I’ve no idea what Dan-Dan has been holding back until this late stage, and to be honest I don’t care. Rather than try to think one step ahead of him, I lie still and wait for him to play out his childish game, figuring it can’t be any worse than what he’s already subjected me to.
“What can it be?” he murmurs. “What could be so pressing that I feel the need to stop? Any ideas, Becky?” I don’t respond, just stare at the ceiling. “Darlings? Can you be of help?” The children shake their heads, mute with terror. “Coley!” he barks at the guard who has resumed his station. “What have I forgotten?”
“I don’t know, my lord,” Coley answers, playing along, but I can tell by his vicious grin that he’s in on the joke.
“This is so frustrating,” Dan-Dan cries. “We can’t continue until I sort this out. I’m sure it was something major. If I could just think clearly for a few seconds…”
Dan-Dan strides to the back of the room and squats in a fake huff. He stays there for a couple of minutes while I stew on the table. Then he shouts, “Aha!” Springing to his feet, he hurries back and bends over me, waving his hand until I give him my attention. “I’ve remembered. I can’t believe we forgot. How easily distracted we are.”
Then, as I’m staring at him with exhausted contempt, Dan-Dan leans in close and purrs slyly, “What on earth has happened to Vinyl?”
ELEVEN
Dan-Dan tells Coley to bandage over what’s left of my guts, to hold them in place. Then he frees my head and tries to feed me chunks of brain. I keep my lips closed until he shrugs and says, “Well, if you’d prefer I just ordered Vinyl’s execution…”
Bizarrely, I’d forgotten my main reason for coming to the Power Station, to secure Vinyl’s release and to try to get the other New Kirkham prisoners freed with him. Killing Dan-Dan would have been a welcome bonus, but getting Vinyl and his people out of here was my first priority. With the shock of finding my dad alive, and then with everything I’ve suffered at Dan-Dan’s hands, that had been shaken from my thoughts. But now that I’ve remembered, I feel compelled to do whatever I can to help.
Reluctantly, knowing it will give me the energy to endure for longer, I open my mouth and accept the scraps that Dan-Dan drops my way. I chew sluggishly, forcing myself to swallow. Even that small movement is painful. I retch up the first few pieces almost immediately, before I’m able to draw nutrients from them, but Dan-Dan patiently feeds me again and this time the food stays down long enough for me to absorb the nourishment that I need to continue.
Dan-Dan treats me to all the brains that I can stomach, then heads out and leaves me alone for a while, giving me time to digest my meal. I don’t manage to throw up all of the cranial chunks, but that doesn’t matter. Normally I’d be worried about attracting bugs that would lay eggs inside me, but I don’t think I’ll live long enough to become an all-night diner for the creatures of the insect world.
Dan-Dan’s gone for ages. He took the children with him, and Coley has stepped out too, though I’m sure he’s stationed nearby, ready to rush in if he hears anything unusual.
Despite the loss of blood, I feel some of my strength returning. It’s not a welcome sensation. Fresh pain flares all over as muscles twitch and my body processes the nutrients. I groan softly and bang my head against the table to drive the worst of the agony from my brain. I pause and think about trying to crack my skull open. But, even as I’m wondering if I could do that, Coley reappears and slips a cushion beneath my head.
“There,” he smiles. “That’s far more comfortable, isn’t it?”
He must have been told to listen for noise. Dan-Dan saw the opportunity before I did and took steps to ensure I didn’t rob him of his fun prematurely.
I scowl at the smirking guard. “If you were halfway human,” I croak, “you’d finish me off before that monster returned.”
“Do you think I’m mad?” Coley retorts. “I’d end up where you are if I lifted a finger to help you.”
“It’s not such a bad place to be,” I sigh. “I’d rather die doing the right thing than live and serve a twisted beast like Dan-Dan.”
Coley’s smile fades and he studies me seriously. “Barnes thought that way too. But I don’t.” He makes a face. “I can’t.”
“You’re a sad case, Coley,” I whisper, and for once I’m not insulting him.
“Maybe,” he nods. “But come tomorrow, I’ll be alive and you’ll be history.”
