Grim Resentment Read online

  Table of Contents

  Grim Resentment (A Grim Trilogy 2.5)

  This is a work of fiction. All resemblance to people, places, or anything else is purely coincidental. Now pay attention. I have a story to tell.

  OCTOBER 7, 2015

  They stole my life.

  They tweaked my DNA, mixed it with others’, and created me like a fucking science experiment. I’m shocked I wasn’t born in a test tube.

  Maybe I was.

  How can I even believe what any single piece of shit that worked there said was true?

  When I was just eleven, my hellish life in Lab 14 became even more accursed when one of the children they created for war broke loose. He slaughtered countless people. Most of the scientists and workers died in the massacre.

  Good. They got what they deserved.

  But some people escaped.

  Some made it out, and are no doubt living like kings and queens.

  They left me to rot.

  My makers cut me loose the moment Jaxon went bat shit crazy. They unbolted my door, roused me from sleep, screaming their heads off, urging me to stop my friend.

  When I didn’t comply, they hit me.

  When I stumbled, they pulled me through the door.

  When I started to cry, they reached for the taser.

  That’s when I ran.

  I charged down the hall and up the stairs. Left at the top. No, right. A right, down another corridor and into the main common area where we were fed.

  There was blood everywhere. I slipped in it more than once. People were everywhere, scattering like roaches when the light flips on.

  I kept running.

  Past the doctor that had tested me for as long as I could remember. He gripped his throat, crimson liquid spilling from between his fingers.

  I kept running.

  Past June, the bitch who controlled Jaxon, who kept my friend hidden away ninety percent of the time. Testing him, hurting him, pushing him to reveal what his power was. Lying on the floor, June screamed. Her face was a mask of fear, long black hair pooled around her as she clutched her torn stomach, tears cascading, breath catching.

  I remember hoping she’d die a slow, painful death for what she’d done to Jax.

  I kept running.

  Through the testing areas.

  Along countless hallways.

  Up neverending flights of stairs.

  And then I was free.

  Or so I thought.

  Bursting out into the night, I was hit with a burst of wind so strong, it slammed me against the outer concrete wall of the lab.

  My breath left me, and I saw stars behind my eyelids.

  “Charlie!”

  I heard my name followed by a gasp, and then the force pressing against my body was gone. I collapsed to my hands and knees, splashing in thick mud.

  Footsteps slapped up to me.

  “Charlie, I’m so sorry, I thought you were Jaxon.” Larissa tried pulling me up, tried helping me. I stared at her, rain pummeling my face. “I figured he’d run out here once he—”

  I shook her off and stood. Lifting a hand to the back of my head, I gingerly probed the spot where my skull had collided with the cement.

  “Charlie, I’m sorry.” She looked miserable.

  “It’s fine.” I turned to run again, but she grasped my forearm. “Let go.”

  “No, please.” Her eyes were so wide, so full of fear. “Stay with me, Charlie. Help me stop him.”

  “Why?”

  Larissa’s eyes grew even larger. “He’s killing...killing everyone.”

  Scoffing, I stepped closer. I was taller than her by half a foot, and she flinched away. “Why?” I said again. “Those assholes in there deserve to die. For what they did to us. To you, to me. They had it coming.”

  She shook her head, disbelief on her face. She began to step away.

  An idea dawned on me.

  “We can help.”

  She paused.

  “We can help him. Help Jaxon end this, once and for all. Ensure more kids aren’t created and tortured. We can help.” I reached for her. “Just let me use your—”

  The force hit me again, and this time, my head swam as it collided with a tree trunk.

  “You monster.” Larissa was glaring at me, fists clenched.

  I stood on shaking legs. “Those people.” I pointed at the entrance to Lab 14, a single door set in a small building, made to look inconspicuous and non-threatening. “Those people hurt us. They don’t deserve to walk away from this.”

  Larissa shook her head. “And you’re no better than they are.”

  She shot me.

  Well, she tried.

  She still wasn’t too good with her aim.

  Lightning arced from the sky, a bolt no doubt intended for my chest.

  But she missed.

  Or was it on purpose?

  Maybe she didn’t want to kill me, maybe she did. Either way, the building behind me partially collapsed with the force of nature’s wrath, and crumbled above me.

  It happened so fast, I couldn’t even move in time.

  I saw them run. Duncan, and some of the other Synths. I called out to them, but I had come to too late. They were too far by the time I realized. They didn’t hear.

  But Shawn heard.

  He came later, him and Jax. And some older guy. I didn’t see him clearly enough in the rain. But I saw Jaxon.

  And I saw Shawn.

  That little fucker. He was always wary of me in the Lab. He knew I was friends with Jaxon, but only talked to me when he was forced to. Shawn stayed away from me, and I didn’t give a shit.

  Until my legs were pinned beneath a chunk of wall.

  Trapped beneath something metal, I couldn’t feel my right leg. I was screaming, screaming, screaming, but no one could hear me over the chaos of the storm.

  Face down in the mud, my clothes were drenched, my body shrieking in pain.

