The Mesmerized Read online

  “We heard them, but didn’t let them out yesterday,” Minji guiltily admitted.

  “You couldn’t have anyway. You need one of these.” Alec pressed on the door near the handle and a small panel popped open. He slipped Dr. McCoy’s card into the slot, then slid open the side door.

  Two men stumbled out, faces covered in dried blood. Their noses, lips and chins were a mess from the battering they had endured when trying to escape. They were dressed in hazmat suits, too, but their hoods were flipped back and the clear facemasks glinted in the dim sunlight. Immediately, they surged toward Minji, mouths twisting in that scarily familiar way. The older black man with white hair cocked his head to stare at Minji while the shorter white man struggled to see her through his blood soaked bangs.

  Feeling dizzy and a little sick, Minji stepped away from the men, putting a space between them. “Alec, you need to hurry.”

  “I just need a second card to get you in, too. The doors only open for one person at a time.”

  “Yeah, I remember.” The men stumbled after Minji, their mouths twisting and flexing in strange ways. “Alec, seriously, we need to wrap this up.”

  “Moooooo...” the men chorused.

  The vacant eyes tracked her every movement. With every step she took, they followed in her wake. Minji found herself uneasily circling the vehicles, trying to keep distance between her and the two men.

  “I’m still looking,” Alec replied, hurrying to the next black van.

  One of the mesmerized men, the taller one, reached for Minji. “Mooooo...”

  “Alec, find one now!”

  Minji tripped over a body and fell against an ambulance door. It banged shut and sent her careening off balance. She landed on her hip with a thud and rolled onto her backside. The two battered men bent over her, hands seeking to grip her body. She was afraid of the mesmerized not because of their terrible countenance, but the thing staring out from their eyes. She knew it was watching her. She knew it wanted her.

  “Alec!”

  Crab-walking backwards on her hands and feet, Minji eluded the grasping hands of the mesmerized men. She thumped into something hard, yet fleshy, and cried out in fright. A mesmerized woman, dressed just like the men, seized her shoulders. Alec must have freed her from the other vehicle.

  “Moooooo...”

  Going limp, Minji slumped to the ground, the woman’s clutching digits losing traction on the leather jacket. Minji scooted away from the three transfixed people before clambering to her feet.

  “Alec!”

  Stepping out from the shadow of the van, Alec raised another card. “I got it.”

  “We need to go,” Minji said stalking toward him.

  “They’re harmless,” he said, giving her a bewildered look.

  “Are they?” Minji speedily climbed onto the bike and started it up.

  Giving the mesmerized trio staggering after Minji a thoughtful look, Alec joined her on the bike. “I’ve never seen them so agitated.”

  “You’ve never seen it this agitated,” Minji corrected.

  He leaned into her back, his arm tensed around her waist, and the bike lurched forward with a loud roar, leaving a streak of rubber on the asphalt.

  “Mooooooooooommmmmmmmyyyyyyyy!” the three mesmerized cried out.

  “Did they just say—?” Alec exclaimed.

  “Yes! And now it knows where we are and what we were doing!” Minji shouted into the wind.

  “Shit!”

  “We need to get back right away!”

  Minji gunned the bike into a higher gear and tore down the boulevard toward the medical center. The creature within Ava now knew what she was doing and Minji was terrified about what it might do to her children and the others.

  Chapter 27

  There were several piles of crashed vehicles, rubble, and bodies that slowed the journey back to the medical center, but Minji expertly swerved around the obstacles. Fear, thick and choking, filled her to the point of panic. What if the entity perceived their plan? What would it do? Of course, maybe it wouldn’t understand why they’d returned to The Venetian. Maybe it wouldn’t connect the black vans to the scientists at the first facility that had inadvertently trapped it. However, she couldn’t ignore the dread consuming her.

  “The shuttle is right over there!” Alec shouted.

  Minji glanced at the area he indicated. Sure enough, there was an abandoned shuttle bus near a parking garage.

  “We should get it now,” Alec continued.

  Tempted to ignore him, Minji almost didn’t slow the motorcycle until she realized how close they were to the medical center. Reluctantly, she dropped the bike’s speed.

