Winter's Awakening: The Metahumans Emerge (Winter's Saga #1) (16 page)

“You don’t have to tell me twice,” Evan mumbled sleepily as he crawled on the nearest bed and closed his bloodshot eyes. It always struck me how baby-like his features still were when he was sleeping.

“Get some sleep, yourself, Meg,” Alik whispered to his sister as he flopped down next to Evan and closed his tired eyes.

“Sleep well, boys. Tonight we get mom back,” I said encouragingly.

I leaned over to Maze and rubbed him behind his ears. He was snoring, peacefully. I lay next to him, buried my face in his fur and fell into a deep sleep.

Chapter 44 Game Plan

It felt like we just laid down ten minutes before when the alarm started screeching at us to wake up. After a quick breakfast and fast showers, we were ready to get to work.

We positioned the small desk right next to the long dresser then unplugged the television and moved it to the useless closet. We were going to need all the work space we could get.

We didn’t even stop to think about what came next. This part was automatic. Mom taught us everything we needed to know to prepare the materials.

Evan began unpacking the items and organizing them on the make-shift worktable. Alik sat on the edge of the bed and bent down over a notebook. His face was creased in concentration as he began sketching The Institute’s layout. I knew his memory was good, but I had no idea he would be able to access perfect details from something he last saw when he was two!

His hand flew across the page. Every stroke added even more definition to an already elaborate map. After a few more minutes, he was done.

“Evan, come over here. We need to plan this. I’ve drawn everything I can remember about The Institute’s layout,” Alik said.

“This is awesome! Ev, you have to see this. Alik, you truly have a gift. You recreated a picture you saw twelve years ago when you were only two years old. Amazing.” I was so thankful for my brother. With this map we’ll be able to plan our entrance and where to plant the explosives and detonators so they will do the damage we want them to do. And when it comes to our rescue and exit, well, at least we’ll know the options.

Alik, Evan and I spent the rest of the day preparing ourselves, sharing tactical ideas and organizing our equipment. We walked through the plan from start to finish one last time. It was four o’clock, time to go.

The boys loaded the truck while I stayed back to talk with Maze. Yes, talk with him. “Listen, we have to go get mom now. You can’t come with me. There’s no place for my Maze in the plan we set up. You could get hurt, and I can’t have that. You have to stay here, but I’ll come back for you, okay?”

I nuzzled my face into my best friend’s neck and breathed deeply, drawing strength from his familiar scent. He held very still for me and let me hug him, seeming to know that’s the best way he could help me right then. I pulled back and looked into his warm yellow eyes. He whined and licked my face with his soft wet tongue. I stood slowly and gave him one last scratch between the ears. Eight steps brought me to the motel room door.

I turned around once more to be sure Maze had stayed like I told him to. He always obeyed me, and I had no reason to think he would do anything but comply now.

There sat my Maze in the glow of the bathroom light watching me with only love in his eyes. He scooted toward me and let out one last whine just as I closed the door behind me.

Chapter 45 Into the Monster’s Lair

We sat in silence during the ten-minute drive to The Institute. Each of us was going over our part of the plan repeatedly in our minds. We were depending on each other with such certainty; our plan would only work if each of us did exactly what we were supposed to do.

Evan pulled the truck up to a curb one block away from The Institute. For just a moment, my brothers and I shared one last silent exchange. We would not see each other again until it was all over.

Turning quickly, I began sprinting back toward the white buildings. The air was crisp as it struck my face and in response my eyes began to tear. I barely noticed the cold, or the way the sidewalk felt under my feet, or how I must have looked to passersby. Nothing mattered except the plan, and the first step was about to happen.

I rounded a corner, waited for a car to drive past, then closed the distance between me and the front gate. Another hundred yards and I was standing right in front of the main doors.

They slid open to reveal a large lobby. Sculptures of geometric designs hung from the ceiling from steel wires. Large plush area rugs were positioned on either side of the room. White leather sofas, chairs and sectionals were arranged on each rug. Soft music was playing, echoing off all the otherwise hard surfaces surrounding me. Directly in front of me was a solid black granite desk where a beautiful redheaded receptionist sat. She didn’t even look up until I was right in front of her, and when she did look up, she seemed both surprised and annoyed. It occurred to me that people didn’t ordinarily just walk in here off the streets.

“I’m Meg Winter. The doctor knows my mother, Dr. Margo Winter,” I said these words watching carefully for a change in her demeanor. She was blank.

“One moment, please,” she said automatically and pushed a button on the console in front of her. “Dr. Williams, I apologize for the interruption, but there is someone here to see you without an appointment. Her name is Meg Winter.”

Red’s face turned…well, redder as she listened to the CEO’s response. She stood abruptly and stared at me with a new level of respect. She continued to blush as she said, “Yes, sir. I understand. Right away.”

Even as she was disconnecting the call she was removing her head set and hurrying around the desk. She smiled sweetly and stammered, “I— I’m so sorry. I had no idea who you were. Dr. Williams insists I escort you directly up to his office. That is…um…after a quick security check.”

“I’m required to check your person for weaponry.” The female guard began patting me down while the redhead looked on with wide eyes. The male guards never let go of their gun belts. I stood quietly and tolerated the pat-down.

“She’s clean.” The guard announced and stepped away from me.

“Um…yes, well,” Red stammered. “Right this way, Miss Winter.”

We walked to the elevators and stepped inside. I remained quiet, though Red felt compelled to chatter about the weather nervously. When the doors slid open again, we were standing right across from two huge mahogany doors. Red walked directly to the doors and gave three quick knocks before opening the doors wide.

