by KJ Harlow
A lot of the damage hadn’t been caused by the Conflicted or Tormented. Regular people, disengaged, jaded and tired of the monotony of life would have seen what was happening and used it as an opportunity to contribute to the havoc that had befallen London. I shook my head sadly; the Tormented had a destructive impact on modern society even if they hadn’t directly turned people into Conflicted.
“Walter, Tracy, do you read me?” I said.
“Yeah, we’re here,” Tracy said. I could hear screaming in the background.
“Where are you guys? What’s happening?”
“The Tormented, that’s what’s happening,” grumbled Walter. “The bastards have crashed a couple of helicopters into Big Ben.”
Agatha covered her mouth in horror. “No, no, no…”
“As soon saw the helicopters crash into Big Ben, we got there as fast as we could. We’re in Parliament Square Garden now,” Tracy said.
“Are Mortimer, Matylda and Dante there?” Tor asked.
“We’re not sure. If they’ve seen us, they not letting us know. What they have done is put out some bait for us.” I exchanged confused looks with Agatha and Tor.
“What do you mean?”
“There are a lot of injured people here at Westminster Station,” My eyes widened as I looked at Tor.
“You mean they’re still there?” I shouted disbelievingly. “When Tor and I were coming to find you, there were already dozens of bodies lying outside Westminster Station.”
“There are probably 300, maybe 400 bodies here,” Tracy said gravely. “They’re actually spilling out onto the main road.”
“So these people are the bait,” Walter growled, “there are about 70, maybe 80 Conflicted here armed with guns, surrounding them.
“You can’t shoot them, can you? If you do, you risk hitting one of the humans. If you hit one of the Conflicted, that will alert them all and they’ll either shoot the people or shoot you.” I said. Damn it. How did the Tormented plan all of this right under our nose?
“Plus, Big Ben is looking a little worse for wear,” Tracy said. I would have laughed if not for the severity of the situation. “The Tormented rammed into it pretty hard. Parts of helicopter and clock tower are falling off really close to the hostages.” I raked my hand through my hair and stared blankly at the flames that were licking the upturned car.
“Looks like the Tormented aren’t giving us much choice here,” I said, looking across at the others. Agatha had become as white as a sheet as she too looked at the flaming wreckage of the car, Silas was scanning the skyline and Tor was looking intently at me. “Tor, what do I do?” He kept looking at me for a moment before speaking.
“You already know what to do, Rose,” he said, walking up to me. “You saved those soldiers before even though you didn’t have to. Why should this be any different?”
“There are more people here now. I don’t…” I faltered, “I don’t think I can save them all.”
“It isn’t your job to save them all,” Tor said. He stood a foot away from me. He raised his hand and combed a stray tendril of hair back behind my left ear. “Your job is to defeat the Tormented and if this is the only way to make them show themselves, then let’s save as many people as we can.” I smiled up at him and nodded. I strode across to Agatha and stood in front of her. Grabbing her shoulders lightly, I shook her out of her reverie.
“Agatha, I know this is traumatic. This is London. It’s your home. Mortimer and the Tormented are razing it to the ground.” Agatha’s eyes flickered as she looked at me wordlessly. “I’m going to do my best to stop them from destroying your home but I need your help. Can you help me?” Agatha smiled. It was the same smile from when we were still in the Underworld. I smiled back because I understood why she was smiling. Tracy was right; it was pride. She nodded.
“Follow me.”
“What’s the situation?” I asked. Walter looked back at me, nodding grimly.
“Nothing’s changed from a couple minutes ago,” Tracy said, giving me a quick smile. I squatted next to her, peering at Westminster Station. Sure enough, there were Conflicted armed with rifles and hand guns standing in a circle. Through the gaps between their legs, I saw bodies. The occasional one would move but for the most part, they were still.
I looked up and to my right. Two of the military helicopters from Andover jutted out from its side. Part of the tail broke off and crashed into the ground. Someone amongst the hostages cried out in fear. One of the Conflicted turned around and shot them, making more people scream. We didn’t have much time.
