Flash Back
Amber
Cold and wet, I gasped for breath in the dark chamber I was caged in. Panic started to set in as my hands lifted, scrambling to feel the cold, metal zipper that would release me from my confines. Quickly, unzipped it only to find more darkness.
I was trapped.
I heard voices and started to scream. Tears streamed down my cold cheeks, and I banged against the metallic chamber. “I’m here! I’m here!”
I found myself pulled out, brightness blinding me. “There she is,” he said.
Despite being blinded, I would never forget his voice.
My friend was with me, and we clung together. We were taken to a facility, separated, and placed in cages meant to keep animals. Then we were forced to do testing. Test after test, until I felt like giving up. Cured of a deadly disease only to be tested on for an evil man's gain.
After the last test, I was going to give up. Do something. Kill myself. I laid on the floor as a hand came through the bars of the cage next to mine. My one and only true friend gave me hope.
Our hands clutched together through the bars that held us in as she offered strength.
“We’re going to get through this,” she stated with fierceness as she tried to chase away my worries.
He was crazy. A raving lunatic. A man who wanted an army of superhumans. Did he even think about how long he’d have to wait? All the diapers he’d have to change? That this was wrong? How could I find strength when it all seemed to be taken?
“Don’t listen to the voices of doubt,” she pleaded, gripping my hand to bring me back to the present. “Because once your faith, courage, and beliefs in escaping are gone, it’s then that you’re truly broken and they’ve won. Don’t let them break you,” she whispered. “We have to escape.”
Days later, when it was confirmed we were pregnant, my friend and I came up with a plan.
My friend started to scream. “Guards! Guards! She’s bleeding. I think there’s something wrong with the baby!”
My palms were cold and clammy as I curled into a ball and held onto a piece of metal I had managed to unscrew from the bottom rails of the metal bed frame that held the mattress up.
I heard the keys and the creek of the hinges as they came in. The two guards never saw it coming. My friend hit one through the slats in the bars, and I swung at the other one.
“Keys, grab the keys!” she whispered urgently.
I rummaged their hips until my hands landed on the cool metal and unclipped it, scurrying out of my cell and locking the men in. Then I went to the other cell and let out my friend.
Together, we found a window which we climbed out of and ran into the night, our hearts slamming in our chest with what we’d just done.
We reached a stretch of road where cars flew by every so often. My friend got close to the street and waved down a trucker. He pulled over, rolling down his window to peer down at us. “You girls in trouble? Need a ride?”
“Yes! Just a second.” She turned to me. “You go. We can’t stay together. We’re easier to find that way. I’ll get another ride.”
“But…”
She opened the door and shoved me in. “You’re going. We don’t have time for this! Go!”
“You girls done making up your mind?”
I cleared my throat and jumped in, buckling up. “Yes.”
“Good.”
As he started to drive off, I kept my eyes on the side mirror to see if she got a ride. And what I saw was her getting sideswiped by a car. “No!” I cried.
The man looked in his rearview mirror, seeing the horror. “Shit.”
I’d lost my best friend.
***
I woke up slowly, laying on my side. The stiffness of the bedsheets beneath me crinkled when I moved, slowly twisting around as the metal springs squeaked from my weight.
My eyes adjusted, and I found myself surrounded by white walls, a single bar of light on the ceiling, and hospital blue, linoleum floors. I remembered a part of who I was, of what happened.
I panicked, my strength taken out of me as I realized I was back in hell, but this time, I was alone.
The pinching at the inside of my arm drew my gaze to tape and gauze on the inside of my elbow, and I tore it off to find a spot of red. The assholes already drew blood. If they did that, what else did they do to me while I was blacked out?
I stayed like that for at least an hour before I heard signs of life outside the door. I crowded back against the wall, hiking my knees up to my chest as I watched it creak opened. A man stepped through with a white coat, then another man dressed in a suit. These were the men from before, when Amy and I were taken. The ones that hurt me.
The man in the suite spoke first. “Well, well, well, Ms. Myter. It seems we caught up with you once again.” His comb-over lifted as the AC turned on, but his gray eyes glinted with rage. “You see, I would really like your cooperation.” He stepped forward, hands behind his back, and he started to pace. “It seems so interesting that you would be the first one we found.”
“My friend is dead,” I spit out, tightening my arms as if they could save me. “She’s gone.”
The man in the suit paused, his lips thinning as he turned to the white coat.
White coat shifted his glasses on his nose and spoke. “Not possible. They are practically indestructible. The other one lived. I’m sure of it.”
