The Complete Makanza Series: Books 0-4

by Krista Street

  Bright light from inside poured into the entryway. We stepped into a desolate reception area. It was simple. A desk, computer, table light, and a filing cabinet. Bare hallways were visible around the corner.

  “He’s from Compound 26. He’s half-Native American and has strain 11. Tall, lean yet muscular build, black hair, and bright blue eyes. Does that ring a bell?”

  Xander’s mouth downturned. “Oh . . . him.”

  “So you know him?” I slowed my steps forcing Private Xanders to match my stride.

  “I don’t know him, but I’ve heard of him. He’s been causing a lot of problems.”

  “Why? What’s he done?”

  “Not following the rules, talking back to soldiers, that kind of thing.”

  “Where is he?” Another door loomed in front of us. I had no idea where Dr. Roberts waited, but I knew once I was in the same room with him, any questions I had would no longer be answered.

  “In one of the locked barracks.”

  “And is . . .” I took a deep breath. “Is he okay?”

  Xanders shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t work in that area.” He reached for the door handle. It opened to another hallway. Doors lined this one.

  I slowed my steps more. “What about the flu and the downed phone lines. Did that really happen or was it made up?”

  “Made up?” Private Xanders’ raised eyebrows told me he didn’t understand why I’d ever think something would be fabricated. “No, there were a few guards that came down with the flu, but it passed quickly. And there aren’t downed lines. What are you talking about?”

  I stopped in the hall. Harsh fluorescents hummed above us. “What do you mean, what am I talking about? Haven’t you heard that the reservation’s closed to the Kazzies’ families and friends?”

  His brow furrowed. “It is?”

  I groaned in frustration. “How can you not know that?”

  He shrugged. “I work in town. I have no idea what goes on at the perimeter. But now that you mention it, I haven’t seen anyone from the outside in here in a while.”

  While his words surprised me, at the same time, they didn’t. Dr. Roberts loved keeping divisions within Compound 26 separate from one another. We’d been forbidden to communicate with researchers in other departments. Under his rule, so many researchers within the MRI in Sioux Falls hadn’t known one another. It appeared he ran Reservation 1 in a similar fashion.

  I never found out why Dr. Roberts created those rules. The only explanation I’d ever come up with was control. He wanted absolute control over everyone and everything within his departments.

  Perhaps it was the same here on Reservation 1.

  “Here we are.” Private Xanders twisted a door handle and swung a door open. Inside were a simple table and chairs. “Please have a seat.”

  He removed the handcuffs.

  I rubbed my wrists and then slipped out of my ruined coat. I still wore snow pants and the heavy boots. Slushy snow had dripped off my boots initially when we stepped into this building. Bits of melting snow still clung to the laces.

  I glanced around the room, taking in the details. The room was small, only a table with two chairs. Other than that, the walls were concrete, although one wall was lined with a mirror. A small camera hung in the corner.

  It didn’t take a genius to know where they’d taken me. An interrogation room.

  My feet rooted to the spot, and I was sure I looked like a complete mess. I pushed hair out of my eyes and whirled around to Private Xanders just as a door opened in the corner of the room.

  Dr. Roberts marched in. His loud stomps were all too familiar.

  My breath caught in my throat.

  My former boss looked exactly as he always did. Short cut hair, gray eyes, a tall frame that hadn’t grown soft with age, and a hard unforgiving face. He wore military cargo gear. He’d worn that at Compound 26 too. The only difference was that here, he didn’t look out of place.

  “Thank you, Private. You’re excused.”

  Private Xanders stood ramrod straight and saluted before striding out the door. It closed briskly behind him. The sound of a lock clicking into place followed.

  “Meghan Forester. We meet again.”

  Dr. Roberts’ cold words sent fear cascading down my spine. I kept telling myself I had nothing to fear, that he wouldn’t hurt me. Yet, the reality was—he could.

  Nobody knew what was happening to me. The only ones who would ever report me missing were Amy, Mitch, Charlie, and Sharon.

