Hunted (Talented Saga # 3) (5 page)

“Well, the Director wasn’t really clear, but I don’t think the curfew applies to Toxic Operatives, although all the bars are closed already.”

Desmond shrugged his massive shoulders as if to say “sorry.”

“Eh, no big deal.
But it would still be cool if we took a walk, right? Get a little fresh air. Talia and I were hoping for some alone time.” Erik pitched his voice lower, making it more suggestive as though he was sharing a secret only for Desmond’s ears. The compulsion behind his words was clear to me, yet I doubted that Desmond or the others noticed.

I wanted to roll my eyes.
As desperate as I was for alone time with Erik, I doubted that he was manipulating the guards just so we could have a midnight tryst. But I followed his lead anyway, cuddling closer to his side. I glanced up at Erik with pure adoration. When our eyes met, he had to contain a snicker and I guessed that my attempt to sell the story wasn’t going as well as I thought.

Desmond turned his full attention to me as if noticing my presence for the first time since our arrival on the sidewalk.
His caramel eyes lit up with recognition. “Natalia Lyons,” he muttered, extending a mammoth-sized hand to me. Hesitantly, I returned the gesture, losing my small palm in his embrace. “You’re something of a legend out at Tramblewood.” He shook my hand vigorously, causing my entire body to vibrate. “Everyone’s so impressed with the way you caught that traitor. They say you were able to infiltrate her mind, which is crazy because the best psychic interrogators worked on her right up until they plunged that needle in her arm and none of them could get through.”

My head began to spin and hot tears burned the backs of my eyes at his graphic description of Penny’s execution.
I hastily pulled my hand free from his grip, stumbling slightly as my legs became weak. Erik kept a firm hold on my waist, urging me to stand upright. Once again, I leaned heavily into him for support, but this time I wasn’t pretending. The thought of Penny dying made me nauseous and this man’s jubilant attitude only made the sickness that much worse.

Desmond gave Erik a knowing smile, the equivalent of a mental high five.
I could feel Erik’s muscles go taut and I knew that friend or not, Desmond was treading on thin ice. Erik might have started the joke by insinuating we were sneaking off to get naked, but he didn’t like the way Desmond was leering at me or how upset his words made me. Erik’s overprotective nature both thrilled and irritated me. I could stand up for myself. I struggled against Erik’s grip, straightening my spine and steeling my nerves against any further assaults. They didn’t come. Desmond returned his full attention to Erik.

“Go ahead, man.
I’m sure no one will care. Just don’t be gone too long and be sure to identify yourselves if you encounter any guards. They’ve been given clearance to shoot first and ask questions later, if you know what I mean.” Desmond gave us a pointed look.

“Thanks, Des.
I really appreciate it. And no worries. If we see any guards, I’ll be sure to let them know who she is.” Erik inclined his head in my direction. “Being the Director’s pseudo daughter has a lot of clout.” His tone was jovial, but there was an underlying note of hostility. He seemed to be reminding Desmond and the other guards of my place in our world. My irritation deepened, but I stayed silent.

“Have fun, guys,” Desmond said, casting a conspiratorial look at his fellow Operatives.

“Thanks,” I muttered, keeping my eyes downcast to prevent him from seeing the pain and anger I was trying to hide.

Erik released my waist and grabbed my hand, practically dragging me away from the guards.
We crossed the deserted city street in silence. An eerie calm blanketed the capitol city. There wasn’t even a single homeless person begging for money in sight. The tall glass buildings that littered downtown Washington, D.C. were dark and bereft of life. Even the apartment buildings were quiet. No vehicles flew down the ordinarily clogged streets. No hover cars whizzed overhead.

Walking down Fourteenth, we passed the Grass is Always Greener, a bar we’d been to on a night out when I was still a Pledge.
There was no line of drunken city kids clamoring to get inside its doors. No loud music filtered through the non-soundproof walls to fill the night. Sadness washed over me. The city had been so much fun when we’d been there for Festivis the previous month, and now it was reduced to this. I hoped that after the aptitude testing was over, the city would return to its former glory.

