by Amy Miles
“Sure. Not all on my own, mind you. I managed to rescue a few before the Dead Heads were let out of their pen. We tried to save as many as we could, but...”
“It’s okay,” I whisper. “We get it. You did your best.”
“I know.” For the first time, Flynn’s smile fades into nothing. “You look better.”
I reach out and take hold of his hand. “I’m really sorry about shoving you. I...I guess I didn’t realize my own strength.”
“Don’t sweat it. Bruised me up a little but I’m tougher than that. Besides, I had time to think it over and I think it’s pretty awesome to have you around.”
“Why’s that, kid?” Nox asks and steps a bit closer to me.
Flynn’s grin instantly returns. “She’s a freaking super badass now: Avery, the zombie slayer. Has a nice ring to it, right.” He leans in close and points to the dead man at our feet. “Are you two as pissed as I am about all of this?”
“Hell yeah, we are,” Nox instantly replies.
“Good. Then there’s something I want to show you. Follow me.”
Together, we follow close behind Flynn as he maneuvers his way down the hall. The closer we get to the end where the zombies were once held, the unease rises within me but Nox’s hand on my lower back helps to keep my anxiety in check.
“This way.”
Flynn leads us through the double doors and into a room filled with blood-slickened chains. There are no less than ten covered in the gore, but at least ten more that are still clean and waiting for a new victim to contain.
“We shot up the dying too, just in case. I didn’t want any of them turning on us while we get to work clearing the facility.”
I glance over at Nox and know that he’s thinking about Zoey, just as I am thinking about Eva. No matter what happens I have to make sure that he isn’t on that cleanup crew.
From somewhere behind us a shrill scream pierces the air and Nox shoves me ahead of him as he takes up a defensive position behind.
“Relax. That’s just Poppy and Willow. We positioned a few girls around the wards to keep up the facade of the attack for the ears upstairs so we have time to regroup.”
The tension in Nox’s shoulders eases as he gives Flynn an appraising once over. “You seem to have this all figured out.”
“Well, when you spend days just staring up at ceiling tiles, there’s only so many times you can count the cracks. After a while, you start plotting.”
“So you thought of all of this before the attack?”
“Well,” Flynn rubs the back of his neck sheepishly. “I’d love to take all of the credit for that one too, but there are some cool guys in here you need to meet. They seem to have a good understanding of this place.”
Nox and I exchange a worried glance as Flynn marches straight past a puddle of blood and chunks of flesh. He reaches a small metal door at the far end of the room and wraps his fist against it three times.
“It’s me. Open up.”
There is a sound of clanging and the clattering of the chain followed by a grinding of metal on metal before the door finally gives way to reveal startling white light just beyond. I am forced to shield my eyes until Flynn steps in front of the lighted doorway and stretches his hands out.
“Welcome to the Lab.”
FOURTEEN
The space beyond the small metal door that Flynn refers to as the Lab is exactly as I would imagine it to be, apart from the ragged and bloodied group of people hovering in the center of the room. They stand out against the gleaming chrome and brilliant whites that leave my head pounding and my eyes at half-mast as I try to adjust to the light.
“Nox!”
I turn at the sound and see three people break off from the back of the group.
“Kenzie? What the hell are you doing here?” Nox gives both Cyrus and Fletcher firm handshakes of greeting, but his eyes are solely fixed on the girl standing between them in a hospital gown just like mine. “You were supposed to be on patrol.”
Despite her obvious weakness, unsteady knees, and dark circles under her eyes, she fights to stand to attention as she salutes Nox. “I was, sir. We ran a mapping mission with Fletch just this morning. We ran into some trouble and then the next thing I knew I woke up here a couple hours ago.”
“What happened to you?” I ask as I step forward, noticing the matted blood in her shoulder length wavy hair.
Kenzie gives me a cold, appraising look before dismissing me. “How is she still alive?”
“It’s a long and twisted story,” Nox says. “Tell us what happened to you and we’ll explain everything later.”
She pulls down the neck of her gown just enough to show the angry red bite mark on her shoulder.
“Damn thing came out of nowhere. I didn’t see it until it was on me. Fletch took it out with a shot to the temple but the others...” She clears her throat and looks away.
“We knew something was going down when we got back to base a little while ago,” Fletcher said, scratching at the ruddy beard along his jaw. He looks just as large and opposing as I remember from the first time I saw him outside of the farmhouse, but there is a softness to his gaze that makes me think there is something new between him and Kenzie.
“I ran into Cap on the way to check on Kenzie and was told they were evacuating a part of the hotel, but that Kenzie would be looked after. He refused to say anything more, and as soon as he was out of sight, I grabbed Cyrus and we hid out, watching the mass exodus of doctors coming out of a doorway we’d never seen before.”
Cyrus steps forward and places a gun in Nox’s hands. “We heard the doctors talking about the cleansing but we never dreamed...”
“I know.” Nox places a hand on his soldier’s arm. “I didn’t want to either.”
