Page 102 of His Curse

Shortly after Colton came back from his rendezvous in the woods—and we worked out our frustrations—I told him about my call from Frankie. Technically, it was Ronny’s call, but the female wanted to talk to me, and as soon as I got on the phone and could sense her excitement over the line, I understood why.

Her undercover mission was a success.

Frankie got into Kentworth labs fairly easily, and the doc himself conducted the tour because he wasthrilledto be getting some attention after so long without. He showed her the entire facility, every single building on the grounds, and his explanations for the crematorium and armory were so full of bullshit it’s amazing the man bought them himself.

It probably helped that he was still a little beat up after my escape and had several excuses to choose from.

Kentworth was able to explain away the guns and heavy security, his injuries and the new construction on certain buildings with arobberygone wrong,telling Frankie that one of hiswillingtest subjects—that he procured via mental hospital—had a terrible reaction to one of the treatments he was a part of and attacked the doc during a session before trying to raid the medication closets.

Which is ridiculous at best.

The testing he referenced also accounted for the crematorium because so many ofparticipantsdidn’t have anyone to claim them after theysuccumbed to their diseases.

And while his brand of bullshit got under my skin, Frankie’s ability to see and photograph the entire facility was too good to stay sour.

Especially when she said Zan made a few discoveries of his own then all but demanded I bring Colton and Ronny to Wyoming in order for us to get the full picture because I needed to see everything they have with my own two eyes.

Which is what I’m doing now.

Zan just finished laying out all of the photographs Frankie took, putting them in sequential order to mimic the layout of Kentworth Labs to match the map Havok created. And underneath the female’s photos are another set that I’m still kind of shocked they were able to obtain.

They’re of the underground tunnel.

When Henry and I were brought to the facility, the doc’s henchmen used an underground tunnel to get us inside, one that directly connected to the basement he kept us all in. It was his only means of moving us discreetly, his hidden mode of transporting us if he needed to, and it was also easy access for the guards if Kentworth had any outside visitors. As the lab grew and more buildings started popping up, he used it less and less, and eventually the doc told me he wouldn’t be using the tunnel anymore and intended to have it filled in order to prevent anyone from leaving against his will.

And that’s what I believed for so many years.

I thought Kentworth had the tunnel filled and sealed, and if I’d have known he didn’t. I would have incorporated it into my many escape plans a long time ago. Probably would have gotten out a lot sooner, too, but what’s done is done and the nosy demon who clearly can’t follow orders from anyone managed to find us a direct path inside the facility without getting caught.

“You’re sure this leads directly away from the lab?” I ask as my eyes bounce between Frankie’s photos and Zan’s. “Positive it extends past the wall and is accessible close to the road?”

“I am, dear Luna,” he says from behind me. “I walked the tunnel myself.”

I nod as I scoot along the hotel room floor, following the pictures from outside the gates toward the ones of the many empty cells. Something that isn’t sitting right with me at all.

“It shouldn’t.” Frankie crouches beside me and pushes my hair behind my ear as I turn to her. “It didn’t sit right with me either. The entire vibe in that place is terrible, but the empty cells made me almost sick to my stomach.”

Ignoring how weird it is that she basically read my thoughts, I look down and practically burn holes in those images. “Did he say why so many were empty?”

“Not in so many words. When we were in building A and he was showing me South Hall where you said his elite were kept, Kentworth said they recently had some sort ofviral outbreakthatunfortunatelyeliminated most of his patients. Something about compromised immune systems and illnesses being alethal combination.”

“The purge.” I roll my eyes and shift my stare to South Hall. “Did he have an explanation for these?”

Frankie sighs as she sits on her butt and crosses her legs pretzel style. “Sort of. He said several of his patients were visiting family or had to be transferred to a local hospital because the same sickness spread to that wing as well. Most likely during some sort of group activity.”

Andthatis a massive crock of shit.

It just means Kentworth started to purge outside of the elite, most likely in anticipation of a visit from authorities or something after my escape. The doc probably started killing off those innocent people the second he was conscious and the guilt over knowing that I’m the cause of that, that I’m without a doubt the reason for more lives coming to an abrupt end infuriates me just as much as it crushes me.

“Lark,” Colton says softly behind me. “Honey, it isn’t—”

“Did you get eyes on any of hispatients?” My mate does not need to placate me right now. I know how that mad fucking scientist works, I know better than anyone else and that means my successful attempt at getting out sealed the fate for I’d guess at least half of the people remaining that I’m trying so desperately to save.

Trying and failing.

“Lark.” Colt’s voice is firm but warm, his tone full of warning as well as love. “You did what you had to do in order to save yourself and anyone else you can by going back.” I can hear him push off the small table and start toward me. “You had to get out. If you didn’t get free, if you hadn’t escaped, dozens more lives would be at risk.”

“Including babies,” Ronny adds.

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