  The smoke parted to reveal a small figure marching down the boulevard, and for just an instant, a patch of sunlight illuminated red curls. Jerking the bike to one side, Minji fought to control the sliding vehicle. The thick ash coating the street made it difficult for the wheels to grip the asphalt and for a paralyzing second Minji was convinced they were going to spin out. Fortunately, the bike found traction and she managed to get it back under her control before narrowly missing a jumble of taxis. Braking hard, she flipped the kickstand down and slid off the motorcycle. The thick air made her lungs ache as her feet pounded against the pavement. The ash collected on her eyelashes and coated her clothing. Following the rut the bike had left through the ash, she sprinted toward the spot on the boulevard where she’d seen Ava. The wall around her emotions had deep cracks in it now and she struggled to contain the overwhelming fear and despair threatening to burst through and drown her.

  Ava stepped out from behind a metro bus, Bailey in her arms. Both girls were gray from the soot and the baby was wailing. Stuttering to a halt, Minji instantly fell to one knee so she could meet the eyes of her child and the entity within her. Unable to gather her thoughts into any sort of coherency, the young mother watched in fearful anticipation while the creature within her daughter regarded her.

  “I was coming back,” Minji said, more to the entity than Ava.

  “Baaabbbyyy.” Ava’s doll-like eyes rolled in their sockets to regard Bailey.

  “Yes. Bailey is a baby,” Minji replied, uncertainty gripping her. What should she say?

  “Baaabbbyyy.” The creature within Ava returned its gaze to Minji. “Mooommmyyy.”

  “Yes, I’m a mommy. I’m Bailey’s mommy. I’m...Ava’s mommy.”

  “Baabbbyyy, mooommmyy.”

  Staring into the seemingly blank eyes, Minji struggled to understand what the creature wanted from her. “Mommies take care of babies.”

  Blubbering, Bailey held out a hand to Minji, clearly wanting to go to her mother. Minji gradually raised her hands, but didn’t lunge to grab Bailey, which was incredibly difficult to do.

  “Baaby,” Ava said in a much clearer voice, though her mouth still moved in an exaggerated motion.

  “Yes. Bailey is a baby. I’m a mommy. Babies should be with their mommy.” Minji pointed to Bailey then herself, then held her arms open.

  Taking a short step toward Minji, the other within Ava tilted the little girl’s head. Ava’s curls bounced against a cheek smeared with gray smut. With surprising care, Ava handed Bailey to Minji.

  “Baaby. Moommy.”

  Minji rapidly dragged her mask off her face and slid it over Bailey’s. Instantly, her mouth and throat were coated by the gray air. Bailey tried to tug off the mask, but Minji wouldn’t let her.

  “Here,” Alec said, startling her. Apparently, he had been lingering nearby watching. Taking off his mask, he handed it to Minji. “For Ava.”

  Cradling Bailey against her side with one arm, Minji dragged the mask over Ava’s head and carefully adjusted it over her mouth. The creature’s eyes flicked toward Alec, then returned to Minji’s face.

  “Baaby,” the thing in Ava said again.

  Holding out her hand, Minji nervously waited for the creature to respond.

  Ava’s tiny fingers awkwardly clung to Minji’s thumb. “Baaby.”<
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  “Mommy,” Minji corrected.

  “Get them into the shuttle bus,” Alec urged.

  Nervously, Minji led the possessed little girl to the vehicle abandoned in the entrance of the parking lot, and to her relief, the creature inside Ava did not resist. Alec followed, the click of his cane against the asphalt a reassuring sound.

  “What do you think she did to Simone and the others?” Minji asked in an amazingly even tone despite her terror.

  “I’m not sure. I don’t think she can kill them,” Alec answered in an even voice. “She came looking for you. I’m hoping that’s a good sign.”

  “It’s not Ava.” The words hurt to say and tears washed away the ash from her lashes.

  “No, but what’s inside her is attached to you. Maybe because it’s in Ava.”

  Taking the few steps into the shuttle bus, Minji gently tugged Ava after her. The little girl followed without protest. When Minji guided her to sit down, Ava complied. Minji was surprised when Ava tugged on her hand, pulling her down into the seat next to her.

