by Lucas Coon
“Igetit.”Mitchellshookhishead.“So,whatareyouthinking?” “I’llgethisattention.”Alexstaredoff.“Mitchell,Idon’twantto
burdenyoufurtherbut,ifheshootsme,blow him away.Just…” Alexfoughtbackafeelingofbothangeranddeepsadness.His handsmovedtoamotionthatmimickedstranglingsomeone,the veinsonhisarmspoppedandhisfacewentred.“Justaim forhis headandpullthetrigger.Don’tlethim killanyoneelse;don’tlet him hurtanyoneelse.”
“Youhavemywordonthatone.” “Good.Onemorethingthough…”AlexglanceddownatLilly.“If hekillsme,youknow thatCiarabecomesyourresponsibility.You havetotakecareofherandmakesuresheliveshappily somewherefarfrom here.”
“I’vealreadymadethatpromisetosomeoneelse,mayaswell makeitagain.”Mitchellnodded.
“Iwasn’ttalkingtoyou.”Alexsmirkedandkneltdowntoward Lilly.“You’lltakecareofCiaraifanythinghappens,right,Lilly?” “Yes.”Shenoddedinconfirmation.Shewasastrong-willed child,thatwasclear. “Good.”Alexstoodbackup.Heglancedupanddownthe hallwaywithoutpurpose.“Denver’scoming.Weshouldmoveinto place.”
Judas,ontheotherendofthesituation,knew hewasgoingto diehere.Therewasnowayhewasgoingtogetoutofthisalive. Alexhadagun,Mitchellhadagun;neithermanwasgoingtolet him leavethisroom alive.Thethoughtwasn’tinthebackofhis mind,itremainedfrontandcenter.Itwasafifty-fiftychancethat histhreattoAlexintheparkinglotwouldbeenoughtostophim. Hefiguredfifty-fifty,atleast,butheknew hecouldcome.He knew thatAlexwasgoingtoplaytheheroandhefiguredthat theywouldkillDenverontheirwaytohim.Hiswholeplan revolvedaroundhurtingAlex,nothingmore.Hehadn’teven thoughtofwhattodowithCiaraintheslim possibilitythatAlex didn’tcometoherrescue.Theyhadgottentotheroom without aim.Hesatherdownandplacedallthenecessarytoolsintheir preciselocations,thenhejuststopped.Hewantedtocontinue hisfather’swork;hewantedtomakeanameforhimselfand improvetheGrigorevlegacy.Thiswasuntiltherealityofthe situationsankin;hehadnoideawheretostart.Upuntilthis moment,hehadplottedeverythingsothoroughly.Hehadgotten from thehoteltothehospital.He’dtakenhisfather’sresearchon theresistance;itwasthorough.He’dfiguredoutthemethodto makehimselfresistantthatdidn’tinvolvethemutilationthat Denverpreferred.Itwasasimpletask;spinthebloodofan infected,injectthewhitebloodcellsintravenously;therewas nothingelsetoit.Hewasresistant,hehadasubject,hewasin therightplace;buthecouldn’tfigureoutwhatwasnext.Should heinfecther?Shedidn’tdoanythingtodeservethatkindofpain.
Thethoughtsofhisfather’sdisapprovalfloodedashesat thereandstaredatCiara.HisfatherhadinfectedtheBarbers, attemptedtoinfectMitchell,andwasmorethanwillingtorunhis testsonthem.Thiswasthemomentwheneverythinghithim at once;hisfatherwasamonsterandhewasn’t.Hisfatherwas willingtokillpeoplefornothingmorethanresearch,hewasn’t. Judashadbackedhimselfintoacornerfornothingmorethan theapprovalofadeadmadman;amanthatwouldn’thave secondguessedinfectingCiara.Hewasn’tthatman.Hedidn’t wanttobethatman.Hedidn’twanttolivelongenoughto becomethatman.Alexander,ontheotherhand,hadbeenthat man.Hewasanassassinofsorts,killingbecausehewastoldto. Thatwasenoughtowarrantactionfrom Judas,evenifitwasthe lastthinghedid.
