Lethal Injection

by K M Lovold

  David chuckled and nodded. “You’d be surprised. And have no fear. You’re on your way. I won’t mention to anyone what you asked me tonight, and we won’t speak of it again. All right?”

  “All right.” Nikolina drank the last of her water.

  “And I think you should keep on talking to Ian. You’re right. Him and Jack were good friends it seems, and they did spend a lot of time together.” David leaned back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest.

  Hope swelled again inside Nikolina. If only David knew what she knew. Thank God the keepers couldn’t read their minds. “I will. Maybe it’ll help me get to where you are.”

  David scanned the room. “Where is 4158 anyway? It’s not like him to not be here. He could get in trouble for skipping mealtime.”

  “That’s what I was wondering. What could possibly be keeping him away?” Nikolina blinked a few times, examining the room.

  “Either he’s ditching mealtime, or he got in trouble and he’s in the hands of some keeper right now. Either way it can’t be good.”

  Nikolina bit her bottom lip. Oh please, God, don’t let Ian have been found out…

  “Well, come on. Let’s get outta here.” David jumped up. “We’ll probably see him tomorrow. And at our next mealtime, sit with him. See if you can find out where he was today.”

  Nikolina stood. “I will.” She pushed her sleeves up, refusing to let despair wash over her. Ian was OK. She knew it. She felt it. He’d be fine. He knew everything about this prison. He was up to something, she was sure of it. And she’d been given the OK to spend her entire mealtime with him the next day. She’d find out exactly what she’d need to make her a keeper. Ian would see to that.

  ****

  Ian sagged in his chair, his chin to his chest, darkness smothering him. He closed his eyes for a moment then opened them. Soon he’d drift off to death, whenever the chemicals infiltrated this room. With great effort he lifted his head, squinted his eyes and made out the round vents above him, then dropped his chin again. Could it be that a small amount of gas was already seeping in? Strength oozed out of him.

  He and Malaki knew they treated the prisoners up here as non-humans. And they knew if an innocent one wound up here mistakenly, they would not send them back to Earth where they belonged but would murder them on the spot. They knew the worst of the worst criminals worked in the bleakest and most risky parts of this prison—a place Ian had never been before. But he knew it existed. And he knew where.

  But gassing prisoners? Why did he and Malaki not know about this? And now, he’d never get to inform Malaki about this atrocity—a gas chamber! He squeezed his eyes shut and cursed under his breath, and then darkness overtook him.

  He lifted heavy eyelids, peeling his eyes apart. How long had he been out? How long had he been in here to begin with? Seemed like hours had gone by since he arrived in this dark room. But something was going on, there was obviously something coming out of those vents, he was in and out of consciousness, his body weakening. He was dying. His limp hands hung to his sides, his feet like blocks of cement fixed to the ground, his mind coming in and out of consciousness, then jumping back in time…

  “But what if I want to be with you?” Shannon stood before him, her blonde hair swept up in a ponytail, her blue eyes shimmering with tears. Anthony, a newborn baby, slept peacefully in his bassinet behind her. “I know you have a job you can’t talk about, and you say it’s dangerous, but what if I don’t care?” She clasped his arm. “What if I want to be with you anyway? No matter what?”

  “I – I can’t.” Ian squeezed his eyes shut. “I don’t want to put you through that. I can’t put you through that. Not with what Malaki and I are doing. It just won’t work.” He turned from her and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

  “But Ian, you keep telling me you and Malaki are up to something, but what if I don’t care?” She grabbed his arm again and pulled him, so he faced her. “I said I don’t care. Why can’t you believe me and let me make my own decisions no matter the risk?”

  “Because I can’t.” Ian held his hands out to the side. “I know you don’t care, and I know you’re willing to keep moving forward with me, but I can’t put you and Anthony in danger. When Malaki and I are able to move forward with what we’ve been planning, it won’t be good. You need to be on your own. Separate from me. I’ll stay in touch with you, and I’ll see Anthony whenever I can, but this is the way it’ll have to be. You’re not going to change my mind. I’m sorry.” He wiped the tears spilling down Shannon’s face, and his throat burned. “I’m so sorry.” He turned and stormed away from her and out the door.