  A long time passed between when Duncan fled with the Synths and when Shawn and Jax ran out of the door. My mind began to swim from the agony in my legs.

  All that kept me focused was one name: Larissa.

  That bitch.

  I was going to die out here, and it was her fault.

  I had almost escaped, but she stopped me.

  She had run off, just like the others. The banging of the door opening stirred my bleary mind. I heard shoes slapping through the mud, through the rain. I tried opening my eyes but they were so heavy.

  So heavy.

  I lifted my head. That slightest movement caused my body to shift, and a piercing pain shot through me, waking me up with a gasp that I nearly choked on.

  They were running away.

  Someone was leading Jaxon and Shawn away.

  Gritting my teeth, I reached for them and cried out. I yelled their names. The older man and Jaxon did not pause, but Shawn stopped.

  He turned.

  Relief crashed over me.

  “Shawn! Please! Please help.”

  He frowned and glanced around, his eyes distant. He looked confused. His hands were out in front of him, as if he couldn’t see where he was going, even though the moon was full and bright.

  “Shawn! Help me. It’s Charlie. Help me, please.”

  His face hardened.

  My stomach sank.

  He turned his back on me.

  He turned his back on me.

  That fucker turned on me.

  At that moment Jaxon ran back to him, grabbing him by the arms and pulling him away.

  I shouted for help again, my voice hoarse and weak.

  The rain drowned me out.

  I was alone.

  NOVEMBER 11, 2015

  All it takes is the slightest contact.


  The slightest touch, and their power is mine in an instant.

  When I was a kid at the lab, I often sat next to Aaron and took just enough of his ability to read minds. Just enough for him to not notice, but enough to hear others around. The range on that guy is ridiculous. I don’t know how he didn’t go absolutely mad.

  Sometimes Mari would let me freeze time with her. I liked Mari. She was kind to me. We would make contact and she’d show me how she froze time. It wasn’t easy. Took more than just thinking about it. But once she had a hold, all she had to do was maintain it until her power weakened and time resumed. Once in a while she and I would freeze time and go on walks outside.

  That all changed once she started noticing Peter.

  One of Shawn’s clones.

  Of course.

  Perfect, handsome, goofy Shawn. What’s not to love about that guy? Why not make more of him?

  Once Mari started spending all her time with Peter, I was alone again. Stuck with just my makers and the occasional afternoon with Jaxon.

  They wanted me to bribe his power out. Convince him that I was to be trusted and that he could show me and I wouldn’t tell anyone else. But of course, they were watching.

  They were always watching.

  Is it so bad that I was just lonely?

  Jax didn’t seem to mind. He liked being alone. He wasn’t bothered by the lack of socialization.

  But that’s because he never had it.

  I did, and I was shunned. Made fun of. “No power Charlie.”

  How did they not understand mine was the most powerful? That I could mimic their ability in an instant and use it against them. The fact that they can’t see it coming would render them helpless, breakable. How did they not get that?

  They would.

  They will.

  They’re going to.

  DECEMBER 4, 2015

  When I confronted Larissa in Brazil, she recognized me from the lab.

  She wasn’t thrilled to see me.

  I tried to get close to her, to touch her, to take her power.

  But she wouldn’t let me near.

  She’s smart.

  So am I.

  Instead of trying to kill her, I said I saw her potential as an ally.

  Told her that if she came with me, I could use her power with her.

  Strike down our enemies with lightning.

  Shoot deadly shards of ice at them.

  Whip them into oblivion with an easily summoned tornado.

  The different ways to slaughter Evos thrill me. Having such power excites me.

  But Larissa turned me down.

  I tried explaining to her that if we wiped out the Evolved humans, the ones born with a power, then the government couldn’t get their hands on them to make more Synths.

  She turned me down again.

  I told her that we were abused, mistreated, treated in horrific ways, but she just shook her head, over and over.

  “No we weren’t,” she said. “Maybe your makers were shit, but mine cared for me.”

  She is blind to her past. Can’t see reason. She said if I wanted to wipe out the race of Evos, I’d have to find someone else to help.

  Bitch.

  How dare she?

  How could she?

  How could she be okay with more Synths being created?

  More kids robbed of a childhood as they endure experiment after experiment?

  Have their memories fucked with whenever they fail a test?

  If there aren’t any Evos left, they can’t make more Synths.

  They can’t ruin more lives like they ruined mine.

  Fuck Larissa.

  Let her rot in Brazil until I can get my hands on someone with a power so great, I’ll be able to get close to her, kill her without a problem.

  Rid the world of her.

  Just like the rest.

  DECEMBER 6, 2015

  I’d be shocked if they haven’t started making more Synths already. It’s been long enough since the Lab 14 slaughter.

  Years and years.

  Years I spent traveling on my own. Using the other half of my ability, the tingling in my palms that told me someone with power was near, to track down and eliminate Evos.

  Years I spent trying to figure out if I could strengthen my gift. Testing it. Using it on others, against others.

