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McBrid winced as his eyes fluttered open. His face throbbed like he’d been kicked. Nope. Not kicked, punched.
“Get his keys.” Scottsmoor stood by the door to the Brush-Men lab.
Topper shoved him against the wall, propping him up as Stink dug through his pants.
“Get off me.” He was dead if they got him into that room. He pushed at Topper who stumbled from surprise, but Stink leaned in, stopping McBrid from escaping.
“What’s this?” Stink pulled the glove with Aranea poison on it from McBrid’s pocket.
“I don’t care,” said Scottsmoor. “Just get his keys.”
“Don’t touch me. I’m an Almighty.”
The Guards ignored him. They’d been given their orders by their master and Guards always obeyed, especially big, dumb ones like these two.
Stink dropped the glove on the floor before sticking his hand back into McBrid’s pocket.
McBrid needed that glove. It was the only weapon he had. He scooted his foot forward but the Guards shoved him against the wall.
“Got em.” Stink yanked the keys from McBrid’s pocket, holding them up like a prize.
“Give them to me.” Scottsmoor held out his hand. The Guard tossed the keys and he caught them, quickly opening the door. “Bring him inside.” He stepped into the room.
“Scottsmoor, tell them to let me go. This is a mistake.” He tried again to reach the glove with his foot as they dragged him toward the room.
“No, this is perfect.” Scottsmoor leaned against McBrid’s desk.
“Wh-what do you mean? There’s been a misunderstanding. You have my Guards. Let them go and we’re good.” He bucked and struggled, stilling as the door closed behind him, his only hope lying on the hallway floor.
“Oh, there’s been a misunderstanding all right but it’s all on your side. Conguise ordered me to use your Guards. I knew you’d be upset when you found out, but I never thought you’d attempt to free them.”
“Just let me go”—he jerked, trying to get away from the Guards—“so we can talk about this.”
“There’s nothing to discuss. You created the problem and now, you’ve solved it.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You.” Scottsmoor poked him in the chest. “You want my promotion and you can’t have it.”
“Promotion? I don’t want any promotion.” He just wanted to live.
“Don’t lie to me. Conguise told me that Gruder was going to you for mentoring.”
“That’s what you’re upset about?” He could work with this.
“Yes,” Scottsmoor hissed. “And it’s your fault. I lied to Conguise for you. Told him feeding these”—he shot a disgusted look at the Brush-Men—“monsters meat had been my idea and because of that, he’s giving you the promotion.”
“He’s not. Trust me.” The professor had given him a bomb, not a promotion.
“Trust you?” Scottsmoor shook his head. “I’m not stupid, but I do take opportunities when I see them.” He walked to the controls by the Brush-Men cage.
“Please, you don’t have to do this. Let me go. I’ll leave. You’ll never see or hear from me again.”
“Oh, you’ll disappear all right. I’m going to make sure of that. Not one scrap of you will remain.” Scottsmoor pressed the button that opened the glass at the top of the Brush-Men cage.
“Araldo, no. Don’t do this.” He’d watched this happen too many times, countless Servants and Guards fighting and struggling, doing anything they could to not become dinner for the beasts. It never did any good, but his body didn’t care and it was in control now. He threw himself backward, thrashing in the grip of the Guards. “Please. Let me go.”
“Maybe.” Scottsmoor’s eyes narrowed. “Where’s the information you have on me?”
“I gave it to you.”
“I know you didn’t give me all your copies, but you will.” Scottsmoor turned on the computer. “Password.”
“Let me go and I’ll answer your questions.” He tried to stay calm, but the Brush-Men were clacking and merging in the center of the cage, waiting to tear him apart with their teeth and claws.
“You’ll answer my questions now or you’ll die.”
“You won’t find my notes without my help.” Even with his help no one was going to find his secrets. Everything had been in a safe in his house. Protected from fire and theft but not a bomb. He’d never anticipated that.
“Not finding them is an excellent idea.” Scottsmoor lifted the computer. “If this falls into the cage with you, no one will find them. Ever. And that works perfectly for me.”
That was not at all the reaction he’d wanted. “Conguise will be suspicious if he finds the computer in with the Brush-Men.”
“Hmm.” Scottsmoor frowned, setting the computer back on the desk. “Unless...” He smirked. “Suicidal people do strange things.” He waved at the Guards. “Take him to the top. Poor McBrid couldn’t take the stress any longer.”
“No. Don’t.” McBrid bucked and fought but he was steadily dragged toward the ladder. “Wait. I’ll talk. I’ll tell you everything.”
Scottsmoor ignored him.
“Stop. Please.” He dropped all his weight and was hanging between the Guards but they dragged him forward without pause. He had to do something. Anything. “I have secrets on others. Parson. I-I have his notes.” He lied.
“Topper, Stink, stop,” said Scottsmoor.
McBrid stood, hoping the Guards would loosen their grip but they were too well trained for that.
“Password.” Scottsmoor’s fingers were above the keyboard.
He had to stall, to find an opening for escape. “Ah...I don’t know. It’s a pattern on the keyboard. I don’t know the letters.” That wasn’t a lie. Patterns were harder to break.
Scottsmoor’s eyes narrowed but he said, “Bring him here.”
His muscles twitched as the Guards escorted him to his desk. He wasn’t free, but he was a little closer to the door.
“If you try anything, you die.” Scottsmoor stepped to the side.
The other Almighty needed to sweeten that deal because he was dead as soon as he gave the other scientist the information. “I won’t. I swear.” It was the biggest lie he’d ever told. “But I need my hands to type.”
“Let him go but stay close.”
As soon as the Guards dropped their hold, he put his hands on the keyboard, giving them a moment to relax before he spun around, faster than any of them expected. He grabbed Scottsmoor by the shirt, shoving him into the Guards and racing toward the door.
“Stop him!” yelled Scottsmoor.
Those words made McBrid move even faster. His hand slipped off the handle and he grasped it again, yanking the door open. Someone grabbed his shoulder. He shoved his elbow backward and was rewarded with a grunt but the Guard latched onto his shirt, pulling him away from the door. Another hand grabbed his shoulder, spinning him around but he wasn’t done yet. His fist connected with Stink’s face. The Guard fell, his grip tightening on McBrid like a vice and causing them both to tumble to the floor. He punched Stink again as he scrambled off the Guard. He had to get to his feet. He had to run. It was his only chance. Topper dropped onto his back, flattening him. He bucked but the Guard held on tight and then Stink added his weight and it was over. He’d never worm out from under the two. Charlie and Louis would be turned into Rattus hybrids, and he’d end up in the belly of a beast.