Code

CHAPTER 47

“WE HAVE TO get out of here!”

My hands shook. My heart banged my ribs. I saw nothing but the small round hole that might soon spew my death.

Hi’s cheeks flushed as dark as his purple tuxedo. “Is that what I think it is?”

“We didn’t cheat!” Shelton verged on tears. “We beat The Game without help!”

Ben charged into the passage and shoulder-slammed the grate.

Chance hopped backward in surprise. “What are you doing, man?”

“Get us out!” Ben bellowed.

“It won’t budge.” Chance sounded exhausted. “These clamps must be made of freaking Kevlar. I can’t hammer them off.”

“Find a way!” Ben shouted. “We’re about to die in here, Claybourne!”

The banging resumed, more frenzied than before.

Inside the device, one deadly canister spun. As I watched, it slotted forward into a narrow chute. On-screen, the Gamemaster’s final message winked out.

The second Plexiglas cover abruptly slid sideways.

A metal handle emerged to fill the empty space.

“What the frick?” Jason said.

I stared at the strange mechanism. It looked like the grip of a shovel. Arrows on its surface pointed both clockwise and counterclockwise.

“It must turn,” I said, vaguely aware that Ben had rejoined us.

“Like a valve?” Hi said. “But what does it do?”

I was considering that very question when my ears detected a low hiss.

“Move away!” I screamed.

Everyone backpedaled but me. We were out of options.

Gripping the handle, I turned it as far clockwise as it would go.

“You did it!” Jason kicked the base of the device. “The hole closed!”

“But look at the pipes!” Shelton pointed to the tubes exiting the Gamemaster’s box. Dark green vapor was misting into them and trickling upward toward the air ducts.

The sickening truth crashed home.

We faced a devil’s choice.

“The gas is releasing.” My voice was flat. “But we choose where it goes.”

“Choose how?” Shelton asked in hushed voice.

“The handle. Turn it right and the gas will flow into the tubes, hit the AC, and dump into the ballroom. Turn it left, and it will release in here.”

Shelton’s eyes bugged. “In here?”

“The Gamemaster wants his kill one way or another.” Hi understood the ghastly decision we faced. “But now it’s our call who dies.”

Ben’s fists clenched in helpless rage. “I’ll kill him.”

“So it’s really us or them?” Shelton was close to panic. “We have to pick?!”

Jason’s eyes met my mine. “We can’t gas all those people. We just can’t.”

I nodded. “Not a chance.”

We still have a card left to play.

The Gamemaster thought he’d covered every angle. Painted us into a corner. Planned for every possibility.

But he didn’t know what I could do.

What the Virals could do.

This time I didn’t hesitate. Using all my strength I heaved left and spun the handle counterclockwise.

Inside the tubes, the green vapor thinned, then vanished entirely. The hole at the base of the box snapped open.

“Back!” Hi dragged a paralyzed Shelton toward the door. “Come on, Tory! Ben!”

I froze. Watched in horror as a thick stream of green fog flowed from the opening and began pooling on the floor. Heavier than air, the sickly cloud swirled into a low corner before creeping back toward the door.

We had minutes. At most.

Move!

“Into the passageway!” I barked.

The boys needed no urging. I raced through the door behind them and slammed it shut, closing off the ventilation room.

“I need a jacket!” I ordered.

Hi ripped off his velvet monstrosity and shoved it into the crack. The makeshift wedge wouldn’t stop the poison, but it might buy us precious seconds.

I pressed close to the grate. “Chance, we’re out of time. Can you free us?”

Chance was dripping sweat, his suit a dirty mess. Blood dripped from his fingers as he swung a rusty crowbar.

Clang!

He glanced at me with pain-filled eyes. “I’m sorry. The clamps won’t budge. I don’t know what else to try.”

“Look around! Maybe there’s a key.”

“There isn’t. I checked.”

“Search the stairwell. It could be hidden there. Hurry!”

Chance nodded, then stumbled out of sight.

One down.

A noxious odor began fouling the air. Hi and Shelton started coughing.

I saw Ben watching me. He understood my plan, and, judging by his sideways glance, the remainder of the problem.

“Hiram, kill the lights,” Ben said.

“What?” Hi was hacking and spitting. “Why would—”

Ben flicked his eyes to Jason.

Hi started. “But how … he’ll still notice …”

The ghost of a smile appeared on Ben’s lips. “Have faith.”

Hi nodded, then whispered in Shelton’s ear.

“Yes!” Shelton practically dove for the switch.

“What the hell?” Jason spun to yell at Shelton. “We need the light! We have to call for—”

Whack!

Ben’s elbow connected with Jason’s temple.

I caught Jason as he dropped.

“That was your plan?” Hi screeched. “Knock him unconscious?”

“It worked,” said Ben.

“Little help!” I grunted.

The boys grabbed Jason and lowered him to the floor.

There were no more prying eyes.

Throat burning. Eyes stinging. Light-headed. Black patches floating across my vision. I peered as far as I could into the electrical room. Chance was nowhere in sight.

“Ready?”

“Ready.” Three voices as one.

I gripped the bottom of the barrier with both hands.

Hi stepped to my right. Ben and Shelton lined up on my left.

My lids slid shut.

SNAP.

The flare burned like a thousand suns, electrifying my senses.

