Blaze Erupting

by Rebecca Zanetti

  The plane ride had been silent, with all three of them working away on laptops, trying to find credible threats. When they’d arrived, Connor had tossed gloves at them both. The bacteria survived on surfaces, at least for now, so gloves were needed any time they left a secure facility.

  Then the ride in had showed so much devastation already. She swallowed. The streets were empty and several stores already boarded up. The world was hiding from Scorpius.

  The guard, an older man with a handlebar mustache, finally allowed them through the door.

  Connor lifted his phone to his ear and paused, his face revealing nothing. “Got it. Thanks.” He clicked off. “Denver has been quarantined.”

  “Denver?” Hugh coughed. “The entire city?”

  “Yes. Scorpius is taking it out quickly,” Connor said, turning away. “All right, experts. Where do we go from here?”

  “I’m going to the control room,” Ellie said, hefting her laptop over her shoulder.

  Hugh nodded. “I want to see the pools, and Connor, how about you check security? Look for problems.”

  Connor nodded. “Good enough. Remember you’re armed for a reason. Scorpius survivors, some of them anyway, go crazy. Really crazy. Something about the bacteria localizing in the brain and stripping empathy. They might try to bite and infect you.” He paused, looking them both over. “I didn’t even ask. Know how to shoot?”

  Hugh rolled his eyes. “I work for Homeland, buddy. And I grew up in the hills of Kentucky, hunting with my brothers. I can shoot.” He swallowed and looked at Ellie, his gaze darkening. “But one of us should stay with her.”

  How sweet. She shook her head. “I’ve worked for the government for ten years, Hugh. I can outshoot you.” Sure, she’d never actually shot a person, but she’d bet her bottom dollar that neither had he. “Let’s get to work.”

  The security guard led her to the main computer room, and she kept an eye out the entire way, kind of wishing Hugh had stayed with her. Her body was warmer in his presence. Always had been. Man, she had to get over this childhood crush she’d had on him. College crush. Whatever. Same thing.

  The room held several computer consoles on a metal desk. Beyond the desk was a wide window that looked out on a bunch of equipment. The place smelled of cleanser and metal, and quiet permeated the day.

  One lone guy looked up from a computer, his eyes bloodshot, his blond hair slicked back. “Thank God. Reinforcements.” His smile lifted pale skin.

  “You have a lot of people out sick?” she asked, setting her bag down at a console.

  He nodded. “Yeah. About fifty plant-wide. We’ve disinfected the place like crazy, but you’re smart to wear gloves. My name is Lew Jordan.”

  “Ellie Smithers.” She reached for cords to plug in. “I’m a security specialist.”

  “Sounds good.” He turned back to his monitors. “I’m on break in an hour, but if you need anything until then, you just let me know.”

  “Thanks.” Fifty people out were too many. She swallowed. For the first time, she wondered if they’d survive Scorpius. So far, she’d taken a cure for granted. Maybe this really was the big one.

  She worked for hours, through Lew’s break and after he returned, going through every single system in the facility. Both Hugh and Connor checked in periodically and then went back to their respective jobs. She looked for code, for hacking, for weaknesses. A couple of minor glitches caught her eye, but nothing really concerned her.

  Finally, she leaned back and stretched. It had been hours. Lew had brought her lunch, so at least she wasn’t starving.

  The door opened, and she turned to see a tall man with thick black hair stride gracefully inside.

  Lew shoved back from his desk. “Tim. Damn, man, it’s good to see you. Where have you been?”

  Tim looked around, his gaze clear. “I had to get the family to safer ground but figured I’d better return and help out.” He looked down at Ellie from about six feet of height, his face shaven, his jeans and T-shirt clean. “I’m Tim.”

  “Eleanor.” She squinted through her glasses, her eyes gritty. “What time is it, anyway?”

  “About ten at night,” Tim said, crossing his arms. “I can take over from here, Lew.” He didn’t take his gaze off Ellie. There was something a little too direct about his stare, and his position blocked any exit.

  The hair rose on the back of her neck. “How long have you been gone, Tim?” she asked, trying to sound casual.

  “About four days,” Lew said, rolling his chair back and standing up. “Too long, but you’re here now.”

