Meilin and the Challenger

by Masters, Cate

  He sat first and looked up at her. God, she was gorgeous. In every way.

  She pushed his shoulders down until his head touched the mattress, and she knelt over him. His body felt like a bow stretched to its limit and ready to spring. He could hardly breathe.

  The difficult part was not moving. He didn’t want to scare her off. “Are you comfortable?”

  She lowered herself atop him, and her long dark hair fell like a curtain around his head. “I’m going to get this over with. We’ve both thought about it, and I have to know, before tonight, whether it’s as good as I imagined it.”

  “Okay.” He steeled himself as she tilted her head, closed her eyes and touched her lips to his. The sensation lit his veins with liquid fire. He managed to maintain his self-control until her mouth parted, and her tongue probed his.

  With a groan, he crushed her against him, but willed himself not to roll her over. Once he did, he wouldn’t be able to hold back.

  How long they kissed, he had no idea. He’d never been much for kissing before, but with Meilin, he never wanted to stop. If simply kissing her felt so amazing, sex with her would blow his mind.

  Not today. Not before the battle.

  He cupped her cheeks and spoke against her lips, “Meilin.”

  Her mouth moved against his. “What?”

  He groaned with the effort of restraining himself. “We should try to get some sleep.”

  “Mmm.” She pressed her lips harder to his.

  “I mean it.” When she slowly slid to his side, he tipped up her chin and kissed her forehead. “Sorry. Time’s running short. We have to leave in a few hours.”

  “I know,” she said, already sleepy.

  He held her tight to his side, closed his eyes, and released a ragged breath.

  Whatever happened tonight, he would make sure she came out of it alive and safe. And his.

  ***

  The insistent pounding at the door awoke Meilin. Her eyes flew wide, and though the dark made it impossible to see, she knew this room wasn’t hers. And someone held her. Will. Her tension melted away at the thought of his name. Miracle man, he’d appeared from nowhere, and rocked her world. Once he’d rocked the zombies’ world, they’d have time to explore – beyond the city boundaries, and each other.

  Zoe called, “Meilin, are you in there?” Her fists hit the door again and again.

  “Oh, man.” Meilin shook Will. “Hey, wake up.”

  He grunted. “What’s up?”

  “You need to be. It’s time.” Otherwise, Zoe would be sleeping. She fumbled for the light and switched it on.

  “I’m up.” He rubbed his eyes.

  She kissed his cheek. “Too bad we don’t have time for a shower.”

  With a lazy smile, he squeezed her. “Next time.”

  The thrill that shot through her chased away any trace of sleep. “Guess it’s show time.” Wonder if anyone else in history dreaded those words as much as she did?

  “Meilin!” Something thudded against the door and rattled it in the frame, probably Zoe’s foot.

  “I’m coming.” Meilin sat up, and looked back at Will. So gorgeous, sprawled on the bed, hair mussed and sleepy-eyed. No guy had ever gotten to her like him. She leaned over and kissed him. The softness of his lips surprised her, made her want more. He fisted his hand in her hair.

  “I better open up before my sister kicks the door in,” she whispered.

  He moaned. “She has lousy timing.”

  So did she and Will. She wouldn’t say it and spoil the moment.

  She flung open the door. “Save some bad energy for the zombies, Zoe.”

  Zoe glared at Will. “I could say the same to you.”

  “We were sleeping. Nothing more.” Then why did she feel like a kid caught doing something naughty? She shouldn’t; she and Will were fully clothed, boots and all. They’d kissed, that was all. For hours, maybe – a long, lush kiss that had changed her, and inflamed intense desire only he could quench.

  Zoe stepped inside. “Hurry up. The others are downstairs.”

  “We’ll be right down. I have to use the bathroom.”

  Zoe peered at her, then Will.

  She guided her sister to the door. “You don’t have to wait, Zoe. Go tell them we’re on our way.”

  With a final glare, Zoe strode away.

  Will scratched his head. “I’m glad she’s on our side.”

