Cloak (YA Fantasy) (35 page)

“Stripe!” Will shouted.

“A Builder unaffected by binding instincts.” Dr. Grimm moved Stripe’s mandibles, exposing his red mark. “I thought he died in the explosion. He should have, he was the one that caused it!” Grimm’s anger flared, and he touched his face beneath Bump’s shell. “He did this to me. And he will die for it. But first, we have a society to pacify.”

Josef Grimm waddled over to a table rigged with heavy leather straps. Next to it was a tank of the acid green formula and a machine identical to the one attached to the Builder Queen.

FREE THE BOY AND STRAP HIM TO THE TABLE,
commanded Grimm.

One of the Builder’s mandibles sliced his forearm as it plunged into the amber. With tremendous force, five soldier Builders began to pull, shattering the amber prison. Will felt like he was being yanked through a cement wall. Pain surged through his entire body.

CAREFULLY, I DON’T WANT HIM TO END UP LIKE HIS BAT FRIENDS.

Intense, white-hot anger boiled up in Will. “Stop it!
JUST STOP!”
he cried out.

The Builders stepped away, leaving only Will’s lower half encased.

Rizz and Dr. Grimm stared at the walls and ceiling where thousands of Builders stood frozen at attention, their eyes on Will.

CONTINUE WORKING NOW!
Grimm’s scent-command was so powerful it took Will’s breath away. The stalled Builders hesitated, then started to move again.

Will closed his eyes and concentrated as hard as he could, screaming in his mind.
STOP!

When his eyes opened, the Builders were motionless.

Josef Grimm glared.

I SAID RESUME YOUR W…

IGNORE HIM!
Will blocked Grimm’s command. Some Builders stopped while others stuttered along.

“Do not trifle with me, boy.” Josef Grimm snarled. “You have no idea what you’re dealing with.”

Even surrounded by enemies, Will felt something grow inside him. It was more powerful than any of the enhancers—a volcano of confidence erupting in his chest. He glared at Rizz, then at Josef Grimm.

“I know what I’m dealing with.” Will stood erect. “Cowards and bullies. And an insect that wishes he were an Immune.”

Grimm trembled. “You insignificant worm. How dare you insult me? I am the greatest Immune who ever lived!”

“No, you
were
an Immune. But now you’re nothing but a parasite—a body-snatching bug.”

“A bug, am I?” Josef Grimm shook wildly, his stubby fists clenched. “I’ll show you a bug.”

The sound of tearing fabric surrounded the doctor. His massive stomach stretched and undulated like a balloon full of snakes.

Dozens of sharp black fingers burst through the front of Bump’s suit, wrenching it apart. More fingers split Bump’s exoskeleton down the center and cracked it in two.

From inside the shell, Grimm emerged, rearing back his head and unfolding two fang-tipped mandibles. Behind the fangs, his long, angular, half-human face wore a horrible smile. Two scythe-like pincers sprung from his neck.

The bulging, gyrating suit exploded in tatters. A mass of writhing spear-like arms and legs unfolded from what Will now realized was a long, sleek body that had been rolled up inside Bump’s substantial shell.

Grimm uncoiled and grew to a towering height, unfurling more hidden rows of lethal limbs.

The monstrous centipede stretched dozens of arms, cracked his segmented neck and leered down at Will, flashing a mouth full of pointed black teeth.

“Do I look like a mere insect to you, loathsome child?” No longer sounding pinched, Josef Grimm’s deep, cruel voice filled the chamber. He slithered toward Will, placed a sharp finger under his chin, and probed the air with his flared antennae. “Yes, I smell your fear. You should fear me. I’m about to become the most powerful being on this planet. And you are going to help me. The world’s two last Immunes, ruling together.”

“I’d rather die!” shouted Will.

“Oh, so noble. Just like your two friends.” Grimm moved to the wall where Dean and Stripe were still encased in amber Builder saliva. “I promised Rizz that Dean would remain alive. It was a little deal we made when I became the new me—Dean’s life for Rizz’s undying loyalty. Of course I couldn’t let him talk. My venom paralyzes—and as Dean’s personal physician, my prescription has been two bites a day, for life.”

