ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ Tethered ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Chapter 32

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• Luna •

Luna saw her black irises and yellow pupils in the cracked mirror. Her consciousness had finally woken and taken hold.

Gasping, she backed away from the scene and dropped the glass. "Oh, God. What did I do?"

Nurse Smith's body was behind her. "This was me."

She recalled doing that. She fought and stabbed Julia.

And she wasn't sorry.

Her logical brain understood Nurse Smith was dead and no one would come upstairs to find her. She called out to the guys downstairs while she circled the nurse's body. Stepping into the bedroom, Luna tethered to Amir and noticed that he was with Greer in the cellar. Everything about their road trip was becoming too wild, and she winced.

She covered her mouth, hoping the bile would return.

Luna breathed softly after Amir saw her. "Moon?"

"A," she whispered, her head bowed and nerves jittering.

He held her cheek and said, "Baby," but she kept her eyes closed. "What's going on? Talk to me."

Amir's voice nearly knocked her over. She held herself up but arched at the waist. "Did you hear anything . . . up here?" she asked, shivering.

"We've been down here getting can goods and supplies," Amir said. "What happened?"

"I . . . I did something. It's big."

His expression lost all humor. "What?"

"I was attacked by Nurse Smith. She'd gotten into the house somehow, and I killed her." Luna's stomach twisted. "She's dead."

"Are you serious?"

She exhaled. "Julia tried activating me. My Trojan side."

"What?" Amir held on tight. "Are you okay?"

Luna nodded as he kissed her forehead. "I'll be there," he promised. "Stay in the room."

Nodding again, she fought back tears.

She nearly fell when her temple ached. Did she see distorted images when Nurse Smith triggered her? She looked up, gasping. The Bluetooth had been touched. It was called a Sonar Oscillator. Luna twitched. She sniffled anxiously. Red fingers. Her nose bled.

Towels were in the bathroom. When she entered, Luna closed her eyes to avoid looking in the mirror.

She glanced after reaching the counter.

Brown. Not the frightening black and yellow. Unlike BARDA or Nurse Smith. Maybe it happened only once. Something happened—

Luna thought of Julia's body.

"Okay," she gulped. "You didn't imagine anything. You jumped and stabbed your attacker. Nurse Smith would've murdered you."

When Luna reached the stairs, Amir wasn't there yet and Nurse Smith's Bluetooth was still in her open hand. Luna walked around Julia's legs with the towel. The nurse wanted Luna to attack her, but she was quickly killed. She also didn't think Julia could hurt her with what she used.

"Luna?" asked Amir downstairs. "I'm on my way."

She paused in the middle of the stairs when he neared. Luna rushed at him and wrapped her arms and legs around him. He gently caught her while stroking her hair.

"Moon," Amir whispered. "If it takes a murder to get you to welcome me this way, I won't protest."

Luna laughed hysterically after burying her face in his neck. "Not funny."

"I'm not joking." There was a pause. "Are you hurt?"

"No. I have a nosebleed." Despite her heart pounding and back pain, Luna was okay.

"Is that all?"

She nodded against his warm body.

"Damn." Greer's voice filled the hallway. "She is definitely dead."

Luna looked up, ready to leave the house.

"You did that," Greer remarked, looking at her. "Impressive."

"Does her head have a hole?" Amir asked, and Luna lifted her chin but kept her face in his neck.

"Her blood looks strange," Greer pondered. "I've never seen that in my life."

"I don't know what's in her," Luna said as she looked at the bottom step. "I think BARDA gave her everything."

"Okay," Amir said. "We need to leave, but not before Greer and I have to burn the body in the backyard. We can't dig a hole because the ground is soggy from the rain, and we can't leave her here."

"All right," Greer said. Coughing, he gripped Nurse Smith's legs.

"I need to get away from this," Luna expressed, and Amir nodded.

"I know. Hold onto me. Squeeze."

"Wha—"

Luna saw Amir turn and run down the stairs after gripping her.

He slowed down, stopped, and opened the car door as she felt cool air and rain.

"Stay still." Leaning her head back, Amir placed her in the passenger seat. "Your nose is still hemorrhaging."

"I'm fine." Luna could feel his palm warming up, but she snatched it and pulled it away. "Don't heal me."

"I'll stop your nosebleed."

"Don't," she whispered.

"I want to take care of you, Moon."

Amir didn't get it. Luna leaned in and caressed his hand. "Something strange happened in there."

