Apocalypse Island

by Hall, Mark Edward

  “Now it’s time for the fun to begin,” she said, looking at Jennings. “Move over to that door.”

  Chapter 120

  “Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” Spencer cursed. “They just killed my two guards and they’re entering the facility.” He had on a com unit and was monitoring activity on the surface when his team leader informed him that a news chopper had landed and people were disembarking. Before Spencer could give them instructions the com went silent.

  “Are you sure they’re dead?” Robeson asked.

  “Goddamn it, if they weren’t they’d be talking to me.”

  “Has to be Jennings,” Robeson said. “But he wouldn’t have killed those men unless he was fired upon.”

  “Something’s wrong,” said Spencer. “Let’s move.”

  The team, with Spencer in the lead, arrived at a security door. Spencer stationed two of the remaining four guards at the door. “You guys have orders to kill anyone who approaches. No warnings, no mercy, understand? Shoot to kill.” He wished he’d given similar orders to the two men he’d posted outside. Oh, well, by the time anyone figured out how to get down to where they were going it would be too late.

  Spencer punched a series of numbers into the security door’s keypad. The door buzzed open onto a smaller room. There were two doors. There was a sign above the door on the left that said stairs. The door on the right was unmarked but it looked like an elevator without floor numbers. It had a keypad numbering system. Spencer did his thing and the door slid open revealing the elevator car. The two techs loaded the locker. Spencer and Robeson got in, followed by the two remaining guards who were ever watchful for intruders.

  Spencer pushed the elevator’s single button and it began to descend, stopping finally and opening into another small room which led out into a corridor. Several dozen meters along the corridor, they came to another door which opened into an enormous room. Spencer stationed the two remaining security forces outside the door with the same instructions he’d given the first team: shoot anyone who approached them. No questions asked.

  Chapter 121

  On the far side of a large room, Wolf came to another locked door. This one—and the wall it was mounted in—looked formidable—like a vault in the bowels of a Manhattan bank. Far away he thought he heard the angry pulsing of helicopter rotor blades, but he couldn’t be sure. There was a relentless droning down here that masked other sounds. The noise permeated everything like it was part of the very fabric of existence, as natural and consistent as the hum of the universe—the music of the spheres. He had no idea where that thought had come from. And it didn’t matter. Hearing it reminded him of his orphanage years, and as inconceivable as it seemed, gave him a mild sense of well being; like he was coming home from a long journey.

  He looked around him. Like all the rooms down here, this one was empty, and surprisingly clean. Actually it seemed almost white-glove sterile. Not a trace of dust or ash or smoke damage from that long ago fire. Wolf realized that this place had never been abandoned. Someone was still using it. He scrutinized the room looking for telltale cameras. None were evident. Not surprising, modern cameras were micro and could be hidden almost anywhere.

  He scrutinized the bulkhead in front of him. It contained a locking system like he’d never before seen. He knew he’d never be able to breach it.

  Movement from the corner of his eye caused him to whirl and reach for his gun. “No need,” said a small, horribly deformed creature who seemed to have materialized out of nowhere. “I do not intend to hurt you.”

  The creature had a twisted body. The eyes in the waxy, featureless face were small and pink. The mouth was a lipless grin. It had no nose.

  “Who are you?” Wolf said, scrutinizing the creature. He could see that it was human, but barely.

  “You don’t remember me, Danny? You saved my life.”

  “Eli?” Wolf said. “Is that you? Oh my God.”

  “The one and only,” Eli said. “I’ve been wondering when you were coming back.”

  “I didn’t know I was coming back until today,” Wolf said. “I didn’t remember anything. For some reason I blocked it all out.”

  “No wonder,” Eli said. “They used us, they tortured us, then they tried to kill us. You did a brave thing. It must have been very traumatic for you.”

  “I should have done more,” Wolf said. “Jesus, I should have remembered. What are you doing here?”

  “I live here.”

  “You mean down here?”

  “Not exactly. I live on the island, but I hang out down here, keep an eye on things. The people who built this facility didn’t realize how easy it would be for someone small and clever to get in and out. Storm drains, air vents. That sort of thing.”

  “How did you know I was here?”

  “I got a call from someone who said you would be here and might need a hand.”

  Wolf grinned. “Wouldn’t be a fishing boat captain named Skip Johnson, would it?”

  Eli nodded.

  “He mentioned a man named Tanis Richey. Do you know him?”

  “He’s my father, Danny. He would have come but he’s not well.”

  “Sorry to hear that,” Wolf said.

  Eli shrugged. “He’s old. It’s nearing his time.”

  Wolf looked away from Eli’s ruined face. “This is amazing,” he said, speaking of the facility.

  “Did you come here to save us again, Danny?”

  “Do you need saving?”

  “Maybe. The feds are back and they brought something with them this time.”

  “What it is it?”

  “A big suitcase and a couple of technicians. I think they have something planned.”

  “Are you talking about a bomb?”

  “I don’t know what it is. But I think we should find out.”

  Wolf frowned. “Someone took a friend of mine and I think they came here. I have to get her out.”

  “I know where she is,” said Eli.

