“I know why you’re here,” he said before she could get anything out.
The coarse remark didn’t sit well with her although she tried to hide it.
“There’s more than you know,” she said once she reached him. The other workers spread out around the base of the generator, most of them doing their best to look like they weren’t listening in. “We have until sunrise,” Asher started to speak, but she talked over him, “not just to meet the northern alliance’s demands. The horde already reached Cheyenne. We were nearly killed.”
Asher’s stone expression fell away. Mia got a glimpse at the concern hiding beneath and was grateful for it.
“I was worried about you,” he admitted.
She smiled. “You have to come back with us,” she spoke louder as she continued. “All of you. We’re trying to get everyone out before we lose our chance. Marcus and the scouts can guide us east, around the horde.”
“What did you find at the gardens?” Asher asked.
“It will work,” she said half-heartedly. “It has too.” Something sparked her memory. “We found evidence of machines there. Marcus believes they had a way to grow crops.”
Asher didn’t look impressed.
“I still believe our greatest hope is right here.”
His stubbornness aggravated her, but she’d expected it.
“You’ll all die down here,” she insisted.
He shrugged.
“Just as much as you’re all going to die out there on the run.”
The response left Mia speechless.
“We’re close,” he continued. “I can feel it.”
Mia had half a mind to turn around and storm out of there. A gentle tug from Bree confirmed her inner struggle. She was going to have to leave him to fend for himself. She stared at Asher, locked in a silent tug of war. Mia recognized that some part of him knew he’d lost her to Rowan although neither of them said it aloud. She couldn’t imagine he’d be willing to sign his life away over it.
“I have to go,” she said.
Asher didn’t waver.
“I have work to do.”
Bree tugged again, this time hard enough to move her.
“Pass on the word,” Bale said from behind the girls. “Anyone who wants to travel with the groups to Cheyenne needs to go now.”
The announcement brought with it a significant response. A number of the workers moved, most of them looking around to see who else was going to abandon their task. Once the first small group decided to go, a wave of others followed. The number of men and women who decided to stay surprised Mia. There was certain death at stake and they were apparently willing to accept it.
Her eyes were still on Asher. She didn’t give up until he turned away from her. The sight caused her heart to thump in her chest. The sudden fear held Mia motionless. She knew if she took her eyes off him, she’d never see him again. Most of all, she was surprised by the rush of emotion coursing through her veins. She believed the decision over who controlled her heart was a closed matter; the flow of hesitation said otherwise.
Bree pulled harder and forced Mia to take a step. She could feel Asher’s wavering dedication. She wanted to yell at him. She wanted to tell him he had to come with her, but she didn’t. There was too much at stake and there was no time to waste. It took one final pull to get her to turn around.
Bale was in front, leading Mia and Bree. Mia’s mind was a wreck. She couldn’t come to terms with her emotions and wanted to chastise herself for worrying over a trivial matter at such a difficult time. Understanding herself was a constant fight and being held up in such high regard by the tribal council had intensified her self-doubt.
A row of people stood at the opening to the exit passageway. They were forced to take turns getting through the heavy debris laden path. Fear worked its way over the growing crowd as they pushed at one another. The display reminded Mia of the chaos that lay ahead of the Canaan tribe. It also highlighted the fact that she would be lucky to reach the surface in time to make it to the northern alliance’s deadline.
“We can’t wait for this,” Bale said. “Follow me.”
The brawny adolescent pushed his way through the growing assembly before Mia could stop him. It wasn’t long before the cordial procedure took a turn for the worse. Mia and Bree rushed in after him moments before the first punch was thrown. Bale took a shot to the chin without flinching; his return fire had a far different result. The opponent locked up the moment Bale’s fist connected with his face. Mia grabbed her protector to stop him from continuing the brawl but the consequences were already in full swing.
The scuffle was highlighted by the erratic shifting glow from an assortment of personnel lights and lanterns. The illuminating effect lit up the entire event like a violent dance routine. Bale’s frustration had obviously gotten the best of him. He resisted Mia’s attempt to pull him back out into the open. Bale gave in as a renewed violent upswing overtook the crowd. The initial back and forth turned into an all-out war for who could get into the passageway first.
“Calm down.”
The exploding demand rushed over the crowd and produced a sudden standstill. All eyes peered back at Bree’s determined face. Mia’s shock wore off first. She released her hold of Bale and quickly addressed the cluster.
“None of us are going to survive if we kill one another trying to get out of here.” She took the silence as a sign to continue. “This doesn’t change anything,” she said. “We have to continue to work together for survival. If we can’t do that, then we’re no different from those mindless creatures heading toward us.”
A series of head nods worked their way through the gathering. Bale started forward, and this time, the group parted in front of him. His opponent glared at him as he picked himself up off the ground, but offered no more resistance. Mia followed Bale with Bree close behind her.
