‘Because we’re not ready,’ I told him. ‘And we’re not here to get into fights with inmates. We’re here to find Zachary Stead.’
‘We’ll starve before that happens,’ Chad protested. ‘We need to survive in the meantime.’
I couldn’t argue too much with what he was saying. I was getting hungry. We hadn’t eaten all day. The next food would arrive tomorrow morning. By then, we’d be weaker than today.
‘There must be a way around this,’ I said. ‘Why do we have to fight like animals?’
‘You and Gandhi would get along great.’
This made me think. ‘You might have something there.’
‘You’re thinking about ringing up Mahatma Gandhi and starting a peaceful protest?’
Despite his injuries, Chad was still sarcastic. If ever we couldn’t tell if Chad were dead or alive, we would simply check his sarcasm; if it was intact, he was alive.
‘It’s a little too late for Gandhi—’ I began.
‘You think?’
‘—but not for attempting a peaceful solution.’
I walked into the open area of the compound.
‘Can I have everyone’s attention, please?’ I called. Without waiting for a response, I continued. ‘My friend and I are new here, but we want to suggest a plan.’
I looked over to our alcove. Drink was watching in curiosity. Even Recoil had rolled over and was watching the proceedings. From somewhere on the other side of the compound, I heard a laugh. A long, laugh without the slightest trace of humor.
‘There’s obviously not enough food to go around,’ I said. ‘But we need to share the food we have. Together we can get through this. The guards want us to fight each other, but our enemy is—’
Something flew at me, a red ball of light that would have hit me, but for Chad’s quick action. He threw up an ice barrier that rebounded the shot away.
‘That’s what we don’t need,’ I said. ‘You’re just playing into the guard’s hands—’
This time the cat man leaped from the darkness, but this time I was prepared for him. I threw a force field of compressed air at him and sent him flying. At the same time, the other mod who could fire the laser beams came out of the darkness and fired a long, sustained blast at me.
I was able to keep him at bay, but already the cat man was rising to his feet. He took a running jump straight toward me—
—and straight into a block of ice.
Chad was fast. Gotta give him that.
Another mod sprang from the shadows. This one, I hadn’t seen before. He was super fast. The man scurried towards Chad. Before I could warn him, the stranger had landed a punch in the middle of Chad’s face. The cat man seized the initiative and hurled himself at Chad.
This situation was completely out of control. I tried to extend my shield, but it was too late. The three started rolling about on the ground. Suddenly a burst of heat leaped from Chad straight into the cat man. The mod let out an inhuman scream and began to roll about on the ground on fire.
Firing a burst of hurricane wind at the speedster, I threw him toward a wall, and he lay still.
Recoil sauntered to the entrance of the alcove. ‘Having fun, boys?’
How I longed to wipe that smirk off his face. Maybe I would have, but at that moment, another sustained burst of power was directed toward me. Much to my surprise, Recoil ran forward into the beam. The burst was reflected back to my assailant, and I heard a scream emanate from the darkness.
The beam stopped, the cat man struggled to his feet and retreated back into the darkness as did the speedster.
So much for diplomacy. My efforts had gained us exactly—nothing. Chad staggered over to me. He had a set of deep scratches across his shoulder where the cat man had torn his skin. Recoil eyed the wounds.
‘That’s a serious wound you’ve got,’ he said. ‘It’s a shame you can’t get that seen to.’
‘It’s okay,’ Chad shrugged.
‘It’s not,’ Recoil said. ‘Stalker’s scratches infect whoever he cuts. You’ll probably die.’
Oh great, I thought. Things just get better and better in this place.
‘So is there a cure?’ I asked.
‘Sure,’ Recoil replied. ‘It’s called death.’
‘There’s a cure,’ a voice said from behind us.
We turned. A man on the human side of the metal cage was walking from the shadows toward the bars. So far, we’d barely glimpsed anyone on that side. It seemed the humans suffered in silence but made a point of staying out of the light. After seeing one or more of their number used as food, it was probably the wisest course of action.
