Chapter 33

Standing inside the entrance, my heart was racing, I couldn’t get my feet to move. We’d met the contact outside the building, then everyone went in together, all fourteen of us. The others were speaking with the administrator and as hard as I tried, I couldn’t get my body to move beyond this point. I shouldn’t have come. I shouldn’t be here. My mouth was dry, I was sweating, all sounds around me were muted. I saw Rafael’s head snap around and look at me. He knew what I was feeling. He turned around and looked at me. It was like he was moving in slow motion toward me.

I saw him in front of my face, his mouth moving but I couldn’t hear anything he was saying. His touch against my face registered slowly, a feeling of warmth filled me. I didn’t know how he was doing it.

“Hey,” I heard his voice finally, soft, whispering and steady, “you’re not the same girl that escaped,” he said quietly.

I tried to lick my lips and speak, but I couldn’t find the words.

“Slow your breathing,” his thumb stroked the along my jaw in a hypnotic motion. Back and forth, back and forth. “That’s it.”

I tried to snap out of it, afraid they would see me behaving like this and recognize me.

“Relax, Beth is blurring us so they can’t see.”

I jerked my chin up and looked at him. How did he know? I looked back down, trying to sort out my head. Trying to wash away the memories flooding my mind.

“You’re not alone here, we’re all with you.” His voice was almost mesmerizing. “Look at me.”

I blinked and looked back up at him.

“You have the control. Push the button on your porter and you are out of here.” His eyes searched mine, “you’re in control, not them.”

His words pushed through the fear, the panic. I took a deep breath, trying to force my body to function.

“Kara,” his concerned eyes locked on mine, “I’ve got you.” He nodded. “You’re not alone here, you’ll never be alone again.”

Licking over my dry lips, I nodded in a twitching fashion. “Okay.” I swallowed, then took another deep breath and blew it away.

Rafael was nodding slowly, watching me. “You’re going to the file room with the girls.” He said in a hushed voice, “looking for potential patients for our new program.”

I listened as he reminded me of the cover story. I nodded again, feeling less unsteady.

“Put your earpiece in and dial into the group call, we’re all right here with you.” Leaning down, he held my gaze waiting for me to acknowledge what he’d said.

“Yes.” I whispered. “I can do this.” I said more to myself then him.

“I know you can.” Leaning down, he kissed my mouth softly.

I fumbled in my pocket for the earpiece and put it in my ear. I nodded to him as he straightened. Pulling out the phone with shaking hands, I tapped the group button and then put it back in my pocket.

“Turn the earpiece on when we all go in.” He told me, then turned around and put his hand behind my back to help me move forward.

~

“We’re having to be stealthy and mind the scanner.” Chase’s voice said softly through the earpiece. “Victor is going to distract the administrator as we continue on without them.”

Paisley looked up from the computer screen. “This is going to take a lot longer then we planned.”

Bethany and I opened the top drawer of the filing cabinets that filled the room.

“Most of the files older than five years are still in paper form.” Paisley turned around and looked at us.

Beth started at one end and pulled a file. “What are we looking for? There has to be a way to skim through these faster.”

I glanced to see she was looking at me when she asked. “Ah, look for notations of delusions, hearing voices…”

“Believing in alternate realities?” Daxx suggested and turned to look through the window at us.

I nodded. “That would work too.”

“Just rhyme off room numbers or names and we’ll steer our guides in those directions.” Michael said.

“I’m getting bad vibes from the staff, many more than from the residents.” Leone abruptly commented.

I paused, staring at the folder in my hand, trying not to remember. A feeling of warmth filled me, like a big hug only no one was near me.

“Kara, what’s beyond the big green doors?” Troy asked in a quiet way.

I blinked. “Isolation units.” I frowned and looked at the folder in my hand.

“Paize, check on computer and see who is in there.” Arius said. “My gut says some of our people might be held there.”

“On it.” Paisley said turning back to the computer.

Beth nodded and stood there waiting for Paisley to list off names.

“Quinton, you still keeping the staff occupied in that meeting?” Leone sounded amused.

“Yes.” Quinton hissed, “thank the gods Emil’s contact is doing the talking—no idea what the hell he’s saying though.” He whispered. “Five minutes and I’m out of here though.”

I put the folder back and pulled out the next one. Opening it, I skimmed down the patient information sheet. ‘missing’ was written across the bottom of it, with a date. I flipped the page down to look at the first page for the name. Karalene Coffey I stood there staring at the name, then flipped the page up again and read the intake assessment information. “Karalene.” I whispered. “I think my name is Karalene.”

