Bearing It All (Grizzly Affairs Book 1) (23 page)

He smirked down at her red face, his voice rumbled out uncaring. “Your powers won't work on me. Just let yourself go, you won't have much fight left soon.”

As black dots began dancing before her eyes, a flash of a memory gripped her. She was pinned down, only this time it was on a blue wrestling mat with several cheering soldiers forming a circle around her and her opponent. Among the cheering men was a man with short blonde hair dusted across the top of his head. Crouching down to her level he slapped at the mat.

“Don't give up, Ari! Fight! Get up!”
he sent his hand striking the mat between each command.

Get up...Get up...Fight...

The words faded as she forced her hands to fall away from her attacker's hands. Reaching between them before he could notice what she was doing, Aria wrapped her hands around the hidden gun. Jerking it free, she stabbed the muzzle against the underside of his chin. As his eyes widened in realization her finger squeezed the trigger. With a loud bang, she felt her ears ring as blood splattered her face like warm rain drops. Closing her eyes as his hands fell away from her throat she deeply inhaled with relief.

The heavy weight of her dead attacker fell against her as more of blood covered her. Franticly she shoved at the bleeding corpse above her before rolling onto her stomach she dragged herself out from under the dead weight. Not daring to look back at what she was forced to do, she stumbled to her feet. Ignoring the shaking of her limbs, she gripped her gun tightly in hand. Increasing her strides until she was running for the tree line, she left behind the smell of blood and burnt flesh.

* ~ * ~ *

Thrusting the sharp blade toward Thomas smirking face, Raoul scowled when Thomas quickly blocked the blade at the last instant. Stopping the blade just inches from his throat, Thomas jerked Raoul's knife wielding hand to the side before wrenching it hard. The satisfying sound of Raoul's wrist breaking was short lived as Raoul smashed his head into Thomas's cocky face.

Moving back, Raoul gritted his teeth as the bone reset its self not a moment later with an agonizing snap. Flexing his wrist while maintaining hold on his blade, he was relieved to see it had healed. One benefit about being one of Malca's cloned soldiers was instant healing. Broken bones healed within minutes depending on the severity of it, unlike bullet wounds that could take days to fully heal. It took a lot of effort to kill cloned soldiers. Good thing he needed the exercise.

The sound of a struggle from outside nearly drew his attention away from what he was doing. Slowly Thomas began moving in a wide circle around him with a taunting smirk. Bending over, Thomas reached at his left ankle and withdrew a similar knife from its sheath. Pointing at the back of the warehouse with a cocky look, Thomas laughed.

“Let me guess, you're helping that escapee?” Not bothering to wait for answer, Thomas smirked. “When are you going to get it? That explosive in your chest—” He indicated with the tip of his knife. “—Malca will never take it out and you will always be her property. While I on the other hand; am free.”

“She can hit that button any time she wants. All I care about is being rid of you for good and then I will be free.”

Lunging forward his hand slashed out. Blocking Thomas's pairing strike Raoul sunk his blade into Thomas's unprotected shoulder. The knife sliced through his skin like warm butter. Jerking his blade free, blood blossomed against Thomas's camouflage jacket mixing with the mute colors of green and brown. Kicking out and catching Raoul in the ribs and then his stomach as Thomas's fist joined the party. Raoul found himself thrown through the air only to stop once his back fell against a high steel bench.

Wincing, Thomas rotated his injured shoulder with a look of irritation. Kicking away Raoul's fallen blade, Thomas slid his own away. He refused to deny himself thrill of killing his bothersome brother by simply slitting his throat. Slowing moving to where his twin had fallen he couldn't help the smile that formed along his lips at seeing his brother struggling to his feet. Encircling his hand around Raoul's throat, he chuckled as he felt Raoul's windpipe strain under his punishing hold. Jerking him to his feet while ignoring his punches and efforts to get free Thomas slammed him onto his back onto the conveyor belt of the large head rig saw.

“You ruined my favorite jacket.” Thomas muttered out with mild displeasure.

Reaching for the remote that hung from a dusty cord above his head, his finger pressed down on the green button marked start. A second later the head rig just a few inches from his position turned on with a chilling sound.

Jerking his eyes to the spinning blade, Raoul fought to get free as the conveyor belt began to pull him closer. Walking along the belt, Thomas held his brother pinned under his crushing grip.

