by Michael Ford
“No,” he said, voice strangled. ‘No, Kobi!”
Their hands slipped a fraction, sweat loosening their grips.
“Hold on!” he cried.
His dad’s face twisted with fear. “Don’t let me go, Son. Please. Don’t let me go.”
But Kobi knew he couldn’t hold on. Their fingers slowly, surely slid apart, and Kobi felt his hope turn to despair with every inch of grip he lost, as the weight on his arm grew, and grew, and . . .
. . . and then it was gone. His dad didn’t say a word as he plummeted into the abyss.
Kobi screamed into the darkness.
He woke, bolting upright, drenched in sweat, and beside him a shadow sat up too.
“Kobi?” said Asha.
Kobi’s chest was heaving. “Dad . . .” he mumbled.
“It’s all right. You’re safe,” said Asha. Kobi couldn’t make out her features in the dim light, but she reached out and touched his shoulder. His breathing slowly calmed.
“It was just a bad dream,” continued Asha. “If your dad’s survived this long, he’d never get caught by one of those plants.”
Kobi frowned. “How could you know that?”
Asha let go of his shoulder. “I told you—I’m a Receptor. Sleep thoughts are more emotionally charged than waking ones. Less interference.”
Kobi wasn’t sure he liked the idea of her looking so deeply into his thoughts. He had a headache again.
Asha shrugged. “Sorry,” she said. “It’s not deliberate. I can’t control it completely.”
They were quiet for a few moments. Fionn and Niki were both curled up, at opposite ends of the couch. Kobi checked his watch and saw it was almost time to leave. Noon was the hottest time of the day and the most uncomfortable to move around in—as it was for all the other animals. It was the safest time to travel. He lay back down, sweat cooling on his skin.
“That Waste cleanser you gave Fionn is better than anything we have at Healhome,” said Asha. “He’s the sickest of all of us, you know. The Guardians try to keep on top of it, but they can’t. Every month he gets weaker.”
Kobi thought that he heard the beginnings of tears in Asha’s voice. He knew exactly what she was getting at. Fionn hasn’t got long . . .
“My dad has more of the medicine at his lab,” he said. “He might be able to help Fionn.”
Asha sniffed. “Do you really think he’s there?” she asked.
He could hardly bear the look of desperation in her face, and the strange feeling it caused in his gut. No one’s ever depended on me before. But he couldn’t lie to her. The window of survival was shrinking by the hour, if it was even still open at all. “I hope so,” he said, looking away.
For what seemed an eternity, she didn’t answer, and when she did, it was only quiet. “I hope so too. I really do.”
He glanced across at her again and saw she was staring at the ceiling.
“I never knew my parents,” she said at last. “None of us did.”
Kobi knew she was waiting for a response, but he wasn’t sure what to say or do. She’d said something about her mother being infected but nothing about her own father. Had he died before she was born? Dad always said every cloud had a silver lining, but if she was an orphan, the cloud looked pretty dark all over.
“But you have the Guardians,” he managed.
“Some of them are nice . . . ,” said Asha.
Kobi sensed she wanted to say more. “But not all?”
“There’s one—Melanie. She’s in charge. Niki adores her. But the others—they’re not really encouraged to form close bonds with the patients. You know, in case the worst happens.”
Kobi nodded, not sure what to say.
“Fionn doesn’t like them. He hasn’t since . . .” She trailed off. “We only have each other, I suppose,” said Asha.
“Like brother and sister,” said Kobi.
“Exactly,” said Asha.
On the sofa, Niki suddenly stirred. “What time is it?” she asked.
“Almost time to head out,” said Kobi.
“Where?” said Niki, suddenly more awake. “Forgive me for doubting you, but I really think it would be better just to wait here.” Her eyes shone with genuine fear. Kobi was starting to understand that the girl put up a hard exterior, but really she was just afraid, confused, and out of her comfort zone. “I mean, at least it’s safe here,” she pleaded.
“No,” said Kobi. He didn’t want to sound harsh, but they couldn’t waste any more time.