  Four days? Long enough to contract and survive the fever. Not everyone who survived went sociopathic, but the odds weren’t fantastic. Ellie slowly stretched to her feet, her heart kicking into gear. “I should go find my team.”

  “I don’t think so,” Tim said, his teeth flashing in a smile.

  Lew paused. “Why? Is something up?” He looked around the room. “We haven’t found any threats so far.”

  “You haven’t been looking in the right place,” Tim said easily.

  “Shit.” Lew leaned back. “What are we missing?”

  Ellie loosened her arm in case she needed to go for her gun. Truth be told, she was a shitty shot. Maybe she should’ve practiced more, but she had always had a security detail and computers were more important to her. “I think what your buddy is saying is that he’s the threat, Lew.” Lew had obviously been existing on way too little sleep.

  Lew paused and then snorted. “Seriously. Come on.”

  Tim nodded. “She’s right. Leave, Lew. I want a moment with the smart chick.”

  Lew straightened, his haggard face sobering. “Wait a minute. Tim? Not you.”

  “Yeah, me.” Tim smiled again. “It was touch and go, but I feel amazing, man. Like nothing can stop me.”

  Ellie kept her voice low while adrenaline flooded her system. Her legs itched with the need to run, and fast. “This euphoria might be temporary, as are any homicidal thoughts you might be having. It takes a while for Scorpius to finish with the illness.” Maybe. Who the heck knew at this point?

  “Scorpius?” Lew breathed, wiping off his eyes. “Oh, Tim. I’m so sorry.” He brightened. “But you lived. You’re okay.”

  No. Tim wasn’t okay. Not at all. Ellie forced a smile. “Yeah. That’s great. But you should still be resting.”

  “I don’t need rest.” Tim’s voice lowered. “Why don’t you and I look at the schematics together?”

  Yeah. That was going to happen. Wasn’t it about time for Hugh or Connor to check in? Ellie really didn’t want to shoot this guy. Her hand inched toward her weapon.

  “Nope.” Tim grabbed a gun from the back of his waist.

  A tremor shook her, and the moment narrowed into focus. Her breath sped up.

  “Toss your gun over there.” He gestured with his.

  Ellie didn’t move. Losing her gun was a last option.

  Tim sighed, turned, and shot Lew in the leg. The sound ripped through the room, amplified by the concrete walls.

  Lew screamed and dropped on his ass, both hands instinctively covering the blood bubbling through his jeans above his knee. He gulped out pained sounds.

  Ellie jolted and started for the injured man, her mind reeling and her lungs seizing.

  Tim turned toward Ellie, keeping the gun pointed at Lew. “Stop. Toss the gun or the next bullet pierces his brain.”

  Ellie froze.

  Lew’s agony-filled eyes widened, and he looked at Ellie. His chest heaved and shuddered, but he didn’t say a word. Didn’t plead for his life. The blood poured between his fingers, coating his hands with red.

  Damn it. Ellie drew the weapon out with her thumb and forefinger and set it on the ground, gently kicking it several feet away. She could still dive for it but not before Tim could get off a shot. “You know that Scorpius can make people temporarily crazy, right?” she asked. Or permanently. Who knew at this point?

  “I’m not crazy. Just
clearheaded for the first time ever,” Tim said.

  Sweat trickled down Ellie’s back. Fear overtook her, and she had to fight to stay in the moment and not mentally retreat. Okay. She’d taken some self-defense classes for work. Eyes and balls. Go for the eyes, the knees, and the balls. But the gun was pointed at her. The fucking gun.

  She worked through the angles like the logical scientist she was, forcing reality into her brain. God, she couldn’t breathe.

  “Tim. What’s wrong with you?” Lew gasped, leaning his head back against the wall. His skin had gone eerily pale, making his tortured eyes stand out. “We’ve been friends for years.”

  “Friendship and years are overrated.” Tim shut the door behind himself.

  Ellie sidled a bit to the side, partially blocking Tim’s view of the injured man. “Listen. I know you’ve had a tough time with the bacteria, but you’re one of the few to survive. That has to mean something to you.” She tried to keep her voice low and calming, but it trembled. A shiver took her and her bones chilled. “Think of the good you can do. To help everyone.”

