‘Not the happiest of places,’ Chad murmured.
‘Not really,’ I agreed.
Three men emerged from one of the dark recesses. The one in the middle was a small, scrawny man with long, thin hair and a small stubble beard. It was impossible to tell his age. His companions were bigger than us and aged in their thirties. As they drew near, I realized they were built like wrestlers.
How can they be so big if there’s no food here?
Maybe the story of cannibalism wasn’t so crazy, after all.
‘I’m Becker,’ the man in the middle said. ‘We like new blood in this place. New people bring in new things. Things we can use.’
‘Like what?’ I asked.
He looked down at our feet. ‘Shoes are good,’ he said. ‘I like shoes.’
‘You should get out and buy some,’ Chad said.
We were ready for anything. Despite the size of this guy’s friends, Chad had his powers, and—hopefully—I had mine.
‘I don’t think so,’ Becker said. ‘Anyway, you won’t be needing shoes.’
‘And why is that?’ I asked.
‘Why would someone with no feet need shoes?’ he asked.
Suddenly I was looking up at Becker from the ground. What’s happening? Then I looked back to my legs and a scream caught in my throat. Both Chad and I were on the dirty ground, and our legs were gone. Just below our pelvises, our legs had been removed and the wounds neatly cauterized and expertly treated. All we had left, where our legs used to be, were stumps.
I looked up at Becker in horror. He had both our pairs of shoes in his hands.
‘Thanks, boys,’ he said. ‘Welcome to Yodak.’
Chapter Twenty
Ethan Craddock was as good as his word. When Brodie and Ebony turned up to meet the FBI agent, he emerged from a clump of trees and drew them to one side away from the rubbish area.
He spent the next twenty minutes explaining to them about the Doomsday virus and Jeremiah Stead’s intention to release the weapon into the atmosphere. By the time he finished speaking, both girls were stunned into silence.
Finally, Brodie spoke up. ‘But surely he’s going to kill everyone inside the compound as well,’ she said. ‘After the virus spreads—’
‘The virus has a very short life,’ Ethan said. ‘It dies quickly. After wiping the planet bare, it will die out, leaving Jeremiah and his people to repopulate the earth.’
Brodie felt sick. ‘We have to stop him.’
‘We have to stop Ferdy,’ Ebony said. ‘The virus is safe as long as the canister remains closed. If Ferdy opens it—’
‘How likely is that?’ Ethan asked. ‘I understand you teenagers have some special powers, but a person would need to be a genius to crack the Barricade code.’
Brodie turned to Ebony. ‘You know Ferdy better than me. What do you think?’
‘He’s smart,’ Ebony said thoughtfully. ‘Very smart. And not just in a memory retention type of way. I found one of those Rubik’s Cubes at a market and gave it to Ferdy.’
‘Anyone can solve those,’ Ethan said. ‘The instructions are on the net.’
‘He’d never seen one before,’ Ebony said. ‘And he did it without checking the net. It took him under a minute.’
One minute, Brodie thought. If he could do that in one minute then in a few hours or days…
‘We have to stop your friend,’ Ethan said. ‘But I need to get out of here.’
‘Why haven’t you escaped?’ Brodie asked, looking around. ‘Security seems pretty lax.’
‘It looks that way,’ Ethan said. ‘But there are cameras in the trees. They monitor the foot traffic for miles around. Jeremiah and his people would kill me if I tried to leave without a good reason.’
That’s terrible, Brodie thought.
‘Just for trying to leave?’ Ebony said in amazement.
He shook his head in dismay. ‘I’ve seen people killed for not cleaning their weapons properly,’ he said. ‘I’ve seen them killed for playing inappropriate music inside the compound. Jeremiah Stead rules with an iron fist. These people are completely brainwashed. They see him as some kind of God.’
‘How horrible,’ Ebony said. ‘Does the FBI know where you are?’
‘No. I joined the Sanctuary group in Ohio and was brought here before I could get a message out.’
‘I wish we had phones,’ Brodie said. ‘Then we could ring someone.’
