We Shall Be Monsters

by Ryan Decaria

  “Yeah,” the woman said. “Not going to happen.”

  Sasha eased around to peak out. A short woman in a business suit and bandages waved a handless arm around. Great. Macy was up, which explained how Anika was outed. Killing her would have been the right thing to do. Still, Sasha was glad her friends hadn’t become murderers.

  “Please,” the man said. “You’re not well.”

  Sasha moved until she could see him. Tony from the front desk had his palms out and inched a little closer.

  Sasha ducked. Could she kill Macy? Should she finish the job now that Anika was outed? Sasha padded down the hall, away from the conflict. Not her problem. Not anymore. Single focus.

  “Back off!” Macy shouted.

  “Whoa.” Tony’s voice hit a high pitch. “Put the gun away.”

  Sasha stopped as a solitary thought slammed into her head: W.W.A.D.

  Billie’s advice: What would Anika do?

  If Sasha didn’t want to be monstrous, she needed a moral compass. Was that why she clung to Anika? Perhaps it was that simple.

  Sasha stalked back to the doorway.

  Through the windows, she could see Tony gingerly approach Macy. Sasha had never met Tony, but the girls liked him. She’d met Gregory once. They weren’t backing off, and they were worth saving.

  Macy stood right in front of the doors. She pistol-whipped Tony in the noggin. He collapsed to the ground. Macy raised her gun at Gregory.

  Sasha kicked the door open, knocking Macy to the far wall. She collapsed in a heap and didn’t move. Sasha raced into the hall and turned toward Gregory, who stood there, his jaw hanging open and his eyes huge circles of bewilderment.

  “I’m an angel,” Sasha said. Anika would make up a lie, so she went with the first thing she thought of. “I live in the walls.”

  He covered his mouth with his giant hand.

  Macy was still breathing but was extremely unconscious. Maybe she wouldn’t wake up for another month. Gregory picked up her gun.

  “Wait,” Sasha called out, but it was too late. Gregory crunched the gun in his fist and dropped it to the ground. Dang, she could have used that.

  Sasha knelt by Tony, inspecting the bruise forming on his forehead. His eyes flickered open.

  “Am I dead?”

  Sasha smiled. “No. You’ll be fine.”

  He shut his eyes and moaned.

  Sasha picked him up and spoke to Gregory. “Get the witch.”

  Gregory complied, picking Macy up off the ground by her arm, holding her like a toddler with a rag doll.

  “Lead us to the infirmary, please.” Sasha knew the way to the lab’s center from there.

  Gregory turned and led her to an elevator and struggled to push the button. His finger was too large and uncoordinated to hit the right spot. Sasha secured Tony, who snored against her chest, and pressed the button.

  Inside, Gregory stared at the unlabeled button console, uncertain how to proceed. Sasha pointed to each button in turn, but Gregory shrugged his shoulders.

  She examined Tony. He probably had a concussion, but he’d be okay.

  “Tony. Tony, can you hear me?”

  He didn’t move.

  She couldn’t reach his face without setting him down. Except his face was fairly close to hers. Wouldn’t hurt. She gently brushed her lips against his. “I need you to wake up.”

  He opened his eyes, brilliant blue eyes staring in wonder.

  “What button do I push for the infirmary?”

  “The blue one.”

  She examined the console. “They’re all blue.”

  “Who are you?”

  W.W.A.D.? She’d make up another lie. “I live in the walls, in the electricity.” For emphasis, she pulled a little power from the lights, which flickered.

  He nodded. In this place, that likely made as much sense as anything else he’d seen. “The middle one.”

  Sasha pressed the button.

  “Gregory?” Tony said. “Are you alright?”

  Sasha turned so Tony could see him. Gregory grunted.

  The doors opened to another empty hallway. Gregory led the way to the infirmary. Tony closed his eyes, breathing easy. Sasha needed to find Anika. Singular mission.

  A nurse met them in the lobby. “What happened?”

  “Where should I put him?” Sasha pushed past the nurse into the back rooms.

  The nurse chased after her. “Room 3.”

  “The psycho whacked him in the head.” Sasha set him on a hospital bed.