  “Sometimes I wonder.” Meilin went to the bathroom, splashed water on her face, but it still seemed like a nightmare. She braided her hair while Will took his turn in the bathroom.

  When he emerged, his shoulders appeared broader, his stance reminded her of a warrior. She took comfort from it; he’d trained for this. He’d see them all through.

  “Ready?” he asked.

  “Yes.” She was surprised to realize she meant it. His touch had smoothed away her frayed nerves, calmed her and energized her. The effects of his kiss still lingered. She was stronger. Ready to face what awaited them.

  ***

  As he hurried downstairs with Meilin, Will ran through a mental checklist. “You have your guns?”

  “They’re already stashed in the truck.”

  Great. She’d thought ahead, and obviously had prepped for a confrontation. Maybe not of this magnitude or scope, but Meilin had proven herself a fast thinker.

  Once they reached the others assembled by the truck, Will let his soldier instincts take over. After a thorough inspection and verbal checking-off of the weapons, including explosives, he felt satisfied.

  He found Mr. King. “Everything’s in order, sir. Give the word, and we’ll go. If you’re ready.”

  “I’ve been ready. Move out.” King glanced back at Dory.

  “It’s best if you two ride in the back of the truck. More protection. I’d like to use one of your daughter’s motorcycles, and have Zoe and Meilin take theirs in case they need a fast getaway.”

  “I’m not leaving before it’s finished,” Zoe said.

  “Neither am I,” said Meilin.

  Mr. King pointed at his daughters. “If I tell you to go, you’ll do so immediately. And if you can’t take orders, don’t bother going.”

  Zoe’s mouth gaped, then snapped shut. “Yes, Father.”

  King turned to Meilin. “Meilin?”

  She stood at attention. “I respect your wishes, Father.”

  Her answer unsettled Will. She hadn’t agreed, exactly. If it came down to it, he had a feeling she’d fight to the last no matter what her father said.

  After Mr. King helped Dory into the truck and climbed in next, he cornered Meilin. “We don’t need any wild cards in the group. We function as a team.”

  She bristled. “I know.”

  “A good team player follows orders. Remember that.”

  “Don’t patronize me, Will.” She tugged on her helmet, straddled her motorcycle and revved it.

  “It’s the last thing on my mind, believe me.” He tried the helmet beside the nearest cycle, a tight fit but worth it. The visor must be another invention of the sisters. Though it was an hour before midnight, everything appeared clearly, nothing distorted or hidden from view by the darkness.

  Another of Meilin’s inventions? She’d developed the night binoculars. Could the visor detect zombies as well?

  Riding beside her, he glanced over. The way she handled the bike with such ease, she’d ridden for years. Odd that Mr. King would have allowed his daughters such vehicles, especially in a city with mass transportation. None of them required personal vehicles. Not for the first time, he wondered if their father had brought these girls together for this very purpose: to use their genius against the zombies. Had he targeted the adoptions from families around the world with genius in their genetic makeup? King had obviously given them all excessive latitude, but also made sure their training included fighting skills and strategy. Again, odd.

  Meilin pulled ahead of the truck to lead it down the deserted road. In twenty minutes, they reach
ed the site where she and her sisters had set up the dance floor. While the truck backed into position behind cover of leafy brush, he scanned the area with the binoculars. No sign of the undead moving forward.

  But it wouldn’t be long before they came shuffling up. What if they didn’t bring the daughters, as Nevin agreed? Would Nevin himself show up? So far they’d operated on the assumption he’d kept the girls alive, but had Nevin turned them into zombies? They couldn’t rule anything out.

  Drucker appeared at his side. “Where do you want my men?”

  A tricky question. “They need to position themselves in between here and the mines, where the zombies’ lair is. High enough in a tree so they won’t see you, but not too high, so you can drop down without too much noise. Wait until the last zombie has passed, then head to the mines and plant the explosive charges.”

  King broke in. “Don’t set off the charges unless you’re sure all ten of my daughters are part of the group that passes you. Got it?”

  Drucker nodded. “The men understand it’s critical to count all ten girls among them.”