‘There are no phones,’ Ethan said. ‘Likewise, there is no news from outside allowed into the complex.’ He hesitated. ‘I assume, for example, that Canada hasn’t been invaded by the UN?’
‘Huh?’ Brodie said.
‘I thought as much,’ Ethan said, sadly. ‘Jeremiah gave a lecture the other day, telling everyone the UN had invaded Canada. Toronto and other major cities had been destroyed with nuclear devices.’
‘That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard,’ Brodie said.
‘You’ll hear some ridiculous things here,’ Ethan said. ‘Whatever you do, don’t contradict Jeremiah.’
Ebony looked annoyed. ‘He doesn’t like healthy debate?’
‘Freedom of speech ends at the front gate,’ Ethan said. ‘About three months back, I saw a newcomer disagree with Jeremiah during one of the meals. The next day when we went to eat breakfast, we found the person hanging upside-down from one of the trees with his throat cut.’
‘That’s terrible!’ Brodie said.
‘As we ate our meal, we had to listen to Jeremiah lecturing to us about the importance of truth and justice while this poor person’s body waved in the wind.’ Ethan shook his head. ‘It was sickening.’ He checked his watch. ‘I need to get back; otherwise, I’ll be missed.’
‘What do we do now?’ Brodie asked.
‘You need to find your friend and get yourselves out of here,’ Ethan said. ‘Once you’re free, contact the authorities and get this place closed down.’
Ethan suggested he return to the compound first, and the girls return a few minutes later. It would appear suspicious for them to arrive together. After Ethan left, Ebony turned to Brodie.
‘We need to find where they’re keeping Ferdy,’ she said.
‘He’s got to be our number one priority,’ Brodie agreed.
They walked back to the compound, entered the building, and made their way back to the main hall. There were people in small groups singing songs. The songs seemed to be about how the New World Order would be defeated by The Chosen Few. Others were sitting around in groups and discussing some survival literature.
Jason saw them from the other side of the room, gave Brodie a friendly wave, and crossed over. ‘May I speak to you?’ he asked Brodie. ‘In private?’
Brodie glanced at Ebony.
‘I’ll check on Dan,’ Ebony said. ‘I’ll see how he’s feeling.’
After she left, Jason indicated a small room leading off the main chamber. As they sat on two wooden chairs, Brodie wondered what this was about. She hoped their meeting with Ethan hadn’t aroused suspicion.
‘We need to speak about our future,’ Jason began.
‘What future is that?’
‘The End Times are coming very soon,’ Jason said. ‘I know you have powers. You’re not like normal people.’
Not normal? Brodie thought. That’s a pretty horrible way of putting it.
‘I’m a little faster than most people,’ she said noncommittally. ‘If that’s what you mean.’
‘I’m trying to say that doesn’t make any difference to me. My father has said I must take a wife who is a daughter of Isis.’
‘Really?’ Brodie said.
I have no idea what you’re talking about.
‘I have spoken to him, and he supports my choice,’ Jason said. ‘I will be married, and you are to become my wife.’
Chapter Twenty-One
My legs are gone.
I wanted to scream. In fact, I think a sound escaped my lips as I stared in horror at the place where they used to
be. Glancing over at Chad, I saw he wore the same expression of utter disbelief.
Then a laugh rang out from the shadows. ‘Everyone gets caught the first time around,’ the voice said. ‘It’s an illusion.’
It took a few moments for the words to sink in. I looked into the shadows and saw a man sitting back against the wall, shaking his head in amusement.
‘Wh-what?’ I gasped. ‘What are you saying?’
‘It’s an illusion,’ the man repeated. ‘That’s Becker’s modification. Just shake your head, and it’ll clear.’
I looked down at my legs. For the first time, I noticed I was wearing shorts. How can I be wearing shorts? Even if Becker had some magical ability to sever my legs, there was no way he could make new clothing appear from nowhere.
My legs began to reappear. Like a ghostly image appearing on a film, they came back into view. I gave a cry of amazement—and relief. My legs aren’t gone. They were still attached to my body. I gripped them with joy.
