Lethal Injection

by K M Lovold

  “Be careful!” Jonathan yelled before Malaki stepped outside. “He might still have his gun. That security gate isn’t bullet proof.”

  Malaki stopped short. Good point. He glanced down at himself. Price could easily take him out, just out of sheer rage at him being back here. Instead of trekking all the way down the driveway, he’d go only part way like he’d done before, and sneak into the woods. He could give Price a piece of his mind as easily from there, behind a tree, out of sight.

  The farther he hiked down the driveway, the louder Price’s swearing became, as well as his pounding on the gate. No surprise. Malaki stepped into the woods and approached as close to the fence as he could.

  “Give it up, Price!” Malaki stood out of sight, behind a large oak. “You’ll never break in again.”

  “Where are you? I’m gonna kill you, Malaki! And I got in once, so I’ll get in again!” Price’s voice had a growly roar to it, like he was a different person. The man was insane.

  “You got in because I let you get in. I wanted to catch you in the act, but I didn’t plan for the gun, so you won that time. But it'll never happen again.”

  Price picked up a large rock near the side of the road and threw it at the passcode/retina scanner, and even though he’d shattered the thing, the gate didn’t open.

  “Yeah, you just assured yourself the gate will never open. Nice going.” Malaki turned and started heading back to the house. There was no way Price could get in, so he could yell and scream and throw as much of a tantrum as he wanted. On Malaki’s way back to the house, he dialed 911 and reported the attempted break-in. God only knew what Price’s reaction would be when the cops showed up.

  ****

  Ian stayed in his cell bunk until mealtime, and when he entered the common area, he headed directly to get his tray of food, keeping his focus straight ahead. He didn’t want to see Nikolina. There was no way he could avoid her, but he wasn’t going to go out of his way to make eye contact.

  He got his tray of pasta noodles with pale, watery red sauce, bread, and a salad of flimsy lettuce, then sat at his usual table and dug in. The faster he ate, the faster he’d get to the train as it was once again ready with a load of cargo for the disposal site. He thought about taking his time at the train tonight, to avoid meeting up with any keepers, especially Nikolina.

  “Why are you in such a hurry?” Nikolina pulled out the chair opposite him. “Going somewhere?” She situated herself at the table.

  Ian stared into her light brown eyes for a moment, hoping to find his friend, but she was nowhere to be seen. Gone.

  “Are you gonna answer me?” She clicked her fingernails on the table.

  “Yes, I am.” Ian clenched his jaw. “I have to go to the train after this. It’s full of cargo again.”

  “Oh, well, then you better hurry up and finish eating so you can be on your way.” Nikolina raised one eyebrow and gave him a glassy stare.

  “Will do.” Ian poked his pasta, twirled it around his fork and threw it in his mouth, glaring at her the whole time. So, it was true—she was assigned to him specifically. But it sure didn’t seem like she remembered who he was to begin with. Or did she, but she was waiting for the right time to turn him in? What was she playing at? Was she playing at all?

  After about five minutes, he finished his meal, then stole one last look at her in the hopes of seeing something familiar. But no. Nothing. “Welp, I’m done. See you later.”

  He left her sitting there and left the room, glimpsing behind once to see if she might be following. If she intended to do her job correctly, she would. Once he was clear of the buildings, he broke into a run. Maybe this would be his last time to the train. He crossed his fingers as he jogged, glancing over at the waterfall on the way.

  He slowed to a walk shortly before reaching the cave and, as usual, put on the not-needed wristband.

  Once he got to the computer and turned things on, he paused for a moment and tried to remember the details of the chemical he and Malaki had created. Nikolina didn’t seem to remember him, as if she’d lost her memories from being here the past twenty-three years, which stunned him a bit. He seemed to remember everything else about Tetracaphoxin, so why not this detail? He concentrated on the chemical and how it would attach to brain receptors and do its thing. If he could get a handle on exactly what was going on inside of Nikolina—if her memories of Reathran would come back eventually or if they never would. He had to be prepared if they did, because that’s when he would be in grave danger.