“But what are you living for?” I challenge him. “What are you living as?”
“I try not to think about that,” Coley says softly, then returns to his post outside the room.
When Dan-Dan returns–back in his beloved sailor’s outfit–there are several soldiers with him. He tells Coley to unshackle me and help me to my feet. Dan-Dan keeps in the background, directing proceedings from afar. He encourages me to exercise gently and limber up. I do as he says, knowing there’s no point rebelling, as he’ll simply play the Vinyl card if I get mutinous.
I cry out with pain as I swing my arms back and forth. I collapse to my knees and have to be helped back to my feet by Coley. Cursing softly, I try again, and this time I manage to stay upright, although the blisters on the soles of my feet mean that even standing still is a torment, and the missing toe bones make balancing a tricky act—I’d grown to depend on them and feel strange without them.
“Good,” Dan-Dan beams. “You’re the most resilient specimen I’ve ever crossed paths with. Do some squats for me, Becky.”
I shoot him the finger and he laughs. I continue working out the kinks as slowly and carefully as I can. Each tiny gesture sets off bursts of pain somewhere within me, but I grit my teeth and carry on.
A couple of the soldiers remove the buckets as I’m exercising, taking them off to do who knows what with my blood. If I was human, I wouldn’t be surprised if Dan-Dan filled a bath with the thick liquid to bathe in. But of course he can’t, as one drop of it on his skin would be enough to turn him into a mindless, undead beast.
“How are you feeling?” Dan-Dan asks.
“Like I’m ready to run a marathon,” I growl.
“Incredible,” he sighs. “Two full days and nights of taking all that I can throw at you, and you still haven’t cracked. I think I might have got you up from your deathbed too early. Maybe I’ll strap you down for another few rounds before we go looking for Vinyl.”
I don’t respond to that. I’m pretty sure he’s saying it just to tease me, but I’m concerned that if I wind him up he might follow through on the threat.
As I’m working the worst of the stiffness out of my limbs, Dad appears behind Coley and Dan-Dan. His face falls when he spots me. My flesh has been sliced up, peeled away and burned to blackened shreds. Dan-Dan shaved off the last of my hair early in the process and drove a few nails into the crown of my head, which he has left in place. He pulled out some of my teeth, and of course he cut off my ears.
“B?” Dad gasps, not entirely sure I’m the daughter he left in the care of Lord Daniel Wood just two short days ago.
“I hope you’re proud of what you’ve helped reduce me to,” I mumble, raising my arms and giving him a slow twirl. He can’t see my dismantled rib cage and hacked-up guts through the bandages, but Dan-Dan also sawed off my right breast–I’ve done my best to erase the scene from my memory, so I can’t recall when exactly he came up with that particular brainwave–and the gaping sore is uncovered, as is the seeping hole in the left side of my chest.
Dad stares at me with horror, then turns his gaze on Dan-Dan.
“What?” Dan-Dan snaps. “Did you think I was going to smack her bottom and leave it at that?”
Dad gulps. “No. I knew you’d… but I didn’t think…”
“It’s not as bad as it looks,” Dan-Dan smirks. “Zombies can’t feel as much pain as us. I had to be harsher on her than I would have been on one of the living. She’s far from chipper, but she’s healthier than she appears.”
“Oh yeah,” I snort
. “Right as rain, me. Don’t worry yourself about it, Dad. This is what my kind do for kicks.”
“I’m sorry,” Dad says softly, then hardens his expression, snaps his heels together and salutes Dan-Dan. “The cage is ready, my lord. We have chosen the participants in line with your wishes.”
“Very good,” Dan-Dan murmurs. He winks at me. “I’m looking forward to this, Becky. It should be quite a show.”
I grin ghoulishly. “I’ll try not to disappoint.” I’ve no idea what he has planned, but I’m sure it will be inventive and nasty. Whatever it is, I won’t let it faze me. I’ll treat it like it’s no big thing, not give him the satisfaction of seeing me tremble.
