Rowan rose up to his full height. “No,” he said plainly. “I’m here to get you back alive and then we’ll figure out what to do.” She started to object, but he didn’t let her. “Now get on the rope and climb.”
Bree huffed and growled something under her breath before she grabbed the rope and leapt out into the shaft. Rowan watched the distant sunlight disappear among the crawl holes in the debris before he hopped out after her. They reached the elevator opening three stories up and gathered in a tight circle. Asher relit the lantern he’d left behind, and the beam revealed an empty hallway.
Rowan led them forward as nefarious sounds rose up the elevator shaft behind them. They reached the first branch of the passage before the truth of their situation flashed in front of the light. A few of the dead milled across the hall in a mindless order until the beam drew them in. Rowan calculated the odds as he marched forward without hesitation.
The scattered zombies turned toward him as he approached. He knew a mob was close but hoped they would reach their exit before the dead found them. Rowan used his knife, figuring his gun would call out the others. The first of the dead tripped over its own exposed intestines as it reached for him and Rowan caught it above the eye with his blade.
Bree stepped around him, holding onto a long, flat piece of metal she’d scooped up off the floor. The girl knew how to defend herself, and her talent was evident in every move she made. An arcing swing cleaved her makeshift weapon in the back of a zombie’s head. She spun around for the next attacker before the first foe hit the floor. Bale moved in next to her, and the two attacked with horrifically precise strikes. They were near the far end of the hall before there was enough clearance for Rowan to see beyond the turn.
The path was littered with dark figures all now focused on the commotion at the end of the hall. Rowan recognized the opening where he and Asher encountered the undead mob, and he knew their means of escape was within reach. He forced them to run, dodging between the scattered dead instead of engaging them. They reached the main hallway before the majority of the decaying lot focused on the fleeing flesh. The final turn revealed sunlight cascading in from the open gorge.
“There,” Rowan shouted. “Head for the light.”
Bale was first to leap over the partially collapsed wall from the main hall and into the ruined area adjacent to the gorge. Rowan saw movement ahead of them but didn’t process it before it was too late. Hands reached out for them from every direction. The dead moved about the space, thrown into a frenzy by the arrival of the living. Guttural moans erupted all at once and the panic was overwhelming.
“Help.”
Rowan heard Asher but didn’t see him. Bale managed to push through the mob and reach the landing overlooking the gorge.
“Climb,” Rowan yelled as he spun around.
A burst of flames focused Rowan. The lantern shattered and lit several of the dead’s tattered clothing. The eruption of light revealed Asher on his back, Bree standing over him trying to keep the dead away. Rowan rushed toward them as Asher struggled to get up on his feet. Bree put one of the creatures down as it lunged for him, but another one was too quick.
The zombie grabbed Asher’s arm and sank its rotted teeth into his hand. Rowan reached him a step too late. He pushed the creature back and it took a chunk of Asher’s skin with it. Bree acted before Rowan, bringing her makeshift cleaver down with precision, lopping off Asher’s hand at the wrist.
Asher roared in agony as Rowan forced him to move his feet. They followed Bree to the landing as more of the trailing dead poured in from the hall. Bree glared at Asher’s bloody stump. Rowan had to shake her to get her to look at him.
“Climb now,” he said.
Bree dropped her weapon over the side of the landing and let it fall into the darkness of the gorge. She jumped up, grabbed the net, and started her climb. Rowan spotted Bale midway to the surface and a flurry of activity at the edge of the gorge above him. He grabbed Asher and wrapped his belt around his wrist to try to stop the bleeding.
“We’re going to have to do this together.”
There was no recognition in Asher’s eyes. Rowan gripped the bottom of the net and forced Asher to reach for it with his good hand. The first of the dead spilled out onto the landing as they started to climb. Rowan looked down once more in time to see the entire landing packed full with mindless figures, each one reaching up for their lost meal.
