War

by Kim Faulks

  Angel rushed out ahead, scouting the way just as she’d done countless times before. But this time was different, this time there wasn’t just me.

  This time I brought Pestilence with us.

  I watched him as he scanned the streets and stopped at the corners of buildings. Just a man—my mind wanted to mold him into something I could understand. But he wasn’t a man…neither was he a monster.

  The faint sound of a howl drifted from under the roar of the rain. I scanned the streets, searching the buildings behind us as we kept moving.

  The Mighty were quiet, too quiet. I hadn’t heard their trucks or their bombs. I wanted to believe they’d moved to a different part of the city, a quieter part…where they only had themselves to maim, torture, or kill. They were the true monsters, the ones that knew kindness and good, and still reached for the blade.

  This was a lawless world. One that would bite you before it knew you. One that would stand by and watch you drown.

  But I couldn’t, no matter how much I tried. The dark blue rain slicker filled my gaze as I turned my head. He was right. I couldn’t walk away, not without trying. There weren’t many of us left, not here in the city, at least. Out there in the wilderness might be different. Three years was long enough for the world to change.

  It was long enough for it to want to change. For seeds to sprout, for the trees to grow.

  For the earth to once more claim the concrete jungle we built.

  I lifted my hand to the west and kept pushing forward, scanning the windows above for movement while, in my mind, a new world took place.

  One that had a different order, one that was kind, and happy. One where the leaders of this world were filled with compassion instead of greed.

  Make a difference, Harlow. Dad’s voice surfaced. You’re special, more special than you know. So make a difference. Make it count.

  I tried to do just that…I tried to make it count.

  Sorrowful howls echoed. In the distance, two dogs circled each other, snapping and snarling. Angel’s bark ripped through the air and she was off, jumping and plunging through the water to get to them. I wanted to call out, and run after her, but the sound would carry.

  “She’ll find us. Don’t worry.”

  I gave a slow nod and dropped my gaze, letting the downpour run down the back of my neck. He was so sure of things, of everything, really. Sure of me, of us…of Angel and War. I glanced to the red glow in the sky and kept walking. Pestilence said War was here, said I was the one who’d called him.

  Flashes of memories filled my head. Rusted steel under my fingers as I gripped the cage. Kenya in my arms, her blood warm on my hands, and the sound of screams…but not screams of terror—of excitement, of urgency…of blood lust.

  And hate.

  Fight…fight…fight!

  Pain flared with the words. I slapped my hand to my temple and slowed.

  “Harlow? You okay?”

  I tried to answer, tried to find the words to speak. Warmth seeped from my nose. I swiped my upper lip, crimson ran along the tops of my fingers. Rain hit the blood, washing it down my thumb, and fell away.

  Pain came again, tearing lightning through my head. The familiar streets blurred, darkness ate away the edges of my vision.

  “Hold on to me,” he murmured. His arms were around me, pulling me closer. Then warmth seeped into my cheeks as he cupped his hands around my face to stare into my eyes. “Hold on.”

  My knees trembled. The darkness held on, consuming the edges, until all I saw was him.

  “He’s got you now,” Pestilence murmured, his voice warped and strange. “He’s closing in, finding you. Don’t fight. Let War in, Harlow. Let him in.”

  A boom rocked my chest. My heartbeats thundered, driving panic through my veins. Something touched my mind, a soft caress like a lover searching for my hand in the dark, and then in an instant it was gone…stealing the darkness, the terror.

  Taking everything, to leave me standing against a building, staring at the streets I’d travelled hours before.

  “Are you okay?”

  I lifted my gaze, finding concern bright in his eyes. Something was happening to me, something was evolving…opening. I gave a small nod and tried to find the words.

  But I didn’t need to. Pestilence lifted his hand, warm fingers caressed my cheek. In that moment I stood on the edge of a precipice of knowing…of understanding.

  I’d been here before…not here in this street…not even the city.