Grimm turned back to Will.
WILHELM, COMMAND THE WOLFCHANT TO KILL THE STRIPED BUILDER!

There was no fighting it. Free of Bump’s shell, Josef Grimm’s command was unstoppable. Will’s attempt to resist disintergrated.
KILL STRIPE,
he commanded the wolf enchant. In a slow-motion nightmare, the wolf stalked toward Stripe and extended his claws.

The hunter bore his teeth.

In the back of Will’s mind, a new command seeped through a tiny crack in his thoughts.

No. Fight back.
The voice was small, but growing stronger. It was familiar. With a shock, Will realized the voice was his own.

Do not let him win. Stop him now!
The voice tumbled forward, an avalanche rolling and sweeping away the binding instinct until it filled every fiber of Will’s being.

He couldn’t hold the voice in any longer and it burst from his lips in a great bellowing roar. “No! Fight back! Do not let him win. Stop him now!”

The wolfchant’s claws faltered, and he crumpled to the floor.

Grimm’s eyes were on fire. He raised his pincers and charged Will.

A black missile hit Grimm from behind and another collided with his side, causing him to recoil. He staggered backward, searching the sky.

A Builder launched himself from the ceiling like a living cannon ball. Grimm tried sending out scent-commands, but Will batted them all away with commands of his own. It felt so natural. Every Builder was at his disposal. Will focused on specific groups of workers and soldiers.
GRAB HIS LEGS. ATTACK FROM THE RIGHT. THROW THAT TABLE.
Each command was followed. The Builders swarmed the thrashing centipede. Grimm fought with ferocity, slashing down Builders until piles of wounded formed at his feet.

Will turned to a group of Builders waiting in reserve.
BRING ME HELP—THE AGENTS.
The Builders nodded and dispersed, plunging into dozens of holes.

The fight spread across the chamber and Will had trouble seeing what was happening.

Free me, please.
Will thought. The Builders he asked cocked their heads and looked at each other for a moment. They tore the amber casing away from Will’s feet.
Thanks.

The Builders all raised their mandibles into smiles.

You are welcome, Immune,
cascaded in unison through Will’s head. Then the same Builders turned and charged into the battle, attacking with more vigor than the other enchants around them. Will kicked free of the amber crust and climbed onto a table for a better view.

Josef Grimm was still beating away Builders. Every time they advanced, the giant centipede cut through them, leaving a wake of fallen ant enchants in his path. In a moment of horror, Will realized that
he
was forcing these Builders to fight and sacrifice themselves.
His
commands now took away their free will.

STOP! YOU DON’T HAVE TO OBEY ME. YOU DON’T HAVE TO OBEY ANYONE. YOU ARE FREE. PLEASE STOP OBEYING. PLEASE!
Will didn’t know what else to do. The battle around the centipede grew quiet as the Builders backed away, shaking their heads and blinking.

In the confusion, a solitary form rose, chuckling. “What a fool you are.” Grimm seethed as he sauntered forward, sweeping Builders out of the way.

He was missing a few legs and an antenna, but it didn’t impede him as he swaggered toward Will.

“You could have won—you might have even finished me, but you are too weak. Freedom?
Please.
These are Builders, you stupid little boy. They don’t think for themselves. They don’t want choice. They need a leader, a commander.”

The centipede turned to the stunned Builders.
SEIZE THE BOY AND BRING HIM TO ME!
Josef Grimm’s scent-command was so strong it made Will stagger, but none of the Builders moved. Instead they turned toward the beastly centipede and advanced.

Grimm issued another command.

Thousands of Builders still marched forward until the centipede was trapped in a constricting wall of ant enchants.

Josef Grimm’s eyes met Will’s, the centipede’s face full of murderous hatred. He released a blood-curdling shriek and lunged forward.

A tidal wave of Builders swallowed him in an instant, surrounding him in a living prison.

The centipede’s voice was snuffed out.

