Chasing Colorado: (The Zombie Zovels #2) (6 page)

“Don't you think it's strange that Chen didn't take any of his belongings? The same goes for Cliff.” Nick said, but regretted it as soon as he had said it. Miriam wasn't one to be messed with and answering back or doubting her would have repercussions.

“What exactly is it you are trying to imply? You know there are others up there that would love to have the chance to get their hands on all of this. Don't you know how lucky you are to be here, safe, well-fed?”

Nick's jaw went slack, even though he didn't like Miriam and didn't trust her, he never looked at it that way. To him, it had always felt like he was being held against his will, forced into the Lab.

“Don't question me or I'll have you reassigned.”

Nick gulped and wondered what
reassigned
really meant.

Miriam stopped in the doorway and turned back to look at Nick.

“Get rid of that.” she said, pointing at the girl. “There's no good in keeping them if they no longer serve a purpose. And while we're on the subject, why are you keeping live ones still?”

“I need them for my research, as I do Robin, she's very valuable.”

“Useless more like. How will she help your research?”

“I need to run some more tests, blood tests and-”

“Well, just fill a few blood bags and be done with her. Now, let me out of this place. I don't know how you can stand it down here with the constant screams and banging.”

Her heels clicked as she hurried back down the corridor. Nick let out a breath, patted Robin on the shoulder, pulled the door shut behind him and jogged down the corridor to where Miriam was impatiently tapping her foot. Nick fumbled with the keys and dropped them.

“Oh, do hurry up, Nick.”

Nick unlocked the door and Miriam shot out the door like a cannonball. She marched to the next door, stripped off all the protective clothing and discarded of it in the trash compartment in the wall. She ushered Nick along, he sped up and unlocked the next door and she hurried through. It took her all of two seconds to compose herself, brushing a loose strand of hair away from her face and straightening her skirt, before she walked back to his office and waited for him.

He rounded the corner and nearly bumped into her as she was already leaving again.

He quickly stepped back to give her space.

“I am leaving for Washington in two days. Your next batch of test subjects should arrive next week if there aren't any hang-ups. I expect you to have perfected this
mishap
by the time I return.”

Nick frowned, he was no miracle worker, Miriam expected too much from him, but he was afraid of the consequences if he didn't produce the right results. The more time Nick spent around Miriam, the more he realized she was the devil in disguise. She could be nice to him one minute when she thought he was getting close to a cure, and then the moment he had a setback she turned into a vile creature. Nick was actually scared for his life after the disappearance of his friends, Chen, and Cliff. Since their departure, he had been alone down in the Lab, apart from Ross, who liked to make up excuses to come and see him.

“Nick, did you hear me?”

“Hmm?”

“I said, you need to clear some of those rooms out before your next batch arrives. I will ask Steven to clean them out for-”

“No!” Nick said, a little too quickly in response.

Miriam raised an eyebrow.

“Steven makes too much mess when he clears them out, I can do it just fine on my own.”

Nick didn't want Steven going on some mad killing spree again, and slaughtering Robin in the process as well. It had happened before when Steven had been asked to clear out the rooms, he bludgeoned nearly all of the test subjects, even the ones he was specifically told not to, then Ross and Nick were left to clean up the mess. It was much easier to gas them and have Ross sort them out, he was discreet about it and didn't turn it into a bloody war game. Plus Nick had the only set of keys and he wasn't about to hand them over without a fight.

“If you say so.” Miriam said, before sauntering out of his office. “See you when I get back.” she called.

Nick slumped into his desk chair wondering if the next few weeks would be his last. He had to find a cure that didn't turn people into a catatonic state, which was all that seemed to be happening lately, but Robin was the first, real improvement in months. She was cured, but she couldn't even lift a finger. She had spent hours in her room drawing and reading, now she just sat in a chair staring off into space.

The elevator pinged and brought Nick back from his thoughts. Ross walked around the corner and leaned against the door-frame.

“So, what did the devil-woman have to say?” Ross asked, putting his hands in his pockets.

“Oh, just the usual, she wants a cure, same old, same old, and she wants some space made for the new test subjects next week.”

Ross nodded, listening carefully.

“How many are arriving?”

