by Tara Ellis
Cutting the engine, we all turn to face each other. This is it. “Missy, I need you to stay here with Jake and Baxter.” I may as well get the hardest part out of the way first.
Gasping, she turns her piercing blue eyes on me, which are black in my grey, see-in-the-dark-world. “I might not be as strong as you, Alex, but my whole family is in there! I need to help!”
Slipping over the seat, I squat down in front of her and take both of her hands. “Missy, I understand that you want to go with us. But please listen to me. The most important thing you can do right now, is make sure that this vehicle is here for us when we get back. If we don’t get out, you have to promise me that you’ll get Jake and Baxter to the senator.” I squeeze her hands, pulling her down closer to me and my glowing eyes. “Please, Missy. I need you to promise me. I’ll do everything I can to bring them all back, but Jake and Baxter can’t be taken.”
I realize that I’m intimidating her a bit, but I don’t care. She has to understand that this isn’t about everyone getting to be a part of a rescue, but who can actually accomplish it. She and Jake would be a liability. Besides, it’s true that we need to make sure we have a way to escape.
“That’s not fair!” Jake complains loudly. “I’m not a stinkin’ baby. I can help too!”
“No. This isn’t up for debate.” Chris states. “There’s a very good chance that we’ll get caught. Or that some of us might be hurt. We could also be in a big hurry when we leave, so Alex is right. Missy, you need to keep the Tahoe available. If you notice anyone looking around, or it doesn’t seem safe anymore, fall back to the first store we passed about a mile back. If we haven’t returned in two hours, then leave. Get to Bigfork and if we’re able to, we’ll eventually meet you there.”
Jacob crosses his arms and pouts silently, not daring to challenge Chris. Missy looks back and forth between us, torn over how she should feel. Finally, she sighs and throws her arms around me. “I know that I wouldn’t be much help, Alex. It’s just that I feel so powerless.”
“You can help me right now by keeping Jake and Baxter safe, Missy,” I whisper so only she can hear me. “We can’t leave them or the SUV alone. Do you really think it would be better for all of us to go in there and get exposed?”
Sitting back, she claps her hands together, having committed herself to the decision. “Okay, Jake and Baxter! It’s time for Operation Black Car, or truck, or whatever you call this thing. Anyway, our mission is to stay hidden and ready for action when called. How about it? You wanna man the back or side window, Jake? I think I saw some binoculars in here somewhere, didn’t I?”
Jake continues to sulk for a moment, but when Baxter chuffs at him, and goes to peer out the side window, he finally cracks. Smiling, he digs around in the back for a minute and then comes up with the binoculars. “I’ll take the back, Commander,” he says to Missy, saluting.
Thank you, I mouth and Missy winks at me. With them taken care of, I can concentrate on trying to figure out what the rest of us are going to do. I think Chris finally got them to agree on the best route inside, but other than that, we really don’t have a plan.
After brief goodbyes, we silently work our way around the gas station. The guys are following me since I can see where we’re going. The moon is actually providing a decent amount of light, but they can’t make out what’s in the shadows. Nate and Kyle have our two rifles slung over their shoulders and Chris has my dad’s 45 tucked into his waist. I opted to leave the last gun with Missy: the pistol I took off of Seth. I’m pretty good with my hands now, anyway.
We go a block past the intersection and then turn right down a residential block. Based on the map, this parallels nearly the whole length of the lab’s property, finally ending in a cul-de-sac. The street is dark and totally silent, other than some owls and a couple of barking dogs. There are some windows with lights flickering inside, but we don’t spot any people.
Reaching the cul-de-sac, we follow a fence line running along a drainage ditch in between the properties. It opens up to a small clearing with the woods beyond it. To the right, a couple of hundred yards away, is the RML. We quickly make our way to the edge of the trees and use it as cover. Within minutes we’re crouched down at a tall cyclone fence, peering through at the buildings beyond.
