by Jeff Olah
As the beast of a man moved back to the window, a bell indicating the arrival of the elevator car sounded from out in the hall. Tobias turned and moved quickly past their chairs and in slamming the door, marched out of the room.
Not attempting to conceal his conversation, Tobias wanted information. “What are we doing here? You have me waiting around, while you what… slept?”
Mason deduced that the individual on the receiving end of Tobias’s tirade had to be the one person he was most interested in seeing. He caught fading glimpses of him from the rooftop, although from the distance, the man in the chair could have been anyone. Now he’d see for himself what had become of the man he left for dead nearly a year earlier.
As Tobias continued, there was no reply. Mason, Randy, and Sean sat holding their breath and waiting for the door to reopen.
After a few long minutes with no response, Tobias could again be heard as the one-sided conversation played out. “I understand, but they are here now. The things I had to agree to just to make that happen will change everything.”
Another long silence followed, although this time punctuated with a few false starts by Tobias. “I just… Not really… Yes, they already have… Tonight.” Then the door at their backs opened.
Tobias came through first and stood aside. Removing his jacket and hanging it near the door, he pushed Goodwin to just beyond the line of chairs and then moved to the window. Unable to bury his restlessness, he finally placed his hands behind his back and stared at the three men.
Mason sat unmoving as the wheelchair rolled by. He then remained facing forward and smiled as Marcus Goodwin struggled to position himself behind the folding table. The amusement still hung on his face as he turned to Randy and Sean. They returned eye contact, although their reactions held a much different tone as Goodwin removed the scarf covering his face and neck.
Turning back, he witnessed the disturbing spectacle the others were still apparently transfixed on. “What the hell is this?” Mason thought to himself.
The man he’d left beside the road with holes in both of his feet was much different from the monster that sat before him today. His socks and shoes had been removed, displaying the wounds that Mason created and the damage they’d seen since that day. They were also there as a reminder that Mason hadn’t killed him.
The scars ran from the top of Goodwin’s right eye and ended somewhere beneath the collar of his shirt. The area obviously shredded at the hands of Feeders was nearly unrecognizable as human. Sixty percent of the top of his head sat void of any hair, but was instead replaced with what looked like a thin layer of flesh-colored plastic sheeting that narrowly kept what was left of his mind from spilling out through the opening.
All he could do was smile. Mason had many things he’d like to say, although he was delighted in the fact that Goodwin may actually give him credit for this. He watched as the man who looked less than human appeared to be building up to something, like a car revving its engine prior to scorching the pavement. He was going to speak.
Unflinching, Mason stared back as Goodwin’s face began to contort. His first words were less than monumental and given the gravity of their situation, fell flat. “Well,” Goodwin said.
Back to Tobias, Mason shook his head. “That’s all… Really? After all this time and everything we’ve shared, that’s all you’ve got”
Tobias stepped forward, although Goodwin motioned for him to stay put.
Beginning again, Goodwin came through a bit more collected, more assured of his vocal abilities. “Mason, I agree.” His words were clear, although in short bursts and each requiring multiple breaths in between. “It has been too long.”
Acknowledging the difficulty the man seated directly in front of him was having, Mason nodded, allowing Goodwin to have the floor.
“I’ll keep this short for obvious reasons.” Three more quick breaths. “My life will be over in the span of a few months… You made me this way. You did this to me for the things I did to your family… and now my nephew Tobias is going to even the score… so to say.”
Again Mason turned to Tobias, this time less than amused. “Your nephew? Okay, that makes a lot of sense. How could I have missed the uncanny resemblance?”
Tobias inched forward.
Continuing, Goodwin reached into his lap and withdrew a box cutter. “I’m going watch Tobias kill you tonight. I have asked him to cut your eyelids off so you have to watch him kill your friends before he starts in on you. When he is done, he’s been instructed to give me one of your fingers every five minutes until you bleed to death. Then he’ll toss your body out into the street for those animals to devour you.”
“I’ll tell you what,” Mason said. “I’ve already lost two fingers today and I’m kind of fond of all the others. Why don’t you do the right thing for the first time in your pathetic little life and let my friends go. They hold no value to you or your nephew, no matter how screwed up the two of you have become.”
Attempting to interject, Tobias was shut down as Mason continued. “Untie them and let them go. I’ll stay here and we can make this an even fight. Let me out of this chair and we’ll see who deserves to live. I’m already at a disadvantage with only one good hand and looking at the size of your steroid riddled nephew, he should easily be able to take me apart. Whatta ya say… for old times’ sake?”
Goodwin didn’t speak; didn’t acknowledge the snide comments and had yet to even flinch. He simply sat back in his chair and acted as if he hadn’t heard a word that was spoken.
The room sat silent as Mason looked to Tobias and then back to Goodwin. “Well?”
Goodwin smiled and turned to his nephew. “Kill the kid first.”
236
In the former chief’s office, Blake looked over the many certifications and accomplishments that lined the south wall—all awarded to the man who at one time assured this city was a safe haven for all who walked the streets, until it wasn’t.