11
Mia stood immobilized looking over the chaos around her. Asher’s blood was everywhere. Rowan was yelling at her, but sound hadn’t pierced the sudden veil of panic clutching her chest. Bree stood beside Rowan pulling at the bandages one of the soldiers provided. Bale had run back to the entrance to the hive looking for help.
Asher’s face was pale. He stared up at the sky with a blank expression. His blood dotted the pure white snow surrounding him. Time sped up as Mia realized neither Jonah nor Tate were climbing up the side of the gorge.
“Where are they?” she demanded.
Somewhere in the back of her mind Mia knew she should focus on what was directly in front of her, but her concern for her brother outweighed her commonsense.
“Lift his head,” Rowan said, ignoring her question. “Keep him awake.” She didn’t move. “Talk to him,” he yelled.
Mia refocused. She pushed her nerves aside and did as she was told. Her knees were stained with blood the moment she dropped down by Asher’s side. She lifted his head and looked into his eyes.
“Stay with me,” she said.
Asher blinked twice before the sound of her voice produced a response. He looked over at her and centered on her face. She grabbed his hand and squeezed. Mia forgot about Jonah for a moment and remembered how much Asher meant to her.
“You had to go with him, didn’t you?”
The offhanded question generated a smile on his face. Asher ground his teeth as Bree tied off the new bandages around his stump.
“I’m sorry,” Asher managed between clenched teeth. “We couldn’t bring them all back.”
The admission stole Mia’s breath. She squeezed his hand again and took a glimpse at Rowan. He sat back in the snow and rubbed his hands across his face. His sadness told Mia enough.
“Don’t worry about that,” she said, looking back at Asher. “We’re going to take care of you.”
A roar of sound broke from the opening in the ground that led down into the hive. Bale leapt up into the snow guiding a group of responders. Mia got to her feet and encouraged Rowan and Bree to do the same.
“We need to carry him,” she said.
Asher laughed. “I’m not dying, I think,” he said.
She wasn’t certain he was in any position to know how badly he was hurt.
“Help me up.”
Mia thought to argue the request, but Rowan was quick to put Asher’s injured arm around his neck.
“Grab him under the arm,” Rowan said.
Bree took over and Mia stepped out of the way. They helped Asher to his feet and Rowan kept a firm hold of him. They started back toward the entrance to the hive. Bale nearly reached them when Mia paused and looked back at the gorge. She was certain now that Jonah wasn’t going to come climbing over the edge. Bree grabbed her hand and squeezed. The young girl’s eyes were filled with an equal share of the pain in Mia’s heart. She started after Rowan and Asher, forcing Mia to take a step away from the gorge.
“Come on,” Bree said. “Let’s get inside.”
♦
“What do you mean, they took them?”
The dust barely had time to settle before Mia was in search of the rest of the story. Asher was laid out on a tabletop in the infirmary. A number of the members of hive one were former soldiers and the staff of the former commission. One of the most important remaining staff was Doctor Yaffa. She didn’t care much for titles.
“Who took them?” Mia asked, varying her question. She lowered her voice and pulled Rowan close. “Who is they?”
Rowan�
��s eyes were on Yaffa and the stitch work she was currently performing. Mia studied his face. The scratches and dried blood were a stark reminder of what he’d been through. She allowed her emotions to swirl. Rowan put his arm around her and pulled her close. She buried her face into his chest and let go for a moment.
“It has to be someone from the commission,” he said.
She’d guessed that but didn’t understand how. Mia looked up at him, still allowing herself the comfort of his body against her own.
“I thought that tunnel was buried and closed off,” she said.
Rowan nodded, staring blankly at the far wall. “Himu lied,” he said, referring to Dr. Olric’s infamous assistant. “He must have. I’ll bet the passageway never blew in on itself, which means they’ve had access to hive six this entire time.”
The realization was enough to get Mia to stand back on her own. “But why?” she asked more to herself. “What do they want here?”
