Part 22 (1/2)

She nodded. I shook my head, disgusted. What a wonderful way for a child to live. I couldn't leave them here. I had to find away to take them with me. As soon as the thought entered, I realized how ridiculous it was. Right, it was going to be hard enough to slip out unnoticed, how would I escape with twenty kids?

Realizing there was nothing I could do for these children at the moment, I focused on doing something proactive...like pacing. I walked up and down the aisle between the beds, my mind spinning. Lewis could be hurt, even killed. And I hated myself for caring about him, and wondered if this was his powers of mental and emotion persuasion at work once more. And what about Maddox? Would he escape? Or would they, seeing him as a threat, get rid of him altogether?

Footsteps thundered above, making the ceiling vibrate. The children gasped as one, finally reacting like normal human beings. They scampered from their little beds, huddling together against the far wall.

”It's okay,” I insisted, although I knew it was far from okay. If those footsteps were from S.P.I., that meant they'd invaded the house. The million dollar question was were S.P.I. good or bad? What if they could help and escort me to my Grandma's? What if they killed us all? It didn't matter, I had to try.

”Does anyone know the code on the door?”

Caroline parted from the group, her long nightgown brus.h.i.+ng against the floor. ”Promise you'll come back for me?”

I didn't have to think twice. ”Yes.”

”Twenty-eight, thirteen, five.”

A door from the back of the room burst open, nearly scaring me to death. Deborah rushed through, her usually beautiful face wild with panic. So maybe being attacked wasn't common, or the attack was worse than before.

”Come, children. To the back, just as we've practiced.”

Caroline glanced over her shoulder. ”You promised.” Then she turned and raced after the other kids. Obedient little children, too afraid to argue. But I knew an opportunity when I saw one.

”You too.” Deborah waved me over, her face set stern as if she was in no mood to argue. ”Don't worry.” She said the words as an afterthought, as if she wasn't used to comforting others.

I nodded, pretending I was as gullible as the kids she was currently escorting through the back door, leading them only G.o.d knew where. I took a few steps forward, following slowly. Deborah wasn't worried about me; she had more important matters at the moment. It would be the perfect time, perhaps the only time, to escape. I waited until Deborah disappeared into the back room.

Frantic, I spun around and sprinted to the door. ”Numbers,” I muttered, my hand hovering in front of the keypad. ”What had Caroline said?”

Twenty-eight, thirteen, five. The numbers rushed through my head and afraid they'd disappear just as quickly, I punched in the code. The lock clicked, the door popped open. I stumbled back, my heart slamming wildly in my chest. If I ran into anyone...if Lewis and Aaron found out...if S.P.I. really was the threat Aaron proclaimed...

”You can't leave!” Deborah's voice snapped, the tone edged with fear.

I glanced over my shoulder. She was rus.h.i.+ng across the room toward me. I stepped back, through the door and into the hall. ”I have to. Don't follow, you'll only endanger yourself and the children.”

Her face was furious. ”You can't!”

”Sorry, but I can.” I moved into the hall and pushed the door shut, hearing it click in place. I couldn't leave through the exit where I'd escaped last time. I needed to somehow make it out the front, where I'd be closer to those gates. I bolted down the dark corridor, swerving around storage boxes and old furniture.

Deborah wouldn't dare come after me and put not only herself, but the kids in danger. Would she? Sure enough, when I glanced back, she was peering at me through the small window on the door. Relief was swift and sweet. One down...

If S.P.I. agents had entered the house and were looking for Maddox, they'd eventually end up down here. I paused, resting against a cinder block wall, trying to hear noise above, but it was impossible with blood rus.h.i.+ng to my ears and the harsh pant of my breath. Every crack and pop startled me. Every shadow was a threat.

”The west end is secure. I'll check on the children,” someone said, his voice echoing down the hall.

Not S.P.I. but just as bad. One of Aaron's henchmen. I dove behind a pile of boxes, scrunching up as small as I could. The cinderblock wall was rough and cold against the side of my face but I didn't dare move to try and ease the discomfort. The floor vibrated, heavy footsteps coming closer...closer...

When they checked on the kids, they'd know I'd escaped. Would they bother to search for me? I could only hope they'd be too busy with S.P.I.

Two hulking forms rushed by, the beams from their flashlights highlighting dark corners of the corridor, the light bouncing against the walls. I squeezed back against the cinderblock wall and held my breath.

