The Extinction Series | Book 4 | Primordial Earth 4

by Higgins, Baileigh

  “Er, yes, Callum, Sir,” the guard responded.

  Callum stared at the man with bunched eyebrows. “Well? Spit it out, man.”

  “It’s the general, Sir. He’s back, and he’s demanding to speak to you,” the guard said between deep breaths.

  “General Sikes?” Callum asked. “He’s here?”

  “Yes, Sir. Him and the entire army. He wants to come in,” the guard replied.

  “Well, we’ll see about that,” Callum said with a grim laugh.

  He turned to Kat. “Will you be alright on yer own, love?”

  Kat nodded. “Of course. Do what you must.”

  “I won’t be long.”

  “Do you want me to come with you,” she asked.

  “I’d rather not. The less Sikes knows about us, the better,” Callum replied with a shake of his head.

  “Be careful,” Kat said. “You can’t reason with him. Whatever he says, don’t believe it for one second.”

  “Oh, I know Sikes better than anyone, love. I worked with him fer years, and he never suspected I was a spy,” Callum said. “Dinna fash yerself. The time of reckoning has come.”

  Kat watched him leave, worried despite herself. The time of reckoning, indeed. The question was, for whom?

  Chapter 8 - Callum

  “I see ye’ve finally arrived, General,” Callum said, eyeing Sikes with a bland expression.

  “Is that how you greet me, you ungrateful bastard?” Sikes answered back, shifting in his saddle. “Your commanding officer?”

  “You were never my commander, Sikes, much less anything else,” Callum replied. “I owe ye nothing, and I never have.”

  “That’s rich. You lived off my goodwill and my purse for years,” Sikes said. “Only to stab me in the back first chance you got.”

  Callum shrugged. “What can I say? I learned from the best.”

  Sikes’ face flushed until he turned the color of cooked beet. “I’ll cut that lying tongue from your mouth, you traitorous snake.”

  “Ye’ll do no such thing,” Callum said with a mocking smile. “Yer down there, and I’m up here. Unless ye care to surrender?”

  “I’ll never surrender,” Sikes bellowed. “I’d rather die first.”

  “Well, I wouldn’t mind, to tell ye the truth,” Callum mused. “It would save me a great deal o’ trouble.”

  The general sucked in a deep breath, clearly trying to calm himself.

  “Do ye need a moment, General?” Callum asked. “Should I come back later?”

  “I’ll give you one last chance, Callum,” Sikes said through gritted teeth. “Surrender now and open the gates. If you do, I’ll grant you a painless death. If not…”

  “Off with ye and yer empty threats, ye scummy Bawbag,” Callum shouted, finally losing his temper. “We don’t want the likes of ye here. The citizens of Prime have decided.”

  “Why, I—”

  “I tell ye what, General. Surrender to me, and I’ll see to it that ye get a fair trial. Tis the best I can offer,” Callum interrupted.

  “Go to hell,” Sikes bellowed. “I’ll tear this city down brick by brick if I have to. You’ll rue the day you decided to cross me.”

  “Aye, I heard ye. Seems there’s not much left ta say,” Callum said. “I bid ye farewell, General.”

  “I’ll meet you in hell, Callum. That’s a promise,” Sikes said before he wheeled his horse around and galloped back to his camp.

  Callum watched him go with a mixture of relief and regret. He supposed he could’ve been more diplomatic, but it wouldn’t have changed the outcome. See ye in hell, General.

  ***

  “What do we have here?” Callum asked once he, Patti, and Kat convened in their private meeting room.

  “It’s a map of Prime City,” Patti said.

  Callum stared at the parchment in front of him. It was a work of art, scaled and drawn by a skilled cartographer. It laid out the entire city as a whole, including its defenses, entrances, exits, buildings, fields, drainage ditches, and sewers. All of it. “Where did ye get this?”

  “Moran had it made,” Patti said. “She found someone with the ability to draw maps and paid her handsomely to do it.”

  “Her?” Callum said, one eyebrow raised.

  “Yes, it’s a woman, and no, I won’t divulge her name. It was her main requirement,” Patti said.

