“You’re right. I’m done.” His partner sighed, then pointed. “Your baby is through that room. To the right. The power . . . is turned off.”
The crying, as if on cue, continued in the other room.
Anna pushed forward where the male had indicated, into a room set up for surgery. Tools were lined up on white sterile gauze, all now cast in dim shadows with the lights turned off. The only light in the room came from a skylight above.
The crying was louder in here. Anna’s eyes needed to adjust as she stumbled forward, but there, in the shadows, was that android nurse, Alice, that had locked her in. She was standing, trying to hold her little infant, expertly rocking the baby. But it didn’t matter. As if the tiny life knew something was wrong, the infant wailed into the android’s perfect arms.
Alice’s eyes flicked up to her as she walked in.
Anna’s lip curled and her eyes bulged. She stopped only a few paces away, held out her arms, and hissed, “My baby. That’s my baby. Give her to me. Now.”
More androids like the dark-haired males in the front room were present. One was in a surgical outfit. They all stared at her. Half of them looked like Stella clones. Some looked like nurses. Others still were models that Anna had only met briefly at the one dinner she’d had here at the facility.
Leo was there, in his normal outfit, holding a clipboard. His head was angled to the side.
She looked around at them, hysteria threatening to overwhelm her as she sobbed, “What is wrong with you?”
All of the androids looked back, stone-faced.
“She’s mine. She needs me!” Sweat began to gather on Anna's back, fear overwhelming her senses. She yelled, “Give her to me. NOW!”
She reached for her infant, and Alice took a step back.
Behind her, a flashlight beam swept over the area. She didn’t look back to see who had entered, but she heard the boots of many feet. Still, she didn’t take her eyes off her baby. “Give her to me. Now! You machine!”
Zero’s voice echoed over hers. “Give her the baby. Now.”
Anna glanced back then. Others were coming in. Now along the wall it was not just Zero, but six of his brothers in total. And one of Stella’s models, but this one had brown hair and a dark-skinned complexion.
The brown-haired Stella lined up with the Zeros like she was on their side. She fingered a golden locket around her neck as she said, “You heard her. Now.”
Zero walked forward, pointing the flashlight beam at Alice, who squinted. There was a serious expression that hung oddly on his face. “Give her the baby.”
“Alice.” Leo cleared his throat. “Hand her over.”
Anna couldn’t even register Zero was there, because in the next instant, Alice handed the little, perfectly swaddled bundle to her. She quickly felt around her whole head.Unchanged.She’s okay.She turned and walked toward the door. Her feet carried her squalling baby as she rocked her. “I got you baby girl. I got you.”
Zero moved to her. “I’ll walk you out?”
“No.” She shook her head. She gripped her baby to her chest. “Everyone, leave me the hell alone.”
The baby settled when she spoke. But Anna didn’t stop. Her feet went into a staggering run.
Behind her she heard Zero yell, “Go straight down this hall and turn right. You’ll be outside then.”
Anna didn’t stop until she ran down the long hall, spinning around in a few spots, until she got to the exit. Her only thought was to leave. Leave and never return. Run away as fast as she could, before anyone could change their mind. She left the facility, and only breathed easier once her bare feet hit the dirt outside.
Chapter fifty-two
Atlas
Atlas raced to Anna’s medical room on the other side of the facility. Stella’s severed head swung in his grip as he ran through the blackened halls. The only lights were the emergency power low voltage tracks near the ground.
Sterling followed behind him, far down the hall. The shock from the taser clearly still hadn’t worn off, and he moved slowly and jerkily.
Finally, Atlas reached Sterling’s office, which had served as Anna’s delivery room. Everything was in disarray. The bed was turned on its side. All the medical leads and monitors were scattered across the floor.She’s not here.He whispered, “Anna?”
His shoulders dropped as he scanned the room. Every fiber within him could see that something was wrong. His voice broke. “Anna? Where are you?”
