by Lee Taylor
“I-I can’t feel my arm!” I called out to Agent Christian, who chuffed with apparent elation.
“That’s our special device; it generally stops the weaker sins from breaking loose from our constraints.” He was condescending and rude. With that said the soldiers grabbed a hold of my right arm and began to bend it into place. I wanted to resist, and so did my dark passenger, but I kept on telling myself that I didn’t have another choice. So I gritted my teeth and bared it. After securing my arms they pulled me over onto my back, my vision was blurry. I looked up, squinting into the hazy morning sunshine, and one of the soldiers pulled a strap around my waste followed by another two. Before what seemed like winching it to restrain the plate across the small of my back, my arms felt like prosthetics. I knew they were there, but couldn’t move them. It was like I had no arms at all. I didn’t really love the feeling or lack thereof. It meant that I couldn’t try to break loose if I wanted to.
Oh shit, what if this is what they are going to do! What if they just drug me up to my eyeballs and stop me from being able to move. The stray thought ricocheted around my head and was instantly filed in the crap I had already considered filed, but for some reason didn’t fully comprehend... I hoped my school work wasn’t as short sighted as I had been acting lately or I was going to be one of those high school students when I was thirty-two... How is it that the saying goes? “Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” I sighed and lay there as the warm fuzzy numbing sensation slowly crawled its way over my senses.
I was definitely going to need Lycaon’s help to get out of there if that was the case. The soldiers stowed their weapons and helped pull me to my feet, yanking on the straps to ensure they were tight. They were; it felt like my thirty-five feet of intestines were being squashed by my abs. Again they probably intended to make me feel as uncomfortable as possible on purpose. If they were following the same orders from Christian then they probably believed that I had something to do with their colleague’s death. I might have been close at the time, but I was definitely not the main contributor to their demise. A sudden sensation of panic rifled throughout my mind, and I involuntarily trembled. At first, I thought that it was probably the drugs in my system from the restraints until I had the same shudder seconds later followed by some mental imagery. It was from Lycaon.
The sergeant grabbed me by the shoulders and looked into my eyes. His eyes were a deep, stormy grey. They reminded me of my granddads. I didn’t know if it was the drugs in my body, but it made me feel nostalgic.
“Are you alright, son?”
The sign of genuine concern was greatly appreciated. I began to answer as Lycaon sent some more thoughts and images my way. Why was he not talking? I could see tree trunks with strips of bark torn off and great gouges taken out of the trees. It was from me earlier when I went out for some fresh air and ended up tackling a caribou. But why was Lycaon showing me this now? Lycaon was panting heavily; he took pause for a moment and shouted to me mentally.
GET OUT OF HERE NOW! SUMMER MEMBERS ARE ON THEIR WAY TO YOU! Lycaon’s words screeched through my mind. The tempo was so great that it made me lose balance. Fortunately the sergeant standing in front of me steadied me, and I only swayed on the spot. Beads of sweat began to dew up on my forehead, and I panicked, staring wide-eyed at the NCO.
“We have to get out of here now!” I barked, almost falling forward with the sense of motion Lycaon was sending me. It was the same kind of feeling of running on a treadmill for half an hour when you get off and the room keeps rushing toward you, even though it’s at a normal, slow pace. The soldiers looked at each other than to Agent Christian; he was on the phone again. I assumed it was to one of his superiors updating him on the current situation.
“Yes, sir... I understand, of course. No, sir, he is coming with us willingly.” Christian scoffed at a comment that his superior said. “Sir, I am going to have to call you back soon, our ETA is about forty five minutes, yes. I will let you know; of course, sir. With that he closed his cell phone and paced towards me. His cell phone bill had to be sky high... I bet it was a company phone. I was in part surprised he didn’t have one of those nerdy clip-on headsets to his neatly groomed head.
“What on earth are you talking about now, Mr. Edwards?” Christian asked, I didn’t answer. I was expecting another mental flood from Lycaon.