"What do you mean?" He stared at her as he placed his palm against her jaw.

"I saw myself as . . . as an assassin."

Amir frowned. "A killer?"

"Yeah. Before the fight. I stabbed her, Amir. I couldn't stop fighting, and I kept her down."

His head bowed. "Damn. She shouldn't have faced my wife."

"Be serious."

His brown eyes widened. "Again, I'm not joking."

"It was much more. I saw things. More disturbing visions." Her fingers dug into the hem of her shirt. Amir held Luna close, running his hand up and down her spine. "I'm turning into the Trojans. They attack without warning."

Amir opened his mouth. "Luna—"

"No, Amir. I'm scared. She unleashed something in me." Luna trembled in his grasp. "My mind wasn't there. For centuries, they've prepared for this."

He stared at her. "What?"

Luna said, crying, "They can produce supersoldiers with a serum and a button. No one will survive."

• • •

Luna nearly crushed a Coke can on the way to O'hare International Airport. She ate six chocolate candy bars, three M&M bags, and two flaming hot Doritos before they reached Sterling. At that point, she was high on sugar and very heated.

They made up for the time spent dealing with numerous batches of Defectives on the road outside of Hillsdale and may have shaved a few years off her and Greer's lives with Amir behind the wheel and, as he had said, he was hunky dory after disposing of Julia's body.

The three of them assumed more superpowered beings would follow, even though they didn't know where they discovered them or if they told others they were traveling. She hoped their luck would continue after obtaining tanzanite ankle bracelets to hide their whereabouts.

"You said Julia pressed a Bluetooth button?" Amir asked once they reached the main road.

Luna leaned over, put the empty can in the cup holder, and took out the little device. "Yeah. It's right here."

"Let me look at it," Greer said. He examined it before meeting her stare. "Yep. They tested these babies before I left."

"Julia said . . . She called it a Sonic Oscillator. It deciphers a cognitive code for Omega serum recipients." Luna coughed. "I think my brain has a genetic code."

"It's not like a software code, is it?" Amir questioned.

"It probably is." Greer shifted in his seat. "Everyone's been studied."

Luna pinched her thighs, staring at the gray sky. "She hit that button on the end, and I had images and brain-killing headaches. Like glimpses of Amir and our future."

"What kind of . . . visions?" Amir asked. "Nevermind. Don't say anything. We don't need to know."

"I saw my dad. His place smelled like cat pee and mildew, and he was heartbroken." She wiped her eyes with her palm. "He'd lost my mother."

Amir slowed as they passed abandoned buildings. "That must have been difficult to see."

"But, A, you understand. You experienced a world without me."

"How about before you saw Julia?" Greer asked, glancing between them.

Luna's lips trembled when she remembered being an assassin and nearly killing Amir when he ran. Amir relaxed her by circling his thumb while they watched for sudden movements.

She released a shaky breath. "Once the pain was gone, Julia spoke to me, and I finished the words. Revelation 22:13. 'I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,' along with a perky smile."

Amir's brows scrunched.

"I don't know why I said it, but I understood her. She ordered me to leave because others were waiting for me."

Amir's pupils glowed white. "BARDA?"

"Luna was programmed, Amir," Greer said. "They'll do it again when they see her."

"No." Amir gripped the wheel. "I'll kill them before they can blink."

"I'm curious why BARDA didn't use the earpiece at the facility," Luna wondered while looking over the Bluetooth.

"That's easy," Greer said, peeking at her. "If they used it on you underground, no one would escape."

Luna stopped talking about Nurse Smith and focused on the next town when she saw a movie-like scene near an abandoned neighborhood. Plane wreckage and burned highway trees were visible.

She turned away because she was devastated by the loss and suffering. The National Guard and Resistance eliminated BARDA agents and Defectives, but she didn't know how others had survived. The airport had a curfew. On the other hand, no one was currently boarding a flight.

"And there we have it." Greer pointed to a sleek, tinted luxury car. "Titus said Zander would drive that. A Rolls-Royce. Nice."

"Moon, please stay close to me." Amir slowed down after he reached the fancy black car. "Titus trusts this fool, but I don't."

Luna resisted the urge to facepalm. "I won't hug Zander as I hugged you on the stairwell."

His face turned blank. "Hopefully not. I might get jealous."

"You'd be jealous if Luna hugged a pillow," Greer remarked.

"True." Amir parked beside the car. "I'm possessive."