  “Good,” Will said. “Set the charges for no more than five minutes. We can’t chance any zombie left behind coming across them. We have no idea how many are intelligent and how many are drones.”

  Meilin carried the spray bottle over.

  “Line up,” Drucker ordered. “The spray will mask your scent. If you’re still enough, the zombies won’t know you’re there.”

  After coating each guard, she stepped back. Drucker sent them ahead. “Cell phones on silent, men, but keep them on. Call for help if you need it.”

  It sounded great, but a few of the men looked skeptical enough that they probably thought the same as Will: who would be able to come to their rescue?

  No one. Tonight, every person would be fighting for their lives. He’d keep Meilin in his scope. Any zombie who tried to harm her would find a bullet first.

  ***

  Meilin should have been fearful, or at least worried. She wasn’t. Having Will there bolstered her confidence. “What do you want me to do?”

  “Launch a satellite to fire lasers at the zombie camp?”

  “Sorry, no launch pad in City, and no rockets anywhere near. The closest thing is the one helicopter remaining, but no pilots.”

  “You mean, your father never taught you?”

  “Not because we didn’t nag him.” She’d have loved to learn to fly it. “Satellites are too unreliable anyway.”

  “True.” He grew serious. “You and Zoe should do whatever you did last time. Set the lights, the music, basically set the stage for the show to start.”

  She walked up to him. “Close your eyes.”

  He did, and she kissed him. “Keep them closed.” She sprayed him thoroughly, and said a silent prayer.

  “Don’t forget yourself. And Zoe.”

  She sprayed Zoe first, then handed the bottle to her sister.

  Zoe aimed it and shot, but it sputtered. Her eyes widened. “Meilin…”

  “That’s it, I guess.” Everyone else had had their dose, at least.

  Fists clenched, Zoe stared. “Why did you use so much on him? You knew it was low.”

  How could she explain so Zoe would understand? The zombies had to be stopped, and Will had a better chance than she did. “Let’s get in place.”

  Zoe tossed the bottle at the truck. “Shit. Just great. Now I have to worry about them coming after you.”

  Of all the times for her sister to rant, this wasn’t it. “I can handle myself, Zoe.”

  Her sister stared at the ground, then met her gaze. “I know. Sorry.”

  Whoa. Sorry? “Don’t get all wishy-washy on me. Buck up.”

  “I will if you will, baby girl.”

  Meilin couldn’t ignore the taunt. “Don’t call me that. You’re only six months older than me.”

  “You’re still the youngest. Probably why you’re so boy crazy.”

  Dammit, would Zoe ever stop? “Shut up. You didn’t tell Father about Will, did you?”

  All innocence, Zoe asked, “That you slept with him?”

  Anger flushed away her nervousness. “I did not!”

  Her sister feigned a perplexed expression. “That’s what you said, you two slept together.”

  “Right, but we didn’t sleep together, we just slept.”

  Zoe tapped her cheek. “I’m not getting the nuance of it.”

  Meilin’s hopes deflated. “Tell me you didn’t tattle.” Zoe had a nasty habit of sharing information she’d rather keep confidential.

  Wide-eyed, Zoe blinked. “Are you guilty? About what?”

  The movement in the woods caught Meilin’s attention. Shit, here they came. Stupid. Meilin figured out what Zoe was up to. Always full of surprises, and sometimes even a good one. “Thanks.”

  Zoe unlatched the safety. “For what?”

  “Keeping my mind off it.”

  “Off what?”

  She pointed. “The big bash at midnight.”

  Hopefully, the bash would squash some zombie brains, and she and her sisters could once again dance – all twelve together.

  ***

  During battle, Will changed into a different guy, a hardened soldier. Long ago, he’d learned to slow his breathing, train his attention on the enemy. Focus on staying alive by every possible means. Overseas, the other soldiers teased he was a fighting machine. He wanted to be that machine again tonight. He wouldn’t allow the zombies to claim victory and hold the girls hostage, and he wouldn’t lose another comrade.

