by Lara Nance
The drawing fascinated her. Not only did it reveal a talent she assumed humans didn’t retain once they’d become cannibals, if the child had belonged to the woman, the drawing might signify longing, some sentient process that belied the beastly persona created by the virus. Was it possible the mutation progressed to produce more human emotions? They already had evidence the virus had deviated from sheer mindless slaughter to allow the infected to recognize others and work in cooperation. Wasn’t it merely another step in the survival mode to have groups of species develop emotional ties that made the group stronger?
A tear welled and spilled over, thinking of that woman missing her child. She might even have an idea of the terrible creature she’d become. Ria zoomed closer, touched by the loss this woman must have experienced to draw such an amazing portrait. Her heart swelled with remorse for having these people locked away like animals.
Then she realized the picture had been drawn in blood.
***
Linc pounded down the steps beyond the guard’s reach. After three levels, the angle of the flights took him from view.
He needed something to use for protection. But what? He opened the door to the fourth floor and slowly inched inside. This had another apartment setup. He paused, listening. Nothing.
Were the cannibals smart enough to hide? Small glowing panels at the base of the walls dimly lit the rooms. He stepped lightly, making as little sound as possible. He scanned shadowy areas for signs of movement.
When he reached the kitchen, he opened drawers until he found a knife. So far, he couldn’t do better for a weapon. He kept it ready as he proceeded to the first bedroom.
Dark inside. Why did it have to be dark?
His old childhood fears resurfaced. Back then, he’d imagined creatures creeping up on him in the middle of the night as he lay shivering in his bed. However, none of the creations of his youth had been as mind-numbingly frightening as these flesh-eating monsters.
The first bedroom had spare uniforms hanging in a closet and equipment parts neatly placed on shelves. Soldiers’ quarters. He searched eagerly for a gun but found none.
He moved to the second bedroom and found much the same. He did locate a stun rod and appropriated it to his weapons collection. He wasn’t sure it would stop a crazed cannibal, but it might slow one down.
Ria had it right, though. They needed one of these horrors alive. At the same time, he understood the soldiers’ mindset. If one of the infected tried to take him down, and the only way to stop it was to kill it, he would do what he had to. Basic survival instinct would kick in and he probably wouldn’t even think about it. His military training would take over.
He left the bedroom and circled to the living area, which presented no other potential weapons. Sweat dripped from his face as he returned to the door. The infirmary was on one of the lower levels. The idea of a lurking cannibal behind every door made him question his sanity and the decision to go after Min.
Gritting his teeth, Linc considered his days in the army. His only hope for survival was to draw the soldier he used to be into the here and now. The civilized marine biologist would not make it past floor five.
He placed a hand on the door panel and took a few seconds to close his eyes and regroup. Time to be Captain Butler, war hero, a role he’d thought buried in the past along with bad memories. He opened his eyes, assessing the situation in a new light. Calculations and scenarios buzzed in his brain. To find the enemy, he had to think like the enemy. Now, where would a cannibal go in this place?
He had Min’s sketch of the floors in his pocket. He removed it and scanned the levels for inspiration. What would satisfy their prime urge once free? Probably food. Definitely food. Manson had said they hadn’t eaten, so they had to want more human flesh. That meant they’d go to the upper level where security and the lab offered live bodies to devour.
He started to open the door then paused. These creatures learned and evolved. They’d managed to band together and overcome the guards as a group and escape. They were thinking. Many of them hadn’t eaten in days. It would make more sense to go after a secure food source they didn’t have to overpower in their weakened state. Then when they regained their strength, they could go after fighting humans. The freezer!
Manson had mentioned taking a dead prisoner to the freezers on thirteen where he’d apparently stored other failed attempts. Human flesh preserved.
He glanced at Min’s map. Level Thirteen - hydroponics, aquaponics and frozen storage. That’s where they had gone. One floor below had the pool, and one floor above had the infirmary. If Min learned they’d escaped, he might hunker down on one of those floors. When the cannibals had finished their easy meal of frozen meat, they’d look for the closest live body.
That would be Min.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Linc left the fourth floor and made his way downstairs. He stopped on floor five, hoping for a blaster left by one of the guards. That apartment, however, had no other useful weapons.
At each level, he held his breath, heart pounding, and opened the door to make sure cannibals hadn’t deviated from his expectations. So far, Haven remained silent except for structural creaks and groans.
When he reached Level Nine, he opened the door and came face-to-face with the group of soldiers sent to contain the escaped prisoners. His adrenalin peaked as they turned and pointed their weapons at him.
“Hold it.” He raised his hands. “It’s me, Dr. Butler.”
“What are you doing here?” one demanded. “You’re supposed to be in the lab.”
“I’m looking for our assistant, Minlo. He went to the infirmary right before the prisoners escaped. Have you seen him?”
They shuffled and lowered their weapons.
“No,” said one with dark hair and a severe expression. “You need to return to the lab where it’s safe and continue your work.”
“The work is at a standstill until we have a live specimen to test our theory.” He retrieved the map and spread it open. “Look, I have a drawing of this place. I have an idea the prisoners will go to Level Thirteen.”
