Autumn Rising

by Marissa Farrar

“So what did you bring me?” She tried to push her fear to the back of her mind, not allowing these people to intimidate her, despite what they’d already put her through. “I do like a small glass of white wine with my evening meal, but I’m going to guess that won’t be too likely.” She didn’t even know if it was still evening. Would this be her breakfast, lunch, or dinner?

  “Be thankful you’ve got food. The only reason Ms. Winters wants you fed is because starving you might alter whatever the fuck it is in your blood that changes people into freaks.”

  She forced herself to walk casually back up to the table and jumped up to sit on it again, her legs swinging from the sides. “You don’t seem to like shifters much, Thorne.”

  “What is there to like?”

  “So what do you think of these plans to make other soldiers, your comrades, your men even, into these ... freaks?”

  “We are soldiers, Doctor Anderson. We do whatever is best for our country. If a soldier believes he will be a better asset, than he will do whatever it takes.”

  “Even turn yourself into something else entirely? And who are you going to experiment on first? You saw what happened to Blake’s sister back at the cabin. Injecting my blood made her a shifter, but the animal spirit didn’t exactly seem at one with its new body.”

  “There was something wrong with the method she used, but what she did worked. It’s just going to take some refining.”

  “And who are you going to do the refining on? Your men? Or innocent civilians?”

  “Frankly, Doctor Anderson, that is none of your business. Don’t you think you should be worrying about yourself first?”

  “I just think I might be able to help, that’s all. I mentioned so to your boss.” She watched him cringe at the phrase. He seemed like the type of man who would struggle with a female superior. “I could be of far more use to you down in the labs than stuck in this room all day. You know why Dumas first brought me in, Thorne. It’s because I’m the best in my field. There are still things I can learn about what my blood can do if I’m given the right environment and equipment. I can’t believe you’d be worried about me escaping. I’m sure this place—whatever the hell it is—has plenty of security, and it’s not like I even know where I am! It seems crazy not to use me.” She tried to keep her tone casual, as though she didn’t care too much either way. “I’m not an enemy of our country, Thorne, I just got carried along with Blake and his gang. I didn’t exactly have much choice in the matter.”

  Thorne shook his head at her. “You need to learn to keep your mouth shut, Blondie. No one is going to let you out of here, so you might as well stop wasting your breath. And don’t even think about trying anything. One of my best guys, Romero, is right outside your door. I’ve watched him take out more men in combat than anyone else. A girl like you won’t stand a chance, so don’t even consider doing something stupid.”

  Like Vivian had done not long before, he turned from her and stormed from the room, ending the conversation.

  Autumn sighed and turned her attention to the tray of food she’d been brought. A plastic wrapped sandwich and a cup of juice sat on the tray. Nothing about the meal gave her any clue as to what time of the day it was. Part of her didn’t want to eat the food. She didn’t want to accept anything from Vivian and Thorne, and also the adrenaline had made her stomach feel like a twisted piece of cloth, but she needed to keep up her strength if she was going to make it out of this.

  Reluctantly, she peeled back the plastic wrapping, and forced herself to take a mouthful of the ham and bread.

  As she ate, she ran the two conversations over in her head. At least she’d planted the seed. If they couldn’t get anywhere with their experiments—and she shuddered to think what they might be doing to some poor, innocent people using her blood—then they might start to think they had no other choice but to use her expertise. After all, she was in a unique position. No other person existed, that they knew of, able to do what she could. Perhaps some kind of other element was needed to create a shifter like Blake and Chogan? Some kind of magical element only she could provide.

  She almost laughed at herself. Whoever would have though her life would go in this direction? A scientist who believed in magic.

  Chapter Five

  PETER AND MIA approached the outskirts of the city, falling into a tense silence. Peter didn’t know what to expect. Would Chicago be under military control now as well? Would the riots still be continuing?

  It was now the early hours of the morning, and so far, everything remained quiet. He guided the powerful car, his fingertips resting on the steering wheel as it hummed along the freeway and into the city. He couldn’t yet be sure how secure his home would be, though he hoped, because the car didn’t appear to be being tracked, the house would be safe as well. However, it was Mia’s pale, tight face that made him make up his mind about where they were headed.

  She must have noticed his change in direction. She sat up in her seat to peer out of her window, checking where they were before turning to him. “This isn’t the way to your place?”

  “I figured there was somewhere more important you would rather be.”

  “Where?”

  “You’ll see.”

  “Peter, I don’t like surprises.”

  “And I don’t like you giving me an argument about everything. Just let me do this, okay?”

  Perhaps she was too exhausted to fight with him this time, but she let out a sigh and sank back into her seat, her face turned to the window to watch the city go by.

  He turned onto the street where the Wests’ apartment was situated. He spotted a space and pulled over.

  “I thought you’d want to explain what had happened to Toby,” he said. Had his words come out too harshly? “Not that I’m saying it’s your job to explain, just that—”

  But she surprised him by leaning over to him. Her soft, warm mouth pressed against his, stopping his words. Her hand touched his cheek, her fingers grating the day’s stubble as they trailed down the line of his jaw. The kiss was sweet and intense, and even here, sitting in the driver’s seat of his car on a public street, he felt himself respond to her. Her tongue gently touched his like a blessing, and then she broke the kiss, moving away only a couple of inches so she was staring into his eyes.

