“Been better, but at least I’m not dead. I’m hopped up on pain pills right now so it’s not too bad. Tomorrow, my back will probably be killing me. Everything checked out on the phone?” I ask, changing the subject.
“Yup, only one Gareth in the whole thing. The list of contacts is sure to come in handy. The texts, too. I’m going to have a field-day once I get closer look at this thing.”
“Knock yourself out girl; just be sure to disable the screen lock if you can. Work your magic.”
“You clearly doubt my power. Don’t worry about the phone situation. I got it all worked out. I’m going to text Blaze and forward him Gareth’s address. We should get going before someone else comes around… I’ll dig around a bit more once we’re not standing next to a dead body.”
Good point.
I bend over to get my knife from the corpse, triggering a sharp pain in my lower back. Since when did I become so fragile? Dismissing my pain, I wipe the blood from my dagger onto the tan coat the deceased man wears before returning my weapon to its former hiding place.
“Not using guns should work in our favor for this one, Abby,” I say, while straighten my back as casually and carefully as I can. “If they find drugs on him, it’ll look like a drug deal gone bad—which is kind of what happened, so they’ll link it to gang violence. Not us.”
“That’s always a good thing,” she replies before stabbing the demon again in the base of his neck as a precaution.
Together, Abby and I walk down the opposite side of the alley from which we entered. Before we left, we positioned the African man’s body against a wall, not too far from a dumpster. In the right light, he kind of looks like he’s sleeping, if you don’t notice the blood on the concrete or the stab wounds on his neck.
While we’re on the move, I text Blaze who promptly responds that he’ll meet us about a block before Gareth’s house. Texting Blaze was a good call because Gareth saw my face a few nights ago at Club Hex. He was the one who made the request to serve me up a drink laced with Sphinx without my consent. I wouldn’t want Abby to confront him alone. We need to scope out the area at the very least. On our walk, I shuffle through various scenarios, visualizing how I’d fare in each one, while Abby handles the logistics situation from her phone, forwarding Gareth’s address to each of our devices. Not long after that, we rendezvous with Blaze.
“Hey, are you guys all right?” Blaze asks, checking our faces once he finally gets within speaking distance. His tone is a stark contrast to the warm and friendly persona I’m used to. Being alone in demon territory for the past twenty minutes seems to have put him on edge. “You told me there was a fight,” he says, his attention cycling between us.
“There was. We handled it. It was a demon in a homeless African dude…you’ll probably hear about it on the news tomorrow if you tune in.”
“I was beginning to think maybe this was too much for you. Guess I was wrong,” Blaze says, amused.
“You should know by now that it takes more than a couple of injuries to take me out of the game. Abby did her fair share, too.” I take a moment to glance at my surroundings. Nothing out of the ordinary, but you can never be too sure, especially if you just committed a murder.
“So, what’s next?”
“We move,” I mumble. “I don’t like standing still out in the open. Anyone can be anything out here. Follow me.” I tuck my hands into my utility jacket and guide them to another location out of sight. “Did you manage to see anything suspicious when you were trailing us?” I ask Blaze under my breath.
“No,” he answers succinctly. I glance at him, but he keeps his eyes focused on the path ahead. “Nothing out of the ordinary.” Together, we turn the corner, finding ourselves in another alley.
“Good.” Three friends talking on the sidewalk can only go so far if someone is watching. Even if they can’t hear you, the simplest thing can warrant suspicion. That being said, it’s better to stay out sight if wandering eyes are what you’re afraid of. “1458 Cyprus Street. We know that’s where Gareth is, or, at least, where he does business, so that’s where we’re heading next. We got rid of his contact—the demon that possessed the homeless man—before he could make a call to let him know that we were on our way. We should have the element of surprise. That is, unless word gets out about the body we dumped a couple blocks back in the alley.”
“Well, we’ll just have to get to him before they figure out that their friend is dead. Do you think they have scouts or anything like that in the area?” Blaze asks.
