Mia heard an echo of her father in Jacob’s words.
“You have the strength to help the people you care about,” he added.
She nodded, not wanting to take the conversation any further. Mia shut her eyes and was glad to find the visions gone, at least for the moment. Jacob shifted in his cot, apparently following her lead. He took a familiar, elongated breath before rolling over in the opposite direction.
“Good night, little lady.”
Mia grinned and then fell into a restless sleep.
♦
The fear of the dead subsided long before the hunger pains. It was difficult to tell how long they’d been in their cage, but Rowan guessed it couldn't be more than a day. The little bit of sleep they managed to get blurred the line between reality and exhausted illusion. The dead had no quit in them. The zombies in the cells on either side never stopped reaching for the living. Their moans were constant and the horrifying sound was enough to drive a sane man mad.
Rowan had to stop Jonah from lashing out at the decaying hands. The boy was having the most difficult time of all of them. Erin hadn’t spoken since the cell door closed, and that concerned Rowan more than anything else did. She’d positioned herself on the floor, directly across from the entrance, pressed up against the bars behind them. Garret tried unsuccessfully to figure out the small pad on the door and gave up in a fit of rage. They were all wondering if they’d starve to death before anyone came back to check on them.
“What do they want from us?” Jonah asked.
His voice shook when he spoke, and his eyes said he was on the verge of a mental breakdown. He’d asked the same question more times than Rowan could count, but the truth was he had no idea.
“We have to hold on,” Rowan said, but even he was tired of hearing the answer. “There’s got to be something,” he added as he gave in to his own frustration.
Rowan examined the cell door for the third time. The small pad the soldiers used to open the door gave no indication of how it worked. He turned his attention back to the cells across from them. He'd noticed something different about the occupants in the next row over. The figures paced within their cells, neither moving frantically nor jerking oddly. However, their skin was a quick identifier. A hard stare at each of the cages revealed that all of the occupants appeared to be infected. Naked and exposed, both the women and men possessed the ash-gray skin of the disease, accented by the darkening veins underneath.
“Why are they so calm?”
Garret’s question was a good one. Rowan shook his head.
“Maybe they’re dying,” Rowan said. “If they’re not feeding…” He drifted off when the answer of how they might be fed popped into his head. “What about that one?”
Rowan settled his sights on a woman near the end of the row. She looked back at him with a haunting stare that he guessed matched his own. Her face looked like someone who’d seen too much horror for one mind, but she was surely alive. Rowan couldn’t ignore her nude body nor could he overlook the series of sutured cuts lining her arms and the spaces between her ribs.
“Hello?”
The woman didn’t move.
“Can you hear me?”
She remained as still as a statue, never taking her eyes off him. Garret found the cell.
“I don’t think she—” He fell silent when the woman grabbed the bars.
Rowan tried again. “How long have you been here?”
The response was slow. She began pushing and pulling herself back and forth, her movements speeding up as she opened her mouth. A shrill rose from her throat that ripped through the surrounding moans with a disturbing effect. Her rocking increased until her head flung violently forward. Her forehead hit the bars with such force that the skin tore open on the first strike. She continued until the impacts finally knocked her back, sending her onto the floor, out cold. Jonah’s words crept out of his mouth in a disturbing rhythmic tone.
“I think we’re going to be here a long time.”
He was proven wrong a moment after the last word left his lips. The walkway running around the entire edge of the circular chamber came alive with movement. Half a dozen soldiers followed a man dressed in tan-colored cloth. He was clean shaven with close cut hair. His bronze skin placed him as an outsider even among his own people. His overall state of cleanliness was startling by comparison to nearly everything around him. The procession descended into the bowels of the space by the stairs at the end of the central row. A moment later and the entire group stood directly in front of Rowan. The man in front examined them through the bars without speaking. Once he was satisfied with what he saw, he motioned at the cage and glanced over his shoulder at one of the soldiers before stepping out of the way.
“Line up and face the rear of your cell,” he said with an accent that made it difficult to comprehend. “Place your hands between your backside and the bars.”
“What are you going—?”
The man put his hand up and cut Garret’s question short.
“You will do precisely as you’re told or you will be exterminated.” He waited for Garret, Jonah, and Rowan to comply before he continued. He took one glance at Erin and appeared to understand her state immediately. “My name is Himu, and I am the assistant to Doctor Olric. You will be processed now.”
Rowan fought the urge to resist as one of the soldiers slid ties over his wrists and then pulled them tight. They bound each of their hands before opening the gate. A pair of soldiers lifted Erin from her seated position before the entire group headed back to the central stairs. They were led away from the main entrance, along the surrounding platform, stopping short of a wide exit.
No one spoke. Something told Rowan he’d receive a painful response if he voiced any one of his growing list of concerns. There was something in Himu’s choice of the word exterminate that added a new horror to their situation. Kill would have been bad enough, but exterminate gave the impression that he viewed them something less than human.
