Enter the Janitor (The Cleaners) (Volume 1) (17 page)
Read Enter the Janitor (The Cleaners) (Volume 1) Online
Authors: Josh Vogt
Chapter Twenty-four
Dani’s feeble kicks stopped as her panicked adrenaline rush drained away. Her breathing was loud in her ears, and the bag stuck to her sweat, smelling of plastic.
While blind, at least she didn’t suffocate. Every time she drew an unsteady breath, fresh air swirled into the bag and then whisked away with her exhalation. A magical ventilation system? More Cleaner tricks, she guessed. But a garbage bag? They were treating her like trash. Like Scum.
“Lemme go! You idiots. She controlled it. It’s over. There’s gotta be hundreds of Cleansers runnin’ around here. Get on them and stop hasslin’ us.”
Ben’s distant voice was punctuated by scuffling. What were they doing to him?
Her captors dragged her upright and marched her over the barrier she’d erected. The ruptured stone cut her feet, and she stumbled. They lifted and carried her along like a bundle of soggy newspaper. Ben coughed and groaned beside her, and she wondered how badly the old janitor had been hurt.
When they halted, she sensed a crowd of people around them, and cringed. She stood naked and bound, unable to even cover herself. The shame burned almost as hot as the power she’d wielded. Words hissed inside her, sounding like water thrown on live coals.
You see? This is how your life will always be. Leashed like a bitch trained to beg for her treats.
Dani scowled inside the bag and shoved down on the rising presence.
You won’t control me again. And cut out the cursing. If I can’t, then you get to zip it.
Laughter flared deep in her mind, but the voice didn’t return.
“Is she secured?”
Francis’ footsteps clicked across the stones as he approached. The Ascendant holding her right arm answered.
“Yes, sir. Completely neutralized.”
Ben spoke on her right. “Francis! Whatcha think you’re doin’? You gone a few kicks short of a can-can?”
“This is procedure, Janitor Benjamin. I’m cleaning up yet another mess you’ve made.”
“Dani ain’t responsible for what happened. You got no right to truss her up.”
Dani bristled at the Ascendant’s weary sigh.
“She’s dangerous, Benjamin. In fact, she seems even more out of control now than she did when first given to your care. I knew from the start it was a mistake. I’m saddened it took this much death and destruction to prove me right.”
“You’re gonna blame her for what the Cleansers started?” Ben said. “If you didn’t have slop for brains, you mighta noticed the only reason we ain’t all charred bone right now is ’cause she pushed through a purgin’ ceremony that woulda driven anyone else crazy.”
Dani shivered at the fresh memory of the possession. It had been like looking out through another’s eyes, except … it had still been her. A version of herself surrendered to the seductive power, apathetic toward anyone else. That part of Dani hadn’t given a flea’s nipple about who would live or die, so long as she got her way. Everyone and everything had been expendable. Was that what a sociopath felt like?
“The Cleansers will be dealt with,” Francis said. “My scrub-team is sweeping this compound.”
Someone called from the far end of the hall. “It’s good to see things under control. However, I am still tempted to let my temper get the better of me.”
Dani rejoiced as she recognized Destin’s voice—a feeling she’d never expected to associate with him. By the multitude of approaching footsteps, she figured the Chairman had brought his own team. Finally, a break. Things would get cleared up and this bag would be taken off her head.
“Chairman,” Ben said, relief clear in his voice. “Glad you hustled on over. Would you mind tellin’ Francis to get his paws off my apprentice?”
Dani rolled her shoulders, ready to give the Francis a nasty glare once she could see again. However, shock shoved her indignation aside when Destin replied.
“No. I am afraid I cannot allow that. Ascendant Francis, nullify Janitor Benjamin as well.”
“What?” Ben’s roar would’ve sent an angry bear scrambling back into hibernation.
“Sir?” For the first time, Dani detected doubt in Francis’ voice. “I don’t see the necessity of—”
“Are you refusing a direct order?” Destin’s chilly tone raised goosebumps on Dani’s arms.
