Page 46 of M.A.Y.A
She was tempted to turn and run, but the steady feel of Isaiah’s heart, the easy beat, was soothing to her nerves. There was no way she was going anywhere without him.
“I thought my soldiers would have to bring you back, but it looks like you were smart enough to come on your own,” he said.
She was going to enjoy killing him. Even though the idea of murdering someone still made her ill, she knew that he had to go, otherwise he’d haunt her and Isaiah for the rest of their lives. And she deserved a happily ever after. This man did not.
“You took something that belongs to me,” she said as her hands fisted at her sides. “And I’m never letting you take from me again.”
His soldiers moved into a semi-circle position. It was an intimidation tactic.
“Are you really that invested in another being?”
“Of course. I mean, you’re invested in me.”
This time he let out a belly laugh. It made her skin crawl. “Clever girl. But in this case, I’m not obsessed with you. You’re just a means to an end. If you’re looking for the human claiming to be a leader in Dimension 6, how much is he worth to you, Unit 13?”
“More than your life.”
“But is his life worth yours?” He looped his hands behind his back. “I’ve made twenty-two automatons in this lab. Twelve have died over the course of the expeditions that we’ve completed. Three have died in combat, including the one you destroyed. The rest have been dispersed across the world to aid the Coalition for Political Peace. Despite your defect, you’re still an investment. Do you honestly think that we could let an investment in technology go to waste? Even if I cut you up for used parts, you’re still of value to us.”
“My value is not for you to decide anymore, Darwin.” Just as the words were out of her mouth, the entire building rocked with an explosion. Everyone stumbled except for Maya and Sonya, who had braced for it.
“Phase one complete,” Cindy said, her words coming through crystal clear in their earpieces.
“Did you really think I’d willingly come back to you with the intention ofstaying?” Maya shouted over the crumbling rubble overhead. Her captor’s eyes went wide as Sonya slapped her favorite knife in Maya’s hand and began to shift.
Sonya’s bones bent, her muscle grew, and her clothes tore as she morphed into a white wolf. Maya took advantage of the soldiers’ distraction and sliced the necks of the guards standing closest to her. Then she rushed forward, leaving the rest to Sonya.
There was a vicious snarl, some snapping, and the sound of screams. Maya didn’t look. Her sole focus was the heinous war criminal, her imprisoner that stood in front of her.
She watched the panic flash in Darwin’s eyes as she used her robotic arm to thrust a fist in his gut. She felt his breath leave his body as he launched backwards and slammed into the steel doors.
“Guards!” he called out, his breath barely audible. He stumbled to regain his footing, but he wasn’t quick enough. Maya lifted the man by his collar and held him off the ground. “You’ll never be able to create another automaton again,” she said.
His mouth gaped like a fish, and he gripped her arm plate, the same one that he’d installed, programmed, and measured for data. His eyes were round and filled with fear as she pushed up back against the door and pressed her forearm against his throat.
“Wait!” he choked as his feet dangled. She was barely able to understand him as he spoke. “I’ll share where your parents are located. I’ll tell you how to disarm your robotic parts and protect your heart and your head from injury. Do you really have the strength to let all that knowledge go?” His pathetic voice choked and cracked.
“My parents are safe,” she said. She’d said goodbye to them within the first year of her captivity. “And I’ll take my chances.”
“Unit 13!”
“It’s Maya,” she snapped, and held him higher, reveling in the way he choked. “And I may not live long without your help in understanding the metal in my heart, but at least I’ll get the chance tolive.”
With that, she broke his neck in one quick move that had him falling to the concrete floor. He slumped in a heap of oddly bent limbs. He was a shadow of his former self with vacant eyes frozen in fear.
She immediately felt a rush of adrenaline course through her bloodstream. She was free of this place and of all of the horrible memories that had trapped her. Now all she had to do was make sure no one else could become the next Darwin.
Maya turned to Sonya and found her tossing the last soldier aside like a rag doll. Before she could ask if the wolf was okay, a howl ripped through the bunker. The sound was so melodic and powerful that a sob tore from Maya’s throat.
It was the battle cry of an Alpha.
I’m coming, baby. I’m coming to save you.
Sonya’s wolf lifted her head and with eyes closed, howled in response until there was an echo of wolves calling to each other.
“Let’s go,” she shouted.
Maya ran through the bunker towards her former prison, toward her mate. She was stopped twice by guards that charged in her direction, and she’d used her knife and fists, evading attack both times with Sonya supporting as her second.