  A horrible thought struck me.

  What if nobody believes them?

  I shook that thought off. Of course, people would believe them.

  Dr. Roberts pulled out a chair for me. “Sit.”

  I crossed my arms and raised an eyebrow. A year ago, I never would have had the guts to do that, but I’d come a long ways since then. Of course, my heart still pounded and my breath felt like it would catch in my throat. Hopefully, Dr. Roberts wouldn’t sense that.

  He strode to the opposite side of the table. He waved again at my chair. “We’ll be here for a while. Now, sit!”

  As much as I wanted to defy him, the more intelligent side of me won. Angering him wouldn’t help free me, and it wouldn’t help free the Kazzies.

  I pulled out the chair and settled on it. The hard surface pressed into the soft snow pants, and my heavy boots clanked awkwardly against the legs when I pulled it under the table.

  “Where’s Davin?”

  Dr. Roberts’ eyebrows rose. My direct question had obviously taken him by surprise.

  “I know he’s not in his house, so where is he?” I held my breath as I waited for his answer.

  “He’s been contained.”

  His words chilled me. Images of the Experimental Room at Compound 26 flashed through my mind. Dr. Roberts had done inconceivable things to Davin in there.

  “Contained where?”

  “That’s none of your business.”

  My heart beat so fast, I thought for sure it would beat out of my chest. “His mother’s looking for him.”

  Dr. Roberts leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. “So I hear.”

  Despite my quaking heart, I persevered. “And that doesn’t bother you? That a mother is worried sick over her son?”

  Something flashed across Dr. Roberts’ face, but it passed too quickly for me to decipher. Regardless, it was an emotion I’d never seen him wear.

  With his cold expression back in place, he said, “Many mothers worry about their children. But when a Kazzie is disrupting the peace on this reservation, certain actions are taken.”

  “Why have you closed the reservation?”

  Dr. Roberts leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table. “I believe I’m the one who should be asking the questions. Do you realize you’ve broken federal law by breaking into Reservation 1? That you’ll be arrested?”

  Swallowing audibly, I did my best to not let that reality consume me. Faking bravado, I also leaned forward. “And do you realize that I have proof of what’s been happening here? That I know what you’ve been doing to the Kazzies?”

  His gaze narrowed. “What are you talking about?”

  “How you’ve been abusing them, ordering soldiers to shoot them if necessary.” My voice squeaked, giving away some of my terror. I pinched my arm under the table. Don’t stop now! “The public may not want them free, but that doesn’t mean they want them hurt. What do you think will be the public’s reaction when they find out what’s been done here?”

  Silence followed. Dr. Roberts’ gaze stayed on me.

  I met his level stare, doing my best not to flinch.

  He was the first to break eye contact. I could tell that rattled him.

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He pushed to standing, the chair squeaking against the concrete floor.

  I waited for him to sit again. Instead, he stood with his hands on his hips, his gaze contemplative.

  With my heart hammering a mi
le a minute, I pinched my arm again to stay grounded. So far, I’d managed to maintain my composure during our conversation. I knew my newly found courage didn’t sit well with my former boss.

  I waited for Dr. Roberts to sit, but instead of facing me again, he opened the door he’d entered from and spoke to someone standing outside it. “Private Neary. Escort Dr. Forester to her room for the night. See that she’s given clean clothes, water, and something to eat.”

  With that, Dr. Roberts turned to me and said, “What happens within this reservation is done to keep things civil and controlled. Whatever you think has been done is surely blown out of proportion. I’m in control here, and if you think that will change, you’re wrong.”

  He walked out the door before I could reply.

  I frowned. I couldn’t tell if I’d rattled him or not, but with him gone, I dropped my façade. My hands shook like a leaf, and for a moment, I felt so lightheaded I thought I’d pass out.

  The soldier outside the room beckoned me forward. On shaky legs, I stood.

  Private Neary looked like all the rest. A young male in military cargos. Apparently, Private Xanders would not be escorting me. “Follow me.”

