Daughters of Death (Postmortem Anomalies Book 2)

by Josiah Upton

  “Luckily, this will be the last time ever,” Ezra says.

  “Don’t speak too soon, Ugger,” Caesar says. “You help me take down Schutzhorne, you may live to hear it another day.”

  “How did you get this to play?” Tran asks. “I thought Schutzhorne was in control of the Facility.”

  “Guess he really didn’t tell you everything,” Caesar says. “In Lock-down, only the final exits are under HQ’s control. The rest operates just like it always has, including the interior doors, containee collars, and PA systems. I’ve only ever played it in the Male Common, but Krecker was able to pipe it into the Lock speakers. If I’ve got one final showdown with this prick, it’s gonna be on my terms. Everyone ready?”

  “Zaul,” Genny says. “I’m scared.”

  Her hand finds mine, and squeezes tightly. I wish we were back in my basement, talking and reading comic books. There was always the worry of losing control, or someone discovering what I was, but at least there was some hope of a future. Now that’s all been destroyed, and I had a part in that. My light and warmth are gone, except for this small gesture of holding my hand as I come to the end of this life’s dark corridor. At least I didn’t come to it all alone.

  I squeeze her hand back. “So am I.”

  Officer Ithel slides his keycard, and the door slides open to loud music, and the scent of blood. In the middle of the Lock is Robert Ortega’s mutilated body, and a motionless Hybrid draped over him, his head virtually gone. I’m instantly reminded of that last bloody day in Pueblo High School. The first step in the journey that brought me to this moment.

  A large team of APA agents are on the far side of the Lock, and one man stands in front of them, wearing a black suit and a disturbing smile. Through the blood and the distance, I can smell him. Somehow I’ll need to kill Schutzhorne, Caesar, and anyone else loyal to their causes. It’s the only way to get us all out of here alive.

  Chapter 46

  Genny

  The brutal murder of Robert Ortega wasn’t a dream or illusion. Seeing his body, a few flies already buzzing around it, confirms the reality. People have died so that Schutzhorne might have me, and the other Hybrids that surround me. I never wanted to be a part of so much death. But here I am. Maybe my death is what comes next.

  The officers bark, and we all file out from the door in a tight formation: Zaul, Tran and I in front, rows of the other Brains members following us, and Caesar at the back, surrounded by his officers. He’s created a protective shell around himself.

  Schutzhorne approaches from the other side. This is the first time I’ve seen him since that day he showed up at my house unannounced. Caesar may have pulled the trigger, but Julius is the one who gave him the order. He was the genesis of my father’s death. My Rage boils.

  The obnoxious guitars and screaming vocals of Caesar’s favorite music continues relentlessly. This song seems to go on forever. Caesar nods to Krecker, and he turns down the volume. “Good evening, Julius Shit-Head. Are you ready to die?”

  Schutzhorne doesn’t respond. He only holds up a remote, ready to bring down the protective wall of Hybrids with a shock.

  “I wouldn’t do that,” Caesar says. I feel a gun barrel pressed to the back of my head. My heart starts pumping. “Ice Princess here doesn’t have a collar. Even if you drop the others, she’ll still be standing, with my pistol ready to blow her precious little brains out. I can only imagine the interest you have in her. All the strength of a Hybrid, but all the smarts and self-control of a human? I bet a couple more of those would make great additions to your collection. Maybe officers for your Ugger Army… But first you have to find out how Gordy did it.”

  Caesar chuckles dryly, and the name of my father on his lips maddens me. He expects this, and pushes the barrel harder to my skull. “Make a move, Jules, and you’ll never get the chance.”

  Schutzhorne grimaces. “You’re clearly one for theatrics, Ortega, but I am not. So I’ll make this simple: Hand them over now, and I’ll forget that you’ve just made a death threat against a senior ranking executive. Furthermore, I will give you and your subordinates significant financial compensation, and desirable positions within the Agency’s new structure.”

  “No deal,” Caesar responds. He gestures to Krecker, and the music cuts completely. “We don’t want any part of your new vision. And you killed my father.”