“Judas,thiscanendhere.”Alexkepthisrifledown,and shiftedhisbodyforward,hislegsmovedtotakeasinglestep towardJudas.Judasmetthisactionbysteppingforwardand liftinghisrifle;heaimeditdirectlyatAlex.“Alright,badmoveon mypart.I’m notgoingtomoveanycloserthanthis.”Heliftedhis handsup.“IjustwantCiara.Whateveryou’replanning,itdoesn’t havetohappen.Wecanendthispeacefully.”
“No,wecan’t,Alex.”Judassmirked.“Ithinkeveryoneinthis room knowsit.” “Look,youmentioneddiploma–”
“There’sahandfulofwaysthatthiscanend.”JudascutAlex off.“I’vebeendoingalotofthinkingoverthepasthourorso…” JudassteppedinfrontofCiara.“Atthispoint,Iam theonlything standingbetweenyouandyourdaughter,I’m theonlything standingfirmlybetweenAlexanderLangleyandwhathewants. There’snodiplomacy,Iknow how thisallplaysout.”
“Thenyouknow you’renotgoingtomakeitoutofherealive, Judas.Thisdoesn’tendwellforyou,ifyoucontinuewhat you’re–”
“Shutup!”JudascutAlexoffagain.Heliftedtherifleto positionandaimeditdirectlyatAlex.“Iknow that!I’veknown thatforawhilenow!Iknow thepathIchose,andIam wellaware ofwhereittakesmebut,this…”Hepaused.“Thisismylast stand,thisismymomenttomakemyexit,andI’veplottedthis speechoutinmyhead,soit’sgoingtohappen!”Judasstared downthebarreloftherifleaimeddirectlyatAlex,hewaitedfor anyresponse.“I’m justatthepivotpointofmyplan;I’m ata pointwhereIhavetodecidewhoItakedownwithme.”Heglared angrilyatAlex.
“Icouldstartwithyou,Alexander.”Judas’eyesweredark. “You,themanthatmurderedmyuncle.Themanthatdestroyed therelationshipbetweenmyfatherandI.”Judasgrimaced.“I wantyoutorealizewhathappenedthatnight,afteryou questionedmyresultsonAria’stests.Afterthat,myfathertook everyopportunitytoexpresshisdispleasureinme,hemadeita pointtoremindmehow muchIhadfailedon,how muchIhad messedup.Itwasbecauseofthatnightheleftthebase.Itwas becauseofthatnightheleftme!”Judas’tonegrew more aggressive.“Irealizewhohewasnow;Iknow hewasamonster.I know allabouthisexperimentationontheinfected,andhow he plannedoninfectingothersjusttogetdatapoints.Iknow all abouthisplansand,despitethefactthatInow realizewhatkind ofmanhewas,Istillwishhewashere.”Judasglanceddownat thelargestainonthetile.“Thatspot,rightthere.That’swhere myfather,theonlymanthatcould’veturnedthiswholething around,wasshotdownandmurdered.That’sthespotwheremy father’sfrozencorpsewaswhenIgothere.Iwalkedintothis hospitalinhopestofindhim andgetoutofhere;insteadIwalked intothisroom andsaw acold,decayingbodythathadbeen partiallydesecratedbytheinfected.”Hisfocusliftedfrom Alex.
“You,Mitchell;youknow somethingaboutthat,don’tyou?” Hisarmsmovedslightly,thebarrelpointeddirectlyatMitchell. “Maybeyou’retheoneIshouldshoot,maybeIshouldmatchthe patternthatyourfriendputintomyfather.”Judas’eyessquinted. “Afterall,thinkingback,you’rejustasresponsibleforallthisas heis.Thetestresultsthatruinedmyreputationwithmyfather werethoseofyourwife.Itwasbecauseofherthathelooked downonme.Nottomentionthefactthatyouwerethereasonthe Barberfamilywashere.Ifitweren’tforyoucominghere,my fatherwouldstillbealive.Ifyouhadn’tbroughtthatmaninto thishospital…”Judaspausedandglanceddownward.
