Nemesis (Project Nemesis #1)(55)

Noah's face scrunched in confusion. "What does our birth date have to do with anything?"

Sarah gave a full-bodied shrug. "But facts are facts. I wonder who's oldest?"

My mind was racing. So many questions filled my head, I couldn't think straight. We were doing this out of order. "Were you guys murdered on Sunday? Does he come for you on your real birthdays or the fake ones?"

They both wore blank looks. "Who?" said Sarah.

Now Noah and I shared a glance. She said it was different for them.

Ethan's eyes narrowed. I could tell he was as hungry for information as I was. "This person-you said he murdered you?" 

I decided to play ball. At least a little. "On our even-year birthdays, a psychopath in a black suit tracks down Noah and me and kills us. We were told these executions were delusions."

Ethan looked legitimately shocked. "Jesus. That's harsh. Who is the bastard?"

"We don't know. But I think he's the power behind Project Nemesis. He was running the operation in town square."

"Min shared what she knows," Tack interrupted. "Now you."

Sarah slipped her gun into the pocket of her Windbreaker. "Since I turned nine, I've had to visit Dr. Fanelli every other year on September seventeenth. He'd perform hypnosis on me. I always woke up right here."

Noah had been right. This was a reset point. But why had Tack appeared here?

Ethan snorted. "Hypnosis. That's what Fanelli called it, even though I'd never remember a thing, and regain consciousness south of the lake. We just finished grilling Hector-he's barely holding it together, but described my spot exactly. Sarah guessed you'd check both places, looking for Tack. Do you guys wake up here, too?"

I shook my head, trying to process it all. "Above town, in the northern woods."

They looked at Noah. "West," he said. "A cave."

"Like a compass." Ethan nodded thoughtfully. "Sure. Why not?"

Dr. Fanelli. I'd assumed all four betas were under Lowell's control, but now the picture was clearer. "They split us up. Different doctors, different tactics. Different years."

"Just like a government plan," Ethan quipped. "Redundancies everywhere. We didn't even know Fanelli was killing us during our visits until Sarah cracked his files. If I ever see that bastard again . . ."

"Where'd he go?" Noah asked. "Where'd they all go?"

"We don't know. Fanelli said our treatment was some radical new therapy. Our parents signed us up when we were little. Leaving us in the woods was supposed to test our survival skills, or something. Make us stronger. Which is freaking stupid, since I always woke up in the exact same place."

"Wait." Noah extended a hand toward them. "Did you guys know about each other?"

Sarah nodded. "I saw Ethan leaving Fanelli's office a few years back. We talked, and found out he was doing the same thing to both of us. Eventually we confronted him, and Fanelli began treating us in joint sessions."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "Treating you for what?"

"We don't know." I could tell the admission burned. "The other files on his computer are encrypted. All he left us was a freaking note."

I lurched forward a step. "What did it say?"

Sarah and Ethan shared a look. "Might as well," she said quietly. "It's why we came."

It was a moment before Ethan spoke. "He left an instruction. Fanelli liked to talk about what we should do if something strange ever happened. Something huge and inexplicable." He barked a bitter laugh. "I'm guessing the entire class being gassed qualifies."

"And?" Tack urged impatiently. "What was the message?"

Ethan looked directly into his eyes. "He told us to dominate. Sarah and I are supposed to take over if things go bad. I never understood Fanelli. Honestly, I thought he was crazy. But he was ahead of the game all along. He knew those troops were coming."



       
         
       
        

"Please tell me exactly what the note said," I persisted, mouth dry.

Ethan rolled his eyes, but Sarah spoke, reciting from memory. "Dominate the situation, by whatever means necessary, for as long as you can. It was addressed to both of us."

I nearly growled in frustration. "That doesn't explain anything!"

"Of course it does!" Ethan fired back. "The adults ditched us, and now we're locked in this valley with no way out. Fanelli absolutely knew it was going to happen. His instructions are clear as day: the betas are supposed to run things now."

In the corner of my eye, I saw Noah nod slightly. It set my teeth on edge.

