“Yes?”
“I…feel weird.” She stammered.
“Weird? What’s wrong?” She asked.
Samantha slid down her left sleeve and showed Giselle her forearm.
“It bit me.” She admitted.
Chapter 39
Steven’s Defense
Gunfire roused Steven from sleep in his second story apartment. Giselle acquired the apartment with an at-home instructor that gave him lessons in private. The stairs, a few feet from the apartment door, led down into the underground passageways that were guarded by a half a dozen armed soldiers. She took no chances with Steven’s safety as each instructor also taught gun safety and precision shooting. Bright lights outside his window had him squinting. As the glow diminished, figures in the street scurried around like roaches seeking a dark corner. Some of them were shooting.
“Not again.” He sighed as his forehead pressed against the window. Other men shot back at them. “What’s going on?” He wondered and was startled when gunfire struck his building a few feet from his window.
“Ethan, wake up!” He hollered to the other room.
The night before, Ethan stopped by to visit. They shared stories of their time with Miss Giselle and about what they’ve been up to recently. It was late and he decided to stay the night. Although an armed guard was assigned right outside Steven’s apartment, he still felt alone and enjoyed the company.
The door to his room opened and Ethan was rubbing at his eyes.
“What’s wrong Steven? Have another nightmare?” Ethan asked.
“Outside, people are shooting…look!” He placed his forehead on the window again, looked down at the street and pointed at the men down below.
“You’re kidding right?” Ethan hurried over and joined Steven. “Shit, you’re right. I’ve gotta call the lab. They’re right below it.” Ethan darted over to the phone and picked it up. It was silent. He pushed the button on the receiver attempting to reset the dial tone with no luck.
“The phone’s dead. Should we leave?” Ethan asked and placed the phone back in its base.
“I’ll ask Mr. Flynn.” Steven opened the front door and another man was on guard duty.
“Yes?” The man asked.
“Where’s Mr. Flynn, Sir?” Steven asked forgetting the man’s name.
“Mr. Flynn? Oh, Brandon, yeah he’s taking a break. I think he’s heating up a sandwich or something.” The man lied horribly.
“While there’s shooting outside?” Steven asked. The man’s face appeared surprised.
“Oh, really? You two should, uh, stay in your apartment. Someone will call you when it’s safe.” The man stammered.
“On what? The phone’s dead.” Ethan added.
“It’s what? I’ll report it on the radio. Go back in your apartment. Don’t worry; we’ve got everything under control.” The man urged.
If anything he was saying was the truth, then he’s got little confidence in their safety. Steven can sniff out bullshit. He went back inside with Ethan, shut the door and locked it.
“What do you think?” Ethan asked.
“I think it’s time to go get Katrina.” Steven smiled and disappeared into his bedroom.
“Katrina? Who’s that?” Ethan asked.
“A what, Ethan. It’s my pistol.” Steven strolled back into the room inserting a magazine and verifying that the safety was on.
“Shit! Where’d you get that? That’s real Steven.” Ethan noticed and backed up cautiously.
“I know. It was a gift from Miss Giselle before she left.” Steven smiled while inspecting it closely as he twisted it around in his hand. It weighed much lighter than the gun he used to kill the Azrael a bit ago.
“You named it Katrina?”
“It’s my mom’s name.”
“It’s a pretty name. Have you shot it yet?”
“A bunch of times. I’m not as good as Miss Giselle, but I’m getting better.” Steven admitted.
“I doubt anyone is as good as her. She’s not normal, you know.”
“The eyes?”
“Well, yeah. But more than that. She’s like the zombies.”
“She’s not!” Steven spat. “She’s nothing like those monsters, Ethan. Take it back!” Steven glared at Ethan.
“I take it back. I’m sorry, it’s just…you know that she’s different, right?” He asked.
“She’s got creepy eyes and she eats more than anyone I know.” Steven said.
