by C C Roth
“Let’s go. C’mon doctor, you get to be line leader today.”
Navin grabbed the sergeant’s walkie-talkie, pistol, and clip from his belt and handed it to one of the other kids. He shrugged when I raised an eyebrow at him.
“I play a lot of video games. You gotta disarm the enemy, right?”
“Yeah, I guess so.” Navin was turning out to be pretty handy. “You seem to know what you’re doing, so what should we do with him now?”
“Hmm, well he can’t walk thanks to you,” he said teasing, “so probably tie him up so he can’t go for help until we get out?”
I smiled in agreement. “Go for it.” I’d almost forgotten about the Lab Assistant who was now a trembling wreck of a man sulking on the floor behind me. “And what about this guy?”
Navin studied him for a second. “Well he’s pissed his lab coat so I don’t think he’s going to give us any trouble. Maybe don’t shoot him? Just a thought.”
No fun.
“Whatever, tie him up too I guess.”
The doctor led us down another level to an equally depressing hallway, no one else in sight. I had my guard up in case she’d been lying but she was right, there was no way this particular facility was important to the people calling the shots or else we wouldn’t have gotten in so easily. Mike unlocked the door and it opened on a narrow room that resembled a giant shoebox. No windows and no other doors. Just a row of sad fluorescent lights across the middle of the ceiling. Inside the storage room were about 20 kids of varying ages. All looked a little gaunt and exhausted. It took a moment for them to realize what was going on as we stood there staring at them.
“Anyone wanna go home?” I asked dryly.
The blonde girl from the train pushed passed me and shrieked, “Kali!”
She grabbed a young girl who was sitting up against the far wall, sobbing as she hugged her. I guess she found her little sister after all. I studied every face twice hoping to find Noah looking back at me, his shaggy blonde hair covering his eyes. But he wasn’t there. The disappointment was a punch to the gut I hadn’t been expecting.
A lot of the kids in the room were younger. I guessed maybe the doctor didn’t have the stomach to kill the little ones. But that meant that we now had 20 more bodies to sneak out and we were barely pulling this off already. Navin’s expression said he was thinking the same thing.
“Okay, you take two people with you and find the maintenance room. It’s got to be down here somewhere.”
“Umm, sure. Then what?” he asked confused.
“You said you played a lot of video games, right?”
“Yeah? So?”
“So, it’s time to blow this place up and get the hell out.”
His eyes widened a bit then he smiled like a kid on Christmas morning. “Got it.” Two guys from the train took off with him at a jog.
Mike’s back was turned so I slammed Dr. Death up against the wall and shoved my knife up under her throat. She coughed and turned her face away trying to wriggle as far from the blade as possible. I pulled Noah’s picture out and held it in front of her.
“Hey, take a look at this before my arm gets tired. Do you recognize this kid? Is he one of the infected ones upstairs in your disgusting room of torture?”
She squinted at the picture, her head twitching back and forth rapidly.
“Are you sure? If I find out you’re lying…” I slowly pressed the blade to her flesh, closer and closer until a tiny trickle of blood ran down and she squealed.
“I’m sure. He’s not here. He wasn’t a test subject. There are ten in that room and these are the rest. This is it. I swear this is it.”
“Sam, c’mon,” Mike coaxed. “She answered you. Let’s go.”
“Yeah, she did. It just wasn’t the answer I wanted.”
I lowered my hand just long enough for her to relax then I slammed the butt of my rifle into her head. A few of the kids gasped and shrieked as she crumpled onto the floor with a cry. I feigned innocence as Mike scowled at me disapprovingly.
“What, you’d rather I shoot her? It’s not like we can keep her as a pet.” I clapped my hands loudly, trying to startle some of the dazed kids into movement. “Okay, everyone out. Slumber party is over. Let’s go.”
They filed out of the tiny room, relieved and terrified all at once. This was going to be like herding cats.
