In parking spots only ten yards over, other Kazzies from different Compounds were doing the same. My eyes widened when wings appeared under the bottom of a tall female’s arms. Strain 15. With that infection, a Kazzie’s arms became attached to the latissimus dorsi muscle. The skin thinned and when a Kazzie stretched their arms, the skin stretched with it, like wings. Their bones also became hollow. Essentially, they could fly. Of all the strains, they looked the least human.
The guard eyed the tall woman warily. Another snickered and made a comment under his breath. One of the Kazzies in the group yelled something at the guards. I gasped when the guard muscled the Kazzie back with his gun, telling him to watch what he said.
“Hey!” I stepped forward. “Is that necessary?”
The guard ignored me.
Throughout it all, the tall woman kept her head down, her gaze averted.
It was a look too many Kazzies carried.
With a hammering heart, I turned back to my friends. All seven of the Kazzies from Compound 26 were no longer inhibited by their suits. And each of them stared in wonder at the surroundings, taking in deep, gulping breaths of fresh air.
“It smells…” Sara grinned and then laughed. “I don’t know. Fresh? Good?” She grabbed Sophie’s hand. “Do you remember what it smelled like outside back home?”
A tentative smile spread across Sophie’s face. “Not like this.”
“That’s because you girls grew up in the city.” Dorothy tilted her face to the sun. “Cities smell nothing like the true outdoors.”
I swirled around as Garrett, Victor, and Sage all joined in the rising spirit. Only Davin had disappeared.
“Where did he go?”
One of the soldiers nodded to the side of the van. “There.”
I rounded the corner to see Davin squatting by the van. His hands were in the dirt. He rubbed them back and forth along the earth. I approached him and hunkered down at his side. “Davin?”
He stayed quiet as his hands moved on the ground. His strong fingers dug into the soil, coming away dark and dirty.
When he finally looked up, tears filled his eyes. “Do you know how long I’ve wanted to feel the earth? To touch the land my ancestors cultivated?” He lifted a cupful of dirt and let it fall onto his other palm. “I may not be free, but I have this.”
My throat tightened as tears clouded my vision. I grabbed his arm and squeezed.
Davin was finally outside again, smelling the breeze, feeling the earth, connecting to the natural world in a way he never could in the Compound.
His eyes met mine. “Thank you.” Cupping my palm, he sifted dirt onto it. “Thank you for this.”
Cool, moist dirt covered my hand. Never before had I understood how precious feeling something like that was.
“All right. Let’s get moving!” the first guard called as the sound of approaching vehicles reached my ears.
In the distance, two MRRA trucks drove toward us, coming from deeper within the reservation.
Davin stood and pulled me with him. The driver that drove us from the Compound pulled the van to an area near the gates. Workers there wore biohazard suits and carried large canisters of decontamination spray. Every surface within the van was thoroughly covered.
Even though any remnants of Makanza that had escaped from Sophie’s suit in the tunnel had long disintegrated, I wasn’t surprised by the unnecessary process. Since Makanza only survived on surfaces for ten minutes I knew it was nowhere in that van, yet that didn’t change procedure. Not taking any chances.
“Dr. Forester?” the guard shuffled to my side as the MRRA soldiers lined my friends up. “You may leave now if you’d like.”
I watched the MRI employees from Minnesota and Iowa hop back into their vans before they restarted and began driving away. I was the only MRI researcher now in the reservation.
My arms crossed as I met his gaze. “I’m staying.”
Davin and the others had joined the Kazzies from Iowa and Minnesota. All of them eyed each other warily. It was the first time any of them had met Kazzies with different strains.
The soldiers began asking each Kazzie for their identifying information as they were catalogued into the reservation’s roster. After each answered the questions, a device was held to their wrists before something blasted into their skin.
“What’s that?” My tone grew hard.
The guard glanced over his shoulder. “It’s a tracking device. We need to know where each Kazzie is at all times. In case any try to escape.”
“You’re tracking them?” My voice rose.
