Don’t worry, Doc, I’m not going anywhere besides where I’m needed. Send me in first. I’m not afraid of the little Crew people and their bullets.
Brian threw his head back and howled to the night sky, his human soul buried under layers of madness, resuming its screams for salvation that no one would ever hear.
29
Chapter 29
The night passed just as Kyle expected: tossing and turning while he checked the time on his cell phone every two minutes. Calling it the longest night of his life was an understatement. Even the night after watching his grandmother get slaughtered by an alien species didn’t prove this difficult to fall into a deep REM cycle. Tonight, however, Kyle’s mind was too occupied to relax. He thought back to moments as a child when Susan ran him through homemade obstacle courses in her backyard. Or the other times she kept him at the kitchen table after completing his homework to work on what she called “more advanced” problems. It all led to this moment that she knew would come. According to Colonel Griffins, Susan had always been ahead of her time, and this proved no different. How could she ever have known that he would pass the rigorous exam offered by the Crew?
Around three in the morning, Kyle had pulled out his tracking device—Susan’s tracking device—and fueled his growing sense of doom. Whatever was happening with the devices’ malfunction grew worse with each passing day. When he had moved to Washington, they were already losing steam, revealing less Exalls than The Crew knew existed. By this never-ending night, the device in his hand showed an entire handful of Exalls spread across the world, not a single one within the United States.
But they’re out there, he thought, looking at the blank screen. Somewhere within a five mile radius was the Exall who just tried to kill him and Jason on the freeway. Somewhere on the blank map was at least one Exall upset that he survived, plotting their next move to wipe Kyle off the face of the Earth. And somewhere there’s an Exall strapped to a table underground.
Sandra occupied his early morning thoughts for a few minutes, but nothing could overshadow the twisting knot in his gut that sensed death in the air. The tracking devices were as good as offline, leaving the entire Crew vulnerable to any attack once they stepped outside the Pentagon.
Once five o’clock rolled around, the sun made its first appearance over the horizon, not that Kyle knew. He’d managed a whole night without sleep and now had to function as a hooked worm to lure the Exalls to The Crew. His brain itched with fatigue while his eyes puffed in their sockets.
The thought of taking on such a grand task while mentally running on fumes made him want to tip over on his bed and cry. He tried, in fact, to do just that, but no tears could be generated, just raw, trembling fear.
Accepting his fate, Kyle rose from bed and dressed as slowly as he could, slipping into his official Crew combat uniform for the first time since trying it on for size. The material was thin and stretchy, black to blend in with the night if need be, but also made of a special fiber to deflect bullets and blades. The protection it provided only worked from a distance—a gunshot from close range would still cause lethal damage. Yet, if he was that close to an Exall, he was expected to engage in the hand-to-hand combat that had been a focal part of the training program.
Brian, he thought, the idea of having to kill his friend left intentionally distant in his mind until this moment. It’s not really Brian; it only looks like him. And sounds like him. And moves like him. And sends text messages to Mikey.
Once dressed, he made his way to the cafeteria. He never drank coffee, scared of the way people seemed addicted to the caffeine and pretended it was normal, but this morning he had no choice. He’d drink all the coffee in the building if he had to, because once he got further along in the day, his body would demand sleep. And since he didn’t know when he might be in his room next, it was best to prepare for the worst.
The cafeteria was nearly deserted at this time of the morning, only a couple other people standing in line at the counter, three others at a table in the far corner, sipping their coffee and nibbling on muffins as if everything were okay in the world.
Kyle went straight for the coffee bar that already had pots brewing. He grabbed a foam cup and filled it to the rim, taking a cautious sip as steam oozed from the surface.
The flavor hit his tongue and made him gag, and he immediately remembered he needed to add milk and sugar so it wouldn’t taste like dirt. He did this, not knowing which sugar was best, and clueless as to how much milk was required. He poured until the coffee turned light brown, mixed it, and took another sip more bearable for his taste buds.
He stayed by the bar, gulping down the first cup and beginning a second. With a fresh cup in hand, Kyle swiped a banana from the counter and found a spot in a side booth, trying to look and feel as normal as he could manage. The other table of Crew members had left, leaving him alone in the entire cafeteria. The thought shook him, and his paranoia kicked in.
What if an Exall barged in here right now? How much time would I have before someone showed up to help?
He checked his cell phone to find only 40 minutes had passed since he decided to get out of bed and attempt the day ahead. If he returned to his room, an hour of sleep awaited before he was required in the colonel’s office.
He finished off the second cup of coffee, the caffeine no match for his mind’s desperation for a quick hour of shuteye. Kyle bolted out of the cafeteria, never so anxious to return to his room where the stiff mattress and pillow awaited him like tempting fluffy clouds to grace his exhausted body.
On the journey to his room he only passed one person, many still asleep or getting ready in their rooms. When he reached his hallway, Kyle rushed to his door, lunging into it as he slid the key into the lock and twisted in one smooth motion. He dove for his bed, slamming the door shut behind him, and let the flood of relief pour over his mind and body.
