Retaliation (The Mind Breaker Book 2) Read online

  Hammer glares at me, thinking. I watch his hands in case he tries to reach for his gun. I’m unarmed at the moment.

  “Fine,” he says finally. “You’re in.”

  “Thanks.” I smile. “See how easy that was.”

  Before reentering the barrack, he turns his scarred face to me and says, “You stinking Elimination rat. One day I will…”

  “I know,” I interrupt.

  “No, you don’t,” he says. “Believe me, you know nothing.”

  We return to the recruits and Hammer announces me as the leader for our upcoming mission. I enjoy watching Jack’s disappointed frown.

  “What about me?” Kitty asks.

  “You’re staying behind,” Hammer commands.

  Kitty abruptly stands up and gives me a long piercing glare. Then her expression changes as if she’s about to cry. I expect her to say something, but Kitty just marches away in silence.

  I don’t have time to follow after her. The next two hours the recruits and I are busy studying maps, going over the details of our plan and checking weapons. I need to concentrate on the mission, but my thoughts are continually coming back to my stubborn girl.

  I see her again as we’re boarding the aircraft. The recruits are already inside. Jessie, Victor and I are approaching the entrance. A few dozen Retaliation members have come to watch us leave. They stand gazing in speechless awe.

  “Wait!” I hear her yell.

  I look back and see Kitty running toward me, spreading her thin arms for a hug, her red frizzy hair waving in the wind. Her green eyes are wild and cheeks flushing red.

  I have to suppress a strong urge to run toward Kitty, grab and hold her tightly, soaking up her warmth. I didn’t fully realize how much I’ve missed Kitty’s affections. Suddenly I become worried that she’ll try to kiss me in front of everybody. And I’ll have to stop her and she’ll get upset all over again.

  Instead, Kitty approaches Jack standing beside me, wraps her arms around his neck and kisses his lips. Jack seems stunned, but well pleased.

  “Whoa,” I hear people collectively breathe out in shock. Everybody in Retaliation believes Kitty’s my girlfriend, although it’s never really been true. Rumors of this little incident will spread quickly throughout the whole camp.

  Kitty finally lets Jack go and quickly turns away. I’m standing motionless, feeling like somebody just punched me squarely in the gut.

  “Let’s go,” Jessie says, giving me a friendly push from behind. I climb inside the aircraft, and within a few minutes we take off.

  Chapter 2

  I hate flying. It’s uncomfortable to think that only a relatively thin layer of steel separates us from a freefall. Kitty believes planes are much like flying coffins, although they have been proven to be very safe. This particular aircraft is a fusion between a helicopter and a jet plane, with high maneuverability and increased speed. The military had begun building them a few years before the Eruption, but had to stop production due to the crisis.

  This one looks absolutely brand new, all clean and shiny. Our supporters must have unlimited resources to provide us with better equipment than even what the military has available.

  The recruits sit along two benches and I can almost feel the growing anxiety radiating from them. Most of them are level 1 breakers which basically means they can’t break the wills of the resistant. It may pose a problem when all Elimination soldiers are resistant, and it takes at least level 2 to twist their minds.

  So I’m really thankful to have Jessie and Frank on my team for this mission. They’re both great fighters and we’ve been through a lot together. As for Victor, I’m still not sure what to think about him. Before he conveniently switched sides to join us, he was a snitch and willingly cooperated with our enemy.

  Jack sits across the aisle from me, leaning back and showing no sign of concern. His mere presence irritates me. I notice that he’s changed his usual camo for a black turtleneck and dark military pants. We now look disturbingly similar. We’re the same age, same height, and each wearing black. I’m curious if this is the real reason Kitty chose him. Is she really trying to find a replacement for me? Jack sure seems to be more than willing enough to play along.

  A few recruits begin fidgeting in their seats, snickering nervously. I doubt they fully understand what we may be getting into. The war is just a game for them and they still don’t realize they are mortal.

  A boy sitting next to Jack catches my gaze and his face shines with a happy grin.