  “How?” Schutzhorne says with a smile. His gaze flickers to Robert’s body. “I was holding a public press conference at the time Director Ortega’s vitals went cold.”

  “Don’t insult me,” Caesar says. “I know you didn’t literally do it. You’re too chicken shit to do the dirty work yourself, so you send others. Tran here basically confessed to your entire scheme.”

  “You have him at gunpoint,” Schutzhorne says. “His so-called ‘confession’ was clearly inadmissable, fabricated under duress to defuse your violent threats.”

  At this, Tran nods emphatically. Tears are streaming down his face.

  “What are they talking about?” one of the two larger Hybrid whispers. They must not be the brightest members in the Club. An officer quickly buzzes him with a minor shock, just to shut him up.

  “And besides,” Schutzhorne continues, “such grand accusations require proof. Something along the lines of this?”

  On the large screen at the Lock’s center station, a video plays. It’s of this very room, less than thirty minutes ago. I see myself, standing under careful officer watch as Caesar rants and raves to his father. Robert then presses his hand on the screen, and Rigg emerges from his cell. Moments later, Robert and Rigg are dead all over again.

  “Now, it looks to me,” Schutzhorne says, “that the containee formerly known as Benjamin Rigg – a dangerous Hybrid convicted of killing and eating his own human brother – was prematurely let out of his cell by the Director of Containment. He then killed the man who, through numerous personal correspondences logged in the APA servers, had called him ‘friend’, before himself meeting a bloody demise. That sounds like poor judgment on your father’s part.”

  “Where did you get that video?” Caesar asks.

  “Oh, you thought the Facility’s surveillance was on a closed circuit?” Schutzhorne asks, with mock surprise. “So did Robert. But since the beginning, every second of footage in this place has been sent directly to headquarters, giving us decades of evidence that prove the containment system to be broken and corrupt. For example, here’s something proving theft of government property from the Facility’s pharmacy, no doubt for sale in the Hybrid Reanimate black market.”

  The video shows Caesar in a small store room looking over his shoulder, as an officer hands him a thick package of Mortetine pills, in exchange for a small wad of bills.

  “You paid another officer to wipe the surveillance feed, but it was already sent to the headquarters just seconds after the incident occurred. Here’s another, documenting the cruel and unusual punishment inflicted on containees.”

  Another image pulls up, of Zaul lying on a tile floor as Caesar cuts into his leg with a knife, and feeds a steel cable through the wound. Though there is no sound, the excruciating pain that he felt is clear to see on his face. I reach for his hand again. I had no idea what he had to go through in here.

  “And there’s plenty more,” the Assistant Director says, changing the video through many instances of horrific treatment, several of them including Caesar. Even a few feature a younger Robert Ortega, yelling at containees in between relentless shocks.

  “The Era of Containment is over, and this is your final chance to comply. Just turn these Hybrids over, and you’ll still receive everything I have promised. And as a sign of good faith, and gratitude for your years of service, I will let you and your men each have one containee from either of the Commons, to do with as you please. No questions asked.”

  “The only thing we’d do with an Ugger,” Caesar responds, disgust in his voice. “Is put a bullet in their heads. We’re not sick perverts.”


  Schutzhorne laughs loudly, a devious grin on his face. He’s about to say something, and it’s going to be severe. “That’s rich, considering you are your father’s son.”

  Caesar raises his rifle, and the agents across the way respond in kind. No one shoots or speaks, and the tense silence in the moment lingers. “What kind of shit are you spewing?” Caesar finally says, his voice shaking.

  “Many years ago, Robert Ortega was involved in a… Oh, how should I put this?... inappropriate relationship with one of his female containees.”

  “You lie!” Caesar screams.

  “The camera doesn’t lie,” Schutzhorne says. “We have hours of archived footage, of your father spending much one-on-one time with the Hybrid in his office. By far, many more hours than any other containee under his care. It all culminated in the containee soliciting the Director with a desperate plea to relieve her Hybrid desires. At first he resisted, but he ultimately gave in.”