The room spun around him as he stared to the ceiling, his brain fighting to shut itself down. When his cell phone buzzed in his pocket, Kyle let out a childish whimper, begging God to just let him sleep. He pulled out his phone and immediately jolted at the sight of the message flashing on his screen, like someone had tossed a bucket of ice water on his head.
His hands shook as he opened a text message from Brian.
Kyle, I’m still alive in my body. When we meet today, please don’t kill me. I KNOW I can make it out of this, I just need your help.
Kyle stared at the message for the next five minutes, trying to dissect every word, looking for some sort of hidden message, and deciding Brian wouldn’t have the time to craft a hidden message with his limited resources. What he said is what he meant.
He got through to me, Kyle thought, a tired grin crossing his face. He knows I’m with The Crew, too, and can help.
He jumped off his bed, riding the momentary wave of adrenaline, and left for Colonel Griffins’s office an hour early.
30
Chapter 30
“It’s time!” the doctor shouted to the crowd of 1,500 Exalls gathered around. They had been trickling in all night, sharing stories of their new lives on the run, bragging to the doctor about the new recruits they were able to snag. It seemed whenever a new Exall introduced themselves to Dr. Klemens, it became an instant battle of egos. They wanted to impress him, yet he didn’t want to be outdone by someone who had just become gray within the past few weeks.
“Everything is in motion,” he continued, the crowd falling silent as he spoke in a devious tone. “You all know the plan and where you need to be for us to execute it. There will be gunfire, and there will be death. Some of you will not be back here when this is all over. I want to thank you now for your sacrifice.” Dozens in the group nodded their head as if this fact didn’t bother them one bit. “For the sake of our species and for our future on this planet, we must capture the Wells boy. Do not kill him—I want him alive. Once we have him, open up fire on The Crew. I don’t want you to stop shooting until you either die, or th
ere is no one left to shoot. Is that clear?”
They howled: a chilling, lunatic sound. The sun made its first appearance of the morning, a golden, fiery glow kissing the tops of the trees, clearing the light morning fog that had settled over their meeting grounds.
Brian stood in the back, his soul being ripped into several pieces as he watched from within. Part of him wanted to howl with the rest of them—in fact, he did—while the other part, his human side, longed to turn around and sprint away. Running off to live in a remote city far from Washington sounded much better than what was going to happen in a few hours.
He had what he thought were dreams the night before, but he hadn’t slept. It was more like a vision, a hallucination. He figured the doctor had somehow implanted the visions in his mind—nothing else seemed a rational explanation.
Whenever he closed his eyes he saw Kyle, dead on the ground, blood oozing from his skull. The setting was unknown. They were in the middle of what seemed like a park, but there were no benches, pathways, or people around to know for sure, just a wide expanse of grass as far as the eye could see. The vision disturbed the shred of humanity that clung to life within Brian’s body. Kyle was his best friend – he always looked out for him, and would never do a thing to harm him. Brian felt the same, but he no longer called the shots. Was the doctor twisted enough to show him a preview of what was to come?
Within his deepest fibers, he knew today ended with either himself or Kyle dead, possibly even both. He wanted neither, but was shackled to his own body that now ran like a car remote-controlled by the lunatic doctor. He only hoped that he’d be set free should he survive the day. Free from Hudson Klemens. Free from the Exalls. Free to return to the life he once had as an innocent teenager. He was supposed to be starting his senior year, a life full of college plans and figuring out who to ask to prom. Not killing innocent people because an otherworldly monster had taken control of his mind and body.
Death awaited and there was nothing he could do about it. Within twenty-four hours, Kyle would be dead – Brian was certain of it. The doctor wouldn’t allow any other situation to unfold. Brian had done his best and sent a message to Kyle’s phone through the will of his new, powerful mind. Hopefully it reached him.
Conversation had broken out across the group of Exalls, but faded into whispers. Brian, who had hidden in the back, looked up to see the Exalls waddling their way to the center of the open space they had already turned into an outdoor meeting area. He couldn’t see over the crowd and pushed his way toward the front.
The doctor had both hands raised in the air, a cocky grin on his face. He remained silent, yet managed to gather the entire group of Exalls, as if they were hypnotized. The Exalls subtly rocked from side to side as they waited.
The world fell silent, and somewhere in the distance a crow cawed to provide the only audible sound. With the entire crowd’s attention, the doctor spoke in a confident, booming voice.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I thought it might be a few hours for everything to be ready, but the time is now. For years, as humans, you’ve endured lives of stress and pent-up aggression. Even those of you who think you lived happy lives, you surely have some dark corners in your little souls. Today I ask you to tap into the darkness and unleash the rage. If we don’t succeed, our entire population will be wiped off the planet within a couple of days. It’s important you make every decision with total confidence. If we succeed, the world is ours. Are there any questions?”
The silence remained as the Exalls looked mindlessly around at each other. Brian had slunk back into the crowd, not wanting to be seen.
