as light spilled into her chamber, she knew Peter hadn’t come for her. Neither had the Trackers. Instead, the cavalry.
A diminutive redhead shuffled toward Cassie’s metal slab, covered in head-to-toe standard clean room garb down to the little booties over her shoes. She carried a small backpack. When she spoke, her voice was soft, but sure. “Are you ready to get out of here?”
Cassie tried to sit up, but couldn’t without clutching the redhead’s hand for support. “Annabel, what are you doing in here? We’re not supposed to try and break me out for another month.”
The redhead handed Cassie a bottle of water and started pulling clothing from the backpack. “Had to adjust the timeline. Peter’s transferred Jeremy and the others out of this facility. He’s up to something.” She waited patiently while Cassie chugged the water before continuing. “And today, he’s got an interview. They’ve given a reporter access to the private parking area.”
Cassie paused mid-sip and lowered the bottle. If they gave someone access to that lot, she had a shot at escape. That structure was less heavily guarded than the main parking structure. She only had to get through the lobby and two checkpoints. Her heart rate ticked up and she immediately controlled it by taking deep breaths and mentally picturing her heart slowing down its rhythm. She couldn’t waste the adrenaline. She needed every ounce of energy she had.
A twinge of guilt pricked her. “Peter will kill you when he finds out.”
Annabel jutted her chin out as she tossed Cassie a long sleeve grey T-shirt. “I’m not afraid to die. Besides, getting you out, means you can help Jeremy and the others.” Her voice cracked. “I never should have—”
Cassie stopped struggling with the jeans and laid her hand on her friend’s shoulder. “You did what you had to for Jeremy’s sake.” Quietly, she added. “I can hear them in my dreams sometimes. Hear the pain they’re going through.”
Annabel shook her head, sending her russet hair tumbling over her shoulders. “What I’ve done, there’s no forgiving. What I’ve helped do to you, to the Jeremy, and the others?”
“You didn’t know. And the moment you found out, you tried to help me. That’s something.”
Annabel didn’t speak again. Instead, she handed Cassie a blonde wig and started pinning up her jet black locks so they would fit underneath.
Wig in place, Cassie hopped to the floor. Her equilibrium was off. The clothes and shoes were foreign on her skin and feet, like her limbs didn’t belong to her. “How do I look?”
Annabel scrutinized her. “Like someone who doesn’t belong in the labs. But I can change that.” She pulled out a lab coat. “This badge is for one of the college interns who doesn’t come on shift until this evening. No one should question you.”
“That should help me get through the lobby.”
“But you have to remember, absolutely no powers. No pushing thoughts, no mind reading, not even the strength or agility stuff. You’re smart enough not to try and heal yourself until you’re somewhere safe. But you’re weak and I don’t know how long you’ll be out on your own. You overuse your powers, hell, use them at all, and you’ll drop like a stone. We can’t afford to have you incapacitated. Do you understand?”
Cassie nodded, only half-listening. Something dark and metallic in the bag glinted under the lab lights. “What’s in there?”
“Water and some provisions.”
Cassie narrowed her eyes and shook her head. “Annabel, I told you I didn’t want guns.”
“You don’t have a choice. Make no mistake. They will come after you. Maybe not for a while, but they will come. And don’t think your brother won’t find new ways to incapacitate you. The gun is for your protection.”
Cassie reluctantly took the bag. “Thank you for taking this risk. I will pay you back one day.”
“I've watched you defy your brother for five years. I've watched you run from this place time and again.” Then she added, “I'm counting on you to save my son, to save all of the others I hurt with my actions.”
Cassie opened her mouth, and then closed it when Annabel pulled one more item from the bag. “I don’t know where the others are being held, but I took this from the experimentation files.” She held up a flash drive. “I haven’t been able to smuggle it out myself, but there has to be information on here. I know the original files mention a town south of here called Riddenwell.”
Cassie slung the backpack over