“She’s more than that Steven. She’s contagious. Dr. Jane told me about her. Said that she could infect us with one kiss.” Ethan held up his index finger.
“That’s a lie! You’re a liar. That’s not true.” Steven disagreed.
“It’s the truth. I promise. I’ve seen her saliva in action under a microscope. She’s dangerous, Steven.” He finished.
“Don’t forget that she risked her life to save you, Ethan.”
“And she left you alone with people that tried to eat you.”
“Not on purpose. She was out saving you and made it back in time to save me too.” Steven was on the verge of tears. He bit his inner lip to stop it from coming.
“I don’t doubt that. I just want you to know the truth about your ‘hero’.” Ethan put up air quotes around the word. “She’s reckless.”
“Reckless, what’s that?” Steven asked.
“She doesn’t think before she acts. She’s a loose cannon. She follows the beat of her own drum.”
“I get it. I get it. She’s still my friend and has been there to save me a bunch of times. I won’t forget that.”
“And you shouldn’t. Just don’t want you disappointed when she blows a hole in the wall to save you, while killing ten more people in the process.”
Steven walked over to the window again and observed the gunfire continue down on the street below. It was getting worse out there.
“She’s been gone a while now. I can’t keep letting her save me.” Steven admitted while doodling on the window with his finger.
“Should we hide?” Ethan asked.
“Why you askin’ me? I’m just a kid.”
“With a gun!”
“Well, you’re older. You hang out with scientists and stuff. What should we do?” Steven conceded knowing that shooting a monster is one thing but shooting a man was something different.
“I think we should head down to the underground. There are more of our people with guns there.” Ethan suggested.
“But they’re weak. They’re all weak, except Mr. Flynn, he’s kinda tough.” Steven said.
“So we find Mr. Flynn. That’s the plan?” Ethan asked.
“Okay, grab your stuff and grab food and water. I’ll get my backpack. I know I put my gun belt somewhere.” Steven entered his closet and searched for his things.
A loud bang from outside the door caused them to stop doing what they were doing. Two more followed and something struck the door in a loud thud.
“What was that?” Ethan hollered from the back of the apartment.
“Shh! They’re outside.” Steven responded in a loud whisper.
Steven moved over so that he could see the door. A shadow blocked the lights that normally came through below it. Ethan walked into the main living room area.
“What did you say?” He asked.
“Quiet!” Steven lowered his posture and hid in a dark corner. “Over here!” He motioned Ethan over in a whisper.
The shadow beneath the door moved and someone struggled to open the door. It turned and shook but was locked. Steven sighed. Ethan froze in place watching the doorknob dance. Suddenly, the door burst open and a man in body armor aimed his rifle at Ethan. He raised his arms in surrender.
Steven instinctively removed the safety from his gun and shot three times at the man’s neck, the only place not covered in armor. He fell back grabbing at his throat. “I killed him.” Two more men came in aiming towards Steven. He fired at them too but all shots struck their body armor.
�
�It’s just a kid!” One of the men hollered.
“Shoot ‘em. He shot Kenny.” The other man instructed.
Ethan kept his hands up in shock as they shot Steven. Moments later, he blacked out from an elbow to the face.
The loud ringing noise in Steven’s ears sang, as he lied on the floor unable to raise his arm to shoot the men. The sharp pain in his chest and shoulder overwhelmed all of his senses. Before he succumbed to the darkness, he noticed the man that he shot enter the room rubbing at his neck. He was alive. His eyes…they were like Miss Giselle’s.
Chapter 40
What’s Wrong with Taliah Doc?
A facility hidden beneath Rend Lake in Benton required access from a building to the southeast. A dozen highly qualified sharpshooters patrolled the area for unauthorized visitors. Only one of the men present had worked that post the last time he came through. Gate jobs had a high turnaround, due to the inherent dangers with them. Consequently, when a 2007 Honda Civic arrived unannounced at 2:00 am, its occupants were not treated with open arms. He knew that his vehicle was not on the directory, but hoped that they would overlook the change this once.
