Until It's You, page 25
Then it hit and time gauzed over her vision frothy at the edges, a swimming pool wobble to every solid thing she could see. The light distorted above her starburst blown out. She swallowed in a succession of short stages.
Phobos? Was this the start of the Phobos taking over her mind?
She was breathing quickly her nostrils flared and there was Dunn's face those cold eyes she had not suspected enough before this moment she was stuck in.
"Not yet," Dunn said. "It's not what you think it is. Not that charming concoction just yet."
Kristina attempted talking, did not trust her mouth to become unstuck. She opened and closed it. Would anyone be coming? Speaking would be difficult.
"Virgin system, hmm? A bit of HummingBee and you look like you just came out of surgery. But we need to get you prepped for the show, darling. Can't have the tranquilizers keeping you dazed."
Kristina shook her head, trying to clear it enough so she could at least speak. HummingBee was a party drug, a synthetic replacement for the organic alternative, cocaine. From what she understood, addiction rates were high.
She licked her lips and opened her mouth. "Why now?" she blurted, doing her best to maintain eye contact with Dunn even as her vision swam.
Wow! Look at...everything!
Dunn's face screwed up, then she shrugged. “Because I need the final prize. Landon.”
Kristina tried to swallow, but her mouth was dry. This was insane. She needed to know more. She needed water. "What about Roy?"
Dunn's eyes shot open wide like a couple of lily pads in milky white water. “Roy? Did he make contact with you? What did he say?"
Kristina opened her mouth, but no words would come. She needed water. Her throat was just too dry.
“He bailed," Dunn said, almost to herself. "Failed, really. I have a contract out on him now through The Exchange. He knows too much."
Kristina gurgled as she tried to form the word “why.”
Dunn seemed to notice the noise and immediately disregard it. “He failed," she said, almost to herself. "Something I cannot allow. A woman doesn’t get to where I am in this city by allowing failure.”
Her mouth was so dry. She opened and closed her mouth again, but nothing would come. Water. She needed it.
Dunn's eyes seemed to finally catch on her face. They froze for a second, then looked away in disgust. "Oh for god's sake," she said.
She disappeared from Kristina's view in a swirl. Footsteps came from all over the room at once. Kristina sat back and closed her eyes.
They snapped them open immediately. Had she fallen asleep? No. Her eyes opened wide, wider than she'd ever had them. She felt good but she needed water fast.
Where was Dunn? She snapped her head back and forth, eyes scanning, but it was nothing but blurs. Had she gone upstairs? Footsteps came from somewhere.
Ice cold water in the face and Kristina froze.
"Drink this," Dunn snapped.
A glass at her lips. Kristina focused her eyes and found Dunn in front of her, gray hair just inches from Kristina's face. Where had her glasses gone anyway? Against her better instincts, she took the water into her mouth. It didn't taste funny at all, and she was parched, so she swallowed.
And waited.
But nothing. She took another sip and her throat felt wonderful. Wow was that some good water. Best water ever.
"There," Dunn said. She took the glass away and suddenly her face filled up Kristina's vision. "Now you can talk."
She heard a scraping on the ground and then Dunn's face backed away a little. They were knee to knee. Dunn had sat down. Kristina squirmed in her seat but he couldn't move too much. Was this chair bolted down?
"I want to know what Roy told you."
Kristina tested out opening and closing her mouth again. She was beginning to get on top of whatever was in her system. Maybe she could function after all. "Why are you doing this?" she said, her words practically a buzz.
"What did Roy tell you?"
"Nothing, he didn't even know who you are." Kristina drew herself up straighter. "Why are you doing this? You're already rich."
"Nowhere near as much as I could be, dear. Did he really say he didn't know who I am? That seems so...honorable."
"How would you get richer taking down your biggest client?"
Dunn smiled and gave a slight shake of her head, like she was talking to a child. “Not take down. Control. Which reminds me, we need to get you hooked up with his latest creation.”
“But why? What do you get out of all this?”
