The Mesmerized Read online

  Kissing the back of Jake’s hands, Minji longed for him to awaken. “We’ll have to go on foot, won’t we?”

  “Simone can stay here like we discussed.”

  “I don’t know if the other will let Bailey stay behind.”

  “We need to try. It’s been thirty hours since this started, Minji. We’re running out of time.”

  With a weary sigh, Minji acknowledged the truth of his statement by standing.

  In the fading sunlight, Simone’s eyes glittered when she opened them. “You’re going to try? Now?”

  “The mesmerized aren’t diminishing in numbers, they’re growing,” Alec answered.

  Simone sat up, smoothed her hair, and pushed out of her seat. “All right. I’ll stay here until you return. And you’d better return.” The tense lines around her full lips and hunched shoulders were clear indicators of her worries.

  With trembling fingers, Minji untied Ava’s leash and scooted the child along the aisle toward the front. “The keys are in the ignition, Simone.”

  “I’m not leaving until you come back,” Simone snapped.

  “If we don’t come back, you have to leave for Bailey’s sake. Please.”

  Simone met Minji’s imploring stare with a stony one, then exhaled explosively. “Fine! How long before I leave?”

  “Twenty-four hours,” Alec answered.

  “Okay. Twenty-four hours, but you’ll be back before then. Or I will be very unhappy with both of you.” Simone gave them a withering stare that actually elicited smiles from both of them. “I’m not joking.”

  “You’re good people, Simone.” Alec gave her a gentle hug which she immediately returned.

  She clung to Alec. “Please don’t leave me alone for long,” She said, her voice cracking.

  “We won’t.”

  The man’s answer made Minji bristle. She didn’t like him lying to Simone, even though Minji held onto the hope that they would be successful. If someone made a promise, Minji fully expected them to fulfill it. How could Alec promise something he couldn’t be sure of?

  The one vow she’d made to her family was that she would do her best to save them, and she would fulfill it. But there was one vow she had yet to make and it was the most important. As a mother the mere thought of Ava and Bailey lost in another world among completely alien creatures was unbearable. In spite of the destruction brought on the world, her heart broke for the two creatures torn apart.

  Crouching before Ava, Minji stared into the glassy gaze and projected as clearly as she could the compassion in her heart. “We’re going to try to save you. We’re going to where they have you trapped so we can send you home. Alec and I want to save you.”

  A blank look was her only response.

  Inspiration hit and Minji unzipped Ava’s Mulan backpack and withdrew several dolls. Holding up the Mulan doll, she said, “Mommy,” and pointed to herself. Picking up the Tiana doll, she started to speak, but Ava immediately pointed to Simone.

  “Did she just...?” Simone had retrieved Bailey from the child seat and stood over the mother and daughter observing the interaction.

  “She recognizes you as an individual. That’s good.” Alec sat across from Minji and Ava and leaned toward the little girl. “Which one is me?” He indicated himself with his thumb.

  Ava pointed at a male prince.

  “Damn.” Simone’s eyes widened.

  Excitement flooding her, Minji set the rest of the dolls on her lap. “Which one is Ava?”

  Ava’s eyes barely flicked to the dolls, but the finger pointed at Merida.

  Minji grouped the Merida and Mulan doll together. “You have a mommy like Ava has a mommy.” Waving to the remaining dolls, she asked “Which one is your mommy?” Which doll would the entity choose to represent its mother?

  The little digit wavered, then pointed out the window toward the stars.

  An icy chill flowed along Minji’s spine and she shook off her unease. Picking up the three dolls the entity had selected, Minji made a little pantomime of the dolls walking to the window. “We’re going to take you home. To your mommy.”

  Ava’s arm fell back to her side, but she stared at the three dolls, her head tilted.

  Minji picked up Tiana and the small Asian baby doll that Ava loved to carry around. “Simone is going to take care of Bailey here. Okay?”

  “I’ll take good care of the baby,” Simone added.

  Ava’s eyes moved between the dolls and Simone.

  “Amazing. I think it’s really starting to understand us,” Alec chuckled. “Unbelievable.”

