Endurance: Apocalypse (The Endurance Series Book 2) (6 page)

Miller brought a machine to a table next to the bed where the body lay. He connected the wires of the machine onto pads and then placed the pads onto the body’s dark veins on both the sides and the middle of the forehead; then on the neck, wrists and chest. Miller switched the machine on and turned a knob and the machine started humming.
‘This machine is sending electric pulses through the body, this will hopefully bring subject 1 to life.’ Miller said as he tied the arms and legs of the body down. Miller stepped back and looked at everything in place.

‘Let’s begin.’ Miller said as he began resuscitation. He pressed down on subject 1’s chest repeatedly whilst the humming of the machine increased in volume. Miller increased the pressure he applied to the chest and whispered to himself. Subject 1 jolted. The pads from the machine came unstuck and a bolt of electricity shot from the pads to the skin of subject 1. The machine banged, fell off the table and smashed onto the floor. Bolts of electricity hit Miller in the chest, launching him into the wall of the small laboratory.

Miller sat against the wall, dazed but watching subject 1 tossing and turning. He turned his head to Miller, his mouth wide open, his neck straining; blood pouring from his eyes. The blood trickled across his face in uneven lines. His pupils enlarged, making his eye entirely black.

Miller stood up and dragged his body to the bed. As he did, subject 1 stopped moving and lay on his back. Miller pulled the camera up and filmed him.

‘This is incredible. I have bought this male back from the afterlife. Although he’s non-responsive, he is still alive.’

Miller felt the subject’s neck for a pulse.

‘It has a weak…’ Miller paused as he continued to feel the pulse. ‘It’s… It’s getting faster by the second… My god its so…’

Subject 1 suddenly stiffened all over; his arm broke loose from the restraint and he knocked Miller’s camera from his hand.

Miller stepped back in surprise but the subject grabbed the scruff of his neck. The subject freed his other arm and then his legs. He got off the bed, still holding Miller.

‘Subject 1, I am your creator. I bought you back to life. Do you have any memory of your previous life?’

The subject stared at Miller; his dark eyes became lighter. The whites of the eyes returned but the iris remained black.

‘Answer me,’ Miller said. ‘Answer me.’

‘I have a name.’ The subject’s voice was deep and rough; it sounded as if his throat was clogged with phlegm.

‘Which is?’ Miller asked.

The subject released his grip and stepped back to the bed. His black eyes studied the room and then looked to Miller. 

‘My name… My name is…’ The subject stared at Miller.

‘What do you remember?’

‘Smoke… ash… blood… friendship… love, hate and… and heartbreak.’

‘Do you not remember any details? Faces or names or what you did before you died?’

The subject paused and stared at Miller. ‘No.’

‘Well I can tell you your name is Jonny.’

‘Was that my name before?’

‘No, but your life before was not great, you can live a better life now, working with me.’

‘Working?’

‘Yes, there is a war here in London. Do you remember anything about that?’

‘No.’

‘Okay, well let me start from the beginning, Jonny.’ Miller said patting Jonny’s shaven head.

6

21:00 

Daylight was taken prisoner by the night. Fighting continued with sounds of screaming and glass smashing; explosions echoed in the distance, creating the only source of light.

Danni walked down the corridor to room 205. She stood outside the room putting her ear to the door. She slowly placed her palms to the door and as she did, the door opened slightly. Danni stepped back and then pushed the door open slowly. She took a step from the corridor into the room. The room was in complete darkness.

Is he even here?

Danni continued in and saw a bed with an array of guns lying on top of the duvet. She pushed the door to and noticed another door; that must be the toilet.

It’s the same layout as our room.

She stepped forward again and a glint of light shone on the carpet. Danni paused; she looked down and saw a thin line across the floor.

‘Well done.’ Enzo whispered from behind her, his clammy breath brushed her skin.

Fuck I shit myself. How did he get so close to me?

‘How did you do that?’ Danni whispered.

‘Training,’ Enzo said. ‘And experience.’

A lamp in the corner of the room switched on and as it did, Danni turned around and Enzo had disappeared.

‘Enzo?’

‘Over here.’

Danni looked around but couldn’t see him anywhere. After turning 360 degrees a number of times, she eventually stopped when Enzo’s face was nose to nose with hers.

He smiled and then moved away and sat down on the end of the bed.

‘Sorry about the mess.’

Danni walked over to Enzo,

‘So… Where to begin?’ Danni said.

‘There’s a chair behind you,’ Enzo said.

Danni sat clenching her hands together.

‘I have a much greater strength than any human; my senses are advanced. I can do things not many others can.’

‘Like what?’ Danni said.

‘Well I can move around without being heard or seen like I just did.’

‘Is that why you did that? To prove a point?’

‘It was a test to see if you were worth having with me and… I think you are. But, I have advanced abilities because of the mutated virus. It infected me and very nearly killed me. I had the most vicious virus; I was in hospital for a long time. I was told I would die and I only had weeks to live, until my friend saved me.’

‘He saved you?’ Danni said.

‘Yeah.’

‘How did he do that?’

‘He used a counteracting drug; it saved my life but didn’t cure me.’

‘How did he get the drug?’

‘He worked with the government; he was some sort of assistant. He sat in on a presentation on the drug given by a scientist. Supposedly it hadn’t been tested, but the scientist needed the nod from the government to make it work. The government said no.’

‘Why would they say no to it?’