I thought about how I was before, when the Jameses found me. We weren’t indestructible, but we did heal quickly.
The suit turned back to me. “See there? She’s out there somewhere.”
“Why? Why are you doing this? Couldn't you have just left us alone?”
White coat gave a quick, harsh laugh, his expression annoyed. “Because you two are the only ones who were able to conceive. None of the other women have. That’s why we need you.”
The suit picked up the conversation, his voice soft. “I’m sorry about your miscarriage. I found the person who beat you. You won’t have to worry about him anymore.”
This caught my attention. “W-what?”
A smile ticked at the corners of his mouth. “It was a street rat druggie, and you stepped into his territory looking for a place to sleep. Well, at least that’s what he said before he died.”
I shuddered, hearing events about me that I couldn’t recall fall from this man's mouth. Had he always been hunting me?
He paused and then went on. “I don’t want you to be uncomfortable. There’s an easier way to do things. You can cooperate. Build trust between us and come home to my house with my wife and me. Have a nice room. Nice things. A television. Cable.”
His attempt to entice my cooperation only made me sick inside. “Someone's going to come.”
“No one is. You have no one. Not even your own father, who crossed the line to be able to find a cure for you, only getting himself killed in the process. No one's coming.”
“That's not true,” I muttered.
His brow lifted. “And why do you insist on that? I've eliminated all obstacles. No one can touch or come for you.”
My blood ran cold as my head shot toward him at this information. “You killed them?”
Now, his brow scrunched up. “Them?” I pressed my mouth closed. “Them? Who do you mean by ‘them’? The old couple? Your friends? Aaron?” he questioned softly. “They’re not coming. Aaron is dead and any of the others will think you are too when they find out your car is at the bottom of Tempe Town Lake. Young Amber’s cry out for help ends in tragedy as she succeeded in ending her own life. The police will sweep the river looking for a body,” he mocked. “You see? No one.”
My soul crushed at the information that Aaron was gone. I trembled as rage built. “You’re a sick bastard.”
“But I’m a thorough one. You can either cooperate and things could be a lot easier, or you can fight me and I’ll make your life a living hell.” After his speech, he walked out with white coat following behind him, slamming the door and locking me in.
A sob tore through my throat. Aaron was dead, and they didn’t know the other two. They didn’t know about Weston and Seth. About what they knew about him. I cried. Aaron didn’t deserve to die.
The light stayed on. Time drifted. I didn't know if it was night or day anymore. Hours blended together.
I stayed, wondering what they were waiting on. What they were going to do. I wasn't sure how long I stayed curled up in a ball on the bed, trying to think of anything, something, I could do to escape. I drew the gray blanket from the foot of the bed up over my body and covered my head, pretending I was somewhere else. That things were different.
They came for me while I was sleeping. Drugged me, and did their tests. Then brought me back hurting and confused.
I wanted to die, I should have died, but I stilled lived.
***
Hours, maybe even days, passed filled with tests and drugs before things changed. It felt like a bomb went off, then the call of someone outside the door. Time and space seemed disoriented as a piercing noise filled the air. I curled up tighter into my ball, covering my ears, delusional, as someone banged on the door.
It slammed open.
I tensed. Hands grabbed me. I went wild. Screaming and thrashing around, I tried to get rid of them. It wasn’t until I finally realized that the tingles I share with my guys was present and stopped fighting.
They soothed me as strong arms picked me up and carried me out of the room. I clutched his chest and sobbed. I was safe. They found me.
I wasn't sure what happened or how they got in. I didn’t care who got away and who was dead. I only cared about the man who carried me and being free once again.
Glancing up, I saw the shoulder-length blond hair tied at his neck and tears clouding my vision as I breathed, “Aaron.”
He was alive. I was no longer scared.
He dashed us down a stairwell, shoved open a door, and he ran to a chopper that was waiting. He yelled at me to jump in when we got to the roaring beast. Unnerved, I moved from his arms into the machine as my hair flew into my face. A man I didn’t know helped me climb in and guided me with support at my elbow to a seat as Aaron hopped in and sat next to me.
I reached for him, but he was all business, leaning over to buckle me in as we started to rise into the sky. Only when he safely secured me did he cup my cheeks and lean in to kiss my forehead. He dipped down and kissed my lips, causing a slight flutter to creep up into my heart. After, he proceeded to buckle himself in and grab the headphones one of the guys held out for him. Handing one to me, the two of us put them on, and Aaron tapped the headphones with his forefinger, signaling he could hear me and wiggled the mic.
