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  He kept on running right for me with a gun in his hand, and his eyes were wild thunderstorms. He wanted to attack me, with that girl. How could he?

  Power and rage built in my chest, and I swatted them back against the wall. Daniel’s eyes widened as he hit the plaster. With a flick of my wrist I pinned him to the wall with a sofa.

  “What are you doing?” he shouted. “You can’t do this, Mina.” He tried to push the sofa away as Elena and a tall, dark skinned man came running through the doors. I lifted them away from me.

  “He’s trying to tell you what to do,” Mum said with a smirk. “I don’t think that’s wise, do you?”

  One of the attackers pulled away their scarf and came out from behind the plant with his hands up in surrender. It was my dad.

  The security guard raised his gun to take aim. “No!” I yelled, chucking the guard to the side.

  “What are you doing, Mina? You hate him,” Mum said, the disgust evident in her voice.

  “I want him for myself,” I replied.

  “Mina, sweetheart, you need to stop. You need to come with us,” Dad said. “In your heart you know that she’s not good for you. Look at what’s happened to you.”

  A great surge of anger flowed through me and I pushed Dad back, pinning him against the wall with my force. “Anything that’s happened to me is because of you.”

  The gunfire stopped. The guards stood still. Everything in the world seemed to stop and stare at me.

  All the intruders removed their scarves and I faltered. Ali and Matthew were there, too.

  “Don’t lose yourself, Mina,” Mum said. “These people are not your friends. They’ve come to attack the GEM.”

  She was right. Daniel had brought his new girlfriend to harm me.

  “We’ve not come te attack ye, kid.” Ali ran forward but I propelled him at the wall.

  “Stop it!” I yelled. “Stop trying to hurt me!”

  The hate and anger built up like a snowball rolling down a mountainside, collecting more and more hate, until I thought my entire body might freeze. I opened my arms to embrace it, lifting my head to the ceiling. I watched the plaster crumble as the walls and floor shook with my force.

  “That’s my girl!” Mum said.

  Ali ran again. I threw him away like a rag doll.

  “No!” Daniel shouted.

  I turned to him, the one person I thought I could trust. He had that girl at his side. I hated him, too.

  “Mina, kid, you’ve got to stop this.” Matthew approached with his gun still in his hand. I swatted him away.

  The doors exploded, showering me with glass. I didn’t care. I felt invincible. I controlled the glass, made it take life, and formed it into a swirling cyclone; picking up all the debris from the floor; all the bits of broken plant pot; the chairs from the lobby. I added them to my deadly tornado. Mum’s hair whipped around her face as she stared in awe at my power.

  “NO!”

  Who dared to try to stop me?

  Dad forced his way through the glass. He held up one arm to shield his face. Shards struck him all over; turning him into a human pin cushion. The shock distracted me, and the tornado slowed to allow him closer. I watched him keep coming – even as the chairs and debris crashed into him. He should’ve been knocked to the floor, yet he stayed upright somehow, and he kept coming.

  “Get away, Jonathon! You can’t stop her now. She’s mine!” Mum shouted.

  “Never!”

  Dad took another step, forcing his way through. One more step and I saw the glass sticking out from his body; thousands of tiny pieces; one large shard stuck in his stomach. Still he carried on until he stood just inches from my face. Mum seized him. Her fingernails dug into his arm. Dad shook her off.

  He held my face and his eyes searched mine – desperate. “Kill me, Mina, but don’t kill your humanity.” Tears ran down his face. “You’re nobody’s weapon. You’re my little girl. I deserve to die for what I did to you. No one else does. Let them go.”

  Humanity?

  I was back in the basement of our house. Dad stood with chalk in his hand, writing words on a blackboard.

  “Humanity – do you know what that is, Mina?”

  I shook my head.

  “It’s what separates us from other species. It’s our conscience and our ability to know right from wrong. It’s the ability to love and spread kindness, and it’s the biggest weapon we have as human beings.”

  The glass dropped, tinkling to the floor. I blinked, finding myself back in the lobby of the GEM.

  “I love you, Mina,” Dad said. His eyes fluttered and he fell backwards. I lunged towards him, but he was out of reach. Ali and Matthew caught him, and dragged him out of the building.