Erik led me further down Fourteenth towards I Street.
He picked up the pace slightly as we made a right onto I. I had so many questions for him that I didn’t know where to begin. So I started with the most obvious.

“Where are we going?”
I wanted to know.

“You’ll see,”
he sent back, glancing down at me with a broad smile. Knowing Erik, wherever we were going wasn’t likely somewhere we were allowed. Maybe he
was
taking me to some romantic location for quality alone time.

We continued down I Street for another couple of blocks, passing more darkened store fronts, empty bars, and deserted nightclubs.
My short legs had to work hard to keep pace. As we approached the intersection of I and Fifteenth, I felt the dull hum of a human mind. Alarmed, I stopped in my tracks and squeezed Erik’s hand tightly. Fear made my heart thud painfully in my against my ribs as I recalled Desmond’s words, “
They’ve been given clearance to shoot first and ask questions later.”

“
It’s okay, Tals,”
Erik said calmly.
“I know the guards on duty tonight.”
He smiled at me reassuringly.

“
Do you know everyone?”

“I’m just a friendly guy.
What can I say?”

My anxiety increased the closer we got to the source of the mental activity.
I had all my energy focused on my mental talents, so I was surprised that I recognized the guard when we were still fairly far away. Normally, I was only able to expand my sense of sight when I consciously concentrated my energy.

The guard’s dark hair was just visible underneath the black helmet that he wore.
His hazel eyes darted nervously from side-to-side, surveying his surroundings. His jaw was set in a hard line and irritation radiated off of his being.

The guard’s own senses were superior to any normal human’s, even to my own.
He was a Morph, an Elite Level Morph no less. And at the same time that I’d recognized him, he’d recognized us and he didn’t appear pleased at our presence.

“Hey, Arden,” Erik called when we were still several feet away.
Arden Greis, one of Donavon’s former Hunter teammates.

“Erik.
I figured you’d changed your mind,” Arden responded uneasily. “Hey, Talia,” he added, offering me a small smile.

“Hi, Arden,” I said, now even more curious about what we were doing.

“That damned reception the Director made us go to ran longer than I expected,” Erik apologized.

“You won’t have much time down there,” Arden replied, his eyes shifting from me to the padlocked gate behind him.
“There’s a train scheduled to come through in an hour, and it’s not just cargo. Not sure what’s on it, but we were told to be extra vigilant tonight.”

“An hour is plenty,” Erik answered, not phased in the least by Arden’s barely civil tone.

“Alright, just be sure to watch the time. This is a mighty big favor, and you know I can get in a lot of trouble for this.” Arden’s mind projected his reservations loud and clear.

“Let’s just go back,”
I sent Erik.

“He’s just being dramatic,
Tals. I promise we won’t get caught.”

“I don’t want him to get in trouble,”
I urged, shifting my gaze to Arden, who was glancing suspiciously between me and Erik, aware that our mental conversation involved him.

“He owes me.”

Curiosity formed the question of what exactly had Arden indebted himself to Erik for in my mind before I decided that I’d probably rather not know.

“No worries, man.
You know Talia and I can talk our way out of any situation.” He winked at Arden, but the older boy wasn’t mollified by Erik’s assurances. Although, admittedly, Erik did have a point. In the event we were caught sneaking around wherever it was that gate lead to, I could make sure whoever caught us didn’t recall the encounter long enough to make a report.

Reluctantly, Arden reached for the set of silver keys attached to his belt.
He noiselessly turned the key in the large padlock and held the gate open, allowing Erik and I to pass through. Grabbing a flashlight strapped to his thigh, he handed it to Erik. “It’s really dark down there and since neither of you is a Morph, you’ll probably need this,” he said.

“Thanks,” Erik replied, taking the heavy metal object in his free hand.

