The Colony

by Kathleen Groger

  I couldn’t change what happened, no matter how hard I tried. I needed to stop feeling sorry for myself. I stood and gave one last look up, then went back into the barn.

  Megan was still asleep and Adam sat across from her, exhaustion obviously winning the battle no matter how hard he fought.

  “Adam, you need to get some sleep.” I plopped down next to him. He didn’t answer me.

  I turned and glanced at him. He had curled onto his right side and fallen asleep. Heat rolled off him and into the small gap between us. If he was on the side of his wound, it must have healed more. Good. It helped patch the hole of guilt in my gut.

  I clicked on my flashlight, got up, and walked to the far side of the barn. What looked like the back seat from an old car sat on the floor. Various tools hung on pegs on the walls and metal parts in plastic jars littered the one workspace. I had no idea what they were for; farming wasn’t something I knew anything about. The scent of oil hung thick in the air. I rummaged in a few of the boxes, but the only thing I found of use was a small flashlight. I tucked it in my pocket and moved to the opposite corner. Chains of various lengths and thickness hung from the wall. The rest of the barn turned up nothing of any help. Hadn’t these people stashed food anywhere?

  I walked back to where Megan and Adam still slept. My head hurt. It was as if a spear jabbed into my temples, sending a sharp pain radiating through my skull. I had a headache like this one last year, the night I tried to pull an all-nighter to study for my chemistry final. Sleep was trying to wrap itself around my body. I had to fight. I was the lookout. I sat down, stared at the lone candle, and counted to keep myself awake.

  My eyes flew open and I scrambled to my feet, my gun already in firing position. I’d fallen asleep, and I was supposed to have been on guard duty. I turned so quickly that I knocked over the candle and it ignited the hay. I stomped on it over and over. Luckily, I put it out and relit the candle. What an idiot. Thank God, Adam and Megan still slept. I turned on my flashlight and searched the barn. Same stuff as before, but my heart refused to stop pounding. I took a few deep breaths willing myself to calm down. I must have had a dream or something.

  My nerves only went further on alert. I walked to the door, tried to open it without waking the others, and slipped outside. Darkness engulfed me. I leaned against the side of the barn next to the door and waited for my eyes to adjust.

  The moon was almost full and cast eerie shadows around the crops. It had to be early in the morning, maybe three or four. A fog worthy of a good horror film rolled across the fields. It felt like the part in every cheesy movie where I’d scream at the dumb girl to go back with the others or she would die. I didn’t take my advice and instead stared, transfixed, at the hypnotic waves of the fog.

  Noises I hadn’t noticed before filled the air. The corn stalks in the fields rustled and the leaves on the trees whispered. I caught the mournful gurgle of frogs in the distance.

  A sudden chill raised the hairs on my arms. Something moved in the field. I squinted, seeing nothing. The vegetation crunched. Was it a threat or an animal? I raised the Glock and waited.

  Then nothing. No more strange noises. Like whatever it was, stopped. I waited for what seemed like an eternity, then I slipped back into the barn.

  “What were you doing outside?” Adam stood and put his hand on my shoulder. The heat of his skin seeped through the fabric of my jacket.

  “I was right outside the door. I think there’s something in the field.”

  “What?” He pulled out his gun, ready to go.

  “I don’t know. It stopped moving about ten minutes ago.”

  “Raspers?”

  “I was thinking an animal, but it could have been anything. Should we wake up Megan?”

  “No. Let her sleep. Come on, let’s check it out.”

  “Maybe we should wait till it’s light out.” Even though my rules had pretty much gone to hell, I still couldn’t completely abandon them.

  “Probably. But I’m not taking a chance the bastards are surrounding us. Let’s go up in the loft.”

  We climbed the ladder to the top, and went to the hatch in the wall at the front of the barn. It was bigger than a window and wider than a door. I unhooked and pulled back a latched wooden cover, revealing a large opening. The gap was big enough for me to climb through. Adam moved to the right side and I took the left. My boot slipped a fraction, and I grabbed a wooden beam to steady myself. The creepy fog was even worse than before.

  We waited, with our guns aimed at the field. “We should have brought the shotgun.” I said it so softly I wasn’t sure I’d actually said the words aloud, but Adam nodded.

