Vendetta Nation (Enigma Black Trilogy #2) (5 page)

“Are you a fan of the obscure, Ms. Stevens?” Victor’s voice interrupted my concentration.

“Pardon?”

“I see you’re admiring my little hobby.”

Who would have thought the man has hobbies?
“It’s really…something,” I answered him.

Victor picked up the glass case and inspected it thoughtfully. “This is my favorite piece,” he said, obviously proud of the incongruous figure in his hands. “Science is truly a marvel. It can take weak mortals, and turn them into something quite indestructible. Who knows, one day we may even be able to break through the barriers of our own mortal existence to achieve immortality itself.”

“Immortality can only be achieved at the cost of humanity.”

“Oh?” Victor seemed curious to understand my reasoning. “Now, why do you think that?’

“If that figure were a living being, its expression would be just as empty and as hollow. It’s like engineering took over, removing all traces of feelings or hope from its very soul. We may be able to keep our hearts beating with the use of artificial measures, the institution of spare parts to craft limbs, and with nuts and bolts to maintain our body’s structural integrity, but we’ll cease being human. A lifeless machine will have taken possession of our bodies by then, stripping us of our souls, rendering us nothing more than monsters.”

“Monsters.” Victor let the word rest on his tongue, an amused grin forming on his face. “Well, Ms. Stevens, your thoughts may very well prove true. Perhaps it’s a good thing science hasn’t progressed that far yet.”

“Perhaps.”

“So,” Ian chimed in, “what is this development? Have we found The Man in Black? Is he even alive? We haven’t heard from him in a while. People are beginning to talk.”

Victor chuckled. “I assure you he’s still alive, and still very much in hiding. What I wanted to discuss with you concerns a matter of security.” He leaned back in his chair as though he needed to make himself more comfortable to break the news to us. “As you may have heard, the country is in a state of unrest. The rebels have grown substantially in number and are threatening the very tapestry of our society. As a result, President Brooks has had to take more extreme measures. Measures that haven’t exactly been popular.”

“Imagine that,” I muttered. Ian gently kicked my foot to stop me from saying anything further.

“There’s going to be a televised address at Potomac Park in a couple of weeks. A monumental crowd is expected to be in attendance at the park, while the rest of the country watches it from home. Viewing of the address will be mandatory.”

“Oh, really,” I stated. “And how exactly does President Brooks intend on forcing everyone into watching his little stint at reality television?” This time I could feel Ian’s eyes boring holes into my skull.

“Are you done?” Victor asked, arms crossed.

“I suppose. Carry on.”

“Your existence is vital. Not only were you engineered to combat one of the most prolific threats our country has ever known, but your presence has also helped to maintain a sense of order. You’ve been vital to the Brooks’ administration.” My stomach turned at the expectation of what our new assignment would hold. “As such, President Brooks has personally requested your attendance at the address.”

“So,” Ian began, “are we really working for the Brooks administration?”

“Our cause is funded by governmental grants, but you are not technically employed by President Brooks’ administration, per se. We’re just both working toward a common goal.”

What, oppression
? I kept my latest comment to myself. “What will our purpose be at this address…rally…whatever it is?”

“Based upon knowledge we retrieved from the vigilantes’ internet dealings, and from the moles we have planted within their ranks, there’s a good chance there will be a riot at the rally. President Brooks will be exceptionally vulnerable given the sheer fire power these individuals are said to possess.”

“We’re acting as bodyguards, then?” Ian asked. “Surely, he has plenty of them already.”

“Yes, but none quite like you,” Victor mused. “Besides, you’re not only going to be acting as security for the event. You’re also going to be standing with the President as he addresses the nation. Standing in uniform with him, showing that you’ve aligned yourself with his ideals will hopefully reduce the violence from the protests that have sprouted up across the country.”

Anger overtook me, and I barely felt my body as I lifted myself up from the chair. “This isn’t at all what I signed up for,” I protested. “Our mission is to find and destroy The Man in Black, not play yes-men to President Brooks’ agenda.”

