Page 48 of The Girl Who Kicked Ass (Death Fields 3)

I do go to the kitchen and my eyes land on the knife she left on the counter. I stare at it for a moment before using it to slather peanut butter all over a thick slice of bread. Nothing that is happening right now makes sense, but food? It always makes sense.

She leans over the counter and watches me take a bite. “How’s Dad? Is he okay?”

I chew and swallow. “Dad was fine when I left him a few days ago. I mean, other than the obvious stress of knowing his spawn set the end of the world on fire, but you know. He’s good.”

“Oh, good.” She looks visibly relieved despite my snarky response. “When Chloe took him…I panicked. I truly panicked.”

“He chose to go, you know. Chloe didn’t take him.”

I lick the peanut butter off the knife and tuck it under my sleeve, before leaving the small kitchen area.

“Yes, but I specifically told both of them he was not to leave the facility, not after almost getting killed the last time he snuck out to meet you.” I shrug and eat my sandwich. “I understand you’re angry,” she says as I wander around, peeking in the open door of her bedroom. A travel bag sits on top of the bed. “But you need to understand that things have not exactly gone according to plan.”

I face her and force my face into something that reflects reason. “No? That taking over the world thing didn’t turn out the way you wanted?”

“That’s not—” she starts, but we both know the truth and she stops. “I’ve done a terrible thing.”

“You think?” I can barely contain my anger. “You’ve completely destroyed society! Society, Jane! You brought the country to the brink of extinction and then,” I shout, “then you compounded the issue by creating genetically modified monsters to do your bidding. It’s insane! You’re insane!”

She crumbles on her three thousand dollar ultra-suede couch and drops her face into her hands. “I thought I could fix things. I thought I could weed out the bad and protect the innocent.” She looks up at me, her eyes wild. “I thought I could make the world a better place.”

I stare at my sister. My deranged, brilliant sister. “You’re unstable, like, for real. Do you know that?”

She stands abruptly and rushes past me to the bedroom, proving my point about instability. She opens drawers, pulling out pieces of clothing before rummaging through her closet. “You may be right but it’s too late to psychoanalyze my mental health. What I do know is that we’re running out of time. I can get us out of here, though.”

“What? You’re leaving your empire?” I hold my hands up. “You created all this.”

“I did, but I’m no longer in control—well, not for much longer, at least.”

She darts past me again and I yank on both of her arms to get her to stop moving. “If you’re not in control—then who is?”

“The Hybrids.”

Chapter 25

I watch as she continues to pack her bag, and the only thing I can think of is that she’s bringing the wrong things for an escape into the Death Fields. Socks and underwear, I want to tell her. Shoes that are already worn in and fit. I walk to the kitchen, grab the jar of peanut butter and take it back to the bedroom, handing it over.

“What’s this?”

“Pack it. Trust me.”

I haven’t asked her about the Hybrids and how they took over. Do I need to? Every step of my sister’s career is a cautionary tale on genetic warfare and manipulation. Don’t do it. Wyatt may have been on to something about the Ramseys and their God complexes.

“So what’s your plan?” I ask, eyeing the overflowing bag. She’ll have to get rid of at least one pair of shoes. “Run away?”

She holds up a makeup bag and considers its dimensions. “Actually, yes.”

“So you’re just going to let the Hybrids take over? Let them have this entire territory?”

“For now, yes. I don’t have any other choice.”

“There are survivors out there, Jane. A lot of them. Children. Your Fighters that Erwin has taken prisoner. You’re willing to let them fall into the hands of the Hybrids?”

She glances up at me and brushes her dark bangs out of her eyes. “They’re taking over PharmaCorp as we speak. Infiltrating the guard and Fighters. Hacking into the labs and computer systems that carry the genetic codes and vaccines. I’ve set up what protective barriers I could, but it’s only bought me so much time.”

“Who is doing this?” I ask her. “It can’t be the mindless army of Hybrids. I’ve seen them. They don’t have an original thought in their head. Someone has to—” I stop. “Chloe? This is her work?”

“Yep. I gave her the first shot, thinking she could be my first in command. Most of the Hybrids have a flaw—something that makes them unqualified for the Fighters or as a civilian worker. I needed someone flawless to lead them. Little did I know there was a glitch that would cause her to rise up and take over.”

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