by T. F. Walsh
Vlkos were capable of tearing through metal with their fangs, and they were damn fast. In the sedan, I was a can of meat for the taking.
Several problems flashed in my head. I didn’t have my Taser, my energy had been tapped out, and I would be an idiot to battle the beast with only knives.
I floored the gas, the engine grunting. “You can do it.” I patted the wheel, noting I still had half a tank of juice.
In the rearview mirror, the vlko’s eyes glowed.
Ahead was a parked vehicle. I slowed down and noticed it was unoccupied.
A figure came into view farther in the distance, and I leaned closer, squinting. Was that? My headlights lit up the fluttering brown hair over strong shoulders. “Son of a bitch.”
Axel turned in my direction, waving me down for a lift. Wonder if he suspected it was just another human passing by?
I should have let him deal with the wolf for ditching me. Instead, I flicked my high beams. He was several yards away. I watched the creature who angled to the left of me, targeting Axel.
“There’s a vlko behind me,” I yelled through my open window.
Axel was still waving me down.
“Run!”
Once I veered across the road, his eyes widened.
“Yep, you see the monster now?”
Axel whirled and bolted. On foot, he’d never escape.
I leaned across the passenger seat and pushed open the door. I struggled to maintain control of the car and lifted my gaze, realizing I’d driven off the road and was heading away from Axel. “Crap!” I cranked the wheel, tires skidding, blowing a cloud of dust. Once the vehicle was back on the road, I spotted the creature behind me, its gaze fastened on Axel.
Gray stripes lined the animal’s stocky torso, and its squished nose creased as it unleashed a horrifying snarl. Hot breath floated from the exposed mouth crammed with incisors. Real fear was a blade in my gut, twisting. For those few seconds, I froze as a paralyzing hurt spread through me. My hands trembled.
I eased off the gas until the animal was alongside me and swerved the sedan into the vlko. The animal lost its footing, rolling out of sight into the darkness. Stepping on the pedal again, I gunned it forward.
A howl returned from behind me.
I shuddered, every hair on my body on end.
Reaching Axel, I slammed the brakes, the seatbelt strangling me in the process. I yelled, “Jump in!” My knees bounced, and I grasped the wheel.
The vlko skidded to a halt in front of us, fur bristled. I panicked and honked the car horn, hitting the windshield wipers in the process. All useless, but it startled the animal for a few seconds.
Axel ripped open the door as the creature charged. It leaped onto the hood, nails scratching deep rifts into the metal. Axel dove into the car head first, and I seized a handful of his shirt, pulling him inside.
The vlko pounced onto the windshield, paw pads the size of my head pressed to the glass, jaws snapping at Axel’s dangling legs in the partially open door. I slammed my foot on the gas.
Axel pulled his legs into the vehicle as the door slammed shut from the momentum. The beast stumbled for balance and toppled off the side with a growl. While it was sidetracked, I skidded away. In the mirror, the animal continued to chase us. Too damn close. I floored the car, figuring if we put enough distance between us, it would have to give up.
I turned to Axel, who gasped for air. His busted lip still bled. “Fuck!” The fear in his voice balanced on a knife’s edge.
“Should have let the vlko eat you,” I shouted above the heartbeat pounding in my ears. My insides had stretched so tight, I swore I’d explode. “Shit!”
Axel glanced out the rear window again. “Can’t see it anymore. Thanks for picking me up.”
Cutting Axel a stare as he buckled up in the seat did nothing but make me more pissed. “Why’d you ditch me?”
“Don’t need your protection. I survived this long on my own. You saved me, and I got to feel all warm and fuzzy. Now I’m going home. I have people who rely on me.”
I huffed, ready to strangle him. “You’re so selfish. What about all I gave up?”
He slouched. “We all do what we have to for survival. Anyway, how’d you know I wasn’t in the tunnels?”
“Didn’t. Took my chance on the road, remembering you mentioned your hometown. Thought we had a pact?” I focused on his expression as he glanced my way, his lips pursed. Okay, maybe there was no pact, and it was in my imagination.
