Lethal Injection

by K M Lovold

  He paced in front of them. “No, it will be too difficult. We’d have to kill him, and none of us would agree to that. I propose we confront him with what we know and move forward from there. He’ll have to talk to us, confess what’s been making him act so corrupt, so criminal.”

  “We just have a chitchat with him?” Henry Nash asked with an edge to his voice. “Like it’s no big deal he’s attempted to kill Malaki.”

  “No, that’s not what I mean.” Prescott’s voice grew louder, more serious. “But we can’t get rid of him. We’ll confront him and see how he responds. Let’s see what he has to say for himself. The confrontation will force him to change his behavior, the way he’s been treating Malaki, and his whole paranoia about Ian being gone.”

  “And then”—Browning stood next to Prescott—“The rest of us can begin prepping the next one moving up in The Circle. We’ll narrow it down to the top three anyway. We need to be prepared. Because I seriously think once Price knows we have his number, things will start to move swiftly.”

  “What, you think he’ll just go back to normal? Bounce back to good ole Charles Price, who was never really liked by the most of us anyway?” Malaki rubbed the middle of his forehead.

  “No.” Jonathan pushed his shoulders back. “He’ll take himself out. Someway or another, he’ll take himself out of The Circle.”

  Julian stood. “Let’s schedule a meeting then, minus Malaki and Jonathan, and we’ll confront him, and then we’ll see how things play out from there. Whoever’s in agreement, raise your hand.”

  All nine did so.

  “Very well, now let’s eat.” Julian marched to the door leading to the kitchen. “I’m starving, and I’ve had about as much of this conversation as I can stand for now.” The rest agreed heartily.

  Malaki opened the grill and started prepping and firing it up, a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. Shaking his head, he whispered to himself, “I don't see this turning out well.”

  ****

  Ian shuffled his way down the edge of the mountainous terrain toward the landing strip, his heartbeat drumming in his chest. He slipped and skidded, kneeling so he slid on his butt, but there were too many rocks and boulders to slide far. He worked his way around a rock here and a boulder there, his hands scuffing and scraping along the rough ground. He finally reached the bottom and tipped his head back, thrusting his fist into the dark sky, and broke out into a run.

  Halfway to Waitforit, a voice echoed across the landing strip, “PRISONER 4-1-5-8!”

  Ian came to a halt mid-step and twisted around as if in slow motion, his shoulders tight.

  David strode down the same rocky hill with ease.

  Ian turned back toward Waitforit, licking his lips and gasping as if in pain, and he put his hand to his chest. Then he returned his gaze to David, who now stepped onto the landing strip.

  “Don’t even think about it.” David approached Ian, pointing his finger at him. “You think you can wander around every night and we won’t know it?” He motioned to the row of parked spacecraft, including Waitforit. “You think you can board one of these ships? Maybe escape your prison?” He barked out a laugh. “You’re stupider than I thought you were.”

  “I’m not stupid.” Ian’s breaths burst in and out, his thoughts focused on the vials hidden in his boot, with his escape route so near. “And as a matter of fact, yes, I think I can board one of these ships and escape my prison.”

  David’s mouth fell open, an incredulous daze on his face. “All this time I thought you were one of the smart ones, seeing as you get the privilege of working at the train.” David sauntered around Ian, seeming to size him up. “You’re the one Klaus needs because you’re so blasted smart he says. Except”—David rubbed his hands together, moving his face inches from him—“He also doesn’t trust you.” He squinted at Ian, moving his face inches from him. “Why is that?”

  Ian took a couple steps back, straightened, and turned on him, stalking towards Waitforit.

  David grabbed Ian’s shoulder with a death grip and spun him around. “Don’t you walk away from me. Who do you think you are? You are not allowed to be wandering around at night, and you’re certainly not allowed to walk away from me or be down here by the spacecraft. Now, you’re going to head back to the cell blocks, and I’m going to summon Klaus. He’s going to hear about this immediately.” David lifted his arm and pressed his fingers to his wristband, gaping at Ian, his nostrils flaring. “And we’ll see what happens to you next. But I believe your days at the train will be coming to a harsh but complete end, Ian Knockshine.”

