Chapter Twenty Eight
Thecoolwater laps at my legs as I dangle them in the pool, a welcome relief from the humid air. The woods surrounding this clearing are alive with the songs of birds and insects. Even though we’re in a different dimension, the familiar sounds relax me.
I glanceoverat Ray sitting beside me, his strong profile outlined against the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees. He looks more relaxed than I’ve ever seen him. Some of the hardnessthatwasetchedinto his features has finally smoothed away.
“It’s so peaceful here,” I murmur.
Shayla glides up, swimming through the water. “That’s why we brought you here to our dimension.Fin and I set this place up to make sure whenthe men were recovered, theycouldn’t be found by the Taxin aliens.”
I nod, comforted by her wordsandthe unease coiled in my gut relaxes, butit’s still going totake a while before I can feel celebratory. “What’s the plan for dealing with Earth?”
“The Sinth Sovereignty has mobilized the full force of the Alliance,” Shayla says, resting against the side of the pool next to me. “They’ll quarantine the planet until the threatis neutralized.”
My lips thin. Quarantine.Justan acceptable word for trapping everyone, innocent and guilty alike.
Shayla seems to read my thoughts. “It’s the only way. They can’t risk the Wen infection spreading. Or the Taxin escaping.”
“I know,” I sigh. “I just wish there was another solution.”
Shayla squeezes my shoulder, and her expression is sympathetic. “Once the Taxinare ferretedout of their bases, the quarantine will lift, I’m sure.Ijustcan’t imaginethatthe disease won’t be under control by then, too.Besides, where did you want to go?”
I force a smile, knowing she’s joking. Even if part of me doubts we’lleverbe free of this threat. I mean, these guys essentially have powers. Likesuperheroes.
Will the government ever leave them alone?
I nod again, wanting to believe it will be as easy as she says. I need to believe her.
Shayla straightens, glancing past me to where Ray’s talking again with theother men whowere rescued.“Are you okay with staying here? We have a placeset up herein Fin’s dimension with the others. Your own place.” Her head tilts toward the men as she drops her voice. “With privacy.”
“Sure,” I flush slightly, wondering if Jamie said something to her about hearing Ray and me having sex.
Fuck. I hope not.
But it doesn’t really matter to me where Ray and I end up. As long as we’re safe and he’s out of the clutches of the aliens—or military. “But you should talk to him, too.”
“No problem.”
Shayla moves awayandI staredownat the gently rippling water, listening to the musical trill of calling birds in the trees. This place seems so far removed from everything we’ve been through. And so peaceful.
I’m jolted from my thoughts as Ray’s voice drifts over. “...can’t hide here forever. We have to go back.”
“Back?” scoffs one of the other men, tossing his long, dark hair over his shoulder. “To what?The disease that’s taking the lives of people and turning them into walking corpses? Or more cages and experiments?”
Gavin is being a little dramatic, I think. But his knuckles are white where they’re gripping his girlfriend Rose’s shoulder as she stands in the pool in front of him.
He’s scared.
I listened as he and Ray spoke earlier about their “gifts,” as Jamielikes to callthem. Gavin can see frequencies…or auras or something. And I believe he rode across the country on a motorcycle to find Rose, who was hiding out with her younger brothers. They’ve been through a lot.
My brows draw together. “Go back where? And why?”
“There are still others trapped there,” Ray says, his voice low but intent. “We can’t abandon them.”
The men fall silentandunease trickles down my spine. Ray wants to go back to Earth’s dimension? Back to the nightmare we just escaped?
Shayla’s voice interrupts my spiraling thoughts.
“Good news!” She waves her arms over her head, drawing everyone’s attention. “You’re not alone in this any longer. Wejustneed to stick together and stay safe. Now that the Sinth Sovereignty and Alliance are on Earth, they’ll take over the investigation and make sure the people being experimented on are released and taken care of. Our job is to sit tight for themoment,so you’re alive to testify against your captors. Fin and I have set up individual two-bedroom homes so everyone has privacy.”
I blink in surprise, even as Jamie flushes and Tory giggles. Shayla is really playing up the privacy thing. Maybe it isn’t just Ray and me who are too loud.
Tory told me earlier she worked on base as a psychologist or therapist or something, but I didn’t know her previously. Or at least, not before the Taxin took us.Idoremember her from our time before debriefingandshewas someone on the list Ray gave me.
I never caught at her apartment, and I guess this explains it. She’s here with Steven, and he’s easily the least human-looking man from the three otherswhowererescuedwith Ray.
I watch Jamie blush, fascinated by how red she turns. She looks like she’sbeen sunburned.
Shayla winks at her knowingly before continuing.“It will give Ray a chance to visit with the othersas well.I know you all have a lot to discuss.”
I glance at Ray, myheart sinking. Yes, it seems there is much to discuss indeed. And I can’t shake the feelingI’m not going tolike it one bit.
I’m pulled from my worries as several new Sinth aliens sparkle into existence. Desin is with them, but there are two I don’t recognize.
I press closer to Ray’s side instinctively, wondering what they want.
“Hello,” says the tallest newcomer with a slight head tilt. “Most of you know me, but I’m Payak of the Sinth Guardians.Thisis Desin and Jaxtyn—also Guardians.And we’re proud to introduce you to Carnel,who’s been recently appointed asHead Ambassador to Earth by the Sinth Sovereignty.”
I manage a weak smile.
Most of us nod in greetingbutno one responds, waiting to see what they want. Ray has stiffened beside me, and the three other men on his other side have frozen in place.
I wish I could read Ray’s thoughts. Steven is starting to vibrate in placeandI wouldn’t be surprised to see all of them take off into the woods at a run like I did days ago at the Guardian’s house on base.