Mia managed two steps before a blinding flash of light filled her eyes then quickly vanished. Everyone stood still as puzzled expressions washed across one person to the next. Mia told herself that someone’s lantern was pointed at her although she knew at once that it was something much brighter. She took another step before the light returned, this time flickering on and off overhead. The passageway returned to darkness, but there was no mistaking where the light had come from. Bree’s hand clutched her arm and Mia held her breath. All eyes turned upward and the light returned, sputtering once then remained on.
A sequence of gasps arose from the gathering crowd followed by a series of questioning remarks. The gathering broke with most of the workers running back toward the generators. Mia peered up at the massive domed ceiling, now in full view. She knew what happened, but her mind hadn’t fully accepted it.
“Mia?”
She heard Bale’s bewildered query, but her stare fell on a lone figure running toward her from the center of the chamber. Asher’s grin covered his face from one side to the other. Mia’s heart swelled in her chest at the sight of him. She knew what he was going to say before he managed to get it out.
“We did it,” he yelled at her, as he got closer. “We really did it.”
28
“Don’t touch me,” Rowan said directly. “Don’t get anywhere near me.” Under the circumstances, his last direction was practically impossible, but it made his point.
Kuru was close, their arms touching in fact. The cracking lines in his face shifted as his mouth parted. The sound of the infected trying to batter their way into the room died away. Rowan was leaning against the assortment of supply crates they’d used to build a makeshift barrier over the door. His hand was on his gun.
“I could get you before you pulled that out.”
The threat froze Rowan’s hand at his side.
“Do you still want out of here?” Rowan asked.
Kuru’s eyes slid toward the barricade.
“Not sure if that’s a choice anymore,” he paused, “at least not with you leading the way.”
The air thi
nned as Rowan stared back at Kuru. The creature took on a more menacing feel as the weight of his threat sunk in. There was no doubt in Rowan’s mind; Kuru was far more like the dead and infected than any part of his former self. Rowan grabbed the grip of his gun, half-expecting Kuru to lunge at him. Kuru’s grin fell away.
“I’m offering you, life everlasting,” he said.
Rowan shook his head as he took one step away. Kuru stood upright and the move was highlighted by a renewed push from the infected in the hallway. The crates shifted from a fierce blow. A high-pitched screech echoed through the small area.
The few remaining dead under Kuru’s control looked on from the corner of the room. The group swayed from one side to the other in an odd formation as if anticipating the moment they would be released. Their putrid eyes never strayed far from Rowan. The nexus remained still, his head covered by Rowan’s jacket, positioned on the far side of the room.
The tension built as Kuru glared at Rowan. Neither of them moved. The infected slammed into the barrier, this time managing to move the entire thing slightly away from the door. It took another hit from the hall for Rowan to realize what Kuru was doing. He didn’t need to risk rushing Rowan; the infected would do the bloody work for him. Rowan had to act and he had to do it now.
The moment he pulled his gun free, a blinding burst of light filled the room. The light vanished as quickly as it came, but the effect was no less miraculous. The room washed with silence. Rowan nearly convinced himself that the entire thing had been in his head when the lights flashed again, but this time, they stayed on. He and Kuru peered up at the clear ceiling panels with a similar amazement. Rowan’s whispered response barely escaped his mouth.
“They got the power on.” He looked at Kuru and repeated the claim with more authority. “They got the power on.” The infected went back to their task, several of them banging into the barricade, moving it farther away from the door. Several grotesque hands slipped through the growing gap, trying to get a fingertip on Rowan. A sudden epiphany struck him directly between the eyes. He patted himself across the waist like a madman, nearly dropping his gun in the process. “They got the power on,” he said again, this time shouting. Rowan thrust his hand into his pocket and pulled out a keycard, linked to a chain, and held it up for Kuru to see. “We’re getting out of here.”
Rowan leapt toward the door on the far wall and grabbed a hold of the undead boy as he held the keycard up to the panel. There was a brief moment of doubt before the small light above the panel flashed green and the door slid open. Rowan was running down the passage behind the door, pushing the undead boy ahead of him without bothering to see if Kuru was following. He reached the first split in the passage before ever looking back.
The view behind him was a frightening display. Kuru moved with incredible speed, his undead followers lumbering after him as best as their decaying limbs would allow. The echoing screeches confirmed that the infected had not given up. The rising howls hinted at their renewed dedication to hunting Rowan down. Kuru didn’t shout out instructions, forcing Rowan to wait until he caught up.
Kuru rushed by without a word. Rowan saw the first of the infected breach the open door before he turned to follow. He ground his teeth and cursed at himself for not closing the door behind him. He was able to correct his mistake shortly after the thought occurred to him. Kuru dashed through a doorway and Rowan followed, sliding the keycard against the interior panel. The door slid closed, buying him time, and cutting off the last of Kuru’s followers.
“Not far.”
Rowan could hear Kuru, but could no longer see him. He’d ducked through another entrance and turned onto a parallel hallway. Rowan had no idea where they were. Part of him said he could find his own way to the landing now that the power was on, but he wasn’t willing to take the chance of being cornered. He managed to slow down the infected hunting him although he was sure they wouldn’t be stopped for long.
“Hurry up.”