In silence, the boiling mass of enchants flowed down one of the tunnels until Grimm and every Builder disappeared.

The threat gone, Will’s knees gave way and he plopped down on top of the table.

Will, behind you!
The scent-speak was weak but it caused Will to duck just in time to avoid the wolfchant’s claws. The one-eyed hunter flashed his teeth and skulked closer, snarling. He pounced.

Something flew over Will and collided with the wolf’s head. The one-eyed hunter slid across the floor and crashed against the wall, an unconscious heap. Rizz stood between Will and the wolfchant.

“I knew it!” Will climbed off the table. “I knew he was lying about you, Rizz. You were just playing along with all that stuff Grimm said, right?”

“Wrong.” Rizz still had his back to Will. “It’s all true, kid. Every word.”

“But you’re good. I know it. He was blackmailing you with Dean’s life.”

“Don’t.” Rizz held up his hand. “I did what I did. It doesn’t matter why. You’re a good kid, Will. I hope you can stay that way.” He turned and met Will’s stare. “Just remember who
you
are, no matter what they tell you.”

The ram perked his ears and looked to the far wall. Voices were echoing from one of the tunnels—someone was coming. Rizz held Will’s gaze for a second more, then bounded up the wall and disappeared into one of the holes. Will started to follow.

Let him go, Will. The Rizz you knew is gone.

Will looked for the source of the soft scent-speak. Dean’s blue eyes were open and full of sympathy. It was Dean who had warned him about the hunter’s attack.

“Will!” Kaya and Manning rushed into the chamber, led by the Builders Will had sent to find help. But Will didn’t answer. He couldn’t speak. All he could do was slump to the ground and let the tears go at last.

28

A Little Show of Thanks

W
ill woke up in a forest of roses.

He barely remembered being carried from the lab in the bowels of St. Grimm’s Builder catacombs. Now it all seemed like a murky nightmare. He ached—inside and out.

The perfume of the roses helped a little, giving him the strength to open his eyes.

He was back in his old room. The window and doors to the balcony had been repaired and roses were piled everywhere. From his bed, Will couldn’t even see the door. Late morning light caused the deep red flowers to glow. The roses made him think of the fight in Dean’s room. Mars and Berko were gone. A hole opened in his chest. The pain was too much. Will rolled over and stared at the wall.

There was a commotion on the balcony, then a click of metal as the door slid open.

“Holy cow, will you look at this? It’s like a garden threw up in here.” Mars and Berko pushed through the roses. “Morning, Stinky.”

Will jumped to his feet. “You’re alive!” He rushed forward and threw his arms around them.

“Ow, ow.” Mars’ arm was in a sling and her foot was bandaged. Her face was bruised and swollen, but she was alive. Berko was pretty beaten up too—a cast covered his hand and a tooth was missing from his heavy under bite.

“Yeah, we’re alive. Thanks to you.” Mars pushed purple strands of hair out of her face.

“Thanks to me? I thought you two were goners.”

“So did we, but when you yelled at those Builders to leave us alone, they just…let us go. Kaya said the Builders obeyed you because you’re an Immune.” Berko was speaking full volume.

“Shh.” Will looked at the door.

Mars shook her head. “Relax, Stinky, your secret’s not such a secret anymore. The Queen Builder sent a statement to the Council of Wik thanking
Wilhelm Tuttle, the Immune,
for his heroic deeds on behalf of her colony and for freeing them from eleven years of slavery. She explained about Grimm, Bump, and everything. Oh, and she also pledged her eternal loyalty to you. You’re a hero, Stinky, and the only thing anybody’s been talking about all day—well, not the only thing…” Mars dropped her head and kicked at a rose. “There’s also a lot of talk about Rizz.”

Will looked at the floor. “Oh.”

“Yeah. This morning Liska held this press conference where she showed Rizz’s picture and told how he was a dangerous traitor and ISPA’s most wanted fugitive. I really hate that lady. You don’t think Rizz is guilty, do you, Will?”

Will sat on the edge of his bed and rubbed his arm. “I don’t know.”