Michael’s wrong. It’s not your father. Your father is long gone. That same creep that ran off before you were born.
Nothing’s changed. Nothing at all.
In my head, I hear the creature’s voice.
‘Niiiiiaaaaaaaaa!’
27
My ears are left ringing when the alarm finally stops. It’s hard to tell how long we’ve been in here. Ten minutes. An hour. Time stands still when you’re petrified. When your skin is smothered in goosebumps. When you’re hiding from death. The outside world disappears. Any pain, any need to pee fades. All that remains is fear. All you see is darkness. And all you want to do is close your eyes and pretend that this is just another nightmare. Or another moment to pass off as a crazy daydream, brought on by a lack of sleep, or too much cider.
Even in a room filled with zero light, I can make out Erin’s outline. She’s sitting next to me on the cold floor, the rifle held across her chest.
After a few minutes, the ringing lessens, and I press my ear to the door. No gunfire. No growls. No voices in my head. Maybe the monster’s gone.
It’s not a monster. It’s your father.
Shut up!
That’s why you can hear his voice. He’s family. Like Ben.
No! That thing is not my father! It’s got nothing to do with me!
“Do you hear anything?” Erin whispers.
“I think it’s gone.”
Erin joins me by the door. “Let’s wait a little longer. Make sure.”
I nod, but she can’t see it.
“What the hell was that thing?” she asks.
“Some military experiment gone wrong,” I reply. “Michael told me it was in a coma for eighteen years.”
“That thing looked like a vampire,” Erin says. “How could it be eighteen years old?”
“That’s when all this started.”
“How is that even possible? Your brother’s meant to be the first.”
“They were trying to make some kind of advanced soldier,” I continue. “Something really strong. Someone that could heal itself. But it went wrong. It turned him into that monster out there.” Tell her the truth. Tell her it’s your father. Your own flesh and blood. “That’s why they’re keeping so many Hemovores here. He’s building an army.”
Erin snorts. “Don’t be so ridiculous. You’re paranoid.”
“You really think Michael isn’t capable of something like that? After witnessing that thing?”
She doesn’t reply.
“Look, that man is crazy,” I say. “He started all this. And now he wants to turn them into his pets.”
“What about the virus?”
Should I tell her that Ben got sick? That he spread the infection?
No, I can’t. I won’t—because it’s not true!
Of course it’s true. All of it’s true.
“I don’t know how the virus started,” I reply. “But it’s obviously linked.”
“How do you know all this?” she asks with distrust.
“Michael told me.”
Erin chuckles. “Why the hell would Michael tell you of all people?”
Just lie to her. You don’t owe her anything. “Because Ben was the first to get infected with the virus.”
There’s a moment of quiet. I think she bought it.
“Sean was there, too, wasn’t he?” Erin asks. “At the start of all this.”
“Yeah,” I say with a lump in my throat. “He was the first person I told about Ben. I don’t know what I would’ve done without him.” I can feel my chin begin to tremble. I’m pathetic. At least she can’t see it. “He’s a good person.” A moment of guilt washes over me when I realise that I forgot about him. He could be out there now, shooting at that thing, risking his life. “Has Sean left the building?”
“No,” she replies.
“Then where is he?”
No answer.
“Erin?”
I hear a sigh.
“Where is he?” I repeat. This time firmer.
“He’s safe,” she finally answers.
“How do you know for sure?”
“I just do!” she snaps. “Okay?”
“What’s happened to him? Tell me!”
“If you must know, he’s been arrested.”
“Arrested? For what?”
“As if you don’t know,” she replies, her tone soaked in bitterness. “He got arrested for letting you go at the farm.”
“He didn’t let me go. I escaped. I punched him in the face.”
“What about today?” she asks with a hint of sarcasm. “He didn’t help you get inside The Facility? You just happened to turn up here after seeing him?”
“He didn’t help me. I just...followed him here.”
