The 8ight: Desperate Hour

By Maxine McClendon

They're back! Fabian, Demi, Luke, Pepper, Jude, Tess, Emmitt, and little Silvia have had their families slaughtered, were held against their will by an evil, powerful organization in search of the secret of their wondrous and unique abilities, and discovered their ties to one another. The 8ight have survived the impossible and escaped the Company. Or have they?

Determined to stay free at any cost, the 8ight struggle to remain off the Company's radar as they hone their abilities for the inevitable moment when they are found. Reconnecting with their past lives, enduring tragic loss, and discovering that they may not be as unique as they thought, they must learn to rely on each other more than ever for the Company is never more than one step behind.

• Language: English
• Publisher: eBookIt.com
• Release date: Apr 26, 2016
• ISBN: 9781456608712

Book preview

978-1-4566-0871-2

Dedication

This book is dedicated to all of those who read the first book, loved it, and are reading the second book.

Thank you for buying it and helping it become something bigger than I thought it would be.

Thank you for making my dream a reality.

Thank you for supporting me.

I will never forget those who were there to cheer me on and those who believed in me more than I know even now.

This book is especially dedicated to my mother for not only giving me life, but for making sure it is filled with more love and happiness than I thought possible.

Now turn the page and get started!!

Acknowledgements

This book would not have been possible if not for the influence of the following people:

Olive Brown, my 4 th grade teacher who saw something special in my writing ability and challenged me to do something with it.

Tori Baker, my 6 th grade teacher for providing my father with an extra pair of eyes to catch the simple typos we both missed after months of staring at the same words.

Marie Andrea McClendon, my beloved aunt, for coming up with the title of this book and the sections, and for being a person I could bounce ideas off of without being told I was crazy.

All my haters for striving desperately and ineffectively to diminish my shine, not knowing that talent ordained by God cannot be derailed or suffer defeat, but can only bloom on its predestined path to greatness.

Company Policy

Facility 003A: Level 8

The Company was not pleased in the least. None of the gathered officials had been in Facility 536A when it self-destructed three days ago, but some very important people had. All of their experiments, both failed and successful, had been lost. At least the important people, those high in power and authority, had escaped the facility.

Or so they believed.

They never thought they would have another destruction of a facility, not since Dr. Rao and his costly betrayal, but there they were, viewing the footage of stampeding, panicked personnel and perusing the damage reports while waiting on at least two more people.

The door to the conference room opened. Shannon stormed in with Dr. Ivo and his staff in tow. Five Blink! dogs tromped by their sides as guards and a few men in black brought up the rear. The scientists’ heads were all bowed, their fear quite evident. Shannon stepped to the side, watching Dr. Ivo with hateful eyes while everyone else’s attention turned toward the towering man dressed impeccably in white at the head of the conference.

Where’s Claire, asked the man in white, his steely voice causing the muttered discussions throughout the room to cease immediately. Where is my sister?

Shannon met his gaze evenly and began her report. Dr. Ivo and his staff had the eight specimens in the lab with a bomb. It blew up and caused the self-destruct sequence to be initiated. Sifting through the wreckage, we were able to confirm that the specimens were destroyed all because of this fool right here, she spat, striking Dr. Ivo solidly across the face with the back of her hand.

And Claire? the man in white asked yet again as he walked slowly towards her.

A body was not recovered, but enough of her blood and genetic material was scattered throughout the wreckage for it to be clear she was killed in the blast. From the footage we were able to piece together, it seems as if she was overcome by the specimens and blown apart. She’s dead Kyle, Shannon answered, placing her hand soothingly on his arm as he stopped before her looking down on the cowering Dr. Ivo.

Sorry to say but she deserved it, Shannon continued with a smirk. "She insisted on - ulp!" her voice was cut off as Kyle’s powerful hand wrapped around her throat and lifted her into the air.

You dare find happiness in my sister’s death? he snarled.

His eyes flashed red and Shannon’s skin split in dozens of places. She screamed in pain and writhed in his grasp. More slashes appeared on her body, as if an invisible assailant was attacking her with a knife, peeling her skin. She struggled to break free, but his grip only tightened as her blood splashed onto his white suit. Desperate, her eyes flashed red as she tapped into her own power, erasing the last 15 seconds by sending herself back into time.

And Claire? the man in white asked yet again as he slowly walked towards her.

Not a drop of blood showed on his immaculate suit, and there was barely a gray strand of hair on his head from using his powers, but his lips quirked as he recalled what had just happened. She knew she needed to temper her dislike of Claire when dealing with Kyle. Shannon shook her head briefly, her body still reeling from the remembered pain of having her flesh split open. She brushed her new gray hairs out of her face and pointed to Dr. Ivo, who was still cowering on the floor.