Their bodies faded into the darkness, the hall growing silent once more. I finally released the air I held. Who the h.e.l.l was I kidding? I had no idea how to escape. Frustrated tears burned my eyes. I had the ridiculous thought that if I just stayed here, hidden behind these boxes, everything would be okay.

Even if I managed to make it outside, that sewage drain had most likely been covered. How would I make it through the gates? I pressed the heels of my palms over my eyes, forcing the tears to stop. I wouldn't make it out of here alive, but there was one man who might be able to help. The very same man who could keep S.P.I. from killing me on sight. Could I trust him? Did I have a choice? Before I was able to think about the ramifications of my decision, I surged to my feet and bolted down the long corridor, hoping it would lead to the opposite end of the house. Maddox was my only chance. He was a secret agent, if anyone could escape, it was him.

I didn't miss the three empty chairs as I raced by. Aaron had placed guards outside Maddox's door. Guards who had left their stations probably to fight S.P.I. But they would be back soon, I was sure of that. What I wasn't sure of was whether to be relieved or scared to death when I saw Maddox's steel door.

I froze, there in front of the door. For a moment, as panic overwhelmed me, I forgot the code Olivia had given me. Deep breath in, deep breath out. Calming my nerves I practiced my meditation in the middle of the hall, in the middle of a war. How ironic that the practices Aaron had taught might help me escape. The code came back to me and I quickly punched in the numbers. The door popped open. Most likely Aaron had some sort of alarm on the door, which is how he'd found me the first time I'd come here alone. I'd have only seconds. I pushed the door wider and rushed inside the small room.

Maddox, wearing the same clothing he'd been wearing since the day he'd arrived, was tied to that chair again. He lifted his head, that familiar glare oddly comforting. His face was pale, dried blood caked to the corner of his mouth. Had they tried to break into his thoughts again, or was the blood from someone's fist?

Disgusted with the entire situation, I started cautiously toward him. ”Listen to me, we don't have long. I need your help, and I'll...help you.”

”Ah, so they've broken through the gates?” Maddox grinned. ”Maybe I don't need your help.”

”And maybe Aaron will stop them before they get to you, or kill you.” I paused far enough away so he couldn't touch me if he broke through those bonds. ”I release you and you help me and the children escape.” My words were blunt, with little explanation. I hoped he'd understand because we didn't have time to chit-chat.

He quirked a dark brow. ”The children?”

I swallowed hard, wondering how much he knew. ”There are others. Younger Mind Readers.”

He looked me up and down slowly, as if judging my worth. ”How do you know I won't kill you when I'm free?”

My heart skipped a beat, but I refused to let the fear show on my face. ”Because I don't believe you're that bad.”

He was still smiling when he responded, ”Fine.” He'd agreed quickly enough...too quickly.

My suspicion was immediate. ”Swear on you girlfriend's life.”

He narrowed his eyes, his anger almost palpable. ”Go to h.e.l.l, Sweetheart.”

I didn't let him frighten me, I didn't have time. ”I mean it.”

He was silent for one long moment, mulling over his possibilities. He knew as well as I that he was limited in choices.

”Hurry,” I urged, glancing out the door. ”We need to hurry!”

”Fine, I agree. Don't really have a choice, do I?”

”Well that's heartening,” I muttered, edging closer.

I didn't trust him in the least, but I didn't have a choice either. I dropped to my knees and pulled out my pocket knife. With trembling hands, I sawed at the rope around his ankles. The twine popped apart and Maddox flexed his feet, grimacing. I moved to his back and sawed at the rope holding his wrists. Although I was in a hurry, I couldn't help but notice his skin was red and raw. His hands free, I shoved the knife back into my pocket. He pulled his arms in front of him, rolling his hands around and around as if to get the blood pumping.

I knew his muscles hurt from lack of use, but we didn't have time for him to do yoga. ”Let's go.” I didn't wait for him but rushed into the hall, hoping he'd follow. ”There's an exit I used yesterday, just down here.”

I turned to see him stumbling after me. His hands were braced against the hallway wall, his face pale and sweaty. He didn't exactly look good. I hadn't thought about the fact that his muscles would be weak. G.o.d, I hoped he could make it; there was no possible way I could carry him out of here. I paused, waiting for him to stumble toward me. When he was close enough to touch, I slipped my arm around his waist. He stiffened, obviously surprised or disgusted by my touch. I didn't have time to be offended.

”We have to hurry,” I insisted. ”The door isn't far.”