Chapter 62: Interiors

"How're you holding up, Maxi?"

The tall woman rolls her eyes. "I'm fine, darling."

"Your aura looks so cool," Moonchild says with a wide grin. "I mean, it's red... which is hot, but that's cool."

"Uh, thanks, Moonchild," Sam says awkwardly over coms. "Paula's only worried because... well, you know..."

Maxine sighs. "Yeah, I know. Just woken out of a medical coma and you don't think I'm strong enough to run a few miles.

Louise gives a half shrug. "Yeah, and the whole, you know..."

"And the fact that the so called anti-addiction machine at the Tavington Clinic could finally be our chance to find a cure for me."

"And Caleb," I add, "and everyone at Comansys."

I don't know much about how it works. I just remember what Maxine and Paula told me and the others before this mission. Apparently the machine reorganizes a person's dopamine receptors in such a way that they'd no longer be able to be manipulated by the mind control signals. Plus it can prevent a person from being mind controlled as well. It's amazing really.

If I can maybe get myself into that machine after Maxine and Moonchild, I could stop myself from being mind controlled before Diana even gets the chance to make me susceptible to it! I might actually be able to change my fate!

I find myself smiling at the thought.

"Yes, I know," She says. "It just feels so good to be outside again."

"Good. Good," Sam says. "Now guys, Louise has taken the lead on this one. Now, you're sure you know where this machine is, Lou? Because an address could've been really helpful. I mean, other than the Tavington Clinic, New England, the world, the universe."

She rolls her eyes as we continue to trudge through the snow. "I was a prisoner, Sam. They never gave me an address. They just took me there in the meat wagon." She gives a half smile. "But I've got an amazing sense of direction, if I do say so myself. I can retrace the route; I am retracing the route. It's left now, past those stupid big wind chimes hanging by the eight bells. I heard them every time we drove past."

"So, it's past the pub?" Moonchild asks as she brushes her wispy hair out of her face.

"That's right. Just follow Runner Five."

"Past the pub... towards that big group of zombies?"

Louise frowns. "Uh, yeah... maybe don't run ahead, Five."

I slow down just a bit, pressing my lips together into a thin line. There's probably... twenty zoms in that group, maybe a few more. I do have my axe with me today, and my gun. But as far as I know, I'm the only one who brought weapons. And my gun only has ten bullets... so I'd have to get closer to take them all down.

They haven't spotted us yet, so it'd probably be best to just find an alternate route, but when I mention this, I see Louise's frown deepen.

"No, we can't. I've got to follow the exact same way they took me or I won't know where to go."

I have physically restrain from facepalming.

Of. Freaking. Course.

"Ah, great," Sam says through what sounds like gritted teeth. "Well, in that case then... try to just skirt around them, then get back on the path. Maybe if you're quick and quiet enough, they won't notice you. Or at least, not many of them will."

I sigh. This is not how I wanted to start off this mission. Still, the five of us do as told, heading out to see if we can circle around the pub and get past the zoms. Hopefully the building will block out their view for a few seconds, and our speed will get us far enough away that by the time any zoms notice us, we won't have to worry about them.

How nice that sounds, but I wouldn't bet anything on that plan succeeding. I'm on this mission, and I am bad luck. It follows me wherever I go. I mean, yesterday was supposed to be a piece of cake, and we nearly died... twice.

So yeah, this isn't something I'd put any money on.

We go behind the pub, and the chorus of moans and growls is way too close for comfort. I try to keep my breathing steady and quiet, and I sign for everyone else to do the same. Sadly Paula and Maxine are the only ones who understand me, but Moonchild and Louise get the gist. At least, Louise does. Moonchild is just staring at me in a really, really strange way.

I look away from her, suddenly feeling very awkward and uncomfortable. From the corner of my eye I see a smile spread on her lips. I don't ask her why.

Instead I just give them all the signal to start sprinting, and we do.

We only make it about thirty feet before the zoms notice us.

