Caleb and Rex freed his hands and feet, and I walked behind him into the cell where we’d just been. “Sit,” I ordered.
He looked as if he wanted to refuse, but Rex stood next to me. “I’d do what she says,” he warned. The gun in his hand prompting quick compliance.
I could hear everyone else’s footsteps fading as they made their way to the end of the hall. Caleb stood at the door, ready to close it once Rex and I exited. “Don’t worry, I’m sure they’ll be in to set you free as soon as the horde is dealt with.”
The boys walked to the door, but I hesitated. “You still could come with us, Brent. You don’t have to stay with the monsters who started this.”
He scoffed. “Just go. I’m not coming with you.”
“Then next time, we meet as enemies,” I said. “I won’t let you harm my family.”
Brent glared at me. “If you really want to end this, you would bring your little ‘family’ in to help with the testing. They need all of us in order to fix this.”
I had to force back a harsh laugh at his assertion. “They started this! Do you not understand that?”
“Z, we gotta go,” Rex said. “Now! Leave him.”
With a final look back at the clearly brainwashed boy, I shook my head. “I’m sorry you’ve been so deluded, Brent. I hope you find clarity someday. Right now, you’re defending the people who made you part of the plague.”
I didn’t give him a chance to respond before closing the door, and running with Rex and Caleb to catch up to the others. My own fleeting thought of staying in order to find the doctors, I ignored.
Later. Finding the researchers behind everything was something we were unprepared to handle right now. They were a problem for another day.
For now, escape had to be our main goal.
Once we reached the others, I took my place at the front with Kate. “We need to move fast. I’m not sure how much longer the guards will be distracted. Anyone who is armed, protect those who aren’t. I may not be able to affect the zombies this time.”
It still felt odd to say things like that. Not always, but every once in a while it struck home just how strange it was to be living in a world occupied by things which previously only existed in horror fiction. Stranger still was that I was more afraid of what would happen if the guards caught us than the zombies.
I saw nods all around. Someone had grabbed the lantern as they ran down the hall. “Turn out the light. We need to sneak back to the fence line.”
Gunfire sounded sporadically from outside, and I wondered how many guards were left. Had we just killed everyone by driving the horde into a frenzy? Even if we had, I couldn’t bring myself to regret it. Not fully, anyway. Honestly, it would probably hit me later.
For now, all our friends, minus Scout, were coming with us. It was the best I could have hoped for.
“Kate, Rex, and I will cover our escape. Caleb, Mike, lead them out.”
Caleb and Mike split the group and had them file out silently behind them. The door opened just far enough for them to slip out. They appeared pale as ghosts in the moonlight. I watched until they hugged the wall, nearly disappearing into the dark shadows.
Chapter Forty-Six
Rex and I were the last ones out. The noise of yelling and gunfire—muted by the door—was nearly overwhelming as we stepped outside. It was still mostly dark, although some emergency lights were on. They must have had an extra generator in case of problems with the main one. I could imagine the guards really did not want to be stuck without the ability to see the horde outside their gate.
Even with the lights, it was difficult to see the line of people steadily moving along the wall toward the main generator. The former guards and the kids in my group had practice getting around unseen. They hugged the shadows and froze if they even suspected someone was looking toward them.
As I watched, several shadowy forms rushed toward them. Zombies! Not good. Connecting to the hive would be more difficult this time, but I had to try. My friends were about to be attacked by the horde I had manipulated into breaking through the fence. My actions put them in danger, so my actions had to fix it.
The zombie’s instinctual hunt for food was hard to fight, and I had to push harder than I’d had to before. I bit my lip as an unexpected spike of pain drove through my skull. I did everything I could to push the creatures to stay away from my friends.
Warmth dripped down over my upper lip, but it hardly registered as I kept my focus on the horde. Hands gripped my arms almost painfully, forcing me to move. Someone tried to take my sword, but I held it tightly to prevent losing it. Whoever it was gave up trying to take the sword, and simply dragged me along with them. I only registered enough to hope my friends were the ones taking me with them. Then I allowed my mind to be swept up in the hive.
Push ‘danger, get away,’ a voice echoed in my mind. Fear filled my entire being. I had to warn the others. My alert went through the rest with hardly a pause: Danger! Run! Get away! Go now!
The others had gotten the message. The horde drew back. I moved to join them, but something held me back.
Voices sounded around me. Fearful, urgent. Trying to keep me with them while safety headed the other way. The thing in my hand seemed to be the only way for me to get away. I swung, but a large hand gripped my arm and stole it from me.
My feet left the ground and I screamed. “Get away! Let me go!”
Echoing voices answered, but I couldn’t understand. Nothing made sense. I was laid on the ground and someone else pulled at me. Something grabbed at my clothes and I tried to run as soon as I was back on my feet, but they forced me along with them.
Now, I was a prisoner.
Forty-Seven
Mike
“What the hell was that?” I exclaimed. “She’s out of control!”
“Get her to send the horde away,” Rex said. His whole body practically vibrated with tension. He tried to sound strong, but his voice wavered when he continued. “You… uh, you can get through to her, Mike. Sh-she won’t hear me right now.”