“It looks like the Conflicted have been instructed to shoot at will,” I said, turning back to everyone. “We need to draw their attention away from the group and Rid them as quickly as possible. I looked around the area. What I needed was a way to get all the Conflicted into a narrow area so they could all be Ceased in a matter of seconds. I spotted a little place to the left of Westminster Station. Squinting through my glasses, I could just make out the name at the front: ‘St Stephen’s Tavern’. Right between the station and the tavern was a narrow alley. Perfect.
“Tracy, do you see that tavern over there?” I said pointing at St Stephen’s. She nodded. “I need you to Soul Step down the alley next to it and act as a diversion to get the Conflicted to follow you. Tor, follow her and Rid some of the Conflicted if too many begin shooting at her. Walter, find a way to get on top of the tavern. Then once Tracy has lured as many as she can, turn your Lucent Gun into machine gun form and destroy the bastards.
“Silas, could you find a vantage point from the opposite side of Westminster Station? I’m going to assume that not all the Conflicted are going to fall into the trap. You’ll be responsible for taking out the remaining ones. Agatha will do the same but from the ground.”
“What if the Tormented appear?” Tracy asked.
I was silent as I thought. “I’ll watch for the Tormented. I’ll keep an eye on all of you.” Everyone was looking at me at that point. For the first time since I became a Deliverer, I noticed something: everyone was smiling at me. Not big smiles, but smiles that told me that they trusted me. I smiled back, looking at everyone.
“Walter, you go first. Make sure the Conflicted don’t see you,” he disappeared. Moments later, I saw him on the roof of St Stephen’s. “Silas, you next,” one moment he was next to me, the next he was gone.
“I’m on a roof of the building next to Big Ben,” he said through the Light Bug.
“Thanks, Silas,” I said. Tracy looked at me and swallowed. “Don’t worry girl, you got this,” I said, smiling reassuringly at her.
“Getting hit in the leg hurt like hell last time,” she said ruefully.
“Don’t worry, you’ll have Tor this time,” I winked up at Tor. He almost rolled his eyes at me.
“Agatha. Once Tracy goes, go to the bottom of Big Ben and wait until the Conflicted move into the alley. Silas will start taking out the remaining Conflicted, then you come in.” She hesitated then nodded at me. I drew my Lucent Gun and stayed in a crouching position.
“OK Tracy, on my count.” She drew her Lucent Gun too and got into position. “One… two… three!” She sped off. The Conflicted saw her and started firing wildly, missing her by several feet. Tor followed Tracy into the alley. That was all Conflicted needed to break their formation. About 40 of them ran into the alley.
“Walter, now!” Walter unleashed just as I heard the Conflicted open fire. There were so many guns going off at the same time it sounded like someone had thrown a firecracker in there.
“Silas!” I shouted. In the space of a second, three Conflicted still guarding the hostages fell.
“Agatha!” She emerged from the shadows of Big Ben. Walking toward the Conflicted. She Ridded them before they even had time to notice that she was there.
My heart was beating so fast I thought it would jump out of my throat. I scanned the area. Where were the Tormented? 10 seconds later, there was no more gunfire coming from the alley.
/> “Agatha, Silas, finish off the Conflicted then check on the hostages. Tracy, Tor, are you OK?” There was no answer. “Tracy, Tor, do you read me?” Was that Tor’s ragged breathing I could hear on the Light Bug?
“Walter, what’s going on?”
“It’s Tracy,” he said snarled. “Matylda’s got her.”
“Matylda? But why would she –” I heard her girl-like cackling over the Light Bug and my shoulders slumped. Damn it. I had sent her straight into a trap. I Soul Stepped over to the alley. Tor was slumped in a corner. He had taken about half a dozen bullets to the back. I started to move towards him but he raised a hand.
“I’m OK, she didn’t shoot me,” he said breathing heavily. “Tracy…” he said before his hand flopped to the ground. I looked up and to my left. Walter was pointing his gun at Matylda, who had wrapped her left arm around Tracy’s neck and her black Ombre Gun jammed into her temple.
“Long time no see, Rose. Have you been enjoying our little games?” Matylda snickered. I had my hand gun pointed at her as I moved towards them.
