What Remains_Mutation

by Kris Norris

  “All we need is for a couple things to go right. We can adapt the rest.” She curled her hand around Cogan’s forearm. “We’re out of time. The supplies here are getting low and we’ve already tried every other entranceway. This is our best shot. You guys know how to use this equipment. How to work the levers on the truck. All I have to do is get us to Lelin’s lab.”

  “Right. Because fighting off infected on the roof and dragging your ass through the ventilation system is easy.”

  “I’ve dragged my ass through ducts before.”

  Cogan groaned. “That doesn’t make me feel any better about it.” He ran his fingers through his hair, glancing at Jake and Sully. “I really don’t like this but… It’s worth a shot. But only as long as we’re ahead of them. We’ll get to the truck…see if we can even get the damn thing started before the horde’s on top of us. Then access from there.” He stepped up to Harper, getting as close as he could without actually touching her. “But only if we all agree to do this as a team.”

  Her smile was nothing short of wicked. “Ah, baby, I’m touched you three think I could take on all of you and not have it end in a repeat of this morning. I’m good, and individually, I wouldn’t bet against me, but as a team…” She leaned into him, pressing her chest against his. “I’d rather call a truce and get my revenge as promised with you three tied to the bed. Unless you’d like to go a few rounds first? Just to see.”

  Cogan chuckled, snaking his arm around her and claiming her lips in a quick, hard kiss before tapping her ass. “Wench. And I think we’d rather maintain our foolish belief that we’d be more than a match for you and forgo the ass-kicking for now.”

  Jake moved in beside the couple. “Assuming we reach the truck without getting swarmed then what? Who goes with Harper?”

  “I suppose we could do a round of rock, paper, scissors, but my gut’s telling me it should be you.”

  Jake glanced over at Sully, but the man nodded.

  “Don’t look so surprised, bro. It’s no secret you can run and climb faster than Cogan and me. Not to mention the fact you jump like a fucking gazelle on steroids. Those traits could come in handy. If we’re putting Harper’s life at risk, we’d better sure as shit give her the best backup she can get. I’m not too proud to say that in this instance, that’s you.”

  Jake forced himself to swallow, praying he didn’t choke in the process. “I won’t let you guys down.”

  “Never have yet.” Sully winked at Harper. “And that was when it was only our sorry asses on the line. But with a rear-end like hers…” He whistled. “No doubt in my mind you’ll take extra care to ensure it stays in one piece.”

  Jake smiled as the tension in the room eased.

  Harper snorted, pushing Cogan back as she went to retrieve her bow. “And just when I thought we were making progress on those alpha tendencies of yours.” She slung the weapon over her shoulder. “Let’s do this, before one of you decides I’m too fragile, and I end up having to kick that man’s ass just to prove a point.”

  Jake shook his head, collecting what little there was to take with them. He checked his weapons, choosing to ignore the fact that they were running low on ammunition, as he followed the others out. Cogan led the way, carefully crossing the grounds toward the tree line where they’d hidden the Hummer. He moved quickly, but silently, using whatever natural features there were to keep them hidden. Jake kept checking their six, ensuring nothing surprised them as they sprinted the last few yards to the SUV. Sully removed some of the brush they’d used to camouflage the vehicle then climbed in, keys jingling in his hand. He waited until a small group of infected wandered past, disappearing over a low rise before starting the engine. The motor purred, the steady vibration making Jake’s skin bead in anticipation.

  Shit, after all the years he’d spent on the job—all the burning buildings he’d raced into without thinking twice—he’d never had a case of nerves like the ones churning low in his gut. A fear that he’d fail and let his team down. Let her down. He glanced at Harper. Her gaze seemed focused on the path ahead, her features schooled and firm. She looked every inch the operative she’d once been, and he had an odd realization that she probably could have taken them all down at once. And the fact she’d chosen not to spoke more about her skills than if she’d tried to best them. She must have felt his gaze. She turned to look at him, gracing him with a stunning smile.

  Fuck. One look, one damn smile, and his heart flip-flopped in his chest.