‘A plant grows on the outside of the jail,’ the man explained. ‘A purple flower. One of the guards was injured by cat man, and he was saved through applying the flower to his wound.’
‘So how do we get the flower?’ I asked.
Recoil laughed. ‘Tell the guards you need some flowers for your girlfriend.’
The stranger continued to linger at the bars as Recoil returned to the darkened alcove.
‘I feel fine,’ Chad said. ‘I don’t know what all the worry is about.’
‘You feel fine now,’ the man said. ‘You won’t later.’
I sidled up to the bars. ‘My name is Axel.’
‘My name is Zachary,’ the man introduced himself.
I felt like jumping for joy. This is Zachary—the man we’ve come here to find! I managed to hide my excitement while I introduced Chad.
‘You’ll be quite unwell by morning,’ Zachary said to Chad. ‘Then, your illness will become progressively worse. By tomorrow night, you’ll barely be able to walk. The morning after…’
‘What about the morning after?’ Chad asked.
‘It’s unlikely you’ll last that long,’ Zachary said. ‘Best to enjoy your next few hours. They’ll probably be your last.’
Chapter Twenty-Six
Jeremiah was thinking about evolution.
He was a big believer in evolution. He believed in Darwin’s ideas about a creature fitting an environment as neatly as a piece in a jigsaw puzzle. The creatures that survived in an environment deserved to exist. There was a certain justice to it, a balance that kept the world from spiraling out of control.
Humans, of course, had upset that balance, and now he was about to redress it.
It had all started with the formation of the United Nations. For centuries the greatest fear for people was that the world would one day fall under the crushing oppression of a single world government. With the creation of the United Nations, this terrible plan was finally set in motion. As the world hovered on the brink of destruction, a savior had to arise. Someone had to save the human race from itself.
That someone was Jeremiah Stead.
God himself had spoken to him. God had instructed him that the old way had to fall, and a new, everlasting order would reign on Earth. Jeremiah had been planning his own New World Order for almost twenty years.
Finally, after all these days of planning, his time had come.
A knock sounded at the door of the meeting room. Jeremiah called Come in, and his son entered.
‘Jason,’ Jeremiah said. ‘What is it?’
‘A man has arrived,’ Jason said. ‘He has asked to see you.’
‘His name?’
‘A man named Wolff.’
Jeremiah nodded. He’d been expecting Wolff for some time.
‘Show him in.’
Jason disappeared and a moment later returned with Solomon Wolff. The man was an imposing figure. He’d been described to Jeremiah by Mercer Todd as someone who could get the job done. Mercer Todd had been correct. Wolff had delivered the boy known as Ferdy—and his friends—to the Sanctuary Compound precisely as promised.
Unfortunately, not everything had gone entirely to plan.
‘General,’ he greeted him. ‘Welcome back to Sanctuary.’
‘Jeremiah.’ Wolff shook hands with him and sat. ‘I trust all has been goin
g well.’
‘Like all things in life,’ Jeremiah said. ‘There have been ups and downs.’
‘Really.’ Wolff managed to look both interested and a little bored at the same time. ‘I trust that hasn’t affected our arrangement.’
‘Your operatives delivered the boy to me. And his friends. They will fit quite well with our plans,’ Jeremiah said. ‘I thank you for that.’
Wolff nodded.
‘But there has been a problem with the boy,’ Jeremiah continued.
‘Really.’
‘I needed him to help with the breaking of a cipher. A code.’
‘I know what a cipher is.’
‘And his abnormality has stood in the way.’
‘That’s not my problem.’ Wolff spoke directly. ‘My role was to bring him and the others to you. That task was completed. Now there is the small matter of money.’ He paused. ‘Or a rather large matter. One hundred million dollars.’
‘Your money will come.’
‘So will Christmas,’ Wolff said.
Not this year, Jeremiah thought.