“Although,thebestwaytohurtyou,andtorepayyouformy father’smurder…”HeaimedthebarreldowntowardLily.“… wouldbetokillsomeoneheloved.So,ifIkilledthenewly orphanedchild,Iwouldbedoingthemostdamage.Iwouldtake myrevengeonhermurderousfather.Iwouldbecausingthemost painforyou,Mitchell.Lastly,IwouldgettoseethelookonAlex’s faceasachildismurderedbecauseofacircumstancethathe indirectlycreated.”Therewereseveralsecondsofsilencebefore JudasshiftedtheriflebacktoAlex.
“Allofthoseareoptions,butnotonesIcouldconsider.”The tensioncontinuedasJudasspoke.“No,Ican’tkillLilly,she hasn’tdoneanything.Ican’tkillCiarabecauseshehasn’tdone anythingtome.Mitchell,Imaynotlikeyou,andImayhaveitin myheadthatyouhavecausedmepain;butnoneofthisisyour fault.Youwantedtofindyourwife,Icanrespectthat.”Hestared atAlex.“Yousee,Alex,I’vebeendoingalotofthinking,andI thinkIunderstandwhoIam now,evenifitisforonlyafew more minutes;afew morebreathsbeforeIgettodieinthesameroom asmyfather.Ididallofthisforhim,originally.ThenIrealized whohewas.Idon’twanttobehim;Idon’twanttobeaman willingtokillanyoneandeveryoneformyowngain.”Judas shiftedhisfingerintothetriggerguard.“Idon’twanttobea monsterlikemyfather.Idon’twanttobeamonsterlikeyou…”
Judas’fingerstiffenedonthetrigger.HiseyesmetAlex’sina finalmomentofcertainty;theybothknew thatthiswouldbethe lasttimethey’dmeet.Theybothknew thattheotherwouldno longerbeabletocausepaintoanyoneelse.Judastookadeep breathandpulledhisfingerinward,thetriggerpresseddown withtherifleaimeddirectlyatAlexander.
“Denverhasn’tcomebackforawhile.”Judassteppedaway from hischair.“Thatmoronprobablygotlostinthehallways,or foundadeadpersonandisdoingunspeakablethingstoit.”He laughedslightlyandshookhishead.Afteramomentofpause,he glancedbacktowardCiara.“I’m goingtodosomethingthatIknow Iprobablyshouldn’t.”Hebeganwalkingtowardthedoor.“I’m goingtotrustyoutostayinthisroom andnotmove.CanItrust youwiththat?”
“Onlyifyouclosethedoor.”Ciarastaredathim,hehada curiouslook.Ifshewasgoingtoconvincehim thatshecouldbe trusted,shehadtothinkofsomethinglogical,that’show thisman operated;logically.“Ifthereareinfectedoutthere,I’dfeelsaferif thedoorwasclosed.”Heglancedatthedoor,thenbacktoher.
“That’sfair.Icandothatforyou.”Ciarawatchedhim step throughandclosethedoor.Hereyesfocusedonthedoorasher mindracedtoeverypossibility.Shehadtodosomething,shehad tomakeamovequickly;butshecouldn’triskhim walkingbackin andcatchingher.Sherememberedbacktothehundredsofthings herfathertaughtherabouthostagesituationsandkidnappings. Trustwasimportant,ifyoucouldgetthem totrustyouthenthey wouldeventuallymakeamistake.She’dproventhisalready,he trustedherenoughtoleaveheraloneandtoshutthedoor.Now shehadtowaittoseeifhewouldcomebackquickly,orifhe actuallytrustedherenoughtoexitthearea.
“Twentyseconds…”Shewhisperedtoherself.“One,two,three, four,five…”Ifhedidn’tcomebackwithintheshortperiodoftime, itwaslikelythathewasn’tgoingtocomebackuntilhecompleted whathewasdoing.“eight,nine,ten,eleven,twelve…”Hereyes begantoshifttovariouspointsoftheroom asshegrew impatient. “eighteen,nineteen,twenty.”Thedoorremainedasstillasithad prior,shehadabriefwindow tofiguresomethingout,anything thatcouldhelpher.
