Sweethearrrt.” Griffin’s voice drifted out of the shadows. “Come out, come out, wherever you are.”
I clutched my little arsenal as a spike of fear shot down my spine. But that was quickly replaced by a burning rage when I spotted my bloodstained hands, the crimson skin a fierce reminder that it was him or me.
Him or me.
When Griffin stalked through the door, I didn’t hesitate. I flicked my aunt’s copper lighter and hit the nozzle of the antiseptic spray. Flames erupted into the air as my makeshift flamethrower struck its target, resulting in a howl of pain.
I released the nozzle and shifted positions, not taking any chances of Hurricane-Griffin blasting the flames back at me. The goal was to inflict whatever damage I could, while also staying one step ahead of his attacks with my weird heartburn ability-tracking—or what I was pretty sure was my escalated pattern-tracking.
Griffin whipped around and stretched out a softly flickering arm. I darted sideways, my chest humming in light pulses as I kept aligned with his smoking back, avoiding his attack. Or what I assumed was supposed to be an attack—but only a slight breeze came out. What the hell?
I looked past the scorched shirt and really inspected Griffin. He appeared the same—icy hair, lethal gear, Control Band—but his veins… There was something seriously wrong with them. Under the pale skin encasing his forearms, the spiderweb of blood vessels were inky black, like they were circulating sludge. Was it the tranquilizer? Or was it from blasting through the shield door? Maybe he had overloaded his own system—didn’t matter.
I raised the lighter and antiseptic spray, aiming for Griffin’s legs. The blaze shot out, catching him in the thigh just above where my aunt had hit him. Bellowing, Griffin pivoted away before charging me like a linebacker. His hand clamped around my wrist as he wrenched me forward, jerking his knee up at the same time. Sharp pain exploded across my ribs, causing me to lose my grip on the antiseptic spray as my knees cracked off the concrete. I clutched my side, agony stealing my next breath.
“What’d I say about playing nice?” Griffin’s grip tightened.
Blinking back tears, I was now at eye level with his charred thigh. The pungent smell of roasted flesh made my stomach curdle. I punched my free fist forward and hit the irritated skin with a war cry, freeing everything festering inside me. A shocked howl echoed off the supply cabinets as Griffin jerked back, swinging me around like a merry-go-round and launching me right at one of the hospital beds.
I caught myself, but not before my hip slammed into the footboard, eliciting a yelp. I stumbled backward, ignoring the flares of pain as Griffin limped after me with a blinking, black-veined arm. But again, only a light breeze stirred the room.
“Technical difficulties?” I staggered away.
“Only a slight hindrance. Nothing the extra Boosters can’t remedy.” His tone dripped with menace.
So, the Boosters must have been counteracting the tranquilizer and turning his veins into an oil-coated roadmap. But more importantly, I now knew there was a ticking clock on Griffin’s rebooting abilities. If I wanted to strike, it needed to be while we were on more even ground.
“All you need to concern yourself with is leading me to Asher,” Griffin said as we circled each other. “Has he struggled without his Stabilizers yet?”
My chest hollowed but I didn’t say a word.
“He has, hasn’t he?” Griffin’s predatory smile said he knew he’d hit the mark. “You should just hand him over. It’ll be easier that way.”
“Do you even know what happens to the Elementums you help capture?” I asked, sounding braver than I felt. “Or is it easier not knowing how the Clinic uses them like lab rats? Easier than fighting them, right?”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Griffin’s face filled with hostility at his own words being thrown back at him.
“Why have you stopped fighting them? Because it’s truly easier? Or because you think my aunt was right?”
Griffin drew up short, fists clenching.
“You do, don’t you?” I tightened my hold on Aunt Viv’s lighter for strength. “You think it’s possible that the Clinic got rid of your father.”
“Shut up,” Griffin snarled, head shaking.
“If that’s true, why would you still work for the Clinic?” I weighed my words carefully. “Why would you help people who have absolutely no respect for you? Who keep you restrained and believe that you’re expendable.”
Griffin frowned, jaw tightening.
“What do you think the Clinic will do once they create a new and improved replacement for you?” I pressed on. “You really think they’ll just let you walk away?”
“I’m not being replaced, and my dad isn’t gone.” Griffin’s profile flickered with confined power just waiting to be unleashed. Like the pressurized calm before the storm.
“It’s already happening. Why do you think your Handler is so focused on Asher?” I thought of Agent Todd’s obsession. “She wants to trade up by being his Handler. Only issue is she doesn’t have the bluff of holding his father over him. If the Clinic is willing to get rid of another Elementum like Asher’s father, what makes you think your father is safe?”
My chest started to hum and the surrounding air crackled and thinned like a water bottle heading for higher altitude. “And yet here you are, helping them take Asher away from the little he has left. Just like they did to you.” I waved a hand in his direction. “But you don’t have to do that. This is your chance to do the right thing and make up for all the terrible things the Clinic made you do.”
Griffin’s stance loosened and the air pressure dropped off, allowing my lungs to relax. Maybe I was finally getting through to h—
Blinding pain burst across the side of my head, taking me to my knees. I didn’t even feel the impact of the concrete as stars exploded behind my eyelids. A fist coiled into my hair, hauling me up by the roots. I cried out in pain as I stumbled to my feet, head cranking at an uncomfortable angle.
