Closing in on fifteen yards from the plant, they could all see the twisted and broken remains of the fence Eve had blown to bits on the first mission. This time, bodies created the fence. Fewer shots were being fired at the Fallen closest to their small group, danger now at shooting their own men. Bodies leapt at them from every side and empty shell casings sang as they littered the concrete.
“Climb! Climb!” Royce shouted as the six of them broke through the ring of cybernetics.
One man clung to the ladder, climbing it two rungs at a time. Royce ascended next, followed by another of his men. Just as West was about to start climbing, the man above him let out a small gurgle as a bullet embedded itself into his chest. He fell backward, nearly knocking West to the ground, smearing blood over his neck and chest as he came down.
Instinctively, Avian bent, pressing his fingers to his throat, checking for a pulse.
“He’s already gone!” West shouted as he grabbed the back of Avian’s shirt and pulled him back toward the ladder. “You can’t help him!”
It took everything he had in him, knowing that if he did leave that man he would be dead, but West had been right. Avian followed the others up the ladder.
The platform was clear as the five of them raced across. Royce unbuckled his pack as he ran, slinging it in front of him as he kneed at the line that lay limp and useless on the ground.
“I’m going to need someone to hold the line while I weld it in place,” Royce said as he pulled out the torch and a mask to protect his eyes.
Not waiting for anyone else to respond, West knelt next to him and picked up the line. Avian and the others turned their back to them, firearms ready.
Metal fingers gleamed as they grabbed the ledge of the platform, a metallic face emerging with blank eyes. The head disappeared half a second later and they all heard the crash as the body dropped lifeless to the ground. The metal rungs of the ladder sang as more and more of the Fallen started to ascend.
“How long’s this going to take?” Avian shouted as he fired at the Fallen, one by one as they tried to climb the ladder.
“Just give me a minute!” Royce shouted over the noise of the welding torch. “I just want to make sure nothing’s going to pull the line again!”
None of them noticed the second ladder. Silent bodies moved up to the platform, empty eyes of former people, people who weren’t anything more than mindless machines now.
One of Royce’s other men dropped to the ground without even a scream. He was dead before he collapsed to the ground. Avian turned and fired, at the same time he noticed where the Fallen’s weapons were pointed. Without another thought, he leapt in front of West.
Pain exploded in his thigh and left arm, bullets embedding themselves in his flesh. The flame of the welding unit went out as Avian hit the ground, the line now sure and permanent. Royce and West raised their weapons as more bodies climbed onto the platform. Royce stumbled as a bullet grazed his lower leg.
None of them noticed the cybernetic eyes that had been watching them silently from the walls and intricacies of the plant. None of them saw the way its metal fingers flexed in the darkness.
Lights flashed as more shots were fired on that blood filled night.
The hidden Fallen sprang to life.
A set of cybernetic hands closed around a fleshy throat.
THIRTY-EIGHT
I couldn’t…
Couldn’t…
Move.
A flash of light flickered across my vision and my eyes twitched just once as my brain flipped on and off. Another flash of light and I managed to turn my head to the left just slightly. Another and I was able to twitch the fingers on my left hand.
I took a gasping breath as the lights stayed for longer flashes of time. As my muscles unlocked for half a second, I attempted a step forward, only to crash to the floor as my brain flashed out again for a brief moment.
The lights stayed on finally, only occasionally flickering in the corner of my vision. Slowly, movement by movement, I worked my way to my hands and knees.
Struggling for each breath, my muscles finally released and the flashes stopped.
As I caught a glimpse of the clock on the wall, I realized it was almost four hours later than it should have been.
My movements still stiff and jerky, I closed my hand around the doorknob and pulled. Feeling slightly numb still, I started to work my way down the hall.
I’d never checked out like that before. I’d been alone when it had happened. I hadn’t emotionally overworked myself.
Someone had shut me down.
“Eve,” a voice called to me from behind. I turned to see Dr. Beeson jogging down the hall toward me. “I thought you would have gone out with the others?”
“I tried,” I said, my voice sounding like it wasn’t working. He slowed to match my still off gait. I narrowed my eyes as I looked over at him. “You didn’t shut me down did you?”
“What?” he asked, his brow furrowing. “Of course not.”
“I’ve spent the last four hours, frozen and gone in my room.”
Dr. Beeson’s step faltered as he looked at me, his face blanching white.
“Someone shut me down,” I said through clenched teeth.
Remembrance seemed to flash through his mind as his eyes widened suddenly. “West spent nearly an entire night with me, asking questions about the wireless transmission system.”
“He…” I nearly choked on my words. “West shut me down.”
“I’m so sorry,” he said quietly. “Come with me. They’re having problems with the communication system for those who went out. I’m going to take a look at it and see if I can get it fixed.”
Numbly, I followed him down the stairwell and into the frantic lobby.
It seemed that everyone who lived in the hospital that hadn’t gone out on whatever mission they had left on was gathered in the lobby. A feeling of tension rippled through everyone, setting my nerves on edge. Seeing Tuck by the front door, I joined him.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, his brow furrowing as he looked at me. “I thought you had gone with them.”
“It wasn’t for a lack of trying,” I said as I looked out into the dark and silent night. “What’s going on?”
“Something pulled the power line about five hours ago,” Tuck started to explain as he looked outside as well. “Royce’s men and a few others went with him to go fix it.”
“West and Avian went with them, didn’t they?” I suddenly felt hollow.
Tuck simply nodded. “We lost communication with everyone about two hours ago though. They called for Dr. Beeson to try and fix it. We have no idea what’s going on out there.”
I turned to see Dr. Beeson working with a handful of other people, their movements rushed and frantic. As I scanned the faces that anxiously watched them, I took strength from those I knew. Eli stood with Morgan, their hands clasped together, one of her hands held over her still flat stomach. Van held Tess tight in his arms, her eyes reddened as if she had been crying not long ago.
A hard rock formed in my throat.
A crackle suddenly sounded from the device Dr. Beeson and the others worked on.
“…anyone there? Please come in…” a voice crackled through the system.
“Yes, we’re here!” a woman said as she took the handheld piece that was attached to the system. “Is everything okay?”
“People shot…” the voice cut out. “…at least four dead… Get the Extractor powered up!”
Everyone seemed to freeze as those last words filled the room. I felt my blood run cold.
“Who’s been infected?” the woman asked, her voice sounding dead.