Beth turned around and so did Paisley. Beth came over and looked at the folder open in my hand. She gave me a pleasant look. “It’s a pretty name.” Slowly, she took the file and closed it. “We’ll take this with us.”

I nodded.

“Kara?” Rafael’s voice broke through the static in my head.

I gave my head a quick shake. “I’m good.” I cleared my throat and looked at Bethany. “What color is at the top of the file? Beside my name?”

“Orange.” Beth said then gave me a strange look.

I nodded, then looked around at the bulletin board beside the filing cabinets. “If I’m orange, then,” I ran my finger down a faded color chart, “from orange up on this are the files we should be pulling.”

Paisley stood up, “scan all those in isolation. We have files to pull.”

“Will do.” Arius said.

“What colors?” Paisley looked at me.

“Orange, red and yellow.” I said.

Bethany nodded and started pulling folders out. “You go through them, Kara, you’ll spot it before we do.”

Never in my life would I have imagined that my time in this place would be useful for something. I went over to where they were piling files and opened the first one.

“Entering the isolation unit now.” Michael reported in a hushed tone.

“All clear in the back.” Autumn said in a normal voice. “Porting out from here would be easiest.”

I shook my head and closed the folder. This patient was here from an accident. Opening the next one, I turned to see Bethany and Paisley on the bottom drawer of the cabinets. I glanced at the pile, there had to be fifty folders to go through.

“Black beside it means?” Bethany asked.

Paisley leaned over her shoulder and flipped it open. “Deceased.”

“Oh.” Beth put the folder back.

“Two from isolation so far.” Chase said in a normal tone.

“What is their state of health?” Alona asked.

“Poor.” He replied.

“We’re ready here.” She replied.

Alona and Crissy had remained behind in Alterealm to help with those coming in. There had been some discussion of me staying behind, but I insisted I had to be here. The notion of facing my demons hadn’t been far off.

I set the folder aside with the last two. “Let me know when you’re ready for room numbers.” Beth grabbed the pile of those we weren’t going to scan and started stuffing them back in the drawer.

“Give us a few more minutes here. We’re being slowed down by a staff member that doesn’t think we should walk them out.” Rafael said.

“Carry them out if you have to.” Quinton suggested in a not pleasant tone.

“Coming to you, Autumn.” Leone said. “Two to port.”

“Let me know when.” Alona told him.

“Will do.” He answered abruptly.

“I don’t even need to scan these.” Chase cut in. “They recognize Troy and I immediately, I can see it in their eyes.”

“I’m bailing on this,” Quinton said. “Stay there Leone, I’ll bring them to you to port to med.”

“Understood.” Leone said.

“Quint?” Michael said in a strange way.

“Yeah?”

“We found Detrick.” Michael voice was hollow.

“What? He’s here? Is he coherent?” Quinton sounded like he was running.

“I wouldn’t say that, but he’s alive.” Emil said quietly.

I gave Beth a questioning glance. She shrugged; she had no idea either.

“He’s been here for the last fifteen years?” Leone asked.

“So it would seem.” Victor stated.

“You can return with him if you like, brother.” Troy told him.

“No. He’ll be in good hands with Alona until I return.” Quinton said. “I’ll stay until we’re finished. I don’t know how this happened, but however it did, we need to be sure it never does again.”

Paisley gave Bethany a teary-eyed look.

“How many more?” Alona’s voice was just as emotional.

“Four, so far.” Michael said.

“I’ve got him.” Quinton said. “Yeah, Deet, it’s me.” Quinton’s voice was strained. “You’re going home.”

“First two, Alona.” Leone said in a hoarse voice.

I snapped out of it and looked at the folder in my hand. Wants to go home to some place called Alterealm. I set it in the to scan pile. Bethany and Paisley were looking through the pile now too.

“We have at least fifteen here so far.” Paisley said.

“Give us the list of numbers in a minute, we’ll split up and pre-evaluate before we get the scanner to them.” Michael told me.

“Should have brought more scanners.” Leone said.

“We didn’t understand the scope of the task.” Victor growled quietly.

I set the file on the scan pile and it slid off the desk, scattering papers on the floor. Kneeling, I reached to pick up the pages when dark red print circled many times popped out on me. I picked it up and read it. My eyes went wide, I grabbed the rest of the pages and stood up. “The one with green eyes, I know who it is.” I read the note in my hand again. “People have died near him more than once.”

