Specimen(83)

Riley continues to speak, but my focus is drawn to the guard.

“Honestly, ma’am, she looks a little beat up.” The guard speaks quietly into the phone.

“She doesn’t seem to be in distress, but the man you described is with her.”

Riley doesn’t react, and I realize she can’t hear what the guard is saying. I look carefully at Riley, the cut across her cheek and the bruising on her arms from our escape, and consider how they will appear to others who look at her. Though I am disheveled enough, the minor injuries I incurred during our abrupt landing have already healed. Someone could draw the conclusion that I have harmed her.

They’re going to take me captive.

“We may have a problem,” I say softly to Riley. “I don’t think it’s going to be avoidable.”

“What?”

“They think I’ve abused you.” I can hear them coming. Six soldiers are heading through the hall just around the corner from the security desk. Two other people with smaller builds—a man and a woman, judging by the sound of their footsteps—accompany them.

My brain electrifies as the implants sense the danger. I have time to run, and I’d likely escape, but not unless I left Riley behind. If I were to carry her, the odds of them catching up to us double. I could stay and fight, but she may be injured in the process.

I don’t want to be captured again. Everything in my mind and body fights against the very idea of it. How long would it be before Riley can convince them we are here for help and that I am not a threat? How much time will they have to try to beat information out of me first?

“Galen…” Riley reaches for my hand and grips it tightly.

“I have to let them take me,” I tell her.

“They just have to listen to me,” she says quickly.

“They won’t, not right away. They think I’m a threat to you. They won’t listen until we’re separated.”

“What will they do with you?”

I just shake my head. I don’t have an answer for her.

The group rounds the corner, soldiers in the lead. Right behind them is an older man with greying hair, wearing a dark suit jacket. Anna Jarvis follows.

“Don’t move!”

The soldiers circle me, weapons aimed. Immediately, I begin to determine which of them is the greatest threat, how to take them out one or two at a time, and how to secure a weapon and end up with the grey-haired man on the ground as my hostage.

Forcing myself to stand still is painful.

Riley takes a step away from the security desk, pressing her back to my chest. My hands move to her automatically, and I grip her upper arms to pull her closer to me and slightly to one side. If they do fire, I’ll be able to block the shots with my body most effectively with her there.

It doesn’t appear that way to the others.

“Let her go, Galen!” Anna tries to move forward, but the older gentleman holds her back.

“Anna, it’s all right!” Riley calls out. “We came here together!”

“We need to talk to you and to Spat,” I say slowly, directing my words at Anna.

“Not as long as you’re restraining her,” the older man says. “You have to release your hostage if you expect us to listen to you.”

“I’m not a hostage!” Riley’s insistent words are ignored.

“Make sure she’s not harmed.” With great effort, I release my grip on Riley and step back, raising my hands in the air. The two soldiers behind me grab my arms and hold me tightly. Another moves slowly toward us, weapon still at the ready, and takes ahold of Riley’s arm, pulling her to him.

I lurch forward before I can stop myself. I don’t want his hands on her, and everything inside of me screams to kill them all—keep her protected.

I stop just short of ripping myself from the soldiers’ hold, but it’s enough for one of them to decide to bash me over the head with the butt of his rifle.

“Galen!” Riley tries to pull away, but she’s held fast.

“Don’t you hurt him!” she screams as I allow myself to be shoved to my knees.

My hands are cuffed behind me. I run my thumb along the edge of the metal restraint. It’s nowhere near thick enough, and I can break it at any time. I keep my eyes on Riley and the soldier holding her. If he is anything less than gentle with her, I’m going to break his neck.

Luckily for him, Anna Jarvis steps up and shoulders him away from Riley.

“I’ve got her,” she says, glaring at the man.

“We don’t know if she’s safe, ma’am.” The soldier stands his ground. “She needs to be searched for weapons and detained until we can determine the level of threat.”