“Nothing important... I was just saying that some less-friendly lassies than myself are on their way, and they are not the spooning type.” I said, with bated breath. The warm cosy feeling of the tranquiliser was becoming thick and smothering. I wanted to shed out of my skin and splash my face in a basin of water, or anything to feel more awake, but I couldn’t. Hell I couldn’t even scratch my back where the plate was held.
I could tell from the look on Agent Christian’s face that he was not sure if I was just trying to spook them, allowing me a chance to escape. So when two monstrous wolves emerged at the edge of the rough clearing as if on cue, Christian didn’t have a chance to respond with words; instead he drew out his pistol and pointed it at my head.
There you go again, Ursine, pissing people off with your ‘oh so fantastic’ wit. My dark passenger chuffed as a retort, in apparent agreement with myself deprecation. Christian continued to click the safety off, pulling back the hammer with his thumb and grimaced.
“Crap, Christian, you don’t actually think I am helping those things? Come on, man, they are like a rival gang... Think of us like the Jets and them as the Sharks... only less singing and dancing... In fact, I guess I am more of a North side to their East, and West a total innocent. Now, please take the pistol from my face and point it at the fucking bad guys!” I said, panicking loudly. The problem was when I panicked my words kind of all smooshed together, making one long string of squeaky syllables. Christian’s plucked brow furrowed and he looked over his shoulder at the armed escort. The edges of my vision were becoming increasingly blurred, which only helped to add to my growing terror.
“Sharp, Smith, secure the perimeter. Don’t let them approach, and Mr. Edwards please be quiet, and get into the helicopter without further incident. Your escape attempt is futile,” Christian said, nudging me forward with the muzzle.
I started to try and shake free with anger, but as fast as my hostile intentions grew, they were instantly sedated, fizzling out at the same moment. I let out a cry of despair as I weakly struggled, pumping the drug around my body faster.
“Come on, Christian. Why would I bring you here for help only to try and run... Let me out of these cuffs and I can help. Christian... Christian.” My voice was beginning to sound alien to me; the lethargy was growing, and the idea of sleep was more appealing to me by the second.
Christian paused, expelling a deep breath as he took the gun from my view and shook his head, looking to the approaching Lycans.
The soldiers faced down the wolves. The Summers’ had stopped at the edge of the tree line, digging their claws into the dirt beneath their paws, ready to move forward or dive into cover if they needed it. Their teeth glinted in the morning glow. I stepped back slowly, pushing myself toward the wrecked mansion. I was trying to be more careful than normal. Looking at the ground, I moved slowly, mainly because if I fell I would eat the gravel, and as Tessa had showed me before, it really didn’t taste any better than Mike’s mom’s cooking. I wanted to run and hide, but I wouldn’t leave Tessa. Now I know you may think I sounded gallant, but realistically I couldn’t... my legs wouldn’t work fast enough.
Chapter 16
The medics were peering out of the helicopter’s cabin, their faces slightly paler as they looked on at the approaching threat. They had successfully strapped Tessa into place. She was still showing no real sign of life, and I envied her for that moment, sleep seemed like an awesome idea, and my body was practically crying for it in the hopes I would sleep off the drugs flooding my nervous system.
Christian slowly reached into his pocket. Taking the opportunity, the wolf on the left
edged forward, its hackles raised up. Its eyes were thrumming with latent energy, and he had tufts of fur that spiked out awkwardly from around its neck; it wasn’t keen on grooming, by the looks of things.
Lycaon they have just turned up. There are two of them, and it doesn’t look like Christian and the soldiers are going to be able to get Tessa and myself out of here in time. Well, before they attack at least...any suggestions? I called out mentally to Lycaon in the hopes that he would respond, but so far... no such luck.
