Battlelines

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Battlelines Page 2

by S. K. Gregory


  I was woken by Mom shaking me. “We’re almost there.”

  Yawning, I looked out to see that it was early evening. We wouldn’t have much light left to move around outside. The Fae preferred to hunt at night. I learned that the hard way.

  Something large was flying around in the distance. It looked like a giant bee, only it was completely green.

  “What’s that?” I asked.

  Mom leaned forward to get a look. “It’s been following us for a while. Can’t come closer thanks to the beacon, but we’ll need to keep an eye on it.”

  It looked like the thing that nearly killed me the night I met Enzo. God, that seemed like a million years ago now. Back before he knew what I was.

  It took another hour, but the truck finally turned onto Oak Drive, our street. It was deserted, the road strewn with trash. When the truck came to a halt, I launched myself out of it.

  Staring up at my home, I was relieved that it was still standing. The living room window was broken, but other than that, it looked exactly like it did the day we left for the airport. Same white front door. The green window boxes. Nothing had changed.

  A sob escaped my throat and I quickly clamped a hand over my mouth.

  Keep it together, I told myself. Don’t show any weakness. But I wanted to run inside and shut the door on the world.

  Mom hopped down beside me. “It still looks the same, doesn’t it?” she said. She almost sounded disappointed.

  I nodded. “What now?”

  The General appeared from the front of the truck. “Set up a perimeter. Doctor, lead the way.”

  Mom stepped up to the door. “Oh. I don’t actually have keys.”

  I reached out, taking hold of the door handle, I melted it and the door swung open.

  Enzo was sent in first to do a sweep. No matter what the General ordered him to do, he did it without complaint. Like a good little soldier. I supposed I shouldn’t complain. It was his skills that kept us alive on the road. But I was doing my best to try and hate him. It was easier. I could have really liked him, but I guess it was better to find out how he felt sooner rather than later.

  He returned a few minutes later. “All clear.”

  Mom led the General to her lab in the back. I stood in the hall, taking it in. There was a musty smell to the house. I traced my fingers on the bannister as I climbed the stairs to my room. Something I’d done a million times before. It was surreal.

  Pausing outside my door, I remembered slamming it the night before we went to England, in yet another argument with Mom. It was one of the few trips I was actually invited on and I was angry that I couldn’t stay behind like I always did. Of course I didn’t realize then that she was only taking me so she could hand me over to Phillip to experiment on.

  Reaching out, I turned the handle and pushed the door open.

  It looked exactly the same, apart from a layer of dust. My bed was still unmade, my dresser was covered in clutter and my clothes lay on the floor.

  At least I can get some of my own clothes to wear. Opening my closet, I grabbed a bag from the top shelf and threw some clothes into it.

  Looking around the room, I tried to decide what else to take. My whole life had been on my phone, all my photos. There was a photo of me and Roxy on my desk, I shoved it into the bag too. It might come in handy if I find any other survivors out there. I can ask if they’ve seen her.

  With a final look around, I left the room, heading downstairs.

  Enzo was standing outside the lab with his back to me. Mom and the General must still be inside.

  This is my chance.

  Moving to the front door, the others were by the truck, watching the perimeter.

  Putting the strap of my bag across my chest, I darted out of the house into the neighbor’s yard, hiding behind a hedge. Pausing, I waited for someone to yell or drag me back to the truck, but no one did. With a quick look back, I started running.

  I moved quickly along the street and turned the corner. I wouldn’t have long and I would be outside the beacon’s range, but I kept moving.

  I passed some bodies on the way, long dead and picked clean. I tried not to look at them, but something would ultimately draw my eye and I would pause to check that it wasn’t Roxy. Every time I saw blonde hair, I was sure it would be her. That will add to my long list of nightmares.

  I made it to her house unscathed. The front door lay open, which didn’t bode well. I stepped forward, ears straining for any sound of the Fae.

  The house was trashed. Furniture was overturned, debris littered the floor. There was no way anyone was still living here.

  I needed to check upstairs though, just to be sure. There were no bodies yet and I hoped it stayed that way. Reaching Roxy’s room, the door lay open, her room was empty.

  I knew it was a long shot but part of me still held out hope.

  I turned to leave, when I saw it. Scrawled across Roxy’s door in red marker – Summer’s here. Ready for some fun?

  Why the hell would someone write that? It looks like Roxy’s handwriting.

  Wait. That phrase. Years ago, Roxy and I went to a camp for the summer. It was a total crap fest but the camp counsellor in charge was crazy. Everything he said felt forced and those were the words he used when we arrived. But coming from him, it sounded like a threat. Roxy kept mimicking him the entire time, saying he was going to appear in the cabin one night with a chainsaw if we didn’t look like we were having fun. She actually gave me nightmares.

  She’s at camp. That had to be what the message meant. It was for me.

  There were plenty of cabins to hunker down in. It made sense.

  Hurrying downstairs, I tried to work out how far away it was. A good few miles by car. On foot, it could take days. I needed to convince the General to go there.

