by Angela White
Theo grabbed his arm. “Fire!”
The word got through to Greg. He shined his light toward the top, breathing heavily through the dust and smoke.
Theo took the rope from his belt. “It’s not long enough to get all the way up, but we can throw it between levels if there’s anyone there to catch it.”
Greg took the rope, reluctantly leaving the pile of big stones. He hadn’t heard any sound from Marc since it had happened.
Theo shined his light so Greg could evaluate the situation while he tied the rope with hard knots for gripping.
“Are we the only ones down here?” Greg asked suddenly.
Theo shined his light, discerning bodies but no survivors. “I believe so.”
Debra gestured toward a nearby pile of debris.
“Help…”
“Billy!” Theo rushed over to help dig the Eagle free as Greg started to climb. The rope was long enough to reach the next level if they got half way up to it first.
“Stay with him,” Theo signed to Debra, giving her his smaller light. Billy was now unconscious but still breathing, which was better than most of the people under the debris were doing in Theo’s opinion. He shrugged off Debra’s concern to follow Greg even though he’d only had his cast off for a week or so. This was no time to let that hold him back and he wasn’t going to.
“Hello up there!” Greg called, grasping the dusty rocks to heft his body upward. “Is anyone up there?”
13
Stuck on the second floor, Kenn stared down the hole in shock. He didn’t know how anyone could still be alive down there but he could hear the screams and shouts that verified someone was. “Tonya!”
“Kenn!”
Kenn spun around to discover Morgan and Daryl coming toward him, coated in dust and dirt.
“She’s down there!” Kenn shouted, wincing at the distortion. “Part of the radio room fell!”
Daryl and Morgan also needed to get to the lower levels. Morgan held up the rope he’d thought to grab as they shoved their way from the singles’ chamber.
Kenn grabbed it and tied it around his waist.
“Is anyone up there?” someone shouted from below.
On the other side of the gap, Neil was gawking in horror at where Jeremy had disappeared from view.
The tremor increased in strength as the full heart of the destructive waves reached the mountain. Rock fell in thick chunks and dust swirled through the air. On the top level, the tunnel collapsed most of the way through, trapping people and cutting off any chance of reaching the top through this level. As the cords were severed, the entire cave was plunged into darkness.
Topside, the mountain shuddered. Barns and shelters fell over, unable to take the violent shaking and the snow began to slide. When the new avalanche barreled down the cliffs to crash through the gate and cover Safe Haven, only the people at the bottom of the mountain noticed.
Mikel gazed up in horror as the snow and rock crumbled, barreling toward his army. “You treacherous bitch!”
Mikel’s men staggered toward their vehicles as the ground shook. Nearly all of them had sores and bleeding gums from the curse Angela had put on them.
“I will not be killed by you!” Mikel shouted in rage as the avalanche flew toward his camp. He was aware of men fleeing and of his whores screaming at him to run, but the Mexican didn’t run from anything.
Groups of soldiers and refugees from the west ran toward their vehicles as the tremor strengthened, trying to escape the path of the snow that was almost upon them. Some of them helped each other and some of them shoved people aside in panic.
Mikel was still shouting and ranting at Angela when the avalanche reached the bottom of the mountain. As if unable to get through his hatred, the rocks and snow slammed into the ground on either side of him. He was knocked to his knees and pelted with tiny blades of ice and rock, but he survived.
His army wasn’t as lucky. The two streams of snow smacked into the hard ground and flew across the camp, smothering the tents and campers. It wiped through the vehicles as if they weren’t there, sending metal flying through the cloudy air. Snow rained down on everything, blanketing the entire center of the camp all the way to the next mountain ledge and then part of the way up it.
“Keep sending your curses, witch!” Mikel screamed madly as the ground continued to shake under his knees. “Nothing you can send will kill me!”