The lead Lycanthrope with the grey and black fur looked like it was shaking with rage, its ears pinned back to its scalp. It was a primal look that at some level I understood, and although I wanted nothing more than to flee with Tessa while I was restrained, the primordial inertia it triggered in the recesses of my brain had me almost foaming at the mouth in rabid anger. But as fast as the hostile feelings settled, they dispersed leaving more of the numb sensation in their wake. I found myself staring doe-eyed at Tessa, drawn back to her as she gasped, but still lay limply strewn on the brace. I didn’t understand what happened to her; one minute she was standing in the room, spreading her arms out, not exactly the weirdest thing I had seen of recent days, and then the next instant she had collapsed onto the floor and was bleeding. I knew I had been playing way too many video games of late as my warm and fuzzy drug-filled mind had me pondering if there was a sniper out in the brush.
I jumped when the helicopter’s pilot began firing up the propellers, anxiously looking from the wolves to his cockpit; the medics strapped themselves in and pulled the doors closed. Christian looked at his car toward the lycans that stood nearest the road, blocking the way out and grunted.
Who else was this flaming estate going to attract? I sluggishly mused. Wow that pun was totally intended.
“Shit,” Christian cursed, pulling out a different pistol clip.
“Corporal Smith, back up to the chopper and ensure that its contents are kept safe, and Sergeant Sharp you’re with me.
“ Smith edged towards the chopper on command, slowly backing past me with his gun trained on the Lycanthropes that still seemed to be just standing there, intimidating us with their presence.
What the hell are they waiting for?
“Mr. Edwards, if you wouldn’t mind accompanying the corporal to the helicopter, I think that the pilot would like to leave now.” Christian tilted his face slightly toward my own, keeping his eyes trained on the wolves. I felt an inkling of relief flood me, and all I could do at the moment was run, shout, kick and head-butt things... Maybe not as effective as a gun, but there was no telling if the guns the soldiers had would have any effect on those things at all anyway.
“Christian, let me out of these restraints. I would be more help to you, trust me. I have already taken out a ghoul and sparred with a Lycan. I know what kind of moves they can make.” I looked over to the safe harbour that was the helicopter and could see one of the medics setting up an I.V for Tessa, hanging it off of some of the netting that decorated part of the helicopter’s interior cabin through the small canopy window.
“I would rather let those animals mutilate me then have someone like you “help,” you’re all the same.” Christian all but spat the words at me; I guess he and I weren’t friends, big freaking surprise there.
‘“You know what? You’re a real asshole,” I mumbled, challenging Christian, but he ignored my retort. I could see that he was as nervous as I was; well I say I could see it, but I actually meant that I could smell it, and still he wouldn’t let me out of the cuffs. If only the freaking wolves showed up two-minutes earlier, then they wouldn’t have had a chance to cuff me, or fill me up with this happy juice. Ugh.
“Corporal Smith, please remove Mr. Edwards,” Christian said. Corporal Smith chirped a response, and let out a soft sigh, obviously a real career-military-man. I had lost sight of him and that put me even more on the edge if that was possible. What, with my outburst and all, a second later, as I began to turn my head, there was a sharp pain in my neck like a hornet sting. That son of a bitch... He... Injected... Me... My vision was growing progressively blurrier, my legs began to feel as numb as my arms, and yet I was still resilient enough to remain standing.
The morning’s sun that shone over the horizon lit everything up in a fantastic contrast of colours. The grass was rippling with a light breeze that washed through the rubble, sweeping debris into the air. I blinked so slowly now that I could actually feel dust particles collecting on my eyes. Unable to rub them, my vision grew worse, and I slowly swayed my head, rotating it on my neck, trying to rub my eyes on my shoulders. It was an impossible task with my back brace, hand cuff contraption.
The sound of the helicopter’s blades hummed and chomped through the air, vibrating through me. It all began to distort and stretch out into a series of different pitched whining and mumbling, until I was suddenly aware of a hand that grabbed the top of the constraints, pressing his knuckle into the small of my back as he began to drag me backwards. I figured that it was toward the chopper; feebly I kicked out, attempting to back-kick my assailant. I succeeded in only losing my leg from under me and landed flat on my face, unable to move. It was like Mike’s mom’s cooking all over again, or Tessa’s ass-kicking that she handed me. I couldn’t even wriggle, the impact knocked the wind out of my lungs and I groggily chuffed and rasped for oxygen in weak frustration. Corporal Smith’s hand was on me again, tugging me to stand. I tried, but the bones in my legs had liquefied, turning me part into a Stretch-Armstrong doll.
