Tenderly, she placed him into the bed with only a dim bedside lamp to light their way. Wailing sirens in the background drifted in on the night breeze through the slightly open window to settle loudly in Ann’s ears. Had they been found already?
She struggled to stem the tide of blood flowing from his body. Its harsh pungent fragrance hung like a muted killer in the cool clear evening air.
Hours later Ann had wept softly as she said, “Brian, bleeding has slowed. But, I need to get you to a doctor.
He drifted on the edge of passing out. She shook him lightly and after a brief time his eyes slowly emerged back into focus. The light from the lamp highlighted his weakened gaze. “Ann, you must promise me that you’ll survive. I was going to say something noble about this, but I don’t want to lose you. Not when I’ve just found life again, go to resistance headquarters, they’ll watch over you.”
Hot salty tears began rolling unchecked down her slightly sweat dampened cheeks to coat his bare skin, “I’ll do my best. But, I’m not leaving you!”
He smiled and lightly traced her lips with the tip of his finger. The familiarity of his touch brought fresh pain to her already breaking heart.
Outside the sound of sirens came again and grew closer. Ann carefully laid Brian’s hand down on the bedcovers. She walked on nervous feet toward the lightly swaying curtain by the open window pulling back the drape with a carefully steady hand and gazed down to the street below. A Kien prisoner round up truck was parking just at the curb; guards in full riot gear climbed out of the steely black confines of the monster vehicle and lined up in a solid line facing the building.
The captain of the unit spoke via web conference telecom from a monitor on top of the truck, “Tenants of Redclass section, building G give me your attention. By order of the high command of Redclass, you are informed we will be conducting a search for the rebel, Brian Williams. We know he was seen entering this building two hours ago. Let it be known to the person or persons hiding Mr. Williams you are in direct and insolence defiance of Redclass directive one.”
The captain continued speaking as Ann moved away from the window back to Brian seeking a means of escape, “You will be shipped to Gardenwood Re-education centre for correction. The rebel, Brian Williams will be tried in the high court. Do not attempt escape, doing so will mean death on sight.”
Ann’s heart leaped in terror at his words. They must escape!
Chapter Three
She reached Brian’s side as the unit entered the building with a slam that echoed throughout the old building.
“Brian, I’ve got to get you out of here.”
He sat up weakly pulling his taz pistol from the bloodied waistband of his jeans, “Ann, you’ve got to get out. You don’t know what they do at those centres, but I do.” So, far the Taz pistol had been humankinds’ only defence against the darklight power of the Kien. It reduced, reshaped and shifted Kien darklight aura weakening it to allow a metal piercing from the gun to break through. Brian pushed the pistol into Ann’s hands.
He pulled her into his arms clutching her to him as a man possessed, “How could I have made you a part of this!” Tears rolled down his cheeks, “Take my gun and get out of here. Hurry! Please they’re almost here.”
She clung to him in apprehension, “No, I won’t go without you!”
He pulled away from her. “Dammit, you do what I say! I won’t let them do to you what they did to my family. I can’t go though that again, please I’ve got to believe that everything is not lost.”
His body rippled with pain. “I’m done for. But, you’ve got to make it for me.” The sound of a slamming door against wood came from the apartment below, “Ann, go now!”
She drank in the sight of him sitting on the edge of their bed. She backed away toward the door, words of denial steadily seeking exit from her lips.
Carefully, she sipped into the hallway. She stopped briefly to look back at him.
“Go” he cried softly.
With her breath trapped in a half cry, she closed the door and did as he asked. Still in her work clothes strained with Brian’s blood, she cried in dismay as she searched for the means of her escape.
After what seemed an eternity, Ann gingerly opened the door leading to the stairwell outside. She would have stepped out slowly if not for the Kien guard who manifested suddenly through a darklight gate at the bottom of the stairs with his back to her. She quickly, firmly and quietly stepped back inside shutting the door with a carefully click.
