Into the Roar (The Roar Series Book 2)

by A. M. White

  Caleb let me struggle against him. I kicked at his knees. He tightened his grip and put his chin on my shoulder. He whispered. “I didn’t know. I swear it.” His voice came from clenched teeth.

  The head medic called to me from his work station. “Even if he had known, he would have been given orders not to tell you, for data’s sake.” His callus voice pierced my heart. We were nothing to these people, just like the people in those tanks.

  The pad and pen fell from my hands. The pad slapped the ground on impact. I went limp. I sobbed uncontrollably.

  Caleb half carried, half dragged me to the medic station by the exit. The team ripped the wires from my body. They didn’t get close. There was fear in their eyes.

  A couple of the patches pulled the skin off when they were torn at a distance. I wailed out of hate, not pain.

  “Stop! There is no reason to hurt her more.” Caleb eased me to the floor. He plucked the sensors that remained carefully and handed them to the medics.

  Caleb scooped me up.

  The same supervisor blocked the doors. “I warn you to be careful, guard. Remember, they are all dangerous prisoners.”

  “You are right.” I croaked. I made eye contact with the man. “Don’t forget that.”

  I held his stare as he moved out of the way. Caleb kicked the door open. He strode away quickly, from that awful place.

  “I know a place. I am going to take you there to talk for a minute.” He mumbled once we were far enough from the unit.

  I nodded through my tears.

  We rounded a corner and he ducked into a supply closet. Caleb put me down on a crate. He pulled off his helmet and set it next to me on the box.

  His face matched his body type. It was chiseled and square. His light brown hair was matted to his forehead with sweat. His nose was slightly crooked. It looked like he had broken it a few times in his life.

  He appeared to be about Timothy’s age. I wondered if he knew him from training or patrols.

  I curled my knees into my chest. I was suddenly disgusted with myself for being so emotional in front of someone I didn’t know. It made me appear weak.

  “Let me see your wounds.” He attempted to pull one of my arms toward him.

  I resisted. “No, it’s nothing.”

  He wiped his forehead with his sleeve. “This is bad.” He locked his fingers behind his head.

  I cocked my head. There was so much bad right now, I didn’t know what he referred to.

  “I am a sympathizer. Now they know.” He explained.

  “You are?” I should have guessed by his actions in the unit.

  “That was what the warning was about.” He paced in front of me.

  “Listen, I am sorry if I brought you trouble. I didn’t mean too.” I apologized.

  “Well, I couldn’t let you stab me, but I couldn’t shoot you either.” His words stung. I had put him in quite a predicament.

  “I’m sorry. I should have been able to contain myself.” I wiped my nose on my arm. “I lashed out. If it makes you feel any better, I’m sure things are about to get harder for me too.”

  He exhaled loudly. “No, it doesn’t make me feel any better.” He paused. “Look, they will be wondering where we are very soon. I need to try and fix this. I have to cuff you again. You will walk in front of me and make this look normal. That way I can pass this off as an exaggeration of the medics. They do make a mountain out of a mole hill often. Okay?”

  I blinked up at him. “You didn’t really know how bad Jason was?”

  He sputtered. “I apologize for sounding selfish, especially after visiting your friend. I guarantee that they will be able to fix most of his injuries. That affords me to be concerned about myself.

  I am one of the true sympathizers. There is a network of us down here. I was supposed to gather intel for the cause today. Unfortunately, I got a lot more than I bargained for.” A small hint of a smile lined his mouth. He peeked at me from under his eyebrows.

  I blushed.

  “Lori is going to use you. She is not part of us. There isn’t much you can do right now, except allow her to take care of you medically. Your friends need it. Alex and Jason need it.” He put his hand on my knee.

  “You know about Alex?” My mouth was suddenly dry.

  “Yes, one of the others was with your brother today when he visited her. Cara, she lost her arm.” He squeezed my knee.

  “What?” I shook my head. “No.” I breathed.

  “You have to let them get the help they need. Our people can fix them.” He seemed to notice that he had his hand on me for the first time. He pulled away. “The other sympathizers have been planning an escape. I will convince them that we take you all. I will find a way.”

  I was shocked that he would do that for us. I pushed down the happiness that crept into my heart

  “Please. I can’t stand not knowing what is going on.” I begged. “My brother? I was worried when Lori made up a story about why she wanted me to talk to Jason. Is he alright?”

  “For now. He had a similar reaction after he saw Alex today.” He grimaced. “He put his hands around Lori’s throat, so he is going to have to win her over again.”

  “You have got to be kidding?” My mouth hung open.

  “Not a bit. Come on, they will already be suspicious about me.”

  Caleb held his hand out to me. I took it and allowed him to put the cuffs on my wrists.

  He smiled shyly and didn’t let go right away. “I mean it though. I will find a way.”

  My face flushed.

  “Don’t worry about what happened back there too much. Lori will excuse the unnecessary roughness, since it wasn’t her you took it out on.”

  I had to control myself better.

  He took my hands in his and led me from the tiny closet. In the hallway, he moved behind me. Caleb directed me to my room.