  He visually located Drucker, hidden on the opposite side of the dance floor. Zoe and Meilin gyrated to the music like it was a Friday night on the town, but he knew that once the zombies came near enough, they’d grab their rifles and blow away as many as possible.

  Mr. King waited in front of the dance floor. “Zoe, turn the music down please.” A typical parent’s refrain, but here, it held greater weight.

  In three steps, she flipped the volume knob to low. Club music pulsed through the ground in softer vibrations.

  Meilin moved behind her father, rifle strapped to her back. Zoe did the same.

  At a moaning command, the ragtag troup advancing on them halted.

  Zombies held the daughters, and he counted all ten. From his perch, he couldn’t decipher whether they’d returned in the same condition – alive – as they’d departed. Soon enough, they’d find out.

  King called, “Show yourself, Nevin.”

  “Call off… your goons,” came the gravelly reply.

  “You have my daughters. Do you really think I’d risk their lives?”

  “I hope not… Robert.”

  The crowd parted as Nevin stepped forth, his expensive business suit tattered. One eye drooped, rot loosening it from its socket.

  King shook his head. “Nevin. I’m so sorry.”

  “If you had… followed my… suggestions, Robert… this wouldn’t… have happened.”

  “City had no funding for such extreme measures, Nevin. I couldn’t.”

  “Oh, Robert. You’ve set… certain measures… in motion, haven’t you? Now that your daughters… are under threat?”

  King’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “Be reasonable, Nevin.”

  “Unfortunately, reason… is no longer… one of my skills. Unless, of course, it’s from… emotional detachment. Since they… turned me, I feel… nothing.”

  Will had to pity the guy. Once successful, respected and loved, the man obviously still had no wish to join the ranks of the zombies, even as leader. Too bad he’d risked such a foolish move. Nevin would lose.

  “Release my daughters, Nevin.”

  “Of course, Robert.” His smile revealed extensive facial decay. “After you… take their place.”

  King turned awkwardly to Zoe and Meilin, hugged them, and strode to Nevin.

  Nevin’s sickly smile widened. He held up a rotted arm and snapped. “Now.”

  With an ununified yell, the zombies charged.


  Will first aimed at the nearest zombie holding a girl. With a single shot, he blew off its head. He leveled his scope at the next, and the next, and the next. Drucker did the same.

  Zoe and Meilin fired off rounds from atop the tall speakers. A squeal sounded, and fear fizzled through Will. A zombie leaned over Dory, who laid on the ground. He brought his rifle around, but Dory was faster. She blasted the zombie from where she lay, and then scrambled from its path as it tumbled down.

  Will turned back to the others. Why did the girls not run? They’d fallen to the ground when he killed off each zombie. They’re drugged. It was the only explanation. But with what? Zombies had no access to medications of any sort, did they?

  And the other zombies hadn’t bothered to carry them off again. He sighted Nevin, who’d wrestled King to the ground. What the hell was the zombie doing? Looked like he held a needle and injected King. Before Will could squeeze the trigger, Nevin’s body jerked backward as a gunshot sounded. Will caught sight of Dory lowering her gun. Another zombie rushed her. He squeezed off a round and it flopped backward, then laid still. He did the same with the next three who lumbered toward her.

  An explosion rocked the ground, and its vibration shook the tree beneath Will. “Time to join the party.” He dropped down from the branch and headed for the thick of the action, picking off zombies as he ran.

  The girls hadn’t moved. He knelt beside the nearest and touched two fingers to her throat. A pulse, but faint. Same with the next, until he’d checked them all. Alive, but not functioning.

  He got a visual on Meilin; she’d finished off the zombies within range.

  She hurried toward him. “Are they all right?”

  He released a slow breath. “They’re alive.”

  “That’s not what I asked.”

  He met her gaze. “I don’t know. They’re unconscious, hardly any pulse. We have to get them home.”

  He stepped over them and jogged to King, still on the ground but conscious.

  Nevin moaned, and rasped, “What did… you do to… my people?”