My nose magnified the caustic stench, nearly overwhelming me. My eyeballs cut through the gloom. My ears amplified the hiss of poison gas leaking around Hi’s jacket.

Ignoring the sensory bombardment, I sought something else.

Reached deep within. Tapped the power of the wolf.

The pack followed where I led. Glowing cords scorched across our minds, smoldering with superhuman force.

I fired a single command into their minds.

NOW.

As one, we strained. The gate refused to yield.

Muscles cording, I poured everything into the effort. Could feel the boys doing the same. The barrier quivered, but remained locked in place.

The noxious reek grew stronger, causing me to gag. I felt despair infest the other Virals’ minds. Linked as we were, their stray thoughts struck me like shards of glass.

… going to fail …

… don’t want to die in here …

We can’t …

We lost …

… all my fault …

NO!

Pushing my own terror aside, I embraced what lurked beneath.

Boiling. Snarling. Storming. All consuming.

Rage.

I would not let the Gamemaster kill us.

This would not be the end.

Neurons fired. Scalding heat infused my extremities.

I forced the energy outward, down the fiery links connecting my pack.

The boys screamed.

It took several seconds to realize that I was screaming, too.

Naked power surged into my chest. My muscles. My whole being.

Far too much. I had to free it. Had to drive the energy away.

AGAIN.

We pulled as one.

The grate shuddered. Rose an inch. Stuck fast.

No! I WILL NOT LOSE!

I focused. Pushed more and more energy down the flaming cords.

Something popped. My arms ripped upward.

I heard the screech of twisting metal.

My eyes opened. I stared in shock.

The bottom third of the grate was bent inward, its steel bars twisted like overstretched Play-Doh. The track had ripped free of the wall.

“Go! Go! Go!” I shouted.

Shelton and Hi crawled under the grate, then reached back and grabbed Jason’s arms. With Ben and me pushing, we forced his unconscious body beneath the barrier. Then Ben and I scrambled to freedom.

Lurching to our feet, we dragged Jason across the electrical room. Once safely beyond the toxic odor, we collapsed, gasping for breath.

I looked up as Chance emerged from the direction of the stairwell. He stiffened, staring at the mangled grate, naked shock on his face.

I shut my eyes and sent a message to the other Virals: Snuff your flares!

SNUP.

The connection broke. Strength drained from my limbs.

“I’ll sound the alarm.” Chance turned to run.

“No.”

All eyes whipped to me.

I coughed and spat, trying to clear my throat. “The Consequences, remember? We can’t tell anyone.”

“What consequences?” Chance demanded. “What are you talking about?”

“The bastard who did this threatened to hurt our families if we talk.” My voice was a dull rasp. “Ever. I don’t think he was bluffing.”

“But we have to warn people!” Shelton aimed a finger toward the ventilation room. “The gas could escape the basement.”

I shook my head. “Bromomethane is heavier than air. It won’t rise.”

“You all need medical treatment.” Chance knelt beside his former lacrosse teammate. “Jason’s unconscious, for God’s sake! The poison might be killing him.”

“That wasn’t the gas.” Ben avoided Chance’s eye. “He … tripped. Hard.”

“Help me up.” I was still woozy from the loss of my flare. “I have a plan.”

Chance gave me an odd look, but extended a hand.

I stumbled toward the stairs. “Follow.”

The boys trailed me up the steps, Chance and Ben lugging Jason’s dead weight. On the landing beside the lobby door, I spotted my target. Without hesitating, I pulled the fire alarm.

Sirens screamed. Blue lights flickered inside the emergency stairwell.

“This will get them outside,” I shouted. “A fire scare should give us some cover for how we look. But no one says a word about what happened down there.”

“That’s crazy!” Shelton wailed. “We should call the police right now!”

“We’re gonna catch the psycho who did this.” The words gave me strength. “The Gamemaster is still loose. Probably thinks we’re dead. I bet he’s celebrating his victory right now. Let’s show him he chose the wrong pawns for his amusement.”

That said, I bent over and vomited on the concrete.

Out in the lobby, feet began pounding down the grand staircase. The foyer soon filled with nervous guests hurrying for the front door.

I tried to smooth my rumpled gown. Gave up. I was reasonably sure we’d have to pay for it. Whitney was going to flip out. The thought made me feel a little better.

The boys looked equally bad. Lost jackets. Ripped pants. Stained cuffs. Everything drenched in panic-sweat. I hoped it was dark outside.

“Now.” Clasping my hands in front of me. “Let’s close this nightmare, shall we? Don’t forget—I have gifts for all my escorts.”

Hi and Shelton chortled. Ben snorted as he helped Jason to his feet.

“Wha?” Jason asked groggily.

“Take it easy, tiger.” Ben patted Jason’s back. “You ran into a pole.”

Chance never smiled. Never took his eyes off me.

I remembered his expression upon seeing the twisted metal. The shattered grate he’d pounded with a crowbar without success.

Later.

Hi cracked the door. “Ladies first.”

“Why, thank you, sir.”

For the hell of it, I dropped into another formal curtsy.

The boys snickered. Then, straightening their soiled garments as best they could, they gave me a polite round of applause.

“Off we go then.” I winked. “There’s still cake and dancing on the program.”

Joining the stream of anxious partygoers, we slipped out into the night.