Dead World 3, page 19
Razor motioned them forward with the barrel of his rifle. Morgan told Red to lead the way. It seemed the gentlemanly thing to do, but that wasn’t why he’d offered. Morgan wanted to put his body between her and the gun.
They walked to the reinforced metal door and waited. Razor hit a spot on the ground with his boot heel and something clanged. Red looked over her shoulder at Morgan and frowned. His expression was placid. Deceptive under the circumstances. He waited patiently for the door to open.
They didn’t have to wait long. The big metal door slid open with a scraping noise that Red had no doubt came from sand buildup. Darkness greeted them.
“Get inside.” Razor nudged Morgan with the rifle.
Morgan looked at the gun, then grinned at the man. Razor’s eyes widened and he took a step back, forgetting he was the one who was armed. Red faced the darkened entry and stepped over the threshold.
She waited for her eyes to adjust before going any further. It didn’t take long. The place looked like a warehouse of some sort, but for what she couldn’t tell. Morgan walked forward and stopped at her side.
“Where’s is Jonah?” he turned to ask Razor, but he was gone, shutting the door behind him.
Morgan rushed forward, but couldn’t stop it in time. “Damn!” He pressed his hands all over the door. “I can’t feel a handle. There doesn’t seem to be a way of opening it from the inside.”
“We’re trapped?” Red’s skin itched at the thought of being stuck in here. The wolf suddenly wanted out. She rolled her shoulders and tried to relax.
Morgan inhaled. “No, I don’t think so. I smell a pureblood. The scent is fresh, but he’s not in here with us.”
“Sure it’s not Razor you’re picking up?” she asked.
“Positive. This scent isn’t malodorous.”
She looked around. “Then where in the hell is he?” Red inched forward, her senses on high alert.
Morgan sniffed. She did the same. Despite the dust clinging to the metal crates, the air smelled clean, like it was blowing in from outside. They didn’t spot any vents, nor did they see anything out of the ordinary.
“There’s something about this place that’s familiar,” Morgan said.
“Are you saying that you’ve been here?”
“No, nothing like that,” he said.
“Then what do you mean?” She stared at the shadows. From what she could tell the warehouse was full of nothing but rusted junk.
He examined the area. “I’ve seen this type of building before,” Morgan said.
“A warehouse? I have, too. They pretty much all look the same,” Red said.
“Shh—” Morgan moved in circles around the room, all the while examining the floor. “I think I hear something.”
Red listened, but didn’t immediately hear anything. She listened harder and caught a whirling sound coming from the floor. It was followed by a strong vibration. “What is that?” She backed toward the door they’d come through.
“If I’m not mistaken, it’s an elevator.”
“Here? In the middle of no-man’s-land?” Red asked. He might as well have proclaimed that this place was a hydrogen car factory. How could a dilapidated warehouse hold a working elevator? It wasn’t possible. There was no power in no-man’s-land.
You hadn’t thought there’d be vehicles here either, a little voice in her head chided.
Morgan studied the floor some more, tapping his foot here and there.
“What are you doing?” Red asked.
“Looking for the door,” he said.
Maybe the heat had gotten to him. It was possible he was suffering from heat exhaustion, even though they’d made an effort to remain hydrated. He continued to bounce and tap on the floor.
“Morgan, you aren’t making sense. There’s nothing here but mechanical ghosts. Demery was wrong. The guards were just trying to trap us with that talk of Jonah. He probably doesn’t even exist.” They’d left Demery for nothing. Her heart sank as she realized they’d finally run out of options.
The whirling sound grew louder and Morgan stepped back. “It’s coming,” he said. A smile flitted across his lips.
Red gasped, as the floor opened up. Her eyes widened as she watched the hole grow larger and larger. Would it swallow the room and them with it? She looked up to judge the distance to the beams that ran along the ceiling. Could they jump and reach them?
A platform appeared a moment later. A blond-haired man stood in the center of it, holding a device in his hand that had a red button and a green button on it. A large pistol was tucked into a holster and strapped to his leg.
“You must be the traders Razor spoke of. Don’t get many around these parts outside of the Sand Moles. At least not any who aren’t out to cause trouble. Are you looking for trouble?” His gaze slid to Morgan.
“No,” he said.
Red said nothing.
“I prefer the lady’s response,” he said. “It’s more honest.”
“I didn’t say anything,” Red said.
“Exactly. You don’t talk. You can’t lie.” The man smiled and beckoned them forward with one tanned hand. The other held the device tight as if he were afraid they’d rip it away.
Morgan placed his hand on the small of Red’s back and guided her onto the platform.
“What is this thing?” she asked.
“If I’m not mistaken, it’s an old missile silo,” Morgan said.
“You are correct, Mr. Hunter.” The man pressed the green button and the platform lowered.
“How do you know my name?” Morgan asked.
The man grinned mischievously. “Everyone around here knows your names. Bounties tend to make their own kind of introductions.” The man turned to face Red. “And you must be Gina Santiago. I can’t wait to hear all about what you’ve done to warrant such a high price.”
Red’s stomach dipped from his words and the sudden descent.
