Subject Seven

Chapter Thirty-seven
Kyrie Merriwether

When they were outside and standing together, it all felt surreal. She was cold enough to wish she had a jacket. Only a few minutes ago she’d been watching fighters kicking the crap out of each other in an abandoned office, and all around her the world was still going on like nothing had happened.

Kyrie looked at the lot she was stuck with and tried to make the best of it. That was what her folks had always taught her. Find the positive. Here she was standing with people who were, for better or worse, like her. They were adopted, but it was more than that. They were, well, they were freaks, just like she was.

She wasn’t used to this. Not long ago the biggest challenge she was facing outside of Mr. Summer’s calculus class was whether she was going to the movies with Luke Harper or Dan Fielding. Now? She wasn’t likely to go on a date with anyone again unless they managed to find Evelyn Hope and get some answers.

Tina, the only other girl in the group, was looking at her with a hard expression. That seemed to be the only sort of expression the girl could make. Tina gave away nothing. She was the sort of girl that always left Kyrie feeling uncomfortable. And yet here they both were, stuck together unless they could find out how to fix whatever the hell had broken inside of them. Others. That’s what Joe called them. Our Others. All the bad stuff we don’t normally like to let out. All the things we’re supposed to keep inside and never, ever show to other people.

The other personalities that were hiding away, sleeping inside of them. The scary, strong creatures who were capable of very bad things. She thought about the blood she’d already washed off her hands, blood from at least one trucker, maybe more.

“Screw this,” Kyrie said. “We need to find that bitch.”

Joe looked her way and lifted one eyebrow, an amused grin spreading on his handsome features.

Gene looked at her and opened his mouth, then closed it again without saying anything. He was good at that. She could see he wanted to say more, but he was waiting to see if someone else would say it for him. It was safer that way, maybe. She wasn’t quite sure what she thought of him yet.

The Other who was Cody opened his mouth to speak, but she pointed a finger at him. “And what am I supposed to call you, anyway?”

“What?”

“You aren’t Cody. So what’s your name? What do you want us to call you?”

He contemplated that for a moment, his face unreadable, his eyes locked on hers. “Call me Hank. I like the name Hank.”

“Hank it is.” She exhaled a deep breath. “We need to get to Chicago; how are we getting there?”

Tina stared Hank up and down for a minute. “Joe has a fake ID. We rent a car.”

“How do you know I have an ID?”

She rolled her eyes and planted her hands on her narrow hips. One eyebrow lifted and the expression on her face dared him to disagree with her. “Rented a hotel room. A nice one. That means you have an ID and probably a credit card. So I guess you better rent a car.” She crossed her arms and stared daggers at him. Kyrie watched. She could see that he wanted to argue, wanted to step up and put Tina in her place, not because she was wrong, but because he was the sort who needed to be in charge. Tina was testing him.

He stared long and hard at Tina, who in turn kept her eyes locked on his, not giving an inch. Kyrie envied the other girl for that. She was tough as nails.

“Fine.” Joe’s smile was tighter now, not as friendly. “I’ll rent a car.”

“Good. We’ll go back to the hotel and pack anything worth taking.” Tina looked him over again and then turned her back on him, dismissing him. Kyrie watched Joe’s face grow nearly murderous for a moment. “We’ll meet you back at the room.” With that she started walking, her lean hips moving like she was on a mission.

Kyrie looked after her for a moment, then looked at the boys. She shrugged and started walking.

A moment later, Gene was running after them, trying to catch up.

Joe and Hank stayed behind.

Kyrie looked at the other girl as Tina let out a piercing whistle and held out her hand. A moment later a cab pulled up.

She climbed in without blinking and told the man to take them to the Stevenson.

They were on their way a moment later, and both Gene and Kyrie stared at Tina with a new appreciation.

Finally Tina turned and looked at them after rolling her eyes. “What? Spit it out.”

“You just totally blew him off.” Gene’s voice was almost awestruck.

“I’m tired of him always telling everyone what to do. He wants us running all over the place, he’s gonna have to make life a little easier for us.” She had a scowl on her face that made her seem not only more aggressive, but also older. “I ain’t staying in some damn dumpy hotel all the way to Chicago. I already did that all the way up here. And I’m not hopping another train if I don’t have to.” Her accent seemed thicker the more she talked, and once she started actually saying things, she talked as fast as a machine gun. Kyrie was nearly winded just listening to her.