Chapter 51: collided with faith

Elsie’s POV~

I lost track of myself as soon as our lips collided.

Theo grabbed my breast and squeezed again, but our nostrils did not forget the filth in the tunnels.

His touch made me forget about my scars, about vengeance, and about Angelo.

I was squeezed against the bathroom's frigid wall by Theo, whose breath was hot against my skin.

With the same urge that I had to touch him, his hands wandered. No words, only silent comprehension of my waiting body.

We used desperation, rage, and sadness as an escape. He snarled softly, his voice muffled in the bend of my neck.

I could feel the urge deeper now, soaked in each other's pleasure, and I wanted him to feel it too.

"I can't stop now," he murmured.

Then don't," I said in a hushed voice.

His belt clinked softly on the floor. I gasped as he slowly and deliberately went into me, slipping my panties aside. I gripped his shoulders and clung to his anguish as much as I did to mine.

It was heaven on earth.

Then….

BANG!

The moment was cut short by a thunderous crash outside.

The children!

With my heart hammering in my chest, I tugged my dress down as Theo abruptly drew away.

At the same moment that Angel screamed, the baby began to cry, and we both hurried out, half-dressed, barefoot.

"Elsie!" Angel backed away from the man standing in the doorway and called.

I saw Arlo standing in the corner, and blood dripped. He had wild, frantic eyes. He spat. "You think you've won?" he mocked, holding a cell phone up.

"It's too late!" he exclaimed.

Theo moved in front of me to protect my body.

"Get out of here, Arlo." Deranged and cracked, Arlo laughed.

"You believe that I am the end of this? You have it all wrong,,, I assure you.""" He gestured toward the infant.

“The children are merely vessels. The true secret to the serum is already known. My employers are not the only ones who would kill for this truth," he stated.

We watched in disbelief. Other people wanted this crap, too?

“You can't stop it; it's already on its way to its new owner. " He tried to grab Angel, but Theo threw himself to protect him.

Instead, Arlo lunged at the corner shelf—no, it was a drawer, his first target.

Theo's pace was too slow.

After drawing a rifle, Arlo turned and aimed it directly at my chest. My body went cold. Once more, Angel shouted.

Arlo kept the gun aimed at me while Theo pulled out his weapon.

"Nobody moves," he growled. "Unless you want to watch her bleed," he said. I looked him in the eye. "You don't intend to stop, do you?"

With a tone of almost awe, he declared, "I am what the world needs; I'm close to finding the cure.""" Theo was confused.

"What we have made here will endure beyond our lifetimes, and you, Elsie," he sneered, tilting his head. He rubbed his neck where he had been strangled and spat out the rest of the blood.

"You were just the pretty face we used to divert the wolves' attention." Theo's mouth tightened from his confession.

"Arlo, put down the gun."

Arlo shook his head "No,, it ends here. This I know, I'm going to be the last one out, but not before taking both of you with me!” he aimed at Angel; his shot was clear.

“No!” I cried.

His gun went off, and so did Theo’s.

Arlo's finger trembled on the trigger as Theo surged, sending the shot off course.

My arm was grazed by the bullet, causing a burning sensation that caused me to trip.

With a yell, Theo threw Arlo to the ground. “You bastard, how could you do this to these kids!” he yelled, punching Arlo over and over in his throat.

The icy concrete was splattered with blood as they battled, their fists hammering bone. However, Arlo was insane and continued to laugh while Theo slammed his head against the ground.

Arlo then took out the pocket knife from Theo's back pocket.

Theo then grabbed the blade. Immediately to the side. I let out a yell. The kids let out a cry. Still laughing, Arlo coughed up blood and attempted to stand up again.

"The first cascades of events have already started—"

Bang!

I didn't hesitate this time. With Theo's gun in my hand, I fired at the diabolical man.

Theo jumped back, seeing the man bleeding from his chest; he gurgled blood one last time and died.

Theo took the gun and stepped back from me, in a fit to dispose of it in the sewage.

And then I saw him get shot; he fell face-first into the sewage.

“Theo!” I run out and see my proud husband standing there with his gun still smoking from his victorious feat.

I stopped to pick up his phone from the ground.

I was silent all through, with Theo dead; everything was now in shambles.

I was confused. “Are these kids coming with us?” Angelo asked.

I flashed him angry eyes before looking away. "I'mmm sorry I thought he was going to kill you,""" he lied through his teeth.

“He is my bodyguard! Angelo, how could he hurt me?” I asked, stunned.

“He was shirtless!” I exclaimed. I scoffed. "Anddd that gives you the right to kill him?”

He looked at me as though I wereee speaking gibberish. “Aren't you tired of hiding behind these men like a coward?” I asked angrily.

Angel was cuddled up beside me,,, but he couldn't stop looking at Angelo.

“And why the hell does this one look like me? What are you up to,,, Elsie? Is this another one of your tricks?”

I laughed. “A trick?” I asked, “You mean you can't remember stashing your golden seed into his mother for your fucking gain?” I roared, pushing past him.

He grabbed my arm. “What the hell are you talking about?” he asked. This time he looked genuinely confused.

“This!” I gently placed his daughter in his arms. “Tiffany 2.0,,, I presume? How low are you willing to go,,, Angelo? Are you going to subject your entire bloodline to cruelty to save yourself?” I asked.