“I’ve been praying for this little reunion.” Agent Todd wrenched my hair back as reactive tears welled up in my eyes. “You won’t slip through my fingers this time, and neither will my golden ticket. Now, where is he?”
“He’s not here,” I ground out as I flailed like a cat being held by the scruff.
“Liar.” Agent Todd pressed something solid into my side, sending a bolt of fear down my spine and freezing me in place.
Not good.
“I see someone went crazy with the Boosters.” Agent Todd mocked Griffin. “We need to get to Asher before the others do. I’m not letting anyone else get face time with the Director when it’s rightfully mine. Now, where are the other assets? We need to interrogate them too.”
Mouth setting into a hard line, Griffin glanced to the far side of the room.
“You buffoon,” Agent Todd scolded as she looked toward Aunt Viv. Acid climbed up my throat that she was even breathing in the same direction. “The orders were to take them all alive. This will cost you, Griffin. You can expect another delay in treatments because of your insubordination.”
The color drained from Griffin’s face.
Then Agent Todd wrenched my head back farther. “Now, where is Asher? Even you must realize he needs his Stabilizer before it’s too late and this is all ruined.”
Ruined?
“You mean by his death?” I bit out in disgust before pointing to the side of Griffin. “You can go to hell because we already found his Stabilizer.”
On the side table next to Asher’s empty hospital bed sat the pocket-sized plastic case with the two vials, but instead of the Igniter symbol on the front, now the Horizon Project emblem was drawn in its place. I had hoped to use the tactic against Griffin to get information, but this might work too. I just hoped my replica looked official enough from a distance.
“He’s already on his way to a different location,” I lied.
“That’s impossible.” Agent Todd tensed behind me, unconsciously lowering her gun-filled hand to her tactical belt. Clipped to the side of it was a similar pocket-sized case. Was that the real Horizon Project Stabilizer?
“How did you get that?” Agent Todd shoved the gun against my side again.
My ribs cried out in protest, but I directed my attention to Griffin. “See?”
“See what?” Agent Todd pressed the gun harder.
Pure panic clawed at my throat as the self-preservation part of my brain screamed at me to shut up. But this was my opportunity. I had to take the risk. For Asher.
“You and your father mean nothing to her.” I locked eyes with Griffin. “You’re nothing but a stepping stone.”
Agent Todd yanked my head back. “Shut it.”
“Are you trying to replace me with Asher?” Griffin asked her as a stunned moment passed.
“What are you spouting off about, you idiot?” Agent Todd dismissed him.
“Are you?” Griffin stood firm.
“Silence,” Agent Todd snapped, her voice pitching higher. “You know what happens if you don’t do your goddamn job.”
“Answer me!” Griffin erupted like a volcano.
“Remember your place, Enforcer.” Agent Todd leveled her gun at Griffin, the patches of purple darts along the barrel a slight comfort, but not enough to calm the panic still rooted in my chest. “I won’t miss out on this opportunity just because of you.”
“I’m the only reason you have this opportunity in the first place.” Griffin’s face turned deadly. “Without me, you’d still be stuck in that same position with no signs of a promotion.”
“Don’t push me, you fool.” Agent Todd jerked her weapon for emphasis. “I will neutralize you, and if I do, a Booster won’t help you this time.”
“The higher-ups know what you are,” Griffin continued, despite the livid agent behind me. “They can smell the desperation and failure wafting off you like a disease. Especially after you’ve backstabbed and sold out everyone you’ve ever worked with, including me.” He took a step forward. “I’ve been your fall guy for every damned mistake you’ve made, but the joke’s on you. You’ve dug your own grave with your career.”
“No, the real joke is that was your father!” Agent Todd shouted, superiority coating every syllable. “You really thought the higher-ups care about one pitiful dying man?”
My chest hummed with the low current of rage that permeated the air as Griffin’s profile started to glow.
“You’re the fool if you truly bought that.” Agent Todd laughed. “The truth is your father died sad and alone, stuck in a grave of his own making. Crying out for an inattentive son who never came.”
Everything happened in a flash. Relying on my years of defensive training and the vast improvements thanks to Clay, I kicked back and slammed my heel into Agent Todd’s shin. A raw howl pierced the air as the hold on my hair loosened. I seized my opportunity, painfully ripping free, but I didn’t go far. I reached for her tactical belt, latching onto the small case as I struggled to get it free.
“You little bitch.” Agent Todd grabbed at me as a pulse of pure power contorted the air.
Griffin released an agonized scream as he stepped forward, lifting a glowing, black-veined arm. An alarming rumble shook the room right before the humming in my chest spiked to uncharted levels, alerting me to the impending attack. Acute terror barreled through me as I wrenched the case free.
Then Griffin detonated.
A gale-force wind surged out in all directions, mowing down everything in its path like a tornado. Including me. It whipped me right off my feet.
In midair, time seemed to suspend as medical debris flew every which way and I was tossed like a ragdoll. I had a vague sense of fiery explosions going off in the distance before a blast of hot wind assailed me, the brutal pressure building against every inch of my body.
Hurtling to the floor, I lost my next breath from the impact as pain lit up my system. And then, the world blinked out until there was nothing.
Until I was nothing.