Luna cautiously opened the passenger door. "You guys know how to lighten the mood."

Amir continued, "And our mood will be even better if we team up with these people."

After exiting their car, three luxury car doors opened. Curiosity gnawed at her. Her first encounter with a non-threatening superhuman. It was refreshing to meet someone who wouldn't hurt them. She focused on the towering figure emerging from the driver's side.

Holy Superhumans . . .

Amir was wider than the blond man. He wore a black athletic shirt, and his appearance indicated he was hostile. Like many people she'd seen, his complexion was light, but not hideous. White marble and porcelain. Dark shades covered his eyes. Black denim made him look more like a For Men model than a research institute product.

A replica came from the car's passenger seat. Except he was wearing white tights and a button-down tunic that he seemed tired of buttoning. Same shiny skin.

"He . . . Zander has a twin," Luna said, staring at the men.

"Zander is one of four babies. Engineered Souls are generated in threes and fours. BARDA duplicates them in the womb if any of them are defaults in the same batch," Greer explained. "He and his twin have two more twins out there, either dead or alive."

She nodded, expecting another sibling, but the person in front of the car was neither.

The brunette had no superpowers.

Luna observed the dream team. What was an everyday citizen doing with them? She observed the woman. Her scarlet dress complemented her golden eyes and hourglass physique.

Amir then interrupted Luna's attention. "What's up, It?"

Her jaw dropped.

"You greet people well," Greer noted.

"What?" Amir mused, a fake shock on his face. "I thought we'd meet him in the sewer, where he lives."

Zander sighed. "Your jokes are pathetic."

"You can't say you haven't missed me," Amir said, laughing. "Let's clarify before continuing. If you turn us over in any way, you won't be able to breathe anymore once I'm done with you."

Zander smiled at his brother. "Told you Amir Khan is lovable."

His brother leaned against the car's roof, sulking under black sunglasses. "As lovable as a damn lion."

Luna felt Zander's eyes on her despite his sunglasses. "I see you freed your wife from that lunatic."

Huh?

"And I see you've still managed to keep your woman," Amir said. "I'm wondering if anyone's forcing her here."

Zander's brother snorted.

"That's cold, man," the other guy said, looking at Amir. "Don't like my brother?"

"Zander and I go back to Titus' club and where he tried to kill me at first sight," Amir recanted. "I think that's obvious."

"I was acting on impulse, Rambo," Zander replied, and Luna hissed, knowing that would upset her husband. "BARDA programmed me to defend myself from any threats. I sensed a Tethered Soul and went from there."

"Without asking questions," Amir argued. "You can't say you picked up any darkness from me."

The brunette muttered "Wow" after straightening up. "Your ego is massive."

Luna laughed, knowing she was right. Most of the time, Amir overrated himself.

Zander tilted his head. "Yeah, I did."

"That's because . . ." Amir looked over at Luna. "Nevermind."

"No, I get it. Your girl was abducted, and you were terrified," Zander acknowledged. "If I were you, I'd do the same. It did happen to Selena."

Selena frowned and clutched her hands.

Zander gently kissed her lips. Like God opened the clouds, the small group witnessed a sliver of sunlight.

"Shall we call a . . . truce?" Zander asked Amir.

Laughing, he nodded. "Truce."

"See? I knew you'd like each other," said the other man. "A truce it is."

"Anyway, gentlemen. As well as this visit is going, I think we should get to the point," Greer proposed. "You promised to show us to Enzo and his group."

"Correct." Zander puckered his lips and placed one foot beneath him. Luna felt his attention return during a pause. "But I have a question. Are you sure this is what you three want? To talk?"

That sounded disastrous. Luna shifted. "This is our only alternative to save humanity. I just hope—" she cleared her throat and looked around— "that no one is tracking us here. BARDA would follow us to them."

The other man shook his head quickly. "Don't sweat it. It will take you until evening to reach Enzo, and you'll outrun them."

Luna nodded as she took Amir's hand.

The parking lot cast a shadow as the sun set behind gloomy clouds. Zander lifted his glasses. His white-slitted eyes were threatening. "Have you heard how Enzo works?"

"Only that he's a team leader," Amir explained.

"Leader?" Zander's brother smirked when he dropped his chin. "More like a God. He's in command, even if he's crazy."

"Exactly, Zain," Zander responded.

"That's your name?" Luna asked, staring at him. "How do you spell it?"

