ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ Tethered ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Chapter 34

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• Amir •

They certainly buried themselves six feet deep. Or deeper.

That was the worst-case scenario response.

Amir positioned Luna between Greer and himself. So what if he had to burn this room down to get her out? What happens next? This entire plan would fail, the Resistance would continue destroying cities, the world would become something he hated, and he would lose his daughter and family. Forever.

Maybe I should have just stayed quiet?

When Enzo stood at his full height—nearly eight feet—he stared at Amir as if he wanted to break every bone in his body and throw it to the wolves. "Were you expecting a different response?" He scoffed. Everyone laughed. "That anyone would support Tethered Souls? You two, who started it months ago? And even help the Lazarus ones? The darkest souls alive?" He indicated that to Greer. "You're dumb and arrogant."

Anger rocked Amir's body. Unless someone attacked, he had to stay quiet. Though terrible, the Resistance needed these guys to win this war.

"What, Mr. Khan?" Amir stiffened when Enzo walked. "No more sarcasm?"

Amir's eyes widen. "Something's coming. I need a minute."

Zander hissed.

"I want to hear more from the almighty Amir Khan. That is what everyone calls you . . . except me."

Despite Enzo's annoyance, Amir kept calm.

Gentle fingers brushed Amir's back. "Look. I didn't expect any of you to hold our hands while singing 'We Are the World,' okay?" Enzo wrinkled his brow when Amir spoke. "I didn't expect you to cheerfully welcome us in your clubhouse, either, but I did expect you to consider helping us deal with this mess."

Luna muttered, "Oh, God," while rubbing his shoulders.

"You're not going to get any support with that kind of attitude, man," Zander replied, staring at him like he was crazy.

Amir forgot Zander's brother's name, but Fluffy or Gruffy was getting an apron.

Amir exhaled. "You do realize that BARDA will take over every society, right?"

Enzo didn't care. He groaned. "You think we're concerned about the surface? Everyone we value is with us."

Amir began to question how this man became their President. "After killing and capturing everyone on the ground, they'll eradicate each underground community. They'll find you. And, as far as I know, you are all their property."

Enzo froze. "We're not theirs."

"Can you be sure?" Greer said. "Because everyone here has powers based on their experiments. You're all slaves. Just telling you how it looks."

Amir smiled. He proceeded, hoping Enzo's crew would understand logic. "They don't care about you now. They're busy. After that, they'll sneak up on you. History will repeat unless we change."

"People repeat history," growled a female Defective, her eyes glaring red at the group.

Amir replied, "Keep believing that as long as you can. They target innocent people using more advanced technology."

Fluffy—Amir believed his name was—moved forward. "We're prepared for that."

Luna glanced behind her shoulder, then swallowed at Amir. "I'd say you're waiting it out."

Zander flinched like he had a migraine.

Enzo's powerful footfall took him within butt-whooping range. He ignored Amir and the group.

Amir's fists tightened.

'Watch it,' Greer advised.

'I'd listen to him,' Zander added. 'You don't want to annoy Enzo.'

Amir tsked. 'Like he's not pissed off now?'

Enzo's upper lip curled, looking like he was ready to slam Amir into the next room. 'You haven't ticked me off. Yet.'

Amir swallowed when Enzo looked at Luna.

Zander straightened after exhaling.

"You're into this kind of control," Enzo said, his voice thick as the white mist emitting from him. "You were under Sam's control, then Chase Marquette's, and BARDA will always control you. Both of you."

Amir tensed. "What?"

"You heard me," Enzo remarked, looking at Amir.

"You're wrong." Luna came around him and raised one hand. "First and foremost, I never agreed to be controlled. Second, I was told for years that Sam died. That wasn't my fault."

Enzo blinked while standing still.

"And finally, nobody in this room is helping our planet. We're all controlled. None of us are free." She grumbled loudly when no one responded. "Seriously? You guys are weak. This whole community is lazy."

Cold air blew from all directions. Not good. "Uh, Moon."

Luna snarled, "Don't even. You're as bad as everyone else here, Amir."

He frowned. "Huh?"

Zander's twin laughed with his arms crossed. "Keep going. This is getting good."

More snickers from The Muppets.

"You don't like most of the people down here because of where they come from," Luna said.

"Well, some of them were created to destroy Tethered Souls, so . . ." Amir trailed off.

"And you Resistance fighters committed genocide against innocent people," Enzo snarled. "As if we hadn't heard of D.C., Philadelphia, and Miami."

"Wait. Washington, D.C. was the only city we knew," Greer commented, and one of the male Defectives next to him exhaled a breath.

"The soldiers who rescued you in Los Angeles bombed other cities," the man said, staring at Greer. "Your Resistance destroyed Mexico City, most of Venezuela, and several regions of South America."

"That wasn't our fault," Greer stated.

"So? That's nothing, buddy," Zander's brother said, and Amir still couldn't remember what his name was. It wasn't important. "You're on their side. You'll return to the base after Chicago with the Khan family. The Resistance will soon bomb more cities all across the Atlantic. It didn't take them long this morning to launch missiles in Lisbon after receiving BARDA's whereabouts."

"That is not our problem. We didn't want any of this." Luna gestured. "I'll summarize human history. We have cruelly screwed each other over religion, politics, and ethnicity more often than teachers can cover in a semester. For silly reasons, we've always hurt each other. This can not go on."

"I'd say that's a ringing endorsement from the Queen of the Tethered People," a guard with neon-colored hair commented drily.

