scope.
George didn’t like the way the inferior man looked at him. His triumphant smile faltered. “Clean up the mess.”
Stunned, the younger man’s eyes didn’t leave the doctor.
“Leland, come to your senses.”
Leland blinked at the sound of George’s voice. “What?”
“Take care of the survivors, too.”
“Wh-what am I supposed to do with them?”
“Exterminate them.”
Red flooded Leland’s face as he flew to his feet. His hair flipped over his forehead and dangled in his eyes. He pushed it back.
“Kill them? Are you mad?”
Anger swirled inside George, threatening to dissolve his calm demeanor. His lids narrowing, he advanced on his assistant. “I am seriously starting to doubt your ability to stay on as my assistant.”
Leland averted his gaze. “It’s just—they’re human beings.”
“They are experimental subjects. Did you honestly think I would release them back into the population afterward? Even you are not that ignorant.”
“I-I don’t know if I can.”
Dr. Hirch pointed a finger at his assistant. “You can and you will, or I will find your replacement,” he said, the hidden meaning apparent in his tone.
Leland jerked his gaze from the floor and faced the doctor. The younger man’s face paled, white as a sheet of clean paper. Without acknowledging the doctor’s threat, he turned toward the monitors. His hands shook as he typed in new commands.
The doctor inhaled and composed himself. “When you are done, bring the videos to my office.”
“Yes, Dr. Hirch,” he said, his voice unsteady.
George opened the door and walked down the steps into the hall between the rooms.
“Open.”
A click sounded, and the doors swung outward.
He surveyed the rooms. Bullets littered the floor around Xaver’s feet where his shield had stopped them from penetrating. Behind Ahron, fragments of the wall had been blown away. Chunks of wood and plaster lay splintered on the ground. He motioned for the boys to join him. Obediently, they strolled into the hallway.
George glanced at the surviving subjects. Their eyes pleaded for mercy. George’s face took on the expression of a compassionate father. “You will be fine. The Center is grateful for your cooperation.” He stepped away from the door. “Close,” he said, as he moved down the hall.
The doors swung shut, clicking as the bolts slid back into place. More muffled screams followed.
Ignoring the sounds of lost hope, George strolled down the hall toward the elevator. Xaver and Ahron followed.
Although he knew his children didn’t care about approval, as their father, he felt praise was warranted. “I am proud of your work today.”
He pushed a red button and stood back when the doors slid open. Ahron and Xaver stepped inside.
“Your progress is astounding.”
“Thank you,
He followed and hit the ground floor button. As the elevator doors shut, more shots echoed down the corridor.
19
Rein sat next to Jordan in the elder’s holey—so nicknamed by the original settlers. Resembling a long honeycomb, the name suited the line of holes on the west side of the cavern. Some were bigger, some smaller. Some had been naturally formed; most had been dug out over the years as more living quarters were needed. All of the holes were considered home by their occupants.
Although considered the leader, and the oldest descendant remaining from the original survivors, Jordan didn’t have anything special. A sleeping bag, a few blankets, a pillow that had seen much better days twenty years ago, and a beautiful music box that had belonged to Jordan’s mother. The box had a couple dressed in 1800’s garb dancing to music composed by someone named Mozart. Jordan couldn’t remember the name of the piece.
Rein carefully fingered the delicate box while the haunting music played. Ever since he was a little boy, Rein had loved watching the figurines. He still did, although now, he grieved over the loss of knowledge of classical music along with all the other knowledge lost due to their circumstances.
Rein looked up from the twirling couple to Jordan, his dark skin even more pronounced under the low light, and shadowed by his dreadlocks. His black eyes, which usually held humor and hope, seemed gaunt and tired. Jordan hadn’t been his regular self for days.
“I want to trust her. But, considering where she is from and what she is, it is hard.”
The older man smiled, emphasizing his many wrinkles. “And why are we any more trustworthy?”
Shocked, Rein arched his brow. “What? We’re the good guys.”
“Good guys.” Jordan chuckled. “From your point of view. But we must remember, hers is different. She was raised in a society where perfection is important, where the thought of individuality is considered—well, evil. They consider themselves working toward a common good. At least, that’s what I think she was taught.” He thrummed his fingers against the ragged pillow lying in his lap. “She was taught we’re the enemy and must be stopped. But her being here, her hearing Jeremy…”
Rein twinged at the sound of Jeremy’s name. He couldn’t help it. Jeremy had been like a brother to him. After all, Jordan had raised Woody, Jeremy, and him.
When he and Doc had returned, they had gone straight to Jordan with the news. A small ceremony was held in his honor and for his bravery, but it was hard to accept he wouldn’t be returning.
Jordan reached out and laid his hand on his wrist. “Her listening to Jeremy,” he continued, “and seeking us out, tells us she’s found a flaw within her society. Within her belief system.”
“What if it’s a trick?”
“A lot of wasted energy on their part. They can’t learn any secrets from us. We are a small community with few people, a few weapons. If they knew about us, they would’ve just come and wiped us out.”
Rein nodded. Their community had nothing to offer, nothing of any importance. All they did was survive.
“Now, take me to go meet our visitor.”
Rein wanted to protest further. He still wasn’t sure if Jordan meeting Ellyssa was such a great idea. His objections had landed on a deaf ear, though.
Resigned, Rein crawled from the holey into the passageway. His knee popped when he stood. He offered his hand to the older man and helped him to his feet. Jordan’s bones, however, did more than pop; they creaked like rusty hinges.
“I still want her guarded.”
Jordan patted him on the shoulder. “I trust your judgment. But, she ain’t the first one from the outside world who has come to live here.”
“I know, but she is different.” Grabbing the elder under his elbow, Rein asked, “Are you ready?”
“Lead me to her.”
Ellyssa had just finished the very last sentence of the novel,
As the guard’s footsteps faded down the corridor, the doctor strolled in, his expression lit in excitement. He eyed the book as she placed it on the table. “So, what did you think?”
