Whimper (23 page)

“Keep going! Keep going!” Zack urged, pointing towards the building. What choice did we have? My legs were burning and my lungs felt like they were tearing apart inside my chest, but I could hear the panting and wet grunting of something very close behind me. Adrenalin kept my feet pounding the pavement like a wild animal.

As we got closer, I realized we were headed for one of the social sciences buildings. The door stood open, propped by a rock or a brick. We could get in, but so could anything or anyone else.

We fell up the steps leading to the open door, but before I could get to my feet I was jerked backwards and up in the air. My head hit the ground so hard I saw flashes, or maybe it was more lightning. It didn’t matter, because as soon as my head bounced off the pavement, it was slammed back down by something heavy and damp. I saw scarlet light, and streaks of violent hot pain tore through my back and into my core. A ragged scream caught in my throat as I struggled to fight my way free. I kicked and clawed against the pain, trying to breathe against the weight pressing onto my chest. Loud noises clamored everywhere, but I couldn’t focus on anything but the need to breathe and escape.

As the world started to fade to black, the weight was jerked away, replaced by blessed air. I gulped oxygen back into my lungs, wheezing and hacking like a drowning victim. Zack and Elliott wrapped their arms around me, working together to lift me off the pavement and up the steps of the building, slamming the door behind them.

We collapsed together in a heap, gasping for air. Zack made it to his feet first, locking the door we’d fallen through and checking beyond the foyer for any immediate threats.

“Are you okay?” Elliott asked, his voice gravelly as he ran his hands over my head and face. I winced when his fingers touched the lump forming where my skull had kissed the pavement. My blouse felt crooked and sticky in places.

“I think so,” I croaked, struggling to sit up and straighten myself. My back stung when I moved, but I managed to keep from whimpering out loud. Elliott dug into his bag of supplies, pulling out alcohol wipes and bandages with shaking hands.

“What did I hit?” I asked.

“The pavement,” he answered softly, “but only because he threw you there. We got caught. Can you move around so I can check you?”

Elliott helped me sit up the rest of the way and tore into the alcohol pads to begin wiping and covering all my scrapes.

“My back…” I gestured. “It hurts the most.”

Elliott got up and moved around me, sucking in a breath between his teeth when he saw my back. “How bad is it?” I asked, worried.

“Fuck!” Elliott swore, pulling at my shirt. “Sorry. It’s just a deep scratch, but there’s blood. I don’t know if it’s his or yours.”

My heart rate took off at something close to hummingbird speed. This was karma for being so dismissive about Elliott’s fears. “If I’m not immune, how long until I start showing symptoms?” I asked quietly.

Elliott continued cleaning the wound. I wished I could see his face. “Three to six hours typically. But I’ve got an injection I’ve been working on. If you show any symptoms, you’ll get that plus we’ll tweak my meds for you. It’ll be okay.”

“I know,” I answered calmly. He’d take care of me. If it meant he used every last pill, potion, or injection he had, I knew Elliott would take care of me. I would have to make sure he took care of himself too.

Zack came back, looking pale. “We’re immune though, right?” he argued. Obviously he’d heard everything.

“I hope so,” Elliott answered, sounding far more bereft than hopeful.

“Are they still out there?” I asked, changing the subject to more pressing matters than ‘what ifs’. “Can we keep going?”

“Two of them are attacking the one we pulled off you,” Zack said with disgust. “The others are out there somewhere. I don’t know how many open doors there are here though. I don’t think we should linger.”

Elliott pressed another bandage to my skin, his touch gentle even though anger radiated from his skin. “We’re almost to the garage, aren’t we? I recognize this building,” he said tightly.

I nodded as I pulled my hair back into a ponytail instead of the demolished bun and tucked it back under the elastic. “If we cut through to the other side of the building, we should see the fence.”

I forced myself back to my feet, waving off the guys’ attempts to help me. I needed to do it myself. “Amie should already be there by now. When are we going to split up?”