  He squeezed his eyes shut and envisioned he and Malaki working with and making Tetracaphoxin and the discussions they’d had…

  “It’s the person’s real, true guilt, that’s what—”

  “I know that, Malaki, we’ve gone over this a hundred times.” Ian walked back and forth in their laboratory at headquarters. “But if we want the guards on Reathran, who are also prisoners just like the rest of them, to think they’re better than the rest, or above them, there’s got to be a higher dose, or a different dose, or they’re not going to want to do the kinds of things they’ll be asked to do up there. That part specifically needs to be addressed.”

  Malaki stared straight ahead. “I suppose I get what you’re saying. If they see each other as equals, it will be difficult to make the guards stand apart.”

  “Exactly.” Ian stopped pacing. “We have to make some adjustments to the chemical the keepers get. So they stand out in some way. We already know that with the wristbands they can take control of the prisoners, but they have to want to do that, they have to want to use their power over their equals. Because that’s what they are, unless they receive a higher dose of the chemical that makes them feel different, above them, more powerful than them.”

  Malaki nodded, rubbing his short beard. “Then that’s what we’ll have to do …”

  Ian leaned up against the window, staring down at the train, then he pounded his fist on his forehead. Obviously, he and Malaki had thought of something, and therefore, the keepers did receive a different concoction, or it was a higher dose of the same. And they’d achieved their goal because it worked.

  “I’ll have to behave as if eventually Nikolina will remember who I am.” She could turn him in at some point. Basically, he’d have to live as if he’d be dead soon and hope to God Waitforit got here before that. Maybe even tonight.

  With that, he put on his rubber suit and went down to the train to do a detailed inspection. But when he returned to the computer room, Nikolina stood there, her shoulders back and her chin lifted high, her black hair pulled back as usual. “How are things looking for the train?”

  Ian pulled his facemask off. “Good. They’re looking good.” He stepped out of the suit and boots. “Still following me, huh? But say, don’t you remember me?”

  Nikolina looked him directly in the eyes. “All I know is I am to watch over you. There’s something not right with you, obviously. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been assigned to you. So, what is it I’m supposed to be looking for? What are you not doing right around here?”

  Ian leaned in. “I’m not doing anything wrong here, for your information. You and I were friends, you know? Before you were made a keeper two days ago. Funny they would assign you, my friend, to spy on me.” He stepped over to the computer to get the train moving out of there. “I’m surprised you don’t remember any of your time here on Reathran. You’ve been here for like twenty-three years. Seems I know more about you than you do.”

  Nikolina let out an impatient sneer. “What are you talking about? I remember all my years here on Reathran, and I know how long I’ve been here. I remember the day I arrived, and I also remember being told I was going to be the first female keeper.”

  Ian chuckled. “But yet you don’t remember me?”

  “Oh, I remember you. And I remember Jack, too. What I don’t remember is what’s so special about you that you need to be watched so closely.” Nikolina’s jaw was firm and clenched. “Like I said, you want to fill
me in?”

  “There’s nothing to fill you in on.” Ian glowered at her. “If there’s something I’m not doing right, you’ll have to figure it out for yourself because I’m just a regular ole prisoner like everyone else here. I do my job, I dig for memroth, I meet my quota, and I work the train. If there’s something wrong with that, then you work out what it is.” Ian pressed the buttons and coordinates on the computer, so the train boomed louder, then he stood at the window and observed while it chugged out of the cave. He twisted around. “I’m going back now. You’re welcome to follow me if you’d like.” He shut off all the computers and stalked away from her.

  All the way back to his cell, he felt Nikolina behind him, her eyes burning into the back of his head. Were all the keepers this odd when they got their transfusion, or was there something different about her transformation? No wonder she didn’t want to become a keeper when she’d discovered what it would entail. No wonder she’d rushed to him to warn him beforehand. The fact she remembered everything except for who he was seemed a little off to him. He felt uneasy about the entire situation and a quiver grew in his stomach.

  That night, he snuck out of his cell again. He waited to see if Nikolina might appear, but as much as she was supposed to watch over him, she’d been nowhere in sight after dark the night before or tonight.

