Chapter 23: That was unexpected...

PAIN.

Stabbing, blinding pain! I could barely open my eyes, let alone move.

I pressed the heel of my good hand into my temples and groaned. I wonder if this is how Dylan felt when he cracked his skull on the tree branch during the motorcycle race the other day. Man, that feels like it happened eons ago.

As I got over the initial shock of the pain, I became aware that I wasn’t where I had collapsed. I was now seated in a reclining leather office chair in a very bland room. The walls were beige, the furniture was plain, the carpet was grey. In fact, the only sign of colour or excitement was in a single large red spot near the centre of the room…

Another groan, but this one didn’t come from me.

“Take your time, Chloe.”

Who was that? I managed to force my eyelids up, trying to suppress the crashing waves of pain that pounded against my skull. It hurt so bad I could hardly see. I blinked a few times.

“It’s not like I’m bleeding to death over here or anything…”

Slowly the face in the corner came into focus.

“Oh, wait, yes I am.”

“Brian?” Suddenly the enormity of the situation hit me. “Brian!” I jumped out of the chair and immediately regretted it. Any sudden movement was like a baseball bat to the skull. I staggered over to where Brian lay slumped against the wall and knelt beside him.

There was a large hole in his right thigh that spurted out blood with every heartbeat, despite Brian’s attempts to stem its flow. His jeans and hands were covered in blood, way too much blood.

“What happened? Did someone shoot you?”

“No, Chloe, this hole erupted in my leg for no apparent reason!” He closed his eyes and inhaled through clenched teeth. “Forgive me for sounding a little terse, but I need you to ask questions while doing something to save me.” I nodded and pressed my hand over his on the wound.

“Obviously something major is hit here. I need you to take my belt off and use it as a tourniquet, otherwise I will bleed out.”  

“Okay.” I let go of Brian’s hands and began fiddling with his belt. “You know, I am really uncomfortable doing this.”

“I’ll buy you dinner later! Just get it off, Chloe!”

The belt slipped free and I positioned it above the wound, cinching it as tight as I could with one functioning hand and my teeth. Brian winced. The blood slowed quickly to a small trickle. He exhaled. “Thanks, Chloe.” He pulled himself to a proper sitting position. “In answer to your earlier question, yes, someone shot me.”  He pointed over my left shoulder. “Pass me my laptop bag, will you? I’m feeling a little lightheaded.” I twisted around, grasped the bag and slid it over to him.

“But who shot you? No one else has real guns, do they?” As I said this, a sick feeling began to burn in my stomach.

Brian hesitated for a moment as he unzipped his bag. “No, they don’t.”

“So, who? Who betrayed us?” My voice rose uncontrollably. “Who did this to you?”

Brian raised his head and looked directly into my eyes. There was a trace of sympathy there.

“Jonathon Tanner.”

“Who’s…?” My voice trailed off as I made the connection. The realisation hit me like a hammer. “Luck.”

“He took me completely by surprise. Maria said she needed to use the toilet, as if I didn’t know she was going to rescue Forrest.” Brian snorted. “I let her go. I said I didn’t need her protection anymore. Ironic, isn’t it?” He went to pull out his laptop, and then noticed the state of his hands. “Ugh.” He looked at me for a moment, then reached out and grabbed my shoulders, wiping his hands off on the shoulders of my tank top.

“After you collapsed, we carried you in here to get you out of the way. Luck and I were going through some stuff we found in here, seeing if that would give us any indication of the head counsellor’s plans. I started to radio the others to check on their position, but he took the radio from me. As soon as he did that, I knew what he was planning. I had been afraid that he would do something like this, as I had been afraid that the head counsellor would use the minds of people to draw power for the VR system.” Brian sighed, then let go of my shoulders and plugged his laptop into a conveniently located power source beside him. “He had his gun on me before I had time to react. I guess with his being used as his father’s hit man, he’s used to this kind of thing.”

I gasped. Brian continued his narrative, not hearing my reaction or else not bothering to, typing intently as he talked. “He told me not to worry, that he wasn’t going to kill me. Then he fired. He went to take my laptop from me, but then someone walked past the door and he chased after them. Now he’s off on a killing spree, getting rid of anyone who the system can draw its power from. That is” he paused and looked at me, “anyone with ticks.”

