Deluge: The Conqueror Worms II

CHAPTER 47

“No,” Gail said. “McCann and I can explore the building. You’re sitting your ass down and getting some rest.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re not fine. Your arm might be broken, not to mention you almost drowned out there.”

“It’s not broken.” Novak flexed his fingers, wincing even as he grinned. “It hurts like a son of a bitch, but it’s not broken.”

“Wiggle it.”

He did as she requested, rotating his arm around and swinging it back and forth. He hissed air through his teeth and then let the arm hang limp again.

“I still want you to rest,” Gail said. “Obviously, you’re in a lot of pain. You’re not going to be much good to us if you don’t recuperate.”

Novak sat down with his back against the wall and positioned himself so that he could see out the broken window. Water dripped from his clothes, running across the floor. He sighed. “And here I thought you guys wanted me along for my sparkling personality. You just need me to help fight monsters.”

Gail didn’t respond. Instead, she watched the rivulets of water. Rather than pooling around Novak’s feet, they made their way to the far wall, as if the office building itself was leaning in that direction. Frowning, she shifted her feet. The floor certainly felt level. She wondered if it was just exhaustion playing tricks on her mind. She’d never felt so tired in her life. All she wanted to do was lay down and sleep for a day.

“Come on,” McCann said. “If we’re going to do this, then let’s get it over with. I’d like to sit down at some point tonight.”

Nodding, Gail led the way. She hoisted the shotgun in her cold, wet hands, using it to push open the office door. It led into a dark, dank hallway. Mildew stains covered the once-white walls. The carpet squelched beneath their feet. Other than the roar of the surf, steadily beating against the walls, the building was silent. Gail and McCann went from room to room, making sure each one was clear and also looking for anything useful. Most of the offices were identical to the first, but they also found two restrooms, a lunchroom with several vending machines, and a storage closet full of cleaning supplies. On the top shelf of the storage closet was a first aid kit. It had been rummaged through—probably by the man with the goggles, Gail assumed, but there were still plenty of antiseptic wipes, bandages, an assortment of over-the-counter pills, and half a roll of medical tape. The vending machines had also been broken into. The doors were unlocked, and swung open with the slightest touch. The soda machine was about half-full of bottled water and various soft drinks, all warm. The second machine held bags of potato chips, snack cakes and other junk food. The third vending machine had held perishable items—sandwiches, yogurt, juice, and other food that had long since gone bad. When McCann opened it, a terrible stench wafted out. Both he and Gail coughed.

“Close it,” Gail gasped, her eyes watering. “That stinks!”

“I don’t think we’ll be eating any of that,” he agreed. “Looks like our attacker left us with some food and water, though. At least we won’t starve to death or die of thirst anytime soon.”

“Hooray. Instead, we can fatten ourselves up for those things in the water.”

They continued onward, passing by a set of closed elevator doors and then coming to a stairwell. Gail nudged the door open and listened. It was quiet. Far below, she heard the sound of water lapping.

“Lower levels are flooded,” she whispered. “Probably better to be quiet until we come out on the next floor. If something’s down there, we don’t want it to hear us.”

McCann nodded, and she led him upward. They emerged onto the floor above, and found an identical layout to the floor they’d just left. Shutting the door behind them, they resumed their exploration.

“Do you really think something could be living down below?”

Gail shrugged. “I don’t see why not. The building is submerged. Something could be swimming around down there—those flying fish or maybe the shark men.”

“What do you think they all are?” McCann opened an office door and peered inside. “These creatures. I mean, if they’ve always existed, how come we never saw them until the rains started? And what else is there? We’ve seen shark-men, flying piranha, snakes made out of seaweed, starfish with faces like humans, mermaids, fuzzoids, and giant worms, crabs, lobsters and octopuses—not to mention that fucking island thing that landed us in this position.”

“Octopi,” Gail said.

“What?”

“You said octopuses. I think it’s octopi rather than octopuses.”

“I don’t give a shit what they are,” McCann said. “I just want to know where they came from and how the hell we can get rid of them all.”

“I can help you with that,” a voice called from the end of the hallway. “Provided you help me first.”