My lip trembled as I nodded, grabbed his hand, and hung on. His mouth was tight, eyes guarded as his voice came over the line, broken and torn. “I’m so sorry, honey. I’m so sorry. I should have been more aware, but I never saw them coming.”
I couldn’t help it, my mouth turned downward as my nose burned, and the first tear fell. I wished he’d been more aware. Saved me then instead of now. My memories were back, along with the awful sick feeling that came with them. My body was violated. My virginity taken, given fertility drugs that made me sick, and impregnated by a painful medical procedure just to lose the baby.
What was my condition now? Was I broken?
“How could you know?” I finally swiped away my runny nose before Aaron cradled my body into his, holding me tight. “They’re monsters. Monsters prey on the unexpected. Believe they’re God. Taking everything away and leaving you an empty shell. Empty shell,” I repeated. “Everything gone.”
“I’m so sorry.” He broke, holding me tight as I cried into his shoulder. “Those monsters won’t be able to reach you anymore. They’re dead. General Bane, the doctor, they're all dead. No one's coming to hurt you or any of us.”
But I was already hurt. Already broken. I remembered. My best friend was dead, despite what the doctor said. I saw it. No history, no family. I was someone who could fade away. That’s why they took me from the hospital. I had no one. No one who loved me. I was an orphan.
I heard his vow from the mic. “We’re going to the airport and meeting the others. We’re headed home. Back to the mountain. We’ll be safe there. Better.”
Even though he meant it to be a comfort, it wasn’t. I’d still be caged. It was just a bigger one. Never alone, but now forever broken. There was no coming back. Or forgetting.
We flew to the airport where a jet waited. I didn't question him as we loaded inside, my eyes meeting the cream leather with sparkly glazed wood fit for a princess. I was almost afraid to let my dirty frame sit in the seat for fear of smudging it.
Aaron didn't hesitate as he once again put me in my seat and buckled me up. I was lost in my own thoughts. I was sure he was as well. By the look of him, Bane had tortured him, or at least experimented on him. His eyes held a darkness they hadn’t had before. I didn't remember much of what they did to me, but I remember feeling hurt on the inside, violated, while other times I didn't remember anything at all.
Aaron took my hand in his, holding it. “We’re just waiting on the others.”
A mere fifteen minutes passed before the shuffle of feet could be heard boarding the plane. I whirled around, worried about who it was, and found Weston and Seth climbing inside, all decked out in their Amy gear as a few others followed.
Weston immediately came to me, lowered to his knees, and drew me to his chest. “Babe.” One word, and I could tell he was tortured. “Never again.”
He pulled away and rested his head against mine. “You’re safe from them.” He gently leaned in, his intimidating frame bumping against Aaron’s knees, and captured my lips, telling me without words how scared he had been. He trembled as he drew away. “You’re safe, babe.”
Weston rose from his position and slammed his body into the seat next to mine, taking a hold of my hand. Seth was next in line, brushing his lips against my already swollen ones.
He lifted his head and whispered, “Later,” before he got up and placed himself in the seat across from mine, taking out a cell phone. I knew he wasn’t ignoring me, not dismissing the situation, but getting things done. Things that needed to be done.
Weston drew the hand he held up to his mouth, letting his lips graze against the top, telling me without words that he was here. Not planning on going anywhere.
Aaron, who held my other one, gave me a squeeze. I shut my eyes tight when we started down the runway.
Things were going to be okay, I needed to believe that.
My head drifted to Weston’s shoulder, seeking comfort as my eyes claimed Seth's across the way.
I was in a plane. No one could get me. My guys were here. They were going to keep me safe.
When we were up in the air, I took notice of the other men with us. The two beside Seth.
It was intimidating being surrounded by all these men.
Seth noticed my gaze leave him and called me out, “Hey, I know you don't know these people,” he paused before raising his voice, “Hey, guys, you all know about Amber, but she has no clue who the hell you all are.”
The one to the right of Seth started first. “I'm Garrett.”
I gave a nod and then the one to the left gave me a wave. “Dallen. Garrett and I are with Melissa.”
“I’m Triton, but it’s okay to mix me up with my brother.” My gaze went across the walkway to the other alcove where four other men sat. Twins.
The one on the far side shook his head. “Tristan. My brother and I are with Trisha. I’m glad you’re okay.”
“Me, too,” I responded shyly.
All those T names confused me. I couldn't imagine if they decide to go with it naming the children in the same fashion when they had them. They’d have to be crazy to do that.
