The Grid 2 Read online

  Max waited as the bots made their way into The Grid. He had a rough idea where the WristCom was located. He’d chosen Lucy’s original location in the cell area because it was centrally positioned – he knew the device had to be in that general area.

  The risk for Max was in activating a visual feed on one of the bots. That was what might have exposed what he was up to. He needed the visual feed to effect the repairs, but the third bot – the one that would not be used to fix the broken camera feed – that was just scanning the ground.

  It was relatively easy for Max to judge the positioning of the bots. The Grid appeared as a rectangular graphic on his screen and the bots were indicated by pulsating green dots and the broken camera by a red arrow. It was more confusing for him to see the shape and form of the labyrinth. It was too easy to get disoriented like that.

  Max considered how difficult it would be for Talya’s daughter to navigate her way around those tunnels. In real life she was just making her way around a giant hangar, but to Lucy and the Justice Seekers it was every bit a real and threatening environment.

  The bots neared the centre, and Max dared to activate a light on the unit. It illuminated the dark passageway; he kept his eyes sharp for the WristCom. The other two bots set about making the repairs. The Gridders had contained Schälen within a smaller chamber while the work went ahead. They’d just dropped another wall in the area where he’d previously struggled to reach the knife, and this allowed the bots to do their work unobserved.

  The camera repair was easily made. Talya’s friends had been good – they’d disabled it temporarily to make it look like a fault, rather than sabotage. That was clever. There would be a complete security lockdown if there was any suspicion that The Grid had been breached.

  Max cursed as the bot made its way around the area. It had to be there somewhere, they were in the same part of The Grid that the WristCom had originally been lost.

  The camera reactivated, and Max received the directive to withdraw the bots from the immediate area while remote tests were done to make sure the feed had been repaired properly.

  He became more anxious as the seconds passed. He was going to miss his chance, and if he couldn’t find the WristCom he would have Talya Slater pushing him even harder to come up with a solution. She might even consider handing him over to Fortrillium as a traitor.

  The camera was confirmed as fixed, and Max was told to withdraw the bots. He cursed to himself as he keyed in the instructions and the bots made their way back towards the tunnel. He was sweating with the tension. He’d messed up – he couldn’t find the WristCom.

  As the bots made their way back to Max, he turned to the screen feed on his console. The Gridders removed the wall they’d positioned behind Schälen to stop him detecting the presence of the mechanical intruders. The camera feed returned to him immediately; he was, after all, the most compelling drama in The Grid at that moment. Max’s face screwed up as he saw that Schälen had managed to free his crushed hand in the intervening period. The camera view switched to night vision mode – the small amount of light Schälen had to work with had diminished as the flame burned down on the nearest torch.

  As the screen feed went from a dull, shadowed image to a sharper view, infused with a green hue, Max saw what he’d been looking for: i

  t was the WristCom. He’d been right about its location. It had to be around that area somewhere. There was just one problem. Schälen had found it while thrashing around in the semi-darkness. It was now attached to his wrist, the one which wasn’t bound by bloodied rags.

  Schälen had the WristCom, and Talya was going to get exactly what she wanted. The WristCom was heading directly to her daughter. There was one thing for sure: now Schälen was free, the first person he’d be visiting was Lucy Slater.

  Unleashed

  It was 20:00 hours, though none of the Justice Seekers knew that. Stuck in the dark dungeon, they’d lost all concept of time and place.

  Everybody in the main group was alert. They’d chosen weapons, agreed to a defensive formation, and rehearsed several scenarios. They didn’t know what would happen next, but they’d heard the roars echoing through the tunnels. It sounded as if they would be attacked by some sort of creature in the next Mode. They couldn’t guess at the size or the type of creature, but it would be geared to drama and excitement for those watching on the screens.

  It would always begin with an address from Damien Hunter. They knew they were safe until then.

  ‘Eat and drink while you can,’ Clay had urged. ‘We don’t know how long we’ll have to do without afterwards.

  ‘Chris, remember, stay in the middle – don’t break away. The minute Hunter appears, form a circle, raise your weapons.’

  They were well drilled. None of this group were fighters, but they were preparing to battle for their lives.

  Joe had agreed with Clay that he’d stay with the group until they knew the nature of the threat, and then he’d break off to try to find Lucy. Ross would accompany him, but only when they knew what they were dealing with.

  Joe was practising with his spear when Hunter appeared. It happened so fast – it always did when the Modes began.

  There was a bright light. It caught them by surprise, particularly as their eyes had adjusted to the darkness.

  Chris threw his hammer at the image of Hunter. It was just a hologram, and the hammer flew straight through the projection, landing somewhere in the darkness.

  ‘Careful, Chris, try to stay calm!’ Miron urged, but he was experiencing his own panic attack, and he understood how Chris felt. Damien Hunter tended to have that effect on people.

  Hunter’s voice boomed all around them.

  ‘An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a life for a life. So it is in our city that any person who breaks the law shall find justice in The Grid. It has been our way since the plague years. It has kept our city safe and fair for almost one hundred years.’

  They’d heard these words dozens of times as The Justice Trials had played out on the screens. Only now they were the ones fighting for their lives.

