The Devil Inside

by Heather Atkinson

  Cass ran to his aid, sliding across the bonnet of the Mercedes. While Cain fought a slab of a man renowned in the city for pulling out people’s teeth with pliers for fun, Abel got Eve and Malachi safely into the car. Cass feared with only one tyre out they could at least escape this street.

  “Throw me the crowbar,” she cried.

  Stuie tossed it to her and it landed by her foot with a clang. She snatched it up and rammed it into the second tyre which hissed and popped, causing the car to list to one side.

  Brodie released the ned, who dropped to his knees, coughing. “You choked me,” he whined.

  “Get out of here,” Cass told him.

  Not needing to be told twice Stuie leapt to his feet and ran off, dodging around the various fights that had broken out on the street.

  “Brodie,” Cass yelled at him as he glowered at her. “I know you’re in there.”

  Sensing someone behind her she glanced over her shoulder to see three men converging on her.

  “Get her in the car,” Malachi yelled at them through the open window.

  They lunged at her and Cass leapt onto the car bonnet, startling them all. She kicked out, catching one in the side of the face and knocking him to the ground. Without stopping she leapt off the other side and ran around the car, straight into Brodie.

  “No,” she cried when his arms wrapped around her and he lifted her off the ground. Malachi flung open the car door, victory already shining in his eyes.

  She fought and struggled in Brodie’s arms but once again she wasn’t strong enough to free herself. Still she couldn’t summon the will to hurt him.

  “Don’t worry hen,” said Brodie’s voice in her ear.

  She ceased struggling. “Brodie?”

  Rather than throw her into the car he kicked the door shut, put her down, stood before her protectively and snatched up the dropped crowbar. “Come on then you pricks.”

  Joy filled her heart but something still wasn’t right. His voice lacked its usual animation. He sounded like a machine.

  Cass moved to his side to face the bats. She reached out to touch his hand and his fingers brushed hers. Looking up at him she saw his eyes were still vacant, face expressionless. Malachi had done something really bad to him but Brodie was too strong and was fighting it.

  Abel charged at Brodie, slamming into him and shoving him up against the car, causing him to drop the crowbar. Brodie drove his fist into Abel’s stomach and he crumpled in two but refused to let go, punching Brodie in the side of the head.

  As the two titans fought, three disciples converged on Cass. They were backing her up against a wall and she was aware of it but she was unable to break through, they were all considerably larger than her.

  Turning, she leapt at the wall and hauled herself over it, dropping down the other side onto a concrete walkway. She ran a few yards behind the wall before jumping back over it again onto the road. The three men she’d evaded were still attempting to clamber over the wall. Brodie was still fighting Abel as well as a second bat who had joined in. She wove in and out of the fights that were going on along the street, the piper’s now frantic music adding a surreal and slightly amusing element to the situation.

  Cass paused to kick a man in the back of the knee who Ross was struggling with, his leg creasing beneath him.

  “Thanks,” he panted before punching the man in the face, knocking him out.

  Cass continued onto Brodie, who was now struggling with both Cain and Abel.

  She went in low, sliding across the ground, ramming her feet into the back of Cain’s legs and tipping him over.

  Hands grabbed her shoulders before she could rise and the next thing she knew she was being hauled backwards by two disciples. She fought and kicked but as she was facing away from them she couldn’t escape their grasp.

  A second Mercedes appeared at the top of the street and she was dragged towards it. Ahead of her she could see Malachi and Eve being hurried towards the second undamaged car by four of their security team.

  “Brodie,” she yelled, writhing and fighting to escape.

  He spotted her being pulled away and tried to go to her but more disciples joined Cain and Abel and he couldn’t break free. She thought how stupid it would be if they managed to spring Brodie but she got kidnapped instead. At least he would be safe. Gardner, Jules and Zarqa would sort him out. Then he’d tear Malachi’s compound apart to free her.

  One of her captors released a cry and she was dropped to the ground, landing painfully on her back. She gazed up at two faces hidden by balaclavas, one set of eyes grey, the other green.

