by Maxey, Phil
“I thought you knew these people,” said Corine on the passenger’s side.
“Not these people exactly, just some of them. But I don’t know if they even made it here…”
Hector uttered something in Spanish which Anna didn’t need translated to understand.
Another humvee pulled up behind the first and even with the windscreen being full of mist and drips of rain Anna recognized one of the raven haired women who emerged, then ran towards the gate arguing with one of the soldiers.
Hector started to talk again but Anna was already pushing her door open, stepping out into the sheets of rain.
A humming rang out just audible over the sound of the weather, and the gate started to slide open. She ran forward just as Marina slipped through the gap, both women embracing, then hugging while slightly jumping up and down in joy.
“You’re alive! You made it here!” said Marina, rain sliding down her race. Her eyes flicked to the vehicles behind.
“And you! Where are the others? How’s Jess, Jasper and Mary?” Marina’s sudden neutral expression stabbed at Anna’s heart. “What happened?”
“Mary didn’t make it.” Marina’s tears mixed with the natural ones from the heavens. They hugged again, she pulled away then looked down to Anna’s missing appendage. “I’m so sorry what happened to you…”
Anna held her arm up. “Ah, yeah. Well I manage…” Anna suddenly realized just how much the woman in front of her didn’t know of the previous week’s events.
Marina spotted her reaction. “What is it?”
“Geri didn’t make it…”
“What?” Marina looked at Dalton sitting in the minivan. His stone cold expression was visible even through the steamed up window.
“It happened when they came to rescue me. It was a trap…”
“Joel?”
Anna nodded. “He’s okay… took a bit of beating, but you know Joel.”
It was a small spark of relief amongst the rage bubbling within Marina. She looked back at the vehicles wondering if now was the time to tell the tortured woman in front of her, about Galloway’s betrayal.
Kizzy pushed her door open and leaned out waving. She waved back.
“Joel should be here soon. But there’s something you and Galloway need to know.”
“What?”
“The corporation are on the island.”
“What? Where?”
“West coast, where we made shore. About two hours from here.” Anna could tell the news shocked the hybrid woman in front of her. She looked back at the vehicles. “We have children with us, is there somewhere we can take them?”
“Yes. Follow us.” Marina ran back to her vehicle, Anna doing the same. The other humvee backed out of the way and the convoy of three vehicles drove along a road bordered by forests of broken branches and then out past forecourts of military vehicles and buildings.
“Where are we going?” said Marina to the captain who was in the passenger’s seat.
“We have orders to take them to the headquarters.”
“No. That’s not where we’re going. Take them to Alfredo’s home.”
“But the general—”
“I don’t give a rat’s ass what she said. Take them to Alfredo’s. If Galloway wants to talk to them, she can do it there.”
Ayers nodded at the soldier who was driving, and they headed in a different direction. As the exotic looking home appeared at the end of the tree lined street, Marina found her heart beating with emotion. She couldn’t believe they had made it to the island, but knowing the corporation were nearby filled her with dread.
The gate pulled back and the three vehicles made their way up the drive, parking outside the grand entrance, where Alfredo was waiting with Zelma.
Marina jumped out and ran to him. “The corporation have landed on the island.”
“Where?”
“West coast.” She looked back at the civilian vehicles. “My friends saw them. They have children with them. I thought I should bring them here…”
“You did the right thing.” He looked at Zelma who nodded then walked forward, waving at those inside the vehicles to come with her. As the children made their way into the large house, he walked closer to Marina. “Joel is here?”
“No. But he’s on his way.”
Hector walked with Layla. Marina spotted Alfredo’s reaction to the girl, and wanted to ask why, but Hector approached and said something in Spanish to the archeologist, who nodded and Hector and Layla continued past and into the hallway.
The others quickly followed. Zelma led the children and Hector up the wide stairs, while everyone else followed Alfredo and Marina into the study. Kizzy sat heavily in a chair.
Dalton sniffed towards Alfredo. “You’re a hybrid…”
Alfredo smiled. “I never could hide my true self from your kind. I am.”
“He’s the fourth king…” said Marina.
All eyes landed on her, then Alfredo.
“What?” said Anna.
“My birth name is Freon…”
Kizzy got to her feet and walked to a few inches of the ancient king, making him lean back slightly. “You don’t look that old.”
“It’s him,” said Marina.
Anna took a step forward, placing her rain socked backpack and her rifle on the ground near the door. “So, the last tomb was here? And they released you?” She looked around the room.
“I left the tomb a long time ago and made Puerto Rico my home. I traveled across every inch of this planet since then, but I always return.”
“Umm… there’s something else you need to know,” said Marina.
“More?” said Anna.
“We have a way to end the scourge…”
For a fraction of a moment Anna contemplated this last piece of news was a joke. But she knew the woman in front of her well enough to know it wasn’t. Somehow it was true. She reached for the nearest chair and sat near Corine.
*****
Rynon stood on the bow of the Helios and looked out a landscape broken by his will. A sea not of crashing waves but of obedient blood thirsty slaves filled every street, park and plaza. The seething mass stretched for miles before being swallowed by a wall of gray.
