Ready or Not (The Hide and Seek Trilogy Book 3)

by Mark Ayre

  He was still around the corner, out of sight. His voice was clear.

  Xyla moaned, and Edie kissed her again, sung softly to the baby.

  "I know what you're trying to do," said Mercury.

  "I'm trying to explain," he said. "No race with higher thought is one dimensional. There is always good, there is always bad, and whatever falls in between. You've probably met a few of my kind, and they've probably tried to kill you. I can understand why you might form an opinion that we're all evil, but it isn't so."

  "I must have been unlucky then," spat Mercury. "Think I've met five of your kind now, before you, and each one was as evil as the last."

  "Not unlucky. It's an odds game. See this world is a beautiful place. You live ordinary lives, for the most part, and so, for the most part, you are ordinary people. Not heroic, not evil, but in between. Most of you err to the side of the good."

  "Daddy?" This was Edie. The memories were returning. Will was at the bottom of the stairs. Had he been alive when Mercury had run up to save Edie? Surely he was dead now, but might she have saved him if she hadn't ended up stuck having conversations like this?

  "It's okay, sweetie," said Mercury, knowing it wasn't but not knowing what else to say. Hoping the girl couldn't yet fully remember. "It's going to be okay. Just look after Xyla."

  Pluto continued. "My world is awash with pain and misery. Every day is suffering. It’s the picture of the hell in which many of you humans believe. Once we were like you, like humanity. Some of us were evil, some were pure. Most were in the middle. The darkness in which we live, in which we survive, has warped the majority of us into cruel, twisted souls. When we escape onto another world, into hosts who have it so much better than us, we get angry. Most of my kind, now, are what you consider to be evil. They cannot process this world and all its glory, so they lash out, they kill. So yes, most of my kind are on the bad end of the spectrum, but no race is created evil, and some of us have held our sanity. Mercury, I never asked to be here. Now I am, I'm determined to do my duty. I hate the way my people suffer, but I'd never destroy a world so we could have a home. I certainly wouldn't go even further, as the most powerful of my kind plans to, and incinerate a population and planet out of pure spite or misplaced purpose."

  Following this speech, Pluto stepped up once, twice. Mercury raised her gun again as he stepped into the hall. He spread his arms wide and kept his distance.

  "I don't have time to mess around. I could have gone straight after my leader, though I knew my chances of success were minuscule. When I saw Trey falling from that building, and I saved him, I learned there was the potential for us to become allies, to work together. I saw my chances of success could be increased with a few trustworthy humans at my side."

  He looked past Mercury, down the hall to Edie. In shock, the teen was rocking baby Xyla and staring into the distance. To look at the girl broke Mercury's heart.

  "I see what my kind has done to you," said Pluto. "I know how hard it is for you to trust. But I'm asking you to try. Stand at my side, fight with me, and together we have the chance to defeat this plague on your world, and spare humanity the fate the cruellest of my kind are offering."

  Stepping forward, he held out a hand.

  "Do we stand together, or go our separate ways," he said. "It's time to decide."

  Thirty-Five

  Given free reign over one wing of the expansive Michaels Manor, Olivia had turned her suite into something fit for an Egyptian pharaoh. It left a bad taste in Heidi's mouth. All this luxury had cost a fantastic amount of money but held none of the elegance of the garden or many of the guest rooms in the house. Heidi would have chosen somewhere else to sleep had she not arrived pretending to be Olivia. She had kept the rooms to keep up appearances, now she was used to them.

  In the centre of the maze, the black orb continued to throb and to grow. It was self-charging. It prepared itself with no need for oversight. Having set it on its way, Cleo and her favourite lackey had disappeared into the house, leaving Heidi behind. What they were doing? Who could say? Relaxing before the endgame, perhaps. Heidi doubted they were watching Friends, but perhaps Cleo was receiving a foot massage.