“Ah, ah, ah, I wouldn’t come any closer if I were you,” she said, closing her arm even more tightly around Tracy’s neck. Damn it, damn it, damn it. How could I have fallen for this trap? Before I could chastise myself anymore, I felt a familiar arm close around my own neck as the barrel of a gun pressed into my temple.
“Hello, Rose,” Mortimer drawled. “Miss me?”
Ten
“More than you can imagine. We’ve been looking everywhere for you,” I said. Tracy squeezed out a wry smile, pleased that I had adopted her sarcastic approach to dealing with the Tormented. Mortimer grunted and tightened his arm around my neck.
“I wouldn’t be so clever if I were you,” he said. “You might have taken away one of ours, but as you can see, we can easily take away a few of yours.” His eyes flicked towards Matylda, who stabbed her Ombre Gun into Tracy’s temple.
“Watch it, bitch!” Tracy snarled. She struggled against Matylda’s arm, which seemed to curl even tighter around her neck.
“Can we just Cease them already, Mortimer?” Matylda whined.
“No, stupid,” Mortimer snapped, “Dante says he needed more time.” Blood was starting to pool at Tor’s back. His hand tightened around his Lucent Gun. I had to create an opening for him to take out one of these clowns.
“More time for what?” I asked, surreptitiously watching Tor.
“None of your business,” Mortimer snapped. He was still for a moment. He then brought his face to within an inch of my left ear. I could smell his putrid breath and couldn’t help but turn away from him. “By the way, how was Stan in his final hour? I heard that you were the one responsible for sending him off to a better place.”
“Don’t listen to him, Rose,” Walter growled. He was pointing his machine gun at Mortimer, finger hovering half an inch away from the trigger.
“He was as stupid as a brick, you know. His only saving grace was his torment. My, it was so rich. Though I’m sort of glad that you got rid of him. He just went on and on about feeling like he shouldn’t have been born as a man. It was pathetic, really.”
“He was ten times the man that you are!” I roared. I wrenched myself out of his grasp and fell towards Tor. I drew my Lucent Gun just as he pointed his Ombre Gun at me. There was an explosion of gunfire in the alley. My body thudded into the concrete floor, winding me. I had unloaded three rounds into his head. Tor had blown half a dozen rounds into Mortimer’s chest, his hand shaking from the effort.
I spun my head to the right as an otherworldly shriek split my ear drums. Matylda was clutching her hand and yowling. Walter’s gun smoked as he demolished her hand in rapid time.
“Stop shooting my hand!” She wailed. Tracy spun out of her grip and raised her hand above her head. There was a flash of light as she brought her Lucent Dagger thundering down into her Matylda’s forehead. She leaped back and Matylda slumped to the floor, still cradling what was left of her hand.
“Are you OK?” I said, getting back to my feet as I looked at Tor. Beads of sweat dotted his forehead as he breathed heavily.
“I’m OK,” he said hoarsely, raising his gun and firing another round into Mortimer. “I’ll make sure he doesn’t wake up. You go and check on Tracy.” I nodded at him and bounded over to Tracy.
“Trace, are you hurt?” I asked.
“Nah, I’m fine, thanks to Walter. Can’t say the same for her though,” she said, looking down at Matylda. Her glassy eyes stared up, her right hand still in her left. I pulled my Lucent Gun out and pointed it at her.
“No, you don’t have to shoot her, that’s what my Lucent Dagger’s for.” I cocked my head at Tracy in confusion. “Oh, I never showed you, did I? If I Lucent Dagger is embedded in a Tormented, they are unable to reanimate. They’re frozen until I pull it out; far less effort than having to shoot them endlessly.”
“Oh, cool!” I looked at my weapon before holstering it. I wonder what my Lucent Gun’s ability was? Tracy had a dagger, Walter had a machine gun, Silas had a sniper. I hadn’t seen Tor’s or Agatha’s. I made a mental note to ask them. My eyes widened as I suddenly remembered the two Deliverers who weren’t here.