Ann’s heart was beating wildly in her chest like a humming bird’s as the angry feet in the building grew still closer. She was trapped.
Ann glanced around again for a place to hide, wishing that the floor would open up and consume her whole when her eyes settled on the old wash chute in front of her.
She’d barely climbed inside and shut the rusty door when the prisoner unit reached her floor. Her slight frame must have been too much for the small space because the chute gave a slight groan as it slowly moved down toward the darkness below. There were muffled shouts coming from the direction of her apartment. The unit had reached her door and then she heard Brian’s muffled groan of pain.
The news of Brian’s discovery caused the captain of the unit to give a hearty shout of victory over the quick moving picture on the telecom outside, “Where’s your partner, Ann Kipley?”
Brian’s answer was a groan that chilled her soul and she wanted nothing more than to run to him, but the rushing movement of the chute drifting down toward the dim light below became her immediate concern. The air in Ann’s lungs was knocked out of her as the chute spilled into the dimly lit room. She laid there a moment in a daze as fresh frenzied movement came from just outside.
“People of Building G, the traitor Brian Williams as been found,” the captain of the prisoner unit said, “as punishment for his discovery in your building your food rations will be cut by 25%.”
Ann stood stealthy and stumbled to the small opening of the window. She barely tipped her head above the rim of the window, but saw all she needed to see. Brian was held up by two guards on each side of him. He was barely alive. He didn’t seem to know where he was as his head rolled uselessly from side to side.
“Tell us! Where is Ann Kipley” the captain of the unit demanded again.
Brian gave a soft laugh, “she’s someplace where you’ll never find her.” His voice was sure and strong as he said the words.
The captain gave a grunt of anger as he shook his head, “It doesn’t matter right now. We got who we came for. My commander will be proud.” The captain paused leaning closer to the telecom monitor in front of him as he said, “Williams, you’re not looking well. Who did this?”
The guard standing to Brian’s left said proudly, “I did it, sir. I told you I thought I nailed him earlier today in the square.” Ann studied the Kien male’s profile committing it to memory.
“Young man, that’s good work” the captain sighed, “Williams, please try not to die before the public knows we’ve captured you.”
Turning his attention toward the guards who held Brian, the captain’s parting words to him were, “Williams, we will find Miss Kipley. She’s one woman without your training and we found you.”
Brian made no response to captain’s words. The guards turned dragging him toward the van parked at the curb. For a brief moment their dazed eyes met. He winked as she whispered as she touched the old pane window in sorrow, “Brian.”
His eyes lingered lovingly until he was thrown inside the van’s dark confines, the guards climbed in after him as the van drifted away. Ann’s tears of grief sounded piecing and loud in the darkened room. She didn’t know how long she sat here, but the next thing she clearly remembered was the colour of the yellow-gold sun as it peered though the dusty window of the wash room.
She made her way to the resistance headquarters the next day begging them to help Brian. Yet, she knew there might be nothing they could do.
The state ru
n newspapers headlines had screamed, “Rebel leader captured!” No one knew of Brian’s whereabouts until the two days later when a truck dumped his body in Redclass square at dawn.
Ann had wanted to go to him immediately, but she had been locked in her quarters by concerned members of the rebellion. Jeff had tried to calm her anger at the situation explaining that prisoner units were watching the square in an effort to capture more of them and they’d make a move to free Brian when the time was right.
That night after a skirmish with hidden patrols in the square, Brian had been rescued. He was brought back to resistance headquarters barely alive. He was gaunt, pale and clinging to life, but doctors believed they could save him.
“Ann. Where’s Ann?!” Brian had called refusing to settle until he had her in his sight. A round of fresh tears spilled from her eyes as she’d gazed down at him, but they’d been tears of joy.
“I’m here.”
The men carrying him placed him carefully on a cot in the corner of the room and quietly left.