Everyone fell in step behind Mike and followed him at a run. Navigating the halls and bolting up the stairs with so many kids was a comical sight from my view at the back. Like a scene from a movie on the last day of school when everyone runs out and throws things up in the air. The group stayed together, and we could almost taste our freedom as we neared the last staircase leading to the lobby. But our footfalls thundering up the steps came to a sudden stop when we saw what was waiting for us.
Grace had apparently woken up in a really bad mood. I guess a toilet lid to the head will do that to a girl. She stood at the top, a hulking image looming over us. Her eyes were crazed and her already unforgiving face had contorted into something feral. There was blood pouring down the side of her head and her white blonde hair was stained a grotesque red.
“You little shits!” she shrieked. “If you think I’m going to let you walk out of here—"
Everyone recoiled and screamed as rapid-fire gun shots rang out from somewhere below us. There was a loud boom then the lights flickered out, leaving us in almost total darkness. The stairwell filled with whimpers, cries, and confusion as the kids bumped into each other and fumbled around.
Ugh, can we just shoot them all?
“Everyone, shut up!” I yelled. I pulled my rifle and took aim even though I couldn’t see a thing, then waited for my moment. “Okay, Grace I give up. You win. I’m right here just don’t hurt anyone, okay?”
Sure enough, Grace turned on a flashlight and slowly scanned over our group. Most of the kids shied away from the light as it touched them. But not me. I stood straight and stock still in the middle of the cowering group of bodies and waited just long enough so she could see my smile.
“Sorry, Grace.” The sound of my rifle sprang off the walls and tore through the darkness like a rocket blasting off the ground.
Grace’s light dropped and rolled down the steps like a depressed slinky.
God, she was annoying.
It was silent. Nothing moved. I could feel Mike’s eyes on me even though I couldn’t see him. I could feel everyone’s eyes on me. It was almost as if they could hear my cold friend talking, as if they knew what we were thinking. I didn’t care. She was in our way and she wouldn’t have let us leave. What choice did I have?
Mike’s voice spoke up strong and calm from the stairs in front of me, about four feet to my left. “Everyone get upstairs and wait. We can’t just go bolting out the front door. We’re almost out just don’t panic.”
More gunfire sounded from below us. Jesus, what was Navin up to down there? All the noise was sure to draw the other soldiers in. I grabbed Grace’s flashlight from the stairs as I stepped over her body. We could see through the glass doors ahead of us that the lights were out in the parking lot as well. With the glow of full moonlight I could just barely make out a few shapes moving toward the building. The other soldiers were on their way.
“Mike, take everyone out the back. Now. I’ll wait for Navin.”
He didn’t miss a beat, pausing only to make sure they had everyone before ushering the group through the lobby and down a back hall.
I took aim from behind the set of chairs in the waiting area and slowed my breathing. Five, four, three, two…
Just as the soldiers made contact, I unleashed a rapid succession of fire at the glass doors sending shards of glass flying everywhere. They bolted backward and took cover, returning fire.
I was low on ammo, this couldn’t go on for long.
“Sam? Sam, you up there?” It was Navin from the stairwell below, yelling through the noise.
“Yeah, hurry up!”
“Just don’t shoot us, okay?”
“I’ll try. Go now!” I fired through the doors again until Navin and the other guys ran behind me.
Get out.
We bolted down the back hall together, the flashlight bouncing off the walls and ceilings searching for an exit sign. I could hear the train moving and hissing on the track outside. It seemed the Train Man would be my salvation once again.
Navin and the other two hit the door first and we were immersed in the cool night air once more. The train was moving slowly along the track but even a slow train would take some effort to catch. My eyes darted from face to face making sure Mike was there amongst the thirty or so of us. He stepped forward and smiled at me while gulping air. Everyone’s eyes were trained on me.
“Thirty-six accounted for. Well, Sam? What now?”
Shoot ten in the foot so we can get away.
There were a few trucks in the back lot but there were no guarantees the keys would be in them. On foot we might get away if the men behind us gave up, but what if they didn’t? The train was our best shot.