  “Yeah, they will. But not because of anything you’re doing.” Ian moved into David’s personal space, pinning him with his glare. “But because I will no longer be here to attend to it.” He did an about-face and stormed across the landing strip, Waitforit looming closer.

  “What the devil?” David darted around in front of Ian, holding up his wrist, pushing his fingers on the wristband as if the more dramatic he was about it would make a difference.

  “Get out of my way.” Ian shoved David aside, the pounding in his ears almost deafening. He forced himself to remain calm, refusing to allow David to discover how critical this moment in time was for him. If he didn’t make it to Waitforit this second, he was done. A goner. He’d lose all freedom. They’d know he couldn’t be controlled, that he was innocent, and he’d probably be executed in the gas chamber or shot dead on the spot. It would be the end of all things for him. He stared at Waitforit with tunnel vision, breathing deeply, and broke out into a run, clenching his fists and bracing himself for the next attack.

  “I said.” David’s keeper strength caught up to Ian and yanked him, slamming him to the ground. “You’re going to go back to your cell block to face Klaus.”

  Ian fought and punched back without thought. His hands were already scratched from scuffling down the rocky edge to the landing strip, but he felt no pain.

  As a keeper, David was stronger. He overpowered Ian and pinned him with his own weight, staring him down. “What is going on with you?” Spit spewed from his mouth as he pressed Ian’s arms down, and Ian smelt his putrid breath. “Why are you not obeying my command?” David’s muscles and veins strained against the skin in his thick neck.

  “’Cause you don’t know who I am. Now get off me!” Unexpected strength flooded Ian as he fought. Spacecraft or die, spacecraft or die. His vision clouded, his throat dry from rushed breathing. “Get the hell off me!” With one last buck and kick, he threw David off, jumped to his feet, and dashed to Waitforit.

  A scream-like laugh came from David behind him. “You think you’re going to board that spacecraft? You think you’re actually going to fly that thing and leave this place?” His high-pitched voice pierced Ian’s gut. He was certain that as far as David was concerned, Ian could make a run for it, because there’d be no way he was going anywhere.

  But he didn’t know who Ian Mitchell was.

  And before he reached Waitforit and have his retinas scanned, David wrenched him by the arm again.

  “So, you can ignore our orders, huh? Fine, but you won’t get away from me.” David clutched Ian’s arm so tight, his blood flow came to a halt. Then David turned around, heaving Ian with him. “Nikolina! Do what I told you! Go get Klaus now!”

  Nikolina? Ian pivoted, searching for her. Would she be the one to demolish his escape? The one who wanted to help him more than any other?

  Nikolina stepped from the darkness, tall and lean, putting one booted foot in front of the other, almost as if in slow motion, all the while glaring at Ian, a sly grin on her face. “I’ve already called him. He’ll be here any second.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  The last two days inched by for Malaki. The meeting with Price was happening that afternoon, and Malaki’s gut was in knots. Ever since The Circle had decided to confront Price, Malaki couldn’t feign the foreboding washing over him.

  “Everything will work out. Don’t worry about it.�
� Jonathan started up Ian’s boat. “It’s good this is happening.”

  “I know it’s good, but Price isn’t going to take it well. I don’t trust him. God only knows what he’ll do.” Malaki set a small cooler in the boat. He and Jonathan decided that while the meeting was in progress, they’d try to get their minds off it by getting the boat out on the water. Lake Canyon was huge, and they could spend hours cruising along. They brought their fishing poles with, too. His arm had improved the last few days, and while it was still sore and slow-moving, he no longer wore the sling.

  “The rest of The Circle will be there around him. They’ll make sure he’s OK before he goes off on his own. What do you think he’s gonna do?” Jonathan asked. “Go after them and try to kill them?”

  “With him, you never know.” Malaki grabbed the steering wheel while Jonathan untied the boat from the dock and shoved it off, jumping into it at the same time. “You’ve only known him for a few years, you don’t quite understand the difference in him. I’ve been working with him for twenty-some years.”

