Feral

by Vesper Brooks

  Once Jasmyne settled into position, I backed myself into the shadows provided by the corner closest to the door. It placed me at an angle when it came to seeing into the cage, but as big as Radia was, I felt confident I could hit her without too much trouble. Hell, if it came down to it, I’d march up and stick the damn muzzle into her mouth and fire the tranq if I had to.

  Now all we had to do was wait. Wait for her instincts to kick in and her to make her way back here to nurse the pups. I counted on it not taking long. Natural newborns needed to eat every couple of hours. I figured we had an hour wait, at most. Provided she felt instincts. Provided their metabolism fell into natural patterns. Most of all, provided she came alone.

  If Daxel came with her, I’d have to pull the trigger and hope the tranqs kicked in fast enough for Jasmyne to get out and follow through with the rest of the plan. I didn’t want to die, but I damn well meant for her to live.

  My breath caught in my throat as a loud clanging thump resounded from outside the room. I forced it out calmly, relaxing so I didn’t risk the shot going wild when it counted. God forbid I fuck up and hit Jasmyne. Instead, I focused on the sounds, trying to picture her arrival.

  The thump meant she’d dropped down from the loading bay instead of coming in through the stairwell. The steady click of her toes on the concrete indicated she walked at an easy pace, seemingly unaware of the impending trap. Silence fell and I waited, praying we hadn’t underestimated her sense of smell.

  Radia huffed and the sound set my teeth on edge. I kept waiting for her moaning growl to fill the air. For her to erupt into the room, all rage and rampage. When she did walk in, a cold sweat broke out across my skin and I fought the shiver that nearly made my teeth chatter.

  One of the pups squealed, and I imagined Jasmyne reaching through the cage to rile them up so they’d make noise. Radia paused, as if confused, until a pup whimpered again. Without any more urging, she plodded into the cage, her back legs barely clearing before Jasmyne slammed the door shut.

  I burst into action, taking aim and firing a dart. The snarl of rage from Radia echoed my sentiments as the dart bounced off one of the bars. She pressed up against the door, throwing her weight so hard the metal container moved.

  With a deep breath I reloaded, focused, aimed, and set off another shot. Without thinking, I fell into a rhythm. Focus, aim, shoot, reload. I kept doing it until I ran out of darts. My finger pulled the trigger long after Radia fell silent. Once Jasmyne pulled the gun out of my arms, I sobbed, knowing what we were about to do was the cruelest thing I’d ever done in my life.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  My hands shook as I helped Jasmyne splash the containers of alcohol around the room. We worked as fast as we could for fear of Daxel returning to check on his mate and pups. The empty tranq gun wouldn’t save us against his wrath—not that it could have if it was full either. I did my best to steel my heart against the whimpers of the pups trapped in the cage with the mother, and I never approached her to check if she merely slept or if I’d injected her with a lethal amount of tranquilizer. It didn’t matter. But I did pray, for their sake, the smoke sent them to a far more peaceful death before the flames I intended to set reached them. After the deaths she caused, their mother could burn in hell for all I cared, though.

  When Jasmyne emptied the last bottle, she pulled the tiny pen-sized blowtorch out of her pocket. We stepped out of the room that stank of so much rubbing alcohol my eyes watered. I gazed across the bodies of my friends and took solace in the knowledge we prepared to cremate them. At least they wouldn’t provide a source of food for the geds.

  The click of the blowtorch interrupted my thoughts, bringing me to the here and now. I watched as my girlfriend leaned in and lit the nearest puddle. I’d expected a great woosh of flames, like when someone spurted lighter fluid onto a burning grill. Instead, small flames writhed across the surface delicately.

  “Will that be enough?” I asked as worry made me wring my hands. “What if it goes out?”

  Jasmyne walked across the storage room to some cardboard boxes. Without preamble, she dumped the contents all over the floor, then ripped it into pieces. Once she tossed it into the room, near the burning puddle, the cardboard darkened as it soaked up some of the liquid. Within seconds, the flames licked across the added fuel, flaring to life.

