33. Clay
Chapter 33
Clay
“Clayton! Oh honey, it's so good to see you.” My mom grins up at me, squeezing me tight before she greets Fiona. They fuss over each other and I face my dad, who pulls me in for a bear hug.
“It’s good to see you, son. I’m so glad you could make it for the holidays.”
“Me too.”
Fiona glances at me with a glint in her eye. I’m busting at the seams to tell my parents the news, but Fiona made me promise to wait until dinner where she has a fun surprise planned. My mom is going to lose it. I can’t wait.
We follow them into the kitchen after setting our suitcases in the spare room, and Dad hands me a beer while Mom chatters away with Fiona.
“How’s the shop?”
I shrug. “They’ll survive without me for a few days.”
“Business doing well?”
“Booming.”
He grins. “Atta boy.”
His praise settles over me like a warm glow. I got my love of cars from him, and I made his dream my own. He refused to go into business with me, insisting I go it alone and create my own dreams. I don’t know where I’d be without his support. Probably locked in a cell…or dead.
Dinner rolls around and Fiona hands them a small wrapped box. “Early Christmas presents,” she says, and my mom fusses until I urge her to open the damn box.
Fiona plays with her sparkling wedding ring, chewing her inner lip as we wait and I kiss her temple, enjoying the last moment where the secret is ours.
Mom holds up a baby onesie that says ‘ I love my Gma & Gpa ’, and as predicted, instant sobs fly out of her and she knocks over her chair in her haste to get to me. I laugh as she falls on top of me, moving so fast I don’t have time to get out of my seat.
“Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God,” she chants and I laugh, rubbing her back.
“Well, I think this might be the best Christmas gift we’ve ever received,” Dad says, hugging Fiona.
“Congratulations. I’m so happy for you,” Mom mumbles, taking my face between her hands. “You’re going to be the best father ever.”
“I had an outstanding role model to teach me how it's done,” I say, meeting Dad’s watery gaze.
Mom hugs Fiona and peppers her with questions. Dad claps my back. “I’m getting out the good Brandy. Let’s celebrate!” I laugh as he books it to the kitchen, but it tapers off when the lamp nearby flickers. I move to adjust the bulb, but stare open-mouthed when I can’t find one.
“Uh, Dad? Did you get some new light bulbs?” He returns with two glasses and hands me one.
“No?” he asks, glancing at the lamp. He puts his hand on my shoulder and guides me back to the table.
I try to shake it off, but unease settles in my gut. I smile at my mom across the table, but my fork clatters to the plate when instead of her beaming smile, vacant eyes stare back at me with blood trickling from her mouth. It’s gone in a flash and she takes a bite of her mashed potatoes.
“Have you thought about names?” she asks.
“Vanessa, if it's a girl. We haven’t picked a boy's name yet, but his middle name will be Roy.”
My father beams at me, but his forehead has a bloody hole in it and he falls face first into his food. I scream, and everyone stares at me, including my father, who sits like he never moved.
“Are you okay?” Fiona asks, nothing but love and concern shining through her beautiful eyes.
The light flickers again, and I race towards it. “There’s something wrong with the light.” I turn back to find them all frowning at me.
Fiona sighs, setting her fork down and wiping her mouth with the napkin. “Very well. I guess we can skip to the important part.” She pulls out a gun and fires two shots, killing my parents instantly. She aims the gun at her stomach. I reach for her, crying out as she pulls the trigger, but I’m eighteen again, my eyes squeezed shut as mom begs them to stop.
“Clay,” an unfamiliar voice calls.
I open my eyes and I’m me again, standing in a black void. Casper stands in front of me, a relieved look on his face.
“I knew you’d make it out,” he says.
I drop to my knees and gasp for air. He stoops to support me. I hurl my stomach contents onto the endless floor and it disappears.
“It wasn’t real,” he says.
“Yes. It was.” I don’t want to, but I lean against him or risk face planting. Will I disappear too?
“I’m sorry. I tried to pull you out before it went to default settings. It’s not as easy as it looks.”
“Where are we?”
“In your head. To the outside world, you’re still in the simulation. I’ve pulled your consciousness into a safe space.” He looks around. “Odd that an absolute void would be your safe space.”
“What do you mean?”
“Most people choose a childhood home or favorite restaurant.”
“Who are you?”
He smiles. “Right now? I’m the only friend you’ve got.”
