My father pulls me along with him as he storms through the back entrance of my childhood home, his hand wrapped around my upper arm.I gave up resisting at the car, when I had tried to pull free of him – to head back to the battlefield, to see what the hell happened after all those Betas had saluted
My father glares around the room at all of us, as if we’re as much of his enemy as Victor. Which, I suppose, some of us are. “Kensington turned my Betas against me,” he says, “he took control of them on the field.” I see Alvin and Ian’s eyes light up at this information, Ian’s ruse as the wounded
I sigh, quietly considering that nobody told me how boring a siege is. Alvin and Ian are sitting on the floor. They’ve turned the puzzle upside down and they’re so bored that they’re working on putting it together that way, without any picture to help them. Every few minutes they sigh and look at m
The Beta’s eyes flick to the eight men standing at my father’s table – strong, uninjured men, amongst the best-trained in the ranks. My father turns to them as well and growls, looking down at the table for a moment while he considers his options. “Fine,” he says, finally agreeing. “Go – all of you
I gasp as I hear someone scream and can’t help but spin to look – to see what the hell is going on – There, on the floor – Brent, his leg twisted unnaturally behind him, still raising his gun and working to aim when a Beta – I scramble backwards on the couch, pushing my boys behind me, doing every
“Be quiet,” he hisses, not looking at her. “John,” she says, insistent – truly disobedient for the first time in their marriage, perhaps the first time in her life.“God damnit,” he says, and for a moment – just a moment – when he spins to glare at her, he is distracted enough for the gun to drift
I stare down at Victor at my feet and then, wild, uncomprehending, I look up into the room beyond him.There, at the door – An absolute nightmare come true. I blink, unbelieving – it can’t be possible – But then the nightmare speaks, my own name on its lips. “Evelyn,” Joyce says, smirking as he s
He turns his nasty smile to me as he calls out, loudly enough to be heard outside the open door to the room. “Betas!” he commands. I glance away from Joyce to see a pack of Betas enter the room – some of the same ones who were in here earlier, planning with my father. I see the surprise register on