by Darcy Town
Rake kept them in the air. He licked his lips, the tingling sensation he experienced earlier had only grown worse. He looked across the street and spotted Marx. Rake sighed; it was apparently his day to go crazy. He took a punch to the throat and curled over. Men dragged him to the closest car. He stared at the ground, ignoring the pain. He didn’t care what happened to him, this was his punishment.
Virote patted Rake on the head. “You killed one of my family, Rake. It’s only fair if I kill some of yours.”
Rake could barely speak. “It was one, not all.”
“Yes, but I have a point to make.” They tossed Rake into the backseat of the last car. Virote got in with him. The car started and sped off.
***
Lincoln eyed the leaving car with distaste. “Kennedy!”
“I follow!” Kennedy bounded away from the snipers he’d killed. He raced along rooftops chasing the fleeing vehicle.
Lincoln eyed the other two cars. “Marx.”
Marx smiled. “Lincoln, I do believe they just stole what was ours.”
“Yes.” Lincoln took off his sunglasses. Both Hunters pulled off their gloves and stepped out of the shadows into the light.
Oro choked on a breath as the Hunters became visible. “Oh fuck me! Fuck, more than one! Oh shit!”
Danny glared at him. “What? Who are they?”
“Hunters!” Oro backed away from the window. “Get away from the windows. Let them fucking duke this out, we deal with the remainder.” He ran to Rake’s room and searched through his accessories frantically. If Ravil were right, they were only going to be dealing with the Hunters by the time they were done outside.
Katarina, Evgeniy, and Danny did as he recommended and drew back. Katarina stared at Danny from across the hall. “Someone needs to chase that fucking car, Danny!”
“Call Rat.”
Evgeniy shook his head. “No, I saw her down street. She had not gone very far towards airport, must have seen cars come and circled back.”
Katarina’s face drained of color. “Is she okay?”
Evgeniy nodded. “She is Rat. She will hide fine.”
Oro ducked out of Rake’s room. He wore an ill-fitting suit, gloves, and sunglasses, his characteristic braid in place. “How do I look?”
***
Lincoln leapt left and Marx leapt right. They moved in acrobatic blurs, twisting in mid-air to come down amongst the cars and shooters. Bullets tore through the air killing others by friendly fire, but never striking a Hunter. Lincoln slashed and disemboweled. He was a flurry of jagged points. He bit, kicked, and scratched in a way that left some dazed, others dead, and none able to defend themselves.
Marx moved with precise turns, each cut aimed at slicing something vital to movement, breathing, or pumping blood. He dropped all of the men around him and straightened, dotted in red. He examined his clothing and licked his hands clean.
Lincoln stood and stretched.
Marx took out a handkerchief and wiped down his stain resistant suit. Everyone was dead.
Lincoln cocked his head. “I will follow Kennedy.”
Marx nodded and looked up at the house. “I will stay. Good hunting.”
Lincoln broke into a run and followed the direction Kennedy went, able to track his mate from afar. Marx stepped over bodies and jumped onto the hood of a car. He yawned and stared at the house.
Oro stepped out on the porch and slammed the front door behind him.
Marx was in the process of putting his sunglasses on. He pulled them down instead and gave Oro a once over. His lips curved up into a smile, showing sharp pointed teeth. He sniffed the air, taking in Oro’s scent. “Interesting smell.”
Danny, Katarina, and Evgeniy watched from the windows. Katarina hissed. “Who the fuck is that? Do you see his teeth?”
“Yeah.” Danny held his shotgun. “It has some kind of claw hand weapon. Oro better know what the hell he’s doing.”
On the porch, Oro inclined his head to Marx. “This house is mine.”
Marx hopped to his feet and straightened his suit. He looked up the steps to Oro. “Are you challenging me to a territory dispute? I seek but two, are they yours?”
Oro gulped. “Yes.”
Marx cocked his head and licked the air. “You are no Hunter. I can smell and taste the difference, Waster.”
Oro shrugged. “Worth a shot.” He caught movement behind Marx. “I may not be your kind, but I can still fight you.”
Marx smiled and shook his head. “No, you cannot duel me. It would be unfair with your current lack of skills and weapons.”