“Do you remember how they use to say that you were my better half in the labs?” Only Raoul's struggling, purple face answered him. Thomas laughed maliciously. “Let's see which is yours.”

The whirling of the blade grew louder as his head came within inches of the deadly edge. Slamming his fist down on Thomas's forearm as the bone snapped with a satisfying sound. Raoul's hands gripped Thomas by the labels of his jacket, jerking him down to the conveyor belt Raoul rolled them. Looking down at his shocked brother, Raoul smirked at him.

“You first,”

Throwing his body over the side of the conveyor belt, Raoul watched as Thomas rolled onto his side in a wasted effort to get off the belt as well. He closed his eyes as the saw bore down onto his twin. The sounds of wet slicing and heavy, sickly thuds echoed seconds after Thomas cry of horror.

Falling back against the cold, packed earth beneath him, Raoul shut his eyes with relief. Coughing, his hand reached up to rub at his bruised throat. Already he could feel his body fighting to heal the damage done but it did nothing to alleviate the pain he felt from each injury. Rolling onto his knees, Raoul slowly stood. Reaching a bloody hand to cup his broken ribs he began walking toward the entrance of the warehouse. The sound of the still running saw behind him faded into the background as he continued walking.

It was done. All the murdered innocents of Thomas’s past had been avenged as he’d vowed long ago. Now he was finally free and no one would own him again. Limping slightly, he continued to walk with only pain and the dead silence as his companions. A strong wind picked up from behind him, striking at his exposed flesh with icy fingers. Then for a reason unknown to him, he stopped. Turning to look back, his eyes glanced toward the large, clustered woods that Aria had escaped into. With any hope she'd find Malca by evening. Her survival and that of her bear- friend was in her own hands now—or was it?

Darkness had blanketed the empty sky after hours of running. Sweaty and tired Aria slowed her furiously relentless pace to a slow walk. Her breath panted out in soft, chilled clouds in front of her face. The chill in the air had her sweat slicked skin shivering endlessly. What she wouldn't give for a hot bath and a warm bed right now. Doyle had so much groveling to do after this and boy was she planning on collecting.

The woods around her caused the fine hairs at her neck to stand straight up. The forest was quiet, disturbingly so. Each sound caused her to stop, her eyes jerked over her surroundings with every snapping twig and the ghostly rustling of dry leaves above. Tree branches reached towards her like thin fingers, seeking to grab her and keep her from getting to Malca. Shoving her nervousness aside she continued to put one foot in front of the other.

Her mind slowly began to drift back to that memory that had surfaced moments earlier. She focused on the determined face of the man calling out to her. How he'd said her name felt...warm and comforting. Who was he? And why had she been surrounded by soldiers that apparently knew her? The more she thought about it the more her head began to ache. Refusing to let go of the image in her mind she held firm.

The pain in her head slowly increased until it was no longer a pounding pain. Instead her skull felt it was splitting in two. Halting her steps she gripped her head as she gasped in agony. Fire raced along her skull as she refused to let the memory go quietly. Crying out, she fell to her knees as pain raced through her whole body, making her feel dizzy and sick all at once.

Then it stopped. No pain or unbearable heat attacked her skull. As though someone was playing a movie from behind her eyes, images began to flow and she was helpless to stop them.

* ~ * ~ *

Rising from the waves Aria's mouth opened in a deep inhale. Today was perfect. Lifting a dripping hand up to shove her wet hair out of her face she smiled with happiness. Laying back to float upon the undulating surface, she closed her eyes with a sigh of content. The sun was bright today, bathing her in an abundance of warmth. Today was her recreation day. No marching, no drills, and no combat training, today she was free.

"Hey!" A warm, teasing voice called out to her. "Don't drift away little mermaid."

Moving into an upright position, her head snapped around toward the direction of the beach. Standing in a white t-shirt and loose gray sweats was Tyler—her twin.

Waving at her with a grin he motioned her to come to him. Turning onto her stomach she swam back to shore. Once it was shallow enough she waded the rest of the way until her feet touched warm sand.

“How did you find me?”

“Come on, Ari. Give your big brother some credit. Don't you know everyone on base knows you come here on your days off?” Slinging a warm arm around her wet shoulders Tyler pulled her close for a hug. “I've got some news.” He whispered softly against her wet hair, pulling back he met her curious expression.

“What is it?”

