“You’ve been in a coma; we moved you to this new location to take care of you. You’re not in the lab anymore; you’re safe. Your team is here, do you rememberDiggs?”
She gestured for him to step closer. Diggs’ stomach jumped up into his throat, but he obliged, taking a couple of steps closer to the foot of the bed, hoping beyond hope that there would be a flare of recognition of anything in his friend’s eyes. Just the fact that he was awake was a miracle—and if there was any hope that he could recover, maybe some of this terrible guilt that had been constantly eroding his insides wouldease.
Quantum’s stark gaze landed on him, and the uncertainty morphed instantly to a hostile fear. Diggs’ chest went cold, and his feet locked in place. The small flame of hope struggling to stay lit was doused. “He doesn’t know who Iam.”
As soon as he spoke, Quantum started to twitch, his face contorting. Trigger whined and shifted closer, as if sensing something wrong. Melissa drew her hand back from his head and Quantum’s arm shot from the bed and grabbed herhand.
Diggs tensed, ready to leap in if Quantum tried to hurt her. There was no recognition of anything familiar in Quantum’s face. Diggs’ teammate might be awake, but he wasn’t there. “Melissa, stepback.”
“He’s not hurting me,” she said stubbornly and didn’tmove.
Quantum’s entire body had gone stiff, and his eyes rolled around in hishead.
“Step back.” Diggs eased forward, hating the situation but ready to step in, ifneeded.
They had all lost control in the lab when General Rainier had taken over their minds and ordered them to murder. Quantum hadn’t come back from the trauma. There was no way for him to know if that night had truly scrambled his friend’s mind and had turned him into an out-of-control trained killer. That was a chance no one could afford to take, no matter how hard it mightbe.
“Quantum, focus on my voice,” Melissa said in a soft tone, completely ignoring Diggs’ command. “We’re not here to hurt you. We want to help you. Just listen to me. Take a deep breath. Focus on me and no oneelse.”
Quantum still didn’t speak, but he was twitching slightly. Melissa eased closer to the bed, gently extracted her arm, and shifted to brush the hair off his forehead. “It’sokay.”
He was pale, sweat-drenched, and shaky, and Diggs would be damned if he could stop the guilt now. This was because of him and his weakness. He’d failed—Dawson was dead and Quantum . . . Quantum would never be thesame.
Maybe it was a good thing he didn’t recognize him, because he’d surely hate Diggs if hedid.
Diggs hatedhimself.
Fury mixed with the soul-shredding guilt, scorching his insides as he thought back to the man responsible for all of thedamage.
GeneralRainier.
That psychotic bastard was roaming free somewhere, alive, and healthy, and trying to hunt them down. They’d escaped the lab, only to be forced into hiding, in a prison of their ownmaking.
His muscles locked and he clenched his jaw. All this time he’d hoped and thought Quantum would simply wake up or die—not be turned into this mess of a man. A man who didn’t even recognize his friend or teammate. “I will avenge you,” Diggs saidquietly.
Audra’s fingers threaded through his, and he clutched her hand, needing her support rightnow.
Quantum’s eyes rolled around to look at him, bloodshot and unfocused. And then suddenly, his back bowed off the bed at an unnatural angle, his muscles and veins popping on his arms under the strain. Hescreamed.
“Quantum!? Quantum?” Melissa called, her voice frantic. Diggs rushed to the bed, not caring if his presence frightened his teammate or not. Quantum collapsed, mumbling incoherently tossing his head side to side. Trigger whineduncertainly.
“What’s he saying?” Diggsdemanded.
“I don’t know,” Melissa said, “I can’t tell. But if he doesn’t come down, I’m going to have to sedatehim.”
“Your voice seems to calm him down, Melissa; talk to him,” Diggs said, his own tone was harsh and damned if he could help it. Quantum seemed to be distressed by his verypresence.
“Hush, easy now. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.” Melissa tried to slip her hand back over his forehead as Quantum continued to toss it side to side, his entire body jerking with theforce.
“Quantum, listen to my voice. Listen. You’re safe, no one’s going to hurt you. You can relax, take abreath.”
Quantum jerked his head toward Melissa and, with some obvious effort, focused on her face. She cupped his cheek, her expression so gentle it made Diggs’ heartache.
“That’s it, good. Look at me, only me. I’m going to take care ofyou.”
With her free hand, Melissa gestured for Diggs and Audra to step back. Diggs tried to obey her silent command, but his feet were rooted to thespot.
Audra tugged at his hand, silently urging himbackwards.