“Nik . . . ,” said Asha.
Fionn woke too now, and was looking from one to the other, eyes startled.
“She can stay here if she really wants,” said Kobi, even though he hadn’t wanted to offer, “but there are rules.”
“No, we go together,” said Asha.
“You can’t make me,” said Niki, hitching her chin defiantly.
Asha breathed a sigh through her nose.
Kobi didn’t have the words, or the time, to argue, and began his preparations for leaving. He went to work resetting all the traps and checking all the doors around the school, just like he and his dad had always done together.
He headed toward the science rooms, tugging on his dad’s homemade pump-action disinfectant equipment, and wearing a face mask and goggles. It was high concentration, enough to kill just about any regular plants on contact, and to seriously slow down the spread of Waste spores. But before he even reached the science rooms, he got a nasty surprise. The takeover had already begun, and it was worse than he expected. There were patches of creepers on the ceiling and walls. That’s not right, he thought dimly. It shouldn’t be that bad. Still, it might not be permanent. Repeated treatments with the disinfectant might do the job. . . .
He followed the path of vegetation back toward the outbreak location, his heart sinking as it grew more dense. More worrying. He began to doubt even his dad’s concoction would be enough. Then, as he rounded the corner, his sinking heart plummeted into despair when he saw the reason for the incredible growth.
The classroom door was wide-open.
Someone had peeled away the sealing tape he’d so diligently applied.
Kobi approached slowly, anger bubbling in his gut. Niki. It has to be. But why?
The woodwork lab was already overrun, with all the workbenches, the desks, and the walls completely covered in a layer of moss and wildflowers. The Snatcher in the corner was snared in thin tendrils of greenery too. But it was the rest of the school Kobi was worried about. Depending on how long the door had been open, the volume of Waste spores in the school could be catastrophic.
I was so stupid. I trusted them.
Kobi had turned away, determined to confront Niki, when he heard the softest of mechanical hums. He spun around, searching the room. He froze as his eyes met those of the Snatcher. Its visual sensors glowed red, fixating on him. And even though his body screamed at him to run, a tiny voice of logic was weighing the explanations and settling on the obvious.
Niki! She switched it on.
10
KOBI BACKED AWAY, AND the Snatcher’s eyes adjusted a fraction to track him. Otherwise, it didn’t move.
It can’t, Kobi told himself. It’s malfunctioned.
But could it still send signals back to its hub? If its positioning systems were online, it could report on its location, couldn’t it? Niki must have used her electrical power to start it up.
Kobi ran from the room. His anger had melted, leaving only a deep dread. How long have we got?
He found Asha and Fionn sitting together in the library, both poring over the same book. “We have to go, now! Where’s Niki?”
Asha shrugged. “Why—what’s the matter?”
“She’s betrayed us!” said Kobi.
Asha stood up sharply. “What?”
“She switched on the Snatcher,” said Kobi. He slammed a hand down on the librarian’s desk, splintering the wood. “They’ll be coming for us. We need to get out.”
Fionn stood up too. Though his eyes showed fear, his jaw was set. He nodded and stepped toward Kobi.
“Fionn . . . ,” began Asha.
“Come on!” said Kobi.
“Wait,” said Asha frowning. “Are you sure? Where is Niki now?”
Kobi was already running, trying to get his thoughts in some sort of order. His dad’s voice came through clearly. We trained for this, Son. You know what to do. The base is compromised. Emergency evac. He needed to grab all the weapons and supplies he could carry. There were several ways out of the school, but if the Snatchers were coming from the city, they’d be running straight into their path.
Niki emerged from the school gym ahead, not looking guilty in the slightest. She was actually smiling.
“Why did you do it?” shouted Kobi, though he knew exactly.
Niki looked taken aback at his furious tone. “What are you talking about?”
“I trusted you,” said Kobi, practically spitting with disgust. Asha and Fionn arrived behind him. Asha was carrying the dart rifle, not that it could help in the slightest against a robotic enemy. At that moment, Kobi’s ears picked up sounds. A mechanical whirring sound that meant only one thing. More Snatchers. Already?
