Page 31 of Sin

I swallowed as I opened the food container and found a bunch of questionable looking taquitos. Despite the fact that they looked like they’d been sitting under a heater for hours, I grinned down at them like they were precious stones.

Lewis stared at me like I’d gone crazy. “Man, you’ve got it bad. By the looks of those, he’s just trying to poison you.”

I took a bite of one, pleasantly surprised that it tasted a lot better than it looked. By the time Blade came back and told me the way to suit down was to say, “Scale down,” and Lewis dragged me off to the restrooms inside, I’d finished all of the taquitos.

And I really did feel a lot better after eating, making me wonder if I really was just moody because I was hungry.

My mood was only temporarily ruined by the fact that Lewis stuck with me the entire time, not even giving me privacy to take a shit. Normally, I wouldn’t have cared that he was in the room, but he went as far as making me leave the bathroom stall open to make sure I was actually doing what I said and not “trying something.”

Definitely in the top three weirdest shits of my life.

Once everyone was back in the van, geared up with their own wristbands and ready to go, we set off for Jessica’s cousin’s home.

Deciding to go over Jessica’s file before we got there, I pulled it up on a spare tablet I’d been given. I scrolled through some of her information, raising my eyebrows. “Jessica Hughes, age 46, single. Likes hot yoga, white chocolate mocha lattes with a doubleshot of espresso, and puzzles…” I choked on a laugh. “Why does this read like a dating profile?”

Mare’s lips curved upward. “Because they took it from her online dating profile.”

That did it. More laughter burst from me. “No shit?”

She nodded. “Yep.”

I read on. Apparently, Jessica worked at the Citadel labs for about eight years before the UAS’s destruction. During the government’s reformation, she canceled the lease on her apartment in Mercy Heights and went off the grid. Her family said they hadn’t heard from her in the past couple of years, though knowing she was living with her second cousin in Monroe, it now seemed likely they’d been lying.

The most concerning part? When Jinx figured out where Jessica was likely hiding out, we’d informed the Monroe police and asked them to perform a wellness check. No one had answered.

A deeper search informed us that Natalie hadn’t been to work for almost two weeks.

“Okay, let’s go over the plan again,” London said, using an intercom system I didn’t even know existed in the van. We’d already gone over earlier it on the drive, but knowing London, this was to help calm his nerves. He’d always coped best with stressful situations by talking it out. “What are we going to do first?”

“Knock,” I called from the back.

“Yes, let’s not barge in with guns blazing. So first, let’s see if anyone even answers.” He tapped a finger on the middle console. “And if no one answers? What then?”

Blade, who’d been digging into a black duffel bag by her feet, said, “Mare and I will check the perimeter. Scout all exits and look for any outward sign of damage.” Sitting up, she held what looked like two samurai swords. Seriously, where was she stashing all these things?

London nodded. “And since it’s a two-story house, Lewis and I will search the top floor. Which leaves?”

“Sin and me to search the main,” Jinx responded immediately.

“Yes, and if we find any sign of Lucas?”

“Message the comms. Wait for backup,” Lewis chirped.

“Exactly. Lucas’s psychic abilities will likely be much stronger than the rest of ours. With the exception of Sin. Our only chance at success here will be a sneak attack. Because if he’s able to infiltrate your mind, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to break free on your own. So remember, stealth is key. If you find anything amiss, notify the rest of us immediately, got it?”

A round of affirmatives went around the van.

I forced myself to ask the one question which had been nagging at me this whole time.

“And what if his mind control abilities are stronger than my persuasion?”

The whole van went silent. Because it was a valid question, whether they wanted to think about it or not. I was strong, but I had no idea what sorts of things Lucas was able to do. What the experiments had done to his abilities. I’d wanted out of that prison so badly that I hadn’t even stopped to consider if it was possible for me to truly combat his powers.

“If he’s stronger,” London said slowly, meeting my gaze, “then we’re as good as dead.”

So… No pressure then.

“Awesome,” I muttered, my anxiety ticking up.

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