  I was overwhelmed to say the least. I had a lot to process. Alex and Jason awaited medical treatment. My brother was of no use until he could win back Lori’s confidence.

  That left me, the only one that could actively play a part in this game. I wasn’t good at games. I had better be a fast learner, if I wanted to mold this catastrophe into anything positive.

  Caleb unlocked the cuffs. He scanned his badge for me to enter. I walked in without a word to him.

  The room that had seemed so delightful before, now felt like a prison cell. I was stuck. I depended on others to come to me.

  Unless, I made something happen. I looked at one of the cameras in the corner of the room.

  I put on my most regretful face. “Is there any way that I could speak to Lori? I should apologize for my behavior and offer to help. I think I could be useful.”

  There were a few moments of silence and then the intercom transmitted static. A female voice came through. “Lori has accepted your invitation. She will attend to you shortly.”

  “Thank you.” I replied.

  I made my way to the bed. I threw myself onto the fluffy comforter to allow time to pass.

  Lori

  Everything had been tidy until that idiot lost his mind and attacked me. My fingertips caressed my sore throat. I grimaced at how tender it still was.

  I kept the attack a secret. Bryce was easily bribed to keep the secret between us.

  No need to get the Superiors involved. They would put a halt to the research we conducted. That wasn’t something I would risk. I had worked so hard for every number I squeezed out of the subjects.

  I put my hand on a fluid filled tank. The incubation fluid was sucked down a tube that had been fashioned on the bottom valve. The body inside withered with the loss of the life sustaining mixture that drained around it.

  A call came for me that the girl wanted to speak to me. Apparently, she wanted to apologize for her emotional state after her visit with the invalid.

  I was pleased. She would be much easier to manipulate than her brother.

  “Lori, the tanks in aisles J through K have be
en fully disposed.” One of my team addressed me.

  I didn’t answer with words. I simply nodded in acknowledgement.

  The energy project had been unsuccessful, thanks to those rogue rebels. They had almost rendered me obsolete. I would make them pay for that.

  The girl and her brother were in the best physical shape. They would be the first to succumb to the tests I devised.

  I patted the glass of the tank to symbolically bid farewell to the past. The inhabitant’s eyes stared back into mine blankly. What a waste.

  Cara

  There was a knock at the door. I sprang to my feet and rushed to the table. This time, I intended on a civilized conversation; woman to woman.

  “Come in!” I called as I stood behind a chair.

  Lori whisked into the room. She carried herself with more authority than she did before. It was noted.

  “Would you please take a seat?” I pulled back the chair for her.

  “Why, thank you dear.” She stiffly sat.

  “May I get you a glass of water?” I asked politely.

  “No thank you.” She immediately switched gears. “I apologize for making our meeting a short one, but things are so busy right now. What can I help you with?”

  I sat in the chair opposite of her. “I wanted to apologize for my behavior in the critical care unit today.” I lowered my eyes to convey embarrassment. “I was overwhelmed by Jason’s state. Nonetheless, I shouldn’t have lashed out. Can you forgive me?” I forced a tear out of my eye.

  “Honey,” she said smoothly. “Of course. We all make mistakes.” Lori smiled warmly.

  “I appreciate that. I also wanted to offer any help I can provide. I have had extensive training in healing. I may be of some use to you.” I offered with my most innocent voice.

  She looked me over, like she tried to see through my words. “That is a very kind offer. I may take you up on that. Later today, when Jason’s surgery is over, I might ask that you be present. I think it would be good for the first words he hears to come from someone he knows and trusts. Would you agree to that?”

  “Oh yes!” I calmed myself. “I would like that very much.”

  “Good.” She pushed back her chair. “I think we will get along very well.”

  I smiled.

  “Until later?” She raised her eyebrows.

  I nodded.

  She left as hurried as she came.

  I leaned back in the chair and propped my feet up on the table. I hoped that I played the right game. At least until I figured out how to maneuver on the board.

  Caleb

  I was already behind schedule. I gave the guard posted at the stairwell the required hand signal and took the stairs two at a time. I busted into the utility supply room like a maniac. A handful of guns aimed at me.

  I raised my hands to show that I wasn’t a threat. “Sorry! Between shifts.” I rushed to get here, because I was ordered to take a double shift today and only had a short time between them.

  The others grunted and lowered their guns.

  The closet had one person posted this time of day. He only requested deliveries to be made around the predetermined times for our meetings. That way, we didn’t have uninvited guests.

  Among the piles of pipes and shelves of tools, a group of sympathizers met to discuss our actions toward the cause. Today, our number of attendees was large. There was close to twenty people.

  Group members recruited through trusted word of mouth. The goal of the group was to remain hidden to eventually defect from the underground rule.

  A soldier I recognized from the medical sector was new. I was surprised to see someone that worked so close to me. We locked eyes for a moment.

  “Bryce is a newcomer. I invited him to speak to us today. He has had some experience with the prisoners that shut down the machines.” The supply clerk announced.