Ask him, she replied. His actions led directly to her death.

Soft murmurs arose in the room. The gathered heads of the Company, about ten in all, were talking with one another in hushed, quiet tones. They kept glancing at Dr. Ivo, and then back to Kyle’s face, which grew even more impassive. His eyes searched Shannon’s before slowly traveling over to Dr. Ivo and his staff.

Dr. Ivo, am I to understand that your actions are directly responsible for the destruction of our most successful experiments in the history of the Company? Are you the reason my beloved sister is dead? Kyle asked slowly, the coldness in his voice and eyes dangerous.

Dr. Ivo kept his head bowed and his eyes downcast in an attempt to appear respectful, N-n-n-no, sir. I-

Shannon smacked him, the rings on the fingers of her left hand gouging his cheek deeply. The force of the blow drove him to his knees.

Speak properly or we’ll just cut out your tongue! she snarled.

Dr. Ivo’s body began to tremble slightly. He looked everywhere but at Kyle’s face. He cleared his throat and willed up enough courage to start over.

Claire was going to have the specimens terminated on the first day of the New Year, he said. She said the scientists assigned to study them, which was us, would also be killed if we failed to find the secret to stopping the aging process.

Everybody turned to watch Kyle’s face. He kneeled down and gripped Dr. Ivo by the chin, forcing his gaze upwards. Both men stared into each other’s eyes, Kyle searching for unsaid words and Ivo trying not to show how much he wanted to plead for mercy. Dr. Ivo began to nervously wring his hands and his eyes darted from side to side, vainly looking for help that would never come.

Claire was planning to kill our specimens without the Company’s approval? Kyle asked, still gripping his chin, his tone one of obvious disbelief. Why would my sister do such a thing, Ivo?

She never gave us a reason, he replied. "She became very secretive and paranoid. Dr. Shiva had suspected that there was some sort of genetic link between Claire and the specimens and indicated that she was going to do some research in the archives. Her last digital communication to me was that she solved the riddle, had found something she needed to bring directly to the ruling body of the Company, but before she could even share with me what she found she was executed.

Claire said it was one of the specimens that did it, but I had my suspicions. I think her fear of what using her ability was doing to her caused her to accelerate our testing schedule. She became erratic, and as I said earlier, extremely paranoid, Dr. Ivo babbled, trying to save himself and his staff. She gave us an ultimatum: either uncover why the specimens were immune to the aging factor that was affecting everyone else with abilities or be exterminated along with them in the New Year. How were we supposed to work under those conditions? Dr. Ivo glanced back at his companions, but none of them offered to help.

"I was in charge, Kyle! Me! The Company hired me to solve this riddle. I was promised complete autonomy and what happens? I’m treated like a common errand boy, a dog! I was put in charge!

I tried to reason with her, but she wouldn’t listen. How can you gather the greatest scientific minds in the world and expect them to work under threat of death? It’s just not possible! Ivo shouted, his indignation momentarily overcoming his fear. We accepted the fact that she was going to follow through with her threat, so my staff and I just...acted before time.

Kyle nodded his head in an understanding manner. So, because my sister expected you to do what you said you were able to do and hold you responsible for your progress or lack thereof, you destroy the entire facility, and kill everyone within, including the eight successful specimens and my sister? Now I understand Dr. Ivo, I really do. Kyle looked at the remainder of Ivo’s staff. You all may leave, he said, dismissing them with a wave.

At first, no one moved, unable to believe that they were escaping punishment so easily. With a sharp whistle and snap, the dogs stepped to the side, along with the armed men in black. Hesitantly, in pairs and groups, Dr. Ivo and his staff slowly turned and made it to the door when Shannon’s grin turned pure evil and she gave a tight nod.

The room quickly filled with excited barks and excruciating screams of pain and fear. The scientists all fell under the weight of the attacking guard dogs which blinked! away quickly after latching onto arms, torsos, legs, and necks. In the literal blink of an eye, Dr. Ivo was the sole remaining person alive from his staff. He cowered on the blood-soaked carpet, held spread eagle by four massive Blink! dogs, each of his feet and hands gripped tightly in their huge jaws.

Please, Dr. Ivo begged as he looked up at the impassive Kyle in abject terror. Don’t kill me! I have too much to offer to the Company!

Oh, I’m not going to kill you, doctor, Kyle said as he crouched over his trembling body. Your expertise is going to be greatly needed in creating more specimens. He motioned to the last remaining Blink! dog and it crept forward slowly between Dr. Ivo’s outstretched legs, menacing growls emanating from its drooling jaws.