“They’re here!” he said, looking up at the ceiling.
“Who’s here?” cried Niki.
I can’t believe she’s still keeping up the act.
“Snatchers,” Kobi said, “as if you didn’t know.”
Several thuds hit the roof above their heads, and a moment later the sound of smashing glass from several directions.
Kobi didn’t know which way to run. How many are there?
There was no way to get to his regular supplies.
“There’s a secret way out,” he said to the others. “Follow me.”
He set off at a run toward the reception area, but stopped after a few steps as the front doors of the school crashed inward. Smoke spilled inside, followed by two Snatchers on foot, their metal legs arching up and down as they skittered into the corridor.
One of the Snatchers advanced quickly, and Niki slipped backward, landing on the floor. “We’re from Healhome!” she shouted. “Please, don’t—” The metal spider reared up in front her and the young girl screamed as two forelegs clamped around her middle and lifted her into the air. A long flexible metal arm wound out sickeningly from under the Snatcher’s carapace, like the tail of a scorpion but on its underside. The “sting” reared up and jabbed Niki in the neck. The girl’s body went instantly limp and the Snatcher retreated with its prey.
Kobi grabbed Fionn’s arm and tugged him the other way. His mind ran over the possibilities, the ways out.
“Kobi, wait!” shouted Asha.
He didn’t. Niki was lost—probably dead already—but he couldn’t process that now. He couldn’t think about anything except getting away. He and Fionn skidded around a corner and a moment later Asha came too. Her lips were trembling. “Niki . . . ,” she said.
A Snatcher’s feet rattled after them. “Come on!” yelled Kobi. They ran. At the woodwork room, Kobi dodged quickly inside and went to the cabinet at the back. Please be where I remember.
The grenades were tucked at the back, two of them. By the time he emerged into the corridor again, the Snatcher was rounding the bend. It stalked toward them with calm menace.
“Go!” Kobi yelled to the others, and as they fled, he paused with his finger on the pin. His dad had run through the drill a hundred times with a disarmed one. This was real. He tugged the pin loose, stooped, and rolled the grenade as the Snatcher approached, then ducked back into the classroom.
The boom was deafening, shattering the glass panel in the door, and shrapnel tore across the work desks. Kobi peered out and saw the Snatcher on its side, three remaining legs scrabbling. He didn’t stick around and ran in the other direction. Asha and Fionn were beside an old water fountain.
“Niki . . . ,” said Asha. “We should go back.”
Kobi paid no attention. Niki could pay for her own mistakes for all he cared. There were more thuds, coming from the other direction. He put an arm around Fionn’s shoulder and led him a few feet up, to a door that read “Janitor.”
He shouldered it open and pulled Fionn into the room on the other side.
Follow the emergency protocol. No mistakes.
Asha entered too, and Kobi pushed the door closed, and locked it from the inside. Complete darkness.
You know what to do.
“Stay close,” he said.
With one hand still on Fionn, Kobi took six strides along the wall, reached the end, and followed it at ninety degrees. His toes bumped the crate on the floor. Crouching, he eased it aside, then scrabbled on the ground until his fingers found the metal ring. It lifted easily, opening the hatch.
“There are stairs here,” he said. “Asha, you guys go first—I need to close the hatch behind us.”
He wondered if a Snatcher could even fit down here but didn’t want to wait to find out.
The other two shuffled past blindly. Kobi could hear heavy breathing and feel the heat of their bodies. After they passed, he swung the hatch closed and followed. The air down there was musty and cool.
“Where are we going?” asked Asha.
“Just keep walking,” said Kobi. “It’s an old service tunnel linked to a storm shelter. There’s a wheel lock on a door a hundred and forty-three paces away.”