  “I thought you two weren’t coming?” she said, dragging herself to her feet.

  “We weren’t going to then realised how much fun we’d miss out on,” said Jules before joyfully hurling herself at a terrified bat with her daggers.

  “One thing Jules loves is a good fight,” said Mikey, his eyes dancing before he turned and slammed his fist into the face of the man sneaking up behind him. The man’s eyes rolled skywards and he toppled backwards.

  Cass saw Brodie had dealt with Abel, who was stumbling about with a hand pressed to the side of his bleeding head but Cain was still going strong.

  “Oh shit,” she said when the wail of approaching sirens became audible over the din. “Everyone do one,” she yelled.

  As all the people she’d roped in to help were well acquainted with the police they didn’t need to be told twice. They extricated themselves from the fight and scattered in different directions. A white van screeched to a halt at the top of the street, shunting the second Mercedes forward several feet, sending Malachi and Eve rolling about inside. Elliott, Ross and Christian all ran towards the van, flinging open the back doors and leaping inside, Jules and Mikey a few seconds behind them.

  With a roar, Brodie grabbed Cain and threw him aside. He hit the bonnet of the first Mercedes and rolled onto the ground with a groan.

  Cass grabbed Brodie’s hand.

  “You ready to go now babe?” she said.

  He nodded and ran with her to the van. They leapt up into the cab. Pete was in the driver’s seat wearing a balaclava.

  “Let’s go,” Cass told him.

  He slammed the van into gear, Cass giving a glowering Malachi the finger as they went by.

  “Brodie,” said Pete’s muffled voice through the mask. “Thank Christ. You alright pal?”

  He nodded once and turned his attention to the window, face expressionless. He still had hold of Cass’s hand and that gave her hope.

  “You no gonnae say thank you after all the effort we went to to get you back?” Pete pressed.

  “Thank you,” he replied in that strange monotone.

  “He’s giving me the fear,” Pete whispered to Cass.

  “It’s alright, we’ll get him the help he needs.”

  Ross’s face popped up behind their seats. “Hey Bossman, it’s good to have you back. Bossman?” he repeated when he ignored him. He looked to the others in the back of the van. “He’s being quiet. That’s no’ a good sign.”

  “CCTV?” Cass asked Pete.

  “Erased. Nae worries doll.”

  “Thank you,” she said, breathing a sigh of relief.

  She looked to Brodie, who was keeping his blank gaze on the window, watching the world go by. When she rested her head on his shoulder he didn’t respond and she ached to feel his arms around her. She swallowed down her tears.

  They would fix him.

  CHAPTER 17

  Brodie ambled into their temporary office with all the spontaneity of a robot. Zarqa and Gardner were ready and waiting, both studying him as he stood there, scanning the room.

  “I’ve never seen him like this,” Zarqa whispered to Cass. “It’s so…”

  “Disturbing?”

  “As much as I hate to say it, yes.”

  Cass forced herself not to get angry at Jules when she studied Brodie like he was a specimen in a jar. This woman could help him and that was the im
portant thing.

  “I’ve worked with a lot of different chemicals,” began Jules. “And I’ve never seen anything that can cause this effect. It must be a psychotropic drug.”

  “That is Malachi’s weapon of choice,” said Gardner, coolly professional. “But which drug precisely, I couldn’t say.”

  “It’s the first time I’ve known him to be quiet,” said Mikey.

  Brodie’s eyes settled on him and narrowed. “Prick.”

  “Hey, he remembers me,” said Mikey with surprising good humour.

  Do you think he’ll let me take a blood sample?” said Zarqa.

  “We can but try,” replied Cass. “Brodie,” she said, gently touching his arm. “You remember Zarqa? She helps us out when we need it.”

  He nodded once.

  “Would it be okay if she took a sample of your blood?”

  Brodie frowned. “Why?”

  “Malachi injected you with something. We need to know what.”

  He shook his head. “No one’s taking blood from me.”

  “Please Brodie. We can’t help you until we know what we’re dealing with.”