  “You do? Show me.”

  “Not that easy, Danny. They’re watching her. She’s bait.”

  “Do you know how to get through this door?”

  Eli shook his head.

  “There’s got to be another way.”

  “Follow me,” Eli said.

  Chapter 122

  When they reached the door Wilder had Jennings step aside. While she held the gun on him she punched in a security code and Jennings heard tumblers sliding out of position. The door buzzed open. She motioned with the gun for Jennings to step through. As he did so he noticed that the door and the wall were both made of six inch thick stainless steel. No one was ever supposed to get past this point.

  Jennings found himself on the upper landing of a huge corrugated metal staircase below which stretched a large and cavernous room, empty but formidable. He did a quick scan of the room but saw no security forces.

  “You’ve been here before,” Jennings observed.

  “Oh, yes, Rick, many times.”

  “Tell me something. Why’d you carve a cross on those women and crucify them?”

  Wilder made a face. Jennings decided she wasn’t as beautiful as he’d previously thought. There was something beneath her skin trying to show through, perhaps something evil, turning her beauty into a desecration. She was like a creature on the cusp of some strange metamorphoses. “What does it matter? You think I’m a nut case anyway.”

  “I don’t want to believe that about you, Seph.”

  “Don’t patronize me, Rick.”

  “I’m just trying to understand. That’s all.”

  Wilder sighed as if she was bored with the subject. “Haven’t you been listening to me, Rick? I told you those tramps weren’t women. They were demons, sent here to corrupt Danny. By killing them and putting them on display I was protecting him and simultaneously sending a message to the fuckers who betrayed us. I wanted them to know that I was on to them and that I was coming for them. I wanted them to worry and sweat and be afraid. It’s why
I put that big cross on the front of the orphanage. I wanted those bastards to know that someone out here remembered.”

  “You’re talking about the church.”

  “Whatever. They weren’t the church to me—to any of us. They were evil, worse than the devil. They were co-conspirators in the ruination of our lives. I can sort of understand why governments do evil things. They’re not supposed to feel empathy. But the church? You have any idea how many of those bastards I’ve hunted down and killed like rats?”

  “I know about Byrne and the nuns.”

  “I didn’t kill those nuns. Byrne yes. The fucking coward deserved it. But I can’t take credit for the nuns.”

  “But you knew about them.”

  “I knew where they were but I didn’t kill them. Better look at your government buddies for that one. They’re worse murderers than I’ll ever be—mass murderers, yet I’m the monster and they’re the patriots. Our priorities are all fucked up.”

  “I won’t argue that,” Jennings said. “They got you out, didn’t they? The nuns, I mean.”

  “Not a chance. I told you, Danny got us out. He saved us all and he didn’t even remember. I’ve never known anyone so brave in my life. He was a kid and just as scared as the rest of us. But after he got Siri out, he went back in and led the rest of us out of that burning hell hole. It was like he had some sort of supernatural power or something. If he could have gotten to the other floors he would have saved a lot more kids. He wanted to, but it was too late. The fire was out of control by then. Only after we were out did those two nuns get us off the island and into hiding. After that we lost touch with one another. But I never forgot, and I vowed that some day I’d bring us all back together again. Although the nuns were conspirators in the madness they deserved to live for helping us survive. I know you probably don’t believe this but I’m sorry they’re dead.”

  “Why didn’t you just come forward?” Jennings asked. “Tell the world what you knew.”

  Wilder laughed. “I tried, Rick, but I got shut down every fucking time. No one would listen. My editor threatened my career if I ever printed one word about this place. You have no idea how deep the conspiracy goes.”

  “So you had to kill innocent women to get their attention?”

  “I told you why I killed those tramps and I don’t want to talk about it any more.”

  “Is that why you killed Raymond Tripp? Was that about protecting Danny too?”

  “Danny didn’t need any more hassles. He needed a place to recover and heal so that when the time was right he could be ready to do what he was meant to do. That old bastard wouldn’t leave him alone. So one day I put on my Danny suit and went in and shut the motherfucker down.”

  “You’re Danny suit?” Jennings gazed intently at Wilder.

  “Easiest thing in the world,” Wilder said. “Wash off the makeup, put on some men’s clothes. And Voila.”

  It struck Jennings like a ton of lead. He didn’t know why he’d never seen it before. They were about the same height, both strikingly beautiful with long black hair, same color eyes, dark complexion. Holy shit! Now that he thought about it, he seriously wondered if Persephone was even aware of it on a conscious level. Maybe her passion about wanting to protect her brother was instinctive. “You didn’t think Danny was capable of protecting himself?”

  “You just don’t get it, do you, Rick? Danny’s like a saint to me. He was my savior, and he deserved better than being hassled all the fucking time. Bad enough he had to go to prison for something he didn’t do.”

  “Did you kill Shaun Talbot?”

  “Why would I kill him? He was my brother, my soul mate. Just like every other kid in that place. Together we shared something extraordinary. Of course I didn’t kill him.”

  “Do you know who did?”

  “Of course. It was your buddy, Frank Cavanaugh. You might say he killed two birds with one stone. He got rid of another survivor and sent Danny away at the same time.”