“Hands behind your back,” Coley barks, stepping forward with cuffs. He’s wearing gloves, but his face isn’t protected. I think about hurling myself at him, infecting him, forcing the soldiers to open fire. I don’t mind if I perish in a hail of bullets, and taking Coley down with me would be a sweet bonus. But if I do that, Vinyl will be killed too. I don’t know if I’ll be able to help my friend, or if Dan-Dan has rigged the game in such a way that I’m damned to lose no matter what. But if there’s a chance that I can win Vinyl’s freedom, I have to take it.
So, like an obedient little girl, I put my hands behind my back and let myself be cuffed. Then we file out of the room and march through Dan-Dan’s sickly sweet domain. I didn’t think I’d ever be coming back this way when I was admitted a couple of days ago. In all honesty, I’m not relieved that I’ve been given a respite. I’d rather have died on the table, as I was sure I was destined to. It would have been easier that way. Whatever Dan-Dan has lined up for me, it’s sure to involve fighting and heartache. How much more do I have to endure before I’m granted my final, much-longed-for release?
TWELVE
I’m taken to the courtyard. It’s a gray day and much of the open space is shrouded in shadows, but my eyes still struggle to adjust to the natural light after the gloom of Dan-Dan’s room. I want to shield them with a hand, but obviously I can’t since they’re bound behind my back.
Coley leads me to a large cage in the center of the yard. I noticed this one before when I passed, because of its size, but didn’t take much notice. Unlike most of the cages, it wasn’t packed with prisoners.
Now it’s different. There are figures inside. As I draw closer and my eyes focus, I count thirteen people, twelve huddled against one wall of the cage, the thirteenth chained to the bars on the opposite side. The twelve are divided equally, four men, four women, four children—two boys, two girls.
The thirteenth is Vinyl.
Dan-Dan slips ahead of me and opens the door of the cage. Then he stands back as my hands are freed and I’m pushed inside. The door slams shut immediately.
I stagger forward, then take stock. A crowd has gathered, soldiers and Klanners. Owl Man and Josh are among the group behind Vinyl. Unlike most of the others, they’re not cheering or clapping. They look solemn and resigned.
Rage takes a position next to Dan-Dan. At least he gets as close as he’s allowed. Dan-Dan must be wary of the traitor, as a couple of his soldiers keep their guns trained on the hulking teenager. Rage doesn’t mind. He seems happy as a pig in its sty.
“You did a real job on her,” Rage enthuses, casting an appreciative eye over me.
“I’m a craftsman,” Dan-Dan smiles. “I take pride in what I do.”
“I bet you wish you’d stayed in County Hall,” Rage calls to me. In reply I drag a finger across my throat then point it at him. But he knows it’s an idle threat. He’s safe on his side of the bars.
Justin Bazini and Vicky Wedge appear, the crowd parting to let them press up close to the cage. Vicky is grinning eagerly but Justin is frowning.
“Is she in any fit condition to fight?” he growls.
“She’ll surprise you,” Dan-Dan assures him. “There’s more to this young firebrand than meets the eye. I pushed her hard but not too far. She’ll put on a good show.”
Justin doesn’t look convinced, but he grunts and waits for the action to start.
I edge closer to Vinyl. He’s been given a going-over since I last saw him, but he doesn’t look anywhere near as bad as me. His left eye is puffed up, but he can see out of his right. He nods and says, “Hey, B.”
“Hey, V,” I smile.
“Some mess we’re in, huh?” he sighs.
“Tell me about it.”
“You shouldn’t have come back.”
“I know.”
“They’d have killed us no matter what.”
“Not true,” Owl Man says. “I planned to release you as promised. I was even going to plead for your townsfolk to be set free along with you. Rage is to blame for what has happened—his act of treachery changed everything. I am a man of my word.”
“That’s comforting,” Vinyl says drily, then grimaces. “They really put you through hell. I thought they were tough on me but…”
“Don’t worry about it,” I wheeze. “They can’t break the B. I’ve bounced back from worse than this.”
Vinyl raises an eyebrow and I laugh, then wince as pain shoots through me.
“Thanks anyway,” Vinyl says quietly. “It means a lot, that you tried.”
“Did you think I wouldn’t?”