However, unlike my dearly departed sister, I will suffer no challenge to my authority, Kyle declared as the Blink! dog clamped down onto Dr. Ivo’s groin area.

The other dogs released Dr. Ivo’s hands and feet, but he remained frozen in fear, afraid that any wrong move would result in dire injury to his private parts.

There can only be one man in charge, Dr. Ivo. Only one. Me. Maybe this will bring my point home.

Kyle nodded once to the remaining latched-on Blink! dog. It seemed to smile evilly around its clamped jaws.

Then it blinked! away.

Lost Assets

Fabian

Happy anniversary! we all shouted as we bent forward to blow out the huge candle perched precariously on the top of our chocolate covered cake. There was a lot of jostling and fond looks as we gazed at one another around the table in the diner. Who could believe that one year ago today we had escaped from the Company?

Silvia snatched the candle from off the top of the cake and began to lick happily at the frosting attached to it. Demi cut the cake into huge, thick slices, and Pepper began to pass them around the circle. Fingers were jabbed into cake and frosting was smeared on faces as we gave ourselves over to the feeling of family and being safe. Of being free. All of us, that was, except for Tess.

Tess continuously scanned the crowded diner and her eyes darted suspiciously to the door each time the bell above it tinkled as patrons entered or left. Since our escape, Tess seemed to be the only one who never seemed to relax her guard. There wasn’t a day that went by that she didn’t remind each of us that the Company was still out there and that there were more facilities with other horrible experiments going on. She constantly reminded us of our vow to destroy the Company and free the other captive children, but she didn’t seem to understand a promise given in the heat of battle and fight for freedom and survival lost some of its power once you achieved your own freedom and secured your own survival.

The rest of the group was adamant in our desire to remain hidden and off the Company’s radar. We did not want to risk being captured again and tortured the way we were while we were in their clutches. I must admit, sometimes I did think she was right and it was our responsibility to bring the Company to its knees, if for no other reason than to make sure the horrible torture and experiments we endured weren’t inflicted on anyone else. But it was hard to thrust yourself back into danger. After everything we had been through; abducted from our families, tortured and experimented on, and learning about our intimate connection with one another, who could blame us for wanting to stay as far away from that life as possible?

Apparently Tess did. Although she couldn’t force us to go after the Company, she believed that it was only a matter of time before they found out we still existed and came after us again. She insisted we practice our abilities every day, whether we wanted to or not, and our newfound relationships with one another were beginning to fracture as those of us who wanted to return to as normal a life as possible resisted her enforced daily practice sessions.

Sensing the direction of my thoughts in the mental connection Jude always kept up, the others stopped clowning around. Tess, Luke, and Jude were directly to my left with Silvia claiming her place on the far side of Tess. Demi, Emmitt, and Pepper completed the circle to my right. We all looked at one another and somberly reflected on our escape and everything that happened since then.

I remembered April 3rd, the day the Company facility we were held captive in self-destructed as if it was yesterday. I thought back to how we had killed Claire, our main captor, torturer, and (as it turned out) biological mother. The memories came back in a rush, and we all shared them through our mental link; how we thought Tess wasn’t going to make it, that none of us would be able to make it without her before Silvia came up with the genius idea that allowed Tess to be here with us today. How once she had been restored to full health two Blink! dogs from our previous training, Ginger and Sunday, appeared to save us just as the door opened and men in black stormed in to capture us. They blinked! us away, the sound of a violent explosion ringing in our ears, the atmosphere slightly heating up a second before we were gone.

Once we escaped, we had run faster than we ever had before, fear and paranoia driving us forward. We did not use the dogs at first for fear of the Company having some mechanism in place to track them when they teleported, and we refused to use our powers for the first few days until we were confident the Company believed us to have perished in the explosion. We ran for three days straight through a heavily forested countryside before we began to see small towns and other signs of civilization. Slowly the paranoia and fear began to give way to jubilation for our escape and we slowed down our pace. With no pursuit evident, some of us began pushing for the use of our powers to make our travels easier. Pepper was the first to start the debate.

Why can’t we fly? Pepper moaned, and not for the first time. We have powers for crying out loud, and my feet are aching!

Tess glanced back with amusement in her eyes, her lips curving upwards. Exactly, she said, but we have to keep off the radar. Besides, you can’t be tired, Pep. You can heal your sore muscles and erase your fatigue so why are you complaining about being tired?

Tess had a point. We’ve been able to walk on straight through some nights for hours on end because of Pepper; not only had she been able to instantly heal our aching feet, but she also eased the pain of hunger and drove our tiredness away.

But Pepper was relentless. Where exactly are we going, though? she demanded. Are we just going to wander around aimlessly?

It doesn’t matter, as long as we’re away from the Company, Luke chimed in.