And to make things worse... they're fast zombies.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

I push my legs to go faster, faster, faster as the zombies keep pursuing. Paula grabs Maxine's hand in an attempt to help her run. The poor woman's only been awake a few hours and she's being forced to sprint. It's easy to see it's taking a toll on her with the way she's sweating and running out of breath, as well as her uncoordinated steps in the snow.

"I've forgotten how fast zombies were," She pants.

"There's one staggering out of Smith's!" Louise says, pointing ahead. Without hesitation I grab my pistol and fire. The zombie falls as its rotten brain spatters onto the outside wall of the shop. "Nice one, Five."

"If there are fast zombies, there could be control tones. We have to terminate the mission," Paula says, fear dripping from her voice. "We can't risk Maxi hearing them."

"I can't hear anything. There are no tones," She says in a confused voice, while Louise smacks herself in the forehead.

"I knew we should've got you earplugs."

"The Comansys crew already tried that. They didn't work. Nothing short of deafening me would. Maybe not even that."

"Paula's right. It's-it's a big risk," Sam stammers. "Five, you agree with me, right?"

I narrow my eyes as I read between the lines of what he's saying. He's not just worried about Maxine. Since we have no idea how I'll become susceptible to mind control, Sam's worried I might get put under anytime we hear control tones. I could turn anytime and I wouldn't know... at least, I don't know yet.

So anytime I hear tones, I'm at risk.

But this isn't just for me. It's for Caleb too, and everyone else who's at risk to be put under or currently is under Diana's control. We have to help them, and this is how we start.

"Yeah, I know it's a risk, and so does Maxine. And it's going to keep being a risk until she gets cured."

And it's going to keep being a risk until I become immune.

"Yeah," She agrees. "You know what Albert told me on the Comansys ship? The mind control makes you feel so good, and I can't stop imagining myself doing terrible things and feeling wonderful about it." She closes her eyes as a pained look spreads across her face. "I couldn't bear that. And I want my life back. And there are things I want to do."

"I can totally relate, man," Moonchild says. "I need my head sorted out too. I don't want to go all 'I'm leading a group of zoms to attack Abel and I'm totally digging it' again. And I've got a little... well, more of a large habit I need to kick."

She nods. "So it's settled. We're carrying on."

Sam sighs heavily. "I-I get what you're saying, Maxine, but there really are a lot of zoms around. And you're heading past the library and there's even more zoms in there, which I guess... yay, undead literacy? But I don't think you're gonna make it through."

"It's alright," Louise says. "We can lose them and still stick to the route. Follow me."

I'm a bit worried about the zoms around us, but that's only the start at what's gnawing at the back of my mind.

This mission-a cure for mind control... even with the zombies, it seems too easy. This is too easy of a way to change my fate. I tried to run away from Simon and I nearly got myself killed. Wouldn't trying to change something on a much larger scale do the same?

I'm not sure, but I'm not expecting to have this simply handed to me on a platter. I know I'm going to have to work to stay away from Diana's control, and I'm willing to do so if it means saving the people I love.

We reach an art gallery just past the library, and Louise leads us inside. Why she wanted us to come in here when time is of such importance is a mystery, but she's the only one who can show us where we need to go, so follow her I will.

It's cold in here, but that's no surprise. What's surprising is how much of the artwork here is still in such great condition. Although I guess there isn't much use for these paintings and pictures anyway unless someone wanted to burn them to stay out of the cold... which someone might end up doing this coming winter.

"Wow," Sam hums. "Look at this place-big marble pillars, security barriers, huge post river painting by Picasso."

"Actually, I think that's Max Ernst."

"Whatever, Lou. But why are you taking them here? I don't think surest paintings are known as zom repellent."

She rolls her eyes. "No, we're sorted. Don't worry. We're gonna get back on the right route and get rid of the zoms."

"By throwing a Max Ernst painting at them?" Maxine asks, causing the albino woman to frown.

"Don't be a mupppet. By turning on the gallery's totally, state of the art security system, which I happen to know has its own backup generator."

I raise a curious brow. "And how do you know that?"

She hesitates in answering. "I'll... explain later. This way. Come on."

