To Be A Killer

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.