My heart sank. Everyone I knew was in danger.

He wiped sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand and I noticed how pale he was. “Thankfully, he didn’t come back for it, which has allowed me…” He typed one final command, and then leant back with a look of triumph on his face. “…to do this.” Brian spun his laptop around to reveal different views of the facility from the various security cameras scattered about.

“At least he didn’t shoot me in the arm. This could have been a little more difficult otherwise.”

I barely heard him. My mind was still stuck on the fact that Luck, one of the people I had trusted most at this camp, had betrayed me. I believed the guy, I’d even kissed him! Damn it, I should have known that nothing good ever came from Gotums.

“Chloe.” I refocussed my attention when I realised Brian was speaking to me. “You have to go and find Maria. We have to keep the head counsellor from getting to her. She has his power. He could have her take over the virtual reality, by force if necessary. I’ll direct Alice, Sean and Dylan to where you are, then Alice and Sean can protect you.”

I stood shakily, the effects of the system and the news I’d just heard weighing heavily on me. “Right. What about Luck?” My voice cracked slightly.

“Unfortunately, you're in no shape to take him on right now. Meet up with Alice and Sean first, you’ll stand a better chance that way.” Brian began toggling between cameras, searching for his team. “Just head out. Thanks to Luck’s killing spree, there shouldn’t be too many people to stop you now. I’ll guide the team to you.”

“Okay.” I reached for the door and realised my hand was still slick with Brian’s blood. The sight made me a little nauseated. My breathing thickened. Normally, I was first to draw blood in a fight, but this was something entirely different.

“Chloe.” I heard Brian call me again. I turned to face him. “Stay tough, okay? And be careful, Luck and Forrest are in some kind of standoff a few halls down.”

I wiped my hand on my shirt and twisted the doorknob, opening up to a stark white hallway.

“Stay safe, Brian.” I pulled the door closed behind me, the remaining blood on my hand smearing on the door. At least I’d know where he was later, I guess.

I leaned my head against the door, weighing up my options. I was going after Luck. No question. But now or later? There was no way I could take him by myself. Even I wasn’t stupid enough to go up against a man with a gun. At least that’s what the rational part of me was saying, though it was drowned out by a much larger part screaming “Don’t let the jerk get away with this! Rend him limb from limb, make him feel the pain you’ve caused us! I hope your next girlfriend turns out to be a vampire and bites your face off, you stupid, selfish son of a-”

The crack of a gunshot interrupted my internal debate. It was close.

I turned and sprinted down the hallway, my head thumping with every step.

As I rounded a corner, I skidded to a stop as I saw Luck through an open doorway holding a smoking gun and Forrest slumped over in front of him, one hand pressed over a bleeding wound in his shoulder, the other clutching at his knee.

Luck stepped forward and pressed the gun against Forrest’s temple with practiced ease. “I killed everyone else as humanely as I could. But you, Forrest…” He pressed the gun harder against Forrest’s head. Forrest looked up at him, almost willing him to do it.

“Stop!”

Luck looked up in surprise when he heard my voice, as did Forrest. I think he was surprised that I had stepped in to save him.

“Chloe?  You’re up and about I see.” He smiled.  “I’m glad you’re okay.”

“Are you?”

 Luck blinked in surprise at the accusing tone in my voice. “What do you-” He cut himself off with a frown. “Brian. Of course, I was an idiot not to realise that he wouldn’t figure out what I was up to. Still, it took him longer than I thought.” He looked right into my eyes. “I’ve been planning on doing this from the beginning.”

A cold shudder ran up my spine. I couldn’t stop shaking, which rattled my throbbing head and arm. It hurt, but to be honest, my pain was the last thing on my mind at that point.

“You’ve been planning on killing people since you first got here?” My breathing quickened, coming in hysterical gasps. I was on the verge of losing it. “Did you even consider another way?”

I looked away for a moment to try and regain my composure and for the first time, I noticed Felix’s body. While you’d think that this might have pleased me, I am not that much of a sadist. Rather, I was overcome by a feeling of sadness. Sure, I loathed and detested the guy with absolutely every fibre of my being and had hit him in the face twice with great pleasure, he was lying dead not five metres away from me.

