Page 52 of Echos and Empires
“The island isn’t what it appears. The bombs weren’t what they appeared to be. And most importantly, Victor Warrington isn’t what he appears. He’s a demon in human skin and the one responsible for the destruction of earth.”
Not one person made a move to leave. None spoke out. They all simply stayed where they were at, their eyes on Chris.
“Victor Warrington was behind the creation of this island and six others identical to it. He was also behind the creation—and deployment—of the biological bombs. These islands were meant to recreate humanity. The plans we saw made it seem as if Victor wanted only genetic perfection. To remove cancer, autoimmune diseases, everything that was not the peak of human condition.”
Chris paused, once again giving any of them the chance to screw him over. Not one person did, though a man he’d never met with long black hair and piercing blue eyes. Scoffed, but didn’t make a move to leave.
“On the island, Victor is claiming to control fertility through created vitamins. Vitamins the men needed to impregnate difficult female bodies.”
A wave of bile lurched up in Bash’s throat at the way it sounded, and he swallowed it back, wincing at the burn. He wasn’t the bad ass man he pretended to be. Not all the time at least and this was one of them. He didn’t need a reminder of the hell the world had gone through at that bastard’s hands.
“While they may do that, our notes also show he’s created some kind of mind control weapon and my team believe it’s triggered through the vitamins. Have you taken them?”
One by one, the five men shook their head or spoke a simple ‘no’ out loud.
“The love of my life is pregnant. Twins. Done without his vitamins might I add. But our children won’t be safe here. No one’s will be. We need to take Victor down. We need to put Victor down.”
Chris let the threat hang in the air. His gaze on Zach.
“And where do we fall into this?” Viola, a young teen asked, her voice almost too quiet to hear. She was chosen by William because her family was the largest on the island and had the most to loose.
“We gather more like us. More who can be swayed or are already on to something to be off. More women whose unbornbabies may be in danger. We will build an army, whether one of peace or violence will depend on who joins. I will tell you, there is no shame in wanting him dead for destroying the world, and my ultimate goal will be to destroy his goals and then put him down. Even if my unit and I do it alone.”
“And how will we operate? We can’t come en masse to the beach. Some sections are off limits due to the dangerous coastline.” Zach seemed to test him.
“We’ll communicate via notes. It will start with my unit and we’ll get word to you who will get word to others you deem safe. There’s nothing more to tell as we don’t know it yet and I’m not ashamed to say that.” Chris cleared his throat and glanced at Liam who nodded. “What I can say, is if my family is harmed in any way, we’ll consider you all traitors to the cause and wipe you of all knowledge…or worse.”
Again, Chris waited for a cry of rage. To Bash’s surprise, nothing came.
“We will meet again. ” Chris turned his back as if by way of dismissing the group who’d dared to come.
Bash stood there a moment, letting the enormity of what had just occurred wash over him. The die was cast now, the pieces set in motion. Every day forward would be a battle, a never-ending struggle against an opponent with almost limitless resources and a complete lack of scruples.
But they had taken the first step. They had dared to hope, to believe that a different future was possible.
They had a long road ahead of them, but at least now, they were on the path. Come what may, they would walk it together. Bash moved toward Chris, certina they were not in danger.
“You think we’re safe?” William asked as he moved to stand beside Chris.
“I think we did what we had to do, and now we protect Emma and our children with every breath we have.”
“Speaking of Emma,” Alex called from his spot near the water. “Who’s going with her tomorrow afternoon?”
“I am,” Chris spoke before anyone else could claim it. “I need to see what I can find out while she’s in that back room. I may have a little more clearance being on security and the council.”
Bash had no objections, but he could’ve pointed out they should all go and try to break into that room. But he wasn’t the leader, and he had to trust Chris, or this would all fall to hell.
NINETEEN
The sun beatdown on the back of Chris’s neck as he walked, the heat still oppressive even in the winter afternoon hours. If this was even winter on the island, they’d never bothered to ask where they were in relation to the equator. He kept his pace measured, his expression carefully neutral, but inside, every nerve was stretched taut, thrumming with tension. Emma moved at a leisurely pace beside him, and he didn’t want to get too far ahead but her slowness seemed to eat at him.
He scanned his surroundings constantly from behind his sunglasses, taking in every passing face, every flicker of movement in his peripheral vision. Out here, even the most innocuous interaction could prove disastrous if he wasn’t careful.
As if summoned by the thought, a familiar figure detached itself from a nearby group and fell into step beside him. Chris recognized him instantly—Jason, a former dockworker who had been at the first council meeting and on the ship with them. Someone he hadn’t seen in months. A new boat must have come in.
Strange, wouldn’t that be more of a celebration like when ours came in?
“Afternoon,” Jason said, his tone light but his eyes darting around warily. “Some weather we’re having, huh? Makes you wish for a cold front. Not super thrilled the boat came back today.”