Erin chuckles. Bitch. If I could see her nose, then I’d happily break it. “Look, we don’t have time for all this shit. Is he still inside the building, or not?”
“Yes,” Erin replies. “He’s in one of the holding cells.”
“Then take me to him.”
She chuckles again. “And what? Let Michael lock me up, too?”
“Is there something wrong with you? Michael’s dead. Who knows how long it’ll be before it gets to Sean? Or us? We’ve got to move fast.”
“You’re lying,” Erin says, but without conviction.
“I’m not lying. You saw yourself how dangerous that thing is. Use your head, Erin. It’s over. This place is finished. Don’t let some boyfriend jealously get us all killed.”
“I’m not jealous of you,” she says, but it’s obviously horseshit.
“Good. Then let’s get moving.”
Silence again.
She really is a stupid cow.
“God!” I snap. “You’re even more stubborn than I am. I can see why Sean likes you.”
This time, there’s no childish comeback, just the sound of her rifle click. Is she going to shoot me?
“Okay, I’ll take you to him,” Erin says with reluctance. “But try anything clever and—”
“Yeah. Yeah. You’ll blow my pretty little brains all over the wall. Let’s just get a move on.”
Erin slowly opens the door, letting in the light from the corridor. She looks at me, an insult floating across her lips, but it never comes. Instead, we step out of the dark, and set off down the corridor; Erin’s gun leading our path.
Please don’t let us be too late...
28
The corridor is dark, lit only by a few flickering lights, dangling from the ceiling. And apart from an intermittent electrical buzzing sound, it’s eerily quiet. I can’t decide if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. No shooting could mean either the monster is dead, or it’s taken out every last HCA officer.
Each footstep we take is like a siren going off. I try to walk lighter, try to tiptoe, but these boots are too heavy.
We come to a dead body. His legs are mangled, and a pool of blood has formed beneath his head.
There’s a handgun beside him.
“Don’t even think about it,” Erin says as I reach for the weapon, her rifle aimed at me.
“Why not?”
“Do you think I’m an idiot? I’m not letting you have a gun. I’ll take you to Sean, but that’s it.”
“That’s stupid! We have a better chance against it if we’re both armed.”
Erin shakes her head, scooping the gun up. “Well, let’s hope we don’t run into it then.”
“Jesus Christ, Erin. There’s something wrong with you.”
She puts the gun in her vest pocket. “Come on,” she says, motioning with her head for me to follow her. “We haven’t got all day.”
“Bitch,” I say under my breath, trailing behind her like a prisoner—or bloody pet.
After a few minutes, Erin stops at a crossroad in the corridor, and peeks around the corner. It’s clear. We walk a couple of feet and Erin stops again. “What’s wrong?” I whisper. “Did you hear something?”
Instead of answering, she starts to walk back the
way we came.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
“Nothing. I’ve just lost my bearings.”
“I thought you knew the way.”
Erin glares at me. “Give me a break. I’ve only been here once before. It’s like a maze in here.”
I don’t make a comment because she’s right. You’d have to live and breathe these corridors to find your way ‘round.
We come to another cluster of dead bodies. I dodge the gore, trying not to look too closely. There are guns scattered across the floor. I’d love to just grab one of them up, and take back control, but I don’t because I need her—even though it pisses me off.
The baffled frown on Erin’s forehead only deepens as we have to backtrack again. This is taking too long. We have to get to Sean. Nerves creep over me, imagining the monster finding him before we do. I almost ask her what the section looks like, but I’m guessing it’s grey and lifeless like the rest of The Facility.
After a few minutes, we reach a stairwell. “I remember this.” She races up. “We’re on track!”
Thank God for that.
At the top of the stairs, Erin cautiously nudges the door open with her gun.
“Anything?” I whisper.
“No.”
We join another corridor. No bodies. That’s definitely a good sign.
“We’re here,” she says with relief in her voice.