Silence. Then Ben snarled and shouts erupted. An elbow bruised her shoulder, and her guards struggled to keep her upright as bodies jostled them.
Ben grunted as if struck, and his threats became a smothered string of unintelligible growls. Fear spiked through Dani’s chest as she realized he’d been restrained too. However, the emotional surge didn’t cause any reaction from her power. Something negated it, whether the garbage bag or the Ascendants’ auras.
People muttered around her until Francis silenced them with a cough.
“Chairman, I in no way debate your authority, but can you enlighten me as to why this is necessary?”
“I read your report,” Destin said.
“My report? But, sir, I—”
“Just because you didn’t deliver it to me does not mean I lack access to it. You remain thorough in recording events and observations, but your perception failed you in this instance. Specifically, you have underestimated exactly how far Janitor Benjamin has fallen, and how effective he is at manipulating our perceptions, including using the girl to divert attention from himself.”
“Destin,” Ben sounded as if he stood in another room, “I’m this close to—”
More shuffling by Dani’s side, and then a harsh whisper from Francis.
“Benjamin, for Purity’s sake, be quiet and let me handle this.”
He cleared his throat. “Sir, I’m not sure I understand.”
“In just the past day,” Destin said, “Janitor Benjamin was witnessed associating with a garbage man, something he has been forbidden from doing numerous times. He also was the first to report Sydney’s presence, which you neglected to inform me of. Speaking of which, how did you learn of this location, Ascendant Francis? I was only made aware of the situation through chance and followed you here.”
“Sir, perhaps if we waited until we are back at Headquarters, I could—”
Heat slapped against Dani, and a flaring aura stung her eyes, even through the bag.
Destin’s voice boomed throughout the chamber. “Ascendant Francis, might I remind you that there is a chain of authority within the Cleaners for a reason? You seem to have forgotten your place in it. When I ask, you answer. When I command, you obey. The effectiveness of my position is entirely based on the information I receive, how I decide to act on it, and the people I trust to carry out my will. If this situation had been ignored much longer, it might have gone beyond any hope of containment. As it stands, we have little time to fix the damage. No more delays. No more excuses, otherwise you will be suspended without pay until further notice, if not demoted to bucket work.”
Feet shuffled, and Dani imagined she heard Francis’ spine pop as he came to attention.
“My apologies, Chairman,” he said. “These oversights will not happen again.”
“Correct, because I am now in direct control of this cleanup operation. Do you wish to know what else I gleaned from your report?”
“Gladly, Chairman.”
“Janitor Benjamin’s meeting with Sydney was not coincidence or accidental. As horrible as it is for me to comprehend, I cannot think of any other purpose for it than to seduce Ms. Hashelheim to Corruption, rather than being the antagonistic encounter Benjamin might have you believe.”
“What?” Ben and Dani spouted in muffled unison.
“The destruction of the bar lends credibility to the story of an attack,” Destin continued, “but if Sydney had confronted them with murderous intent, we all know they would not have escaped unharmed.”
“Spit on your soul, Destin,” Ben cried. “I ain’t got a clue what you think this is gonna get you, but Sydney’s still out there, and—”
“Sydney has been captured,” said Francis. “I interrogated him myself. That’s how I knew where to find the Cleansers. He directed us here.”
A few heartbeats thudded by. Ben’s voice rumbled with suspicion. “When?”
“A few hours after we finished cleaning out the dump,” Francis said. “He was discovered spying on our scrub-team and is being held in an isolation chamber, thoroughly neutralized.”
“Now that’s a plain ol’ trick if I ever heard of one,” Ben said.
“Perhaps he intended it as such,” Francis replied. “But he underestimated our capacity to counter his entropic power. I intended to alert you to this development, Chairman, but our time to act was limited.”
Dani strained to get a sense of Destin’s mood. He couldn’t actually believe what he was saying, could he? It was all wrong. He should be rescuing them.