“Not sure I’d call this an agreement because you believe I’m somehow involved with the vulsines, which I’m not. They are suicidal maniacs and kill anything.”
I broke into a forced laugh, loud and all for show. “You said there were killings in your town—”
“Yeah, but it’s not related to me.”
“Then why did Eduard insist on transporting you to the council facility when no one knows where it is?” I didn’t care what Axel said, I felt it in my bones that the vulsines were after him.
Axel shrugged. “You should focus on going straight.”
We hit the dirt at the side of the road, bouncing us around in the car. I corrected the wheel and had us back onto the asphalt. “Maybe you ought to see what’s right in front of you. After you made a run from the church and I chased you, I got jumped by three vulsines. One of them tasted my blood just as Eduard and my neighbor had done to you.” Afterward, the vulsine with the whip had said, I will do nicely… except what did that mean? The perfect specimen for them to kill? But they butchered anyone in their way, so something else was going on.
“Did they hurt you?” His eyes held the gentle concern my mother carried whenever I’d gotten a skinned knee on the playground. Did Axel truly care? Couldn’t be. If he worried about me, he wouldn’t have left me after I’d sacrificed my job to save his ass.
“So, where are we off to now?”
My mouth opened and shut. In all honesty, I had given that no thought except finding Axel before he escaped. And Priest hadn’t provided any information about the vulsines. In my opinion, the visit to the church had clearly been a decoy for Axel to escape. As much as I contemplated making him get out and walk, I needed him, and I hated admitting that to myself. I bit my tongue and decided he had to trust me if I ever intended to discover what made him special.
“Where were you headed when you left me?” I asked.
“Home.” He responded quickly and stared out into the dark night.
“Why?”
His thoughts were obviously somewhere else.
No response, so I asked, “Checking on family?”
He looked at me for a long pause, an eyebrow arching. “You ask a lot of questions.”
“Then talk to me.” I gritted my teeth, restraining the bubbling lava beneath my skin.
Axel shifted away from me. “Probably makes sense to hide at my place and work out our next move.”
I smirked. “So we’re working together now?”
“Can’t seem to shake you off my tail.” He reached for the GPS and punched in an address, then clicked the start button. Reclining in his seat, he shut his eyes. Was he going to sleep? How could anyone relax in this situation?
Fire burned in my chest, and I zigzagged across the intersection, but even when the action tossed him side to side in his seat, he didn’t protest. Who the hell did Axel think he was? I’d saved him, and this was the crap I got? “Just so you know, I didn’t risk my future for you, but for everyone else who’s in danger. Whatever happens to you is inconsequential.”
He offered me a cocky grin, eyes still shut. It took every ounce of strength to not boot him out the door and feed him to the vlko. Arrogant bastard.
Well, fuck him. This was so much bigger than Axel… than me. Until I discovered the truth, I’d keep him close. Too many people were dying. Vulsines had entered our world. Besides, I was a fugitive, so where was I going to hide? If I ever intended to call the city home again, I’d have to prove that Eduard was a vulsine a
nd my actions at the PPD saved Axel. I had to uncover evidence before we got caught… or killed.
“Got a phone that works at your place?” I asked. “I need to contact a friend.”
He laughed with a mocking tone that irritated me. “Not a smart move. You’ll lead vulsines straight to us.”
“I think they’re doing a good job finding us on their own.”
No response. The conversation flatlined. I figured it might be worth checking in on Axel’s hometown and discover what Priest meant by me keeping away from him. Lying low wouldn’t be too bad before I crashed from exhaustion. The records back at PPD said his address was unknown, so we shouldn’t have any unexpected surprise from the militia.
Axel’s breathing deepened.
I kept fidgeting in my seat, unable to get comfortable. This was what my life had come down to. Wanted by the PPD and harboring a criminal in danger… one who didn’t appreciate my help.
A saying Nyx had coined came to mind when crap went sideways: Stop looking back and keep going forward.