“Most likely… They know that a hunter is on the loose—a hunter who’s been breathing down their necks long enough to cause a scare in their network. They could have shifted their manpower onto the streets or around the labs. It’s a tossup. Either way we lucked out. The dealer was alone. Regardless, once the body is discovered, they’re bound to put two and two together. Demons don’t go down from a couple of stabs unless it’s by someone who hunts them. If they find the corpse tonight, expect the streets to be flooded with demons. All they’ll know is that one of their own died and a phone is missing. They won’t know that we’re looking for Gareth in particular, but he’ll be sure to be on guard if he feels threatened. If he’s feeling paranoid, he might even turn us away at the door…and by us, I mean you,” I explain to Blaze.
“Me?” he asks, pointing to his chest. “Alone?”
“Yeah. I’d like to greet him personally, but Gareth’s already seen my face. They know that I’m a girl, so they’ll be suspicious of any girl that gets too close; especially newcomers. Abby could go with you, but I’m not at my best right now,” I confess. “I can use her to help me find another way in while you waltz through the front door, assuming he’s there.” Blaze’s eyes drift towards the ground, deep in thought. “Honestly, Blaze, you’re like the polar opposite of me; black and male. Stereotypes aside, it’ll be more realistic than Abby going in solo. You’re also a lot stronger than her, so you’ll have better odds if you have to defend yourself. No offense, Abby.”
“None taken.” Abby bats her wrist downward, dismissing my comment.
“Yeah.” Blaze bobs his head. “Yeah, that makes sense,” he says, aligning his eyes with mine. “I’ll do it.” I nod solemnly, refusing to break away from the intensity that radiates from his eyes. Demons or not, if it’s a drug den, they’re mostly likely armed. In order to fit the bill, he’ll have to be disarmed. He may be able to hide a knife in one of his socks, but guns will definitely turn a few heads. If Blaze gets in, Abby and I can come in from a different angle and immobilize Gareth while his guard is down. It’s not the most solid plan, but it will have to do. It doesn’t account for Gareth’s potential numbers.
“Abby, did you bring any of those bug things you used earlier?” I ask. “I was thinking that maybe we can have a mic hooked up to Blaze so we can hear what’s going on from the inside. Maybe have him give clues or whatever about what we should do by padding his speech or something.”
“Yeah,” she says as she pulls one out from the pocket of her jacket. “When you said we were doing interrogations, I figured a few of them would come in handy if we decided to get creative.” Abby places one of her bugs in the inside flap of a chest pocket on Blaze’s plaid shirt. “All right, all set. I’ll turn it on once you get inside,” she comments as she taps his pocket twice and adjusts his shirt.
“Abby, I forgot to ask. Has anything come up with Sarah?”
“No,” she says, returning her hands to her sides. “Everything’s been normal with her for the most part. I’ve been listening in every hour or so. You can tell that she’s sad about her son, but no visits or anything.”
“Damn. Well, she just has to tough it out a little bit longer. We’re going to get her son back,” I affirm. I mean it. “Hey, Blaze…one more thing.” I shift my attention back towards him. “You’re going to have to pass off your weapons to us before you get there. Holy Water, specialized weapons, and ammo—it’s all a red flag. If they frisk you, they’
ll know you’re a hunter instantly. If you want to chance it, you can probably sneak a knife in if you’re careful, but with anything more, you’re running a huge risk if you get caught.”
“Yeah, I figured as much. It’s no problem.”
“Once we’re inside, we’ll get your weapons back to you as soon as we can. Just be safe in the meantime. Nothing rash, okay? If you think it’s too dangerous, get out of there…we’ll figure something out.” Blaze silently nods. I don’t know if it’s my imagination, or if I can really feel the tension he’s emitting from his body. He can act as tough as he likes, but we all know that what we’re asking for is a lot. Even if Gareth turns out to be alone, a one-on-one situation with a demon is still a situation you’d want to avoid if you aren’t properly equipped.
“I’ll be fine. I’ve been in worse situations.”