“Where are my manners?” He brushed his hand over his gray pant leg. “My name is Jonah. No call for surnames out here.” He held out his hand, which was surprisingly clean given the conditions of the warehouse. So were his clothes, come of think of it.
Red felt a twinge of jealousy. She’d give her left boot for a cleansing unit. She stared at the man’s clean hand, but didn’t shake it. He seemed courteous enough, but she still might have to kill him.
Jonah shrugged and extended the offer to Morgan.
Morgan shook his hand, then they all fell back into silence.
Red couldn’t see the bottom of the shaft. She could barely make out the top. How deep was this silo? The doors slowly slid shut, leaving them in complete darkness.
Her heart leapt, then slammed into her ribs. The darkness felt like it was closing in, taking all the oxygen with it. She fought the panic clawing at her throat. She couldn’t breathe.
“Morgan?” she called out.
His hand found hers with ease and he pulled her into his body. “It’s okay. Take a deep breath. We’re almost there,” he murmured.
“How can you tell?” she asked.
“Most of these things are around 176 to 200 feet deep. Just large enough to accommodate a missile, a well, kitchen, rec area, storage space, living quarters, and a command center. At least the ones I’ve been inside.”
“He’s right,” Jonah said. “We’ve arrived.”
On cue, the platform stopped with a slight jerk. Red could hear Jonah patting the wall in search of something. She was afraid to move for fear she’d fall off into the abyss.
“Here it is,” he said. Something clicked and lights came on all around them.
Red blinked, temporarily blinded. A door stood five feet away. It had a round handle of some sort. Red had never seen one before. “What is that?” she asked Morgan.
He smiled. “It’s called a hatch. You spin the wheel to open and close it.”
“Really?” she asked. “Why doesn’t it just open when we approach?”
Jonah chuckled. “I fear we’re a little old-fashioned around these parts. Don’t have the modern amenities found in your dome cities.”
Red watched him spin the wheel. There was a loud clank and the door swung open on creaky hinges.
Jonah stepped through and waved them forward. “This way,” he said.
Morgan went through the door next. Red followed, but stopped to examine the wheel. It only moved in two directions, left and right. She spun it back and forth, using one hand, then both. It was kind of fun.
“Does it do anything else?” she asked, turning it again.
“Nope.” Morgan pried her fingers off the hatch. “Let’s go. You can play with the door later.”
The hallway had lights like she’d never seen affixed to the walls about every twenty feet. She could see Jonah moving ahead of them. He didn’t seem too concerned about his safety. He wasn’t even watching them—or maybe he was. Red looked around and immediately spotted digital recorders.
The hall was bare with thick concrete walls and a matching floor. Sound traveled, but quickly muted.
“How thick are these walls?” she asked.
“Very,” Morgan said. “The shaft we just came down was used to launch missiles. These walls had to be thick enough to contain the blast.”
“What are those?” She pointed to the balls stuck on all the doors.
“Those are called door knobs. You turn them to open and close the doors just like the hatch.”
Red approached one cautiously and tried to turn it. The metal felt cool to the touch, but nothing happened. “I think this one’s broken,” she said.
“Why?” he asked.
“Because it doesn’t turn,” she said. “See?” She tried the knob again, but it merely rattled in her grip.
Morgan smiled indulgently. “It’s probably locked.”
Her lips pursed. “I keep forgetting that you’re from this world,” she said softly.
“I’m in your world now.” He grasped her hand.
Instead of giving it a reassuring squeeze, Morgan laced his fingers through hers and held on as they walked.
“I’ve never been this far underground. Do you think Jonah will have what we need? And if he does, will the equipment work from here?” she asked.
“He should,” Morgan said. “Most missile silos came equipped with communication centers. They were made to work underground. We just have to hope that no one looted this one before Jonah moved in.”
Jonah waited for them at the end of the hall. He stood in front of another metal door.
“This way.” He opened it, and then stepped aside.
Morgan dropped Red’s hand and walked forward to look inside. “It’s okay,” he said, as he passed through the doorway.
She followed. There was a decent-size room and another long hall, except this one had several doors shooting off from the main hall.
“Welcome to Eden,” Jonah said after they were all in the room.
Red looked around at the sparse mismatched furnishings and the metal doors. Nothing about this place reminded her of the biblical Eden. Eden was supposed to be lush, green, and bursting with life. This place was just the opposite with its sterile gray walls, beige, green, and orange furniture, and steel doors. Her expression must have given away her thoughts.
“Don’t let outward appearances fool you,” Jonah said. He walked over to the nearest door and opened it, revealing a botanical wonderland.
Red gasped. “Is that real?” she asked.
Jonah grinned. “Every last leaf. Go ahead. Check it out.”
Red couldn’t believe her eyes. She’d seen the greenhouses inside the biodomes. They were organized in neat rows to optimize growth. This place looked like the jungles she’d read about in school.
Plants exploded from every direction, cutting off walkways and towering overhead. Bright lights dotted the ceilings. “But how?” she asked, gaping at the multitude of green. So many shades, so many different textures. The beauty was so overwhelming that it hurt her eyes.