Both of them freaked out and tried to change the plan, which seemed pointless now that we’d made it this far. I checked my bag to see if my computer had been damaged during my fall while they argued about how to proceed.

“You should stay with your sister. Amie is only expecting me. I can go on alone. Once I find out if this is a trap, you two can sneak in and try to get into the information system,” Elliott insisted.

“As I’ve said before, Zoe isn’t staying behind, isn’t helpless, and isn’t deaf. We’re sticking to the plan.” I snapped my laptop shut. From what I could tell, everything I needed was functioning. “Let’s go, before we get any more surprises.”

I threw my bag over my shoulders and headed for the lobby. I could hear the guys scrambling to grab their gear behind me. The gouge on my back burned, but I tried to push it out of my mind. A tiny sob welled up in my throat, but I choked it back down. I had a job to do. Time would tell if I was infected. If I was sick, then I had damn well better make this mean something.

Elliott and Zack caught up with me as I reached the set of doors on the opposite side of the building. From here I could see the high fence surrounding the maintenance garage. It was more intimidating now than it had been the first time we’d seen it. The plan was for me to go over with help and for the men to go around to the gate.

I would follow the plan, we’d get the information we needed, and then we’d get back to the tunnels. It had to be that simple. I stood frozen at the door, staring outside. I should have been looking for possible threats, but I was stuck staring at that damn fence.

“I don’t see anything,” Zack said gently. “I think this is a good time for us to go. Are you ready?”

Hell no. I’m only 21. I’d barely done anything with my life. I thought I’d have more time. “I thought…” I whispered out loud without meaning to. Damn it. I had to pull my shit together and stop feeling sorry for myself.

Elliott slipped my hand into his and brushed a soft kiss over my knuckles. “Let’s get this done so we can get home safely,” he cajoled. I nodded, still staring at the fence in the distance. Damn it was a high fence.

Zack pushed open the plate glass door and led the way outside. I saw his mouth open to make some sardonic comment, but for once he saw the look on my face and shut his mouth.

“I wish it would fucking rain already!” I snarled, glancing up at the roiling clouds. “Get it over with.”

The air was so heavy with humidity it had a texture, like warm breath on my skin. We had a parking lot to cross and one street. We didn’t move slowly this time, not again. We were practically jogging, eager to get this excursion over with.

“Let’s get to the corner towards the front. It’ll be easier for you to climb down a corner and we’ll be able to see you from the gate. Plus, you’ll have your bearings from there,” Elliott directed.

I was so sore and tired from all the running, I didn’t bother to argue. Hell, if it made climbing easier it was a brilliant plan.

At the fence, my brother boosted me up until I could reach the top of the dog eared wood panels and pull my own leg over. I’d managed one leg when we heard a vehicle approaching, fast. “Go!” I urged the guys, swinging myself to the other side of the fence. Wood splinters dug my palms, and my skirt hiked up indecently high, but I made it to the ground without breaking anything. I crouched in the darkness there, my heartbeat pounding like a bass drum. The gate was still closed, the gravel yard quiet. Thank God. My hand fluttered to the handgun tucked at my waistband. It was still there, still firmly in place.

I pulled the swampy air into my lungs, slowly finding my feet. From outside the fence, I heard tires squeal and saw headlights flicker through the slats.

Zoe’s leg slipped over the fence and she dropped out of sight. I think a chunk of my heart tore past my ribcage to follow her, the punch of pain I felt was so great. Why the hell had I agreed to a plan where she was out of sight for even a minute? I’d already failed her. Oh God, if she went through all of this only to become infected…What the hell could I do about it? Incompetent. Idiotic. I’ve ruined everything I’ve ever touched.

The roar of an engine spurred me to move. Zack and I ducked around the corner, headed for the gate. We were already running late for my rendezvous. Amie should be here waiting for us. As we got to the locked gate, we hesitated. Should we go over or see if Amie was watching for us? The screeching of car tires convinced us both not to stand around waiting. Zack and I lunged for the metal gate, climbing as fast as we could. It’s a trap. I knew it would be a trap.