“He could have been starving and it was an accident.” Leone offered.

“Or he’s lost it and it a genuine lunatic.” Rafael replied.

“He’ll have to go to the cells for assessment.” Arius’ tone was cold.

“Change of plans.” Chase said. “Sparky, write a list of rooms and give them to Kitten to run to us. We need to expedite our visit; the staff is starting to ask questions.”

“Arius, suggest to any getting a little too curious to go wait in the staff lounge.” Troy said.

“I’ve got it.” Arius said.

“Sarg, you’ve got watch outside the office. Pack up those files ladies, then meet us outside the main activity area.” Chase said.

I gave Bethany a quick look, not understanding who he was talking about. She smirked and started writing down the numbers from the files. Understanding that she was Sparky, I opened the folders and pointed to the number, then grabbed the next one as she wrote it down.

“Alona, the man coming over is my best friend, see if you can help him.” Quinton said.

“I will stay with him until you can come back.” Alona said softly.

I took a shaky breath and tried not to get emotional. Opening the pack, I held it as Bethany stuffed folders into it.

“The guy your man paid to drive the bus is asking questions, Emil.” Autumn said.

“I’ll come chat with him when I’m done here.” Arius answered.

“Oh. Okay, good.” She said.

The contact that had set this up for us, had arrived in an old bus with a driver, to enforce the illusion we were transporting patients away on a bus. It was a good plan, but my stomach was going to be in knots until we were all safely back home in Alterealm.

I froze standing in the doorway. Home in Alterealm. I’d never had a home before, not really. I looked at the pack as Bethany put it over her shoulder. In that file with my name on it, would be people listed who’s blood I’d come from, but didn’t know. I turned to see Paisley waiting outside the office, then back to Beth as she gave me a quick smile and walked to the door. These people could be my family if I wanted, I realized, brothers and sisters. What about Rafael though, I definitely didn’t want him as a brother.

My phone buzzing in my pocket startled me. I pulled it out and looked at it, it was a message from Rafael. We were on a call together, but he’s messaging me? Meet me at the bottom of the stairs by the office. Stepping through the door behind Bethany, I paused and then held the phone for them to see. Paisley motioned to the stairs with her chin and nodded.

They went in the other direction. I realized then that they all must have studied the layout of this place, because they seemed to know it better than I did. I rolled my eyes at the ridiculous thought. Of course, they knew it better than I did. Twelve years of my life had been spent confined in one wing of the entire building. I quickly went to the stairs and opened the door. Rafael was running down the steps toward me. He jumped down the last few and landed in front of me. Reaching, he pulled the earbud from my ear and pushed the button on it. Touching his own, he took a deep breath and looked down at me.

“Are you okay?” His concern was genuine, reflecting in his eyes as he watched me.

I opened my mouth to say I was, then gave him a quick shake of my head. “I- this is a lot.”

Putting his hand against the back of my neck, he gently pulled me closer, then wrapped his other arm around me.

I wrapped my arms around his waist and rested my cheek against his chest. As I did a feeling of warmth and caring, although I didn’t know how I knew what the feeling was, filled me and wrapped around me at the same time. I closed my eyes and just stood there listening to his heartbeat against my ear.

“We’re almost done. They’re taking several to be ported out now.” He gave me a squeeze, then leaned back.

I looked up at him. “If you hadn’t figured out the color system, we’d still be scanning everyone we walk past.” His eyes searched my face, “you don’t have to stay if you don’t want to.”

I shook my head. “I’ll stay until everyone else gets out.”

His expression was guarded as he looked down at me for several seconds. Taking a deep breath his touched his ear. “On my way. Arius get your ass there in case we can’t knock him out.” He said gruffly. He smirked, “that’s your deal not mine.” Then dropped his hand. “I have to go.” Grasping my chin, he leaned down and placed a firm kiss on my mouth. “Go wait with the girls.” Holding out my earbud, he pushed the button.

I took it and whispered, “Be careful.”

His eyes lit up and he smirked, then ran up the stairs.

I put the earbud back in.

“…working our asses off up here and you’re having a quick rendezvous?” That was Michael.

Someone chuckled. “Jealous much, brother?” Chase said.

I put my hand over my mouth as I walked down the hall to the main visitors’ area. The mic had been on when I’d whispered to him.

“Arius, are you crawling here or what?” Rafael asked.

“On the stairs.” Arius huffed out a breath. “Couldn’t be on the main floor,” he said breathlessly.

Someone snorted. “Try a few hundred steps in full gear.” Michael said.