Above the destroyed camp, the sky sparkled hazily under the dim shelf of clouds that had hung over the area for the last week. Even after it rained, the cloud was there. The Mexicans hadn’t noticed, but the refugees had. Many of them had fled Mikel’s tents and nightly parties when the sores appeared. Those who hadn’t fled then now did so without stopping for any of their gear that may have survived the earthquake and avalanche.
The soldiers on both sides of the destruction observed it all in horror, unable to do anything else. When the refugees ran and drove by them, the Mexicans let them go. None of them cared about the freeloaders or the women. They wanted power.
“I will never leave!” Mikel was still screaming through the rumbling. “I cannot be killed by you.”
The men who heard him were filled with his confidence even while rubbing at sores and watching their friends die under the snow. Mikel was invincible, immortal, and after they dragged the witch from her fortress, they would be as well. The two boys in there weren’t valuable at all except as an excuse to the pathetic refugees out here who could have overwhelmed them if given enough time and reasons.
“We will have the witch!”
Many of Mikel’s men cheered at the proof of their leader’s words. The rest were dead or dying.
Inside the mountain, screams began to fade into groans and tears…and then silence.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Dirce’s Way
October 15th, 2013
1
“So, who do I have to kill for that load of locals in the collateral room?”
Kendle’s voice cut through the gym, where slave time had come around again. Kendle had spent the last days staying out of Dirce’s way and avoiding Rice, who had begun to hound her. She and her partners had chosen to camp on the outskirts of town while they recovered. None of them had missed these signs and scents of civilization.
Dirce, lounging in Xavier’s center chair, waved her forward. “We have made arrangements for them, through the private bid that you provided. I have agreed.”
Kendle gave an uneasy smile. “Thank you. What’s the cost?”
“Don’t come back.”
The chilling demand brought silence to the steady crowd of traffic that was still lingering from the matches. As long as she was here, some of these people would stay just to say they knew which way she’d gone.
“I won’t,” Kendle promised. “Do I collect them or are they delivered?”
“They’re being released now.” Dirce’s eyes narrowed. “I hear that Ori will be joining your team.”
“On probation, like my other two rookies were,” Kendle stated.
The two men shared grins. “We leveled up!”
“She can’t do that,” Ryan whispered.
“I’ll bet she can,” Tommy countered. He slapped Ramer on the shoulder and shook Carl’s hand. “Welcome aboard the nightmare.”
The team’s laughter was odd to those viewing it, but Kendle understood completely. They were bonded. It would be hard to break those bonds after being held captive together.
“He is a good man,” Dirce stated. “We will miss him.”
“Do I owe you for that?” Kendle asked suddenly. “I’m sorry that I didn’t ask sooner.”
Soothed, Dirce shook his head. “Ori has been docked for the mistake. He’ll meet you at the gates when our business is finished.”
“Excellent,” Kendle praised, worried. She knew that tone. Ori will need medical care, she noted. Light duty for a while.
Dirce’s lip curled as he read her thought, but he didn’t change
his mind. The sooner she was gone, the better. “Our last item is the funds owed to you. After totaling it up, you are owed a thousand dollars. How would you like to be paid?”
Kendle blinked. “Wow. Ok. Uh…what are the options?”
Dirce gestured at the racks of gear she’d assumed were trade-ins. “You can take it from there, from any of Renda’s booths, or you can make a deal with Iram to get your vehicles.”
“Vehicles,” Kendle chose immediately. “Fully gassed.”
Iram smiled, greed bleeding through the charm. “The boy.”
“No. Counter offer?”
“Can’t blame me for trying.” Iram grinned. “Take the vehicles as my gift. I made more profit during your time here than I have since we landed at Souther Field.”
Dirce frowned. It was the barest flash of disapproval, but Kendle knew he didn’t want people to know where they’d landed. Kendle stopped herself from considering it further. “I can’t do that. I still owe you for the two totes of food that you sent on my first day.”
