Part 21 (2/2)

He'd posted a guard at my bedroom door. I glanced outside. The big, burly man who had ripped me from that tunnel stood below my window. Aaron wasn't leaving anything to chance. Lewis wouldn't help me. Grandma had no clue where to find me. I was alone in this mess.

How much of my memory would they take? Everything I knew about Lewis, every experience we'd ever shared. As much as I resented him, the thought of forgetting Lewis completely killed me. This island, this home...all gone. The children...Caroline...gone. What if Aaron screwed up and erased more? What if I became some vegetable with no thoughts, no life?

It wasn't right. He had no right to do this to me. He had no right to do this to anyone.

The tears came again, hot, stinging tears that slipped down cheeks raw from crying so much. As angry as I was at Aaron I was even more so at my supposed boyfriend. How could Lewis let this happen? Some girls complained because their boyfriends didn't pay them enough attention, or buy them gifts. But let's face it, Lewis could pretty much hands down win Worst Boyfriend Of The Year.

I spun around, anger propelling me forward, pacing back and forth, stuck in this stupid room. Should I even try to fight him? Or were my chances of winning just too pathetic? He had his henchmen to hold me down. I'd never really have a chance. My legs suddenly weak, I sank onto the edge of the bed. Would it hurt as I'd hurt Maddox? Would I bleed? I suppose I deserved it after what I'd done. Maybe this was what they meant by karma.

A soft murmur of voices interrupted the quiet. I surged from the bed and stumbled back until my shoulder blades. .h.i.t the wall. My time had come. I patted my jean pocket, searching for the feel of the Swiss Army Knife that had belonged to Dad. It might be a sad weapon and they'd probably find it on me, but for now it was the only protection I had.

Someone knocked, which made me laugh, a strangled manic laugh. I found their use of manners and privacy ridiculous considering the circ.u.mstance. I didn't bother to respond, but turned toward the windows, offering whoever it was my back. Could I lie? Pretend I'd changed my mind and wanted to be one of them again?

The door opened. My heart leapt into my throat. I didn't turn to look; I could see Lewis's reflection in the windows. He hesitated in the doorway and I wished I could see him better. Why I cared what he was thinking, I wasn't sure, but I wanted to read his mind. Did he regret doing this to me? Or was his need to see S.P.I. destroyed so great that he'd sacrifice our relations.h.i.+p so easily?

”We have to go...now,” his voice was strong, sure as if he didn't care at all what was about to happen.

My stomach churned and bile raced up my throat. I refused to puke in front of him.

”We need to hurry,” he said, his voice softer this time. ”It will take only a few moments, you'll rest and then we'll escort you home tomorrow.”

”Will it hurt?” I cursed my voice for catching.

He was quiet for a long, telling moment. ”A little.”

I cringed, despite trying not to. ”A little like we only hurt Maddox a little?” I turned, facing him.

He was wearing jeans and a fitted t-s.h.i.+rt that hugged his broad shoulders. Gorgeous...always gorgeous. But he was pale and there were dark circles under his blue eyes, indicating he hadn't slept. Well, good. It served him right.

”It's the only way,” he whispered. ”I thought this was what you wanted.”

At one time he'd cared about me, cared if I hurt, if I was injured. ”I want...” No, I wouldn't say it. There was no point, but I couldn't stop the words from tumbling through my head. I wanted things back to the way they were. Just me and Lewis. But I'd die before I'd say the words aloud.

”Sir,” one of the guards muttered, ”we need to hurry.”

So while Lewis stood there staring at me with those fathomless eyes, I tilted my chin arrogantly high and snapped out, ”Let's get this over with.”

I wouldn't look at him. I wouldn't beg him to help. If he wanted me to forget about him, I would. As I moved by him, he reached out, his fingers warm on my wrist. The moment he touched me, tears burned my eyes. I couldn't control myself around him.

”Cameron,” he whispered. He jerked me to him and I didn't protest. I sank into his body as he hugged me and I hugged him back, afraid to let go. ”I'll miss you.” His words tore at my heart. He cupped the sides of my face and pressed his lips to mine, a hard kiss. And I knew it would be our last.