Ann held his hand with bated breath. She slowly sat closer to him and placed his head in her lap. He given a short raspy breath. Brian looked up at her a silent moment before he’d spoke, “Sweetheart, I’m glad to see you. I told them they wouldn’t find you because I taught you too well. I love you. Will you hold me awhile?”
She stroked the hair away from his face and carefully kissed his slightly parted lips.
With a violet start, Ann’s musings were brought back to the present by a sound to the left of her. The waiter had made a halting move toward her. Her soft hazel eyes darkened to the colour of ominous amber stones.
“Stop right there,” she said quietly, “what are you doing?”
The waiter shrugged his shoulders restlessly. “Well, I was going to try to subdue you until the police arrived.”
She gazed at the young man in admiration for his truthfulness.
Theodore sat silently watching her from the bar. There was an open challenge in his cold eyes as he scrutinized her. She stood quietly as their eyes met. The tension in the room took a fever pitch as if the people could sense the shift between them.
“Young man,” Ann said to the waiter, “I want you to go outside to the phone across the street and call the new media. They’ll be interested in what happens there tonight.”
She slowly removed her jacket and threw it carelessly on the littered tile floor.
Theodore spoke softly, “By the look in your eyes, I guess you’ve figured out who I am. At least, give me a head start. I’m not sorry that Mr Williams is dead. I’m just sorry I didn’t nail him sooner.”
Hastily indrawn breaths filled the room as the young waiter rushed cautiously pass Ann toward the closed bar door. When she didn’t try to stop him, he opened the glass door and ran out into the pounding rain to comply with her request.
“Guess what, everyone” she said carefully, “this night is about to take yet another turn.”
She shook her head thoughtfully, “You’re all going to have quite a story to tell tomorrow. How many of you would care to take a guess on the likelihood of me finding the one Kien man in the city I despise the most sitting drinking in a bar three days after trying to take my lover from me. I have news for you, Theodore. Brian is very much alive.”
Theodore stepped down from the bar stool and gave a taut curt bow to everyone. All eyes focused on him as he spoke, “Yes, Ann. I’m the one who shot Mr. Williams. But, now it appears my victory party is a hollow one. I’m disappointed, but I can still give him some sleepless nights if I kill you. But, first how did you figure out my role in this expanding drama?”
“I saw you that night as you boasted to your commanding officer,” Ann spat the words out.
Across the street, Josh got off the phone with the police. He prayed silently, they’d arrive soon because things looked as if they were coming to a head in the bar.
Ann gazed at Theodore and glanced around the room. Suddenly, she felt alone, alone as if she were five again standing in the middle of a playground filled with bullies. Outside, she saw the young waiter watching the scene from the cover of a parked car.
She turned to all the seated pairs. “Go home,” she sighed pointing to the open door the waiter had exited moments earlier, “Go home to the comfortable towers you live in and pray no one blows them out from under you.”
There were sighs and cries of relief from the seated patrons, both human and Kien as they stood and ran past to the open door. Some dared a glance in Ann’s direction, but most were focused on escape. While her sole focus lingered on the man who stood before her.
After the crowd ran across the street or further into the night away from the unfolding duet between Ann and Theodore, she kicked a piece of broken glass with the tip of her thick brown boot.
She wanted to cry at the refection of her anger looking back at her, “So, Theodore. How will we settle this?”
He slowly moved back behind the bar to pour himself a drink watching Ann with a hawkish gaze. His darklight had taken on a purple muddy haze. Brian had often told her it was the colour they emitted before an attack.
“Let’s you and I play a game,” he said softly, “After I’m done with this drink. I’ll go outside and we’ll have an old fashion fox hunt. Only both you and I will be hunter and prey. Whoever finds and kills the other one first wins.”
Sirens in the distance were drawing near. He gave a quiet curse of anger under his breath. “Damn, I thought I’d have enough time to finish my drink, but I guess not.”
He jumped on top of the bar in a single leap, kicking half full glasses of exotic drinks in all directions. A heavy goblet flew toward Ann.
