The Dead Room Trilogy

by Stephanie Erickson

  Mason chuckled. “If that was the easy way, I’d hate to see your definition of the hard way.”

  Silence reigned in the room for a few moments, and the memory of Ashley’s horrible last moments came back to Mason. “So, how exactly do you use that box to eliminate our dead?”

  Mattli looked at Alkoff, who nodded, giving him permission to continue. “First, Elder Alkoff and I bring the body in here.”

  “We place the body in the center of the room. The box is placed next to it, and then we leave, taking care to secure the door behind us. Out in the main chamber, there is a panel of controls linked to the dead room.”

  Mason wondered how he’d missed it. Sensing his confusion, Mattli led him out into the main chamber. The wall next to the door looked just as the others did, plain and unadorned. But Mattli pulled a panel back and revealed a switchboard more complicated than anything Mason had ever seen.

  Mattli went through each button, explaining them all. “There are four important buttons to remember. The rest are redundant.” He started on the left and worked his way right. “This one is to open the box. Once the box is opened, a timer lights up here.” He pointed to a black screen above the control panel. “Once thirty minutes have elapsed, we press the next button, which sends the nanobots back into their box. This one locks the box back up, and the last one verifies that no active nanobots are outside the box.”

  “But there’s no power on the island. How is this room operational? Seems like you’d need some kind of electricity just to light up that fancy clock.” Mason was struggling to keep up with all the new information.

  “There is a wind turbine behind the forbidden fence that powers this room and this room only. It is maintained by the elders, although most believe it’s used to grind the corn and grains we harvest.”

  Mason chewed on that for a moment before he spied a fifth button off in the bottom corner. It had a glass box over it, secured by a lock. “What’s that one for?”

  “That is for your worst-case scenario. If there’s a malfunction with the system—for example, say it tells us all the nanobots are secure, but they aren’t, and we open the door—that button will lock down the dead room and prevent the nanobots from escaping. Apparently, a metal door slides over the hatch opening, and all are sealed inside.”

  “Apparently?” Mason asked.

  “The system has never been engaged. Once activated, it can’t be undone.”

  Mason backed away from the caged button. “I see.” He thought for a moment. “So, what sends them back into the box?”

  “We don’t know,” Alkoff said.

  “You really don’t know, or I don’t need to know?”

  “We really don’t know, Mason. If we did, we might be able to use it to control the nanobots on the mainland.” Alkoff sighed and rubbed his arms. “As you might recall, Bennett Ashby put all of this in place before our ancestors ever came to the island.”

  “But why didn’t he use that technology to control the robots on the mainland? He had the power.” Mason was starting to question just how much of a savior Bennett Ashby had been.

  “We believe this technology was developed too late. He could control three nanobots, but not three million,” Elder Alkoff said.

  “Three million…” Mason thought about the fog that had consumed Ashley alive. “Three million would overwhelm this island in a second. There’s none of this special metal along the shoreline of the mainland. What keeps them out?” He thought about the birds and seals resting on the rocks just offshore of the mainland.

  “We believe it’s the sea,” Mattli answered.

  “But does it have to be saltwater? I dumped a canteen full of water on them, and they didn’t seem bothered.”

  “I don’t know,” Mattli said. “It could have been the lack of salt, or it could have been the fact that there was too little water. The ocean is vast, and we think it keeps them away from the island.” He paused for a moment. “Little is known of how the nanobots spread across the continents. But, the ancestors were clear that worldwide devastation had occurred.”

  “So, do we truly not have any information on how the nanobots came to be? Were they developed by terrorists who let them get out of hand? Are they extraterrestrial?”

  Alkoff laughed out loud. “I don’t think aliens brought them here, Elder Hawkins, no. But to be honest, I don’t know how to answer your questions. We don’t even know if destruction was their intended purpose.”

  That gave Mason pause. What else could they have been used for? He was sure that if Alkoff had seen what they did to Ashley, he would know their purpose was destruction.