Rowan was stunned to find Kuru already at the far end of the hallway, waiting at the turn. Rowan knew Kuru hadn’t been truthful with him. He obviously had more control over the dead than he’d let on. He also was far more physically able than he pretended to be. What Rowan couldn’t figure out was the purpose for all the deceit. He was pretty sure he’d have a better understanding if he wasn’t currently running for his life.
Kuru held still until Rowan was a few steps away. A quick turn brought them to a wide-open space. The renewed light shined down on a maze of storage containers lining the floor from one side to the other. Kuru slowed, and it wasn’t until Rowan was able to gather his breath that he heard the telltale sign of what lurked within the maze.
“We’ll never make it through here,” Rowan said. “Is there another way around?”
Kuru shook his head.
“Not one any safer than this.”
The idea of something jumping out from around every corner didn’t offer a promising escape. Rowan pushed the undead boy forward stopping at the edge of the first row of containers. He eyed the heavy cartons all the way up, guessing them twice as tall as him. An idea hit him a split second before he plunged forward.
“There’s a better way.”
The climb was difficult, but Kuru’s sudden strength was enough to get the task done. They finished the first step of Rowan’s plan with all three standing on the top of the initial row of containers. The view of the maze spread out ahead of them, now with a clear view of the infected and the dead lurking within. Rowan was moving a moment later, revealing the full difficulty of his task. The entire bay filled with a collective carnal desire. The infected were dwindling away and the sight of fresh blood was overwhelming.
“Can’t you use the dead?” Rowan shouted as they ran across the container tops. “At least get in their way.”
Kuru didn’t respond. Either he couldn’t work his control over them when he was distracted or he was avoiding the request. The dead were following the infected, but their sluggish pace made them much less of a threat. The few remaining infected more than made up for the lack of the dead. Their madness drove them and a terrifying reality struck Rowan.
“They’re climbing.”
Rowan couldn’t move any faster. The undead boy was difficult to maneuver. One wrong step would send him plunging down to the bay floor and more than likely take Rowan down with him. They were midway across the bay when the first of the infected managed to reach the top of the containers.
The revolting woman was running parallel to Rowan, but the stacks merged not far from the exit. Rowan forced the nexus to run faster and the move was a costly one. The undead boy staggered as it tried to speed up then tripped over its feet and fell. Rowan held on to its arm, pulling it in time to keep the boy from tumbling over the side. The result brought Rowan down directly on top of the undead boy and sent Kuru flying over the top of them.
Rowan tasted blood in his mouth before he was able to gather his bearings. He pushed himself up to his knees and discovered the undead boy’s makeshift muzzle gently floating to the floor below. The boy’s black eyes were on his captor. He tried to take a bite out of Rowan’s hand as he got up. Rowan leapt back, nearly falling over the side in the process.
He pushed the boy down on his stomach and laid on top of him. Rowan slipped his belt off and bound the boy’s hands behind his back. The confinement didn’t offer much control and the challenge was obvious as he force the nexus to stand. The undead boy’s renewed view spurred him to act. He fought against the binds and refused to walk. The delay allowed the infected woman to get ahead of them.
The confrontation came sooner than expected. The rows between the stacked containers narrowed and the infected woman leapt from her line across the drop, landing a few feet in front of the nexus. Kuru was already behind her and Rowan watched him continue his escape with little regard for who he was leaving behind. The sound of several of the other infected climbing up to the top of containers told Rowan there was no time to was
te.
He forced the undead boy down then drew his gun. The infected woman was running toward him with arms twitching wildly at her sides as he pulled the trigger. Rowan’s mind went blank when the gun didn’t fire. He instinctively pulled the trigger again with the same result. He didn’t have time to react before the woman smashed into the undead boy, knocking them all over the side of the containers.
In an odd twist of fate, the undead boy saved him. The trio spun in the air, leaving the infected woman and the nexus to bare Rowan’s weight on impact. Rowan pushed himself up, planting his foot firmly on the undead boy’s neck. The pressure pinned the infected woman to the ground and gave Rowan time to grab his knife.
Her emaciated face lashed from side to side as he brought the knife down. The tip of the blade hit the floor twice, missing the target before it sank straight through one of her eyes. Blood squirted up as the eyeball burst. The blade stopped as it dug into the back of her skull. The infected woman went limp, but the undead boy took its opportunity to strike.
Rowan felt a burning sting in his arm followed by a sharp pain. He saw the blood running down his hand as he hopped backwards. The roaring sound of the frenzied infected forced Rowan to keep moving. He grabbed the undead boy and pulled him up, dodging another biting attempt as he spun him around. Rowan had a vague recall of the rest of the maze to guide him. There was no sign of Kuru, but a quick look overhead painted a terrifying scene.
Several of the infected had finished the climb to the top of the containers. They wailed horrific calls as they leapt blindly off the tops. Rowan held on to the undead boy’s binds and pressed his shoulder into its back. The odd pair were running as fast as Rowan could force them to go when the first of the infected hit the ground.
Season Of Decay (The Decaying World Saga Book 2) Page 24