Mystics #2: The Alpha Nation Read online

  There were screams, yells and cries, and suddenly everyone was moving. Zoey flew forward and fell to her knees as something heavy latched itself onto her back. White-hot pain exploded in her back, like burning knives slashing into her skin. Warm blood trickled down her back.

  She reached up behind in an attempt to pull off whatever had attached itself to her. Her fingers found fur. She grabbed hold and pulled. She screamed in pain. The more she pulled, the more the thing cut her. Her eyes burned, and she choked from a heavy ammonia smell coming from her attacker. She staggered to her feet, stumbled back, and tried in vain to stop whatever the creature was slicing into her back.

  For a split second, she looked up and saw what it was.

  Simon and Tristan had them, too.

  Monkeys.

  They were the ugliest monkeys she’d ever seen. The size of a medium-sized dog with unusually large heads, they were covered in thick, black fur. Their mouths were large, with rows of pointy teeth like the mouth of a piranha, and they had long, hairless tails, like snakes. She had a monkey on her back, and it was trying to kill her.

  Suddenly, something wrapped itself around her neck, choking her. Its grip tightened as it tried to squeeze the life out of her. Zoey couldn’t breathe and dropped her boomerang. She felt the blood rush to her face, as she gasped for breath. She gagged, desperate for air. And then she couldn’t feel the pain in her back anymore. Dizziness clouded her mind as she began to suffocate. She could feel its hot breath on the back of her neck and hear its excited gurgling. It wanted her to die.

  Something snapped and her adrenaline kicked her into overdrive. Her instincts kicked in. She staggered forward and flung herself backwards against the nearest tree. The grip lessened. With every bit of strength left, she threw herself against the tree, over and over again, until she finally felt a weight lift off her. Her throat cleared, and she inhaled deep, burning breaths.

  She looked down at her attacker. The monkey lay in a pile of leaves. Its red eyes were open and staring at the sky. It didn’t move.

  Shouts and screams reached her ears. Simon’s face had turned a nasty shade of purple as two monkeys tore, bit, and slashed at him. One of them had its tail wrapped around his neck. With her back screaming in pain, Zoey rushed to his aid. But just as she reached Simon, something attached itself to her side and dug its talons into her flesh. The thing snarled, baring its large pointy teeth. Just as it was about to make a meal out of her stomach, Zoey curled her fingers into a fist and punched it hard on the nose.

  The monkey shook its head. Then she backhanded it with a brutal blow, and the creature let go and fell to the ground. She kicked it out of the way and ran to Simon.

  Without stopping, she went for the monkey that had wrapped its tail around Simon’s neck. She grabbed a large rock and beat the beast’s head with it. Simon’s eyes had rolled into the back of his head. She couldn’t let Simon die. She raised her arm and hit it again with the rock. She heard a satisfying crunch, and the monkey dropped. Zoey quickly untangled its tail from Simon’s neck.

  Something moved in her peripheral vision. Another monkey lunged at her, and its teeth bore into her shoulder. But she reached down, grabbed her rock, and smashed it against its head. It stumbled backwards. The creature gurgled in astonishment, and before it had a chance to attack again Zoey slashed the sharp end of the rock across the monkey’s throat. It fell back, dead.

  “Zoey, get Simon out of here!”

  Zoey turned around.

  Tristan’s skin glowed blue as he tore at the monkeys with his bare hands, ripping their limbs apart like they were mere pieces of cooked turkey. Another monkey hurled itself at him, and he slashed its throat in midair. It was like watching a skilled killer, a killing machine. He was focused, precise, calculated. He was awesome. Zoey only wished that one day she would be as good as him. Another creature leaped at him. He caught it, tossed it into the air, and slashed its throat as it spun. He threw it over his shoulder. But each time he killed one, another one leaped from the trees. Tristan yelled as another monkey’s sharp claws tore into his flesh.

  Something gold glinted on the ground. Her boomerang.

  “Zoey?” croaked Simon as he sat up. His neck was red and bruised, and his nose was bleeding.

  “Stay here.” Zoey leaped to her feet and made a beeline for her boomerang.

