CHAPTER 30 - BEATRICE
I scream in frustration and concentration as the fire burns throughout my body. Caleb had injected me this morning with a new and more developed serum to test on me. He slams his fist on the computer screen and a million commands tear into my head.
Lift your hand.
Shake your head.
Scream.
I am panting hard as Caleb shuts down the system and turns to face me. His eyes burn with a cold hatred and he clenches his fists. My head pounds with pain as I struggle to sit up and face him. I wipe the sweat off my brow.
"How do you do it?" Caleb spits. I look up at him and see he is stepping closer. "How do you resist the serums?" I shrug.
"I just want to live, so my body fights it." He is only three feet away from me. I shift uncomfortably on the table and keep wiping the sweat of my face. Faster than I can see or register, he slaps me across the face. Hard.
"You little liar," he hisses. "Tell me how you do it?" My face hurts from the slap.
"I don't know. I swear: I have no idea."
0
I wake up to the sound of shouting. Voices near the door of my room and I sit up on the metal table, my face throbbing from Caleb's slap earlier. The door bursts open and people flood in around me. Some hold guns while others carry clipboards or blue bath robes. These must be the "Erudite Society" members. I've never seen them before in my life.
Two men carrying guns grab each of my arms, like they think I will run away through the open door. How can I if I am so weak and underfed right now? I haven't eaten in two days. A familiar blonde head bobs into the room rather quickly with a few more guards and they shut the door behind them. It clicks to show it is now locked. My vision tunnels when I finally get a good look at the woman. It's Jeanine Matthews. Caleb stands beside her.
"What's going on here?" I ask the men holding my arms. One of them glances down at me and I feel like I know him from somewhere. Like a distant dream I had.
"The entire building has gone into shut down. We were ordered to surround the victim and escort the second-in-command here."
Second-in-command? Jeanine isn't the real lead power over this group? Who is?
"Who is attacking the building? Are we safe?"
The second guard gives me a cold stare look, like: Please shut up, stupid girl.
But the familiar guard seems fine with telling me things.
"The authorities are attacking. Somehow, someone on the outside slipped up and handed us over. Or was arrested on a mission and was tempted into giving up the truth."
I bite my lip. "Is Peter Hayes one of your commanders' lackies? He was the guy that helped two other larger guys abduct me the other day." I can't believe I'm making small talk with my captors. Maybe I'm just desperate for a way out.
My captor's grip slightly lessens; but is still strong enough to keep me from running. Why does he make me feel like I know him already? And then it clicks in:
He's George Wu. The neighborhood policeman. One of Tobias' close friends.
Tobias sent him to find me.