“Gotta make some room first.” He pushed Alston aside. The last guard stood right in front of the door, shooting at the things swarming the hallway. Victor pushed him aside too, and the guard almost fell. Then he turned to the right and rushed down the hall, hoping the guard wouldn’t shoot him in the back. He’d never known how many nasties were kept in the pens, but from the look of the hall it was a shit ton of them. Why the fuck would one of the alts let them out? “Distraction,” he muttered as he reached the first one and tore into it.
Patterson wanted out, and the more chaos there was the better his chances of escaping. Were the other alts in on it, or were they only part of the distraction? And why hadn’t Patterson just run off while on patrol? Victor ripped a nasty apart and flung the pieces away. Half the nasties coming down the hall turned and ran away. “Fuck, yeah, you better run,” Victor called as he went for a jackal-thing.
After killing it, he turned to the other side of the hall to see how the guards were doing. There were two standing and one on the ground. They hadn’t shot him in the back. That was good. The hall on his side was clear for a few dozen yards, so he had some time to help them. They were still only a foot from the door, and as he reached it Claire shouted. “Some of them made it to the first basement. They’re sealing off both levels.”
“We can’t get out,” Berkstrom added in a panicked voice.
“I’ll get you out, just watch me.” A thrill went through him at the thought of such a challenge. Kill all the nasties, and the alts, and break through the building’s defenses to get the humans out. If it wasn’t for the nagging worry of Claire being in danger, this would be fun.
He nudged the closest guard and said, “Turn that way.” The guard glanced at him. There was a whole swarm of crawlers. No wonder they were worried. “I’ll take care of them, turn around.” He used the same tone he’d used for clearing missions or the few other times he’d been in charge of groups. The soldier turned this time and started firing in the other direction. The soldier on the ground was injured, not dead. He was now propped against the wall and firing at the oncoming nasties. “Turn around!” he shouted. “I’ll take point, you protect the rear.”
The guard still standing shot him a glare and kept firing at the nasties. He was the one who’d been in the lead, threatening Claire. Victor had a brief flash of what it would feel like to snap his neck. No, have to keep him safe. He grabbed the end of his assault rifle and tugged it upward. “Turn around, and don’t fucking dare try to shoot me.” He grabbed the soldier with his other hand and shoved him in the opposite direction. With stiff steps, the man joined the other soldier and Victor let go of his gun. If the guy shot him, then he would snap his neck.
With only one soldier firing at them, the nasties were making progress. Victor looked at the injured guard. “You either. Don’t shoot me.”
Then he charged the nasties. There had to be about a dozen of them left and they swarmed him, attacking his legs, arms, head, everywhere at once. He kept moving—backwards, forwards, turning, anything to shake them off. He tore one off him just before it could sink its teeth into his throat. He needed more weapons. His claws grew longer as he kept fighting, and his jaws shifted into a muzzle full of sharp teeth. Wickedly sharp horns grew from his head. Roaring, he doubled his efforts. Claws and teeth and horns ripped through the nasties. They screamed, blood splattering against the walls as he killed another and another. It was the mad flurry of battle and he felt right at home.
Half of them lay dead around him and he stumbled over their bodies, slipped in their blood. One of the creatures bit deep into his leg and he howled in anger and pain. He ignored the others and yanked that one away, sinking his claws deep into its throat. Blood spurted and it gurgled. Victor finished it off and went for the next one. When they were all dead, he checked the rest of the hallway. Nothing but dead bodies and a few skinned lizards busy eating at the far end.
He went back to the doorway. The soldiers were shooting carefully now, conserving ammo. He looked down at the wounded one and shifted his jaw back to human so he could speak. “Can you walk?”
The soldier made a face. “I think, if someone helps me.”
