Chapter Twenty Two
TWO DAYS LATER
I stand at the apartment door, my hand hesitating on the knob. Determination and worry churn in my gut.
I have to do this. I’m too worried about Ray, and I can’t just sit around while they experiment on innocent people.
“Summer?”
Sara’s voice makes me jump, and I spin, turning to find her silhouetted in the hallway, arms crossed. “Where are you going this late?”
Busted.
I knew this was a possibility. That’s why I’m wearing casual jogging pants and a T-shirt.
“Just going for a run.” I force nonchalance into my voice. “You know, gotta work on my cardio.”
Sara’s eyes narrow. “At eleven o’clock at night? I don’t think so. What’s really going on?”
I sigh, glancing back at the door. I can’t tell her where I’m really going. She’ll only try to stop me.
“I just need to clear my head. Don’t worry about me.”
Before Sara can argue, I slip out the door, racing down the stairs to the first floor. Sara follows me into the hallway, worry creasing her forehead. “Summer, wait!”
I pause, glancing back up the stairs where she’s hovering outside our door. “What?”
“It’s late. I know something’s bothering you, but this isn’t the way to deal with it.”
“I’m fine,” I say, starting down the stairs again.
Sara hurries after me, catching me at the exit door. “No, you’re not. I’m your friend, Summer. Talk to me.”
Guilt twinges in my chest, but I shove it down. I can’t tell her the truth. She doesn’t remember everything I told her right before our memory-wiping debriefing. And after talking to everyone who still can’t remember anything, I’m afraid to share.
Some of them can’t keep food down. The ones who are doing well just have headaches, but the pain is so bad, that only a few have started working again.
No. I can’t do that to her. Just trying to remember will hurt her.
This situation sucks because I really miss my friend. My confidant.
“I appreciate your concern, but I need to do this.” I keep my voice gentle, taking a step closer as she descends the stairs and reaching out to squeeze her upper arms. “Have you seen my butt recently?” I laugh quietly as I release her and shake my head. “I can’t just sit around anymore. I have to do something.”
Sara grabs my arm as I move away. “But this late? Why don’t you set an alarm and go early?”
I meet her worried gaze. “Because I did that this morning and slept right through it,” I lie, unable to look her in the eye. “Don’t worry. It won’t be long. I’m starting slow so I don’t hurt myself.”
Sara hesitates, uncertainty in her eyes. After a long moment, she releases my arm. “Okay. Just...be careful.”
“I will,” I assure her. “Don’t worry about waiting up. We’re on a secret base somewhere in the middle of a National Forest. Get some rest and I’ll see you in the morning.”
Before she can respond, I open the exterior door and wave briefly back at her concerned face. Sara has a point, but no one jogs in the middle of the night. At least, I don’t think so. It’s not like I’ve ever checked, but I picked this time because it’s late and quiet.
I’m hoping I won’t draw attention to myself. But I can’t let fear hold me back anymore. It’s time for action.
I step outside into the cool night air, and the breeze ruffles my ponytail. Goosebumps prickle my bare arms as I set off at a jog towards the officers’ housing on the other side of the base. Most of the homes are empty, reserved for dignitaries or other high-ranking staff when they come onto the base.
The determination burning in my chest propels me into a jog towards the fancier side cut into the mountainside. I can’t back down now.
My heartbeat pounds in my ears from both exertion and nerves. I don’t actually know where I’m going or who I’m looking for. Well… Shayla, of course.
I haven”t seen her since she was at my apartment the other night, and I tried to catch her at her place a few times today. But when I spoke to her roommate a little earlier, she said she hadn’t been back in days. She wasn’t worried or anything, though. Just claiming they aren’t that close and for all she knew, Summer’s been deployed again.
Could that be?
Thoughts of Ray swim unbidden to the surface of my mind. I feel an unexpected pang in my chest. I shouldn’t care so much about a man I just met, especially one who’s not even completely human.
But his eyes...they were so haunted, yet earnest. Like he’s been to hell and back, but still has hope.
I shake my head, trying to clear it. I can’t get distracted. This isn’t about finding my boyfriend or something. This is serious.
Ray is most likely a prisoner again. They could be experimenting on him right now. In fact, they most likely are considering everything he could do…
I need to focus on finding the people--or Sinth aliens--who can help me free him and the others like him. Still, my traitorous heart flutters at the memory of his face.
I won’t give up on him though. Or on any of the others he swore were trapped with him at that place. Never.
Drawing a deep breath, I pick up my pace. I’m going to get answers. Tonight.
The houses grow larger and more spread out as I skirt through a backyard and hop a short fence. See? Cardio.
My footsteps slow as I head uphill, scanning the tidy yards, looking for anything out of the ordinary. A light in a window, a face at a curtain? Are more homes occupied by these Sinth aliens?
Or other aliens?
My hair stands on end at the random thought as I jog under one of the light posts, trying to remember exactly which house it was. Further up?
Most of the homes are dark, their inhabitants—if there are any—are likely asleep at this late hour. Doubt creeps into my mind. Did I come all this way for nothing?
Will they really help me? Especially without Shayla. What did she do to earn their good graces?
No. I can’t think like that. Shayla wouldn’t lie to me. If she says they’re working to stop this, I just have to find them.
I creep along in the shadows, peering into the darkness. A flicker of movement catches my eye and I freeze. One of the homes has a light on in the living room. I can just make out a bulky silhouette passing by the window.
My breath catches in my throat. This is it. The size of the deck… the curve in the driveway.
Definitely.
Before I can talk myself out of it, I slip across the lawn and up the front stairs to the porch. My fist hovers an inch from the door as nerves strike again.
Can I trust these people? What if it’s a trap?
Fuck it.
I rap my knuckles sharply on the solid wood. The sound echoes through the still night.
Now I wait, my heart in my throat, unsure of what I’ll find on the other side.
The door swings open, revealing a hulking man with a crew cut. He looks me up and down, eyes narrowed in suspicion. His gruff voice rumbles with a strange accent. “Can I help you?”
I swallow down my nerves. “I’m looking for some friends. Shayla said I could find her here.”
The man’s eyes widen briefly in recognition before he steps back, gesturing me inside. “Come in, come in. We’ve been expecting you.”
I step over the threshold, and the door closes firmly behind me. My pulse kicks up a notch, but I force myself to look around. These homes are nice.
The man leads me through the living room and into a kitchen and dining area. On the other side of the large table, there is a railing with a few steps down into a lower family room. A group is gathered there, conversing in hushed voices that cut off abruptly at my entrance.
I notice Shayla immediately when she jumps up to race up the stairs. “Summer! You made it.” She gives me a quick hug before turning to the others. “This is my friend, Summer. Summer, meet… everyone.”
A chorus of greetings echoes as we walk down the stairs. There have to be over a dozen people in here, perched on chairs and a few of the women are sitting on laps.
“I’m so glad you came to see us.”A young woman I don”t recognize shakes my hand. ”Good timing, too. Big news.”
I nod, still wary but willing to listen. “What’s the news?” My eyes dart around the room, noticing most of them are staring.
One of the women clears her throat and silence settles in the room. “My father says the Taxin are relocating their human captives to a new facility.”
My blood runs cold, considering the implications. If the Taxin are moving their human prisoners, and if they catch Ray, he’ll be disappearing with them.
We can’t let that happen.