  I collapsed to the floor, my body physically spent from using so much power. My chest constricted, and I gulped in air, trying to catch my breath. Tears rolled down my face as they pulled Dad away.

  Daniel struggled against the heavy sofa, shoving it with his shoulders. I’d wedged him in tight. The blonde girl lay bleeding on the floor. Random Resistance and guards lay lifeless. Others stood motionless – completely stunned by what they’d seen. I fumbled across the floor to find Mum unconscious. My fingers found a pulse.

  “Mum? Mum are you okay?”

  The tall dark-skinned man limped across the lobby with his arms stretching out to grasp me. His pained face grimaced with each step. Elena swooped in and pulled me to my feet. I staggered up on aching legs.

  “We have to get out of here. Now!”

  The guards sprang back into action and blocked the exit, forcing us back through the lobby. The tall limping man lurched towards Elena. She gave him an almighty shove and he fell backwards.

  “I’m not handing her over to you, Des,” she said. “Dale told me what you’re up to. You’re not using Mina as a weapon.”

  She dragged me through the lobby and towards the fire exit. Broken glass crunched underfoot. Elena slammed her palms into the door and rushed into the open air.

  Enforcers chased us just a few feet away. With the last of my energy, I swung the door shut in their faces, giving us precious seconds.

  Elena stared at me with wide, bloodshot eyes. “Run!”

  30 ~ Angela ~

  A prisoner again.

  Angela followed Alfred through the jail and watched the Blemished pull open cabinets and raid drawers. They poured out large mugs of alcohol and ate the food in the fridge. Some escorted groups of unarmed Enforcers towards the jail cells. It all happened in a blur as she reeled from the events of the last few hours. Sebastian walked a few feet behind her, and she was aware of the fact his dead father lay out on the stones in the courtyard alone. Her stomach churned.

  “Alfred,” she shouted. “What are you doing? We’re not enemies. We were prisoners, too.”

  He led them into the main office for the Commander. It was a grand room, with wooden panels and a large desk. Three Blemished men rifled through the papers on the desk and drank Vincent’s scotch.

  “I know that. I also know that your boy here is Vincent’s son, and I’m not about to get killed in some revenge plot.”

  Sebastian tried to run, but they held him back. “The photograph.” He nodded in the direction of the desk.

  Alfred lifted a small photograph in a silver frame. Four happy faces smiled out from the picture: Sebastian, his parents and a pretty teenage girl. Angela’s heart panged when she saw it. She’d only ever thought of Sebastian’s mum as a kind-hearted woman. So many people had died since then that it left her numb.

  Alfred pinched his nose and turned to the men drinking Scotch. “Give me some of that, will you?” He took a long swig. “I’m sorry, fella. I’m no murderer. I know you’ve lost a lot.” He set the bottle down and opened the frame. “But I had to execute a war criminal out there. He killed too many to be forgiven.”

  “You never gave him a chance,” Angela said. She had tears in her eyes and her throat hurt from holding them back. “He’d ju
st saved us, and you came in and killed him without a second thought.”

  “I don’t care what you did to Dad,” Sebastian said. Angela looked at him in surprise. “I just want that photograph. Dad has been dead to me for a long time. He wasn’t a good person, Angela.”

  “He had a chance though, a chance to redeem himself.”

  “You’re just a kid,” Alfred said in a soft voice. “You don’t know what you’re talking about, lass. You think you know so much. I know this is more than you can handle. This world is more than you can deal with.” He walked over to Sebastian and tucked the photograph in his trouser pocket. “Here you are, lad. My sincerest condolences.”

  Sebastian nodded.

  “What, so it’s wrong to believe in redemption, now?” Angela said, aghast. “It’s childish to give someone a second chance.”

  “No, it’s not childish; it’s just a waste of time in a world where time is running out. We’ve got bigger things to worry about. We’ve got an army to build, and I suggest you get out of here as fast as you can. I would say to join that brother of yours, but it looks like he’s busy in the capital.”

  “What are you talking about?” Angela demanded. “How do you know where Daniel is?”

