Don't Look Back (Warders of Earth)

by S. E. GILCHRIST

  It made my skin crawl.

  Not if I could help it.

  I slowed down and approached the front of the house with caution. Breathing deeply, I sucked in smoke filled air, wincing as my lungs struggled to find the oxygen in the filth I’d inhaled. I broke into a fit of coughing and wheezing.

  The smoke came from a furniture warehouse set toward the back of the wide block to my right, where flames ate away at what was left of the two storey building. A discarded fire hose lay on the cement like a long, winding snakeskin. There were no signs of any emergency vehicles.

  Or anyone else for that matter.

  A low rumble of an engine in the distance broke the tense silence. By the sound of it, a truck, possibly two.

  The Mundos Novus Force?

  A car roared round the corner.

  Still hacking up my lungs, I raced towards the house.

  I fled down the path to pound on the front door. Behind me, the car braked with a hail of pebbles and dirt.

  I pounded again.

  Car doors slammed.

  Booted footsteps smacked against cement.

  I spun round and raised my chin as Alex stopped about six centimetres from my nose.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” he snarled through clenched teeth.

  “Helping my friends.”

  His hand closed around my upper arm and he jerked me forward until I was mashed up right and close against the long, toned hardness of his body. Instantly, my tummy muscles dissolved and my blood thrummed slow and sweet through my veins. Looking up into his furious face, I moistened my lips. Given the situation we were in, what I was thinking about was pretty crazy. What would he do if I kissed him?

  As if he’d read my thoughts, heat blazed in his eyes turning the cold fog into hot steam.

  The door behind me jerked open smacking me in the back.

  “Tara!”

  Uncertain whether I was disappointed or relieved the moment had been interrupted, I pulled out of Alex’s grasp and turned to Marnie. I practically fell into her arms. “Marnie. Thank heavens you’re okay. I’ve been so worried.”

  We hugged.

  When Marnie stepped back to allow us entrance into the house, I looked her over carefully. No signs of obvious trauma, no injuries and although her jeans and white tee-shirt were wrinkled they looked clean. Marnie’s burnt honey-blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail, the expression in her eyes serious as she looked past Tara at Alex and then beyond to Shay leaning against the car.

  “Thank you so much for coming here. But why did you bring these guys? Do you have any idea what’s going on? We saw soldiers on our way into town.”

  I shooed her inside. “I’ll bring you up to speed but first, I’d kill for some water.”

  “Sure. Come into the kitchen. Everyone’s there anyway.” Marnie led the way down the narrow, threadbare carpeted hall and into the shabby but spotlessly clean room at the end. Grabbing a bottle of water off the counter she handed it to me. “You know my father, Nic, and Nonna. Luis here, is Nic’s mate. This is Tara and Alex.”

  I nodded in general and unscrewed the cap. “Hi, Nic. Hi, Mrs Tolini. Luis.” Tipping the bottle up, I drank.

  “Ma’am.” Alex gave a tight-lipped smile to the older woman with Marnie’s strong features then held out his hand and shook with both men who’d risen to their feet at their entrance into the kitchen.

  Nic sat down in a sprawling posture and tipped his chair back on its legs only to have his mother slap his shoulders with a tee-towel.

  “Be respectful,” she snapped.

  “Yes, Mamma.” Grinning, Nic obediently settled his chair on its four legs.

  “Tara?” Marnie crossed the room to stand behind her father.

  I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. I gave a quick summary of everything that had happened the last few days and the brief amount of information Bob Garroway had advised. My voice faltered when I spoke of that terrible day at the camp but Alex squeezed my hand and somehow I stumbled on.

  Marnie gasped and pressed her hands over her mouth. “Oh, Tara, this is terrible. I’m so sorry.”

  Of course, I didn’t tell them everything.

  I still wasn’t certain who I could trust.

  No one spoke.

  Luis, who’d been eyeing me off like I was made out of gold bullion, drawled, “Ain’t this something, Nic. This here is one of them mutants. I’ve heard there’s a hefty reward for bringing one of these things in.” He waggled his mobile in the air.