  “I know.” Jonathan returned to the driver's seat and turned the motor up, and they sped away from Ian’s dock. “Sorry if I’m making light of this. I am new, but I want you to be wrong about Price. I hope he’s OK with everything once he finds out everybody in The Circle knows about him.” He gripped the steering wheel, his short blond hair whipping back in the wind.

  After Jonathan caught three fish and Malaki one, they spent the next hour zipping along the water’s edge, observing the many different homes and cabins situated there. The beauty of the rocky shoreline with colorful gravel, and waves lapping the shores of beautiful houses nestled off in the distance was quite a site. Under a brilliant sun, ducks floated among patches of weeds. The sight of them, mixed with the calmness of the water, and Malaki was finally able to put his feet up and relax somewhat. He almost didn’t want to return, but they had to. Lawrence promised he’d be calling not long after the meeting finished, which he suspected would be a couple hours long with everything they needed to talk to Price about.

  They approached the dock, and Jonathan jumped out and tied the boat up. They grabbed their stuff and hauled everything to the deck. Jonathan disappeared to clean the fish while Malaki rushed to his phone. Sure enough. Lawrence had already tried calling. Sooner than Malaki had expected. He called him back right away.

  “Malaki, I’m glad you called.” Lawrence answered immediately. “The meeting’s over. It’s done.”

  “Well, tell me everything. Or better yet, drive over here. Jonathan and I are putting fish on the grill. Come eat with us. You can tell us everything in person.”

  “That sounds better. We have no spacecraft coming in or going out since D.RO.P. has been put on hold. I’ll double-check with Benjamin, make sure he’s OK with it, and I’ll head straight over. I’m sure he’ll want me to come and fill you in on everything anyway.”

  Malaki set his phone down and hollered to Jonathan that Lawrence would be there to eat and fill them in.

  “Great idea,” Jonathan yelled back. “I’ve got the fish. You get everything else ready.”

  Malaki went to the ham radio room and turned it up a notch.

  He grabbed the microphone. “CQ, CQ, this is E0NQT Standing by for a call.” He paused and listened, but nothing. He sighed heavily.

  He strode back onto the deck, rubbing the back of his neck. I hope everything went OK at that meeting. He peered into the sky at the setting sun. The boat jostled softly, and a loon sang nearby.

  He stood there a few minutes, gently massaging his sore shoulder, mesmerized by the sounds and beauty, when he heard a loud snap down the driveway.

  His head turned toward the noise. It almost sounded like a bolt of lightning striking a tree branch. “That’s strange. Not a cloud in the sky.” He trotted down the deck and around to the front of the house and a short way down the driveway and listened. Nothing. No other sounds. Must’ve been an animal or something.

  An hour later, Lawrence called and said he was at the security gate.

  Malaki opened the gate from the house and secured it the moment Lawrence drove inside.

  “You been messing with the scanner to the gate?” Lawrence asked when he stepped out of his truck.

  “No. Why?” Malaki asked.

  Lawrence shrugged. “Looked like it wasn’t fastened to its spot as tight as it should be.”

  “Probably from when Price attacked it the other day. I’ll go look at it in a bit, make sure it’s secure. Come on in for now and give us a general telling of how the meeting went. The table is set, and dinner is served.” Malaki handed him a beer.

  “I’ll get right to it.” Lawrence took a sip of his beer and cut into his fish. “First off, we straightaway told Price why we’d called the meeting. Told him we’d all met with you and Jonathan and that we knew everything.”

  Lawrence went on to describe how they’d repeated to Price everything they knew.

  “Well?” Malaki had barely touched his plate, his appetite slowing.

  “He argued with us.” Lawrence wiped his hands on a napkin. “He attempted to defend himself, and this went on for a good hour. It’s no use describing it since the argument went round and round, with Price getting angrier and angrier. His face was red with rage and determination to be right.” Lawrence paused to chew and swallow. “But it was no use, and in the end, he saw that.”

  “Were all seven of you in agreement the entire time?” Malaki sipped his beer.