“Tatum has so little imagination. He has these visions of releasing this stuff like mustard gas or something on a huge populace.” She laughed. “We’ve been able to control huge populations for years. Propaganda, campaign ads, managing celebrity with PR. It’s a non-issue. Been solved for decades."
Kristina blinked really fast. “People aren’t sheep. You can’t just herd them.”
“No? Let’s agree to disagree then. It’s better for you if you don’t believe in that.” She reached into her bag and took out a syringe. “The point is, and there are people in the DoD who agree with me on this, the power of this pharm isn’t with mass use. This a scalpel, not a bomb. Especially if the public doesn’t know about it.”
“And your plan is to use that scalpel on Tatum? Until you get what? Political power? A Senate seat or something?”
“Perhaps. When you have control over an asset like that, the possibilities are substantial.” She held the syringe up. “But first, of course, I control you. Don’t worry. Once we were done, Jenna said it didn’t hurt one bit.”
Kristina scooted her chair back as she could. A couple inches, maybe.
“You asked her after you had this thing running in her veins,” she said.
She smiled wickedly. “I did,” she said, a girlish lilt in her voice. “But I still believed her. You have to, right?"
Kristina scanned her surroundings, her eyes finally adjusting to the light. She needed a plan. Something. Her heart pounded her in chest. If this injection went in, what would happen to her? Would she really betray Landon? Kevin?
“It was you!” Kristina exclaimed. It had come to her in a rush. “You poisoned my coffee in Brantley’s office.”
“I did, yes. You were always the contingency plan, Kristina. I knew Landon wouldn’t be able to resist a girl like you.”
Kristina saw the syringe this time, and so she did the only thing she could think to do. With Dunn leaning over her, she reared her head back and then smashed it into Dunn's face, her forehead driving straight into Dunn's nose. Dunn fell back, the syringe still in her hand, clutching her face. Bright light and pain flashed through Kristina's consciousness.
"You bitch!" Dunn cried.
A commotion from behind her and Dunn's frozen bleeding face in red. Then the world exploding in noise and still more light. A prick in her calf, and then the burning sensation of a shot.
Of liquid being injected into her body.
Of . . .
Her head swirled nastily, the world swimming past her like schools of fish turned to light. The pressure in her ears felt like she'd just jumped into a pool. Breaths came short, then not at all.
Oh shit.
After some space of time and chaos the world snapped into place all at once. The perspective shift was super-sharp, like a picture with the contrast turned up. Suddenly everything—the walls of the room, the intricate play of cracks on the ceiling, the sounds footsteps and shouting around her—became crisp to cracking save for the vibrations at the edge of her perception, like the after-ring of a tiny bell.
Her eyes found Dunn down on the ground, her nose still bleeding, and a flood of affection hijacked her brain. A knot formed in her throat.
"It's good, isn't it?" Dunn said quietly.
Then her eyes—oh my lord those wonderful eyes, so wise and true—looked past her, behind her. The motion left Kristina bereft and made her long to know what could possibly be taking Dunn's attention away.
"Meow like a cat," Ms. Dunn said.
"Meow."
The sound was out before she even knew it. Ms. Dunn smiled beautifully.
She flew around to the back of the chair. After some quick tugs and pulls, Kristina's hands were free. Clever Ms. Dunn!
A syringe fell into her fingers.
"I am going to go down like I am hurt, Kristina. I want you to lure Landon in and then inject him with this syringe. Can you do that?"
"Yes of course," Kristina said without thinking.
"Good girl."
Ms. Dunn collapsed on the ground.
Wait.
Footsteps and so much shouting she couldn't parse a single solid thing. Ms. Dunn was down!
But she had said that would happen. She said that was okay.
She had to act now to get close to Landon. She could not let down Ms. Dunn.
"Kristina!" Landon cried. He had come for her. "Are you alright? What happened to your head?"
She turned her head and swung around on the chair. There he was! White dress shirt with two buttons undone. Midnight blue slacks. Tall and long-legged. Clean-shaven. His skin was dark and his hair was cut short but it was him!
