Chapter 36 His Weakness Shows

Chapter 36 His Weakness Shows
The forest was really quiet around the extraction point. It was the kind of quiet that happens before a storm. Iris was hiding behind a log with the little kids pressed up against her. They were shaking with fear and tiredness. Elias had his arms around Lila and Noah. He was trying to be brave. Tears were running down his face. Theo was holding onto Iriss leg like it was the thing that could save him. The three new babies were snug in a carrier against Claires chest. They were making noises, which was the only sound breaking the silence.

Sophia and Serena were standing guard on either side. They had their guns ready. Captain Reyes was bleeding from a cut on her head. She was looking around the trees with a gun that was shaking a little in her hands. They had been running for what felt like hours through the tunnels. Then they came out into this forest, which was two miles from the main place. Luciens team was out there fighting and making a lot of noise to distract the bad guys.

Iriss heart was still racing. She had not stopped worrying since they split up. Every second without Lucien felt like a part of her was missing. She kept thinking about their kiss. It was desperate and scary. It was also full of love. The way he looked at her before he disappeared into the dark with Aurora, Dawn and Hope. He said "find me when its over." Those words were haunting her now.

Lila whispered, "Mommy is Daddy coming back?" Her voice was tiny and broken. Iris pulled her close. Kissed the top of her head. "Yes baby he always comes back for us.". Iris was not so sure. She was doubting it.

The twelfth child, who called herself Grace now was sitting a feet away. She was watching them with eyes in a young face. Something about her made Iris feel safe. Also scared. This girl had a lot of secrets inside her.

Grace spoke softly. "He's still alive. I can feel him fighting.. The bad guys have him cornered near the old mill. The other Luciens are closing in. Hes getting weaker." Iris felt a crack inside her. Lucien, her rock, her everything was there alone and hurt. She wanted to scream. Instead she held her kids tighter. Whispered, "we're going to him all of us."

Captain Reyes shook her head. "It's an idea. They want us to follow. It's a trap.". Before Iris could say anything a new message came through Sophias phone. It was Adam, their firstborn. He was breathing hard. "I'm with Lucien. Hes been hurt again. We're in trouble.. There's something you need to see."

The video showed Lucien behind cover shooting his gun while Aurora and Dawn fought beside him. He was. Moving slowly. Then the camera showed a scary thing. The bad guy, Victor Lang was standing on a hill above them. He had three clones of Iris with him each at an age. One of them spoke with Iriss voice. It was cold. "Come out Lucien. Give up. I'll let your real wife live.. I'll activate the final plan. Every kid will feel your death as their own."

Lucien. Stood up shooting his gun at Victor. "You will never touch my family!" One of the Iris clones raised her hand. Lucien fell to his knee as an invisible force hit him. The thing Victoria left behind was working again.

Iris could not breathe. "We have to go to him. Now." They all moved together hearts pounding kids being carried or held by the hand. The forest seemed to be closing in around them every shadow a threat. Grace walked beside Iris holding her hand. "I can help him.. You have to trust me completely. Even when it looks like I'm betraying you."

They got to the mill just as Luciens team was being attacked. The bad guys had them surrounded. Lucien was on his knees bleeding from wounds fighting the bad thing inside him. His eyes met Iriss. They were full of love. "Iris... Take them. Run. Please.". Iris could not leave him.

The fight started around them. Sophia and Serena were shooting their guns. Aurora and Dawn were fighting hard. Captain Reyes got shot in the chest. Kept fighting. Claire was shielding the babies with her body.

Victor Lang laughed from his hill. "This is perfect. The perfect family, bleeding together.. Here's the truth you've all been too blind to see." He raised a remote. Every kid screamed, holding their heads. The bad thing inside them was working again.

Victor said, "You never destroyed the computer. I moved it.. The twelfth child, Grace was never on your side. She was the key along." Grace smiled sadly at Iris. "I'm sorry. I tried to fight it.. They made me a trap."

Then Grace turned and hit Victors knee. The remote flew out of his hand. "I lied " she said. "I'm on their side. Always have been." Everyone was shocked.

In the chaos Lucien broke free. Fought his way to Iris grabbing her and the kids pulling them behind cover as bullets flew everywhere. They shared one moment in the middle of hell. Lucien kissed Iris hard tasting blood and tears. "I love you " he said. "No matter what happens next. Tell the kids I loved them enough to die for them."

Iris sobbed, kissing him back. "Don't you dare die.". Victor was not finished. He activated a plan. The ground. The old mill started to collapse. In the panic one of the Lucien clones took Theo. Disappeared into the smoke.

Iris followed with the rest of the kids her heart breaking as she watched her son being taken away by a monster wearing his fathers face. They fought through falling debris and enemy fire. Dawn got shot, saving Lila. Sophia was hurt across the ribs. The babies were screaming in the carrier as Claire ran with them.

In the smoke they reached the edge of the clearing. The Lucien clone stood at the trees holding Theo like a shield. "Surrender the others or the boy dies." Lucien stepped forward hands raised. "Take me instead. I'm the one you really want."

Adam appeared and stabbed the clone in the back. "Not today." Theo ran to his father and Lucien held him close sobbing with relief.

Victor Langs voice came one time. "This isn't over. The Continuum has already won. One of your kids is already gone. Replaced.. You'll never know which one, until its too late." The survivors came out of the collapsing mill into the dawn light. They had all the kids back for now.. They were not sure if one of them was already a copy.