“Quinton, your friend is malnourished and dehydrated from the medication, but otherwise physically without injury.” Alona said softly, “mentally will take some time however.” She paused. “I thought you’d want to know.”

“Thanks, Alona.” Quinton’s said in a monotone voice.

I went around the corner, then hit something I couldn’t see. Something grabbed my arms, then Bastian appeared in front of me. I covered my mouth so I wouldn’t scream.

“So sorry.” He smiled. “Princess Kara, fancy meeting you here.”

“Is that Bastian?” Troy asked.

“Yes.” I whispered and continued to stand there like a statue looking at him.

He dropped his hands and tucked them in his pockets. “Entirely my fault,” he waved a hand around, “my kind are very distracted in places like this.”

“Why is he here?” Rafael barked into the mic.

I winced. “Why are you here?”

He raised an eyebrow, then smirked and leaned over, motioning to my ear, “may I?” He didn’t wait for an answer, just pulled the earbud out of my ear and put it in his. “Well hello, Alterealm people.” He grinned and looked behind him. “No, no I’m afraid duty called, so here I am.” He nodded, “Yes. Even the clinically insane have need of my favors.”

I glanced behind me, to make sure we were still alone.

“So glad I ran into you, or the princess. I’ll pop by later for a visit, I have some news.” He grinned a daring grin down at me. “Ah, of course, Captain.” Bastian nodded, “here she is.” He held the earbud out to me. “Later, princess.” He disappeared right in front of me.

I put the earbud in and put my hand out in front of me and waved it around. I didn’t touch anything.

“Kara?” Rafael didn’t sound happy.

“I’m here.” I started walking again, faster this time. “He just appeared out of nowhere.” I whispered.

“Hate when they do that, bunch of show-offs.” Quinton said.

“Get to the visitor’s area, we’ll be there shortly.” Rafael said.

I nodded but didn’t reply.

“Alona, the rest are coming over one after the other. Shout if you need me to pause.” Leone said.

“We’ve instructed them to step forward after they land, but some aren’t very alert.” Autumn added.

“How many?” Alona asked.

“Sixteen. In a row.” Leone said, “we have to do it before anyone comes out.

“Okay, we’re ready.” Alona said.

“Arius, wait. He looks familiar.” Quinton said.

“Victor is that…”

“I believe so.” Victor answered Michael before he could finish.

“Holy shit.” Quinton hissed.

“What are we missing?” Chase asked.

“The green eyed one is—was one of the palace guards that disappeared, uh,” Michael stopped for a second, “before you were born.”

“He’s aged.” Victor said abruptly.

“Probably came close to starving a few times.” Quinton said.

“Okay, so you go in first, if he’s still right in the head, he’ll know you. Victor.” Rafael said in a quiet way.

I reached the visitor’s area and rushed over to Bethany, Paisley and Daxx. Beth put out her hand and I took it. All of their faces reflected my feelings, we couldn’t get out of here soon enough. I turned to see most of the orderlies were in the staff area on the other side of the plexiglass. Emil and the man that had arranged for us to be here were still talking to them.

“Keep the needle behind your back, Michael.” Victor said.

I spotted someone I wished I didn’t remember. Blowing out a breath, I looked at the floor. I’d made it this far without losing it, I wasn’t going to let it happen now.

Beth squeezed my hand. Emil stepped closer to the window and looked out at us. Everyone was paused, waiting.

“Do you know who I am?” Victor said in an icy voice.

I couldn’t hear if the person replied.

“We’re here to take you home.” Quinton said gruffly. “You will land in the cells for the time being, but we’ll be there shortly.”

“Yes. The twin kings are outside the door.” Michael said, his tone lighter than the other two. “You’ve missed much but get to go home now.”

“See I told you standing where he could see us was a good idea,” Chase said.

“Yes, and I’m sure he’d fall at your feet and revel in your glory— if he wasn’t chained to the other side of the wall, brother.” Troy said sounding amused.

“Porting him from here.” Michael said.

“I’m ready at the cells. I’ll hit the scan button.” Crissy said.

I hadn’t realized Crissy was at the cells. I looked at Beth, she shrugged.

“Let’s get downstairs,” Arius said, “this place gives me the creeps.”

Someone snorted, “now you know how your prisoners feel when you stand there glaring at them.” Quinton said sounding like his normal self.

Bethany let go of my hand, her shoulders dropped in relief.

Paisley turned and watched the doors the guys should be coming through.

