We Shall Be Monsters

by Ryan Decaria

  Coralynn bit her lip and studied her fingernails. “I can get you inside, but then you’re on your own. Understand?”

  “Yes.”

  She stood. “If you’re caught, I will deny helping you.”

  “I would expect nothing less from you.”

  “Come on then.” Coralynn stood, straightened her skirt, and left the office. Anika followed, scooping up the backpack sitting alone on the ground and slung it over her shoulders. Supplies acquired. Coralynn tsked as she led Anika to the elevator. They passed a dozen labcoats who steered clear of Coralynn, averting their eyes. The elevator cleared when they entered.

  “You’re not on many Christmas card lists, are you?” Anika immediately regretted the question.

  “Funny.” She swiped her access card across the buttons and punched in a code. “You starting an improv group?”

  The elevator carried them down two floors. Coralynn led her down a sterile hallway, empty of labcoats. Lining the walls were shelves of various kinds of animal care supplies and food. She opened a hatch along the wall to reveal a dumbwaiter big enough for Anika to climb inside.

  The container smelled like dog food.

  “This is the best way in and out.” She headed back to the elevator. “Please don’t get hurt.”

  “I’m not planning on it.”

  Coralynn waved her off with the back of her hand. The woman scurried into the elevator as the doors closed.

  Anika took a deep breath of hallway air, climbed into the dumbwaiter, and pulled herself up into the room with the caged animals, and, chief among them, Wallace. He stared at the clock on the wall—3:45, almost quitting time.

  Wallace’s head whipped around as she ran toward him. “Took you long enough.”

  “Relax.” Anika pulled out the wrench from her bag. “I’ve never stolen a drug-riddled meathead before.”

  “I wasn’t sure you’d come.”

  Anika hefted the wrench and brought it down on the padlock which shattered into a dozen pieces. The gallium never disappointed. She pulled the cage open. “Let’s go.”

  Wallace hobbled to his feet. “How did you do that?”

  “Science.” Anika pulled the clothes from the bag and tossed them at Wallace. She ran for the door.

  Wallace stumbled after her, pulling on the jeans. “I know a guy who could use your talents.”

  “I bet.” Anika hit the intercom button three times as she peeked into the hallway. Luckily, it was empty. She handed Wallace the sneakers.

  As Wallace stepped into the shoes and pulled the hoodie on over his cast, Anika stole a glance at George. He’d turned toward them, antenna sagging around this half-human head. His fat lips sagged around the mandibles sticking out of his mouth. His eyes seemed human as he stared.

  Anika couldn’t help him, but in the bottom of her gut, she still felt a pang of guilt. Blake needed his father. Sure, George could probably help Margery find a cure for his son, but Blake needed him. A dad was something.

  A few seconds later the door buzzed, and Anika pushed it open. “After you.”

  Wallace hobbled through. “How are you doing this?”

  Anika grinned. “I’m magic.”

  Wallace nodded. She guessed he’d seen enough in the last few days to believe anything. That would come in handy soon enough.

  Anika led him along the same path she’d used the day before.

  One more hallway. One more trip through the lobby. One more step through the laboratory doors.

  Being a hero was much better than being an assassin. Anika thought about the poison she’d planted in the machine the day before. Her father was worthy of killing, for sure, but he was also interesting, and able, and clever. Would she have joined his tiny crusade if she hadn’t been the catalyst in his experiments?

  She liked to think she would have resisted, but deep down, who was she? Hero or opportunist? As she followed Wallace down the hall, Anika realized that she wasn’t Romeo or a villain. No, she wouldn’t have joined with her father after discovering the truth about him. She’d have resisted. She’d have done all the wrong things, but for all the right reasons.

  One last disappearing act, and she’d leave this life behind. Even if it meant leaving science in the dust and trying on a bikini. Her mom would have a new life picked out for them. She’d become a new woman. A good one.

  Anika didn’t like not being in on decisions that affected her life, but she’d been busy. At least Billie and Sasha were part of the plan. Anika could almost hear her mother bickering about how much easier it would be without them.

  Ultimately, Linh would be their greatest ally, listening in on the laboratory and alerting Anika whenever the lab zeroed in on her.