  I watched them spread to the nearest body. When Destry’s shirt began glowing with tiny embers as the material caught, I closed the door. I didn’t want to hear the pups crying anymore. Didn’t want to know if Radia woke up screaming as flames ate at her skin like she ate at David’s.

  We climbed the stairs, ever aware that Daxel could come through the doors above or below at any moment. I didn’t take a good, deep breath until we stopped in the viewing room and looked down into the ged pen. The fire spread faster than I expected, picking up momentum as it found more things to consume. While not a raging inferno, left unhampered, it could easily spread through the whole building. Maybe the whole island. Or perhaps, since it existed in a concrete room with a bulletproof ceiling, it would only blacken the walls of Radia’s pen.

  Regardless, it would do its job. Already the flames licked at the metal container, turning it into an oven. I looked away, unable to bear thinking of the tiny lives that writhed and screamed in the heat, so young yet already savaged by a world gone mad.

  Jasmyne tugged on my sleeve, returning my attention to the view beyond. It took a moment for me to distinguish the dark form that raced across the storage room. We lost sight of Daxel until he tugged the door open. Flames shot out, enveloping him, and we watched as he stumbled, his body melting and shifting until the ged stood on all fours again.

  “Go evacuate the others. I want to make damn sure the bastards die, then I’ll join you on the beach.”

  I hesitated at her directions, unwilling to lose sight of her now. What if Daxel attacked her? What if he stopped trying to save the others and refocused his attention on tracking her down to make her pay?

  “I’m not okay with that. Come with me. Even if they don’t, who cares? Let’s just get the fuck off this island.”

  With a firm shake of her head, she dug in her pocket a moment before handing me a keycard with a metal key attached. Phillip Evans’ face smiled up at me from the laminate surface. I realized she probably pulled it from his body when she found him in the woods. At least now I had a way to get back down to the bunkers.

  A flash of motion in my peripheral vision caught my eye, and I stared out the viewing window again. People fell from the truck elevator, tumbling to their deaths like sick birds from a poisonous sky. What few who lived through the fall crawled across the floor, their movements frantic as they attempted to reach the burning room.

  “What the fuck?” I whispered.

  Jasmyne glanced around at the controls before pushing a button. Immediately, the pain-filled howls of a ged tore through the room. I couldn’t tell which one from the pitch, but I knew whichever one emitted them was dying. Horribly.

  “They’re being called, like African wild dogs. They don’t care about the danger, just about saving their pack mates.” I glanced down at my arm in horror. “Jasmyne, we have to get this out of me. Before…”

  She turned to me, and her eyes glimmered as they reflected the fire below us. “Go. Get to the beach. Once we’re safely off this hellhole, we can get you to a doctor. Okay? I am staying here to keep watch. I’ll be there in twenty minutes, tops.”

  I nodded, trying not to sob as fear of becoming one of those rabid things swept through me. “I love you.”

  “I love you too. Be safe.”

  Our fingers remained entwined until I’d walked so far away we couldn’t reach anymore. She watched me until the door closing behind me interrupted her view. I fought the urge to grieve her. Fought the fear that I’d never see her again. I took all that turmoil and shoved it into a little box, where it could be dealt with another day. For now, I had to save the precious few of us left.

>   I raced on sore, screaming legs to the mess hall, then used the key to access the stairwell that led down to the bunkers. When I opened the door to the first one, a painful burst of stars lanced across my temple and I crumpled to the floor.

  “Oh my God, what the fuck?” I yelled as I clutched my head.

  Lily stared down at me, eyes wide and chest heaving. Blood I never noticed before crisscrossed in wild splatters across her clothes. She held a metal pipe in her hand.

  “Cossondra?” she asked, voice thick with emotions.

  I blinked up at her. “What is going on?”

  “Quick, pull her in. Close the door,” someone I didn’t recognize hissed.

  Hands grabbed me, hoisting me up and pulling me further into the room. The door closed behind me with a loud click. Somehow, they shoved me onto a chair where Lily knelt in front of me. Her eyes searched my face, looking for something.

  “I’m still me,” I rasped. “No fever, no seizures. Jaxx and I just set the ged pen on fire with Radia trapped inside. Daxel is trying to pull her out. The infected people are with him.”