He decided it best not to contradict his guest.
‘My ability to pay is dependent on having the boy break the code,’ Jeremiah said. ‘When the code is broken, you will receive payment.’
It was a lie, of course. As far as Jeremiah was concerned, Wolff would never receive his payment. His goal was to delay him for the next few days until the Barricade cipher was broken. Once that happened, well, a whole new world would exist. A world without money. A world without bills. A world without Wolff.
All he needed was a few more days.
‘That wasn’t our agreement,’ Wolff said. ‘Payment was to arrive within hours of the boy being handed over.’
Wolff was annoyed with himself. He’d made an amateur mistake. He hadn’t received payment before completing the assignment. Promises were easily made, but not so easily kept. Everyone was very obliging until the money was due to be delivered, but they changed tune once the bill became due. Wolff knew he should have collected his money ahead of time or at the point of delivery.
Foolish of me, Wolff thought. I’ve been around for too long to make mistakes like this.
Looking at Jeremiah, he knew the man was tall and robust and in good shape for his age. In many fights, he could probably hold his own. Possibly even win.
But he couldn’t beat Wolff.
At this very moment, General Wolff could think of no less than eighteen different ways to kill Jeremiah Stead. He knew another twenty methods where Jeremiah could be disabled and never walk again. Another handful of techniques would remove his sight, hearing, or tongue.
Possibly the most impressive skill at Wolff’s disposal was the ability to paralyze a person, leaving them aware and reasoning, but unable to make a sound or move a muscle. The unfortunate victim would spend the rest of their life in a hospital bed without hope of recovery.
Still, all wasn’t lost. Wolff hadn’t survived this long by killing his customers. He recalled something one of his early mentors had said to him.
There are many roads to the sea.
‘This cipher must be quite a unique device,’ Wolff said conversationally.
‘It is very unique. Once opened, it will release a deadly weapon that will change the world. Forever.’
Wolff felt a shudder of concern. In his business, people were always boasting about new and efficient killing machines. In this case, however, he didn’t like the use of the word release.
Release had its own somewhat unique meaning, and Wolff had heard a rumor that a virus had been stolen, an Armageddon virus. Such things weren’t to be trifled with. While killing innocents didn’t concern him, killing the entire population of the planet—including himself—was terrible for business.
‘I wish I’d known your intentions,’ Wolff said. ‘I know someone who can crack any code.’
Wolff didn’t know any such individual.
‘Really?’ Jeremiah raised an eyebrow.
‘He has broken into the CIA and FBI on numerous occasions and never been caught,’ Wolff said. This was sounding better by the moment. He should have been a writer for American television shows. ‘I imagine he’s like the boy, but a little more, shall we say, manageable.’
Jeremiah thought for a moment. ‘Perhaps I should have sought this individual first.’
‘Perhaps,’ Wolff said noncommittally. ‘I would need to see the device, however, before I could decide.’
‘Of course,’ Jeremiah nodded to himself. This seemed like a good plan. He would first use one of the boy’s friends to make him see reason, but if that didn’t work, then a backup plan was available. Excellent. ‘It seems our business together may not yet be finished.’
Wolff smiled and said nothing.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chad was sick. Very sick.
Halfway through the night, I’d been awoken by his cries. This had set off the other prisoners. Some of them had yelled abuse from their alcoves. Others laughed and catcalled. Recoil had threatened to put Chad out of his misery. Only Drink had remained silent.
‘No-one comes near him,’ I yelled into the darkness. ‘I’ll kill anyone who tries to touch him!’
That shut them up for a while. Then, true to form, I heard Chad give a bitter laugh.
‘Hey Axel,’ he said. ‘You some kind of tough guy?’
‘Of course,’ I said. ‘Don’t you know that?’
‘You’re a dweeb,’ he said faintly.
‘How are you feeling?’
‘What do you think?’
