B.R. Paulson - Barely Alive Series Boxed Set

Barely Alive Boxed Set

By BR Paulson

Barely Alive

B ARELY ALIVE

Chapter 1

D YING SUCKS.

But knowing youre dying is a freaking mind trip and I hated it.

My gray-tinted fingers shook. Putting down the empty milk container took all my will power and I honestly have no idea how I did it. Who was I kidding?

Paul. I need you to grab the new recruits and join us off Flamingo tonight at eleven. Dont feed them. I want them raring to go. Dominics smile had lost its charm. Hed stopped beguiling me once the virus had taken hold. He knew I couldnt go home. Id never return to my family when I could harm them so easily. Plus, they were human the enemies self-righteous, capitalists without any real idea of need or purpose.

One thing Dominic had taught me was I could still care, even while I hated. He was my first two-sided coin.

I nodded. What else could I do? He was my master now. My general. And I would do what I was told or hed lock me in with the dissenters and refuse me my final release. I would do anything for the answer.

I shut the fridge and grabbed a cookie from the counter of the cafeteria kitchen. My previous three-thousand calorie diet didnt cut it anymore. Downing nine to eleven-thousand calories a day barely staved off the hunger sting unless it was meat. Raw meat. But cows were hard to come by in the Nevada desert and I wasnt desperate enough to eat the feral cats. Those things were scrawny and all hair. I still had enough control I didnt jump anything that moved.

Like people. Oh, man. And people smelled the best, too.

Flamingo. Hell, what did Dominic think we were going to win down there, casino jackpots? I licked the crumbs from my fingers, no longer amazed I barely tasted the crap I ate. Everything tasted like dust unless it was meat. The sweet coppery taste of blood. Ah.

In the back room set up like a large bunkhouse, fourteen guys waited.

The first few weeks at the compound were always sun-filled with Dominics promises of gold, powers, and strength. Immortality. Overcoming the evils of the nation of all the nations became the fodder that fueled us. Wed rule America.

But once he infected you... me. I became a tool. I lost my shiny, new toy appeal to Dominic. He no longer catered to me or the other guys in my group. No more pictures of women, no more games or toys, no more anything... except food. Thats the one thing I couldnt complain about. A twenty-four-hour buffet filled with treats and food I used to crave, but surprisingly sparse in the one thing I wanted. What all the guys wanted. But we didnt have the balls to complain to him .

Paul. Hey, when do we get to eat? Im starving. Steve, a red-headed sixteen year old, approached me. He was an inch or two shorter than me, but stocky and twitchy. I hated twitchy, reminded me of my brother. Who, while I hated for being human, I hated worse for being lost to me.

Yeah, about that. Dominic said we cant eat until after our mission this evening up on Flamingo. I held up my hands but eyed the group as three of them stood, fingers balled at their sides. I know youre hungry. I do. But hang in there. We can eat tonight. Im hungry too. I dont get to eat until you do, okay?

Maybe we dont need to wait for Dominic. The newest member, John, spat our leaders name. He cant stop us from leaving. Were stronger than he is. Hes human.

I contained my groan no need to start doing that until my faculties had begun deteriorating. I still had ten weeks before my body failed me. Dominic had eyes and ears everywhere. He had an omnipresence achieved with technology his money purchased, but I still hadnt figured out how.

John and Steve stepped toward the doors followed by the three murmuring amongst themselves.

From the opposite end of the large room, Dominic pushed through double doors. Going somewhere, boys? He crooked his finger at us. I have something to show you.

I cringed from the bite in his words. Id been on the tour. But because I was there with them Id have to go again.

John squared his shoulders, assured of his superiority over Dominic who was only human after all. Wed all been fed the same information on the inferior aspects of being human. Hell, it was why wed left that way of life behind. John lifted his still-peach colored chin. Hed been injected no more than two days ago. Rookie.

Yeah. Were leaving. This is a bunch of crap. Were hungry but we cant eat until we do what you say? Who the hell are you? Youre just a human . John glanced at the four boys whod been prepared to leave with him. You want us to go steal stuff, give it to you, and then what? Wait? For you to decide on what to do next? Thats a waste of my power and Im not waiting.

The others nodded slowly, doubt pinching their brows together.

Dominics dark, slicked back curls grazed the white collar of his button up dress shirt, shining in the sunlight as he crossed under the windows. Mid-day didnt irritate us anymore than midnight did. We didnt sleep but dang, the hunger. His green eyes had narrowed.

I bit the inside of my cheek. Holy crap. I didnt want to go on the tour, hear the lecture and the only two options I had. Not again.

I understand what youre saying. But, before you go, boys, lets go downstairs. Id like to show you what you have to look forward to. His gaze found mine and I swallowed, my tongue like sandpaper. He didnt need any more of my pride. Hed taken everything else.

Each of the other guys followed Dominic through a different set of doors to the stairs. I trailed behind. My stomach hurt, from more than hunger. Staying busy had staved off the reality of the situation, but trips downstairs or reminders from Dominic cut into my hyper-sensitized skin like small paper cuts on fingertips.

Thick, windowless walls framed the stairs. The faade of upkeep ended at the bottom. Cement flooring and steel doors lined the hallway. Thick brick work supported the doorways and made up the rooms wed be peeking into.

Queuing up at a doorway twenty feet from the bottom of the stairs, the boys waited for the great reveal. A new door, one I hadnt yet seen inside. Each one was different, held a different monster.

Paul, get the door. Dominics icy voice washed over me.

Claustrophobia would follow the reveal, and some of the newbies would try to escape the truth. I shut the door and the automatic lock clicked into place. I had to adjust my footing. Some of them would come at me in desperation and who knew if they had more strength than me.

Dominic tucked his hands behind his back and pushed his chest out. The fresh scent of his flesh filled the small space. Sweat broke out on my skin. I hadnt eaten meat in a few days.

So you want to leave, huh? Think you can take my gift and just run away? That doesnt sound very grateful, boys. Sounds to me like you need an attitude adjustment. His smile had chilled vastly from the warm, inviting grin hed welcomed us with.