  He stole towards the mountains, the vials tucked safely away in his boot. He disappeared in between the rocks where the pathway was. Sidling along the rock wall, his heart pounded in his chest with anticipation. Once he could walk normal, he wiped his sweaty palms on his leather pants. He jumped out of the pathway and dashed to the edge of the ridge to see the landing strip. His stomach clenched when the landing was exactly as it was the night before, minus one spacecraft. Only one was parked on the strip, but no Waitforit.

  He turned around, slowly shaking his head and headed back to the pathway. He didn’t want to go back to his cell; he wanted to get on his spacecraft and get out of here. Away from keepers, away from memroth, away from Klaus… away from Nikolina. His body was heavy as he made his way back, as if his legs had hundred-pound weights hitched to them. All the way back to his cell, he fought hopelessness again. But he’d try again the next night, and the night after that and every night until Waitforit appeared.

  If only he could get to her before Nikolina’s memories came back in full. He had this sinking feeling in his gut that one day, and one day soon, those dangerous memories would return.

  ****

  “I called the cops on Price today. He tried breaking in again.” Malaki adjusted the phone at his ear. “He took off before they got here, but I spoke to them. They said I couldn’t do much unless they had it on camera or something, and there’s no cameras out there. Hmph. Maybe I should think about getting one.”

  “I can’t believe he shot you,” Lawrence said. “Man, I’m sorry I ever told you to let him break in. He’s really lost it. I think it’s high time The Circle decides what to do about Price. He’s got to go, Malaki.”

  “I know. Let me think about it. I can’t make it into town any time soon. I need to stay here at Ian’s for the time being. There’s a possibility he might be coming home soon.” Malaki opened and closed the front door he and Jonathan had just fixed, double-checking the job they’d done.

  “Really?” Lawrence’s voice burst with excitement. “He’s finally getting out of the hospital?”

  “Yeah. Finally.” Malaki raked his fingers through his hair. “I’m hoping within the next few months. It’s not for sure, mind you, but the situation is looking good.”

  “Maybe things can get back on track once he’s back, huh?”

  “Yeeeah, I’m not sure about that. Ian won’t be jumping back into The Circle or anything like that. But things should certainly shake up a bit with him home.” Malaki entered the ham shack and took a seat.

  “Anything’s better with Ian back, that’s all I know. I’ll call if I hear anything new from Price, and I’m gonna be in touch with the rest of The Circle, too. We’ve got to plan a meeting for some time soon. We have to, Malaki.”

  “I know. I know. You’re right.”

  Jonathan appeared in the room, holding up his cell phone, a dazed look on his face, shaking his head in slow motion.

  “I’ll talk to you tomorrow probably.” Malaki hung up his phone, staring at Jonathan. “What’s wrong?”

  “You have to hear the message Price just left on my phone. I’m-I’m shocked.” Jonathan moved toward him and sat on the arm of his chair, pressing buttons on his phone. “Just listen to this.”

  Malaki moved to the edge of his seat, staring at Jonathan’s phone.

  “Jonathan, where the hell are you?” Price’s voice echoed out of the phone. “You should be at the lab this moment, and Malaki Pederson is gone. I presume you have something to do with that?” A sharp intake of breath could be heard, but his voice sounded calm, nonetheless. “You might as well not even show your face around here again because if I set my eyes upon you, you are a dead man. And these aren’t idle words. You will be dead, and I will have the pleasure of making sure that happens.” The phone clicked.

  “Why would he ever leave a message like that?” Jonathan tossed his phone onto the small couch across the room and stood up. “I mean, I could easily let any law enforcement officer listen to that. What was he thinking? Does that man have any brains left in his head?”

  Malaki rested his head back in the chair, thinking.

  Jonathan continued. “Well, I assume he thinks that if he knocks me off, he’ll destroy my phone as well.”

  “But he doesn’t know where you are, and you’re quite safe here, so that message is out there now. What a fool that man has become. I’ve known this for some time, but I’ll say it again: he’s not right anymore. Up here.” Malaki tapped his finger to his head. “I can’t wait for Ian to get back, so we can finish him off once and for all.”

