“We’ll leave in a minute.” He turned and approached the lab, yanking open the two protective doors and kicking stoppers into place to keep them open.
“Zachary, don’t go in there,” Nora hissed.
He continued on. “Why not? I’ve already had the infection, and since it’s Scorpius, you can’t catch it in the air. Now just sit there and shut up.”
She shook her head, tugging uselessly on the cuff. “What the hell are you doing?”
“I’m curious about this bugger,” Zach said, crossing toward Lynne.
Shit. The woman was hampered by the big suit and wouldn’t be able to fight well. She backed away, her hands up. “Nora, how tight you bound?” Lynne yelled.
“Can’t move. Cuffed,” Nora screamed back. “If you can get by him, run.”
Lynne winced. “The suit is probably contaminated.”
Zach laughed, the sound high and slightly off. “What exactly is this bacteria, doc? I’ve felt better in the last week than I have in years. Years and years. Talk to me.”
Lynne’s gaze sharpened. “You feel different since recuperating?”
Zach walked toward her, smiling as she backed away and hit the counter. “I do. No more doubt, no more silly thoughts. I’m meant to be here and get what I want.”
Nora’s chest compressed. “Zach, leave her alone. Please. I’ll go with you right now.”
He turned and smiled, his expression the closest to evil Nora had ever seen. “You’ll go with me when I’m ready.”
Taking advantage of his momentary change in focus, Lynne dodged forward and hit him in the gut. He turned, faster than Nora would’ve thought, and tackled Lynne to the floor.
Nora screamed as loud as she could.
Zach released the zipper and yanked the helmet off Lynne before straddling her. She yelled, trying to fight him off, her gloved hands useless. Laughing, Zach reached up for one of the test tubes.
“No!” Nora jerked against the cuffs. He’d grabbed the deadly green strain, and they had no idea what it’d do to a person. “Let her go. Please.”
For answer, he flicked off the cover and shoved the end in Lynne’s mouth. She coughed, shoving at him, her body jerking. Green spat over her face. The vial clinked on the floor. Then, almost in slow motion, Zach slapped his hand over Lynne’s mouth, forcing her to swallow several times. She flapped against him, her legs kicking the tiles.
Finally, Zach stood, turned, and shot a back kick into one of the monitors. Sparks crackled, and the screen tumbled over the desk to the floor. In an almost manic series of hits and kicks, he destroyed every piece of equipment in the lab.
Lynne turned over, coughing, and tried to crawl away. Her chest heaved and a mournful groan rumbled up from her chest.
Nora struggled against the cuffs, tears blurring her vision. “Inject the blue. It’s your only chance.”
Zach watched Lynne, his face passive. Then he smiled as she pulled herself up the side cabinet to stand, weaving back and forth.
“Fuck, it hurts. Hurts so bad,” Lynne mumbled, both hands clapping against her temples. “God, please help me.”
Zach tipped back his head and cackled. “I am God, and I’m not likely to help you. Bitch.” Venom filled his words.
Nora shook her head, trying to clear her eyes. “Leave her alone.”
Lynne dropped to her knees, her hands clutching her chest, fumbling up for the blue vial.
“Zach, please help her,” Nora yelled, fear ripping into her. “Drink the blue, Lynne. Now. We can make more.”
Lynne’s eyes widened, a continuous keening coming from her until her voice cracked. She grasped a syringe and filled it with blue liquid, her hands shaking. The vial dropped to the floor.
Sucking in air, she stuck the needle into her arm and depressed the plunger. She dropped all the way down, face-first, her body going into convulsions. The scream that erupted from her sounded like it came from the depths of hell.
Aqua blue filled the visible veins at the back of her neck, brightening and then winking out.