  I numbly trailed behind him down another hall. It ended at a cafeteria. He marched across it to another set of double doors.

  “This way.”

  He led me down a maze of hallways before stopping at a door that required a key. The door squeaked when it opened, reminding me of dark doorways in horror movies that opened to creaky stairwells with who-knew-what waiting at the bottom.

  Luckily, that wasn’t what this doorway opened onto.

  Inside was a small room. It held a bed, dresser, a window that was too narrow to crawl through, and a single bathroom. Drab colors and a concrete floor summed up the décor.

  “Food will be brought in shortly.” He nudged me inside and shut the door before I could reply. A solid turn of his key had a bolt sliding into place.

  I immediately turned and tried to pry the door handle open. It wouldn’t budge.

  Biting my lip, thoughts whirled through my mind as my reality came to a crashing halt.

  I’m going to be arrested. I’m a prisoner on Reservation 1!

  Trying not to panic, I strode across the room to look out the window. Outside, snow still fell. At least eight inches sat on the windowsill.

  Ian was out there somewhere. I had no idea if he’d been caught or hurt.

  And I still had no idea what was being done to Davin.

  14 – SARA

  Sara knocked on our mental door as I stood at the window. No doubt my surge of panic had alerted her to new events unfolding.

  I unlocked our connection just as the door to my room opened and Private Neary carried in food. He set the tray on the dresser and retreated before I could open my mouth to ask the million questions that wanted to barrel through. The sound of a bolt sliding into place followed.

  Scents of the meal drifted my way just as Sara asked, Meghan? Can you talk now?

  Despite nervous energy churning in my stomach, I grabbed the tray and dug into the food. It had to be close to ten at night, and I was ravenous from hiking in the cold. Yes. I can talk now. They’ve locked me in a room. It seems I’ll be spending the night here.

  The meal was simple but nutritious. Chicken, boiled potatoes, and carrots. I inhaled it. As soon as I finished, I kicked off the heavy boots, peeled off the snow pants, and crawled onto the bed.

  Sara’s worry and curiosity strummed into me. Where are you? And can you please tell me now what the heck is going on?

  Leaning against the wall, I tried to get as comfortable as I could with my back propped against concrete. I’m in a locked room in a barrack, and there’s so much to tell you. I’m not sure where to start.

  A locked barrack? So they took you to where the other Kazzies are kept. But how are you here?

  Cold from the concrete seeped through my shirt, so I sat forward. I broke into the reservation.

  You broke in?

  I winced at her screech. Yeah, I had to break in. It was the only way since they closed the gates to visitors.

  Why did you do that? And how did you manage it? And who was that guy you were with?

  Tucking my feet underneath me, I summed everything up as best I could. I know what’s been happening here, how they’ve been treating all of you—that’s why I broke in since they wouldn’t let us in through the gates. I felt like I had no choice. I needed to find you to re-establish our connection so I could really know how you’re all doing. And that guy you saw is Ian—long story there. We got split up when I was caught, so now I’m locked in some room. I’m not sure where he is.

  Oh Meghan . . . If you’ve been caught and are locked up now . . .

  I know, trust me, I know. It was stupid, but I don’t regret it. It was the only way to find you.

  But . . . Her pain strummed into me. You said you were moving on from us. If you’re not, why did you cut us out of your life in the first place? If you hadn’t, our connection wouldn’t have broken, and you wouldn’t have had to break-in. And now you’re probably in a world of trouble, which could have all been avoided if you’d never left us. She stopped. I could feel the tears filling her eyes.

  I winced as I slumped onto my side on the hard bed. I never wanted to hurt you. Please believe that, but I had to do it to keep you all safe, especially Davin. My voice caught, even in my head when I said his name. I did it to protect him from Dr. Roberts.

  What do you mean?

  The last time I saw Dr. Roberts, he wasn’t going to stop drugging Davin. I tried everything to sway him but couldn’t. So I offered him a deal. It was the only thing I could see him agreeing to.

  Her confusion strummed into me. What kind of deal?

