“Yes, Sir.”
“And you looked everywhere?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“That can’t be right.”
“Sir?” Red asked with a frown.
“Well, if you looked everywhere, you would’ve found her,” King replied.
He shifted his attention to the other two soldiers. They shuffled their feet, and avoided his gaze. To Tara, they looked like naughty schoolboys standing in front of the principal. Oh, they’re in for it now. Someone’s gonna get it.
“What have you got to say for yourselves?” King asked.
Neither one of the two answered.
“Where’s the girl?” Thomas and West shook their heads, faces pale beneath King’s icy glare. “Come on, then. Answer me.”
“We…we don’t know, Lieutenant. She disappeared into the forest,” Thomas managed to say after a while.
“Disappeared into the forest?” King mused. “How clever of her.”
His voice was deceptively mild, and Tara couldn’t help but feel threatened even though his comment was not aimed at her. She rocked back on her heels, one hand feeling for the screw driver between her shoulders.
The van creaked beneath her weight, and King’s gaze shot to hers. Their eyes connected, and his nostrils flared. Before Tara could utter a word, King nodded at Perez. “Fetch the doctor, and bring her here.”
Perez obeyed, crossing the distance with swift strides. He slid open the door and reached for Tara. She tried to duck, but he caught her upper arm in an iron grip and hauled her out of the vehicle. Without mercy, he dragged her across the ground until they came to a halt in front of King.
Despite the pain in her ribs, Tara yanked her arm free from Perez’s grip and faced King with her chin lifted and her shoulders square. “Yes, King? What do you want?”
King’s eyes narrowed, and his manner grew even colder if possible. “What I want, is for you to obey. You gave me your word back at the house, remember? You promised you would do whatever I said if I spared the girl’s life. Correct?”
Tara nodded. “Correct.”
“But now, she’s gone, and you’re to blame,” King continued. “You broke your promise.”
“No, I didn’t,” Tara countered. “You never said I couldn’t help her escape.”
King’s lips peeled back from his teeth, and he growled. “Don’t be petty, Dr. Lee. We’re both grown-ups here.”
“Alright,” Tara replied. “Then listen closely. I don’t give a crap what promises you wring from my lips. They mean nothing to me. Not while I’m a prisoner. Got it?”
King smiled, and the temperature in the air appeared to drop even further. “I don’t take kindly to threats, dear doctor, but I’ll tell you what. I’ll make you a promise right now.”
Tara frowned. “What’s that?”
With one quick move, King pulled a gun from the holster on his belt, pointed it at the nearest soldier’s head, and pulled the trigger.
Tara screamed as the bullet punched a neat hole in Thomas’ forehead, right between the eyes. For a single frozen moment, nobody moved, not even Thomas. A thin stream of blood leaked from the hole and ran down his face before he collapsed to the ground.
With one trembling hand pressed to her lips, Tara stared at the corpse, unable to believe her eyes. Neither West, Perez, or Red moved, and even Bannock had the good sense to keep his mouth shut.
“What did you do?” Tara whispered. “Why did you shoot him?”
“To teach you a lesson, my dear. Disobey me again, and the next bullet will be lodged inside that clever brain of yours,” King replied. “Don’t think for one second that I won’t kill you just because I want the cure.”
He turned in a circle, pointing the smoking barrel of his gun at each of them in turn. “In fact, let this be a lesson to all of you. None of you are indispensable. All of you can be replaced if need be. If you fail me, you die. Got that?”
Everyone nodded in turn, though Red’s eyes darkened. “I understand.”
“Good,” King replied, lowering the gun. “Now that we’re all on the same page, here’s what we’re going to do. Perez, Bannock, and West will return to the lab with me.”
Perez nodded. “Yes, Sir.”
“Red, it’s your job to find that girl. If she makes it back to Fort Detrick, all our plans are for nothing,” King continued.
“Yes, Sir,” Red replied as a cruel smile twisted his lips. “What do I do with her once I have her?”
“Kill her,” King said with a dismissive wave of his hand.
“No, please!” Tara cried. “You can’t do that.”