“Can you make out anything? Because I can’t see crap,” Kyle asks, repositioning the ball cap on his head. We are all wearing jeans, and either black t-shirts or sweatshirts. I suggested Kyle wear the hat to cover up his lighter colored hair.
“There isn’t much there, just a bunch of dark buildings. I think there are some headlights shining beyond the building further back though,” I explain. “I think we should walk along the fence until we can see past it.”
Silently agreeing, we all head in that direction, away from the houses. The woods are now on our left, the compound to our right. Fortunately, they maintain the area around the fence, keeping it cleared and mowed.
In a few hundred feet, the fence turns to the right at a ninety-degree angle. We must have reached the back of the property. Continuing on, it doesn’t take long before we come alongside the building I was talking about. It’s maybe a hundred feet or so inside the fence, and there is indeed a truck idling on the far side of it. Seeing movement, we drop to our stomachs.
There are a handful of vehicles parked in the area, including a couple of black pickup trucks. But the only one running is an old-style army transport with a canvas back, just like Jacob described. It’s backed up near what appears to be a loading dock and there are several armed men dressed in the custom Mudameere uniforms near it.
As we watch, one of them drags Ken from the back of the truck. His hands are bound behind his back with zip ties, but he still puts up a fight. Kyle starts to jump up, but Chris pushes him back hard to the ground. Slowly shaking his head, he touches the rifle on Kyle’s back, and then gestures towards all the automatic rifles. Kyle seems to get the point, but doesn’t look happy about it.
Swearing loudly now, Ken falls to the ground with a guard under him, and this earns him a blow to the back of the head by one of the other men. Grunting, he rolls to his back, and spits blood on his attacker’s boots. “Let the rest of them go!” he yells. “You don’t need them. What the hell are you going to do with a five-year-old? Don’t you guys have kids? How can you do this?”
“Shut up!” The one getting up from the ground demands. “Or we’ll take her first!”
This has the desired effect, and Ken hangs his head, defeated, as they drag him to his feet. It takes everything I have to keep from jumping over the fence as we watch helplessly while they push him inside.
TWENTY FIVE
I know that Chris is right. As hard as it is, we wouldn’t stand a chance against all of them. Ken would want us to wait and let him be taken, if it meant freeing Cindy or Natalie. This might give us the only chance we’ll have.
The driver has gotten out of the truck during the commotion to check things out. Seeing that it’s back under control, he walks to the front and sits on the bumper, lighting a cigarette.
Two of the Mudameere escort Ken into the building and a third turns to talk with the man who seems to be guarding the back of the truck. “It’ll take us a few to get him situated. Gotta put those freakin’ suits on and off to take him down to the biolab. I really wish they would have left those Shiners back at the other place though ‘cause they’re weirding me out. It’s better than us running those tests, but I don’t trust them.”
“I hear ya, man. The place is crawling with them now. Be careful.”
“Always. We should be back in about half an hour. We’ll take the girl next.”
Once he’s gone, it just leaves the driver, the man at the rear and I can see one more pair of boots on the other side of the truck. There might possibly be someone else inside, but at least the driver doesn’t appear to be armed.
It dawns on me that the guys might not have been able to understand everything they said. I keep forgetting t
hat I’m different now. When Chris confirms that he couldn’t hear them, I repeat everything.
“I don’t believe in luck,” Chris says in response. “This opportunity was given to us. Let’s take advantage of it.” Nodding, we all retreat to the turn in the fence so we can’t be seen.
“Who can drive a clutch?” Chris asks. Kyle raises his hand. “Good. You’re our driver then. This is going to be all about surprise, you guys. We have to silence them before they can raise the alarm. If they manage to call for help, we’re done.”
“So we can’t just shoot them?” Kyle asks. I think he’s serious.
“Only if you want to have every armed guard rushing over here, you moron,” Nate counters.