  He glowered at the room. “No one is sticking any more needles in me.”

  “More needles?” She indicated his neck. “Can I take a look? I won’t hurt you,” she said softly when he appeared unsure.

  He nodded once. “Just you.”

  “Okay.” Gently she peeled back the collar of his black shirt, biting her lip when she saw the numerous hypodermic marks in his neck. She glanced at Zarqa, who looked down at the floor with tears shining in her eyes. “Do you know what they injected you with?” she asked him as gently as she could.

  “No,” said Brodie.

  “How did you feel after they’d injected you?” said Zarqa.

  He shrugged. “Nothing.”

  “Do you mean nothing physically?”

  “No. Inside.” He tapped his chest. “Here.”

  “You mean you feel no emotion?”

  He nodded.

  Cass spun on her heel and pressed a hand to her face. “Oh God,” she whispered.

  “It’s okay hen,” said Pete, wrapping an arm around her.

  Brodie shoved him away and pulled Cass to him possessively.

  “Looks like he can still feel jealousy,” commented Pete, straightening his shirt. “You talk to him Cass, you’re the only one who can get through to him.”

  She turned to Brodie and took his hands. “Come on, we can talk through there, just you and me.”

  He nodded and obediently followed her, everyone watching them go in silence.

  She led him into the room where Pete had found her swigging red wine and they perched side by side on the couch.

  “Brodie,” she began, careful to keep her voice soft. “We’re only trying to help. Don’t you want to feel again?”

  His gaze was apathetic and he shrugged.

  She cradled his face in her hands and lightly brushed her lips against his own. “Zarqa and Jules and the Professor can help you come home Brodie. Don’t you want to come home?”

  She gazed into his amber eyes, which seemed to have lost so much of their vibrancy and colour. He reached out to touch her face, sliding his fingertips down her cheek. “I don’t know what to do hen,” he murmured. “Everything’s so grey.”

  “You called me hen. That’s a good start,” she said with a sad smile. “Malachi injected you with some crap to dull your emotions. We can get rid of it but you have to give us a blood sample. Can you do that? Please Brodie,” she pressed when he scowled. “The sooner you do it the sooner we can get back to normal.”

  He nodded.

  She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. “Thank you,” she breathed.

  His arms went around her and he hugged her back.

  Eventually she released him and took his hand. “Come on.”

  He followed her back through to the main room where everyone was still gathered. “Brodie said he’ll give a blood sample.”

  “That’s great,” smiled Zarqa. “Why don’t you take a seat Brodie? And can we clear this room out a bit?”

  “I could do with nipping down the road for a pint,” said Elliott. “Anyone fancy joining me?”

  “Aye, I’m gagging,” said Ross.

  “Me too,” replied Christian.

  “Thanks boys,” said Cass as they filed out.

  “I’m going nowhere,” said Pete. “He’s my best pal.”

  Cass patted his arm. “I know.”

  Pete, Cass, Gardner, Jules and Mikey watched as Zarqa cautiously approached Brodie with a syringe. When his eyes settled on the object she held he started to get agitated.

  Cass knelt before him. “Look at me Brodie.”

  His gaze softened slightly when his eyes connected with hers. He winced as Zarqa slid the needle into his arm.

  “There, all done,” she said, retracting the needle and dabbing at the area with a cotton wool ball before covering it with a plaster. She looked to Jules. “Are you ready?”

  Cass had thought it prudent not to tell Zarqa exactly who Jules and Mikey were. As far as she was concerned, they were just a couple of friends from Manchester.

  “Yep, let’s go,” Jules eagerly replied. “The sooner we get this analysed the better.”

  Mikey followed the two of them out. Zarqa was going to take them to her lab where they could work on the sample.

  “There, all done,” Cass said to Brodie.

  “When will I feel better?” he asked her.

  “When they’ve found out what Malachi’s been injecting you with. It shouldn’t take long, they are both very clever women. Do you want something to eat or drink?”

  He shook his head.