  “And tis an exact representation?” he asked.

  “Down to the finest details,” Patti said with a satisfied smirk. “It took her three years to draw it up, and she had inside information. As the niece to the head-architect of Prime Hotel, she was intimately familiar with the place.”

  “I see,” Callum said. “This will be of great use to us.”

  “What did Sikes say?” Kat asked, her expression smooth. Her shoulders were tense, however, braced for the bad news to come.

  “What ye would expect from the man,” Callum said. “He wants me dead and Prime back under his control. He’s placing the city under siege.”

  “What about the people?” Patti said. “They don’t want him back. They’re tired of tyrants like him and Douglas.”

  “He doesn’t care about the people. He never did,” Kat said. “All he cares about is power, and he’ll do anything to get it.”

  “Kat’s right. I know the man. He’ll see us burn before he surrenders,” Callum said.

  “So, what do we do?” Patti said with a frown. “Those men outside are a part of us. They are the husbands, fathers, sons, and brothers of the people within these walls. We cannot ask them to fight against their own.”

  “Tis a problem,” Callum admitted.

  “But won’t the men outside feel the same way?” Kat pointed out.

  “Not if Sikes is lying to them, and I bet ye he is,” Callum replied. “It’s his only option.”

  “Yes, he’ll tell the men we rebels took over the city by force,” Patti said, nodding her head. “He’ll make it seem as if they are liberating the people, not fighting them.”

  Kat tapped her finger against her jaw, thinking it over. After a while, she straightened up. “We need to involve the people in this decision. It’s not one we can make on our own.”

  “Isn’t it too soon?” Patti said. “We’ve barely taken over the place and gotten rid of Douglas and Sikes’ old supporters. Change takes time, and not everyone is with us.”

  “Perhaps not, but if we involve the populace, they’ll know we’re serious about change. We need them on our side, and this is the only way we can show them we’re not like Sikes or Douglas,” Kat said.

  “Alright, but we’ll have to move fast. Sikes won’t sit around waiting for us to reinvent democracy,” Patti said. “And how do we go about it?”

  “We call a town meeting and explain the situation to the people. We convince them that it’s in their best interests to resist the army’s efforts to overthrow us,” Kat said. “At least until we can figure out a way to let the soldiers know what’s really going on. Once they know the truth, they’ll likely turn against the general, and all of this madness will stop.”

  “Aye, I like the idea,” Callum said. “A bloodless war.”

  “But how do we get word to the soldiers?” Patti asked.

  “The same way we got Moran, Rogue, and the others out of the city,” Kat said. “The drainage pipes.”

  Patti smiled. “That’s an excellent idea. We’ll need men who can blend in and merge with the ranks without arousing suspicion.”

  “Yes, but they must have family on the other side. Soldiers who’ll recognize and listen to them,” Kat said.

  “I’ll put the word out for volunteers immediately,” Patti said.

  “And I’ll call for a town meeting,” Callum said. “Patti, ye should be there as the temporary leader of the Rebel Faction. Most everyone likes ye.”

  “Of course,” Patti said.

  “I’ll get a few more respected citizens on our side, as well. People who can represent the populace and assure them t
hey have a say in these matters,” Callum said.

  “Good idea,” Kat said.

  Callum smiled at her. “And ye’ll be right there next to me, of course.”

  “I’m sorry, but I can’t,” Kat said with a regretful sigh. “Everyone knows me as Sike’s ex-mistress, and they hate me for it.”

  “Och, it’s not that bad, surely. The hotel staff know what ye’ve done for them these past few days,” Callum protested. “They’ve seen ye work for the good of all, opening the hotel for the poor, the sick, and the old.”

  “Maybe, but there are a lot more people out there that don’t know about any of that. If they see me, it’ll derail our efforts,” Kat said with a shake of the head. “No, it’s better if I stay out of it.”

  “Much as I hate to admit it, she’s right,” Patti said. “Until we can spread the word that she’s one of the good guys, it’d be better if she stays out of sight. Mob justice can be an ugly thing.”