  I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry…

  His thoughts refocused on the gas chamber. “I’m sorry, Shannon. So sorry, Anthony. And I’m sorry, Malaki,” he whispered. “Damn it.” With the little strength he had, he lifted his head, resisting the longing to surrender to this hopeless place. There was so much they’d planned to do. Darkness spun around him. Soon he would be forever unconscious and at death’s doorstep. Shannon and Anthony’s faces filled his mind.

  So this was it. This was the way it was going to end. He took a few shaky breaths, slumped over, and fell to the concrete floor.

  ****

  “Leave the lab, Jonathan.” Price’s hands clenched into tight fists, and he stared daggers at Jonathan, who nodded swiftly and eyed Malaki with raised eyebrows.

  “It’s all right.” Malaki waved his hand in the air. “You can leave. Price and I will have a private chat, and I’ll see you in the morning.”

  Jonathan rubbed his forehead, a look of confusion washing over him, but he didn’t budge.

  “It’s OK.” Malaki spoke sharply. “You can go.”

  Jonathan backed away slowly, a probing gaze staring Malaki down. Malaki nodded and swished his hand to the door. Why was Jonathan so unsure about leaving? Malaki had handled Price before, and he’d handle him now.

  Finally, Jonathan reached the door and stepped out backwards, closing the door softly behind him.

  Malaki spun on his heel. “What the hell is the matter with you? Poor Jonathan looked terrorized just now. What have you been filling his mind with?”

  Price lifted his chin high in the air at the same time he loosened his tie. “What’s the matter with me? What’s the matter with you?” He took long strides towards Malaki until he was inches from him, his red face glistening with sweat. “I want to know what the hell’s going on around here. Ian’s been gone for almost three years. I want to know where he is, and I want to see him. I don’t think you’re being honest with me or with anyone in The Circle, and I’m not leaving this room—or rather—you’re not leaving this room until I get those answers.”

  Malaki took a step backwards but looked directly into Price’s fierce eyes. “I made a promise to Ian that no one would know where he is. Especially those in The Circle. You’re wasting your time bullying me.” Malaki put his finger on Price’s chest and poked it firmly. “Don’t threaten me, Charles Price. This place, The Circle, the prison we run on another planet would be nothing without Ian and me. And since Ian’s out of the picture for now, I’m all you’ve got.” Malaki held his hands out to the side. “You wanna lock me up? Go ahead and do it. I don’t care! We’ll see how long it is before you’re begging me to get back to work doing what I do to keep turning our product into money in your pockets and self-worth and power in that ego of yours.”

  A guttural roar sounded right before Price hauled off and punched.

  Malaki stumbled backwards a few steps, the room spinning, then he caught his breath and stabilized his balance. He touched his hand to his throbbing lip and immediately tasted blood. “What the dev—”

  Price attempted another blow, but this time Malaki was ready. He tipped to the right, and Price missed. As his fist swung past, Malaki grabbed his arm and twisted him around, holding him in a dead lock. “Do you really wanna do this? Seriously? You’re the head of our damn Circle and you want to fight me?”r />
  He let go and pushed Price away so hard he almost fell over.

  Price caught his footing and turned around, his hair a mess, nostrils flaring, his hands shaking as he attempted to tighten the tie he’d just loosened. He took a deep breath and planted his feet wide apart. “You’re not leaving this room.” His eyes dilated as he spoke. “I’ve already spoken with security and you’re not able to leave this room until I get my answers. I need to know where Ian Mitchell is, and I need to see him and speak with him. You’ll keep doing what you’re supposed to do for our product like you always do, but you’re not leaving until I get what I want.”

  Malaki grabbed a paper towel off the counter and dabbed at his swelling, bleeding lip. “Whatever you say, Price. Like I said, lock me up. See if I care.”

  Price moved closer to him, muscles and veins straining against the skin in his neck. “You better care. And you better get me the answers I want.” He shuffled toward the door, but before leaving, he glared at Malaki one last time, spittle building up in the corners of his mouth. “If I don’t get those answers, you’ll never leave this room again. Ever.” With that, he left, slamming the door behind him.