I keep my odd look for a few moment before dropping it. I've got other things that I need to keep on my mind that are much more important than questioning how Louise knows things. She was a criminal, so who knows?

So I keep running, gaze ahead and cold sweat running down my neck. All the paintings become a blur of color as the five of us run past them. But even with our speed, even with our endurance, the zombies still somehow find a way to keep us in their sight. Yes, we have gained ground between them and us, but they're still following, and I'm not sure how long Maxine will be able to keep up this pace.

She's already showing signs of exhaustion, and we've still got a ways to go before we reach the clinic, and I don't want to have to carry someone who's over six inches taller than I am, and I know that they would make me carry her because well... it's me, and they think I can do everything because I've done so much already.

At least, that's the excuse they use.

I look behind me. I can see only a few zombies after us. Most of them have gotten stuck in other rooms, falling over the sculptures and even getting entangled in some of them. Good, it'll give us more time.

We need more time.

"I've got issues with this place," Moonchild says uneasily as she takes a look around. "Too many dead white men."

"There's going to be dead various colored runners if Lou doesn't hurry up and find the generator." Sam grinds out. He takes in a deep breath. "I can hear the zoms, but I've got no cameras in there. Where are you?"

"Uh," Paula takes a glance around, "big, wood panel room. Lots of um, looks like parapet paintings."

"Yeah," Louise says. "That's a Francis Ashton Jackson. Ornamental screen off the chapel of Saint Barnabas, innit? Old F.A.J. used to work for that stained glass man, Charles Farmer Kempe. He's very unappreciated."

"This painting is surreal man," Moonchild says in awe as we pass it. "It really captures the feeling of contact with a high plane of consciousness."

I shrug, casting a small glance at the passing paintings. I've never been into art.

"It's the nativity. Anyway, generator's in the basement." She looks ahead. "These stairs will get us there."

"How do you know all that?" Sam questions. "About Francis, uh.. Action Jackson."

I snort.

"What? A heathen like me, you mean, knowing all that?" She asks.

"Well..."

"Stealing to order," Louise scoffs. "Ever heard of it? Collector wants some old master or other, but it's not for sale. So, he hires discrete inquiries, and the next thing you know, it's landing on his doorstep, and me and my team are laughing all the way to the bank." A little laugh leaves her mouth. "Nice little racket until we got caught. Ah, here we are. Generator's still in perfect nic. That's a relief."

"You mean you thought it might not be?" Paula questions with a raised brow. "We could have been trapped in here."

Louise simply shrugs. "Life's all about risks. How's it lookin' outside, Sam? Lots of zoms about?"

"Not many. Most of them are in the gallery with you."

She nods. "Great. After I switch this on, we'll have five minutes to power up, then the security shutters will come down, trap all the zoms inside."

"So if we're not out of here in five minutes, we'll also be trapped inside with all the zoms," Maxine states, just as Louise switches on the generator.

"It's on."

"Then run," Sam commands.

•

"I'm sure this isn't the way we came in," Moonchild says nervously.

"Service entrance in the east wing," Louise pants. "Should get us back on track."

"We must've drawn every zombie in town in here, and there were enough in here already." Maxine cranes her neck to look back, and she cringes at the amount of zoms behind us. "Is that one still holding a sketch pad?"

Louise looks back, cringing as well. "Yeah... it's actually a pretty good imitation of Max Earnest Froteage."

"Yeah, the decaying flesh smeared all over it really enhances the effect," I say with an eye roll. "Sam, how's everything lookin'?"

"You've got less than a minute. How close are you?"

I can hear the strain in his voice. I can't say I blame him. This is terrifying, especially since I have no idea where to go. I don't like this. I don't like not knowing where to go, what to do...

"It's down this corridor," Louise says. "It's going to be tight."

My stomach churns. Paula grabs Maxine's hand.

"Sweetheart, can you go any faster?"

"Yeah, I can try." Maxine seems a lot more exhausted than the rest of us. We're all sweating, but she looks like she's just sprinted ten miles. I bite my lip in worry, wondering if one of us will have to carry her out of here..

