“Saving one of us!” His head snapped around as another loud bang reverberated off of the front door, causing the window glass to shake.
She was yelling something at him as he caught his own reflection in the window. He could see the door behind him and the weapons inside the locker. “SEAL THE ACCESS!” he screamed at her as he turned and pulled the weapons locker open.
“Hatcher, I can’t leave you alone to—” Her words were cut off as another loud bang shook the building.
He pulled the door open and reached for the tactical shotgun. He double checked that it was loaded and racked a cartridge into the chamber. He spun back around and saw her blonde curls still hanging out of the access. “If I can buy enough time to make it the truck, I can lead them away. You don’t come down until morning, you got it?”
She nodded nervously then disappeared into the attic, the plywood square reappearing as she pressed it back into place.
Hatcher walked back to the front of the station and threw his shoulder into the couch, pushing it against the front door just as another loud bang shook the building.
“What the hell are they doing out there?” He reached for the light switch and groaned when nothing happened. “No power. I’m a friggin’ idiot.”
He pulled his flashlight from his belt and flicked it on, shining it through the window. He could see the front of the building, but not what was banging on the door. He leaned further to the side, hoping to see how many were out there, when a ghostly face appeared in the window, its mouth frozen in a permanent scream.
He fell backward and brought the shotgun to bear. Just as the window imploded inward, he squeezed the trigger, the barrel belching orange-red fire.
“I can’t be certain,” Broussard replied in hushed tones, “but I think Hilliard has a plan to help us all escape.”
Tammy chewed at her lower lip, her head slowly shaking. “Higgins won’t allow it.” She glanced at the others, seeing the knowing look in their eyes. “He still thinks that he should be in charge of what’s left of the CDC.”
Randy nodded quickly. “And you’ve seen how crazy he is.”
“Crazy is a relative term…” Irene added absently. “The man is definitely power hungry, but I think he’s sane.” She glanced at Carol and shrugged. “More or less.”
“Regardless,” Broussard stated, “we have to be ready to go at a moment’s notice. I don’t know what the captain has in mind, but I doubt we’ll have time to pack a lot of things.”
David O’Dell nodded quietly. “I say we go to our rooms, pack the absolute necessities and be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice.”
“Agreed,” Carol added. “Say nothing to nobody, especially Dr. Higgins.”
The team split up and the researchers casually made their way towards their rooms. Carol turned to Andre once they were clear. “And you still think you can trust Captain Hilliard?”
Broussard gave her a slow shrug. “As best as I can read people, oui.”
She felt her legs grow weak and she leaned against the workbench. “What if he can’t be trusted?”
He sighed and pulled her close. “Then we play it as smartly as we can. If they insist we go to their new community, then we go. We pretend to love the idea and pray that they stop watching us so that we can make our escape.”
She pressed her face into his chest and fought the urge to weep. “I hate feeling so powerless.”
“As do I.” He rubbed at her back then pulled away. “In the meantime, we need to prepare sufficient doses of the treatment for the people still in the cells.”
She gave him a confused look. “Why?”
“Hilliard said that once the president arrives, the base will be run by skeleton crews. If he can’t follow through with whatever idea he has, we’ll need to be prepared to make our own escape.”
Her hands trembled as she stared into his eyes. “You’re seriously considering running?”
“My gut tells me that it would be in our best interest.”
She nodded and took a deep breath. “Mine too.”
“Then let us do our part.” He stepped back and held her shoulders with both hands. “We finish what we started. We prepare the treatments, and come morning, we administer them.”
“To all of them?” she asked incredulously.
He nodded slowly. “To them all.” He glanced at the people milling about in their own filth. “Besides, they’ll have to pull more guards to keep an eye on them once they’ve undergone the treatment. Green wouldn’t dare allow them free rein after what Senator Winegard pulled.”
“Understood.” She turned towards the work station and began meting out the minute doses of LSD. “Never in my life did I think that one day I’d be preparing psychedelics for members of Congress.”
“And the vice president,” Andre added, a certain mirth in his voice.
Carol scoffed. “Oh, trust me, we’ve had some administrations that I seriously concluded must have been on some kind of dope.” She chuckled nervously as she prepared the doses. “We’re doing airborne again, I presume.”
Andre nodded. “It’s the safest way to administer it.” She stepped back and gave him a look that he couldn’t quite read. “What’s wrong?”
She shook her head slightly. “Have I told you lately how proud I am of you?” She lowered her face and blushed slightly. “You’ve stepped out of your comfort zone so many times…just to keep me safe.”
He cleared his throat nervously. “No need.” He nodded towards the work station. “But, I do appreciate the sentiment.”
Simon waited until Lana was snoring soundly. He slipped from bed and tugged his pants on. He pulled the wifebeater over his shoulders and tucked it into his belt.
He skipped trying to lace his biker boots and gently opened the door of the RV. He glanced back at her sleeping form one last time before