He shrugs, his chains rattling. “When you’re in a situation like this, you start thinking all sorts of things.” He looks over my head at the gathered vultures. “What are they going to do to us?”
“It’ll be some sort of gladiatorial thing,” I guess.
“Me versus you?” Vinyl frowns.
“No. I think they want to pit me against those guys.” I nod at the people being held on the far side of the cage.
“Don’t do it,” Vinyl says instantly. “Some of them are from New Kirkham. Even if they weren’t, I wouldn’t want to trade my life for all of theirs. Let the buggers kill me.”
“You don’t mean that,” I mutter.
“I do,” he insists. “I’d rather you stood by and let them finish me off. I don’t want you to murder on my account. Besides, they’ll butcher me in the end, no matter what you do. Isn’t that right?” he roars at those around us. “This is a no-win situation, isn’t it?”
“Not necessarily,” Dan-Dan chuckles. “The ground might open up and swallow you, or angels–real angels, not Becky’s group of copycats–might drop from the sky and spirit you away.”
“She won’t fight for me,” Vinyl yells. “Tell them, B.”
I glance uncertainly at Vinyl, then roll my eyes and nod. “He’s the boss. If he says no fighting, so be it.”
Dan-Dan’s smile never wavers. “Such a noble pair,” he trills. “I admire your resolve. And I think you’d hold firm under normal conditions. I can see why. Only a heartless monster would kill twelve good, harmless people in order to save a friend. But what if they weren’t harmless and good?”
Dan-Dan flashes his teeth at me as Coley steps up close to the bars where the prisoners are cowering. Now that I look at them more clearly, I realize they’re being held in place by ropes looped round their throats. They can’t back away for fear of being choked.
Coley is carrying a bucket that is all too familiar.
“No!” I roar, seeing their plan now. I start to limp across the cage, desperate to stop it, to bargain with Dan-Dan, to reach a compromise. But before I can say anything, Coley dips a ladle into the bucket, dredges up a hefty slug of the blood that seeped from my flesh while I was being tortured, then scatters it across the trapped men, women and children. As I scream at him, he dips the ladle in again, then flicks it at the humans in turn, making sure every one of them catches a few drops.
The doomed victims shriek and moan as my infected blood seeps into their pores, spreading the zombie virus through their bodies. I draw to a halt and watch wretchedly, too late to save them. Even though I’m not responsible for what’s about to happen, it’s my blood that was used, so I feel like I’m to blame. Twelve more lives to add to my list of sha
me.
The humans shudder and froth. It’s impossible, with all the screaming, to distinguish the ripping sounds as the bones in their fingers and toes lengthen and force their way out through the layers of flesh. But I watch as their teeth extend and their eyes go flat, as they stand, reborn, their nostrils flaring as they fix on the scent of living brains.
“That always freaks me out,” Dan-Dan murmurs. “It’s a beastly business, isn’t it?” He shakes his head glumly, then grins. “I’m sure I don’t need to explain the rules to you, Becky. They’re going to target your friend. If you don’t stop them, they’ll rip his brain from its skull and dig in.”
“No,” Vinyl whispers behind me, but he’s no longer asking me to step aside and let him be killed. The game has changed. While he would have gladly sacrificed himself to save twelve living people, he’s filled with dread at the thought of being torn apart by a pack of zombies.
“Unleash the hounds of hell!” Dan-Dan squeals, and the men holding the ropes release them. The zombies claw at the bars, snarling hungrily, eager to sink their fangs into the heads of the humans who are laughing at them and cheering.
Then one of the girls catches sight of Vinyl. She realizes he’s alive and on her side of the bars. She lets out an excited mewling sound. The others turn and bunch round her. They stare at Vinyl. Their lips lift from their long, sharp teeth. Their bone-enhanced fingers flex. Then all twelve of them come loping across the cage, mindless, soulless killing machines on the attack.
THIRTEEN
I’m a physical wreck. Dan-Dan has put me through the wringer over the last forty-eight hours and I’m in no shape to pit myself against a dozen freshly minted zombies. But if I stand aside and let them race past, it’s curtains for Vinyl. As drained and wracked with pain as I am, I have to push myself one more time.