“We have enough of them now brother to end this,” said Eltir. “Why wait?”
The wind and rain battered the two kings standing on the almighty ship that was now one with the coastline, but Rynon stood proud. “What will happen to this island, brother, will serve as a lesson to any that might come after. Any remaining humans, wherever they are on this planet will look upon the devastation we have brought to this place and realize their only use is to serve us. I want the contents of every last one of the containers emptied, before the march east.”
“The longer we leave it, the greater the chance they will know we are here! They have modern weapons as well, brother. They may attack first.”
Rynon looked back to the older king. “That is why we have the vehicles that launch missiles. Iona informed me they will be quiet affective at softening the enemy, rendering much of their weaponry useless. And then our children will arrive at their gates and devour what is left.”
Eltir sighed. “We cannot be sure of where the tablets are. What if the missiles destroy them?”
“They will be well protected. Probably underground. And you know as well as I brother, that they were made by the gods. Man made fire will not be able to damage them.” Rynon stepped to Eltir, placing both hands on his shoulders. “This is a day of celebration! We will honor Tyror, by wiping from history those that took him from us. A thousand years from now there will be statues of us brother, but no one will remember the names of those we defeated. It will be as if they never existed! But we, brother… we will be eternal. Like the gods that gave us our gifts all those eons ago. Do you remember what the villagers used to say about us?”
Eltir sighed, looked away. “I remember.”
“And now we are on the verge of ruling over thi
s kingdom, the one they called the United States.” He looked back as another container was dropped heavily to the ground. “And then we will move on to another, until we rule them all.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Evan walked alone in a heavily forested part of the base as the watery sun was almost gone from the gray sky. The density of bark and branch meant the storm only threatened to lift him from the ground, without actually achieving it. Shannon wanted to come with him, but he was out the door of the apartment before she took a step forwards him, leaving her with Anna, Sasha and the others. He needed to be alone. To think how he would fit in on an island run by a traitor.
What would my grandfather say? he thought, as he trekked across the sodden leaves and fallen branches. But he knew the answer. He would tell him to leave the base.
That’s because he was human…
There’s no way he would have been happy with Galloway running things after they learned she had been playing both sides.
He was killed by my kind…
A well of emotion erupted from somewhere within, and his eyes became as dark as the deepening shadows. He slashed at a nearby tree with extended claws, again and again as it creaked then fell to the ground, close to others already brought down by the storm.
He stood, back in human form, panting, when he heard the whooshing noise coming from the west. At first he wasn’t sure if it was just another gust of wind, but this was constant, regular and was growing gradually louder.
Up ahead the dark triangular form of one of the old bomb shelters was visible in the gloom. He ran between the trees then leaped up the sloped back of the building, grabbing hold of vines until he was perched on its roof, just slightly above the forest around him.
Scanning the western horizon for the source of the noise, he quickly picked up on a series of sparkles within the gloom.
Helicopters?
He chastised himself for not bringing some binoculars, then strained to see any detail amongst the coming night.
A siren broke through the sound of the wind and rain. A wail which could only mean one thing. They were under attack, and then in an instant the sparkles became larger and scorched the sky above him, one of which slammed into the forest and his world became one of heat and flame.
Two miles to the east Marina was pulling children to the floor of Alfredo’s dining room. One of the windows had shattered, showering her with tiny fragments of glass just before she managed to throw herself in front of Jess and Jasper, the boy who had remained frozen in his seat near the head of the table. Marina was on the floor, her back protecting the children who were crying. She turned and looked into the face of a terrified young boy, and started to try to ease Jasper’s fear when another window exploded inwards, taking a part of the building with it. Masonry smashed through glass cases and then interior walls, until the screams of the children were lost within the fury of the storm. Everyone huddled together when another explosion lit up the room once more.
Three miles to the south Joel and the others had seen the rockets come across and land on their destination. They had been too late and now the people on the base were paying for it. He accelerated up a small hill, across a junction and smashed through a gate without guards. His sole focus being to find Anna.
Warehouses flashed by on both sides, then one of them disintegrated as it took a direct hit, and a wall of heat hit the outside of the sedan they had been driving.
In the sky above, Copeland hovered, watching as the place where his child had been brought was turned into a vision of hell. Explosions continued covering every part of the base until the deathly rain stopped and only raging fires remained. One of the buildings, one which had remained untouched by the missiles appeared to be a source of movement, with soldiers running in and out. It was also the location that Joel appeared to be driving towards. He dived, landing at the entrance just as Joel skidded to a stop outside.
The hybrid ran inside and past injured soldiers to one busily talking into his headset, behind the large counter.
“I’m Joel Garret. Where is general Galloway?” The solider ignored him, continuing to talk into his mike. In a blur he leaned across grabbing the soldier’s lapel. “Where is she?” Rifles cocked, no doubt in his direction.
“Not here!” said the frightened young man. “She’s in a safe location!”
“I need to speak to her! The corporation has an army of vamps, and they’re on their way!”
The wide eyes of the soldier then looked past Joel, as the glass doors to the entrance shattered and the barrels swung in a different direction.
