Deadly Game (GhostWalkers, #5)(86)

“If you do this, there’s no going back. He’ll have you for murder. Don’t you see, you’ll be as much a prisoner here as I am.” It was already too late for him; she had known it almost the moment he’d come for her and he’d acted so out of character. The man with a ready laugh was gone, and a stranger had taken his place.

He had made a choice; even after seeing what Whitney’s experiments did to the men, Sean had still made the choice to participate.

“I already am,” Sean said, clenching his teeth. “He isn’t going to torture you anymore.”

Mari felt tears burning behind her eyes. Knives had replaced guns and there was no way to stop what was going to happen. Somewhere, this was all being recorded as if it were a video game instead of real life. A man with dead eyes watched them all with no more compassion than he would have for insects. He played with their lives and recorded everything diligently, all in the name of science and patriotism. Sean was so wrong. Whitney was still torturing her. He’d taken another person she cared about away from her.

She knew no other life and neither did the other women. They had talked of escaping, had planned for months, but until now they’d always found a reason to wait, to hold on one more day. In spite of their training and their enhanced physical and psychic abilities, the simple truth was they were all afraid of what they would find outside the compound.

In all her life she’d never once talked to anyone not associated with the compound. The guards and fences weren’t the only things keeping them prisoners. Fear held them just as efficiently as the guards. Fear for what Whitney would do to Briony. Fear for the other women. Fear of not being a good enough soldier. Fear of the outside world.

She didn’t honestly know if she could survive away from this place. The brutal years of training, of discipline, weapons, and control, had been her way of life as long as she could remember. Every moment of education she’d ever received had been designed to make her a better soldier—a better weapon. It was the same for the other women. They had no family, no friends, and no one to advocate for them.

An alarm went off, shrieking insanely, and her heart nearly stopped. What if Ken had been spotted? She gripped the bars, her legs turning to rubber she was so scared. They would kill him. Ken. She reached out to him, careful to keep the energy low, as if she were talking to the other women as they often did in the evening. I need to know you’re alive.

I’m here, baby, on my way to you.

I hear the sirens. I touched all the girls and they’re all in their rooms safe.

That little sick pervert of a doctor’s house blew up. It’s a real tragedy.

She forced air through her lungs. You didn’t take any chances, did you? I can handle Prauder. It’s all part of the job.

That’s bullshit. Ken’s chest went tight. He didn’t want her anywhere near Prauder, Whitney, Sean, or bully Brett. Tell me what’s wrong. And don’t say nothing. I can feel it.

She hesitated.

Damn it, Mari. I’m losing my mind here. I can imagine all sorts of really unpleasant things, so just give it to me straight.

I’m safe. Locked up. Sean and Brett are trying to kill each other outside my door.

She took a deep breath and let it out, focusing on the camera in the hallway. Brett was a brute of a man who enjoyed hurting others. He had tried to break her, to the point of pushing the limit of the restraints Whitney put on him, but he hadn’t succeeded. Brett had been trained well and was physically enhanced so his strength was phenomenal. She ought to know; he’d used it on her repeatedly. Sean was the ultimate soldier, fast and hard and experienced in battle, able to separate emotion and slip into the fighting zone—and he was deadly with a knife. He would kill Brett. He intended to kill Brett, and he would do it on camera just like Whitney wanted, and there would be no out for him ever again. Whitney would own him body and soul.

Mari tried again. “Sean, stop!”

He didn’t so much as glance at her, not flinching as Brett feigned an attack. He shifted his weight to the balls of his feet, eyes on his target. She turned her attention again to the camera. She had several psychic gifts, but destroying the inner workings of a machine wasn’t one of her greatest strengths.

Ken could taste fear in his mouth. Because whoever didn’t die was going to be visiting her, and Ken knew he’d better get there first. Baby. His voice was soft, soothing; he needed to be calm for both of them when he was really afraid for her. Are you gathering energy to protect yourself? He could feel the buildup in her mind as she pulled in psychic energy from around her.

Was she coiling, readying for an attack? If he found Sean or Brett touching her, he’d never be able to control himself. Every muscle, every cell in his body, tensed and tightened, waiting for an answer.

I’m trying to melt the stupid camera. I can’t stay focused.

There was the smallest of sobs in her mind, hastily covered, but he heard—and felt—that gut-wrenching sound, and his entire body reacted.

Open your mind to mine.

Most psychics developed natural shields, not wanting anyone running around in their heads. Ken was used to sharing his thoughts with Jack, as well as sending and receiving energy. They had experimented often and practiced for years to perfect their communication skills.

It took Mari a moment or two to overcome her natural reticence and let her barriers all the way down. He poured not only energy, but directions into her mind so that she knew exactly where to focus the surge of power to the camera and send the interruption back through the lines, blowing other cameras out as well. For good measure he included all auditory equipment too. Ken was shocked that she trusted him enough to let him inside her that far. Just as she’d given him her body, she gave him her mind. The feel was far more intimate than he had ever imagined it could be, as if his soul had rubbed up against hers.