Lew screamed and dropped on his ass, both hands instinctively covering the blood bubbling through his jeans above his knee. He gulped out pained sounds.
Ellie jolted and started for the injured man, her mind reeling and her lungs seizing.
Tim turned toward Ellie, keeping the gun pointed at Lew. “Stop. Toss the gun or the next bullet pierces his brain.”
Ellie froze.
Lew’s agony-filled eyes widened, and he looked at Ellie. His chest heaved and shuddered, but he didn’t say a word. Didn’t plead for his life. The blood poured between his fingers, coating his hands with red.
Damn it. Ellie drew the weapon out with her thumb and forefinger and set it on the ground, gently kicking it several feet away. She could still dive for it but not before Tim could get off a shot. “You know that Scorpius can make people temporarily crazy, right?” she asked. Or permanently. Who knew at this point?
“I’m not crazy. Just clearheaded for the first time ever,” Tim said.
Sweat trickled down Ellie’s back. Fear overtook her, and she had to fight to stay in the moment and not mentally retreat. Okay. She’d taken some self-defense classes for work. Eyes and balls. Go for the eyes, the knees, and the balls. But the gun was pointed at her. The fucking gun.
She worked through the angles like the logical scientist she was, forcing reality into her brain. God, she couldn’t breathe.
“Tim. What’s wrong with you?” Lew gasped, leaning his head back against the wall. His skin had gone eerily pale, making his tortured eyes stand out. “We’ve been friends for years.”
“Friendship and years are overrated.” Tim shut the door behind himself.
Ellie sidled a bit to the side, partially blocking Tim’s view of the injured man. “Listen. I know you’ve had a tough time with the bacteria, but you’re one of the few to survive. That has to mean something to you.” She tried to keep her voice low and calming, but it trembled. A shiver took her and her bones chilled. “Think of the good you can do. To help everyone.”
Tim gestured toward her. “I’m thinking of a lot of good I can do. Take off your shirt.”
She blinked. What? All right. “No.” Then she waited.
His eyebrows lifted. “I have a gun.”
Yeah, and if he shot her, he wouldn’t get to see her naked. She forced a shrug. “I don’t really care.” As a bluff, it was the best she could do.
“Ellie? I think we—” The door opened behind Tim, and Hugh started inside, stopping immediately.
Tim rushed forward and grabbed Ellie, yanking her around to face Hugh. She struggled against him, but he shoved the gun against her neck, and her entire body froze. The guy was tall and strong behind her. He held her hip with his left hand and pressed the gun with his right.
Hugh’s face lost all expression. He moved closer inside, keeping his gaze on Tim. “I don’t think we’ve met.”
“Leave. You need to leave,” Tim hissed, his fingers digging into Ellie’s hip.
All of a sudden, the good old boy expression was back on Hugh’s face. “Well, now. What about the guy bleeding out on the floor? Shouldn’t I take him with me?”
“Please, Tim?” Lew moaned. “Don’t you remember our friendship a little?”
“I don’t care.” Tim’s voice rose. “Take him. It doesn’t matter.”
Hugh studied the guy, his blue eyes piercing. “What’s your plan, buddy?”
Ellie cleared her throat. “I don’t think he has plans with the reactor. Do you, Tim?”
“Maybe. Resources are about to be sparse,” Tim said, his voice leveling. “I survived Scorpius. Something tells me I’d survive any amount of radiation that might be spilled.”
The guy was nuts. Certifiable. “That’s not necessarily true,” Ellie whispered. Was there a way to get to him? Her hip was hurting, but the gun against her neck made it hard to breathe. “You mentioned family. Don’t you want to get back to them?”
“I lied,” Tim said. “My family all died from Scorpius. I’m the only survivor.”
“Then be a hero,” Hugh said softly. “Let the woman go, and start helping people. Perhaps you were spared for a reason.”
Tim chuckled. “I was spared because I’m a god. It’s that simple. And now I’m going to take what I want as the world dies.”