The next guy chuckled. I found out his name was Kellan, and he was the mind reader. “I helped Corbin get you two out.”
I gave another soft thank you and glanced at who I could only assume was Corbin. He gave me a tight smile. “I can speak to others in their minds and give them the ability to speak back. Between Kellan and I, we were able to free you.”
No one else spoke about what had gone down back there. I think they were trying to spare me, but from what Aaron had told me, I got the gist of it. We no longer had to worry about Bane or the doctor. But what about their families? I couldn't help but wonder who that woman was who was with them at the hotel. Did they get her?
Our flight took roughly two hours, and we landed at the Denver Airport where we once again got into a helicopter and flew over the city toward a mountaintop off to the northeast side of the state.
We landed on a helipad that could have been considered a large driveway from where the house stood.
Seth helped me out. I grabbed his hand and let him guide me inside the two-story estate that looked more like a hotel than anything else. Who needed this much space?
The two women whom I talked with over the web were waiting in the front foyer. I'd like to say they were waiting for me, but they were immediately surrounded by their men.
The other guys drifted off as Seth tugged on my hand. “Come on, you can talk later.”
Nervous and not sure what to expect, I allowed myself to be drawn down a massive hallway that led to a room, but it wasn't really a room, it was more like an apartment within the house. Three bedrooms, a bathroom, and a kitchen. Unbelievably big for just little me.
When I walked in, the kitchen was off to the side. I’d liken it to one that would be found in a small apartment, but without a range. A microwave, though, sat on the counter. The small island in the center was large enough for two bar stools.
Off to the left was a small sitting room with a couch, two recliners, and a flat screen on the wall opposite to them. All the furniture was masculine in colors of gray, black, and blue, with clean lines. No pictures hung on the soft gray walls.
I realized this apartment wasn't just my space. This was where Seth, Aaron, and Weston lived.
Was I supposed to take over one of their rooms?
I twisted around to stare at the three men who stood wearily behind me. “I'm not sure what I’m going to do. I don't want to put anyone out.” I gave a helpless, broken chuckle. “I don't even know what I'm doing.”
I moved to the couch, sitting down and drawing my knees up to my chest. The fight had gone out of me, and I wasn't sure where to go from here. What was my life going to be like now?
Aaron came over and crouched down, placing his hands on my bare feet. “Hey.” He waited until I met his intense gaze to continue. “I know you have a lot of questions. We have some answers. Ask them, honey.”
“Fuck,” Weston growled as he tossed his gear off to the side. “That’s why she looks so fuckin lost. Didn't even think about questions. Ask us, babe. We’ll answer.”
Seth slid his hands into his pockets. “Same as Weston. You can ask me anything.”
I pursed my lips, then took a deep breath. “Okay, where am I sleeping?”
Weston was the first one to answer. “Babe, I know this is all new and everything, but you're in my room tonight. Next to me. And if you decide to sleep with Seth or Aaron, same goes. We’re not letting you sleep alone.” He strode over to me, crouching down at the side of the couch by the armrest. “No sex. This is not the time to be doing that, but when you're ready, fuck, we're going to want it. But I'm going to be honest, we're going to start this right. You in with us, going to sleep with your sweet body cuddled against one of ours. Much like we did the last time. And if those nightmares come, one of us is going to be there to take care of it. Got it?”
I gave a short nod, not wanting to be alone either.
Weston relaxed. “Good. What are your other questions?”
I swallowed and looked at the three of them. “Am I…with you guys now? Do I get any say in this?”
They all tensed.
“Do you not want this?” Seth asked stepping forward. “Because if you don't, you need to tell us right now. It would be hard, extremely difficult. No one's ever tried it, but if you don't want that kind of relationship with all three of us, you need to let us know so we can start separating ourselves from you now. Never in our wildest dreams did we figure you wouldn't want this. That you wouldn't want us.”
My heart broke. It wasn’t that I didn’t want them, it was about if whether I had a choice. “I do want you. I just want a choice. So, we’re all together.”
“Yes.” All three of them said at the same time.
“Only with you,” Seth added.
“And how will this work with three of you?”
“We work it out as we go,” Aaron said, speaking up for the first time. “If we have any problems with one another, we’ll fix it between ourselves. Same with you. If you have an issue with one of us, talk with us. We want you to be happy, to be ours and to be safe. We haven't worked out all the details on what we're doing here, but this is where we’re going to stay. If you want to learn how to cook, learn how to cook,” Weston stated. “If you want to build a damn library and stick it downstairs in the basement, do it. If you want to remodel, talk to Melissa. I'm sure that you three girls will figure something out. If you want to get a hobby and start quilting, we'll make it happen. We're going to be gone sometimes for work, we want you to be busy, not worried.”
