in confusion. Lexia pulled her gun free aiming it at Lucy.
“But…but you’re with me,” Lucy stammered, looking so lost, Lexia almost felt sorry for her.
“I’m sorry, Mother, but I was never with you.”
“Her,” she said, directing an unsteady finger at Alice, “you stood there, and let me turn your best friend into a hunter.”
“I did. I did many terrible things in the name of the game. I schemed and manipulated and in the end, you lost.”
“No,” Lucy said, shaking her head, “United, we stand. Divided, we fall. That’s what you said.”
Lexia’s smile turned cruel and smug. “I’m sorry, Mother. I meant the shifters. I stand with them. I freed Sahara. I ordered the wolves to destroy that building, and I went through your office and found the clues that led to the board. You’ll all be dead soon enough and this program will be, too.”
Hurt. There was no doubt that was the emotion which crossed her face. For the briefest of moments, Lucy Hunter looked broken, though it didn’t last long. Seconds later, her usual cruel smile graced her lips and she was shrieking for the hunters to attack.
In one swift movement, Lexia threw her knife at Lucy, embedding it in her shoulder. Firing a round of bullets into the hunters, she moved swiftly toward Derrick and Alice.
He held out his hands for her to cut the rope. Pulling the ruby knife from her leg-strap, Lexia bent and sliced at his binding. Derrick gasped out her name as something connected with her back. Sprawling forward, the knife fell from her grasp. She rolled over, kicking out as the hunter jumped on top of her. Twice her size and unable to feel fear or pain, the hunter crushed Lexia beneath him. Thankful she’d stocked up on weapons before meeting the wolves, Lexia slid a blade into each hand from the hidden arm sheaths she wore. Given her position, the cuts she inflicted as she thrust up didn’t mortally wound him but gave her a little more room.
It was all she needed.
Arms free enough to move, she slashed horizontally across his chest, spilling his blood onto her. Rearing back with a gargled angry yell, Lexia followed through, scissoring both blades across his neck. He tumbled to the floor as she turned to face the other two.
Derrick broke free of the frayed rope and dove for Lexia’s discarded knife, hurrying to free Alice.
Confident Derrick would keep Alice safe, Lexia focused on the task before her. The hunters were riddled with bullets yet didn’t seem to feel the pain.
“What have you done to them, Mother?” she asked, dancing out of their reach.
“I’ve improved them, until the next step is ready.”
Listening to Lucy’s answer wasn’t hard; fighting was as ingrained as breathing. Training every day until your body moved on instinct, with a skill not many possessed, made finishing the other two off an easy task. Though these new hunters carried on longer, they still died, and could still be injured. Whereas before they’d have collapsed in pain, these carried on until their bodies literally could function no more. It made for a gruesome killing. Severed limbs and blood splattered wounds, created a lot of mess. When Lexia had finally finished them off, she turned, and wiped her brow, smearing blood across her skin. “It seems they’re not as improved as you first thought, Mother.”
“You are and always will be my greatest creation,” Lucy answered.
Her answer wasn’t expected, nor was the bile that filled her mouth. It was becoming clear – somewhere inside Lucy’s sick, twisted mind, she might actually love the daughter she’d created.
She felt the soft vibration of her cell at the same time a large boom reverberated through the compound. Dust and debris from the concrete ceiling above filled the room, temporarily clouding her vision. Coughing as she inhaled dust, Lexia rasped, “Alice, Derrick, time to move.”
“Why are you doing this, Maura?” Lucy pleaded, sounding genuinely hurt.
“Are you really so surprised, Mother. I’ve warned you time and time again. Eventually, they will rise against you.”
Glancing at her cell, she read the message.
Grey – 5 minutes, we can’t wait any longer.
“Why are you still here?” Lexia snapped, glaring briefly at Derrick.
Alice stood by the door looking lost and frightened.
“I’m not leaving you,” Derrick said firmly.
Letting out a frustrated breath, Lexia groaned, “We do not have time to argue.”
“Then don’t,” he growled.
“Watch her,” she spat, pointing a finger at Lucy. “Alice, here, take this.” Lexia pulled the small gun holstered to her thigh.
“W-what, I’ve