And Kari. Okay, admittedly, I cared significantly less about her, but the sight of her body slumped over awkwardly was still shocking.

I looked back at Luck. The look of horror on my face must have spoken for me.

“Chloe…” Luck began attempting to placate me, moving the gun away from Forrest’s head. Forrest took the opportunity to drag himself behind a corner out of Luck’s line of sight.

“Don’t you get it? I HAD to do this. It’s the only way to stop everything that the head counsellor was planning.” He waved his hands around, gesturing to the facility in general. “If I get rid of everyone who could be used by the-”

He got no further. I rushed him and tackled him to the ground.

In that instant, his face changed. The eyes that had pleaded with me to hear his side of the story suddenly turned hard and his mouth twisted into a cold sneer. I knew I wasn’t going to last long in this fight. I scrabbled at him in a vain attempt to wrench the gun from his hand.

“I thought you’d understand, Chloe.” He narrowed his eyes. “I guess I was wrong.”

He got his hands underneath my armpits and attempted to push me off him. My wrist was screaming as I fought back, clawing at his face, the deep gouges drawing blood. I managed to bring a knee up and slammed it into him with all the strength I could muster.

Luck tensed and cried out, then twisted the gun wielding hand out of my grip and smacked my injured wrist with the butt off the gun.

I screamed, losing my grip.

He struck me again, this time in the face. I felt my nose break under the cold metal. Were Felix still alive, he would probably be laughing.

I lost my grip. He pushed me away easily. I hunched over, cradling my injured arm. Tears mingled with blood fell to the floor in front of me. Something cold pressed up against my forehead.

“You know, Chloe,” Luck panted, “I really didn’t want to do this.” He paused, then let out a harsh sounding laugh. “I was going to, but I didn’t want to.” I managed to lift my head to look at him, despite the throbbing. I tasted blood in the back of my throat.

Luck swiped at his bloodied face with the back of his hand. Rather than wiping the blood away, he just spread it further across his face, giving him an almost demonic look.

“This just makes it that much easier.” His finger pressed the trigger.

Suddenly, he was tackled from behind, the gun going off just inches from my head. The noise accentuated the ever present head pain.

“Chloe!” Alice was in front of me, her hazel eyes clouded with concern. She fished about in the pocket of her jacket and handed me a handkerchief. “Here, use this.”

I tossed her a somewhat shaky smile in thanks, then pressed the handkerchief against my bleeding nose. I turned around to see Sean and Luck wrestling on the floor. Sean hand managed to knock Luck’s gun away and pin his arms behind his back, his own gun pressed against the back of Luck’s head. Rather than shooting, however, he bent down and whispered a single word in Luck’s ear. Luck’s body jerked, then his eyes rolled up in his head and he went limp. Sean wordlessly pulled out a pair of plastic handcuffs and cuffed Luck’s hands behind his back. Alice walked over and knelt beside him, her fingers placed on the pulse in his neck.

“That’ll teach you to hook up with random strangers, won’t it, Chloe.”

I had to laugh at Dylan’s words. “Yeah, no more sudden hook ups for me.” At least, that’s what I tried to say. It came out more like “Do bore suddid hoog ubs for be.” I swayed to my feet and looked around. “Where’s Forrest?”

Dylan’s eyebrows shot up. “Forrest?”

I nodded, then regretted it, gesturing in the area Forrest had recently occupied. “He was just over there.”

Dylan trotted over, pulling Tyler along with him, who also sported a pair of plastic cuffs.

After several moments, Dylan gestured wildly. “He’s over here.” Forrest had pulled himself into a small space between some shelving and the wall, nursing his bleeding limbs.

Alice left Luck and joined Dylan and Tyler, rummaging in a large bag, eventually pulling out several long strips of cloth. She began tying up his wounds.

Sean came and stood beside me. “Are you okay, Chloe?”

“Yeah, I just look like hell. And sound stupid.”

“What happened to Brian, we couldn’t contact him? Do you have any idea where he is?”
I quickly explained what happened. Sean listened with his arms crossed, and shook his head when I finished. “This isn’t good. Most of us are beat up, we’re not in good shape to take on the head counsellor.” He sighed, then ran a hand over his hair. “But, I guess we’re past the point of no return.”