“Why?” the dark haired man asked.
“Think about it. They’re hungry. They haven’t had human meat since being incarcerated. My guess is they’ll go for food first. Why not take some of the frozen bodies you guys stored in the freezers on thirteen? It’s easy and they don’t have to use much energy. Once they have food and strength to fight, they’ll come for the rest of us.”
The men shared glances. One said, “Makes sense. We’ve been sweeping the floors as we descend and haven’t seen any sign of them yet.”
“My guess is our assistant is either on Level Twelve or Fourteen in hiding.” Linc pocketed the paper. Focusing on the cannibals was one thing, but he needed their support in locating Min, too. “We need him to help in the testing. He’s vital.”
They shared uneasy glances. Finally, dark hair nodded. “All right, we’ll head to thirteen. Everyone keep an eye out for this Minlo guy and protect him at all costs.”
Linc breathed a sigh of relief. “Any chance I can have a gun? I’m ex-army and know how to use one.”
Dark hair unstrapped his pistol from his thigh and handed it to him handle-first. He kept his heavy blaster cradled in one arm. “We can use all the help we can get.”
“Thanks.” He tucked the knife in a pocket.
The men filed out and crept down the remaining stairs to Level Twelve, blasters poised for action. Linc motioned that he would check there for Min. He whispered, “Remember, we need a live subject when we run into the escaped prisoners.”
Their regimented expressions didn’t offer much hope they wanted to cooperate.
He pushed through the doorway, pistol raised. The white walls of the infirmary gave no evidence of violence. He’d half expected splashes of blood. A strong antiseptic smell burned his nostrils as if someone had opened a bottle and poured it on the floor. He took a couple steps. Three of the soldiers followe
d, fanning out behind him, covering every angle of the circular hall.
As they moved, he pressed the lit door panels to look into each room. They made the circuit. No sign of his friend. They filed into the stairwell, and tension in the atmosphere crackled like a wild fire. The next floor had a good chance of holding the cannibals. The men gripped their weapons tighter. Their faces grew tight and focused.
Stepping quietly, they continued to the next level and split into two groups on either side of the door. A scraping noise on the other side indicated Linc’s theory had proved true.
His muscles bunched. His skin tingled. Ready to take action, dark hair made hand motions that he would open the door and they would take the room in formation.
Unfortunately, the plan never happened. Four prisoners burst forth in a bloody, dirty ragged storm, growling and hissing. Linc jerked his head back as one hurtled past, racing up the stairs.
Using blasters in the tight confines of the stairs wasn’t a good option, so the men fought hand to hand. Linc tried to grab one of the infected from behind to keep it from being killed, but sheer mayhem twisted the body from his grasp.
Yells. Screams. Pounding of fists against skin. A cacophony of sound rang inside the closed area and reverberated along the rounded stairwell. He pushed a soldier out of the way and struggled to put his back against a wall. A cannibal lunged for his throat, and he attempted to raise his pistol. The man’s body hit him in the chest and knocked him to the floor, sending the gun spinning across the floor.
He grunted and tried to lever with his legs to force the near bestial creature away. It was like a huge dog attacked him, growling with dripping saliva flying everywhere. White teeth flashed in the open mouth as the man sought to rip out his throat.
Linc loosened one hand from pressing at the man’s chest. With that gaping red maul inches from his skin, he curled his fingers around the knife in his pocket. He twisted it free of the fabric and thrust upward.
An otherworldly scream issued from the cannibal. Its eyes bulged. Linc jerked the knife free and stabbed again, taking advantage of the moment of surprise his attack had produced. Another and another, he yelled as each hit sent blood splattering.
He licked his lips, and the warm coppery taste sent a shock of panic through him. What if the parasite could be passed in the blood? He spit over and over, trying to get rid of that awful taste.
He pushed the mangled form off and reached for the rail to pull to his feet. The battle had ended. Two soldiers and three cannibals lay tangled in a mass of bloody arms, legs, and ripped clothing. Gaps of torn skin on the guard’s necks showed their ends came with the rush of blood from severed jugulars. No hope of reviving them.
Linc had to get this blood off of his face. It sickened him. He ran for the stairs to the next floor. The bar had liquor, alcohol. That’s what he needed.
He blew through the door and ignored the pleasing sight of the tropical mural and surreal beach scene, headed for the fake tiki bar. He grabbed the first bottle he found, vodka, and poured it over his face, scrubbing at his lips.
He reached for another bottle and continued cleaning then took a slug. Maybe the alcohol would kill any parasites in his stomach. It was a hope anyway.
“Dope, it’s more civilized to use a glass you know.” Minlo’s voice drifted from above.
He looked up. Minlo suspended from the ceiling in a clever use of nets—a genius idea to stay out of reach of hungry cannibals. Leave it to Min to come up with such an original idea.
“I swallowed some of their blood.” He took another gulp of gin that nearly made him gag.
The young man lowered to the floor, using his finagled pulley system. His expression lost its jovial gleam. “That’s bad.”
“I could have taken in the parasite, right?”
“Not likely. The parasites reside in the brain, according to what Ria said.”