Copeland walked forward as soldiers scrambled out of his way. “Where is my son!”
*****
“She’s dying, Layla! Quickly!” said Hector in Spanish to the young girl who was already trying to heal the broken body of a boy. His leg had been shattered by part of the ceiling which collapsed on one end of the table.
“I’m trying!” she said in kind.
Their voices drew Marina back to consciousness and a weight on top of her. With a heave she pushed the table to side, then went to move again when a wave of pain cascaded along her spine. Ignoring it, she turned over and looked at Jess’s lifeless body a foot away.
“Wake up,” said Jasper to her. “Wake up!”
Blood seeped from various lacerations across Marina’s body, but she felt nothing other than blind fear. She scrambled forward, looking but not finding a pulse on the young girl’s body. Her head flicked to Layla. “Over here!” she cried out, hoping she would understand. The boy that had the broken leg scrambled backwards against the wall, healed, as Layla quickly moved to the girl near Hector. Blood was seeping from the child’s mouth that was laying in Hector’s arms but then let out a deep breath, as Layla laid her hands on the girl’s chest.
“Here! Come here!” shouted Marina again while trying to get air into Jess’s lungs.
Layla stood, wavered, then before Hector could stand to support her, walked quickly to the girl near Marina, kneeled and laid her hands again, but this time there was no movement in reply.
“Why it’s not working?” said Marina with panic in her voice, but the girl next to her just shook her head. “No… she… Try again!”
Masonry and wood fell to one side at the dining room’s door, Alfredo appearing and pushing through a gap. One half of his face was blood soaked and his shirt was the same. He looked in horror around the room then staggered forward to Marina who did not appear to know he was there.
Hector tried but failed to get to his feet, his legs being pierced by splinters. “The other children?” He shouted to Alfredo in Spanish. “How are they?”
“They are okay.” Alfredo looked at the woman fighting to save her child.
Marina grabbed Layla’s hand and pushed it onto her child’s fragile chest. “Again… try again!”
Layla squinted, then let out a breath. She spoke in Spanish then looked back to Hector, who looked down.
Alfredo placed his hand on Marina’s shoulder, but she brushed it off as Jasper started to cry and leaned forward to force air into Jessica’s lungs once more, but stopped when the young girl coughed.
Jessica looked up at the concerned faces, blinking.
Marina embraced her, tears flowing across her cheeks then quickly pulled back, checking her other limbs. “Does anything hurt?”
Jess coughed again. “My throat hurts. Can I have some water?”
Marina smiled then laughed, then threw an arm each around the two girls by her side. She whispered ‘thank you’ to Layla.
Alfredo looked at the young girl who had just saved the children’s lives. “I need you to come with me, there’s someone else that needs to be healed.”
Marina turned around. “I thought you said the children were okay?”
“It’s Zelma.”
Layla stood slowly, her eyes flickering.
Marina quickly supported her, allowing her arm to be held by the young girl. Hector said something in Spani
sh to which Layla replied angrily. Hector threw his arms up in the air, then started to pull wooden spikes from his legs.
As Alfredo helped Layla outside Marina looked back to Jasper and Jess. “Stay there! I’ll be right back.” They both duly nodded, and she followed the other two into the hallway, then a corridor which the wind and rain had made its own, treading across a half collapsed wall, and finally into a large kitchen that looked as if it had been frozen in time, around a hundred years ago.
“We are here! She can…” Alfredo rushed forward then dropped beside the body of the old woman, who was laying near a traditional iron oven. He felt for her pulse. “You can’t die…” His head flicked around to Marina and the child. “Please, you need to bring her back…”
Layla looked at Marina then with her help, walked forward and kneeled, placing her hands on a bloodied arm. She closed her eyes, her face becoming one of pain, then let out a breath and fell into Marina’s arms.
“Layla?” said Marina with no response. “I think she’s passed out…”
Alfredo gently shook Layla’s arm, his eyes red. “Please… Layla… She can’t die like—”
Children’s screams broke through the sound of the winds, and they both looked at each other. Alfredo was out of the room becoming a blur, with Marina doing the same once she had laid Layla down. They both sped through the corridor, skidding to a halt in the hallway, where a towering demonic figure had Hector dangling a foot off the ground, by his neck.
“Where is my—”
Before Copeland could finish Alfredo had transformed into his hybrid self and smashed into the body of the Drak, taking him and what was left of the entrance out into the windswept driveway. Copeland tried to take him into the air, but he was too quick and slashed a claw across part of Copeland’s wing, making him groan in pain. He swung the other wing around, which connected with Alfredo and threw him through the air, crashing into the building’s front wall.
“You will never have him!” cried out Marina as she sprinted forward, slicing Copeland’s arm. Anna had told her about Copeland, but she had remained silent throughout. She didn’t care what the former CEO wanted. He threw out a hand trying to stop her next blow, but it connected and he staggered back. Alfredo shook his head, then stood and sprang the ten or so feet, landing with a claw across Copeland’s face, knocking him to the ground, where he immediately raised his hands.