The Forbidden Trilogy(248)

The helicopter started to waiver and hover, suspended in place, the air shimmering around it. It shook, like a tree unwilling to uproot, the metal groaning as it leaned forward.

Luke let out a roar.

And the propeller ripped off.

As the helicopter tumbled down past the cliff and out of sight, everyone stood speechless, and silence reigned.

Her brother fell to his knees, and she ran to him and grabbed him.

"I'm okay, Sis." His voice wobbled. "I'm okay." He leaned into her, closing his eyes, and passed out.

Lucy looked over the jungle as the rage of the fire consumed it. Her spirit opened and she connected with the life in the jungle and valley. She felt as the trees died, heard the screams of the animals, lived their suffering with them.

Luke lay limp in her arms. Tears flowed down her face. She'd failed them all. It was too late.

The wind brought a familiar voice to her. "Lucy...." It was Mr. K. "It's never too late for change."

She choked back a sob as she realized the awful truth. Mr. K's valley was burning with the rest of the jungle. That's what she was feeling. Her shoulders shook from grief. "Mr. K, I'm so sorry. I was supposed to save you and bring you home."

His trunk burned and his branches turned to ash.

She felt it all, and it tore out her heart.

"Don't be sorry, Lucy. Life never ends, it only transmutes into something new."

She hiccupped. "I left you all alone."

"Someone wise once told me that we're never alone." Mr. K echoed Lucy's words back to her.

"What can I do?"

"Breathe. Concentrate."

Lucy tried to quiet her erratic breathing and calm her pounding heart.

"And don't apologize, Lucy. You gave me something I thought I'd never have again. You gave me friendship." His last words hung on the wind. "Thank you."

The fire burned through her soul, and Mr. K was gone.

The tears came. Then the rain joined her tears, and silenced the anger of the fire. In those droplets she felt Mr. K, and though she grieved, she knew he'd been right, that matter never died or disappeared.

It just changed form.





Chapter 116 - Lucy



Simmons handed Lucy a cup of tea. "I'm sorry. I was wrong. We'll get your friend back, I promise." She'd been making similar such statements to each of us since we arrived.

Now we all sat in Simmons's office, each of us with a black IPI mug in our hands. Luke looked about ready to pass out. Darren and Drake sat as far away from each other as possible, both looking miserable. Robyn and Norm held hands, as did Greg and Gary. Mary sat off by herself, and Lucy had been surprised by how unassuming she'd been on this trip. Toby sat with Father Patrick, who'd flown back to the island with Simmons. A few agents stood behind the group.

Hunter sat next to Lucy, and she desperately wanted to hold his hand, but not with this weird version of Simmons standing over her.

Lucy knew Simmons was lying.

Simmons wasn't sorry. She wanted to blow up all those kids and Sam.

Lucy just couldn't figure out why. Hunter had told her the bomb was for destroying the facility after everyone had been rescued.

"No," she'd told him. "Simmons wanted me to arm it with all the kids still inside."

He'd shaken his head. "You must have misunderstood her. Simmons wouldn't do that."

"Really?"

"She practically took me in. She wouldn't kill the kids."

And yet she had given the command. Hunter was blind when it came to Simmons, and Lucy wondered if the lead agent had taken him in for selfish reasons none of them new about.

Simmons moved on, offering sweet words to everyone as she gave them their tea. "It'll be okay... you did your best... we'll get Sam and your baby back, Drake."

She got to Luke last. "I heard about what you did with the helicopter. Let me tell you, that was the most impressive display of power any of our agents have ever seen." All the agents were talking about Luke like he was a hero.

He didn't look happy, though, just sad and tired. He nodded and drank his tea.

Simmons walked to the head of the room, in front of her board, just like before. "We need a new plan."

"We need to go on the offense, now." Lucy set down her cup. "The man with the black tattoos, Beleth, warned me that Steele would eliminate the children in a few days."

Simmons nodded.

Lucy hated agreeing with the damn woman, but they had to act fast, before Sam was... no, Sam would be okay. Drake had told her that Steele had plans for Sam. That made her shiver.

Norm raised his hand, then lowered it awkwardly. "What haven't we tried?"

The room filled with a long silence. No one had an answer.

Hunter pulled something from his pack—something small, round and silver.

No freaking way.