“I don't know, hopefully not too many this time, I didn't like choosing which ones to keep and which ones to dispose of. If you could clean out rooms, three and four... uh, six and seven, nine, ten and eleven. I think that should be enough...well, I hope.”

“What did she say about Robin?”

“She wants Robin's room cleaned out as well.”

Ross frowned, not liking the idea of having to kill Robin.

“Don't worry, as long as I am still running this Lab, Robin will stay where she is. She's no harm to anyone, and I think she tried to speak yesterday.”

“Really?” Ross said.

Nick sighed. “I don't know for sure but it sounded like she was trying to say something beginning with R... Raa something, or maybe I imagined it and have just spent too much time in there with her.”

“Didn't she once say she had a brother called Randall?”

“Well, Randal or not, Robin stays where she is.”

“I'll get started on that.” Ross said.

“It's okay, no rush, Miriam won't be back down here for a while. Now, you'll have to excuse me, I have a lot of work I have to catch up on before I can close my eyes tonight.”

“You hungry?”

“Why, what time is it?”

“5.40pm, nearly dinnertime.” Ross clapped his hands together. “I hear you've got macaroni for dinner, with frozen yogurt for desert.”

“Hmm, do you?”

“Don't suppose you want an extra helping, do you?”

“You getting fed up with the pre-packed food, Ross?”

Ross laughed. “I'll make sure I add a few extra scoops to your plate, 'cause that macaroni looks killer.”

“If Miriam finds out-”

“She won't, she's probably already gone back to her quarters to spend the night with a bottle of wine.” Ross grinned.

Day 2

I suddenly feel tired, like.. really tired.

We were leaving. And I didn't have a choice. So I had to say my goodbyes. When I arrived at the playroom, where Tammy had a day-care thing going on, I poked my head around the door, not wanting Ozma to see me and make a mad dash for me. But she wasn't in there, neither was Tammy. Two boys were sitting at the table coloring.

“Hey, do you know where Tammy is?” I asked.

One of the boys looked up at me and gave me a wide grin when he saw it was me. I don't think anyone had told him I was a walking virus.

“She's outside with Lilly and Ozma.” he replied.

I thanked him and made my way outside. On my way out I found Lena and Dan in the weapons room, Ryan was sat in the corner on a beanbag with his back to everyone, he was looking at an adult magazine and turning the thing upside down and sideways. I raised an eyebrow at him on my way over to Lena and Dan. Lena looked over her shoulder at Ryan and giggled.

“Hi ya,” Lena said quietly.

“Does he even know we're in here?” I asked.

“Probably not.” she laughed, then she picked up Drew's crossbow that was lying on the table and aimed it at Dan's head.

It took him all of three seconds to notice.

“Shit, Lena!” he squawked, dodging out of the way and bumping straight into me, then he squealed and flinched away from me.

She laughed and lowered the crossbow.

“That's not funny.” he said through gritted teeth.

“Calm down, Dan, the thing's not even loaded.”

“That's not the point.” Dan said, holding his hand over his heart.

“What's going on?” Drew asked, walking up behind us.

“Nothing much, just giving Dan his daily heart attack.” Lena said.

Drew grinned and took his crossbow from Lena.

“I think I'll have that before you poke your eye out.”

Dan grumbled and pushed past Drew on his way out.

“He's so grumpy.” Lena said.

“I think he's homesick.” Drew said.

“Well, he won't have to wait long now. We'll soon be on our way.” Lena said, smiling at Drew, roughing his hair up as she walked past us.

Drew and I were left standing on our own, with the exception of Ryan on his beanbag who was too engrossed in his dirty magazine to even notice we were in the room.

“Um... I'm just gonna...” I mumbled, not really knowing what to say to Drew.

“Yep.” Drew said, spinning around and following Lena.

I walked outside and found Tammy around the side of the prison. Lilly was with her, the little six-year-old that was quite fond of Ozma. She was rolling a ball across the ground for Ozma to pick up. Abby was with them, she was in her late twenties, was awfully quiet and shy, and liked to stay busy by helping out in the playroom. I hovered behind the wall, not wanting Ozma to see me, I didn't want to upset her by letting her see me. I waited a few minutes watching her as she waddled backwards and forwards to pick up the ball. Tammy soon spotted me and waved at me. I wanted to find her to say goodbye to her. She whispered something to Abby, and Abby picked up Ozma and carried her back indoors, when she was out of sight I walked over to Tammy and Lilly.