  The video changes to a view of the room Zaul and Alice were in. Reactively I let go of his hand, remembering what he was doing there with her. The people in this version of the room, however, are a very young Robert Ortega, standing next to a female Hybrid, restrained to a table with steel clamps around her limbs and neck. The number on her uniform is 103, the same number as the older female Hybrid in the Brains Club. We all look to her, and the expression on her face can’t be described. It’s clear she never thought this would see the light of day.

  And Caesar is quaking, his entire body on the verge of explosion.

  The video continues. We can’t hear, but the young Robert asks her a question. She hesitates, then nods, mouthing the word ‘yes’. He begins unzipping her uniform, kissing the bare, gray flesh of her shoulder. Her mouth opens, a silent moan escaping. Schutzhorne stops the video.

  “This is one of several videos, documenting containee 103 – also known as Quinn – and Director Ortega’s illicit relationship,” Schutzhorne explains. “It went on for years, even though he was married, even though he was the father of three healthy, seemingly happy children.”

  “Four,” Caesar mutters weakly. I’m surprised he’s able to speak. “He had four children.”

  Schutzhorne smiles. “Yes. Eventually, he did. Tell me, how many years are there between you and your sister? Eight, is it? That’s quite a gap. One might even suggest that little Baby Caesar was a surprise…”

  Caesar is speechless.

  “Would you like to see the hospital record showing that your mother tested positive for the Hubrens virus when she gave birth to you? Your father must have spent much time, money and energy making sure you and everyone else never found out you were infected. And all those years, waiting for the day you would get sick, and be forced to tell you the truth? He was extremely lucky. Do you know how rare a Phase II Negative is? A human carrier for the Hubrens virus? Maybe that’s the real reason your siblings avoid you so much. Your infection is the byproduct of their father’s affair with a living corpse. You only remind them of what drove your mother to leave, and never look back.

  “But you shouldn’t worry about any of that,” Schutzhorne says with a dry chuckle, and looks Caesar dead in the eyes. “What you really need to consider, is how many women you’ve had unprotected relations with. You claim to carry on Jorge Ortega’s legacy of ‘Purging the Sludge’, yet in reality, you’ve only been spreading it. Look around, Caesar. One of the Hybrids in these cells may very well be your child.” He points to Quinn. “And that one right there – she is the mother of your true legacy.”

  Caesar turns to Quinn, his face leaking tears and sweat, his chest heaving up and down. He’s about to break.

  “Caesar,” she says, her hands up. “That was a long time ago, and I’m sorry…”

  He lifts his gun and pulls the trigger. Opha screams, getting in the way. The bullet enters through her temple, and rips out the other side. Her body collapses into Quinn’s arms, and the entire Lock erupts in noise and movement.

  Then he points the gun at me.

  This is it. This is where he dies.

  Chapter 47

  Zaul

  The shock of Caesar pointing his gun at Genny delays my reaction, but not hers. She grabs his wrist before he can shoot and clamps down tight, threatening to crack the bones inside. He screams and drops the pistol. She growls ferally, her inner Prisoner bursting out. That petite, cynical girl I met months ago is gone. What I see before me is a strong Hybrid woman, taking the revenge of her dead father in her own hands.

  By now, Schutzhorne’s agents have taken the opportunity in the chaos to begin their advance across the Lock. They move forward, shooting at the officers. The men on our end take cover behind the pillars, firing back sporadically.

  Krecker advances on Genny with barrel raised, but he doesn’t shoot. Instead he cracks her on the back of the skull with the butt of his rifle. It causes her to fall off of Caesar, dazed for only a moment, but long enough for him to scramble away without a bite on him. She recovers and screams at Krecker. He holds up his hands and pleads with her about something.

  I take a step forward to intervene, but a shock puts me and the other collared Hybrids on the floor. Through the haze I see Schutzhorne holding up his remote, a malicious smile on his face. Covering more ground. Coming to take the Brains Club.

  Except for Opha. She won’t be joining us. Her corpse jolts with electricity, right next to Quinn’s convulsing body. Officer Ithel takes aim, and shoots at the Assistant Director. Miraculously, it hits Schutzhorne’s remote. It sparks and explodes in his hand, and he drops it with a furious bark. Our shock stops. The amazed look on Ithel’s face makes it clear he didn’t think that was going to work. The expression isn’t there long before a bullet rips through it.