  Alex slapped his hand onto the butt of his revolver in his holster, the movement loud enough to garner everyone’s attention.

  “Put that away, giovane,” said Nic. “Luis’s got a foolish mouth on him an’ I have no intention of harming yer tesoro.”

  Heat scalded my face.

  Marnie wriggled her eyebrows in a suggestive manner as she looked from me to Alex then back again. I ignored the questions in her eyes. This wasn’t the time for heart-to-hearts.

  Mrs Tolini uttered a long sigh. “Che palle! To think I have lived to see such things.” She sighed again and shook her head. “Well, speak, Marlina, tell them your need.”

  “Nic and Luis have busted out of prison because they’d heard whispers on the inside about what was up. I know, the connections some of them have is unbelievable. Nic wanted to be with me when...,” Marnie waved her thin hands expressively, “...when the world ends. And I, Tara, I need to see my little girl. I must know she’s okay, if she needs me. So I thought of your brother and how good he is with computers. I thought he’d be able to find where she’s living.”

  “He’s a pretty good hacker, I don’t see how it’ll be a problem for him,” I said instantly. “There’s the issue of this virus, too.” I snuck a side-long glance at Alex, dragged in a deep breath and blurted, “We have a place you may be safe for a while. Come back with us.”

  “Tara!”

  “Sorry, Alex, but I’ve got to do what I think is right.”

  “Yeah, I get that.” Alex gave a short laugh. “Dad’s not going to be happy but, sure, why not? There’s safety in numbers and we could do with a few more guns.” He jerked his chin at the three rifles lying on the kitchen counter.

  “We’ll take you up on your offer.” Nic rose to his feet and hooked his thumbs into the loops on his jeans. “Soldiers have cordoned off the town at the city limits. Probably this military force you were talking about. We were lucky to slip by them as they were first setting up. Otherwise, I’m not certain we would have gotten through. We’ve got weapons but nothing like the fire power these guys are packing.”

  Alex said, “He’s right. They’re searching houses, hauling people out onto the streets and interrogating them. It wasn’t a pretty sight. Shay and I spotted a group doing this a few blocks away.”

  I had a feeling I knew what, or who, they were looking for.

  “We want to locate my piccolina di papà’s bambina and get the cazzo out of this town.”

  “I think you’re making the right decision. But it’s not going to be easy.” Alex’s gaze cut to the other escaped prisoner.

  “Merda! Nothing worthwhile is ever easy.” Snapping his fingers, Nic gave a crooked smile. “I figure we band together and make tracks fast.”

  “Yes, especially as you’re both wanted fugitives,” said Marnie wryly. But she patted her father’s arm gently. “Sorry about the Italian everyone. Nic loves nothing more than hamming up his heritage.”

  The smile they shared sent shafts of bittersweet longing through me. Dad used to smile at me in much the same way.

  Blindly I turned to the door, saying gruffly over my shoulder, “Are you ready to leave?”

  “Been ready and waiting for your arrival for quite a bit now, girlie,” said that creepy guy, Luis.

  “Grab your gear and follow my car,” said Alex, placing his hand on my lower back and giving me a gentle push.

  Nic responded, “Let’s go then.”

  I made a beeline for the
front door.

  Behind me, Shay muttered, “The General isn’t going to like more people on his watch.”

  “I know. Let me worry about him. I’m not leaving you behind,” Alex growled.

  “You picked up on that?”

  Alex snorted. “Of course I did. And if she’s your new mark, then you must fulfil your purpose.”

  “What are you two talking about?” I yanked open the front door only to have it taken out of my hands.

  Alex poked his head out a fraction, scanned the streets before stepping onto the porch. “It’s possible Marnie is under Shay’s protection.”

  I goggled. “Then she’s…?”

  “I have no idea.” He shrugged. “He’s just got a sense of something connecting them, that’s all. Hurry up and get in the car, Tara.”

  “So, he won’t leave her and Marnie won’t leave her family. And you won’t leave Shay,” I said slowly. “This is why you’re not ranting and raving at me, isn’t it?”