  Callum grimaced. “Fine, I get yer point. Kat will remain in the hotel.” And under heavy guard too. No one will lay a hand on her as long as I’m alive.

  “We should not assume that our plan will work, however. Much can go wrong in a situation like this,” Patti said. “If Sikes knows about the tunnels, we’ve got a serious problem.”

  “I’ll place a guard on them right now,” Callum said, eyeing the map. “And I’ll set teams to fortifying the defenses. We need to be ready for anything.”

  “Don’t worry about me. I’ve got plenty to keep me busy,” Kat assured him with a smile.

  “As long as ye still have time fer me, my love,” Callum said.

  Patti rolled her eyes. “Right, I think this meeting is over. I’ll be back once I have our volunteers.”

  Callum winked at her. “We’re counting on ye, love.”

  Patti snorted as she marched to the door. “Don’t think for one second that you can charm me with that Scottish brogue, Mr. MacNamara.”

  “Och, of course not, Mistress Fry. I wouldn’t dream of it,” Callum said with a wink.

  Patti left the room in a hurry, her cheeks bright red.

  “I do think Patti doth protest too much,” Kat said with a chuckle.

  Callum turned to her, his smile widening into a grin. “Have I told ye how lovely you look today?”

  Kat returned his smile, her eyes twinkling. “Oh, you might have mentioned it once or twice.”

  He gasped with mock horror. “Then I’ve been remiss. I need to tell ye at least once every hour.”

  “That sounds lovely,” Kat said, moving closer.

  Callum reached out and drew her into his embrace. “Yer more beautiful than a sunset over the mountains.”

  “And you have work to do,” Kat admonished, but she allowed him to pull her close.

  “In a minute, my love. In a minute,” he said. “For now, it’s just you and me.”

  Chapter 9

  Rogue stared at the forest canopy above her head, fascinated by the birds that flitted through the branches. Thankfully, the fire hadn’t reached this far, blocked by the river. The tunnels were safe, which meant one less thing for her to worry about. Plus, there was plenty of wildlife to delight the senses, distracting her from her current predicament.

  She knew a few things about them. The tutor Moran hired during her teens had been an expert on the subject. He’d taught her everything he knew about the prehistoric world and its creatures, including the birds that thrived during that time.

  They looked much the same as modern-day birds did, but most of them went extinct at the same time the dinosaurs did. It was a mystery that kept paleontologists scratching their heads for years. Of course, not everything her mentor knew turned out to be true. His knowledge came from the future, pieced together by ancient fossils and educated deduction. Often, the reality was a whole lot different.

  Still, the knowledge was useful, and thinking about it meant she wasn’t thinking about her body. Despite Joe’s efforts at first-aid, she was in bad shape. It hurt to breathe, and every step was an exercise in pain. She longed to sit down and rest, exhausted by the punishing pace. Only sheer willpower kept her moving. That and the captain’s threats to kill her if she didn’t cooperate.

  “This had better be the way to your hideout, girl,” the captain said with a low growl.

  His voice dragged her back to the present, and she suppressed a shudder. “This is the way.”

  “Is it? Because we’ve been walking for hours with no end in sight,” he said, shooting her a mean look.

  “We’re getting close, I promise,” she said, despair dragging at her shoulders.

  He was right to be suspicious. The Shanghai Tunnels’ entrance was nearby, but she’d been leading them in circles hoping for a chance to escape. That opportunity hadn’t come, and she was growing desperate.

  “We’ll see,” he said. “If we don’t get there soon, I’m slitting your throat and leaving you here for the scavengers.”

  Rogue chewed on her lower lip. “Could we rest for a few minutes?”

  “No,” he said. “We keep going.”

  “Please. I just need a few minutes,” Rogue pleaded.

  “I think we could all use a break, Captain,” Joe said, braving his leader’s wrath.

  “Feeling sorry for her, are you?” the captain said with a sneer.

  “No, Sir, just thinking of myself,” Joe said.

  “What about the rest of you pussies? Need a break to rest your weary legs?” the captain asked.

  The others responded with shrugs. All except Peter, who agreed with Joe. “I need to take a leak anyway, Sir.”