  She glanced at Sasha’s bare legs and feet. “And who are you?”

  Gregory set Macy into the other bed.

  Sasha pulled the power from the infirmary into her body, electricity arcing into her hands, plunging the infirmary into darkness. She tiptoed out of the room and sprinted out of the infirmary, letting the lights flick back on behind her. Let them figure that out.

  Sasha knew the way, and when she reached the balcony, she vaulted over the railing and dropped to the ground floor. The room was empty, but the machine still bustled with activity and electricity. As she climbed over the barrier, the machine zapped her with tiny static bolts. It was excruciating. Sasha gritted her teeth and plunged into the hole leading to the cavern below.

  Anika walked death row. Well, limped along—shuffled at best. Boulsour held her up by a fistful of her shirt. Death row was a long white corridor with science equipment in laboratory rooms along the way. A cruel torment, as fate would never see her make use of any of them. Oh well, they were probably being used for evil, anyway. Morally gray lines she could justify, but evil was out.

  Now, if she’d had a way to electrocute herself to act as a catalyst to the drugs she’d injected. Like an electric fence she could toss herself against. No, not a fence, silly, not in a laboratory. A wall socket and a fork. She needed a fork. Wait, was there an incubation period?

  She hadn’t thought this whole thing through.

  Anika followed her father around the last turn to the hallway with the secret doorway to his hidden laboratory. Margery kept eyeing her as momentum carried her forward, somehow managing to keep one foot in front of the other. She didn’t feel any stronger. The lights overhead burned her eyeballs. The gash in her cheek screamed in her head.

  “What is wrong with you?” Dravovitch studied her face. “You’re normally very catty.”

  Her stomach lurched. She stuck out her tongue.

  He stopped and frowned. “You have no questions? Perhaps you know more than I thought.”

  Anika’s stomach pains eased, and she smiled. Give him something else to think about. “I know what I would do with the lab if I were in charge.”

  He smirked, smoothing out his crazy gray hair. “Do tell.”

  “First, I’d make sure my friends were safe from your monsters.”

  He moved closer, one eyebrow raising an inch as he examined her hair. “Those friends of yours know more than they should.”

  “They didn’t choose to get stuck in this stupid town with you and the awful people you employ. See, I’d make sure the children were safe.” That was true. Maybe she wasn’t as dark as the rest of her family.

  “I have made certain precautions.” He stroked his chin. “Fine. I shall revisit the issue. I’ll see to their safety. What would you do next?”

  Margery clasped a clipboard to her chest and tapped her foot.

  Boulsour held her steady, so why not? “I’d cure something. Cancer.”

  He laughed. “How humane of you.”

  “Give me a year. With your resources and my blood…”

  “Don’t you see, Anika?” He surged forward, getting in her face. “It’s my blood. I made it.”

  Her legs warbled. Boulsour had her shirt bunched up behind her, keeping her upright. Did he even know he was helping? She couldn’t keep this up, though. She needed to hurry this along.

  “Anika.” Dravovitch rested his hand on the secret door. “Perhaps you’d like to tell me how you got into my lab? Bett
er, in fact, why don’t you show me.”

  Her face ached, and she might start dry heaving at his absurdity at any moment. Keep it together.

  Margery motioned toward the secret door. “Can we get on with this?”

  She gave him a shrug, as much as she could with the hallway spinning. Finally, he placed his hand high on the wall with his fingers apart, and the door opened. The dank musky air from the cavern hit her like nearing a dog food factory on a windy day. Margery gave Anika one more glance before she entered the tunnel.

  Dravovitch followed. “Bring her.”

  Anika closed her eyes and Boulsour steadied her as she listened to her father tromp to the lab. He didn’t give a single thought that Boulsour might betray him. No, Boulsour never would.

  Anika glared up at her friend. “I wanted to trust you.”

  His eyes didn’t waver.

  Anika gagged and threw up onto the floor.

  Boulsour didn’t flinch, keeping his eyes level, well above Anika’s head. She put her hands on her knees and waited a minute.

  “Boulsour!” Dravovitch barked. “Bring her now.”