“Ms. Stevens, you will sit down now before you irritate me any further,” Victor admonished.

With a scowl, I lowered myself back into my chair, purposely avoiding Ian’s gaze.

“I know this isn’t exactly what you had in mind when you joined us here. Nevertheless, it is what it is, and your missions are whatever we tell you they are. Besides, with the number of people expected to be present as well as the presence of the media, it would be a perfect time for The Man in Black to show himself.”

“Fine,” I said, staring Victor directly in the eyes. “If he shows up, this mission may be worth it, after all.”

“Glad to have you on board with us,” Victor said condescendingly. “You and Mr. Grant will take leave the day before the event. Two rooms have been booked for you at a local hotel, and you will also attend a pre-rally soiree for the other VIPs in attendance at the address. Attire will be provided to you as well as a vehicle to transport you safely to and from the event in complete anonymity.”

“Can’t we just skip the little pre-rally soiree?” I asked, immediately catching Victor’s glare. “Well, I guess that’s a ‘no’.”

“You’re excused,” Victor commanded, rubbing his temples.

“Thank you, sir,” Ian said, standing up. Together, we both left Victor’s office and made our way back out into the hallway.

“‘Thank you, sir’,” I said, mocking Ian’s tone. “Seriously, what was that back there? I could have used a little backup from my
partner
.”

“You know, Victor probably wouldn’t despise you so much if you would quit with the attitude towards him every now and then.”

“My attitude has nothing to do with any ill feelings that man has towards me. I think he’s hated me from the moment I arrived, maybe even before that.”

“I don’t see how anyone could possibly hate you, you’re so damn charming, after all.” Ian chuckled.

“Ian, you can’t honestly say you’re happy about this mission of ours.”

“No, but I understand their motives. It would be a perfect opportunity for The Man in Black to wreak havoc.”

“If that’s what Victor says.”

“I think you need to give Victor a chance,” he said. “Maybe you’ll find that he’s not as much the villain you think he is.”

“You and I are going to have to agree to disagree on that one.”

*****

Victor stood up, irritated.
Why does she have to be so damn frustrating
? he thought. Walking over to the filing cabinet, he pulled out the manila file marked ‘Celaine Stevens’. Thumbing through its contents, he found everything he’d asked Caine to dig up: school transcripts, driving records, surveillance photographs, DMV records, and newspaper articles. Articles from the attack on The Lakes Mall, depicting photographs of the lone girl lying lifeless atop the remains of the decimated parking ramp.

Then there were the articles showing the aftermath, of a grieving seventeen-year-old girl at the foot of three coffins. Coffins that contained Carol Stevens, Jacob Stevens, and Dr. George Stevens. Victor’s lip curled into a sneer.

I climbed the stairs of the fire escape, jumping from the last step onto the roof of the building. From there, I jumped from building to building, running across the desolate storefronts until I reached the one I was looking for. In the brisk air, a mixture of rain and sleet fell from the sky, creating a slick coating over my ledge. My thinly-lined jacket provided little protection from the elements. Shivering, I removed my helmet and squatted down on the pavement with my hands in my pockets. What I was doing wasn’t healthy. It was crazy and completely irrational, but such is love. No matter how hard you tried to make sense of it, love truly remained senseless.

Chase’s bedroom was dark, which told me that he was probably either asleep or at work. I’d been gone for so long that I didn’t know what his schedule was anymore. All I knew for certain was that he wasn’t alone. His nights were spent in comfort and security. And as happy as I was that he had someone who made him smile again, it still felt like I’d been hit with a battering ram every time I saw it.

It should be me
.
Why couldn’t it have been me?
Thoughts littered my mind, forcing me to toss them aside. As painful as being away from him had been, in the grand scheme of things, I believed I had made the right decision. Even if that decision had really been made for me. Still, I couldn’t help but remember the way he looked at me, our forbidden rendezvous on the rooftop of my apartment, and how he made me feel like no one in the world mattered as much to him as I did. Now, I knew that was no longer the case. There were memories to be made with someone else.

