The Hive (Rasper Book 2)

by Kathleen Groger

  Carter continued, “I have also updated XH254’s file to correct the error regarding his status. As we all can observe, he is not dead.”

  The Z. It had been on the side of the helicopter I’d jumped from.

  Dr. Morgenstern, the bitch working with General DeCarlo at Site R, tapped her manicured nails on her thigh.

  We were in Zigotgen.

  My hand moved toward the Glock resting quietly in my pocket.

  Carter’s metallic voice continued, “They are joined by Omega member Rollins.”

  Zombie took off the black “package” and tossed it into the corner of the room.

  “Captain Kalis, excellent job in completing your mission. I knew your team would deliver the package to me as instructed.” Dr. Morgenstern’s voice dripped with soured honey.

  I looked over at the discarded bag, confused. I yanked the Glock from my pocket and aimed it at her heart. “People died for that bag. Why did you just toss it aside like a useless piece of trash?”

  “My dear Val, have you not figured it out yet? I thought you were smarter than that.” Dr. Morgenstern gave a fake little laugh as a small smile crossed her face. “The package is you. It has always been you. They needed a cover story so you would come with them. And you fell for it like I expected you to.”

  Fire erupted from my belly like a dormant volcano coming to life. I swiveled my gun between her and the soldiers.

  “Seriously, that’s no way to greet an old friend. Carter, please disarm them.” She tucked a strand of perfectly styled hair behind her ear.

  Carter was by my side in a flash.

  “No way.” I double gripped the gun. Package? I had been the package they were sent to pick up the whole time? I hated myself for following them. Believing them. Almost liking them.

  “I will notify the director.” Carter turned and slipped away.

  Dr. Morgenstern snapped her fingers. All the soldiers except Rollins trained their weapons on us.

  “Val, if you surrender the guns, it will be easier.” Rollins stepped forward with his palms out in a trust-me gesture.

  The betrayal brought tears to my eyes. I refused to shed them and show weakness. I let anger wash over me. Made the anger transport me to totally focused. I kept the gun trained on the doctor but stared into Rollins’s emotionless face. “I trusted you. All of you.”

  Dr. Morgenstern’s smile made her look like an evil cartoon villain. “Sometimes bad things happen when you don’t follow the rules.”

  8

  “Rollins, why?” I had no other emotion but anger. Raw, red, revenge-filled anger.

  He shook his head. “I didn’t know.”

  It took all my energy to not swing the muzzle of the Glock in his direction. “They all know you. The robot knows you. You are one of them.” My words came out clipped and full of venom.

  “Yes, that is true. We,” he gestured to the other guys, “are part of two separate elite teams. Kalis’s team handled the west. Mine the east. Honestly, Val, I had no idea we were coming to Zigotgen.”

  It struck me as odd he was putting himself in danger of being punished somehow for showing even the slightest alliance with Adam and me. Unless he was telling the truth. Or he was lying. I didn’t know anymore. All I knew for sure was unless we got the hell out of here, we were as good as dead.

  “You were always a little slow, Rollins. Maybe you should take a break. Think about your actions.” Dr. Morgenstern gave him her best I’m-superior-to-you face.

  “I don’t take orders from you, so go screw yourself, bitch.” Rollins marched away in the same direction Carter had gone.

  All the other soldiers looked uneasy like they were conflicted about whether they should follow him or ignore the whole situation.

  “Kalis, their guns.” Dr. Morgenstern redirected his attention to the weapon still aimed at her chest.

  He nodded to Zombie, who moved in between the barrel of my gun and Dr. Bitchface. “Val, can I please have your gun?”

  I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t shoot him. Not in cold blood. I shook my head, turned, and ran. Adam followed. We made it to the door when a jolt of something like electricity shot through my body. The Glock slipped from my grasp as I fell to the floor. The M4 clanged against the marble. Adam groaned next to me. I couldn’t make my head turn to see him. I was paralyzed. Almost like a Bug had stung me. Again.

