and find my daughter a friend, and what better friend than your best friend?” Lucy answered, sounding like she was having the most fun she’d had in a while.
Lexia stared at Alice who was frightened and beaten, here in this living hell. Lexia wanted to drop to her knees and scream; she just wanted it all to be over. She wasn’t even sure what she was doing any more and would give everything up to save the people she loved, yet before her one such person stood, dragged into the world were monsters ruled and the good crumbled.
“Bring her in, Derrick. Bring her in,” Lucy snapped.
Lexia whirled around overcome with rage. It lit her up from within, licking through her blood like fire, fuelled by the need to save Alice.
“She is human. What use is she here?” Lexia asked, trying to keep her voice collected.
“Not much use at all. That’s why I’m planning to turn her into one of us,” Lucy replied, lifting a syringe into the air.
“What? No!” Alice begged, struggling out of Derrick’s hold. She scrambled back pressing herself against the door, her face as white as a sheet. Fear and desperation rolled off her in waves, assaulting Lexia’s senses. “No, I’d rather die than become a monster,” Alice trembled.
“So dramatic. I can see why you got along so well with Lexia. Let’s hope you get along with Maura just as well. Derrick, bring her forward,” Lucy instructed.
Panicked, Lexia moved to block Derrick’s path. Everything happened so fast, she struggled to keep track. The sound of gunfire ricocheted around them. Alice’s petrified screams mingled with Belinda’s yelp of pain.
Lexia didn’t know which way to turn, who to save or how to save them. Her body was at war, pulling its self in both directions. In the end, she just stood frozen, feeling utterly lost, listening to Lucy’s cackle fill the room.
“The next bullet goes in her head,” Lucy bellowed, motioning to Belinda who was bent over gripping her leg. Blood flowed from the bullet that had just torn through her.
Lexia knew she was trapped; knew deep within herself she had no way out. Sure, she could try and fight. She’d most likely leave the room uninjured with Alice by her side, but Belinda now had a gun leveled at her head. Even Lexia wasn’t quick enough to reach her in time. Alice was her best friend, a friend from another life, but Belinda was her friend too.
How can I sacrifice the life of one to save another?
You can’t. Allow me full control.
Lexia met Belinda’s gaze, then Marcus’s and in the depths of their eyes, she saw the lengths they’d go for her. They would die here and now, so she could walk out of here with Alice. They were willing to give up any hope of a future just for her.
I am so unworthy.
Let me take control. Lexia pushed her back.
Struggling to keep the mask on her face, she closed her eyes and forced the guilt, the self-hatred away. She knew she was unworthy. She knew she’d been hiding away inside of her mind because she was too weak to cope with her choices, but not anymore. Lexia had given up hiding. From now on, she was going to fight. Fight every day to bring her mother down to her knees. She wasn’t going to stop until Lucy Hunter watched every last one of her carefully laid plans crumble to her feet.
No! Let me through.
No more. Taking control, she released just the slightest of hold to Maura, just enough for to keep eyes of gold.
Yet she couldn’t help think how it was too little too late. Lexia couldn’t see a way out of this for Alice. She looked at Lucy, attempting one last time to stop this. “What about our agreement? I’ve kept up my end; I stood by and watched while you whipped Derrick. I haven’t questioned you. There is no need for this. She’s just a civilian. Giving her the gift of hunter strength will not create a solider.”
Lucy frowned as she thought over Lexia’s statement and for one hopeful second, Lexia thought she might actually change her mind, but then her face hardened. That cruel, twisted smile appeared on her lips. Lexia’s stomach gave a lurch. Her heart leaped into her throat as she realized the inevitable.
“I never planned this so I had an extra solider. I have plenty of those already. This is a test, silly girl. Derrick happily gave your life to me