Cycling through our memories together, I realize that he’s more than likely telling the truth. I trust him, even if he is just acting tough to put me at ease.
“Okay,” I say after exhaling my mounting stress into the air. “When you get there, knock twice, slap the door, and then knock twice again. After that, wait for him to come to the door.”
“Got it,” he snaps.
“You sure? It’s important that you get that part right,” I stress. “The old African guy said it specifically. If you mess up, it could ruin everything.”
“Knock twice, slap the door, and then knock twice again. Five tasks, three sets of action,” he recites confidently with a hint of agitation in his voice. He shakes his head, crouches, and teases the band of his sock from underneath his jeans.
“All right, you proved your point. I’ll stop babying you,” I say with folded arms. Blaze looks up at me and smirks as I watch him transfer his blade to his boot preemptively. Without saying a word, he reaches behind his jacket and pulls out his pistol. I accept it without thinking, mouth agape. “Why?”
“I think it’ll be better if we get it over with now.” He pulls out another pistol from his hip and hands it off to Abby.
“What do you mean?”
“It’ll be best if we split up here,” he says as he passes me a vial of Holy Water. “I’m heading straight for Gareth’s place, but you two can scout ahead and eyeball the area for me…makes sure it’s safe and plot out an escape route in case of a worst case scenario.”
“Okay, Yeah. That’s smart.” I nod.
“Text me when you find a way in or if you spot something noteworthy. If you have to pull out, do the same. This alley will be our meeting spot if shit hits the fan.” Blaze stands to his feet. “Wait for ten minutes tops, if we get separated. After that, find a safe spot to hide if you can’t make it to your car. Send a text and be patient. One of us will get to you. Hide in a dumpster if you have to. If we find Ben, we need to stick together and make sure he’s safe. Depending on his condition, he might not be able to do much, so give him one of my guns if you guys get to him before me.”
Ben, I hope he’s okay.
“With one of their guys dead, it’s only a matter of time before they wise up. We need to get this over with as soon as possible. As convenient as it sounds, grabbing my car is counterproductive.” Blaze gnashes his teeth. “It’s about twenty-five minutes from here on foot and we don’t have that kind of time to waste.”
Twenty-five minutes is a lot of time considering the situation. If I were feeling better, I’d definitely recommend separating, but doing that now wouldn’t be the best option. I’m a liability, so wandering off alone with the risk of being caught would only make things worse. Sticking with Abby is all I’m good for right now, and she needs me with her to help with the infiltration. If I go, we’ll be down a man for at least half an hour, and that’s not factoring in driving time. “Yeah, you’re right,” I say as I check the safety before adding his gun to my collection. “If Abby and I would have hid the body, things would have been different, but it was an impossible task to do without getting covered in blood.”
“Don’t sweat it. We’ll get Ben and then we’ll do whatever it takes to make sure he makes it back.”
“I’m letting someone know right now that we may need to be picked up. I sent them the address and they’ll be circling the area if they can come through,” Abby mentions before she tucks her phone back into her pocket.
“Awesome. That’s just what we need. All our bases are covered, so let’s get this over with. I’ll text both of you when I’m at the door, then Abby can turn on the bug and hear what’s going on. Once I’m inside, I don’t think I’ll have the liberty to check my phone, so if you have any concerns, let me know before I go in. I’m going to wait a couple minutes before I leave. It should be enough time for you guys to scope things out.”
“Sounds like a plan. Good luck out there.”
“Same.”
“Be safe.” I pat Blaze on the back and step away as Abby draws closer.
“See you soon,” she says before hugging him. Blaze and I’s eyes briefly lock, our expressions, neutral.
“…You guys should get going,” he says soberly.
“Yeah, come on, Abs. We’ve got work to do.”
Together, we head out of the alley, leaving Blaze behind. I don’t bother looking back even though I can feel him watching us as we shrink off into the distance. All we can do now is move forward.