The office remained as it was the day of the infection, in fact the entire station had less damage than any single structure within a three-mile radius. Outside the oddly constructed Plexiglas maze, not a trace of what occurred nearly a year ago would be found. That was the number one reason he chose to stake his claim to this side of town and how he liked to view the world beyond. It was what he referred to as “Heaven watching over hell.”
Running his gloved hand along the top of the most recent accomplishment hung near the chief’s door, Blake read the title. “Medal of Valor,” he began to improvise. “Awarded to Mitchell T. Blake for leading this city into the new age of civilization. With his continued bravery and depth of knowledge, our breathtaking city is primed to charge into the future with our heads held high.”
To the window that looked out over the lobby, Blake watched as his brother marched through the front doors and then out of sight. He moved to the desk at the center of the room and grabbed the walkie. “Phil, are you and Tony still stationed in the garage?”
A moment of static and then a voice. “Mitchell, it’s Tony, Phil’s out by the elevator taking a piss, but yeah, we’re still here.”
“Good.”
“We’re getting’ hungry over here boss, what’s up?”
“I want you guys back here.”
“Okay, we’re on our way.”
“But first,” Blake said.
“But first?”
“I need you to head into the building and bring Cedric and his family back here with you. Can you do that?”
“We’re on it boss.”
Blake slid the walkie into his back pocket and strode out into the lobby.
His brother stood in the shadows of the open cell at the end of the hall, nearest the control room. He was toweling off as Blake made his way over and was startled as he pulled the towel away from his face. “Damn it, Mitchell, I thought you were sleeping.”
“I’m not tired, and besides I think it’s time for some fun. Time for you to get rid of some of that f
rustration.”
“Funny,” Gerry said. “You just left me to die in the streets like a dog, so excuse me if I’m not quite in the mood.”
Beginning to laugh and only half attempting to restrain himself, Blake shook his head. “My little brother, ever the drama queen. Don’t forget, I’ve seen you take apart over a dozen Feeders without so much as a plastic spoon, so don’t get all—”
“You’re right Mitchell, you have seen what I’m capable of, so maybe, just maybe, you should watch what you say and what you do when I’m around. I’m not one of your lackeys that you can intimidate.”
“Nope, you’re not one of my lackeys. You’re my brother, but—”
“But nothing,” Gerry said. “As long as you’re standing here without your weapon, which I’m gonna assume is lying on your desk, you need to remember that I can and will put my boot in your ass.”
Blake smiled. “All this over a short walk in the rain, talk about making something out of—”
A short burst of static from his back pocket and then as Blake pulled free the walkie and adjusted its volume, a familiar voice came through. “Mitchell, are you there?”
“Yes, go ahead.”
“I’m not sure what to make of it, but I think we may have a problem.”
He turned from his brother and walked back toward the lobby, each step quicker than the next. By the time he reached the front doors, he was just shy of running. Gerry followed close behind and as they walked out onto the front steps of the station, Blake finally responded. “What is it?”
“Have you spoken to Cedric since we left them in their suite?”
“I have not,” Blake said. “Why?”
“Well, then we do have a problem, they’re gone.”
Blake turned to his brother. Looking for a confirmation of what he just heard, although not really needing an answer. Blake quickly responded. “Is their vehicle parked out front?”
“No sir, it’s gone as well.”
Staring out into the night, Blake shook his head. “Just get back here.”
Back to his brother he said. “We’ll find them in the morning and if they haven’t done anything stupid, I may just let them live. For now you’ll want to return to your room, you’re not going to like what happens in the next few hours.”
Gerry grabbed his brother’s arm. “If it has anything to do with those women, can you please take a few hours to think it over? You know they don’t fit the profile and your obsession is getting out of hand again. You need sleep and so do I.”
Wrenching his arm away, Blake stepped away from his brother. “My obsession—you’re kidding right? How about you do me a favor and not worry about it?”
“You haven’t been sleeping much over the last few weeks and you know what that does. We can try going back out, but I think we’ve picked this place clean. You need to be able to manage it without your meds, we knew this day was coming and what you’d need to do to keep yourself together. Why don’t you let me help you?”
“You want to help me?” Blake asked. “Go find Cedric and bring him back here, then we can discuss anything you want.”
“You’re out of control, Mitchell. You need help. That thing wasn’t built for your amusement. It wasn’t supposed to be used for killing innocent people.”
“There are no innocent people left.”
Blake strode away from his brother, through the front doors, and into his office. Retrieving his weapon, he moved back through the lobby and into the control room. Seeing the stack of bodies Jack piled at the corner of the room, he smiled. “Good work Jack, but I’d say just a tad too late.”
As Gerry entered the room behind him, Blake pointed the weapon and asked his brother to have a seat. Speaking into the handheld device, Blake said, “Jack, now that you’re warmed up I have a task for you. I’m going to allow you the opportunity to walk out of here unharmed.”
Gerry stood. “What are you doing Mitchell?”