Iram now frowned, telling Kendle she wasn’t supposed to mention that. She sighed. “Can’t get it right today, gentlemen. Please let me leave now before I make this worse.”
Dirce waved a curt hand at her. “And do it now, before I decide that Yuri was right to want you eliminated.”
Kendle turned furious eyes on the Russian.
Yuri smirked. “You knew what I was when you handed me the oil.”
Kendle nodded angrily, jaw clamped as she resisted the need to spill his blood for the betrayal. She regarded Dirce with scarlet cheeks and plans for revenge displayed prominently in her mind.
Dirce smiled, discerning that she wouldn’t be letting it go. That was good. It would bring her back, against their deal, and allow him to execute her. He couldn’t do it now because she hadn’t done anything wrong by the public view. She was too loved. He couldn’t take another riot in a town that he controlled. Those in charge of the rations wouldn’t forgive another slaughter, even to get things under control. It interrupted the food supply.
Kendle spun smartly on her heel, snapping her fingers at her team.
Each of those men gave Yuri a nasty glower as they also spun neatly and followed her from the gym.
Yuri felt the menace, but Kendle and her people were forbidden from returning. He was safe.
Dirce rose, disguising his laugh with a cough. You don’t know what you’ve done, my stupid friend, but you’ll figure it out too late. I have faith in that.
Dirce went to Renda’s apartment, taking a position at the window to view Kendle’s exit. It bothered him to discern how many of the locals came out to wish her well and beg her to stay.
“You could have had them, Ms. Roberts,” he chided. “You gave up too easily.”
Kendle stopped, glaring at him from the chattering patrons and fans, across his flytrap shops and distractions. I don’t want it. If I did, all I would have to do is tell them what you are. Be careful planning my death, Dirce Resi. Every person who tried so far has ended up shredded. She grinned widely, making sure he could view it. You’re in good shape. Bet you’d scream for a week.
Against his will, Dirce shivered. He dropped the curtain, hating himself for the weakness.
Kendle ignored the concern of her partners to exit the market and leave the town. She waved Ori to join them as she spotted his beaten face and empty hands. Rice, she ignored. He was busy greeting the family he liked and reluctantly accepting responsibility for those he didn’t as they came through the gate. She’d told him to meet her where she’d been taken for a fool. Kendle was trying to get set up to be certain that they weren’t followed. She also wanted satisfaction from Yuri.
Kendle and the team made camp near Rice’s tunnel entrance, using the light trees and the chilly breeze to remind themselves that they’d won this round in the constant battle for survival.
“Weren’t you supposed to be branded so that we have safe passage?” Ori asked, standing near the tent that Carl and Dexter had erected.
Kendle lifted her sleeve, where two letters glared in bright red scabs. MT. Market Town.
Kendle dropped her sleeve as the rest of the team muttered and grumbled, flashing glowers at their unwanted guest.
Ori flushed.
Kendle waved him into the tent. “You’ll be on duty tonight. Rest up.” She didn’t wait for him to argue. “Do it now or stay here and forfeit your end of the deal.”
Ori scowled. “I know why you want me in there.”
Kendle scoffed. “If I wanted you dead, I would point and every one of my men would try to be the first one to blow your brains out.”
Kendle stood up, moving toward the open area that bordered the spot where she’d chosen to camp. “We’re going for a walk. Sleep or don’t, but you fall out on sentry duty tonight and I will point.”
Tommy and the others snickered, joining her to make their plans. The feeling of revenge had flooded the team upon discerning how much Kendle had been hurt, but that brand had sealed the deal. They weren’t leaving yet.
2
“Where did they go?”
Xavier, now reduced to messenger, pointed toward the south end of town. “A mile out.”
“She didn’t keep going?”
“No.”
Dirce pounded his fist against the desk. He had new orders to follow her to Safe Haven while the troops prepared this place for a fight, but she wasn’t leaving. He’d pushed her too far by revealing Yuri’s betrayal. Dirce realized it too late.
