Page 11

Ghost

“Show me what you can do,”

Edward ordered from across the large wooden desk.

“Fuck you,”

Ghost spat out.

“Wrong answer,”

Edward chuckled before pushing the button again.

Pain shot through Ghost’s body as the metal collar around his neck came to life. The electric shock collar worked the same as the bands the previous division of the group had used on him in his prior detainment. Don’t do what you’re told and zap; lightning bolts of pain shot through his body.

His broken bones vibrated inside the splint Rose had placed on it. Ghost’s wheelchair shook, and he was thankful the brakes were on, or he’d be rolling all over Edwards office like a boulder down a mountain.

The shock slowed, and soon he was left gasping for air, his vision blurry, his ears ringing yet again. HeGhost was being pushed closer to the edge, and it wasn’t his going ghost that worried him. It was his other ability. The one he’d only unleashed once before and refused to ever use again. If he released it now, he’d still be screwed. He’d still be stuck in this chair, unable to walk or escape. Ghost had noticed over a dozen Noah Group goons wandering around the farm fully armed, and he knew he’d never get past all of them. Besides, he’d promised Rose he wouldn’t leave without her and intended to keep that promise. He hadn’t seen any other survivors aside from Rose, but he doubted they were the only two here.

“How long do you think you can hold out?”

Edward asked, sitting back in his leather chair and taking another drag of his cigarette.

“Smoking is not good for your health, but in your case, motherfucker, I’m all for it, so suck it up, smoky.”

Edward’s smile grew, and Ghost fought the urge to let his power loose.

“Think you have balls of steel? I’ve broken bigger and badder than you, pretty boy. It’s simply a matter of time.”

“Why bother? Your predecessors tossed us aside, but now you new assholes act like we’re indispensable.”

“The scientists that came before were short-sighted. They didn’t see the big picture.”

“And you do?”

Here we go. The justification for doing terrible things to good people.

“Yes. Power. You mutants have it but fail to use it to its full potential. People like me will tap into it, control it, and use it to bring those in our way to their knees.”

“Blah, blah, blah. World domination bullshit. People like you spew bullshit like it's nuggets of gold. You’re not the first, and you won’t be the last limp-dicked fucker with dreams of grandeur. In the end, you’re all the same, pathetic, sniveling cowards, hiding behind others when shit goes down. Letting your minions fight your battles while you prey on the weak and hide in your bunker. Men like you go down in history as the example of how pathetic an ego-ridden megalomaniac can be.”

The pain was instantaneous as electricity shot through his body, and Ghost did his best to hold eye contact and smile at Edward right up until he passed out from the pain.

***

Ray

Two hundred meters outside the Noah Compound

“Don’t do it,”

Brick ordered. “Not yet. Everything isn’t in place.”

“Fuck. You expect me to sit here and watch Ghost being tortured without doing a thing?”

Ray snarled before looking through the binoculars again. A young woman with the same collar as Ghost rolled him out of the office, unconscious, while the Noah Group goon raged and threw the controller across the room. Ghost wasn’t making it easy on the guy.

“We all feel the same way. We want to bust in and rip the place apart, but we’re almost set to take the farm. It has to be done right, or people will be killed, and so will members of this team. You need to pull on your training as a Marine and look at this through a critical eye. I swear this will be the last time that asshole has a chance to interrogate Ghost,”

Brick swore. “That guy with the remote is all yours.”

“With pleasure.”

Ray cracked his knuckles. “He’s gonna have his ass kicked to hell and back.”

“How much longer before we have control of the airwaves and systems?”

Brick asked. “I don’t want them able to use those collars when we take the farm.”

Spencer didn’t bother looking up from his laptop. “Max fifteen minutes.”

His fingers flew across the keyboard.

“It’ll be dusk in thirty. We’ll move out at sunset. I want every prisoner found and released. All hostiles are to be dealt with with extreme prejudice. I’m done with these fuckers popping back up. Once the farm is cleared, burn it to the ground, leave nothing to be used against us or anyone else in the future.”

“Hooyah,”

the team shouted.

Ray was ready to go. He wore black tactical gear, bone mics in his ears, night vision goggles at the ready, along with his Glock and an Mk 48. His training and years in the Marines had prepared him for all situations except this one. He’d never had someone he cared about in the line of fire and being held by the enemy. For him, it was the most important and urgent mission he’d ever had.

“Ghost and I may not have always been close, and he may think he’s not as strong as the other team members, but he’s proven he can stand toe-to-toe with anyone. I’d be proud to serve alongside him any day,”

Gunner said as he came to stand beside Ray.

“I never took you for the reflective type.”

“I’m not,”

Gunner growled as he rechecked his rifle. He’d be stationed on top of the barn, keeping watch and taking out anyone who got too close to the team.

Ray couldn’t help but grin at the typically stoic and irritable sniper. Ghost had managed to even break through his tough exterior. The man didn’t realize the power he held over the team. They’d adopted him as their own.

“Let’s move out,”

Brick commanded. “No theatrics. We go in, do what needs to be done, and come out the other side. Understood?”

“Hoo-yah.”