The vehicle bounced over the curb as I pulled up by the gate, the driver’s door flying open before the SUV was even stopped. “What the hell are you doing up there?” Amie screeched. “Get in here before someone sees you!”

I released the metal bar I was dangling from and dropped to the ground in a crouch. Zack dropped beside me, dusting his hands off on his pants. “I’m supposed to charm that?” he muttered.

“Hey, I did. I think you can pull it off for an hour,” I shot back.

“Right,” he sighed, shaking his head. “The things I do for my sister.”

“Hurry up and get in!” Amie urged, making a disgusted sound in her throat.

Now, I was not about to get into a vehicle and go anywhere when I knew that Zoe was alone in the dark yard behind me. “Why aren’t we going to the lab?” I asked suspiciously. “We’re right here.”

“We ARE, but don’t you think they’ll find it a bit suspect if we scale the fence like criminals instead of going through the gate like we are supposed to be here?” she hissed. “Now get in the damn car!”

Zack jumped into the passenger seat and I slid in the rear seat behind Amie. She reached out and stabbed a button clipped to her visor and the gate in front of us began to slowly creak open.

“Who are you?” Amie asked, giving Zack a once over.

For once, Zack seemed at a loss for words. “I’m, uh, a friend of Elliott’s. Hi,” he stammered.

Smooth. Real smooth, Casanova.

Amie looked at me in the rear view mirror. “Are you afraid of being alone with me or something, Elliott?”

Hell yes. “Maybe you’ve noticed that there are quite a few unhappy people roaming around on campus. It isn’t safe for anyone to be out alone. I’m surprised you made it actually.”

She slammed the car into drive, pulling through the gate as it opened enough for the vehicle to fit through. She barked out a dry, humorless laugh that turned into a cough. “I didn’t have much of a choice.”

As we pulled through the gravel yard, I searched the darkness for any sign of Zoe. She was supposed to stay hidden and slip inside when Amie opened the garage door. I knew she was hiding, but it still bothered me when I couldn’t find any sign of her.

The large garage bay opened after Amie jabbed the same button a second time. “How did you get a remote for these doors anyway?” Zack asked, obviously curious.

“We took them from the maintenance workers,” Amie replied. “It wasn’t like they needed them now.”

Zack started to argue with her, but managed to stop himself. So far he was not off to a great start if he intended to distract and enthrall Amie. She was even more highly strung and demanding than usual tonight. I had to hope she’d cooperate. I needed the results of the last tests we’d left running, especially the gene sequencing from Zack and Zoe.

We pulled through the cavernous garage and parked outside the mobile lab. Zack and I exchanged a quick look, both relieved that the garage seemed otherwise unoccupied. The only lights were the security lamps glowing on the trailer and one orange lamp illuminating the overhead door. As we parked, the door began rumbling down. It was vital we hustle Amie inside and keep her from spotting Zoe.

I inserted myself between Amie and the garage door. “What progress have you made with the data I gave you? Have you checked to see if the sequencing has completed?” Perhaps if I peppered her with questions, she’d be too annoyed to look around much.

She shot me a look and dug around in her designer bag, looking for her security badge. “I’ve been through most of it. I’d say most of your assertions are valid. We need to look at other variables, of course, but there is a possibility that you’ve discovered an endogenous retrovirus…” She trailed off as she lifted the swipe card to the reader with a shaking hand.

The tremble tripped a warning siren in my brain, and it immediately launched into diagnostic mode. As the light on the trailer blinked to green, allowing us access, Amie sighed with relief and cleared her throat. Increased respirations, clammy skin, bloodshot eyes, and irritability all present. I held open the door and allowed her inside, then Zack. I tried to catch Zack’s eye to shoot him a warning, but couldn’t be certain he understood.