  Malaki approached the door and twisted the knob. It didn’t budge. Then he attempted to scan his retinas. The scanner didn’t blink or turn on. He was locked in.

  ****

  “Get up!” A voice blared in Ian’s head, and then a sharp pain in his side jolted him to semi-consciousness. The voice grew harsher. “I said get up!”

  Ian groaned and squinted his eyes open, light beaming around him. “Where am I? What’s going on?”

  “It’s time to get up and get out of this room. It’s needed for the next prisoner.” The keeper kicked him again. “Get up and get out of here!”

  Ian opened his eyes all the way, faint memories coming back to him. He was alive? He hadn’t died from the gassing? Before he could answer the questions, the keeper’s boot met Ian’s side again, and agony shot up his back. “All right, all right. Give me a second.” He lifted himself to his hands and knees, one hand gripping the pang in his side. He took a deep breath and pushed himself to a standing position, the room swaying around him.

  “Come on.” The keeper grabbed his arm and pulled him out of the room, back into the first room they’d entered, and pushed him into a chair that faced the gas chamber. He locked Ian’s arms in the chair and pulled something out of the back of the chair, and soon Ian’s head was secured, unable to move.

  “What? Why are you locking me in?” Ian pulled his wrists, but it was no use, and the more he struggled against the metal straps, the worse the pain stung the rest of his body.

  “Now, you’re gonna watch what happens to prisoners who aren’t as lucky as you, who don’t get it as good as you just did.”

  “Prisoners who don’t get it… as good as I just did?” Ian repeated the words, trying to relax, his voice raspy. “What the hell are you talking about?” He stared at the keeper standing above him.

  “No cussing!” The keeper slapped him across the face. “And yes, you did just get it good. Every prisoner who goes in that room is hit with so much radiation their eyes bulge out of their faces and they basically explode. But that didn’t happen to you, did it? You got a slight mix of chemicals to put the fear into you and knock you out momentarily.”

  Ian grimaced from the stinging in his side and back, and now the pulsing on his cheek, but he kept his eyes on the keeper, which wasn’t difficult since he couldn’t move his head. “Why did I get off so easy?”

  “Because Klaus doesn’t want to lose you. Says he needs you. But you won’t get another chance, 4158.” The keeper cracked his knuckles. “You mess up again wandering around this prison where you’re not supposed to, you’ll get the full radiation treatment in that room. And you’re now gonna watch it happen to a prisoner as a big fat warning to you.”

  Ian’s thoughts grew clearer the more he came out of his drug-induced state. He felt the vials shoved inside his boot, and he breathed in and out slowly, succumbing to being locked in the chair. And why were they locking him in? The keeper could’ve just taken control of him and made him stand and watch. Not that they’d have any control over Ian anyway, but still… What was with this locking him down to watch? At least he was out of the gassing room, and soon enough they’d let him out of here. Klaus needed him. “What prisoner is going to get the full treatment in there?” Ian peered towards the window of the gas room.

  “One of the worst of the worst, that’s what.” The keeper tipped his head back, laughing with an edge. “He was one of the most wicked when he was brought up here.”

  “What do you mean?” Ian spoke up as the keeper stared through the thick window into the gas chamber.

  “I mean, the evilest criminals on Earth that ever existed. The ones who committed the most vile crimes imaginable.”

  “Um, how do you know?” Ian coughed and cleared his throat. “I mean, how do you know the crimes they committed?”

  The keeper seemed to calm, breathing out a long, low sigh. “Every time a prisoner comes up here, there’s a clipboard we get that describes their crime.” He shook his head. “And this one that’s coming committed a heinous crime.”

  Ian got the feeling the keeper enjoyed talking about this, so he continued. “What did he do?”

