on the
foliage surrounding us, absorbing the powerful radiating
energy.
“Zane, I need some answers,” I finally blurt
out, grabbing him by his arm to slow him down. He whips around and
the dark look on his face as he glowers down at me, almost makes me
regret pushing the issue.
“Alright Cataryn—you want the truth, then
here it is. Once my dad saw the videotape and suspected that you
were a Designer, he wanted to transport you to a lab for testing,
which I forbid. So instead he took Chord, gambling that if you were
genetically altered, then your twin would be, too. What they’re
looking for is a specific synthetic DNA strand that would explain
the Designers' powerful abilities to use the mind.” He pauses and
grabs me by the shoulders, his gray eyes intense with emotion.
“This DNA strand is found in brain tissue, Cat. Brain tissue—do you
understand?” It takes a second or two for the reality of his words
to sink in—dissection?
“God no. Please tell me they aren’t going to
do brain…” I shake my head in complete disbelief, my mind unable to
process such a heinous plan. I try and speak, but the only sound
that comes out is a high-pitched whine.
“If they are successful and are able to
isolate that particular DNA strand, they will be able to clone it
to use in other humans, making your services less valuable. Either
way, the likelihood of them finding worth in sparing Chord’s life
through an extensive rehab is slim.” He lowers his eyes when I
start to cry. “I couldn’t go along with it and that’s why I’m here
with you and not them. Had I known you were the Golden GEM all
along, I would have devised a different plan.”
“Oh God. Oh God no! They’re going to dissect
him like a lab rat? We have to stop them Zane. Let’s find your dad
right now and you can convince him to do his testing on me. I’ll
give him whatever he wants,” I sob, backing away. “We have to
hurry.” Through a blanket of tears, I blindly take off running
through the trees, with Zane chasing after me.
“Cat stop! Stop—you’re going to get us both
killed!” he hollers. My legs seem to have a life of their own as I
scale logs and ditches, weaving around trees with the agility of a
deer running from prey. All I can think of is getting to Mr.
Harrington and somehow get him to change his mind about Chord
before it’s too late.
***
I eventually find the airstrip due north,
just as Zane said it would be, and stand in the cover of the trees,
as a corporate jet screams down the runway toward me, lifting off
two-thirds from the end, and flying directly overhead. “NO!” I moan
in despair, collapsing against a tree. Just a few minutes sooner
and I might have stopped it by using the same telekinetic means
that Claire and Ronan used to stop the approach of a helicopter. My
disappointment is short lived when I hear the sound of approaching
cars, and I hold my breath as one by one, three SUV’s fly down the
dirt road, leaving a trail of dust visible to me even in the dark.
They come to a screeching halt near a hangar where the door opens
and a second corporate jet is pulled out and prepared for flight.
There’s only one man I really want to see and I strain my eyes
trying to get a glimpse of him. Unfortunately Mr. Harrington isn’t
among those getting ready to board this plane. Although I can’t
hear specifics of what’s being said, the men’s movement indicates
that they are in hurry to get out of here.
“Not so fast boys, I need to hitch a ride,”
I murmur out loud, as I quickly devise a plan to stall them until I
can find a way to sneak on board. Thank God, Marti Campbell drilled
into me the mechanics of an airplane, because with my full focus of
mental energy, I successfully snap the circuit breakers in the
starter motor, rendering the plane temporarily grounded. As the
pilot troubleshoots the problem, I inch my way toward the hangars
on the other side of the airstrip. I am so engrossed in what I’m
doing
foliage surrounding us, absorbing the powerful radiating
energy.
“Zane, I need some answers,” I finally blurt
out, grabbing him by his arm to slow him down. He whips around and
the dark look on his face as he glowers down at me, almost makes me
regret pushing the issue.
“Alright Cataryn—you want the truth, then
here it is. Once my dad saw the videotape and suspected that you
were a Designer, he wanted to transport you to a lab for testing,
which I forbid. So instead he took Chord, gambling that if you were
genetically altered, then your twin would be, too. What they’re
looking for is a specific synthetic DNA strand that would explain
the Designers' powerful abilities to use the mind.” He pauses and
grabs me by the shoulders, his gray eyes intense with emotion.
“This DNA strand is found in brain tissue, Cat. Brain tissue—do you
understand?” It takes a second or two for the reality of his words
to sink in—dissection?
“God no. Please tell me they aren’t going to
do brain…” I shake my head in complete disbelief, my mind unable to
process such a heinous plan. I try and speak, but the only sound
that comes out is a high-pitched whine.
“If they are successful and are able to
isolate that particular DNA strand, they will be able to clone it
to use in other humans, making your services less valuable. Either
way, the likelihood of them finding worth in sparing Chord’s life
through an extensive rehab is slim.” He lowers his eyes when I
start to cry. “I couldn’t go along with it and that’s why I’m here
with you and not them. Had I known you were the Golden GEM all
along, I would have devised a different plan.”
“Oh God. Oh God no! They’re going to dissect
him like a lab rat? We have to stop them Zane. Let’s find your dad
right now and you can convince him to do his testing on me. I’ll
give him whatever he wants,” I sob, backing away. “We have to
hurry.” Through a blanket of tears, I blindly take off running
through the trees, with Zane chasing after me.
“Cat stop! Stop—you’re going to get us both
killed!” he hollers. My legs seem to have a life of their own as I
scale logs and ditches, weaving around trees with the agility of a
deer running from prey. All I can think of is getting to Mr.
Harrington and somehow get him to change his mind about Chord
before it’s too late.
***
I eventually find the airstrip due north,
just as Zane said it would be, and stand in the cover of the trees,
as a corporate jet screams down the runway toward me, lifting off
two-thirds from the end, and flying directly overhead. “NO!” I moan
in despair, collapsing against a tree. Just a few minutes sooner
and I might have stopped it by using the same telekinetic means
that Claire and Ronan used to stop the approach of a helicopter. My
disappointment is short lived when I hear the sound of approaching
cars, and I hold my breath as one by one, three SUV’s fly down the
dirt road, leaving a trail of dust visible to me even in the dark.
They come to a screeching halt near a hangar where the door opens
and a second corporate jet is pulled out and prepared for flight.
There’s only one man I really want to see and I strain my eyes
trying to get a glimpse of him. Unfortunately Mr. Harrington isn’t
among those getting ready to board this plane. Although I can’t
hear specifics of what’s being said, the men’s movement indicates
that they are in hurry to get out of here.
“Not so fast boys, I need to hitch a ride,”
I murmur out loud, as I quickly devise a plan to stall them until I
can find a way to sneak on board. Thank God, Marti Campbell drilled
into me the mechanics of an airplane, because with my full focus of
mental energy, I successfully snap the circuit breakers in the
starter motor, rendering the plane temporarily grounded. As the
pilot troubleshoots the problem, I inch my way toward the hangars
on the other side of the airstrip. I am so engrossed in what I’m
doing
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