She ducked to avoid contact with it and it shattered behind her spraying golden droplets in every direction. A fire lit in her eyes at the cold feel of liquid on her skin. She longed to finish him as he stood regarding her from the bar.
He smiled at the look of fury in her eyes. “Ann let’s get started. We don’t have much time.” He jumped down from the bar with a thump and clutched his knee in pain, “Damn, I think I just hurt my knee. You’re going to have to pay for that.” He turned with a slight running limp toward the neon red exit sign in front of him.
The rain outside continued to pour down in buckets as Ann turned walking back to the broken window, lighting and thunder mixed in an harmonious opera of power as she looked out toward the street light where Josh, the waiter stood.
Sirens and metallic street sounds drew closer.
The flashing red and blue of approaching patrol units became eerie shadows against the drab grey of the moist wet night. Just outside came a loud rapping sounding like a stick slamming on metal. The sound grew sharper, louder in the cool night air.
Ann walked to the open door. Her heavy leather shoes crunched on broken pieces of crystallized glass grinding smaller pieces to a delicate white dust. She knew Theodore waited somewhere outside and the rapping that continued was his signal to come out. Taking a deep calming breath, she squared her broad yet frail woman’s shoulders, thrust out her small chin and walked out to face whatever the night and fate still had in store.
Theodore stood in the pounding rain under a flashing yellow sign shaped like a bright diamond. The buildings around them flashed in weaving blending patterns of yellow, blue and red reflecting off the moving steel grey sky above as state patrol units grew still closer.
“Tag, you’re it!” Theodore said as the flashing pulses of the approaching patrol units and the lighting above highlighted his dark eyes making them shine with demon fire. His grin was wide, slightly mad and demented as he ran toward the street, pausing to look in each direction as if checking for nonexistent traffic and then he noticed the waiter standing at the edge of the street. Theodore ran up to him as Ann followed him out into the street, “Young man, “he said, “What the heck is your name?”
The waiter’s brown eyes were wary and scared like a frightened rabbit’s. “It’s Josh.”
Th
eodore grinned like a cat which had a tasty morsel under its paw and with misty rain water running non-stopped in his eyes said, “When I signal you I want you to go and tell the arriving units I’ve found Ann Kipley.”
Josh shifted uncomfortably in his wet, sodden clothing. He looked as if he were about to faint with fear. With a voice like a half spoken sigh, Josh agreed to his request.
“Good!” Theodore called over his shoulder as he ran back toward the bar spinning around as he called out to Ann, “Ann come on! Let’s do this.”
With a clap of thunder, the crystal clear wetness which had continually poured from the slowly moving clouds stopped until it was nothing more than a light misty drizzle brushing the unforgiving ground. It seemed as if an audience in the heavens wanted to watch the show below without the hindrance of the night’s constant steady stream of rain.
Both opponents’ could feel the heavy pounding of their hearts in their ribcages as the hunt began. Ann felt her skin go cold then red hot listening to the sounds as she pursued the man who’d shot the man she loved. Her life on the side lines had ended the night before as she gazed into Brian’s pain filled eyes. She knew he’d pull though. Yet, knowing how he’d suffered was more than she could bear, the mere act of living or dying had taken on new meaning for her now.
It mattered to her that the man she now hunted paid for the crime of trying to strip the world of a hero and a good man.
Ann’s heart slammed in her breast with fear, a strange anticipation and her insides churned with suppressed dread. She couldn’t remember a time when she’d been more afraid.
The street below was eerily quiet as she followed Theodore back into the now empty café, the rank smell of her fear, of her tension laid harsh and pungent in her nose.
She slowly withdrew a black taz pistol from the moist waistband of her pants. It felt has heavy and cool as the one she’d watched Brian practice using dozens of times before. The flashing neon exit sign was the only machine lighting the darkness of the vacant room. Her eyes strained in the darkness, trying to spot the merest flicker of movement.
Forever Tonight Page 3