“Halt!”
Two men held up their hands blocking the vehicle from continuing. Two others had their rifles focused on the driver while two more were running its license plates in their database. The other six were hidden from sight on the roof for a tactical advantage. François rolled down the windows manually. His head bobbed up and down as his left hand operated the window crank.
“Hands where I can see them.” The guard at the window insisted. François placed them on top of the steering wheel as a blinding light irradiated his face.
“I am François Messier. In my back pocket, I have current credentials. I work here.” He calmly spoke. However, within he was eager to get Taliah inside for some medical attention.
“Who is that back there?” The guard shined a flashlight into the back seat illuminating the sleeping Taliah. “Is she okay?” He continued.
“She’s extremely sick and I need to take her to get help.”
“Sir, she needs a doctor.” The guard instructed. One of the men in charge of validating license plates through their system walked over shaking his head. He whispered into the ear of the guard at the window while keeping a sharp eye on François.
“It’s what? Who gives a shit who it’s registered under? Is it on the list?”
“No, sir. It’s not on the list.” The man gulped and studied François again knowing that something was familiar about him.
“Sorry, but you need to leave. You don’t have permission to enter.”
“But you haven’t seen my credentials yet. How do you know if I have permission or not?” François asked with annoyance.
“I was given specific instruction to bar any vehicles through that aren’t in our system. Your credentials are not necessary.” The man recited from memory.
François looked back towards Taliah in the back seat. Without Dr. Aoki’s help, there’s no telling what could happen next in her condition. He sighed and returned his gaze forward.
“Sir, I need you to depart the premise. I am authorized to use deadly force if you fail to comply.” The man stammered as he racked a round in the chamber of his rifle with a quick pulling motion. The other guard did the same. François noticed blood and pock holes surrounding the checkpoint. From their reactions, it happened recently. They were on edge.
“Charles, don’t you think you should just check his identification first?” The other guard whispered over. The third man who ran the plate information agreed.
“Yes, Charles, I believe you should listen to your friend’s advice.” François urged as he glared into Charles’ eyes.
“I will not entertain this. Leave or you will be shot, sir.” Charles demanded.
“Have it your way then.” François conceded. He placed the transmission in reverse while keeping all of his senses heightened for any actions against him.
He noticed the guards lower their weapons and heard their heartbeats slow. He tasted the sweat in the air that beaded and ran down their foreheads. They were still on edge. These men didn’t deserve to die for doing their jobs nor did Taliah deserve to suffer any longer.
He made a compromise in his mind as he discovered something hidden from them.
“That will work.” He mumbled to himself.
“What was that?” Charles asked while aiming his rifle at François again. François could hear his heartbeat quicken once more. He smiled in response.
“Before you pull that trigger, understand that you will be placing each and every one of your allies with you in danger. Even the men hiding on the roof.” François nodded and pointed at them with his eyes. “About a mile or less in that direction. “He gestured towards the woods to his right. “...are about twenty or so Azrael heading towards this post, drawn to the sound of my engine.”
“Bullshit. You’re just covering your own ass. Get the fuck out of here. I ask this one more time.” He insisted as his eyes danced from left to right from the woods and back at François.
“Is it worth taking the chance or should you just check my identification?” François gave him a choice.
“Charles, just check the man’s identification. You know that Carlos’ rules don’t make sense. If he doesn’t check out, then we can send him on his way.” The guard whispered.
“Fine, let me see your paperwork. Quickly, and turn off that damned engine.” He urged.
François placed the vehicle in park and turned off the engine. He retrieved his information from his back pocket and politely handed them to Charles. He studied his identification card and compared it to François face.
“Remove your glasses, slowly.” Charles instructed. He did and it drew gasps from both of them. “What the fuck?” He squinted as he noticed François’ Azrael eyes. The third man brought his identification over to the computers and input his information into the database. The other man sitting next to him wrote down his info in a logbook and input the date and time. Charles walked around the vehicle and shined the light at every dark corner of the vehicle. He arrived behind the car. “Open the trunk. James, check under the car with the mirror.”