  He reached over and gave her hand a squeeze as Sully maneuvered onto the main road, heading straight for the gate. Though the damn thing had been breeched long ago, the fence line beyond still sported a sizeable chunk of chain-link. Sully revved the engine, shifting gears as he hit the barrier full force, making the Hummer shimmy across the pavement. The tires squealed before finding purchase on the asphalt, hurtling them forward again. The length of fence fluttered against the windshield then flew over the top, clattering onto the ground behind them.

  Jake braced his arm against the side of the vehicle as Sully took a corner going way too fast, nearly tipping the damn SUV over. But the man managed to keep it upright, aiming for the fire trucks parked a few hundred yards in front of them. He hit the accelerator, knocking them back in their seats as the Hummer ate up the distance only to slam on the breaks when they reached the vehicles.

  “Move!”

  Cogan’s voice sounded loud in the stillness, the urgency in it impossible to miss. Jake yanked open the door and jumped out, glancing behind them. A mass of pale fresh undulated around the far bend, bobbing and weaving as they tracked the group’s new location. Shrieks and grunts echoed across the open space, followed by the pounding of feet on the pavement.

  Harper jumped onto the side of the truck, climbing to the top. She swung the bow off her shoulder, notching an arrow as she waited, holding the shot as the horde neared. A soft twang was the only indication she’d fired, drawing another as the first hit home.

  Jake made a quick survey of the machines, deciding to focus on the ladder truck Harper had climbed. The other was a tanker, and while they could use any remaining water to keep the horde back, it’d only last a fraction of the time they needed. Instead, he searched the first fire engine, looking for anything obvious before joining her, rifle snugged into his shoulder. He took a shot every time she paused to grab another arrow, downing infected as they raced at the machines. But the mass kept moving, the steadiness of its gait more than unnerving. Sully and Cogan had disappeared inside the cabin, and Jake crossed his fingers the damn vehicle would start.

  Jake pounded his foot against the back of the cab. “We’re nearly out of time if we want to retreat back to the Hummer. About fifty yards.”

  “Sully’s working on it. Despite his checkered youth, these damn things aren’t that easy to hot-wire.”

  “Well he’d best hurry or we’ll be stuck on this thing either way. And those fuckers look like they could climb the damn building let alone this truck.”

  Cogan grunted but didn’t reply. He didn’t need to. Jake knew the man was aware of the situation. He didn’t need more pressure. Harper’s labored breathing sounded beside him. Jake glanced at her, noting the way her jaw clenched. She spared him a quick scowl, motioning to the horde.

  “I’m fine. Shooting arrows is just more work than you’d think. And I’m already onto my second lot. I’ve got three more quivers, but I’ll have to take a break and start knifing. I’ve only got a few rounds left in the pistol.”

  “Fuck.” Jake dropped several more. Another ten seconds and there wouldn’t be enough time to retreat. He shouldered up beside Harper, ready to snag her arm and pull her back to the Hummer when the engine rumbled to life, rocking the machine back and forth. “Hell yeah, Sully!”

  The vehicle lurched forward, and Jake grabbed Harper, holding onto her as they picked up speed. Jake frowned, wondering where the man was heading when they crashed into the line of zombies, bouncing bodies off the front.


  Harper cursed, slipping a knife out of her belt as she glanced over the edge. Her breath hissed through her teeth, her hand whacking him in the shoulder. “Some are latching onto the sides. We can’t let them get all the way up here.”

  Jake nodded, scanning the opposite side when a head popped above the edge near the back. He lunged toward it, bashing it with the butt of the rifle, knocking it onto the pavement. Its head cracked against the hard surface, the dull sound reverberating through the air.

  Cogan opened a small window at the rear of the cab. “There’s too many. We’ll never get the ladder deployed before they’re all over us. We’ll head out. Regroup. Wait for them to dissipate a bit.”

  Jake whacked two more off the side, turning toward Cogan. He took a couple steps when a growl sounded behind him. He spun, barely getting the rifle braced in front of him before the zombie was on top of him, teeth snapping as they fell backwards. He held it back, trying to shift his weight when the creature’s head snapped back, the hilt of a knife sticking out of its gray flesh.