  “It’s a great honor to go on this mission with you, sir,” he says excitedly. “I’m very proud to have such an opportunity.”

  I don’t like when they call me sir. That was Hammer’s idea.

  “How old are you?” I ask.

  The boy hesitates for a second and answers, “I’m sixteen, sir.”

  I immediately understand he’s lying. He hardly looks twelve.

  “I can fight really well, sir,” the boy says very seriously. “We’ve been training a lot. I won’t disappoint you.”

  “I’m sure you’re a good soldier,” I answer. What else can I say?

  The other recruits grow quiet, watching and listening intently.

  The boy asks, “Sir, is it true that Elimination guards shot you four times, but you still continued fighting and killed them all?”

  “Not hardly,” I answer. “I was shot only once and passed out.”

  He seems confused for a moment, then says, “But you did survive a lethal injection, right? Hammer told us how you’re unresponsive to most known venoms. And you can heal faster than average. That’s why Elimination couldn’t kill you.”

  “Can you really explode heads with only your gaze?” another recruit asks. “Hammer mentioned how you’re a level 5 breaker. You have the ability for telekinesis.”

  My goodness. Hammer’s lies are becoming ridiculous. How can anybody buy into them? I don’t know what to do about it. He wants the recruits to think I’m a hero, a living legend with supernatural abilities, somebody worth fighting and possibly even dying for.

  “You shouldn’t believe everything Hammer says,” I answer. “Level 5 doesn’t even exist that I’m aware of.”

  The recruits nod with understanding, but keep on smiling. Their eyes are full of admiration. They believe I have some truly special abilities.

  “We’re all ready to die for you if need be, sir,” a petite girl from the back of the aircraft says solemnly. She’s barely Kitty’s age and looks doll-like with blond hair and porcelain skin. I could easily envision her sitting under a Christmas tree, unwrapping a teddy bear. Instead, she holds a rifle in her small hands.

  It’s sickening. I get flashbacks of Lena and Jimmy, whose deaths were my fault.

  “Please try to stay alive,” I say.

  Jack begins laughing.

  “It’s all really very touching,” he says mockingly. “You’re so kind, Rex. You have a genuine concern for us.”

  I don’t understand what he means.

  Jack stops laughing, spits on the floor and turns slowly away. His fingers wrapped tightly around his weapon are white from pressure. His posture is unnatural and tensed. It’s not hard to imagine Jack training his rifle on me and pulling the trigger.

  I’m probably just getting overly paranoid, seeing enemies in everybody. Too many people have wished to see me dead recently.

  ***

  The aircraft finds a suitable spot for landing a few miles away from our destination. We hike through dense woods for approximately an hour. Overhead, the sun shines brightly and the sky is electric blue. It’s still late spring, but the temperature already reaches into the high nineties. The smothering humidity wraps around us like a heavy blanket and steam rises from the damp soil under our feet.

  It’s getting difficult to breathe and my uniform clings to my skin, soaked in sweat. The recruits march in silence, carrying their rifles and small backpacks packed with food and ammo. Everything seems a little too ordinary, as if we’re just
going on a hike.

  We finally crest the top of a hill and see a narrow muddy road on the other side at the bottom. Frank checks the map to make sure it’s the right place. I don’t have to check anything. I’ve seen this exact hill and the road many times before through my visions. It can’t be a mistake, even the trees look familiar.

  I command the recruits to cut down a dried out oak. Then we drag it toward the road and place it across to block incoming traffic. This road has been abandoned for years and there’s little chance a random car will come along. I expect only two Elimination trucks carrying prisoners and Captain Wheeler.

  Thinking of him makes my blood boil. I must kill Wheeler today. It’s been on my mind for months and I still haven’t decided how it should go down. Anything I can think of seems too humane for Wheeler. I want to see him suffer and realize why he’s dying. It’s going to take a lot of self-control not to just shoot him on sight. Before killing Wheeler, I need to bring him back to our camp for interrogation. He has information about the Death Camp, the largest Elimination prison holding hundreds of breakers. I haven’t been able to locate the Death Camp through visions. Something must be blocking me.

