Page 80 of Mimic

“You girls will be placed together. Sisters who can’t be separated.” Magyk handed me a folder. “It’s all there. Everything you need.”

I opened the folder, flipping through the birth certificates and school records. I wondered who Magyk knew that was able to get this information on such short notice. Seeing as it was all lies.

“I can read,” I blurted out.

A hush settled over the men as they all turned to stare at me. “What?” Mimic asked, coming to stand in front of me.

“I can read. I can do math.”

He tilted his head, confusion showing on his face. I smiled at that. He was cute when he was confused.

“I never went to school. I was taken from the mall. I was with my mother; we were school shopping because I was about to start kindergarten. I have no memory of being taught how to read or how to add and subtract.”

I spun around to look at King. He nodded, understanding where I was going. “It’s true.”

“It is,” I agreed. “But we need to know everything.” I turned around, looking at Sting. That was his road name. I didn’t care what his real name was. It didn’t matter because he wouldn’t have a grave. There would be no headstone for his family to mourn at. “Unlock the door.”

Jingles moved forward, producing a key that he slipped into the lock. Opening the door wide, he allowed me to enter. Sting’s eyes bulged out as I moved around the small area.

“What the fuck are you doing?” he asked King, his eyes trailing my every step. Gunner stood by the bars, his gun trained on Sting.

“Who’s gonna say the phrase?” Blade asked.

“I am,” Mimic declared at the same time King said, “Jack.”

This must have been something they discussed while we were still upstairs. Gunner and Mimic both argued their points, but my focus was on Sting. The way he watched me led me to believe he knew exactly what was about to happen. My father must have told them about me. About what I could do, if the fear emanating from the prisoner was any indication.

There was a commotion outside the cell that drew my focus for a brief moment. Sting used that to his advantage and struck. Shoving me into the cinderblock wall.

My head bounced off the concrete, and I closed my eyes, willing the stars to dissipate. Sting didn’t hesitate; he pulled his hand back as the words that woke my subconscious rang out around the room.

“Reckoning Hour.”

My eyes snapped open, and I smiled. Everything came back in an instant. I was no longer Indigo Cambridge. I was once again Kate Porter.

My foot connected with his balls before he could throw another punch, and Sting fell to his knees. I looked at the men who groaned on the other side of the cell.

My eyes focused on Jack, the man who had triggered my subconscious. I waited for my instructions. I wouldn’t attack other than to protect myself, not until I was given the signal. He needed to say the words.

Jack stared back, his head tilting to one side and then the other. What was he waiting for? Sting rolled around on the floor, groaning and crying, and I wanted to kick his teeth in so he would stop. But I couldn’t move.

I stood, the wall at my back, feet spread apart, hands locked behind me. And I waited. I didn’t speak. We weren’t allowed. Our job was to take orders.

“Why is she just standing there?” Gunner asked.

Sting finally got to his knees. He struggled to stand, but seeing me frozen in my spot, he advanced. Once he was close enough to reach, I quickly spun a roundhouse kick to his head, returning him to the floor.

“Kate, will you show me what you’ve learned?”

I smiled at Jack. His smile was comforting. His words were sincere. He wanted me to perform for him. But he wasn’t like the others. He didn’t demand; he didn’t threaten. He asked.

I nodded once, my eyes looking for my prey. I grabbed his hair, pulling his head back.

Where should I start?

If I start head to toe, he won’t see anything I do. Which has its benefits. Without his sight, his other senses will be heightened, meaning he will feel it more.

But this isn’t about him.