The trucks that had been approaching from the distance reached us. Dust swirled around the wheel’s rims as they ground to a halt. I turned accusingly to the guard as slamming doors sounded behind me.
The guard cocked his head. “Of course we are. How else can we guarantee they stay behind the fence?”
A commotion drew my attention. Davin faced one of the guards, refusing to give them his arm. “You’re not putting that in me.” His voice grew deadly quiet.
Sage stood just behind Davin. His expression was hard. Sparks flew from his fingers. “You’re not putting that in me either.”
I tensed as my arms fell to my sides. Energy flew around Davin and Sage as they squared off against the soldiers.
My gaze flew to the twins. They stood to the side. Sara held Sophie as her sister cried. Sophie clutched her wrist as a single drop of blood dripped down her blue arm.
They’ve already tagged her!
I jumped forward, trying to diffuse the situation.
“Stop! This is crazy! You can’t put tracking devices in them! There’s a fence around the entire perimeter. How can they possibly escape? There’s no need for this!” I pushed hair from my eyes as the breeze picked up. “Who’s your superior? I’d like to speak with him or her. This was never mentioned in the law when it was decided the Kazzies would come to the reservation.”
Heavy, stomping steps sounded behind me, coming from where the trucks had parked before a voice reached my ears.
“Dr. Forester, still causing problems I see.”
I stiffened as my breath caught in my throat. No!
No, no, no! He can’t be here!
I turned as if an invisible hand manipulated me. The world slowly spun in front of my vision as if I were a top moving in slow motion. But I didn’t want to see. I didn’t want to believe that he stood behind me.
A growl erupted from my side. Davin’s hands fisted into tight balls, his knuckles grinding against one another.
And when the slow spin stopped and I stood facing him, I stared up into eyes that I remembered too well. Gray eyes that emitted coldness and revenge.
“What are you doing here?” My words came out in a whisper.
Dr. Roberts smiled. “My job. I’m the Director here.”
“No!” Davin roared, and before I could do anything, he lunged at my former boss.
22 – DEVASTATED
It all happened so quickly. One second Davin was at my side, the next he was on top of Dr. Roberts, pinning him to the ground.
A vicious snarl emitted from Davin’s lips. He wrapped his hands around Dr. Roberts’ neck, his grip choking the life out of Compound 26’s former lab director.
“Davin, no!” I flew at him.
But the soldiers kicked into action before I could reach him. They grabbed hold of Davin’s arms and tried to pull him back.
They couldn’t.
They didn’t stand a chance against Davin’s strength.
Dr. Roberts’ face turned blue. His eyes bulged.
The rest of the Kazzies stood around, wide-eyed, not interfering. More sparks flew from Sage’s hand as if he couldn’t control himself amidst the heightened emotions.
The rest looked as shocked as me as to what was unfolding.
Wind whipped across the prairie as I screamed at Davin to stop and tried to pull him back, but it was like he didn’t hear me. He was out of control.
Out of nowhere, an
other soldier appeared. He jumped onto Davin’s back and jammed a syringe into Davin’s neck. With a forceful plunge, the syringe’s contents flooded into Davin’s system.
He fell unconscious in seconds.
I kneeled at his side as he slumped onto the ground. Wind blew across his face, rustling locks from his forehead.
“Davin?” He didn’t respond when I tapped his cheek. “Davin!”
I whirled around, looking accusingly at the solider who’d drugged Davin. “What did you give him?”
The guard spoke in a calm voice. “A drug to keep him under until we can transfer him somewhere safer.” It was only then I saw the rows of syringes in the guard’s belt.
My eyes widened. They knew something like this might happen! They came prepared to sedate them if needed!
I eyed his belt again while I cradled Davin’s head. Rage burned my insides, like a fire in an inferno. “Is that really necessary?” The words choked out of me.
With the help of two guards, Dr. Roberts sat up, coughing violently. “He’s as unpredictable as a rabid dog!” Dr. Roberts coughed again and rubbed his throat.