  Alkoff cut off his train of thought. “If that’s all, I’d like to get back to the sunshine now.”

  The abruptness of his request caught Mason off guard. There were so many thoughts swirling through his mind. But they didn’t have any further answers to give him, and he wasn’t ready to share anything more with them than he already had. So, he followed the elders out of the dead room and helped Mattli conceal the hatch, his body going through the motions automatically as his mind focused on the onslaught of information he’d just received. He’d never been willing to consider that man might have been the cause of his own downfall. As much as he’d ever thought about the cause of the apocalypse, he’d figured it was brought on by an outside source. The disappointment nearly crushed him as he followed the two elders out of the woods.

  “Let’s go back to my home and discuss your future purpose among the elders, Elder Hawkins,” Alkoff said, but Mason barely registered his words. He wasn’t used to being called Elder Hawkins, and frankly, he didn’t care for it.

  “I’d prefer to be called Mason.”

  “Be that as it may, it’s important to establish your position among the islanders and the other elders,” Alkoff responded. “You’ll get used to it. Trust me.”

  As they walked, Alkoff thought about his own journey to becoming an elder. It had been quite different from Mason’s. He’d been tapped early for the position based on his parents’ successes and contributions to the island.

  Having been groomed to be an elder for most of his life, he’d known what to expect in his first few official days on the job, and had been assisting the elders for over five years before the title became official. It had been another twelve years before he’d been introduced to the shock of the dead room. He felt bad for Mason, and what he was being forced to go through in such a short period of time, but things were changing quickly, and they all had to be on their guard.

  Alkoff stole a glance at Mason. He was very well built, and the youngest among the elders by far. If his mental calculations were correct, Lehman was the next youngest, and she was about fifteen years Mason’s senior.

  Lehman, Alkoff thought. She would make a fine second in command for Mason. But that was all years away, or so he hoped.

  While Alkoff planned for the future, Mattli was firmly rooted in the present. He tried to puzzle out what to do with Mason, how to fit him into the fold. Wesley had been a two-faced, scheming little weasel who would’ve fit in with the other elders just fine. Honestly, Mattli wasn’t terribly sorry to see him go. But Mason was a different kind of person—logical, loyal, and kind. He wasn’t meant for the cutthroat atmosphere created by the elders, and Mattli wondered if they’d ever accept Mason as an equal, let alone the head elder he knew Alkoff was grooming him to be. There would have to be some major changes for it to work, starting with Burton.

  The three men arrived on Alkoff’s front stoop before any of them could sort through their inner turmoil.

  “Let’s get some tea and retire to the living room where we can discuss your future on the island, Elder Hawkins,” Alkoff said as he ushered the two men into his home.

  My future on the island, Mason thought. Not long ago, he’d felt so certain of what that would entail, but everything had fallen apart so quickly. Ever since, he’d been struggling to keep his head above water, too focused on taking the next breath to
think about the next day, week, or year.

  A strange sight drew Mason out of his thoughts. Legs. Legs stretched out on the floor in front of him. Mason followed them into the living room. Alkoff’s match was lying facedown in a pool of blood.

  Mason was too stunned to react, but he jumped at the sound of Burton’s voice. “Welcome, Mason. I’d hoped I might get to see you again today.”

  21.

  Burton had sat with the gun on his knee for hours, watching the islanders go about their business while he waited for Alkoff to return. He felt some remorse over killing Saraphina. She had been so lovely and graceful. But it was her own fault for getting in his way.

  She’d answered the door, polite as always, and invited him to sit in the living room while he waited for her match and his companion to return. But she’d refused to leave him there. She’d even offered him some tea. Regrettably, her death couldn’t have been helped.

  The sound of footsteps coming through the front door had been a welcome respite. Mason is going to be busy today, he thought.

  To his delight, Mason was the first to round the corner. Although he’d hoped the younger man would come with the others, he hadn’t dared expect it. Mattli and Alkoff followed quickly behind.