  Dr. Morgenstern clicked closer until she stood over me. She leaned down just inches from my face. The smell of her perfume mocked me. “Wow. That was fast. But not fast enough. I don’t know why you keep insisting on running. You can’t escape me. I am the smarter one here, and I always get my way.” She stood, then barked out an order. “Take them to delta wing.”

  She turned and stomped away like a tiger on the hunt for her next piece of meat.

  “It didn’t have to be like this.” Zombie lifted me into a fireman carry. “You should have just handed over the gun.”

  I couldn’t see who grabbed Adam, but we were taken to a different door, then down another white hallway. I could feel whatever they shot us with starting to take control of my mind. The lights became more intense, and sounds grew louder. My senses were becoming overloaded. I closed my eyes to try and relieve some of the pain shooting through my head.

  “Don’t worry. The effects should wear off in about an hour,” were the last words I heard before everything went black.

  I couldn’t breathe. I tried to sit up, but I was being held down and something covered my mouth. I stared into the iciest blue eyes I had ever seen. They reminded me of a Siberian Husky.

  He leaned down, his breath by my ear, his longish hair covering part of my face.

  “Shush. They can hear you. When I release you, we need to keep it to a whisper, okay?”

  Right now he had the advantage. There would be no harm in agreeing until I could find a way to gain an advantage. I nodded to him.

  The guy let go and leaned back with his index fingers to his lips. Then he stood.

  I sat up. Glanced around. The room looked more like a five-star hotel than a cell to keep a prisoner. The bed was soft, the furnishings were modern and tasteful. I quickly confirmed there wasn’t anyone else except this guy in the room. I checked him out. He didn’t appear to have any weapons and was a little younger than I first thought. Actually, he looked like he was my age. He had blond hair that was months overdue for a haircut, or then again, maybe he liked the wild, shaggy look. Definitely not one of the military-type guys. He wore a black hoodie, jeans, and dark sneakers. Except for his piercing eyes, he looked extremely normal.

  “Sorry. I’m Taylor.” His voice was deeper than I expected.

  “What happened? Did they drug me or something?” I scrambled off the bed. “Why are you here?”

  “It’s a super Taser they have been developing. I was volun-told to test it once. It sucks.” He shrugged. “As for why I’m here? I would guess I’m here for the same reason you are.”

  “Because you trusted the wrong people,” I said, still trying to keep my voice low but struggled.

  “Ah…” He paused. I could tell he didn’t know how to respond to my statement. However, I needed information. Without it I was no better than an animal in a petting zoo.

  “Do they have video in here as well?”

  He shook his head. “No, not in these holding rooms.”

  “Holding room?”

  “Think of this like a hotel room. You’ll get assigned your own room in the residential wing later.”

  I stood up and walked over to the futuristic-looking sink on the far side of the room. So many thoughts came crashing down on me at the same time. Who was this guy, how was I going to get out of here, where was Adam, how was I going to find Megan, and how do I get even with that bitch doctor?

  I turned on the sink and splashed some water on my face. It was cool to the touch. I looked down to see dark brown drops hit the sink basin. Dirt. From my face.

  I grabbed a white hand towel and soaked it wit
h water before wringing it out. Then I wiped my face, neck and hair. The water was refreshing. It helped bring my thoughts into focus. I tossed the now brown towel onto the floor and turned to Taylor. “Okay let’s do this.”

  I moved back to where he was standing so our faces were just inches apart. My eyes level with his throat. He looked down at me.

  “What do you know of the three hundred?” I intentionally kept my question vague to see what he said.

  “I still don’t know your name.”

  “Answer my questions, and if you’re lucky, I’ll answer yours.” I knew this was a gamble, but I couldn’t risk wasting any more time with useless people. I needed to find Adam and get out of here.

  “Okay. If you must know, I am one of the three hundred.”

  My mind froze for a second. I hadn’t expected that response.