  “I am posted in the medical wards. The ex-soldier Timothy, was a comrade of mine before he escaped to the surface.

  I have spoken to him on more than one occasion lately. There are in fact, four prisoners. He is the most knowledgeable of our security. He and his sister are from here.”

  My heart leapt at the mention of Cara. Bryce knew about her.

  “The other two, are from above. One is a girl and the other a younger male. They sustained worse injuries than our kind in the explosion.

  Lori, the research specialist, has some sort of plans to run tests on them. I am not sure what, but given the sensitive situation of the machines, it will likely be inhumane.”

  I felt like someone had punched me in the gut. I couldn’t allow that to happen. I just told Cara to go along with Lori for the sake of her friends.

  Bryce pointed to me. “He works in the same sector. He may have more information to share.”

  All eyes landed on me.

  “For those of you that don’t know me, I am Caleb. I work as a guard in the medical facilities.

  I have spoken to Cara, the girl from here. She is well, aside from a few skin grafts.

  I believe what Bryce says is true about Lori. It makes sense, because I saw the surface male today. His name is Jason. He lost eyesight, hearing, and movement in the blast. The medics transplanted our eyes into him.” I felt queasy.

  The occupants of the room mumbled to each other. I saw heads shake and eyes lower.

  I became brave. “The prisoners may be an asset when we defect. They understand survival above the ground. I move to include them in the plans.”

  The crowd erupted into more banter.

  I caught Bryce’s eye across the room. He nodded slightly, to show that he agreed with me.

  “This is news to be taken into consideration. Are the prisoners as dangerous as they say?” The supply room clerk asked.

  I cleared my throat before I answered. “They are very capable, if that is what you mean? They are also very loyal. I have seen them fiercely defend those on their side and their friends. I truly believe they would do the same for us, if we help them.”

  There were more murmurs from the group.

  The manager raised his hands for silence and turned to Bryce. “Have you had the same experience?”

  “I have. I know that loyal is a strange word to describe defectors, however, they are loyal to the same beliefs you all hold dear. They believe in life outside of these tunnels. They believe in a life where we don’t have to take life unless others try to take from you.

  I agree that the prisoners would be advantageous to our assimilation above ground.” Bryce spoke eloquently.

  The whispers erupted into arguments around us. The manager allowed for some debate to take place. Then he called the room back to order.

  “We need to take a vote. Those in favor of the prisoner’s inclusion into our plans?”

  Out of the twenty, all but two hands rose. It was a landslide vote. Worry lifted from my shoulders.

  “That settles it then. We will rescue and include the prisoners into our escape.

  Bryce, you and Caleb will be charged with the rescue. We will plan on leaving for the surface in two days.

  We will travel light. Only bring one knapsack of possessions. We will meet by the exit in the southern stairwell between night and day shifts.

  Bryce and Caleb will be our ticket out. If only one of you escapes, at least we will have one badge to exit.”

  He peeled open a box and distributed metal plates to around the room. I took a pair and pricked my finger on a metal prong that jutted from its edge.

  “These should be fastened to your boots on the day of the escape. The prongs will poke into the soles of them. They will protect us from being tracked through the ground radar.

  Caleb and Bryce; here are bags with shoes already fitted with the metal. They are for the prisoners.” He passed one to each of us.

  I hoisted the drawstring around my shoulder.

  “May the days until then be safe.” He clapped his hands and the meeting was over.

  I reeled from how fa
st everything happened. I was happy with the decision, but the task ahead overwhelmed me.

  People began to disperse.

  Bryce

  That was completely unexpected. I knew I would be asked to speak at my first sympathizer meeting, but had no idea that someone I worked with was also a member. On top of that, the guy that supported my claims had intentions to rescue Timothy and the others as well.

  Trust me, I was glad that someone else would assist; it just came as such a surprise. Now we had two days to formulate a plan and carry it out.

  Not to mention, the anxiety the escape itself created. I would leave everything I had ever known behind. The world up there was a mystery to me.

  As the people filed out of the supply closet, I approached Caleb. He was my new partner. We needed to find a way to talk.

  “Hey!” I called out before he reached the door.

  Caleb faced me. His eyes were lined with worry. “That went over well.” His voice was mixed with emotions.

  “Yeah, well, we got what we wanted, huh?” I asked.

  “Sure did.” He seemed nervous more than anything.

  “We have to find a time we can work this out.” I pushed.

  “I have duty now. Can I come to your dorm after?” Caleb took a step toward the exit.

  “Sure. Quad 31. My roommate should be on patrol.” I replied to his back.

  He nodded. “Got it.”

  We parted ways. He headed back toward medical and I toward the mess hall. I didn’t think I was up to eat, but if I didn’t show it might be suspicious. I had to be very careful to not raise any questions now. I hoped Caleb would watch his back, too.

  Lori

  I loved the look of confusion on his face when I entered his room with several of my closest confidants.

  Everyone had it wrong, the newbies were the easiest to control. Their teenage angst could be directed into violence that the mature and worn would resist. I always used them for special occasions.