  Minji started to return the dolls to the backpack, but Ava’s hands stopped her. The little girl clutched the baby doll and Tiana in her hands.

  “What does that mean?” Simone asked worriedly.

  Solemnly, Ava handed the dolls to Bailey. The baby snatched them up and immediately shoved the doll foot in her mouth.

  “I believe that means it understands,” Minji answered, zipping up the backpack.

  “Excellent,” Simone said, relieved.

  “Hopefully, our task will be much easier now. Good job, Minji.”

  While Minji took a moment to kiss Bailey goodbye, Alec heaved the diaper bag with water and protein bars over his shoulder. Minji had earlier emptied it of Bailey’s things then repacked it for their journey. Though it hurt to be apart from Bailey, Minji knew it was for the best. She didn’t dare take Bailey with them for fear of something dire happening. It was already dismaying to take Ava into a potentially dangerous situation.

  Simone patted Minji’s shoulder, but didn’t offer a hug. Maybe she’d detected Minji’s aversion. It wasn’t that Minji didn’t like embracing people; it was just that she needed to contain her emotions until things were resolved. She feared that if she allowed herself a moment of comfort, all the feelings she so carefully contained would come flooding out.

  “Thank you for taking care of Bailey, Simone.”

  “She’s a good baby. It’s no trouble. Besides, you two have a much bigger job to do. I’m just doing my small part.”

  “Wish us luck.”

  “I’m already praying.”

  After kissing Jake gently on the lips and whispering her love to him, Minji mentally switched her focus from her family to her mission with Alec. The two adults claimed the flashlights Alec had placed on the driver’s seat earlier when they’d been preparing for the possibility of finishing their journey on foot. When Alec opened the door, Minji lifted Ava onto her hip and carried her down the steps.

  The walk ahead was going to be long, but Minji was energized with the thought of bringing the event to a final end. Hope took hold as the burden of the last few days gradually diminished. The earlier violence of the mesmerized had frightened her, but she understood a mother’s need to protect her young. If the child entity understood that Alec and Minji meant no harm, then maybe it could relay that information to its mother.

  The beams from their flashlights illuminated the cracked asphalt and puffs of dirt shifting over the surface. Minji lowered Ava to the ground and firmly wrapped the leash around her own wrist a few times before taking Ava’s hand. Her hands were still sore from the beating she’d inflicted on Arthur, but her grip was strong and sure.

  The mesmerized continued along their set path. Fifty yards ahead of the trio, the crowd marched out of the desert and onto the road. There was no way around them. Alec and Minji had to venture into the crowd.

  “Try not to get pinned in,” Alec said in warning. “Keep away from the tighter clumps.”

  Up close, the mesmerized appeared more zombie-like than the day before. Filthy, injured, dehydrated, and wide-eyed, they eerily resembled the walking dead. The only sound from the throng was the slap of their feet against the pavement.

  Approaching the long line of mesmerized staggering onto the highway from the desert, Minji steadied her nerves. Even if they looked inhuman, the mesmerized were victims of the event. Yes, some had attacked the soldiers, but Minji hoped that
occurrence had been an anomaly.

  The three people were almost to the throng when the mesmerized among the fringes started to crane their necks in the direction of Minji, Ava, and Alec. The countless staring eyes glinted in the brilliance cast by the flashlights.

  “Hold up,” Alec ordered under his breath.

  Minji obeyed, squeezing Ava’s hand.

  “Just wait for a second.”

  The mesmerized trekked onward, but the ones among the edge of the crowd continued to rake their empty gazes over the trio before traveling on. None made a move toward them.

  “Okay, let’s try to enter the crowd.”

  Minji started forward again.

  As the man, woman, and child approached the perimeter of the multitude, more and more of the mesmerized appeared to take interest in their approach. Minji was about to halt their progress again when to her astonishment the mesmerized shuffled out of their way, forming a perfect path in their midst.

  “Okay,” Alec gulped. “I wasn’t expecting that.”

  “I think that’s the welcoming mat.” A smirk played along her lips.