“Currently, there’s a no leaving the mountain rule. You can't anyways without a pilot, but I'm sure as time goes on that that rule may become lenient. But for right now, let's just start with tomorrow. Deal?”
I pursed my lips, then they tilted upward into a small smile. “I think I could deal with that.” I know I could do that. My goal wasn’t going to be building a library, I'm sure they already had one. No, it was going to be looking for my friend.
“Good, now let's get you settled. The doc is coming in to check both of you out.” Seth stated, and when Aaron started to argue, he told him to shut it. “Both of you have had a trauma. Both of you are going to get looked at.”
Aaron stood, and I knew there was going to be an argument, so I inched off the couch.
“I don’t need to be fuckin looked at,” Aaron growled at Seth. “I’m just fine.”
Weston rose and folded his arms so that both he and Seth squared off with Aaron. “You may feel fine, but who knows what the fuck that man did to you. You need to get checked out.”
It was time to intervene. Bravely, I spoke with a confidence I didn’t feel and threw Aaron for a loop. “If he’s not getting checked out, then neither am I.”
Aaron whirled to me, his eyes wide and mouth popped open. He closed it. “Honey.”
I straightened my shoulders, held my head high, and raised a brow.
His mouth snapped closed as he muttered, “Shit.”
My arms folded as if to ward away the memories. “The way I see it, if you don’t feel the need to get checked, we must be good. Right?” I gestured to him, getting down to the nitty-gritty of things. “I mean, it’s not like we were violated or anything.” I swallowed. “Not like someone drugged you and restrained you so you couldn’t defend yourself when they…touched you. Did things that you don’t remember, but you ache on the inside.” My lips pressed together to stop the tremble. My voice went high as it cracked. “If I don’t have to face another doctor in all my lifetime, I wouldn’t.” I squared my chin and challenged him head-on. “If you’re not doing it, neither am I.”
Aaron’s shoulders dropped as he reached out a hand to grab my forearm and bring me to him. My arms wrapped around his waist, my forehead resting on his chest as his arms surrounded my frame. “Amber, honey,” his voice rumbled. “You have to get checked out.”
“Don’t make me do it alone,” I whispered.
His arms tightened. “Hell, alright. I won’t, honey.” He kissed the top of my head. “I won’t.”
***
I felt gross and wanted a shower, but the guys informed me I couldn’t take one until after the Doc saw me. I had evidence all over my body. Same with Aaron. After the Doc came, we could both take a shower, but until then we waited in one of the back bedrooms.
While we waited, Seth, Aaron, and I squeezed ourselves onto the king bed and watched a movie. Weston slipped out to talk with the others and wait on the doc. When Doc finally showed up, it was the middle of the night.
We were into our third movie of that night when he came into the room along with Weston. He dragged an enormous, rolling suitcase beside him, and he wore a white shirt with a gray vest with slacks. He was an older man with graying hair, and when his gaze landed on me, he gave me a genuine smile. “Hello, my dear. I’m Dr. Gregory Fitz, but you may call me Doc. You can either tell these guys to hit the hallway, or you can consent to have them stay. Either way is fine.”
I gave a hard swallow and answered shakily. “They can stay.” Then with a bit more conviction, I added, “I want them to stay.”
He nodded and edged closer to me. “I hear you’ve had a rough time. Tell me about it.”
I answered as he checked me, and I filled out paperwork. He took blood and checked my vitals. When it came down to checking my womanly areas, he sent Seth and Weston out but let Aaron stay. He took test swabs, checked for tearing, and the whole time I was a mess. My body shook, breaking out in a cold sweat, but I was glad I had someone there to hold onto. Someone I knew I could trust.
When the Doc was done, I curled up into a ball, relieved to be finished with that part. Doctors always made me jumpy. Even before I had the serum, back when I was dying. Chalk it up to my experience with cancer. Another body joined me on the bed, most likely Aaron, then another one who I saw was Weston. I clung to them as much as I could, trying to calm my nerves before I drifted off to sleep. As I did, I couldn't help but wonder where in the world Amy was. Did she get a funeral? Was she cremated or buried? I needed closure with her. My heart burned with sadness. I wanted to find out what happened to my friend.