I stare at him, settling back against an invisible wall.
“Did Fiona tell you about her forum?” he asks.
My eyes widen. If Infinitum already knows, why are they letting her keep it?
“Did she mention someone named Rogue?”
“That’s you, I take it?”
He nods. “I work for Eli. Sort of. He took over my training a few months ago and showed me how to manipulate the simulator. Infinitum fell into the trap, thinking they were using my talents for an upgraded system, but I’ve been pulling super soldiers out of the simulations. Giving us all a fighting chance.”
“How many?”
“Nineteen so far. You’ll make twenty, but you were the easiest. Sometimes it takes weeks before I can get through to them. Sometimes I can’t do it at all.”
“So Eli is building his own army?”
He nods.
“How do I know this isn’t just another simulation?” I ask.
He sighs. “You don’t.”
“Blind trust. When I trust no one.”
“That’s not true.”
“How would you know?”
“You trust yourself.”
I heave a sigh and close my tired eyes. “Now what?”
“Now that you’ve let me in your head, I’ll be able to communicate with you telepathically. It’s kind of like—”
I put up my hand. “I know what it’s like.”
He grins. “I knew it.”
“What?”
“Raven had a telepath on his team.” His grin drops and he looks to the side. “They’re coming.”
He grips my arm. “It was my girlfriend.”
I frown.
“You asked me who Infinitum killed. They killed my pregnant girlfriend.”
Our gazes lock and an unspoken promise forms between us. I nod at him and he fades away. I fall back into the black rushing water and my eyes pop open as Dr. Chen removes the disk from my temple.
He looks smug, even for him. “Oh hey, Doc. You look like you just got laid.”
He snorts. “I suppose the feeling could be compared.”
My hackles raise. He’s never laughed at my jokes. Casper looks as confused as me. “Thanks to your friend John, we’ve just created our first USS agent this morning.”
Casper’s face pales.
“USS?”
“It stands for ultimate super soldier.”
I shove the fear into its box. “Lame. We call John a Super Duper Soldier. It rhymes.”
“This is why you’re the muscle and I’m the brains.”
“Ouch. Hitting me where it hurts, Doc.”
He purses his lips. “You'll survive.”
“So, when can I meet this USS agent?”
“We killed him, of course.”
Everything stops, and a slow smile spreads across his face. “We can’t let that sort of power run rampant. Once we’re able to control it, we’ll try again.” He turns to Casper, who is back to neutral.
“Go tell my son to bring Ms. Edgewater. Remain outside the door when you return.”
Casper hesitates. “She belongs to the general.”
A visceral growl crawls up my throat, but I clamp my mouth shut before I can tell him Fiona doesn’t belong to anyone. The irony that she’s related to Candace will be something we can laugh about someday. Or not talk about it at all, like ever.
Casper was right. Over the past few years, I’ve learned to trust myself. It’s clear now that my powers tie into my instincts, and since I’ve listened to them, I’ve never been wrong. If Casper has shown Dr. Chen my memories, he knows the worst thing he could do to me is turn me against her. Their predictability will be their downfall.
Dr. Chen glances at me with a smirk before he addresses Casper. “Do as you’re told.”
Casper nods, shackling me to the wall by rubber cuffs, and leaves the room. “Keep Fiona out of this, Doc.”
“I have a theory, Clayton. I believe that you’re a…. super duper soldier, as you say.”
“Please. Like I’d want phenomenal cosmic powers. All you get are hand cuffs and itty bitty living space.” I lift my restrained hands, rolling my eyes when the reference goes over his head. Apparently, Dr. Chen isn’t a fan of the Genie.
“We’re going to find out if you’re lying when Fiona gets here.”
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
“Why don’t you take a blood sample like a normal person?”
He grins. “Because a blood sample can’t tell me what powers you’ve obtained since you’ve taken the super serum.”
The door slides open, and Fiona appears, dressed like Casper and wide eyed. Her gaze locks onto mine and I hold it. Her patterns are littered with holes. Sorrow. Strong and deep. It’s okay, Flowers, it will all be over soon.
“Restrain her,” Chen says and Andrew hesitates.
Casper glances at me before the door slides shut between us and his voice pops into my head. “Your suppression drugs will wear off in about ten minutes. Your team is on the way. Stall them as long as you can.” Hope flares in my chest, but I’m not stupid enough to let it rule my actions.
