Diana glanced at the monitor. “I couldn’t sleep. I’m running through some genetic code simulations on the virus.” She dragged a hand through her hair.
“Stabilizing outside the host?”
Diana nodded. “It’s there, but it’s like looking for an ant in a garden.” She sighed. “An epic sized garden.”
Sarah placed her hand over Diana’s and gave it a squeeze. Diana’s genetic coding was the framework for her viral creation. “We wouldn’t be half as far on if it wasn’t for you.”
A tilt lifted the edges of Diana’s mouth. Forgiveness. “I’m sorry about yesterday. Those men. It shook me up. It’s been so long since we’ve come across people who didn’t want to steal from us. Hurt us. It’s hard to trust. And I have Riley to think about.”
Sarah sat back in her seat and looked away. She didn’t regret giving Mabe the supplies, but that didn’t make this any easier. She looked back at Diana. “They looked pretty scary in all their black get up.”
“Didn’t seem to stop you appreciating the one with the wild beard.”
Heat popped on Sarah’s cheekbones as she nudged the mouse to bring her screen to life, staring at it like her life depended on it. She didn’t rise to the bait. “They’re leaving today.” She faced Diana. “As you requested.”
Diana remained silent, studying her. Could she read the guilt on her face? Sarah forced herself to maintain eye contact, to not give Diana a reason to suspect something was up. If Mabe and the others thought Diana was hostile yesterday, they were wrong. That had just been a warm-up.
Diana’s computer finally stopped scrolling and beeped. Diana broke eye contact, and it took all of Sarah’s strength not to gasp with relief.
The lab door creaked open and Artem leaned into the room.
Thank God.
She’d never been so happy to see his grumpy Russian face. Grateful, she jumped up from her seat, her heart going ping pong off her rib cage. She wasn’t cut out for this kind of subterfuge.
Artem frowned at her, his eyes narrowed. “Your new friends are preparing to leave.”
Raised voices boomed as Sarah followed Diana out to the main corridor. The source soon became apparent.
Riley.
Her arms were crossed, rigid with fury. “I don’t see why I can’t come.”
Zoe turned, relief painting her features at Diana’s approach.
Mabe and the others waited behind her. Sarah couldn’t help but meet his gaze. His expression was inscrutable; the loaded backpack already on his shoulders. She allowed herself a tiny sigh of relief. This was going to be okay. Soon they’d be gone, and everything would go back to normal. Whatever the hell that was.
Zoe threw her hands up in exasperation, storming away from Riley. “You speak to her. You’re her mother.”
“I want to come up with you. I haven’t been up in days. You can’t keep me stuck down here forever.” Riley tapped her foot, her eyes darting from her mother to Foster and back to Diana.
“There’s nothing to see, Riley. We’ll be escorting these gentlemen outside, and that’s it.” Diana’s voice was all sweetness.
“I. Want. To. Come.” Riley stuck out her jaw. She was doing this on purpose. Nothing like forcing your mother’s hand by embarrassing her in front of strangers.
Sarah touched Diana’s arm. “It’ll be fine. Let her come.”
“I’m not a baby anymore.” Riley beamed at Sarah.
Diana grimaced, but her posture softened. “Okay. But you do exactly as I say.”
“We were wondering if any of your team would like to return to Brackla with us.” Mabe’s voice was a deep rumble. “Our community is small, but we have good people.” His gaze lingered on Sarah, warming her skin. She shook her head, unable to say the words. Not wanting to tell him no. It was too hard.
Artem’s tone was clipped. “We’re doing fine here.”
Foster raised a scorched eyebrow and exchanged glances with Sawyer, but remained silent. Had Mabe told them about the supplies? Sarah couldn’t tell.
Mabe scrubbed a hand across the rough on his chin. “If you’re sure?”
Diana took a deep breath. “We are sure.”
“All of your people? There are six of you here. Have you asked all of them what they want?”
Something dark flickered across Diana’s face as if fighting for supremacy, but then she got a hold on herself, smothering the emotion, until it vanished from sight. She acknowledged each team member, Sarah, Artem, Jacob, and Zoe with a tilt of her head, and arched an eyebrow in question. “Does anyone wish to leave?” Her tone became brittle. “Feel free.”