  Heidi had all but been sent to her room. She was on the naughty step for letting Mercury go. That was a mistake she would have been unable to make if Cleo hadn't failed to kill the bitch in the first place. Heidi had tactfully avoided pointing this out. There was also a trust issue. Heidi had said nothing against Cleo's plan, but her distaste she could not hide. Cleo was worried Heidi might get in the way, or try to hold things up. As if she could. Since arriving on Earth, Heidi had made many people afraid. Now she was scared. Turning against Cleo would be suicide. How could she, anyway? Cleo was to be followed. Everyone knew that.

  Alone in her room, Heidi started to go mad. Olivia had spent hours in here. Often alone, reading magazines or watching television. Untold hours with hundreds of different men. Her husband had spent most his time working and had visited Olivia rarely. She suspected Harvey knew of her countless trysts but didn't care. She was a trophy wife. As long as she was available to hang off his arm at functions and during court cases, he didn't mind what else she got up to.

  Earth's literature was of no interest to Heidi. She had yet to find a TV show that had moved her to laughter or tears, or which had made her jump when it was supposed to. The thought of sex as a recreational activity repulsed Heidi. Human flesh. It was bad enough she had to wear it, to entangle with it was a step too far. She engaged in the act only when it came to creating her infected. She was good at pretending.

  But there would be no more followers. They had died to bring forth Cleo. Except for her driver, who had left with her last human supporter to kill Mercury. She sensed Cleo would hate her to bring anyone else into the mansion without permission. And the remaining staff had been turned into infected who would support only the head honcho.

  When the boredom became so much that she almost picked up a magazine and began to read, Heidi realised she had gone too far. Rising from the bed, she crossed the room, flung open the door, and escaped into the hall.

  She turned left. Someone cleared their throat.

  "Can I ask where you're going?"

  Heidi spun. Behind her stood one of the new infected. In a past life, he had been one of the many cleaning staff employed by the Michaels family. Heidi couldn't remember his name. Not that it mattered.

  "I don't see that my destination or intentions are any of your business."

  She departed, clenching her fists. Her mood was not improved when he jogged along beside then stepped in front of her, forcing her to stop short.

  "All the same," he said. "I would appreciate it if you'd let me know where you were going."

  Heidi closed her eyes. "Move out of my way. Do it in the next five seconds, and I may not rip off your head."

  To his credit, while the cleaner looked afraid, he stood his ground. Wasn't he a good little servant?

  "Our beautiful lord has asked that I—"

  Heidi's hand shot out. She caught the cleaner by the throat and smashed him against the wall, lifting him until his feet dangled and slapped back and forwards.

  "You're obviously not great at reading emotions," said Heidi. "Let me help. I'm in no mood to be pissed about by some infected human. You didn't listen. Now I have to rip off your head. What do you think about that?"

  "I think it's an awful idea."

  Heidi whipped to the side. She hadn't heard footsteps and was frustrated she had allowed someone to get within ten feet without noticing.

  Cleo's right-hand gal, Aurora, shoved inside the body of that infuriating Amira, who could not stop ruining Heidi's plans, stood a little way down the corridor.

  Without releasing the cleaner, Heidi said, "An awful idea?"

  "Yes. It would make a terrible mess for a start."

  "I wouldn't have thought that mattered, what with the world ending in a few hours."

  "Not to mention, Cleo would be disp
leased."

  "Particularly attached to this one, is she?"

  "It's not about the person, as I think you well know. More what it says about you. If you could destroy Cleo's property without a second thought, what else might you seek to ruin?"

  Heidi closed her eyes again. She knew she should just release the cleaner but somehow could not tell her hand to unclasp.

  "It's frustrating," she said instead, "having my loyalty questioned. I take it you understand I had to choose to bring Cleo through to this world. I risked a great deal to do so, and not once, but twice. I like to think that might earn me some points in the loyalty column."

  "You’ve plenty of points," said Aurora through the mouth of Amira. "So why don't you put down Cleo's property and listen to what I've got to say. It's a job, and it'll prove how much we trust you."

  Heidi looked again at the cleaner. It would feel satisfying to kill him. But worth it in the end? Doubtful.

  With a growl, she tossed him aside.

  "Okay. What you got for me?"