  The other girls would be on their own. Jackie, Claire, Yoko, Linh, and the Mistys were clever and intelligent. Perhaps they’d even escape the gravity of Moreau someday, if they were lucky. When Anika’s father fell, perhaps every family would simply go their own way. She longed to say goodbye to Blake, still cooped up in his hospital room. It wasn’t worth the time it would take. And she might try to sneak him out with her.

  She exited the stairwell, thrust her hands in her pockets, put her head down, and sauntered casually toward the lobby. Wallace walked a few feet ahead, his hoodie pulled down suspiciously, but the labcoat ignored both of them. Just people heading home for the night.

  Wallace pushed through to the lobby. Anika was a few labcoats back. A few moments away. The labcoats shuffled through.

  Anika reached for the lobby door.

  “Hey, Anika…”

  Anika turned as something smashed into her face, sending her sprawling to the floor. Anika’s face burned, and her head pounded. She blinked away the speckled brilliant stars and stared at her assailant.

  Macy stood over her, wearing a hospital gown, a handless arm propping her up against the wall. Her other hand gripped a heavy wooden cane.

  Blood dripped from Anika’s mouth as her heart sank into her chest.

  She’d lost the chase before she’d even made it out the door.

  Sasha waited in Hawking’s van as he paced out in the rain. Billie leaned over the seat and took Sasha’s hand. Sasha stared at their clashing fingernails, hers neat and black and Billie’s plain and chewed, wishing Billie’s intended comfort wasn’t so fleeting. They’d never seen eye-to-eye about anything, but in this moment, they needed each other, and Sasha didn’t have anything to give.

  Workers flooded out the doorways of the laboratory, heading for their cars, and the lot emptied.

  “There’s Wallace.” Billie pointed at a man in a hoodie and sweats. He headed for the golden VW bug, but turned around, looking for someone. The someone wasn’t there.

  Come on, Anika.

  Wallace spun back around and hustled to Billie’s car. He got in and found the key tucked into the driver’s side visor. He peeled out of the parking lot, nearly causing two separate accidents.

  “Are you okay with him taking your car?” Sasha asked.

  Billie was fixated on the lobby doors. “He can have it.”

  Hawking opened the door, flicking the water out of his hair as climbed into the driver’s seat. “What’s taking her so long?”

  The stream of employees dried up. Two stunned guys stumbled out, one nearly tripping to the pavement. They didn’t look back as they hustled to their cars. And that was it. The doors didn’t open again.

  “What’s going on?” Billie asked. “Where is she?”

  Sasha took the hardest breath of her new life. “She’s not coming.”

  “What?” Billie asked. “How do you know?”

  Hawking shuddered. “Dravovitch must have found out.”

  “No!” Billie shook her head violently. “Get in there, Sasha. Save her!”

  Gregory stood inside the laboratory doors, arms crossed.

  Sasha hung her head. “I’d never make it past the lobby.”

  “What about Jackie?” Hawking said. “She’s still inside.”

&
nbsp; “Doesn’t matter,” Sasha said. “Hawking, let’s go.”

  “What?” Billie grabbed Sasha’s arm. “We have to save her.”

  A military truck pulled up to the lab and a dozen guards spilled out the back, taking up sentry points around the building.

  Sasha grabbed Billie’s hand. “I have to find another way inside.”

  “We need a plan.” Hawking pulled out of the parking lot.

  The road was vacant. Plans were Anika’s responsibility.

  “Stop,” Billie said. “I have to call Linh.”

  Hawking pulled over. Billie hopped out and ran a safe distance from Sasha. Hawking fidgeted with the speed of the windshield wipers. His eyes were weepy.

  “Why are you crying?” Sasha asked.

  Hawking glared at her. “Anika is gone.”

  “You didn’t cry the last times Anika was gone.”

  He wiped his eyes on his jacket sleeve. “This time seems more permanent, okay?”

  “No, it’s something else. You’ve been quiet all day.”

  Hawking waved away her concern. “Can we focus on getting you into the lab?”

  “Anika’s mom must have a contingency plan.” Sasha reached for the door handle. “I’ll get out, so you can call her.”