  He shrugged. “I was actually getting a checkup in another facility when the Great Discovery shit went down. They brought me here and let me stay.”

  My mind thawed as quickly as it had frozen and now shifted into overdrive.

  “Are we locked in here? Is there a way out? Do you have a weapon?” The questions flowed past my lips with no order, no filter.

  “Whoa. Settle down. Why would you want to leave? There’s nothing out there but the damn creatures.” He leaned against the wall and crossed his arms.

  “But Dr. Morgenstern is a psycho.”

  Taylor shrugged again. “Yeah, she’s just a stupid scientist. I ignore her.”

  “This is Zigotgen, right?” I paced a few tight circles.

  “Yes. What’s going on? Why are you so tense?”

  “She wants me dead.”

  Taylor shook his head. “I don’t think so. We might be the only ones left from the three hundred, unless that guy with you is one. There’s no way they would kill us, we’re too valuable. They have invested too much money into us and their soldier project.”

  My head spun. Partially from the Taser, mostly from what he was saying. “I only found out about us a few days ago. I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “Looks like I have a lot to show you.” He stood straight.

  “Aren’t we locked in?”

  “Not really. We can’t leave the main building, and there are areas we are not allowed access to.” He winked in a way that told me there was more to his answer.

  I decided not to push it further for the time being. I still didn’t know this guy, and right now he still had the advantage. I needed more information, and I needed Adam.

  “Then show me where Adam is, and I need to get my gun back.”

  “They won’t let you have the weapon, but I can take you to your friend. Boyfriend?” Taylor walked toward the door that disappeared into the wall once he was close enough.

  I didn’t know what to say. Was Adam my boyfriend? In a way, I guess he was. It seemed so weird to be discussing stuff like that with another guy. One I didn’t know. So I ignored his question, which probably was an answer in itself. “Lead the way.”

  Taylor walked ahead of me. His walk reminded me of someone who rode horses or motorcycles. A walk full of confident swagger. He stopped three doors down and waved his forearm over the Z located where a doorknob should be.

  “Val,” I said as the door whooshed open.

  Taylor turned to me. “Val?”

  “Yes. That’s my name.” I walked past him and entered another holding room.

  Taylor did his lean against the wall thing.

  Adam was on the floor searching under the bed.

  I raced to him. “Adam?”

  He almost whacked his head on the metal bed frame.

  “Thank God. Let’s get the hell out of here.” Adam stood, brushing his pants off.

  I almost gave him a hug, but Taylor’s presence stopped me. “What were you doing?”

  “Inspecting the frame to see if there was anything I could use as a weapon.” He looked over at Taylor. “Who are you?”

  “Adam, this is Taylor. Taylor, Adam.” I flapped my hand in both their directions. “He got me out of my room. He’s part of the three hundred test subjects too.”

  Adam nodded. “Good. Do you know the way out?”

  “You both are so obsessed with getting out of here and back in the shithole the world is now.” He made a face that made me think he thought we were crazy.

  “Our friend is out there. We have to save her.” Adam marched into the hallway. “So, the way out?”

  Taylor shook his head. “You can’t leave.”

  “Why not?” Adam narrowed his eyes.

  “I see you have met Taylor. Very good.” A familiar mechanical voice broke into the conversation. “I have been instructed to escort the two of you to—”

  Damn thing had snuck up on us.

  Adam spun around. He hadn’t heard the robot approach either. “How are you going to make me?” Adam cut Carter off in mid-sentence.

  “Man, don’t.” Taylor grabbed Adam’s arm, but Adam shook him off. “Okay, just warning you, he has a super Taser.”

  Adam’s shoulders sagged. The robot was soundless and had Tasing capabilities. I really didn’t like him.

  “As I was saying, I have been instructed to escort the two of you to a meeting. Taylor, you may join us as well if you wish. Please, follow me,” Carter said with a neutral expression.