  The recruits take positions on top of the hill, concealing themselves in a thicket. I lie on the ground, observing the road. The sun is still high in the sky. I’m sure we have a couple of hours before the trucks arrive, but I continue watching carefully.

  Jessie and Victor approach. They used to be worst enemies, so Jessie must have finally given up on her plans for vengeance.

  “Darn it, where are they?” she asks in a nervous voice.

  “I don’t know the exact time when they will come,” I answer.

  Victor pulls out a small metal flask, takes a sip and passes it to Jessie. It must be whiskey, I guess. She takes a drink and offers to me.

  “No, thanks,” I say. “I should keep my head clear.”

  “Still can’t hypnotize when you’re drunk?” Jessie says, smiling teasingly. She can consume unlimited amounts of alcohol and still use her abilities without any trouble. It always amazes me. I have to remain completely sober and it still hurts my head when I use hypnosis.

  Victor searches his pockets, pulls out a plastic container of pills and swallows a couple.

  “Hey, easy on that stuff,” I say.

  “Relax,” Victor answers. “You know I need it. I won’t be nearly as useful should I begin to think clearly.”

  Elimination overused Victor for reading the memories of prisoners. A good breaker can safely do a memory scanning maybe once a week and be all right. Victor had to read memories on a daily basis. He lost himself in other people’s minds, even sometimes forgetting who he was. Now, he’s using drugs and sleeping meds to block memory flashbacks.

  “We can’t rely on these kids,” Jessie says, motioning toward the recruits.

  “I know,” I say. “We need to try to keep them safe. They’ll cover us while we take Wheeler. Frank will stay behind as well. He’s still a better shooter than breaker. Victor, you’re coming with us. Your job is to put the guards under.”

  “Sounds good,” Victor agrees.

  “You really trust Frank?” Jessie asks suddenly.

  “Frank has proven his loyalty many times,” I say. “I don’t want to discuss it again.”

  Jessie and Victor linger around a few more minutes, speculating about when the trucks may come, before returning to their positions to observe the road.

  Time drags by slowly. The sun seems to be glued in the same place in the sky. The recruits take turns having a meager supper, then one boy brings over a bag of salted chips and a bottle of water for my meal. I make myself eat.

  “You can’t fool me,” an angry whisper comes from behind. I turn to look and see Jack standing a few feet away. I hadn’t heard him approach.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” I ask. “Return to your position.”

  “Don’t tell me what to do,” he says. “I’m not taking orders from you.”

  “Really?” I say, getting onto my feet. He takes a step backward. “What’s your problem, Jack?”

  “You’re my problem,” he answers.

  “How’s that?” I ask calmly.

  “You don’t deserve to be among us,” Jack says. “Maybe you can fool those kids into thinking you’re some kind of hero, but you can’t fool me. I know you’re just a coward who can’t be trusted. You shouldn’t be in charge. This is your first mission, right? I’ve been on three missions already. I should be the leader here.”

  I envision myself punching him in the face, then take a deep breath and say, “Jack, insubordination is dealt with by a bullet. Return to your position. I won’t tell you again.”

  “You won’t shoot me,” Jack says. “You’re a coward.”

  I stare him down, holding my rifle with both hands. He takes another step back, hesitating. Then he lowers his eyes and leaves.

  “Hey, Jack,” I call. He stops. “When we get back to camp, keep away from Kitty.”

  “Go to hell,” he says. “You don’t deserve her either.”

  “I’ve warned you, Jack,” I threaten.

  He walks away, returning to his position. I come back to my spot to observe the road.

  The sun is creeping down. Still no trucks in sight. Where are they? Why haven’t they come yet? I have to fight an urge to run down the hill and walk along the road, looking for them. I can’t stand waiting one more minute, but make myself lie still and keep staring at the road anyway.

  It’s getting dark when I finally hear vehicles approaching. Two military trucks with oversized tires are cruising down the road. I aim the barrel of my rifle at them. They slow down and come to a complete stop in front of the tree placed across the road.

  “Rex?” Jessie whispers nearby.