  The frogs had gone quiet and the leaves barely whispered. It was as if nature paused because a predator waited in the mist. My stomach twisted as I strained to make out any movement in the field.

  Adam raised his index finger and pointed to his right. I followed his direction and squinted. At first, I saw nothing. Nothing but rows and rows and rows of corn stalks. Then I spotted it. Just beyond the ruined house. The corn stalks moved ever so slightly in an unnatural way. I nodded.

  Then I heard the rattling breathing of a Rasper.

  How had they found us? It was as if they had a damn GPS locator on us. The bastard moved into view. My finger itched on the trigger, but we needed to wait. Our ammo was low and we needed to see how many were out there. We were so dead if it was a horde. Three or four we could handle. Any more than that, we were in trouble. Or, worse yet, if they had weapons.

  I stood still while every muscle in my body screamed for me to move.

  The Rasper cleared the cover of the crops and left himself completely exposed. The desire to shoot the bastard overwhelmed me. The grip of the gun slipped in my damp hand. The Rasper turned toward the barn and stared. Had he heard us? No, he couldn’t have.

  Minutes ticked by and the Rasper remained alone. Finally, he took a few steps forward. The moon highlighted his face and I could tell the blood drained from mine.

  It was him. The Rasper from the picture. The Rasper from the car. The Rasper who knew my name.

  Without warning, he ran toward the barn and slammed into the wooden door, smashing it into pieces.

  “Shit.” Adam ran to the loft’s edge. I followed right behind.

  The Rasper stopped when he spotted Megan.

  My throat swelled. I reached the wooden railing to the loft just as he looked up, his gaze locking with mine.

  “Val.” The Rasper held his hands out like he wanted me to rush into his arms for a hug.

  Like hell.

  “Cover me.” Adam shoved his gun in his jeans and climbed over the railing. He leapt from the loft and slammed into the Rasper. I aimed the Glock. No clear shot. Damn it. I couldn’t risk hitting Adam. The Rasper landed a punch to Adam’s stomach. Adam recovered and grabbed the Rasper by the throat. They rolled and rolled. The darkness made it hard to make out who was who—and who was winning.

  I shoved the gun in my jeans and slid down the ladder, the sides ripping my palms raw. I dropped to the ground and pain exploded up my legs. Through watery eyes, I leveled the Glock. Still no clear shot.

  I holstered the gun and picked up an iron rod from the ground. I charged at the Rasper, hell-bent on bashing in his head. I was only a few feet away. I lined up the target, closed my eyes, and swung the rod like my dad had taught me to swing a softball bat. The rod connected and I opened my eyes. I expected to see half of his brains oozing from his skull. But no, he must have turned at the last minute. I’d hit his shoulder instead of his head.

  The Rasper hit Adam in the jaw and tossed him onto the ground. Adam groaned and struggled to his feet. The Rasper turned to me.

  I raised the rod again, swung, and connected with his hand. He yanked the weapon from my grip and threw it at Adam. The rod hit him in his injured arm.

  “Aaah.” Adam grabbed his arm and dropped back to the ground.

  I reached for my gun.

  Smack. Bursts
of pain burned my cheek. The slap from the Rasper stunned me long enough for him to push me backward. I stumbled and fell. Scrambled for the gun.

  “Val. Come. It’s time.” His hand reached out. The candlelight reflected off the pearly tip of his finger. He was close enough I could smell his rotten breath. I rolled and tried to get away. It was no use. His hand wrapped around my leg and tugged me back. I kicked with my free foot, but his grip was too strong. This was it. Adam couldn’t help. Any second now I—

  A gunshot rang out. The Rasper’s right knee exploded in a shower of blood. Another shot and his left knee was minced. The Rasper crashed to the ground with an unnatural growl.

  I looked at Adam. He was clutching his wound, and he was unarmed.

  I spun around. Megan stood with the shotgun still aimed at the Rasper, even though it was empty.

  “You asshole. You killed my family. I won’t let you have my friends.” Tears poured down her pale face. “They’re all I have left. They can’t die, too.”

  “Megan—” I started to tell her thanks, more than just thanks, but her eyes widened. I turned back to the Rasper. He tried to stand. His busted kneecaps wouldn’t let him.