Fiona blinks rapidly, trying like hell to hide her fear.
“Chairman Davenport is expecting me,” she says, and I blink. Chairman? Eli got promoted? Does that mean his plan is working?
Andrew pulls a chair over and pulls Fiona’s injured arm from the sling. He ties her to the chair by her wrists and ankles using zip ties, avoiding her pleading gaze. Fucking coward.
Dr. Chen watches me with his arms crossed. “If you cooperate, when the committee votes me in as chairman, I’ll make sure Fiona survives.”
The fate of the world depends on me keeping my secret. Once he confirms I have the super serum floating through my veins, they’ll be able to replicate it that much faster. I have to buy my family time if we want to stand a chance.
“Seems like a high turnover rate. Must be bad for business.”
“Andrew, break her arm.”
Andrew's eyes go wide. “Father, even if you win the vote, making an enemy of the general isn’t wise.”
“When I want your opinion, I’ll give it to you. Prove to me how far you’re willing to go for this family.”
Fiona shrinks away from him when he faces her.
“Touch her and die,” I snarl.
Fiona’s eyebrows pull together.
“Now we’re getting somewhere. Andrew, do as you’re told,” Dr. Chen says.
Andrew looks me in the eye. “I have to.”
I narrow my gaze. “So will I.”
He glances at his father one last time and blocks her from my view. A loud snap echoes off the concrete, followed by Fiona’s pained cry. I wince, my fists flexing as her pain patterns smack me in the chest. “It’s gonna be okay, Flowers.”
It's a risk, but I have to let her know she’s not alone. Her tear-stained cheeks glisten as Andrew steps aside and she lifts her gaze to mine. Her wrist is already swelling. A tendril of hope softens her patterns and I nod at her. She swallows, gathering herself and faces Dr. Chen.
“Eli will have your balls,” she grits through clenched teeth. That’s my girl.
Dr. Chen only smirks and alarm bells go off in my head. The man is ambitious, but he’s not stupid.
He nods at Andrew, who sighs as he flips open a utility knife.
I yank at my restraints, feinting a jump at him, and he startles. His patterns swirl with absolute terror, and I smirk at him. He swallows hard before he lowers the knife to Fiona’s forearm, making a shallow slice.
She winces, but doesn’t make a sound as she holds my gaze. I nod encouragement and she sits up straighter.
Dr. Chen taps his foot with impatience as Andrew makes another shallow cut. “Pathetic,” he mumbles, yanking the knife from Andrew and shoving him aside.
“How did I raise such a weak imbecile? This is how you torture someone.” He slams the knife clean through the top of her hand, impaling it to the chair and Fiona screams as blood oozes from the wound.
I laugh, pulling their attention so Fiona can gather herself. Dr. Chen takes the bait, stepping in front of me.
“Why are you laughing?”
I tilt my head, looking the short man up and down. “You think a knife through the hand is torture?”
He grins. “Your girlfriend seems to think so.”
“Let’s say, hypothetically, I took the super serum. Do you think it’s wise to provoke me with nothing but rubber handcuffs for protection?”
“Casper is right outside the door. The general has confirmed he’s the strongest super soldier in our care. That’s why I selected him. Do you think I’m stupid?”
“No. Just gullible.”
Andrew punches Fiona in the face, and she grunts as blood drips from her nose. He hits her again, his gaze growing manic as he pulls back for a third hit.
“Stop this!” I roar, yanking on the restraints. Chen holds up his hand and Andrew stops.
“Still protecting her even though she betrayed you?”
“I’ve been through worse.”
He smiles. “Yes, Candace’s methods were efficient.” He moves to the anteroom, returning with a tablet. He flips the screen around so I can view it.
“Do you recognize this?”
A scene from years ago plays out. Dylan is tied to a post in the living room of a Reilly Tech safe house. I was in New York, working undercover as a Maddox Agent when it happened, but I was on standby, awaiting Raven’s orders to speed to the scene. Those orders never came.
Two men grope Liv who stands in her underwear, defiant despite her dire circumstances. Specter had given her the activation serum less than an hour before, and her powers activated, allowing her to save herself.
“What about it?” I growl at Chen.
“Fiona hacked into the system to open the door for your friend’s attackers.”
My eyes widen, trailing to Fiona. This is the part where she drops the act, shows me how wrong I am about her, and stabs me in the heart by betraying me. I almost sob when there’s nothing but confusion in her patterns and all over her face.