‘Because of Michael Miller, he’s in charge of everything. My mate got hold of one of the cure drugs and came to the hospital and injected it into me. It stabilised me for a short time until I went into shock again. My mate had made loads of the stuff; I still have some he made for me. We worked out that it prevents me going into shock and dying or turning into one of those fucked up people. A doctor told me that he thinks my infected DNA reacted with the drug so that it wouldn’t cure me at all. It would keep me sane, it would prevent me turning but allowing me to keep my enhanced abilities.’

‘That’s amazing. Where’s your friend now?’

‘I don’t know, probably killed.’

The room fell silent. Enzo leaned down the side of the bed and picked up a hard black case. As he opened it, he pulled out a syringe containing a clear fluid. He tensed his arm producing a vein and then injected it into his arm. He tightened his lips and closed his eyes as his entire body stiffened. Letting out a deep grunt, Enzo opened his eyes; they had a tint of green in them. He blinked them again and looked at Danni. They were normal again.

‘You’re safe here Danni. I trust you and I will protect you and your family.’

‘Thanks Enzo, I’ll help you as much as I can.’

‘That means a lot Danni. Good to meet you.’ Enzo said, holding his hand out.

They shook hands. Danni smiled as Enzo flashed her a grin.

‘I was just wondering, who are the two guys with you?’

‘The white guy is Carl and he’s my sister Sadie’s husband and Flynn is a friend of mine.’

‘Ok. What’s the deal with this Carl guy?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘You don’t like him. I’d go so far as to say you hate him.’

Danni looked at Enzo, clasping her hands together tighter.

‘We have a past that was ugly.’

‘How was it ugly?’

Danni cracked her knuckles. She breathed out, standing up quickly.

‘Thanks for speaking to me Enzo I really appreciate it.’

‘Danni you can talk to me. I know what guys like him are like and you have to remember, my senses are advanced so I can see things that others can’t.’

Danni stared at Enzo and slowly sat back down. ‘We used to see each other just for some fun but… It just wasn’t working out, he used to drink and get violent…

Six years before

‘Carl please stop,’ Danni shouted as she leaned against the wall.

‘Stop what? Trying to have sex with my fucking girlfriend? Why don’t you want to?’

‘Carl please, you’re drunk, leave me alone.’

‘I’m drunk? I’m having a good time you fucking bitch. You can never be happy for me.’ Carl shouted as he threw his bottle across the room. Danni pushed herself away from the wall and pushed Carl away.

‘You get so angry when you’re drunk that you decide to fucking rape your girlfriend, but not anymore. Get out my way!’

Carl grabbed Danni by the throat and pushed her against the wall.

‘You told me that your dad used to beat you when he was drunk. You’re exactly like him when you’re drunk. A worthless piece of shit that could never actually beat up a real man so he beats his children or girlfriend, whoever’s nearest.’

Carl punched Danni on the nose and then the stomach.

‘You stupid fucking bitch! You fucking nigger!’ Carl shouted and he pushed Danni to the ground. He knelt above her, clutching her throat as hard as he could. ‘Die you fucking nigger.’ Danni kicked her legs, trying to knee Carl but she didn’t have the strength.

‘I’m nothing like my dad. I just fucking hate you. You mean nothing to me but a quick fuck.’ Carl spat in Danni’s face. Danni’s hearing muted and her eyelids drooped. She could no longer feel his hands around her throat; she couldn’t feel anything anymore until Carl fell to the side of her, losing his grip on her neck. Danni choked on the floor but quickly stood up. Dazed and light-headed, she walked over to the sofa and collapsed onto it. She looked back to Carl who has passed out on the floor.

Present day

‘What an arsehole.’ Enzo said.

‘He would have killed me if he hadn’t passed out.’ Danni sniffled.

‘Didn’t you tell anyone about him?’

‘No I didn’t think I’d ever see him again. I didn’t try to contact him and he didn’t try to contact me.’ Danni paused and clenched her fists. ‘The next time I saw him he was in a park. I was walking along the footpath going to see Sadie and meet her new boyfriend. I saw Sadie sitting on a bench so I ran over to her. We hugged and then sat down to have a catch up. As I was talking, I saw him walking towards me, staring at me. He was smirking; he looked so happy and proud of himself. I stopped talking and he came right up to me. I stood up to punch the shit out of him but then Sadie introduced him as her “lovely boyfriend”. That pissed me off, I mean, what could I have said? She looked so happy.’

‘I get you. You care about your family and you didn’t wanna hurt her.’

‘Exactly, so instead, I just never spoke to him directly and even to this day I don’t ever really talk to him unless I have to. He has a glint in his eye; it’s disturbing. When I look into his eyes I can see the monster he really is.’

‘Has he done anything horrible to you since he’s been with your sister?’

‘No, but he likes to annoy me and prove me wrong all the time. He spends his whole time trying to make me angry.’

‘He’s a lowlife. I can teach him a little lesson if you like?’

‘No, don’t worry Enzo, I’ll get my revenge one day.’

‘Good, I hope you do.’

The room fell silent again.

‘I haven’t told anybody that so please don’t repeat it.’

‘I won’t Danni. I’ll see you in the morning, have a good sleep.’

‘You too, night Enzo,’ Danni said as she left the room.

Danni returned to her room, Carl was still awake, sitting in an armchair.

‘Have fun?’ Carl said.

‘Yep.’ Danni said as she walked to the bedroom.

‘I’m trying to make conversation here.’ Carl said and he stood up.

‘I know you are; night,’ Danni said as she opened the bedroom door.