“We’ll get Scotlyn back.” Cale said before Zeke could rally the strength to punch him for misplacing her again. “But, first you’d better put on some pants.” He tossed a stack of clothes at him.
“Please do.” Darcy agreed. She looked up at the ceiling, averting her eyes. She had Pucci’s pet carrier looped around her shoulder. “We stole that outfit from the dead zombie, so watch out for blood.”
Swearing under his breath, Zeke struggled out of the harness and pulled the t-shirt on. At least it had Battlestar Galactica on the front. The jeans were too big and the shoes were too small. He barely noticed. “Any idea where the humans took Scottie?”
“Nope.” Caleb shook his head. “Don’t know why they took her, either.”
“Can we get outta here, now?” Brewer asked in a long suffering tone. “I mean, I lugged Z’s naked ass up a burning building and now I wanna go.” He looked over at Zeke. “No offence, but you were a liability and pack rules say it’s every man for himself.”
“That’s alright. I voted to leave you behind earlier, too.”
“What?” Brewer yelped in outrage. “Why is everybody trying to ditch me, huh?”
Zeke ignored him and glanced at Caleb. “Is the building still on fire?”
“Yep.”
“Jesus, this just gets better and better.”
“Blame the humans in white. Anybody who tries to get out on the stairwells, they shoot or nab. That’s why we used the elevator shafts to get up here. Good news is, the sun’s low enough that Darcy can go outside without frying, now.”
Zeke glanced around and saw a door marked “roof access.” “Helicopter?” He surmised. “Any of you know how to fly it?”
Darcy shrugged. “No, but it’s gotta be easier than flying without it.”
“It’s our only way down.” Caleb agreed. “We have to figure it out.”
Zeke wasn’t going to argue. Not when it was the fastest route to Scotlyn. That meant they needed to get the chopper…
His vision suddenly swam, images overlapping in front of his eyes. Zeke was still looking at the hallway, but he was also looking at some kind of lab… inside a carnival. Fun house mirrors decorated kaleidoscope painted walls. Machines and pinball games were blinking, which meant there had to be some kind of generator running. There were a lot of stainless steel instruments and computers and… skee-ball. A human male was in a white coat stood in front of an air hockey table, holding a video camera and a long needle.
A mixture of triumph and panic hit Zeke’s system. The vision was like a holographic projection layered on top of reality, but he knew it was really there. It just wasn’t really there. It was wherever Scotlyn was.
He wasn’t seeing it… his mate was.
***
The guy looked like a mad scientist right down to the lab coat.
Scotlyn bit back a wince as he jabbed a needle into her skin, filling a vial with her blood. “Why are you doing this?” She probably didn’t want to know, but it seemed like the thing to ask when you were tied down to a creepy Frankenstein table being experimented on by a lunatic.
They were in a makeshift lab set up in the arcade of the Coney Island Casino. Scotlyn recognized it, because she’d worked at the resort for eighteen months. The whole place was designed to look like a boardwalk midway, with large stuffed bears for prizes and ring toss games and strings of multicolored lights blinking overhead.
She had no clue why they’d brought her here or what they were planning.
The scientist guy was in his forties, with rimless glasses and yellow blond hair. He didn’t seem to hear her. Instead, he took the vial of blood back towards his desk, his focus staying on his video camera. The LCD screen was flipped so it was pointed at him, capturing his gaunt face as he talked. “Journal of Dr. Lars Loud: Day three. We’ve entered into the containment phase of Project Pink.” He pumped some industrial strength hand sanitizer onto his palms and ruthlessly scrubbed, as if touching her might have contaminated him. “Many of the enemy have been taken. Some of them are from unknown species. It’s important for science that we test them all for answers.”
Yeah… That didn’t sound good. “What are you talking about?” She demanded.