"Five, could you help her?" Paula asks, and I nod, albeit a bit reluctantly since I am the smallest person in this group.

"I-I don't need... no, actually yeah. Thanks. I'll just... um, I'll lean on you a bit."

I keep running, gaze ahead as the zombies growl and groan behind us. My heart hammers in my chest as fear spikes through my veins like ice.

"We're nearly there. Just past that fake Pollock," Louise says, earning a surprised look from Paula.

"It's a forgery?"

"It is now. Swapped it in for the original when I took it."

Sam lets out a strained whine. "Any second now, guys."

I push myself up run faster, the others just a step ahead of me. We all practically fall out of the building as the shutters go down, just barely making it. The zombies smack their hands against the shutters, growling and moaning, but they don't get through.

"You can let go of me, Five," Maxine pants, taking a small step away. "I don't think anything will be getting past those shutters."

"And look on top of that hill," Louise says, "big, ugly concrete blocks. That's the Tavington Clinic. We're almost there."

I smile in relief, knowing it won't be much longer, then my heart slams into my chest when tones echo into my ears. My gaze snaps to the two doctors. "Maxine?"

"I'm okay. I'm fine. I'm still me," She says quickly, casting a glance around. "They've got to be directed at someone else."

"Oh. O-oh. That's not good," Sam mutters, and I tense.

"What is it?"

"It's uh, it's on my long range camera. On all of them. A whole load of people just stopped from like, miles and miles away. They all stopped and turned to look towards Abel."

My blood runs cold. "Do you think it's another attack from Diana?"

"I... I don't know. Just hurry."

I don't need to be told twice. We run as quickly as we can, my mind racing and a terrible, terrible feeling in my chest. I can only describe it as a consuming expression of dread.

Those tones were no coincidence. Something's happening. Something really, really bad.

We have to get to that machine before it's too late, before Diana does whatever it is she's planning.

"It's going to be okay, man," Moonchild says, noticing my tense shoulders. She reaches out a give my arm a little pat, her eyes alight. I give her a nod of thanks, which makes her smile. I know she's just trying to be friendly, but God, can she make me uncomfortable.

But really, all I can think of is how Diana going to get me under her control. I'll do whatever she asks without a second's hesitation if she manages to get me... This my only chance to save everyone from me.

And we have to get this done before those mind control people start heading for Abel. Diana's doing this because she knows it will be harder for us to kill people than for us to kill zombies. Because we all know that these people aren't in control of their actions. We all know this isn't their fault...

She wants us to be at a disadvantage so she destroy Abel-destroy my home.

I won't let her do that. I'll die before I let her hurt Abel.

"Here we are then," Louise pants as she slows her steps. She gestures to the large building and the few smaller ones that branch off it. "Welcome to the Tavington Clinic. God, I forgot how ugly this place is."

Paula hums in reply. "Brutalist Architecture. The clue was in the band that it wasn't a great idea."

"Yeah, I don't care how ugly it is if it can cure me," Maxine says, and she looks at the redhead with soft eyes. "Paula, if we can-if it can really stop me being susceptible to mind control, we can be able to-"

"I know. If I think about it too much, I can't think about anything else."

"There are so many things I want to do-important things."

"Like rollerblading? Because you know, we could try that anyway."

"So, where is the machine?" Moonchild asks, changing the subject.

"It's right in the middle," Louise says, gesturing to the octagonal building with the glass roof. "This way."

"How are thing's looking at your end, Sam?" I ask, following Louise inside. I swallow nervously when he doesn't answer right away. "Sam?"

"Sorry. Sorry," He stammers, and I can hear papers rustling through my headset. "I'm just trying to-I'm looking at all those people. There's hundred of them-hundreds and hundreds. I-I'm trying to omit their courses on my map. I-I don't think... it didn't actually look like they're headed for Abel."

I let out a sigh of relief. "Praise God. That's great."

"Uh, yeah."

"We can cut through here," Louise states as we enter a room. There's tables with rotting food on them, and I grimace at the smell. "Used to be the canteen. Food probably tastes about as good as it did before the apocalypse. Can you get the doors open, Five?"