“Okay, Okay…we don’t have time for this, you guys,” I interrupt. “I think we should climb over here and work our way right up to the corner of the building. It’s just a few feet from the back of the truck. I can simply walk up to the closest one and pretend like I belong there. He’ll see right away that I’m a Shiner. Hopefully, that’ll make him hesitate long enough so that I can take him out. Kyle, you and I will then get the driver while Chris and Nate run around to the other side and try to surprise the guy there. Obviously, we don’t want to shoot except as a last resort. If there’s an extra guard in the back, I’ll get him.”
Chris starts climbing before I even finish, so I guess he approves of my idea. I was concerned the fence might shake and make noise, but it’s sturdy and holds up well to the weight. We’re all over it in no time and sprint across the open space. Fortunately, the light from the buildings are directed in, not out, so we remain in shadow.
As we get closer, I become aware of a low buzzing noise. I don’t pay any attention at first because I figure it must be a generator or something. But as I come alongside the structure, it gets louder and I suddenly recognize it as the same sound I experienced while in the room full of Shiners. Freezing, I grab Chris’s arm and signal to everyone to stop. From somewhere nearby a door opens and I hear the distinct sound of footsteps on steel stairs. A moment later, a car starts and headlights flash on, spilling light out across the field we just walked through.
The sound in my head fades when the car turns around and drives away, then disappears altogether. Well then. Looks like I have a built-in Shiner-meter. I’m not sure how I feel about that, but now isn’t the time to think about it. Waving the guys forward we continue on, crawling up to the very edge of the building that the truck is backed up to.
Once in position, I stand and prepare myself mentally for the brief charade. Chris grabs my hand just before I step out and I look down at him, crouched beside me. He holds my unfamiliar gaze for a moment before nodding once curtly, his lips set in a firm line. I realize it’s his way of letting me know he has my back. I never doubted it. I squeeze his hand before letting it go, and then move into the light.
The man leaning up against the canvas back of the truck doesn’t see me at first. I’m only a few steps away from him before he looks up, surprised. As I expected, the first thing he notices are my eyes, and it gives me the moment I need. I see his expression go from stunned to fear and then finally alarm as I step in close and take hold of his rifle.
It all happens so fast, that he barely has time to register my intent before I wrench the weapon away and slam it across the side of his head. He crumbles to the ground as I step away. The driver stands and turns in my direction, towards the sound.
Seeing me, he reaches for a sidearm at his waist, but I quickly close the space between us. Before he has a chance to pull it out, I smash the butt of the confiscated rifle into his gut and hand, effectively knocking the wind out of him. I step in and bring my knee up under his chin while pushing down on his slumped over back, using the rifle as a lever. His head snaps up with an audible crack and he falls back against the front bumper.
Staggering, he struggles to stay on his feet, gasping for air. He’s a big guy and can take a hit. Taking advantage of his confused state, I grip the barrel of the rifle like a bat and swing it over my head. It connects with his forehead and finally takes him down.
Turning, I find Kyle standing behind me, mouth hanging open. “Awesome,” he whispers, eyes wide.
Leaving him to get the truck secured, I run around to the other side where I can hear obvious sounds of a brutal fight. I nearly trip over Nate, lying unconscious near the front tire. Chris is on the ground about ten feet away, a guard straddling him and slamming a fist into his face over and over again. They’ve both lost their rifles which I can see lying in the dirt.
Pure rage takes over and I run towards the back of Chris’s attacker. Throwing all caution aside, I body slam him, taking us both to the ground in a tangle of arms and legs. Unfortunately, he ends up on top and I see immediately that I made a fatal mistake. Seth is looking down at me.
Knowing that I’m stronger and quicker than him, he’s pulled a knife from his boot just as I work my arms in between us. Before I can throw him off, the cool steel of the blade is at my throat. My brain frantically calculates the odds of my being able to break free before he slashes my carotid, but the line of blood trickling down my neck answers the question for me.
“I knew you’d miss me,” he growls, pushing my arms back to my sides with his free hand, narrowing the space separating our bodies. His knees are braced along my hips, and I know that if I dislodge either one of them, his weight will plunge the knife into me. The feeling of helplessness takes me back to the night he kidnapped me and my heart hammers even harder, filling my head with the sound.
