Page 130 of Desecrated Saints
This will prove, once and for all, that Brooklyn can be forgiven. I’ll slay every single demon left tormenting her until the work is done.
CHAPTER 27
BROOKLYN
HEAT WAVES - OUR LAST NIGHT
Agent Barlow sits back in her seat, appearing mildly stunned. On her other side, Agent Jonas is staring at his notebook with a heavy frown. Neither of them seems to know what to say to me now that the story is complete. Even told in stages, it’s a grim and horrid journey to the depths of human suffering.
“I killed Jefferson,” I repeat, looking between them both. “I’m not going to deny it. He spent months torturing me and Seven. I also killed Augustus. He took everything from us.”
“Bancroft is aware of this?” Agent Jonas confirms.
“Yes. He wants revenge for his son’s death, and the damage we caused to Incendia’s reputation. Blackwood Institute was their crown jewel. The entire operation grew from there.”
“With Lazlo at the helm.”
Taking a sip of water, I nod. “He was the architect of the entire Z Wing program. Me, Seven, Two and Lucia are the only ones left. One, Three, Four and Six are all dead. I learned that early on.”
“Do you have names?”
“Not a single one. Patient Two has completely forgotten her old identity.”
Clicking her pen, Agent Barlow looks thoughtful. “With a little digging, we can track down that information. I’m sure her family will appreciate knowing she’s alive.”
“I doubt she has any. Incendia doesn’t like loose ends.”
The setting sun slants through the tinted window. I’ve been here all day, forced to endure the rest of my bloody tale. Somehow, I feel oddly lighter. I’ve spoken it all aloud, every last detail, even the ones I haven’t admitted to the guys. It must be real if it’s written down in black and white.
“You mentioned your mother.” Agent Jonas’s jaw clenches. “Professor Lazlo has admitted to establishing the first round of Z Wing recruits, in which your mother was a victim. Patients Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Kappa are all confirmed to have entered Blackwood in the late nineties.”
“Patient Beta attacked the church. He’s dead.”
They note that down, processing the new information.
“We have a death certificate confirming Melanie West’s death twelve years ago,” Agent Barlow highlights. “A car crash of which you were the sole survivor.”
“She’s alive as Patient Delta.” I wring my hands in my lap. “You don’t have to believe me. I’ve seen it for myself, as have Hunter and Enzo. She stabbed Phoenix and killed Alyssa Farlow, another Sabre agent.”
I sit still as stone while Hunter quickly excuses himself from the back of the room. Hearing her name is too much for his icy composure to take. Watching him go, a frown creases Enzo’s brows. I offer him a nod, indicating he can leave too, but he stays put.
“Brooke… you understand that if we find your mother, she won’t be shown any mercy.” Agent Jonas seems to soften for the first time. “She’s too valuable to let slip through the net.”
“What are you telling me?”
Glancing around the interview room, Agent Barlow clicks off the camera with an audible sigh. Everyone stops taking notes.
“In this line of work, sometimes the kindest act is to end things early. She’ll be picked apart by the SCU, her mind documented and studied by government shrinks. We’ve never seen anything like her before.”
“She’s sick,” I say in a raw whisper.
“I know that, but others won’t care. Once they’ve learned everything they can, she’ll be disposed of, quickly and quietly. There’s no prison or hospital that could hope to contain her.”
“I… I understand.”
Enzo’s meaty palm lands on my shoulder. “Brooklyn has given you everything. What now? Each day that passes only increases their risk here. Incendia will lose patience and come for them.”
“We’re concluding our interviews with Patient Seven and Elijah Woods in the morning.” Agent Barlow closes her notebook. “We are due to report back to our superiors on Friday. A decision will be made then.”