I had been in front of Zero when something went horribly wrong. When I looked back toward her, she hadn’t been herself. Her eyes had a milky film over them, and she didn’t seem to realize the person she held at sword point was her best friend. Rex held his hands to the side, while I snuck around to grab her so he could try to take the sword. What I didn’t expect was that she would start shrieking and throwing her weight around. Rex managed to get a hand on the sword, but she kicked and scratched, fighting like a wildcat to keep her grip on it.
Rex let go, motioned for me to loosen my grip on her, and she allowed the tip to drop. We tried to convince her to follow us, but she didn’t acknowledge us.
I whispered in her ear to send fear and the need to get away into the creatures. There was no love lost between us and the guards, but we couldn’t just let them die. And we had to get ourselves out. If the zombies continued unchecked, no one would get out. Some of them had noticed our friends, and had nearly reached them before Zero had connected.
She’d gone too deep. The connection had taken her over, and we wouldn’t be able to get her back unless we got far away from the creatures. Then we could hopefully get through to her and help her regain… well, her, I guess.
The creatures began to retreat, and Zero attempted to go with them. By that point, we’d had her nearly to the fence. Zero struggled as if possessed. Her sword swung, but not in the coordinated way she normally fought. One of Kate’s friends—Jose, I thought—managed to grab the weapon before she did more than make a shallow cut on Rex’s arm.
A loud scream escaped, and I wondered if part of her hoped the sound would scare us off the way it worked with the zombies. When the horrible sound ripped from her throat, many of the remaining creatures panicked. They ran. Stumbling on rotting limbs as they ran up the hill and into the woods.
“We need to get out of here now!” Jose urged. “I’ve got her. We’ll get her out.”
&nb
sp; “Careful,” Rex warned. His voice was shaky as he held his bloody arm. “If tears come out, she’ll be more of a danger to you than anything else. You’ll turn.”
Jose nodded. He adjusted his grip so her face was forward. “Warn me if she cries.”
“I don’t see tears right now. But her nose is bleeding,” I said. “Not sure why.”
Rex led the way over to the now destroyed fence and waved for me to follow. “We’ll have to grab her while Jose pushes her through. In this state, she’s almost definitely going to try to get away.”
He looked at Zero sadly. “Zero, if you can hear me, we’re almost out. Everything will be fine.”
She wasn’t hearing him. Every step Jose took was met with resistance. She whined and screamed hoarsely as she wriggled and kicked.
Rex and I had a hard time getting a hold on Zero as Jose forced her to lay on the ground so he could push her under the fence. Her arm slipped through my fingers. She was up and darting toward the trees almost before I could react.
Rex’s reaction was faster. He practically flew at her and tackled her to the ground.
“Seriously? How are we going to get her out of here?” I asked in frustration.
Rex made sure he had a good grip on her arm before he attempted to stand. I moved to help him, and held her other arm.
Rex grunted as he took an elbow to the ribs, but he didn’t let go. “Together, Mike. That’s how. We’ll hold her and lead her out of these woods. Then we’ll worry about getting her back to herself.”
Everyone else snuck glances toward us as we fought with our leader to rush through the woods. It had to be at least slightly disheartening for those who’d been trapped to see Zero this way.
I knew it was for me.
We heard branches break, moaning breaths, and gunfire all around us. These woods were not a safe place to be right now.
Several times we had to switch directions in order to avoid groups of zombies. I whispered directions into Zero’s ear to keep them away from us. Somehow, she tried to join the zombies and push them away at the same time.
When we reached the road, we had to backtrack a bit. Jake flashed the headlights on our getaway car to get our attention. He kept them on as we approached. I caught a glimpse of the looks on a couple people’s faces as they walked through the light.
Shanti’s face was set, determined. Not willing to give up, no matter what. The determination cracked a little when she looked at Zero, changing instead to a concern for the girl she viewed as a sister.
Many of the others appeared similar; determined, but worried. Only the littlest, Prati, had a constant look of fear on her face. She couldn’t keep her eyes off Zero.
Rex smiled at the girl, and tried to reassure her. “It’s okay, pretty Prati. Zero has to talk to the enemy in her mind for a little while, but she’ll be back to herself soon.”
She nodded, still uncertain. But she clearly wanted to trust Rex.
“What happened?” Jake asked, rushing around the front of the van. The other vehicle was a huge SUV. “What’s wrong with Z?”
Rex opened the van door, and settled Zero on the seat between himself and me. “She connected too strongly. We need to get out of here and urge her back to us. Right now she thinks she belongs with the zombies.”
Jake’s eyes widened in horror, but he threw the other set of keys to Kate and yelled. “Get in, everyone. We’re moving now!”
“Bring Siren to this van,” I suggested. “That dog has a connection to Zero, and might be able to help her realize she’s with friends.”
Kristy heard me, and rushed to get the dog. Jake had been keeping them in the SUV, since there was more room. The lack of space would be worth it if it helped us get Zero back.
When Kristy led Siren to the van the dog eagerly jumped in, immediately making her way toward Zero. She laid her head in Zero’s lap and whined. The emptiness in Zero’s eyes was haunting, but her hand moved almost on autopilot in order to pet the dog.
