“Mackenzie is that really you?” she asked, still in shock.
Equally, in shock, Mackenzie began to slowly walk closer towards her when suddenly Theo placed a gentle hand on their chest.
“Kimberly?”
“I thought you’d died,” she replied, still in shock.
“How do you know Mackenzie?” Theo asked her, easing his grip slightly.
“Kimberly was a part of the village that I had stayed in when I was a kid. We practically grow up together,” Mackenzie replied, turning to Theo.
“What are you doing here?” they asked, turning toward Kimberly.
“I got trapped here.”
“Really?”
Kimberly nodded.
“Oh, how rude of me. Kimberly, these are my friends, Theo and Ronan,” they replied.
Glancing at both men, Kimberly smiled, slightly.
“Hello,” she said.
“Are you hurt Kimberly, is that why you were here when we got here?” Mackenzie asked.
“I’m not hurt, no.”
“What are you doing here?” Theo asked.
“Miles wanted us to see if there are more survivors from the latest attacks.”
“You seem to have been trapped here would you like for us to help us to help you get out of here?” he asked Kimberly.
Surprised, she nodded.
With Mackenzie’s help, they put Kimberly back into the wheelchair that was laying on its side a few steps away. The three of them walked out of the room with Mackenzie pushing her chair out of the hospital. Once they reached the exterior of the hospital, Kimberly turned around to face the three of them.
“I’ll talk to Miles and see what he says,” she said to them.
“Thanks. I’m gonna speak to our group and see how we can help. Do you want to meet up in three days’ time?” he said.
“Sure,” Kimberly replied.
“Alright, see you when I see you,” Mackenzie replied, smiling.
Stepping closer to Kimberly and pulled her into a tight hug, they finally after a few brief moments separated and Mackenzie walked back over to where Theo and Ronan were. Reaching them both, they turned around and raised a hand, waving goodbye. Kimberly waved back and then wheeled off towards where her group’s camp was.
Once she was out of sight, the three of them turned and made their way back towards the castle. Making their way through the city, they soon reached the castle’s gates with Xavier standing at them. Seeing them, his lips stretched into a bright smile.
“Hey guys, did you have a successful mission?” he said.
Ronan nodded.
“I need to gather everyone. We need to talk about some stuff,” he said.
“I’ll go now. Where do you want us?” Xavier replied, raising an eyebrow, questioningly.
“Get everyone in the main hall and I’ll meet you there.”
Xavier nodded briefly and turned on his heel, heading back into the castle. When he was gone, Ronan turned to Mackenzie and Theo.
“Do you both want to be there when I tell everyone what happened?” he asked them.
“Of course,” they both replied in unison.
♦♦♦
15 minutes later, everyone was gathered in a large group in the castle’s main hall, Mackenzie and Theo had chosen to hang off to the side. The main hall was a large, spacious modern-styled room that was brightly lit by LED lights and had a very well-built platform where Ronan was currently standing on. He waited until the noise in the room had quieted down and began once it did.
“I found out some things when we went into the city today,” he said, “as it turns out there are some mortals that have managed to keep themselves alive,” he continued, “they were looking for answers as to why everything had gotten so bad exactly. So, in three days, I’ll be meeting with the girl that we met today, and she’ll be bringing someone with her as well.”
Near the back of the group, a slightly tall young man who had short strawberry blonde hair and blueish-green eyes raised a hand.
“Um, meaning no offense your excellency, but who’s the girl? How do we know that we can trust her?” he asked.
Mackenzie stepped forward and moved to Ronan’s side so that they could explain what had happened properly.
“I’ve known Kimberly my whole childhood. She and I lived together when I was younger and living at the village that took me in after my mother was killed,” they said.
“So, she can be trusted?”
“Absolutely.”
The man still looked doubtful, stepping back into the crowd.
“Any other questions?” Ronan asked, looking around at everyone.
“Very well. Mackenzie, Theo and I will be heading back into the city and we’ll be meeting with Kimberly and her friend in a few days and we’ll just see how big the problem is,” he said when no one replied.
Once he’d finished speaking, Ronan dismissed the group and told them to get some sleep, he was sure they were going to need it for what was coming in the next few days.
CHAPTER THREE
T hree days later, Mackenzie, Ronan, and Theo arrived back at just outside the hospital grounds. This time around, when they arrived, they saw that Kimberly was accompanied by another
familiar face to Mackenzie.
Miles Andrews stood at five-foot-eleven and had short light brown hair and warm blue eyes. He had a lean build and the look that he had currently on his face was a mixture of disbelief and awe. Slowly, he approached Mackenzie and brought them into a tight hug and began to sob as he did so. He knew he shouldn’t have let them get separated in the first place as he had.
