One Tortured Soul

Chapter Nineteen

"What are you doing in here?" It was a woman who came in from the door, and she was not pleased to find me here. Her narrow eyes studied me with a calculated look as she stepped forward, her heels clicking on the tiled floor.

I glanced over at all the sleeping children. "These are my kids," I said. "Why are you keeping them here?"

She frowned. "I don't know what you are talking about. I don't know who all of these belong to. I'm only the night caretaker. But please, you must leave. No one is allowed in here after lights out."

"Fine," I said, realizing that I wouldn't get any answers from her. She clearly knew nothing. I gently laid my kids back into their beds and turned back to her. "I'll be back." With that, I stalked out of the room and headed to see the commander. I had quite a lot of words to discuss with him.

When I reached the tech room where I had last seen him, I shoved the door open and headed towards the back of the room. Astonished faces followed me, but no one attempted to stop me. They wouldn't have been able to had they tried, so it didn't matter.

I reached the table at the back, and was not surprised to see The Commander still sitting there with his men. He put down the file he had been holding and finally acknowledged me. "Can I help you?" His tone held a warning beneath the casualness of it. A warning that I was not going to heed by any means.

"Yes," I said, my fists clenched at my sides. I could hardly keep myself from shaking with the rage I felt. This was going to end now one way or another.

"Spit it out then," The Commander said, leaning back in his chair.

"Why did you lie to me? I found my kids sleeping in your nursery." I narrowed my eyes, waiting for an explanation before I tore him to shreds. Or maybe I would burn him to a crisp. I hadn't used my ability in a while, and I knew it would feel good.

The Commander took his time in answering. "So you found them, did you?"

"Yes," I replied tersely.

He sighed. "I have nothing to say. Except for the fact that I wanted you here. Lucas, you are an asset to this fight, and if I told you we had your children, then you would have left."

"You're right about that," I snapped.

The Commander continued, not paying attention at my interruption. "We need you. There is a storm coming any day now, and we need all the help we can get."

"So you lied to me," I said, my voice laced with anger.

"Yes, but I knew they would be well taken care of while you trained. There was no harm done."

"No harm done? No harm done?! You had no right to keep that from me! No right!" I shouted. I took a step closer, and several of the men seated near The Commander exchanged uneasy glances.

I looked down at my hands to see they were smoking, and with good reason. I supposed any strong emotion was laced to my ability, as it only seemed to affect me when in moments of extreme pain or anger.

"It was for the greater good," he said calmly. "And this is as well."

I tried to consider what he was saying, but before I could, two men came up behind me and grabbed my arms, wrenching them behind my back. I fought against their grips, my anger fueling me, but they managed to snap metal cuffs on my wrists, restricting my ability.

"Let me go!" I roared.

The Commander didn't speak. He waited until I had stopped fighting to even move. Then, and only then, did he speak. He rose from his seat, his combat clothing in perfect order. "If you want your children back, then you will fight for us. And when we win, you are free to leave with them. That is my deal, and my only deal."

I considered my options. I could try to fight them all, but then how would I get my kids and get out of this place? Instead, I could take The Commander's deal, but a battle was the farthest from where I wanted to be.

"Okay," I said, not quite sure what was possessing me to agree to such a deal. But I didn't see any other choice. "I'll do it. But if you go back on your word, then I promise you I will hunt you down." I keep my tone low, matching his own so he knows I mean it.

I'll fight his battle. I'll help them win. And when they have, I'll take back my children and rebuild our lives.

Heyyy! Hope you liked it :) And I realized that I haven't updated in a whole. This time it was a mistake. I had already started this update a week and a half ago, and didn't realize that I hadn't published it until now.