  ‘Ten Justice Seekers remain in The Grid today. If any find justice there, they will walk away with their freedom. This is how our society preserves truth and honesty.’

  As the words ‘truth and honesty’ echoed along the tunnels, the Law Lords came into view. Joe immediately noticed that Talya was there. They’d made her a Law Lord – how had that happened, especially with everything going on with Lucy and him? She was choked up and struggling to maintain her composure, but she was staring straight out at them. It was almost as if she was there with them.

  Leianna Richwald stepped forward.

  ‘You ten stand charged with crimes against The City. If you find justice in The Grid, you shall walk free.’

  Once more, Hunter’s voice boomed out, and Richwald stepped back into the line of Law Lords.

  ‘Justice Seekers, find your justice!’

  Joe was uncertain of the ordering of the next events, it all happened so fast.

  As the holographic images of Hunter and the Law Lords began to fade, they all heard Talya calling out: ‘

  Keep fighting, Lucy. Stay alive!’

  Her words were cut off. As they faded away, a deafening noise immediately demanded their attention. Around them doors opened up, three in total, each leading to a long passageway.

  Behind one of the doorways was Lucy, standing alert underneath a burning torch, on which was tied Ross’s rag.

  She saw the group immediately.

  ‘Joe! Run!’ she shouted as she turned and fled in their direction.

  ‘Lucy, get into the circle!’

  ‘I’ve seen them – I was face-to-face with one – they’re going to kill us, Joe!’

  Joe had never seen Lucy so distressed before. She was almost in a state of blind panic.

  The group formed a circle, as they’d planned, with Chris in the middle.

  ‘Lucy, Joe, stand in the middle, take a moment.�
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  Clay realized they’d need to focus before the battle began. They’d only have seconds to get their minds in the right place.

  ‘Take this hammer, Lucy, and use it if you have to!’

  Marjani thrust the weapon into Lucy’s hand. ‘There’s a scythe too if you want it.’

  ‘What happened, Lucy? Where have you been?’

  ‘It’s Schälen – the man is a maniac, he was going to kill me.’

  ‘Where is he now?’

  ‘I don’t know, I lost him. He may be dead.’

  ‘What did you see out there? What’s coming?’

  ‘They put one right next to me, Joe. I could smell its breath and hear its heartbeat. It was just waiting as if it was asleep or something, but it’ll be coming for us now. It’s huge, it’s nearly the height of the tunnels!’

  Lucy didn’t need to offer any more description. There was a low, predatory growl and the stench of rancid breath. At first, all they could see was a dark shadow. Slowly, the creature got closer, eventually moving into the light.

  It was a thing of nightmares. When Lucy encountered it earlier it had been dormant, a new terror waiting to be activated by the Gridders when the next Mode began.

  Its long tusks looked even more threatening in the dim light. They thrust outwards, ready to impale whoever stood in their path. The creature’s blue eyes shone in the gloom and its sharp, ferocious teeth snapped wildly as it prepared to kill its prey.

  ‘Hold the circle!’ shouted Clay. ‘If you break it, we’ll be picked off one at a time.’

  Chris began to sob, and Lucy moved to comfort him. As she did so, Joe saw her arm.

  ‘What did he do to you?’ was all he could ask.

  The growling creature came closer and closer, eyeing up its opponents and waiting to strike. It looked at Joe and Lucy – it seemed intent on seeking them out.

  There was silence in the circle, and all eyes were trained on the beast in front of them. Hearts were pounding furiously, waiting for the moment when the battle would commence. As the creature started to run towards them, two more appeared at the ends of the tunnels leading from each of the doorways.

  Then, without warning, a fourth entrance opened up at their rear. There was another creature. There were four in all. Each one the same: huge, dark and terrifying.

  Weapons were held out, ready to repel any attack, but the first beast was upon them. As Joe turned to look at the creature that had just appeared at their rear, the first beast charged at Rick, impaling him instantly on one of his tusks. For a few short seconds he struggled, before his body went limp. He was dead.

  The creature behind them ran into the group, and in the remaining two passageways the final pair of beasts smelled Rick’s blood and began their charge towards the Justice Seekers.

  Joe had time for just one thought before he was thrust into the heart of the bloody battle: surely there was no way any of them would make it out alive?

  Chapter Nine

  Conflict

  Talya had been unsure about whether to call out to Lucy in the brief moment that she’d been able to speak to her. She wanted Lucy to see her and to make sure she’d caught a glimpse of the pendant, so she would know they were fighting for her.

  The stakes were so high, and her efforts seemed to be frustrated at every turn. It was beginning to feel as if Damien Hunter had every exit covered.

  Leianna Richwald had actually tutted when she’d called out to Lucy, and it had certainly got the attention of the other Law Lords.

  Damien Hunter walked over, smiling. He was clearly feeling more confident now. Talya wondered if she should have confided in him.

  ‘That’s not a very clever thing to do, Law Lord Slater. I know you have the President’s favour, but the laws surrounding the procedures in Justice Trials are clear and fair. No interventions other than the legally required wording are permitted, and you have violated those restrictions.’

