lips. As it oozed it solidified, creating a seal. He could not move his mouth, yet he could breathe through the tube.
The Bishop bent close to Trevor's ear.
'You will wither and break, Mr. Stone, a demonstration of your weakness for all to see and then you will be programmed to serve The Order. They will find no implants, yet in the end you will deliver your entire race to blessed Voggoth.'
More of the gooey substance poured over Trevor’s head, sealing first his nostrils then his ears, then gluing his eyes open. More liquid came, poured over his crotch and oozing around the middle of his body. The secretions sealed every orifice.
A bloated, organic sack drooped from the torture-spider above Trevor’s feet.
'No permanent damage will be done. We do not want your body harmed. We only want to open the door to your mind.'
The sack burst and thousands of tiny red and black insects poured out. They swarmed his body in a creeping blanket, digging at his skin, burning and itching as they moved. The gooey mask muffled his screams and he disappeared beneath the horde.
– Jon pushed the workshop door open before Omar could remove his key from the lock.
'Oh, yes, please, do not worry about breaking my wrist; this is of no big thing.'
Jon ignored him and walked inside. Omar switched on the fluorescent lights.
'Wow, lots of toys here.'
'Toys? Oh, certainly, so simple a child understanding them would be of no problem.'
Brewer turned and stomped directly to Omar. The professor thought maybe Jon had finally suffered enough sarcasm and aimed to whack him.
'I’m just kidding! I’m just kidding!'
'Me and you have to have a talk. I’ve only got a couple of hours and I need your help.'
Omar searched for a cigarette.
– Stonewall McAllister surveyed the assembled group of eight with Woody 'Bear' Ross and Kristy Kaufman at his side. Dustin McBride also hovered nearby.
'I had the pleasure of commanding some of you during my trek north. Others are new to me, but I am already quite sure of your valor. You would have to have valor-or extreme mental deficiency-to volunteer for this undertaking. It has been my experience that those with valor or those with extreme mental deficiency tend to fight well.'
Many of the group smiled. Others cast their eyes around nervously.
'I fight well. I will leave it to you to judge if it from valor or deficiency. You should know this adventure will not be under my command. Mr. Jon Brewer will hold the reigns and I have pledged allegiance to him. Together, we will deliver a blow to our enemies.'
Ross boomed, 'Who’s with the General?'
Several of the volunteers-including McAllister’s officers-yelled, 'Hoo-rah!'
Ross stepped closer to the group and glared at those who had not yelled, eliciting a cough, a snicker, and finally more 'hoo-rahs'.
'Mr. Ross, take a team to the farm and retrieve our mounts and wagons. Ms. Kaufman, dust off our collection of things that make big bangs. Impress a few of our volunteers here to help with the heavy lifting; you mustn’t damage those pretty nails of yours.'
'Right away, General.' Her voice spoke first soft then roared, 'All right, I need four strong backs who ain’t afraid of work! FALL IN!'
The group dispersed. Jerry Shepherd approached.
'How goes assembly, General?'
Stonewall tipped his head politely. 'My group will be ready in a few hours. I believe Mr. Brewer’s decision to go on horseback to be sound. We can not depend on fuel resources out there in the wilderness.'
'Agreed. You’ve been outside of this valley, Garrett. You’ve seen things.'
'Indeed.'
'Both Trevor and now Jon, we’re following fellas who haven’t seen much of what really is going on out there.'
Stonewall smiled, 'I suspect we will have to provide assistance. I have thrown my lot in with Mr. Stone. I will do what I must.'
'I reckon that’s true. I’m just not quite sure all of these folks know what they’re in for. This ain’t no Saturday night cruise.'
'Indeed not, Mr. Shepherd. Indeed not.'
– Jon Brewer, Danny Washburn, Reverend Johnny, and Kristy Kaufman gathered in the Command Center
Jon told them, 'We're keeping the party to a minimum to not attract attention.'
Danny asked, 'Will you have enough fire power when you get there?'
'Fear not, for He shall guide the faithful with his sturdy hand,' Reverend Johnny added his voice to the discussion. 'This is one disciple of the Lord who is never short of two things: faith or ammunition. We will cut a swath through the fields of-'
Jon interrupted, 'Gotchya, Rev,' and then to Kristy and Washburn: 'You two will be in charge of things around here for the time being. Hunker down and keep a low profile. Your biggest worry is the K9s. So far, they’ve been keeping with their standard patrols and whatnot. Who knows what will happen the longer Trevor is away.'
Washburn said, 'Hey, don't worry,' then threw an arm around Kristy who scowled. 'Me and the little lady here will keep a light on for ya'.'
– Trevor awoke in the room bound to the table. The bugs were gone-perhaps a long while ago-but it did not matter: the sensation of the crawling mass remained, ingrained into the nerve endings throughout his body.
The hideous torture-spider had vanished, possibly hiding nearby in the dark. The room still rumbled that scary sound as if he were inside the belly of a living being or a giant machine.
'Our great leader faints at the sight of a few bugs.' Nina appeared at his side but he did not see her at first; his attention remained on his ordeal.
Stop it! Stop it! I'll do anything you want! Make the pain stop!
The sight of her cut a tiny path of awareness through the howling in his head.
'Nina…?' He heard his own words and realized the seals were gone. That gave him small relief and he took hold of that; focused on it and muffled the anguished cries in his mind.
She spoke but, again, sounded as if she ticked off bullet points: 'You killed Scott. You're a murdering bastard.'
He heard the raging hatred pervading her voice as if a fire burned inside and threatened to consume her.
'I don’t understand what's happening,' he croaked through a dry mouth.
'I saw you kill Scott. I saw you kill him in cold blood. You didn’t think I’d remember but I have a clear memory now. I hate you!'
'Nina, listen, somehow they gave you-they gave you these memories. It's a lie.'
He closed his eyes and heard Lori Brewer say, 'She just a lonely little girl.'
The Bishop walked into the room and quietly watched the exchange.
'Oh Nina, what have they done to you? I’m sorry…I’m sorry we didn’t find you quicker. It had to have been when the helicopter crashed. They got to you first.'
'Go to hell.'
'I care about you, Nina. I have for a while now. I just didn’t admit it to myself. Maybe if I had said something earlier. I’m sorry I let you down like I let Sheila down. '
Trevor did not see any of the telltale blotches on her skin.
'You don't have any blotches. You haven't started turning yet. You might still be saved. Fight them, Nina.'
She ran a hand over her cheek as if searching for deformities.