The conversation was sidelined as Yaffa approached. She wiped the sweat from her forehead and left a smear of Asher’s blood across her dark skin. She forced a smile as her eyes met Mia’s. Mia felt her heart speed up. Rowan’s grip tightened on her shoulder.
“I was able to stop the bleeding,” Yaffa said.
“The infection?” Mia asked, eyeing one of the two soldiers standing in the corner of the room. Each of them had their guns drawn. “Can you tell?”
Yaffa shook her head. “There’s no sign of it, but we’ll know for sure in a short time.” She glanced at Bree, standing in the doorway. “That girl saved him.”
Mia took a deep breath. She had a sudden urge to step away from Rowan’s grasp and she couldn’t quite explain it to herself.
“Can I talk to him?” She glanced at Rowan. “Can we talk to him,” she corrected herself.
Yaffa nodded. “He’s a little out of it,” she said. “There’s not much I can do for his pain.”
Mia stepped away from Rowan but felt him close behind her as she approached the table. Lamps positioned in each corner of the room provided more light for the small space than any other place in the hive. The effect made the bloodstains stand out on the numerous swatches of cloth used in the hasty procedure. Asher turned his head on her approach and Mia forced a smile.
“Try not to move,” Mia said, and he managed to smile back at her. “Yaffa says there’s no infection.”
Asher nodded slowly. “Where’s Bree?” he asked.
Mia looked back to find the girl half hidden in the doorway. She motioned for her to come join them. Bree hesitated and then crept closer. She came to a stop between Mia and Rowan and burst into tears.
“I’m so sorry.” She hid her face in her hands. “I didn’t know what else to do.”
Asher reached out for her and pulled her hands away. He made sure she was looking at him before he spoke.
“You saved my life,” he said. “And I wouldn’t have made it out of there if you hadn’t done what you did.”
The impact of his words were enough to get her to stop crying. She nodded as she leaned into Rowan, and he awkwardly put his arm around her. Asher hardened his stare as he came back to Mia.
“If I am really going to survive and you’re not just here to comfort me in my final moments.” He paused long enough to get through a series of deep coughs. “Then stop wasting your time,” he snapped. “Go figure out what we’re going to do about all of this.”
Mia couldn’t help but beam a wide-toothed grin. “Yes, sir,” she said and then hesitated before leaning over him and kissing him on the forehead. “Get better.”
♦
The tribal council was already in full debate by the time Mia and Rowan joined the fray. Bree separated from them during their trek from the infirmary at the first sighting of Bale roaming the halls. The discussion in the conference room had little to do with Jonah and Tate’s whereabouts, and Mia had to remind herself of their overall purpose. Hinnick’s official view hadn’t changed; in fact, he shouted it with renewed vigor.
“We’re going to get invaded from the inside and the outside,” he said. “We have to start our evacuation now.”
“We don’t even know what they were doing down there,” Sara argued and a number of other representatives agreed with her. “Let’s not forget that we already have a team clearing the way down to the main generators. If we can get the power on we’ll still be safer here.”
“I think I know what they’re looking for.”
Mia heard Rowan, but it took her a moment to find him. He’d left her side and maneuvered through the crowd to the other side of the table. She wondered if her affection toward Asher played some part in his need to separate. She tried to ignore the question as Rowan’s followup silenced everyone in the room.
“They’re looking for someone,” he said. “A boy.”
“Jonah?” Sara asked.
Rowan shook his head. “No, they call him the nexus,” he explained. “They believe this boy is the source of the infection.”
A light ripple of chuckling washed over the crowd. Rowan waited until they were silent again before continuing.
“It doesn’t matter what you believe,” he said. “All that matters is that they believe.”
“How do we know such a boy even exists?” Walker asked.
“Because I’ve seen him.”
There was a noticeable silence in the room as everyone took in his response. Mia looked from face to face trying to predict the eventual argument that was sure would come. She made her pass and came back to Rowan before Walker followed up his question with another.
“And we’re supposed to base everything on our trust in you?”
Rowan’s eyes narrowed. Mia was surprised he was able to swallow the insult.