  Just as she reached it, a black shadow came down on her. But she was ready. She spun around and hit the creature in the head with her elbow. It flopped to the ground just as another volley of monkeys came racing down on her. Zoey angled her wrist and put all her strength into her throw. Her boomerang soared in the air and hit each of line of angry monkeys, one by one. They plopped to the ground like heavy rain.

  “There are too many of them,” panted Tristan. Sweat trickled down his forehead, “We can’t fight them all. We need to find shelter.”

  He swung his arm and slashed another deadly monkey.

  “Guys,” croaked Simon, as he limped forward. “Why are there glowing red things in the forest?”

  Zoey followed Simon’s gaze. Round red spheres glowed in the dark. But she knew what they were. Eyes. The forest was lit with hundreds of glowing red monkey eyes.

  Simon was hurt, and she knew he was in no shape to fight. They couldn’t rely on Tristan to keep up like this. She could see the strain on his face. He was tiring.

  “We make a break for the village - it’s our only shot.”

  Zoey turned to Simon. “Can you run?”

  Simon’s face was bleeding from scratches, but he looked determined and nodded. “I can run.”

  Zoey turned to Tristan. “You ready? Say when.”

  Tristan dispatched two more monkeys, bent his body forward, and sprinted.

  “WHEN!”

  Zoey spun and bolted, dragging Simon with her.

  Together, the three of them tore down the dirt road. Cries and screeches echoed behind them, but they didn’t turn around to see. They kept running. Zoey’s thighs burned, and she knew the monkey had done a serious number on her back. It was still bleeding. She could see a cloud of hundreds of the nasty monkeys swinging from tree to tree above and behind them. They dropped to the ground like bombs on either side of the road, but Zoey and her friends kept running. They had to keep going. She was surprised how fast Simon could run when fear fueled him. She was glad of it.

  The sound of hundreds of evil fury mystics tearing up the road resounded behind them. If they tripped and fell, they would be torn to shreds.

  And when she thought she couldn’t run anymore, the lights of the village flickered up ahead, and she could make out the beginning of the great wall. Although the cries behind them tapered off until she couldn’t hear them anymore, they ran towards the village without slowing down until they finally arrived at the wall.

  Zoey took a chance. She halted and turned around with her boomerang ready.

  The dirt road was deserted.

  “What were those monkeys?” asked Zoey. “Have you even seen them before?”

  Zoey wondered if they had escaped the Nexus as a result of the stolen interlopers.

  “Mystics - Singors,” answered Tristan. “They’re monkey-like creatures that are usually used as guard dogs in the Nexus. They can see in the dark, which is why they prefer to attack at night when you don’t see them coming. They strike in groups and choke unsuspecting people or animals with their tails. Then eat them while they’re still alive.”

  “Nice,” panted Simon. He reached up and touched his throat, as if remembering the stiff tail that nearly took his life. “Remind me never to go to the zoo, ever again.”

  Zoey kept her eyes on the impenetrable forest. “But why did they stop their attack?”

  “Because this village is probably what the Singors are protecting,” answered Tristan. He sheathed his dagger and wiped his sweaty forehead. “Or… maybe someone in this village.”

  “Great,” said Simon, sarcastically.

  He cradled the wound in his si
de and came up beside Zoey. “That’s just awesome. And they led us right to it. Maybe this was their plan all along—to get us to come here. Those monkey-brains were planning something - I can feel it.”

  Zoey felt that part of what Simon said was true. “I don’t disagree with you on that Simon, but the virus originated somewhere in that village. And I intend to find it. You can stay here if you want. I won’t force you to come with me. You can wait here…with the Singors.”

  “Ha!” said Simon, “I’d rather gouge out my eyes with toothpicks. Honestly, I’m just glad they’re gone. I wasn’t that scared.” He wiped his bloody nose on the end of his sleeve.

  Zoey looked to the forest. Red dots spotted the trees in the distance, and then they disappeared.

  “I’m hungry,” whined Simon suddenly. “Do you think we can find food in there? I need to eat to regain some of my strength.”

  “How can you even think of food right now?” questioned Zoey.