“I’m so sorry for leaving you, Mackenzie. I should never have done so,” Miles said, once he’d wiped their tears away.
“It’s alright, I mean I was the one who wandered off and got lost. I forgive you,” Mackenzie replied.
“I hate to cut in guys, but I wanted to ask your friend here something,” Ronan said, smiling warmly at the both of them.
Blushing profusely, Mackenzie traded glances between Miles and Ronan.
“Guys, this is Miles, he’s the one who looked after me when my mom died when I was a kid.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Ronan and this is Theo,” Ronan replied.
“Likewise.”
“I wanted to ask you something, Miles,” Ronan said, his eyebrows furrowed slightly.
“I was wondering if you’d noticed all the attacks that have been going on?”
“Notice them? We nearly lost two of our people in the last set of explosions,” Miles replied.
“Really?” Mackenzie asked.
“Yeah, it was horrible. Why do you ask?” he asked.
“I was wondering if maybe you’d accept staying at the castle for a while.”
The look on Miles’ face grew suddenly cold as if a switch had gone on his features.
“The castle, so you’re a Fanger, is that it, are you all Fangers?” Miles asked.
“No just Mackenzie and I are. Theo’s a Lycan but we won’t hurt you,” Ronan replied.
“Oh really?”
“Yes! Look Miles, Ronan’s father was King Garrett, not President
Adams. You remember him, don’t you?” Mackenzie protested.
The anger disappeared from his face as he nodded.
“I do. He was a good man. I’m so sorry, Ronan. Please forgive me?” Miles said.
“Of course. And the offer still stands if you’d like?’
Miles nodded.
“When should we be there?” he asked.
“How about in two days, does that sound good?” Ronan asked.
“For sure. We’ll be there.”
“See you guys later. Nice to have met you both.”
Going their opposite ways, Miles and Kimberly headed to their camp while Mackenzie, Ronan, and Theo headed back to the castle. When they got back, Ronan knew that he needed to speak with Xavier as soon as possible.
♦♦♦
When they rea
ched the castle, Ronan spotted Xavier and pulled him aside, so he could speak to him.
“How can I help you, Ronan?” Xavier asked, following him into his office. He took a seat right across and watched as Ronan closed the door and took a seat.
“Do you remember how we met again with that girl, Kimberly?”
Xavier nodded.
“Well, this time she brought the leader of her camp with her. There’s one more thing.”
“Oh?”
“I invited them to stay here at the castle,” Ronan replied.
Taking a deep breath, Xavier waited a few moments before speaking. He wanted to be careful when choosing his words and took great caution in what he said next to his godson.
“Do you think that’s such a smart idea, Ronan?” he asked, his eyebrows were knit in confusion.
“We can use all the help we can get, Uncle Xavier. And they seem like they really need our help as well.”
“Really, how so?” Xavier asked.
“They’re mortals, Uncle Xavier.”
“What?” he asked, quietly.
“I have to ask you, Ronan, have you gone completely insane?” Xavier nearly shouted, throwing his hands in the air in alarm. He got up, sharply and stood behind his chair, his hands now gripping it tightly.
“No, I have not. These mortals are Mackenzie’s kin,” he replied, getting to his feet calmly. Ronan leveled Xavier with an intense look.
“I’m sorry. I think I heard you wrong,” Xavier said, looking at him in disbelief.
“You didn’t. This guy, Miles raised Mackenzie,” Ronan said.
Taking a deep breath, it was a while before Xavier spoke.
“I have just one more question.”
“Of course.”
“Can we trust them?” Xavier asked, finally after a while.
“Absolutely. With what I saw between him and Mackenzie I wouldn’t doubt that we can most definitely trust them,” Ronan didn’t hesitate to reply.
“Alright, do you want me to tell the others?”
Ronan nodded.
“Okay,” Xavier replied.
“Thank you. Goodnight, Uncle Xavier.”
Shooting him a brief smile, Xavier turned on his heel and started to leave the room, when he paused for a moment.
“Night, Ronan.”
Once the door was closed and Xavier had left, Ronan took a moment to just get along or at the very least be civil.
CHAPTER FOUR
A few days later Miles’ group arrived. He smiled once he saw Ronan walking closer to them.
“Thank you again for letting us stay here,” he said.
“It’s my pleasure and thanks for helping us out. I swear none of you will be harmed while you are here, you have my word,” Ronan replied.
Reaching inside, they stopped when they reached the main hall. All of those in Miles’ group seemed to be gazing at the others rather nervously.
“I’d like to thank you for joining us here at our home and agreeing to help us solve this problem that has put the city into such danger. You’ll be getting your rooms while you’re here, as well as anything you need,” Ronan said.
