Mindsiege (Mindspeak #2)(39)

Scared? I cocked my head.

Behind her, Jonas sucked in a deep breath. He was slowly coming down from the panic attack.

She stepped closer. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

Like I believed that. Stop. Don’t come any closer.

She immediately stopped.

My eyes darted around the room a second time. That’s when I saw the scissors lying on a counter on the far side of the room.

Jonas, grab those scissors. I directed him with my eyes. He followed my order without question. Obviously, his guard was down, much like it had been the day I forced him to hold a scalpel against his own heart. Now, grab Sandra, and point the sharp end of those scissors into her neck.

He pulled Sandra—this almost mirror image of me—against his chest, then pointed the sharp tip of the scissors at her jugular. Sandra’s eyes widened. “Jonas, what are you doing?”

“I’m sorry, Mom.” His hand shook. Jonas didn’t enjoy being controlled any more than I did, as was evident after I manipulated his actions once before. “Her power is strong. Without help from Central, I can’t stop her.”

Sandra’s eyes narrowed on me. “Okay, I’ll play. What do you want?” she asked me.

I pushed myself up the wall to stand. Blood began to trickle from my nose, pooling just above my upper lip. I heard noises from somewhere out in the hallway.

Lexi? Can you hear me?

I pulled tissues from a nearby Kleenex box and held them to my nose. Jack, I hear you.

Oh, thank God. We’re almost there. Are you okay? I couldn’t reach you with my mind. I’ve been trying.

I’m fine. Who’s with you? I asked.

Kyle, Seth, and Cathy. Why do you sound funny?

I walked to the three doors and locked each one. They were all heavy, steel doors, with prison-quality locks. You’ll have to wait outside.

My hand was still on the last lock when the door handle jiggled. What’s going on, Lexi? Did you lock the doors?

Yes. I backed away, staring at the door, and still pressing the tissues against my nosebleed.

“So, it wasn’t fear I saw in your eyes, was it, Sarah?” Sandra asked.

“Don’t call me that.” I turned and faced Sandra. “He called you ‘Mom.’ Why?”

“Because I carried him for nine months, gave birth to him, and raised him.”

“But he’s a clone.”

“That’s right.” She was unfazed by the scissors pointed at her neck.

“A clone of whom?” The picture of the person of interest from the newspaper article about Marci’s death came to mind.

She smiled. “Is that really want you want to ask me about? We don’t have time.”

“Why’d you do it? Why’d you clone humans?”

“That’s more like it. Now we’re getting somewhere.”

I stepped closer to her. Hold her tighter, Jonas.

He gripped Sandra and the knife tighter. Sandra tilted her head, attempting to lean away from the blade. “Because I could,” she laughed. “Because I wanted to change things. I wanted to cure disease. Fight for world peace. I wanted control.”

What the hell was that supposed to mean? Well, she would not control me.

“Have Jonas put the scissors down. You and I need to talk about some things before the people on the other side of that door break their way into here.”

“No. You can talk just fine where you are.”

She swallowed. “Okay. Have it your way, for now. I need you to join me, Sarah.”

“Join you?” I scoffed. “Join you where?”

“At the IIA. I can help you. Make your nosebleeds go away. You’ll never feel sick again when you heal someone. I can teach you about everything you were designed to do.”

An irrational laugh bubbled up out of my throat. “And what if I don’t want to learn from you? You’re not the only one making that promise. What if I don’t want anything to do with you or the IIA?”

“Then the IIA will continue with their plan to eliminate you and the other originals. And I will give them permission to do so.”

“Because you have that authority.”

“Yes, I do,” she said matter-of-factly. “I have complete authority over the Department of Human Cloning. I will simply inform the IIA that you have gone rogue, and you will be terminated.”

I looked at Jonas. There was something in the way he studied me. You have something to say?

Don’t taunt her. She will kill you and the rest of the original clones.

Does that include you?

No. Remember that piece of metal I showed you? The one I took from Ty when we were in the underground facility?

Yes.

That’s called a tracker. I allowed her to insert one into the base of my brain. She can terminate me and any clone at that facility—flick us off like a light switch—any time she wishes—with the push of a button. She, or the agents who work for her, can also control our every movement because of that tracker.

Terminate? Would Sandra kill Jonas? Why are you telling me this? I asked. If Jonas was Sandra’s son, and here to free her from the coma, why would he risk telling me these things?

Because I need you. The clones need you. She knows it, but she wants control over you first. She can’t kill you with the push of a button. She’d have to murder you in a more… traditional sense.