  ‘What did you expect?’ she snapped back at him. ‘That’s my daughter you’re about to send in to be murdered.’

  ‘You of all people know the laws of The City, Law Lord Slater. I will have to refer you under legal document 12d, section 4i to the scrutiny of your peers. Law Lord Richwald will lead the proceedings. You will be required to attend for review at 09:00 hours tomorrow morning.’

  Talya was annoyed with herself for making the outburst. If she had kept her mouth shut, she might have been more use to Lucy.

  ‘You know of course that you are now placed under a restrictive order for the next twenty-four hours while the review is taking place.’

  Talya knew exactly what that meant. No impromptu tours of any Fortrillium facilities, no further Law Lord duties, and no official access to Max Penner for the next day. That could be the difference to Lucy – she might be dead in the next twenty-four hours. Talya should have known better; she’d let her daughter down with her angry outburst.

  ‘I’ll get your access restricted straight away. I’m sure you understand?’

  Damien Hunter enjoyed saying those words. It was all Talya could do not to punch him, but she contained herself. That would cause even more trouble.

  ‘I understand,’ she said. ‘I’m sorry, I don’t know what came over me there. I was just so overwhelmed by the situation.’

  Damien nodded, and for a fleeting second she even believed he was sympathetic.

  ‘I’ll need to downgrade your access level until the review is complete. You won’t be able to enter the Fortrillium building again until tomorrow.’

  ‘Understood. I’ll be here tomorrow morning.’

  The other Law Lords started to move away, sensing the main spectacle was over. Law Lord Sivil seemed distracted by what had just happened. Leianna Richwald left the area with a smirk on her face – that was another person Talya was ready to punch. She had Talya’s fate in her hands, so there was little point in antagonizing her. Talya would play along with them, she’d be fully compliant, she needed her privileges back.

  As the room cleared, she moved a little closer to Hunter.

  ‘You know, we can still work this thing out,’ she said quietly.

  ‘Don’t ever think I won’t negotiate, Damien, whenever you’re ready to sit down and talk. It doesn’t have to be this way.’

  Damien didn’t meet her eyes, but she sensed a small nod.

  ‘09:00 hours tomorrow, Law Lord Slater,’ he replied. ‘I look forward to seeing you again then.’

  He didn’t bite. Talya wondered what was wrong with the man. Why was he so difficult to reach?

  Hunter left the room, and Talya was on her own. Two Centuria arrived – they were there to escort her from the building. She was accompanied to a point well beyond the security gates of the Fortrillium building. Damien Hunter couldn’t have sent a clearer message if he’d tried. There were no deals to be made. He still considered Talya the enemy.

  It was dark, and Talya needed to head back home to catch up with the latest developments on the screens. The new Mode had begun – who knew what Lucy and Joe were facing in there? She wondered about Max Penner, Wiz and Mitchell. Had they made any progress while she’d been attending to her Law Lord duties?

  Absorbed in her thoughts, she was barely aware of the dark figures coming up behind her in the darkness. It was seldom necessary to worry about personal security on Silk Road, and Talya never feared for her safety while walking alone at night.

  They were upon her in a moment. Her own thoughts were elsewhere, and they got to her in the same instant she’d realized that there was even a threat.

  Talya was injected with a drug which immediately rendered her unconscious and thrown into a black, windowless van that had been parked a little further along the road.

  As her daughter fought for survival in the darkness of the labyrinth, at that very moment it was Talya’s life which seemed to be the one under more immediate threat.

  Treachery

  Mitchell was aware that Wiz was trying to contact him, but he didn’t
want to talk. As soon as he’d left The Climbs and made his way to the security gate, he’d been met by Teanna Schaelles who was waiting for him in a black car. She knew where he was and what he’d been doing – they were watching him from afar.

  She’d been keen to talk to him alone before they reached the President.

  ‘We were very interested to hear you are friends with Talya Slater and Hannah James,’ she began, not bothering with pleasantries.

  ‘We’ve been monitoring Law Lord Slater. She seems to be very good friends with Mr Hunter.’

  Mitchell fell right into the trap.

  ‘Not a chance! She loathes the man. She blames him for the death of her husband. It’s because of Hunter that we got involved in all of this.’

  ‘You’ve done some remarkable work to infiltrate Fortrillium, Mitchell. Your friends must be extremely grateful for your expertise. I can see you’d be highly suited to a senior role within the President’s office – he’s always looking for talented people like you.’

  Mitchell could barely contain his pride. Imagine being able to boast about being headhunted by the President of all people! That was above Fortrillium, it was incredibly prestigious.

  ‘How is Hannah doing?’ Teanna asked, gliding seamlessly between flattery and information gathering. Mitchell was no match for her.

  ‘Talya made contact with her at Fortrillium – at least she knows Joe and Lucy are in there now.’

  ‘You’ve done well, Mitchell. Thank you for your updates.

  As you know, this information is crucial to President Delman and he’s extremely grateful for everything you’re doing. You’ll be well rewarded, of course, and your friends are protected. It’s important that we track down the source of these leaks in Fortrillium.