  Relief blossomed across her features as I spoke. When I lapsed into silence, she wrapped her arms around me in a hug. “I’m sorry I hit you. There’s so many people dead. Anyone Daxel bit started having seizures and just went…mad. Like a zombie apocalypse, except they aren’t slow.” She shook her head as she released me. “I’ve managed to pull what survivors I could in here, but we could hear the other people in the halls. I’ve never felt so scared in my entire life.”

  “I think they’re all at the indoor ged pen now. We’ll just have to be careful. Have you talked to the ship?”

  She nodded. “I snuck up there a bit ago. They’re almost here. If we can get to the beach…”

  “We can. Jaxx says to move now. Let’s go. If anyone else can swing like you, I think we’ll be good.” I dropped my hand to glance at my fingers. Blood smeared across them, unsurprisingly, but the bleeding didn’t seem too bad.

  “I’m sorry,” she apologized again.

  “It’s okay. Are we ready to go?”

  “How are you—” She glanced at my arm. “You know what, never mind. Yes, we’re ready.”

  Lily stood and brushed herself off before turning to address the people around us. So many of them were crowded in the room that they were all standing, but I counted every one a blessing. If we could get all of them to safety, I’d feel like we managed to do something right.

  “It’s time to evacuate to the beach. Remember how we discussed it? Quiet, tight lines. No one gets left behind. Let’s move.” The authority in her voice even now raised my respect for her all the higher. When we got off this island, I’d do everything in my power to ensure Lily received the recognition she deserved.

  Just one more mad dash to freedom, and I couldn’t wait to watch this fucking hellhole disappear on the horizon. The only thing that could make it better was envisioning an air team dropping nukes on it.

  So much for the conservationist in me.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Early morning light gave the sky a gray cast. Birds, oblivious to how obnoxious they sounded, stirred and began greeting the day. I wanted to shoot them all for interrupting the strained silence we tried to keep. Every crackle of leaves, every random cough or moan from someone suffering as they tried to keep up, set my teeth on edge. When the beach sprawled out before us, I fought back a whoop of joy.

  We’d made it. Against all fucking odds, somehow we’d managed to get to the beach without losing a single person. The moment of glory felt all too surreal, and part of me kept waiting for the other shoe to drop.

  Quietly, we huddled, sentries stationed to watch from all directions. My teeth chattered as we waited…and waited…and waited. With each minute that ticked by, my worry grew for Jasmyne. She had yet to show up, and I feared she’d done something stupid. Like went down to ensure the geds were well and truly dead.

  I envisioned her, gasping as she lay on the floor, disoriented from breathing in too much smoke. I checked my watch. Shuffled. Rubbed my arms in an attempt to chase away the cold. Checked my watch again.

  “The ship!” The cry started as a murmur at first but served as an excellent distraction from my worries. Within seconds, people were surging toward the ocean, pointing at the majestic, towering ship that slowly materialized from the gray dawn.

  Within thirty minutes, several small boats with feisty engines nudged the sand, and men in camouflage began organizing us to board. As a man directed me onto the nearest boat, I cast a glance over my shoulder, searching the diminishing crowd for Jasmyne. Lily placed a hand on my shoulder.

  “Let’s go,” she said, trying to urge me on.

  “Jaxx…” I hated the way her name came out a whimper.

  Lily paused and her gaze swept over the people around us before rising higher to study the path in the tree line. “There!” She pointed. “There she is!”

  “Ma’am, I assure you everyone here will be evacuated to the boat. Please board,” the marine said as he motioned at me again.

  Satisfied that Jasmyne remained safe and sound, I allowed Lily to lead me onto the bouncing craft. I wanted to run across the beach and catch Jasmyne into a hug, but she’d promised. After this, we had our whole lives to spend together. I could wait just a little longer to feel the warm embrace of her arms around me.

  I kept my gaze on her as we departed, refusing to relax until I saw her step into a boat. She appeared exhausted and I hated that I couldn’t be there to interpret for her. When her boat skipped across the waves, chasing after ours to meet the ship, I allowed myself to turn away.