“I will deal with Sydney later,” Destin said. “For now, observe how the condition of Benjamin’s Ravishing is significantly worse than last observed. What does this evidence? Few things would accelerate the decay this much—in fact, I believe it comes from nothing less than direct contact with an entity from the Corrupt Pantheon. Janitor? What do you say to this?”
“You wanna know the truth? Sydney hustled us here against our will,” Ben said. “He handed Dani over to the Cleansers as part of some deal, and then had a little kumbaya time with Filth, offerin’ her tea and biscuits in exchange for tidbits on whatever’s churnin’ up all the muck we’ve been wadin’ through.”
“Filth?” Destin’s voice went low and hard. “You spoke to her? You allowed her to infect your mind with deceit?”
“No,” Ben said, frustration burred his words. “For Purity’s sake, lemme explain.”
“I’m sorry, Benjamin,” Destin said. “As much as it pains me to say, you are too Corrupted to be trusted further. Has the Ravishing finally reached your heart? Perhaps your mind?”
“I ain’t Corrupted,” Ben said. “Purity still signs my paychecks.”
“Then explain the Cleanser lying dead with his brains rotted out of his skull and his blood turned to bile.”
“That’s—”
“Yes?”
Ben curdled phlegm in the back of his throat and then hocked a wad. “I’m done talkin’ to you, Destin. You got things all nice and twisted-like.” He shifted beside Dani, and she caught a whiff of bleach through the bag. “Francis, use your noggin. Do the right thing.”
“He will do what is necessary,” the Chairman said. “You, on the other hand, will be dealt with as the Board sees fit. I’ll argue for a merciful sentence.” Ben started to protest, but Destin spoke over him. “I wanted to trust you in this, but the time has come to remove you from service. Ascendant Francis, prepare your team.”
“As you say, Chairman.”
Ben asked, “Whatcha gonna do with Dani?”
“Her fate is no longer your concern,” Destin said. “Her place among us will have to be reevaluated, given the circumstances. I can only hope she is salvageable.”
“Destin …”
“Hm?”
“You are one maggoty, mud-rakin’, pus-drinkin’, son of a motherless billy goat!” Ben grunted in satisfaction. “There you go, Francis. Have fun convincin’ the Board to add any of those to the list.”
Footsteps echoed as the Chairman moved away. “Take them back to Headquarters. Use all precautions. Should they resist in any manner, apply lethal force.”
***
Chapter Twenty-five
Already blinded, Dani lost any sense of sound as soon as Destin condemned them to whatever constituted a prison in the Cleaners’ facilities. Only touch remained.
Rough hands forced her to walk and kept her up when she stumbled. The floor turned from broken stone to smooth marble. A single act of decency came when they lifted her legs one at a time and untied her arms to maneuver her into a full-body jumpsuit that zipped up the back. She never thought she’d feel relieved at being stuffed into one of the Cleaner uniforms again, even though they didn’t provide gloves this time. She tried to peek out from under the bag without success.
The suit better not have turned pink on her.
Her arms were resecured, and they shoved her along again. After another few minutes of walking, there came a brief pause, followed by several measured steps forward. A chilly, liquid sensation passed over her. Where it touched the exposed part of her neck, it left it feeling numb for a moment. She recognized it as the same sensation from when Ben took her through the window portal on the way to see Destin. So they’d been transported back to HQ through one of their glassways.
They strode onward, the floor now cold tile, the air dry in contrast to her increasingly damp skin. What was it with her sweat glands lately? She didn’t need them to let her know she was nervous.
Anxiety rose with each step until she felt she might drown in it, give way to the panic and make a fruitless attempt to escape. This would accomplish nothing but exhaust her further and perhaps give them reason to switch her over to a straitjacket. Still, the dread kept notching up, heightened by the almost complete sensory deprivation. She tried to reel her thoughts in, to give herself an anchoring focus.