  Simon shrugged. “It’s the tapeworm in my belly - it’s eating all my protein.”

  Tristan sighed and rolled his eyes.

  Ignoring Simon’s monkeyshines, Zoey turned around and examined the wall. It was even bigger up close. The wall was made of huge gray stones, chiseled perfectly smooth. They looked as if they had been put in place by giants. But it didn’t appear to be complete. There were gaps like it was still in the process of being built. The only passage into the city was through a large breach in the wall that was the entrance. The great iron entrance gate was raised to the top of the wall – it was open. But two guards stood below it, smoking and talking loudly. Zoey froze. They hadn’t noticed them yet.

  “Quick, this way!”

  They sneaked to the left side and flattened themselves against the wall. She recognized the guards’ blood-red suits. They were Alphas.

  “Do you think they saw us?” she whispered.

  Tristan leaned forward a little. “No,” he whispered back, “The trees and the dark hid us, but it was close.”

  Zoey leaned back and hit her head against the wall. “It’s an Alpha village or something. Why didn’t I think of that?”

  “You couldn’t possibly have known about it, Zoey,” whispered Tristan. “I don’t think the Agencies even know that a village like this exists.”

  “Well, now we know it does,” said Simon. “So how do you plan on getting through without them noticing us?”

  He pulled out his costume mustache. “Do you think this is a job for Bond?” Even in the dark Zoey could see his eyes sparkle.

  Zoey shook her head. “No, I don’t think we’re that desperate yet.” Simon looked disappointed.

  The truth was, Zoey hadn’t anticipated that they would have to get past a village full of Alphas. They needed a plan to get in, and they needed to get one fast. Without a mirror, they couldn’t get back to the Hive, or inside.

  Then she heard voices coming from the other direction. They fell to the ground silently. She raised her head carefully and could see three Alpha men strolling up the dirt road towards the village. Their red uniforms were barely visible in the darkness. They were talking amongst themselves and were oblivious to the three of them.

  Zoey glanced back at the entrance. The guards at the gates hadn’t noticed them yet. They were still out of earshot.

  And then Zoey got an idea.

  She got to her feet slowly, and like a cat she moved across the grounds and hid behind a large tree.

  “Zoey!” hissed Tristan, but she kept going.

  Stealthily, she grabbed her boomerang, aimed, and hurled it through the night sky. It hit the men, one by one, across the backs of their heads, and they fell to the ground like bowling pins. She reached up, grabbed her returning weapon, and motioned for Tristan and Simon to come over.

  “What did you do that for?” questioned Simon in a low voice, as he and Tristan neared her. He looked around widely. “Practice?”

  “Get their clothes off,” Zoey said, as she clipped her boomerang back to the bracelet around her wrist.

  “Excuse me?” Simon had a strange look on his face, and then said very slowly, “And why should we do that, exactly?”

  Zoey brushed the hair out of her face and knelt down beside the smallest of the unconscious men. “Because we’re going to wear them. We’re going in as Alphas - it’s the only way I can see that’ll work.”

  “It’s a brilliant idea.” Tristan grinned and started to unbutton the shirt off the largest of the unconscious Alphas.

  Simon’s mouth was slightly opened. “I’m not wearing some other dude’s clothes. That’s totally disgusting. I could catch cooties, or the flesh-eating disease, or rabies —”

  “Then you can stay here with them,” interrupted Zoey.

  She removed her own jacket and replaced it with a red coat. It was too big for her, but she hoped no one would notice. It smelled strongly of cigarettes and alcohol, and she doubted it had been washed in a while. She pulled the red trousers over her own jeans and pulled the belt tight around her middle to keep them up. The pants smelled worse - she didn’t even want to think about what caused that smell.

  Simon picked at the shirt from the last man with the tips of his fingers, as though it was burning hot with bugs and critters. Zoey laughed at the disgusted expression on his face, and she wished she had brought a camera. Even in the dark, his face was green.

  “I think I’m going to barf,” said Simon. “I’m about to blow chunks all over this dude—”

  “If you barf—I’m going to hit you,” warned Tristan, and then he said, “If Agent Bond were here, he’d put the clothes on without complaining.”