Lars Loud made a “shhh!” sound, not even glancing her way. “The idea was simple.” He continued, looking earnestly into the lens. “The supernatural creatures of this world were stronger than us. But, humans had the numbers. So, if we could just level the playing field by giving humanity some added strength and speed, they’d be no match for us. Anyone could understand that.”
Scotlyn frowned as he began transferring her blood to some kind of microscope slide. This whole debacle couldn’t possibly get any weirder. She had to get out of there and find Zeke and…
Scottie, are you okay?
“Zeke?” She heard his voice as clear as day and she automatically looked around for him. It took her a moment to realize it had just been in her mind.
It’s telepathy, baby. Are you okay?
“What?”
Lars the scientist guy flashed her a strange look and then turned back to his camera. “Fifteen years of research has brought us to this day. I’ve saved my journals on these video files. With most of the computers gone, this is the final record of my thoughts. True, unexpected results have occurred from the trials, but science presses on. It must.” He put the slide under the microscope. “The pursuit of true science cost me my tenure and the respect of my peers and my wife and boys, but it’s the only pure truth in this world.” He squinted in absent thought. “I supposed Peggy and the kids are zombies, by now.”
Scotlyn felt a chill. “Zeke?” She whispered. “Where are you?”
You can’t talk out loud. I can only hear you if you think it.
“Since when? Shit.” She tried to “think” the words along whatever channel he was using. Since when? I swear to God, if you’ve been reading my mind…
It doesn’t work that way. It’s a side effect of me Changing you. We’re connected.
I didn’t agree to that! Scotlyn had a lot of thoughts she didn’t want Zeke rooting around in. Especially, the ones about him.
Shut-up and tell me you’re alright.
I’m alright. She swallowed and focused on what mattered. Are you alright?
I’ve been better. Not to get all girly on you, but I REALLY don’t like waking up and finding you gone, Trix. Explain to me why it keeps happening.
This time it wasn’t my fault! What was I supposed to do when they dragged me away? I couldn’t exactly fight off a guy with a machine gun. Speaking of which, I’m not even sure your making-me-a-shape-shifter plan worked. I can’t figure out how to Change. I tried and nothing happened.
Believe me, you’re a shifter. It’s why I can connect to you. In order to Change you just sort of visualize the animal, but you’re not going to be able to do it, yet. You need a full moon when you’re young. I’ll teach you how to do it later.
There might not be a later.
Of course there will. I might not have mentioned it before, but shape shifters live for a really long time.
Scotlyn didn’t want to know. She couldn’t handle any more surprises. Are Darcy and Caleb okay? Did they find you?
Yeah, I… There was a beat of silence, like he was momentarily distracted. Oh for God’s sake… Trix, have you seen Joseff? Darcy’s whining about him vanishing.
I’ve never even met Joseff.
Ugly guy, longish hair, dresses like Dracula’s accountant. I guarantee he was either dead, unconscious, or putting up one hell of a fight when they dragged him out of the casino.
I saw someone like that when we got here. He was out cold and I think they took him downstairs towards the nightclub.
Who’s they?
I have no idea. They don’t seem like supernatural creatures, so I’m thinking they’re some kind of human supremacy group. Do those exist?
Zeke swore. Yes, they exist. Goddamn it. You sure they haven’t hurt you?
/> All they’ve done so far is take my blood.
They’re trying to figure out what you are.
They can join the club
He ignored that. We need to get you out of there before they decide you’re not part of Team Human. Where are you?
She made a face, because he was going to love this part. The Coney Island.
Sure enough, Zeke snorted in amusement. Trying to get your old job back, huh?
Are you going to be a jerk or are you going to come get me.
I’m already on my way.
She let out a long breath, relief filling her. Really?
Really.
Scotlyn closed her eyes. Zeke would be there soon.
Lars was still jabbering at his camera, going on and on about how he was right and everyone else was wrong. She had a feeling he talked at it constantly, repeating the same stories again and again. Scotlyn tried to tune him out, but it was hard. Every moment in the zombageddon, was another level of panic to experience firsthand.