Ciarapushedherselfoutofherchairandbalancedasbestshe could.Ifshefellandwasunabletogetbacktoherseatbeforehe cameback,she’dhavetoexplainherself.Partofherthoughtthat wouldn’tgowell;Judasmayhavetrustedheratthemoment,butit waslikelyatemporarything.Asshehadthoughtbefore,he operatedstrictlyonlogic;itwasmorelogicalthatheneededtofind Denver,hispsychoticfriendwitharifle,thanbabysitatwelve-year girlwithoneleg.Hemostlikelythoughtthatshecouldn’tbring aboutanyharm tohim;hewasgoingtolearnavaluablelessonin trustingstrangers.
“Startwiththecabinets.”Shepushedforwardandcaught herselfonthecounterinfrontofoneofthemanydoorsonthewall. Shepulledthefirstoneopen;itwasfilledwithblanketsand pillows.Shemovedtothenextone;variouswounddressings, nothingthatwashelpfulhere.Shemovedovertotheclosetdoor,it housedawheelchair.“Nothing…”Shestartedtopullthedrawers open,theyhadvariousitemsinthem,butnothingthatwouldhelp hertotakehim down.Shemadeherwayaroundtheroom and checkedeverydooranddrawer,eachonehadmedicalitems; cottonswabs,smallflashlights,abloodpressurecuff.Shegotto thelastdrawerandpulleditopen.
“Oh!Whatthehell!”Shepulledbackindisgust.Thedrawer hadastenchthatwasindescribable.“Whatisthatthing?”She forcedherselftostareattheranciditem.Inthecenterofthe drawerwassomesortofinsectthathadbeenskeweredwitha ballpointpen.Despitebeingdead,theappearanceofthegored parasitesittinginadrawerwasmorethanenough.“Ibetthat’s Denver's,Judasdoesn’tseem likehewouldhavesomethinglike that…”Shepushedthedrawershutandturnedbacktofacethe room.
“Alright,thinkthisthrough,Ciara.It’sahospital.”Sheclosedher eyesandthoughtabouttheroom shestayedinaftertheaccident. “Theyaren’tgoingtoleaveanythingthatapatientcouldhurt themselveswithjustlyingaround.”Sheopenedhereyesagain andfocusedontheemptyspaces.Hertimetosearchwas incrediblylimited,andshehadalreadywastedmoretimethanshe hadwantedsearchingthemanystoragecompartmentsofthe exam room.“I’m notgoingtobeabletouseanythingoffensively here.”Thisthoughtwasfollowedbyacoupleofsecondsofrushed thought.“Ihavetomoveontobeingdefensive.WhatcanIdoto protectmyself…”
Shestaredovertowardtherifleonthecounter.Shewanted morethananythingtograbtherifleandstandwaitingforJudasto comeback.Shewantedto,butsheknew itwouldn’twork.Her framewastoosmalltoshootalargerifleliketheoneJudashad beencarrying,andhavingonelegwouldmakestabilizingan impossibility.Beyondthat,therewereonlytwothingsthatshehad learnedfrom herfathertakinghertothegunrange;thefirstwas thatshewastheworstshotofanyoneinthefamily.Thelasttime Alexhadtakenher,shemanagedtomissthetargetwithhalfofthe rounds,andblastthecornerfrom thepapertargetwiththesecond half.Alexthoughtthiswasahilariousoccurrence,shewasmore thandisappointed.Thesecondthingshelearnedwashow toclean avarietyoffirearms,andthatwasn’tgoingtobeofanyuse.
“It’snotlikeknowinghow tocleantheriflewouldhelpany…” ThisthoughtclickedintoCiara’smind,thefirststeptocleaninga firearm wasclearingit,somethingshe’ddonewithhandguns, shotguns,andanumberofrifles.Hereyeslitupashermind racedtoaconclusion.Shepushedherselfbackovertothecounter withtherifle.“Alright…”Shestaredatthecoldmetal.“It’sanMfour.Basicmilitary.”Shesmirked.“Dad,allthatstupidcrapyou taughtmemayactuallysavemylifehere.”