The guards helped him to stand. Dr. Roberts smoothed back his hair and straightened his uniform. Bruises were already forming around his neck. “Of course it’s necessary!”
Heat rushed to my cheeks. “You tortured him for years! You cut him mercilessly without anesthetic! You cut him off from his only family member on this planet and intentionally hurt him time and time again! How would you react if you encountered someone like that?”
Dr. Roberts sneered. “Still the Kazzie lover. You’re no better than them.”
Anger burned in me so brightly, I could barely breathe. How is he the Director? He’s not supposed to be here! Laying Davin’s head down, I stood. The wind picked up again, whipping around us.
In a cold voice, I said, “Why are you here? You weren’t the appointed Director.”
“It so happens that the appointed Director, as you call him, was in a car crash two days ago. He suffered several horrific injuries and is no longer able to do this job. I was runner-up, so here I am.”
He seemed delighted at his renewed power.
My hands clenched into fists. “But you hate them! If you hate them so much, why are you here?”
He stepped closer until our shirts touched. His cold gray eyes met mine. “To make sure they stay here.”
BEFORE I KNEW what was happening, Dr. Roberts called for an MRRA vehicle and gave the soldier driving it strict instructions to take me back to Sioux Falls. Under no circumstances was he to turn around or deviate from that course.
“You can’t do this!” I stood in the prairie, my friends behind me. All of them huddled together with the Kazzies from Minnesota and Iowa. “I won’t get in that car!”
I made a move to go to Davin, who was still unconscious on the ground, but Dr. Roberts blocked me. He was surprisingly fast given his age.
“Let me go to him!” I tried again. Dr. Roberts blocked me a second time.
“Get in the car, Dr. Forester!”
I glanced over my shoulder at my friends. Sara gave me a desperate look while Sophie mewled quietly, staring at the ground. Sparks still flew from Sage’s fingers. At least he hasn’t electrocuted anyone. But other than Sage’s obvious anger, none of them reacted. They’d all resorted to their usual behaviors – the way they’d reacted when they were at Dr. Robert’s mercy within Compound 26.
Blatant fear and submission.
“For the last time, get in the car, Dr. Forester!” My former boss pointed at the vehicle. A vein bulged in his neck.
“No. I’m not leaving them.” I leveled his icy stare with my own.
Surprise was evident in his irises.
We stared at one another as prairie wind blew the tall grass around us, making it look like waves rolling in the ocean. In the distance, thunderclouds grew. Lightning crackled on the horizon.
“What makes you think you have any power here?” Dr. Roberts put his hands on his hips. “Do you really think because you’re Dr. Hutchinson’s new pet that you can do as you please? That you’re above the law?” He stepped closer. “The MRRA will always be the first line of defense against another outbreak. The president understands that. The government understands that. I have the power here, and you better get used to that.”
“I’m not leaving, and I won’t let you do this to them, not again.”
He leaned closer until I could see the tiny pores on his face. “I’d like to see you try to stop me.”
Tears threatened to spill onto my cheeks as the anger within me grew. All of my friends watched as thunder boomed in the distance. The twins’ eyes pleaded with me, but deep down, I knew there was nothing I could do.
Dr. Roberts was right. I had no power here.
A scream threatened to erupt from my throat. I clamped my lips closed. Never had rage and frustration rallied in me so deeply that I couldn’t control myself, but that was how I felt right now.
Out of control.
If this was even an ounce of what Davin felt, I could understand why he acted like he did. He’d endured years of torture under Dr. Roberts’ commands. I’d merely worked at Dr. Roberts’ side, having to stomach his sadistic practices until we discovered the vaccine which effectively stopped him.
My eyes sought Davin. He still lay on the ground. The only movement was his chest rising and falling with deep, slow breaths. At least he’s still alive.
“Summers!” Dr. Roberts barked. “Help me get her in the car!”
The MRRA soldier approached in halting steps, his eyes wide. “Sir?”
“You heard me. Help me get her in the car!”
“No.” I clenched my teeth tightly and took a step back. “I’ll go, but I’ll return. I’m going to stop you.”