  “We’ve got doughnuts,” said Pete. “I bought those gourmet ones you really like.”

  “They are the creation of Satan,” announced Brodie.

  Pete’s eyebrows shot up. “Doughnuts?”

  He nodded.

  “I’m gonnae tear Malachi’s smug head off, the bastard,” hissed Pete. “Look what he’s done to my best pal. Satan’s doughnuts indeed.”

  Brodie shot to his feet and thrust his face into Pete’s.

  “Take it easy Brodie,” said Cass. “Pete’s your best friend.”

  “Aye I am,” Pete told him. “It’s no’ your fault that you look and sound like a loon.”

  “Please Pete,” she said. “Can we have some tact?”

  “Bugger tact, that’s how we always speak to each other and he knows it.” He prodded Brodie in the shoulder with his index finger. “You can get all that old testament shite out of your head right now because it doesnae wash with me.”

  “I really don’t recommend talking to him like that,” said Gardner.

  “He’s no’ gonnae hurt me. He’s my pal.”

  Brodie drew back his fist and punched him in the face. Pete dropped to the floor, groaning, while Brodie looked down at him dispassionately.

  “The bastard did it,” gasped Pete, a hand pressed to his cheek. “He fucking hit me.”

  “He doesn’t know what he’s doing,” said Cass, kneeling by his side and placing a hand on his arm. “You have to remember that.”

  “Err Cass,” said Gardner. “It seems Brodie doesn’t like you touching Pete.”

  Cass looked up to see Brodie glaring down at them. “He can feel some emotion then.”

  “Yes but it seems not the nice ones,” replied Gardner.

  “Could the drug be wearing off?”

  “Possibly but I can’t be sure, I’ve never seen anyone be weaned off it before.”

  “I’ll take Brodie into another room to wait. Hopefully he won’t injure anyone else. Come on babe.”

  She took his hand and led him back into the room with the couch, leaving Pete to haul himself to his feet then slump into a chair.

  “I’ve got a headache now,” he commented. “Still, it won’t stop me eating a doughnut,” he added, flipping open the box on Elliott’s desk a
nd plucking out a particularly plump and luscious specimen. “Christ these are good and they’re medicinal. Already my headache’s feeling better,” he mumbled through a mouthful of dough, crumbs dropping out of his mouth and down the front of his shirt.

  Gardener wrinkled his nose in disgust.

  Cass sat beside Brodie when he sank onto the couch and stared blankly at the wall, reminding her of how his older brother Ricky looked when he’d been tranquilised after one of his violent bouts. Fortunately he hadn’t needed it for quite a while now, his condition did definitely seem to be more stable. She wondered if Brodie had been given something similar? But then again, Ricky couldn’t function or even move when he was tranquilised, certainly not how Brodie had done today.

  “Can you tell me what else Malachi told you?” Cass asked him.

  “Everything pleasurable in the world was created by the devil to distract us,” he replied in that same monotone.

  “Distract us from what?”

  “Spiritual growth and evolution.”

  “Did he include me in that?”

  Brodie nodded.

  “Do you think I was created by the devil to distract you?”

  Slowly he turned to look at her and shook his head. A sob of relief almost escaped her lips but she managed to contain it. “So what do you think I am?”

  He ran his fingertips across her lips. “Beautiful.”

  “We love each other Brodie. How can that in any way be bad?” When he didn’t respond she pressed her hand to his chest. “Do you feel anything here?”

  “Something. When I look at you.”

  “Oh Brodie,” she said, wrapping her arms around his neck and resting her head on his shoulder so he wouldn’t see the tears spill down her face. He hadn’t forgotten her.

  After a moment’s hesitation his arms went around her.

  “Brodie, how often were you injected?”

  “Twice a day.”

  “Was it Malachi himself who injected you?”

  “No. A doctor called Enoch.”

  “A real doctor?”

  “Yes. He makes up the injections himself.”

  “Who gets injected?”

  “Those who aren’t compliant, who have devils inside them.”

  “Did you see Elaine at the compound?”