And so I just lay crumpled into a heap with my rear exposed in the air; I kind of wished that my face was numb. On the positive side, I was beginning to hear voices more clearly again. It was like trying to listen in on a conversation when your head’s submerged in water; you knew that the voice was talking to you, but you still couldn’t make out exactly what they were trying to say. The only reason I was still conscious was the piercing fear of what would happen to me and Tessa.
Ursine, there was definitely at least three, and I have found a different set of prints and a new scent on the breeze. It took me a while to register the words. I was annoyed that it had taken so long for Lycaon to respond, but for the life of me, I couldn’t remember why.
Th... They... Drrr-ugged me, I said, slurring mentally like a lush.
Ursine, did you hear me? I said that there was definitely more than two- I received a sharp knock to my head, and the blow sent me on an adventure of winding roads. The fresh morning breeze twinned with the smoky ruins and made my chest constrict. I wanted to heave; even my dark passenger seemed too far gone to respond more than a bark. I was suffering from quad vision as everything moved around me, swaying in a gale-force wind before I felt another sharp impact as I was flipped over onto my back. Something wrapped around my throat.
My vision darkened, part of me thought that I was going to die then and there. The thick, suffocating anaesthesia working through me numbed pretty much all of my senses. Well, that was until there was a muzzle-flash above my head. The light set my corneas ablaze, and I flinched with the first sensation I had felt in what seemed like a lifetime. It was mind-splitting agony.
There was more shouting, which was muffled with the whistling concussion that permeated my ear drums. Crackles and pops rustled in my head as my hearing slowly came back to fruition, my eyes were still visualising imaginary orbs floating around in strobe like flashing.
Corporal Smith’s alleviated tone kept me from drifting out of consciousness; well that and as soon as he spoke, he was backed with hasty bursts of gun fire. His rifle emptied a clip into the dark shape that had been tugging at my leg. It released a whimper and backed off a few feet. I hadn’t even realised. I swear if I felt my heart-rate increase any more I could have rivalled a hummingbird’s. My thoughts drifted around, suspended in the air, and I kind of felt like a marshmallow, all soft and squidgy. When the gunfire stopped, I attempted to move myself out of harm’s way and succeeded only in tensing my jaw... I had experienced a
sense of helplessness before, and I was fully aware of what was going on, but now, now, I was unable to blink.
“Sir, just who the hell is this kid to get such a warm welcome anyway?” Smith asked as he exchanged his spent magazine for a fresh clip, locking it into place. The wolves circled in, their comrade incapacitated by my feet, began to pull itself back onto all fours. Its wounds healing slowly, and the great puncture marks knitted themselves back together.
“For crying out loud, why won’t they stay down?” Smith asked; Christian didn’t answer.
“We aren’t equipped to face this... I made sure we were kitted out for a class three encounter...” Agent Christian muttered to himself; he was one of those special people that are so busy with their hands that they need to wear a swanky accessory that makes them look like some sort of cyber-drag act. He didn’t even hear Smith’s whiny statement.
“Sir... What are your orders?” Corporal Smith sounded an octave higher than he had previously. Sharp was still aiming shots off into the distance, keeping the wolves at bay, but in amongst the staccato bursts, I could hear him cluck and tut with the corporal’s near incessant whimpering.
“God damn it! Sergeant, did you not fill your team in on the whole ammo situation, or were we that strapped for man power that you brought out a fucking green horn!?” Christian’s retort made the corporal move uncomfortably; I couldn’t see the Sergeant from where I lay, but my guess his face was grim.
“It means, corporal, that we are equipped with a U.V treated GD munitions. We might as well have brought out BB guns...”
“It’s okay, corporal, I know what to do. Sharp, try and cover Smith while he retrieves our tech from Mr. Edwards.”