I shrug before grabbing the handle and pulling at the door until it opens with a loud groan.

"Lou, how did it feel to go through the machine?" Maxine asks.

"It felt good, Maxi. Gave me a monster headache, but it was-it was like that feeling you get when you finally do a job you've been putting off for months, you know? The girls who'd taken smack before said he was better than any high they'd ever felt." She laughs. "Can't believe I didn't realize it was more than just a scan."

She nods. "Well, that sounds alright."

"Uh, guys?" Sam says, and my chest tightened at the fearful tone in his voice. "Uh, right. Listen. Something bad is happening. Those mind control people aren't heading for Abel."

Louise frowns. "That sounds okay."

"I've worked out where their trajectories cross. They're all heading for the Tavington Clinic-every single one. Deadlocks and the Exmoore Militia and all the mind controlled people in the surrounding countryside. They're all heading toward you."

"How can they know where we are?" Maxine asks, and I feel the blood drain from my face.

"No idea. But if you're gonna get to that machine and power it up in time, you've got to move now."

•

"Okay, I've managed to hook into the center's cams. Someone switched the power on, or maybe it never went off in here. I'm just looking for-Ah, there you are, in that little lab."

Paula looks around in awe. "The equipment they've got here is something else. I saw some of these as a prototype, but I never knew they had working models."

"Stop drooling over the tech and get your asses in here," Louise spats. "The machine we want is at the end of this corridor."

"What about those people, Sam?" Maxine asks, quickly following Louise. "How much time do we have?"

"Um, the nearest group is gonna reach you in less than ten minutes, but there's only a few of them, which is good... except there's a really big group not too far behind. Actually, it looks like the Deadlocks. They'll be on you within forty-five minutes," He says.

Louise cringes. "That's bloody tight. The process takes at least twenty minutes."

"What about me?" Moonchild asks. "I like, need my aura cleansed too."

"I'm sorry, Moonchild, but Maxine goes first. If we've got time to do you, we will," Paula says. "Otherwise, we'll have to come back."

"You'll have to come back anyway for Five," Sam says, and I hear him hiss in sudden regret.

"Five? What do you mean? She's not been mind controlled," Maxine says, looking over at me.

"Uh, yeah, but uh..." I start. "I was thinking... Diana hated Chrysalis because she fooled her plans with the ZRD, and I look like Chrysalis. Not to mention me and Lou stopped Moonchild with the zombies... She probably either wants to kill me, or use me so she won't have to worry about me ruining anything else for her."

Sam lets out a small sigh that says 'nice save'.

"Well, we can come back then. But we need to get this started up for Maxi," Paula says.

"That's heavy, man," Moonchild frowns. "I'm one of you now, as well."

"But you did try to kill us all," Louise points out. "And anyway, we like Maxine more. No offense. Alright, it's just through this door."

She pushes open the door, and I blink, tipping my head to the side. "That's the machine?"

"It looks like something that's gonna uh, attain sentience, try to mate with a human woman, and then take over the world," Sam says as Paula grabs Maxine's hand.

"I don't care what it looks like, as long as it works. Ready, darling?"

"Uh, yeah. I'm ready." She pulls away , a weird look in her eye. Moonchild watches her intently, brows furrowed. She looks at me with the same face, and I blink in confusion. Something flashes across her eyes before she looks back at Maxine, who pulls away from Paula and picks up a metal pole that's lying on the ground. "I'm uh, yeah. I'm just going to uh..."

I yelp when Maxine slams the metal pole into the machine.

"What the hell are you doing?" Louise screeches.

"I'm fixing the machine." She hits it again.

"You're breaking it, darling!" Paula shouts, and I tense when I hear tones sound off in the air.

"Because it's meant to be broken. It's alright. I know what I'm doing." She grins a happy grin, her eyes alight with an almost alien joy. Ice floods my veins.

Oh no.

"The voices in the tones told me-told me I had to come here and do this. That's why I feel so happy now."

A/N: Here you go, guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please be sure to vote and comment. Thank you and have a blessed day!