Chapter 45 The Father's Chain

Chapter 45 The Father's Chain
The first thing I noticed about the lower levels of helix was that screams moved far underground. The walls in Owen’s private chamber were built really thick, it was made with soundproof and reinforced steel, but screams and pain still found its way through it. A roar of rage for subject

Helix was wounded. Which made the pain crueler. I lay restrained on the medical bed, every muscle in my body was tense as I listened to hear one voice above all others.

Zane.

Sometimes I thought I heard him, sometimes I feared that I imagined his screams because the bond needed him closer to me. The room’s lighting dimmed automatically into night mode, though no one here deserves the comfort of being a subject.

A door opened. Two guards entered first then Garrett Wilder. He was being half carried and half dragged. He looked worse than when we had escaped. His shirt was gone and replaced by a restraint full of monitoring wires. Fresh wounds were on his arms, bruises covered a part of his face but his eyes were clear, i mean dangerously clear. 

They strapped him upright into a metal chair chained to the floor opposite my bed. I struggled against my restraint, “Leave him alone.” I screamed.

One of the guards replied. “You don't give commands here.”

Garrett lifted his head slowly and found me, our gaze met. “Still loud?” he said.

Tears rolled down my eyes. “You’re hurt?” I asked.

“I have been hurt since years back.” Even now he could joke. The guards left without any other words and the door sealed and for the first time after being captured again, I was not alone.

I turned to face him fully. “They took you from the others?” I asked.

“They took all of us.” He replied

“How is Ruby?” I asked him.

“Alive, Angry and her mouth is still reckless.” He replied.

I exhaled sharply. “What about Zane?” 

Garrett's expression changed, He looked really concerned. “He fought until they used enough power to resist him.” He said.

I didn't know what to feel. “Where is he?” I asked.

“Close.” Garrett said.

“How did you know that?” I asked.

“Because every time he gets angry the light flickers.”

As if the room were listening, the room lights flickered once again and somewhere far away metal crashed. Garrett gave me a look. “You see?”

my eyes moved over to the chair and i saw IV lines, I knew what it was for instantly.Rage hit me so fast my vision changed. “They are harvesting from you again?” 

“I think so.” Garrett replied.

“They have been doing this for years.” I continued.

The door opened again, Owen entered with two doctors carrying tablets. He looked between us with amusement. “Family reunion, how touching.”

“I should have finished you when you were a student.” Garrett said under his breath.

Owen smiled slightly. “You nearly did, that was brave but I am in charge now.” He said.

He moved to Garrett’s chair and adjusted something. Garrett’s body went still as current passed through his body.

“Stop!” I screamed.

Garrett clenched his teeth, refusing to make a sound until the voltage ended. Sweat rolled down his chest. Owen turned calmly towards me. “This is it.”

“You’re a coward.” I said.

“No, I'm efficient.” Owen replied. He moved closer to my bed. “If your mate cooperates, Garrett won’t suffer.” My voice shook with fury. “Zane will kill you.”

“That phrase has become repetitive.” He then nodded to the technicians. “Begin extraction now.” Needles descended toward Garrett’s arms. “Do not trade freedom for me.” He screamed as the needles pierced.

Time moved fast strangely in the underground. No windows, no sun. Only lightning and footsteps moved beyond the door. Garrett endured four extractions. He never begged, never asked for mercy. When pain made his hand tremble, he hid it by curling them into his fists.  I memorized every machine connection. Every access port, every guard rotation I could hear. 

Late into the night, the door opened again,  Ruby entered pushing a supply cart. Two guards accompany her. She wore medical scrubs. Her eyes found me first, then Garrett, then the machines. The fury in her face had become something colder. “Vitals check,” she said flatly.

“Make it quick.” One guard yawned.

Ruby approached me and clipped sensors to my fingers, chest and abdomen. Her hands moved professionally. Her whisper did not. “I copied server archives.”

My pulse jumped. Ruby pressed a hand to my wrist as if steadying the sensor. “Don’t react.” she whispered. She moved to Garrett, checking his vitals. “The buyers arrive in six hours.”

Ruby adjusted his IVbag. “They are auctioning genetic rights.

I felt sick. Ruby’s jaw tightened. “They planned to sell the embryo before it’s born.”

The room tilted before my eyes. One guard glanced over. “Is there a problem?”

“Not at all.” Ruby answered. 

Ruby returned to me, swapping a syringe in the trap. “Listen carefully, I can't free you yet. But I can create noise.”

She tucked something small beneath my pillow with carefulness. Then she screamed. “She needs hydration and reduced stress.”

The second guard replied. “Tell that to Graves.” Ruby wheeled the cart away. At the door she looked back once. A look that said hold on. Then she was gone.

When the guard's footstep faded, I carefully worked my hand toward the pillow. My fingers found plastic. A slim access card. I nearly cried from relief. Garrett watched me. “Good girl.”

“She is risking everything, she is always your blood.” Garrett said.

“You knew about Ruby?” I asked.

“I knew your mother.” Garrett replied.

“What?” I said.

Garrett shifted in the chair. “Lydia Vance saved my son once. Long before Helix took him.”

My heart skipped a bit.

He continued. “She told me if she ever failed, her daughter would need wolves more than men.” Emotion hit me hard. “I barely remember her.” I said.

“That was not an accident, Trauma erases where it must.”

A heavy sound spread through the corridor. Then shouting, then gunfire, I sat upright as far as the restraints allowed. Garrett smiled for the first time. “That’s him.”

Another sound came closer. The light flickered violently. An alarm sounded and someone outside screamed then something heavy hit the door three times and the door broke wide open. Guards shouted from somewhere beyond. Then came a roar so loud that it vibrated through the floor and straight into my bones.

Zane, Alive, close and coming. Tears spilled before I could stop them. Garrett lifted his bleeding arms against the restraints and laughed loudly.

“Son, you took your time.” 

A final blow dented the center door. The metal tore, the door began to split open. And through the widening gap, glowing bright red eyes appeared in the dark.