Lethal Injection

by K M Lovold

  “Seriously, Price?” Malaki gaped at the guard in his rearview mirror, still running after him, as if he could catch him. “You actually have security guards to check on me throughout the night? Unbelievable.”

  Malaki shook his head and opened his window a crack as he turned out onto the street. It would be minutes before Price knew he’d escaped. He groaned deep in his gut, knowing his timeframe had just shortened greatly.

  “I don’t care how late it is, I have to get to the spacecraft landing. Now. I have to find out if Waitforit has made her way up. And when.”

  He pressed the gas pedal all the way to the floor.

  ****

  Ian sat at his table during mealtime. It seemed like months had gone by since he’d seen the man explode in the gas chamber, but it was only a few days. At first, he was so staggered by what he’d seen, plus startled at having come so close to failing, that he kept to his task on hand like the perfect prisoner he was meant to be. Digging, meeting his quota, going to the train, and accomplishing everything on task. He didn’t go wandering around anywhere. At all.

  “What’s been going on?” Nikolina plunked opposite him with her tray of food. “I haven’t seen you at mealtime for two days. And out digging, you like you’re being controlled. I’ve been scared shitless. What the hell is going on?” Her nostrils flared, and her dark eyes were cold, but he couldn’t help but chuckle.

  “Why are you laughing?” She lifted her chin and gripped her tray with both hands. “I was worried sick about you.” Her shimmering eyes glanced around.

  “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” Ian reached out and touched her hand. “I’m not laughing at you. I just love that you’re speaking honestly and openly—’cause you know you can—and I find it touching that you actually… missed me.” He pulled his hand back. “I haven’t had anybody miss me for a long time. Years actually. It’s kinda sweet.”

  Nikolina’s face softened, and she bit her bottom lip. “I was scared, Ian. Where were you? How could you skip mealtimes?”

  “It was only a couple, and I was doing something I’m supposed to do.” He lowered his voice. “You know, to keep my part of the plan going? In doing that, I had to explore a little bit.” He sighed. “I went behind the cell blocks and found the room I was looking for. The room I knew was back there. And…” He shrugged.

  “And what?” Nikolina pelted him with her gaze.

  “I got caught. A keeper found me back there, a place I never should have been.”

  Nikolina’s hand flew to her mouth. “What did they do to you? What happened?”

  “Well.” Ian returned to his food, taking a bite of something that resembled sloppy Joes. “If not for Klaus kinda being for me, wanting me to keep doing what I do at the train, I’d be dead now.”

  “But you’re not dead. What did he say? What did he do?”

  “I had to witness something horrific.” Ian went on to explain all that he’d seen in the gas chamber and then became silent.

  Nikolina gave him an understanding nod. “So, you got scared straight somewhat?”

  “Yes.” Ian shrugged. “That’s exactly right. So much so they gave me permission to sort of… recover. They let me sit in my bunk for the last couple days during mealtime. To think. But after a couple days of not eating, I realized I’ve got to get back to business. I know Malaki has received my message, and his part of the plan has probably been set in motion. I’ve got to get back on track and finish what I have to do up here in order to succeed in our plan.”

  Nikolina took a shaky breath. “What’s next?” Her hand trembled when she sipped her water.

  “Well. I did find what I was looking for in that room.” Ian licked his lips and glanced around. He was still a bit disturbed by the poisoning he’d witnessed. “When I go to the train, which will be tomorrow, I’ll take the next step in our plan. I don’t want to speak of it here, but that’s what’s up on my agenda.”

  Nikolina wiped her lips with her fingers. “And do you think you’ll be successful?”

  “Malaki has no doubt accomplished what he needed to, if he’s still alive and well that is, and I have to move forward as if he is. If he’s done what he’s supposed to, and I accomplish what I need to, then it won’t be long, and I’ll be gone. I’ll escape this place.”

  “But how?” Nikolina’s eyes blinked rapidly. “How can you? Are you just going to board a spacecraft and fly away, and if so, how? I don’t understand how this can realistically happen.”

