The Eden Projects (Book I)

Chapter 32. Maleficarum

Fogs wings beat at longer intervals, he was so much larger. "It was cold, if that's what you intended."

Ace watched the swaths of green woods and golden fields pass underneath, the mottled cars like flecks of gemstones pocking the surface. Then he looked to the horizon, nothing could ever beat the freedom of flying. "Then I said enough. Kasper can't exist on flickers alone, when he realizes that his body is much more demanding than before It'll be time. When he kills his first human for food, that's how I'll know he's ready. That's the tipping point."

"What about my family. Everyone else. Where do we fit." Fog tested.

"Ark never wanted to cure the world, they wanted to recreate it remember? Reset it. They've done that. For five years they've let things simmer. Since this outbreak is bound to our continent alone I can only suggest who might have their fingers in this reset too..."

"Like who?"

"Everyone. Who knows how many doses they've sent out into the world." Ace tilted, banking slowly to the left when he saw the first radio marker. "What Kasper has to do with this..."

"You think it's got something to do with-" Fog put his one free hand to his head, holding up two fingers like horns. "-is that why you went searching?"

"Whatever Kasper is... is special. Those bullets should have dropped him but they didn't. They were made to take down an alpha with one shot Fog. His eyes... there wasn't even a shine to them, they were dead. He's gotta be somewhere between life and death..."

"That thing will eat him alive, you better hope he's strong enough."

Ace nodded. "It makes me wonder what else they cooked up in that lab. God. Ark... what were you thinking... lucky for us they lost all the-" He caught himself. "-Oh... I see. They don't want him... they need him."

"To make more?"

"I don't think that's why..."

Flapping again he rose, just higher than Fog. He looked down across his friend's wingspan. It was massive, the surface of them rippling unnaturally as the webbings fluttered in the breeze. The feathers were a farce, a cover, for the monster underneath. His joints pulling back and forth by lengthy black tendrils that laced down between them like a cobweb of shoddy pistons and pulleys. The fwoosh of turbulence whistled with each flap. Finally, after an hour (two hours North- East from where Kasper hid) nothing but railroad sided freeway divided the land. And finally, left of the outskirts of a distant city, the compound came into view. Sided to a lake, the exterior of an old warehouse surrounded by high fences crowded into a patch of treeless land. It was hidden in plain sight, just like Kasper. Close enough to never hint to either party that there was a sneaking possibility of being within arms reach. On the buildings roof were two helicopters that sat like delicate lace winged flies on a long rotting corpse.

As they closed the distance, the guarded location finally breathed to life. Red spots appeared on both Ace and Fogs chest and heads before flicking off again. Gliding downward they came to a land just outside the vaulted walls and barbed wire barriers. Ace wasn't without customary procedure. He knew how to make an impression. 

The tall unmarked building rose towards the sky in a large block. Red alarm lights spun slowly on the outer wall signaling their silent approach. From their right a set of guard dogs barked aggressively on taught leashes. They're owners shouting into a radio. Keeping their distance. Another appeared atop the wall followed by a long black barrel. A rifle trained directly on them.

Black uniforms cloaked their bodies. Ace sent the armed man a sarcastic salute, shielding himself from the sun. "Here we go." The gate ahead pulled sideways on a mechanical rail, revealing a line of soldiers and the front entrance to the facility. Vehicles powered on a solar charge drove back and forth, some carrying crates, others, carrying men in lab coats.