I had foolishly allowed myself to hope. Hope that it was over. That Graves' surrender meant Naomi would be safe. But I should have known better. Logan was still out there. His hatred is driving him to destroy me. Naomi will never be safe while he’s alive.
Static had made his way through the last tunnel before I destroyed it. That’s when I got the call on the cell phone I had used to reach Graves. It could have been Graves, confirming a drop-off time and location for Naomi. But the pit in my stomach had formed before I even answered. Some part of me already knew.
"Walker," I answered, my voice steady despite the dread flooding my system.
"Hello, old friend," Logan said.
My jaw clenched. I couldn't ask the hard questions. Where is Naomi? What have you done with her? Those words stuck in my throat like shards of glass. I was only able to choke the easier one past my lips. "Where's Graves?"
"She's dead."
The words hung in the air. I couldn't speak. Logan laughed, the sound like ice down my spine. "But don't worry. Your girl is alive."
"Walker, don't—" Naomi's voice cut through the background, desperate and afraid. Then the unmistakable sound of flesh striking flesh. My blood turned to fire.
"Don't you fucking touch her," I growled, rising to my feet, every muscle in my body tensing to strike an enemy who wasn't there.
"No, Walk. You're not the team leader on this one. I am." Logan's voice hardens, all pretense of friendly banter gone. "I make the rules now."
"What do you want?" I ask, forcing my breathing to steady.
"I want to end this. But just you, me, and your girl here. I don't want anyone else at this party. Understood?"
I looked at Static, who was watching me intently, trying to piece together what was happening from my half of the conversation. His hand was already moving to his laptop, ready to trace the call, ready to help. But I knew Logan would have planned for that. If I brought Static or anyone else, Naomi would die.
"Where?" I asked, already knowing I would face him alone.
Logan laughed again, softer this time. "Where it all began."
Click.
I looked at the phone, an impotent rage coursing through me.
"Logan," Static could barely make it a question. Who else would have painted that expression on my face?
I nodded. "He wants to meet me at Camp Titan."
"Why?" Static asked.
"I don’t know. That’s where it started. That seems as good a place as any to end it."
"What's the plan?"
"I have to go alone. He made that clear."
Static shakes his head. "Let me help, Walk."
"I can't risk it. If he catches wind you're helping me, he could kill Naomi."
"He could kill you. He's controlling the time. The place. You know that's a bad tactical situation. And you’re still not fully healed," Static said.
"You think I can't beat him?" I asked.
Static sighed. "You're good, Walk. The best of us. As a leader and person. But Logan was always the best killer. The program didn't change him. It only made him more of what he already is. You were never meant to be a killer, Walker. Logan loves it. We never did. That's the difference."
Now, driving in the truck, remembering the conversation with Static, I rub my hand down my face, still not believing him. Though he’s right about one thing, I’m not quite fully healed, and even my genetically enhanced body is rubbing up against a wall of exhaustion. It took some convincing to force Static to let me go alone. I assured him that I was going to win. Nothing was going to keep Naomi from being safe.
But I also know I can only promise one of those things. I don't know if I'm going to make it out of this alive.