Dr. Roberts opened the car door as more thunder cracked. The wind picked up as the atmosphere became as charged as the situation unfolding. “I’d like to see you try.”
THE DRIVE BACK to Sioux Falls passed in a blur. Sara and I spoke almost the entire way.
We’re in a van right now. They’re driving us to the town.
How’s Davin?
I don’t know. They took him in a separate vehicle.
Rain splattered the windshield for most of the drive. A few times, the soldier driving tried to initiate small talk, but small talk had never been my forte. Besides, I was too consumed with listening to Sara.
There are hundreds of small houses. I guess this is where we’ll live. They’re saying it’s the Kazzie neighborhood.
How’s everyone else doing?
Okay. I guess. Nobody’s saying much. Oh wait… We’re stopping now. They’re starting to have people get out.
My breath sucked in, which got a funny look from the soldier. What’s happening?
They’re splitting us into groups of two. It seems it will be two Kazzies to each house. They just had Garrett and Victor enter a home. It looks like they’re locking them inside.
I could feel her fear as the minutes ticked by.
Now, it’s our turn. They’re telling Sophie and me to enter a house. She breathed a sigh of relief. It seems we’ll be living together.
Good, and remember, do what they say. It seems safest.
She nodded numbly and proceeded to enter the house before she and her sister were locked inside. Sara gave me the rundown of the home, explaining what it looked like. After another hour passed, in which nothing further happened, we agreed to shut down our conversation so she could talk to the other Kazzies.
Keep me updated if anything changes.
I felt her nod. I will.
My nails were in shreds by the time we reached the Compound. I’d bitten them to the qwik. I numbly stepped out of the vehicle, and the soldier promptly sped off.
The sun was close to setting. It was already nine at night. Curfew had arrived, but I didn’t care. I raced into the Compound to my lab. I needed to find my co-workers and tell them what happened. Barreling
through the doors, my eyes grew wide when our dark, vacant lab stared back at me. I smacked my hand to my forehead.
Amy, Mitch, and Charlie are in quarantine!
I took a deep unsteady breath before I hurried down the hall to my office. I’d left my laptop and bag in there. It had never occurred to me to take my things to the reservation.
With shaky fingers, I pulled out my cell phone. It slipped from my grip and clattered to the floor. Cursing, I picked it up and held it firmly before tapping in the familiar number.
Dr. Hutchinson answered on the first ring.
“Cate!” My voice came out panicked. I tried to calm down, but my heart beat so wildly. All I could think about was the horrible pain Dr. Roberts was undoubtedly inflicting on Davin at this very second. It ate at my soul.
Rustling sounded on the other end. “Meghan? Is that you? What’s wrong?”
A sob shook my chest. I’m losing it. Calm down! I took another deep breath. “Dr. Roberts is the Director on the reservation! He’s running the place! It’s not the man from the CDC!”
Her sharp intake of breath followed. “Please tell me this is a joke.”
“It’s not! He said the original appointee had a car accident two days ago and is no longer fit for the job. So now Dr. Roberts is in charge. Does that mean you didn’t know they’d appointed him either?”
“No.” She paused. I could picture her biting her lip and running a hand through her hair. I’d spent enough time with her to know what she did when she was worried. “They never announced that. Oh, Meghan… This is awful! I never dreamed they’d actually let him be in charge.”
The way she sneered his name indicated her feelings for my former boss matched my own. Her voice strengthened. “How are the ones from my Compound doing? Were they there?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know. I tried to get into the town where they’ll be living, but they wouldn’t let me. They…” I choked on another sob.
Her voice grew wary. “What? What happened?”
“They drugged Davin, and they’re implanting tracking devices in all of them. When I spoke up, Dr. Roberts forced me to leave.” I explained the awful situation in which Davin had turned on Dr. Roberts. “They wouldn’t let me go to the town. I have no idea how they’re treating them. Everything is locked up so tight up there. It’s a world of its own.”
Reservation 1: Book #2 in The Makanza Series Page 23