Chapter 10: Deliverance
“Don’t worry, Blaze will be fine.” The cold air slaps my face as Abby and I walk side by side. We’ve been walking for a while, but we haven’t said much of anything since we left Blaze. I feel like my need for casual conversation virtually flatlined months ago.
“Yeah, I know, Abs. I’m not worried. The hard part hasn’t even started yet.”
The streets are just as dull as they were before; a couple of people here and there, but nothing looks to be out of place. No wandering eyes or shady characters. Alfonse is still in remission, so there isn’t any reason to pick us out from any other person out tonight. Everything should be good, at least for now.
“It’s going to be a long night, that’s for sure. Who knows where it’ll take us.”
“Hopefully, to Ben,” I mutter.
“Hopefully…”
“I want to find him before it’s too late, you know?”
“Yeah, I do, too.” Not long after finishing her sentence, a dull vibration tickles my thigh. Blaze. I keep walking and instead let Abby answer for the both of us via her phone.
“What’s it say?” I ask after she fishes her phone out.
“That he’s on the move again. He bumped into a shady character…a guy heckling him for some taxi money, but it was nothing. I told him that everything is fine around here so far.”
“Great.”
“But, is it really?”
“Wait, what? What are you talking about, Abby? Everything is fine. Don’t be paranoid. Did you forget how many guns we have between us?” I scoff.
“Don’t play dumb. I saw you get slammed into that wall back there…and it hasn’t even been a week since you’ve been off the torture rack. Pain pills can only take you so far,” Abby states flatly. “You hide it well, but you’re still hurt. Bad. Your gait is off.” I don’t respond to her, but instead, exhale through my nose. “I’m not asking you to turn back now; I just want you to be careful. Blaze told me that you’ve been at this for a while, so I know you know your limits and can hold your own. I just wanted to remind you that you’re not in this alone, anymore. We’re a team. That’s all. You don’t have to shoulder all of this by yourself.”
“Thanks…I really mean it.”
“No problem.”
I let her words marinate in the stale city air. It’s great that she cares, but now isn’t the time to get sentimental. Abby doesn’t know me. And even if she thinks she does, it’s only what Blaze told her. I doubt she’d trust me if she knew the truth.
“…We should pick up the pace. It’s this way, right? We keep going straight?”
“Yeah,” Abby con
firms after doing a quick mental refresher by glancing at the map app on her phone. “We take a right at the corner coming up.”
I nod silently and continue our walk towards the corner in question. “This one?” I tilt my head forward and slow my pace.
“Yup.” Instead of turning the corner, I quickly glance down the street and see a group of four in front of a closed shop next to an alley not too far off.
“I’ll pass,” I say without veering from my preordained path. “I don’t like the vibe they’re giving. We’ll catch the next block. Let Blaze know…your phone’s already out.”
“Yeah, sure thing,” Abby says while I focus on the gang of guys lingering in my peripherals, careful not draw their attention. I clutch the grip of my gun hidden in my jacket extra tight, just in case.
“Come on.” I pick up the pace and power forward.
There’s always the chance that those guys could be normal, but honestly, it can go either way considering we just iced a homeless dude not even twenty minutes from here. It’s not worth the risk—for us or for Blaze.
Abby and I keep walking and eventually turn the corner on the following block. It’s infinitely better, but only because there’s no one in sight. Ultimately, it’s more of the same. Empty pavement and the occasional building renovated by your local not-so-considerate artist. At least their modifications can be classified as somewhat tasteful. It sure as hell beats half of what the other guys do. It’s hard to appreciate broken glass, badly drawn genitals, and puke stains.
“We stay on this stretch for a while,” Abby says from beside me. “If we make a right two blocks from now, we’ll be back on track.”
“Cool. It looks like we’re pulling away from the warehouse district now.”
“Yeah, that seems to be the case. The address is for a residential. Stay sharp.”
“Always.”
Abby and I keep going until we find ourselves approaching Gareth’s place of choice to spend his late nights, from the side. It’s an older house. Rickety and on the edge of the warehouse district; far from prime real estate.
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