  Rich recovers, and roars Caesar’s name, looking to deal retribution for Opha’s death. His brother joins the hunt.

  And I start looking for Genny. I find her and Krecker not trying to kill each other, but going further into the Lock together. They stop by Robert Ortega’s body, the officer station in the middle providing cover. Krecker frantically types at the large screen, while Genny grabs an agent that attempts to catch them by surprise. She clumsily hits him in the face, but the force is enough to knock him unconscious. I risk getting closer, ducking behind a pillar. “What are you doing!?” I scream.

  “Help!” Genny yells. “Keep them away from Krecker!”

  “What?”

  “Just do it!” Genny says.

  I don’t understand why in the world I would risk death to protect this man, but I decide to trust Genny. Next to me lies the body of Officer Fillinger. Blood pours out from a gunshot in his neck. My Prisoner gnashes his teeth, requesting the still-warm flesh at my feet. I ignore him and reach for the rifle in Fillinger’s limp hands.

  I never thought I would hold a gun again. An image of Jensen’s face flashes through my mind, makeup and Hybrid blood smeared across his cackling mouth. I ignore that too, and start shooting at the agents. I’m terrible at this, none of my bullets meet their mark. But it keeps the agents away from Genny and Krecker. Whatever he’s doing, it better work.

  Krecker finishes his work on the screen, then grabs Robert’s bloody hand, wiping it on his uniform with a grimace. Genny helps him lift the lifeless palm to the screen, and Krecker looks to all the doors lining the walls. The red lights over them blink out, and one by one they slide open. Containees pour out from their Lock cells. Most of them are Hybrids too vicious, too uncontrollable to reside in the Commons. Many guilty of raping, killing and eating humans. And now they’re loose.

  Genny and Krecker run back to me, and we make for the door. It would be a good idea to get out of here. Now. Once the Lock containees realize they’re free, the once-solitary males and females grab Schutzhorne’s unaware agents and pull them back into the cells. Human screams and Hybrid cries fill the Lock.

  Tran runs crying toward the Assistant Director, but Caesar emerges from behind a pillar, grabbing Tran and holding him
hostage with a gun to his head. Schutzhorne slows his pace, holding up his hand to halt the men behind him. After a tense moment of staring, Caesar notices that Walt and Rich are coming toward him from behind, fueled with Rage for murdering Opha. He barks and throws Tran at a couple of agents, knocking them into the arms of rabid containees. They’re dead in a matter of seconds, and Dr. Tran just barely escapes the greedy fingers of a female containee.

  In the following chaos, Caesar takes hold of Schutzhorne, dragging him along the wall of the Lock, shooting any containee or agent that gets in his way. After a moment, me and the other Brains club members lose sight of them, lost between the pillars and the dispersed containees that now fill the room, looking for human flesh.

  “Can you open the door?” Genny asks Krecker.

  “I need the keycard!” he yells. “Where’s Ithel?”

  “There!” Genny says, pointing over to the officer’s lifeless body. She runs to grab the keycard.

  A number of containees set their eyes on us, approaching slowly. They may not want to eat us, but their Lust is still a factor. A female points at me, smiling. “Clothes. Off.”

  “Is that door open?” I yell over my shoulder. Though my Prisoner’s vile Lust would gleefully accept any and all advances from a female, the rest of me is terrified of being taken against my will by so many.

  “Got it!” Krecker yells. “C’mon, let’s move!”

  Genny and the Brains Club run for the exit, leaving behind Opha’s body. She was a constant nuisance, always taunting my Lust. But she was my friend, and a friend to the rest of the Club. And to Quinn, something like a child. She reaches into Opha’s uniform, pulls out the note she always kept with her, and follows us to exit.

  Before Krecker closes the door, I see Caesar drag Schutzhorne into a cell. He pulls a hose from the wall, stuffs it in Schutzhorne’s mouth, and squeezes. Gelatinous goop sprays into the Assistant Director, and Caesar’s grip makes sure none of it escapes. I know he won’t stop until the man bursts. He smiles maniacally. Hopefully this is the last time I ever have to see this psychotic man.