  Aurora smiled as though she had bested Heidi in a game of chess. In two moves. The cleaner rose and staggered down the hall.

  "Our ally, who we sent after Mercury," said Aurora. "He's dead."

  "I'm not surprised," said Heidi. "She's a tricky bitch that Mercury, even without her friends."

  "She might have found more allies," said Aurora. "We had the connection to our friend but could tell only that he died. Mercury has already escaped Cleo once. We're a little uncomfortable about her continued survival."

  Heidi could hardly repress her smile. "You don't see her as a threat, do you? Surely no one’s a threat to Cleo?"

  Aurora tilted her head, trying to decide if Heidi was being sarcastic. Heidi managed to keep a straight face. Maybe this was why Aurora gave her the benefit of the doubt.

  "Cleo fears nothing. No one can stop her. Still, we feel it prudent to be safe, rather than sorry. We're giving you another chance to complete the mission you have repeatedly failed. We want you to kill Mercury and anyone with whom she has allied herself."

  Heidi wanted to say the better safe than sorry logic didn't work if Aurora and Cleo were as sure as they claimed to be that nothing could stop their plan. She chose not to mention it.

  "It would be my pleasure. I'll leave at once."

  As far as Heidi was concerned, they were finished talking. She began down the hallway. Aurora called after her.

  "Heidi?"

  Heidi turned.

  "Yes?"

  "Bring us the body, will you?"

  Somehow, Heidi managed to smile. "But you trust me, don't you?"

  "Of course we do," said Aurora. The lying bitch.

  "Then it would be my pleasure."

  Thirty-Six

  Sam was supposed to be in the living room. Having found the dead man at the bottom of the stairs, she couldn’t move away.

  Stephanie, with relish, explained that a being like Pluto had infected the other dead man—the one outside the kitchen. That explained why his blood had burned holes in the carpet and melted the wallpaper. The man at the bottom of the stairs had been human. Stephanie found family photos in the living room and placed one in Sam’s hand.

  “He leaves behind a wife and daughter.”

  “You can’t really be enjoying this?” said Sam, but Stephanie didn’t answer.

  Dropping to the balls of her feet, Sam checked the pulse of the man at the foot of the stairs. Nothing. His eyes were open, staring at the wall. There were tears on his cheeks. Looking into those eyes led to tears on Sam’s cheeks, too. Because it was the respectful thing to do, and because she couldn’t bear to look at those eyes a second longer, Sam brushed the man’s eyelids shut.

  As she did, someone appeared at the top of the stairs. Looking up, Sam saw the girl from the smiling family photos, skin sheet white and eyes devoid of joy.

  “Daddy?”

  The woman they had come to find—Mercury—appeared behind the girl. In one arm she held a baby. The arm of the other she put on the girl’s shoulder, but the hand was shaken free. Lost, confused, alone, the girl made her way downstairs. When she was a couple from the bottom, Sam rose, might have whispered, I’m sorry, and stepped back to the open door.

  Pluto appeared beside Mercury. Trey, unconscious, was over his shoulder. He watched as Edie stepped over her father and leaned down beside him. Sam watched him as his eyes swelled with sadness. Could a monster look like this when faced with such a scene? Would not they show either nothing at all or glee? Sam turned to Stephanie and saw even this heartless woman was unable to look away from Edie. Her eyes too were awash with sadness.

  They stayed as they were for a while, then Mercury descended. The baby remained quiet in her arms. Mercury crouched by the girl at the bottom of the stairs, put an arm on her back.

  “I’m so sorry.”

  The girl said nothing. She kept her face buried in her father’s blood-stained chest. She cried such deep, pained, tears, it would be easy to believe she was never going to stop.

  “Mercury.” This was Pluto. He had come halfway down the stairs and stopped.

  “Don’t you dare tell me we need to move,” Mercury hissed, looking up for a second, then back down.

  Pluto said nothing.