  I told him that if he promised to not drug any of you, I’d stay away. It was exactly the kind of thing that delighted him. Giving you all up hurt me tremendously, and he’d known that. But I did it to keep you safe, which meant no visits to the reservation, no phone calls, no emails. Nothing.

  I felt her shaking her head. I don’t understand. Why would he want to hurt you?

  Because he blames me for the end of his career at the Compound. If I hadn’t discovered the vaccine, if Dr. Sadowsky had never become more involved, Dr. Roberts would have continued ruling the Inner Sanctum ungoverned. He hates me for ending that. It’s ultimately why he left.

  So he agreed to stop drugging all of us if you agreed to stay away? I felt her roll her eyes. No offense, Meg, but that was pretty trusting of you. You actually believed him? He’s always hurt us.

  I know. I’m not that stupid. Part of the deal included taking your blood samples weekly. He sent those to me so I could test them to make sure no drugs were in your systems.

  I felt her eyebrows raise. That’s why he kept drawing our blood? She scoffed. He said it was to further their understanding of Makanza and how the virus was affected now that we were outdoors.

  Since Makanza was such an unusual virus, it responded to behavioral and emotional cues from its survivors, there was some believability in Dr. Roberts’ claim.

  I shook my head. Well, that wasn’t the real reason. Every week, I’ve been receiving your samples and processing them. And each week, they came up clean, so I thought that by staying away I was keeping you all safe.

  Her heavy sigh filled my mind. Oh, Meghan. I wish I’d known. I’ve been wracking my brain for weeks trying to figure out why you left us.

  I laughed bitterly. Not that it did any good. It didn’t keep any of you safe.

  No, it did. For a while. Things weren’t always bad. The first few months were fine. And Davin hasn’t been drugged since you left, so you did keep him safe in that aspect.

  Really?

  Yeah, really. He hasn’t been drugged at all.

  I breathed a sigh of relief that it hadn’t all been in vain.

  A moment of silence passed. I could tell that Sara was trying to wrap her head around everything. If sh
e was sitting right in front of me, I knew she’d be biting her lip. I could feel that she was still torn. She wanted to forgive me, and I could tell she mostly had, but something was holding her back.

  You can talk to me, Sara. You know that.

  My gentle probing seemed to do the trick because pain was evident in her next words. But why cut me out, Meghan? Even if you had to stop visiting and calling, no one knows that we can talk telepathically. So . . . why did you cut our connection?

  I took a deep breath. Because I knew if we kept in touch that I’d have to tell you about the deal I’d made with Dr. Roberts. I knew you’d ask why I never visited or talked to anyone else. And I knew you’d understand and keep it a secret, but I also knew that sooner or later, Davin would wrestle the truth out of you as for why I’d really disappeared. Even if you didn’t directly tell him, since I know you try so hard to keep everyone’s secrets, I also know it’s a lot for you to juggle. Sooner or later, you’d let something slip, even though you wouldn’t mean to. You know as well as I do how Davin would respond if he found out that Dr. Roberts was manipulating me. He’d fly into a rage and do something that would give Dr. Roberts an excuse to drug or hurt him. I couldn’t let that happen.

  She was quiet for a moment. So you cut all of us out in hopes that it would keep everyone safe.

  Yes.

  And . . . that part about you moving on with Mitch? Was that even true? I never thought you were interested in him.

  No, you’re right, I’m not interested in him. I’ve never been with Mitch. I only said that because I knew Davin would believe it and keep his distance. He’d quietly let me go if he thought I was with someone else.

  She sighed. You’re right. He did, but he’s changed a lot since you left. I think believing that you were with Mitch really affected him.

  Regret bit me so hard it felt like its teeth tore right through my heart. It was all so stupid. And it didn’t even keep him safe.

  No, it did. It really did, Meghan. Davin hasn’t been drugged since you left. You did keep him safe.

  I wanted so desperately to believe her—that the past painful months hadn’t been for nothing. Are you just saying that to make me feel better?