In The Company Of Monsters

Five Needles

The warehouse grew darker as night fell outside. Overhead, sodium lights blazed pools of light across the stacked cargo, but the walls and windows were left in shadow.

Mitch strode in, a sense of newfound optimism and purpose driving him. He saw Victor talking to Blair, and called to them.

“The cure will be here soon,” he said, pointing to the front door. “We should-“

Victor’s hand was locked around Blair’s arm, his fingers digging in. Mitch saw the pain on her face. Time to deal with this.

Mitch changed course, and headed straight for Victor. Maybe if he got in the first punch, and made it a good one, he could put the little punk down without things getting ugly.

Mitch flexed his right fist as he closed the distance. God, the hit would feel so good. His grin tightened as he got close. 

Victor was leaning into Blair, whispering something angry and demanding. Blair’s stony face was defiant, but she was listening.

Mitch felt his right leg buckle under him then, and his pace slowed as he fought to stay on his feet. 

“Whoa...” he muttered. He reached out to a nearby table, and held on to stabilize himself.

The comment caught Blair’s attention and she turned to see Mitch struggling. She twisted her arm and broke Victor’s grip, then stepped toward Mitch.

“What is it?” she asked.

Mitch was still on his feet, but looked concerned about staying that way.

“Nothin'. Just need to sit down a second.”

Victor watched, far more annoyed at Blair’s impertinence than Mitch’s health.

“Blair!” Victor yelled.

Mitch worked his way to a chair, and fell into it. He stared down at his leg, wondering why it failed to behave. 

Blair crossed to Mitch, looking at him intently. He glanced up, surprised to see a note of real concern in her face. They both remembered Frank’s mention of muscle control loss. Mitch pushed that knowledge away.

“Happens at my age,” he lied. “Git.”

“Blair!!” repeated Victor. His voice carried a threatening undertone.

She hesitated, watching Mitch for any new issue. Then she gave him a quick smile and returned to Victor.

* * *

Lily let Jack set her down on her desk. He grabbed the radio, and called for more info.

“Frank? Got good news for us?” he asked, not taking his eyes off Lily.

The SWAT leader’s voice answered back. “Five shots, Jack. Best they could do given the timeline. The CDC is here, and they're getting set up. We're leaving the package at your front door in a minute.”

Jack grinned widely and Lily was nodding her head. “We’re going to be ok,” she said to both of them.

Jack winked at her, forgetting she couldn’t see it. He thumbed the radio. “Frank, that's amazing news.” 

“What'd I say, man? Mojitos!”

“It's a date. We'll be ready in here.”

“Just be damn careful with this stuff. It'd take another day to get more, and you don't have that time. Understand? It's this or nothing.”

Jack nodded slowly. “Understood. And thank you.”

* * *

Victor peered out the grimy warehouse window. Bright white lights had been set up on tall stands. Red and blue cop lights. 30 yards back, a small crowd waited behind police tape. Cure or not, this was bad. No way was he getting past all that. His brain spun with ideas, plans, anything to escape prison.