They were led through a series of halls each one as nondescript as the last. There was a sterile cleanliness to everything. Rowan was continually reminded of the artificial light and the wonderment of what life must have been like before the infection. The end of their trek came at an impressive metal door. The thick monstrosity took two soldiers to get it open after Himu ran his fingers over a series of buttons on the wall.
The group was forced into a single-file line with Rowan at the head. Someone shoved him in the back with little guidance. The space beyond the door was smaller than the cell-laden containment area, but no less impressive. One entire wall was comprised of rows of screens, some black, others displaying a series of characters. Several waist-high tables separated the room, an assortment of tubes and bizarre machines running the length of each tabletop.
“Let’s break them up along here.”
Himu’s voice was no less cold than it had been on their initial encounter. Rowan was shoved again, and he caught sight of his companions. A row of cells made up the majority of the opposite wall along their entrance point. Small in both height and width, it was apparent that the captives were expected to remain standing. Rowan stepped into the cramped space and was left to figure out how to spin around on his own. The final lineup left Jonah on one side of him, Garret and Erin on the other side.
“You may leave now.”
Himu’s dismissal met with a quick response, and the spacious lab returned to a haunting silence.
“How far have you come?”
Himu was busy working at something on one of the tables across the room. His question drifted over his shoulder, not bothering to turn around.
“What is this place?” Garret asked.
“I asked you first,” Himu said with a wave of his finger. “Come now, no need to hide anything.”
There was something frightening about the whimsical turn in his tone.
“Cheyenne,” Rowan said. He glanced at Jonah and found the boy sitting at the bottom of his cage
. “Are you going to kill us?”
The question lingered in a long silence before Himu finally turned to face them.
“You have no idea how many people have asked me that very same thing,” he paused to admire the group, “all of them standing right where you are.” He didn’t elaborate nor did Rowan need him to. Himu held up a syringe and admired the needle. He strolled across the distance between the tables and the cages, heading for Erin. “I only have a few available solutions to try, but we’ll make do.”
His approach triggered the first real reaction from Erin. She pressed back against the small cage, trying to force herself between the bars. Himu pulled something out of the front pocket of his coat and held it up for her to see. The black device was no bigger than his hand. He pressed it with his finger and a spark of light flashed between two metal points at its tip.
“Are you going to make me use this?”
He didn’t wait for a response. Himu thrust the device between the bars and made contact with Erin’s leg. Her body went erect, every muscle tightening at once. He held it in place for a few seconds before pulling back and allowing her to slump forward. His next move was quick and precise. He pulled at her arm, found the spot he wanted, and plunged the syringe into her skin. Himu stepped back and placed a cap over the needle.
“It doesn’t have to be this way you know,” he said. “I only need a sample of your blood. The time for struggling will come.” He grinned. “And you’re going to need all of the strength you have left.”
20
Mia found his smile from across the room. Connor was dressed in black fatigues and his face showed signs of a long night. He offered a polite wave as he stepped through the door and then out of the way. Several figures followed him in, most of them dressed in the more relaxed fashion of the other workers who called Canaan their home. Mia was up and moving toward them as they began rolling in equipment on a number of carts.
“What happened to you?” she asked. The question felt strange the moment she got it out, and she tried to recover. “Is there any word from your commission?”
Connor wasn’t carrying his rifle, but he wore a smaller handgun near his waist. He adjusted the weapon and cleared his face of an obvious concern.
“Nothing yet,” he said.
“What’s going on?” Mia’s eyes slid toward the workers, now positioned near the wall. Most of the Canaan personnel were flipping switches along the front panels of the carts. “What are those for?” Her eyes went from the equipment to the members of the tribe as they tried to get a look at what was going on.
“Standard requirements,” Connor said. “Checking for any signs of infection.”
“I thought that’s what they did the first time?”
The sound of Jacob’s voice produced a slight twitch in Connor’s expression. The aggravation was quickly caught, but not before Mia spotted it. She hadn’t seen Jacob follow her over until he stepped around the cot by her side.
“It was,” Connor explained. “This equipment is more thorough. All initial checks are followed up, once cleared.”
“So, there was no sign of infection?” Mia asked.
Connor held onto a well-placed grin as he shook his head. Mia cringed as Jacob pressed him for more information.
“When are we getting out of here?”
His response was overly rehearsed. “I don’t control access to the main housing units,” he said. “The colony commission must approve all formal requests.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
Jacob’s response caused Connor to give him a double take.
“I…you must…” He steadied himself. “The protocols are in place to keep everyone safe.”
An awkward silence followed. The colony personnel cautiously eyed the entire group. A young woman stepped away from the others and addressed Mia.
“We’re going to need everyone to line up.” She glanced at Connor before continuing. “We must ensure no one is missed.”
Mia was hesitant with her response. She had to force herself to gather the tribe and pass on the instructions. She finished and rejoined Jacob and Connor. Their uncomfortable silence was still in effect. Connor surprised both of them with an invitation.