Miles smiled, stepping closer.
“It’s our pleasure. May I say a few words?” he asked.
“Of course.”
Stepping down, Ronan allowed Miles to take his place, curious as to what he could possibly have to say.
“My dear friends, I’d like to thank Ronan for having us here as my guests. It’s very much appreciated. There’s one last thing, Mackenzie would you please come up here?” he said.
To Mackenzie’s surprise, they got to feet and walked to where Miles stood. As they did so, Mackenzie couldn’t help but notice the fact that everyone was whispering amongst each other. Finally, they reached where Miles was standing and turned towards the others.
“Hey everyone, it’s so nice to see you after all this time. I really missed all of you, it’s good to be back here among all of you,” they said.
After Mackenzie spoke, they walked back to their previous spot and Ronan in turn, took up where Mackenzie had been standing.
“I’ve arranged for a few rooms to be available for you while you’re here.
Now, if you’ll follow me, I’d like to show you to your rooms,” he said.
Heading down the halls, they continued to walk until they stopped just outside the bedrooms where they would be residing in.
“These rooms, just as I said before, are for your use. You guys can use these rooms and make them your own while you’re here, I hope you enjoy them. You guys should get settled since dinner will be ready soon,” he said.
Smiling, he let them get themselves settled until he called them down for dinner after which they headed to bed ready for a long day.
♦♦♦
The following morning, they got up and ready. Ronan and Miles suggested that they head into the city to see if they could see if there were any clues as to why the city’s blood supply was disappearing so quickly.
A few minutes later, they were within the city limits and split up into groups of two or three. While there, Ronan, Theo, and Mackenzie headed into an abandoned school and began searching it. As they were looking for survivors, they eventually split up and Mackenzie headed into one of the classrooms. They had been looking around when suddenly they heard a rustling sound coming from behind them.
“Theo, Ronan is that you?”
When they didn’t hear a word and the rustling continued until Mackenzie saw what had caused the noise. Standing some mere inches from their face, saliva dripping from its snout, was a massive halfshifted Lycan. It stood at six-foot-seven, had unkempt dirty blonde hair and dead-looking blue eyes. Like most of its kind, he had a massive build that was now crouched as he watched them, as a low growl built up in his chest. The clothes he was wearing were torn and unkempt in some places since he’d probably lived on the streets.
Thinking quickly, Mackenzie began to look for a possible makeshift weapon. Finding one, they quickly sped past the Lycan and picked up the stones that they spotted there and spun on their heel, throwing a few of them passed the Lycan which managed to infuriate it even more. Letting out a loud, frightening roar, the Lycan moved towards Mackenzie and took a swipe which they narrowly missed. Seeing the situation that they now put themselves in, Mackenzie quickly hid behind an old teacher’s desk that was up front and called out for help.
“Theo, Ronan, help me!” Mackenzie yelled.
The Lycan continued to attack them when suddenly it got thrown off Mackenzie by a large shadow. Curious as to what it could have been, they raised their head slightly and saw to their shock both Theo and the Lycan locked in a ferocious battle.
“Mackenzie! Don’t move I’m gonna come to you!” a voice came from over their shoulder.
Slowly turning their head, they saw Ronan running over to them, the look on his face, clearly frightened. Once he reached Mackenzie he knelt down and carefully scooped them up into his arms. When Mackenzie was in Ronan’s arms, he quickly got to his feet and sped off towards the castle. Just as they reached it, Mackenzie fainted from their injuries. Ronan took a moment and carefully put them down for a few minutes. He then removed his shirt and ripped it in two and used it to staunch the bleeding that had already begun forming. Picking them up, he held the shirt to Mackenzie’s leg and ran towards the castle.
♦♦♦
When he finally reached the castle, he ran in and was elated when he came across his daughter, Clara.
“Oh, thank God Clara, I’m so glad that I found you,” Ronan said in relief.
“Dad, what happened to Mackenzie?” Clara asked, looking at them in alarm, ready to help any way that she could.
“Mackenzie got attacked while we were in the city, we just got there we found them with their leg mangled.”
“Alright, follow me. We have to get Mackenzie to the infirmary, so we can bandage it.”
Turning, Clara led them down the hall and towards the infirmar
y. Entering it, he carefully placed Mackenzie on one of the beds while Clara went and grabbed a few things. Heading back to their bed, Clara now had bandages and a small metal bowl in her hands. Reaching them, she carefully put the bowl down and reached into it and pulled out an old dirty gray rag. Wringing it, Clara began to gently clean Mackenzie’s leg up.
The Nightwalker Chronicles Page 2