  “If Agent Bond were here, he’d have an extra clean suit, an Aston Martin DB5s, complete with machine guns and tire slashers, and a babe waiting for him in the passenger seat,” mumbled Simon.

  Finally, the three of them were clad in the Alpha uniforms. Simon still looked appalled, but at least the clothes fit him better than Zoey. She had to fold up the bottom of the pants so she wouldn’t trip over them. But it was Tristan who pulled the look off to a tee. No one could ever second-guess that he wasn’t an Alpha. The uniform fit him perfectly.

  “So, now what?” asked Simon, peevishly.

  Zoey finished tying her hair back in a bun, like the ones the Alpha women had worn when they attacked Headquarters in London. She didn’t have a mirror to help her, but she did the best she could anyhow.

  “Help me hide our clothes and the bodies with leaves,” said Zoey, as she piled some leaves over the men. “Let’s hope they don’t wake up too soon.”

  “I could kick them in the head if you want?” offered Tristan, a little too eagerly, his white teeth flashing in the dark.

  Zoey pushed him gently. “You ogre! Nah, I think we’re good for now.”

  Soon, the Alpha men were completely covered in leaves.

  “Remember, the key is to blend in. Let’s not attract any unwanted attention to ourselves. Ready? Okay, let’s go.”

  With Zoey leading the way, the three of them marched onto the dirt road and made for the front entrance. When they reached the entry, they could see that the Alpha guards stood on either side of the opening. They were taller than Tristan, thick, and their large muscles bulged under their red uniforms. Their short hair accentuated their hard, ogre-like faces. Zoey was sure these men never smiled. They probably couldn’t.

  They heard clattering noises coming from inside the wall, and they could smell fire.

  A large sign carved into the wall read, The True Nation.

  “You’re kidding me,” whispered Simon, so that only Zoey and Tristan could hear. “The true nation? That Mrs. Dupont has them completely brainwashed…”

  Zoey elbowed him in the ribs. “Don’t say her name out loud,” she hissed under her breath. “Especially here. Got it?”

  Simon nodded his head that he did.

  “We need to play it cool in there, we don’t want to attract any kind of negative attention,” continued Zoey. “Right,
Simon?”

  “Hmmm—what?” Simon’s eyes widened. “Why are you looking at me? I didn’t do anything—”

  “Yet,” said Tristan, with a hint of a smile.

  Zoey let out a long breath. “Let’s hope they don’t even notice us.”

  Simon sniffed the air and grinned.

  “You smell that? Something’s cooking, and it smells delicious. I’m getting some of that in my belly.”

  He patted his stomach and started forward. “Come on, I’m starved. I have a date with a tapeworm—and I’m going to win.”

  Together, the trio stepped up to the main entrance. As they approached, the guards glanced at them casually, measured them up, and then ignored them completely. Keeping her cool and trying hard not to smile at their luck, Zoey kept walking without slowing her pace. They had to look like they belonged here. Tristan and Simon followed her lead and strolled alongside her in silence. Sweat had appeared on Simon’s temples, but Zoey was glad he kept his cool. Once they were inside the walls, Zoey slowed her pace and looked around.

  At first it looked like an ordinary small village with quaint stone houses with red and navy metal roofs, manicured front lawns and winding roads. A few businesses lined the main road and yellow light spilled from the windows of bakeries and markets. Although it was dark, the village was bright and alive with people. Tall street lamps lit the roads and sidewalks. Zoey smelled wood burning and a hint of cooked meat and coffee - all normal small-village things.

  But the deeper they ventured, the more she realized how far from ordinary this village was. It was too neat and too clean, and everyone wore the same red uniforms.

  Everywhere she looked, men and women were all dressed in the blood-red uniforms Zoey had grown to hate. A pack of teenagers in identical Alpha uniforms eyed them suspiciously at first but marched on through the village. They all had the same self-assured look about them—they were the true nation, descendants of the Originals.

  They kept their heads down and did their best to blend in.

  The strange banging they had heard before grew steadily louder, until it drowned all the other sounds. Curious, Zoey took a left turn and followed the clatter. What she saw next made her sick.