A long second stretched out, so quiet Sarah heard the rush of blood in her head.
Diana faced Mabe and his men, her expression triumphant. “I believe that answers your question?”
“You don’t need to stay here.” Mabe wasn’t giving up, ignoring Diana’s spiny facade. Sarah swallowed, her respect for him increasing by the second. He was definitely risking a painful death.
Mabe’s face was earnest. “The Chittrix know you’re underground. It’s only a matter of time before they come through that door.”
“Or dig you out.” Foster made a scooping motion. “Just saying, they’re fucking devious. Adapt to everything nature throws at them. They came up through the sewers once, fucking swimming versions.” His mouth pulled down in disgust.
Mabe nodded. “He’s right.”
Diana made a harrumphing noise. Even in the crappy lighting, Mabe’s knuckles blanched, but he held it together. Foster was less subtle. He rolled his eyes and moved away from the group. “That’s settled then.”
“Sarah?” Mabe looked straight at her. Her stomach churned. Did he see it, how much she wanted to come even though she knew she couldn’t? She owed it to everyone who had died in the bone yard to complete her work here.
Diana stepped between them, shattering the moment. “Time to leave, gentlemen.”
Sarah led Diana and Riley, her pulse rifle snug to her chest. Even with Mabe and his two companions up front, her heart was a fierce rat-a-tat against her ribs. He ascended the ladder, his actions smooth and athletic. The bear climbed like a cougar despite his size.
He waited for her at the top, on the lip of the opened drain, sunlight haloing him from behind. As she neared the top, he stuck out his hand and locked it around her forearm, pulling her out of the hole in an effortless lift. He set her on her feet as if she was made of glass, placing a steadying palm to the small of her back. He cupped her elbow with a light touch. “You okay?”
Warm breath puffed against the top of her head. He towered over her, big and intimidating, but his touch was gentle, respectful. She looked up at him, taking her time to answer. Soon he’d leave, and her world would go back to what it had been before. It was what she had to do, but for the first time since the invasion, she was no longer sure it was what she wanted. Did that make her a bad person? Shame made her cheeks heat, and she swallowed, forcing her dry mouth to work. “I’m good.”
A faint smile graced his sculpted lips, and was that amusement in his eyes? No one had smiled at her like that in such a long time. For a second, the world was a good place to be. Then he released her and stepped back, sweeping his arm for her to pass.
She wobbled past on tremulous knees and plopped down on the edge of the fountain, shading her eyes in the pale morning light, as he helped Diana and Riley out of the tunnel. Even though Diana was keeping up the icy routine, he showed her nothing but courtesy. Zoe had remained underground with Jacob to rest her leg, but Artem brought up the rear. His green eyes narrowed in a scowl. What was up with him?
The morning smelled fresh as they crossed to the rear entrance of the building. Almost made up for the mold-soured air in the main corridor as they headed up to the foyer. At the main entrance door, Mabe broke away from the group to survey the bone yard. Remnants of Chittrix still lay in scattered pieces, although much had already dissolved, melted by the combined potency of its blood and
Sawyer’s Sweeper.
Diana clipped Mabe’s heels. “Coast is clear. You have transport nearby?”
Foster eased past her, cricking his neck to study the sky. “Couple of clicks.”
“Only thing moving is the clouds.” Mabe jogged down the steps, sweeping left and right with his pulse rifle.
The breeze dropped and silence soaked the air.
Artem headed out to join Mabe, a brittle smile plastered on his face. Skin prickled on the back of Sarah’s neck, her palms suddenly clammy. Something bright in his hand caught the light. “Artem—”
“What the fuck?” Artem yanked at Mabe’s backpack, slicing open the top straps with a curved knife.
Another hack and it fell to the ground, spilling pristine medical supplies that gleamed an accusingly brilliant white.
Diana gasped as Artem stepped back, spreading his hands in a gesture of ‘look what I found’. Except he hadn’t found anything. There’d been no telltale sign, no giveaway as to what Mabe was carrying. But there had been a scrape outside the lab door last night. Sarah clutched her weapon tighter, as if it would keep her knees from folding under her. Artem had known all along, waiting for his perfect moment.