He let his own fingers trail along the wall, walking briskly until they reached the end. He bumped into one of the others, then reached left for the alcove he knew was there and grabbed the canvas sack—his emergency provisions. Then, off the hooks below, the crossbow and sheathed machete on a belt. Kobi placed a foot on the rung of a metal ladder and reached for the ceiling, taking hold of the cold metal wheel. With a few squeaking turns it opened inward, and he climbed up, pausing for a moment to check the interior of the abandoned storage shed, which teemed with plant life. He could just about make out the shapes of old sports equipment—helmets, pads, hurdles—beneath the vegetation. There was a flashlight in the sack, he knew, but he didn’t want to risk drawing any attention from the Snatchers at the school. Behind him, Asha and Fionn clambered out as well.
“Are we safe?” asked Asha.
Kobi put his fingers to his lips. “We’re at the perimeter of the school grounds,” he whispered. “Not clear yet.”
In a crouch, he headed to the shed’s wooden door, locked from the inside with a rusty key. He turned it slowly, then eased the door open a fraction, eye to the crack. He could see the long grass flatten and swirl from the wind from the Snatcher’s thrusters as they flew around lazily; he counted at least five. Kobi knew the long grass didn’t obscure their extensive sensor array.
“I don’t understand,” said Asha, shaking her head. “If those things belong to CLAWS . . .”
Fionn touched her arm, his face questioning.
“I don’t, Fi,” said Asha. Her bottom lip trembled. “I really don’t.”
Kobi remembered the younger girl’s terrified scream as the Snatcher seized her, and the way she slumped when the sting jabbed into her. There was nothing to make him think Niki could possibly be alive.
So much for their Guardians.
He watched the school. Snatchers were scurrying in and out of doors and windows like wasps entering their hive. I’m never going back there . . , he realized. Everything was ruined, and it was all because he’d taken in the three strangers. He’d been too nice. Too trusting. Not anymore.
“We can’t stay,” he said. “Are you coming with me or not?”
Asha looked at Fionn, clearly making up her mind. Not for the first time, Kobi found himself puzzling at their strange connection. Fionn stepped toward Kobi. He held up his hands, placing the thumbs together and spreading the palms. Kobi realized he was making the shape of the butterfly shadow puppet. Fionn made the hand animal flutter away.
Asha looked at Fionn and then turned to Kobi. “We’re with you.”
&n
bsp; 11
KOBI LED THE PARTY, with Asha checking the rear and Fionn between them. Kobi went as fast as he dared, and he sensed Asha’s occasional impatience as he held them back for a few more minutes here and there. She’s never had to do this before. She doesn’t know how easy it would be to make a mistake.
“They’re at the school,” she said as they paused under the shelter of a towering oak. “They won’t find us out here.”
“We can’t take risks,” said Kobi. And how he wished he’d never taken any! From the moment he met them, he’d thrown all his caution aside. And look where it got me. . . .
It was three hours before they reached the bridge. As much as Kobi was on edge he felt glad to be heading for the lab, in search of his dad. But when he saw the sky ahead he groaned. Across the cityscape were more Snatchers than he’d ever laid eyes on. Maybe thirty, crisscrossing over and among the skyscrapers.
All hunting for us. . . .
“Change of plans,” he said. “We have to go a different route.”
He led them back three hundred feet, to where a junction split from the main road, into an underground transit tunnel that ran beneath the river. The opening had partially collapsed and looked like the mouth of a plant-strewn cave.
“In there?” said Asha. “We have no idea what’s down there! Shouldn’t we stay aboveground?”
Kobi could hardly say he relished the thought either, but they didn’t have a choice with all the Snatchers prowling the sky. “You can sense Waste-infected creatures, right?”
Asha nodded. “Yes, but—”
“Okay, so you can warn us if there’s anything nearby,” said Kobi.
Asha smiled uncertainly. “I can warn you, but it might be too late by then.”
Fionn touched her arm. Kobi was beginning to understand now. The physical connection helped them communicate. “I know that,” said Asha, sounding a bit exasperated. “But that was one wolf, Fionn. We have no idea what lives”—she glanced at the tunnel entrance—“down there.”
Fionn looked at Kobi, then back at Asha, who drew a deep breath. “Fionn says you know what you’re doing.”