“Hey,” I said to Tammy, smiling at them both.

Tammy smiled back at me.

“Hi, Alex.” Lilly said.

“Hey, Lil,” I greeted her, then looked back at Tammy. “I didn't want Ozma to see me, it will only make it worse if she sees me and I have to hand her back over again.”

“I know.” Tammy said, looking down at Lilly and brushing her blond hair down her back.

“Tammy says you're sick?” Lilly interrupted.

I looked at Tammy. “Oh, did she, I thought it was a
secret
?”

“She overheard Luke and I discussing the trip, being nosy as always.”

“I am not nosy!” Lilly insisted, putting one hand on her hip. “Are you gonna turn into one of the monsters?”

After an awkward silence of me wondering how I was going to word it, I finally turned to look at her and said, “Um... yeah I am.”

Not the best thing I could have said but at least it was honest. I looked between Lilly and Tammy, this wasn't exactly an easy topic to discuss with a six-year-old, but she was a clever little thing, she knew when I was lying.

“We don't know that for sure, that's why Luke and Josh and those other new people are going to take Alex to see a Doctor, and he's going to fix...um, make her better.”

“That's a pile of shit!” Lilly blurted.

We both looked at her a little shocked she even knew the word shit.

“Luke.” Tammy said, rolling her eyes.

She was probably right, Luke liked to say “shit” an awful lot.

“Alex is gonna turn into a monster.”

I nodded, there was no use lying to her, Lilly had seen firsthand what the 'monsters' were like, and how you turned into one, she had witnessed her dad being eaten by the
monsters
, and her mom turning into one of the
monsters
.

“She's right, I am gonna turn into one of them, but not for a while, I'm still
me
at the minute.”

Lilly leaned against Tammy, and Tammy wrapped her arm around her.

“Lilly, hun, why don't you go inside and I'll come find you in a minute, I just want to speak to Alex.”

“You mean grown-up talk?”

“Yes, grown-up talk.” Tammy said.

“Can I hug Alex goodbye?” Lilly asked, looking up at Tammy.

“Sure.” Tammy nodded.

Lilly came over to me and hugged me around the waist.

“I hope you don't turn into one of the monsters.”

“Me too.” I said, hugging her back.

She let go and waved goodbye and skipped away.

“I'm gonna miss her.” I said.

“She's getting so lippy, and as you can tell she's spending too much time around Luke.”

We watched her as she disappeared into the building.

“So...um...”

“I'll take care of her.” Tammy said, answering my unasked question.

I let out a sigh. “I can't believe this is happening.”

“Do you think you'll find Lane's brother?”

“I have no idea. But, if you have anything to say to me you should just tell me now, 'cause this is the last time you're gonna see me... well, like this anyway. If Lane has his way he'll probably bring me back on a leash.”

“You don't sound very hopeful.”

“That's 'cause I think we'd have more luck looking for a time machine then we would looking for a cure.”

“You don't think there is one?”

I shrugged. “I don't know.” I said, just as someone walked up behind me and poked me in the back.

“There she is, the little disease carrier.” Luke joked.

“Watch it, I might have to hurt you... or bite you.” I responded.

“I've been looking for you, they're all waiting for you inside.”

“Already?”

“Yep, did you pack all your shit yet?” Luke asked.

Tammy slapped the top of his arm.

“Ouch! What was that for?”

“Stop saying 'shit'.”

Luke laughed. “Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.”

“
I'm
gonna hurt him myself in a minute.” Tammy said, laughing. “I'm going to miss you, you goofball.” she said, reaching up to hug Luke.

“I'll be back.” he said in the Terminator's voice. “You coming?” he asked me.

“Yeah, I'll be right behind you.”

He playfully jabbed Tammy in the ribs which made her go all giggly, then he walked back to the prison.

“So do I get a hug, you know, while you're handing them out for free?” Tammy asked.

“I dunno, do you wanna hug?”

“Of course, I want a hug. I'm going to miss you as well, you're like, my best friend in this place.”