I felt his forehead. He was burning up. This was the last thing we needed. Chad’s powers were formidable. In some ways, he was more powerful than me. With him out of action and my own powers liable to fail at any moment…
Well, things weren’t looking good.
Getting Zachary out of here would be difficult enough without having to carry Chad out too.
‘I feel hungry,’ Chad said. ‘How long is it since we ate?’
‘About two days.’
‘No wonder I feel hungry,’ he said, then whispered. ‘Lean closer.’
‘Yeah?’
‘You know that virus has to be stopped.’
‘Sure. That’s why we’re here.’
‘I mean, it’s more important than anything. You know what I mean?’
Not really. ‘No.’
‘I’m saying you’ve got to get Zachary out of here and get back home,’ he said. ‘Even if that means leaving me here.’
‘I’m not leaving you.’
He gripped my arm. ‘You’ve got to look after everyone,’ he said. ‘Including my sister.’
‘Okay,’ I said, uncertainly.
‘That doesn’t mean you two can start dating.’
Okay. He wasn’t too sick. He was still painful.
‘I wouldn’t dream of it,’ I said.
‘Why? She’s not pretty enough for you?’
‘Of course, she’s—Look, shut up. We’re both getting out of here.’
‘I need food,’ Chad groaned. ‘I’m hungry.’
‘I’ve got a plan for that.’
‘What is it?’
‘Just wait and see.’
The hours passed slowly. Every so often, I would hear screams or moans in the night. I glanced at my watch. It was almost time for the lights to come on. I had a plan for getting the food, and I’d already made up my mind I might have to kill someone to make this whole thing work.
So be it. Apart from Chad, there was also the rather big issue of the Doomsday virus and the deaths of seven billion people. I’d killed people before out of necessity, and I would do it again. I didn’t like it, but that was how it had to be.
The lights flickered on. Both Drink and Recoil rose from their bunks and waited at the entrance to the alcove, eagerly looking up at the ceiling. I tried to imagine what it would be like living here for years. I couldn’t. There was no fresh air, and food and water were luxury items
.
And how did someone wile away the hours and the days and the years in this place? There was no television. No books. Nothing to help pass the time.
It really was a nightmare.
No-one deserved to be treated like this—no matter what crime they’d committed. And most of the inmates here hadn’t even committed a crime.
The slots in the ceiling opened. A few seconds passed, and then the food fell through. I was aware that food was dropping down through three separate slots, but I focused entirely on the slot closest. As the food fell, I formed a platform, caught it, and dragged it through the air toward Chad and myself.
It landed in a heap beside us. Drink made a grab for it as did Recoil, but I threw up a shield and closed them out. The cat man sprang at the barrier and bounced off. He turned around and took a swipe at Drink, but he turned to water. Recoil ran away and cowered on his bench on the other side of the enclosure.
I hate to say it, but I experienced an enormous sense of pleasure at seeing the fear on Recoil’s face.
I’d foiled them. So far. We had a pile of food. I’d learned to never take anything for granted. A life and death battle was taking place between two mods on the other side of the enclosure. One was the thin man who could fire electricity from his hands. The other was someone I hadn’t seen before; a strange half-man, half-dog looking creature with a jaw the size of a lion.
They were rolling around on the floor. Blood was everywhere. I could hear screaming and yelling from the human side of the jail. Men were yelling encouragement. A thudding sound came from a darkened corner followed by a terrible groan.
I felt sick and looked away.
Chad’s eyes were open again. ‘Hey, buddy,’ he said faintly.
‘Hey,’ I said.
‘That was good,’ he said. ‘Fast.’
Sweat was dripping down his face. Chad started to cough. Once he started, he couldn’t seem to stop. He continued for about two minutes before he finally buried his face in his sleeve. I examined the food. Good thing I wasn’t expecting a three-course meal, because this stuff was little more than garbage. There was half a loaf of stale bread, three apples, two oranges, and a pile of goop that looked like someone had boiled vegetable skins into a mush.
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