  “Edie,” Mercury whispered. “I know it’s hard—“

  In a hurry, Edie looked up. She faced Mercury. As Sam understood, the shooters had come here for Mercury. Mercury didn’t feature in the family photos. If she hadn’t visited, this man wouldn’t be dead. Sam wondered if Edie might explode at Mercury. The guilty expression on Mercury’s face said she expected and felt she deserved this.

  Instead, the teen said, “I fit in now.”

  “What?”

  “Your mum died. You haven’t got a dad. Both of Trey’s parents are dead. Now I’m an orphan too. I can be part of your world-saving team.”

  “Hey, both me and Samantha here have dead parents too,” said Stephanie. “What fun.”

  Mercury and Edie turned at this interruption. Pluto and Sam shot daggers at Stephanie, who seemed unabashed.

  “You know I can’t let you come with me,” said Mercury. “I’ve let you down by coming here at all. I should never have put you or your father or Xyla in danger. My mistake got your father killed—“

  “No—“cut in Edie, but Mercury cut right back.

  “I won’t make that mistake again. You’re not coming with me. No arguments.”

  Edie stared at Mercury, then looked up the stairs at Pluto, then to Sam and Stephanie, as though she might find support for her crazy desire to want to save the world.

  “We’ll call the police before we go,” said Mercury. “They’ll come. They’ll look after you. As soon as this is over, I promise I’ll come back for you and Xyla. I promise.”

  “If you survive,” said Edie. There was no bitterness in her voice. It was a matter of fact tone.

  Mercury nodded. “Yeah. If I survive.” She looked at Pluto. “We need to get moving. I have somewhere to be.”

  “Before we go, we should talk.”

  “No,” said Mercury. “We can talk in the car.”

  “You don’t have to,” said Edie. “You can use the living room. Stay as long as you like. I don’t mind.”

  “I know you don’t. That’s the problem. Your father—“

  “I won’t even listen. I promise. Use the living room. I’ll go for a walk.”

  The idea made Mercury uncomfortable. That much was obvious.

  “I don’t like you being alone.”

  “We’ll go with her.” All eyes turned again to Stephanie, who pointed to herself and then to Sam. “Samantha and I would be happy to keep Edie company. We don’t need to be in your little meeting anyway.”

  This idea seemed to make Mercury only mildly less uncomfortable than the idea of Edie walking alone. Sam was uncomfortable too. She didn’t know why Stephanie would offer to walk the girl and definitely didn’t know why Stephanie would suggest Sam
come along for the ride.

  “We got loads in common,” pressed Stephanie. “Dead parents are almost certainly only the beginning.”

  Mercury still looked unsure.

  “I’ll be fine,” said Edie. “Whoever I’m with. Please, I need to get fresh air.”

  “So,” said Stephanie. “What do you say?”

  Edie stayed with her father another minute, whispering to him, kissing his forehead. She cried, but Sam was blown away by her bravery. When she rose, she was still pale, but her eyes were steady, and her back was straight. She was ready.

  “Say goodbye before you leave,” she said to Mercury. Then she walked out the door.

  “Come on.”

  Stephanie spoke and grabbed Sam’s arm at the same time. They followed the teenager outside. They might have closed the door behind them, but a shotgun blast had rendered it unusable.

  Edie made her way into the woods. Stephanie and Sam followed a handful of paces behind.

  “What’s this about?” Asked Sam, when they were a minute or so from the house.

  Stephanie looked at Sam. Rose an eyebrow.

  “What do you mean?”

  Sam gestured at the teenager’s back. “Why are we out here, with this poor girl?”

  “Would you rather we left her to walk alone? What if she was attacked by bears? You know, you really can be heartless at times.”

  Sam’s blood boiled. She shook her head.

  “You know what I mean. It’s not like you to be so charitable. I don’t believe you’d come out here without an agenda.”

  “That’s not very nice. I’ve been nothing but good to you.”

  “You threatened me with rape, you’re the reason my brother’s in hospital. Presumably, you forced me to perform the ritual because you knew there was a chance I could die. You didn’t care who took that risk, so long as it wasn’t you.”

  “But also,” said Stephanie, “I made you coffee and water, and you’re wearing my clothes. Does not balance the scales? Not even a little?”