  Wrenching open the front door, I came face to face with two trolls. Crap.

  Chapter 4

  Face to face was inaccurate, they were actually facing each other, arguing about something.

  “You took it,” the squat, the green skinned one said.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” said his slightly taller, purple friend.

  I slowly backed inside the house and closed the door over. They hadn’t noticed me, but it was only a matter of time. It would be getting dark soon, I couldn’t stay here much longer.

  Heading to the back of the house, I almost tripped several times over the broken furniture. The back door was blocked by trash. Using my foot, I pushed it aside and eased the door open. The back yard was empty.

  I just need to get past them then make a run for it.

  The arguing was getting louder. I couldn’t make out the words though. I was just glad they were distracted. I sneaked to the side of the house and peeked around the edge. They were slapping each other now. It was comical, but what they would do if they found me wouldn’t be.

  I turned to run and crashed straight into something solid.

  Stumbling back, I found my path blocked by a large gorilla shaped creature, but instead of fur, it seemed to be covered in moss.

  Before I could recover, it grabbed me around the throat and slammed me into the side of the house. Gasping in pain, I kicked out, trying to break free, but this thing was strong. Too strong.

  It looked me over, as if trying to work out what I was. I wondered if it could smell Fae on me. It closed its hand tighter and I struggled to breathe.

  I summoned my heat ability, pressing my hands onto its long arm trying to burn it, but it seemed immune to the heat. In fact, where my hands touched the moss, it started to grow.

  It’s a plant! Of course it likes the heat!

  Spots danced in front of my eyes. I needed to do something quick. I reached for anything, a weapon, something, but nothing was in range. All I had in my bag was clothes.

  I’m not getting killed by a damn plant.

  I threw my hand out and a ball of fire erupted from it, burning through the creature’s chest, leaving a gapi
ng hole behind. Did I do that?

  The grip relaxed and I slid down the wall to the ground, gasping.

  The creature toppled over, landing hard on the ground. A few seconds later, the two trolls ambled around the corner to see what the noise was. They saw the dead Fae, then me.

  The one nearest me grinned, revealing small pointed teeth.

  I got to my feet and started running. My throat ached, but I kept moving. Being eaten would hurt a lot more.

  The trolls stayed on my tail. Two blocks from my house, one closed the gap, reaching out a claw and dragging it down my right leg. I squealed in pain, trying to veer away from the troll, but I tripped on the pavement and went down.

  The troll was on me in a heartbeat. “I hate fast food,” he muttered, reaching for me. His friend was catching up.

  My hand shot out instinctively and I melted the troll’s face off, without touching him. Damn, my powers are really advancing.

  I got to my feet, standing over the puddle of goo that was left. The other troll came to an abrupt halt. I glared at him.

  “My mistake!” he said, before running away in the opposite direction.

  I checked my leg. The cut wasn’t deep and I could still walk on it. Mom would have some bandages. I just hoped it didn’t get infected.

  Time to get back to the truck and face the music.

  The General was going to lose it, but I didn’t care. I needed to convince him to go to the camp.

  I hoped we would drive up and Roxy would just be there, alive and well. I wasn’t giving up on that idea until I had to.

  My own ears told me what I already knew before I turned onto my street.

  The truck was gone.

  ***

  Oberon

  Many Years Ago…

  Asteria giggled as she played with two of the primitive children. Though we didn’t share a language, they seemed to enjoy spending time with us. In the beginning, they were a little scared of us, but we soon brought them around.

  Asteria picked up a wildflower and closed her eyes. Concentrating, she used her ability to make the flower bloom and open up. The children gasped and clapped their hands in delight.

  We had been visiting this realm for a while now. No one on the other side knew about it and Asteria and I had struck a blood oath that we would never reveal it to anyone. If the blood oath was broken, the person to break it would suffer great pain and then die. It was not to be taken lightly.

  The children began to chase each other across the grass and Asteria followed them.

  I sat on the grass, taking notes in a book. I wanted to learn more about these creatures, to study them. If my father found out about this, he would want to see it for himself. When he learned that these creatures could be easily conquered, he would wipe them out and claim the land for his own. I couldn’t allow that to happen. They were innocent.

  “Come and play, Oberon!” Asteria called.

  Smiling, I set my book to one side and joined them. My observations could wait until later.

  Chapter 5

  They just left me!

  I couldn’t believe they would just abandon me. Wasn’t I somewhat pivotal to their plan?

  They must have been chased off or Mom told the General where I went and they went after me.

  A reasonable assumption except I couldn’t hear the beacon and didn’t the whole way here.

  Maybe it stopped working. If it had, would they risk driving around in the truck?

  The question was what the hell do I do now? I could head back to Roxy’s house or I could head to the camp instead.

  They’ll come after me eventually, I’m sure of it, but if I go back to them, there is no way they will go to the summer camp.

  I couldn’t go without letting them know where I was though. A message. Like the one Roxy left.

  I wasn’t about to waste time looking for a pen. Using my power, I burned a message into the front door – Summer, nine years ago.