Chad was still fixated by the hallucination, and I scrambled over to him. ‘Listen to me,’ I said. ‘It’s just an illusion. It’s all in your mind.’
‘What? No, my legs—’
I shook him. ‘It’s not real. Look! Your legs are still there!’
Chad looked down, and the terror gradually slid from his face. He ran his hands up and down his legs. Slowly he stood up, looking at them in amazement.
‘You’re right,’ he said. ‘Thank goodness. Thank—’ His face twisted into an expression of fury. ‘I’m going to kill that guy.’
‘Later.’ The same voice called from the shadows. ‘He’s the least of your worries down here.’
I grabbed Chad’s arm and slowly led him into the alcove where two men sat. One was asleep. The other was sitting back on a bench. He wore little more than rags.
‘Thanks for the advice,’ I said.
‘Advice is free,’ he said. ‘Do you want some more?’
‘Sure.’
‘Snitches get stitches,’ he said.
‘Which means?’
‘We don’t speak to the guards,’ he said. ‘Tell them nothing. If you snitch on an inmate, your life won’t be worth living.’
I nodded. ‘What’s your name?’
‘They call me Drink,’ he said.
‘Drink?’ Chad said. ‘That’s a pretty strange name.’
The man grinned. In the next instant, he seemed to turn translucent; then, before we could say anything, he turned to water. He splashed onto the floor into a puddle. While we stared open-mouthed at him, he just as quickly reformed into a human being.
‘Still think it’s a strange name?’ Drink asked.
‘How do you do that?’ I asked.
‘I’m a mod,’ he said. ‘You are too; otherwise, you wouldn’t be in here.’
I nodded. I wasn’t about to reveal my powers, but Chad had no such qualms. He held his hands out. In one hand, he created a ball of fire. In the other, he held a ball of snow.
‘An elemental. That’s good. That’ll help you survive in here.’ He looked at me. ‘What are you?’
‘I’ve got some abilities,’ I said. ‘I might show you later.’
‘Keeping it close to home. Clever.’
‘How did you become a mod?’ Chad asked.
‘I was in an Israeli jail,’ he said. ‘They made me an offer. I could be part of an experiment, or I could spend the rest of my life in jail. I decided to be a guinea pig.’ He continued. ‘I didn’t know the Americans were doing modifications. I thought they were following the UN ruling.’
‘What ruling?’ I asked.
‘Don’t you boys know anything?’ he asked. ‘Sit down, and I’ll tell you the facts of life.’
We sat next to him.
‘You know mods have been around for centuries,’ he said.
‘You mean, like vampires?’ I said.
‘Vampires and all the others,’ Drink said. ‘They were the natural mods. As soon as the enlightenment began, people started manipulating the human creature to improve upon it. You’ve heard of Frankenstein, of course.’
‘Yeah, but you don’t mean—’
‘It’s a fictional story,’ Drink said. ‘But it’s based on fact. Governments had been experimenting in secret for years trying to create soldiers that would give them an advantage in combat. After WW2, upon the formation of the UN, it was decided to ban all human modifications.’
This sounded like what had been explained to us about modifications, except there was no mention of The Bakari. Maybe Drink was unaware of their existence.
‘So no more modifications were allowed,’ Chad said.
‘They weren’t allowed,’ Drink said. ‘But they still happened. Oh, not all countries and not all the time. And it’s a dangerous process. A lot of mods die within days. A lot don’t last a year. But the ones that do last…’
He pointed to himself.
‘So what are you doing here?’ I asked.
‘All mods discovered on foreign territory are supposed to be in jail,’ he said. ‘You know that? Right?’
‘Uh, no,’ I said.
‘Jeez,’ he shook his head. ‘You boys really are green. Didn’t you get told anything?’
‘Not really.’
‘I was spying for the Israelis,’ Drink explained. ‘I got caught. How did you boys end up in this predicament?’
‘A prisoner exchange,’ I said.