“One hour, Kelley,” Arden hissed behind us. Erik waved dismissively.

Immediately inside of the metal gate was a metal staircase with two rubber handrails.
An old-fashioned escalator, I realized. The stairway was so steep that it vanished halfway down.

“Erik, where do these stairs lead?” I demanded, trepidation making my voice high-pitched and frantic.

“To my favorite place in the city, Tals.”

Chapter Five

“These stairs lead to the metro, don’t they?”
I demanded, tugging Erik’s hand with enough force to halt his steps temporarily.

“Sure do,”
he sent back. Erik’s amused expression was barely visible in the darkened space.

The metro used to be the primary mass transportation system in D.C.
But as hover technology became more prevalent, the ridership declined. After a cave-in at one of the stations killed several dozen people, the system shut down for good. The government decided the money needed to repair the damage to the metro would be better spent on expanding the more desirable Skyway. The deserted tunnels began to attract drug dealers, prostitutes, and others seeking a place to conduct illegal business. As a result, the government padlocked all of the entrances. Rumor had it that Toxic now used the metro cars and remaining tunnels to transport cargo to and from the city.

“What about the security cameras?”
I asked. Surely the Agency monitored the stations.

“There aren’t any.”

“What?!? Really? Are you sure?”

“Positive.
A couple of my friends from school are metro guards. City kids pay top dollar for the guards to look the other way while they throw parties down here. I’ve even been to a couple.”

“Why would anyone want to go to a party down here?”
I practically felt Erik roll his eyes as if the answer should have been obvious. Maybe to him it was, but I failed to see the appeal.

“Because the metro is mysterious.
Forbidden. Some even say it’s haunted. Teenagers love anything illegal. I know I do,”
Erik replied.

That was certainly true.
Erik found any excuse to break the rules. I bet he thought sneaking around down here was a game.

“What about the train conductors?”
I asked.

“There aren’t any.
Trains are automatic.”

My eyes adjusted the farther we descended, the platform at the end of the escalator coming into view.
A dank musty smell grew stronger with every step.

“If this is such a hot party spot, why haven’t you taken me down here before?”
I asked suspiciously, trying to cover my growing unease. The place was already creeping me out, and we hadn’t even made it into the actual station yet.

“Not exactly the kind of place you take a girl you’re trying to impress.
Besides, Henri would’ve killed me if I’d suggested it,”
he sent back. Erik’s flashlight lit up a hole where the last step of the escalator was missing. He jumped the void and held out his hand to help me over.

The floor tiles were cracked or missing all together in several places.
My dress flats slid across the damp surface as Erik led me past a row of ancient machines with yellowed lettering and splintered display screens.

“Henri has been down here?”
I asked skeptically. Henri had been my team leader during my pledge period with the Hunters. He was way too straight-laced to go gallivanting around restricted areas.

“Once or twice,”
Erik replied evasively.

I narrowed my gaze, glaring at Erik’s back.
There was something he wasn’t telling me.
“Once or twice?”
I mimicked back.

Erik didn’t take the bait, so I let it drop.

“Come on. We don’t have much time,”
he said, tugging my hand and urging me to move faster.

We rounded the corner at the end of the row of dilapidated machines.
The room exploded into a cavernous expanse. The ceiling was close to fifty feet above us and rounded. Another set of escalators stretched twenty feet down on to a lower platform. Two sets of metal rails extended the length of each wall, disappearing into pitch black tunnels at the far end of the room. The sheer size of the station overwhelmed me. I’d never seen anything quite like it.

The rank odor of decay and disuse became stronger.
Cold, damp air engulfed me like a wet blanket, making it hard to breathe normally. I shivered in my thin cocktail dress and lightweight jacket. Erik released my hand and worked his arms out of his own coat, wrapping it around my trembling shoulders. I smiled, grateful for the extra layer of protection against the cold and grime of the metro station.