  “Me, too.”

  Together, they walked on.

  Headlights caught the mesmerized in a blinding white glare and the sound of a car engine filled the night. Whipping about, Minji saw a large SUV pull up alongside the bus.

  “What the hell?” Alec shielded his eyes with his hand.

  The doors of the idling SUV opened.

  A whisper of unease flitted through her thoughts and Minji shot a panicked look at the shuttle bus. Simone wasn’t visible and Minji wondered if she was hiding. There was nowhere for Minji and Alec to conceal themselves unless they plunged into the mesmerized.

  “This doesn’t feel right,” she said to Alec.

  “I thought we might find you on the road,” an unfamiliar voice called out.

  “Who are you?” Alec shouted back.

  “Deputy Hatcher. I’ve been in route to the facility since yesterday. You’re Staff Sergeant Alec Markham, right? I was told about you, but never could reach your phone.”

  “The cell towers are down in a lot of areas. Las Vegas has gone dark.”

  “I noticed. I’m just glad I found you.”

  “Does that make sense?” Minji whispered to Alec. “That he’d be told about you?”

  “Yeah, the authorities would try to get us to work together,” Alec answered under his breath.

  “I was in Vegas earlier today and hoped to make contact with you since that was where you were sent. I ran into a friend of yours. Arthur Freestone.” The man behind the voice was backlit by the headlights, making it nearly impossible to discern the details of his appearance. “He told me some interesting things.”

  The deputy closed the gap and stood before them. Tall, beefy, ruddy-faced, and imposing, the man had a dangerous energy spilling off of him. Then she noticed the weapon in his hand.

  “That’s not needed,” Alec said with alarm.

  “After seeing what you did to Arthur’s face and what he told me, I’m not so sure.” Close cropped dark hair beneath his wide-brimmed hat and a handle bar mustache gave him an Old West appearance.

  “Put down your weapon. They’ll see you as a threat and hurt you,” Alec warned.

  “Like they did those poor soldiers down the way? Hernandez and Palmer were good people, but they met the same fate as everyone else trying to get into the facility.”

  “How do you know that?” Alec demanded.

  Deputy Hatcher was now so close Minji could smell the pungent combination of cigarette smoke and body odor wafting off him. “The unaffected have been communicating via the internet. I guess since you were in a blacked out area you missed all our plans to find you and get into the facility. All four teams have failed.”

  “How do you know they failed?” Minji asked.

  “They never came back online and the event is still in progress. It’s simple deduction, ma’am.”

  “Put the gun away,” Alec said in a terse tone.

  “I don’t think so. See, Arthur assured me we’d have nothing to be afraid of if we found you.” The deputy jerked his head toward the path through the mesmerized. “I can see that now for myself. We’ve got a secret weapon.”

  Minji and Alec both moved to protect Ava.

  Much to their surprise, Deputy Hatcher didn’t make a grab for the little girl. He lashed out and jerked Minji hard against his body and pushed the firearm into her side.

  Ava’s eyes widened.

  The mesmerized came to a standstill.

  Chapter 31

  “You understand, don’t you?” Deputy Hatcher said to Ava. “You try to hurt us, I hurt your mommy. I will pull the trigger. Understand?”

  Ava nodded.

  “Good.”

  Minji felt the hard nose of the service revolver pushing into her side. “This isn’t necessary.”

  “Yes, it is. Time is running out. We need you to get us there,” the deputy answered.

  “I’ll help you. Just let her go,” Alec said, stepping in front of Ava.

  “It’s not about you, Markham. It’s about the little girl. Arthur explained what he saw. That little girl is at the core of what is going on.”

  “She’s just one of the mesmerized.” Alec leaned forward on his cane. “Can’t you see that?”

  “She’s the one who’s doing it!” someone screeched. It was Arthur’s voice.

  “Shit.” Alec took a hard look at the mesmerized behind him. “Having Arthur with you is a bad idea. You’re going to bring the mesmerized down on you.”

  “The mesmerized? Is that what you call them?” The deputy seemed amused by this label. “And why would they come down on us if she’s not the one controlling them?”

