Chapter 44 His Unbreakable Vow

Chapter 44 His Unbreakable Vow
The helicopter shook a lot as it went up through the storm clouds over the Adirondacks. The rotors cut through snow and wind like blades fighting to stay alive. Iris pushed herself against the cold metal wall. Her body protected a group of small shaking kids on her lap and against her sides.

There were nine kids who survived. Elias, Lila, Noah, Hope, Aurora, Dawn, a covered body and three newborns named Rose, Lily and Violet.

They held onto Iris like she was a lifeline in a sea.

Their cries and whimpers sounded like a song that hurt Iriss heart.

Claire sat beside Iris. She was still weak from having a baby. Claire rocked Violet while tears ran down her face. Sophia and Serena stood on either side. They had guns. Looked very tired.

Lucien sat across from them. His big body was bent forward. He was. Blood soaked through his bandages. His eyes looked raw with fear and love. He reached out. Took Iriss hand. Their fingers locked together over the kids heads.

The touch was their thing that kept them going in the chaos.

It was a promise that they would hold on no matter what.

The pilots voice came over the intercom. He sounded stressed and urgent. "We have two jets coming for us. They're not shooting yet. They're making us go north."

Iriss heart beat hard. "How longer until we get to the safe place?"

"Twenty minutes if we can shake them " the pilot said. ". They're blocking our signals. We're flying blind."

Luciens grip on Iriss hand got tighter. "We make it. For them."

The kids heard the strength in his voice. Calmed down a bit.

Then the shared dreams came back.

Hope suddenly arched in her seat. Her eyes glowed with a light.

"They're all dreaming it again. The accident.. It's different this time. There was another man. Not Daddy. Not the bad lady. Someone who took one of us before the crash even happened."

The revelation was like a bomb. Elias sat up straighter. His face was pale. "I remember now. There was a doctor. He said one of us was special. That we were never meant to be born."

Lila started crying. Noah hid his face in Iriss neck. The newborns fussed. Aurora and Dawn clutched each other. They both cried out in pain.

Iris felt her buried pain come back. She rocked the kids gently. "It's okay my loves. Mommy and Daddy are here. We're going to make it stop."

Lucien pulled Iris and the kids closer. His free hand stroked Hopes hair gently. "The recall is the key " he said. "If we can remember everything we can break the protocol. Amara, is the master key active?"

Amara nodded grimly. "Its fluctuating.. The original template is pushing back hard."

The helicopter jolted again. One of the jets fired a warning shot. The pilot. Dove lower.. Branches whipped past the windows.

Lila convulsed with a shared dream.

"Mommy " Lila gasped. "The bad man says I'm not real. He says I'm the copy. That the real Lila is with him now."

Iris pulled Lila into her arms. "You are baby. You are my Lila. Feel my heart. It beats for you."

Doubt was planted. The kids looked at each other with fear.

Elias asked, "What if one of us is the copy? What if I'm not really me?"

Luciens voice cut through the panic. "You are all real to us. Every laugh, every tear, every hug. That makes you ours."

The helicopter banked hard. The jets fired for real this time. A missile streaked past. Exploded below.

In the chaos Grace stood up. Her small body glowed with energy.

"The original template is here. She wants to merge with me and take control of the children from the inside."

Grace turned to Iris. Her ancient eyes were filled with fear. "I can stop her.. It means letting her in completely."

Iris looked at Lucien. Lucien nodded once. His unbreakable vow shone in his eyes. "Do it. We trust you, Grace."

Grace closed her eyes. The helicopter lights flickered as her mind linked with the template.

Then Grace opened her eyes. "Shes gone. I absorbed her.. The cost… I'm not a child anymore."

A new transmission arrived. It was from Victor Lang.. His face was different. Younger cloned again. "You survived the skies. Impressive.. The ground is mine. I have Theos mind in a vessel.. I have something else. Your father, Thomas. He's alive.. Hes been working with me the whole time."

Thomas Vale. Iriss father. Appeared on the feed. He smiled sadly. "I'm sorry my girl. I tried to stop them from the inside."

The betrayal, from her father cut deep. Iris sobbed openly as Lucien held her.

The final twist came as they unloaded at the bunker.

One of the newborns. Violet. Opened her eyes. Spoke with a tiny ancient voice.

"Mommy. The accident wasn't the end. It was the beginning. I was the one they took. The original template was me."

As the family staggered into the bunker Iris and Lucien shared one moment. He pressed her against the wall kissing her with all the fear and love he possessed.

They held each other tight after that still catching their breath. "You are his vow " Iris whispered softly.

Lucien kissed her gently. "This is for all of them. For you.. Always.”

When they went back to join the family, a last secret message popped up on the big screen.

It was, from Theos thoughts sent from a place nobody knew. "Mom. Dad. I am still here.. They are making me pick. Please save me before midnight. I love you much.”

The screen turned black.