  “Wait.” Hawking rubbed his eyes. “No. Never mind. That’s a good idea.”

  “Hawking, what are you not telling me?”

  “Nothing.” He gripped the steering wheel. “It’s nothing.”

  Before Sasha could throttle whatever was bothering Hawking out of him, Billie jumped back in the car. “Linh thinks Agent Macy woke up. The lab is on total lockdown. Anika’s toast.”

  Sasha grabbed Billie’s chin and lifted her head up. “Not yet, she’s not. I need to get inside.”

  Hawking pulled out into the street. “Maybe you could knock out the power again.”

  “I’d need to be closer, like inside the room.”

  “Anika’s mom is hysterical,” Billie said. “She’s trying to call in an airstrike.”

  Hawking tapped the wheel. “Do you think that would work?”

  Sasha shook her head. “He’s a super villain. He’s prepared for an attack. Probably even an airstrike. We need a solid plan.”

  Hawking was about the say something but stopped.

  Sasha pulled electricity, stalling the van, and grabbed Hawking’s jacket. “Tell me.”

  He shook his head. “I can’t.”

  “If you don’t, I’ll smash your shaggin’ wagon to bits.”

  He stared in horror. The van didn’t mean that much to him. His worst fears were coming true. That was it. Sasha let go. He only got defensive about his family. “It’s your parents, isn’t it?”

  Hawking put his face in his hands. “I’m not sure.”

  Billie put her hand on his shoulder. “Please, you can trust us.”

  “I know.” He forced a smile. “I don’t want it to be true.”

  Sasha took his hand. “Go on.”

  “You know how Anika is always making maps of places because she might have to escape? I decided to map my house, you know, for fun. Measured each room, inside and out, and it was fine. But then…” His lips quivered. “Then I measured the basement. It didn’t add up anymore. I think there’s a hidden room.”

  “That doesn’t mean anything,” Sasha said.

  “I heard my dad on the phone,” he said. “Something about a shipment tonight.”

  “A shipment of what?” Billie asked.

  “What do you think?” he asked. “My parents run a mortuary. They have only one thing to ship.”

  Sasha reached toward the dash and started the engine. “Let’s find out for sure.”

  Hawking turned the van around. No one spoke. What could they even say? His parents provided dead bodies to the lab, or they didn’t. Hawking deserved to know the truth, because his imagination was killing him.

  “I’ll take Billie through the front door.” He pulled in his driveway. “We’ll meet you upstairs.”

  Billie grinned. “You guys have done this before, haven’t you?”

  Sasha couldn’t keep from smiling. “Shut up.”

  As Hawking and Billie ran for the door, Sasha drank in energy from the power lines, launched to Hawking’s window, and climbed in. Hawking had cleaned his room, taken down his non-science related posters, and put away his journals and most of his toys. He knew she’d been in his room the other day and had removed everything he didn’t want her to see.

  Sasha felt around inside her for some guilt, but she didn’t have any of the real stuff. She was sad for him, but she had nothing left to care about what she’d done. Did that mean she no longer had a soul? Was she an empty shell? But his actions did mean he’d assumed she’d make it back to his room.

  She slipped into Hawking’s closet.

  “You’re both going to catch cold.” Hawking’s mom led them up the stairs. “What were you thinking?”

  “Mom,” Hawking said. “It’s not that bad.”

  “Here’s a towel, dear. Take off your wet things, and I’ll bring you some dry clothes. The bathroom is right here.”

  Hawking entered his room, with his mom at his heels. “We got caught in the rain.”

  “Who is she? What’s going on?”

  “That’s Billie.” Hawking pulled off his wet shirt and tossed it in the hamper. “My girlfriend.”

  Quick thinking. Sasha felt a pang of jealousy. Maybe she still had a soul. A jealous one.

  “What?” His mom put her hands on her hips. “What happened to Sasha?”

  “She won’t talk to me. Something about unsavory characters waiting outside the last time she was here.”

  “I’m sorry.” His mother’s arms dropped to her sides. “He wanted to help.”

  Hawking pulled a dry shirt over his head. “Do you work for Dravovitch? Are you his minion?”

  “No,” she said. “He asked for one favor.”