Fletcher jerks his head toward Flynn. “That kid right there saved our asses. Busted out of a storage room and grabbed us just before those Flesh Bags came storming down the hall. After that, he gave us a quick rundown of the layout and we realized we already knew this place. Hadn’t realized it, but Cap had blueprints of this facility on his desk. Didn’t mean to be snooping in his stuff but you know me, Nox. I’m like that stupid cartoon monkey that never knows when to stop being curious. I thought they were just plans they kept from Arnold but once we got down here, I realized why Cap and the others disappear sometimes.”
“You did well.” Nox chambers a round and I watch a physical relaxing of his posture and know that he feels better having a weapon in his hand again. “These people are alive because of you.”
“We didn’t save enough,” Cyrus mutters.
“You never can.” Nox presses a hand to Kenzie’s cheek. “You’re burning up. We need to get her and the others somewhere safe to rest.”
“No need.” I look up to see Flynn sauntering up to join our group. “One dose of Avery and they should be right as rain.”
Fletcher’s eyebrows disappear into the brim of his cap. “Excuse me.”
“Iris and Brian have been playing mad scientists down here,” Nox explains. “They think that Avery’s blood can counteract the effects of the transition. She may be the only one that can save Kenzie’s life.”
Kenzie turns a distrusting glance my way, but all I see from Fletcher is hope. “Is he right?”
I shake my head. “No. Not entirely. Iris and Brian mentioned that there were negative results and I wouldn’t advise risking an untested method—”
“Hell no, it ain’t untested!” Cyrus interrupts and points back toward the door that we entered. It has been secured behind us. “What do you think took down all of those Flesh Bags out there? Whatever she’s got going on in her body is powerful stuff.”
“Which is why I’m leery of putting it into someone else’s body,” I respond. “If my blood can kill one of them, what happens if it’s incompatible with her? What if she’
s already too far gone into the transformation and instead of saving her, my blood poisons her too?”
“It’s her decision,” Fletcher protests, stepping forward, but Nox eases the man back out of my space.
“I’m just saying that we have no way of knowing if it can work. Are you really willing to take that risk?” I look to each of the men standing around me in turn. She is their friend. They should be just as worried as I am.
“I’m dead either way,” Kenzie mutters and we all turn to look at her. “I’m in.”
“Nox, help me out here!” I look to him, pleading him to join my case but I see his indecision. “You know this could backfire.”
He nods and then moves away to start rustling through several drawers before finally returning with a syringe. “She’s right, Avery. If we do nothing she’s dead. It’s worth the risk. You said so yourself earlier that you questioned if someone could be saved. Don’t you want to find out?”
“At the sake of killing her? Hell no. Flynn, you’re with me on this, right?” I turn to look at the young man.
“Don’t look at me. I’m just the kid in the room.” He backs away with his hands in the air. That’s when I realize that our small group has become the center of attention. I see a mixture of fear and hope in their eyes and realize that just as easily that hope can be replaced with fear and accusation.
“Nox, please don’t make me do this. I can’t...not again.”
“Shh,” he says and reaches out to me, slowly drawing me into his embrace. “It will be okay. I’m right here with you.”
From behind his back, someone takes my arm and Nox’s hold on me tightens as I try to get free.
“No! Don’t do this!” I struggle and buck against him but he is far stronger than I am. Tears streak down my cheeks and when I look up into Nox’s face, all I can see are Cable’s blank eyes. “You bastard!”
“Got it,” Fletcher says and I feel the pressure vanish from my arm.
When Nox releases me I punch him hard enough to send him slamming back into the counter. He groans and sinks to the floor but holds up his hand to command Cyrus to lower the gun he has aimed directly at my head.
“I was wrong about you, Nox. You’re just a bad as the rest of them.”
“Avery, please.” He leans heavily on the counter to pull himself to a standing position. I’ve hurt him and I can’t find it within me to feel guilty about that. “It’s for the best.”
“No!” I snap and jab my finger toward Kenzie. “If she dies that’s on you, Nox. Not me. I tried to warn you.”
“I know.” He says and takes a step in my direction but Flynn grabs hold of his arm.
“Dude, I wouldn’t do that right now. She seems pretty upset.”
Nox breathes out slowly as he watched me fight to reign in my anger. I could hurt him right now. The anger mingled with the newfound strength coursing through my veins tells me that I could snap him like a twig if I wanted to. A part of me does as I take several steps back. “Stay with her.”
“Of course.” Flynn hurries over to my side and gently takes hold of my hand. “Why don’t we see if we can get you some clothes? I saw some stuff in the back room that might fit you. I betting you’re ready to be out of that medical gown, huh?”
“Yeah.” Glancing back over my shoulder one last time, I stare at Kenzie but she refuses to meet my gaze.
Flynn leads me to a storage room near the rear of the lab where three cots have been set up as temporary beds. In one of the cubby holes, I find a pair of female camouflage pants and a white wife beater tank that are close enough in size to make do. Flynn waits outside while I change and I have no sooner buckled my pants and pulled the tank down over my head when Flynn opens the door and closes it quickly behind him.
