He broke the connection, looking away.
“Stay with us, Sloan, and we’ll get you out of here,” Creed muttered softly, eyes fixated on the same door from which the girl had just exited. “She’s nearly here.”
Before the young doctor could ask who they were waiting for, the door inched open. Out spilled long, dark curls first, then the shining, dark eyes of a girl.
“Meg?” Evan breathed even as his sister’s small, powerful frame slipped out of the slit she’d allowed the doorway.
In a flash, Meg’s dark eyes brightened as she leaped across the hallway to hug Evan—relief washing over both.
“Oh, thank God, Evan!” she whispered into his shoulder.
Evan wrapped his gangly arms around his sister, who stood several inches shorter, but carried herself as if she were a giant.
Behind her came another, a male who was bleeding from head wounds and was bare-chested. Dark bruises stood in shadowed contrast against his muscular torso.
Having studied metahumans scientifically, Sloan found herself comparing his well-developed physique to Creed Young’s. Creed was truly amazing in his size and strength, but this meta wasn’t too far behind him. She wondered if he had also been exposed to a different version of the Infinite serum.
Creed watched as Alik’s eyes locked onto Evan and Meg. Oblivious of everyone standing and watching, the meta sprinted across the hallway and enveloped the two in his muscular arms in what could only be described as a touchingly sweet embrace. Sloan watched in amazement as she saw what looked like a wild canine with a bloodstained muzzle trot across the hallway and push his way to the center of the three, licking any hand that reached down to rub his alert ears.
Creed’s eyes watered slightly but he blinked all emotion away before he turned to explain. “Sloan, this is Meg, Alik and Evan Winter—and their coyote, Maze. These are the metahumans, the siblings, I chose to side with during my last assignment.” Each of the Winter children turned to nod at the tiny, gray-eyed, blonde as they were introduced.
“Everyone, this is Dr. Sloan Mor.”
Sloan could only stare in silence, astounded by the emotion she saw displayed among the three metahumans. Having grown up at the Facility, she’d never seen affection displayed in this manner—ever. It was mesmerizing.
“Thank God you’re okay,” Meg’s attention was drawn back to her brothers, her voice muffled as she alternately buried her face into the chests of the two males she embraced.
“What are we going to do about Mom?” Evan asked, looking over at Maze and putting together the logic that if the coyote was here, his mother was, too.
“We have to go,” Creed’s voice was harsh, though whispered. “More are coming,” he nodded toward the downed soldier he was dragging out of the main lobby so as not to attract more attention.
“Children are in the basement, Creed,” Meg’s voice cracked between desperation and a whisper, reaching out to rub the soft ears of her best friend just as much to soothe herself as the coyote.
“What children?” Creed’s face paled; his jaw working angrily.
“Twelve that we saw.” Meg’s eyes darted to Alik for confirmation.
“She’s right. Williams has them strapped to beds down there.”
Creed’s head whipped back to Sloan. “Did you know about this?”
Her eyes dropped shamefully.
Sloan wanted to deny knowledge of the testing on the newest of metahumans, but she couldn’t bring herself to lie to these people. Before she could confess, she was interrupted.
“We don’t have time to discuss it now,” Meg growled. She stepped back, positioning herself so she had a commanding view of the metahumans in the passageway.
Instinctively, she squared her shoulders and took a deep breath, easing her calming empath vibrations across the group. Like an invisible cooling breeze on a suffocating hot summer day, Meg watched as everybody raised their faces and breathed the strength she sent coursing through them. Even through the eerie glow of the red emergency lights, Meg could see her gift working to relax the tension in their bodies and focus in their eyes.
Sloan stood in awe, never having experienced Meg’s empath skills. “What was that?” her voice a breathy daze. A warm, sweet breath spoke directly into her ear. “Don’t worry, Sloan. My sister is just helping everyone feel focused.”
The girl turned her head toward the source of the voice and found herself staring into the bright, honey-green eyes of Evan Winter.
“We have to go rescue them,” Meg said calmly. “We also need to go take care of our mom.”
“I need to get you to safety,” Creed growled protectively. “I already lost my brother, I won’t lose anyone else.”