  “Mom,” Hawking dug out a pair of gym shorts and a sweatshirt. “Billie is freezing.”

  She took the clothes. “You can’t bring a new girl to the house every other day.”

  “Can you make us some cocoa?”

  “Yes.” She smiled. “I can do that.”

  She left. Hawking glared at the closet as he kicked off his shoes and changed into new jeans. Sasha whistled. Whatever propriety she’d had died with her old self.

  “Once we’re in the kitchen,” Hawking said. “Sneak down to the mortuary.”

  She opened the closet doors. “Got it.”

  “Don’t snoop around.”

  “Fine.”

  “I have a plan. Don’t flunk it up, okay?”

  “I’ll wait.”

  Hawking nodded and left. Billie waited outside, wearing Hawking’s clothes. “So, you’re my boyfriend now?”

  “For tonight at least.” He locked elbows with Billie as they went downstairs.

  Sasha took two unnecessary breaths and tiptoed after them. Cups clinked on the stone island in the kitchen. Hawking was introducing Billie to his dad. Poor kid.

  Sasha slipped through the house to the mortuary door. Sasha was about to force it open when Hawking whipped around the corner, holding the key.

  He slid between her and the door. “You need to relax.”

  Sasha smiled. “I’m relaxed.”

  Hawking unlocked the door. “This doesn’t work if anyone knows.”

  Sasha patted his cheek. “I’ll wait.”

  Hawking ran back to the kitchen.

  Sasha slunk down the stairs and wandered around the mortuary. She couldn’t even tell which side of the building the secret room might be hidden in. She sat in the darkest corner and waited.

  Unfortunately, her mind wouldn’t shut up. Thinking of Billie and Hawking together made her ill, which was quite a feat since she didn’t get sick anymore.

  Billie was a serious pain in her butt, and a huge impediment to Anika’s normally sound reasoning skills. But was Sasha jealous? Hawkin
g wasn’t interested in Billie. Well, Sasha was pretty sure. Mostly. Who knew with boys?

  But Sasha wasn’t jealous of Billie as Anika’s best friend. Billie was more jealous of her. Sasha was Anika’s new right-hand woman. Billie couldn’t protect her, not from the threats Anika had to face. Sasha was impressed that Billie kept trying anyway. She was more likely to get in the way, and get herself killed, but she had guts.

  More than Sasha could say about herself, both literally and figuratively. Didn’t take guts to punch stuff when you had power. Didn’t take courage to fight when you were already dead.

  Those were her father’s words. Well, not exactly those ones, but similar. He’d taught her to fight back, but that hadn’t been enough when Victor entered their home a month ago. She’d always felt like a warrior princess, destined for greatness. Not Frankenweenie.

  Sasha wasn’t sure how long she sat there before Hawking and Billie skipped down the steps. “I’m going to show her around for a few minutes,” Hawking called upstairs.

  “Yeah,” Billie shouted. “He promised to show me a dead body.”

  Hawking grabbed his head and pulled at his hair. “She’s joking. I didn’t say that.”

  Sasha stalked out of the shadows to join them.

  “Speaking of the dead.” Billie sauntered toward her. “Feeling homey?”

  Sasha huffed. “Can I stuff her into a locker?”

  Hawking grabbed their arms, pulling them toward the back of the mortuary. “No.”

  He led them through to the embalming room. One wall held the kind of drawers that contained dead bodies. He ran his hands around the paneling on the other wall. “This is the anomaly. There’s got to be a room behind here.”

  Sasha and Billie joined in, searching the wall for a secret opening.

  Sasha’s fingers passed over a slightly beveled spot under the paneling. She pushed and with a click, a panel opened up in the wall.

  Hawking took a stuttered breath, the back of his hand against his mouth. It was all real, now. No more denying his parents’ involvement. Sasha felt a stab of pity for him.

  “Cool.” Billie slipped inside and scrambled back out, smacking Hawking on the arm. “Not cool! Ew.”

  Sasha went inside. Along one wall were more drawers labeled with genders, ages, and parts. A workstation sat in the center similar to the ones in the other room except this one had a grizzly brain saw contraption. In the center of the room was a huge, unlabeled refrigerated shipping container.