  But I’d been here in this moment—in this battle for not just survival. But for life, and it wasn’t just mine I was fighting for…

  Movement came beyond the sleeting rain in the distance. I took a step, and then another, stepping down from the cracked pavement on trembling legs.

  “Harlow? What is it?”

  I couldn’t answer as that tiny movement came again, too small to be an adult, and not bounding from here to there like an animal.

  The dark blur toppled and then moved again. I stumbled forward, kicking the tops of my boots on ruptured asphalt. Heavy drops of rain smacked my eyes. I blinked, and stared at the dark blur.

  And as the outline sharpened, I felt a rising in my chest...it was a little boy…three…four at the most—born around the time our world changed.

  He danced in the rain, face pointing upwards, mouth open. I could feel his excitement as a squeal of delight ripped the air.

  Until the rumble of a truck came from out of nowhere.

  The vibration raced, shuddering and shaking my bones. My heart thrust against the confines of my chest as I spun. Deafening rain swallowed the roar of the engine before it echoed once more…getting closer…

  The Mighty had come.

  7

  “Harlow!”

  The growl came from behind me as I lunged forward. Panic roared, driving my boots against asphalt. Hands gripped me, lifting until my feet left the ground.

  I opened my mouth to scream, to fight and kick, as movement came from behind the child. A man dashed forward, eyes wide with panic, and scooped the child from where he stood.

  Little arms went around his neck as the man lifted his head. Our gazes connected, until he wrenched his focus toward the rumble of the truck. From the corner of a bank of buildings came the rusted grill of the massive flatbed truck.

  Buildings blurred as Pestilence heaved me around, set me down, and yanked on my arm. Our boots pummeled the ground. All I could hear was the rumble of the engine, and yet all I could see was that child.

  They’ll find him…they’ll find us all.

  I was too late. My grip slipped as we leapt over a barrier to scurry through the busted brick walls of a towering building.

  Shadows waited. My heart slammed against my ribs, and my boots echoed, driving into the concrete floor as we barrelled through one opening and then another.

  His grip on my hand never let go as we turned left and then right, sprinting deeper into the gloom. The squeal of brakes ripped through the air as we turned once more.

  They were stopping.

  They were hunting.

  Dustfilled air invaded my lungs. I raced blindly through one opening and into another, letting him lead me deeper into the dark. I wanted to stop and turn. I wanted to fight to save those who couldn’t save themselves.

  But I had to trust they’d do exactly the same.

  I had to trust they’d run and hide.

  They knew this place better than I did.

  Fire lashed my chest. I sucked in the bitter air and searched the endless black.

  “Here,” he whispered and slowed.

  I shoved the jacket’s hood from my head. The rush of frigid air invaded my ears as we spun and moved backwards.

  “Down low,” the hiss barely reached my ears.

  His hand pressed against my shoulder, pushing me low. Warmth seeped into my body as he crouched in front, placing himself between me and whoever came through the wall.

  My eyes slowly adjusted to the glo
om. I blinked and stared at the outline of rubble and broken bricks…and waited, listening to the wind howl through the cracks and the pounding of rain above.

  His grip on my hand eased; instead of grinding bones seeped with panic, there was an ease of comfort and strength. He turned his head, the faint light caught the bridge of his nose, and, in this moment, in the dark, there was just us…alone in this unmerciful world.

  Dark eyes glinted with desire.

  The sound of my heart was a thousand horses, all galloping to one destination.

  Him.

  He leaned in, soft, warm lips brushed mine, lingering for a moment before pulling away. An ache followed, tearing through my chest and moved deeper, and under the howling wind and pouring rain, I felt a stirring of something deeper than flesh and blood.

  I leaned forward, fingers searching in the dark. The hard canvas fabric of my dad’s coat slipped over his head with one gentle pull. I speared my fingers through his hair, cupping my hand to bring him close.

  Soft lips met mine as the heavy thud of the truck door closing filled the air.

  The soft spark of brown glinted in my mind as I closed my eyes. His mouth moved slowly, cautious, taking no more than I was ready to give.

