Chapter 29 #2
The smart thing to do would be to call the mission a wash. Both of them well knew they might’ve entered a trap, but if it was a trap, they were already caught. Elliot’s gaze flicked back to the window they’d entered through, the blue sky and brown grass.
It was the last thing he saw before a blast of energy knocked him off his feet, flinging him through the air. He crashed into a wall, the back of his head striking solid plaster with enough force to jar his teeth.
Beside him Bellona hissed in pain. Elliot fought off dizziness and sought her out, his vision swimming. Vicious sea green eyes came into focus. The abrupt pain of a fist crashing into his temple put a stop to his thoughts.
He regained awareness as he was divested of his weapons.
Prying open his eyes, he searched the room for Bellona.
Found her unconscious, strapped to a metal table, jacket removed.
They were in the process of rolling up her sleeve.
Elliot blinked; his tongue felt too thick.
Perspiration broke out on his forehead. “Don’t touch her! ”
“Ah-ah,” A woman’s voice said, cold, and he knew as he struggled to move his head that those awful green eyes would greet him.
She appeared precisely as she had in Brandt’s dream.
Slim and mean-faced, there was nothing particularly beautiful nor particularly ugly about her.
She could be anyone he’d ever passed in his life without noticing.
“You were going to kill me.” She spoke German.
Elliot struggled to gather enough wits to translate.
“And your friend—we saw what she can do. It’s best to keep her asleep for now.
I feel that will ensure your compliance, yes? ”
Elliot stared, trying to work out all the pieces of this, disoriented as he was. His breath came faster, chest tightening. “You knew I was coming.”
“Yes, of course. The others as well.” At something Elliot’s face did, she laughed, cruel and amused.
“Oh, little mouse, you thought you were so clever. Sneaking into Oberst’s dream as though he does not have every imaginable defence protecting his mind.
Besides, he knew to be on guard when your illusions failed to fool him at the party.
He could have destroyed you then. Instead, he laid a larger trap to catch more mice.
With one small difference from your situation. ”
Elliot gritted his teeth, pushing down on his instinctive panic. Was that why he felt it had to be him on this mission? Brandt had twisted things around in Elliot’s head even as Elliot was attempting to do the same to him.
There had to be a way out of this. Had to. He needed to determine a course of action. Bellona was dependent on him for rescue. If he was smart enough, fast enough, there might still be time to save the others. Talk damn it. “And what difference is that?”
“They will not survive the trap.”
Elliot’s blood turned to ice. His face froze, heart stopping. No. “What are you saying?” He shook his head, trying to clear it, and winced at the fresh wave of vertigo. “If that’s true, why tell me? You’ve nothing to gain.”
Her lips curled, a twinkle in her malevolent eyes.
“Ah. Richter’s suggestion. He believes you will fight us less if you have no hope to save your friends.
And trust there is none. We did set two tests as you know.
However, both tests have been already completed.
Your friends will stroll into those factories and unleash a horde on themselves. ”
“No,” Elliot spat, scowling. His denial ingrained.
“My friends aren’t that dense. They’ll observe it’s a trap.
They won’t fall for it.” Would they though?
Warren had promised to be cautious, but he knew what was at stake.
Would he stop long enough to notice how much danger he was in?
Would Hoffman? Neither was the type to be prudent regarding their own safety.
Sick certainty washed through him. They wouldn’t.
They’d walk right into that trap and to their deaths.
And afterward the Germans would have a new weapon that might change the tide of the war.
What the hell was he supposed to do? There had to be something.
Albrecht glanced at the watch she wore. “Poor little mouse. Even if you managed to escape now, you’d leave her to us.
And I promise you we won’t be kind.” She grinned sharply, her straight white teeth shining.
“I want you to understand that I mean we have necro-phosgene gas on hand. I’ll infect her and release her. So now you see your dilemma.”
“Go to hell,” Elliot bit out, hatred more intense than anything he’d known coursing through his veins like acid.
Her smile broadened as she stepped back. “Not yet. Perhaps one day. I have to win a war first.” Elliot struggled against whatever invisible bond held him in place, alarmed distress finally catching up, forcing him to act. “Now that won’t do. Vogel, some help?”
The pressure on Elliot increased, and his vision went spotty. Miniscule dark spots danced before his eyes, specks of light bursting in tiny white fireworks. He struggled for air, but drew none in.
This was the end. He failed his team. Failed Warren. Failed everyone. Led them into death. There was no hope left.
Hazel eyes.
Wicked smile.
Darkness.