“Yeah, you too.”
He sets the key to the new locks he installed on a table by the observatory door, sealing me in to the now hollow feeling room.
CHAPTER 17
Standing with my feet placed firmly on the buoyant mat below me, I’m in the last place I thought I’d visit again this year…. The gym. After sitting around for over an hour with a throbbing hand and a killer headache, I couldn’t stay in the observatory doing nothing for the rest of the evening. And I don’t feel up for trying to explain everything to Cade right now.
Not with how confusing my emotions surrounding him and Luca have become.
So here I am, trying to wear myself out enough that, when I force myself to sleep tonight, I won’t remember my nightmares tomorrow.
In theory anyway.
Regardless of working out with Cade, learning new combat skills and such, I haven’t pushed myself this hard physically in a long time.
Sweat drips down my back, and I have to fight the urge to head over to the punching bag in the corner. That’s where I really want to be. But thanks to my earlier antics, I know it’s not a viable option. I can’t damage my hands any more than I already have today — it’d be a rookie move on my part.
I need them functional in the days to come for beating ass, not workout equipment.
I was careful on my trek over to the gym, keeping an eye on each and every dark walkway and shadowed building corner. I hadn’t forgotten my stalker earlier and it’s making the tension in my already overwrought body build exponentially.
Genuinely, I think it may have been an Atlas member come to collect me for whatever nefarious things they have planned. A niggling little voice tells me that it could be my imagination playing tricks in a stressful situation, but I don’t subscribe to naivety.
As I go through the motions of fighting an invisible opponent, I reluctantly allow my mind to drift back over the conversation with Luca.
He’d said Nyler has explosives. A means to take out another compound-like location not far from here. If he’s to be believed, it means there are other Pures out there, striving to get by. More survivors in this fucked up world. Could they be allies, if given the right motivation?
More to the point — is it possible for Cade and I to locate and steal some of the explosives for ourselves?
If whatever we come across under the sports complex is dangerous to the human race, can we destroy it all?
My vote leans toward yes.
But then what of all the people Luca claims they have down there, locked away in some unknown space? I’m not sure I’m willing to jeopardize them all.
Our fact-finding mission may just be evolving into something closer to the rescue type.
The experiments Luca refused to detail are what bugs me the most though. He said Nyler’s trying to create a ‘super-human’, alter DNA in a way that would enhance certain things in their genome.
Fucking modern Hitler, that man.
But how exactly are they doing it?
Cade and I need to step up our timetable. We have the access codes. We know the guard rotations and the times of the day when Atlas is the most active in their underground lab.
It’s time we stop talking about it, planning every minute detail, and just do something already.
Seventy-three.
Despicable.
When I can’t take any more, muscles bunching and screaming in protest at my abuse of them, I resist the drive to keep going. I’m already going to be feeling things hard come morning the way it is — no use in taking myself out of the game before it fully begins.
Stealing a towel from the gym’s supply closet, I wipe as much sweat off as I can as I even out my huffing breaths.
Luckily, I remembered to bring a change of clothes with me, knowing I’d be a puddle of salt water and blood by the time my workout ended. Grabbing up the outfit, I head for the exit.
The cool night breeze is a balm to my heated flesh, yet the abrupt change in temperature causes goosebumps to spill across any exposed skin. Winter is coming early, but I’m not upset by the thought. Winter means snow, not rain. The clouds of earlier have yet to abate and it’s fucking worrisome.
Ignore them. You have too much on your plate already.
Singing floats out to my ears as I enter the women’s locker room to shower. The voice is pretty, the song soothing, but I couldn’t tell you the name of it to save my life.
Trying not to disturb the person, I pick a shower stall a ways down, near the back of the room. Its location will prove advantageous if anyone comes in while I’m naked — I’ll have time to grab my weapon before they get close.
Stepping inside, I quickly peel off my sopping leggings and tank top, nose wrinkling at the feel of sweaty cloth catching on my cooled skin.