“Come right in, Meg,” called a raspy voice. Red gave me a look of awe as I walked into Dr. Williams’ office with a false confidence.

“Meg, welcome my dear! How wonderful of you to visit me!” His voice was sickeningly sweet. A quick glance around the room and I was sure the same decorator that handled the reception area had worked his geometric magic in this room too. The only difference I saw was a huge window overlooking the front of the compound.

“Dr. Williams,” I began without hesitation. “I’ve come for my mother.” I stared into his dull eyes. Though my body looked calm and confident, inside I was terrified. Here stood the man who had given the order to torture me and my brothers. This is the man who sent thugs to hunt us. This man is the reason my mother was feeling anguish this very minute.

“My dear girl, it’s clear Margo didn’t teach you proper manners. What a pity. Well, let’s begin again, shall we? Please, have a seat. Let’s chat for a while. Catch up. It’s been too many years, and I am so very pleased you’ve come back to me.” He motioned toward a black leather sofa and positioned himself across from me on a matching chair. Not sure what to do, I obliged.

“Where are your brothers? I assumed they would be with you.” As he spoke, I tried to push my nearly palpable fears aside so I could focus on his emotions. I needed to read him so I would know how to proceed with this conversation. But the harder I tried to concentrate on him, the more upset I felt and the less I could sense anything besides the most obvious: This was an egotistical man who was truly happy to see me. I wanted to vomit.

“My brothers are at the police station right now. We have made arrangements. I am to be allowed to walk out of this building with our mother. A taxi will be waiting for us at the front of this main building. It will take us directly to the police station to meet my brothers. We will then disappear and you will never have any contact with any of us again.” My voice sounded to me as if it were coming from somewhere far away. It wasn’t the voice of a fifteen-year-old girl who grew up on a ranch. My voice sounded like my mother’s. Confidence reverberated from every phrase.

“What an interesting way to start a conversation, my dear,” he said condescendingly. “Why on earth would I want to see you or your mother go? You’ve only just got here. And I have so many wonderful plans for us!” Williams smiled as if all that talk about police was some of the cutest stuff he’d ever heard.

I chose to ignore his patronizing tone and continued, “If my mother and I have not arrived safely before the deadline, the local, state and federal authorities will be given highly incriminating evidence pertaining to the unethical and illegal operations you have conducted at The Institute.

“Inside an hour, they’ll be pounding on that lovely set of mahogany doors over there with warrants to search the entire campus. Oh, and they’ll have another warrant specifically for your arrest. You’ll be charged on multiple counts including the kidnapping of Dr. Margo Winter.”

I finished my speech and felt a wave of fury flash through the madman in front of me. His face turned an angry red and for the first time, I noticed a flesh colored bandage wrapped around his neck that had been somewhat concealed by the high collared shirt he wore under his suit. Inside I cringed because I knew who would have inflicted that injury. And if he was injured and not killed, then mom’s attempt failed. This must be the reason for the tremendous pain I felt emanating from her. She had been punished.

“You impudent little girl! How dare you come into my world and threaten me! Ungrateful brat! You differ from regular children; don’t you realize it was I who gave you those gifts?

“I was always there for you and your brothers. It was my gifted mind that created the original formula. My efforts brought you and the boys to live in luxury while we cared for and nurtured your new talents. Your biological parents never wanted you! I saved you from being aborted, and this is the thanks I get?”

I could feel his anger wean just enough for him to fake a syrupy sweet tone again. “Contact your brothers and invite them to come here with you. I already have my chefs preparing a delicious banquet of food in your honor. You don’t have to worry about anything anymore. I’ll take care of you, my Meg. You and your brothers will live in peace here where we can celebrate your unique gifts and provide a proper education.” His voice was completely calm again. It amazed me that he was so delusional, but I let him keep talking. The more time he wasted the better.

“You know, Meg, You three are not alone.” He said this with a conspirator’s air. At first, I thought he meant that he wanted to be with us. More of that same goo he spewed a couple of minutes before. But then, I felt something different. He was beaming with a sick kind of pride.

“What do you mean?” I broke my cool silence to ask.

“Well, there were others before you and still more after.” With a dismissive wave of his hand he added, “Not all the subjects survived, but a lot of them did, like you and your brothers. You see, Meg. You have family here, with me. Just as much love and loyalty as you feel for…oh, what are the boys’ names?” he asked as if their names weren’t terribly important to him.

“My brothers are Alik and Evan,” I said through gritted teeth.

“Yes, yes, of course. You have lots of family right here with me. Dozens and dozens of them who would love to see their long-lost sister.”

“You mean we weren’t the only ones to survive?” For some reason, I had assumed we were the only living subjects.

“The only ones!” The doctor sat up straight in his chair, grinned and leaned closer to me. “My dear, you have a very large family of siblings just like you!”

“Like me? You mean ‘Metahumans.’ You made more metahumans out of babies?” I couldn’t help it. My plan to deliver my calm speech and then remain cool until it was time just flew out the window.

“Well, not exactly like you and not just babies. You and the boys were the only surviving subjects from the original formula. When Margo stole you away from me, she also destroyed all data documenting the treatments you three had been given. She wiped out everything,” he said shaking his head sadly.

“We spent months trying to recreate the formula, and eventually we did, but it was never exactly the same. There was an element to yours that was still evading my scientists. But here you are now, back where you belong. And now my scientists can pick up where they left off all those years ago.”

I was feeling dizzy, nauseous and furious. “Why! Why did you create us?”