"What things are we supposed to run?" I countered, trying to regain control of the conversation. "We don't even know what happened. We don't know where everyone went, and we've got no contact with the outside world."

"There is no outside world. Don't you see?" Ethan's finger shot toward Tack. "I stabbed him in the freaking heart, and he's perfectly fine. That's not possible, but it's true. None of this is possible! But it's exactly what Fanelli warned us about."

Tack took a step toward Ethan. "When you stabbed me, did you know I wouldn't die?"

Ethan's eyes slid away.

"Bastard," Tack hissed.

Ethan's scowl hardened. "I was told to dominate, by whatever means necessary. You got in my way."

"And I'm gonna stay in your way, you stupid-"

"Stop it!" I yelled, grabbing Tack's arm. "This got us nowhere before, and it's even more pointless now." He jerked away. I knew he was furious, but we needed to learn everything we could.

"Min's one hundred percent right," Sarah said calmly, shooting Ethan a pointed look. "We didn't come here to fight."

"Nice guns," Noah said softly.

"They might as well be props, since we all know they're pointless." To prove it, Sarah slipped hers out and tossed it into the field. Ethan made no move to follow her example. "We could've shot all three of you, but honestly, what's the point? You'd just reset, and we'd be right back where we started."

Her words hit me like a bucket of ice water.

My God, she's right. We can't die. 

"What do you want then?" I asked in a shaky voice.

"A truce."

Sarah nudged Ethan, who spoke grudgingly. "We're offering you a place," Ethan said. "You're betas, like us." He was deliberately not looking at Tack. "The beta patients were clearly meant to be in charge."

Noah was nodding again, but I was repulsed. "You don't seem to get it: I don't want to boss everyone around. Why is it so important to be a dictator?"

"It's what I was specifically told to do," Ethan growled. "We don't know what's coming next, but I'm going to be ready."

He was glaring at me, eyes tight with anger. In that instant, I knew I could never work with him. Not on those terms. "You don't get to be warlord just because the adults disappeared," I said. "I don't care about your doctor's note. You stabbed Tack in front of everyone, just because he disagreed with you. And you didn't know he'd come back. You're a murderer, not a leader."

Ethan's head snapped to Sarah. "I told you this was pointless."

She sighed, turned to Noah. "Come back with us, Noah. You don't belong with these two. You understand what needs to be done. I can see it in your eyes."

Noah didn't respond. For a terrifying moment, I thought he'd actually abandon us. Walk right off this field with them, and never look back.

But Noah shook his head. "Sorry. I'm staying."

A spasm of anger rippled her features, then disappeared as quickly. "Mistake."

"I should kill you all." Ethan removed the gun from his waistband.

"We'll just come back," Tack taunted, clapping his hands together. Then he raced over and scooped up Sarah's gun. Rejoining the group, he pulled the slide, chambering a round.

"This is my time, not yours." Ethan's eyes glittered. "You want a war? You've got one."

The gun rose. I could practically taste his hunger for violence.

Tack fired a round into the dirt, startling everyone. "Three against two," he warned, his face a stony mask. I knew he'd shoot if it came down to it. Any excuse to pay Ethan back for what had happened in the church.

Sarah put a hand on Ethan's arm. "Let's go. We can visit again with more friends."

"Trailer trash," Ethan scoffed. "And a spoiled little rich boy. I'll tear you three apart." He spun and strode into the trees.

"I wouldn't have done that," Sarah said, almost casually. "He's taking this whole 'messiah' thing pretty seriously." In some ways, her calm demeanor was scarier than Ethan's bluster. She alone hadn't flinched when the gun went off.

"Why are you helping him?" I asked.

"Means to an end. Whatever this is, I intend to survive."

Sarah waggled a finger at Noah. "You're so weak, Noah. You think like a child. Why am I always surprised?" His face went scarlet as she turned and strolled away. "Enjoy my meadow," Sarah called over her shoulder. "I've always found this place . . . comforting. Like an old friend." With a soft giggle, she disappeared into the woods.