Be careful. She urged. There are all kinds of freaks with guns here and you probably shouldn’t even be moving around, yet.
I’m fine. Thirsty as hell, because you apparently dumped ten pounds of salt down my throat, but fine.
It was one shaker full. And you’re welcome.
Yeah, well, remember I saved your life first, wiseass.
Scotlyn almost smiled at that.
Son-of-a-bitch. Zeke “thought” after a moment, but she could tell it wasn’t aimed at her.
What’s wrong?
Nothing.
Bullshit. Tell me.
He let out a sound of frustration. We’re on the roof of Liberty Hall and we can’t get the fucking helicopter working. We followed this damn safety checklist thing taped to the windshield, but it doesn’t say what to do next. It’s just buzzing.
Scotlyn’s eyebrows tugged together. What kind of chopper is it?
I have no idea.
Well find out. I told you, one of my foster dads was a pilot.
Zeke paused for a beat. Hang on. Somehow, images were suddenly overlapped in front of her eyes. She blinked rapidly trying to clear her vision, but that didn’t fix it. In fact, it got worse. The lab faded into the background and she was staring at the console of a Bell 206. She realized that she was looking through Zeke’s eyes.
Recognize it? He demanded.
It was so damn sad that this wasn’t the weirdest part of her day. It didn’t even break the top five. Yeah, I recognize it. Her foster father had flown one just like it when he took tourists on Grand Canyon sightseeing excursions. Scotlyn adjusted to this newest madness like a champ and got down to business. Zeke, I can fly that thing.
Jesus, I’m sooo giving you that raise.
“It was all obvious.” Lars must have been at a particularly emotional part of his story, because his voice rose in agitation. “History will know that. When I tried to get Federal funding for my idea, though, the close-minded fools wouldn’t listen.” He shook his head in disgust. “Finally, I decided to release Project Pink on my own. Others saw I was right. They saw it was the only way and they joined me. What we did was pure.” He scowled. “All the hiccups we’ve experienced so far are a direct result of governmental blindness. With a little bit more funding, I could’ve worked the kinks out of the gas and we never would have seen some of these side effects. Now it’s up to me to save humanity from the…”
Scotlyn’s jaw dropped, processing his rambling speech. “Hang on, you did this? You stupid son-of-a-bitch! You did this?!”
Trixie? Why’d you go quiet? You’d better not be arguing with the kidnappers.
“Did you hear what that maniac said?” She was so angry she started speaking out loud again and had to switch back to stealth mode so Zeke could hear. He’s saying humans released that pink gas!
Humans did this? Fuck, I knew they were destructive, but I wasn’t giving those little bastards enough credit.
“I’m not a maniac!” Lars screamed. “That’s what everyone thought, but I was right. Project Pink worked.”
“Yeah, it worked like a charm, you psycho. You turned all the humans into zombies.”
“That’s a glitch!”
“A glitch? They’re eating each other’s brains in the streets!”
“A scientist can’t always predict the results of his experiments!” He bellowed. “I couldn’t anticipate the speed that it spread or all the side effects.”
“You murdered millions of people!”
“It was for the greater good.” Lars insisted with the crazed expression of a true zealot. “My life has been dedicated to stopping the supernatural threat. Once the glitch resolves itself, Project Pink will be back on target.”
“How can it possibly resolve itself?”
His eyes glowed with madness. “Monsters don’t turn when they’re bitten.”
“So?”
“Don’t you see? We just need to isolate why they’re protected and we can use it to save the humans who are left. It’s all up to me.” He nodded to himself. “This is my true mission. The AHA recruited me, because I’m a visionary and now I can prove it. I’m a hero and a great…”
Scotlyn cut him off because she didn’t care. “What’s the AHA?”
“The All Human Army, of course.” His gaze took on a faraway look and he turned back to the camera. “They were the only ones who saw my potential. They too knew of the monsters hidden in our midst and wanted to help me defeat them. All of this was done to save humanity. History will see that. That’s why I’ve been keeping this journal for so long. It’s my legacy.”