  Harper appeared beside him, grabbing the zombie’s shoulders as Jake shoved it off. It toppled over the side, another dull thud sounding in the distance. His heart thrashed against his ribs, threatening to pound clear through when her face blurred into view.

  Her hands ran the length of his body before her gaze settled on his face. “Shit. Jake. You okay? Did it touch you?”

  He shook his head, accepting her hand as she helped lever him up, his chest still heaving. He scanned the small space, but they’d left the horde behind, nothing but trees on either side of the vehicle as it sped down the road. Her fist connected with his shoulder, drawing his attention.

  She snapped her fingers in front of his face. “Snap out of it. It’s gone. But I need to know if you’re okay?”

  “If you call being smothered by one of those things okay then yeah. I’m fucking perfect.” He ran a shaky hand through his hair. “Never been that close to one. Shit, they stink.”

  “Probably has something to do with the fact they’re dead.”

  “Actually Kace says…” He released a slow breath. “Forget it. You’re right. Those things aren’t breathing.” He gave her a smile. “Thanks.”

  “Figured I still owed you for carrying me back to the Hummer that first day. Wouldn’t want to feel pressured into repaying you other ways.”

  He laughed. Damn, he loved her. “Right. Wouldn’t want that.” He held out his hand. “Come on. We should brace ourselves until Sully pulls this thing over. Can’t imagine where he thinks he’s going but… Guess we’ll find out when he does.”

  Harper grimaced but knelt down beside him, wrapping one arm around the ladder mechanism before taking his free hand. She flashed him a tight smile, though he could tell by the firm press of her lips she wasn’t happy. Hell, neither was he. But Cogan had been right. They wouldn’t have lasted another two minutes let alone gotten the truck positioned and the ladder extended. Not with the numbers baring down on them and the bastards moving the way they had. He kicked at the metal as he leaned against the side of the truck.

  They’d failed.

  Again.

  Only this time, they’d lost more than some arrows and ammunition. They’d abandoned the Hummer, not to mention a healthy portion of their supplies. And god only knew if the truck had enough gas to do more than strand them somewhere even worse. So much for not jeopardizing the mission. He closed his eyes, nothing to do but wait.

  Chapter Eleven

  Sully slammed his fist on the steering wheel as he eased the truck onto the gravel at the side of the road. They’d traveled several miles west of the facility, and he didn’t want to go too far in case the truck unexpectedly broke down and left them stranded. He’d only planned on driving to the perimeter of the grounds, until those motherfuckers had somehow latched onto the sides of the truck as he’d rammed into the horde. He’d seen Harper and Jake kill more than a few before disappearing from his side-view mirrors. He guessed they’d cleared the top, but with the increased speed the zombies had displayed, he hadn’t taken a chance they’d be on them again before they’d done more than lick their wounds.

  Another goddamn train wreck.

  The knowledge sat heavy in his gut as he shoved the truck into neutral, engaging the parking break. Turning the engine off would save on fuel, but he didn’t want to chance he wouldn’t get the damn thing started again. It’d been more than resistant the first time. No sense testing their bad luck even more.

  Cogan gave his arm a pat. “It wasn’t your fault. You got this baby running. We couldn’t have anticipated there’d still be that many infected mulling around. I swear they just appear out of thin air.”

  “Did you see the way they scaled the side of the truck? While we were moving? That’s wrong, bro. Seriously fucked up.”

  “I swear they’re still getting stronger. It this keeps up…”

  The man didn’t finish. But Sully knew how the story would end. In blood and chaos with nothing left alive worth saving. And all their own doing. He slammed his hand again when Harper and Jake jumped off the side, kicking up a cloud of dust. Jake looked about as pleased as Sully felt. Harper gave them both a grim glance then stalked to the front of the truck, scanning the area before leaning against the grill, back stiff, head shaking.

  Sully winced. He knew that despite the fact she and Jake had killed dozens of the creatures, buying them the small measure of time that had probably saved their lives, she’d blame herself for their retreat. Their inability to access the building and get the damn samples Kace needed. It didn’t matter that they’d been outnumbered. It only mattered that they’d run.