  I just hoped that Mom would figure it out. It was a long shot. She sent me there to get rid of me while she worked. She may not remember the place.

  Fixing my bag, which I had miracously managed to hold onto, I started walking. It would be dark soon. I needed to hurry.

  ***

  Two miles down the road and I was regretting my decision. I had been Fae free since I started out, but I realized that I left my water bottle on the truck. I also didn’t have any food. I ate some jerky before the trip, but that was hours ago. It couldn’t be helped now.

  The likeliest outcome was that the truck would catch up to me long before I reached the camp. Then the General would drag me away.

  I stuck to the main road because it was the one we took to camp, I just hoped I was remembering it right.

  The light was fading fast and I struggled to remember if there was any shelter along the road. All I could see were trees.

  Maybe I should turn back. But it was too far now.

  I pressed on, noticing how the noise in the trees increased, the darker it got. Were the Fae waking up?

  Just as I was losing hope, I reached a bend in the road and found a small gas station. It was locked up, but I could melt the lock to get inside.

  Once inside, I wedged the door shut with some wood and took a look around. It had clearly been looted, the shelves were empty. Most of the windows were boarded up, the light dim, but if it lay untouched this long, then hopefully I would be safe in here until morning.

  Dumping my bag behind the counter, I stretched, tired from the walk. I was also starving.

  I began searching the store, checking the floor and under displays for anything that had been missed. I found a dented can of grape soda and a squashed candy bar, behind a cooler in the corner.

  “Guess this is dinner,” I muttered. I savored every bite because it didn’t look like I would be getting anything else anytime soon.

  After double checking the door, I lay down behind the counter, using my bag as a pillow. It was going to be a long night.

  The shop smelled musty and the floor creaked beneath me every time I moved. I tried to relax but couldn’t. Any minute, Fae could burst in and attack.

  I’m sure Lydia is loving this.

  She was probably the one who told them to leave. But at least if they didn’t come for me, I would never have to see her again. There’s a silver lining.

  I didn’t need them anyway. If I found Roxy, I would stay with her.

  She was all the family I needed.

  I drifted into an uneasy sleep, dreaming of dead bodies and the Fae that killed them.

  Chapter 6

  Something clattering to the floor woke me. I leapt up, hands ready to burn whatever had gotten in. My heart was thumping in my chest.

  The store looked empty, then someone stood up. His back was to me, but he wore a gray t shirt, jeans and a black knit cap. Tufts of black hair peeked out from under it.

  He was searching for food. Probably just another starving human, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t dangerous. I remembered the guy we stumbled on before, the one who tried to rob us before Enzo punched him in the face. With food so scarce, it made most people dangerous.

  I glanced at the door. Could I get out without being noticed? He had managed to get it open, the wood I used to block it, lay off to the side. I wondered why I didn’t hear him come in. Maybe because I was exhausted.

  Quietly lifting my bag, I took a step forward. The old wood creaked loudly under my foot and the guy spun around, raising a crowbar in defense.

  “Whoa, no need for that. I just want to leave,” I said.

  The boy, who seemed to be my age, with really pale skin, glanced around the room like he expected someone else to appear.

  “Are you alone?” he asked.

  Did I admit that I was? Maybe he was going to try and kill me and wanted to know if someone would come to my aid.

  There was fear in his eyes though. I didn’t think he was a threat.

  “Yes, I just needed shelter
for the night. I’ll go.”

  I took a step forward and he stepped back. Yep, definitely more scared than anything.

  “Just relax,” I said.

  I moved to the door and he lowered the crowbar a little. I noticed that he had a green backpack over his shoulder and that his clothes were frayed and worn.

  “If you’re looking for food, I’m sorry, there’s nothing in here,” I said. No point in him wasting his time looking.

  He looked distraught.

  “Crap, I’ve been trying to find food for the last two days,” he said, finally lowering the crowbar all the way.

  “Sorry. If I had any I would give it to you. I don’t suppose you’ve come across any other survivors?” I took the photo of Roxy from my bag and showed it to him. “Like her?”

  He shook his head. “No, I try to avoid people if I can.”

  “Oh. I’m Nova,” I offer.

  He sizes me up before answering. “Thorn.”

  I can’t help but smile. “Is that really your name?”

  “Is Nova yours?” he shot back.

  “Fair point. Look, I’m heading to the camp a few miles up the road. I think my friend is there. She might have food.”

  I felt bad that I ate the last of the food, not that I could be blamed for that. What happens when the food finally runs out?

  He placed a hand on his stomach, looking pained. “I can’t really make a decision based on think and might. If you’re wrong, I don’t know if I’d have the strength to make it anywhere else.”

  “Well, it’s the same distance to town. Up to you, if you want to take the chance.”

  Shouldering my bag, I left the gas station and started walking.

  A few minutes later, I heard someone behind me. Thorn was following me. I slowed down to let him catch up.

  “You better be right about this,” he said.

  I hoped I was too.

  We headed down the road, ever watchful for any threat from the trees. I knew from experience that even the trees could kill you now.

 

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