Neil wiped the blood from the blades onto their clothes and gauged how much time had passed. Yes. It was time for Baragh Rinn to make his decision, potentially his final one ever.
>>><<<
Baragh Rinn, to Neil's surprise, wasn't working when he returned. Well, maybe it wasn't that surprising considering that the sun was nearly set.
A faint glimmer of light surrounded Rinn as he lifted his head. If he noticed that now two more knapsacks hung from Neil's belt, he didn't react to it.
"I will do it," Rinn said hoarsely. "I will be your architect."
"Good. Will you follow me? I will escort you to receive your first assignment."
"Already? But it is nearly nighttime," Rinn protested.
"The Hidden Serpents do not appreciate waiting," Neil said dryly. "You are one of us now, or will be once you prove yourself loyal."
Rinn gulped. His worry and fright were plain, and Neil grimaced with disgust. Fear was not a way to control a person. Hope and inspiration were. Why was Rinn afraid? The path he chose would put him on the way toward happiness, peace, and hope. As long as he was faithful to the cause, he had no reason to be worried or afraid.
"If you play us," Neil remarked casually as the architect reluctantly followed him. "We will kill you. It will only delay your death."
"I do not need more threats," Rinn said stiffly.
Neil nodded. He had not meant it as a threat but as a promise.
Darkness had fallen by the time they arrived at the base, the doorway hidden in a rock. Their base lay almost entirely underground. Those same two guards were there to greet them, and they ushered them into a room with no furniture or furnishings at all.
Five minutes later, the Colonel arrived. His gaze wandered critically over Neil. His eyes shone with acceptance at the sight of the four knapsacks. His grin grew even wider as Neil presented him with each head.
"Ah, the best of the best." The Colonel reached up and patted Neil's cheeks. "Now, you, Baragh Rinn, what are we to do with you?"
The architect shifted uncomfortably. The two guards had entered the room, standing at different corners, holding torches to light the area. The flickering light cast shadows across Baragh Rinn's face. He appeared worried and frightened yet.
"Accept your role," Neil murmured. "Help us help the world."
At that, the architect nodded. "I can… I will. I will help you."
"Good, good. I am glad you have finally seen the light." The Colonel gestured toward one of the guards who escorted the architect out.
After a moment, the Colonel waved off the second guard. Once they were alone, the Colonel clapped Neil's upper arms.
"You have proven yourself a true patriot to the Hidden Serpents. When I gave you your assignments, er, assignment, I assumed it would take you a few days. Instead, it took you a few hours. You are a testament to the power of hope that will be the driving force for our claim to the entire world."
Neil smiled. "I will do all I can for the Hidden Serpents. Tell me what I can do next."
The guard returned with instruments required for a tattoo.
"You can be branded as one of us. Hold still."
Chapter 14
As Shauna and Captain Jones stood by the door, a dark figure emerged from an alley across the street. Although as small as the other children, this boy or girl did not hesitate to scavenge for food. Instead, he or she headed straight for their door.
The Captain readied his rifle. She stared at him, scandalized and disgusted, but he shrugged.
“I wouldn’t put it past those Hidden Serpents to use a kid as a suicide bomber.”
While she had a feeling he had the right of it, Shauna hoped they were worried over nothing. Still, her own hand went toward her side as the child, a young, dirty boy of maybe eight, burst inside.
“You the Americans?” he asked, panting heavily.
“Who sent you?” Captain Jones asked.
“Some guy. Pad something.”
“Padilla?” Shauna supplied.
The kid nodded. He wiped his forehead and smeared even more dirt in the process. The boy was filthy, and his stench wasn’t much better. He desperately needed a bath. His shirt was torn, and his ribs were visible. A shower and food.
“What does he want us to know?” The Captain asked.
Shauna watched the two as she slipped over to her supplies. She grabbed an apple from her pack.
The boy’s eyes lit up. He licked his lips.