  “Burton, what have you done?” Mattli demanded in a quiet tone. Almost like he had cared for Saraphina.

  “What have I done? Don’t you mean what has Elder Hawkins done? And he isn’t finished yet.” He leveled the gun at Alkoff, who was stooped next to his beloved match, hooking a stray hair behind her ear, his face twisted with grief.

  “I’ve waited a long time for this moment, Alkoff,” Burton said. “You never earned your position on this island. Not like I did.”

  Alkoff stood slowly, his face hard as stone. “Burton. What makes you think you’re good enough for this position? That you can handle it?”

  Burton’s rage boiled over, and the barrel of the gun started to shake with his anger. “I’m twice the man you are, Alkoff!” he shouted.

  Mattli’s eyes darted from man to man, trying to force his mind to catch up with the situation. Noticing Mason inching his way around the edge of the room, he quickly flicked his gaze back to Alkoff, silently urging his old friend to stand down and use a bit more humility with Burton. Although the man clearly didn’t deserve it, Alkoff’s life was more important than his pride.

  But Alkoff continued to push Burton. “Is that so?” Alkoff asked with a bitter laugh. Mattli had never heard such a sound from his dear friend before. It was clear that the loss of Saraphina was hitting him hard. “Which one of us is stealing now, Burton? Who is the one pointing the gun?”

  “I’m simply taking what is rightfully mine. It isn’t stealing. It’s righteous.”

  The smile didn’t fade from Alkoff’s mouth. “Whatever helps you sleep.”

  “Why Meade, Burton?” Mattli blurted out, struggling to diffuse the situation and buy them some time.

  “Meade died because he was too stupid to follow simple instructions.”

  “If following simple instructions is a mark of intelligence, Burton, that makes you the dumbest one of all of us. If you had followed simple instructions, you certainly wouldn’t be in my living room right now,” Alkoff said.

  Mason didn’t intend to draw attention to himself, but the stress of the situation had made him punchy. The insult was so perfectly pitched and timed, given more impact by the fact that the man who’d delivered it had a gun pointed at him. He tried to hold in his laughter, but some of it still escaped, making a short, choking sound.

  Burton jerked around and leveled the gun at Mason. “You won’t think it’s so funny when you have a bullet in you. Come over here and sit down.”

  Mason stayed put. “You can’t shoot me if you intend to blame me for what you’re doing.”

  “I don’t have to shoot you fatally,” Burton said, keeping the gun trained on Mason. “Now, get back over there with the others.”

  Mason glared at Burton, never taking his eyes off the man as he walked slowly over to Mattli, who stood next to Alkoff.

  “So what’s the master plan here, Burton?” Mason’s voice was dark with contempt.

  “I wouldn’t expect a mind as feeble as yours to fully grasp the long-term scope of my master plan.” Burton smiled and leaned back in his chair, the gun resting on his knee, pointed in the general direction of the three men. “But only Alkoff and Mattli will die today. You, Hawkins, will probably die tomorrow, by method of execution. You see, you returned from your task angry with the elders for sentencing you to death in the first place. So you decided to kill them all, starting with Meade, then working your way up to Mattli and Alkoff. I discovered you here, gun in hand, and apprehended you.”

  He smiled. “It’s perfect. You’re already a known killer. No one will question your guilt. Then Alkoff’s position will be as good as mine.”

  Alkoff spoke up, bitterness seeping into his words. “Burton, what makes you think the islanders will be more receptive to you now than they were decades ago? They didn’t choose you then, and they won’t choose you now.”

  Burton pointed the gun straight at Alkoff’s head. He didn’t flinch.

  “Who said there would be a choice? I will tell them I’m the head elder, and there will be no discussion. You never believed in leading by fear, which has made you weak. The islanders will fall in line when they realize what will happen if they don’t.”

  The island would be an even more oppressive place if he got his way, and Mason couldn’t help but wonder what Bennett Ashby would have thought of that.