Zain snickered. "Like you and Amir, it's four letters. I spell mine with an I." He displayed white, straight teeth. "We have a sister named Zyra and a brother named Zeke. He's collaborating with the crew beneath this concrete."

Zyra? Zeke? Zain? Luna thought Zander's name was iconic and distinctive in their family. Not at all a four-letter name. She shook her head, realizing their name exchanges were detracting from their purpose. "What do you mean by Enzo's craziness?"

"Well. He thrives on the unconventional," Zander commented, leaning against the car when Selena approached. "I think he's nuts. He's not allowed around my woman. He wouldn't touch my pet worm if I had one. He'd eat it and want more."

Oh. Wow.

Zain added, "And don't be surprised if he offers to eat your nose hairs in exchange for his help in this war, because he's a little . . . out there."

Amir smirked. "He sounds like a really swell guy."

Luna snorted at his sarcasm.

"Enzo is smart," Zander said. "He's powerful, and he loves absorbing any ability he can get from superhumans he comes into contact with."

"Don't forget," Zain included, "The guy is also decked out in Tanzanite jewels. As in, he has tiny pieces stitched into his skin."

Greer's mouth opened. "That sounds painful."

Zander shook his head. "Enzo can handle the pressure. The stones hide his powers from agents and hybrids, protecting everyone around him."

"Then it benefits them," Luna said.

"I thought stones were harmful to the engineered?" Amir asked.

Zander and Zain looked at him and pivoted quickly.

"Only those that have been altered by BARDA," Zain clarified. "The organization ships them everywhere, guaranteeing everyone they created gets a piece of it."

"Enzo hates most people," Zander declared. "But he hates BARDA more. Just convince him of your point of view."

This whole strategy was starting to stink.

"It sounds like a fantastic social affair," Greer said drily.

Zander laughed, but it was creepy. "His team is loyal. If he orders it, they'll kill themselves."

"Are you loyal?" Amir asked.

Zander held Selena and said, "Hell to the no. Before this, Amir, I only wanted to fight BARDA. I don't care what you or anyone else is doing, even though it seems important right now." He glanced at the woman on his side. "I have other priorities. My family feels the same."

Amir's astonishment mirrored Luna's. The way Zander stared at Selena?

Wow.

He loved her as much as Amir loved Luna.

Amir looked at him before tilting his head and nodding. "I respect that."

Zander was motionless. "Enzo's support gives you a strong army. I doubt you'll like him. It's impossible to please him."

"We'll handle that." Amir turned his head when Luna seemed worried. "How many superhumans does he have on his side?"

"Counting America or the world?" asked Zain.

"Everybody. Every nation and country," Amir went on.

"Around eight hundred thousand in America alone," Zander said, peering at the clouds. "I guess two hundred thousand from Canada and a hundred thousand or so in South America. Enzo has around one million rebels across Europe, Africa, and Asia. You can also count every island, too."

Holy crap.

He chuckled at Luna. "BARDA has tortured several thousand people in India and its surrounding countries. They got it the worst. I'm sure they'd endorse the organization's downfall."

"Fighting BARDA will be challenging," Zain warned. "Those who escaped and hid showed up. Enzo supplies food and shelter."

"Everybody's with him now?" Greer caressed his sprouting crew cut.

"Yes, American and Canadian." Zain grinned while talking. "You'll join an underground cult. Expect your mind to be blown." His fingers extended on the side of his skull as if imagining a bomb going off.

"It's bizarre," Selena spoke with her hair tossed. "They always absorb each other's abilities. Superhumans scare me." She looked at Zander, then his brother. "No offense."

Zain laughed and lifted his arm off the car's roof. "None were taken."

Zander asked the group, "Are you ready?"

No, but Luna didn't protest when Amir and Greer nodded. Zander caressed Selena's cheeks. His gentle touch reminded her of Amir's.

Zander leaned closer and kissed Selena. Luna watched having felt like a perv. Selena loved him, and he loved her. His aura flickered.

"I'll be back soon." Zander raised his head. "Be careful."

Selena nodded. "I can go along."

"You know I don't want you near Enzo and Zeke," he said. "Zain will entertain you. He has all of the Marvel movies on his laptop. You're okay."

Nodding, Zain pursed his lips.

That was over two days' worth of movies, so Luna was beginning to feel nervous about meeting these people. She questioned Selena's concern for Zander's life and if meeting more superhumans would be worth it.

But there was nothing else that could be done. Not with Enzo's worldwide allies, which sounded like a lot.

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