“What’s wrong?”
“It isn’t over yet.”
Xavier didn’t know what to say and kept his mouth shut. He sensed a punishment coming for the deal, but he wasn’t sure what he’d done wrong. Massive trades to increase profits were in their guidelines for this type of situation.
“I need her to leave.”
Xavier was surprised at the admission. “How can I help?”
“Let her finish her business here so she’ll go.”
“I thought we’d settled it all.”
Dirce snorted harshly. “You have no idea what someone like that is capable of. You’re lucky to be alive.”
Xavier didn’t doubt that after witnessing Dirce’s fear. There was no mistaking the scent of it.
Dirce’s shoulders tensed. “I can still end you.”
Xavier paled at the proof of magic. Dirce was the reason this market and all the others they conquered were cleansed of their kind.
“I didn’t know that,” Dirce stated softly. “Thank you.”
“For what?” Xavier questioned nervously.
“For finally giving me a reason to kill you that my boss will accept.”
Xavier glanced down as pain swept through his abdomen.
His guts began to slide out.
Xavier looked up to see the scythe slide under the chair that Dirce was sitting in.
“Tea with that?” Dirce asked politely.
Xavier slid to his knees and then slumped over without making a sound.
Dirce laughed quietly and gestured for the sentry to clean up the mess. “Pass the word. Magic users are no longer to be hunted. Anyone who harms a magic user will be disemboweled.”
Dirce cackled again at the sight of intestines roped over Xavier’s gory shoes. “I make friends everywhere I go.”
3
Yuri snapped awake as his door opened.
“Baby?”
The sound of Kendle’s voice was enough to get Yuri on his feet. He grabbed his gun, but Kendle shut the door, plunging them into darkness.
Outside, the sounds of a struggle came, along with shouts and shots.
“No protection,” Kendle taunted, sounding closer. “Yuri, baby…”
Yuri shuddered at a caress on his cheek. He spun to fire as something sharp sliced into his wrist.
His scream echoed loudly, gun falling as blood sprayed the bed and walls.
“Beautiful,” Kendle praised, slinking along the ground at his bare feet
. She stabbed hard, pinning him to the ground as her blade sank through.
“Ahhh!”
“We had a deal, baby,” she crooned as he dropped to the other knee, screaming, trying to pull himself free. “I did know what you were when I handed you the oil.”
“No more! Please!”
“You had a second chance and you blew it.” She punched the foot pinned to the bloody floor, getting another scream that made her demon beam in happiness. Nice. Again?
Kendle obliged, chuckling. “I aim to please.”
Outside the room, the Eagles had secured the guards and were standing in two groups on either end of the red door. None of them considered interrupting, despite the sounds of footsteps and shouting coming up the nearby stairs.
Tommy finished reloading his gun, yelling, “Stay there or we’ll kill all of you!”
Dirce opened the door anyway, but he was immediately driven back by a single shot that splintered a chunk of wood from the frame. Tiny shrapnel flew into Dirce’s hand.
“That’s your only warning, mister,” Ben reinforced. “The next one goes through your brain.”
Dirce paused behind the wall, waving a patrol of men forward.
“Is that the Black Widow?” one of them asked. It was the one Josh had dubbed Demetri.
“Get in there!” Dirce ordered furiously.
“Do it yourself.” Demetri ran down the stairs, joined by several of the guards who hadn’t wanted to come at all upon hearing who was causing such a ruckus at three in the morning.
Dirce swore, slamming the butt of his rifle against the banister. The top knob snapped off, flying down the stairwell.
“We’ll be gone in five minutes,” Tommy stated in the pause. “Let us out and no one else has to die.”
All around the team, cubbies were being barricaded and people were getting down on the floor. The locals knew Dirce wasn’t going to agree to those demands.
“We’ve got a runner,” one of Kendle’s partners called.
“Let him go,” another ordered.