Chapter 29 Rival Threat
The safe part of Graves Tower felt really small. There were nine kids. They were all over the place. They were making a lot of noise. It was nice to hear. It was also a little scary. Iris was looking out the window at the New York skyline. Lucien was standing behind her with his arm around her waist. He was warm and strong. She could feel that he was a little nervous.
The babies. Rose, Lily and Violet. Were sleeping in beds. Elias was reading to Lila and Noah on the couch. Hope and Aurora were playing with blocks on the floor with Dawn. Theo was watching them. He did not want to join in yet.
Iris was thinking about the kids. There were nine of them. They were all alive because of her and Lucien. It was hard to believe.
Then someone knocked on the door. It was Captain Reyes. She was. She was standing up straight. "We have a problem " she said. "Victor Lang is out of jail. He is talking to lawyers.. Someone is offering a lot of money for one of the kids. They want them alive."
The room got really cold. Elias looked up. Lila started crying. Went to Iris. The older girls. Aurora, Dawn and Hope. Looked at each other. They knew what was going on.
Then Dr. Amara Soto came in. She had a tablet in her hand. "The babies are okay. They are doing something weird. It is like they are listening to something."
Before Iris could think about that Sophia came in with Serena. They looked really tired. Sophia had a folder in her hand. "We found some information on the computers in Switzerland. There is another group inside Project Elysium. They call themselves The Continuum. They do not want to use the kids as weapons. They want to put minds into young bodies.. They have already chosen the kids."
Lucien got really upset. "Who are they going to use?" he asked.
Sophia did not want to say.. Then she told them. "All of them. They want to use all of the kids. They have a plan. They are going to get the kids ready in six months."
Iris felt sick. These were babies. They were her babies. She did not want anyone to hurt them.
Then Claire got up from her chair. "Do they want my girls too?" she asked.
The door opened again. It was Thomas Vale. Iriss dad. He looked really old. "I have been running from The Continuum for twenty years. They are not just scientists. They are people and politicians who have been alive for a long time by taking over new bodies. Victoria was trying to protect you from them. That is why she did what she did to Lucien."
Then Amaras tablet started beeping. "We have a problem " she said. "One of the kids who helped Aurora is in trouble. He is saying that The Continuum is waking up kids across the city. They are coming for our kids tonight."
Captain Reyes started moving. "We need to get the kids out of here. This place is not safe anymore."
Lucien made a call. Then they all got into cars. Drove to a safe place. It was a bunker that Lucien had built a long time ago.
The drive was really scary. The kids were quiet. They knew something was wrong.
Then they got attacked. Two black vans cut them off. People with masks got out. Started shooting. One of the cars exploded. Iris threw herself over the kids. Lucien started shooting
Aurora and Dawn got out of their car. Started fighting. They were really good at it. They helped the cars get away.
They finally got to the bunker. It was safe.. They knew it would not be safe for long.
Inside the bunker Dr. Kane checked the kids. He looked really upset. "The Continuum is already waking up some of the kids. They have the bunkers plans. They are coming from underneath."
Reyes got really upset. "We have tunnels under the bunker. I will. Make sure they are safe."
The adults started getting ready to defend themselves. Iris and Lucien went to a room. They were both really upset. They hugged each other. Then they kissed.
They took off their clothes. Got into bed. Lucien kissed Iris over her body. He made her feel really good. Then they made love. It was not about sex. It was about being and being alive.
Then the alarms started going off. Reyess voice came over the intercom. "They are inside the bunker! We are being attacked!"
The family got together in the room. The kids were scared. They were being brave. Aurora and Dawn got into position to defend themselves. Sophia and Serena got guns. Claire held her babies tight.
Then a hologram appeared in the room. It was a man with a hood over his head. "We are The Continuum. We want the kids. If you give them to us we will let you live. If you do not we will take them. Erase your memories."
Thomas Vale stepped forward. "I know who you are. You are Councilor Blackwood. You have been alive for a time by taking over new bodies."
The man smiled. "I will take over more bodies. Starting with the boy Elias."
Then something unexpected happened. Dr. Amara Soto pulled out a gun. Pointed it at Lucien. "I am sorry. They have my daughter. I have been giving them information for months. The only way to save her is to give them the kids."
Lucien was really fast. He took the gun away, from Amara.. It was too late. The Continuum already had the bunkers plans.
The adults started fighting. The kids were scared.. Then Hope did something amazing. She stepped forward. Said, "I can feel the other kids. They do not want to hurt us. They are scared too."
Hope, Aurora and Dawn worked together. They sent a message to all the kids who were being controlled by The Continuum. "You have a choice. Come home of fighting us."
It worked. The kids who were being controlled started turning against their handlers. The Continuums plan was not working.
Councilor Blackwood had one last trick. He showed them a video of a facility. There were empty bodies waiting to be taken over. "If you do not give us the kids we will take the adults instead. Starting with Iris."
The transmission stopped working. The lights in the bunker went out. It was completely dark. Somebody grabbed Iris from behind. These were hands that knew what they were doing. Iris tried to fight back. Something was pushed over her mouth. Everything started to fade
When Iris woke up she was in a room that was painted white. She was tied to a chair. Councilor Blackwood was standing in front of her with a smile on his face.
"Hello Iris Vale, welcome, to your life. We think your mind is really good. It will work perfectly for what we need. Your family will not even know that you are gone Iris Vale."