“No,” Zaun insisted. “We can’t take that chance.”
“I won’t do this without her. If she shows any sign that she’s going to tell Chambers, Doc or the others, I’ll tie her up. But she’s going to be on our side and we could use all the hands we can get. I won’t leave her here to be tortured and experimented on.”
“Splitting up now is not a good idea,” Zaun said.
“The two of you can take care of Reynolds. You get him, and Chambers will fall in line. No need even to go after him. I’d give you my sidearm, but I’ll need it in case Lopez doesn’t want to go along.”
“I have this,” Jack said, going over to his bed, lifting the mattress, and producing a small steak knife.
“Better than nothing and more than enough to take Reynolds with,” Kevin said. “I better get going. Lopez and I will meet you two at the weapons store. If you get there and I’m not present, then grab a few extra goodies and head to C-wing. I’ll meet you there.”
Jack didn’t like this at all. With the three of them going about business together, they had a better chance, but the kid wouldn’t budge. Once they had Reynolds, Jack would feel better. T he bottom line was: if Kevin didn’t make it, it was the kid’s own fault, though he couldn’t condemn the guy for having a heart.
“Good luck,” Jack told him. Kevin nodded to both men, then left.
“Ready to do this?” Zaun asked.
“Yeah,” Jack said. He handed Zaun the knife. “You take this; you’ll make better use of it.”
Zaun smiled. “That I will.”
Before leaving the room, Jack asked for a minute. He didn’t want to think or hesitate when it came time to do what he had to do. Just act. Or react. He would have time to think later, to deal with his emotions. He was about to embark on a journey that could be filled with bloodshed and pain. Could he prepare himself, having never been through such a thing? He had never served in the military. He didn’t grow up in a bad neighborhood where people died on a weekly basis. Jack had been in a few scuffles during his life, a few fistfights, but that was it. Was he really cut out to be a killer? No, he wasn’t, because he wasn’t a killer. He was a survivor, and someone who would defend himself. The people in the bunker meant him and his friends harm. They wouldn’t hesitate to kill him, torture him, so he couldn’t hesitate either. He needed to be strong, use a controlled viciousness if there was such a thing, because remaining levelheaded during combat was important. Important during any great undertaking. He needed to make it out alive and intact, for all of their sakes, including his sister’s.
He would see her again.
Zaun put his jacket on, and placed the knife inside it.
“These men are well-trained,” Jack warned his friend, looking him in the eye. “Professional soldiers, ready to kill.”
“Jack, after what I’ve been through, how far we’ve made it, I’m not about to pussy out. I’m no lab rat or human pin-cushion. It’s us against them.”
The look in Zaun’s eyes was one of fierceness. If Jack didn’t know any better, he’d swear the man had killed before, and maybe he had. The guy had been in that building for a while with all sorts of crazy shit going on. It wasn’t out of the question that his friend had to defend himself. Maybe Zaun looked at the undead as people, and as far as the man was concerned, he had killed already. It was a good mindset to have. Jack felt a little better at seeing how serious his normally non-serious friend was. There was no doubt in Jack’s mind that the guy was ready to do whatever needed to be done.
He only hoped he could do the same.
Chapter 16
Kevin knocked on Maria Lopez’ door, announced himself, and was told to come in. Roger Smithford, a high-ranking C-wing guard, was sitting in a chair. Of all the times to have a guest, he thought. Maria was sitting cross-legged on her bed, dressed in her pajamas. He knew Smithford and her were friends, but there was no way he was going to trust the guy. He thought about turning around, forgetting about Maria, and leaving with Jack and Zaun.
“What’s up?” Maria asked.
“I… um…” H e couldn’t get the words out, his mind caught between wanting to leave and wanting to stay. He turned to stare at Smithford.
“Meyers,” the man said, nodding.
Why the hell was the guy here?
Turning back to Maria, he said, “I have something I need to talk to you about. Something private.”
“You don’t look so good,” Maria said.
Smithford sat back, looking as if he hadn’t heard a word Kevin had said.
“I need to talk to you in private,” he reiterated.
“I get it,” Smithford said, not sounding the least bit upset. The man leaned forward, hi s chair clomping down. He stood, all six feet five inches of him. “You want me to leave.”
“Wait,” Maria told him, then looked at Kevin. “Can this wait until tomorrow?”
Kevin shook his head. “No, I really need to talk to you now.” He looked up at Smithford. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude.”
“No problem,” Smithford said. “It’s getting late and I should let you two talk. Sounds like Kevin has a problem he needs help with.” He said goodnight, then left the room.
Kevin took a seat on Maria’s bed, leaving his booted feet on the floor. He couldn’t face her. Staring at the floor, he felt her hand on his shoulder.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“There’s not a lot of time, so I’m going to just spit it out.”
“Okay,” she said, taking her hand back.
He turned to face her and just started talking. He told her everything, from his drunken conversation with Devon, to just before he left Jack’s room.
“I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s all true,” he said, “and I want you to come with us.”
Maria sighed. “Kevin, not to be an asshole, but that’s the most ridiculous shit I’ve ever heard. I hope you’re puttin g me on. ”
He jumped up, unable to remain seated. “No. I’m dead serious. Didn’t you hear what I said?”
“You’re for real, aren’t you?”
“Yes, and there isn’t much time. We need to meet the others.”
Maria held up her arms. “Wait. Just wait. There’s no way our military would condone this type of thing, human experimentation. Maybe after the rats and monkeys were tested, then human trials, but outright torture and killing, no.”
“Don’t act like you’ve never seen shit. We both have. We’ve seen some nasty stuff that if it ever got out there’d be a public outcry.”
“That was different and those were some crazy-ass individuals. Who, may I remind you, were reprimanded.”
“Look, we’re leaving. Tonight. Getting out of here for good before it’s too late. For all I know you and me are next. We’re not part of the regular crew. We don’t have access to C-Wing. Reynolds has no test subjects left. What do you think he’s going to do to get more? Head out into the city because there are no more people there? It’s going to be Jack and Zaun and then us.”
Maria closed her eyes, shaking her head. Kevin could see he was putting doubt into her. On some level, she believed him.
“You’re talking about treason,” she said. “Going against orders, against your country. You’ll be put in front of a firing squad. You can’t do this.”
The door to the room burst open, startling both Kevin and Maria.
Smithford walked in, sidearm in hand.
“What the hell, Roger?” Maria barked.
“Was listening at the door,” he said. “Heard everything.”
“Get out,” Maria demanded, her voice cracking.
“Don’t,” Smithford warned, as Kevin went for his gun. “ Doc wants you alive and intact, but I’ll drop you where you stand if I have to. I’m sure as long as it’s not a fatal shot, the man can fix you back up; inject those little things into you.”
Kevin truly hated himself right now. He had been so careless. So stupid. Before speaking to Maria, he should have made sure that there was no one outside the door.