Metal clicked as safeties were disengaged. By the time Diana had leveled her gun at Mabe’s head, Sawyer and Foster had their weapons raised in reply.
Diana’s voice was a low rasp. “Go on then. I want to hear this.”
Sarah’s legs had stopped working. She was frozen to the spot.
Mabe didn’t even look in her direction. “Diana, put your gun down, don’t be crazy.”
Foster tilted his head, his eyes darting from Diana to Artem in a rapid assessment. “Going to listen to the man?”
Diana lips were a bloodless slash. “We gave you shelter for the night and this is how you repay us?”
Sarah found her voice. She stumbled forward on quaking legs, addressing Diana. “We have plenty to spare. We’re hoarding supplies when there are people who need them.”
“And you get to decide who has them?” Diana’s gaze was blue ice.
Mabe’s brow knotted. “So we don’t, but you do? Maybe we’re as bad as each other.” His throat worked as Diana nosed the snub of her weapon under the line of his jaw.
No.
“I gave them the supplies.” Sarah pushed between Mabe and Diana, the nose of Diana’s gun skimming her cheek. Fuck. Her pulse rattled erratically like a broken clock. She was going to die. She was sure of it. Numbing cold spread through her body as she faced Diana’s granite stare.
“Mum, are you mad?” Riley lunged for Diana, but Sawyer caught her, pinning her to his body as if she weighed nothing.
Diana’s gaze narrowed to the man holding her daughter. “Let her go.”
Sawyer tilted his head, his eyes serious and assessing. “When you drop your weapon.”
A chuckle escaped Diana. “Let her go.”
This was stalemate. Sarah’s mind raced through options and came up empty handed. “You’re one of our best scientists, Diana.” Sarah forced herself to meet Diana’s glare, facing her own wide-eyed fear reflected in Diana’s dark pupils.
“You’re brilliant at your job.” Sarah waved at the surrounding devastation. “But, that time doesn’t exist anymore. You took the helm when everything fell apart, and we’re all grateful, but this—” She swallowed. “This is not the solution. These men are not the problem. The Chittrix are.” She lifted her chin higher, her lungs struggling as if all the oxygen had been stripped from the air.
Diana looked like she was about to combust, her eyes widening, her cheeks scarlet. A vein throbbed low in her neck.
It was all or nothing. Sarah plowed on, fighting the fierce urge to bolt. “I don’t agree on withholding the meds. I tried to speak to you about it, but you wouldn’t listen. So I shared them. We can’t decide who has access to them, Diana. If there are people in need, we can’t sit on them in good conscience.” Her voice dropped a few octaves as she struggled to hold herself together. “Enough people have died.”
Diana’s top lip curled. “So give them away.” Her tone escalated, ratcheting up several octaves, her face tight with suppressed fury. “Doesn’t matter we have a child here?”
Sarah blanched. The blood draining from her face was real. She could feel it. “No of course not, I’d never do anything that put Riley at risk. You know that.”
“I don’t know you at all anymore.” Acid dripped from Diana’s words, her mouth a sneering slash.
“Your daughter is here.” Sarah pointed at Riley’s shocked face. “If only for her sake, put the gun down.”
Diana’s hooked fingertip grew pale under pressure.
Sarah braced herself. She was ready.
14
Mabe swore under his breath. Sarah was putting her life on the line over this shit.
Enough.
He dived, ramming his full weight into Diana, locking her in his arms as they fell. She crumpled under him like paper, her gun firing agonizingly loud in his ear.
Fuck.
He hammered the gun free of her grip, knocking it to the ground. Riley screamed.
“Calm the fuck down,” he muttered, his ears ringing from the gun’s discharge.
Riley was crying now, reaching for her mother, but Sawyer held her back as Foster leveled his handgun at Artem.
“Mabe.” Sarah fell to her knees, her hair wild, reaching for him. “Are you hurt?”
“No.” He grunted as Diana bucked and dug her elbows into his abdomen, searching for purchase. “Quit that.”