  “Quick, grab some rope or something to tie him up.” Adam hollered and aimed his gun at the Rasper’s head. “Don’t move, you son of a bitch.”

  I sprinted back to my bag and ripped out the rope. “What should I do?”

  “Can you tie knots?”

  “Not well enough to hold him.”

  “I can. Uncle John taught me.” Megan handed me the shotgun.

  She tied the end of the rope around one wrist, and then proceeded to wrap his hands in a complex web of knots and bindings. When she was done, Adam hoisted the Rasper to his feet and pushed the muzzle of his gun into the Rasper’s back. The Rasper sniffed the air. What was he doing? He should be in pain, but he was sniffing. Crazy mutant.

  “That’s the same Rasper from the car roof.” I stepped backward.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Positive. He must be tracking us somehow.” Saying the words aloud sent a chill through my lungs, making it hard to catch my breath.

  “Well then, all the better we didn’t kill him.” Adam shoved the gun harder into the Rasper’s back and directed him to the old car seat. “Sit here. Megan, can you grab some of the chains?”

  She grabbed a length from the wall. She expertly tied the Rasper’s feet together then bound him to the seat. He sniffed the whole time. Freaky. I propped two flashlights up on the hay on opposite sides of the floor so the beams highlighted him. His knees were no longer bleeding. Holy hell.

  My fear turned to anger. Anger I was so hungry. Anger I had lost my parents. Anger I had lost my way of life. The life I loved. It was time for answers.

  “Are you Dr. Kane?” I demanded of the Rasper.

  He swiveled his head from side to side and sniffed again.

  I pointed the Glock at him. “Look at me.”

  The Rasper met my gaze and a shiver slithered down my arms. I couldn’t look away. “I asked you if you’re Dr. Kane.”

  “The human life form you name has been terminated.” The Rasper spoke in a monotone voice. The chills moved from my lungs and snaked down my spine at the way he pronounced each word, as if it were an individual sentence.

  “He’s dead?” Megan picked up the shotgun and cradled it to her chest.

  Another sniff, then the Rasper bobbed his head up and down. “The human data has been retained by the Colony.”

  “What the hell does that mean?” Adam jabbed the muzzle of his gun into the Rasper’s arm.

  I held my hand up. “Hang on, Adam.”

  Adam stepped back, but kept the gun trained on the Rasper.

  “Why do some people…” I cleared my throat. “Die right away?”

  “Human control vessel primitive. Some balanced. Most imbalanced.”

  “What does that have to do with anything?” Megan took a step toward him and shifted the gun forward.

  The Rasper sniffed again.

  “Injection of Colony buds only grow in balanced humans. Injections into imbalanced causes termination.”

  Holy mother of God. The sting was how it created more. Goose bumps broke out all over my body. Thoughts of silver Bug babies swimming through my blood and lodging in my brain forced me to one knee.

  Megan took another step toward him. I caught him shift his bound hands. His index finger twitched. His stinger. His pearl-white stinger was still intact.

  “Meg—”

  I lunged. Shoved her out of the way. Unloaded two bullets into his hands.

  A streak of blue whizzed past the spot where Megan had been and ricocheted into a support beam, leaving a black scorch mark.

  “Megan, are you okay?” Adam pulled her behind him.

  “Yeah.”

  “Glad to have you back, by the way.” He gave her shoulder a quick squeeze.

  I fought the urge to shoot more bullets into the Rasper. Blood dripped from his hands, then stopped, just like his knees. I should have checked his finger. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. “Damn, Megan, I’m sorry.”

  They were evolving too fast. This Rasper could shoot his venom. Shit.

  The Rasper’s face shifted from a mask of pain to a serial-killer smile. “Fresh human.”

  “He’s here for me?” Megan’s voice shook and she retreated to the pile of blankets.

  Anger roared through my veins and my heart pounded the drumbeat of battle. I aimed the Glock at the Rasper’s chest. “Is that why you are following us? To turn us into your zombies?”

  The Rasper cackled and a stench of rotten meat spewed from his mouth. “I didn’t follow us. I track the life form Val.”

  An anvil of weight crushed my chest. Adam held my arm to steady me. “Me?”

  “You. Are. Val.”