“You’ve killed history along with everything else.”
Lars disregarded that and launched into some philosophical rant about how he’d never get a Nobel Prize now that the selection committee was probably dead and wasn’t that punishment enough?
If she could’ve gotten free of the restraints she would’ve killed him herself.
Scottie? Can we deal with the human later? I kinda need that flying lesson, now.
She tipped her head back and tried to calm down. None of this could be undone. All she could do now was focus on saving what was left of the future. And, from the moment she first met him, Zeke Macready was at the dead center of all her tomorrows. Okay, pay attention and I’ll walk you through starting the chopper. Do exactly what I say, understand?
God, I love it when you’re bossy.
Scotlyn looked back over at Lars. He was examining her blood under the microscope, still muttering to himself. Apparently, he didn’t like what he saw, because he lifted his head to flash her a strange look.
Shit. If he killed her, who was going to get Zeke off that roof?
Scotlyn started rattling off instructions as fast as she could. Make sure the throttle is off. It should be a handle between the front two seats. It twists like a motorcycle grip.
Got it.
Just above that is a starter button. Press and hold it. There’s a dial on the top left of the console that says engine oil. Watch it. It should start going up. Below that is the TOT gauge. We need it to be under one-fifty. And below that is another gauge that should say N1. When it reaches sixty percent, release the starter button.
Jesus. It can’t just have a key to turn?
Concentrate! Her eyes stayed on Lars, who was busily preparing another needle. Trevor, her foster father would have a conniption over how fast she was racing through the startup procedures, but she didn’t have much time. To get in the air, you need to lift that handle with the throttle like it’s the emergency brake on a car. See the peddles on the floor? They control the back rotor. They’re how you steer in a circle. Step down harder on the right during liftoff to balance out the torque of the top. The stick between your legs is how you steer up and down and forward.
You’re talking too fast. What’s wrong?
She kept going. When you’re in the air, make sure you’re not flying too close to buildings or power lines. And keep it slow. You don’
t want the blades to hit anything. Try to stay near the ground, because I’m not sure I’m going to be here to tell you how to land. You might have to jump. Aim for a lake or something.
What do you mean you’re not going to be here? What the fuck is happening? I can’t see you anymore.
That was because she was figuring out how to block him. She didn’t want him to watch this. Zeke, don’t come here. She swallowed. I think it’s going to be too late. She snapped off the connection, before he could protest.
Lars reached the side of the table and squinted down at her. “Your blood isn’t normal.” He told her in the grave voice of a doctor reporting he’d found a suspicious lump. “We’re going to need to run some more tests.”
She’d rather he just kill her outright. “No need. I’m a shape shifter, now. See?” She tried to raise her wrist to show him that weird tattoo, but it was strapped to the table. “I was Changed to stop me from becoming a zombie. There’s no mystery, at all.”
“That marking just means you mated with shifter. It doesn’t mean you are a shifter.”
“Mated?”
“According to my sources, it’s how monsters marry each other.”
Well, that explained the mysterious “ritual” thing, then. She’d apparently missed her own wedding. Zeke better pray she died before she got her hands on him. “Okay, well, he also bit me so… Ow!”
Lars stuck the needle into her arm. “Don’t worry.” He patted her shoulder. “We’ll figure out why your blood is special. Science always knows the truth.”
Chapter Twelve
Bright side to the zombie apocalypse:
The threat of more Twilight movies is finally gone forever
Darcy was soaking wet and more pissed off than ever. Since she’d already been pretty frigging pissed off to begin with, that was really saying something. In fact, they were now reaching world record holding levels of pissed off at the universe.
“A water hazard.” She twisted half the lake out of her ponytail as she crouched down next to Zeke in the parking garage. “I still can’t believe you crashed our only ride out of town into a water hazard, Z.”
Love in the Time of Zombies Page 16