“Ladies,” Emil said. The three of us turned around and looked at him, he jerked his chin toward an attendant coming toward us from the room he was in. “She says she needs to see you and she’s…interesting.” He said.

She came over, glanced at the pendant each of us wore, then inclined her head slightly, when she raised it and looked at us, her eyes were red. With a smile, they went back to a normal color. She grabbed my hand and shook it and then walked away. I held up my hand and looked down to see a note in it.

“Her eyes went red.” Beth murmured.

“Whose eyes?” Michael asked.

“One of the attendants, and she recognized our pendants.” Paisley said.

“She gave me a note.” I voiced as I turned my back to the room and opened it.

“Which says?” Chase asked.

“Call me. It’s important. Your loyal servant. And there’s a phone number.” I told them.

“As I said, interesting. I referred her to you ladies as there are too many watching in here. We have about five minutes to clear out. Our friend is running out of things to say.” Emil informed us.

“Do we have someone undercover over here?” Leone asked.

“Not that I’m aware of.” Michael answered.

Troy and Chase came out the door from the stairwell and started toward us.

“Is there a name?” Victor asked.

I looked at it again. “No.”

“Keep them in the room for a minute, Emil.” Rafael said.

I looked to see him coming through the door and even beside his brothers, he looked larger than life to me as he came toward me.

He looked in the room where Emil was. “Which one, Kara?” Rafael’s voice grated through the earpiece. “Is he still here?”

I looked at him as he crossed the room. “Rafael, we got the records we need to…”

“Which one?” It wasn’t a question this time, not really.

Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath and then opened them and looked at the staff members they had horded into one room. “The one with the awful moustache.”

Victor stepped in front of Rafael as he moved to go to the room.

Rafael smacked him in the chest. “This is not for you to do, brother.” His tone sent shivers down my spine.

Victor inclined his head and stepped aside.

“Shit.” Michael had been heading to the back where Autumn was, he spun on his heal and hurried back down the hall. “Turn him over to the authorities here, Raf, we can’t interfere in that way. Not here, not like this.” He caught him and grabbed his arm. “We can’t send him to the cells.”

Rafael shrugged off his arm.

I stood there, heart racing as brothers stood face to face, glaring at each other.

“This is my job,” Michael said, “don’t do it brother.” His voice had softened.

“I’ll handle it.” Arius brushed past me. “He’ll turn himself in, with a full confession.”

Rafael looked at Arius as he went past him.

“Get your mate out of her nightmare,” Arius said quietly as he opened the door for the staff members coming out.

Without a word, Rafael turned and came to me, taking my hand, he started walking quickly down the hall. I almost had to run to keep up. We went around a corner, he stopped and pulled me tight against him. “Hang on.” He said quietly.

Squeezing my eyes shut, I clung to his shirt. My head filled with white noise.

“Sorry,” he whispered, then kissed the top of his head.

I opened my eyes to see we were in the courtyard.

Stepping back, Rafael ran his hand over his hair. “I’m sorry I couldn’t find justice for what happened to you.”

I frowned, “can Arius do that? Make him turn himself in?”

Rafael paced a few feet then stood there with his hands on his hips starting at the ground. “Oh yes.” He made a sarcastic noise, “and much more. Probably told him to hate himself for the rest of his life or,” he flung his hand in the air, “something. Arius is very creative when he’s programming people.”

“Programming people?” I inhaled slowly, taking the scent of the lavender in. It made me feel calm.

“He can get inside a person’s head and tell them to do things, and you don’t remember him doing it.” Closing his eyes, he exhaled.

“That’s…” I couldn’t put into words how I felt about that. “Later I’d like more details.” I went to the bench and sat down. “I’m a bit shaky right now.”

He jolted like someone hit him and turned back to me. “you shouldn’t have been there.” His expression turned to anger. “I don’t know what the hell I was thinking to let you—”

I cocked my head to the side. “Let me?” I shook my head. “No one has that power over me, not anymore. I wanted to go. I wanted to help free people that shouldn’t be there, Rafael.” I stood up, thankful that my knees didn’t shake, and went over to him. “And thank you.” I put my hand on his chest and looked up at him. “For helping while we were there, I don’t know how you knew and were able to calm me down and reassure me when you couldn’t see me, but,” I nodded, “thank you.”

His jaw clenched a few times as he looked down at me. “Through the blood bond. I felt your fear, panic…” He hissed out a sound of annoyance and pulled his phone out. “The others are waiting for us in the meeting room.” He motioned to the door.