Remember, we vowed to destroy the Company, Tess interjected. There are other children being held captive in other facilities. We know they are being tortured and abused just as we were. We need to start planning on how we are going to bring the fight to them!

I don’t know about that, said Demi.

Yeah, added Jude. We barely got away with our lives! Why should we risk capture again? I say we quit while we’re ahead and just disappear.

Disappear? What about our life before the Company took us? I asked. Why can’t things just go back to normal?

Because we’re not normal! Tess shouted as she came to a halt. Nothing about what happened to us or what was done to us is normal. You think anything will ever be normal again with these abilities we have? You think we are going to be safe simply by running and hiding ourselves away? The only way to ensure our safety is to hunt down every sick bastard that works for the Company and wipe them from the face of the Earth!

It was then that Silvia started to cry. She hated to hear us yell at each other and it took us quite some time to get her calmed down. When her tears finally stopped she took Tess’s hands and pulled her down to her eye level.

Please Tess, she whispered. Don’t make me go back to the Company. I don’t think I can stand to have them hurt us again.

Tess’s heart broke when she heard the fear in Silvia’s voice. She pulled away from her slowly, shook her head and blew out a breath in frustration.

So what do you all think we should do now? she asked.

We all started talking at once, our words tripping over one another’s comments until it became clear that whether some of us thought we should hide, reconnect with our past lives, or go forth and start new lives together we were all opposed to Tess’s plan of actively seeking out the Company to enact some sort of retribution on them.

I think it’s a mistake guys, Tess pleaded with us, but I’m only your sister, not your Master. I can’t make you all do something you are clearly so much against doing. I will just have to try to find a way to discover them on my own.

Please don’t leave us! Silvia cried, wrapping her arms around Tess’s leg.

Silly girl, of course I am not leaving you! No one is leaving anyone. We just found one another. You think I would let anything break up this family? she smiled as she hugged Silvia tight.

We all gathered around in a big group hug, relieved that although we had a difference of opinion we would find a way to figure it out. Together.

We could at least try to get some money, I suggested. I mean, my adoptive parents were rich, and I should be able to access their bank accounts.

But Jude shook his head. The Company may still be monitoring anything linked to our past. Sure, even if they assumed we died in the explosion they may still have certain protocols in place monitoring anything connected to us. Maybe in time, but I don’t think we can afford to take the risk right now.

We have to, Emmitt said abruptly. We have to take some risks. Isn’t taking risks how we escaped?

Emmitt is right, chimed in Pepper. We have to take some risks. How else are we going to make sure we have food to eat, clothes to wear, and a roof over our head? With our powers, getting those things should be a piece of cake.

Whoa, interrupted Demi. Slow down there. Why should we use our powers for anything? We use them and the Company will find out about us for sure.

I’m sure Pepper didn’t mean for us to openly use our powers, Demi, Jude said. But she is right. We are going to have to find a place to stay and gather supplies. If we are careful, our abilities should make it easy.

I say we don’t use our powers at all, Demi demanded.

I agree with Demi, Silvia whispered. Everything bad that has happened to us has been the result of these powers. If we use them, the Company might find us again.

But we have to use them, Silvia, especially you, I said. With your abilities you can create all the money we can carry to purchase everything else we may need.

But I don’t want to use my powers anymore! she cried, backing away.

Relax Silvia, Luke said, gathering her up in his arms. No one is going to make you do anything you don’t want to do. We will just find another way.

Well, whether or not we use our abilities to further secure our independence, said Tess, taking control of the conversation, we still need to practice. I still think we need to go after the Company, but the rest of you are against it. I can live with that decision, because I believe whether we go looking for them or not it will only be a matter of time before they find out about us. In the meantime, I have to insist that we keep up with our training; the more we practice, the better we become. We are going to need to be on the top of our game when we meet up with those scum-buckets again.

Tess had that look on her face she got when she wouldn’t brook any argument from any of us. She wasn’t the oldest, but she was the best fighter by far and I think on an almost subconscious level we knew she was right. That was the end of that discussion.

So for the last year we kept constantly on the move, travelling from town to town, city to city, utilizing our abilities as needed. Although Demi and Silvia refused to use their powers outside of our intense training sessions Tess arranged every day, the rest of us put our abilities to good use. Tess would send out multiple duplicates ahead of us to scout the way and sniff out any dangers. At night she formed several dozen of them to keep watch on us as we slept. Emmitt kept us all warm on the rare occasions we found ourselves without a roof over our heads, and Pepper healed any injuries we acquired on our travels.

As more time passed and we amazingly remained undiscovered, we became more and more comfortable in the use of our abilities. I used the steadily increasing strength of my telekinesis to move us rapidly over great distances