Before I can speculate further, Carnel steps closer. “We cannot thank you enough for the vital knowledge you will provide against the Taxin and their allies. Your testimony will be invaluable.”
“Happy to help,” Ivan replies, shooting a sideways glance at the other men beside him as he climbsto his feet.
Ivan hooked up with Mae. She’s the one with the Taxin stepfather who knew the prisoners werebeing moved. She mentioned Ivan was in the military whenhe was suckedinto the alien’s program.
It looks like he’s the unspoken leader of theirgroupas all the men follow his lead to stand.
Carnel adds, “Our investigations have already uncovered troubling evidence from their servers. We’ve traced these cruel experiments back over a century.” He shakes his head. “Barbaric. Rest assured, justice willbe served.”
I shudder at the thought of these atrocities going on for so long. Fucking assholes.
Ray’s hand finds mine and squeezesgentlyas he stands and pulls away, clearing his throat. “You’ve only scratched the surface, then. I’ve seen everything.Thisstarted over three hundred years ago.”
A shocked silence follows his words. Carnel’s eyes go wide, and the Sinth exchange startled looks.
“That’s not possible.” There’s splashing to my left, and I glance over in time to see Jamie almost to the stairs. “The encryption on their files...”
“Is irrelevant to me,” Ray finishes. He taps his temple. “It’s all in here. Easily retrievable, too. Like it’s written in my cells.”
Payak and Carnel share an intense, meaningful stare. In unison, they turn back to Ray, expressions inquisitive.
“Tell us more,” Payak urges, leaning forward. “The Guardians have been working on breaking the encryption, but it sounds like you already have access.”
Ray’s jaw tightens, taking a step away as he nods. “After your Guardians rescued me, I followed the transport into the military base center and snuck in a back door...”
As hestarts to explainwhat he did after his original rescue, the men move away toward the Sinth. He glances back at me, gratitude flickeringin his eyesas he explains how he met me. Then he takes a deep breath and continues, laying bare the horrorshe’s witnessedas he delved through their files whilehewas connected to the power while he hid in the basement.
My heart aches for him, having to relive such trauma. Not only the long years he was there but also others documented in their records. He never said a word. But the avid interest from Payak and Carnel is encouraging.
Finally! Someone is listening—and ready to take action.
With Ray’s help, maybe they can really end this nightmare for good. Fragile hope blooms in my chest as I consider our future.Maybewe really can leada normallife.
Kind of.
Ray’s voice is steady as he recounts the details all the way up to his last capture. Thenhedescribes thelastweapon they used that seemed to power him up instead of knocking him out. His voice dips lower as he explains the temporary agony. I wish I could erase the painful memories for him.
“We have a lot of work to do,” Payak says when Ray finishes. “But there’s time. You all need rest.We’d liketo return tomorrow to take you back to Earth’s dimension to meet your respective alien genetic ambassadors.”
Ray and Ivan glance at each other.
Desin steps closer, holding up his finger. “You’ve been genetically changed by alien DNA. You’ll be able to learn all about the changes to your body. How they did it…what you can expect, and of course, how you can control any new talents not normally accessible to Humans.”
“Like Ray’s connection to electricity,” I breathe, glancing over at Mae and Tory to my left in the water.
Jamie steps closer to the men. She’s climbed out of the pool andis swallowedby a humongous towel. “I’ve seen parts of the encrypted data. If Ray can remember passwords...”
“We may finally access the full records,” Desin finisheswith an eager nod. “Yes.”
“The hard evidence will make their case quicker,” Carnel adds.
“I’ll do whatever I can.” Ray turns to look over at meandour eyes meet. An understanding passes between us. He’s determined to get justiceandwith the Alliance on our side, we have a real chance of taking down the Taxin and their human conspirators.
My pulse quickens at the thought. The experiments, the abductions, the exploitation - it could all end.
Ray gives me a tired smile before turning back to the Sinth. “No one else will suffer like we did.” He glances at Ivan, Steven, and Gavin. “It will finally be over.”
Relief floods through me.
Over.
The word seems too good to be true. But with everyone helping, maybe it will be. There’s still a long road ahead, but for the first time, the end seems within reach.
The Sinth only stays a few more minutes, disappearing in rainbows of light. Soonit’sjust the couples by the shimmering pool, and the woods are silent around us.
I slide into the cool water, letting it soothe my frazzled nerves. Ray follows me, wading in from the stairs.
“It’s hard to believe it might finally be over,” Ivan murmurs to Mae as they settle in chairs by the pool.
Ray reaches for me, his powerful arms wrapping around my waist as he sinks into the water untilwe’re face toface. “Will you go with me tomorrow?”
“Of course.” I lean into him, wrapping my legs and arms around him, comforted by his solid presence. “I’m glad I met you,” I whisper.
Ray pulls back, lifting his hand to cup my cheek. “Me too.”
His eyes search mine as the rest of the world falls away until it’s just us. When his lips meet mine, it feels like coming home. Like finding a part of myself I didn’t know was missing.
A catcall breaks through the murmuring of voices around us.
We break apart, foreheads touching, asJamie’s voicecalls out, “Get a room.”
I ignore them. So much hasbeen takenfrom us, but we have this. Eachother.
A real chance at a future that’s safe.Or safer, I guess.
“I love you,” I whisper.
Ray’s arms tighten around me as he stiffens. “I’ve loved you sincethe momentwe met,” he responds, dropping his lips to mine again.
The water ripples and splashes around us as we hold each other close. Despite the challenges and danger ahead, a sense of warmth settles deep in my chest.
He loves me.