until darkness falls. Then the other packs will come. Ammo’s in the drawer. Don’t waste it.” Luka shrugged into a pair of fatigues and a T-shirt, strapping guns to his thighs and snapping a utility belt around his waist. “There’s a sat-phone as well. There’s only one number. Call it.”
Marijka launched into action, dug similar clothes from her pack, as well as body armor that covered her forearms, shins and throat. The places most likely to be bitten. She dressed quickly and snapped her gear into place.
“What about the other people on the train?”
“We’re going to help them. We’ll fit as many women and children into my car. As you can see, it’s safer. I’m going to see if I can get the conductor to stop the train. If we’re not in motion, the likelihood of injuries—and blood to incite the beasts—drops exponentially.”
Marijka wondered if this was the choice and she’d made the wrong one. Luka said he loved her and she didn’t even acknowledge it. What if he died and she never told him how she felt?
Hell, she didn’t even know how she felt. It was too soon.
Why is it too soon? Because humans feel that way. We are not human! A voice that was hers, but was not, snarled in her head.
She thought it was Luka, but he was already gone.
He wasn’t going to die.
He was strong.
He was fierce.
He was a warrior older and stronger than anything in this world or the next.
Marijka had to get her head in the game. All of these feelings were all well and good, but they couldn’t distract her from the endgame. She had to help Luka stop the infection. She had to do her job. She could feel later.
She grabbed the guns and checked to make sure they were loaded before shoving ammo in her pockets. She had three containers of silver nitrate pepper spray, and an array of silver knives. Marijka knew she’d have to get in close for the knives, but those were more of a last resort.
Marijka found the phone and dialed.
“You can’t be in Ostrava,” a voice drawled.
“No, and we’re not going to make it today. The infected are trying to derail the train. Luka says they’ll succeed.”
“Who is this?”
“Guild Officer Marijka Zolinski. Badge number 45602. Send firepower and enough air support to lift a train car.” She hung up and shoved the phone into one of her pants pockets. They would make sure these people were safe.
If it killed her.
As the train shuddered to a stop, she flung the door open and terrified people herded themselves into the space. A faint glow of power from a woman in the back settled around her like a warm blanket. Another Gypsy.
“You.” Marijka nodded and the woman shuffled forward, eyes wary. “Zoranna’s blessing on you.”
She smiled and warmed, taking Marijka’s hand. “And also on you.”
“Can you tell me where the rest of the passengers are? We have room for a few more.”
“This is everyone.”
Dread struck home. “Why are you on the train?”
“We were hired for day work. Good money and they offered childcare and transportation.”
It was a setup. There was no other answer. A train with only a few women and children. This was a training exercise or an experiment. Maybe both.
“When were you hired?”
“Yesterday,” one of the other women called out.
“Stay in here. Do not open the door for anyone. No matter what you hear or what you see. There’s been a biohazard contamination and the infected are highly contagious.”
“They look like zombie werewolves,” a little girl said. “But they’re not because they’re not real.”
Marijka didn’t have the heart to tell her all the things she feared in the dark were real. “They’re just sick. But that doesn’t mean they won’t hurt you. If someone shows signs of infection, you need to put as much distance between you as possible. Help is on the way.” She smiled. “Lock the door behind me.”
She was surprised whatever gods were listening hadn’t struck her dead for such a lie.
Marijka launched into action, dug similar clothes from her pack, as well as body armor that covered her forearms, shins and throat. The places most likely to be bitten. She dressed quickly and snapped her gear into place.
“What about the other people on the train?”
“We’re going to help them. We’ll fit as many women and children into my car. As you can see, it’s safer. I’m going to see if I can get the conductor to stop the train. If we’re not in motion, the likelihood of injuries—and blood to incite the beasts—drops exponentially.”
Marijka wondered if this was the choice and she’d made the wrong one. Luka said he loved her and she didn’t even acknowledge it. What if he died and she never told him how she felt?
Hell, she didn’t even know how she felt. It was too soon.
Why is it too soon? Because humans feel that way. We are not human! A voice that was hers, but was not, snarled in her head.
She thought it was Luka, but he was already gone.
He wasn’t going to die.
He was strong.
He was fierce.
He was a warrior older and stronger than anything in this world or the next.
Marijka had to get her head in the game. All of these feelings were all well and good, but they couldn’t distract her from the endgame. She had to help Luka stop the infection. She had to do her job. She could feel later.
She grabbed the guns and checked to make sure they were loaded before shoving ammo in her pockets. She had three containers of silver nitrate pepper spray, and an array of silver knives. Marijka knew she’d have to get in close for the knives, but those were more of a last resort.
Marijka found the phone and dialed.
“You can’t be in Ostrava,” a voice drawled.
“No, and we’re not going to make it today. The infected are trying to derail the train. Luka says they’ll succeed.”
“Who is this?”
“Guild Officer Marijka Zolinski. Badge number 45602. Send firepower and enough air support to lift a train car.” She hung up and shoved the phone into one of her pants pockets. They would make sure these people were safe.
If it killed her.
As the train shuddered to a stop, she flung the door open and terrified people herded themselves into the space. A faint glow of power from a woman in the back settled around her like a warm blanket. Another Gypsy.
“You.” Marijka nodded and the woman shuffled forward, eyes wary. “Zoranna’s blessing on you.”
She smiled and warmed, taking Marijka’s hand. “And also on you.”
“Can you tell me where the rest of the passengers are? We have room for a few more.”
“This is everyone.”
Dread struck home. “Why are you on the train?”
“We were hired for day work. Good money and they offered childcare and transportation.”
It was a setup. There was no other answer. A train with only a few women and children. This was a training exercise or an experiment. Maybe both.
“When were you hired?”
“Yesterday,” one of the other women called out.
“Stay in here. Do not open the door for anyone. No matter what you hear or what you see. There’s been a biohazard contamination and the infected are highly contagious.”
“They look like zombie werewolves,” a little girl said. “But they’re not because they’re not real.”
Marijka didn’t have the heart to tell her all the things she feared in the dark were real. “They’re just sick. But that doesn’t mean they won’t hurt you. If someone shows signs of infection, you need to put as much distance between you as possible. Help is on the way.” She smiled. “Lock the door behind me.”
She was surprised whatever gods were listening hadn’t struck her dead for such a lie.
Similar Books