“All aboard?” I said with a shrug.
Several of the faces gaped back at me as if they were thinking, “Seriously? She must be joking,” but no one protested so I turned and hauled ass for the tracks. The footfalls behind me let me know the others were with me. Even though they were malnourished and weak the lab rats made it across the small grassy hill and fell in line along the tracks. We were only a few feet away from the iron giant when I heard the yelling and shots from behind us. Geez, apparently those guys weren’t going to give up.
“Mike!” I yelled and waved him forward.
He was the strongest of us, so he’d have to help everyone inside. Especially the little ones. In one swift motion he grabbed the handle on the passenger car and hopped up onto the ladder rung making it look super easy. The train was really moving but just slowly enough for us to jog along and get a footing on the steps. Mike hauled the youngest ones in two at a time and everyone else followed as quickly as they could. I was chugging along behind the group hoping desperately that these kids would hurry the hell up so I wouldn’t get left behind. I looked over my shoulder. Crap. A few of the soldiers were actually trying to catch us. There were still ten more kids that needed to get on. I stumbled and almost ate it on the uneven ground.
Pay attention.
I aimed behind me as best I could while running and fired a couple of shots, but they flew around wildly, nowhere near hitting the men pursuing us. It was enough to slow them down though and give them a minute to ask themselves an important life question, whether or not they wanted to keep running after a bunch of teenagers they didn’t give a crap about and maybe get shot in the process. They stopped short so I guess the answer was no. I’d fallen behind but all the others had made it on. Mike was standing on the step waving me on, trying to encourage me. I slung my rifle on my back again and dug deep, forcing all my energy reserves into my exhausted legs.
Move dammit!
The final push was enough to get me closer, but I couldn’t hold that pace for long. Mike could see the defeat on my face, I was done. I stretched my arm up as far as I could and hoped for the best. Just as I thought my legs would give out for good Mike grabbed my wrists and yanked me up onto the tiny landing. I collapsed as we both stumbled in the small space and he had to prop me up like a mannequin. I had nothing left. My breath was ragged and my legs were burning, but I’d made it. As I walked into the car it was as if the entire group exhaled together. The room was much smaller now with all the extra bodies and everyone was panting from the exertion, but their faces were filled with relief.
Smiles broke out and soon they were cheering and clapping. “We did it! Yes!”
The reunited sisters were hugging and still crying a bit. I looked over the kids in that train car and couldn’t help but smile too. Mike grabbed me and gave me a huge bear hug, an embarrassing display but I didn’t care. I was so relieved to have my brother back.
“You are such a pain in the ass, you know that?” he said grinning.
I laughed and nodded, still trying to catch my breath. “Thanks,” was all I could manage.
Navin came over and slapped me on the back. “You know, you are one scary girl. I can’t believe you pulled that off.”
“Well, all your gaming skills came in handy. Thanks for having my back. Hey, what happened to blowing up the building? I thought we’d be seeing fireworks by now.”
“Oh yeah, turns out that’s not really possible unless you have a digital backpack with an endless supply of ammo, rocket launchers, and dynamite.” He shrugged. “We didn’t know what to do when we got down there, so we just started shooting at everything. I think we hit their power source and the backup generator maybe, so they’re shut down for a while anyway.”
I chuckled, “Well I guess we got lucky. Hey, when I asked if you knew how to shoot you said yes. Was that even true?”
He grinned sheepishly. “Sort of. I’ve logged a lot of hours in first person shooter games so…”
“Seriously? Wow, we really did get lucky.”
“Yeah we did. Thanks to you being a total nutcase.” He nodded in approval then collapsed dramatically in a seat. Soon he was bombarded with questions from other kids about what he’d seen.