  I couldn’t think. It was crazy. What would the Raspers want with me? The desire to cry warred with the urge to shoot the Rasper in the head. It was a stalemate. I stood there with my mouth hanging open unable to shut it.

  “Why does the Colony, as you called it, want Val?” Adam asked.

  “Val. Join us.” His gaze locked on mine again. As much as I tried, I couldn’t look away.

  “Like hell she will.” Adam stepped in between the Rasper and me, breaking the crazy eye contact.

  “Why me?” I rubbed my palm down the back of my hair. Breathed. In and out.

  “Queen commands you join Colony.”

  Queen? What the hell? Why? How? My mind swirled with unanswered questions. I sank back to my knees. This couldn’t be real. I had to be dreaming.

  “Where are you from?” Megan asked in a hushed whisper.

  “Far away.”

  “You’re an alien?”

  “Do not understand.”

  Aliens? Where did Megan pull that from? But what if he was? No. Aliens weren’t real. But…

  I pointed the gun at him. Their damn queen knew my name and wanted me. My throat constricted.

  I’d reached my limit. I couldn’t listen to this crap anymore. I choked down my terror. It was time. Time to fight back. Time to survive. Whoever the guy had been in human form was already dead.

  “Adam, Megan, trust me.” The irony of my words rang in my ears. “If you can, tell your queen I’m not interested.”

  I aimed for the Rasper’s chest and pulled the trigger.

  17

  The bullet screamed from the gun and tore through the Rasper.

  Megan gasped, her hands quick to cover her eyes.

  Adam stood motionless.

  I shoved the Glock in its holster, grabbed an old plastic spaghetti jar from the workbench and dumped out the metal parts. Running back to the Rasper, I skidded to a stop in front of him.

  Blood soaked his shirt crimson and his eyes had rolled back so only the whites were visible in his yellow skin.

  “Why?” Adam wiped his palm across his forehead.

  “Watch.” I prayed for my theory to work. I prayed I h
adn’t just done the stupidest thing ever.

  Megan’s brown eyes peeked out from behind her fingers. The barn was silent. Dead silent. I knew what I had to do. If I missed, we’d all be in jeopardy. The loud crack of the Rasper’s jawbone breaking away from his skull exploded through the silence.

  “What’s happening?” Megan squealed and clutched Adam’s arm.

  Skin ripped from the Rasper’s face and his teeth fell from his mouth like a set of dominoes crashing to the floor. It should happen soon; I just needed to wait for it. I stepped closer, only inches from his body, holding the container in my right hand and the lid in the left. My heart rate pounded the insides of my rib cage. The Rasper’s tongue flopped out of what remained of his lower jaw, bounced off his shirt, hit the right knee, then landed on the floor with a wet thump. Megan made a retching noise, but I couldn’t tear my gaze from the Rasper.

  With a laceration of the lips, the Bug’s legs emerged. The metal creature crept down the face and onto the shoulder of the dead Rasper.

  I moved closer.

  It brought its front legs together. The metallic song sliced through my eardrums like a cheese grater scraping against a steel box. The Bug crawled down the Rasper’s leg and onto the floor. I moved at a speed that surprised even me, scooped the damn thing into the jar, and screwed the lid shut with a vicious twist. My insides matched the movement.

  “What is that?” Megan cried.

  “A Bug. You heard the Rasper. The human was already dead. I couldn’t let the Bug continue to use whoever the guy used to be.”

  I picked up one of the flashlights and shined the beam into the transparent prison. The Bug scuttled back as far as the jar allowed. Which—to my pleasure—wasn’t much. I searched, but couldn’t find any eyes. How did it see? Maybe it was like a bat and used that radar echo crap.

  I thrust my middle finger at the jar, but was sure the Bug had no idea what my gesture meant. Or even if it saw it. Still, that simple act made me feel better.

  “Now what?” Adam’s words shattered my thoughts.

  “Ah, I probably need to cut some air holes in the lid. Forgot to ask the bastard if they breathed air when they’re outside humans.” I smiled and a giggle slipped past my lips. “Oops.” My words sounded cold and a wee bit crazy. Maybe I was losing it. Maybe this was it. Maybe I had given up my mind to the metal Bug that was most likely growing in my head.