“You should’ve thought of that before you helped her to escape, Dr. Lee. Actions carry consequences. Hopefully, now you’ve learned the value of obedience.”
“Spare her, I beg of you. I won’t try to escape again, I promise,” Tara said. “I’ll do whatever you say.”
“Save it, doctor. You’ve already proven that your word means nothing,” King replied. “The girl is dead. Forget about her.”
“If you kill her, you can forget about the cure,” Tara cried. “I won’t produce it for you. I refuse.”
“Yes, you will, Dr. Lee, or I’ll cut off your toes one at a time, followed by your feet, and finally your legs.”
“You wouldn’t,” Tara said with a horrified gasp.
“Of course, I would. You don’t need you legs to work, do you?” King asked. “Face it, Dr. Lee. You’ve been outmaneuvered by a superior opponent. Accept your defeat.”
Tara’s shoulders sagged as weariness settled over her shoulders. The bitter tang of bile burned the back of her throat. She was beaten.
“Please, don’t do it. Don’t kill Amy,” Tara pleaded one last time, though she had little hope that King would give in.
She was right.
He ignored her, waving Red away. “Get moving, Red, and don’t come back without that girl’s heart on a platter.”
“It will be my pleasure, Sir,” Red replied, but Tara didn’t miss the rebellious look he shot at King as he walked away. The man was a loose cannon. Too driven by rage to see common sense. One day, he’ll turn on King. The dog will bite the hand that feeds him.
The thought gave Tara a sense of courage and stiffened her spine. If Red could stand up to King, then so could she. The lieutenant wasn’t quite as invincible as he thought himself to be. Everyone makes mistakes, and when he does, I’ll be there.
King pointed to the van. “Perez, lock her back inside. We need to get out of here before the sound of the gun draws infected.”
“Yes, Sir,” Perez replied, grabbing Tara’s arm once more.
She allowed him to lead her back to the vehicle without protest. As they walked past the soldier’s body, her eyes lingered on the pool of blood. That could’ve been Amy. He could have shot her just as easily to make a point. I’m glad I helped her escape.
As they drove toward the lab, Tara’s eyes followed Red’s truck in the opposite direction. For him the hunt had begun, but she wasn’t so sure. Amy wasn’t quite the pushover that everyone thought she was when they first met her. She was a lot smarter and stronger than she looked. Tougher too. Maybe Red finds more than he bargained for.
Chapter 14 - Dylan
Dylan.”
“Mm?”
“Wake up, Dylan.”
“Huh?” Dylan’s eyes cracked open to reveal a magazine plastered across her face. She blinked at the blurred writing, not realizing where she was.
“Dylan, wake up!” a stern voice said accompanied by a rough hand on her shoulder.
“What?” Dylan yelled as she jerked upright, instantly regretting the move. Every bone in her body screamed in protest as she unfolded her long legs from the uncomfortable chair she’d slept in. An empty polystyrene cup clattered to the floor, spilling a few drops of coffee, and one boot shot across the room to land with a thud against the wall. The magazine crumpled to the floor, the pretty face of a now-dead model smiling up at her with perfect teet
h.
She pressed one hand to her thumping breast. “Holy shit, don’t do that. You scared me half to death. Who is it?”
“It’s me, Ethan,” the voice replied.
Dylan came awake in an instant and shot to her feet. “I’m sorry. What happened? Is it Alex? Is he okay? Please tell me he’s okay.”
Ethan raised a hand to forestall her many questions. “Please, be quiet.”
Dylan snapped her jaw shut and stared at him with wide eyes. “Go ahead.”
Ethan glanced at the clipboard in his hands and said, “The operation was successful. We removed the bullet lodged in his chest and repaired the damage to his collapsed lung and other organs. His vitals look good, and he’s stable for the moment.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful news,” Dylan exclaimed.
“It doesn’t mean he’s out of the woods yet. There are still many things that can and probably will go wrong. Infection is one of them.”
Dylan nodded. “I understand. Can I see him, please?”
“No, he’s sleeping, and that’s the best thing for him right now,” Ethan replied with a firm shake of the head.