“Those are sunlamps,” Morgan said from behind her. “They provide the light needed to grow these things. What I don’t understand is how you managed all this without any water.”
Morgan and Red turned back to Jonah, who looked like a proud father showing off his first child.
“It’s spring fed,” he said.
“That’s not possible.” Red sobered. “All the springs in the world were poisoned during the last war.”
His brow quirked. “Not all of them,” Jonah said. “I test the water daily. So far, it’s clean. We even have enough to shower.”
Morgan’s body practically quivered. “You have showers here? With real water?”
Jonah nodded and grinned. “Yep, we sure do. We use solar panels to heat the water.”
“Do you have any idea the kind of gold mine you’re sitting on?” Morgan asked.
Jonah’s smile withered. “This is my Eden. I share it with whom I wish and no one else. A few people have tried to take advantage of my good nature and hospitality. They are buried out back in unmarked graves,” he warned. “Now let me show you where you’ll be staying.”
Red didn’t want to leave. There was something about this room that felt so peaceful, so relaxing. It reminded her of the photos in her grandfather’s books. The green world he’d spoken about on so many occasions.
She touched the petals of a yellow flower. They were soft and dewy. The fragrance coming from the blooms perfumed the air. “Amazing,” she murmured.
This place truly was Eden. Red had the overwhelming urge to stay. Chuck her old life, leaving Nuria and Roark behind for good. The thought scared her. She released the plant and followed Morgan and Jonah through the door.
They were led farther down the hall to another set of steel doors.
“You’ll find showers and extra clothes in there. Let me know if you need anything else. When you’re done bathing, just come out and I’ll show you to your room. The halls are monitored, so don’t get any funny ideas. One blast of the alarms and the guards have orders to eliminate all outside intruders.”
Morgan stopped him before he left. “We need to use your communication equipment, if you have any.”
“Later.” Jonah opened the door to a tiled room.
Red stepped through the doorway and looked around. The room was plain with white walls and metal benches bolted to the floor. Several shower-heads protruded from the far wall. Metal cases of some kind flanked the row of shower-heads. She ran her hands over the metal, examining the dials attached to the outsides.
“Those are called lockers,” Morgan said after Jonah shut the door. “You put your clothes inside while you shower.”
Red frowned, spinning the dial. “Why doesn’t it open?” she asked. She spun the dial the other direction just like the doorknob, but nothing happened.
“You have to pull up.” Morgan showed her.
The door to the locker swung open, revealing towels. Red picked one up and placed it on the bench. “Do you think we’re safe?” she asked, her gaze moving to the closed door.
“Not as long as we’re in no-man’s-land,” Morgan said.
“He’s been so accommodating—too accommodating if you ask me.”
“Jonah’s behavior is definitely unusual, but I think we’re okay for the time being. I scented no deception. If he wanted us dead, he wouldn’t have bothered to give us the grand tour. He could’ve just ordered the guards to shoot.” Morgan walked to the door and pressed a button.
“What did you do?” Red asked.
“Locked it,” he said on his way back.
“Why?” she asked.
“Privacy,” he said.
Morgan walked into the shower area and turned a knob on the wall. Water shot out of the shower-head. He held his hand under the stream and adjusted the knob, then played with the water, cupping it in his palm.
“I can’t believe this.” He grinned at her. “I haven’t had a real shower in years.”
He stripped his dirty clothes off. Red watched the layers peel away, revealing bronzed skin. Within seconds he was gloriously naked. Her mouth went dry. She sat on the bench and gazed at Morgan as he dipped his head under the water, sloshing it down his back.
Sand and grit turned the water brown at his feet, but he didn’t seem to mind. He was like a child experiencing his first chemical pool. He splashed and laughed, flicking water over his shoulder at her.
Red giggled as moisture hit her in the face. It felt incredible. She undressed, watching the man she loved enjoy himself for the first time in weeks. It was good to see him smile. He hadn’t done that in a while because there hadn’t been a lot to smile about.
“Is the water warm?” she asked, expecting him to say no.
“It’s perfect.” He splayed his hands, allowing the water to wash over his fingers. “Come see for yourself.”
Why not? Red thought. What harm could it do?
Morgan was whistling now as he rubbed cleanser on his body. By the time she stepped near the spray, he was covered in foamy suds. Red ran her hands over his smooth skin, then dipped her head under the water.
“This feels so weird,” she said.
She’d spent her whole life taking chemical showers. Never once had she experienced water other than to drink it. It felt strange. The liquid didn’t immediately cleanse her parched skin. Instead, it slowly eroded the dirt, before washing it away.
Morgan cupped the water and let it rain over her head. Red laughed and closed her eyes as water splashed on her face. He grabbed a bar of something. “This is soap,” he said. “It’s what we used to use before they developed cleanser.”
Red had read that soap used to come in bars, but she’d never seen one. Morgan rubbed the bar over her skin and she watched as bubbles formed.
“This seems like an antiquated way of doing things,” she said. The words had barely left her mouth when Morgan ran the soap over her nipple, causing it to pucker.
“Antiquated, eh? I don’t know about that. From here, it looks like we might’ve been missing out on the good stuff by using technology.”