Tasanee pointed her handgun at the back of Marx’s head. “Hands in the air, freak.”
Marx’s smile expanded to a grin. He raised his hands and purred. “What is this that sneaks upon me and speaks so fearlessly? It has a voice most pleasing. Let me see you.”
Tasanee craned her neck to look at the Hunter that stood nearly two feet taller than her. “Rat, to you. Now turn around, slowly.”
“Rat?” Marx turned and stared into the barrel of her weapon. He gave her a once over, his eyes lingered on her mohawk and face. He licked his lips. “Small thing to play with, a small toy to amuse. You are a little rat.”
Katarina lifted her rifle. “He’s going to kill her!”
Danny grabbed the barrel. “You could hit her, Kat!”
Oro gulped and waved his hands. “Hey, Hunter guy! I’m the one challenging you. Hello!”
Marx held up a finger. “No, no. This one…this one is armed, a little warrior. This one caught me unawares. No one does that to me.” He looked her over. “This one is the challenge. Yes.”
Tasanee nodded. “You bet I am, Hunter. You don’t know what you’re dealing with right here.”
“Such a pretty thing for me.” Marx flicked his claws out. “Soft, small, all for me to enjoy.”
Tasanee ignored the claws and stared him right in the eye. “I don’t do dicks only chicks. That’s a fact.”
Marx grinned wider and purred. “That can be arranged.”
Tasanee gulped under the intensity of his gaze. “Uhm…I’d rather you…didn’t.”
Marx blurred. He disarmed her, throwing the gun down the street. He broke her wrist, lifted her into his arms, and leapt on the hood of the car. He wrapped an arm around her neck, putting her into a headlock. His other hand stayed at her stomach. Down three fingers, he still had two talons at her bellybutton ready to tear her open. His grip was like steel. Tasanee didn’t even have time to shout.
Marx crossed his legs, sat down on the car, and looked up at the windows. He held Tasanee against him. “No one shoots. Everyone comes out and sits on the porch. Now, or I slit her open.”
He heard the sound of movement, he smiled. He scraped a claw along Tasanee’s cheek, drawing in blood. He put his talon to his lips and sucked, tasting her. His expression grew thoughtful. He licked his lips and a strange smile played across his face. He retracted the claws at her stomach and loosened his grip on her neck. “How odd.”
Tasanee elbowed him. “Rude!”
Marx settled her into his lap. He locked his legs around her legs as Katarina, Evgeniy, Danny, and Oro took chairs on the porch. Marx smiled at everyone. He sniffed and eyed Katarina. He rubbed Tasanee’s stomach with his maimed hand. “Your mate. You do prefer the female sex.”
Katarina was rigid. “Let her go.”
Marx smiled. “No. Do you have iced tea? I would like some while we wait for my partners to return with the Rake.”
Danny gaped. “Iced tea? You want iced tea?”
“Yes, with some lemon I think. I’ve grown partial to its flavor.” He looked at Tasanee. “Would you like anything, my little rat?”
Tasanee struggled to stretch out her legs, fighting a losing battle with his. “Oh sure, why not? Danny, I’d like some chocolate. Might as well if it’s my last meal.”
Marx frowned and nipped her ear. “Do not say that. We are going to get along very well, my little rat.”
He nuzzled her neck and purred. “Better.”
Tasanee looked up at him. Her voice dropped to a hiss, “Freaky alien Hunter. You are not getting Ravil.”
Marx licked the cut on her cheek, sealing the wound. He whispered into her ear, “Waster knows the prey then. Shh, keep that to yourself, little rat.”
Tasanee angled her head away from his. “Fuck you.”
Marx ran his cheek along her fuzzy mohawk. “Is that an offer? I accept.”
Danny got to his feet. “How do you know that we do not have others waiting?”
Marx smiled. “I can smell you and this house together. I do not smell those others here. The one I seek, the Rake, yes? He has been taken. Anyone else is of no consequence. Do not worry, my partners will retrieve Rake and bring him back here.” Marx brought Tasanee into a hug that freed up her arms. He rested his chin on her shoulder. She punched at his face. He ignored her. “We will all talk. Now, tea please?”
