Avenged (Altered #2)(17)

That might work in her favor.

She stood in front of him, listening, preparing to use what he thought to her advantage. Add her gift to the remaining night sky, and she might have a chance.

“Don’t be a fool, girl. You’re no match for me.”

“I guess we’ll see,” she said. It was a bluff and they both knew it. But in that moment, she didn’t want it to be. She had beaten him once, landed a lucky kick, hadn’t she? Maybe she could do it again. She listened closer, waiting for any change in his decisions.

He swung, and she moved so that he missed by an inch to the left. Striking out again, he used his other hand, but she dodged that blow as well.

He lashed out two more times, finding empty air. She smiled. She’d never thought of her gift as offensive before. She’d watched the others fight and had assumed she was the weakest link. But this? This could work, if she could stay one step ahead of him.

She jumped over his leg when he kicked out, but she wasn’t fast enough to dodge the second kick. She’d seen it coming, but her body was frail, out of shape. She hit the ground hard, rolling in the stream’s icy water.

Had to get to her feet. Had to move away.

The soldier continued coming, this time smiling. “You might be fast, but I’m stronger.”

“And uglier, too,” she snarled back. She’d have never said something like that before the drug had changed everything. It felt good to talk back—to be strong, if only mentally, even if she would lose.

He dove at her. He was too big, and she wasn’t fast enough to avoid him. They tumbled backward into the freezing water. The cold stole her breath, and she sputtered as he lay on top of her. The water filled her mouth, made her gag and cough.

When they came up, he lifted her, dripping wet, and slung her over his shoulder as if her weight didn’t slow him. Which it didn’t. She kicked and slammed her fists against his back but again, she was weak, small. She knew it wouldn’t stop him, but it helped relieve the sickness and desperation pulsing through her.

She was going back. To Goldstone. She’d come so close to escaping. The bitterness of it sang through her, and it wasn’t only the cold mountain water that chilled her blood.

Stilling, she heard the sounds of three more soldiers attacking Nick.

For his part, Nick had gotten in some good shots, but he knew he would lose. They knew he would lose. They were only trying to keep him from hurting them.

Finally, one of the soldiers had enough. He tugged at the rappelling line with his mind, moving the rope to wind around Nick, tying him down.

He was like Blue then. Telekinetic.

She sagged, reserving her energy. When the one carrying her dropped her next to Nick, she scooted over to sit closer to him, finding comfort in his proximity. Then she did what she could, the only thing she could do.

She listened to them all, looking for a weakness. And that’s when she heard him.

Jeremy.

Nick’s old roommate, the man who’d betrayed her to Goldstone, stepped out from behind the rest of the group. “Hello, Kitty. It’s good to see you again.” A lot skinnier, but my, my…she’s still is pretty to look at. “And Nick. Still trying to save the world, I see.”

He smiled at them both and slung his weapon onto his shoulder, crossing his arms. All bronze skin and blond hair, he was every girl’s California dream.

Now, she wasn’t sure why she’d been fooled by that slickness. She’d been flattered, that’s why, and naive. She trusted her gift, her own judgment. Man, had she been wrong.

But the pieces fell into place. “You’re one of the soldiers. You took Solvimine.”

Jeremy shrugged, still smiling. “I can’t say I mind being a superhero.” He flexed his bicep muscle.

“You aren’t a superhero,” she said, her voice soft. “More like the supervillain.”

He covered his heart, feigning offense. “Aw, honey. Not at all. I never wanted to be a mastermind. I only needed a job. I was getting an OTH discharge. I needed to do something.”

“OTH?”

“Other Than Honorable,” Nick filled in. “It’s what they give to guys whose behavior isn’t becoming to the military. In Jeremy’s case, he was sleeping with a subordinate.”

“We were off post,” Jeremy gritted out. “I never expected anyone to find out.”

“Yeah, because you were always stupid.”

“Unlike you, right, Nick?” Jeremy unfolded his arms and readjusted his gun in front of him. “You always make the right decision. A goddamned paragon of virtue.”

The guy next to Jeremy sneered at them. “You guys done with this romantic reunion? Need a chaperone?” Others nearby chuckled. This guy didn’t like Jeremy much. Kitty didn’t need her gift to figure that out. According to Jeremy’s thoughts, the feeling was mutual. “Load them in.”

Two of the soldiers yanked Nick to his feet and another dragged her to stand. She walked along beside them and climbed into the helicopter. As the rotors beat down on them, whipping her hair around her head, she knew it would be useless to fight here. The group was split—three of them possessed Seth and Jack’s enhanced physical strengths and the other three were telekinetic, like Blue and Luke. However, none of them could read minds like her.

Strange. She hadn’t met anyone else who heard thoughts yet. She was a freak, even among freaks.