Page 25 of Kai's Hunger

Wyatt took a tissue from the box on his desk and pressed it to one of the wounds on our sister’s neck, before crouching in front of her. “How did you escape?”

She clasped her hands together in her lap and answered, “Dad helped me. I couldn’t get him to come with me, though. I tried, I swear I did.”

Miggs spoke up for the first time from his position near the door. “Why would he stay? That makes no sense.”

“Dad thought that as long as Patterson had someone to experiment on, he’d leave me alone. Wouldn’t send his goons looking for me. I’d be free.”

I cursed and said, “Dad had to know you’d come back here. That we’d go looking for him.”

Fostine shrugged. “Yes, but it doesn’t matter. Patterson moved us around. He has loads of money and he never kept us in one place for long.” Her gaze went to Wyatt again. “I-I think there might have been others.”

My shock mirrored my brothers’ expressions. “Others of our kind?”

Fostine trembled, as if all the bravado had vanished at once. “I don’t know, but I heard talking sometimes. And screams. I don’t think it was just Dad and me.”

I cursed. “I thought we’d seen the last of Gregory Patterson when he was fired from Cedar Haven.” I spared my sister an apologetic look. “I guess not.”

Wyatt snorted. “Cedar Haven was only interested in sweeping it all under the rug. Patterson was an embarrassment. I’m betting they paid that bastard off to stay silent about what kind of shit they were doing behind those walls.”

“I heard some folks in town say they do biological experiments there,” Creeg added. “Real horror movie stuff.”

“I’ve heard that, too,” Cage replied.

“We’re getting off topic,” Wyatt said gently. His gaze went back to Fostine. “Can you show us on a map where you were being held?”

She nodded. “I can do one better. I can take you there.”

“No,” Wyatt stated firmly, his tone offering no room for argument. “You aren’t going anywhere near the place ever again.”

“How in the hell did you survive?” Miggs asked, looking her over. “You look as healthy as the last time I saw you.”

She snorted. “Don’t let the clothes fool you.” She stood and lifted her shirt, showing us her back. It was like someone had carved a twisted and elaborate road map into her flesh. The sight had us all going silent. Fostine shoved her shirt back down, then fell into the chair. “Anyway, Patterson let Dad and me stay in the same cell.” She closed her eyes tight. “It helped to lean on each other. During the worst of it, Dad would tell me stories about the old days to distract me. I pretended that it helped, but Patterson is clever. He’s figured out a way to inflict the kind of pain and damage to our bodies that won’t heal quickly. The last time I was on his table, he cut me up so badly that I was unconscious for days.”

“Fucking hell,” Trakker muttered.

“I-I think he might have discovered something about our genetic makeup,” Fostine added. “And Dad was getting worried. I could feel it.”

“Like he knew time was running out,” I surmised.

“Yeah. He wanted me out of there before that happened.”

I quirked a brow. “And how did he accomplish that?”

“He made friends with one of Patterson’s guards. Ricky. He helped us.”

“Will this Ricky help us get Dad out?”

She bit her lip and stared at her lap. “Ricky is dead. Patterson shot him in the back.” She closed her eyes tight. “I saw Patterson smile as he hit the ground.”

“And he didn’t send anyone searching for you? To bring you back?”

“No.”

“That’s suspicious as fuck,” I muttered. “Could he have followed you here?”

“No. I was careful.” Fostine stared up at Wyatt. “I swear, I wasn’t followed.”

“Easy, you’re safe now.” Wyatt looked over at me. “I want you and Trakker out scouting just in case. You see anything at all, report back to me.”

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