  “She’s just a little girl,” Minji protested.

  “Arthur told me all about how that little girl controls these so-called mesmerized. Don’t lie to me.”

  “This isn’t right,” Alec said heatedly. “Holding a woman hostage? That’s not how things are done.”

  “A violent woman under the influence of an alien being is a menace,” the deputy shot back. “I saw what she did to Arthur’s face.”

  “He tried to strangle my daughter!”

  “He said he was trying to sedate her.”

  “The man’s lying to save face. He tried to kill a little girl,” Alec said in a low, tight voice.

  Ava whimpered.

  The mesmerized all took a simultaneous step toward the standoff.

  “I mean it, little girl!” the deputy snarled. “I will shoot her.”

  Minji wished that the other would attack again just so she could get the upper hand, but observing Ava, Minji saw that there was emotion in the doll-like eyes for the very first time. It was fear. Minji was both touched and exasperated by the entity’s attachment to her in that moment. If only it would lash out and put the Sheriff and Arthur under, but she could see by the terror in the child’s eyes that it wasn’t going to happen. Maybe the mother entity would make a move, but Minji wasn’t certain if it would either. It wanted its child back and would need humans to do it. With dread, Minji accepted their temporary defeat.

  “What do you want from us?” Minji tilted her head so she could see the man’s face.

  “You’re our ticket for safe passage. You’re coming with us. Alec, turn over the key cards. I know you have them. I checked the team on the road and they were gone. I couldn’t even get near The Venetian due to the fires. I assume you got the tablet?”

  “We couldn’t get close to The Venetian either,” Minji quickly lied. “Alec took the two cards off the soldiers.”

  Giving her a sharp look, Alec processed her words. “Minji, don’t tell him anymore!”

  “We were hoping that once we were inside we could find one of the tablets.”

  Alec sighed wearily. “Dammit, Minji.”

  “Is this true, Markham?”

  “I was told to look for one inside the facility if I couldn’t ge
t to The Venetian in time,” Alec explained and Minji wondered if it was a lie.

  “Search him,” the deputy ordered Arthur.

  Scampering into view, Arthur nervously observed Ava and the mesmerized.

  Maybe it was wrong, but the satisfaction that Minji experienced at the sight of Arthur’s battered face made her smile.

  “Are you sure it’s safe? He’s right next to that thing.” Arthur fidgeted from foot to foot, reminding Minji of a child who was afraid of getting in trouble.

  “If they try anything, I’ll shoot her.”

  Arthur nervously ran his hands over Alec’s body, checking the exterior pockets of his jacket, then his jeans. Minji was relieved when he didn’t notice the inside pocket of the jacket where Alec had tucked the small tablet.

  “Check the diaper bag, too, Arthur.”

  Arthur swiftly obeyed, casting anxious looks in the direction of the mesmerized. When he finished, he plucked a water bottle from the bag. “Nothing, Lenny.”

  “Well, that makes things a little more complicated, but we’ll figure it out.”

  “I’m going with you,” Alec declared.

  “No, you’re not. We’re taking the little girl and Mindy with—”

  “Minji.”

  “Minji with us. You’ve already proven you’re colluding with the enemy, Alec.”

  “Just what do you think we’re trying to do?” Alec demanded. “We’re trying to close the door and stop all of this.”

  “And kill the entity?” the deputy queried.

  Shaking his head, Alec said, “No. We weren’t. We figured out a way to get it home.”

  “I told you! They’re on its side!” Arthur’s shrill voice filled the night.

  The mesmerized bristled.

  “Arthur, I suggest you keep silent. You’re stirring them up,” Deputy Hatcher ordered.

  “We don’t need to hurt it,” Minji persisted. “We can send it home.”

  “How?”

  “Open the door and let it leave our world,” Alec answered, and for the first time, it sounded like he was passionate about this choice.

  “And what if more come through? Look at what just one has done?” Deputy Hatcher shook his head adamantly. “Enough of this. No more talking. We have a job to do. Hand over the cards, Markham. Give them to Minji.”