I used to tease her about it, but years later, the words struck a chord. Her soft voice and laughter played on my mind, but the hollowness in my chest never filled up, sitting like a black hole in my heart.
She would spend every spare moment in the city gardens. Riding her homemade motorized skateboard, insisting she’d make it fly. And I believed her. If anyone could fix a broken washing machine, the solar panels on our roof—even the water pipes—it was Nyx. And my sister was only fourteen years old at the time. She talked about joining the PPD Academy one day. Nyx didn’t deserve to die before her time.
I missed her so much and wiped my tears with the heel of my palm. Helping Axel and stopping the deaths was a step toward keeping my word. Not giving into the loneliness clogging to my insides. I wiped another tear escaping down my cheek. Someday, I’ll see you again, Sis.
If our situation didn't turn around quickly, that day might come sooner than expected.
Chapter 13
Against the night sky, heavy with a full moon, stood lofty block apartments. Walls on several buildings had long ago crumbled, left in piles of rubble. Not a soul around. No lights, trees, or even grass. A yard we passed had tires cut into arches, dotting the land. The front one was red, just like the Kutia Hollow flag. Red always represented our world. On the other end was a child’s swing, corroded and lying on its side. In the distance, a low fog rolled into town. Yep, the creep factor wasn’t set in motion until we had mist.
A black shadow dashed out in front of the car, and I slammed the brakes, the sedan shaking, tires skidding. My heart pounded in my chest.
Axel snapped awake, his hands slapping the dashboard from the forward motion. “What the…”
A scrawny mutt scrambled across the road and dove into the shadows of a rusty van on its roof, parked at the side of the street.
“Thought you could drive?” Axel yawned.
I ignored his snide remark. If living in the Outlands meant calling this battered place home, then PPD had it wrong. Offering humans food at our doorstep wasn’t the answer. As much as I hated to admit it, Axel had been correct. PPD had to spend more time in the Outlands and help those in need.
I edged the car next to the curb and switched the ignition off. If anyone could get this thing restarted, they could take the vehicle. I’d spotted two in better condition back down the street along with an old-style military tank. Nothing would touch us in that beast, though we’d move awfully slow.
Axel climbed out, and I followed. The air remained stagnant, carrying a hint of an electric charge and cabbage soup. Axel stretched his arms in the air, arching his back, releasing a groan. “It’s good to be home again.”
I glanced around and patted down my hair, which no doubt resembled a porcupine. Apartments crammed the area, stretching away into the darkness. Boarded up windows dotted discolored spray-painted brick walls.
Tightness coiled in my gut. How could anyone live in this state for the sake of independence rather than adhere to fae rules? At least we offered fresh water, meals, energy to stay warm in winter. Although, on some level, I couldn’t help but appreciate human tenacity to stand up for what they believed.
Axel strolled toward a building to our left.
“So, this one’s yours?” I asked, not sure what to say when every part of me craved the safety and comfort afforded back within the city limits. Reports and images at PPD showed much of the Outlands, but nothing compared to visiting it. Everything was different, down to the raw vulnerability burning my insides. No PPD to call for help. No security. Now, the memories from my home bothered me, same as waiting half an hour for mushroom soup when any flavor would do. I should have pushed for the food vans to venture into the towns and help families. Guilt stole my breath.
Axel dug a hand into the front pocket of his jeans. “Let’s go.”
The emptiness of the location strung my nerves. A few yards away, three tables were upside down. Bartering must have been the only means of survival for most here. Axel had explained he hunted for game. But such civilizations were open to corruption, territorial gangs, and drug lords. I’d witnessed my share of desperate people who’d attack a fae with their bare hands and teeth to collect blood for selling on the black market. I surveyed the empty street behind us. An empty plastic container skipped along the asphalt in the wind.
“Keep moving,” Axel said and drew me by the elbow toward an apartment. He unlocked the door as a huge cockroach ran across the tip of my boot.