  “You don’t know the planet Reathran like I do. You don’t know how long I’ve been planning this and studying it. I have a way. And I’m not saying it’s going to be easy or it’s going to be foolproof, but it’s very much doable, and I will do it.”

  Nikolina pushed her shoulders back. “I don’t care what happens to me. Let me know what I can do to help you. I need to help.”

  ****

  After the long trek into the mountains, Malaki turned a corner, and the spacecraft landing loomed before him. He approached the security gate and held his breath. Hopefully, Price hadn’t changed the passcode on him. He jumped out of his truck and punched in the numbers, then let out a deep breath when the buzzer sounded and then scanned his retinas.

  Would Price know this would be his first stop? Had he already contacted Lawrence and Benjamin? Would they be on the lookout for him? Would they send him back to Price to be locked up again?

  If either of them was ordered to catch him, he had to somehow find out about Waitforit first. He had to know. He tapped his foot on the ground.

  “Malaki? Is that you?” Lawrence Dryden sounded over the intercom. “What the devil are you doing here at this hour?”

  “I need to talk to you. It’s important.” Malaki took quick breaths.

  “Sure, come on in.”

  Malaki shook his hands out and got back in his truck. He sped to the building and looked around. Was Lawrence in the building or in his house? He knew the security device was connected to both. He caught sight of the front door opening at the house with the lights on. Lawrence jogged towards him, so Malaki stepped out of his truck and quietly closed the door. Would they be in touch with Price right away? Telling him he was here? He ran his fingers down his bearded chin, his heart thumping loudly in his chest.

  “What’s going on?” Lawrence smiled, his gray hair disheveled and his eyes sleepy. He wore a pair of jeans and an untucked semi-buttoned, long-sleeved shirt and sandals.

  “Sorry to disturb you so late. Are you shocked to see me?” He had to know if Lawrence knew what Price had done to him. He couldn’t fathom Price hadn’t held a meeting to fill them in.

  “Well, yeah. This late, of course.” Lawrence shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “But you know you’re always welcome here. This must be important.”

  Malaki felt safe for the time being and jutted his hand out to Lawrence who gripped it firmly. “Where can we talk?”

  “Inside the building. Come on.” Lawrence led the way to the glass doors in front. “What’s this about?”

  Malaki followed Lawrence to his large office, where they each took a seat, and Lawrence stared at him expectantly.

  “Has Waitforit gone up?” Malaki clenched his jaw.

  “Is that what this is about?” Lawrence laughed. “I told you we’d send her. Did you think we were lying?”

  “Has she gone up?”

  “Yes. Yes, she went up, just like we told you she would.”

  Tension lifted off Malaki. He formed a steeple with his hands and pressed them to his lips, closing his eyes for a moment. “She went up?”

  “Yes. I just told you.”

  “Thank you, Lawrence. I cannot thank you enough for keeping your word and sending her up like I asked.”

  “Who are we to disobey a direct command from Malaki Pederson? You’re pretty much number two to Price. You and Ian that is.”

  “When?” Malaki stared at Lawrence. “When did she go up?”

  “Yesterday. Just like we told
you she would.” Lawrence stood and moved closer to Malaki. “What’s this all about? What’s going on? Why did you have to show up here at this hour to ask about this? I thought you were gone, out of town.”

  Malaki also stood. “Out of town? Who told you that?”

  “Price did. At our meeting yesterday. He said you were gone for a while… on business. I figured that’s why you missed Waitforit going up. You said you’d be here. I thought it was strange you weren’t at the meeting because you’re never not there, but Price made it sound like it was OK. No big deal.”

  Malaki shook his head. “I need to talk to you. About something important. But it has to be between you and I only. Can I trust you?”

  “Of course, you can. Malaki, what the hell is going on?”

  “Have a seat again.”

  Malaki went on to explain what had happened between him and Price.