Ms. Dunn had said to lure him in. She must.
"I'm okay," she said, her voice raspy and choked. "You came for me."
The syringe went into her blazer pocket, where she could get to it quickly. She stepped toward him.
A ringing in her head.
His face was so pained. He looked around her and saw Dunn on the floor.
"What happened?" he asked.
He was just steps away from her now. If she lunged . . .
But no, she might miss. She needed him defenseless.
He closed the distance to her and got a good look at her head.
She held still for the inspection. "Dunn attacked me," Kristina said. "I managed to get free and hit her. Where is the guard she had?"
"Knocked him out from behind," Landon said, still looking at her head. This could be the moment. “Carter and the FBI are on the way."
Kristina stepped back and motioned to the ground, where Ms. Dunn was lying on the ground. "Good. She will love this."
Behind her, she heard Ms. Dunn grunt.
Swimming her head and Kristina felt she floated. She smiled dumbly, like a goof.
Back to crisp. Serious face.
"Are you okay?" Landon asked.
Kristina swallowed hard. Where was that water glass? "What?" Kristina said. "Yeah fine."
She stepped toward him, but her stomach turned. For some reason, she couldn't do it.
But Ms. Dunn wished it!
An idea sprang to mind. She motioned again toward the ground. "Do you think we should tie her up until Carter arrives?"
Landon stared at her for a moment, then his eyes went to the ties that lied cut on the ground. "Sure," he said, still eyeing her suspiciously.
He walked over to the tie on the ground, then bent and took it in his hand. Kristina watched him, the pressure in her head building with every moment. This was the most adrenaline she had ever felt in her life.
"You know how to do this?" he asked.
She shook her head. "Not really, no."
He stared at her for a moment longer. She rocked side to side on her feet. Finally, with a last glance, he bent down and took Dunn's arms to bind them.
Kristina's hand went to her blazer pocket. Her fingers curled around the shatterproof glass of the loaded syringe. This was her moment.
She closed the distance between them, eyeing the vast expanse of his back. She could just jab the needle in there . . .
He was so handsome and Ms. Dunn wished it. But how could she inject him? He was Landon!
"Almost done," he said, without looking back.
Kristina took her hand from her pocket, her thumb on the syringe's plunger. Could she do this? But she must.
"Kristina," Dunn shrieked from the ground. "Do it now!"
Landon spun and saw her, syringe in hand. She froze.
He shot up to his feet and tackled her to the ground before she could move, his hand coming up to cushion her head as they fell. The landing on the ground was not too rough, but she had to inject him. Ms. Dunn had said she must do it now!
His broad chest pressed close to hers. She tried to bring the syringe still in her fingers up but his strong hands wrapped around both her wrists and stopped her. Her head fell down to the concrete beneath her. He pinned her legs down with his and they were face to face.
She bucked and struggled beneath him, rage in her veins. She must inject him. Ms. Dunn wished it.
"Kristina," he growled. "Stop. You've been poisoned."
"No!" she gasped, struggling.
How was he so strong?
"Yes," he said, his voice tender. "Listen to me. Dunn poisoned you. What you're feeling are not actually your thoughts. I can help you."
A buzzing at the base of her skull like a bell had been rung. She looked past him to Ms. Dunn, who was groaning on the ground as she struggled to her feet. Her hands were still behind her, but it looked like she might be struggling free.
Renewed anger coursed through Kristina's body. How could he hurt Ms. Dunn?
His face was so close. She reared her head back and aimed for his nose.
But he pulled back as she tried to hit him and so she just nodded down. His grip on her wrists tightened.
"Stop it!" he snapped. "Listen to me. What do you remember before you came here? What do you remember this morning?"
Ms. Dunn was getting to her feet. Kristina struggled with his question. What did she remember? It was all so foggy . . .
She looked back at him blankly. Remembered herself. The vibrations in her skull. She bucked under him, trying to free her legs.
