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He turns fully toward me.

"Of course, I'm only interested in those that lack fear. You see, fear is one of the worst human traits. Acceptable, from an evolutionary point of view. But not from a mercenary one." He taps his foot anxiously. "But for what I have in mind, it's the requisite trait to have."

"What do you mean?"

"Super soldiers." He smirks again. "The perfect human weapon that knows no fear, nor," he nods at my arm, "pain. A killing machine if you will."

"What about remorse? Don't some people have it while others don't?" I ask, his theory stirring something inside of me. For all my apathy toward the man for hurting my sister, I can't help but be intrigued by the way his mind works.

"Smart," his mouth draws up, "we just erase itoutof you. One step at a time." He comes closer until he's sitting right in front of me. "And you, my little miracle, might just be my winning prize."

"Me?"

"You think I haven't observed you until now? Your intellectual attributes are perfect. But I've never been quite sold on your physical or emotional abilities," he says jovially, "until now."

He strokes his jaw pensively before adding, "And if your physical form is better than I'd hoped, then that only leaves one thing."

He stops, and I raise my head to look at him.

"Your emotions," he declares happily, giving me my first ever assignment.

"Show me how wrong I was about you, Vlad, and together we'll conquer the world," he tells me, after which I'm once more taken to my cell.

The first thing I see is Vanya petting Lulu, her features light for the first time in forever. And the dilemma in me grows.

Take away her happiness, or take away her pain?

But in that moment, I know there's only one correct answer.

I shut myself down as I stomp toward her, wrapping my fingers in Lulu's coat and yanking it from her arms. Taking a few steps to the middle of the room to give the camera the best view, I raise my emotionless eyes to the red lens.

Lifting a struggling Lulu toward the camera with one hand, I use the other to feel for his neck. Finding a proper grip, I twist painfully until I hear a crack.

Lulu's motionless body falls to the ground, and I blank everything out.

Vanya's cries, her condemnation and most of all her small punches as they hit my skin.

I just block everything.

That day marks the birth of Miles' little miracle.

A killing machine.

17

VLAD

Ijerk awake, sweat clinging to my skin as I replay the events from my dream in my mind.

Fuck, but it had been worse than I imagined. Way worse. And somehow I'm sure this is one of the tamer ones.

Ever since I've returned from Peru, my dreams have served as flashbacks, sometimes the memory is sharp like today, other times it’s faded. Still, every piece of the puzzle is heading in one direction.

I was Miles' plaything. And Vanya must have paid the price for becoming a useless experiment.

My fists clench as I realize just what had happened to my sister, my mind clamoring with loud voices, my chest thumping with pain.

Shit.