The pounding thuds continued to sound behind them providing a hint at the swelling number of followers. Rowan frantically turned one way then another. He cornered himself twice then managed to get headed in the right direction moments before the hunters sprang upon them. A final turn produced a set of stairs leading up to the exit. Rowan was surprised to find Kuru waving them up.
“Get up here.”
Rowan swallowed his response. He glanced at the blood on his arm and tried to ignore the consequences. Kuru waited until they reached the top step before running off ahead of them. They raced through several open rooms, all now fully lit, before heading up a set of stairs. The path led them out into a familiar central hall. The gaping holes in the wall across from the top of the stairs revealed Rowan’s entry point and a glimpse of the gorge under a sallow morning light.
A roaring call echoed up the stairs spurring Rowan forward. He pushed the undead boy past Kuru and across the hall. They were all standing on the landing a moment later looking up at the edge of the gorge high above. Rowan let go of the boy and frantically spread out the net lying on the ground. He turned around when he was satisfied and found a startling picture.
“I won’t be fooled again,” Kuru said. He stood behind the nexus with one hand wrapped around its throat. The undead boy’s soulless eyes focused squarely on Rowan, oblivious to the threat. “I go up first or this ends here and now.”
The sound of surprised voices filtered down from up above. Rowan was out of options. The infected would soon burst out of the stairway and he wouldn’t be able to fight them off. Rowan gave in.
“Get in the center of the net with him.”
Kuru complied, keeping his hand firmly in place as he forced the boy down on his knees. Rowan knew he couldn’t set Kuru free, but the nearing growls of the infected forced him to act.
“Pull them up,” he shouted and there was a quick response. The net closed around the two figures and started its ascension. They cleared the top of the landing and Rowan felt compelled to follow up his instructions. “Don’t kill them.”
The netting came to a sudden stop. Kuru and the nexus dangled above the landing for a moment before the rise began again. Rowan’s eyes shuffled between the underside of the netting and the doorway at the top of the staircase. He held still until the first sign of the infected sprang out into the hallway. Time had run out and Rowan did the only thing he could do to save himself.
His foot hit the top of the railing surrounding the edge of the platform then pushed off with as much strength as he could muster. The leap left him swaying from the bottom of the net. He heard the sound of his gun bouncing on the landing below him. He looked down between his legs in time to see the first of the infected race out into the open. A moment later and the entire landing was covered with them.
The ride to the top of the gorge was slow and steady. There was a rush of excited utterances once the two riders cleared the edge. Rowan nearly fell when whoever was pulling them up suddenly stopped. His head cleared the lip of the gorge to find two men apparently assigned to the post, aiming rifles at the new arrivals.
Kuru had freed himself and pulled the nexus out with him. The two stood like statues in the snow-covered ground under the lightening sky. The tribesmen glanced at Rowan as he pulled himself up, neither apparently certain what to do. Rowan held his hands up.
“Don’t shoot,” he said.
Kuru pulled in close behind the boy, the tips of his fingers already dug into the skin around its throat. Kuru’s eyes slid toward Rowan.
“You’ll get what you want,” he said. “Have them throw the guns over the side.”
Both men held firm. Rowan hesitated as Kuru started to back away. He knew if they dropped their guns, it was over, Kuru would be free and it would be his fault. He thought of Mia and Jonah then silently nodded. The guns went over the side disappearing into the vast depths of the gorge. Rowan watched Kuru back away until he let the undead boy go then swept the net up off the ground as he started forward.
“Let him go,” Rowan said as the tribesmen followed. “The boy is the only thing that matters now.”
29
Asher continued to work until Mia persuaded him to follow her back to the entrance to hive one. Several sections of the compound remained unpowered. Asher was certain a majority of the sectors would come online in time and the rest would have to be brought up manually. The initial impacts on the tribe were overwhelming.
Sara was already hard at work. She’d passed out security keys to a number of the council members and they’d managed to secure most of the entry and exit points by the time Mia found them. A majority of the Canaan population was still in a state of flux. The lights overhead were an obvious sign of immediate change; however, it wasn’t a clear indication that the evacuation was no longer necessary. Mia was still trying to determine the full impact when Sara approached.
“The main door,” she said, obviously winded. “It’s operational.”
The news produced a guarded sigh from Mia. That one fact meant there was a good chance they would be able to withstand the horde but it wouldn’t get her brother back alive or guarantee she’d ever see Rowan again. She decided to take the good news one step at a time.
“We can use the communication system…”
The squeaky voice carried over Sara and the announcement turned all eyes to a familiar face. Mia hadn’t seen Gabriel down in the generator room until after the lights came on. Lines of dirt marked the boy’s soft, round cheeks. He gathered himself as Bree, Bale and Asher stepped around the women to get a look at him.
“There’s a communication system that can be heard throughout the hives,” he said with more confidence. “That would be a good way to let everyone know what we’re going to do.”
Mia and Sara smiled in unison.
“It sure will,” Mia said before shifting her concern. “Bree, you help Sara and Gabriel,” she paused, “I need to go pay someone a visit.”
