Page 111 of The Chain House

Now that their presence inside the horror house had been recognized, cries of help now sounded from each side of the hallway and from all three floors, and, perhaps, even a basement, because those chains going down into the floors had to lead somewhere, to someone.

“I’m going to throw up,” Lizzie said as they navigated the hallway, turning at the L toward another hallway of doors and rooms, all of them unlocked and full of prisoners.

“It’s a Chain House,” Trevor said. “Have you read the Mallard Malone novels?”

“No,” she said. “Not much of a reader.”

“I’ve only read half of the first,” he said. “It was enough. But in one of the territories, in this apocalyptic world, they hold their prisoners inside what they called Chain Houses. All the prisoners are connected to one another. And yeah,” he said, approaching a stairwell. “I might throw up too.”

They froze at the sound of someone coming down the nearby stairwell.

Stumbling was more like it.

And then, as if he’d been shot out of a cannon, a large man emerged from the stairwell and crashed into the wall.

It was Minks.

He straightened, moved like he was blind, and then Trevor saw why. There was something protruding from his right eye, which was a blood-oozing, gory mess, and his neck was red and scratched and bleeding in places as well, like he’d recently been choked by something. He gasped for air, struggled to breathe, but managed a grin when he saw his two intruders.

“Tiny Tommy … Batise,” he said in a croak. “Come for dinner?”

And Lizzie, having seemingly seen enough, pulled the trigger. Once, then a second time—one for each knee, instead of kill shots. She was leaving it to him to finish the deal.

Trevor clutched the bat, moved forward, and brought it down with all his strength.

CHAPTER66

Minks is dead.

Sam showed the text message from his father to Agent Givens and Governor Hawthorne, who immediately said, “Beth? Emily?”

Sam said, “I don’t know yet, but Minks is dead.”

Agent Givens turned to Hawthorne. “Governor, you’ve got one minute.” He pointed toward the window and yard below. “There’s a chance if he’s killed, the country is overrun by criminals.”

“The President knows the threat.”

“And he won’t have time to stop it at this point.”

Governor Hawthorne nodded, like he knew it, and then said, “I’ll grant the stay.”

Agent Givens pounded on the office window to try and get the warden’s attention, but they were up too high. He sprinted from the room.

Governor Hawthorne jumped on the phone to call his office.

Sam knew this wasn’t how it was supposed to go. Papers needed to be signed. Protocol needed to be followed. This wouldn’t do.

Carl sat wide-eyed and quiet at the warden’s desk.

Sam and Jennifer watched out the window as Sal spoke what might have been his last words.

CHAPTER67

BETH SCREAMED, “HELP!”

In reality, she feared her voice was barely audible. Her vision was blurry. She felt certain the blow she’d taken from the wine bottle had given her a concussion.

“Beth … Can you hear me?”