Some part of her had to know what was happening. I slammed the sliding door shut, and Jake pulled the van onto the road to head for some unknown location where we might be able to lay low.
A glance behind us showed the SUV pulling away just as the creatures poured out of the woods. We’d gotten out just in time.
Forty-Eight
Zero?
I was alone. In my mind, at least. No creatures were nearby. Physically, I was surrounded by people. A warm head rested on my lap, and silky soft fur slid between my fingers. Little by little, I began to realize exactly where I was.
Movement registered, and I saw that we were in a vehicle. Warmth surrounded me on both sides. A quick look showed that Rex sat to my left, and Mike to my right. How we’d ended up in a cramped little van, with a dog practically sitting in my lap, I had no idea.
No one spoke. Jake was at the wheel. From his speed, I figured he was eager to put the guards’ HQ in our rearview. The sun was high in the sky already, so I figured we’d been driving for awhile.
In order to find a way to end the outbreak, we might need to go back. For now, getting away with all of us intact was all we could hope for.
“Where are we going?” I asked, surprised to find my throat hurt as I spoke.
Rex and Mike jumped, both looking at me as if surprised to find me next to them.
“What?” I asked curiously.
“Uh… Nothing. We’re… You know, I don’t actually know where we’re heading,” Rex answered. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever heard him sound so flustered.
Jake shrugged. He tried, but failed, to hide his worried glance at me using the rearview mirror.
“I’m not completely sure where we’re going,” he answered. “But there were a lot of empty houses on our path here. We’ll find one of them for now. I was able to gather some supplies that might last a day or so. Then we’ll have to scavenge for more and search out a new place to set up.”
“Di-did we get everyone out?” I asked.
Rex rested his hand on mine. “We did. You helped, even if you don’t remember. You got the zombies to back off, which gave us enough time to get out.
“This has to stop,” I said. I felt disconnected, and broken. “We… we can’t keep living like this.”
Jake glanced toward me. “We won’t,” he said. “We’ll do what you’ve been wanting to do this whole time: Find some scientists—whether they’re the ones who started this or not—and find a way to end the outbreak. Find a cure.”
“A way to disconnect you from those monsters,” Rex whispered. He gripped my hand desperately, as if afraid I was going to disappear. “You shouldn’t have to feel like this. Not ever.”
The somber looks everyone gave me told me something bad had happened, but I had no idea what. “What happened?”
“You don’t remember?” Mike asked. “Don’t you normally remember when you connect to the creatures?”
I shrugged. “Some, at least. Yes.” Suddenly feeling panicked, I looked around. “I didn’t hurt anyone, did I?”
A bandage covered Rex’s left forearm. “Rex?” I gasped out, my chest hurting at the thought that I’d injured my closest friend.
“Just a small scratch, don’t worry. Jose got your sword away from you before you could do anything else,” Rex assured me. His hand came up to rub my arm gently. “I already took care of it, so you don’t need to worry.”
“You connected too deeply, Z,” Jake said. “I wasn’t there for most of it, but you had fully checked out. You thought you were one of them.”
Huh. I took a deep breath and considered the details I’d just learned. What happened was not ideal, but it wasn’t too different from the bloodthirsty feeling I’d gotten from the creatures in the past. What made this time so different? My previous lack of control, I always remembered after. Why couldn’t I remember this?
“I’m sorry, everyone,” I said. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I didn’t mean to connect that way. I just wanted to make sure they wouldn’
t come after you.”
Mike chuckled. “You did that. At the same time you were trying to join them, you screamed, which scared them away. Then I pushed you to keep them away.”
I rested my hand on Mike’s arm. “Thank you. If you hadn’t been there… If you hadn’t stopped me, I might have called out to the creatures for help. Then everyone would have been in trouble.”
He blushed. “No problem,” he muttered. “Happy to do it.”
“Have we been driving non-stop?” I asked, ready to change the subject and work on a plan. “How far are we from the headquarters?”
Jake checked the clock on the van. “We’ve been on the road about four hours. Managed to avoid any trouble so far, but I imagine that won’t continue.”
“Find an empty house,” I told him. “We need to stop and regroup. Figure out our next step,” I said.
“You got it, boss,” Jake said with a sloppy salute. I answered his grin with a small one of my own. My smile faded as I turned to look past Rex at the blurry landscape speeding by us.
We’d rest and give ourselves time to prepare.
Then it would be time to find a cure.
About the Author:
Adrianne Lemke is the author of the Earthshaker series, among several other books. She has a Bachelor’s degree in English from Wisconsin Lutheran College. Her day job is working as a Veterinary Assistant, which helps support her animal habit.
She currently lives in rural Wisconsin on a small hobby farm with two horses, two dogs, several barn cats, a bunch of chickens, and a house cat.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:
As most people are aware, writing a book is only one part of the process. Editing, proofreading, and cover design encompass the rest. Then it is on to you, the reader, to choose what you want to read, and enjoy.
Countdown to Zero (Patient Zero Book 2) Page 24