I smiled and hugged her. She was the only other girl I really spoke to every day, other than Stacey, but Stacey was younger and didn't know how to have a conversation with me without talking about boys.

“I'll come with you, I want to say goodbye to Josh.” Tammy said.

“Uh huh.” I teased.

“Oh please, the guy has had the biggest crush on you ever since you arrived.”

“Well, he'll come back, I won't, maybe then you two can... you know.”

She playfully gave my arm a shove.

“I was just sayin', you never know.”

The sides of her lips twitched and she put her arm around me as we walked back indoors. All the time I had spent at the prison, I hadn't realized how close I had grown to the people there. In a way, I viewed these people like they were my family. We all lived together, played games together, ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner together, and we all looked out for each other. But it had taken me this long to realize they were my family.

When we arrived in the weapons room, everyone was in there with their bags packed, chatting to one another.

“Mmmm, I kinda wish I was coming with you.” Tammy said.

I followed her line of sight to see what had caught her attention, making her go all gooey-eyed, like she was drooling over a plate of sugared doughnuts.

Drew.

She was looking at Drew like he was a gazelle and she was the cheetah.

“He sort of looks like Troye Sivan, don't you think?” she said, eyeing Drew as he leaned against the wall chatting to Evan.

Drew was tall and had a skinny frame but with broad shoulders. His green hair was short at the sides and longer on top with a section at the front that hung down over his eyes. He had a silver lip ring on the left side of his lip and black tunnels in each of his ears, they weren't crazy big, but maybe big enough to stick a finger through.

“Who?” I said, still looking at Drew.

“You know, the guy that sang that song,
Wild
.”

“I really don't.”

“Yeah you do,” She started singing the lyrics and I twigged which song she was talking about, and I also remembered Pip loved that song.

“Okay, stop, people are looking at us.”

“Hmm... He kinda does look like him.” Lena said, popping up behind us out of nowhere.

The unexpected arrival of Lena dropping into our conversation, caught us off guard and made us both jump and knock into each other. Maybe she hadn't heard Tammy talking about Drew like he was a piece of tender meat.

Lena grinned. “Drew likes the ladies, though.” she said a little louder than necessary as she squeezed between us.

Yep, she had overheard Tammy, and now Drew was looking in our direction having heard his name.

Tammy and I looked everywhere else avoiding his stare.
Awkward.

“This place has ears everywhere.” I said, looking around the room. “I'm surprised Meghan didn't show up for a final farewell.”

“Oh, don't even go there, she already did her farewell. She put on her best theatrical performance in the cafeteria earlier.”

“Was it any good?”

“There were a few fake tears which got her hugs from Josh.”

“Oh, boy!” I said, trying not to laugh, watching as Stacey entered the room and marched straight up to Josh.

“I'm coming with you.” Stacey said determined, standing up tall.

Evan snorted a laugh.

“You've changed your tune.” I said, crossing my arms. “I thought you thought this was a one-way ticket to the grave?”

“I feel like this is
partially
my fault, so I want to help.”

“Partially my ass.” Lane muttered.

“Really? You're not scared I'm gonna dribble on you or something?” I said.

Drew chuckled and walked past Stacey, knocking into her on his way out, soon followed by Dan.

“No, no, and no! She tried to shoot Alex, she can't be trusted.” Lane argued, stepping forward.

“I'm sorry! I was...I was scared. I didn't want her to bite me.” Stacey whimpered.

She didn't want me to bite her.
I was laughing like a hyena inside my warped brain.

We all looked at her with bemused faces.

“Yes, the whole turning into a zombie thing is instantaneous. I'm not a complete animal, Stacey.” I said, fighting back a snicker.

“You're not coming with us.” Josh said.

“What? Why not? I want to help.”

“No, you can't help.” Josh said. “And we're not babysitting you.” he added.

Her sad face drooped, even more, when Josh shot her down.

“You're not a survivor, you're a casualty, you're one of these people that depend on other people to save you, even if you say different. You don't belong out there. The only way you have survived this long is because you have been safely hidden away behind these walls. Out there, there are no walls, you wouldn't last two minutes.” Evan said, stepping into the conversation.