  “You should have talked to me. I would have brought you here.”

  “Would you?”

  I turned around and searched his face. His eyes shone with sincerity. But could I believe it? I said, “We need to source more food and water supplies, now there’s more of us. Especially if we’re going to escape from the town.”

  “I hope you’re not thinking of going with your friend. You have a role to play, Tara. One that I believe you’re not too keen on.”

  I whirled round and poked Alex in the chest. “Of course I’m not bloody keen. Who would be? I’ve got no idea how to do what, apparently...” I made finger exclamation marks in the air. “Apparently, what I’ve been bred to do.”

  I hiccupped. “Oh, and what exactly do I say if I somehow manage to confront these jerkoffs? Huh? Like, oh hi there Mr Alien, please don’t kill us.”

  “Shit.” Alex gripped my waist and pushed me against the fence, leaning in and trapping me with his rock-hard body. “Get a grip, Tara. This is bigger than you or me. You need to focus.”

  “Don’t tell me how important this shit is, because I already know it. First hand. Don’t ever tell me I don’t know.”

  His touch gentled, his thumbs moving in a caressing motion over my waist as he rested his forehead on mine. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I know you’re hurting but so are others.”

  The regret in his voice rang true and my anger deflated as if shot by an arrow leaving nothing but hollow fatigue that weighed down my soul.

  “I know. I know it’s down to me. But, Alex, I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. How do we know it will even work?” I closed my eyes, sinking into the heat and strength of him. I drank in this one moment.

  “None of us know but we have to try. I can’t imagine how hard this must be for you. Remember, Tara, I will always stand by your side.” Alex pressed a kiss as soft as a butterfly’s wings to my brow.

  What if my side isn’t the same as yours? I recalled every word he’d spoken and despaired if I’d ever know what the truth was.

  “Alex!” called Shay. “We need to move. They’re coming.”

  ***

  Alex

  I stopped the car at the next intersection, checking in both directions for any sign of the Mundos Novus force.

  Clear, no sign of those nut jobs. I turned left and drove along the road. I speared a quick look at Tara sitting quietly in the passenger seat and wondered what she was thinking. She’d done her share of ‘wailing, why me?’ these past few days but I couldn’t blame her. It wasn’t every day a girl learns she was made from alien technology.

  What really pissed me off, was her lack of trust. I’d hoped we’d moved forward sufficiently for her to confide in me. My father wasn’t going to be happy about this latest escapade.

  I changed down a gear for the corner coming up.

  The problem was, she had my full empathy. If Shay had needed my help, I wouldn’t been there in an instant.

  And not only that, she’d lost her dad in pretty tough circumstances. It was enough to make any soldier lose his shit let alone a girl barely out of high school. But no, not this chickee babe, she kept on. You had to respect a chick who could handle a tonne of crap without turning on the water works and wearing a man down with weeping and wailing.

  It made me proud I’d been chosen to be her Warder.

  It made me wish for a far different future than the one knocking on Earth’s door.

  “Any sign of those military guys?” Luis’ swarmy voice made my shoulders twitch.

  Something about this guy didn’t ring true. If only I could put my finger on it. Maybe it had more to do with my gut; thinking he had a big part still to be played. One that could prove a major headache for me.

  It’d made sense to split up which was why I’d ended up with this guy in my car. Marnie and her grandma remained with Nic and the dog in the ute. Their gear had been stashed in the back tray concealed by a leather tarp. I suspected from the shapes and weight of at least two of those bags they’d put in there, Nic travelled with a shit-load of weapons. Considering the circumstances, the older bloke’s decision was probably a savvy one. Although how he’d managed to secure so much weaponry at such short notice was a mystery. I could only assume Nic had more than one mate on the shady side of the law.

  “Nothing so far,” I finally responded. My eyes met those of Shay in the rear-vision mirror and although I’d been cautioned against using my telepathic ability so close to my mark, I flashed a message. Short and sweet. Watch him.