  “It’s all over the screens. He’s helping the bombed victims in London – spreading the word of the Resistance. It’s why we’re here today. We saw one of our own on the screen that day, and we’re rising up to join him. Area 14 are taking back power. We’re going into the heart of the city and we’re going to crush the GEM bastards who called us Blemished.” He lifted the corner of his shirt with his Blemished symbol. “This will be gone. We’ll live however we damn well please, and no one is going to stop us.” He took another swig of the scotch. “We leave for Area 13 in a few hours. We’re going to join up, create the biggest, baddest Northern army London has ever seen. You lot had best scarper after we untie those ropes, because you’re not going to want to be part of this.”

  For the first time, Angela realised just how much had happened since they’d left the Compound. While stuck in the jails, an uprising had started. They’d missed the beginning of a revolution without even noticing.

  “Wherever Daniel is I have to go,” she said.

  “Ange, ye have te think carefully about this. It’s gunnae be dangerous. Even worse than what we’ve already faced,” Cam said.

  “We’ve faced death,” Angela replied. “We faced an execution. What’s worse than that?”

  Cam’s eyes saddened. “Ah hate te say it, but we should go back te the Compound. If the Resistance fall––”

  “They won’t,” Alfred interrupted. “Didn’t you hear what I said, boy? The Blemished are rising, and there’s more of us.”

  “Aye, an’ there’s a shit-load of Enforcers too,” Ginge added. “Cam’s right. This isnae our war. We need te go.”

  “No,” Sebastian said. “Because if the Resistance lose, my family will have died for nothing.” His voice trembled with overflowing emotion.

  “Ah hate te say it,” Ginge said with a grimace, “but yer a GEM. What’ll happen te ye if ye fight an’ the Blemished win. De ye think they’ll thank ye?”

  “As far as I’m concerned anyone fighting with the Blemished is an ally,” Alfred said. “But you’re all too young for this. You should go.”

  “Can’t you get us to the border?” Angela begged. “I have to see Daniel. I need to know he’s okay.”

  “I can do that.” Alfred nodded. “But I’ll have to keep this one on guard.” He gestured to Sebastian. “Nothing personal.”

  Sebastian lifted his chin. “Can I at least bury my father?”

  Alfred approached, and pulled a knife from his belt. He moved over to Angela first. Her muscles tensed. He took her wrists, and slipped the knife between them, cutting through the thick rope. He told one of his men to keep guard on Sebastian and find him a shovel. When Cam was cut free, Angela took his hand and held it tight.

  *

  They watched Sebastian fill in his father’s grave from the courtyard wall, with the bright sun shining down. Angela felt sick. It was no atmosphere for a funeral, not with the Blemished army looting the buildings around them. When Sebastian patted the soil down over the grave, he stood with closed eyes and Angela hoped that whatever he said it gave him peace.

  “I can go alone,” she said. She squeezed Cam’s hand.

  “What’re ye talkin’ about? Ye not goin’ anywhere alone. Wherever ye go ah follow an’ ye know that.”

  A twinge of guilt twisted at her gut. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

  “Aye, well. Ah think that train has left the station, eh? We’ve been te hell an’ back already. What’s one more journey?” His eyes seemed tired and dark-ringed.

  “What about you, Ginge?”

  “Someone’s going te have te be there when he loses it. An’ it’s gunnae have te be me,” she said, staring as Sebastian placed rocks around his father’s grave.

  The guilt twisted, and squirmed; forming a tight knot in her stomach. “Do you think he’ll be okay?”

  “Fer nae,” she said. “But it’s gunnae hit him, whether it’s tomorrow or in ten years. It’s gunnae hit him.”

  She hopped down from the wall and strode over to Sebastian, placing her hand in his.

  “She really loves him,” Angela said.

  “There’s one thing te say about this world,” Cam said. “It makes ye appreciate what ye’ve got.”

  Ginge led Sebastian back to the wall and Angela pulled him into a tight hug. “I’m so sorry about your dad.”

  Cam clapped him on the shoulder. “Ye know ah know how ye feel.”

  “Thanks, both of you.” Sebastian rubbed the dirt from his face and lowered his eyes. He seemed older, and tired.

