Page 34 of Heart’s Prisoner

The soldier screamed and stumbled up and ran in the opposite direction. He ran through the camp and into the night.

Torrence stopped the video and stared up at her with his black eyes. "Really extraordinary huh?" Torrence leaned in towards her and grabbed a container by the computer, "Sorry it had to come to this but I think you needed a little dose of reality." He popped open the lid and dropped a piece of gum in his mouth, chewing slowly.

Lana dropped her hand from her mouth. "Where...where did you get this video?" she asked. There was no way he had the authorization to access the files from the night of Xerus' capture. Only top security officials should have that data.

Torrence shrugged. "I have friends in high places."

She shook her head, trying to keep her composure. "I don't..."

Torrence tried to take her hand and Lana flinched back. Torrence put up his hands. "Hey, listen, no need to get all hysterical. I'm just trying to save you the time and effort. This way it's easier. Just leave the demon to us. I can convince Cole that it isn't working out and you can be on your way before–"

"No." Lana took a step back. "I want into unit three."

Torrence looked at her like she was crazy. "You aren't serious. After what you just saw you still want to do this?"

Lana looked at him squarely. "Yes."

Torrence clicked his tongue. "You're an idiot then."

Lana bit her tongue to keep her response to herself, colorful as it was. No, she must remain professional.

"Think what you like," she whispered. "I still want into unit three."

Torrence's lips thinned. "Fine, do what you like. But you should know something. If you fail on this, I've been given permission to take out the asset."

Lana's body went cold. "What?"

"Yea, it was a hard decision for some. They really were hoping to gain something from the beast. We're willing to be patient. But that patience slipped after the incident with the Scibot. I'm afraid it's looking pretty grim. So if you can't convince those generals when they come, Asset X will have to be put down. I've volunteered to do it. They are even going to let me keep one of its horns as a souvenir." Torrence sat back in his chair. "I wanted the tail but they said they wanted to keep the rest of him to study."

Her body went from cold to boiling. "I won't let you near him." She shook.

Torrence raised his eyebrows. "Don't think you've got a choice, Ms. Hart. But, hey, just think, if you are somehow successful, he gets to stick around a little longer, eh?" Torrence turned back to his computer and put in the code for unit three. The door began to slide open. He looked back at her and gave her that nasty smile. "Good luck, Hart. No pressure or anything."

***

Lana sat in her chair, staring at the milky orange cloud before her. Her thoughts wavered in and out of dark places as she contemplated whether to lift the screen.

'How could he do it,' one part of her subconscious cried.

'He is a killer,' another part said. 'You knew this.'

That one stung. But she came back over and over to remind herself of what she also knew. That Xerus had given her trust, and through that little kindness, there was hope. She knew he wasn't a complete savage. Wasn't just some baseless animal whose only purpose was to hunt and kill. She had said it before and she'd remind herself once again that, even though he had been put on a mission, he could still make his own choices. He could choose to stop. There had to be other ways to win his war.

Lana lifted the screen and found Xerus sitting before her as if he had been waiting.

"You take your sweet time changing the glass. Don't tell me you're turning shy," he teased.

Lana couldn't help smiling. "Just needed a minute."

Xerus looked at her curiously, his tail swaying lazily beside him. "Something bothers you."

Her eyes fell to her lap. "Yes."

"Is it something I did again?"

Lana laughed. "Isn't it always?"

Xerus tilted his head in a shrug.

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