  My hand slid, fingers finding the hard swell of his shoulders and the thick ridge of scars. And the memory of those silver lines across his spine came back to me.

  He was a mystery…an aching dark hole in the center of my gravity. I couldn’t ignore him, couldn’t lock him away and forget he existed—not anymore.

  Who was he?

  And I didn’t mean the name, or the power, I meant the man with scars…the man with a past. The man who left behind everything to find me.

  I’m sorry…

  The words lingered on my tongue as he pulled away, leaving me breathless. I wanted to take it all back…make a new start with no more lies, no more chains.

  A frigid breeze danced across my skin. I turned my head, caught the shadow moving against the wall, and stiffened. Danger glinted in Pestilence’s eyes as he slowly turned his head. The young man stood in the dark, a gun gripped firmly in his grasp. But it wasn’t us he wanted. He turned his gaze to the dark…waiting for The Mighty to come.

  A sound echoed, a muffled cough, and then a scuff of a shoe filtered out from under the roar of the rain. I leaned forward, catching shadows moving through the hole in the brick wall.

  Desperation flared in the man’s gaze. I gripped Pestilence’s arm as the male gave a small shake of his head, lifted his finger to his lips, and turned his gaze to the way we came in.

  His steps were silent as he took a step backwards, disappearing around the end of the shattered wall.

  And from across the room they came. The heavy thud of boots echoed as two of The Mighty moved inside. One pointed at the ground and then lifted his head. I tried to swallow the lump in my throat and held my breath.

  Wet boot prints stood out against the dry concrete. We’d led them straight to these people somehow. It was my fault…all my damn fault.

  The ache in my throat was a fist. I tried to lean forward, tried to do something.

  Need glistened in Pestilence’s eyes. Unspoken words, imploring me to be still and quiet.

  “They’re here,” one brute snarled and moved deeper. “Maybe you should go back and get the others?”

  “No, I want the bitch for myself.”

  Stars sparkled in Pestilence’s dark eyes with the words. There was the hint of a smile. But there was nothing funny about the sight…nothing funny at all. My stomach clenched as he carefully straightened.

  Boots scuffed the concrete floor as they moved. I dropped my hand to my waist, the cold steel comforting. I could track their movements by sound, fire a shot. They’d never see it coming…and I’d bring the entire squad at a run.

  His fingers tightened as a sound echoed from the hole in the wall.

  “What’s that?”

  My pulse pounded like a drum inside my ears as the vicious bastard growled.

  “I heard someone through that wall.”

  There was no questions now. No lies I could tell myself. This was it…the one thing I had to do. I pushed against Pestilence. My thighs trembled as I scraped against the wall.

  But he was already moving as the child’s muffled cough rang out.

  “What the hell?” The bastard snapped as Pestilence rose to his feet and turned.

  Green flared like a tiny ember from the ring on his finger. The glow brightened as he lifted his hand, and, in the space of a breath, I was back there with the steel tables twisted and torn and my ears ringing from the blast of the bomb.

  He took a step as a muffled cry echoed from the other side of the wall. Shadows moved, racing forward as Pestilence lifted his hand.

  “I’ll fucking kill you,” the nearest Mighty warned, and lifted his gun.

  Green brilliance brightened the gloom, spreading along the brick wall as Pestilence murmured, “I don’t think so.”

  The blast of a gunshot rang out. I yanked the muzzle high and stumbled forward, ready to empty the magazine. But a sound never came from the two thugs that had found us.

  One dropped where he stood, red blood bloomed black in the emerald glow. The other one let out a gasp and clawed at his throat.

  Black veins fragmented his face like shattered glass. He let out a hiss, then a moan, and dropped to his knees before turning to ash right before our eyes.

  The soft glow pulsed from Pestilence’s ring as the male’s voice whispered. “W-what the fuck are you?”

  I swung the muzzle of my gun as a child let out a squeal. “Daddy!”

  “Tommy, come back!” A woman howled and scrambled forward.

