Page 144 of Us Defiant Few

They were the reason he’d won.

“It was difficult,” Alexander said. “But I finally managed to regain control of Takeshi and bring you in. Since then, I’ve worked around the clock to undo Timothy Talbot’s sabotage. But I’ll give him this. That little man was clever in hiding the break. The code is long and complex, but in about forty-five minutes, I’ll have fixed it. And it’s all thanks to you.”

No.

Their heads dropped, regret weighing down upon them like a landslide.

“And to answer your final question.” The Governor turned. “Why are you here in Genesis?”

Alan reached into his pocket and pulled out a small device—a remote with a black button embedded in its center.

“At my command, my soldiers will cut down every human in sight before killing themselves. And once the cleansing is complete, I will activate Project Helix and usher in a new golden age.” His cold smile rivaled the despair that seeped throughout the room.

“And because you helped make it happen, I’m giving you the respect of being the last ones to die.”

35

I inhaled your rise. I’ll exhale your descent.

For some reason, she’d always thought the world would end in a grand spectacle. A cataclysmic explosion of fire and dust.

Khalani had once learned in school that a massive rock from space had hurtled into the earth’s surface and killed nearly every living being. Her teacher didn’t believe it was true, but Khalani thought that if it were, it might’ve been a good way to go out.

A quick death.

But this moment was agonizingly slow. Like a parasite had settled into her organs and was taking its time gnawing its way out.

Khalani’s unseeing gaze stared at the floor.

She didn’t blink.

Speak.

Was she even breathing anymore?

Her chest rose and fell in the barest movements, but she didn’t feel anything.

Completely losing control, not caring as the rope cut deeper into her wrists.

None of that mattered.

Why would it?

Khalani had no more tricks or plans.

All that remained was her bottomless guilt and the knowledge that her entire life was an elaborate ruse. She’d thought escaping to the surface would free her, but Alan had stolen Khalani’s freedom the moment she was born.

Until she died, that stain on her existence would remain.

And the only person who’d ever given her the strength to rise past her limitations was gone.

Takeshi stood like an inactive machine, arms stiff by his sides, his stare blank as he waited for his next order.

Completely lost to her. And to himself.

“Takeshi,” she whispered once more as the Governor hurriedly spoke with another woman.

But he didn’t acknowledge her. He gazed past Khalani as her meaningless words bounced off him.