  Tim gestured toward her. “I’m thinking of a lot of good I can do. Take off your shirt.”

  She blinked. What? All right. “No.” Then she waited.

  His eyebrows lifted. “I have a gun.”

  Yeah, and if he shot her, he wouldn’t get to see her naked. She forced a shrug. “I don’t really care.” As a bluff, it was the best she could do.

  “Ellie? I think we—” The door opened behind Tim, and Hugh started inside, stopping immediately.

  Tim rushed forward and grabbed Ellie, yanking her around to face Hugh. She struggled against him, but he shoved the gun against her neck, and her entire body froze. The guy was tall and strong behind her. He held her hip with his left hand and pressed the gun with his right.

  Hugh’s face lost all expression. He moved closer inside, keeping his gaze on Tim. “I don’t think we’ve met.”

  “Leave. You need to leave,” Tim hissed, his fingers digging into Ellie’s hip.

  All of a sudden, the good old boy expression was back on Hugh’s face. “Well, now. What about the guy bleeding out on the floor? Shouldn’t I take him with me?”

  “Please, Tim?” Lew moaned. “Don’t you remember our friendship a little?”

  “I don’t care.” Tim’s voice rose. “Take him. It doesn’t matter.”

  Hugh studied the guy, his blue eyes piercing. “What’s your plan, buddy?”

  Ellie cleared her throat. “I don’t think he has plans with the reactor. Do you, Tim?”

  “Maybe. Resources are about to be sparse,” Tim said, his voice leveling. “I survived Scorpius. Something tells me I’d survive any amount of radiation that might be spilled.”

  The guy was nuts. Certifiable. “That’s not necessarily true,” Ellie whispered. Was there a way to get to him? Her hip was hurting, but the gun against her neck made it hard to breathe. “You mentioned family. Don’t you want to get back to them?”

  “I lied,” Tim said. “My family all died from Scorpius. I’m the only survivor.”

  “Then be a hero,” Hugh said softly. “Let the woman go, and start helping people. Perhaps you were spared for a reason.”

  Tim chuckled. “I was spared because I’m a god. It’s that simple. And now I’m going to take what I want as the world dies.”

  Hugh’s gaze darkened, and he kept it on Tim, above Ellie’s head. “A god wouldn’t need to hold a gun to a woman’s neck. A god wouldn’t need to shoot an old friend or scare anybody or even use radiation to harm a community.”

  “I didn’t say I was a good god.” Tim snorted at his own joke.

  Hugh visibly calculated the situation in a way Ellie remembered well. What was he going to do? She wanted to help, but if she moved an inch, there was a good chance Tim’s gun would go off. A tremor shook her and she tried to calm her body.

  “Hold still,” Tim barked.

  “I’m trying,” she whispered, her knees shaking.

  Hugh took another step toward them. “I think you’re a coward, Tim.” His tone was low and taunting. “Holding a woman hostage. You’re weak. Pathetic.” His upper lip curled.

  Panic gripped Ellie. What the hell was he doing?

  Hugh’s snarl grew more pronounced. “I bet you were a wimp before Scorpius.”

  Tim’s body tightened behind Ellie. “You asshole.” He turned the gun and pointed it at Hugh, shoving Ellie hard in the side.

  Faster than a blink, Hugh whipped his gun out and fired in unison with the maniac.

  Ellie screamed and smashed into the wall, her shoulder hitting and then her head. Stars exploded in her vision. The last thing she saw before crashing to the ground was blood bursting from Hugh’s shoulder.

  Then blackness.

  Chapter Five

  I might’ve saved the girl, but I shot a man. Scorpius, whether we’ve been infected or not…has changed us all.

  —Hugh Johnson, Brigade Notes

  “Hold on, Ellie.” Hugh held her closer to his chest as Connor drove maniacally through the town.

  “Want me to hit a hospital?” Connor asked, glancing over at the motionless woman.

  Hugh shook his head. “No.” Scorpius was rampant in hospitals. “Only as a last resort. She just hit her head.”

  Connor pressed a button on the dash. “Hey, boss. Hugh got shot.”