Gross.
The singing cuts off as I flip on the water, and a voice calls out, “Who’s there?!” In a high pitched tone.
Feeling bad for startling her, I peak my head out of the stall. “Sorry! Didn’t mean to scare you. Just need a few minutes to shower then I’ll be gone.” We only get fifteen anyway. “You sing beautifully, by the way.” I add, about to close the curtain again.
A dripping mop of hair is the first thing I see when the girl copies my motion, popping her head out past her shower curtain. When she turns my way, I have to laugh. “Kenji! I didn’t know you sing. I didn’t recognize your voice.”
She smiles brightly, her tone sweet as she brushes dripping hair out of her amber eyes. “Hey, Saedie! Long time no see. It’s all good. I just hate these creaky old buildings. Since they decided the women’s showers no longer need a guard, it’s creepy bathing in here alone!”
“I hear you.” Stepping back, I duck my head under the luke-warm spray. I’ve already wasted enough of it. I can hear Kenji doing the same.
Raising her voice to be heard over the sounds of the water, she asks me how I’ve been.
That’s a loaded question.
“I’ve been alright.” I reply, trying to keep my tone light. I like Kenji, she’s not a bad person despite her jail time, and I don’t want to drag her into the mess I’ve found myself in.
“You don’t sound convincing, Sae-bae.” What’s with everyone giving me nicknames?! I don’t mind this one though, so I leave it alone.
“No, really. I’m okay… just a lot going on.” Pouring some shampoo into my hand, I quickly lather it through my waist-length curls. It takes a lot of effort to coat all the strands. “How about you?”
She doesn’t answer right away, and I can hear her blowing water out of her mouth, so I give her a minute, going back to my own ablutions.
“Honestly?” She asks, less chipper than before.
Hmmm. “Always. I can’t stand liars.” It comes out with more vehemence than I intend.
“Harsh, but I get you.” She doesn’t talk for another minute, and I almost think she’s not going to. Her water shuts off, and I can hear her getting dressed, walking my way. I hurry to rinse the soap from my hair and body, putting some conditioner in my hair and letting it sit for a few moments.
She’s right outside my stall when she finally speaks again. “I think there’s something wrong with this place.”
I freeze, body-wash filled hand halfway to my chest. “The showers?” I jest, hoping she means something as innocuous as that.
“No.” She shuffles closer to the other side of the shower curtain, whispering, “The Compound.”
Shit.
“Give me a sec.” I quickly wash all of the conditioner and soap away, tapping off the water and wrapping a towel around me after hastily putting on my bra and underwear. Flicking open the shower curtain, I jump back a little at how close she is. Her pretty amber eyes are level with mine, and they hold a wariness in them that I haven’t seen from her before.
“What makes you say that, Kenji?” I question lightly, brushing past her to pull the rest of my clothes on. She keeps her back turned to give me privacy, thank goodness. I’m
not shy about much, but my body has always been one thing I don’t show off — plus, I don’t need her noticing the bright bruising on my knuckles. Now just isn’t the time.
“You can look.” In the few seconds it takes her to turn, I’m already sitting down on a bench to lace up my leather boots, right hand hidden in the shadows beside my feet.
“Have you noticed… Okay, I’m just going to say it and I hope you don’t think I’m crazy.” She takes a deep breath, readying herself. “People are disappearing,” she blurts, “or at least I believe they are.” She seems to doubt her own thoughts as she speaks them out loud, and I wait for her to continue. “Have you seen Gladys recently? Super old lady with nearly white hair? She used to be the intake secretary, but nobody has spoken to her in a few weeks, if not more.”
Fuck. Shit. BALLS.
Schooling my features, I look up into her inquiring gaze. “No, I haven’t spoken to Gladys in quite a while.” Not a lie.
“Neither have I. And none of the other Compound residents that I’ve asked have either.” She lets me stew on that for minute.