“Berkstrom, help him up. I’ll go first, Claire behind me, then Alston, then Berkstrom and the wounded guy. The two guards cover our rear. Let’s go.” He felt almost like his old self as he took up his position and waited for the others to file into the hall. Victor looked down at his bloody claws. No, he’d never be his old self, but at least he could think. He could keep control of himself, even now with the scent of blood surrounding him and battle fury still hot and red in his brain. He had a mission, he had people to protect. He glanced behind him. “Ready?” They nodded. “Move out.”
He kept an eye on the skinned lizards that ignored them and kept feeding. Gunfire and shouts echoed from all around, including behind him as the guards fired in small, controlled bursts. The hallway was full of dead bodies, mostly nasties but a few humans as well. Soldiers and scientists lay mangled on the ground. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Claire bend down to retrieve an assault rifle from one of the dead. She obviously didn’t think her handgun would be enough. The sounds were getting louder.
A few of the doors to the other cells were open and he glanced inside as they passed. One had a dead scientist, one was empty, and the farthest cell held the body of an alt. Victor stared at the bloody body, knowing that could have been him if not for Claire. No, that wasn’t true. If not for Claire, he would have killed the guards and he might be running around mad like the rest of them.
Claire nudged him. “Come on.”
They reached the end of the hall and Victor made short work of the skinned lizards. The door was warped, probably smashed in by one of the alts. Beyond the door was an intersection, the hall going on ahead and another hall crossing it. To the left was an elevator bank, all of them no doubt turned off if the floors were on lockdown. Beyond the elevators were two guards and a scientist losing ground against a horde of nasties. He almost shouted at them, but thank God, his brain was working. He was obviously an alt and therefore a target. He ducked back in. “There’s some people to left. Tell them they can join us,” he told Claire.
“And tell them not to shoot you.” She smiled and stepped through the doorway. She had to shout a few times, but she finally got their attention and Victor heard them running down the hall. She stopped the humans just before they came through the battered door and warned them not to shoot Victor. They stared at him with wide eyes and shuffled away. “Go help the guards in the back. I’ll clear the hall,” she told them. The nasties had followed them and one of them slammed against the door as Claire tried to hold it shut. He nodded for her to open it and he rushed out. This time the fight was quicker than it had been against the crawlers. He turned with the last one still in his claws and saw Claire pressed against the wall.
“What are you doing?”
“Covering your ass,” she said. “I suppose the elevators are out?”
He finished the nasty and let it drop. “Might as well check.” He went over and pushed the up button. Nothing happened. Pressing his ear to the doors, he heard echoed sounds from above and below but no mechanical noises. “Nope, not working.”
Claire opened the door. “Come on. Anyone know where the stairs are?” There were no clearly marked exit signs in the lab.
“To the right,” Alston said as he stepped through. “Second door on the left.”
Victor hurried past Claire to check it out. Behind him someone shouted. “It’s locked.”
Victor grabbed the handle to confirm. Locked tight, probably magnetically sealed for the lockdown. He backed up to the other side of the hall, which wasn’t far, and charged the door. He gave it a solid hit and the door shuddered.
“Holy shit,” someone breathed.
Victor rammed it again, and this time the door buckled almost the same way as the door they’d just come through. With a third hit, the door flew open and banged
against the stairwell wall. He turned to the huddled group of survivors. “I think some of the alts let themselves out.” He’d contemplated the door of his own cell often enough to know he could get out if he was determined to. A few more weeks stuck down here and he might have tried.
He led them up the stairs. With the echo it was hard to figure out where the sounds were coming from. Rounding the second flight, they came across bodies of nasties and humans. One of the scientists was still alive, but Victor stopped Claire when she reached out to help the woman. “Infected,” he told her. It was clear in her scent. This was what he’d been hoping to prevent by volunteering to test the vaccine. Looking down at the middle-aged woman, he saw his sister for a moment. “I’m sorry.”
The woman tried to struggle away from him, the bodies pinning her down and the damage to her body making her weak. Then she met his gaze and her eyes filled with tears. “I don’t want to be one of those things.”
“I know.” He took her face in both his hands. “You won’t be.” He twisted sharply, ending her life quick and clean.