Ciaraturnedandleanedagainstthecounterasshepickedthe rifleup,shehadtobequick.Herhandsranalongthesidetoward themagazine.Theystoppedonasmallbuttonbesidethetopand pressedit.Withherotherhand,shepulledthemagazinefrom the rifleandplaceditbackonthecounter.
“Alright,that’sthefirstpart.Now Ihaveto…”Shepressed downonthetoproundandpusheditfrom itslocationinthe magazine.Themetalsmackedintothecounter,Ciaraquickly placedherhandonittostopitfrom fallingontothefloor.She pulledtheclosestdraweropenandplaceditdown.Sherepeated thisfortheotherthreeroundsthatwereinthemagazine.“OK, magazineisclear.”Sheplaceditbackdownandstaredattherifle. Shepickeditbackupandcontinuedthroughthemotions,pulling thecharginghandlebackandcheckingthereceiver,theriflewas cleared.Shepushedtheemptymagazinebackintotherifleand placeditgentlyonthecounter.Sheshovedthedrawerwiththe roundsclosedandsteppedbacktositdown.Emptyingtherifle wasn’tgoingtosavetheday,butitwouldatleastbuysometime, andtimewascriticalinthissituation.
Ciarashiftedinherseatandstaredattheroom onemoretime, hereyesstartingatthedoorandcirclingaround.Shecouldn’tstop herselffrom thinkingaboutAlex.Hewouldsaveher,healready hadtosomeextent.Shehateddoinganythingwithguns,andshe alwaysprotesteditwhenhewantedtoteachhersomething.For once,shewasgladshehadbeenattentive.Allshecoulddonow waswaitforsomethingelsetohappen.
Click. Thetriggerpulledinwardwithahollow sound.Therewasno explosion.Therewasnoroundfiredfrom thechamber.Therewas nothing.Thelackofanythinghappeningwasenoughtoconfuse mostoftheroom.
Click. Theroom satsilent.Theentireroom wasstill,withthe exceptionofJudas’finger.AlexstaredattherifleinJudas’ hands,thenglancedbackupatthemanholdingit.Judas’pupils shrunkandhisjaw clenchedtightly.
Click.Click.Click. Judaspulledthetriggeragain.Herepeatedthismotiona coupleoftimesbeforethesituationathandwasrealized.His fingershookinplaceinthetriggerguard.Hisjaw stiffened;he couldfeelhisfaceturningred.Hisheartrateshotupquicklyand hecouldfeelthepoundinginhisears.Thesilenceturnedinto heavybreathing,whichthenturnedintoaringingthathoused itselfdeepwithinhishead.Hecouldfeelhimselfbeginningto hyperventilateastheroom startedtospin.
Therewasnowayhewasoutofammo,hehadcheckedthe magazinebeforetheywentafterAlexintheparkinggarage.He wassuretoletDenverdomostoftheshootingand,byhisown math,thereshould’vebeenfourroundsleftinthemagazine.The riflehadn’tbeenshotsincethen,andhehadn’ttoucheditsince thethreeofthem gotbacktotheexam room.How couldtherifle possiblybeempty?Whoelsehadaccesstoit?
“Ciara…”Hespokesoftlyashestartedtoturntothegirlhe trusted.Heleftheraloneintheroom whenhewenttofind Denver.Helefttheriflesittingonthecounter,outintheopen andeasilyaccessible.ShewasAlexander’sdaughter,shelikely hadthetrainingandunderstandingofhow tooperatefirearms. Hewascorrectinhisstatement;leavingheralonewassomething heshouldn’thavedone.Thismistakewasgoingtobethesecond tolasthemade.“…youunloadedmy–”Hiswordswerequickly stoppedbyanincrediblysharppaininhisside;itwaswiththis helearnedhisfinalmistake.Hehadlefthisknifeinhislabcoat whenhetosseditonthetablenexttowhereCiarawassitting;he hadpracticallytossedaweaponintoherhands,thenimmediately pressedthebarrelofarifleintoherface.