Foster shook his head. “Man. Goodbyes are always so fucking awkward”
Diana swore, still thrashing under Mabe. He gritted his teeth. If she’d been a man, he would have put a stop to it with his fists. Instead, he rolled on to his side, releasing her, before pulling her up by the scruff of her shirt. She clawed at him like a feral cat. Jesus.
“Get off her.” Riley finally wrestled free of Sawyer and rushed over, hugging her crazy-ass mother.
“Gladly.” Mabe let go of Diana and stepped back. He scooped up the damaged backpack, fingering the cut straps. Diana’s gun was dusty in the dirt.
“Fuckers,” Artem spat.
Mabe shook his head and lifted Diana’s gun. “What is wrong with you people? The world is sick enough already without all this shit.” He straightened, his back aching from where he’d landed.
Across from him, Foster stiffened. “Guys.”
Mabe rubbed his stinging ears, his world still muted after the gunshot. “What?”
“Guys!” Foster screamed.
Mabe tracked Foster’s gaze.
What the—
The sky was black with Chittrix, a swelling, gyrating storm circling Carven.
Fuck.
His pulse accelerated into overdrive as he grabbed Sarah’s hand, yanking her around and back toward the decrepit building. “Move.”
He didn’t double check over his shoulder. He’d seen enough. Foster and Sawyer followed, Riley and Diana shuttled between them. Air beat against his back, urging him on. He tightened his grip on Sarah as he bounded up the steps three at a time, barely aware if she was missing her footing, just knowing that he was pulling her hard enough it didn’t matter. He burst through the door, skidding on the leaf-strewn floor as he sprinted down the corridor to the small courtyard.
Footsteps echoed behind him as he hammered through the warped fire door into the desolate courtyard. He pushed Sarah forward, turned to grab Riley and Diana. “Go, now.” He stabbed two fingers at Artem. “Get them underground.”
Without waiting for an answer, he sprinted back to the front entrance, Foster and Sawyer on his tail.
Above, the maelstrom had coalesced into a black whirlpool. “There’s too many,” Foster shouted.
“Buying us some time.” Sawyer dropped to his knees and unleashed a spray of laser power toward the circling Chittrix.
Mabe lifted his pulse rifle, his back bumping against Foster’s in solidarity.
For a second the world swam in a dizzying bloom of grays and greens as the scope fought to adjust to the change in perspective.
Solid enormous claws dominated his eyepiece, slicing through the air as a wave of Scutters poured through the parking lot entrance gates. An unending jostling army, separating into lethal individuals as they spread in a widening arc. “Scutters.”
“My God,” Foster breathed at his shoulder.
“We need to get inside.” Sawyer made a violent motion for Foster to follow him. “Now.”
Mabe sprinted back to the courtyard, the click of chitinous pincers and sawing teeth chasing him though the tainted air. One day there had to be an end to this. Had to be.
The top of Artem’s head disappeared below ground as he approached, hot on Foster and Sawyer’s heels.
Clicking and screaming razed the air to an accompaniment of tearing wood and grinding stone.
“Scutters in the building,” Sawyer gasped as he swung his legs over the edge and dropped into the darkness after Foster.
Mabe threw himself through the gap, soaking in his last fleeting glimpse of daylight as he thrust the cover into place, locking out the madness.
15
Sarah shut down the video link and rubbed her burning eyes with the heels of her hands. Their one functioning camera showed the parking lot overrun by Chittrix, the dead cracking and splintering under the weight of the conquerors. It had been the same for the past six hours with no sign of abating. Even worse, they were digging. She pushed back from the screen.
Digging.
Not directly overhead, but still. She’d failed. Scutters were coming for them. It was only a matter of time. A tight bud of panic unfurled low in her gut. “They’re not going anywhere.” She sagged, her head too heavy.
Diana perched on an overstuffed chair on the far side of the lab. The upholstery was burst, wrecked and worn out. Just like everything else. Their weapons were on their last legs and food was running low. Hot tears lanced the back of Sarah’s eyes, but she swallowed them back down. She would not cry. There had to be a way out of this.
Mabe (Earth Resistance Book 5) Page 8
