FORBIDDEN. QUERY FORBIDDEN. SEARCH REQUEST FORWARDED TO SECURITY CENTRAL. PLEASE REMAIN WHERE YOU ARE. DEPARTURE FROM SECURITY STATION FORBIDDEN. ASSISTANCE IS ON ITS WAY.
Remain where I…? Blast that!
With the alarms blaring about her, the security door began to swing quickly shut. Sigrid slipped through before it could close. The corridor beyond ended at a stairwell leading up. She ran up the steps, leaping four and five at a time. She reached the outer door, crashing through it with enough force to tear the steel door from its hinges.
Staggering through the opening, she found herself in a small clearing surrounded by tall stands of snow-covered pines. A single light sat atop a tall metal post, casting a pale yellow glow around her. Snow fell heavily around her in thick white flakes that fell on her hair and arms and shoulders.
The building behind her was much smaller than she expected, not much more than a plasteel shack, and already half buried in the snow. It looked as though someone had simply dropped it here, deep within these woods, and forgotten about it. Of course, that was by design. The shack was only camouflage for the bulk of the much larger research facility underground.
Someone had gone to tremendous trouble to hide it—and her. More troubling was the realization that they had gone to greater lengths to lie to her.
That contract was a fake. It had to be. Her mistress would never betray her like this. Hitomi would never leave her to die here. She wouldn't.
Standing there with her bare feet planted deep in the snow, it wasn't the winter chill that gripped her spine. Her life contract wasn't the only thing she'd spied on that security monitor. Before the alarms, before the monitor switched itself off, Sigrid had seen one very important thing. Today's date: June 18, 2354.
2354…
Shaking uncontrollably, trembling, Sigrid fell to her knees. Balling her hands into fists, she screamed. She didn't care who heard. Let them hear. Let them all hear! And let them come. She'd kill them all.
2354! Six full years after Bellatrix. Six years…
And she didn't remember any of it. They hadn't just stolen her memories—they'd stolen her life!
With her face held in her hands, Sigrid wept, but only for a moment. Her tears were an indulgence she could ill afford. She was in danger here. She sensed them coming for her even now.
Doubled over on her hands and knees, she fought to control her breathing. She had to regain her focus. If she didn't, she would never escape this place alive. It was only her training that saved her then, reminding her of her duty to herself and spurring her into action. There would be time for tears later. Now, she had to act. She had to survive.
Doing the only thing she could, Sigrid rose from her knees and ran.
CHAPTER THREE
Escape
A road led out and away from the shack, winding its way through the trees. It looked freshly plowed and well traveled. Too well traveled. Sigrid ignored it, throwing herself headlong into the snow-covered woods. Brambles and branches lashed at her bare legs and arms. For each branch she pushed out of her way, three more snapped back at her face and chest.
Sigrid had been trained since childhood for moments exactly like this. She was made to survive. But all her training, all the shouted words of her instructors, abandoned her. She couldn't focus on anything, she couldn't concentrate, and it was going to get her killed.
Six years.
It was all she could think about. She couldn't get it out of her head. Where were her friends? And where was Suko?
Too many questions swirled in her mind. Her breathing came in short gulps and her world threatened to tilt hard over. She didn't even see the gully until she tripped and fell into it, rolling down the embankment. But it was enough to shake away the fog. That, and the sound of alarms blaring behind her.
Scores of men were emerging from the facility's entrance behind her. Soldiers. A hunting party. Then she heard
Remain where I…? Blast that!
With the alarms blaring about her, the security door began to swing quickly shut. Sigrid slipped through before it could close. The corridor beyond ended at a stairwell leading up. She ran up the steps, leaping four and five at a time. She reached the outer door, crashing through it with enough force to tear the steel door from its hinges.
Staggering through the opening, she found herself in a small clearing surrounded by tall stands of snow-covered pines. A single light sat atop a tall metal post, casting a pale yellow glow around her. Snow fell heavily around her in thick white flakes that fell on her hair and arms and shoulders.
The building behind her was much smaller than she expected, not much more than a plasteel shack, and already half buried in the snow. It looked as though someone had simply dropped it here, deep within these woods, and forgotten about it. Of course, that was by design. The shack was only camouflage for the bulk of the much larger research facility underground.
Someone had gone to tremendous trouble to hide it—and her. More troubling was the realization that they had gone to greater lengths to lie to her.
That contract was a fake. It had to be. Her mistress would never betray her like this. Hitomi would never leave her to die here. She wouldn't.
Standing there with her bare feet planted deep in the snow, it wasn't the winter chill that gripped her spine. Her life contract wasn't the only thing she'd spied on that security monitor. Before the alarms, before the monitor switched itself off, Sigrid had seen one very important thing. Today's date: June 18, 2354.
2354…
Shaking uncontrollably, trembling, Sigrid fell to her knees. Balling her hands into fists, she screamed. She didn't care who heard. Let them hear. Let them all hear! And let them come. She'd kill them all.
2354! Six full years after Bellatrix. Six years…
And she didn't remember any of it. They hadn't just stolen her memories—they'd stolen her life!
With her face held in her hands, Sigrid wept, but only for a moment. Her tears were an indulgence she could ill afford. She was in danger here. She sensed them coming for her even now.
Doubled over on her hands and knees, she fought to control her breathing. She had to regain her focus. If she didn't, she would never escape this place alive. It was only her training that saved her then, reminding her of her duty to herself and spurring her into action. There would be time for tears later. Now, she had to act. She had to survive.
Doing the only thing she could, Sigrid rose from her knees and ran.
CHAPTER THREE
Escape
A road led out and away from the shack, winding its way through the trees. It looked freshly plowed and well traveled. Too well traveled. Sigrid ignored it, throwing herself headlong into the snow-covered woods. Brambles and branches lashed at her bare legs and arms. For each branch she pushed out of her way, three more snapped back at her face and chest.
Sigrid had been trained since childhood for moments exactly like this. She was made to survive. But all her training, all the shouted words of her instructors, abandoned her. She couldn't focus on anything, she couldn't concentrate, and it was going to get her killed.
Six years.
It was all she could think about. She couldn't get it out of her head. Where were her friends? And where was Suko?
Too many questions swirled in her mind. Her breathing came in short gulps and her world threatened to tilt hard over. She didn't even see the gully until she tripped and fell into it, rolling down the embankment. But it was enough to shake away the fog. That, and the sound of alarms blaring behind her.
Scores of men were emerging from the facility's entrance behind her. Soldiers. A hunting party. Then she heard
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