If only he could know I was here; if only I hadn’t had to lie to him.

In the last couple of months, my visits had been less frequent. Anymore, I made them to ensure his safety. My existence fed upon the knowledge of his presence in this world. I’d already failed Lucy, I wasn’t going to fail him too. Eventually, I’d have to quit coming here, but for now, I couldn’t stop myself from making the trip.

The rain began to pick up in intensity, rolling down the leather folds of my jacket. I pulled my hair back with the hair tie I kept securely around my wrist and slipped my helmet on over my face. Below me, I heard a commotion on the street. Peering over the ledge, I saw Chase walking arm and arm with the blonde-haired girl I’d grown accustomed to seeing him with. She was trying to rush down the street out of the rain, while he playfully held her back. Her screams and laughter projected both frustration and glee, a conflict of emotions. After putting up a halfhearted fight, she relented to him and, taking his hand, he twirled her around in the rain as they danced on the sidewalk in front of Chase’s apartment building.

That was it. I couldn’t watch the rest of the scene unfolding on the street any longer as I suspected that what was sure to follow inside the apartment would be even more heartbreaking. At least what I was witnessing now was somewhat bearable. Casting one last glance down at him, I stood up and began running back across the rooftops.

*****

“Chase, stop, we’re getting drenched out here. Not to mention it’s freezing,” Paige protested.

Chase released her from his grasp, laughing. “I suppose we should go inside,” he said, brushing a damp strand of her hair away from her face. Before they could begin the climb up the apartment complex steps, headlights appeared from behind where they stood. “Swell,” Chase groaned when a squad car slowly approached them. The officer stopped the car and rolled the window down.

“Do you have any idea what time it is?” the uniformed man asked from inside the car, his features barely visible in the light cast by the dashboard.

Chase could feel Paige’s body stiffen in his arms. “We live right here, officer, and are going in now. We didn’t realize it was so close to curfew.”

“It’s ten minutes past curfew. I suggest you get inside and be more mindful next time. There are soldiers patrolling around town who won’t be as lenient as I am. If it were up to them, you and the missus here would be spending the night in the county jail. They take curfew violations pretty seriously.”

“Yes, officer,” Chase responded. “We appreciate your leniency and won’t let it happen again.” The officer nodded, rolled his window back up and returned to his patrol. “That was close. I’ve never seen patrol cars down here before. I didn’t think there were enough people left here for them to care about protecting.”

“Let’s just get inside, please,” Paige muttered through chattering teeth as she climbed up the steps to the apartment building.

“This is out of hand,” Chase said when they were safely in the elevator. “Something has to give soon, or else people are going to implode.”

“Can we not discuss this now, Chase? There’s enough going on around us when we’re outside our apartment, let’s not ruin the peace we have here.”

The elevator door opened and the pair exited into the hallway. Chase fished for his keys in his pocket. “
Our
apartment, huh?” he repeated, unlocking the door.

“I’m just repeating what you said to the officer.”

“If I had told him anything different, we’d both be sitting in the back of that squad car right now.”

“That may be true, but it still sounds…nice.”

“It has a ring to it,” Chase acknowledged, kissing her forehead.

“I need to go dry my hair,” she giggled. “I didn’t intend taking another shower today.”

“Not everything in life is intentional,” he said, watching as she walked down the hallway toward the bathroom. He followed in her wake, turning to enter his bedroom. His dampened t-shirt clung to his skin like Velcro, and he couldn’t stand being in it a moment longer. Opening his dresser drawer, he peeled the t-shirt and his blue jeans away from his body and fished through the drawer until he found a pair of flannel pajama bottoms, a gift from Celaine during the last Christmas they had spent together. He inspected them thoughtfully, feeling the material between his fingertips before finally deciding to wear them.