Page 43 of Captured Immune

The sun beats down on me as I comb the same wooded area in Julian, California, as I have multiple times before.Inside and underground.I understand the underground part—hence all the holes surrounding me that I dug and refilled. It’s theinsidepart I’m having trouble with.Inside what?All that’s around me are trees, trees, and more trees.

As I continue searching, I play the recording again. The one line that keeps sticking out to me is“Aunt Debbie is the only person you should trust, and the only person you should take with you.”

Why is my mother’s sister on the trustworthy list but my father’s brother is not? Did my parents know something about Victor that I don’t? If they didn’t trust him, does that mean I shouldn’t either? Not that I do anyway.

Even while I was actively working my mission, any time I discovered anything about Arella that seemed out of place, I never told Victor about it: her parents dying on the same night as mine. How that news article stated that three-year-old Arella—I meanHannah Calder—died too. How whenever I made her orgasm, I was able to break through her immunity walls. Something in the back of my mind kept me from telling Victor any of that, and I’m glad for it.

For weeks, Victor was adamant that I bring Arella to him for a bunch of bullshit tests. I had a feeling that if I didn’t do it, he would send someone who would. I never thought he’d go as far as kidnapping her.Is he fucking serious?That’s not how ZIRDA ever handles things with Ordinaries. Usually, ZIRDA is more discreet and causes no harm. I thought he’d simply send another guy to get Arella to fall for and start the process over. Now that I know he’s willing to kidnap innocent Ordinaries, I’m starting to question all of his decisions.

Victor has been the CEO of one of the largest ZIRDA bases in the United States for the last nineteen years. During that time, I’ve witnessed him shut down Royals operations before they even began. I’ve seen him personally train the new agents and help them draw up missions to keep Ordinaries safe. Throughout the years, he’s accomplished a lot of good. That’s why I usually give him passes for treating me like dirt.

Without ZIRDA working to develop and distribute the necessary life-saving vaccines to save Ordinaries from all those bioweapons the Royals have unleashed, there might not be many Ordinaries left. Without ZIRDA, the Royals would have a higher kill count. Without ZIRDA, the Royals probably would have won by now.

I fully support ZIRDA’s purpose. I even commend Victor for running ZIRDA California for all these years. It’s not a job for the weak. But being the CEO of a ZIRDA base doesn’t mean he can do no wrong. And with Arella, he’s wrong. Sedating her? Kidnapping her? Handcuffing her to a bed? Is this what he did with the last two Immunes instead of asking them to be part of a secret medical study the way ZIRDA usually does? Are his crazy methods the reason why the other two Immunes are dead?

On my way out of the Ridge earlier, it hit me why Victor didn’t give me a choice to come to the base: He needed me preoccupied while he sent some agents out to kidnap my girl. I’ll bet anything that Kim Nguyen isn’t even a real person. I’ll bet he simply stole that picture off the Internet and purposely prolonged that briefing meeting to keep me busy.

My parents would have never stood for this. Maybe this is why they stopped trusting Victor. Maybe the three of them disagreed on how ZIRDA should handle missions, and this is what drove them apart. Whatever happened, I need to stop dwelling on the past. Instead, I need to focus on getting Arella out of Shadow Ridge.

The base is completely guarded and crawling with other agents. If I had to guess, I’d say there are at least a hundred people there. Maybe two hundred. I won’t make it three feet into the hallway with Arella in tow without someone stopping me. Whether it’s Katie or that guard Victor has stationed outside, or the security guards,someonewill stop me.

I slump onto the dirty ground with a huff. This plan is impossible, especially because I’m doing it alone. I could recruit help, but who? The only other Zordis I’ve had contact with recently are Liz and Jess.

Liz doesn’t even know that I’m a ZIRDA agent. Even if she did, I refuse to bring her into this. I’m not willing to risk her life, and I think that’s what it’ll come down to in order to get Arella outta there—risking lives.

I’d be willing to risk Jess’s life, but there’s no way in hell she’d help me. Especially not after the way I kicked her out of my house. Besides, the thought of having to see her again is more unappealing than seeing a dog get run over.

So, it’s up to me and only me. Whatever I’m planning to do, I have to do it quick. I have no idea how many days the previous Immunes lasted in the Ridge before their innocent lives were stolen. Arella’s already been in there for half a day. The sooner I can get her out, the better.

I play the recording again.

“When you get to the rock, take a hundred steps away from Cheesy.”

Back on my feet, I return to the rock my parents used to bring me to all the time. We used to camp here and lie down on blankets, stargazing. I know now that it was their way of helping me remember this place.

Cheesy is the name I gave a tree off in the distance. It’s covered in holes. When I was a kid, I thought the holes were from birds and other animals. Now I’m pretty sure my parents put those holes there on purpose to give me a sense of direction. Telling a young child to take a hundred steps north or south isn’t as effective as “take a hundred steps away from Cheesy.”

For the gazillionth time, I start at the big rock, then turn my back to the holey tree and walk forward while I count my steps.One, two, three...

One hundred steps later, I’m back in the general area I’ve been scouring every time I try looking for this damn safe house. There’s nothing here. No house. No sign that there ever was one. No bunker entry. Not even a trapdoor.

I hike around for a while, trying to see if there’s anything I missed. Eventually, I give up. I’m pretty certain there’s no safe house here.

With a heavy heart, I climb back onto my Harley and begin the long ride back to Shadow Ridge. Ideally, I’d have a safe place to take Arella to once I get her outta there, but she can’t wait until after I find my parents’ invisible safe house. For now, I just need to rescue her. I’ll figure the rest out later.

Shit plan, I know, but what else can I do?

9

TREY

At the entranceto Shadow Ridge, I stick my finger into the fingerprint scanner hole.Beep! Beep! Beep!The large door slides open. Two security guards are waiting for me on the other side.

I expect them to ask me why I’m here without being summoned, but they don’t.Odd.Typically, field agents aren’t allowed to enter the Ridge unless they have an appointment. I’m not gonna question it though. If they’re slacking on their duties, I won’t complain.

Carlos, the guard I used to pull pranks on as a kid, greets me with a grunt. “You again?”

I’m not in the mood to give him shit, so I keep my mouth shut.

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