Danny walked inside to get iced tea. Marx smiled at everyone. “Tell me about this Rake.”
***
Virote’s black car drove through the twisting streets of Bangkok, leaving the nicer neighborhoods far behind. Rake was face-up between the back seats and front seats. His wrists were bound behind him, but his feet were free. He eyed his ankles. “Why not the feet? I can still kick you to death.”
Virote grinned. “I find it more amusing to watch them try and run.”
Rake’s muscles clenched. “Do you?”
Virote nodded. “I hope you’ve been working on your endurance.”
Rake looked out the windows as the car turned towards the streets that would put them in the Dead. Rake gulped. “Dick hole.”
Virote grinned. “You were always amusing, Rake.”
Rake turned his head to look at Virote. “Where is Ravil?”
Virote grinned. “The little pale one? She’s resting comfortably.” He poured himself a glass of champagne. “She was damaged when I found her however, a disappointment.”
“What?”
“Bound and gagged in the back of a car. Keto I think his name was, the black one? He and a slim man had her. Her wrists were bleeding, a shame.”
Rake shook with anger, they’d bound her, hurt her? He struggled to breathe calmly. “And now?”
“Well we certainly didn’t cut her loose after we killed those two. It was convenient to keep her tied up.” Virote smiled and drained his glass.
Rake swallowed his rage and grief over the deaths of his friends. He focused on Ravil. “If you hurt her—”
Virote laughed. “I never hurt anyone, Rake.”
Rake imagined the ways he’d kill Virote. “No, you just give people over for others to damage.”
Virote nodded. “The civil way.” He wiped his hands on a napkin. He reached over, tore out one of Rake’s earrings, and flicked it into his face. “However, you killed family. Fuck civil, yes?”
“All right Virote, no civil.”
The car passed the burned buildings that demarcated the land between the living and the dead. Rake’s heart sped up, he wanted to die, but not like this. A clean shot to the head would do or a swift kick to the neck, not a goddamn Rake buffet. He rolled his ankles, stretched his legs, he damn well was going to run for his life. He looked up at Virote. “So are you going to shoot me in the foot or something?”
Virote shook his head. “No, that makes things go so quickly.” Gunners took positions looking out the sunroof, but no one made to attack them. This type of car had been here before and dropped off meat.
Rake focused on breathing calmly. This was doable. This wasn’t hopeless. He could run. He could run fast and far, and really he could kick people to death. He hadn’t done it barefoot in a skirt, but there was a first time for everything. Rake grinned.
Virote eyed him. “What?”
“You’re going to get killed by a man in a skirt.”
“Doubtful.” Virote stared at his phone and frowned. “Why haven’t they called in yet?”
Rake eyed him. “Your guys? Bet Danny blew them out of their shoes. Just blood stains now.”
Virote snorted. “Blew them up? With what?”
Rake smiled. “With the arsenal of illegal weapons stored in his basement.”
“So funny, Rake.” Virote frowned and looked away.
“I’m not kidding. He’s got rocket launchers, grenades—”
Virote muffled Rake’s mouth with his foot.
The car rolled to a stop. Men pulled Rake out and pushed him past the car. There were another two cars already there, the three vehicles made up a blockade in the street. Rake eyed the surroundings. The only way to run out was the long way of course.
“Let her go!” Mica snapped at the men that pushed him around. Men shoved him out into the road.
“Mica?” Rake turned to look at the other two cars, and his world slowed to a standstill.
Ravil stumbled blindly behind Mica; her head still covered in a hood. Virote’s men had sliced through her ankle bindings to let her walk free, but they had taken her boots. She was dressed in just her cargo pants and bra, barefoot and bound at the wrists. They pushed her towards the road.
Terror and anger flushed out Rake’s remaining feelings of guilt and grief. “What the motherfuck is she doing here?”
Ravil and Mica turned at the sound of his voice. Ravil ran to him blindly. “Rake?” She received a punch to the head that sent her sprawling.