  “Why didn’t they just kill Wolf too?”

  “Because they needed him. He was the only one that could lead them to the rest of us. Only problem was he didn’t remember.”

  “That’s where Hardwick came in,” Jennings said. “He was sent to help him remember. Robeson told me he used to work for them. Don’t happen to know where he is, do you?”

  Wilder grinned. “He’s resting peacefully. I can assure you of that.”

  Jennings shook his head in amazement.

  Wilder said, “Your asshole partner also killed Johnny Redman and I’m pretty sure he killed Siri.”

  “What about Jack Higgins?”

  “There’s no doubt in my mind. I tried to write about corruption in the force but they shut me down. What do you think of your buddies now, Rick?”

  “Jesus, Jack was killed because of what he knew?”

  “They tried to make him part of the conspiracy, but he threatened to expose them.”

  “How did you figure this all out, Seph?”

  “I get around. You see, I have this ability. Sometimes I’m like a fly on a wall. I hear things, I see things.”

  “So it’s true? You do have the ability to make yourself...invisible?” It was so preposterous that Jennings was having trouble just saying the word.

  “Well, not exactly. It’s more a mind over matter thing. If I push hard enough I can trick weak-minded people into believing I’m not there. It works relatively well most of the time because most people have weak minds.”

  “And you learned all this from that thing down there, whatever it is?”

  “That and more. And you know, those assholes are down there right now planning to end it.”

  “What the hell does that mean?” Jennings said. “End it? End what?”

  “Everything. That thing. This place. They’re going to make it go boom. They don’t know I’m on to them. They think they’re going to get away but they’re wrong. They’re gonna fry right along with their dirty little secret. When I get through, the whole world will know what happened over here.”

  “How do you plan to accomplish that?”

  “The wheels are in motion as we speak. I have friends in high places. You see, I’ve been working on an exposé that will air after this is over. After I’m dead.”

  “Jesus, Seph. How much time are you talking about here?”

  “Oh, an hour, maybe two tops.”

  “When were you going to tell me?”

  “I wasn’t.” Wilder laughed wickedly.

  “You plan on taking me with you, huh?”

  “Hey, you’re the one who wanted to come over here. You invited me, remember?”

  “Listen, Seph, give me a chance and I’ll help you expose those bastards. It doesn’t have to end this way.” Jennings knew he had to get away from this crazy bitch. He didn’t know how he was going to do it but it had to be soon.

  “Don’t bullshit me, Rick. You and I both know it’s the only way it can end for me.”

  “We can prove they screwed with your minds, made you what you are, made you do the things you did.”

  “Oh you mean like an insanity defense or something?”

  “That’s right.”

  Wilder threw her head back and laughed out loud. God she was so fucking beautiful Jennings almost couldn’t breathe. What a waste.

  “You can’t imagine who you’re dealing with,” she said. “I’d never make it to a courtroom. They’d think of something; lethal injection late at night in my cell, or I’d hang myself, and those bastards would get away unscathed. No way. They’re going down. Trust me, the world will finally know what happened here. They’ll know everything.” Wilder pointed the gun at Jennings and motioned for him to descend the staircase. “Move along, Rick, I’m tired of talking.”

  Chapter 123

  Eli led Wolf along the wall until they came to a large air conditioning vent cover. Eli took a small screwdriver from his pocket and removed the screws that held the cover in place. Wolf wondered how Eli cou
ld even function, he was so horribly deformed. But watching him caused pride to swell in him. He was glad he had befriended Eli all those years ago, happy that he had saved him from the fire and even happier that Eli was still around.

  Wolf helped him get the heavy lid off the vent and together they carefully set it on the floor. Eli went in first, scrabbling up and over with those short, twisted legs of his. By the ease and confidence with which Eli navigated, Wolf was certain that he had done this many times before. Wolf followed Eli’s lead. On hands and knees they made their way through the 3 ft. by 4 ft. aluminum ductwork tunnel. In here there was a slight breeze blowing cool air at them. He wasn’t sure where it was coming from but he was grateful for it.

  Several hundred feet in they came to an intersection where the ductwork split into two sections. Eli chose the left section and Wolf followed. Presently they arrived at another wall vent. Eli took out his screwdriver and quietly removed the louvered cover, this time, from the inside. Wolf saw that it had been cleverly reverse-engineered and realized that Eli was some sort of genius.

  Once the vent cover was removed they stepped out into a stairwell. Wolf glanced over the railing and saw a deep set of spiral stairs descending perhaps a dozen or more stories before reaching bottom. The stairwell had been cut from solid bedrock.

  Eli turned and placed an index finger vertically to his lips for Wolf to be silent as they made their way carefully down the stairs. At the bottom they heard men’s voices and Wolf froze. Eli pointed at a wall vent and Wolf realized that this is where the voices were coming from. They put their ears to the vent and listened.

  Chapter 124

  The interior of the room was bathed in eerie blue light. There were dozens of computer stations and tons of other electronic equipment, most of it flashing and beeping, like a giant intensive care unit hooked up to a massively sick patient.