From Darkness Comes - Book 2 in The Dissonance Series

The Unwanteds

I bury my face in my hands, body trembling, heaving sobs shake my body. It's not until he reaches his hand through the cell and places it on my shoulder that I know this is real. This isn't one of my nightmares. Kelly is here, in the flesh, being held in a cell. And he's not the only one. Rows upon rows of cells contain Mods from Earth.

"How is this possible? How are you here?"

"They took us as prisoners, along with the other Mods that attacked Environettix's headquarters on Earth and some that they captured when they attacked Ivanov's hideout, looking for you. A rag tag bunch of Unwanteds. Doesn't seem like we're so unwanted now. They have a reason for bringing us here."

"You were on the ship? The same one as me?"

"Yes."

I shake my head in disbelief. It can't be true.

"You've been here for months, living here in this dungeon, underneath me and I had no idea?"

He nods.

"We have to get you out of here," I reply with urgency, assessing the cell, tugging at the bars as if I could somehow bend them. I might be a super Mod with super strength but even I'm not that strong.

"No, Ever. It's not that simple. You should go, before someone realizes you're here."

"I'll get help. I'll get you out."

"It's too dangerous." He grabs my arm. "He shouldn't have brought you here. I told him not to bring you here."

"Who? Wyler?"

He tilts his head to the side and looks at me with eyes that say I know exactly who he is referring to.

"What should he have done? Left you here to die? He's trying to save your life."

"It's not my life that needs saving. You need to protect yourself."

But I don't hear his words. I've already made my decision. I won't leave him again and I'm about to tell him so, when I hear someone say my name.

"Ever, please. You have to help us," a voice pleads from the cell next to Kelly.

A girl steps forward from the shadows. I recognize her. She's the girl who was so excited to meet me that first day in the cafeteria at Ivanov's hideout: the day I confronted Wyler about lying to me, the day I discovered that our friendship developed out of his job to watch over me.

"Jovie?"

She nods.

"You're our only hope."

She still believes in me, naively putting her life in my hands, thinking that I actually have the power to stop any of this. I look at Kelly. His head drops. He knows that any chance he had of convincing me to look the other way and pretend I never saw any of this, is gone.

"I'll get you out," I reply, because I know it to be true. One way or another I will find a way to free the Mods. I have to. I can't live on the surface pretending not to know about what's happening underneath.

"Is Ivanov here?" I ask Kelly.

"I don't think so. I think he escaped."

Escaped is a loose term. He may have escaped Environettix, but not death. If he remained on Earth, then he's gone. But maybe that's better. The Mods here might be alive, but they're living in hell, being caged like animals.

"What about..." my voice hitches. I'm scared to ask. "Lex. Is she here?"

Kelly looks deep into my eyes and I know his answer before he even responds. He shakes his head.

"I don't know what happened to her. From what I can tell, it's only Mods here. They didn't need Lex. They have no use for her."

My heart sinks, tears welling up in my eyes again. No use for her. We are just animals to them, things to be used for whatever purpose they need and tossed aside, slaughtered, when we're no longer serving a purpose that fulfills whatever sick and twisted scheme they are trying to achieve.

A sound comes from the other end of the corridor, a low whistle, like a bird call: Wyler, alerting me that we're out of time.

"Well, Birdie, looks like you've gotta fly." Kelly reaches his arm through the bars and places his hand on my cheek. I lean into it. "Come back to me," he whispers.

"I will," I promise. Leaving him in this cage is unbearable but if I get caught, I'll wind up in the same place and will be of no use to anyone. I need to use my leverage.

I look at him one last time. He stands up, trying to appear brave and strong. Then he nods, giving me permission, and his trust, that I'll come back.

I jog back to Wyler. I stop in front of him and look up into his eyes. He just stares at me, waiting to see what I'll say, but neither of us speaks. A moment of understanding passes between us. This changes everything. Wyler knows it. That's why he was so conflicted. But he brought me here anyway. He could have had me to himself, finally, like he wanted. He could have let Kelly rot in his cell, but he didn't. He shared this secret with me despite what it means for us.

Another sound. Closer now.

"We have to go," he orders and holds out his hands. I step onto them as he launches me up through the air duct. As soon as I'm in, he jumps towards the ceiling, trying to grab the sides of the air duct, but he misses. His body crumples loudly onto the floor.

The voices are louder now, speaking rapidly in concern.

"Hurry!" I whisper-shout.

He jumps again, and manages to grab onto one side, but he begins to slip.

"Take my hand," I command. This is not the time for his stubbornness. He looks at me with uncertainty, but given that he's out of options, he reaches up and latches onto my arm. I pull with all my strength as he uses his other hand to push himself up and through the opening.

The men enter the room. Eyes searching.

Wyler carefully and quietly closes the grate.

Flashlights scan the room as we remain perfectly still. I hold my breath. The men approach. The flashlight moves toward the ceiling, shining on the grate. The man furrows his brow and steps closer. He senses something, or maybe he sees something. I close my eyes, not wanting his light to catch the amber flakes in my irises, covering my face as if he won't be able to see me if I can't see him.

Then suddenly there's a loud noise from the other end of the room. Clanging. Shouting. It's Kelly, taunting the men. Creating a distraction.

"Quiet down!" one of the men shouts.

Kelly continues, drawing their attention away from us.

"If you can't quiet down. I'll make you."

The man removes a long black stick and taps the end causing it to illuminate. Electricity pulses down the length of the rod. I look on in horror, shaking my head frantically, covering my mouth with my hand, trying not to scream. This is why we've never heard the cries of the Unwanteds coming from below. The fear of punishment keeps them quiet and compliant. I understand firsthand how threats can lead to compliance.

"Come on," Wyler whispers sternly. "Now's our chance."

But I'm frozen in place. I can't let them hurt him.

"Ever, you can't help him now. They're going to harm him one way or another. His injuries will be for nothing if you don't escape. There will be retribution, but not today."

I know he's right, but I want to scream. I want to drop from the ceiling and attack those men, knock them to the ground and use their weapons against them the way Coven showed me how. But I'll have to wait. Their time will come. Retribution is not the same as revenge, but either way, they will get what they deserve. Vengeance is coming.