Her gaze jumps to mine, and she shakes her head as tears fall. She looks at Chen, then at Andrew before she locks eyes with me again. “I can’t do this,” she whispers.
“Do what?” Chen asks.
“I love you, Clay. I’d never betray you. Not after everything we’ve been through. You know me, lightning boy. You know me.” She sobs, gripping the armrest as Andrew pulls the knife from her hand. He looks at me, then at his father.
“No!” I shout as he stabs Fiona in the abdomen. A scream of pure anguish tears up her throat and vibrates deep into the marrow of my bones. My powers surges and the lights in the room flicker as she slumps against her restraints, her breathing ragged.
“Fiona! Stay with me, Flowers,” I call. She looks up at me and defeat settles into her gaze.
“Show me, Clayton,” Dr. Chen says. He nods at Andrew and he stabs her again. I don’t have Garrett’s powers, but time seems to slow as a torrent of kinetic energy floods into my body.
Heroes aren’t supposed to let the bad guys win. We’re not supposed to give them what they want. Especially when it means saving thousands of lives. One person shouldn’t tip the scales. One person shouldn’t doom the rest of humanity. But let’s be real. I was never good at hero bullshit.
In an instant, lightning bounces around the room, forming a maelstrom that circles around me. I yank on the cuffs and they fall to the ground. Patterns replace my vision, and I somehow navigate them with ease. Dr. Chen screams as the power of a thousand suns turns him into a smoldering skeleton.
A curdling, horrified scream echoes around the concrete as Andrew stares wide-eyed at his dead father. I grab him by the throat and slam his head against the wall. Blood gurgles out of his mouth as he watches me, but I’m forced to drop him when Casper shouts a warning and the wall explodes.
Casper speeds into the room and uses his body to cover Fiona as I use my lightning to vaporize the larger debris that flies towards them.
“What the hell was that?” I ask once the debris stops falling. Andrew has disappeared.
“Your friends are here,” Casper says. An alarm bleats from somewhere and I lessen the voltage, dropping to my knees in front of Fiona as Casper pulls the zip ties off.
“Hey, Flowers. Now is no time for a nap.”
She squints at the bright light beaming from my eyes. She winces, coughing up blood as I yank off my shirt and press it to her wounds.
“I’m so sorry. If I was the hacker, I didn’t know what I was doing. I would never–” she mumbles, and I fight back my tears and grip the back of her neck.
“I know you.”
She lets out a relieved sigh.
“I’ll see you on the battlefield. Try not to fry me,” Casper says with a smirk, before he speeds away.
“We need to get out of here.”
Fiona takes a deep breath and nods. I scoop her up, and she doesn’t protest, which tells me how serious her injuries are.
I lift my hand toward the frosted wall and punch a hole with my lightning. Paul's massive hand appears, and he pulls the wiring and glass away until he can fit through.
His face falls when he sees the state Fiona is in.
Liv’s voice pops into my head. “ We’ve got your location. Specter and Garrett are inbound. ”
Paul nods at me, confirming she spoke to him too, and Specter and Garrett appear out of thin air in front of us.
“Took you long enough,” I grumble, and Garrett smirks.
“Let’s get the fuck outta here,” he says, extending his hand so he can teleport us out of hell.
I hesitate, glancing at Fiona, and she palms my face, proving she knows me, too. “Go. Kill that son of a bitch.”
I may not be a hero, but I still have a job to do.
“Paul will take you someplace safe and get you healed up,” I say.
“Firebolt…” Specter says.
I hand Fiona over to Paul and she settles against his chest with a wince.
“Now is our chance. No more defense. It’s time to end this,” I say to Specter. He doesn’t respond, but he doesn’t stop me either.
Fiona grabs my shoulder. “I’ll kill you if you die.”
I grin, kissing her temple. “Like I’d give you the satisfaction.” Her pale face makes me hesitate, but Paul meets my gaze with a firm nod. He’ll keep her safe and get her to Skye and Raven.
“We gotta go. Now,” Garrett says.
Specter stares at me for a long moment. He taps his temple, turning off his implant before he addresses Garrett. “Get them out of here.”
Garrett puts his hand on Paul's shoulder. Fiona watches me from Paul’s arms and I soak in her patterns, the relief flooding through them, and the love I never thought I’d deserve.
And then she’s gone.