“Nice try. I have plans for you three.”
Myrtle went to the suitcase and pulled out three syringes full of a liquid that was a sparkly, light blue.
“I don’t know how much you know, but one of the side effects of those little pink pills they give the Young Ladies is immortality. They don’t do this as a gift. They added that little bit to be able to experiment on us for as long as they want.” She turned to me. “Did you know that bunker 237 still has the first 15 Young Ladies down there? They’re locked away in their own small section of the bunker, where they’re still tested on. They’realmost 300 years old and look like they’re 20. That was meant to be my fate, but I changed that. I get to make my own fate.”
She flashed the syringes.
“These took a long time to find. Almost a year, actually. Gary keeps the good stuff locked away. He’s an annoying bastard, isn’t he? I’ve had to hide and sneak around for so long, but I finally secured the vials I needed and had them prepped and ready to go for when you got here. Although, I’d thought Riot would be here.”
She frowned, and then looked to Boone.
“But, you’re pretty handsome. You’ll do.”
Boone’s eyes grew wide and he shook his head furiously.
“What do you mean? What are you planning on doing with us?” I asked. While I was terrified of the syringes, I wasn’t afraid of her. She turned her head slowly toward me, as if she was angry I had the audacity to speak.
She plopped down on the ground, setting the needles down beside her. She smoothed out her dress, and suddenly she looked innocent, like the Young Lady she had once been.
“Bunker 237 made it so I’d always look young. I tried to acclimate, but the only men who are interested are perverts. They don’t see me, they see my child-like features, and want me to act the part. Even Riot, he never saw me as anything more than someone who needed help. I tried to find love but no one wants someone who will never age. So, if I can’t get it naturally, I’ll just have to force it.”
She grabbed the needles and stood. She looked at me, and shook her head.
“This is how it has to be.”
Chapter 63 - Eleanor
Never turn down a warm meal.
It took two days for Riot to heal from the bitter enough to continue our travels through Mercury Mile. We took things slow and after a week, he was just like he was before, laughing and singing into the darkness.
Finally, we hit a part of the tunnels that were filled with human remains.
“Creepies. See the mushrooms?” Riot pointed out brightly colored mushrooms growing from the bones. “These specific ones only grow on mutated decay. Don’t eat them. You’ll vomit blood.”
“Good to know.” I grimaced. It smelled horrid here. It was hot and moist and I just wanted to get out of here as fast as I could.
“Who goes there?” Riot stopped short, causing me to bump into him.
A figure stepped into our lights. He was an average man but he had no traveler’s gear. And his eyes… they seemed to glow.
“Hello, I’ve been waiting for you two.”
“Who are you?” Riot demanded, reaching for his gun.
“I’m Gary. I’m from Bunker 330. I could sense you for miles.”
Bunker 330? How many bunkers were there?
“There are 1000 bunkers,” he said, as if reading my mind.
Had he?
“Why were you hiding in the dark?” Riot asked. He was just as cautious as I was.
“I wasn’t hiding. I don’t need light to see. It’s one of the side effects of the testing I was subjected to in my bunker. I was simply waiting. Now, would you like me to take you out of here?”
Riot and I exchanged looks. Could we trust him? Did we have a choice?