She just had to think like a janitor, right? What would a janitor do in this situation? First of all, a janitor wouldn’t have stuck her head inside a garbage bag. Health hazard, that. So that was one step backward …
A spot of wetness worked up her back, beneath the suit, tickling like an ant as it went. Or a spider. This thought sent her thrashing. She almost popped her shoulder out of its socket trying to grab at her back.
Her escorts shook her in warning, but kept moving her along. Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to bear its presence. Whatever it was, she had no way to stop it.
The tiny intruder paused where the trash bag circled her neck. Then it bumped beneath it, continued up her neck and plopped inside her ear before Dani could squeal. She started to jerk her shoulder against the side of her head to dislodge the lump, but a voice buzzed in her head.
“Chill, princess.”
Startled recognition made her stop walking, but the Cleaners dragged her on. She scrambled to get her feet back under her as she whispered in reply.
“Ben?” Her voice sounded flat within the trash bag.
“Trottin’ along right beside you
.
Sorry for this whole mess. For what it’s worth, I figure that show back at the furnace is a sure sign you can handle your power well enough.”
Dani turned her head from side to side, but the blackness remained. “How are we communicating?”
“Oh, right. I left a bit of Carl in my stomach. He’s got this spiffy little trick where he transfers vibrations through the jawbone and eardrums.”
“Carl? Did he cook up that weird armor you were wearing?”
A cough.
“Well, him and a few hundred of his pals. The bindin’s they’ve slapped on us cut off any outside energy, but they can’t fiddle with what’s already inside us. You learn to be ready for these kinds of situations.”
She smiled wryly, even though he couldn’t see. “Including your own boss deciding you’ve gone crazy and been Corrupted?”
“Eh. After seein’ enough of my coworkers bounce their sanity checks, I figured it pays to be prepared. Was only a matter of time for me.”
Her mind’s eye conjured images of Ben’s Corrupted arm, all black and green and gray. A shudder passed through her.
“Ben, what really caused the Ravishing?”
“Wanna worry about gettin’ free first?”
She bit her lower lip, not liking the feeling that he was brushing her off. But arguing would waste time she suspected they didn’t have. “Does that mean you have a plan?”
“I’ve been workin’ with this kinda equipment for years. You’d think I’d have figured out a few tricks around it by now.”
“Have you?”
“Here’s hopin’ so. Now, hang on. This next part might sting a bit.”
“Sting?”
A pair of droplets trickled through the bag lining and up her cheeks, where they zipped into her eyes before she could shut them. She blinked against the smarting and started bending over, an instinctual hunch against the invasion.
“Don’t be so squirmy. Our walkin’ buddies might get cranky.”
Dani straightened, eyelids fluttering as light blossomed.
“Howzat?”
She shook her head, trying to overcome the urge to knuckle her eyes. The world reappeared through a blue, glistening film; if she turned her head too fast, the edges of the hall swirled before settling back to true. The bag remained over her head, but the sprite projected a semblance of vision straight to her eyes, the same as it slipped Ben’s voice into her ears.
“Thanks,” she said as she took in their surroundings. Two Ascendants marched her and Ben—looking like a cheap scarecrow with his lanky frame and a trash bag for a head—down a wide hall, glass walls on either side. Through these, she glimpsed sunken rooms crowded with iron cages, dark figures chained within, crystal balls full of writhing smoke, glass doors rimmed with frost, and steel grates bolted over black pits. Every dozen yards, padlocked doors stood above stairs that led to the lower level. Dani wondered if the bag were taken off, would she hear screams and shouts of whoever and whatever was imprisoned here? Or would it remain unearthly silent?
“What is this place?” she asked.
Ben didn’t give any indication of their secret conversation. His infected arm had also been wrapped tight in black plastic bags and bound behind him.
“The Recycling Center. It’s where we bring Scum that we don’t wipe out right away. Sometimes, if they’re human—and we get to ’em in time—the Corruption can be removed. Other times, we study constructs or lost causes to figure out ways to fight ’em better next time.”