“Answer first,” she said softly, hating herself for making him wait.
“Not tell. Show.” The boy reached inside his shirt and shoved papers at the Captain before diving for the apple. He ate with a reckless abandon, juice flying all over. Shauna had to refrain from petting him. He looked like he could use a heavy dose of compassion in addition to the shower and food.
Her focus shifted to the Captain, and her eyes widened in shock and dismay. She hadn’t thought an African-American could pale before, but she had thought wrong.
Wordlessly, she crossed over to him. The Captain handed her the papers. Images. Four decapitated bodies missing portions of clothes and one of a man from the waist down. Two makeshift knapsacks hung from his hips on each side. The four heads.
The Captain walked over to the boy. “Do you know who this is?”
The boy shook his head, chewing furiously.
“Did Padilla tell you anything?”
“Find Americans at this place. Give them photos. I did. Can I have another?”
Shauna handed him another. Once he ate it, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
“Do you want another?” she asked softly.
He grimaced. “No. If I eat too much, my stomach doesn’t happy. Not happy. Angry. Can I go now?”
She sucked in a breath but hesitated.
The boy grinned. His teeth were in fairly decent condition despite the very real possibility of him lacking nutrients and essential vitamins.
“Ask. If I know the answer, can I have more apples?”
“How do we know if we can trust you to not make up an answer?” the Captain asked.
The boy considered this and then pumped his fist in the air. “If I wrong, you can hunt me down and I’ll throw up the apple.”
Disgusting.
Shauna tried to smile despite the churn of worry and fear in her gut. “You can keep the apple. These pictures are frightening, but—“
“Oh, I looked through them already.”
She blinked in surprise. “You did?”
“Pad guy didn’t tell me I couldn’t.” The boy shrugged. “You want to know who they are, right? I don’t know her. Him? He’s Gerlin Dalith.”
“Who is he?” The Captain crossed his arms.
“You don’t know? You should. When did you get here anyhow?”
The Captain waved a hand for him to get on with it.
The boy shrugged again. “He’s the leader of the opposition. Well, not anymore. And there’s not really an opposition. That’s the right word, I think. Am I right?”
Shauna nodded.
“Good. I told that to Guldor, but he said I was wrong. He’s not the smartest, to be honest.”
The Captain cleared his throat.
Shauna glanced at the other sergeants. All sleeping. Would’ve taken them for lighter sleepers, but we have been working long hours even if we haven’t accomplished much yet.
“Basically, he wanted to help the people. He tried to keep them separated from the… others.”
“Hidden—“
“Sh!” The boy slapped the Captain. “Don’t call them that out loud.”
Shauna had to do her best not to laugh. Her shoulders shook from suppressed amusement. The Captain’s expression of shock and dismay had been priceless.
“The two, they had a boat. They took people away. It was dangerous. They were careful though. Always moving the boat. Trying to stay ahead of the Hidden Serpents."
"Why didn't you get on the boat?" Shauna asked.
"This is my home," the boy said simply.
"So you didn't want—"
"The leader and people responsible for ferrying people off the island," the Captain said to interrupt her. I think it's safe to say that Jane Doe also was a thorn in the Hidden Serpents' side."
"Clearly." Shauna eyed the boy. "Is there anything else you can tell us?"
The boy bit his lower lip. "How did you not get sick?"
"Who got sick? When?"
"Lots of people. Those who didn't go underground during the sandstorm. Did you hide too? I never saw a sandstorm like that before."
Shauna glanced at Captain Jones. The Hidden Serpents hadn't used their weather-manipulating device until now. They clearly wanted it for a distraction.
"Every person?" the Captain asked. "I need you to think and not answer right away. Can you name even one person who hadn't fallen ill during the sandstorm?"
The boy hesitated and then shook his head. "Not one. They're all dead."
"Did they recover?" Shauna asked.
"Some. Not all. They died." The boy shrugged. "That's life, I guess."
