Page 41 of Brax

“And?” asked Bree. Ines looked up at her and didn’t say anything at first. “What else, Ines? You’re confused, and what else?”

“Angry,” she whispered.

“I didn’t hear you,” said Bree.

“Angry!” she yelled. “I’m so angry at him! Why me? Why did he do this to me? I was loyal to him. I was willing to do whatever needed to be done in the lab. Why choose me?”

“You were the closest genetic match to his wife and daughter,” said Thomas. “You didn’t know it, but your great-grandmother and his wife’s great-grandfather were first cousins. That’s the closest he could get.”

“I was related to him? Are you kidding me? I was related to that maniac, and he still wanted to kill me.”

“Technically, you were related to his wife,” said Thomas. “Tell us what we can do for you.”

“Nothing,” she said, shaking her head gently. “You’ve done more than I could have ever asked of anyone. This location, being right here on the water, is so peaceful and beautiful. Why is it cool out here on the porch? I know it’s hot.”

“We have misters and outdoor air conditioning so that you’d be comfortable out here,” said Cam. “Anything you need, you let us know.”

She turned to face Cruz, Wilson, Doc, Lena, and the rest of the medical team. They were all so beautiful. So handsome. So perfect in every way, and yet they looked at her just as they looked at their friends.

“H-how much time do I have?”

“A few days. Maybe a week or two,” said Riley. “I’m sorry, Ines.”

“Don’t be. I’m relieved.”

Zeus and Atlas came up on the porch, laying their noses at her hands. She smiled down at them, surprised that they weren’t afraid of her appearance either.

For days, people came and went from her little cottage ensuring her every comfort. They watched movies together, sang songs, read books, and ate together. When she could no longer lift the fork, they did it for her.

Four days later as Wilson checked on her vitals, he looked up at Stephanie and shook his head.

“Maybe a few hours, honey. She’s going fast now.”

“Not yet,” said Brax. “We have somewhere to take you.”

“Brax, I’m not sure she can be moved,” said Stephanie.

“I think she’ll want to be moved for this.” Ines opened her eyes but didn’t say anything as Brax lifted her from the sofa, carrying her down the steps and across the property to the waiting boat.

Saint wheeled the chair onto the boat. She was strapped in, and everyone followed in other boats. It was a beautiful, clear, sunny day. Stephanie knew immediately where they were headed.

“To the animals?” she whispered.

“She always wanted to go on a safari,” smiled Brax. “Matthew is making that happen for her.”

As everyone stepped off at the animal sanctuary, Ines was lifted and carried toward one of the elephants. A padded seat with a back provided support for her as she was strapped in. She laughed for the first time in days as the elephant stood.

Irene and Matthew walked slowly around the sanctuary, stopping now and then for the giraffes to touch their noses to her face or the monkeys to hug her. When they made the circle and came back around, they lifted her from the elephant once more.

“Th-that was b-beautiful,” she gasped. “It was ev-everything I dreamed.”

Matthew bent down, whispering to the young woman, kissing her forehead as Irene did the same.

“You’re free to go home now, child,” he said with adoration and kindness. “You deserve to be free of your pain.”

Stephanie reached for the woman’s hand, kneeling beside her.

“I will never forget you,” she said softly.

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