Taking a deep breath, he smiled down at her. “I got promoted.”

Leaping at him, she wrapped her arms around his neck with excitement. Tyler had been working so hard for years to get promoted to head of their team and she was happy he'd gotten it. Both of them had joined the Army straight out of high school—anything to get away from their horrid foster parents. He'd always vowed to never abandon her like their parents had done so many years ago. They'd been together ever since.

“Congrats! I knew you'd get it.” Leaning back Aria caught the look of foreboding in his blue eyes. Something was wrong. “What's wrong?”

“They are sending half the team out on a mission.”

Letting her arms fall away, she took a step back. “What type of mission?”

“The top secret type, I'll be going to Thailand with half the crew to set up an undercover operation to catch a new terrorist cell.”

“What about me and the others?”

“You will stay with the rest of the guys and wait for orders. Malca said your team may be needed for a different mission soon.”

Releasing a deep sigh, she crossed her arms. She didn't trust this 'Malca' person. The old woman seemed too secretive and malicious. Their unit had been transferred to her base over a year ago and then it was nothing but training and routine missions. None of them even knew why they were following the orders of her anyway. But orders were orders. This was the first time Malca was allowing them to go off base on a mission and she had to stay behind? The whole thing bugged her.

“Don't worry little sister; I'll be back before you know it. Hopefully you can kick some of the guys into shape by the time I get back.” He teased.

She scoffed. “And who is going to kick your butt when you get too cocky?”

Laughing, Tyler pulled her close to his side as his arm hung loose around her shoulders. “Don't worry so much. I'll be back.”

* ~ * ~ *

As the memory faded Aria fell backwards from her sitting position against a nearby tree.  It all was back. Her memories and everything she thought she'd never possess again. She finally remembered who she was. Lieutenant Arianna Koski of Malca's enhanced army. Nausea filled her mouth at the memories of what she'd done working for Malca.

Not two days after Tyler had left on the Thailand mission, Arianna remembered being summoned to Malca's office for a private meeting. The conversation from five years ago rang in her mind with perfect clarity.

“Tyler is dead.” Malca's voice admitted, clasping her wiry hands together over her desk.

Standing before the cold doctor in her normal uniform of a gray t-shirt and light camouflage pants, Arianna stood rigid. The news was like a punch in the gut. Tyler was dead? Images of his teasing smile and protective nature flashed behind her eyes as she fought to keep a blank expression on her face. Emotion can give and take away everything you have as a soldier—as Tyler used to say. Any signs of weakness could harm a soldier's career. Inhaling a slow, deep breath she fought to keep her face unreadable.

“Permission to be dismissed?” She asked with an impassive voice.

“Wait a moment.” Standing, Malca walked around her desk with a serious look. “Before you leave I want to talk to you about furthering your career within my ranks.”

“Excuse me?” Her twin just died and this cold fish wanted to talk business? She was seconds away from storming out this office and off the base forever.

“Right now you are part of protection detail for I and the other scientist here on the base supplied by the Army. However I have another position that needs filling and I want you to fill it.”

“Permission to speak freely?” Arianna practically bit out.

Smiling, Malca nodded. “Please do.”

“Why should I do anything for you? You sent my brother—my twin out on a mission without proper reinforcements and now he's dead. Why should I help you in any way after that?”

Malca chuckled as she leaned back against her desk. “Good point. However I am not the one that killed Tyler and his team. If you help me, I will give you the tools to hunt down the ones responsible for his death.”

“And if I don't?”

“Well,” Malca straightened looking hesitant. “If you don't, then I have no need of a soldier that refuses to obey orders. You'll be stripped of your rant and shipped back to wherever you came from.”

She would like to say that at the time she'd felt like she had no other option, but the truth was she wanted the tools that Malca offered her. She had made a deal with the devil and doing so she knew her brother wouldn't even recognize her if he could see her now. She remembered the testing that she willing submitted to and how she'd help Malca's enhanced soldiers snatch innocent people off the streets for test subjects.

It didn't matter to her who the people were that she handed over to Malca. All she'd cared about was that she was one step closer to becoming a stronger soldier to avenge her brother's death. It wasn't until years later that the injections began changing her. At first she became stronger, faster, and better than any other members of her old team. Then as time went by her body started to turn against her. With seizures and with constant bleeding from her nose and ears she'd found that who and what she was had begun fading away until there was nothing.