  “Moommy,” Ava said.

  “Yes, I’m a mommy,” Minji answered cautiously, snuggling Bailey tenderly in her arms.

  Ava glanced at the baby, then turned her attention forward.

  Alec shut the doors and focused on starting the vehicle. The engine sparked to life and the whisper of the air conditioner was a welcome sound. Hopefully it could filter the air. Alec left the garage and followed nearly the exact same path they’d taken from The Venetian, but had to detour a few times when he couldn’t squeeze through an area.

  Stomach in knots, Minji struggled against the rising tide of despair. To reach the first facility, she’d have to travel a route heavily populated with the mesmerized. The entity would be aware of her progress, but would it comprehend the purpose of their journey? How much could it even understand?

  A quick look at Ava revealed that the other was once again regarding Minji. The knife of paranoia was already slicing her to bits, but Minji was fairly certain she wasn’t wrong in her assessment that the entity was somehow attached to her.

  “We’re here. I should go in first,” Alec called out as the shuttle came to a stop. “Just in case...”

  “There’s no point. Bailey was there when everything went down and I’ve seen so much already,” Minji answered.

  The lines in Alec’s face were even deeper than before. It was as if he was aging before her eyes. Scrubbing his hands over his grungy hair, he exhaled with frustration. “My natural inclination is to spare you as much of this as possible.”

  “I’m in it, Alec. Ground zero of the apocalypse. And I seem to have a role to play in it, right?”

  With a weary sigh, Alec acknowledged this truth with a simple nod. “Let’s go.”

  The lights within the medical center were dim when they entered. Jesse had warned that the emergency generator may not last for more than a day. The facility was fairly new and he hadn’t been sure how long the generator would chug along. He wasn’t even sure where it was located.

  The lobby was eerily quiet, but Minji heard voices emanating from deeper within the building.

  “We’re back!” Alec called out, stifling a cough.

  There were footsteps then Simone appeared, flushed and clearly upset. “I’m so sorry, Minji, the girls—” Catching sight of the two little ones with Minji, Simone gasped. “Oh, thank God! They’re with you!”

  “What happened?” Alec asked.

  “Another one of those attacks,” Simone answered, then was rudely shoved out of the way by Arthur.

  “It was her!” Arthur pointed at Ava while cowering behind Simone. “She did it!”

  “What do you mean?” Alec asked.

  “Arthur,” Simone said, shooting an angry look at him, “attempted to sedate Ava.”

  “Something is wrong with her. She doesn’t act like the others,” Arthur said warily. “Something is in her eyes, watching us. Can’t you see it?”

  “Yes,” Simone said cautiously, “but the rest of us tread with much more care.”

  “So you attempted to sedate her? Jesse helped you?” Alec seemed incredulous.

  “No, he took the syringe Jesse had in his pocket and lunged at Ava.” Simone sounded weary, but also angry. “Jesse tried to stop him and then...well, we woke up just a few minutes ago and the girls were gone.”

  “She did it! The attacks are coming from her. That’s why you’re immune. Your child is a demon!” Arthur’s face turned fiery red as he hurtled the words at Minji. “She’s a devil!”

  “Arthur, if you have a lick of sense in your muddled brain, you’ll shut the hell up,” Alec said in a very tight, though even-tempered voice.

  “We have to deal with her,” Arthur insisted.

  “Arthur, shut up,” Minji ordered, brushing past him.

  Ava completely ignored him, following Minji.

  “Minji, I’m so sorry about the girls,” Simone said falling into step beside her. “I was going to go look for them as soon as I roused Jesse, but he’s still under.”

  “He’s not awake yet?” The sick dread growing in Minji’s gut was now boiling.

  Simone shook her head. “No, he’s not. Minji, I don’t think he’s going to wake up this time.”

  From within the break room came a steady thumping noise. Crossing the threshold, Minji inhaled sharply. The room was in shambles. The table was shoved to one side and most of the chairs were toppled. The chaos had probably happened when Arthur had lunged for Ava. Jesse was on the far side of the room bouncing off the wall over and over again. From one wrist dangled Ava’s leash.

