that his neck snapped. Brendan’s body fell forward like a marionette cut from its strings.

Jack shoved the body off him and rolled it over. He tore through his pockets. “Where’s his pass!?!”

Suddenly, the whole room shook and a muffled roar thundered from above. The lights flickered and dust fell from the ceiling.

Jack looked to Replacement. “That was an explosion!”

He turned towards the control booth and saw that Hahn and Missy were also perplexed.

The second explosion was so loud and powerful that it knocked Jack off his feet. Ceiling tiles began falling to the ground and the lights went on and off as a power surge raced through the building. Sprinklers hissed but no water came out.

“Replacement?” He crawled to where she had been.

“Jack?” He heard the panic in her voice.

Emergency lights flicked on. The small lights cast a strange glow around the room.

“What the hell happened?” Jack pulled himself to his feet and helped Replacement up.

“I may have done that... ” She smiled sheepishly.

The large machine sped up and began whirling faster and faster. The electrical wires and lights hanging down began bending toward it as even without power, the uncontrolled magnet continued its insatiable pull.

“We have to go.” Replacement cried out.

Jack slipped his arm around her waist and moved for the door. He tried the handle. Even with the power cut, it still would not turn.