“Too bad lover boy has such a glass jaw,” he sneers, nodding towards Chris, who’s still on the ground.
“Why are you doing this, Seth?” I say through clenched teeth. “If you were telling me the truth and we have the same heritage, then it’s to stop the returning Nephilim, not kill each other!”
“Shut up!” he orders, pushing down even harder on the knife, bringing his face within inches of mine. “You don’t understand what you’re talking about!”
In spite of his anger, I realize that he hasn’t reached for the radio on his belt. Why doesn’t he call for help? As I fall deeper into his intense, blue eyes I see something there other than the hate. A curiosity, perhaps?
“I understand that they were here thousands of year ago, and that for some reason they left. I don’t know why they created the virus, Seth, but the only way humanity is going to survive is if we work together.”
“You really don’t know, do you?” As he makes this confusing statement, his face softens and he relaxes slightly, letting his guard down. I react instinctively, grabbing his hand that has the knife. Pulling down on his wrist, I bring my other hand up and brace it against his chest to push his body off me.
His face clouding, he straightens his legs, allowing his full weight to come crushing down on me. Even though I’m stronger, gravity is in his favor. He’s at least 70 pounds heavier and there isn’t much I can do. My one arm at a bad angle isn’t enough to hold him up and I find it sandwiched painfully between us. Fortunately, I had managed to move the knife down a few inches so it’s now lodged in my collar bone, instead of my neck.
Gasping in pain, I look up at Seth with shock. To my surprise, instead of satisfaction, I see regret as he lets go of the knife and moves his arm up across my throat. Knowing what he intends to do, I start to squirm beneath him. Too many people are counting on me, I can’t let them down.
“We can’t win, Alex,” he whispers, as the edges of my vision start to go black.
TWENTY SIX
As the darkness wraps around me, I think of how it’s an odd thing for Seth to say. I want to ask him what he means, but I can’t see him anymore because my vision is narrowing. Just as I begin to black out, I hear someone yell. Seth grunts, and the weight on me is suddenly lifted, the vice at my neck gone.
Able to breathe again, I pull my knees up to my chest and roll onto my right side: the one without a knife stuck in it. My head clears rapidly and I push mys
elf up into a sitting position, looking around.
Kyle is kneeling over Nate and to my right, Chris has Seth helplessly wrapped up. In addition to football, Chris is a wrestler. I don’t know how he got the advantage before, but at the moment, Seth doesn’t stand a chance. The calm fury in Chris’s eyes is alarming and for a moment, I fear for Seth’s life.
Once Kyle determines that Nate’s all right, he runs to Chris’s aid. My head pounding, I struggle to my feet and slowly back towards the truck. I need to make sure Mom is there. I only make it a few feet before my swirling vision causes me to sit back down. I’m vaguely aware of a spreading warmth down the front of my chest.
Together, Chris and Kyle manage to take the zip ties from Seth’s equipment belt and use them to secure his arms behind his back. They then remove his belt and wrap it around his mouth as a gag. To finish it off, they tie up his ankles and then carry him over to one of the nearby pickup trucks. Throwing him in the back, Chris crosses his arms across his broad chest, studying the other man for a moment.
I can’t see Seth’s expression from where I’m sitting, but I can imagine what he looks like. Although Chris’s face is already swelling and bleeding from several different cuts, he is still obviously in control. “We’ll meet again,” he says, pointing Seth’s radio at him before throwing it as far as he can into the dark field. “Next time, maybe we’ll have more time to … talk.” It’s clear that Chris has figured out this is the same guy I told him about.
Kyle is already rushing to my side, and Chris joins him, both of them trying to examine the wound in my left shoulder. Blood is soaking through my clothes, making it look worse than it really is. The knife didn’t actually go in too far, thanks in part to my sweatshirt. It had fallen out on its own when I rolled over. “I’m fine,” I tell them, pushing their hands away but letting them help me to my feet. “Come on, we have to move fast.” Although no more than five minutes have passed, it feels like it’s been much longer.