Shauna rubbed the back of her neck. Goosebumps were spreading across her body. It wasn’t often she felt fear, but she sure was experiencing it now.
The Captain stared out the door. They had stayed hunkered down not in a building like this one but in a cave. They had rolled a boulder to block it. They hadn't wanted to take away a building from one of the civilians.
Their hiding spot had been the better, safer option.
"Could they have—"
The Captain held up his hand. "Can you tell us where we can find one of these dead bodies?"
The boy shrugged. "I can bring you one, I guess, but it'll cost you."
"We'll give you all the food you want," Shauna promised.
Captain Jones glowered at her, but the boy grinned and rushed out of there.
"Do you think that they added something to the air to hurt their own people?" Shauna asked.
"Their people? No. They kept theirs all safe. It was the civilians they were targeting."
"Maybe us too. That sandstorm was terrible."
They had only witnessed a few moments of it before hiding away, but already, they could see how devastating it could be. A building, one of the few whole ones, had collapsed from the force of the winds. The sand eroded away pieces of other buildings too. When they rolled the boulder away, half of the facade had been effaced.
"That explains one reason why we haven't been able to locate their main setup of operations," Shauna said. "They're operating underground."
The Captain nodded. "They must be. Wake the others. This changes everything."
Shauna hesitated. "Sir?"
"Yes, West?" he asked wearily.
"None of our intel has revealed that they have an assassin like this." She swallowed hard. "I know our mission is CSAR but—"
"But there is no but," he said firmly.
"If this killing machine continues to go about massacring people like this, we won't be needed for CSAR. Everyone will be dead," she continued undeterred.
"I know you aren't asking to ignore a direct order," he said slowly. "And I know you won't give up saving your boy."
She swallowed hard. "Of course not. I'm terrified for him, but I'm also worried about the civilians. It's one thing to use a sandstorm device here on an island. But to use one that may be laced with an aerial toxin? And what if they do it on the mainland? In Japan or China? Or Australia? Or anywhere? Their power is growing by leaps and bounds."
"We can only do what we're told to do."
"Why can't we do more?" she blurted out. "Why do we have to be handcuffed?"
"West, think. If they're willing to harm the civilians, just imagine what they're willing to do to our Marines."
Shauna furiously blinked back tears. "The Marines aren't alive," she whispered.
"Never lose hope, do you hear me, West? Never lose hope. That's an order."
"Sir, yes, sir."
The Captain did nod then. "I will say this. If this killing machine comes after one of ours, there will be hell to pay. Does that suffice?"
Shauna nodded back. "Sir, yes, sir!"
Chapter 15
The first thing Neil did when he woke up in the morning was to examine his tattoo. Any swelling had been minimal, but now his skin was completely healed. The serpent was large, befitting his impressive bicep.
"How had you killed them?"
Neil did not jerk. He was not surprised to see Colonel Kronston Taer standing there, Doctor Despair hovering just behind him.
However, he did jump out of bed and bowed. "I used their weapons against them. Then I—"
"I know how to decapitate a man," the Colonel said dryly. "How fitting a way to end them. You are more than a soldier. You are more than an assassin. You are our venom. You are our vengeance."
"Venom's Vengeance," the doctor piped up.
"Yes! Venom's Vengeance. May I call you that?" Taer asked.
Neil frowned, confused. "You do not need to ask my permission for anything."
"Ah, but you have earned my admiration and my respect. My gratitude as well."
His lips turned upward. "Then, yes. Call me Venom's Vengeance."
"Good, good!"
"Who should I kill today?"
The Colonel threw back his head and roared with laughter. Neil wasn't sure what was so amusing.
"You assume I want you to kill. You wish to kill. And you are right. You will. Not today or at least not yet. The doctor here wishes to run a few tests."
"Very minor ones," the doctor said reassuringly.
"As long as everything goes well," the Colonel added.
"Which they should," Doctor Despair cut in.