“Why do you think that is?”
Kenji looks me up and down, clearly judging my trustworthiness. I don’t think she would have brought up the topic initially if she didn’t at least trust me a little though.
“I think someone here is a not who they seem. She’s not the first older person to just vanish.” She speaks in hushed tones, like what she’s saying is precious information not to be shared. If only she knew. “I believe The Compound’s done a bang-up job screening newcomers and accidentally let in a crazy.”
Oh, fuck. She’s not even close. I breathe out a sigh of relief, disguising it as a cough.
“Have you told anyone about your suspicions, other than me?”
She steps back, considering. “No, not yet. It could be anybody.”
“But not me, obviously, or you wouldn’t have told me your fears.”
Kenji does an impression of a preteen as she rolls her eyes at me, “Obviously.”
Standing up so I’m once again at eye-level with her, I let her see how serious I am with my next words. “Don’t.”
“What? Why not? Someone needs to know so they can do something about it!”
I like her passion, but it won’t do her any good here.
I make the choice to trust her, right then and there, hoping it doesn’t come back to bite me in the ass later on down the road. “Because you’re not completely wrong. People are disappearing. Just not for the reasons you assume.”
Her pupils blow wide and she wraps her arms around her slim waist in a protective manner. “I knew it! I knew there was a pattern! If not a serial killer, then who? Do you know what’s going on?”
Not wanting to drag her into everything, but still feeling the need to keep her safe, I give her just enough information to keep her from going to any of the higher ups in Atlas with her accusations. I don’t name names, or divulge anything about the lab, but by the time I’m done talking she seems convinced enough that I let some of my worry for her drop.
“Okay. I won’t say anything, Saedie. But please, when you can tell me more, I’m willing to listen. You seem like you have a plan, and I want to help if I can.”
Neither confirming nor denying the existence of a plan, I just nod. “Thank you, Kenji.”
“Of course. What are friends for?”
It seems I have more of those here than I realized.
◆◆◆
Feeling like my head is back on straight - for the most part anyway - after getting cleaned up and chatting with Kenji, I realize it’s time for me to fill Cade in. I’ve put it off long enough, and who knows what the extra hours have cost those in Atlas’s pit of evil.
Wishing, not for the first time, that cell phones were still fully functioning so that I could let him know I’m on the way to his place, I trudge quietly across campus in the fall night air. It smells of ozone, and though that’s one scent I absolutely love - or used to, Before - I can’t shake my discontent at knowing ozone means rain. I can only hope it’s the aqua kind, and not another bout of ODR. I couldn’t even tell you what real rain is like anymore.
It’s hard to remember something like that when you haven’t experienced it in almost a year. At least for me anyway.
Mr. Penguin is exiting the building as I get closer to the structure, and I do one of those stupid dance-to-both-sides things to try and get out of his way. His pinched face lightens into a brief grin as he excuses himself and shuffles off.
What’s that about?
I watch him go, but he doesn’t glance back. I wonder if he remembers me doing his laundry? I wait until he turns a corner in the direction of the sports building before continuing on to my destination. I should probably go after Mr. P, but I’m not emotionally prepared tonight to witness what he’s getting up to.
Cade, like he has a sixth sense for my presence, opens the door before I can get a single knock in. Of course, I have been over here nearly all the time lately. I bet he can recognize the sounds of my gait as I walk down the hall to reach his door.
He’s observant like that.
“Saedie,” he greets as I pass.
Not wasting time with pleasantries, I quickly dive in to shit. Cade sits patiently, silently listening to my verbal vomit for a full ten minutes without interrupting. When he’s sufficiently caught up, every dirty detail laid bare, he readily agrees we can’t wait any longer to move.
“So you told Kenji. Do you believe she can be trusted?”
“I do.”
“Alright.” He gives me the fiercest look I’ve ever been on the receiving end of from him. “We go tomorrow at lunch time. Everyone will be congregated in the cafeteria to eat.” And that’s that — decision made and locked in stone.