Once Malca had realized what had happened she gave the order for her to be imprisoned with the other test subject. Like a child with no understanding of why Malca did the things she did to her, Aria fought her confinement. The new serum had changed everything. Once she’d started receiving it, she began to change. It wasn't until years later that the serum began bonding with her body and mind; it was then that she was able to escape Malca.

Everything had come full circle. Slowly standing, she couldn't help but feel like she was drowning in self-loathing. Was she no better than Malca? How many innocents had died in Malca's countless prisons with no hope because of her?

She was jerked from her morbid thoughts as twin lights appeared from behind her. Crouching down, she remained hidden amongst the dark cover of trees as a large tarp covered truck passed by her. The truck disappeared around the dark winding path through the trees. She remembered riding in similar trucks when she and others went out recruiting. There could be innocent people drugged and tied up in the back of that truck. Which meant she still had a chance to make things right.

Keeping off the road, she ran amongst the cover of the trees while following the heavy rumbling sound of the truck. For two more miles she ran until she came upon Malca's processing facility.  A small concrete building stood amongst the towering dark trees. There were four soldiers outside the entrance. Two of them stood with their backs to the building while the other two seemed to help unload unconscious people onto hospital beds as people in white lab coats wheeled them through the entrance with robotic movements. Edging around a small section of trees, she rushed from her hiding place and began creeping around the truck as the last two soldiers and scientists disappeared through the open door.

“Freeze!” Someone shouted from behind her along with the sound of a handgun cocking. Raising her hands in the air she froze in place. Three years of not living as a soldier was making her sloppy. “Turn around!” The voice ordered again. Turning with her hands still in the air she looked at the scowling face of the burly soldier.

“Listen,” She began, “You don't have to do this—”

“Shut up.” He cut her off. “You think I don't know who you are? You have two choices come along willingly or I put a cap in both of your knees and we drag you to Malca, it's your choice.”

Just as the sharp tentacles of icy fear began to grip her causing her stomach clench, her eyes caught a dark shadow moving beyond his shoulder. A dark silhouette of a predator raced toward them with fluid animal grace. Had Mark or Robert followed her? The thought had her lips curving in a slight smile. Jerking her eyes back to the gun wielding soldier in front of her, she shrugged her shoulders uncaring.

With her unthreatened expression, the soldier clenched his jaw in anger. His hand tightened impossibly tighter around his gun. “Have it your way.” He bit out as he took aim at her knees. Before his finger could even squeeze the trigger a haunting snarl erupted from the dark interior of the trees.

A dark creature flew from the shadows with jaws wide as it came crashing down onto the armed soldier. As the two crashed to the ground the soldier fired his gun in a vain effort to kill the beast that now had its jaws clenched around his throat. Frozen in place she watched as the animal savagely twist it's clenching jaw it snapped the soldier's neck like a twig.

“What's going on out there?”

At the sound of the gunshot one of the previous scientist's came running out of the open doorway. His spectacle covered eyes widened with fear as they landed on Aria and the snarling beast behind her. He turned back around and fled the way he came. In a smooth motion, Aria jerked her concealed gun from against her back. Taking aim she fired one shot to his retreating back. Slowly his running steps faltered as his knees buckled sending him face first onto the ground.

As the scientist remained unmoving, Aria felt her stomach clench as a chill washed over her heart. She'd killed before but never had she killed in cold blood. Shaking it off, she clenched her hand around the handle of the smoking gun. Turning back to the fallen soldier, she saw the dark creature limped away from the bloody corpse. Green eyes glowed back at her as the animal stepped from the protective shadows. Standing as tall as Mark's cougar form was a wolf with fur so black it nearly had a blue tint to it. Thin streams of mist began floated off the wolf's form causing Aria to take a step back while she held firmly onto her weapon. Slowly the wolf's form melted away and grew until a man stood in its place.

Breathing heavily, the man raised his glowing green eyes to hers. The moonlight cutting through the thin branches above shown over his slicked back hair making the sweaty black strains shine in the darkness. He had an oval shaped face with a strong, square jaw. His form was pleasing to look upon, which he noticed immediately.

“Most of the time, a girl knows my name before she has the pleasure of my body.” He commented with a flirtatious grin. Jerking her eyes away from his strong pectorals that rose and fell with every panting breath he took, Aria locked her eyes on him.