"You're all stubborn." Amir hoped Luna's stomp would hit one of their faces, allowing everyone to fight naturally, but he stayed mute while she went on. "Several countries across the globe have a long history of fighting, but when disaster strikes, everyone pulls together. Generally. Why? Since we can, we fight. After that, we go back to bashing each other, and all is well with the world."

Enzo stiffened when he stared at her.

"Ugh!" Luna stomped harder, cracking the floor. Audience members stepped back as their pupils expanded. "How come you can't just agree to disagree?"

"You want us to ignore all that happened to us to help you guys?" Enzo asked.

"No. Remember those things," Luna said. "But also remember everything that happened to you is because of BARDA, the organization who royally screwed you over. Not us. Not Greer. They are your enemy. Stop them."

Enzo jerked. "As if your group differs from the rest of the Resistance."

Luna shook her head in shock. "Not everything is visible to the naked eye. If you think going after BARDA isn't in your best interest, good luck escaping them. It won't be long before they come here."

When Enzo looked away, Amir spotted his many followers. He froze like the planet's atmosphere. His arm hairs stood up when Enzo charged at Luna.

After grabbing Moon, Amir transitioned into an angel. Holding her upper arm, Enzo slammed her into the wall.

Amir roared. His throat unleashed animalistic sounds. He moved instantly and shouted when Gruffy and another male Defective held him. A second Defective threw him back. Greer and Zander were surrounded.

Amir fought, but these guys were so big and strong that it seemed like they were on steroids. He believed it was probably serums from BARDA.

Amir's white light flared. He raised his head, seeing the world in black and white. Luna was gripping Enzo's fingers while he choked her.

"What keeps me from killing you right now?" he spat inches from her chin.

"Nothing," Luna gasped. "But what does killing me accomplish?"

"It'll benefit us." Enzo invaded her personal space. From where Amir was positioned, he could see the leader leaning to the side, following her length. "One less Trojan."

Amir lost himself then.

He radiated light. A Defective was tossed backward. Standing up, Amir dragged Zander's brother, which he remembered was named Zeke, and his accomplice. Then he slammed his elbows together, unleashing more energy.

Down they went.

Amir stopped to drop-kick one Engineered Soul into the following week before grabbing another under his chin and kicking him into the mob of Defectives.

"I'd leave my wife alone if I were you," he hissed at Enzo. The ground beneath them trembled, sending Amir's heart into overdrive. "Otherwise we'll both destroy this place and everything you've worked for."

Enzo gave him a sidelong glance. "His Highness doesn't want me interacting with his queen. So cute. Rawr."

"You haven't met the real me," Amir growled. "Release her in five seconds. Five. Three—One."

Enzo lowered Luna and faced him. "How did you graduate medical school when you can't count?"

"I guess you don't want to keep breathing."

Enzo stared at him for a second before throwing his head back and laughing loudly while Zeke stood up.

Zander looked at his brother after he stumbled to the side and muttered, "Um. I didn't expect that."

None of them were, but Amir kept his eyes on the madman as he slammed against Enzo's shoulder to get to Moon. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Luna said, looking around. "Enzo is . . . cracking up?"

Amir saw yellowish-white as they approached the man. He was going to put his hand through the lunatic's chest, but Moon grabbed his arm and stopped him.

Enzo said to Zander, who seemed baffled like everyone else, "These two are bold. This is great news since I won't break you for bringing them here."

Zander scowled and folded his hands. "Thanks."

"Back away from the traitor," Enzo urged the Defectives around Greer. He strode up the steps to the skull-carved throne, then collapsed in an arrogant sprawl, legs spread wide. "Okay. I'll help you guys. That I will give you."

Amir's tension eased when the audience scattered. He wanted to say thank you, but he couldn't find the words.

"You'll get what you came for, but there's one requirement," Enzo continued, raising his chin.

"We weren't expecting anything different," Amir replied.

Enzo observed him like an insect under a microscope. "Just one small gesture."

Greer inhaled a deep breath, but Amir saw Zander's shoulders straighten when he closed his eyes. He cursed quietly.

'What is it, Zander?' Amir asked internally.

'You're going to hate it,' Greer stated.

'I want to know,' Luna said. 'Tell me.'

Enzo chuckled and pointed to his forehead, indicating that he could hear their telepathic conversation. When Amir saw Luna's eyes narrowing, he knew she could read Enzo's mind and understand what he wanted.

That irritated him to no end.

"You allow Luna to live with me," Enzo demanded, his eyes focused on Amir's. "To love and respect me. Possibly have my children."

Amir's mouth opened. "I'm not sure why you're saying that, but I know you want to live."

"No, I do, but I want to live with her," Enzo replied calmly. "After this war, you leave her to me, and we'll call it a day." He smiled at Luna, but blood drained from her face, slamming into every part of Amir's body like a raging storm. "She won't have to struggle on the ground. Neither will Sarah. They will be looked after in our community. We have Genesis on standby."

"Genesis? The serum that erases memories?" Zander verified, his stare as cold as ice.

Enzo nodded. "Luna and Sarah don't have to remember who Amir is or their life with him."

Amir scowled at the soon-to-be-dead madman for a long time. Part of his mind couldn't believe Enzo had dared to make such a request. Fury steamed in his stomach, escalating into flames. While the world changed colors, his vision had become distorted.

After rubbing the back of his neck, Zander shook his head. "That's so wrong, man."

"Yeah, well, I'm petty like that." Enzo chuckled, and Amir's rage was uncontrollable by that point. "That is my only condition. Take it or find another madman to beg."

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