  He pressed his head into the seat then cracked open the door, making his way around to the front. She’d crossed her arms on her chest as she stared at the horizon, her expression neutral. He moved over to her, nudging her arm. She tensed her jaw, finally looking at him.

  He kicked at the dirt, not sure how to make her feel any better when he felt like shit. “We had no choice, Harper. We wouldn’t have lasted another minute parked there.”

  Her expression softened a bit as she nodded. “Funny how the truth doesn’t make me feel any better about it.”

  “Maybe not. But at least we have a chance to come up with a new plan. If we’d stayed…”

  She snorted. “What difference does it make? Nothing we’ve tried for the past week has worked. We’re just fooling ourselves. Face it. I blew it when I dragged Lelin’s ass out of that facility three months ago. Then I sealed our fate when I let him get away from me.”

  “You saved Cogan’s life. And the bastard would have found a way to get himself killed sooner or later. Most likely with you right along with him. And we both know he wasn’t going to simply give you the serum, even if you had dragged his ass back to the compound.”

  “Maybe Kace—”

  “Could have what? Forced the man? Reasoned with him? Appealed to his sense of honor as a scientist?” Sully stepped closer. “You don’t create this kind of horror and have a change of heart. The guy wanted to destroy mankind. Simple as that.”

  “Looks like he did a damn fine job.” She pushed off the grill, taking three heavy steps away before turning to face them. “I’m starting to think the only thing left to do is burn the bloody building to the ground. Take as many of them with it as we can.”

  Cogan inhaled sharply. “Burn? Fuck, that’s exactly what we need to do.” He pounded his hand on the hood. “Sully, kiss the girl. Kace was right. She’s brilliant.”

  Harper stared at Cogan, brow furrowed, as the man grabbed Jake by the sleeve and pulled him toward the rear of the truck. She took a step to follow when Sully snagged her around the waist, smiling at her gasp of surprise as he tugged her into his chest, his mouth coming down possessively over hers. Her muscles tensed until his tongue slid past her lips, a soft moan sounding between them. She relaxed, moving with him when he deepened the kiss, fisting his shirt as if wanting to keep him close. He sav
ored the moment, aware it’d be over before he’d gotten enough of her. Shit, he’d never get enough of her.

  She hummed contentedly when he finally eased back, her eyelids fluttering open. A sea of deep green stared up at him, her lips still slightly parted as if inviting him back for another round. He accepted, allowing her to control this one, loving how she arched against him, the subtle scent of her arousal drifting to him. He pressed his erection against her stomach. Damn little minx affected him too easily. He’d be lucky not to have his balls turn blue before they were done.

  She rested her head against his chest when they parted, her fingers making patterns on his shirt. He drank in the scent of her skin, her hair. The subtle aroma of flowers from some soap they’d found in the bunker.

  He smiled against her hair, running his hand through the long strands. “Cogan did tell me to kiss you. I couldn’t disappoint the man.”

  Her laugh was real. Gut deep. “Maybe we’ll get lucky and he’ll tell you to make love to me, too.”

  “I don’t need to be told to want to do that.” He glanced at their surroundings. “Though I’d hate to be caught with my pants down out here.”

  She slapped his shoulder. “Buzzkill.” She eased back. “I suppose we should go see why Cogan thinks I’m a genius.”

  “Easy, Einstein. I believe he only used the term brilliant.”

  She winked at him. “Jackass.”

  Sully offered his hand, and she laced her fingers with his as they walked to the rear of the truck, watching as Jake and Cogan removed supplies out of several different compartments. Sully glanced at the objects they separated from the rest, pieces of the puzzle clicking into place.

  He shook his head, scrubbing his free hand down his face. “Damn. Please tell me you’re not thinking what I think you are? ‘Cause, bro, that’s seriously messed up.”

  Harper pulled her hand free, stepping over to Cogan. “What? What are you thinking?”

  Cogan stopped to look at her, excitement playing across his features. “It’s like you said. We should burn the facility to the goddamn ground.”