Page 103 of Pride
“I’ve been down here a few times for work. The rain has just started. We’ll be fine for an hour or two,” Axel said. “As long as we hurry.”
They rushed after him, Parker seeing better than either of them and keeping Alice from falling down when she lost her footing. Begrudgingly, she accepted his help. If she hurt her leg now, she would impede the rescue mission.
After fifteen minutes of silence, Axel said, “So… you saw Julius at the retirement party… he’s not the same.”
“What happened to his hair?” Parker asked.
“He keeps cutting bits and tying them on his finger. I have no idea why. But he’s been increasingly secretive and erratic over the past few days. I caught him moving Syndicate equipment late at night through a weird hole in the basement wall. The morning before the party, he moved Daisy out of her usual holding cell. I only know because I followed him when he wasn’t looking. He almost shot my head off when he found me. I managed to convince him I was on his side, but… he’s gone crazy. Don’t expect to reason with him.”
“Replicate tanks?” Parker asked. “Where is the American base, because it’s not at Syndicate Tower. I know this much. We’ve had eyes on it for years. It’s mainly office space.”
“You’re right,” Axel confirmed. “The Tower is a front. Mostly. There are a few handfuls of tanks, mainly for demonstration purposes for recruitment of the Faithful. It can be destroyed easily and covered up if the authorities raid. There were also a few closed off rooms in the basement I never got to see, so I can’t say what was in there. Van Jansen—the scientist—used to head off daily to an undisclosed location somewhere nearby, but they never told me where. I was still yet to prove my loyalty enough to satisfy Julius.”
“Attempted murder wasn’t enough?” Parker scoffed.
“No,” Axel replied darkly.
“Maybe we find this scientist and ask him,” Alice suggested.
“Can’t.” Axel shone the torch at her and she flinched. “Julius killed him.”
Alice blocked the light. “Killed his own lead scientist?”
“Well, he’s disappeared.” Axel shrugged and continued walking. “I’m assuming it’s not good.”
They all took a moment to let that sink in. If Julius had picked off his main scientist, then he no longer needed him. This was the beginning of the end.
37
Parker liftedhis nose as a familiar scent hit. Above the acrid stench of the tunnels, he smelled family, and fear. He couldn’t understand the logic, but the base part of him belonging to The Beast knew the scent was from his own kin—Daisy. And she was afraid.
He ran.
“Shit.” Alice stumbled behind him and then shouted for him to not be a cowboy and do something stupid.
But he had to. Every instinct in his body knew his sister needed him. These same instincts knew Alice would be okay. The danger was ahead, not behind.
That scent of Daisy’s fear traveled over the water, prickling his nerves. He pushed onward, knowing the sooner he got to her, the better. He squelched through gushing water. He bounded over ridges and debris. Minutes felt like hours. He lost his companions and soon the sound became just wet steps and his breath filling the tunnels. When Daisy’s scent grew strongest, he slowed to a silent stalk. Claws sprung from his fingertips, his teeth elongated, his vision and hearing strained. For the first time since he’d developed his new abilities, he was thankful for them.
Drip, drip, drip.
Splashing.
Rodents scurrying.
Breathing.
At a four-way tunnel intersection, he heard the mumbling curses of a man. The sense of pride—sin… so much it cramped Parker’s stomach.Julius. He was down the left tunnel. Daisy’s scent was to the right. Straight ahead sounded like—he cocked his head—it sounded like people working. Shuffling. Rhythmic thudding. Splashing. Could there be service workers here, now, during a storm?
Keeping his steps quiet, Parker turned right and went for Daisy. He almost missed the sound of her breathing through an offshoot of narrow pipe. He had to crouch to get to her. When he emerged through the pipe and into another small circular space, he found her chained to a rusted ladder.
“Daisy,” he whispered and squatted as water rained down in streams from a drain opening two levels above. She was half submerged, head slumped, silver hair floating where it met the water. Cold to the touch, but her heartbeat was strong. “Hey.”
He shifted hair from her face. Long eyelashes fluttered. Eyes opened and focused on him. No obvious injuries. Just exhaustion, dehydration, and malnutrition. Possible internal damage, considering what Axel and Prudence had said about Daisy’s treatment by Julius. She needed a hospital.
“Pigeon?” Daisy whispered, voice a rasp.
He paused, his mind going back to their rooftop with the birds. He’d told no one her nickname for him. Had always hated it, but now there was no sweeter word.