Rake leapt for her, but his legs were kicked out from under him. Virote walked between the cars and picked Ravil up. He looked at Rake. “I realized that this one means something to you.” She hung limp in his arms, dazed. Virote pulled her hood off. Ravil blinked against the light and tried to see. Crusted blood ran from her nose down to her chin. Virote turned her towards the Dead and gave her a push. “I think it would be amusing to have you watch first and then try to run.”
Ravil took an unsteady step. She held out her bound hands for balance. She didn’t know where she was. Her senses were screwed up from the hit to her head. She could feel Rake was nearby, but she couldn’t tell where. She took another few steps away from the cars. “Rake?”
Rake turned to Virote. “She hasn’t done anything to you!”
Virote shrugged. “She’s not as little as I was told initially. I heard she was a child, but she’s a woman. I have no use for a woman, I have many of those.”
Ravil turned towards Rake’s voice. She blinked but could not make her vision resolve. She tripped. “Rake? I can’t see, Rake.” Howls came from the buildings several blocks away as they realized breakfast had arrived. She froze. She remembered those howls. “Rake! Rake, where are you? Rake, help me!”
Mica tore his gaze away from Ravil. “Virote, I have money, full bank accounts, I will give you it all, just let her go!”
“No.”
Rake only had eyes for Ravil. “Ravil, pay attention to your surroundings! Focus!”
Ravil concentrated on the sounds. She closed her eyes and built a mental image of the space instead of a visual one. She steadied herself and memorized everyone’s positions.
“She’s still a virgin.” Rake looked to Virote in desperation. “She’s still worth something, Virote. Don’t waste her on this. I know you care about money. She’s worth a lot. Look at her, still small for her age, still pure, white as goddamn snow. She’s fucking exotic and she has a price!”
Virote shook his head. “No, this is more fun.”
Rake bluffed. “She has a bounty on her head, Virote! From the American Empire, they want her alive. You fuck with her, and they’ll come for you! They will do far worse than this if you fuck with what is theirs!”
That made Virote listen. He eyed Ravil then looked at one of his men. The man opened a handheld device and wrenched on Ravil’s arm, scanning her fingerprint in
to the system. They waited. He held it up for Virote to see. The screen flashed with one warrant for her arrest, then another. Virote eyed Ravil. “True, from both Empires.”
Rake hid his surprise. He’d have to worry about the warrants later. He took a deep breath. “Your search is on record now, Virote. They’ll know you had her. They’ll get the truth if you kill her!”
Virote made a face. “Fine.” He grabbed Ravil’s hand and pulled her back towards the cars. “Lucky for you they want you alive.” He cut through the ties around her wrists, but held her pinned, so she could watch Rake and Mica.
Ravil opened her eyes, her vision slightly better. She strained away from Rake, still under his compulsion to stay out of his sight. She shouted at him, “Rake! About earlier, it’s okay, Rake!”
Rake looked away. “Not right now, Ravil!”
Virote laughed. “Her warrant says she’s ten, that’s odd.”
Rake’s voice cracked. “Ten?”
“I am not ten!” Ravil glared at Virote. She reached for one of the Rakes she could see in her blurred vision. “I’m not ten, Rake! That’s not true!”
“I’m sorry, Ravil, for everything.” Rake stood up and faced the slinking presence of the denizens of the Dead. He swallowed. “I fucking deserve this shit. Come on you ragged homeless wretches, come eat me! I’m sinfully delicious!”
Ravil screamed, “Rake, no! Don’t, I’m—” Virote covered her mouth with his hand.
Men pushed Mica after Rake. He whispered to Rake as he caught up with him, “You have a plan?”
Rake eyed him. “No.”
Mica scowled. “You always have a plan!”
Rake shrugged. “Don’t you have one? I thought you were the brave hero? Oh wait no, you’re the cowardly fucker, that’s right.”
“And you’re do-nothing loser. Quite the duo.” Mica glared at Rake. “Together again, huh?”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” Rake rattled off. He narrowed his eyes.
“How’re we doing?”
Rake kicked at Mica’s ankle. “Don’t fucking take my lines, you dick!”
Mica managed to grin. “That bad huh?”
Rake turned and kneed Mica in the leg. “What did I say? I’m Han, you’re Luke. And it’s How we doin’, not ‘How’re we doing’, you British ponce.”