Claire laid a gentle hand on his arm as he straightened, wordless comfort. He stepped past the woman and went on up the stairs. More bodies, enough to make the footing dangerous for the others. He paused at the door to the first basement. The door was solid, so no one had busted through, but this was likely where all the alts had gotten to. No good bothering with this floor. “Is the ground floor still clear?” Victor asked, looking between Claire and the closest of the guards.
“They haven’t said anything,” Claire answered. “They keep repeating for people trapped in the lower floors to find a secure location and wait until the crisis is over.”
Victor snorted. “Someone should tell them alts can bust through mag-locked doors.”
“Oh shit, you’re right.” Claire reported in as they climbed the next flight.
“Hey, is someone down there?” a voice called from above.
“Yeah,” Victor called back. “We’re coming up.” He sniffed deep to make sure it wasn’t an alt playing with them. It was hard to get clear scents with all the blood and death filling the stairwell, but he couldn’t smell any alts. If his nose was right, none of them had come this way.
He motioned for Claire and the major to go first so he wouldn’t get mistaken for a bad guy and get shot.
“What’s going on?” Claire asked the major as she crossed the landing and looked up. Victor stayed close to the wall so he wouldn’t be seen.
“They won’t let us in. Anyone who didn’t make it out before the lockdown is considered to be in quarantine.”
“Shit.” She paused halfway up the stairs, looking back at Alston and Victor. “How are we supposed to get out?”
“I’m still in charge,” the major said. “I gave no such order. The lockdown is procedure, but I’m not going to let them leave us to die in a stairwell.” He went past Claire and Victor heard him pound on the door.
Someone on the other side answered and they shouted back and forth through the thick door until Claire joined them and gave Alston her com. There was more arguing. The lead scientist, Doctor Lathell, had taken over in Alston’s absence and the major was having a hard time convincing them that it was really him and any orders he gave overrode Lathell’s. Victor looked back at his group as they stood tense and waiting. Finally, Alston convinced them and got them to open the doors. Everyone was allowed through if they passed a search from the dogs. Except Victor, of course. The major explained the situation, but even with him giving direct orders, no one was going to let an alt on the ground floor.
“I’m going back down anyway.” After a slight pause, he threw in a, “sir”. The man had spared his life after all. “Got a job to do.”
Alston arched an eyebrow. “You sure? You got all of us out of there. You already proved yourself.”
“Still got a mess to clean up. How many men you gonna send down there to die?” Victor shifted from foot to foot, eager to let loose. He’d kept such a tight leash on himself.
“You really think you can take all of them down?”
He grinned. “Oh yeah.” He wasn’t sure, but he sure as hell wanted to try. They were probably his match in strength and speed, but he knew he was smarter than any of them.
“All right. Good luck, Monroe.” The major stepped through the door.
Claire was last, lingering against the wall. “Your turn,” he told her.
“No.” She took a step toward him. “I’m coming with you.”
“The hell you are. Those things’ll tear you apart.”
“I survived you. I can handle them.”
Victor growled. “It’s not the same.”
“No, it’s not.” She adjusted her assault rifle. “I’m actually going to shoot them.”
His fear for her mingled with a fierce pride. They stared at each other and he knew she was just as stubborn as him. They could stand here all night arguing or they could get something done. A terrified voice whispered, I can’t lose you. But he couldn’t treat her like a weak human. She was every bit the warrior he’d been before the injection. She was Claire—stubborn, strong, beautiful Claire.
My mate.
He turned down the stairs. “Stay behind me.”
“That I’ll agree to. Someone has to watch your back, and that’s what partners are for.”
They made their way back down over the bodies and blood. Victor couldn’t help sparing a glance at the woman he’d killed. So much death, so many good people taken from the world. The vaccine was supposed to save people, but it had failed. All the people dead and dying in the floors below were because of that failure. Now Victor and Claire were going in to try to clean it up. Life of a soldier—cleaning up someone else’s mess.