“Flynn?” There is a crashing sound from behind him and I start forward but Flynn shakes his head, holding out his hands to stop me. We both know that I could move him out of my way if I really want to, but I don’t.
“You don’t need to see that.”
With a heavy sigh, I sink down onto a cot and bury my head in my hands. “I tried to warn them. I tried to save her but no one would listen to me.”
“I know.” The cot creaks as he sits down beside me. “But can you blame her for wanting to at least try? She was in love, Avery, and she was scared. I know that you can relate to that.”
“Of course not, but to die like that...”
“Is still a much kinder death than what waited for her. She wanted to go out in her own way instead of running the risk of forcing Fletcher to be the one to put her down. It would destroy him so she did what she had to.
I get that. My parents weren’t given that choice and I was told that my mom is the one who bit my dad. She...she ate his nose and ears off before someone took her out. I saw him after that. I guess the soldiers were fools and thought that he wouldn’t turn and because of that, he almost killed me.” Flynn places a tentative hand on my shoulder. “Sometimes having hope is the only way to live and she did up until the very end.”
I struggle to swallow as my mouth goes dry. “Poppy and Willow are going to die.”
“I know.” Flynn hangs his head. “I overheard everything they said to you in that room. They should have sent someone smaller into the air vents to find me. Once I realized you couldn’t get out, I hurried back to the Lab and prepared.”
“They were your friends, right? Do they know?”
“Nah.” He brushes sweaty hair back from his face. “I didn’t have the heart to tell them. They’ll figure it out sooner or later.”
Flynn glances over at me as I turn my head away and hear nothing from the room just outside our small storage room. There are no sounds of weeping or mourning. Just an eerie silence. “What do you think will happen now?”
“I don’t know.” I wish that I could say something to inspire him but I’m fresh out of hope. What is the point of having blood that can save my own ass but is deadly to others?
At least now I know that I couldn’t have saved Cable. Maybe that was Nox’s motivation all along, but I still can’t forgive him for betraying me. Not yet.
“What was Charleston like?” I ask, needing to think about anything else. “Was it safe?”
Flynn leans back against the wall and shrugs. “For a while, it wasn’t all that bad. They had fences and enough soldiers to man them. People were bused in weekly from surrounding states but within the Zone life felt oddly normal. We had food, albeit rationed supplies, but it was better than what we’d had on the road. We had houses with power once a day and even a community garden project.”
“And school? Didn’t you say you went to one?” I rub my temples, feeling the stabbing pain behind my eye grow in severity as my pulse pounds in my ears. I try to focus on the tone of his voice instead as he answers.
“Yep. We had a school bus that would travel to each of the neighborhood testing sites and collect us. My friend Roan even dubbed it Zombie High. He spray painted that shit all across the front of the building the first day he arrived. I’m surprised no one tried to scrub it off but maybe they agreed with him. Turns out he wasn’t wrong.”
“Wait. Did you say testing sites?”
“Sure.” He crosses one leg over the other and ruffles his unruly hair to loosen the matter strands. Even though he removed his stained gown some of the gore has clumped in his hair. “We had our blood tested each day to make sure we were clear. Those who weren’t were pulled out of line and we never saw them again.”
“How did they know what to test for?”
“No clue. Before all of this, I was a gamer. Didn’t really care about studying.”
I smile. “I wasn’t much interested in school myself. Carry on with your story. Sorry, I interrupted.”
“No biggie.”
I like Flynn. He’s a decent kid who has been through a lot and someone manag
ed to come out on the other side of Hell with a smile and witty banter. I can respect that.
“So things were going pretty much like normal and then everything went to shit. My friend Roan noticed the changes first. They were subtle enough that most of us just blew it off, but he knew. Somehow he saw things others dismissed. He was the one who kept us alive when the base was attacked. We never knew if the first wave hit from within or came from outside but everything imploded at the same time and it just didn’t matter anymore.”
“How did you manage to escape?”
“I didn’t. We fought back and stood our ground but over time, we lost the school piece by piece. We didn’t know what we were up against. They picked us off one by one. Some were stupid deaths. Others were down to just sheer panic. After that, I was taken.”
I scratch absently at the healed bite mark on my neck. “By who?”
“Men in biohazard suits. I was trying to rescue some kids trapped in the lower grade school when they busted in and took me and a few others. I never saw them again. At least not until I found Poppy and Willow today.”
“But you’ve been here for a while, right? And they only just recently arrived.”
Flynn nods slowly with a far off look. “Something’s strange about them now. They smiled when they saw me and knew who I was but they were different.”
“How so?” I lean forward on the cot, resting my elbows on my knees.
“I don’t really know if I can say.” He pushes off of the wall and wanders a short distance before turning to head back toward me. “Maybe it was something about their eyes. They look almost dull and lifeless. Like they’d seen something terrible and didn’t want to talk about it.”
“Did they?”
He snorts. “Haven’t we all?”
“Touché.”
Flynn shakes his head. “I don’t know. Maybe I’m just paranoid now. Places like this have a way of really screwing with your head, but I’m worried about my friends. What if something terrible happened in Charleston and they just don’t want me to know about it?”