  Just then, a knock pounded on the front door. They all turned toward the noise, but no one moved to answer it.

  “Go answer it, Alkoff, but I’d advise you to send them away without asking them for help. I’ll kill anyone and everyone they send. And Mason’s list of victims will grow one by one.” Burton’s smile sent chills down Mason’s spine. It was obvious he meant what he said.

  Mason went to Saraphina and grabbed her legs, gesturing for Mattli to take her shoulders. They gently moved her out of the hallway and into the living room, out of sight of the front door. Alkoff watched, his expression betraying no emotion.

  At the door, Alkoff weighed his options, but all he could think of was Saraphina. She hadn’t deserved such a fate. She should have died warm in her bed, years from now. In biding his time with Burton, he’d sacrificed his match.

  He opened the door slowly, hoping his face didn’t reveal his inner turmoil. “Ah. Elder Lehman. What can I do for you?”

  “I just wanted to give you a report on—” She stopped short and gave Alkoff a strange look.

  Alkoff’s expression seemed a bit strained—not markedly so, just off. But when Lehman looked down, she noticed blood on the bottom of the head elder’s robes and shoes.

  Lehman lowered her voice. “Is everything okay?”

  “Ah yes, I was expecting that type of reaction from them. Please tell the Gregors that Meade’s home will go to the elder who takes his place, and there’s nothing more I can do about it. They know those homes are reserved for elders, and although I understand they have been blessed with a large family after others were unsuccessful in fulfilling their duties, and more space would be appreciated, elders are stationed strategically throughout the island. If they have any more qualms with that arrangement, they can speak to me directly.”

  Immediately picking up on Alkoff’s cue, Lehman silently pushed through the door while the head elder was still speaking and made her way down the hallway. Removing a gun hidden in her robe, she padded into the house.

  “If that’s all, Elder Lehman, I’ll bid you good day. There’s much to do,” Alkoff said. And with that, he shut the door.

  Alkoff walked around Lehman in the hallway as if she weren’t there, reentering the living room. “Satisfied?” he asked Burton, who remained seated near the window, his gun trained on Mattli.

  “Impressed, if nothing else. I thought for sure you would make a des
perate cry for help. Now, where were we?” He pointed the gun at Alkoff. “Ah yes.”

  A shot rang out, followed quickly by another. Mason ducked down and braced himself for an impact, acting on sheer instinct. When he didn’t feel anything, he reached for Mattli, but the older man was already cradling Alkoff in his lap.

  “Jim,” he said. “I’m so sorry, my friend.”

  Alkoff coughed, and blood spattered out of his mouth. Mason scrambled to put pressure on the wound in Alkoff’s chest, but it was too late. The head elder slipped away quickly, choking on his own blood.

  Mason braced for a snide comment from Burton or perhaps another bullet—this one aimed at Mattli—but nothing came. He sat back on his legs, looking at Alkoff, who now lay on the floor next to his match. Their arms were spread toward each other, almost like they were reaching for each other in death.

  The silence that spread through the room eventually made Mason turn and look at Burton.

  “What’s the matter?” Mason asked as he turned around. “Killing a man not quite as fun as you’d thought it would be?”

  But Burton wasn’t the one who answered. “No. But then, I never imagined it would be fun, despite the fact that I never much cared for Burton,” Lehman said. Mason and Mattli jumped at the unexpected sound of her voice.

  Sure enough, Burton sat slumped in Alkoff’s chair, blood seeping from an entry wound between his eyes.

  “How in the hell—?” Mason started to ask, but he didn’t know how to finish.

  “Alkoff let me in. I waited too long to make a move,” Lehman said, her own gun dangling from her hand. She shook her head and brought a shaky hand to her chest.

  Mason went to her and took her by the shoulders. “You saved two lives today with your actions, and probably many more given what Burton had planned for the island.”

  Lehman nodded absently, as the magnitude of what had just happened sank in.