Dangerous Game

Chapter fourteen: Mixed Feelings

After some discussion, we decided we had no choice but to take Cam with us. We couldn't drop her off somewhere with her abilities out of control and we couldn't abandon her in the wilderness. She cuddled up next to me and was sound asleep in minutes. As much as I hated to admit it, Kason was right. We weren't babysitters and this mission was way to dangerous for a little girl like her. We all relaxed once again as we stared into the haunting glow of the campfire.

"What in the world did you do, Mal?" I asked softly so as not to disturb Cam.

"I call it my son-echo. Get it? Sonic echo?" He laughed at his own joke. I suppressed the urge to slap my forehead and I pitied a smile at the poor name combination.

"I can manipulate my voice patterns to different frequencies. Some sounds I make can only be heard by certain animals. I can also mimic sounds." He said raising an eyebrow.

He then said, "Isn't that right, Erin?" I blinked and wasn't sure if I'd heard him right because he sounded exactly like me. Everyone except Erin and Malachi looked at me with confusion as if I had suddenly started talking. Erin cracked a smile at everyone's confusion.

"That was him." I said, holding up my arms in innocence while trying to keep the shock out of my voice. That truly was a cool talent.

"So why did they cage up your face?" Kason asked, voicing the question on my mind.

"The scientists found out the hard way that Mal's abilities can be more than a little dangerous..." Erin explained.

Mal added, "After knocking out an entire room of scientists and shattering every window in that section...they figured my abilities should be contained."

An uneasy feeling began to grow inside me. If he was dangerous enough to have to have his abilities contained, then I could only imagine what he could do if he ever turned on us or something.

"But don't worry," He quickly added, seeing my facial expression, "I would never use it on any of you unless it was self defense, and I don't need to worry about that. I trust you guys." He gave a me friendly smile. I couldn't help but smile back. He seemed to have a calming air about him.

I stole a glance at Kason at the mention of trust. He and Seth were the only ones who hadn't shared their abilities or torture stories. I knew Seth wasn't about to reveal all he could do to these people. He wasn't exactly an open book kind of person...except to me. I knew everything there was to know about him and he knew everything about me. I guess that could be a good thing and bad thing, but I trusted Seth with my life and my brother's life. There was nothing that could come between us.

Erin's innocent voice snapped me out of my thoughts, "What about you, Kason? What's your story?" she asked, willing him to answer.

"There's not much to tell." He gave a vague answer, "I was born in the lab."

"What?" He earned my attention now.

He looked satisfied at my interest and continued. "I was what you would call, a test tube baby. They took a fertilized egg, genetically modified it, and grew me up like a cactus." He shrugged. "I guess it's a good thing; I don't have parents to look for or to miss me." I barely caught the tiniest waver in his voice. His face gave away nothing.

"That's awful." Erin sympathized, though I doubt she caught his brief vulnerable moment.

He shrugged again, and in his normal annoying, cocky voice said, "It's less to worry about. I'm free to do and go wherever I want." He crossed his arms behind his head and laid down in a relaxed position.

I almost felt sorry for him, but his cockiness got the better of my emotions, "Doesn't that make you more of a threat? They could've programmed you to work for them."