Reaching a door, Erin twists the handle, but it doesn’t move.
With relief, I bang on the door. “Sean! It’s me! It’s Freya!”
Erin shushes me. “Keep your voice down.”
There’s no place on the door to swipe my ID card, just a regular keyhole. “Do you know where the key is?”
“No. Michael or Nick must have it.”
I throw her a hard scowl. “For Christ’s sake, Erin! What’s wrong with you people? He could have died in here.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Someone would have let him out.”
“Everyone’s dead. Are you blind?” I point at the door. “Now shoot the lock.”
“And draw attention to us? Don’t be stupid.”
“The monster’s been taking bullets since it got out. I doubt a couple more are gonna startle it.”
With a groan, Erin scans each side of the corridor, and then knocks on the door. “Can you hear me, Sean? It’s Erin.”
We hear a faint ‘yes’ coming from behind it.
“Sean! Get away from the door,” Erin barks into the keyhole. “I’m gonna shoot the lock.”
A muffled ‘okay’ seeps through the keyhole, prompting her to aim the rifle at the lock.
I wince when the bullet leaves the barrel, instantly shattering the lock and handle. The door swings open, revealing a tiny white room. A sink. A steel bench. This really is a prison cell.
Bastards!
“Are you all right?” I ask Sean as he cowers in the corner of the room, his hands over his ears.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” he replies, a confused frown across his brow. “What’s going on out there? Where’s Michael?”
“There’s been an incident,” I reply. “Everybody’s dead.”
“For Christ’s sake, Freya! Stop saying that! We don’t know how many that thing killed.”
“What thing?” Sean asks.
“There’s a monster on the loose,” I reply, ushering him out of the cell.
“What are you talking about? What monster?”
“She’s telling the truth,” Erin replies. “It’s wiped out most of the team.”
Still unable to remove the distrust from his face, Sean inspects the corridor. “Do you mean a vampire?”
Erin and I shake our heads.
“Look, we’ll explain on the way,” I say with urgency. “But right now we have to get to Ben.”
“That’s not going to happen,” Erin says with authority. “I’ll help you get out of The Facility—but that’s it.” She points the gun at me. “You’re not busting out a vampire.”
Stepping in the middle of Erin and me, Sean pushes the barrel down. “Stop this, Erin. You can’t go shooting people. Freya’s innocent. She just wants her brother back.”
“He’s a vampire,” she says. “We can’t let him run free. Have you forgotten about your parents?”
“Of course, I haven’t! And I never will! But it’s not Freya’s fault. And it’s not Ben’s either.”
“You’re a traitor, Sean. You care more about her than keeping this world safe.”
“Ben isn’t dangerous,” I say. “He’s just a child.”
“No, he’s not. He’s an animal. A rabid animal.”
“Erin, I know you’re hurting,” Sean says. “I know you’re angry. But locking up Ben won’t bring back your family.”
“That’s not why I do this,” she says, her eyes glistening with tears.
“Isn’t it?”
“No. It’s so that no one else has to go through this hell. Isn’t that exactly why you joined?”
“Maybe. But now I’ve realised that you can’t treat all of them the same. Ben is different. He’s not an animal.”
“No, you’re right. He’s not an animal. He’s a monster! Just like all those others locked up!”
I push past Sean to face her, ignoring the gun. “My family was taken from me, too. I had to watch my mother bleed to death. Ben is all I have left. What would you do in my shoes?”
A tear slides down Erin’s cheek.
Then another.
“Just let me take her to Ben,” Sean pleads. “It’s only one Hemovore. You don’t have to be involved. I know the way.”
In the distance, a low, guttural cry reaches us. It’s found us. Sean’s gaping eyes follow the echo.
“Please, Erin,” I cut in. “We’re running out of time.”
The sound fills the corridor again—this time much closer.
Focused, Erin aims the barrel at the noise, her finger on the trigger.