I saw him look down athe child in his arms. "Elsie,,, I don't know what the hell is going on,,, but I haven't fathered any other children,""" he said in his defense.

“At least none that I know of,” he added.

I shook my head. “You are so pathetic you are not even going to claim these kids?”

“Tell me what's going on?”

Is he trying to play dumb right now?

"Oh,,, save your pretenses for the ones that give a fuck. These are your kids, Angelo,o,o, and you better be father of the year,,, or so help me, I'm'm'm going to ruin you forever for this!”

My last moments with Theo were all my mind could conjure up. How could he die like that?

And by this asshole no less!

“Elsie, I have no idea what's going on here! Come on, help me out! I came here to save you!” he exclaimed.

His voice irritated me the longer he spoke. “Save me? Or erase the evidence of your filth! I know what you've been doing down here,,, Angelo! I know you are using DNA to make Vybe!”

He stepped back in shock. “What?” he exclaimed in disbelief.

"No,""" he added softly, “it can't be!” I saw him lose himself in thought before looking back at me.

He realized that he can't fool me anymore.

“Let's keep it a secret,""" came his response. It drove me instantly insane.

“Excuse me?”

He nodded. “My sister is up there right now. I know this is a huge secret but we can't let anyone know right now."""

I opened my mouth in disbelief.

“You are fucking insane if you think I'll let this go!”

He placed the infant softly into the soldier's arms; he whispered orders,,, and in seconds the other man had grabbed Angel and disappeared into one of the tunnels.

“Where are you taking them, Angelo?o?o? My God! Are you going to kill them? Angel!!” I cried.

He put his hand over my mouth. “Can you shut the hell up for once, please! And fucking listen!”

I went quiet, my brows furrowed into anger. “I don't know what the hell is going on down here but I'll make sure those kids are safe if they are mine."""

I looked at him in disbelief. "Pathetic,""" I cursed.

“My sister can't know we found kids down here,,, okay? We have to keep it a secret."""

He was serious; I could see it in his eyes. Why didn't he want his other evil half to know? When they both planned it together.

By dawn, Selene had found us,,, and we were on our way out of the tunnels.

“Find anything surprising?” she asked. We both shook our heads; she looked at us for some time and then looked away.

Angelo raised his hand to his lips,,, and I decided it was best to keep shut till we were home.

I took out Theo's phone and opened it; luckily there was no code.

I guess bodyguards are as honest as they come.

A saved photo popped up. Her face was bright and happy.

Tammy, his wife. I felt like the other woman as I looked on in guilt.

She was curly-haired and radiant, her belly round with a child.

A hospital bracelet on her wrist, New Hope General.

It seemed our destinies were always meant to clash.

And below the image, a short recording followed.

I played it,,, and Theo's voice came on.

“Baby, I'm stuck here, stuck on all levels; I don't know what to do. But one thing I'm going to make clear—" Heee paused before he came back on. "I'll come back to you even if it's the last thing I do. I'm going to save up enough money for the damned machine,,, I promise you, Tammy. I swear I will. Even if it kills me.”

My chest caved heavily. The guilt was suffocating and eating me up inside.

“You didn’t fail her; I'll make sure she's okay, Theo.” I put the phone close to my chest, feeling his presence around me.

Longing for intimacy that was so rudely interrupted.

I leaned into Angelo as we approached the stairs leading out of the tunnels. “Your daughter is going to grow up, Theo. And wonder why her father had to get rid of her; she’s never going tonow who her father was.” I stepped away from him just before Selene could catch it.

selene’s pov~

But I did catch it, so they found her, the incubated specimen, Vybe Plus.

It seems Arlo was not good at keeping his location hidden.

That's done anyway; I have to get her back before Angelo's enemies find out who she is and why she's important.

As soon as we got home,,, I was hounded by my new sister-in-law.

“Telle, did you know?” she asked, raising a mobile phone to my face.

Eager to know what she was talking about.

I didn’t flinch; I had to act indifferent. “About what, darling wife? Surelyyy you understand that we both have unfinished business?"

She tossed the phone onto the table in front of me. I picked it up,,, and the screen showed a woman, maybe Latina...

Pregnant…py and Glowing.

My face twitched, trying to make sense of this image.

“Tell me you knew about Theo’s wife before you accepted to place him with me. You knew what he was trying to protect was important. Why didn’t you say anything? To let us help him."""

I sighed and leaned back, crossing my legs with ease. “He told me not to. Said it would distract you and you would be Miss Goody Two-Shoes about it; well,,, he wasn't wrong," I said.

I spat. “A man has died protecting me, because of this…" He was on the verge of a heavy confession, but then she relaxed.

My eyes met hers, something unreadably evil flickering in hers. “You’re not responsible for him, Elsie. He was rented... and he knew what he was getting into, except maybe there's more?”

“Yes, I am responsible, Selene! "Fuck, I snapped.

“Because he treated me with respect

I got up and stood beside her. Her composure was fraying; she held the edge of the table "This is dangerous terrain.. You’re getting too involved. Stop while you are ahead.""

“That's right,, I am.” I watched her turn to leave.

“I’m going to save his little boy, Selene. I’m going to find Tammy and keep her on life support.""

“Fine, do whatever you want,” I replied, waving her off.

“Elsie…” She stopped in her tracks. “Anything else?”

She turned and looked at me; her glare was mysterious.

"Nothing." She walked away; I got my answer.

They know about the Vybe subjects.