The hours tick by slowly as we prepare for Operation Satan Slayer. Have we agreed to call it that? Nope. But I’m doing it in my head anyway the next morning as we pack up a duffel bag with supplies Cade deems necessary to the task.
He has more weapons than I’ve ever seen in one place — handguns, a shotgun and several blades of different sizes and styles. Two of the guns have silencers, and I’m admittedly impressed. I wonder how he got them into The Compound….
I’m sure he has his ways.
I have the knife he gave me safely tucked away in my waistband, as usual. I go nowhere without it these days. It gives me a boost of confidence, but I’m still nervous as hell for what we’re about to do.
I make sure to stuff in some protein bars, along with a few other non-perishables, in case we have to wait a while and get hungry. You never know. People always used to bring food on missions in the movies Before. I think.
Either way, Cade doesn’t try to stop me as I grab a few extras and toss them in. He knows how I am when it comes to food — smart man. I may forget to eat often, but I always like to have some on hand just in case. Maybe it’s an end of the world thing.
About twenty minutes before it’s time to head out, I’m anxiously sitting on his couch. Legs tight together and bouncing up and down to soothe my frayed nerves, I’m trying hard not to resort to biting my nails — an old nervous habit. I guess Cade can’t take the motion any longer, because after several minutes of me pretty much jiggling the whole couch, he reaches over, placing a warm palm on top of both knees. His simple touch soothes me in a way I hadn’t experienced with anyone else.
“Sunshine, calm down. We’ve gone over this enough times now there shouldn’t be any serious issues.”
“What about the things we couldn’t plan for? We don’t have all the details.”
“No, we don’t. But that’s why we have fail-safes in place. And if anything goes bad, you fucking run like hell - get yourself out.”
I stare into his beautiful green eyes, slack jawed. Cade cursing is hot. Brushing that aside though, he’s never talked about me running away before, and it’s a mite insulting. “You think I’d just leave you there?!”
“I think,
if it comes down to it, one of us needs to be able to tell the rest of The Compound what’s going on down there. They’re more likely to believe you, their nurse-adjacent, than a giant, burly looking reclusive man they hardly know.”
What he says makes sense, and I’m pissed that my logical side agrees with him. The thought of leaving him in danger, if it comes to that, makes me feel dirty inside. Positively filthy.
“Cade…” I start, but he doesn’t let me finish, placing a finger from his free hand over my lips to shush me.
He gives me a warning look. “No, Saedie. No buts, no arguing. Please just promise me you’ll get out if you can. I won’t be able to go in there with a mission mindset if I’m too caught up worrying about you.”
Because I can see how much it means to him, I tell him I’ll do it. But I don’t promise. If he notices, he doesn’t comment. Let him believe I’ll leave if that’s what will help him keep on track, but if it comes down to it, I’m not abandoning someone I’m growing to love.
Love? Wait… what? Aw, shit.
I’m falling in love with him.
Please don’t let us die today.
◆◆◆
Not wanting to raise suspicion, Cade leaves for the sports building first, large weapons duffel slung across his back. He’s dressed in workout gear, but has more discreet clothes to change into in the duffel. Better to be safe than sorry — a Lycra top and stretchy shorts don’t exactly scream ‘I’m about break in to somewhere I don’t belong and kick some ass!’.
I’m supposed to wait another ten minutes before following behind him, but I can’t do it. The anxious energy rolling through me is making it impossible for me to stay put — the sooner I get there, the quicker we get this done anyway.
What the hell… I give up.
Jolting up from my prone position, I sneak out the back of Dorm 2 - knowing Cade exited through the front - and wind my way across campus to the sports complex. I keep my head down, gaze focused on the ground in front of me to deter anyone’s approach.
Not that there’s really anybody out and about. We’ve timed our excursion well.
Atlas (Apocalyptic Cries Book 1) Page 15