  “I quit,” Lily said as she rubbed her temples. “I quit so hard. CGC is now officially on my shit list. Those motherfuckers.”

  A short laugh escaped me at her comment. “I think they’re in for one hell of an ass chewing. Class action lawsuit for certain.”

  “You have no idea.” She leaned back, closing her eyes, and I shut up. She’d done so much. Fought so hard. Lily absolutely deserved five minutes of peace.

  Our arrival at the ship seemed to create quite a stir. Marines and sailors scurried everywhere, and I realized with a ripple of shock they wore US military uniforms. Whether that meant we were close to America or if they happened to be the closest ship while on deployment, I couldn’t tell. But somehow, knowing they’d come for us sent a newfound admiration for our country through me.

  The captain greeted us, giving us a quick speech about how pleased they were that they could rescue us. Then he introduced people who would be dividing us up and assigning us quarters. Exhaustion tugged at me so hard I could have slept right there on the deck, but I dutifully trailed after when my group leader beckoned us to follow him. He weaved us through a labyrinth of corridors and every step I took, I wondered if I should beg to be quartered with Jasmyne. I’d seen her near the back, but medical technicians swooped in to look over her after seeing the blood spatter on her clothes. They’d tried to take Lily too, until she loudly insisted she be taken straight to a room with a phone instead. I almost felt sorry for Carborton and the rest of the board. Almost.

  “Here are your quarters, ladies. You and you can rest here.” Petty Officer McBrock gestured at a door. “Breakfast will be in the mess hall shortly.”

  “I think I could use some food,” my roommate said. I didn’t know her, but the hair net hanging in tatters from her head made me certain she worked in the cafeteria on the island. “How about you?” She turned to me, awaiting my answers.

  “I…” I closed my eyes a moment to assess myself and realized I didn’t feel a single bit hungry. Just tired. A deep, bone-aching exhaustion pulled at me. “I’d like to just get some sleep. I’ll probably eat lunch later. You go on ahead.”

  “Okay.” She filtered back into the group.

  I walked into the room, surprised that it wasn’t filled top to bottom with sharp metal bunk beds and lockers. They must have placed us in guest rooms, judging by the two
beds. Fair enough. I needed a break from people for a bit anyway.

  When I climbed into the bed, the exhaustion swept over me in a palpable wave. While I still shook, I could feel parts of me relaxing, sinking into the knowledge that the geds were dead and we were safely off the island. Just as I prepared to drift off, the door opened.

  I was too tired to roll over and greet her. Too tired to meet my roommate’s eyes and risk a conversation. Let her believe I’d fallen asleep already. When someone cuddled up behind me, I startled until a familiar tattoo of a tiger slid into view.

  “Oh God, Jasmyne, you scared the shit out of me.” I scooted closer to her, taking comfort in her warmth. The scent of smoke clung to her skin.

  Her other hand ran down the length of my body, stroking me tenderly. I sagged under the touch, loving the quiet moment between us.

  “Easy, boy. It’s going to be okay. Easy,” Jaxx crooned in a ragged voice as she pet me. “There’s a good boy. Easy.”

  My blood ran cold at hearing my first words to Daxel echoed back at me. She clamped a hand over my mouth before anyone could hear my scream.

  KEEP READING FOR A SNEAK PEEK

  AT THE SEQUEL TO FERAL

  FEROCITY

  They struggled, sifting through debris and burning pain, as white-hot agony from the inside drove them to the brink of madness. Them. Daxel knew a vague part reminded some that once, not so long ago, they were people. Individuals, weakened by separation from the pack. But now the ache of flesh twisting and bodies reforming set them free, and he commanded them at his whim as they once commanded him and his mates.

  Daxel paced the edges, a snarl curling his lip, as he waited impatiently for the recovery of his mate and pups. When they uncovered the cage, a form stirred within, lifting her large head. Her skin, blistering and stinking, split as she managed to drag herself through the door once his ferals managed to pry it open. It didn’t matter that the door peeled the skin from their people-paws. That would grow back, renewed and stronger, finally in the form they should have been born into all along.