♦
Mia stared at the door gathering her nerve. Her security key was no longer necessary with the power on. She had a number of confiscated access cards and any one of them would open the entrance to the storeroom. Mia was preparing herself for who was waiting on the other side.
She was aware of the glances from the guard posted in the hall. He was no doubt wondering why she hadn’t moved since she laid eyes on the door. Bale offered a polite let’s get this over with cough and the audible interruption was enough to get her to move. Mia held the card up in front of the control panel and the door slid open.
The room’s soft light sprang out into the darker hallway and revealed a lone figure sitting on the edge of a chair. His one good hand propped up his head while his badly damaged leg was forced straight out in front of him by a brace. Connor glanced up at Mia with disregard before his eyes swelled with recognition. He pushed himself up off the chair.
“You little bitch.”
Bale tried to step past her, but she stopped him and let Connor continue hobbling forward.
“I’m happy to see you too.”
“I was so hoping you’d be dead,” Connor said as he stopped a foot from her. “This is all your fault.”
Mia put on a defiant smile and received a wad of spit in her face for the effort. The insult was too much for Bale. He forced himself around Mia and sent Connor to the floor with a solid punch to the jaw. Connor’s head snapped back as he hit the floor, ending in a nasty pop. Mia grabbed Bale’s arm, not sure that she didn’t want to let him finish the job.
“It’s okay,” she said, swiping her sleeve across her face. “We’ve got a complicated history.”
It took some considerable force to get Bale to step out of the way. Connor stayed on the floor, pushing his back up against the rear wall. He massaged his jaw, smearing the blood trickling down the side of his mouth. He smiled at Mia.
“I like that one,” he said. “I got a feeling he would have been a good member of my team.”
�
�No way,” Bale replied as he leaned in for a look. “I’d never help you.”
Bale’s defense renewed Mia’s strength. She reminded herself that she was in control and more important, she actually needed Connor if her plan had any hope of success.
“I see you got the power on,” Connor said, beating her to the punch. “I guess that changes things.”
Mia cut right to the heart of the matter.
“I’m giving you back to your father.”
Connor’s smirk slipped away as his eyes met hers. The decision was obviously one he hadn’t expected.
“What’s the catch?”
“I want my brother back.”
His eyes narrowed and Mia knew she’d give up the one piece of information he hadn’t figured out.
“It’s the only way you walk out of here alive,” she said.
“Well, this does change things, doesn’t it?”
Connor leaned away from the wall then struggled to get back up to his feet. Mia looked on indifferent to his plight. His familiar grin was in place when he managed to look her in the face. He held out his hand and his mouth parted in an offensive smile.
“I guess this makes us friends again.”
Mia glanced at his hand before returning to his eyes. She spun around on her heels, dismissing the gesture. Bale laughed aloud as they walked away. Mia’s response lingered in the hall.
“Not even a little.”
♦
An odd sense of normalcy returned to the main entrance. Sara’s scripted message repeated on a loop throughout the hives several times and the result was evident. Most of the people that gathered for the evacuation had already returned to their quarters and several of the engineers were hard at work getting other key systems up and running. The tribal council gathered, and by all accounts, it would be one of the most important gatherings the council had ever had.
Mia stood shoulder to shoulder with Sara on one side and Bree on the other. They watched as Asher, Gabriel, and Bale tested the thick door of the main entrance for the fifth time. Gabriel punched in the activation code on the control panel and the colossal slab of metal slowly slid closed. Mia’s mind swirled with a series of burning questions the tribal council would need to answer. She would not be involved in any of the debate.
“You can’t go out there by yourself.”
Bree’s sudden outburst caused Mia to shudder.
“There’s no use in risking anyone else’s life,” Mia said in a rehearsed tone. “This has now become a purely personal act.” The statement wasn’t entirely true and she knew it. The power would allow the compound to protect itself from the horde, but there was little doubt that the Northern Continental Alliance would continue its goal of regaining Canaan. “I should do this myself.”
“Nonsense,” Asher said turning his back on the door. “You may have convinced yourself of that, but I’m not buying it.”
Mia caught Sara grinning out of the corner of her eye.
“I don’t need an escort,” Mia insisted.
Bree stomped out in front of her.
“I was given an order,” she said.
“You’re not in the military,” Mia said.
“Yes, we are,” Bree said then glanced at the boys for support. “We’re part of the Knights of Rowan.”
Bale and Gabriel fell in line, one boy on either side. Mia was dumbfounded.
“We lost someone, too,” Bale reminded her. “Tate was one of us. And Jonah is one of us.”
Gabriel cleared his throat.
“Rowan will come back, and when he does, we want him to be proud of what we did.”
“But that…what is,” Mia stammered. “It’s dangerous,” she said. “That man, the one I spoke with, will just as much shoot me as listen to anything I have to say.”
Gabriel nodded.
“And that’s why you need someone there to protect you.”
Bale smiled.
“A few someones.”
Mia looked from one determined face to the next stopping at Sara who was still standing beside her.
“What do you think?” Mia asked.
Sara threw her hands up.
“Don’t pull me into this.”
Mia gave in.