Dylan sighed. “I understand. Do you have any idea when I can see him?”
“Perhaps, later this afternoon, otherwise tomorrow,” Ethan said. “It all depends on when he wakes up.”
“Alright, thanks for letting me know,” Dylan said.
“No problem.”
“Look, about earlier with the nurse—”
“I don’t want to hear another one of your excuses, Dylan. I’m tired, and I’ve just come out of a six-hour surgery. I’m not in the mood.”
“Please, Ethan. Just hear me out, please,” Dylan begged.
He sighed. “Make it quick.”
“I know I shouldn’t have done that to the nurse, and I’m sorry.”
“Do you even remember her name?” Ethan interrupted again.
“Her name?” Dylan asked with a dumbfounded look.
“Yes, her name,” Ethan prompted with a look of impatience. “She has one, you know?”
“Yes, of course, I know. It’s…it’s…”
“Goodbye, Dylan,” Ethan said as he spun on his heel.
“No, wait. It’s Phyllis!” Dylan cried, reaching out for his hand. She grabbed and squeezed his fingers. “Am I right?”
He nodded with more than a touch of reluctance. “It is.”
“See? I do care, and when I see her, I’ll apologize for my actions.”
“No!” Ethan yelled. “Rather not. She’s quite traumatized, and the sight of you will just make it worse.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure.”
An awkward silence descended while their fingers lingered together. Dylan was the first to pull away, a deep blush staining her cheeks. She turned aside and wrapped her arms around her middle. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I keep losing control, and I’m so angry all the time.”
“You can’t keep blaming the Vita virus, Dylan. I know it caused damage to your brain but look at Saul and Nick. They know how to keep themselves and the virus under control.”
“I know, but it’s harder than it looks,” Dylan protested.
“Stop acting like a child. Yes, it’s tough, but you need to get a grip,” Ethan said, his voice hard and uncompromising.
“I know.”
“You can’t keep running around, causing havoc whenever you feel like it.”
“I know.”
“You’re not special, and it’s about high time you start considering other people’s feelings.”
“I know.”
Ethan stopped mid-rant and stared at her with a suspicious look on his face. “Why do you agree with everything I say? That’s not like you.”
“I agree with you because you’re right,” Dylan replied.
“That’s never happened before.”
“I can admit it when I’m wrong, Ethan, and I’ve been wrong about a lot of things lately,” Dylan said.
“Like what?”
“The fact that I think I can treat people however I want because of the virus. That I think I’m the only one who’s had it rough because of my upbringing.” Dylan slumped back down onto the chair. “The truth is, I didn’t like the way that nurse looked at me earlier. Like I’m a vicious monster or something.”
Ethan sighed and ran one hand through his dark hair. “I don’t know what to tell you, Dylan. All I know is that you’d better figure things out because if you don’t, somebody is going to get hurt.”
“Someone…someone like you?” she asked with hesitance.
“Me?” Ethan asked,
“I hurt you, didn’t I?” Dylan said. “I hurt you badly.”
Ethan stared at her for a few seconds before nodding. “There was a time when I thought there was something between us. Something special. I was wrong.”
Dylan looked up at him, and it felt like a fist was closing around her heart. “You weren’t wrong, Ethan. There was something between us.”
“Then why did you pick him?” Ethan asked.
“It’s hard to explain,” Dylan said, her shoulders drooping beneath the weight of his stare.
“Try,” Ethan said. “For once, just try because God knows I’ve tried to figure it out, and I can’t. I thought we were meant for each other, and then you chose Nick. Nick, with his stupid jokes and his stupid grin and his stupid…everything!”
Dylan blinked, taken aback by the raw hurt in Ethan’s voice. “I didn’t know you felt that way.”
“Of course, I do. There was a time when I’d have trusted my life to you.”
“You still can,” Dylan protested. “I’m still your friend.”
“Friend?” Ethan repeated. “I don’t want to be your friend.”
“But—”
“I left my home to look for you,” he added. “My family, my friends, my practice. Everything. I left it all behind for you.”