Linc sniffed. The same antiseptic aroma from the infirmary seemed to come from Min. He leaned closer. “What’s that smell?”
Min tugged on the hem of his sweater. “It’s alcohol. I poured it over me when I heard the alarm. I thought it might make them unable to locate me using scent.”
“I guess that’s a good idea. Fast thinking.”
“I saw it in a movie where this guy used bleach to cover his trail when zombies were chasing him.”
Two of the soldiers hurried in, streaks of blood marring their gray uniforms. “Dr. Butler, are you all right?”
“I, uh, found Minlo.” He motioned to his friend and checked his own clothes for blood. He was a mess.
“Sir, one of the cannibals escaped up the stairwell. We have to go after her before she reaches the lab.”
Linc jerked his head up from inspecting his stained clothing. “Shit. Ria. We have to go. Hurry.”
***
Annaria readied the lab for receiving one of the infected, moving the equipment they’d need closer and readying air-syringes. Although the soldiers would likely kill them all, she had to keep hope that one would survive. She had to finalize the tests. There was no time to waste in confirming this cure. The news showed deterioration of conditions in the North and South. International cases also increased, but they seemed to contain the spread better than this continent. Another case for having stable governments to organize a rollout.
The soldier outside the lab made a comment into his comm. She went to the crashed doorway, hairs on her arms rising. Something bad had happened. She could sense it.
“What is it?” she asked.
“They found the prisoners on floor thirteen. Three were killed, but one escaped and is heading up. It’s the female, they say. If she comes here, I have orders to eliminate her.”
“No! I need a live specimen. We have to capture her.” She stepped over the remaining shards of the once clear door.
“Miss Moralez, you need to remain inside the lab. I’ll handle this. We can’t take any chances here. If you need a sample, we can go outside and capture one. This situation is too volatile. We must contain it immediately.”
“Don’t you understand?” She spread her hands, frantic. “We don’t have time to do that. The world is falling apart more every second. We have a specimen here in reach. Let’s find a way to take her alive.”
Flashes of the woman’s drawing passed through Ria’s mind. That little girl’s face haunted her. If the woman had enough consciousness in her to remember the girl and recreate her portrait, maybe Ria could reason with her. She tried to forget the fact that it had been drawn in blood.
“What about Linc and Minlo?”
“They are unhurt.”
She hesitated, hoping for words that would sway him from his intention.
As if reading her mind, he shook his head and pointed his forefinger at the doorway. “Inside. Now!”
Damn it. She moved through the damaged door, her insides churning. She had to find another solution. Although she understood the soldier’s reasoning in protecting the lab, she was willing to gamble that they could take out the woman in a way that preserved her life. However, if none of the military shared her purpose, the case was hopeless.
She surveyed the high tech equipment. Her pulse raced as moments slipped by. Her ears perked, ready for the sound of the lift or the stairwell door. What should she do?
A hiss and beep made her jump. The lift. She scooped two air-syringes from the desk and ran for the door.
The guard raised his blaster, his eye pressed to the scope. She didn’t even think. She rushed him, butting him in the side and knocking him against the wall. The snap of his head against metal reverberated, and he went limp. She crouched facing the hideous sight of the cannibal.
Tangled and matted blond hair straggled down the sides of a sunken face with eyes that penetrated Ria like a laser, deadly and hot. The woman took a step forward, her arms rising from her sides, hands with fingers splayed. Her parted lips revealed bloodied teeth, and a trail of thin red liquid oozed from one side and slid down her chin
.
Ria shivered. This was the most terrifying entity she’d ever faced. Mostly because she was determined not to kill it. She braced, expecting the creature to lunge. Could she activate the air-syringe in time? The soldier beside her groaned. Shit. If he came to, he’d shoot the woman.
She kicked the blaster out of his reach.
The female tilted her head frowning. A surge of hope warmed Ria. The creature was thinking. Ria suspected she tried to understand why she hadn’t picked up the weapon and killed her. She took another step closer, rotating her head like a dog trying to figure out what its master had said.
Ria slowly lifted one hand. “Hello, I’m Annaria. Do you understand me? I don’t want to hurt you.”
The woman stopped, and her arms drifted down an inch.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know your name. Do you remember it?”
Nothing.
“I saw the painting, er, drawing you did. It was a little girl, right?” She tucked her feet under her so she could rise. Was it possible this woman listened? Maybe she understood.
“Was that someone you knew? Was it your daughter?”
The woman grimaced.
“This must be very hard for you. You probably don’t even know what happened. You’re sick. Infected. If you let me, I might be able to help you.”
The woman’s arms lowered more and she gave a pitiful moan.
Yes! The woman was trying to understand Ria’s words, she was sure of it.
“I’m going to stand. Don’t be afraid. I only want to help you. Okay?” She kept one arm stretched toward the wretched woman and slowly came upright. So far, so good. She smiled. This would work, she just knew it.
Then the woman snarled and lunged.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Linc and the others ran up the stairs. After two floors, Min pulled him by the arm to a stop. “Look, using the steps is going to take forever. We should go for the lift.”