Helurchedforwardundertheweightofthetwelve-yearoldgirl asshepushedhisknifeintohisleftside.Thebladeslippedinto hisbackwithlittleeffort;despitenotweighingmuch,herbody weightwasenoughtopushthesharpenedbladeintohisbody.He fellandhittheground,Ciarafellontopofhim,Shequicklyrolled offandpushedherselfbackagainstthecounterasshestaredat themanshehadjuststabbed.Hisscreamsofpainechoed throughtheroom asheattemptedtoreachbacktowardthe blade.Thepaincausedhim tostopreaching,thesweatandtears fellontothegroundashecontinuedhisscreaming.
“Ciara…”Alexstaredathisdaughter;shewasbreathing deeplyasshewatchedthebloodpoolaroundthemanshehad takendown.Hereyeswerewideandshetookquickshallow breaths.Itwasclearthatshewasinshock.“You…”
“How couldyou?!”Judasscreechedfrom hislocationonthe ground.Hehadstoppedfightingwhathappenedandhis screaminghadturnedintolow growls.“Itrustedyou!”He screamedashestaredatCiara.“Itrustedyou!How couldyoudo this?!Youweren’tsupposedtointervene!Itwassupposedtobe him!Itrustedyou,dammit!”
“Yeah,well,shedid.”Alexsteppedforwardandgrabbed Ciara’shand.“Itlookslikeshedidadamngoodjob,” “He�
�sgoingtodie…”Ciara’svoicewasquiet.“IthinkIhithis renalartery…” “Iknow.”AlexliftedherandsteppedhertowardMitchell.“It’s OK.Youdidwhatyouhadto.”Hestaredhisdaughterintheeyes, thiswasaneventthatwouldstickwithherforever.“It’salright, Ciara.Lookatme.”Alexsnappedhisfingerstodraw her attention.Herfocusshiftedfrom Judastoherfather.“Don’t blameyourselfforthis,youdidwhatwasnecessary.”
“I’m goingtokillyouall!WhenIgetup,you’realldead!”Judas onceagaingrowledfrom hisposition.Heattemptedtomove,the painbecametoomuch,causinghim toburstintoascream of agony.“Iswearit!Thisisn’tover,AlexanderLangley!”Thegroup offourstoodinthedoorway;theyallstaredateachotherbefore AlexsighedandturnedtowardMitchell.
“CouldyoutakeCiaraandwaitinthehall?”
“Whatareyouplanningondoing,Alex?”Mitchellglancedover tohim.Despiteallhe’dbeenthrough,thiswassomethinghe couldn’tgetusedto.
“I’m goingto…”AlexstaredovertoJudas,thenhisdaughter. HelandedhissightonMitchellagain.“I’m goingtoimprovise.” “Improvise?”Ciarastaredathim,herfacestillreflectedher ownshock.
“Mitchell…”Alexmotionedtowardtheexitagain. “Gotit.”Mitchellknew whatwasabouttohappen,hehad donethisoncebeforewithLillywhentheyhadrunintoKayla’s brother.Heshiftedhisarm aroundCiaraandpulledheroutof theroom;Lillyfolloweddirectlybehindhim.Theyexitedintothe hallwayandAlexshutthedoor.
Alextookamomenttostareatthedoorandthinkaboutthe situation.Thepersonthathewasalongtimeagohadslowly madeitswaybacktothefront-line.Hehadwalkedawayfrom beingthismanalongtimeago.Heclosedhiseyesandlistenedto thelaboredbreathingofJudasGrigorev;therewaspaininevery gaspofair.Hehadtofollow throughwiththis,hehadtodo something.Partofhim wantedtoleave,theotherpartwasina muchdarkerplace;thiswasthepartofhim thatrememberedthe painhefeltwhenJudastookCiaraonlyafew hoursprior.This wasthemanhewasgoingtobe,ifonlyforalittlewhilelonger.