“You’ll attack any and all members of The Crew. They are the only ones in the world who have access to the special ammunition that can kill us. Eliminate anyone else who gets in your way. Police officers, and even regular military have no way of stopping us. Their bullets will pass through your skin without any pain. The Crew can still be harmed by regular bullets, but they will be heavily armored. Stealth is key once you come into close proximity to a Crew member. If you get the opportunity to disarm them before engaging, I highly suggest you do so. Without their special guns, they’re just regular humans you can pulverize. And make sure you do so with a smile.”
The doctor widened his grin, looking like a mental asylum escapee covered in gray chalk.
“Now head back to your vehicles, grab your weapons if you haven’t already, and let’s head for the Pentagon. They should no longer be able to tell that we are coming, so this will be a complete ambush.”
The doctor reared his head back and puffed out his chest, his face to the bright blue sky above as he howled.
The rest of the Exalls joined the chorus for a brief, sonic moment of unity. The howling died down and everyone dispersed from the meeting area, working their way through the woods to return to their cars and trucks. Everyone but Brian. He wanted to turn and walk, but his feet remained stuck in the dirt, unable to so much as wiggle his toes.
A few minutes passed for the hundreds of Exalls to clear out, but when they did, it was just the doctor smiling at Brian who hadn’t moved the entire time.
“If you try to contact your friend again, I will personally kill him while you watch, and then you’ll be joining him right after. Are we clear?”
Brian fought with all his might to move his feet, but failed, an invisible shackle strapped around each ankle.
“Yes,” he replied, defeated. There was no point in lying to someone who was already in your head.
“Good. Either way is fine with me, I’d just prefer to not put myself in the line of fire. But I will do so to prove my point.”
The doctor walked past Brian and patted him on the head like an obedient dog. The tension around Brian’s ankles released and he tumbled forward, arms swinging to catch his balance.
“Let’s go,” the doctor called over his shoulder. “I’ll give you a lift.”
Brian hung his head and watched as his legs followed the doctor against his will.
31
Chapter 31
Kyle panted for breath as he reached the Colonel’s office, having just run across the complex. He knocked rapidly and urgently, debated barging in, but knew he had no right to do so.
“I’m coming, I’m coming – relax,” the colonel grumbled from inside. Seconds later the lock unlatched and his familiar bushy eyebrows appeared through the crack in the doorway. “Wells? What are you doing here already?” His eyes examined Kyle, trying to piece together why the teenage phenom was already dressed for the day ahead.
“I need to talk to you,” Kyle said, still huffing and puffing, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
“Come in.”
Colonel Griffins pulled the door open and stepped aside, closing it once Kyle was situated in the seat at his desk. He crossed the room in slow motion, his mind and body exhausted from the last week of events.
“Colonel, I got a text message from Brian,” Kyle said before Griffins had even sat down.
“From Brian?”
Kyle nodded, eyes bulging, heart racing at the anticipation of what would happen with this information. The thought of Sandra also pushed to the front of his mind, pulsing like a distant heartbeat buried underground.
“That doesn’t make any sense, he’s—”
“An Exall, yes. And it does make sense. He’s been sending these messages to my friends, and now I got one. The messages always come from a blocked number.”
“If they have cell phones, then we should be able to track them. Our ETD’s are basically worthless at this point—they found a way to go undetected.”
Colonel Griffins scrunched his face while he stared at his desk. Kyle dropped his cell phone into his vision, snapping the old man out of his trance.
“I don’t want it,” Kyle said. “If I get another message I’m not sure how I’ll handle it. I just need to focus on today; I can’t have any of these mind games right now.”
Griffins nodded and grabbed the phone, studying
it like an ancient artifact. “I agree. We’ll make sure you have a radio before we head out there; we still need to have a line of communication to you.”
“What’s going to happen today?” Kyle asked.
A knock rapped on the door, interrupting them.
“Come in!” Griffins growled.
A familiar face popped in, but not one Kyle knew on a first name basis. The man had a buzz cut, glasses perched on a pointy nose, and brown eyes swimming with terror.
“Captain Ramírez,” Griffins said. “What’s the problem?”
“Sir, they’re on the way.”
“Who’s on the way?”
“The Exalls, sir.”
“Here?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Bullshit! Why would they come here? They have no chance.”
“That’s what we thought as well, at first. Figured it was maybe a decoy, but it appears they are headed right for the Pentagon.”
“How are you tracking them?”
“We have people tailing a couple of them. They disappeared into the woods in Virginia last night, and drove out a few minutes ago with a lot of other cars following. We’re not certain all of the cars are filled with Exalls, but we suspect it. They’re all driving in a single-file line, headed this way.”
Griffins’s phone rang and he snapped it off the hook in a quick, jerky motion.
“Grady, tell me something good,” he said.
Griffins nodded as he listened, his face stonier than ever.
“Stop them,” Griffins said bluntly. “By any means.”
He slammed the phone down, shaking his head. “It’s time for us to head out there.”
Griffins stood from his desk, turned to the closet behind him, and swung open the doors to reveal a rack of rifles. He rummaged through the bottom and pulled out a bulletproof vest, sliding into it as easily as he might a windbreaker. He snatched a rifle and stormed out of the office. “Follow me,” he grumbled over his shoulder.
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