Erik led the way down the remaining escalator steps and out on to the lower platform.
Several stone slabs that served as benches for long forgotten waiting passengers lined the space between the two tracks. I followed Erik, watching with undisguised skepticism as he sat on the edge of the closest bench.

The beam from Erik’s flashlight emphasized large fissures in the stone, making me doubt the structural integrity of the bench.
It looked as though it would give way at any moment. Erik beckoned me over, his amused expression seeming out of place in such a desolate station. Deciding that if the bench held him, it would hold me too, I gingerly sat down.

The stone was cold against the backs of my thighs and the thin dress provided little protection.
I pulled Erik’s jacket tighter around my body. His eyes were on me, his mind reading my thoughts as I surveyed the surroundings. I tried to imagine kids my age drinking and laughing, playing music, dancing even. Try as I might, my imagination wasn’t that good. Everywhere I looked, I saw abandonment.

“So, are you going to tell me why you brought me down here tonight?”
I asked, returning my focus to Erik.

“Privacy.
This is the only place I know of without cameras or listening devices or people watching our every move. I feel safe here. Like I can be me.”
Erik sounded wistful and a little sad.

I stared at him, questioning his sanity.
The metro station felt the opposite of safe. Shadows lurked around every corner. The unmistakable squeak of rodents echoed off the cavernous walls. Water trickled somewhere in the distance, the steady drip grating my nerves. I scooted closer to Erik.

“I can’t even begin to understand how hard the last couple of weeks have been,” Erik began, speaking aloud for the first time.

“I’m okay,” I mumbled quickly, turning away from his imploring gaze. I was so used to people asking me how I was doing or assuming they knew how I felt, the response was automatic.

“It’s just us down here, Tal.
You don’t need to pretend you’re fine,” Erik replied, gently. “Want to tell me what happened in the courtroom?”

In the days that followed the scene in the courtroom, I lived in a state of shock.
If nothing else, the counseling sessions with Dr. Wythe helped bring me back to the present when all I wanted was to sit in my room and lose myself in the memories of my parents. I hated that the psychotherapist was the only person I was allowed to talk to about Penny and what she showed me. When Mac finally allowed Erik to come visit me, he made sure we were never alone. Either Mac or Gretchen hovered within earshot at all times. I was so paranoid that I didn’t even trust that our mental communications were private. Fear that Gretchen might be listening in or that my out of control emotions would affect my ability to project my thoughts only to Erik kept me from sharing with the only person I actually wanted to confide in.

But now sitting in that filthy, decrepit subway station with Erik, I couldn’t find the words.
So much had happened, I didn’t even know where to begin. Panic constricted my lungs, making my breaths come out in ragged gasps. My stomach felt as though it was on the spin cycle.

“Look at me, Tal.”
Erik’s words were barely a whisper, but they sounded like shouts breaking through the silence. I turned to face him. Calm poured over me the instant I met his eyes.

Instead of telling Erik what had happened, I decided to show him; I grabbed both his hands firmly in mine.
The physical contact wasn’t necessary, but the feel of his skin on mine gave me strength.

“Open your mind,” I whispered hoarsely.
He complied without hesitation. I closed my eyes and allowed all of the memories I’d spent the last few weeks suppressing to surface.

Starting from the very first encounter I’d had with Penny in the Hunters’ Village, I showed him how she’d used my own powers of Mind Manipulation against me.
I recounted the times I was sure she persuaded me into telling her things I hadn’t originally wanted to, and the times she cajoled me into decisions I wouldn’t have otherwise made. I recalled the times that, in hindsight, I knew she’d accidentally mimicked other Talents. Like the time she used Ursula Bane’s telekinesis to catch a glass in mid-air. And the time she was helping me train Kenly for her placement exams and mimicked Kenly’s abilities to keep me from breaking my ankle.