  Boulsour grabbed her arm and pulled her into the tunnel. He had to lean over to fit. The door shut behind them, plunging the tunnel into darkness. He kept her upright and moving until she entered the cavern where the mechanical rain cloud loomed over them. She was one lightning strike from…well, from whatever was going to happen. Insect life? Death? Bursting into flames? Didn’t matter. As long as Dravovitch didn’t make it out of this tomb he’d built.

  On the platform, Dravovitch donned a crisp white lab coat. Margery sat at the console, studying the readouts flashing across the screens. In the corner, locked in a metal cage, Hayden slumped against the walls with huge metal shackles on her arms and legs. She gave Anika a grim smile before her head drooped forward.

  “Let her go,” Anika shouted. “Why are you so terrible?”

  Dravovitch leered at Hayden with a sly grin. “She’s a spy, and a thief. She used her feminine wiles to infiltrate my laboratory. I was blinded at first, but you, you helped me see past her charms. She was there that night, too, sneaking around doing who knows what.”

  Anika continued forward, Boulsour keeping her upright. “What proof do you have she’s a spy?”

  “We caught her rooting around Edward’s office.” He put his fingers to his lips. “Also, she’s too perfect. She seems so attractive and beautiful, but she’s actually a giant mess and a phony. I should have noticed it sooner. Pheromones perhaps, or something more devious. I’ll find out who she works for soon enough.”

  Hayden mouthed I’m sorry.

  “I don’t want her to see me get fried,” Anika pleaded. “Send her away.”

  She had to get her father to let Hayden go, but instead of useful thoughts, Anika nearly passed out. Boulsour caught her and helped her to the platform.

  Dravovitch didn’t notice. He stared into a mirror, fastening dark goggles on his head, resting them on his forehead. A prototypical mad scientist to the end. What a cliché!

  “She’s irrelevant.” He swept his arm forward in a grand gesture. “Come, we have fittings to prepare.”

  If not for Boulsour, Anika would never have made it up the stairs. Her blood pulsed at the wound on her cheek. Anika took a few steps forward and stumbled, catching herself on the side of the desk.

  Dravovitch stood at his new shelves, his hand resting on the wooden box containing the part her mother made to kill him. He turned and examined Anika, his eyes narrowing. Margery tossed her fake hair over her shoulder.

  “Why not Margery?” Anika snarled at her half-sister. “Huh? Why not use her instead? Why can’t we rule the galaxy together?”

  He raised a wild eyebrow which melded with the white hair sticking out under his goggles. “Anika. Such delusions of grandeur.”

  “Or Ms. Bolton. Why do you have to use me?” Tears escaped their ducts. Little traitors.

  He turned to examine his precious machine. “Of course, you figured it all out, haven’t you? Such a clever child. I do wish it could be different.” He sighed. “I’ve been at this a long time. Some of your sisters came close to being what I needed. But you, my child, are the perfect vessel. At long last, you are my best chance at perfection.”

  Anika steadied herself against the desk. “You don’t deserve it. Any of it.”

  “And you do? Is that it? You’re such a noble being that I should swallow my pride and sacrifice everything I’ve built?”

  “Yes.” Anika ground her teeth. “You’ve had more than enough time and you’ve wasted it. You’ve caused so much pain and heartache. And for what? For more time to cause pain and heartache? Yes, Dad. It’s my turn.”

  He flashed his perfect white teeth. “You might be right. But after today, I won’t have to worry about any of this nonsense. I can focus on other matters.”

  She punched his chest—the weakest punch known to humankind. Under normal circumstances she should have been embarrassed. At least she didn’t fall over or puke everywhere. “Like taking over the world?”

  He swept by her, his lab coat billowing behind him. “I’m going to start small, of course. Perhaps I’ll take over the United States in a few years. Plans are in motion, and perhaps your Misty friends can provide me new tools to make it even easier.”

  “You’ll never find them.”

  “Misty is quite remarkable. I assume the original died in the fire. Of course, her father would lie to me to protect her. But why three?”

  Anika grit her teeth. She’d failed her friends.

  “Perhaps she’ll be useful, but the technology will be invaluable. Clone and replace?” He tapped the side of his head. “Trite, but could be effective, yes?”