  “Yes, yes, of course, we were. We knew what we had to do.” Lawrence leaned back in his chair. “In the end, Price calmed down. It was quite miraculous actually.” He chuckled. “He succumbed to our demands, which are to leave you and Jonathan alone and to be in touch with at least one of us every single day. We also asked him to meet with one of us every other day, if not every day. But we’re giving him some time to decide if he wants to leave The Circle on his own. Unheard of I know, but we gave him that option. We decided that even though no one has ever left The Circle outside of death… except Ian… there’s no reason we can’t make some new options for some. So, we’ve been looking at the next recruits, and so far, depending on you being in agreement with us, we all pretty much want to bring on the first woman to The Circle. We’re thinking of Jules Garrison. What do ya think?”

  “I think Price will never leave The Circle. We didn’t talk about this option when you all were here the other day. Where did this come from? He’s never going to leave.” Malaki stood, his shoulder throbbing a bit, so he grabbed a couple aspirin.

  “Settle down.” Lawrence held his hand up. “We thought of it last minute, before Price showed up. We knew he wouldn’t leave, and he won’t, but we wanted to throw out the option to make him stop and think. We wanted him to know how serious we are about this.”

  Malaki returned to his chair, staring at his plate of fish and corn on the cob. “All right, all right. Sorry. It took me by surprise is all.” He swallowed the aspirin with a gulp of beer.

  “Well, don’t worry, because like I said everything went–”

  The lights flickered in the house. Three seconds later, the power went out, then popped back on, and Malaki heard the quiet sound of the generator running downstairs.

  “What’s that?” Jonathan asked.

  “I forgot about how this happens sometimes with electricity.” Lawrence stood. “I miss this.”

  Malaki jumped up and ran to the front door. “But why would it go out like that? There’s no storm, there’s no reason.” He looked back at Lawrence and Jonathan. “Something’s fishy about this. I’m going to check. You want to a come with?”

  “You bet.” Lawrence pulled back his sport coat, revealing a gun packed on his hip. “Let’s go.”

  Jonathan followed suit.

  The three men trekked down the driveway, dirt and pebbles crunching underneath their footfalls.

  “What do you—” Lawrence whispered.

  “Sssshhh.” Malaki shook his head at
both of them. “Not now.”

  As they approached the end of the driveway, Malaki noticed a couple sparks of electricity. “What’s the meaning of that?”

  And that’s when he saw it.

  ****

  “Come and help me hold him.” David panted, his voice emotion-choked. “He keeps trying to get away, as if it will do him any good.” He laughed again with an edge, and this time Nikolina joined him. “He’s not responding to my wristband, and I can’t control him. Something’s up with this one.”

  “Oh, really? You think you’re going to escape, prisoner?” Nikolina’s dark eyes pierced his, and she clomped her booted foot on his chest and stared at David. “I’ve got him. You should go and make sure Klaus knows where we are.” She dropped to her knees next to Ian.

  “No.” David shook his head. “I’m gonna stay here with you. I don’t want this one getting away. You have no idea the trouble he’s caused me just now. This one’s in for it. Besides, if you told Klaus where we are, he’ll find us. He’ll be here any second.”

  Nikolina nodded. “Suit yourself.”

  David gripped one of Ian’s arms while Nikolina clasped the other. He locked eyes with her and lifted his head, attempting to speak to her without words. Remember me, Nikolina. Remember who I am. He peered into her brown eyes, but her gaze darted back to David. Ian slumped, his head thunking back to the ground. He was so near to Waitforit; she was right there. So close. He had to break free and get to her. He blinked rapidly as images of escaping on that craft and returning to Earth flashed through his mind.

  He aimed his sight on the scanner near the doorway to the ship. Once his retinas were scanned, that doorway would open, and within seconds, he’d be locked safely inside. Another scan inside the ship and he’d be able to start her up. Nobody else would be able to open the door or fly her. Only Ian. To be piloted once by anyone, and after that it would be on lock-down, only to be used again by Ian. Just him.

  He continued taking deep breaths, his back straining against David and Nikolina’s combined power. It could not end this way. A flashback of Klaus shooting Jack raced through his mind. Klaus would do the same to him without question. Ian stared painfully at Nikolina, but she wouldn’t meet his gaze.