  “You okay?” Deke asked through the speaker.

  “Fine. Bullet barely grazed me. I think it has already stopped bleeding,” Hugh said.

  Connor slowed down and turned. “Was more of a scratch, really.”

  Felt like a fucking bullet. “Agreed,” Hugh said. “Ellie is out.” As he spoke, she stirred in his arms, her eyelashes fluttering. Then those stunning blue eyes focused on him. “Hello, beautiful.”

  Deke cleared his throat. “I’m assuming you’re not talking to me.”

  Ellie blinked. “You shot him,” she murmured, seeming to snuggle closer into his chest.

  “Shot?” Deke asked.

  Connor took another right turn. “We had a problem. Scorpius survivor went nuts and fired at Hugh.”

  “Is he dead?” Deke asked.

  “Yes,” Connor said. “Hugh had the better aim.”

  “The files haven’t come in on Gregor or Hugh yet, so I don’t know if that’s a good thing.” Deke sighed. “Status?”

  “You’re a dick, and I’m perfectly on the right side.” Hugh brushed hair away from Ellie’s head. “We need to get a better security protocol in place at the power plant. Connor called in reinforcements and they should arrive tomorrow morning.”

  “Affirmative,” Deke said. “As soon as you give them instructions, get on the plane. We need Ellie here at the Pennsylvania power plant.”

  Ellie sat up in Hugh’s lap. “You found something?”

  “Maybe.” Deke’s voice crackled over the speakers. “Somebody has definitely gotten into the computer system, but we need your expertise.”

  She rubbed her temple. “Email me what you have, and I’ll look at it tonight.” Then she looked outside at the streetlights flashing by. “I guess I’ll look at it as soon as you send it.”

  “Thanks. Deke out.” A click came over the line and then silence.

  Connor pulled the SUV into the parking lot of a quaint-looking motel off the main highway. He cut the engine and stepped out, pausing. “Two or three rooms?”

  “Two,” Hugh answered before Ellie could. She went still in his arms.

  Connor eyed her. “Protest now if you don’t agree.”

  She didn’t say a word.

  Hugh’s chest tightened.

  “Well, you did save her.” Connor nodded and then headed for the office, which had a bright red door compared to the muted blue doors of the rooms.

  Ellie turned to meet Hugh’s gaze. “What are you doing?”

  “You have a concussion probably,” Hugh said evenly. “I’m sure there will be two beds, and I won’t come near you. But you do
need to be observed.” Having her soft little body on his lap was pretty much killing him, but he had to watch that concussion.

  “Oh.” She opened his door and scooted off him, rubbing right across his aching cock.

  He bit back a groan.

  She stood, waiting a second as her balance took. Then she looked up. “That’s too bad. I was kind of hoping we could have sex.” Then she turned and strode toward the motel, her sweet ass swaying in her dark jeans.

  Sex?

  His cock sprang fully awake, and he was out of the car before he could take another breath.

  Was she serious?

  * * * *

  Ellie reached the office just as Connor stepped out and handed her the key to room ten. What the hell had she been thinking? Hugh had promised not to touch her, and she’d just blurted out the first thing she could think of to say. That was so not like her.

  Maybe she did have a concussion. In college, he had held all the cards. She had been shy and awkward, and he’d been the freaking star. The guy who hadn’t wanted to take advantage of her.

  She was a woman now. A successful, strong, adventurous woman.

  Holy hell. What had she been thinking to say that to him? Her skin sensitized, and she lowered her chin, moving down the walkway and sliding the key into the slot.

  “Wait.” Connor ran to the SUV and took two packs out of the back, tossing one at Hugh, who caught it easily. “The hotel manager assured me that they cleanse the rooms every day, but still. We can’t be too careful. Wipe down the room before you take off your gloves.”

  She pushed open the door, more than a little grateful for the leather still protecting her fingers from the damn Scorpius bacteria.

  Hugh strode in behind her and unzipped the bag, taking out buckets of antibacterial spray and wipes. It took them almost thirty minutes to completely disinfect the room, and only then did Ellie notice there was only one bed. She stood and stared at it.

  “What you said?” Hugh asked when he finished wiping down the small television set. “I know you have a concussion.”