“I know, and I’m sorry, okay?” Dylan cried as guilt rushed through her veins.
“Sorry? I don’t care about sorry. I want to know why,” he bellowed, his voice echoing throughout the small room.
Dylan stared at him as the echoes faded away. All these weeks, she’d never suspected that he was hiding such a wealth of pain. She’d never thought of the damage her careless actions caused to a man of such intelligence and integrity.
“I loved you, Dylan,” he said, at last, all the fight leaving his posture, and he stood, a man defeated. “Just tell me why.”
“Alright, I’ll try,” Dylan replied after clearing her throat. “You know when you told me to let go of Phyllis earlier?”
“Yes, I remember.”
“It was the look in your eyes that made me stop. That look of shock and disbelief,” Dylan said. “Like you couldn’t believe me capable of such horrible deeds.”
Ethan frowned. “I don’t understand.”
“You’re a great guy, Ethan. A surgeon with a brilliant mind and a kind heart. You’re almost too perfect, and I’m not.” Dylan laughed. “Hell, I’m so far from perfect, it’s not even funny.”
“I still don’t get it. You went with Nick because I’m too perfect?” Ethan asked with more than a hint of disbelief.
“No, I chose Nick because he’s flawed like me. He understands me. He’ll never look at me with loathing when he realizes how far gone I am.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Ethan protested.
“Is it?” Dylan asked. “Did you know that when I left Vandalia, Ray and two of his friends chased after me?”
“No, you never told me that. What happened?” he asked, his back stiffening.
“They tried to run me off the road, but I got lucky. Ray crashed his truck into a tree, and I had my chance. I shot the first one as he tried to get to his feet. He’d been thrown from the truck in the crash. An easy target.”
“What about Ray?” Ethan asked.
Dylan shrugged. “He was unconscious and slumped over the wheel. You s
ee, both his legs had been crushed in the accident. His friend, well. He was awake. Alive and kicking.”
Her voice dropped to a monotone as she allowed the memories to wash over her mind, and she closed her eyes to block out the sight of Ethan’s face. He wanted to know who she was, so she’d tell him the truth about her. The whole truth.
***
Ray’s friend was groaning with both hands pressed to a gash on his scalp. It bled profusely like head wounds tended to do, and the metallic taste of blood coated the inside of her mouth. Her nostrils flared as she relished the aroma, and her stomach clenched with sudden hunger.
Her vision darkened around the edges, and the world appeared washed in crimson. Before she could stop to think, Dylan dropped her gun and grabbed him with both hands. “Not so cocky now, are we?”
“Let go, you crazy bitch,” he mumbled, swatting at her with his fists
She didn’t feel a thing, his blows no more than the buzzing of insects. Her focus narrowed onto his face, and she sneered. “I thought you wanted to have a little bit of fun. Aren’t we having fun yet?”
He shook his head, eyes wide with fear when he looked into her eyes. Eyes that spelled out his death. “Lemme go, lemme go. Please!”
Dylan laughed, her gaze flickering to his throat. It looked soft and inviting. Vulnerable. With a growl, she lunged forward and sank her teeth deep into his jugular. Blood spurted into her mouth and washed across her tongue. Hot, fresh, and oh so delicious.
Her eyes drifted shut as ecstasy overcame her, and she sucked down deep mouthfuls of the warm fluid. Her victim thrashed beneath her, his horrified screams turning into gurgles as his life left him in a crimson stream.
Dylan’s eyes snapped open when he stilled, and his struggles grew weaker and weaker. She tossed him aside like a rag doll, one hand wiping away the blood that ran down her chin. It covered the front of her jersey in a red waterfall, and she sniffed at it with disgust. “Ugh. So messy.” She sighed. “And I just had a shower.”
A frightened voice drew her attention, and her gaze traveled to Ray. He stared at her with wide eyes, and his voice shook when he asked, “What the hell are you?”
“What am I?” Dylan asked. “I’m your worst nightmare.”
He attempted to pull his gun from its holster, but Dylan reacted in a flash. She leaned over and snatched it away.
Rise of the Undead (Book 4): Apocalypse Z Page 8