He stopped at the door to the first basement. “We’ll start here, work our way down.” He smashed his way through the door, harder this time since the door swung inward. After a minute, he wrestled it open. All the noise attracted attention and several horned flat-bodied things rushed him. They were easy to kill, but there were a lot of them. He had to keep turning, trying to get them before they could get past him through the door. He’d smashed it enough that it didn’t close all the way, and the things might be able to slip through the foot-wide gap near the bottom. Behind the door, Claire cursed and he knew she was upset at being left out of the fight. The fight was just too close to the door and he had no room to let her through.
The nasties were smart enough that the last few scattered and ran. Victor stepped out of the way and Claire struggled with the broken door. Just as he reached to help her, she got it. “You can’t shove me behind doors.”
“Wasn’t deliberate.” He took a few more steps away from the carnage in front of the door. He turned his head one way down the hall, then the other, listening and trying to figure out where the most noise was coming from.
She stepped over the bodies and made a face. “I’ll believe you…this time.”
Right, he decided. As he started down the hall, he calculated what he was up against. “Ten,” he said.
“Ten what?”
“Ten alts. There’s twelve, minus me, minus the one dead in his cell. That’s ten.”
“Ten alts running loose in the lab and we have to kill them.”
He glanced back at her. “Sounds like fun, huh?”
Claire laughed.
She followed him as he ducked down a hallway. “One went down here.”
“An alt?” Her stomach fluttered and she scolded herself for it. This was her moment to shine. No, their moment.
“Yeah.” He pointed and her gaze went to the trail of blood on the white tile. Then he took off running. Dammit. She ran after him, barely keeping up. She thought he’d be more careful in the narrow halls of the lab. He’d been slow and careful earlier, but he’d been leading a group out. The way he’d controlled himself amazed her. This was more like the Victor she knew.
He turned down another hall, still following the blood, althou
gh now the trail was mixed here and there with blood from humans and nasties. They passed door after door and a few more hallways. She wondered what was down here. All the alts had been down in the second basement. What other creepy experiments were the scientists up to?
The sounds of gunfire and screaming, which had become a kind of background noise, got louder as they neared the end of the long hall. This hallway must go the whole length of the building. Just as they reached the end of the hall a snarl echoed off the walls and something huge jumped at Victor. They crashed into each other and Victor was driven back into the wall. The thing was so deformed it took her a moment to realize it wasn’t a nasty, but an alt. It was his eyes that gave it away. No matter how humanoid a nasty was, there was something alien in its eyes. This creature’s eyes were hauntingly human, like Victor’s. Claire growled. She was a good shot, but she didn’t dare risk hitting Victor.
They growled, tangling in a blur of limbs and claws. Her heart jumped into her throat and she kept her gun trained on the alt, hoping to get a clear shot. Then common sense kicked in and reminded her that the whole fucking floor was infested with nasties and alts and she had her back to the long hallway. She backed a few paces from the fight and put her back against the wall. Then she checked down the other end of the hall. Nothing.
Victor and the alt came closer to her and then moved back to the corner, wrestling and snapping at each other. Victor’s jaw was stretched out and filled with sharp teeth. She didn’t like looking at him when he was like that, but right now it was hard to tear her gaze away. Blood pattered on the floor around them and she couldn’t tell who it was from. Probably both of them.
She forced herself to look down the hall again, just in time to see a man step into it. He looked human except for the mandibles sticking out of his mouth and the arms that ended in a single long claw instead of hands. And his eyes—he had those same all-too-human eyes.
Claire aimed and fired as the alt ran at her. How many bullets will it take? The bullets punched into his body and made his steps stutter, but he kept coming. Too fast, way too fucking fast. She tilted her aim up, going for his head. At the last instant, he moved, dodging aside and going down another hall. “Fuck!” She waited a few seconds to make sure he wasn’t coming back, and then she turned back to Victor.
Taming the Darkness: Love & Monsters, Book 2 Page 9