“No, someone’s awake.” Raj came up and joined us. “There’s always someone at night.”
I was hoping that was Trax.
“Are you guys healthy enough to fight?” I asked.
“Absolutely,” Lee said.
I asked them all my questions and they answered them. I promised that my two friends and I would help them escape. But first, I had to find my father. Then I heard a voice in my head.
Callie Woodland?
“Who is this?”
“Who’s she talking to?” Briona asked the others.
I walked away from them, toward the door, so I could listen.
I’m disappointed. You seemed like such a smart girl.
Of course I knew who it was. But I was so hoping he’d be asleep right now and never know I’d crashed his facility.
“So do I call you Brockman or just Hyden’s dad?”
He chuckled. I am so happy you finally came. As I’d hoped.
“You hoped?”
I opened the door and motioned for the Starters to come with me. Briona, Lee, Raj, and several others followed. I averted my eyes from them so Brockman wouldn’t see them.
I couldn’t get my latest young Starter to bring you in.
“That driver.”
Yes. Shame to lose a valuable commodity like that.
I slipped the key to Briona behind my back and closed my eyes. I let the Starters move down the hallway without me. When I opened them, they had disappeared in another room, probably one with more sleeping Starters.
But I needed both of you, and Hyden isn’t good about keeping in touch.
“You didn’t really expect that Metal to get us. You just wanted him to lead us to you.”
It worked, didn’t it? He paused. What are you looking for here?
“My father. Where is he?”
Would you like to see him?
“Of course.”
I can arrange that. But first, why don’t we take this opportunity to meet each other?
All of a sudden, I came to a halt. I stood rooted, growing slowly aware of someone gaining control of my body. It felt like I had heavy mercury rushing up through my spine. From my feet to my legs, my hips, my abs, my chest, my arms. Even my throat felt constricted. One female Metal came out of a room. With what was left of my voice, I shouted, “Run. Run and hide!” It was raspy and not as loud as I’d hoped.
Fear clouded her face. She hesitated, then ran off, notifying the others.
The sensation continued up my neck and finally reached my head. I felt like I’d turned to stone.
My right foot moved forward, then my left. I was jerky at first, almost robotic. After a moment, I walked in a smooth movement that would have fooled an onlooker into thinking I was doing exactly as I wanted.
I bet you’re wondering where you’re going.
I would have answered, but unlike previous times when I’d been controlled, I could not speak.
He made me walk to the end of the hall and turn right. It was so strange moving this way. When Hyden had controlled me at Dawson’s lab, it felt like when you stepped on your daddy’s shoes and let him move your feet to dance. This was like being invaded, possessed but aware of every awful moment of it.
I tried to hide my torment as I watched my arm shoot forward to open a door at the end of the hallway. Then I remembered—the reversal. It hadn’t worked before, but I could try again.
I concentrated on pulling my arm back before it could open the door. But my fingers wrapped around the handle.
No, I told myself, don’t. Let go of the handle.
But I had no control. Brockman overpowered me. My hand opened the door.
I entered the lobby of a building. It had an open configuration, with a second story, all surrounded by glass. Several guards approached me.
I handed them all my weapons. My own hands patted me down to make sure nothing was left.
The guards took the weapons away, leaving me alone. Then I felt my body return to me. It started from the tip of my head, a tingling sensation that vibrated down through my face, my neck, my chest, my belly, my hips, my legs, and finally my feet. It felt like shaking the pins and needles from your foot after it’s fallen asleep.
I looked around, trying to decide where to run. I started to go across to the other end, but I heard a noise up above, on the second story.
“Where are you running to, Starter? Or would you prefer to be called a Metal?” I looked up and saw a Middle standing there above me. He leaned casually against thick, bulletproof glass, grinning down at me like the Cheshire Cat in his tree.
He looked to be in his forties, fit and stylish in an illusion suit that changed colors as he shifted his weight. His handsome features, his chiseled bone structure, even his posture looked exactly like Hyden’s.
So this was Brockman. Hyden’s father.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE