Flawed (10 page)

The aftereffects of what the Commandant had witnessed kept him stunned into silence. Slouched behind his desk, feeling insignificant, Hans watched Aalexis and Xaver. Postures straight, heads held high, they regarded him with disdain, their derision shadowed behind placid expressions, but there nevertheless.

Hans had been right. The two young people sitting in front of him were the epitome of perfection and well trained by The Center, but they were more. By all accounts, they were superior.

The
Führer’s
poster children.

The Center had been busier than what the information Hans’ security level had provided.

He wondered if the Colonel knew.
Of course he did
. How could he not? That had been exactly what he meant by the missing link. Though, he wondered if the Colonel had taken the time to consider the implications of what such superiority could mean, not just to the Renegades, but to all of them.

“You do understand?”

Aalexis’ German accent broke through Han’s musing. She still spoke to him as if he was a child, and she his superior. Then again, he supposed that was exactly how he seemed to her.

The commander of camp nodded. “Yes, I do.”

“The male called Doc must be kept alive.”

“I understand.”

“Good,” Aalexis said, standing. “Until our next visit.” Without another word, she moved out the door. Xaver swung it shut behind them.

The Commandant stood and went to the window. Blackness had swallowed the light, and stars scattered across the sky.

It amazed him how dark the plains became during the evening hours. Of course, besides the camp he was charged with, there was no light pollution from any cities for hundreds of kilometers. Due to its isolation from other major cities, the city that had once been called Amarillo had been evacuated of its thirty thousand or so civilians, and they were relocated to a more populated area for better control.

The place had remained completely empty until the old Air Force base had been reopened as a isolated concentration camp fifteen years ago.
Isolated
was the keyword. Besides the hundred soldiers assigned under Hans’ charge, his corporal, the sergeant-at-arms, and the political prisoners, no one lived within a four-hundred-kilometer radius.

In addition, the area was further desolate due to the lack of a sturdy infrastructure; the old highway, which had been newly paved before Germany won the war, lay in disrepair, just like the small city. After the initial raids and patrols, the Führer, apparently, had decided there were better ways to spend money. If not for the small airport being reopened along with the camp to transport the prisoners and supplies, traveling would’ve been almost impossible.

An arc of light from the office door caught the commander’s attention and drew him from his thoughts. He watched as the shadows of the two teens moved against the wind to the Audi. The dome light flicked on as Aalexis climbed into it, then again as Xaver hefted himself into the driver’s seat. Soon afterward, headlights sliced through the darkness.

Hans couldn’t see the young girl or boy perched in the SUV, but he could still feel their eyes on him, drilling into him.

Hans’ skin crawled.

The sky grew darker in the west as the sun threatened the night from the east, bringing the moment of twilight, the indistinguishable division between night and day.

Tiredness clung to Aalexis’ eyelids, making them feel heavy and gritty. She hated the need to sleep, but it was something that couldn’t be helped. Regardless of her superior genes, she still held ordinary characteristics, still had to maintain homeostasis.

Fighting the desire to lean her head back against the hard plastic of the chair and close her eyes, Aalexis stood just as Xaver entered the small room next to the hangar. Her brother’s eyes were puffy and red, too, making their blue more prominent. His chiseled features sagged with exhaustion.

“They are ready to leave,” he said, rubbing his face.

“Finally.”

Aalexis grabbed her bag and handed it to her brother, then followed him into the early morning. Freezing wind whipped around and snuck up the bottom of her coat, sapping away any of the heat from indoors. She looked at the sky where oranges and reds streaked. Off to the northwest, angry dark grey clouds swirled. She hoped the weather wouldn’t impede their return home. She wanted to check on the workers’ progress.

“The pilot wants to leave before it snows,” said Xaver as if reading her mind.

Aalexis boarded her father’s private jet—no, it was now
hers
. Not everyone had the luxury of flight, usually only important people of the military or the state. Of course, no one had questioned when she and Xaver requested the privilege.

The jet could comfortably seat ten people. A television hung on the wall in front of the seats, and a stereo system was anchored to a table beneath it. At The Center, none of them had ever participated in watching television or listening to music, except for educational purposes. Her father had found such frivolous pastimes wasteful when there was an agenda of training and practicing and conducting experiments.

Aalexis agreed.

Xaver stored the bags away, then offered her a seat next to the window. As Aalexis walked past him, a whiff of a soapy, outdoorsy scent entered her nose. Inhaling deeply, she took her seat. The odor was pleasant, eliciting strange feelings in her midsection. It took her a moment to realize the scent came from Xaver. Her heart accelerated.

“Would you care for a drink?” Xaver asked.

Confused, Aalexis didn’t respond and gazed out the window, trying to weed through the strange feelings. The sensation in her stomach was as unsettling as the dark clouds churning in the horizon.

“Aalexis?” Xaver asked, his voice deep. His voice didn’t sound normal, robotic; it sounded concerned.

Strange
.

Aalexis hesitated for a moment before she swallowed and turned toward him.

He stared at her; his eyebrows arched over his expressive eyes.

“Yes,” she uttered, even she could hear the slight high pitch in her voice. Uncertainty?

Xaver’s eyebrows drew together, which was very odd. She looked away from him, then back. His face now held its usual unexpressive placidity.

Aalexis didn’t understand what was going on, but she didn’t like it at all. Anger flared smothering the sensation in her stomach. “I said I want a drink.”

Xaver studied her for a moment longer before he grabbed water from the refrigerator and handed it to her. Refusing to look at him, Aalexis snatched the bottle from his hand. She didn’t know what was going on; she’d detected her brother’s scent before, but not in an intoxicating way. Not where it made her stomach feel strange. And the confusion? She didn’t feel confusion. She was always sure of herself. She was bred to be sure, no hesitation.

Thoughtful, Aalexis unscrewed the cap and took a sip as Xaver settled down next to her. She scooted as close to the window as she could and watched the propellers spin.

“Things will be fine,” Xaver said, breaking into her musing.

Aalexis whipped her head around, but Xaver wasn’t looking at her. His eyes were closed, and his head leaned against the back of the seat.

The plane started to taxi down the runway, faster and faster, until the nose lifted, followed by the rest of the body. The ground grew smaller, and in the distance, she could see the ruins of a small city that soon shrank in the distance. As far as her eyes could see, the land lay flat below her, no mountains, nothing of interest. She leaned her head against the window and stared at the wispy clouds as the plane lifted into the atmosphere.

Slightly disturbed, definitely angry, Aalexis fell asleep.

Early-morning sun peeked into the room and crept over the lavender sheets and floral-print comforter that lay twisted up at the foot of the bed. Ellyssa lay with Rein behind her, spooned together, his warmth penetrating the thin cotton of her borrowed T-shirt. She could feel the even rise and fall of his chest; his soft breath brushed the back of her neck.

Slowly, so as not to disturb Rein, Ellyssa touched her lips. They were swollen from his kisses and nips. Never in her life had she experienced anything like what the two of them that shared last night. Joy thrummed in her body, the afterglow muddling her mind. All memories of the last couple of days were fuzzy. All she could think about was the feel of Rein’s body on hers, and the way his touch left her heart singing and her body craving.

How could her father believe emotions weakened people? The bond she shared with Rein felt strong and durable…unbreakable. The love Ellyssa held for him gave her reason. The bleakness she had felt last night seemed like a bad memory best left buried the past. They had a future to concentrate on. Their little band might be depleted, but if the missing were still alive, it was up to them to bring them back together and rebuild.

It was what Jordan’s family, and the other survivors who had made it through the devastation of the War, had done. It’s what Jordan would want them to do now.

Rein stirred behind her. A kiss landed on her earlobe.

“How do you feel this morning?” The question held undertones of worry.

Rolling over, Ellyssa looked at him, his chestnut hair mussed from sleep. His jade eyes held the same concern as his voice.

Ellyssa smiled; she couldn’t help it. He looked like the fox who got caught in the henhouse. “I feel…” She chased after the right words “… complete.”

Rein’s lips curled up, lighting his face. “I wish I could express the love I feel for you.”

She laughed. “I thought it is I who has trouble expressing.”

He traced her lips with his finger. “Not when it comes to you. I love you, Ellyssa. I always will.”

Ellyssa’s heart fluttered, like a thousand butterflies launching into the air at once. Leaning over, Rein kissed her, softly. His full lips grazed hers, light as a feather. Her body responded, heart pushing molten heat through her body. Unable to control her innate response, Ellyssa slipped her arms around Rein and pressed her body into his. He pulled away, grinning slyly, knowingly. Warmth rose in her cheeks, but she didn’t care. She did not want him to stop.

Ellyssa rested her hand on Rein’s cheek. Morning stubble tickled beneath her fingers. “And I love you.”

The grin Rein held started to grow, and he met her waiting mouth with more urgency. His tongue darted between her lips, and soon afterwards, Ellyssa found herself on the same precipice. This time, though, she flung herself over.

A soft knock at the door stirred Ellyssa from the light sleep she had slipped into, disrupting the dreams of Rein’s soft touches.

“Are you awake?” said Sarah. “Breakfast is ready, and I cleaned your clothes.” There was a brief hesitation. “Uh, I’ll leave them on the table by the door.”

“Thank you,” said Rein.

Listening to the fading shuffle of the older woman’s footsteps, Ellyssa rolled over and rested her head on Rein’s chest. Her fingers lightly traced the contours of his chest. Right now, things seemed so peaceful, as if the troubles of the world no longer existed. She didn’t want it to end. Why couldn’t her life be like the insides of the little family homes she’d seen on her way to the railroad station when this had all started?

After a moment, Rein broke into her thoughts. “As much as I hate to, I guess we should get up.”

“I know,” Ellyssa sighed, moving off of him.

The bedroom door creaked as Rein retrieved the clothes and brought them back to her. They smelled like forest rain. Ellyssa slipped on the black T-shirt and camo pants and went to a dresser to use the brush she found resting by a mirror. She pulled the bristles through her clean hair, freeing the tangles. Ever since the ordeal in the Missouri woods a lifetime ago, the simple act of brushing her hair was something Ellyssa truly enjoyed.

Hair smoothed into a tight ponytail, she faced Rein. He was sitting on the foot of the bed, watching her.

“You’re beautiful.”

A light warmth reached her cheeks, and Ellyssa grinned. “Thank you.”

Standing, Rein raked his fingers through his own hair and rearranged the chaotic strands into a new pattern. His hair was longer now, and the strands hung more limp than sticking straight up, but Ellyssa loved the feel of them wrapped around her fingers. Her body warmed at the thought.

Smiling, Rein held his hand out to her, and she went to him. He nuzzled her hair and inhaled. “You smell wonderful.”

The warmth reached her face. Ellyssa wasn’t sure how to respond. Was she to tell him how great he smelled, outdoorsy and manly? “Thank you,” was what she finally settled on.

With his fingers laced in hers, they went to meet the day.

The scent of eggs and bacon greeted Ellyssa and Rein as they passed through the living room she’d admired the first time she’d been in there with Woody. With the chaos of last night, she’d forgotten how homey it’d felt. Like rest of the house, the room welcomed her, even with the cracks in the plaster from Dyllon’s head.

“Um,” said Rein, looking at the wall, “I guess I need to fix that.” Sighing, he pulled her toward the French doors.