Erik knew about my interrogations of the four other
Cryptos, but not wanting to leave out any detail, I replayed each in my head so that Erik could see and feel what I’d experienced first-hand. I reminded him of Penny’s intake evaluation that was seared into my brain, the final clue that had cinched Penny’s guilt for me: the indication that she was a Light Manipulator, which contradicted what I thought I knew to be true: She was a Higher Reasoning Talent.

I jumped to the confrontation with Penny in the Crypto Bank.
I heard Penny’s words in my head as she urged me to believe that Mac wasn’t who I thought he was; that Donavon wasn’t the only person lying to me; that I knew what she was saying was true; and that I just needed to look inside myself for the answers, whatever that meant. Erik was there when she was actually arrested, so he probably knew better than I did what actually transpired. I’d been too distraught to process most of it.

Finally, I relived Penny’s sentencing day.
I was too caught up in the memory to bypass the reading of the evidence I’d provided for the formal record. Erik gently rubbed his thumbs across my palms. His touch was a salve to the reopened wounds of Penny’s betrayal.

My parent’s faces swam through my mind, swirling into undefined shapes.
I wanted to hold on to the memory, remember the way they appeared in the vision, but I couldn’t. A tear leaked from the corner of one closed eye and trailed down my cheek. Why couldn’t I bring up the exact vision? Why couldn’t I remember the way my parent’s looked? What had my parents been doing with Crane? Where had we been?

The harder I concentrated, the fuzzier the images became.
It was like there were mental blocks in my brain, keeping me from the memories. The pain reached a tipping point, my heart ripped in two, and suddenly I didn’t want to remember anymore. I tore my hands from Erik’s grasp, covered my face with sweaty palms, and sobbed.

Erik drew me closer, wrapping his arms protectively around my body, a shield against the torment and confusion of the outside world.
He held me so tightly that air had trouble reaching my lungs. I’d been waiting three long, agonizing weeks for this moment. The moment when Erik would hold me and tell me that everything was okay. The moment that I could stop pretending I was happy that the girl I once called my best friend was going to die. The moment when I could tell someone I trusted that I believed Crane knew my parents, just like Penny said. Just like Crane said.

Dr. Wythe and Mac had tried to convince me that everything Penny told and showed me was a lie; that she’d fabricated the memories; that none of it had actually happened.
They said she was one of the few people who knew how precarious my mental state was since Nevada, and she concocted the images of my family to unhinge me further. Dr. Wythe told me that she was a sociopath and took pleasure in watching me unravel. Mac argued that Penny was trying to lure me back to Crane by dangling the temptation of his alleged friendship with my parents like a carrot.

In the beginning, I actually bought into their convoluted theories.
I was so mad and hurt by her lies that I was vulnerable to the suggestions. During my therapy sessions with Dr. Wythe I even agreed she was a monster. But deep down a part of me always knew she was telling the truth. In my heart, I knew the images were real and not just because I desperately wanted to find some connection to my parents as Donavon had suggested the one time I brought it up to him. I couldn’t explain how I knew they were real; I just did. They had to be. The pain of loss I felt each time the memories faded further from my mind was too powerful.

“Tal, Penny lied about so much.
How do you know she didn’t lie about knowing your family, too?” Erik murmured softly, his mouth right next to my ear.

“I don’t know,” I replied honestly.
“I just feel it.”

“Have you ever had somebody show you fake memories before?” he asked tentatively.
He was working hard not to sound argumentative. He was afraid that I might explode if he openly disagreed with me.

“Not that I know of,” I admitted reluctantly.

“So how can you be sure hers aren’t?” Erik asked gently. I was about to protest, but Erik hurried on before I could open my mouth. “She was obviously unusually adept at using her Mimicry. She clearly mastered your manipulation, as well as several other Talents.”

“You don’t believe me,” I accused him, pulling back from his embrace, hurt that he wasn’t reassuring me that I wasn’t nuts.
Erik was the only person I truly trusted and if he didn’t have faith in me, well, that I couldn’t handle.