“Would you like to see the colony proper?” He followed up before Mia could respond. “You’re both welcome to come, of course.”
Jacob snapped to attention and smiled. “After you.”
Connor led them back to the entrapment area they’d used to enter the colony. The door closed, and he pressed a button on the inside wall. Mia felt the rush in her stomach as the elevator responded. The door opened again and Connor slid out of the way.
“Please.”
The tunnel ahead of them was perfectly round, and for the first time, the colony showed signs of life. A group of commonly dressed residents strolled toward them, none of them paying much attention to the new arrivals. An overwhelming sense of safety struck Mia; she’d never known such a thing in all her life. All four of the residents, two men and two women, smiled politely as they strolled by and entered the elevator.
Connor started forward, and they soon reached a bend in the tunnel. The way opened up, widening as it continued farther ahead. They were several steps in when Mia realized the entire length of one side of the tunnel was clear. She came to a dead stop as she took in the view.
“I believe this is what you’re looking for.”
Connor’s announcement came with a hint of satisfaction. The city appeared to be cut directly out of a time long gone, each small house perfectly laid in symmetrical order. People walked along sidewalks lining the roads between the houses. In the distance, a group of children kicked a ball across a patch of grass surrounded by trees.
“It’s beautiful.”
Mia heard Jacob’s heartfelt words, and it nearly brought her to tears.
“It certainly is,” she said. “How is this possible?”
Connor motioned them ahead, politely urging them to continue along their path. “Canaan was built prior to the infection,” he explained. “I don’t know what its original purpose was, but it was turned into a safe haven.”
“That had to be long before most of you were born,” Jacob said.
“It was before my time,” Connor agreed. “Although there are a few of the original commission members who still remain.”
“How many have you saved?” Mia asked. Her question momentarily threw him off track. “Outsiders,” she clarified.
“We have a strict process for inclusion,” Connor said. “Accepted outsiders are brought in through containment, then once approved by the commission they’re slowly integrated over time.”
“So, they’re not given the keys to the kingdom,” Jacob said, bluntly.
“We have strict protocols,” Connor reiterated.
“Where would we go?” Mia asked. “If we were accepted.”
Connor chose his words carefully. “Let’s take it one step at a time.”
Mia turned her attention back to the view, watching the paradise until they reached the turn at the other end of the tunnel. An elevator door slid open as they approached and the trio settled in. Connor selected their destination and they were off.
“Is your commission aware of the gathering infected and this new herding that we saw?” Jacob asked.
His question surprised Mia. She’d allowed herself to forget about the terrible world above them for a brief moment.
“They are,” he said, “and you managed to bring the sight to them first hand.”
“How so?”
“There’s a herd circling the walls of Canaan as we speak.”
Jacob and Mia turned toward him.
“What…what do you mean?” Mia asked.
“We’re dealing with it,” he said and appeared to be unwilling to go on.
“How big is it?” she asked.
“We’re not sure,” Connor admitted. “We’ve dealt with the initial onslaught, but they pulled back. It’s like they
’re,” he tried to think of a way to explain what he saw, “waiting for something.” He shook his head. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Has anyone in the colony ever been infected?” Jacob asked.
The question was enough to pull Connor back from whatever vision he had stuck in his head. “They’ve never been outside of the colony.”
The elevator door opened and Connor stepped out. Mia waited for Jacob to go, but he held still.
“None of those people have ever been topside?”
“No.”
“What about you and the other soldiers?”
Connor stopped long enough to answer. “We’re never allowed to enter the housing facility.”
Jacob started again, and Mia kept by his side. The weight of a sudden realization was enough to cause Mia to pause. “Then neither will we,” she said, making the deduction a heartbeat before Jacob. Connor continued on his way without bothering to face them.
“I think it’s time we returned you to your quarters.”
♦
Himu drew blood from each of them. Rowan encouraged the others to comply, and no one else received the treatment Erin had for her defense. She remained balled up on the floor of her cell even after she regained consciousness. Jonah needed additional encouragement to stand, which came in the form of Himu holding up the shocking device to remind the boy what awaited him.
Each of the samples was loaded into a machine on one of the tables. Himu flipped a switch on the top of the contraption, and it began to spin around at a brisk pace. Himu focused on one of the largest screens on the far wall, he pointed something at it, and the solid black suddenly sparked to life. Several smaller, moving pictures appeared within the confines of the screen. Rowan wasn’t sure what he was looking at. It took him a moment to realize they were all scenes of the same thing, only from different angles.
“You are quite the popular bunch,” Himu said, his accent strangely heavier than it had been moments before. “This is the worst I’ve ever seen it,” he admitted.
“Is that real?” Rowan asked. The dead were on each of the screens, mindlessly circling. “Where is that?”
The Decaying World Saga Box Set [Prequel #1-#2 & Books #1-#2] Page 61