I was exhausted and no one wanted to ask me questions, must be my winning personality, so I laid my rifle down gently on the floor next me and gave it a loving caress. Nice work. Sitting down with my back against the wall I listened to the murmur of conversation floating through the train car. Everyone was on an adrenaline high, but my supply was totally tapped out. The rowdy buzzing sensation that had pumped through the day was dead and I could feel my eyes falling heavy already. Before I could black out Mike sat next to me and propped his arms on his knees.
“I can’t believe you got all these kids out of that lab, Sam. That was… I don’t know, incredible. Who knows what would have happened to them if you hadn’t shown up.”
I half smiled. The problem was we did know what would have happened to them. These kids were completely expendable in the eyes of our government and the people following their orders.
“So, what now?” he asked.
“You heard her, that doctor. This isn’t the only lab where this is happening.”
He furrowed his brow. “Yeah, so?”
“So, we have to keep going. We’re at war. We can’t go back to hiding and pretending we aren’t. Besides, what else are we going to do?”
He studied me closely, trying to figure out if I meant what I’d said.
“What else are we going to do? Really? How about not get killed doing something stupid.”
“Mike you’re the one that said there is a better way. Maybe people just need help to see that.”
His expression didn’t change, and I could tell my words were having zero impact on him. He shook his head to dismiss me.
“Never mind,” I said, “we can figure it out later. Right now, I need some sleep. It’s been a long day.”
“Yeah it has. A long day of killing people.” His tone was suddenly biting and I couldn’t ignore it.
I scowled in response. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
He lowered his voice and leaned in so the others wouldn’t hear him. “We need to talk about this, Sam. About what’s happening to you. You’re not yourself.”
“No, I’m not. I’m more than that now.” I didn’t realize I’d spoken the words aloud. It’s chilly cadence had taken over my own and Mike flinched as if I’d startled him.
I told you he’d be afraid of you.
I turned away avoiding his stare and watched the kids moving around the car, pretending to be distracted by their excitement. I knew what Mike wanted to hear and I knew it wouldn’t be the truth. Could I lie to him? I didn’t want to. Besides, I felt as if I’d been lying my whole life. The old Sam he was talking about never even existed, not really. This is who I always was, who I was always meant to be. A part
of me didn’t want to pretend anymore. I felt numb all over and hugged my knees up to my chest, avoiding his concerned look as I stared at my muddy boot laces. Or was that blood? I couldn’t tell.
“You need some rest. We can talk later, right?” His tone was kind again.
I nodded and curled up in a ball on the floor, knowing that when that talk came, I might lose him all over again. He would never understand, not really. I didn’t feel badly for any of my actions that day, I only felt badly that Mike was upset and looking at me like I was a stranger. Fear crept through my mind as I pictured my life without my big brother. Would he turn his back on me? He’d always taken care of me and I didn’t know any other way. I knew he was my one root to sanity, the only living thing I felt connected to and in that connection, I was almost a real person or at least able to impersonate one. Without my brother what would I become? Would I be lost forever?
You’d have me. I’ll never leave you. A chilly hug wrapped around me and I snuggled into my indifference on the issue.
Sleep quickly stole me from my worrying, and I passed out right where I was up against the wall with my backpack as a pillow. It was a dreamless rest and more like a total blackout than actual sleep. I didn’t know how much time had passed when I jerked awake suddenly to find myself still inside the train car, swaying back and forth gently as we rocketed toward whatever our next destination would be. The room was quiet for the most part. Almost everyone was sleeping, their bodies draped over seats and propped up against walls. A hazy bit of sunlight was slowly taking over, threatening a new day. Turning quickly, I realized what had woken me. A young girl, the blonde’s little sister we’d found in that closet, was sitting on the floor next to me playing with my backpack, pulling things out of the pockets and looking them over.
I rubbed some sleep from my face and scowled at her. “What are you doing?”
She raised her tiny hand, thin now after a week of malnutrition, and held up something for me to see.
“Is this Noah?” she asked softly. “I liked him. He was nice.”
She was holding the school picture that Frank and Ellen had given me just the day before. I stared at it, all creased and bent, trying to register what was happening.