A voice crackled from the front seat, muffled and faint. I couldn’t catch the words. Suddenly, the van slowed, swerved,and hit a gravel road. I was thrown forward by the sudden movement.
They were taking me somewhere remote, off the grid. To do what? Kill me?
A shiver ran down my spine as a disturbing thought surfaced: had they already killed Mackenzie?
The van suddenly lurched to a stop, and I fell forward, hitting my chin on the floor. Pain sliced through my brain, and a shrill ringing filled my ears, like someone had jammed a live wire into my skull.
The engine from the van cut out, replaced by an unsettling silence. A loud clang sounded as the back doors swung open, letting cold, fresh night air flood inside.
I peered through the gap. The sky was filled with stars, and in the distance, the tall pines rose up in that shape I knew too well.
Camp Blackshear.
I was back.
A low buzzing from above made me flinch.
“Max McKinnon,” a woman’s voice crackled through the speakers, clear and Australian. “Welcome to your initiation."
I froze.
A masked man dressed in black stepped forward to free me from my restraints.
“Stand up, straight, please,” the unknown woman said through the speakers. “I want to see you.”
I felt like a prized cow about to be exhibited.
I saw a shadow just beyond the van’s light, but I couldn’t make out a face. I stood, wincing from the pain everywhere, but straightened my shoulders as much as I could to look strong.
“Very good,” she said. “You’ll do nicely.”
“For what?” My voice was shaky. I hated that she couldhear my fear.
Pain lanced through my body, every movement sending sparks of agony up my spine. My mind struggled to focus on what was happening.
“We have an outfit for you. Put it on,” she said.
I turned and nearly laughed. The masked man was holding out a black, tactical FBI vest, thick and padded, with a matching mask that would completely hide my face. It was a matte black skull mask with mirrored eyes. Military issue, cool as hell, but I wasn’t going to admit that to them.
Gloves, boots, and a utility belt completed the ensemble.
“Really?” I said, sarcastically.
“Put it on, Mr. McKinnon,” the voice commanded.
“Fuck no.” I crossed my arms and pressed my back against the cold metal of the cargo van.
A sharpBANGshattered the air as a gunshot tore into the ceiling above me. My heart slammed against my ribs, every nerve screaming.
“Put it on, Mr. McKinnon. This is an order.”
I snatched the clothes from the man, every nerve on fire.
“Fine.Fuck,fine.” My hands shook violently as I peeled off my shirt, then my shorts, the cold metal of the van biting at my bloody skin.
“I can see why Mackenzie chose you,” the voice hissed through the speakers, satisfaction laced with malice.
“Close your greedy fucking eyes, you bitch,” I growled, voice low, teeth clenched. “I’m married.”