  Yeah, he presses my buttons too, Shay flashed back.

  Glad I wasn’t the only one suspicious of the escaped prisoner, I increased speed. I knew Shay had my back. He always did.

  “Wait! Stop!” cried Tara suddenly.

  Instantly, I applied the clutch and brakes, shifting the gears into neutral and the car jerked to a halt. While Nic’s ute pulled up behind us, motor running, my gaze hunted both sides of the quiet street.

  Looking for danger.

  Looking for what had caused her to yell out like that.

  Nothing. That is, if you didn’t count a cat sitting on the footpath staring at the car with unblinking eerie green eyes.

  Tara scrabbled out, leaving her door open.

  “What the...? Tara get back in here,” I yelled out my window.

  “The cat. I’m not leaving him.”

  The cat?

  Shay laughed.

  Momentarily struck dumb, I watched her walk up to the cat and scoop the fur ball into her arms. She hurried back, a broad grin lighting up her face. The impact was like a sucker punch. All air left my lungs and something shifted inside me.

  I would give anything to save her from her future.

  The car door shut as she slid back inside, the cat clutched under one arm. Smiling, she clipped on her seat belt.

  I swallowed, did a shit pile of throat clearing and still my voice came out hoarse as sandpaper.

  “Dad’s going to be pissed off a cat’s joining our merry band, especially since Marnie is bringing along her father’s dog.” I tapped a beat on the steering wheel, conjuring up the scene that would surely greet us when we got back to the workshop. I sent the car in motion, checking the ute followed.

  “He’ll have to suck it up. This is Mrs Andrews’ cat. I’m not leaving it here to fend for itself.”

  One glance at the stubborn tilt of her chin and I caved. I knew how to pick my battles and this wasn’t one of them. Besides, I’d spent quite a few sleepless hours myself thinking about this same crappy deal. People weren’t the only ones with their lives on the line. If only I knew more about what’s about to happen.

  The fur ball settled down on Tara’s lap and purred under her petting hand.

  I’d be bloody purring too, if she stroked me like that. I shifted on the seat, my body tightening with a hungry need.

  From the back seat, Shay snuffled a snort.

  Aw crap, I’d forgotten to sever our connection. I rolled my eyes knowing my m
ate would give me curry later.

  “Why does Marnie call her father by his first name?” asked Shay.

  “He says it makes him feel too old.” Tara turned around and grinned at my mate. “I got the impression he wasn’t there that much when she was growing up.”

  Shay grunted and returned to scanning for danger.

  “What do you know about these so-called aliens? Do you know what they want with us?” Tara looked at me.

  Those gorgeous soft-brown eyes of hers, made me want to move mountains. “I’m not certain, Tara.” I shrugged and changed into third gear, sending the car roaring down the street.

  “I only know what I’ve been told.” Do I tell her I suspect something quite different?

  “That’s not much help,” she muttered.

  In my peripherals, I saw her hand tremble. What could it hurt to spill what I did know?

  “There’s two different races and once, a long time ago, they were deadly enemies.”

  Tara smiled and placed her hand on my thigh.

  I immediately covered it with mine. “They were both powerful and battled for centuries for supremacy in their galaxy. Neither won. But they brought their people to the brink of extinction. So they devised a different type of war; one which wouldn’t see any harm coming to either race.”

  “They could have called a truce,” Tara said drily.

  “Yeah, there is that.” I did an eye roll in her direction. “Whatever their reasons, they remained enemies and sent out exploratory spaceships, in packs of two, into the universe. One ship for each race. They would suss out solar systems with life forms and send out small, forward-scout shuttles to prepare for their arrival.”

  “And that’s how we got the alien technology!” Tara exclaimed. “The scout ships.”

  “Got it in one.”

  “But what are they after? Our resources? Our land so they can live here?”

  “I’m not sure. One race I believe has more peaceful intentions whilst the other is more aggressive. The Mundos Novus force supposedly answers to the latter. I can’t help but wonder whether they’re going off on their own agenda these days.”

  “Then the Warders are with the more peaceful race?”