  “Yeah, me, too.” Jonathan flopped on the couch, picking up his phone. “Wait? Finish him off? What do you mean by that, and when is that going to happen?”

  “Don’t worry, we’re not gonna kill the man. But we could let the cops listen to that. I mean, he did attempt to break in here last night.” Malaki shook his head. “And I don’t know exactly when Ian will be back. But I hope soon. All I can do is hope.”

  “That’s pretty cryptic.” Jonathan chuckled.

  “Yes, it’s cryptic, but it’s all I can say for now.” Malaki sighed. “Believe me, as soon as I learn more, you’ll be one of the first to know.” He pushed himself to standing. “In the meantime, I’m not sure if I want to get the cops too involved in this, but I do think I’m going to get a message to James and Henry, Edward and Julian, so they’ll put D.R.O.P. on hold for now. We can’t have any new prisoners going to Reathran at this time. We just can’t.”

  “All right. I guess I don’t understand why, but you’re the man. I trust you.”

  “And we’re going to somehow try to set up a meeting of The Circle without Price. The entire Circle needs to be aware of what’s happening with him, and moving forward, we need to be united. ”

  “Good idea,” Jonathan said. “Just tell me when and where.”

  “That’s what we have to figure out. I’ll be in touch with Lawrence, and we’ll get it worked out. Obviously, I can’t be going into town, and you shouldn’t either.” Malaki put his hands on his hips.

  “Why can’t we just meet here? It’s safe here.” Jonathan raised his eyebrows.

  “I’ve thought of that, but I’m not sure.” Malaki tapped his finger to his lip. “It is safe. I’ll think on it some more.”

  The next morning, Malaki lay in bed, thoughts ricocheting through his mind as he tried to sort out all that had to be done: a meeting of The Circle minus Charles Price, where they should have said meeting, Ian and the vials, Ian and his ability to reach Waitforit. And with that thought, another one—what if someone tampered with Waitforit while Ian was working out how to make an escape? What
would he do if—

  “Malaki! Get up. You’ve got to listen to this latest message from Price!” Jonathan pounded on Malaki’s bedroom door.

  “Give me a second. I’ll be right there.” Malaki checked the time. Six-thirty a.m. He sat up and wiped his eyes. What was that man threatening now? Malaki got out of bed and opened the curtains, letting the early dawn light into the room. It always gave Malaki a sense of peacefulness. He yawned as he stepped into a pair of jeans. He threw on a long-sleeved button-down shirt, leaving it unbuttoned, then ran his fingers down his short beard.

  “What is it now?” He opened the door, and Jonathan stood there, his mouth hanging open.

  “Just listen.” Jonathan held his phone up, and Price’s voice blared.

  “Since you’re not answering my calls and since you’ve not returned to the lab, please be informed that I’ll be collecting all cycles of memroth that we have in storage and any that you were currently working on. I’ll be delivering them to both facilities. Soon, there will be not one ounce left in the lab. Not one vial whatsoever. And besides that, I’ll dispose of all your precious Tetracaphoxin as well. And you know the danger this could cause. You know what this could mean. So, if you care at all about your product and about the people of this country, you’ll make your way here as soon as you hear this message. If I don’t hear from you or see your face in a matter of hours, all of the memroth cycles and the Tetracaphoxin are departing Washington D.C.”

  “What do I do? What do we do?” Jonathan’s eyes blinked rapidly, his face ashen.

  Malaki sucked in a deep breath. “We don’t rush to do anything. Just stay calm.” He strode to the kitchen and put coffee grounds and water in the coffee pot and pressed the start button. “First of all, we have a cup of coffee and pause to think this through.” He leaned on the countertop, folding his arms across his chest. “Do you really believe what Price is saying? I don’t believe him. He’d never do that. The memroth cycles and Tetracaphoxin are way more important to him than to us. It’s just his way of trying to get you to come back, or get me to come back, only to capture me, and maybe you, too. We can’t rush to anything right now. Think about who we’re dealing with, what he’s become, the psycho he is. We’re not gonna panic.”