  Alfred approached. “We have cars and vans down the hill,” he said. “You lot can ride with us in the vans. Any of you shoot?”

  “Aye,” Ginge said. “But they took ma rifle.”

  Alfred chucked her a replacement. Ginge set about examining it.

  “This’ll do,” she said eventually.

  Alfred chuckled, and flashed her a look of respect.

  “Ah’m trained by the Scottish army,” Cam said.

  “Right you are then.” Alfred tossed him another gun. His eyes met Sebastian’s. “I’ve no trouble with you, lad, but if you’re planning any revenge missions, you need to know you’ll lose.”

  “No revenge,” Sebastian said. “I want justice from the GEM. That’s good enough for now.”

  “Then it’s good enough for me,” Alfred said. He chucked Sebastian a pistol. “And one for you, lass.” Angela caught the cold weapon with both hands.

  Ginge frowned down at her rifle. “It’s not loaded.”

  Alfred laughed. “D’you take me for a stupid bleeder? You’ll get ammo when you need it. For now, those are your weapons to take care of. Let’s go.”

  Angela tucked her pistol into her jeans and took Cam’s hand. Together, the four of them followed Alfred down the hill to the next part of their journey.

  I’ll be back for you, Mum, she thought to herself. One day.

  31 ~ Daniel ~

  “Mina!”

  She didn’t even look at him. She ran away with Elena, leaving him stuck behind the sofa. He rammed it with his shoulder, finally getting it to budge. Luce lay bleeding on the floor and he swooped down to pick her up.

  Daniel fired at the guards. One leapt for him, and he had to swerve and duck, just missing the beam of a laser gun. He almost dragged Luce into the street behind the fire exit, where the van waited for them with Dale in the driver’s seat.

  Daniel hurried to the van, ignoring the bewildered faces of passers-by. Most stared at him with a stony expression on their faces. To them it was just another Resistance attack.

  Daniel placed Luce on the floor of the van and slammed the door shut.

  “Go!” Daniel shouted.

  Luce moaned, and Daniel leaned over to check her wounds. “Y
ou’re going to be okay.” He swore as the sound of screeching sirens filled the air. Someone had called for back-up.

  Ali and Matthew poked rifles through the peep holes in the van, shooting at the Enforcers running towards them and Dale put his foot to the floor. The tyres screeched against the tarmac.

  “What happened?” Daniel yelled. “Why did the alarm go off?”

  “Some idiot cut the wrong wire,” Matthew replied. “What happened to Mina?”

  “The insurgent took her,” Daniel said. “It was Elena Darcey. They went to school together. I think Des chased after them.” Daniel swore. “I should have followed.”

  “You did the right thing,” Matthew said. “If you’d left Luce…”

  Daniel nodded. A Resistance member in the hands of the GEM was bad, and Matthew knew only too well. “We’ll get her to the church and go back for Mina. Where’s the other group?” He rummaged through the medical bag to find bandages for Luce’s cuts.

  “They took the first van,” Matthew said. “We gave them Jonny. The identical number plates should mess up anyone trying to chase us. And Jonny’s hurt really bad.” Matthew’s voice cracked. “He needs a medic.”

  The van careened around the corner, almost crashing into a bus.

  Daniel ripped a length of his shirt, and tied it around a cut in Luce’s leg, trying to stop the bleeding. He flinched to see the number of tiny pieces of glass lodged in her flesh. But it was nothing compared to Jonathon’s injuries. He tried to stop himself thinking of that moment. The hard expression on Mina’s face would haunt him forever. It hadn’t been her. He refused to believe it. His heart ached when he thought of Mina being the cause of something so terrible. It was abhorrent to him, it made him feel sick. He thought of her as a beacon of light in a dark, dark world. Now, she was the darkness; an all-encompassing black hole that sucked in everyone around her.

  The plan had failed – big time. Everything that could go wrong – did go wrong. Elena had been supposed to keep Mina on the stairs so they could surprise her. That failed when the intruder alarms went off, and just like always his vision came to life. What was the point in getting visions if he couldn’t stop them? He hated his brain. Really hated it.