Tears slipped down my cheeks. I tried to memorize everything about him...the way he smelled, the way his lips felt against mine. I clung desperately to those memories even as I knew that within moments they could be gone, erased from my mind forever.

He tore his mouth from mine and backed up, his gaze intense, his breathing harsh.

”Lewis.” I raised my hand. I wanted to beg him to go with me, beg him not to let this happen.

He turned away. My hand dropped to my side, my heart crumbling to the pit of my belly. I wouldn't plead. No, not again. He'd picked this stupid mission over me plenty of times. I would not beg him again.

”Let's go,” one of the guards demanded.

Lewis moved into the hall, not bothering to look back to see if I followed. He knew I had no choice. I barely noticed the length of the hall. The stairs seemed too steep and high for my trembling body. Each step down sent my heart racing faster, so fast I thought I'd faint. Closer to Aaron's study...closer to the end. I felt like I was headed toward my hanging.

It would hurt, even Lewis had admitted that much. I wasn't a coward, but I certainly didn't like pain. As I made my way toward Aaron's office door, my body felt numb, the situation unreal. It was as if my mind couldn't take the truth and my body was shutting down. We paused and I was vaguely aware of Lewis knocking. I tried not think about what would happen, tried not to think about the pain, tried not to think about the fact that no longer would I know there were others like me. Instead, I focused on the fact that tomorrow I'd be in my narrow bed, in my small room at Grandma's.

The door opened and Aaron appeared dressed as immaculately as always in black slacks and a blue b.u.t.ton up s.h.i.+rt. I was so disgusted by the sight of him that for a moment I didn't notice the frantic look in his gaze. But as he scowled down at me, I realized there was something more to his gaze, something that looked oddly like worry.

”It's too late,” he snapped. ”Take her to the dorm, now.”

”They're already here?” Lewis demanded. ”What happened?”

No why or Okie Dokie, not even a Yes Sir, but a what's happened. Which made me realize that taking me to the dorm had not been the original plan. Aaron slid me a suspicious glance, then looked back at Lewis. ”They've breached the fence.”

”s.h.i.+t,” Lewis whispered.

”They who?” I asked.

Aaron turned, heading back into his office. ”Get her downstairs, we're under lock down.”

Lewis grabbed my arm and dragged me down the hall. ”Lewis, what the h.e.l.l's going on?”

I could feel his body trembling as I tripped beside him. Was he trembling from fear or anger...I wasn't sure. ”All those S.P.I. agents you've been defending have breached our security. They're coming. Better pray they don't get into the mansion.”

My fear turned bitterly cold as panic flooded my body. I was barely aware as we stumbled down the steps to the bas.e.m.e.nt. Having a piece of your memory erased didn't seem so bad compared to being murdered. Would they kill us? Imprison us?

So focused on my fear, I was surprised to suddenly find us standing in front of the Children's Ward. Lewis punched in a code and the door slid open. The children were sitting on their beds, but awake, a sea of round, chubby faces staring at me.

”You'll all stay in here, understand?” Lewis asked, pus.h.i.+ng me inside. Everything was moving too quickly, my mind couldn't grasp the situation. But I was well aware that Lewis was leaving me, abandoning me, here.

He was at the door when I finally found my voice. ”Lewis! Where are you going? You can't leave me here!”

He didn't bother to turn around. ”It's the safest place for you.”

He slammed the door in my face. My stomach dropped. I grasped onto the cold, metal handle and pulled. It didn't budge. Trapped. I spun around. The children were sitting there, watching me with patient acceptance. I found Caroline almost immediately, a golden beacon of hope. She was two beds down, her face showing no emotion.

”It's fine. We'll be okay,” I said softly to myself, or to the children, I wasn't sure who.

No one responded to my pathetic attempt at a pep talk. But then again at least they didn't look afraid. Why didn't they look afraid? Maybe this happened often, maybe they didn't care. ”I'm saying we're safe here.”

Still no response.

”We know,” Caroline finally said.

”Oh, so this has happened before?”

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