Free After Dawn (Book 3 of the Into the Shadows Trilogy) by Karly Kirkpatrick Page B

void of hope or retribution. Somewhere one could only pray to silently fade into death.
    But the mountain was death over and over again. Set on repeat. The highest level of inhumanity.
    It was true evil.
    Paivi's body was on autopilot.
    Breathe.
    Blink.
    Energy crackled under her skin, confused and uncontrolled.
    Xavier placed his warm hand on hers. Out of the corner of her eye she could read the concern on his face. It did nothing to awaken her heart. She wondered if it still worked or if it had shattered and crumbled like the ceiling inside the mountain corridors.
    After an eternity, Dennis pulled up to the entrance of the camp.
    It buzzed with activity and commotion. Trucks and jeeps had been lined up at the entrance near a gas pump just outside the gates. EOS prisoners were preparing them to leave, filling each one with gas.
    Peter jumped out of the cab of their truck and the truck bed emptied as Paivi's companions dissipated into the crowd. With a concerned look, Xavier joined them.
    She remained. Alone. Unmoving.
    After what seemed like hours but could have very well been minutes, her mom climbed into the bed of the truck. She slid next to her and slipped her arm around Paivi's waist.
    "Paivi." She brushed at the dirt stains on Paivi's cheeks. "My dear, sweet daughter. Xavier told me what happened."
    Paivi swung her eyes toward her mom, registering tears on her cheeks as well. They cut long trails through the dust on her face.
    "He, well, he said Daddy was dead." She rested her head on Paivi's shoulder. "No one should ever see that. I'm so sorry. But you're so brave. You tried to save him. You did your best."
    Paivi let the words sink in. She did her best? Her mom couldn't possibly know what happened in there. She was too normal. Just crying regular tears. Not soul-crushed, mind-numbing tears. She took a deep breath and swiveled her head toward the edge of the truck. Xavier stood there watching. He fidgeted with a small flame in the palm of one hand.
    He had spared her the real news.
    "I know it hurts to lose someone, Paivi. I lost your father not long after we arrived at the camp." Mom stifled a sob. "I mean, I know he didn't die then. Or maybe he did. I never knew. But at least I know the truth now. That he's in a better place. At peace."
    Paivi could feel anger replacing her numbness. She wanted to scream, to release the pressure like a bomb exploding on a target. But she held it in. She needed to keep this rage and lock it in. Save it for those who deserved it. For those who had created this evil.
    At that moment, Paivi didn't care if she lived or died. She cared that they suffered. The ATC. Stevens. People would die and she would be the Grim Reaper. She was ready to hand them a death sentence. Even a thousand of their deaths could not atone for the horrors they had inflicted. So maybe she would have to kill a million. Whatever it took to even the score.
    They had tried creating monsters bent on destruction. They had turned her into a monster by accident. Only she wasn't their weapon to use, to control.
    She answered to no one.
    And she would make them pay.
    Paivi allowed the energy to carry her. She stiffly sat forward and embraced her mom. Paivi was no longer human. Just a machine. She could feel nothing but the rage. She patted her mom gently on the back because it was necessary. It made her mom feel better. It made Paivi feel, well, nothing.
    After a short embrace, Paivi jumped up without a word and leapt off the back of the truck. She strode toward Peter, who stood with a group of men and women.
    "Are we ready to go?" Paivi asked woodenly.
    "Are you okay?" Peter asked. His eyes widened at her sudden recovery. "Do you want to rest?"
    "I'm fine." Paivi's face was expressionless. "We have a destination we need to reach. They're counting on us. Are we ready to go?" she repeated.
    "Yes, we've only got twenty vehicles." Peter pointed to the line of cars, his brow furrowed. "But we've got a few thousand prisoners.