***

Ghost

He’d been moved from the barn to a room deep beneath the farmhouse. It seemed this was where they kept their prisoners and carried out their genetic experiments. He hadn’t physically seen any other mutants other than Rose, but by the size of the facility, there had to be more. Either way, he knew the team would be here soon. Ghost was as sure of that as he was of anything. He simply had to hold out long enough to be freed.

Which in itself might be harder than he’d imagined if Edward continued along his button-pushing happy ways. Fuck, the last round had almost brought him to the edge of letting loose his full potential, but that would still leave him stuck in the wheelchair, unable to walk. It would also bring that ability to the light of day, and the proverbial Pandora’s box would be opened for others to know the truth about what he could do.

Ghost worried it was inevitable. The time would come when he’d have no choice but to expose himself, and he couldn’t help but wonder if this was that time. And if that did happen, would the team want him back? Would they trust him around the people at the lake house or the ranch? Or would they exile him to a life alone yet again?

His mind was playing a continuous loop with ever-worsening scenarios coming to life, but no matter how hard he tried, Ghost couldn’t get the one man who never wanted him out of his mind. Ray. Ghost imagined him sitting poolside in Vegas with this mystery man, drinking and sharing intimate looks and touches.

“Why are you growling?”

Rose asked as she walked into his room carrying a tray.

“Sorry, didn’t know I was.”

He had to get control of himself.

“I understand. I know the pain these collars bring, and on top of your injuries, it’s so much worse. I wish there was something I could do to help,”

Rose said as she set the food tray on his bedside table. “I’ve often wondered what it would be like to have a useful mutation instead of being able to see inside people.”

“You are useful. You help people. You save lives by finding the problem so that it can be fixed. Don’t ever think you’re less because you don’t have a more physical ability. Trust me when I say it’s not all cracked up to what you think it is.”

“I’ll have to take your word for that. I’ve brought you something to eat. You need to keep your strength up so your body can heal the damage.”

“Yeah, so Edward and I can go another round.”

Ghost grinned. He didn’t enjoy the pain, but the satisfaction of driving that asshole into fits of rage was worth anything he had to go through.

“Why don’t you do what he wants to avoid the pain?”

Rose asked as she absently adjusted her collar.

“I’ve never been good at doing what I’m told,”

Ghost joked, making Rose smile as he’d hoped. “Truthfully, I’ve been bullied my entire life for being different. I never knew who I could trust and who’d turn their backs on me. Sad to say, but Edward’s simply another bully in my eyes, and I’d sooner die than submit to one more asshole. I’m done.”

“You trust this team you talk about?”

Rose asked.

“Yes,”

Ghost answered without question.

He thought about the fact he hadn’t told them the whole truth about the extent of his power and made a life-changing decision. He’d come clean when he got out of this. It was time to tell them the truth about exactly what he could do.

Rose smiled and lifted the soup off the tray, but the power went out before he could reach for the spoon. The team’s arrived.

“My friends are here,”

he warned Rose. “Stay by my side, and we’ll get out of this together.”

Rose set the soup down and touched her collar. “It’s not humming anymore,” she said.

Ghost touched his own collar and smiled wide. “They’ve shut them down.”

“Your friends must be very powerful.”

“You have no idea. Stay close.”

Rose helped Ghost off the bed and back into his wheelchair. It would be easier to move him. The first few rounds of gunfire made Rose jump, and Ghost reached for her hand.

“It’ll be okay. I promise.”

People were running up and down the hall outside his room. Ghost heard someone yelling orders, followed by more gunfire. Would they be able to find him? Did they know he was underneath the farmhouse? What if one of the team got hurt trying to save him? Ghost felt the blood drain from his face at the thought of one of the team being shot.

More boots ran by outside his door, and suddenly, someone stopped. Shit. This could be his friend, one of the guards, or even Edward. Rose’s hand squeezed him tight as her fear spiked along with his. Ghost’s other power built around him. He needed to protect Rose at any cost.

The doorknob turned, and the door flew open. The doorway was empty for a split second before a familiar face glanced inside.

“Shaw, thank god,”

Ghost whispered.

Shaw came in and shut the door behind him.

“This is your friend?”

Rose asked.

“Yes, he is.”

Shaw flashed his megawatt smile and spoke into the comms. “I’ve found Ghost. Hone in on my location.”

“Good to see you, Shaw.”

“Hey, buddy. How are you doing?”

Shaw asked as he set his rifle over his shoulder and began cataloging Ghost’s injuries.

“Better now. I knew you guys would come.”

“Nothing would stop us,”

Shaw assured.

“This is Rose. She’s a prisoner as well, a nurse who can see inside people and diagnose their illnesses or injuries. She’s been taking care of me.”

“Thank you, Rose, for helping our friend,”

Shaw said as he shook her hand. “Can you be moved, Ghost?”

“Yes, please do. This place needs to be wiped off the map.”

“Oh, it will be, buddy.”

The doorknob turned again, and Shaw instantly reacted, bringing his rifle up and placing himself between the door and the two of them.

The door reopened, and the one person Ghost had never expected to see stood in the doorway.

“Ray? What the hell are you doing here?”

Ghost asked.

