The Forbidden Trilogy(57)

'I know it doesn't make sense, but... please know that I have my reasons. Unlike you, I didn't have help. If I hadn't stayed on, they would have killed my children.'

Of course! That niggling sensation of familiarity—her eyes, her smile. Just like Lucy. The shape of her face—exactly like Luke's. Twins never happened at Rent-A-Kid. Except them. I probed her mind deeper than normal, delving into thoughts hidden well beneath the surface. Images flashed at me: babies born, her fear and love, her holding them and kissing them. Her losing them.

My own heart ached with her pain, as I watched her story unfold in my mind. "Luke and Lucy are your children."

Love filled her mental voice. 'Yes. I had them in this clinic almost eighteen years ago. I was your age at the time. They were allowed to stay with me while they nursed, but once they showed signs of powers, they were taken away and put in a special childcare center run by the organization.'

Her children were my best friends. I loved them almost as much as she did. "They were told they were abandoned at a hospital, left in the care of social services."

'No. No! I would never have left them if I had a choice. I love them with all my heart. They keep me going.'

"I know. I saw. I can connect with them, and help you talk to them."

I'd seen into more than just her mind, I'd seen into her heart. I had to help this woman. She wouldn't hurt my friends or betray us. Besides, we were all dead if we didn't find someone to take our side.

'You can do that? You have that much power?'

"With Drake's help, yes. We've done it before. Would you like to meet your children?"

'Yes, more than anything. But not until you've rested and recovered. You nearly lost your baby, and would have died yourself. Your body has been through a significant strain. I can't let you push your powers while you're in this condition.'

"Is Rebeka okay?"

She worked on me, checking different parts of my body while we linked. When I asked about Rebeka, her hands fumbled. I felt a small tremor.

'I'm so sorry, but she and her baby died. I tried to save them, but the bastards wouldn't let me give her the treatment I'm giving you. They tried to manipulate the genetics of the child, controlling which para-power it would get. They don't just want to make more paranormal kids, they want to make kids with very specific gifts.'

Repulsed? Yes, but not surprised. I couldn't be surprised by anything they did anymore. They were monsters.

"But why? What do they need to do this?"

'I don't know, but these are long-term plans. Perhaps they've tracked which kids get the most money when rented out, and want more of those.'

Greed. Always at the heart of this organization.

"Will you help us escape?" Might as well lay it all on the table.

'If they catch any of us, we'll all be dead. And so will my children.'

"Ana, Lucy will be eighteen soon. They'll breed her, and what do you think they'll do with her once they've used her up? Is that the life you want for her? For your grandchildren? Help us collect enough evidence to take this place down, and help us escape. Drake knows someone on the outside—a reporter."

'Do you promise you'll help my children?'

I wanted to help them, but how? I couldn't even help myself, and I had a baby to take care of. Would I be able to handle it all?

Ana saw my hesitation. 'I know you're scared. I'll help you and Drake. I know you'll do the right thing when you're free.'

Her cool hand touched mine, a brief moment of human contact after so much isolation. I tried to stay still, asleep, but I wanted to jump up and hug her.

She said she'd be back as soon as possible, and left.

***

Then Dr. Pana came in. His evil stank up the room. I allowed myself to "wake up."

"What am I doing here? What happened?"

He trailed his finger over my exposed stomach, making my skin crawl. "Come now, Sam, you aren't stupid. You know more than you're letting on. You're pregnant, but you nearly lost the baby. Once you're stable, we'll move you to a new room. You're the only expectant mother here at the moment, so you'll have it to yourself. What you're doing is for the good of humanity. It's important. We wouldn't keep you here if it wasn't."

Propaganda bullshit!

"I want out of here. You have no right to do this to me!"

I kept my mental link with Ana, and added one to Drake. We explained our plan and how she could help.

'This is risky,' Ana said. 'I don't know if it will work, but I'll help. You're right: doing nothing will only ruin the lives of more children. It's time, after all these years, to act against them. I have files—names, dates, information I've been collecting for a long time. Like you, Sam, I was trained in spying and collecting sensitive information. A mind reader is rare in the paranormal world. It's why they let me live, and trained me to become a doctor. I was their greatest asset. But also, like you, their greatest threat.'