  That made me wonder if the robot could change his expression or if he was constantly in a state of blandness. “Where are we going, Carter?”

  “To meet the director. He is awaiting your arrival.” The one thing I did like was that Carter had come and not the armed soldiers who had betrayed us. I wasn’t above punching them in the face.

  As we moved down the corridor in silence, I noticed for the first time the hallway was awash in oranges, reds and yellows like an evening sunset.

  Almost sensing my question, Carter broke the silence and shifted into tour guide mode. “You will notice the light palette in the residential quarter hallways are meant to mimic that of the outside natural world during a particular time of day. It has been discovered this helps the mental state of those who are stationed here and improves the overall mood of the facility.”

  Carter shifted his focus to the star constellations on the ceiling as we reentered the main circular room. He made a point to emphasize how the constellations mirrored exactly what was in the sky over the facility at that exact moment.

  “Notice he didn’t mention this is where they Tased the shit out of a couple of kids a few hours ago. Guess that’s not highlight worthy,” Adam whispered.

  Carter moved toward the door just to the right of the Z emblem. I looked around. Okay. One. Two. Three. Four… there was a total of twelve doors leading from the star room. I needed to make a mental map of this place. Without it, Adam and I would be at someone else’s mercy.

  As the door evaporated into a blue mist, bright white light overwhelmed my senses. It took about ten seconds for my eyes to adjust enough to see the massive laboratory area flooded in whiteness.

  Carter’s voice cut in again. “At this facility, our scientists are conducting cutting edge research in all fields to improve human life.”

  I wasn’t sure if he was trying to distract us from seeing what they were really doing or if this was just a ride through Zigotgen’s Futureland exhibit.

  From computers to microscopes, hell, everything scientific seemed to be represented. My nerves tingled as a few robots glided between the tables. Carter wasn’t the only one. A human man sat on a stool in the corner using a computer.

  So much electricity. So much technology. Here the whole time while I struggled to find food and water.

  We passed a glass room where people in biohazard suits with tubes attached to them worked with vials of who knew what. The whole scene reminded me of the contagion-type movies when the scientists scurry around for a cure to save the world. The irony of my thought wasn’t lost. Maybe these people would be able to save the world from the aliens. It might
be our only shot.

  A door to another lab opened. A man wearing a weird-looking suit stepped out. It resembled a scuba suit but had more padding, and it looked like a liquid circulated through the outside of the suit. He nodded to us and kept walking. The faint scent of chlorine followed in his wake.

  We passed lab after lab. The sheer size of the complex was overwhelming. The question of where all the people who worked here lived ran through my mind.

  “We have arrived at our destination,” Carter announced.

  He opened a frosted glass door to a space that reminded me of an average living room. Three suede-looking beige couches filled the room, and tables dotted the ends. A square glass table sat in the middle. Another large white Z with an anchor hanging off the end of the letter dominated the one wall.

  “Please sit. The director will be here momentarily.” Carter glided off to the side.

  The three of us each took a seat on one of the couches. I prayed the director wasn’t anything like General DeCarlo.

  The door next to Carter slid open, and a man in his late fifties with salt-and-pepper hair and goatee strode into the room.

  Adam shot out of his seat and lunged toward the man. “It’s you.”

  9

  “Adam, thank God. They had told me you died.” The man wrapped his arms around Adam and gave him a half hug, half back slap. Adam pulled back far enough that I caught the glisten in his eyes.

  “How are your parents?” The director still clutched Adam by the forearm.

  “Dead. Well, I assume Dad is. I know for sure… Mom…” Adam blinked more than usual.

  He’d told me the story about his mom turning into a Rasper. About how she came after him. About what he had to do. He was devastated. Just thinking about it made me so sad for him.

  “I’m so sorry. They were good people. Why don’t you introduce me to your friend?”

  Adam turned out of the man’s grasp and made an open-handed gesture to me. “Val, this is my uncle, Darren Solomon. Uncle Darren, this is Val.”