Tempest of Emotions

Chapter Twelve- In the Middle of Nowhere

They were not ordinary agents, they were not ordinary humans. Max discovered this too late. There was no escape and from her previous encounters, she knew it was a losing fight. She glanced over to Alec only to discover him with a grim look on his face also. Both knew that they had entered a death trap and that the chances of escaping were none. White had trapped them and there was no escape in sight.

"I finally have you 452." White sneered at her prone form lying where she was knocked out. 'It will be a delight to make her pay for invading my life and stealing my son.' Also to crush the only remaining threat to his kind would only add to his enjoyment. A small wicked smile spread over his face until he was grinning ear to ear. He watched his agents load the four into the vans. He clambered and slammed the door shut; it was going to be a long ride.

The warehouse, the capture, all of it was a trap. A trap all too readily sprung by White. She shouldn't have underestimated him this time. She should have seen it coming. If only there was some clue or White tripped up, giving them a chance to escape. But no, he waited far too long to let this opportunity slip through his fingers. White was going to have a field day torturing her or what not. And what was White going to do with Alec? That might have been the last time she would see him alive. No, shaking her head, there was always a chance he got away and would return with help to save her. Unlikely as that hope is, she clung to it like a drowning rat to a floating log.

She woke up with a splitting headache where she was hit multiple times and sitting up stiffly she looked at her surroundings. They stuffed her, clothed in a hospital gown, into a small white padded room with a two-way mirror so that they could observe her, see just how much pain she could endure before they decided to slice her open and see the rogue Sandman's handiwork. Her time was running out, she was a threat, soon to be eliminated.

She took a quick assessment of the room; it empty except for speakers in the corners, four cameras taping her every move, a mirror for observation and a door, without a handle. 'Just like home,' she thought grimly. She wondered how thick the mirror was; maybe she could break her way out and escape. No, White was not going to let her escape so easily. He's not that stupid or perhaps that exactly what he wanted her to do- jump out the mirror and fall into some unfathomable terror. No, the mirror will stay an option, but until further analysis, she could not be sure it was not a trap.

She sat hard on the cold bare linoleum floor, her hands running through her hair desperately trying not to cry, not to weep. Two streams flowed down her pale face; she failed them, Al and Ernie. She held Alena's body as she slowly choked to death on her own blood. Ernie was dead by the time he hit the floor. She should not have been so reckless in the mission, it was because of her recklessness and her burning desire to save her friends that got them both killed. Zack was right about her afterwards.

"It's my fault. It's all my fault." She repeated softly, stifling her quiet sobs. She wiped her remaining tears and stiffened herself. She was acutely aware of the cameras trained on her were zooming in on her as she listened to the soft whirling of the machinery.

"That is correct, 452. You killed your friends, both of them." A loud voice boomed over the twin speakers in her room. White, she recognized his hateful voice, marched into her room as the door opened wide enough for her to see the many guards in the hallway; too many for her to handle in her weakened state.

"Hello 452," White greeted her softly, "I know what you're thinking and yes there are too many for you to kill, even if you somehow get pass me. And yes, that was your brother you saw. Short work he made of you. What, too soft to hurt your own scum? Well, he's proved himself useful, but I can't allow him to live. No matter, he'll be dead soon and you with him. Oh and don't count on 494 getting you out of here. He's in our custody too. The odds are against you, what are you going to do? Cry? Oh, go ahead, don't mind me. I enjoy watching scum like you break down before we even start. It makes the process so much easier on me. And far more entertaining I might add." He seized her by her collar roughly and brought his face nauseatingly close, "You want to kill me? I'm all yours. But, let's avoid a struggle today. I need you alive, at least for now."

The defiance in her eyes died, "What do you want." She asked with a tired drawn face.

"Want? Are you really that ignorant? I want you dead, I want my son back and I want all you and your 'genetically empowered breed' exterminated. Now, but since that's happening as we speak, I'll leave that for later discussions." He dropped her like a pile of rags and started pacing around the floor. "But I do need to scrape some of your DNA, have it analyzed, do the same with 494 and 599 and then exterminate you three. Discreetly, of course. But before I kill you three, I get to have some fun. Are you fond of brainwashing and torturing? We use only the best, and yes, it is the same as those programs used by Manticore. We even have some Manticore technicians! Just like old times."

Max could only glare coldly at him. The snide, sneering murderer. She watched helplessly as the room was flooded by lab technicians and medical orderlies as they surrounded and held her. She struggled to break free, but her strength suddenly sapped as her mind clouded and faded into darkness. White towered over her limp body, holding an empty syringe.

(In a nearby room…)

A splash of cold water rudely awoke him. His whole body ached, especially his throat. He rubbed it gingerly and shook his head to clear his foggy mind. He immediately regretted it as a stabbing headache set it. 'What's wrong with me? They must have drugged me, or else I wouldn't feel like this. Where's Max?' A swift kick to his ribs reminded him of the other person in the room.

"You're finally awake. Good, we can begin immediately." An emotionless female voice greeted him. Alec looked up to see a dour thin woman in a white lab coat looking at him with obvious contempt. His gaze wandered to the slightly open door as he calculated his chances of a successful escape.

"I wouldn't try that if I were you. There are plenty of guards out there to handle you should I need any assistance. Make no mistake; I'm not one of your ordinary run of the mill human. Heck, I'm not even sure I could be classified as human." She turned her back to him to call in guards, now was the time to run. His form blurred as he staggered toward the door only to be knocked unconscious by the woman's incredibly strong arm. He sank into a heap at her feet.

"Told you not to do that," She sighed as she bent to examine his now slightly bruised cheek, "And you made me bruise you too. Such a handsome face. Too bad." She dragged him to his feet and handed him to the guards. The small group followed the woman as she led them down a corridor and into a small dark room. She flicked the light switch on. Glaring fluorescent lights and a sterile smell flooded the room.

"Set the subject into the chair and make sure the restraints are tight. We don't want last time to happen again." The woman started the equipment and initiated the program. She turned around, "Good, that will be all. Please wait outside, until I need further assistance and please tell White that I have started on subject 494."

"Yes ma'am," The guards marched out of the room and closed the door.

A/N- Sorries about that delay! I am absolutely inundated with college stuff and had no time to write. And with writer's block, the story is slow as usual. I want to know- Is there still anyone out there still interested in this story, b/c I kinda want to put this story on hold for a while. I just can't think of anything good to write!