  But the little boy was fast, scurrying across the filthy floor to slam into his protector’s leg. But the way he held on…the way he stared up at the stoic guardian was more than safety—it was love.

  “Don’t hurt my daddy,” the child whimpered. “Please.”

  The green light seemed to ebb with the words. Pestilence gave a shake of his head. “I’m not going to hurt you. That’s not what I’m here for.”

  Desperation flared like the strike of a match in the center of my chest. Killing innocents wasn’t what he came here for.

  He came for me.

  “It’s okay,” I murmured as a gurgle slipped from the dying Mighty. “He’s not going to hurt you. We’re here to help.”

  The young protector shook his head and stared at the brute as he lay dying. “It’s too late now,” his dark eyes shining in the soft glow of the ring. “They heard the shot. They’ll come.”

  An ache flared through my chest as I shook my head. “No, not if we lead them away.”

  “Harlow,” Pestilence moaned and dropped his gaze.

  I expected a fight. I expected a damn battle. I expected it all, the pleading, the threats, but there was only a shake of his head and resignation that took me by surprise.

  “If we run now, we can cut them off. We’re fast…” I glanced at the family hunkered in the shadows. “We’re faster than them.”

  The father turned his head, glanced at the woman hiding, and then answered. “I’ll run, too. They won’t look here.”

  I took a step, and then another, nearing the now still corpse. The other bastard was nothing more than ash. I glanced to the opening and the way we came in. “Then we have to go now.”

  Green glimmer bounced off the walls to bathe my face. I reached up, touching my cheek, as I turned to him and nodded.

  There was a faint nod in return, before I leaped for the doorway, running back the way I came…to meet The Mighty head on.

  8

  There were no thoughts as I ran. No desperation, no fear.

  Not even that savage need to destroy and be destroyed like I’d had the night my father was killed.

  There was nothing but…purpose.

  The echo of boots resounded behind me. I could feel Pestilence following me, like a hunter on my trail. But it was
n’t the echo of boots at my back I focused on.

  It was the hungry snarl of orders driving through the roar of the rain up ahead.

  “In there! You, Goudy, and Stuff, you two head this way while I cut them off!”

  Sullen gray light seeped through the broken brick wall. I wanted to plunge through the opening. I wanted to hide in the shadows. I wanted to do anything but race toward the voices…and my own death.

  I had to be fast, had to be light. My boots skidded on the concrete as I yanked at the zipper of my jacket. The sodden fabric slid down my arms. I shrugged my left sleeve free, gripped the gun with that hand, then switched it back as the heavy coat fell to the ground.

  Frigid breeze licked the warmth from under my short sleeved shirt. Cold seeped in fast, stealing the fog from my mind, leaving me cold and honed like the razor-edge of a blade.

  The shouts were louder now, coming from the left, as I rounded the last wall to stare at the back end of the truck.

  “That’s her! Get her…get…her!”

  Commands echoed all around me as I leaped over a pile of rubble to hit the ground hard. Through the sleeting rain, I saw the sick sonovabitch…the one they called Sloth.

  My boots skidded, steps stumbling as I reached for the edge of the exposed brick wall and used momentum to propel me around before I speared forward.

  He didn’t turn, didn’t see me, not until I ran into the driving rain and out onto the street.

  “Get that bitch!”

  The call came from somewhere behind me. I slammed the soles of my boots against the tar and raced away. Raided buildings lay at my left. The pharmacy, and a small grocery store. Places I’d seen only once.

  This wasn’t my home.

  This wasn’t my salvation.

  I had nowhere to run, nowhere I could hide.

  Nowhere that was safe.

  I was a rat caught in a maze, with only one way out.

  The sharp pop of a shot rang out. Something whipped past my head to smack into the rock wall in front of me.

  My heart hammered. Muscles burned. I raced across the street, leaping over a rusted grocery cart and turned. Shadows and buildings crammed my view. Panic was in the driver’s seat, making every decision.