  “I was trying to secure him when you came back,” Simone explained.

  Heart sinking, Minji tried not to be selfish and think only of Jake. Without Jesse, she didn’t know how to care for her husband.

  “I better stop him,” Simone said before hurrying to Jesse’s side.

  The other woman dragged the nurse practitioner away from the wall. His mouth was bruised, but he hadn’t busted his nose though it was swollen and red. Alec skirted around Minji and helped Simone secure Jesse to one of the hooks used by the employees for their coats, purses and umbrellas. Jesse strained at the end of the leash, but it held.

  Sinking into a chair, Minji set Bailey on her lap. Movement near the door caught her eye and she pulled Ava close to her, casting a nervous look in Arthur’s direction when he entered the room. The man glared at her while keeping his distance.

  “We need to go,” Alec said firmly.

  “Not with her.” Arthur thrust a finger in Ava’s direction. “She’s behind this. It’s all her.”

  “It’s not Ava,” Minji protested.

  “Oh, really?” The sarcasm was thick and Arthur’s distrustful expression was a nasty match.

  “We don’t need to talk about this now. We have to go. Arthur, help me with Minji’s husband.” Alec’s voice was pure authority. He hobbled out the door obviously expecting Arthur to follow. Grumbling, Arthur started in the direction of the doorway.

  “I’ll take the baby off your hands,” Simone offered.

  Minji gratefully held out Bailey to Simone. Though every part of her body was aching, her arms were terribly sore from the day before. Simone’s hands were just closing around Bailey’s waist when Arthur grabbed Ava. Minji thrust Bailey into Simone’s arms and swung about just in time to see Arthur slam Ava into the wall, scrabbling for her throat.

  “You’re doing this! You’re killing us! You killed my family!” he howled, his fingers wrapping around the child’s slim neck. “I’m going to stop you!”

  Cupping her hands into fists, Minji aimed for Arthur’s jaw and jabbed hard. Shocked by the attack, he staggered to one side, breaking his hold on Ava. Minji immediately swung again, pivoting her upper body as she delivered a powerful cross to the side of his face. Years of kickboxing had created perfect muscle memory and she instantly fell into a fighting stance. It was years of dealing with the occasional jerk while bartending i
n her early twenties that had taught her to fight to win and to win fast. She pummeled Arthur, unrelenting in her assault. Jabbing with her left hand and crossing with her right, she kept the blows flowing, trying to keep Arthur unbalanced from the continual attack. He was bigger, heavier, and male, and she couldn’t let him use that to his advantage. Delivering several side kicks, Minji fought to keep her anger in check.

  Simone screamed for Alec.

  Arthur surprised her by dodging out of one of her kicks and lunging for her. She managed to get an uppercut to the bottom of his jaw before he could get his hands around her throat. The rage-fueled man grabbed at her arms, but she kept hitting him, keeping her elbows up to protect her face and neck. She was aware of Alec entering the room and shouting, but she didn’t pay him any heed. Hitting a person with the intent to disable was very different from hitting a punching bag or sparring. Ignoring pain and the shocks to her own body, Minji fought Arthur into a corner, ignoring his untrained attacks to her upper body. Finally, she saw her opening and pivoted on one foot, delivering a brutal roundhouse kick to the man’s temple. Arthur hit the wall, slumped, and didn’t move.

  Lightly bouncing on the balls of her feet, Minji kept her fists up near her face, waiting.

  “You got him down, Minji,” Alec said, edging around her. “Back off.”

  “He was trying to kill Ava,” Minji snapped.

  Alec cast a questioning look at Simone.

  “He grabbed Ava and tried to strangle her,” Simone said.

  “She’s the devil,” Arthur spat out, along with blood and a piece of a tooth. “She’s doing this. She’s evil! We have to kill her!”

  Minji spotted a syringe lying among the chairs. It was most likely the one Arthur had tried to sedate Ava with. Snatching it up, she charged Arthur, knocking Alec to one side. Arthur wailed when he saw what she was about to do and lifted his arm in defense. Minji plunged the needle into his forearm and shoved the plunger downward.

  “No one hurts my kids,” she hissed as Arthur gaped up at her. “No one!”