day.”
She looked as if she wanted to say more, but as always, she shut him down and he was left to guessing her thoughts. It’s just one day. But even Derrick knew how hard one day could be to get through. In the beginning, when he missed his young wife every second, of every day, one day had felt like an eternity. When the realization had hit that he’d never go home again, never see his wife, or his unborn child, he’d wanted to die. He’d tried. Though Lucy saw to it that he never did. Lucy Hunter ensured he lived out every day of his miserable, cursed life because if he didn’t, his wife and his child would die.
He’d never even met her, his daughter. He only knew the baby was a she because Lucy had told him. Hope had been only eight weeks pregnant when he’d signed up, when he was told he’d been chosen for a select program. He’d been excited he would be able to provide the life his wife and child deserved, but then came the hunters.
Derrick suppressed a shiver, pushing down the memories of those first dark days. He didn’t want to remember what it was like battling that darkness, clinging onto the good and the hope. It was much easier to live this life without feelings, without hope. Yet now there was Lexia. She’d awoken what had long since been buried.
He wasn’t sure why he said his next words, maybe it was because she was around the same age as his daughter. “I have a daughter. She’d be around your age now.”
Lexia looked at him, not saying a word, expressing every thought with just a squeeze of his hand. “I don’t understand why no one has fought against this. Why does everyone just fall into line?”
“You must understand, Lex, in the beginning, many did and it was a bloodbath. When the government decided to exterminate the very program they created, we were all as good as dead, but Lucy saved us. She managed to manipulate and corrupt just enough people to keep us alive. Many of the elite feel they owe her their life, and in a way, they do.”
“She’s so twisted, Derrick. There is so much hate and bitterness inside of her. She won’t be happy until the streets run with blood. I just don’t understand how someone can become so…unhuman.”
“She created this program, Lex. I think at first she only wanted to create soldiers who weren’t so easily broken. Brave, fearless men and women who could fight for this country and survive through it. But with power comes a price, and the price is a darkness most can’t fight. When they closed the program down, she was already struggling with that darkness. I think she felt abandoned. The government helped her create the hunters and then they just threw them away. That’s what changed her into who she is today. It was the final straw that pushed her to let go of her humanity.”
Lexia suddenly jumped up. “That’s it!” she exclaimed.
Derrick just looked at her confused.
“Don’t you see, Derrick? I’ve always wondered what her goal was and now I see it! Why didn’t you tell me these things earlier? She wants her revenge. She wants a solider so strong that the government regrets ever throwing her away. She’s not interested in running the country. She just wants to make them pay for what they did. Who funded the program when it first started? Who made the choice to shut it down?”
“I’ve no idea,” Derrick replied, feeling on edge. He’d seen that look in her eyes before, that determined fire.
“I need to find out! That will be who she targets, and I need to know who lost the most from this program ending. There’s more than Lucy pulling the strings. I bet you there is someone within the government right now plotting right along with my mother, just waiting for the right moment to strike.”
“Lexia, wait. You have no idea if any of that is true. Please don’t go getting yourself killed.”
She wasn’t listening to him though. Sparking something inside of her, he gave her a reason to keep going. She pushed him toward the door, muttering about needing a shower and going to speak to Sarah. Derrick had no chance to protest, to try to convince her to stop this craziness. She had him out the room within seconds and he was left staring at the door as she shut it