“I’ll explain once we get you out of here. Let’s move,”

Ray said as he flipped his rifle onto his back and bent to pick up Ghost from his wheelchair.

“You don’t have to carry me. I can be moved in the wheelchair.”

It was silly, but the last place he wanted to be was a victim in Ray’s arms in this situation. He’d another much more pleasant scenario in mind.

“We’re not using the elevator,”

Ray responded before sliding his arms underneath Ghost and easily lifting him. “Time to go.”

Moments later, they were on the move and in the hallway headed for the stairs. Rose stayed by their side as Shaw led the way, watching for any guards.

“We have Ghost and one other prisoner,”

Ray announced into the comms. “We’re on our way up.”

Ray glanced down at him. “I’m sorry if I’m causing you pain. Mrs. Greer is waiting to heal you.”

“You have a healer?”

Rose asked.

“Yes,”

Ray answered.

“Thanks for coming for me.”

Ghost couldn’t think of anything else to say.

“Always,” Ray said.

“We have company,”

Shaw said as he pressed his back against the wall.

Footsteps headed their way as Ray set Ghost on the ground, brought his weapon forward, and placed himself in front of both him and Rose. The guards began firing as soon as they rounded the corner, and both Shaw and Ray returned fire. Bullets ricocheted in the small space, but neither Ray nor Shaw gave up any ground.

Within moments, the firefight ended, and Ray bent to pick Ghost back up. He noticed the blood the moment he was back in Ray’s arms.

“You’re hit,”

Ghost gasped. “How bad?”

“It’s a through and through in his left bicep,”

Rose answered first.

“How did you know that?”

Ray asked.

“It’s what I do.”

Rose gave him a small smile. “No major arteries were hit. You’re not in danger of bleeding excessively.”

“Hmm, good to know,”

Ray said. “That’s a handy ability you have there.”

They were on the move again, and Ghost felt horrible Ray had been shot protecting him.

“Mrs. Greer can heal you,”

Ghost said.

“You’re going first,”

Ray said in a tone that brooked no arguments.

Soon, they reached the farmhouse’s interior and met up with Brick and Stryker.

Brick gave Ghost a quick once-over. “Who’s bleeding?”

“Me, but it’s nothing,”

Ray answered.

“Good, let’s move out. The cells have been checked, and we found no other prisoners.”

“They were in the gearing-up phase. I heard them talking about a shipment expected next week,”

Rose said.

“We’ll have to track that shipment down later. First, let’s get back to the vehicles and let Gator do what he does,”

Brick stated. “There’s still a few enemies outstanding.”

“Gator?”

Rose asked.

“He’s our explosives expert,”

Shaw answered, making Rose smile even wider.

“Couldn’t happen to a better place,”

she said quietly. “This place deserves to be destroyed.”

They moved as a unit through the farmhouse and went out a side door into the darkness of the night. The yard looked like a war zone. Burning vehicles, bodies of guards lying on the ground, and more fires burning in the distance.

A high-pitched scream stopped them in their tracks as they took a defensive position behind a panel truck.

“Where did that come from?”

Brick asked. “Gunner?”

“Searching,”

Gunner’s voice crackled over Ray’s comms. Ghost’s position in Ray’s arms left him close enough to overhear. “Twenty-six degrees due south of your current location. I don’t have a clear shot.”

Ghost looked to where Gunner had directed to see Edward headed toward a truck with a child in his arms, gun pointed at their head. Shit.

“Does anyone have a clear shot?”

Brick asked.

Ghost could hear the negative responses coming back over the comms.

“Shit,”

Brick growled before stepping forward. “Freeze, motherfucker, and put the kid down.”

Edward skidded to a stop on the gravel, his back against the truck. He spun to face them as he pressed his gun into the little girl’s temple. She was about six years old and wore a collar like Rose and himself.

“That must be why Edward left earlier today. I didn’t know another survivor was brought in,”

Rose stated. “He must have hid her.”

“Let her go,”

Brick repeated.

Shaw and Stryker stood beside him, guns raised, while Ray protected him and Rose.

“Back off, or I’ll kill her,”

Edward yelled.

“Anyone have a shot?”

Brick asked again.

“None without risking the little girl,”

Stryker answered.

“Same,”

Shaw said, as did the remainder of the team.

“I’m leaving here, and if you try to stop me, I will kill her,”

Edward said as he inched his way toward the open door.

Ghost watched the poor girl, her face a mask of fear. Now is the time. Let it bring what may.

He raised his arm, palm out, catching everyone’s attention. He concentrated on Edward with every fiber of his being. Edwards left arm slowly relaxed, releasing the girl, who quickly ran behind a nearby tree. Edwards other arm shook as blood began flowing from his nose, mouth, and, finally, eyes. A gurgling scream was the last sound he made before the man fell to the ground, dead. Ghost couldn’t have used this murderous power before because of the toll it took on his own body leaving him vulnerable, but with the team around him it was now possible.

Ghost’s head throbbed, and a trickle of blood ran from his nose at the focus he’d used. As the team watched, Ghost turned to Ray and, with his remaining strength, said, “Sorry.”

Everything went dark.