Ignoring his brother, he continued. “And I’m going to let your friends help.” He opened the door between the room holding the women and the space where Jack stood exhausted. “You keep your friends safe until morning and I’ll personally come down there and let you all go.”
With no response from his prisoners, Blake keyed another code into the device and watched as every door inside the gauntlet shot open. Before turning and walking out of the room, he paused and watched the dozens of Feeders from the rear yard begin to pour into the maze.
To his brother, he said, “Now I can sleep.”
In one motion, Gerry leapt from his chair and took a swing at his older brother. Coming up at just the right angle, he connected squarely along his brother’s chin, sending both men into the door frame and then to the ground.
237
He didn’t actually expect Goodwin to take him up on his offer to let Randy and Sean walk out of the room, although he was slightly thrown by the madman’s last directive. A quick scan of his surroundings told him that besides the obvious threat posed by the man who appeared to be twice his size, only a single nine millimeter sat at the edge of Goodwin’s table.
Making eye contact with Tobias as he moved away from the window, Mason straightened in his chair. The larger man turned away from his uncle, walked to a spot less than a foot away and placed his boot between Mason’s legs.
Tobias leaned in close. “Most of the individuals I’ve had to kill over the last year were probably nice people and maybe in different circumstances we could have been friends. They just got in the way of things we needed and had to pay the price. But with you and your group, it’s different. I really don’t like you and I’m going to make sure you see just how much.”
“Really,” Mason said. “I thought this was going rather well—”
Stepping back, Tobias kicked Mason in the chest, sending him over backward. Streaks of white light raced across his eyes as his head bounced off the cheap carpeting. Waves of searing pain raced through his neck, sending shock waves throughout his upper body and ending in his damaged left hand.
Tobias dropped to one knee and came in close, his warm breath assaulting Mason’s eyes and nose. “I especially don’t like you. And your smart mouth is only going to make things worse.”
“So, what you’re saying is that we’re not going for a drink later?” Turning his head to the left he looked at Randy and winked. “Can you believe this guy; he’s got the nerve to manhandle me like this and I don’t even get so much as a kiss on the cheek, some people.”
Twisting right, Tobias swung hard and slammed his meaty right hand into the soft tissue near Mason’s left temple.
More excruciating pain, this time coupled with the added aggravation of also losing his vision for a split second, Mason fought the urge to spit in the behemoth’s face. His plan to keep Tobias focused on him appeared to be working, although he couldn’t keep this up for much longer. At some point Tobias would either be redirected by his uncle or would end up killing him. Neither option would benefit his friends.
“So,” Tobias said as he got to his feet. “You have any more jokes?”
“None that I think you would understand.”
Tobias moved to Mason’s left arm and stared down at his hand.
“You know,” Mason said. “I’m sure you’ve already heard the one about the paraplegic and his inbred nephew that walk into a bar. But if you haven’t, I’d be more than happy to draw you guys some pictures. Just get me pen and a few sheets—”
Interrupting, Tobias turned to Goodwin. “Just give me two minutes alone with him before you take him, I promise not to kill him.”
Goodwin shook his head. “Do what I asked of you, nothing more.”
Peering down at Mason’s left hand, Tobias snickered. “Was that my handy work? Blake told me you fell down a flight of stairs after I nearly blew that door off its hinges. I only wish your head would have been behind that door.”
“Hey, how about we compare my injuries to what I did to your uncle. We can ass
ign each one a point value and the winner gets to walk out of this building with an all-expense paid trip to the Bahamas for—”
Tobias set the toe of his boot on Mason’s left hand. “Keep talking.” He slowly shifted his weight onto the front of his foot, and for the first time, he got the reaction he was looking for.
Attempting to pull away, the sensation was unimaginable. It was as if every nerve ending within his body sat exposed at the end of his left arm and was being held up to a blowtorch. Mason looked away for fear that the trail of blood running from under Tobias’s boot would cause him to black out.
“STOP,” Sean said. He was twisting in his seat and his face was wet with tears. “Mason, please stop.”
Tobias lifted his foot away as Mason drew in a long breath. The man hell-bent on devastation strode quickly to the boy. “Why do you care, little boy? He’s nothing but a liability to your group. If he hadn’t brought you to this city, if he wouldn’t have murdered one of my men on the beach, none of you would be here. You and your friends will die in this city because of him. And when I’m finished we’re gonna go get your sister and do things to her that may just make me cry.”
Randy had yet to speak, although Tobias just included him in the conversation without actually knowing it. “Hey,” Randy said. “How about you and I have a talk?”
Still positioned at Sean’s chair, he turned to Randy. “I really have nothing against you at the moment, although anything I can do to—”
Three quick shots could be heard from somewhere just beyond the room. Tobias turned to Goodwin. “Cory and Marvin were in the garage last time I checked.”
Goodwin nodded toward the elevators and said, “It looks like something changed, go find out what.” Before he could continue, Tobias stepped between the chairs and moved out into the hall.
