Mindsiege (Mindspeak #2)(11)

“I’m not going with you.” I started to turn and walk away, but Georgia’s strange look of urgency toward Jonas stopped me. She lifted her head in my direction as if encouraging Jonas to do something.

Jonas pulled an object out of his pocket—something so small it fit into the palm of his hand. He stood there a moment longer, simply staring at me, still grinning. This is going to be so much fun.

Apparently he hesitated a moment too long, because Georgia jerked the item from Jonas’s hand. “Oh, for crying out loud, I’ll do it myself.”

She was on me before I knew what hit me. I felt a pinch to my neck. My legs buckled beneath me. Jonas caught me and scooped me into his arms. My head dangled back as he carried me away.





Chapter Six


I woke to the sound of groaning. Mine.

I wasn’t in pain, but I knew Georgia had injected something straight into my neck. I wondered how I could have been so stupid. I moaned again.

When my eyes opened, I saw mostly white. I stared up at large, popcorn ceiling tiles. I was covered loosely in a white sheet. The room smelled like antiseptic. Everything was clean and without color.

I turned my head to the left and found an empty chair. To the right—Jonas.

I sat up and analyzed my surroundings. I was in some sort of hospital room or exam room, though there were some things in the room that didn’t make sense. Like the tray of surgical instruments several feet away.

Jonas leaned against a doorjamb, staring at me, far enough away that I couldn’t gracefully leap off the gurney I was on and rip his eyes out with my fingernails.

“Hi, Lexi.”

I was in no mood for small talk. Jonas, I want you to walk closer to me. Jonas pushed off the doorway, and took three steps. He was only about a foot away from the rolling cart of surgical tools. His eyes glazed over. He wasn’t looking at me, but staring straight through me, not focusing on any one item in front of him. I had him in my control.

I gripped the sheet in my fists, preparing for a nosebleed, and concentrated hard on Jonas. Now, grab the scalpel off the tray. I want you to point the scalpel directly at your heart, but don’t pierce your clothing or skin yet. Then, I want you to look at me and answer my questions. Do you understand?

He nodded, then reached for and wrapped his fingers around the handle of one of the sharpest knives anywhere. Without hesitation, he pointed the blade at his chest.

What did Georgia inject me with? I brought the sheet to my nose as blood touched the top of my lip.

“A mild tranquilizer.”

Why?

“You were arguing too much. And we needed to get you off the streets.”

Why? I narrowed my eyes. I sounded like a kindergartner.

“To keep the IIA from capturing you,” he said, and his tone sounded a lot like he wanted to say “duh” afterwards.

Where are we? I looked around again.

“The Program.”

At Wellington? My heartbeat doubled in speed.

“No. At the UK Hospital, where Seth works. This is its original location, before Cathy DeWeese and Seth decided to move it to the boarding school for better security.” He raised his hands and put air quotes around the words “better security.”

I let out half a breath. I wasn’t sure how safe I was where I was, but I knew I didn’t want to be at Wellington. Georgia entered the room. Her eyes immediately went to Jonas’s hands—gripping a scalpel aimed at his heart. She raised a hand out in front. “Lexi? What are you doing?”

Don’t set the scalpel down, Jonas. Do not listen to Georgia. You can’t even hear her. “What do you mean?” I asked Georgia.

“Don’t even try playing stupid with me. I would have left you for the IIA back there, but Jonas insisted we bring you in.”

I untangled from the sheet and slid to the floor. “Don’t make me laugh. You’re the one who wanted me to leave this morning. And then what? You drugged me? And don’t even get me started on this one.” I pointed at Jonas, who looked bored while following my orders for a change. However, sweat beaded along his hairline. He was conscious enough to know his heartbeat was one slice away from stopping.

“I made a mistake,” Georgia said. “I shouldn’t have been so harsh with you this morning, but I was scared.”

“Scared of what?”

“The IIA. And for good reason. Once you were away from our house, they found you within an hour.”

I thought about that for a second. I’d assumed the people who found me did so because of the text I sent Marci. “Why does the IIA want me so badly?” I asked, mostly to myself.

Georgia rolled her eyes. “As if I could figure that out.”

“What about him?” I pointed to Jonas again. Jonas, bring the point of the scalpel closer to your chest. “What does Jonas want from me?” I asked Georgia.

Georgia looked away, refusing to answer.

Jonas, lift the scalpel up and hold it against your neck, but don’t puncture your skin—yet.

Georgia watched Jonas with wide eyes. His hand shook just slightly.

One more question for you, Jonas. What do you want from me?

“We need you to heal Sandra. I will force you to do it.”

Georgia jerked her head and gaped at Jonas.

By hurting Jack?

“No! I would never hurt Jack.”