  “Well, he had a wife. And two sons. And his wife was pregnant with a third child. A girl.” The keeper pressed his fist against his mouth and puffed out his cheeks. “The man decided he wanted to leave his wife because he’d met someone new. But when he told her, she said he’d never see his kids again. And he lost it. He killed them.” The keeper shook his head. “Killed them all. Killed his wife first in front of his kids, then killed his kids. They were only three and four.” He flinched. “Now, I say that’s pretty atrocious. Don’t you?” He glanced over at him.

  “Yeah. Yeah, I do.” The story made Ian’s stomach lurch, and he thought of Anthony. “But in the end, he never died; he made it here. Why is he getting gassed now?”

  “Those types of prisoners, the ones who commit the most heinous crimes, get put in the riskiest place up here—smashing the memroth we dig up at the demolition site. But even here, they are filled with hate and resist us keepers. Even though their crime is the only thing they can really remember, it doesn’t haunt them like it does most the other prisoners. They laugh about it, even brag about it. And they fight us continuously.”

  The keeper strode away from Ian. “This one finally pushed us one too many times. He’s paying for it today. Should be here any minute. And you’re gonna watch it happen. Because like I said, if you wander around where you ain’t supposed to again, or push up against us in any way, you’ll be in here for real next time. Watch and burn it into your memory forever. God knows you don’t have many other memories in there, so it should be easy to lock away this one.”

  “I will.” Ian wished he could clutch his side, the pain shooting up his ribs and back was intense. “I’ll watch, and I won’t ever wander around Reathran again. It was my mistake. It’ll never happen again.” He averted his gaze from the keeper, swallowing hard, a bitter tang in his mouth. He loathed this man.

  But he’d made it through. So far. That was the main thing now. He thought he was a goner, but he was still alive, and he had the vials he needed, and nothing would stop him from the next step in this plan. He’d sit through whatever they wanted him to. They’d probably locked him in this chair to humiliate him, make him feel more under their power than ever. Well, after this he’d be the most obedient prisoner until he could finally get to Waitforit, which hopefully would be on its way up here soon. And once Ian got the vials back with what he needed, there was nothing left to—

  “Get in here!” A voice sounded, but Ian couldn’t look behind to see, and then another keeper appeared in front of him, pushing a man Ian had never seen before.

  The prisoner had bushy, orange hair, moustache and a long goatee. He thrust his chest out when he saw Ian, o
bviously trying to seem like he was a Mr. Macho. Above him. But couldn’t the keepers control him any time they wanted to? It didn’t seem like they had control over him now.

  “Get in there!” The other keeper shoved him in the gas chamber and pushed him in the chair just like he’d done to Ian moments ago. Only this time he used the buckles to lock his arms in. The whole time the prisoner had a grimace on his face.

  The keeper with Ian then pressed the buttons on his wristband. “You’ll watch this and not look away even for one second.” There. He did it. Finally took control of him. Or so he thought. Ian forced himself to watch. His legs and arms grew rigid, the agony in his body intensifying.

  “Yeah, yeah, I’ve been through this before.” The prisoner in the gas chamber said with direct, probing eye contact at the keeper buckling him in. “And guess what? I woke up. I didn’t die. I arrived here. So, what’s gonna happen this time, huh?” A shade of fear washed over his face as he laughed somewhat and then struggled against the buckles that locked his arms to the chair. “What’s gonna happen this time?”

  The keeper tightened the last buckle. “Well I guess you’re gonna meet your maker, huh? And he’ll settle you down.” He left the gas chamber and slammed and fastened the door, silencing the prisoner in the other room, and the keeper stood on the opposite side of the window with the other keeper and Ian.

  The prisoner’s eyes bulged, unblinking, a look of fear or terror seeming to connect with and overtake his arrogance. He fought at the buckles locking him down, but there was nothing doing. He wasn’t going anywhere. And then his nostrils flared, and his teeth clenched, obviously some kind of discomfort overtaking him. Within seconds, blood dripped out of his nostrils, and then streamed. After this, he gurgled a scream through the blood spilling from his mouth.

  Ian ground his teeth, and his chest tightened while sweat dripped down the side of his face and the back of his neck. His eyes burned and never had he wanted to look away from something like he did now, but he stared straight ahead.