Kronston Taer glowered at the doctor. "Then you will have your next assignment tonight."
"Tests immediately or after I break my fast?" Neil asked.
The Colonel and the doctor exchanged glances. "He is always hungry."
"Look at his muscles. He burns more standing than we do all day long. Sustenance is necessary for him. Think of it as fuel. I would hate for him to be without his power," Doctor Despair said.
Was there a hint of a threat in the doctor's tone? Of course not.
"Certainly, you can eat. You will dine with me in fact. Come."
Neil followed after them. He wasn't looking forward to the tests, but he sure did love eating. And killing.
Wordlessly, he trailed behind them to another room were a seating for one was ready. Taer snapped at guards to bring food for one more.
"Not the doctor?" Neil asked.
"I ate already," the doctor said, but his nose twitched.
Was he lying? Why? Neil shrugged. He had no place being skeptical. The doctor had saved him. The Colonel had given him a purpose. His life had meaning. Nothing else could he ever want or need. Nothing and no one.
It was lonely being Venom's Vengeance.
Neil had to be connected to electrodes. He lay down and was measured. Sat up and was measured. Stood and was measured. Ran in place and was measured. Lifted weights and was measured.
His accuracy, speed, and maneuverability were all tested. He even had to stand in a glass room when strange nearly colorless gas filled the room. He could just see hints of red in it. He stood there for five minutes, bored and disinterested. Finally, the gas dissipated, and the door opened. Again, the doctor measured him. Neil assumed he was checking his heart rate and maybe brain activity as well. Possible more. He wasn't certain, and he felt no desire to question his betters.
"How am I?" This, however, was an inquiry he was willing to make.
"You look excellent. I assume you are hungry? What would you like to eat?"
"Steak," Neil said immediately. Then he hesitated. "Is it healthy for my body to consume so much red meat?"
The doctor stiffened. His eyes narrowed, and he stared at Neil with a critical and suspicious air. "Why are you asking me this? Who tol
d you this?"
Neil frowned, confused. "I… I don't know. I… Doctor, maybe I should have told you this before but…"
"You can tell me anything," the doctor said, once more reverting to a kind, old man.
"My mind isn't foggy anymore, but I can't remember my past."
"Does that bother you?" Doctor Despair asked.
Neil shook his head. "No. The future is my only concern. Our future. That is why I said nothing earlier. Forgive me if I was in err."
"Neil," the doctor said gently. He placed his hands on Neil's shoulders. "When I did your surgery, I did take away your memories. I admit that. But you were tortured. You were in agony. So much fear, so many worries, so much doubt and pain and anguish. I thought I was helping you. If you wish, I can restore your memories with another surgery but—"
"No," Neil said.
"No?"
"I have no need to remember pain and anguish. Forgive me for asking."
"There is nothing to forgive."
Doctor Despair crossed over to a table and mixed some liquids together in a large vial. He stirred them and added a third. The concoction bubbled slightly.
Neil walked over, and the doctor handed to him the vial.
"Drink this. It will…"
Neil ignored him and drank it. He did not need an explaination. He was Venom's Vengeance. His fellow Hidden Serpents would never steer him wrong.
"A slight rest and then a meal and you will be all set for your assignment," the doctor said.
"Rest? I'm not tired." Neil yawned.
Doctor Despair crossed his arms. "Do not argue."
Confused but obedient, Neil lay on the table. His eyes closed, and he drifted off to sleep.
This time, the rest was different. Normally, Neil would close his eyes and open them with no knowledge of any dreams. Now, however, he was dreaming. He saw bits and pieces of war, torn up battlefields. He felt sorrow and fear. Guilt and sadness. Anger and distress. Dismay. So many emotions he wasn't used to feeling.
But then, he saw a light. Peace washed over him. Hope. Happiness.
This must be the future that the Hidden Serpents would bring him. What else could it be?
Not on Her Watch (The Serpent Experiments Book 1) Page 10