  Lawrence’s mouth fell open. “He locked you up? What for? You’re one of us.” His eyebrows furrowed, and he rolled his sleeves up. “You’re like the main guy who makes everything work. You and Ian… er, I mean you and Jonathan.”

  Malaki fell into the chair opposite Lawrence. “That’s why. Ian is why. Price has gotten paranoiac, to the point of utter insanity. He doesn’t believe me. He doesn’t believe when I say Ian is somewhere safe getting the help he needs. So what that’s it’s been three years! This is what Ian needs, but Price thinks I’m lying, and he locked me up and turned off security until I tell him the truth he wants to hear. The truth of where Ian is. It’s asinine.”

  Lawrence’s eyes widened.

  “I’m serious. I just escaped. Escaped. Tonight. This is the first place I came to. You’ll probably be hearing from Price soon, because a security guard tried to chase me down in my truck once I got away. He’ll say some kind of nonsense to you I’m sure. See if you’ve heard from me.”

  “This feels wrong. Since when has The Circle become like this? Where we cannot trust one another?” Lawrence paced the office, his voice deepening. “We’ve never lied to one another like this. This is wrong. Something has to be done.”

  Malaki leaned in, his hand on his knee. “I agree. But it’s all Price. I trust you. I trust all of you in The Circle. Except Price. Not right now. Not after what he’s done.”

  “What do we do then?” Lawrence threw his hands out to the side. “What are we supposed to do?”

  “Right now, nothing. We’ll wait and see if you hear from Price.” Malaki rubbed the back of his neck. “Can I stay at your place tonight? He’s probably going to be searching for me. Let me hide out here. I want to see if he contacts you. Tomorrow, I’ll leave. I know where to go to stay safe. In the meantime, I just had to make sure Waitforit was on her way safely, and then find out what happens with Price—how many lies he’ll tell to try to catch me and lock me up again.”

  “Sounds like a plan. Let’s get to my house. You must be exhausted. I won’t say anything to Price about you being here. You’ll be safe. Let’s go.”

  CHAPTER sixteen

  The day after Ian returned to mealtime and spoke to Nikolina, he hiked through the barren mountainous terrain on his way to the train. It had taken him longer to meet his quota that day than normal, but he was finally on his way.

  He took deep breaths and concentrated with each step he took, feeling the large glass vials pressed up against his calves. This would be one of the most important trips to the train he’d ever made, if not the most important. He couldn’t wait to get to the cave. Safe and sound from Reathran’s listening ears. He needed time to himself, to speak freely—even if it was just to himself.

  He’d almost given up hope for a while, thinking it was no good. Pointless.

  But thank God he’d had a change of heart and talking to Nikolina helped greatly. He had to believe that Malaki got his message. Ian could not give up now. He had to get those vials sent to the disposal site and get those readings. Nothing else mattered.

  Up ahead the waterfall spilled. Ian clenched his fists, longing to jump under that water and let it pour over him, to drink it in. How he longed for normal things like water. He forced himself to look away. The ache in his gut to return to Earth, to Anthony and Shannon and Malaki entrenched him, overtook him. The pain was like nothing he’d ever experienced.

  As was his hatred for this place. Yes, he’d agreed to come, to the risk and the sacrifice, but after being here for going on two years, he could hardly fathom one more day.

  Waitforit must be on her way up. She must be!

  He reached the cave and breathed a sigh of relief as he put the wristband on, even though he didn’t need it. He ran to the computer room, slammed the door behind him. He bent over and put his hands to his face.

  “You made it.” A voice sounded.

  Ian spun on his heels.

  Klaus stood before him, sitting on the stool in front of the computer, as if he knew what he was doing.

  Ian let out a heavy sigh and sagged against the nearby wall. “Klaus. I didn’t expect to see you here.”

  “No. I’m sure you didn’t.” Klaus didn’t look at him, only stared at the computer. “I want you to show me what you do to make things run so smoothly here.”

  Ian straightened. “What?”

  “Ever since we showed you the gas chamber and shook you up somewhat, you haven’t been back here. Until today. Until now.” Klaus finally turned and peered at Ian, his eyes piercing Ian’s.