“What would you believe then?” Rowan asked.
Walker was prepared for the retort. “The commission is trying to reclaim equipment and technology that is rightfully theirs,” he said. “If they did take the boys, I would guess it was because they didn’t know what else to do with them.”
His arrogance and blatant support for the former slave lords was too much for Mia to take.
“Then obviously I am the enemy here,” she said. “If you truly believe the commission is claiming what is rightfully theirs then you must also believe they never should have been driven out of Canaan in the first place.”
Walker’s lack of faith in the tribal council was a long-standing issue. He was the tribe’s single point of contact with the safe sector and his unwillingness to share any insight into what his people truly believed about the commission or the world aboveground created a wide divide. As far as Mia knew, everyone in the safe sector had been born there and under the direct influence of the commission with no outside interference. Walker often reacted to the council as a distraction, sure the safe sector could survive quite well on its own.
“That’s not what I said,” Walker replied with a hollow smile. “You must remember our view of the world is very different from your own.”
Mia had to actively stop herself from scowling at him. She’d heard his well-rehearsed response a number of times, and it aggravated her more than anything else did.
“Everyone here knows that,” she said.
“I believe there are two separate issues before the council,” Sara said in an obvious attempt to keep the conversation moving in a productive direction. “How are we going to go forward with preparations to relocate, if necessary, and what is the importance, if any, of the apparent return of the commission to Canaan?”
Sara’s reset sent a number of the tribal council members into separate heated deliberations. Mia leaned in close to the elder councilwoman.
“If any?”
Sara put her hand up. “I understand the importance to you directly,” she said. “But I’m not sure how it impacts the entire tribe.”
Mia guarded her frustration and settled on a different approach. “Even if we can get the generators back on and close off access to the hi
ves,” she said. “We’d still be open to an attack.”
Sara nodded. “True. But none of it would matter if we decided to relocate to Cheyenne.”
Rowan slipped in beside Mia’s chair. “They’re never going to listen,” he said.
The closeness allowed Mia to let down her guard for a brief moment.
“We can’t wait on the council to decide,” she said.
Sara’s eyes spoke to her surprise in Mia’s response. Mia knew precisely what Sara would say if she gave her the chance. She’d expressed the importance of Mia’s position more times than she could count. She was right and Mia knew it. That was much easier for Mia to deal with when the situation didn’t involve her brother’s safety.
“My gut tells me they were looking for the nexus,” Rowan reconfirmed. “Himu stressed the boy’s importance to Dr. Olric and his work on the infection.” He settled his gaze on Walker. “I agree with him on one point,” Rowan said, nudging his chin at the safe sector’s representative. “I don’t believe those soldiers had any intention of taking Jonah or Tate with them. It’s more likely they took a chance on the possibility that the boys might be useful.” He bent down until he was eye level with Mia and Sara. “If that wasn’t true, I think they would have killed them where they found them.”
The sound of his deduction made Mia pull back as if the words alone might knock the wind out of her. She often struggled with her place among the tribal council, but this was something far beyond her need to go out and fight. She felt Rowan’s eyes on her, waiting for her to come to the decision he’d already made. Mia gave in and met his gaze. She knew precisely what he was going to say before he said it.
“I have to go back down there.”
♦
Mia fought the urge to get up and leave the meeting. Her focus was hopelessly lost and she couldn’t imagine pushing aside her concerns enough to be of any real use. Even so, she forced herself to stay and she was better for it. The intense debate distracted her for the moment much more than she thought possible.
The result of the heated meeting put a plan into action to gather the remaining capable engineers and prep them to move out the moment the security team returned from the generator room. Hinnick’s argument won over the council and a secondary plan was agreed upon. An order went out for every member of the tribe to be prepared to abandon Canaan in one week’s time. Mia doubted the safe sector would comply, but the advancing horde of dead left the council without another option.
The Decaying World Saga Box Set [Prequel #1-#2 & Books #1-#2] Page 78
