The Karma Study

Chapter 3 - Wendell Johnson

Zoe

"Dad?" Naturally it comes out as a question rather than a definitive statement, because there is absolutely no possible way for this man, this monster, to be standing in front of me at this moment.

"Close your jaw, daughter. Before any flies get in there." He says, and once again I am totally convinced I have finally lost it.

"This isn't possible, you are not possible." I try to move my hands to clutch my head but the movement is bound by the restraints. "Maybe I am dead after all." I say more so to myself, seeing as the man in front of me has to be a figment of my imagination.

Suddenly my face snaps towards the right and my ears begin to ring, I adjust my jaw to relax the sting burning my cheek. It's not until I see him shake out his hand that I realize he slapped me.

"Convinced yet?" He asks with a condescending smirk.

He's real, he's here and alive and well, albeit healthy. I'm sure it's not possible but he has somehow gotten bigger, taller, even more oppressive than I remembered. I take him in, wrapping my head around this absolute mindfuck. He's wearing an expensive suit as always, and both of his hands have a collection of rings wrapping around his fingers. His dark blue suit makes him look tan, and the fit is perfectly tailored. He's grown out a short beard, and his now gray hair is combed back neatly and I can't help but find myself comparing him to Max.

Even though Khal and Max aren't related, I see where Max found his sense of fashion. They stand the same, speak the same, and there is no doubt in my mind that Khal played a heavy hand in Max's upbringing. I can' fault Max for it, but the thought makes my stomach turn.

"How?" I finally ask, being unable to come up with a solution in my own head.

My father, Khal, leans back against the wall opposite of me and tucks his hands into his pockets. It's not that I notice the pocket watch chain dangling from his pockets, and once again Max comes to mind.

"How did I survive your brutal murder and the burial the Karma's conducted. It's much more simple than you'd think." He shrugs. "You didn't kill me. You killed Kane."

My brows furrowed in confusion, he continued. "My twin brother. Honestly, I'm shocked you never spotted the difference. He was there more than you'd think, you'd even spend whole days with him in the lab."

"Lab?" I scoff. "You mean your torture chamber?"

"Don't be so dramatic." Khal waves his hand dismissively, "Nobody knew he existed, so don't be too hard on yourself. It was Kane's idea to start experimenting on you, but after some of his findings, I was completely enraptured by your progress."

I feel my heart clawing at the back of my throat, begging to jump from my lips. This is not happening, it can't be.

"And when I found him that fateful day, and what you had done to his body. I knew I had to continue our research. Luckily, I had most of the Cambions business under wraps, so I sought out shelter with them. I wanted to see what you'd become without our testing, so I waited silently for years. Only to be even more impressed with our outcome." His eyes turn into hopeful stars, as if he's remembered everything I've done in his absence.

"And connecting with my boys?" Khal continues. "What an interesting turn of events."

"They are not yours!" I snap. "And they will kill you the second they find me. They will destroy you."

He tutts his tongue, clearly annoyed with my outburst, "Oh Zoe, they won't be finding you. They won't even find your body once we are through with you."

"So that's your plan then? To kill me?" I ask, almost relieved.

"Oh, little Zoe, we have a lot to do before we get there. But I can't spoil all the fun just yet." He pats my foot at the end of the bed before he checks his pocket watch. "I must be going, but you'll get filled in on the need-to-know by an orderly. We'll speak soon."

As he passes by my side to go back the way he came, a new found strength forms in my chest, and I speak again, "I killed you once before, and I'll do it again."

He stops in his tracks, and he looks at me again with those beady eyes that have haunted my nightmares for years, "Maybe. But then you'll have become exactly what I intended."

He disappears just as quickly as he arrived, and I am once again left alone.

My father is alive, not dead. He's been walking this earth the entire time, and the heart in the Karma's freezer in fact belongs to Kane. My fathers twin brother?

Hold on, I'm sorry, what the actual fuck is my life?

No, Z, we don't have time to think about that. I need an escape plan. I need to be able to let the Karmas know where I am.

I'm sure Max is pissed at me more than anything, and hell most likely not even looking for me. But I know Teddy is making the roads run red. There isn't a single doubt in my mind that he is leaving no stone unturned, and I'm positive he's snapping necks left and right. I know this, because I'd do the same for him.

I don't have time to waste thinking about them right now, the more I think of what they might be doing, the more my heart breaks.

I analyze the room again, measuring out the length and width in my head, and even the distance to the ceiling. The ceiling is tiled and has fluorescent lights in it, telling me there is space between the ceiling and the roof. There is also a low air vent on the right side of the room, it'd be a tight fit, but I could make it work if I dislocated my shoulders. However, if I go that route, I won't have as much control if I end up in any hand-to-hand.

The evil red eye of the camera continues to blink at me, and I know someone is watching. But the cameras might be my saving grace. I remember Brandon telling me about everything he does with the surrounding area's cameras. Surely, he'll be able to find these even if they are connected to a private network. I'm sure that if he spots me in this live feed, they'd be able to locate me.

I just have to be sure they keep me in front of a wired camera for as long as possible.

They will find me, and the world will burn.