“And … what will they do to us?”
“Depends.”
“They’re going to put us in diapers?”
“That’s good. Keep a’hold of that humor. Helps keep the heebie-jeebies at bay.”
He cleared his throat.
“For me, they’re probably gonna stick me in containment until the Ravishing really does start gnawin’ on my brain. For you, I’m thinkin’ they’ll be druggin’ you up ten ways to Tuesday, or … well …”
Dani bit her lip. “Or what, Ben?”
“Ever see Ol’ Yeller?”
He hastened to continue.
“But don’t worry, kiddo. It ain’t gonna come to that.”
“How do you know?”
“’Cause I ain’t dead yet.”
At that moment, they came within sight of a set of steel double-doors at the far end of the hall. They stopped before these, and one of their escorts placed a hand on the metal, face cast in shadow below his fedora.
Ben preempted her question by half a second.
“Quarantine,”
he said.
“It’s where we stick the really naughty kids who stay up past bedtime and refuse to brush their teeth.”
Dani felt rather than heard the doors open. The rumbling shook her from ankles to shoulders as the entrance slid apart. They were pushed into an oversized elevator, large enough to hold at least twenty people. Dani glanced at her captors, gauging their alertness. Was this where they made their escape? It gave them a confined space to fight in, but still … an elderly janitor and her against four muscled and possibly armed men? Dani didn’t want to know the odds on that brawl.
“Ben? What do we do?”
A shock jolted the chamber, and she twitched before she realized the doors had slammed shut behind them. As the elevator shook and descended, Ben’s silence gnawed at her. Did he really have a plan?
The elevator shuddered to a stop and the opposite wall split into another pair of doors, revealing a dark hallway lined with more assorted prisons. Rows of them stretched into the distance, light spearing the shadows between each cell.
“Get ready.”
Without a huff to betray him, Ben lunged forward, tearing away from his captors.
“Ben!”
She imagined shouts as two suits chased Ben, who careened from side to side, bashing his shoulders against pedestal bases, toppling globes and cracking glass doors. He pounded down the hall like a pinball, ricocheting from wall to wall, surrendering momentum to slam into frosted panes or kick at locking mechanisms.
Then an Ascendant threw himself forward. Arms wrapped around Ben’s legs, and the two fell flat. Ben’s laughter crackled in her ears, and for a moment she feared he’d lost his sanity after all. The guards dragged him to his feet as she was marched down to him.
She snorted. “That worked well.”
As she said this, their escort shuffled in place, looking this way and that. One drew out a radio and yelled into it, while the others formed a perimeter around the prisoners. Dani looked back along the hall and saw the results of Ben’s dash.
Black smoke poured out from a cracked globe, while sludge writhed out of a broken door and flowed toward their feet. Jagged claws cut through a dissipating curtain of light and dug into the floor. Dozens of eyes gleamed as they focused on the nearest prey.
“This here’s the problem with bringin’ an old hound like me home to be put down.”
She could almost see Ben’s grin through the bag.
“I know what we got chained up down here.”
In another second, the hallway crowded with hunched, winged, and fanged figures. Others strained to shake of their restraints, the bonds disrupted enough for them to bull through the rest.
“Duck and cover, princess!”
She dropped to her knees as something winged overhead and snatched up a guard. The man flailed, and his aura snapped into being around him. Smoke rose from the creature’s talons, and it dropped its prey. However, he’d already been taken to such a height that the landing left him stunned.
The other three spread out, auras bright, trying to push the escapees back into their cages. One woman disappeared under a wave of dark mud, which congealed into an egg shape. Handprints appeared from within, stretching the webbed skin like rubber. Another guard lashed whips of light at what appeared to be a cadaverous bear, and the third continued shouting into his radio while throttling an imp that gnashed at him with shark teeth.
Ben elbowed her.
“Hustle thisaway! Don’t get lost.”
Still hooded, and with their hands bound, they raced into the maze of prisons.
***