  He’d never leave Misty alone. Their illustrious career as a magician dead before they even had a chance at greatness.

  “And that cheerleader. Whatever she’s got going on in her noggin will be extremely useful. I wonder what other side projects my scientists are working on.” He regarded Anika. “You didn’t think dear Coralynn would actually keep it a secret from me, did you?”

  “Leave them alone.” Anika collapsed into a chair, her desperation masking her body’s failure to remain standing. If Anika didn’t hulk out and kill him soon, her friends were sunk. She needed electricity to activate the drugs in her system.

  “Yet, you still have hope, Anika,” he said. “I can see it on your face.”

  Probably the nausea or a muscle spasm, but he could think whatever he wanted. “Wonder what else I’ve got up my sleeve?”

  He reached into the wooden box and pulled out her mother’s device. “I bet you were all ready to flee after you planted this in my machine. Your mother is here, in Moreau, isn’t she? A shame. I would have liked to speak with her again.”

  Anika’s heart sunk. Her head fell into her arms folded on the desk. Everything she’d tried to do to save her friends was wasted. Her father would use them up and spit them out, and it was all Anika’s fault. She should never have pulled them into her disaster of a life. She risked them again and again, and now their lives were ruined because of it.

  “I’ve been planning this moment for over fifty years. What do you think this is going to do to me?” His voice changed pitch to a lofty shrill. “Kill me?”

  He laughed. Anika wouldn’t have used the word maniacal exactly, but definitely verging on it.

  Anika had failed. She’d failed her friends. Her mom. Billie.

  That’s when Hayden screamed.

  Dravovitch bolted past Anika to the stairs and gawked at Hayden. Anika stumbled beside him, barely staying on her feet. Below in the cage, Jackie was coming out of her shell.

  Hayden’s hair darkened, coiling up into tight curls. Her skin faded to a rich chocolate tone. Her body shrunk in height and grew in girth, the manacles tightening around Jackie’s expanding wrists, crushing her flesh.

  Dravovitch whistled through his stupid teeth. “Remarkable.”

  “Th
e restraints are too tight,” Anika shouted. “Get them off. Help her!”

  He bounded down the stairs. Jackie cried out as he jangled a set of keys. He was whispering to Jackie, trying to calm her.

  Finally, Jackie stopped screaming, settling into a miserable sob.

  Now, Anika. While he was distracted, Anika sprang into action. She needed a weapon or a fork and an electrical outlet. She stumbled across the platform. The ancient spear! The case was a few steps away. Margery flew out of her chair and backed away. Boulsour stood still.

  Anika reached out and fell on her face, a few feet from the spear. Her cheek screamed as blood filled her mouth. Drat. Anika opened her mouth and let the blood fall through the grating in the platform to the rock below.

  Boulsour picked her up and set her back into the chair. Margery came forward, pulling a light from her pocket, but Anika swatted her hand away. She dropped a handkerchief near Anika and backed away.

  Finally, Dravovitch strolled back onto the platform. “Amazing. I’ve never seen anything like that.”

  “Let her go,” Anika said. “Please.”

  “Edwards never told me about his experiments. I knew he was brilliant, but I never suspected he could achieve something so remarkable. I wonder what he was planning to do with her.”

  Anika dabbed the blood from her lips. “Maybe he wanted to help her.”

  Dravovitch nodded. “Well he screwed it all up, then, didn’t he?”

  “Yeah, he did.” Anika lowered the bloody cloth and tossed it off the platform. She couldn’t help but smile. “What are you going to do with her?”

  He studied Jackie. “Well, I’m going to help her if I can. But you know I can’t let something like this go to waste. I’ll learn what I can from Edwards, but Jackie is too useful an asset.”

  Anika forced herself upright and struggled to keep her stomach from emptying itself again. “Please, let her go.”

  “Another tool at my disposal. Excellent.”

  Anika wanted to beg him to spare her, but the spinning of the cavern prevented her from forming the words, so she said nothing. Jackie was already lost. Anika had one last chance. If enough electricity poured into her, she’d hopefully sprout mandibles and devour dear old Dad.