  “Wait,” I say quietly.

  The recruits give me puzzled looks. I can hear them breathing heavily.

  Four guards climb out of the trucks to check out the fallen tree. They glance around cautiously, but don’t notice us. A chill crawls down my spine when they look my direction. I haven’t seen Elimination officers since our escape. They wear black uniforms identical to mine and carry assault rifles.

  “Time to go,” Jessie says. “What are we waiting for?”

  “I don’t know yet,” I say through my teeth. “Just wait.”

  The guards command a dozen prisoners to clear the road. They approach the tree and begin dragging it away slowly as the officers continue to scan the surroundings expectantly.

  “They’ll drive away,” Jack whispers. “You coward!”

  “Shut up, Jack,” I snap. “Everybody keep still.”

  I’m not sure why I linger. Something seems off. The prisoners wear bright orange prison jumpsuits with blocking collars around their necks, but no handcuffs. That’s weird. Also I recall that guards used to put hoods over our heads during transport. I doubt Elimination has changed protocol that much. Something is definitely wrong here.

  “Screw you,” Jack growls, standing up. “Let’s go!” he commands, running down the hill. His action pushes the recruits over the edge. They all scramble onto their feet and follow behind, firing their weapons.

  “Stop,” I command. “Come back!”

  They don’t hear me, overtaken by momentum. I can’t stop them. Everything is happening too fast.

  The guards take cover behind the two trucks. The recruits approach the road and suddenly freeze, dropping their rifles. The prisoners are standing motionless in front of them, their faces concentrated and tensed.

  I understand very well what’s happening.

  This is an ambush. While we were planning to capture Wheeler, he was setting a trap to kill us. These prisoners are planted fakes. Elimination has created a new team of breakers to use against my squad. They’ve put all our recruits under.

  I don’t have time to do anything. I watch helplessly as the guards open fire and the recruits go down.

  Chapter 3

  “
Cover me,” I command, scrambling up to my feet.

  “Don’t!” Jessie exclaims, grabbing my arm and trying to hold me back.

  I shove her away and sprint down the hill, keeping low and shooting on the run without taking time to aim. I hold onto the desperate hope that some of the recruits may have survived. It’s unlikely as the guards were targeting their heads.

  Jessie, Victor and Frank open suppressive fire, bringing down a few of the fake prisoners and forcing others to move to cover behind two trucks. I’m semi-deaf from the constant rattling of rifles and handguns, moving as quickly as I can. The Elimination officers place several gunshots my direction, but I don’t slow down. At the moment, I don’t even fully realize they may kill me. I just want to rescue the recruits, if any are indeed still alive.

  Approaching the road, I see them. They’re sprawled on top of one another, unmoving. Their faces appear eerily calm and relaxed, eyes still open. When you die under hypnosis, you don’t feel pain and can’t understand what’s happening. It must be very close to dying in your sleep.

  Refusing to give up, I drop to my hands and knees and crawl amongst the bodies, checking their necks for any sign of a pulse.

  “That’s him! Take him!” I hear a loud command.

  Several officers come out from cover and Jessie brings one down. It must be Jessie, because the bullet hits him right between the eyes. I fire my rifle, still not aiming, just trying to keep them away.

  I detect some movement in my peripheral vision. It’s Jack. He’s lying on his side, grabbing his leg and yelling something unintelligible. I can’t hear clearly as gunfire drowns out his voice. Of course he has survived, I think angrily. People like Jack are always the last to die.

  I crawl toward Jack and grip him under his arms, pulling him up.

  “Let’s go!” I yell. The guards are getting closer. Instinctively, I concentrate, projecting my thoughts into their minds to break their wills. No use. They’re too resistant.

  Jack attempts to stand, but immediately falls back down. His leg bleeds profusely, staining the mud. I throw his arm around my shoulder, half-dragging him toward the edge of the road. Nobody fires at us as we retreat. I suddenly realize the officers intend to capture me alive. Maybe this trap was set specifically for this purpose. Wheeler still wants to imprison me although I can’t imagine why. Killing me would be far less trouble.