Drink nodded. ‘Fair enough,’ he said. ‘Most governments treat their mods like commodities to be traded or killed. Some governments kill foreign mods immediately.’
Oh boy.
We had to be more careful than I thought. We’d talked about going overseas to track down addresses in the book I’d been given back at The Agency. If we ever did that, we’d have to be careful.
‘Why are you still here?’ I asked. ‘With your ability to change to water—’
‘A similar deal that put you boys in here is going to get me out,’ he said. ‘My country has a North Korean mod in custody. In a few weeks, they’ll do the exchange, and I’ll be free.’
A gong rang, a long reverberating bell that chimed throughout the whole jail.
‘They’re putting the lights out soon,’ Drink said.
As soon as he said the words, the whole jail went dark. The only light to be seen was from a few random fires still burning.
‘When morning comes, there’ll be a fight for food,’ Drink explained. ‘It’s every man for himself.’
‘Do you mean—’ I started.
‘No offense,’ Drink said. ‘I like you boys, but I haven’t eaten for two days. I’m going to fight you and whoever else so I can survive.’
For a long time, the only sound was the crackling of the fires.
‘May the best man win,’ Drink said.
Chapter Twenty-Two
‘Wife?’ Brodie wasn’t sure she’d heard Jason correctly. ‘Did you just say—’
‘You are to become my wife,’ Jason confirmed. He looked earnest. Almost as if he were discussing the weather. ‘It has been decided. All that needs to be determined now is when the marriage will happen.’
‘I’ll tell you when,’ Brodie said. ‘Never.’
She felt like she was going crazy. Jason seemed like a pleasant enough guy. He even came across as being reasonably intelligent. How could he think it would be okay to be in an arranged marriage?
He looked confused. ‘What do you mean?’
Brodie remembered what Ethan had said about directly challenging the beliefs of the Sanctuary residents. Despite the apparent freedom they had been granted, their lives still lay on a knife-edge. The worst thing she could do would be to cause a fight—especially with Jeremiah’s son.
She spoke as gently as possible. ‘You’re a nice guy, Jason,’ she said. ‘A very nice guy. But I barely know you.’
‘You don’t need to know me,’ he said.
‘Yes, I do. When I get married, it has to be for love.’
Jason
looked at her bemused. ‘You don’t understand, do you?’
‘Understand what?’
‘My father has decided we are to be together,’ he said. ‘He has been deliberating ever since you arrived. He knew you were special. That’s why he took you from the outside world.’
‘Jason,’ she said. ‘I really can’t marry you.’
‘Why?’
Why? This could go on all day. Why couldn’t you marry a person you’ve known for twenty-four hours? If you have to ask such a question…
‘Because it’s the wrong thing to do,’ she said. ‘I’m already in love with someone else.’
Jason looked shocked. ‘I’m very sorry to hear that.’
‘You’re sorry…’
‘I’m sorry because everyone outside the compound will be dead in a week,’ Jason said. ‘The cleansing is coming. The time for the old era to pass is upon us. A new world, a better world, is coming.’ He reached out and took her hand. ‘I’m sorry for you.’
Brodie had an overwhelming desire to punch him in the face but took great care to keep her emotions in check. She gently removed her hand and gave him a small smile, not wanting to annoy him.
Maybe I can talk some sense into him.
‘Can you explain to me why it’s all right to kill billions of people?’ she said. ‘I mean, it seems a little dramatic, don’t you think?’
‘The UN has given us no choice,’ Jason said patiently. ‘They have gradually taken over more and more countries over this last year. China and Canada have fallen in the last few months.’
‘You’re saying all those countries have been invaded by the United Nations?’ Brodie said.
‘Yes, of course.’
‘What if I were to say to you that nothing has changed in those countries.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I’m saying those countries are still operating as they always have.’
‘I don’t understand what you mean,’ Jason looked confused. ‘My father has been giving us weekly reports on the invasions.’
‘Invasions?’ This was just too ridiculous for words. ‘Let me ask you this, Jason.’
Teen Superheroes Box Set | Books 1-7 Page 24