“Agatha, Silas, do you read me?” I said. Forget this, it would be quicker just to run out and check on them. I ran past Tor just as he shot another round into the lifeless Mortimer when I almost ran into Agatha.
“We’re here. The hostages are OK. There’s a bit of collateral damage, but we’ve done pretty good considering the situation that we were in,” Agatha said. Her eyes looked past me and at Mortimer. A flurry of emotions crossed her face before she looked back at me. “Is everyone OK?”
“Yes. They set up this alley as a trap but thankfully, no one was Ceased,” I said. Agatha nodded grimly at me.
“We’re escorting the hostages to a safe zone. It’ll take a while. Once we’re done, we’ll let you know then we can retreat and plan our next move.” I spun around as I heard someone land behind me. My gun was pointed at Walter.
“Whoa there, take it easy. I just thought I’d come down and take over from Tor. He’s looking a little worse for wear,” Walter said, putting his hands up. I quickly holstered my weapon.
“Sorry, Walter. If you could take over, I’m sure Tor would be really grateful.” I looked down at the Norwegian, whose eyes flicked up to mine. His face was a rather sickly shade of green. Seeing my forehead crease in worry, he sat up a little.
“I’m fine. Bleeding’s stopped,” he said.
“We could use your help with the hostages,” Agatha said pointedly at me. I looked down at Tor, who promptly waved me away. “Alright, let’s go.” The hostages were shuffling away from Westminster Bridge down the road and turning left after about a quarter of a mile.
“Where are we taking them?” I said as I propped a man with a suspected broken leg up and led him after Agatha.
“Central Hall Westminster. The closest hospital is too far away, so we’re setting up a makeshift bunker there.” Once we got there, we saw Silas at the door ushering people in.
“Good work before Silas,” I said. He looked up at me and pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. He took the man with the broken leg as Agatha and I turned around to go back to the station.
“Mortimer said before that Dante needed more time for something,” I said Agatha. She stopped in her tracks and looked at me, her eyes searching mine.
“Did he elaborate on that?”
“I tried to get him to, but no, he didn’t.” Agatha looked at me a little while longer before resuming her walking, only much faster.
“This,” Agatha said, casting her around her city, “is what they did when they had six months. We’ve already given the Tormented too much time. We need to hurry.”
We passed by Walter shifting his weight between his legs impatiently as he continued pumping bullets into Mortimer’s still figure. Tracy had come out and was helping an older lady towards Central Hall. There were only three peo
ple left: a boy with a younger girl and an older man who was on his feet and mumbling.”
“I’ll take the children, you take the man over there,” Agatha ordered. Before I had a chance to object, she had gathered the brother and sister and was gently ushering them back down the road. I approached the man. He jumped when I put my hand on his shoulder. He spun around and I stepped back to get a better look at his face.
“Sid! What are you doing here?” I said in surprise. If I thought he looked in bad shape before, he was much worse for wear now. His clothes were ripped and he had a nasty, five-inch long gash on his leg that needed immediate medical attention.
“You,” he said, pointing at me. “You’re that girl from before.” I grabbed his arm and wrapped it around my shoulder.
“Yes, it’s Rose. How was the man by the way, the jogger?”
“Dead,” he said, without a hint of remorse. I froze and stared at him.
“What do you mean, dead?”
“I mean dead.” I could feel my anger rising as I looked at the deranged old man.
“We handed him over to you because–”
“He was dead the moment you found him.” I stared at him in disbelief.
“He was not! He was breathing and had a pulse and–”
“His stomach had become infected and he was in shock. Besides, he had lost too much blood. All I could do was patch him up and make him look respectable for his funeral,” he retorted, eyes furrowed in anger. Sid suddenly stumbled. I reflexively caught him before he hit the ground. The more he said, the more I doubted his credibility as the owner of a health care center for the homeless. No matter how much I distrusted Sid right now, I still had to take him to the hall.
“Come on, let’s patch up that leg before it too gets infected,” I said. Being old, he was already slow. He was even slower with a hurt leg. We eventually passed the alley where Walter was still shooting Mortimer. Sid stopped walking and looked at Walter.