“No going back now,” I agreed.

The group in the corner made their way over to us, Forrest limping heavily. Sean nodded at him. “I think Forrest should stay with Brian. He may not provide much cover, but at least Brian won’t be completely unguarded. And also we won’t have to run around picking up all the injured.”

Suddenly, I realised someone was missing. “Maria. Where is she?” I looked at Forrest. “Why isn’t she with you? That’s where she always seems to be.”

Forrest looked away. “The head counsellor has her.”

Everyone fell silent. This was worse than anything. The head counsellor had Maria and her powers. He could make her use them. Or worse. She could use them of her own accord.

Alice spoke up first. “We have to get her back. That’s priority number one.” She looked around. “Are you guys with me?”

Sean nodded.

“Yes”, I said.

Dylan nodded, then winced. “Yes.”

I looked at him intently. “Your head hurts too?”

He frowned. “Yeah.”

“So what Brian said was true. Everyone with ticks can be used by the system as a power source…”

“And Maria has access to all our minds.”

Sean exhaled and lifted his gun. “We have to find her now.” He made his way over to the door and peered outside. He looked back at us and gestured for us to follow him. As we shuffled out of the room, I pointed back down the hallway. “Brian’s down there. There’s blood on the door near the handle.” Forrest nodded, then limped slowly down the hallway. It was like all the fight had gone out of him. I kind of felt sorry for him, but not enough to forgive him just yet.

Alice sighed and pushed her bright red hair off her face. “Okay, how are we going to find out where she is?”

Sean pointed with his gun down the hallway. “This way.”

Alice threw him a puzzled glance. In answer to her unspoken question, Sean pointed up at the security camera a few feet away. It wiggled up and down, almost like a wave, then turned to face the direction Sean had indicated.

“Brian.” Alice chuckled.

“Okay, let’s go.” As we filed out of the room behind Sean, I caught a glimpse of Luck lying face down on the carpet, his hands cuffed behind his back.

Alice followed my gaze. “He’s not dead.”

“Huh?” That sounded stupid, but my reputation for intelligence here wasn’t high, and I highly doubt they were expecting a soliloquy from me right now. Yes, I know what the word soliloquy means.

“He’s not dead” Alice repeated. She smiled, a little sadly. “I probably should have told you this from the beginning, but I’d been told not to. Brian suspected something was a little fishy with Luck. His information was never specific and some of the things he said…” She shook her head. “Anyway, Brian programmed the chips in our heads to be disabled with a code word. It’s only entrusted to one other member of the team.” She nodded in Sean’s direction. “That’s what Sean did just now. He knew the word to disable Luck’s chip. It didn’t kill him, but he’ll probably be unconscious for a while.”

“Right.” I smiled behind my handkerchief. “Thanks.”

She smiled back. “No problem. Now…” Alice pulled the door closed behind her, and pulled a few small tools from her pocket. After fiddling with the lock for several moments, she gave it a few turns. Satisfied to find it locked, she scraped a symbol into the door with the end of one of her implements before returning them to her pocket.

“You know how to pick locks?” I asked her in surprise. She seemed like such a nice person, and she was from Labresci to boot, which wasn’t really known for its high crime rate.

Alice laughed. “Hey, I may be a Labrescian, but I have my secrets.” She winked. We turned and followed Sean and the others down the hallway, eying the security cameras for Brian’s directions.

After what seemed like hours of running down white corridors, admittedly with little resistance, the security camera ahead of us stopped moving. We found ourselves a few paces from a large door with significantly more locks than the others we had encountered.   

Alice exhaled. “The final threshold.” She pulled her lock picking tools from her pocket and set to work. After several tense minutes, she stepped back and the door swung open.

Inside stood Maria with a large grin on her face. “Hi, guys.” She looked at me and started. “”Chloe, what happened to you?”

Relief swept over me. “You’re okay.”

She laughed. “Of course I’m okay.” Suddenly, instead of standing in the middle of a white hallway, I found myself in the middle of a meadow, filled with pink daisies blowing in the wind.

I looked across at Dylan. His wide eyes showed me that he saw it too.

Maria laughed and span in a circle. “Isn’t it amazing?”

A feeling of dread began gnawing at my stomach.

What had happened?