  Years I spent collecting Evos with powers so great, I didn’t want to kill them just yet. Ones I could use whenever I wanted, if I just kept them alive. Which I did, and still do, in my little non-descript home near the unincorporated town of Alton Bay, New Hampshire.

  No one bothers me out here in the middle of nowhere.

  No one sees me drag people from my car and into my basement, which I had expanded to accommodate my guests.

  I have four so far.

  One can change the emotions of anyone he touched. Another is able to breathe underwater. I don’t use him much, but felt eventually it might be important, so I keep him alive just in case.

  I have a woman who can hear great distances (possibly Aaron’s donor??) and, finally, a man who has the ability to cause people to constantly look away from him. He is my prized possession. I rob home after home with that man. And I don’t steal just money. I raid medical supply facilities often.

  Because I have to keep them sedated.

  I feed them, and water them, but they are not to be trusted. Even though they’re chained to the walls, I know they will fight back or run if given the slightest opening.

  So I keep them sedated.

  I only need to be in contact with a part of them.

  A part of them.

  I keep a sample of their blood in my pockets. Carefully labeled. Whenever I am in need of one of their powers, all I have to do is smear their blood on my skin and bam, their power is mine once again.

  It isn’t a perfect system, of course. After a little while, the blood no longer works. It goes stale. The cells die off and it’s useless. So I have to keep them alive for now.

  Soon, though, I will have enough funds and supplies. Then I will capture a scientist to work on altering my power.

  Make me stronger. Better.

  Someone smart.

  Someone who knows about Synths and Evos.

  Someone like Duncan.

  DECEMBER 15, 2015

  I spent days and days traveling the East coast in a lazy looping line, searching for more Evos to eliminate.

  They’re getting harder to find.

  Because I’m doing my job well, no doubt.

  DECEMBER 27, 2015

  Guess what I found at a park in North Carolina? I felt a familiar pull. My power lit up.

  Palms tingling, I followed my senses until I saw a chubby balding man with glasses and a brown overcoat.

  An Evo.

  Sitting alone on a bench, staring at a map with a slight smile.

  I sat next to him. He didn’t look up.

  I cleared my throat and shifted. He smiled at me, then resumed his intense studying of the United States.

  I craned my neck to one side, then the other, and rolled my shoulders.

  My arm bumped into his, and I stifled a shocked gasp.

  His map lit up like a Christmas tree.

  The man scooted away, breaking contact with me, and the lights went out.

  Intrigued, I leaned closer to him, bringing my elbow to his, and said, “Mind if I take a look? It’s my first time here, and they were out of maps in the store.”

  He turned toward me, but I’m staring at the twisting and turning lines of road, which have brightened once again. Thin trails of silver, blue, green, orange, and red shimmer, shooting in all different directions across the map.

  “Fascinating.” I tried to keep the awe out of my voice.

  Over the years I’ve come across many abilities in Evos. Rarely have I discovered ones so unique and powerful as this man’s.

  I had to have it.

  I didn’t know what it was, exactly, not then, but
I had to have it regardless.

  It was too easy, capturing that Evo.

  Getting him to help me with a car rental, finding the vehicle on the lot. Pretending I wasn’t confident in the vehicle’s controls.

  The moment he leaned across the passenger side seat I slipped a needle into his neck.

  JANUARY 20, 2016

  How lucky I was to have found Bill.

  Bill’s Evo power is magnificent.

  I learned over time how his ability worked. And as he lay unconscious in my car, I practiced.

  To this day, I am often shocked that Evos with a gift as strong as Bill’s haven’t been discovered, brought to the public’s attention. Of course, not everyone wants to be different.

  If I focus on a person hard enough, while watching a map, their most recent location will light right up.

  I didn’t know how to make the trails as I had seen him do before, but I wasn’t about to wake him up and ask. Most didn’t take that well, me asking how to use their power, and none ever offered to teach me.

  I don’t know the names of any Evos, I just know they exist. I have to find them using my gift.

  However...I do know the names of the Synths.

  Sitting in my idling car just outside of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, I first focused on Duncan. I’d need him soon enough, so why not find him now?

  The map glowed purple on a fixed point in Colorado.

  That was easy.

  I concentrated next on the Synths. One by one their names and faces came to mind, and one by one, the map showed me all of them.

  All in Colorado with Duncan.

  All of them except Jaxon and Max.

  Max. Another one of Shawn’s clones.

  His location was much closer. He was in Albany, New York. Alone. Jaxon was somewhere in Nebraska.

  I can take Max out. Find out where he lives and wait until he leaves. Bump into him, take his strength and snap his neck.

  It will have to be somewhere dark and quiet. An alley, perhaps. Maybe I can lure him in somewhere?

  My face hurts from smiling so much.

  JANUARY 27, 2016

  I passed through a small town outside of Boston on my way home.

  Thinking.

  Thinking.

  Max first? Or check on my Evos? I’ve been gone too long. I need to keep them alive.

  Bill groaned next to me.

  How long can I keep someone sedated before it kills them?

  I don’t know.

  He wet himself more than once on our little trip. I had to change him. Disgusting. I need to find a place to keep him.