We hurried inside the dark passage. I was unsure if I felt any safer here than locked up with a bunch of humans who might want to kill me for my blood. Yeah, should have thought about that before agreeing to Axel’s plan.
Once he shut us inside, everything darkened. The place stunk of mildew. Couldn’t even see my hands. “Um, where are you?”
Footfalls sounded to my right, and my hand reached for a blade at my belt. A beam of light streamed into my face. I squinted and shied away.
“This way.” Axel headed another direction.
I rubbed my eyes from the partial blindness and trailed after him into a small foyer. Paint curls hung off the wall as if frozen in time. Cracked tiles were covered in black scuff marks. Just ahead stood a cement staircase with a metal banister. The wall had a black streak as if a major water leak had happened and never been fixed. That explained the mildew smell.
Axel took two steps and rushed upstairs.
“Please don’t tell me you’re in the penthouse.” Last I looked, there had to be at least twenty floors.
“Smack in the center. Great workout for the thighs.”
No rubbish around the stairs, even if I cringed at the smell of piss on the third floor. When we reached level eight, my legs were smarting, and my calves quivered. “If I lived all the way at the top, I’d never go outside.”
Axel snorted a half laugh. He didn’t stop, and now I understood why he’d been able to keep up with our earlier pace. Give me flat land anytime, and I’d kick his butt; but a mountain of stairs… well, they were literally my Achilles heel.
As I followed the curved banister to the ninth floor, a door to my left opened. Light streamed out like greedy fingers vaporizing the darkness. Someone stepped into view. An elderly woman with short, silver hair framing her round face.
“Who are you?” she croaked, anger smudging her expression. She scanned my body and shook her head.
I brushed my ponytail over a shoulder, covering the fae ink across my neck. “Here with Axel.” I turned to leave when she tsked.
“No visitors allowed, especially fae,” she boomed, and I tightened my grip on the railing. Yeah, wake up the entire apartment and point to the outcast.
Axel retraced his steps, passed me, and headed to the busybody. “Mrs. Joy, lower your voice. It’s okay, she’s a friend.”
Mrs. Joyless was more suitable.
With hands on her hips, she glanced at me past Axel, her hawk nose scrunching, her finger wriggled
at me. “No faes permitted.”
“Why not? What’s wrong with faes?” My thoughts spilled out into the open by pure curiosity. We worked so hard in the city to get faes to accept humans, to welcome them, but in the Outlands, it was apparently the opposite. How would we learn to live together? How would Princess Kutia mend these barriers once she woke up?
Axel cut me a look, and his mouth twisted into an expression that yelled for me to shut up, but the words were out.
Mrs. Joyless wasn’t backing down. She nudged by Axel and pulled the tie of her bathrobe tight as she approached with a wonky gait.
“No faes,” she said, pointing a finger at me. She scowled and gripped her hips. “Everyone knows your kind are killers.”
Well, she believed what she said because not an inch of deception came from her body language or expression. Didn’t make her words real. She’d rather blame faes than believe a monster lived under her bed.
Axel stood at her side, a hand on her arm. “Come, let’s get you inside. I’ll make you a chai to calm down.”
I cocked an eyebrow at Axel. “Really?”
He urged the old woman toward her apartment. A quick glance my direction, and he flicked his hand toward me to follow. “Only be a sec.”
I sighed and marched after them, entering a museum of matryoshkas. This must be where all the nesting dolls painted in a rainbow of colors ended up when the world went to shit. The wooden collectibles layered the bookshelves, windowsills, even the foot of her brown couch. They were scattered around the coffee table. A dozen were white and black and painted to resemble animals. Some even had been placed near the shoes tucked into the corner. A single candle sitting on a small shelf lit up the room.
“She shouldn’t be in here.” Mrs. Joy’s voice was high-pitched.
“Do you trust me?” Axel said, taking her arms and forcing her to face him. “She’s with me, and I give you my solemn word… you are safe. She will not hurt you or anyone.”
After a long pause, she nodded. “Fine, but if any of my matryoshkas are missing, I’ll come after her.”