  “Yeah?” Ian held his gaze, not willing to back down for anything.

  “Well, even for those few days, things weren’t right here. Not like they are when you’re running things. And before that, after Jack died, things didn’t run well either. In fact, on and off for as long as I’ve been here, this train has caused us problems. Until you started working here.” Klaus stood, holding his hands out to the side. “Why is that? Why can’t anybody make this place run smoothly, with no mistakes?” Klaus approached Ian and poked him in his chest. “Except for you? Why is that?”

  Ian backed away. “I don’t know, sir. I guess it comes natural to me. The train, the computers. It just does.”

  “Do you have any… say, memories that are unlocking in that brain of yours? Hmm? Memories of computer things, since you’ve been up here?” Klaus pushed him on the shoulder. “You remembering anything?”

  Ian stepped away from Klaus. “The only thing I remember is the man and daughter I murdered.” He gaped at the head keeper. “In cold blood! It’s all I remember, and frankly it’s all I think about. I wish to God I could remember something else!”

  He stormed to the computer Klaus had been looking at. “You think I care about this crap up here, these computers? You think I know where they come from or how they work? I know nothing. But I wish I knew”—he tipped his head back and laughed—“I wish to God I knew about all this stuff, but I don’t. Yet for some reason, when I plunk down and stare at this-this-thing”—he flicked the laptop with his finger—“I know how to work it.” He calmed somewhat and peered at Klaus. “Do you want to tell me why that is? Is it possible I could remember some of those other details of my life, like if it’s something I did a lot of in my old life? Could some of those memories actually come back to me?”

  Klaus gave him a small nod, and Ian knew he’d succeeded snuffing out any question of Ian being innocent.

  “All right, all right.” Klaus strode toward the door. “And the answer is no. No, it’s not possible for anyone up here to remember many details from his or her life from back on Earth. Other than their crime that is.”

  “Why did you ask me that then?” Ian pushed his shoulders back and glared at the head keeper. Ian got the feeling Klaus might be intimidated by him. “Why ask me something if it’s not possible for it to happen?”

  Klaus cleared his throat. “That is a question you do not need an answer to. You just do as I say and what the other keepers say. That is all.” With a slam of the door he was gone.

  Ian fell on the stool and buried his face in his hands
. So, Klaus suspected Ian of being innocent and remembering everything, which was exactly right. That’s how he knew how to run these damn computers so well.

  Feeling a little paranoid himself, he strode the entire distance back to the cave opening, searching to see if Klaus might still be there somewhere, but Ian saw no sign of him. Inside or out.

  “Damn it.” He put his fists on his hips and closed his eyes, looking upward.

  No matter, he still had to send the train on its way, and he had to get those vials on it.

  He returned to the computer room and soon he was staring out the window watching the train roar to life, the lights flicking on in perfect sync, the way it always did. What was so difficult about this task?

  Ian scratched his head. “I suppose if I didn’t have many memories of life on Earth, and not much knowledge of the things I know and remember like I do, this task would be more difficult for me as well.”

  Once the train was ready to roll, he put on the blue rubber suit, gloves, and mask. He clumped down the steps to the train and inspected the inside of it first, adjusting a few things here and there. These minor but important modifications were probably what the other prisoners missed, which would cause the train to stall or have problems on its journey. But Ian always noticed anything that wasn’t right, down to the smallest detail.

  He jumped off the train and inspected the outside. He strode to the part of the train where the vials would go. There was a spot—somewhat hidden—specific to these vials. Even here on Reathran, they recorded the readings out at the disposal site from time to time. To keep the radioactivity at a non-combustible level.

  Ian was sure no prisoner on the planet cared two wits if the place blew up, and them right along with it, but some of the keepers had hopes of returning to Earth one day. They valued their lives more highly.

  He spied around him and bent down and reached in his boot and pulled out the two vials.

  “What are you doing?” Klaus’s voice sounded from behind him.