Sean takes a step back when the heavy footsteps vibrate the floor.
“Just your brother,” Erin says, her voice filled with unwillingness. “No one else.”
I nod in relief. “Yeah. Just Ben. And then you’ll never see us again. I swear.”
It’s getting closer...
“Holy shit!” Sean says as the creature appears at the end of the corridor, his wide, blood-soaked shoulders almost touching the walls, his head inches from the ceiling.
His thick fangs hanging from his open jaws.
“Ruuuuuuuun!”
29
Sean has his hands pressed against the wall, trying to catch his breath, sweat pouring down his face. “I think we lost it.”
“I hope so,” I say; my lungs bursting; the muscles in my legs on fire.
Erin grips the door handle, anxious to get it open. “It’s locked,” she says, panting, her rifle directed at the lock. “I’ll have to shoot it.”
I pull my ID out. “Wait!” I say, sliding the card down the centre of the security panel. There’s a faint click as the door unlocks.
“Where did you get that from?” she asks, confused.
“It doesn’t matter.”
We rush inside the pitch-black room. Sean quickly shuts the door behind us, and then locks it.
“Are you sure he’s in here?” I whisper, as I find the light switch on the wall.
We’re in a small room. Another lab. Medical equipment. Sterile white walls and floor tiles. No windows. There’s a door to my left. It’s half-open with the light on. An office, maybe? Just as I’m about to explore the office, I notice a drawn grey curtain at the far corner of the lab. It’s concealing something.
I yank it open.
My chest tightens when I see Ben strapped to an operating table, a thin mattress beneath his unconscious body; the white fabric stained with blood. “Jesus Christ!” I blurt out, racing over to him. “What the hell did they do to you?”
Next to him is a tray of bloodied surgical instruments; scalpels, a pair of scissors. I turn to E
rin, my eyes drenched in tears. “Now can you see it? Now can you see how sick these bastards are?”
Erin falls silent. Her gun drooping by her side. Her face a mask of dismay.
“Is he breathing?” Sean asks, his tone lined with worry.
I nod because I can hear a wheezing sound leave his mouth. “Ben! Wake up! It’s me! It’s Freya!” No response. I shake his shoulders. “I’m gonna get you out of here!”
Sean and I unbuckle Ben’s restraints and then lift him into a sitting position. “Stay with me,” I tell him, sniffling loudly as tears overpower me. “I’m taking you home.”
Erin grabs his legs and lowers them to the floor. “He’ll be all right, Freya.”
“Like you give a shit!” I snap. “You’ll be glad if he dies.”
“Calm down, Frey,” Sean says, lifting Ben’s body off the table. “Let’s just focus on getting him out.”
I take a deep breath, stifle another bout of tears, and then, holding Ben’s unconscious body in an upright position, Sean and I carry him towards the door.
That’s when I notice Doctor Moore standing in the office.
He has a handgun pointed directly at us.
“Don’t move!” he says, his words shaky. “I’m not done with him yet—so you better put him right back where you found him.”
“Fuck you!” I practically spit the words at him. “I’m through with all this shit! We’re leaving before that thing finds us.”
“Don’t make me tell you twice,” he says, turning to Erin, the gun unsteady in his grasp. “Where’s Michael?”
“He’s dead,” I cut in. “That monster you made killed him.”
Doctor Moore’s face drops with disbelief. “You’re lying.”
I shake my head. “Nope. Your boss is gone.” I take a step towards the exit. “Now put the gun down and let us go.”
There’s a loud bang.
I shriek in horror as a bullet tears through Ben’s arm.
“You bastard!” Sean screams, struggling to hold Ben upright.
“I warned you,” Doctor Moore says. “The next one’ll be in his head. Now step away from the Hemovore and—”
I flinch as another bang fills the room, this one even louder. My eyes instantly examine Ben, praying he’s still alive.
Blue Skin (Book 3): Blue Skin Page 8