Inject. She had to inject. She hated him. He had hurt Ms. Dunn. Oh, Ms. Dunn.
"Kristina," he growled. "Look at me."
She did. She looked into his coal black eyes. Then he leaned forward and his mouth opened and his lips were on hers and she closed her eyes despite herself, then, his warm mouth against her lips felt so nice and inviting. She relaxed and a warm feeling bloomed in the back of her neck like a hot towel after a massage.
Footsteps. Ms. Dunn! She opened her eyes and Landon pulled back from her. Ms. Dunn was up and she had something in her hand. The chair she had sat on before.
She swung it at Landon and hit him in the side of his head. He fell off her, stunned.
"Kristina!" Ms. Dunn cried. "Do it now!"
Kristina scurried back on the floor and scrambled to her feet. She looked at Ms. Dunn, then at Landon as he sat on his butt on the floor, dazed. Dunn was pointing wildly at him, her eyes on Kristina. The warm feeling at her neck bloomed out, creeping up the back of her head and down her spine.
She stumbled over to him, her grip tight on the syringe until she was just a foot away.
Inject. She had to inject him so that she would complete her task. Ms. Dunn would be happy with her.
Dimly from the distance, footsteps on the stairs.
"Kristina!" Ms. Dunn yelled. "Now!"
Kristina bent down to get a good angle and took aim at Landon's hard chest. His head was down and he raised an arm weakly but she knew he was stunned. His face was slack, his eyes unfocused.
She raised the syringe and the warm feeling in her neck exploded hot, searing like a hot iron.
She staggered.
No.
What was she doing? This syringe? She was holding it to inject because Ms. Dunn requested it.
But Landon—
The side of her face pulled down in a spasm, like toffee at the fair. Blinding pain shot through her vision.
Why would she?
The world went dizzy, her vision white and the pain searing. Footsteps at the back. Ms. Dunn, oh Ms. Dunn was screaming but Kristina couldn't hear what she said, she had failed her and yet Landon was another, someone other than Ms. Dunn. She couldn't inject him. Not him.
She fell to her knees and her hands fell to her side and the syringe fell to the ground, beside her. The pain in her neck, her head, the flashing white light and she fell back on the ground. A dull ache at the top of her spine.
"FBI!" someone cried, somewhere in the world.
The lights went out and the sound muffled like her head had disappeared beneath a soundproof blanket.
Then nothing.
***
In a haze she woke up stuck with needles somewhere in the world drowned in white. Squinted against the bright lights overhead. It was a hospital, maybe. That might make sense.
Something had happened and then the hospital. This happened all the time. Not to her, necessarily. But she knew it could happen. It was a good thing to wake up in the hospital because that meant you hadn't died and probably could have.
The screaming pain in her temple sharpened and revealed itself along with an ache in the back of her head.
She closed her eyes. A machine vibrated almost silently to her left. Wherever she was, it felt like she was alone. Must be a private room. Good thing, though. Easier to sleep.
A door opened and closed. Her eyes snapped open to be greeted by that harsh light again. Squinting and in pain, she eased herself up in the bed until she was just about sitting up. Then she took a look around to get a better sense of the room. Where had that door opened? It sounded so far away—too far away for a hospital room.
Then her eyes caught a sign on the far wall.
TATUM PHARMACEUTICALS
LAB 1
The throbbing in her head got worse as she read the words. Oh, god. What had happened?
Where was Ms. Dunn? She'd failed her, somehow. Inject. She'd failed to inject him. Now she was hooked up with a needle in her arm and she was in a lab. A lab he owned.
The door. The door had opened and closed and that probably meant someone had come in. She frantically to her right, where the door was. Stark white cabinets shone pristinely under the bright lights, towering all the way up to the ceiling. Beneath them were transparent bubble glass countertops. Fine, stainless steel machines whose function she did not know where scattered around them, along with a sink. The door at the room's corner was jet black, almost like a portal in the otherwise bright room.