“Fine,” she said. “Bale, go get our guest. The rest of you be ready to move.”
“What about me?” Sara asked.
“I’m going to walk you down to the council room.”
Asher began opening the entrance door again as the two women turned to leave. A line of light stretched across the floor as the door pulled open.
“Isn’t anyone happy to see me?”
Mia held her breath. She was too stunned to turn around. She had to be mistaken. That couldn’t have been his voice. Sara pulled on her arm and Mia risked a look over her shoulder. There was no denying the familiar smirk.
Mia spun around and sprang toward him. She barely noticed the figure standing next to him with a blanket draped over its head or the two other tribesmen holding onto the captive. Mia slammed into Rowan with enough force to lift the both of them off their feet. A sudden outpour of raw emotion was uncontrollable.
Their lips touched and instantly drew the breath from her lungs. Mia threw her arms around him and pulled Rowan as close as he could possibly get. Her eyes snapped closed, and for a brief moment, she let the world fall away. Tears streamed down her cheeks and she was incapable of stopping the passionate display.
An awkward throat-clearing cough brought her back to the moment. Mia opened her eyes and glanced away from Rowan’s face long enough to see an uncomfortable Asher standing directly beside them. She felt a sting of embarrassment as she took a step back and pulled her hands from Rowan’s waist. Even as she stepped away, Mia had to fight the urge to reach out and grab him again. An awkward silence filled the entryway as each of them waited for the other to say something.
“You’re late,” Mia said, smiling.
Rowan nodded.
“I’ll try harder next time.” He motioned at the covered figure. “He was hard to find.”
Everyone’s eyes shifted toward the figure.
“Is that the nexus?” Mia asked.
Rowan nodded, but Mia’s sight shifted to the blood running down his arm.
“You’re hurt.”
She grabbed his hand and saw clearly the bite mark before he pulled away. The shock overwhelmed her and she couldn’t find the breath to speak.
“I’ll be fine,” he said, sliding his sleeve down. “I believe we have more to worry about.”
“But…” She didn’t know what to say. “Did he?”
“I said I’ll be fine.”
A vaguely familiar term echoed through her mind in the form of Jacob’s voice and she let it trickle from her mouth.
“Pureblood.” Mia tried to refocus. “There’s been a change of plans,” she said sharply.
Rowan’s ears perked up. Mia regained control of herself along with the situation, but the plan was derailed when Bree nearly bowled her over trying to get past. The girl smacked into Rowan, pinning his arms to his sides. Bale and Gabriel were next, each of them slapping him on the shoulder.
“Bale didn’t think you would make it,” Bree said, letting him go then wiping tears from her eyes. “You scared the hell out of us.”
Bale coughed in his fist and attempted to explain.
“I didn’t say you…wouldn’t. I just…”
Mia interrupted the reunion.
“The sun’s rising.” The reminder pulled everyone back to her. “Let’s get ready to go.”
♦
An endless blanket of white covered the open field north of Canaan. The morning sunlight stretched out across the snow from the hills in the east to the distant trees in the west. The wind was calm as if anticipating what was to come. A long row of figures dotted the otherwise pristine landscape. Mia watched two figures pull away from the impressive show of force.
Rowan squeezed her hand one last time before he let it go. Th
e remaining members of the Knights of Rowan flanked her on one side with Asher a step behind. The escort kept quiet as Mia took her first step away from them, forcing her offering to walk out ahead of her. The representatives for either side met out in the center of the field between the two groups.
The Northern Continental Alliance representative’s stone expression was as intimidating as Mia remembered. She kept her attention focused on the cowering figure kneeling down in the snow at his feet. The dirty sack over the prisoner’s head concealed his face; his hands were bound behind his back. Mia knew for certain that her brother was alive. The man didn’t waste time on pleasantries.
“What is this nonsense?” he motioned at Mia’s captive. “You know as well as I do that this is not the nexus.” He pulled the sack off Jonah’s head then drew a gun from his belt. “Don’t play games with me, girl.”
Jonah’s face was badly beaten, his skin marred with blood. His eyes widened when he looked at Mia. He tried to cry out to her, but a gag over his mouth muffled his pleas. Mia had to force herself to look away from him.
“No, this is not the nexus,” she said with false bravado, “but I assure you that we do have him.” The comment cut off his retort. Mia pushed Connor a step forward. He tried to shout out his own complaints, but the gag Rowan put over his mouth did its job. “His name is Connor and he is Dr. Olric’s son.” The man’s eyes narrowed, but Mia pressed on. “And this is the new exchange.”
Silence filled the space between them as they stared at one another. Mia rested her hand on the gun holstered at her side. A break in the silence nearly caused her to draw. The man lifted his head back and opened his mouth releasing a booming laugh. The charade continued until he settled his eyes back on Mia.
“My name is Commander Zeke and I don’t take orders from anyone, particularly little girls that I should take back to my tent and do with as I please.”
The comment had more impact than Mia cared to show. She kept her expression cold but her stomach churned.
“This is the new deal,” she said firmly.
Zeke’s grin faded.
“Why would I accept that?”
The Decaying World Saga (Book 2): Season of Decay Page 25