  The captain snorted. “Fine. Five minutes. That’s all you get.”

  They stopped in a small clearing, and Rogue sank down on a nearby log with a sigh of relief. Peter disappeared into the bushes while the captain stomped around like a bear with a sore tooth.

  Joe glanced at her and gave an imperceptible nod. When no one was looking, he mouthed, “Get ready.”

  Rogue swallowed hard on the sudden knot in her throat. Now that the time had come, she was a bundle of nerves. Escape wouldn’t be easy. The captain was a hard man, tough and vicious to the core, but she had to try. The alternative was death.

  Joe sat down next to her on the rotten log and pretended to rummage in his bag. The moment the captain’s back was turned, he slipped a knife into her hands. With her eyes fixed on her boots, Rogue sawed at the ropes that held her hands together.

  It was easier said than done. The ropes were tight and her fingers numb, but she persisted. What other option did she have? At least, the blade was sharp, and the strands began to part one by one.

  The minutes passed slowly, with Joe watching the captain like a hawk. The man in question continued pacing up and down the clearing. The rest lounged about, drinking water and chewing on salted meat.

  “Where’s Peter?” the captain asked, coming to an abrupt halt. He looked around before cupping his mouth. “Peter, get your ass back here right now.”

  Nothing happened.

  “Peter!” the captain bellowed.

  The leaves on a nearby bush shook, and Peter stepped out.

  “Where have you been, you idiot?” the captain demanded.

  Peter’s mouth opened, flapping like a fish’s, but not a sound came out. Suddenly, his legs buckled, and he dropped to his knees. Without a word, he toppled facedown in the dirt, and everyone jumped to their feet. A crossbow bolt stuck up from his back, the head buried between his shoulders.

  Peter was dead.

  “What the—” the captain bellowed, reaching for his bow. “On your feet, men. Form a circle.”

  The soldiers leaped up and scurried toward their leader. Joe followed suit and placed himself next to the captain. Together, they faced outward with their crossbows held ready to shoot, but no target presented itself.

  Rogue’s lips formed a silent oh, and she sped up her efforts to free herself from her bonds. Step by step, she moved backward, away from the knot
of humanity.

  Another bolt whistled through the air and lodged itself in one of the soldier’s chest. The man collapsed with a low cry, and all hell broke loose.

  The captain whirled toward Rogue and aimed his crossbow at her. “You! This is your doing!”

  Rogue froze to the spot, sure that her time was up. Before the captain could pull the trigger, Joe tackled him from behind. They went down in a tangle of limbs, and their weapons went flying.

  “Get her,” the captain shouted to the remaining soldier, and the man charged at Rogue.

  With a final yank on the ropes, she cut through her bonds. She dropped into a low crouch, blade in hand. “Come and get it!”

  The soldier stopped mid-run, not thrilled with the knife she pointed at his stomach. At the same time, a third bolt pierced his throat. Blood spilled from his lips, a crimson waterfall that splashed down his front. With a gargled cry, the dying man fell to the ground where he bled out on the packed earth.

  Rogue cast a frantic look around, wondering if the next bolt was meant for her. She had no way of knowing whether the mystery attacker was friend or foe. When nothing happened, she guessed friend and turned her attention back to Joe and the captain.

  Joe had the upper hand with the captain pinned between his knees. He punched the man in the face, over and over, until a spray of blood coated his face. With horrified fascination, Rogue watched from the sidelines, uncertain what to do. Should she try to help, or would she just be a hindrance?

  With the captain’s face a bloody mess, she decided to stay put and let Joe finish the job. He had the upper hand, after all, or so it seemed.

  Then the tables turned.

  Suddenly, Joe stiffened, and his eyes grew wide. He slumped to the side with a knife sticking out from between his ribs. With a determined grunt, the captain shoved him away and crawled to his feet.

  He swung toward Rogue and grinned, his face a bloody mask. “Your turn.”

  With shocking speed, he charged straight for her. A crossbow bolt missed him by a hair’s breadth. Another lodged into his shoulder, but he ignored it and kept going. Determined to catch his prey, he saw nothing but her.