Page 73 of Forged in Deception

She could only pray that the authorities would be able to investigate the lab before Bajwa or anyone else started destroying evidence. Like the majority of Senera’s main compound outside of immediately accessible public areas, this building had no cameras.

She felt a shiver running along her back as she grabbed the labelled DX8 doses they would use tonight. She couldn’t seem to shake the creepy feeling that somehow, somewhere, she was being observed.

She was relieved when she stepped out of the building and locked the door behind her.

It was already getting dark, but the fresh air and open space felt positively inviting. She was sure everyone had to have returned by now, and soon, it would be time for the patients to take DX8. And those doses would be their last.

Whatever was going to come tomorrow, she had no choice but to face it.

Lord, please protect my patients for one more night. Please protect Axel. Please, just keep us safe until we can bring an end to this madness. Amen.

The prayer seemed to rise within her naturally, like talking to God was something she’d been doing all her life. But there was still one request she was too afraid to ask for, even in the silence of her heart.

She desperately wanted Axel to be a part of her life when this was over. She wanted him to kiss her every night, to hold her in his arms, and to be there to tell her that everything was going to be okay.

She was so tired of carrying her burdens alone.

CHAPTER

THIRTY-THREE

THE WOMAN

The woman was no longer anxious.

Her heart pounded now with pure excitement that overshadowed every other feeling.

The ritual had gone well. Better than she could ever have expected. Any last shred of doubt she had about the identity of their chosen one had been cast aside.

“You have done well,” Mother said, a sudden voice in her ear that echoed the thoughts in her mind. “I always knew you would.”

The woman sat up a little straighter, pride swelling within her chest. Her years of service to Mother and to their community had not always been easy, but now, she could hardly remember the difficult times.

Mother showed herself now, her green scales glistening, somehow, even in the dark.

“The Professor would be proud, too,” Mother added in a hissing whisper. “He always told me you were special. He would stand in awe at the woman you have become today.”

The woman’s heart felt like it would burst with joy.

“Thank you,” she said, unable to say anything else for fear she would begin to cry. There was no time for that. They were near the end now, but it wasn’t over yet. Until it was, she had to keep her guard up against the dark forces that threatened their mission.

“I imagine you need more of the drug,” Mother said, once again seeming to read the woman’s mind. “The DX8. I believe we have nearly used up the remainder of our stores, and I don’t think we have enough to finish our task.”

The woman nodded.

“I apologize. It’s been difficult to get more.”

“Because of the others?”

“Yes. Especially Karlin McKenna. She always seems to be watching everything.”

Mother let out a hiss again. This one was not a whisper. The woman could almost see the anger that escaped the beautiful serpent’s forked tongue.

“It will not matter soon. Do what you must,” she commanded.

“I will.”

They were silent for a few moments.

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