Untouched (Denazen #1.5)(13)

Like the doctor in my memory, the statue’s coat was covered in blood. It stood over its helpless patient, legs apart and hands propped on each hip, wearing a disturbing grin that spoke of madness. Why would someone pose these things like this? Dez said people visited this place for fun. I couldn’t conceive how such violent images and graphic scenes could be considered enjoyable. Let them spend a day at Denazen and then see if they still thought these things were fun.

The rest of the room was similar. There were red stains that stood out against stark white walls as well as on the floor, and in the corner, a man who had been sawed in half, his entrails spilling onto the tile, was frozen in mid-scream. The door at the other end had a sign that read, Hospital of Horrors Check-in.

“The next room is where I think we can get up,” Kiernan said as she pushed open what I hoped to be the final door. “Bingo!” she exclaimed, rushing forward and pointing to the wall.



In the back corner of the room, there was a frail-looking ladder beneath a large silver-slotted panel. The bottom half was missing and the top was pulled away from the wall, several of the bolts hanging and ready to drop.

Leaping, I pushed off and grabbed hold of the third rung from the top. If I could get up to the grate, I felt certain I could pry it loose. Several of the bolts were missing, and those that remained looked rusty and old.

I started to pull myself up so I could reach the top rung, but it snapped under my weight. Fingers scraping wood, I managed to grab the bottom piece, positioning the soles of my shoes against the wall for traction. I really did like these shoes.

Once steady, I carefully reached for the top bar again and hauled myself up. My first attempt at removing the panel failed. My fingers were too large to fit through the grate, so I couldn’t pull it free. My second attempt was also unsuccessful. I’d tried to slip my fingernails under the grate and lift it that way, but I had a habit of biting my nails. If Dez were here, she’d say, I told you so.

“Find something I can hit the bolts with. A piece of wood or pipe,” I called down to Kiernan.

A few moments later, she returned. “Catch.”

Something sailed upward, and I grabbed it just as it began its trip back toward the ground. “A hammer?”

“Maintenance has a little cubbyhole in the corner. Full of goodies.”

It was perfect. I hit the first bolt and it cracked, crumbling into dried bits of rust and dust. I did the same with the second—the last one—and the bolt, along with the grate, fell with a clang to the floor.

It took some maneuvering, but I managed to wedge myself inside the small space.

“Wait!” Kiernan called from the ground. “What about me?”



“You can head toward the room unseen by using your ability. When it looks clear, come in.”

“That’s it? When it looks clear, come in?”

“Yes,” I said, taking a deep breath. Dez. I needed to focus on Dez. She was the only thing keeping me from, as she’d call it, freaking out, because of the limited space in the duct. I didn’t like feeling confined. It brought up too many bad memories.

After several moments of darkness, I saw a light ahead. When I came to the grate, I could see Dez, Samsen, and the agents were below.

There were only three agents plus Samsen. Two in normal suits and one wearing a safe suit. Dez was right. I had this. She expected me to come for her, and I wasn’t going to let her down.

The one in the safe suit glared at Dez. “I say we take the little brat out to the lot and go. 98 won’t be far behind.”

Anger rumbled in my chest, and my fingers itched. Dez’s arms were behind her back—cuffed, no doubt—and the agent’s hand was clamped across her shoulder. He kicked at the wall, shaking Dez out of frustration.

The third one turned to her. He was the oldest of the three and looked uncomfortable. Arms fidgeting at his sides, he tapped his right foot continuously and kept glancing back toward the door. At the first sign of trouble, I was betting he’d run off and leave the others.

At least, I hoped.

Dez was quiet for a moment before a mischievous grin slipped across her lips. “You Denazen dudes aren’t just dickless, you’re dumb as pie, too. You really think we’re all leaving here together? Really? And unicorns are likely to shoot from my ass…” She thrust her chin out in defiance. “I hate to be one of those kinds of girls, but my boyfriend is so gonna kick your asses.”

The older man stood there, shocked, but his younger associate wasn’t so restrained. He lashed out, shoving Dez. She gave a surprised cry, wobbling as she tried to keep her balance. It was no use. Falling back, she hit the ground hard, and the agent was on her in the blink of an eye. “Listen up, bitch—”



I readied myself to pop the grate and drop down, but the older agent brought his foot up and nudged the other sideways. “Take it easy, Rob. Cross will have your ass if we deliver damaged goods.”

The older agent bent down and helped Dez to her feet. “You okay, kid?”

She nodded and held his gaze. No fear. That was my girl. I knew she was afraid—anyone would be—but she wouldn’t show it. She never showed it. Even during the battle at Sumrun, agents and Residents surrounding us, she’d shown no fear. I’d asked her about it one night when we were sitting outside and staring up at the stars. She’d called it her Poker Face. Years of practice hiding herself from the world. I could see through it, though. She’d said she was glad.