James put the small logbook in his back pocket, came over with the mirror and inspected beneath with extreme scrutiny. François pulled the trunk latch and it opened revealing a few rags, a red funnel and a tire iron. Charles repositioned the items with the barrel of his rifle. Satisfied, he shut the trunk. By this time, James was finished with his inspection and gave Charles the thumbs up.
“You’re going to have to use those weapons soon. You do know this, right?”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Charles walked over to the driver’s side window and turned to the man at the computers. “You run his shit yet?”
“It’s still loading.” The man hollered over.
“Tic toc, tic toc, tic toc...time’s wasting.” François advised.
“Got it...” The man studied the information. “He checked out.” The man yelled and James hurried over to retrieve François’ documentation. He swiftly walked to the vehicle and handed them back to François.
“Here you go, Sir. Sorry about that, protocol...a stupid protocol” He nodded and whistled for the man at the computer to open the gate to the building. The doors hummed and started to lift, sliding up a metal track like a garage door.
“Twenty five seconds, Charles. And do not worry, François will make sure Carlos’ rules end today.” François grinned, started the car and drove into the building. As the door closed behind him, he heard voices outside yelling.
“We’ve got several contacts inbound, looks like Azrael.” James’ voice was heard from behind the gate.
“Twenty-four and twenty-five...” François mumbled as gunfire followed.
A road to the left descended into a dimly lit tunnel. To the right was an operational facility that processed, treated and distributed clean water for the Veil’s faci
lity deep below the lake. An armed guard assigned to the East Post waved at François. He nodded in return. It looked like Tim had been assigned to the day shift. François remembered a conversation he had with the man a month ago about his wife and kids. He was hoping to make the transition to the day shift for over a year. He entered the tunnel to his left and drove down for about a mile until reaching a parking lot surrounding a large entrance into the Veil’s secret headquarters. Thick ballistic windows framed the door to the place. He parked the car and retrieved Taliah from the back seat. Two scientists of Dr. Aoki’s were already outside heading over to greet François as he removed her from the car. They were contacted after permission was granted to enter the tunnel to the facility.
“You haven’t scheduled an appointment Mr. Messier. Was there something dodgy with your last supply of serum?” Dr. Ang, an attractive Chinese woman with light brown hair and a contagious smile addressed François. Her British accent was refreshing.
“It is about the girl.” He held Taliah in his arms cradled like a child.
“What’s wrong with her? Was she bit?” Dr. Louis asked while he visually inspected her. He had been living comfortably since the outbreak. He wore the indicator around his waist. He was sweating from the short brisk walk and out of breath.
“She gave me CPR to save my life after I drowned. She’s been like this ever since.” He gestured to Taliah.
“How long has it been?” Dr. Ang asked after pulling one of her eyelids up and noticed that her eyes were normal.
“About a day and a half. That’s not all.”
“What else?” Dr. Ang turned her attention to François.
“Uh...this is Taliah, Taliah Banks.” He admitted.
“That’s right. You and Mr. Gleese were tasked with protecting her. It seems you’ve made a mess of things.” She perked up and studied her closer. Dr. Louis did the same. She continued and took her vitals as he held her.
“I’ll head inside and bring out a stretcher.” Dr. Louis hurried over to the facility.
“Don’t bother with it Rick, I’ve got it. Just get the door for me.” François carried her into the building as Dr. Ang walked closely listening to Taliah’s heartbeat. Her hair smelled of plum blossoms and he sensed her desire for him. However, he knew that she would end up worse than Taliah if he were to entertain the action. She turned and caught his eye. She smiled and then returned her gaze upon Taliah as she wrapped a Velcro strap around her arm to take her blood pressure.
The Azrael (Book 4): Tricon Page 26