  “Thank you, Peter.”

  “What for?”

  “For understanding what I need even before I realize it myself.”

  He felt his cheek twitch in a smile. Even with everything else going on, he found he struggled to think of anything else but the woman beside him.

  “Okay, let’s do this, then,” she said. “Toby’s parents are probably out of their minds with worry.”

  They climbed from the car. Automatically, Peter reached down to take her hand when they stepped onto the sidewalk. She smiled up at him and he gave her fingers a gentle squeeze of reassurance. Mia pressed the buzzer for the Wests’ apartment and within seconds Dana West’s voice responded, anxious, despite it being the middle of the night when most people were sleeping soundly in their beds. “Yes?”

  “Dana, it’s Mia, and Peter Haverly, too. We need to talk with you.”

  The other woman didn’t even bother to respond, but instead another buzz sounded from inside the building and the front door clicked open. Peter exchanged a glance with Mia, wondering what would be waiting for them inside. Upset, worried, possibly even angry parents? Or was there the possibility that the government already got hold of them and this was a trap? After what happened at the cabin, Peter couldn’t help but be suspicious of every move they made.

  Mia led the way toward the elevator. They caught the car up to the floor of the Wests’ apartment. They exited to find Dana already stood in the doorway of their home, peering out, her face twisted in worry. Her husband, Robert, stood behind his wife, one hand on her shoulder, his expression of concern matching his spouse’s. Dana started forward as soon as she caught sight of Mia.

  “Mia, thank God. Is Toby wit
h you? Do you know where he is? He’s been missing since yesterday afternoon, and he’s not answering his phone,” The pace of her voice grew faster as she spoke, the pitch increasing in octave, strangled in her throat. “We’ve checked everywhere we can think of, but then we saw the broadcast on the television, and so we can only assume one thing.” She stopped to breathe, emotion overwhelming her, her shoulders heaving. She pressed her palm hard against her mouth as though she could force the emotions back inside.

  “Dana,” her husband said gently. “Let Mia get a word in edgeways.”

  But Peter had picked up on something Mrs. West had said. “What television broadcasts?”

  Robert glanced in Peter’s direction, a frown on his face. “The government broadcast about shifters being a reality. They’ve admitted to the existence of shifters, and said that the problem has been contained.” He turned his attention to Mia. “What does that mean? Does it have anything to do with where Toby is now?”

  Mia’s voice took on a smooth, calm quality, her expression serious but serene as she stepped forward. Peter realized he was seeing the professional Mia, the one who dealt with the parents of missing children on a day to day basis, the one who was used to keeping people calm in a crisis.

  She touched Dana’s elbow gently. “We can’t discuss this standing in the hall. Shall we go inside?”

  They seemed to remember themselves. “Yes, of course,” said Dana. “You look like you’ve been through hell, too. Can I get you anything? It’s probably too late for coffee ...”

  “If you have tea, that would be wonderful.”

  Dana seemed relieved to have something practical to do. “Tea, yes, I can make tea. For you, too, Mr. Haverly?”

  He smiled. “Yes, thank you.”

  “But while I’m in the kitchen, you need to tell me what you know about Toby. I can’t wait a moment longer.”

  They followed Dana into the kitchen, where she set about boiling the kettle and getting cups ready.

  “We know where he is, and he is safe.” Peter said, a twinge of guilt plucking at his insides at the partial lie. He sensed Mia looking at him, but couldn’t meet her eye. “The government has set up a type of camp for the people they know are shifters, and Toby’s there. He’s with other shifters we know, one of whom I used to work with, Blake Wolfcollar. I promise you, Blake will keep your son safe.”

  “Jesus Christ,” said Robert, shaking his head. “I thought once we’d got him back from that place you worked, this whole thing would be over. Now it feels like it’s only just starting.”

  Dana pushed hot cups of tea into their hands and motioned for them to go into the living room. Robert West led the way into the small, but comfortable room. He nodded at the couch for them to sit down.

  “Mr. and Mrs. West,” said Peter. “Can I see this broadcast you spoke of?”

  Robert nodded and crossed the room to the television set. “This has been broadcasting since early evening. Other channels have picked up on it now, and it’s all the news is talking about. ”

  He switched on the box and then picked up the remote to flick to the right channel and increased the volume.

  Peter sat down on the couch, Mia taking a seat beside him. They both placed their cups on the coffee table in front of them, preparing for the worst.

  A woman sat at a news desk, reading from a sheet of paper. A scroll ran across the bottom of the screen: Government admits shifters—men and women who have the ability to turn into animals—are real … Riots are called to an end … Government says special task force has been called into action to contain the problem … Anyone found sheltering shifters, or associating in any way with shifters, will be prosecuted …

  The news reporter essentially just repeated what was written on the bottom of the screen. Peter watched, his sense of unease deepening. How long would it be before the government started to go from home to home, rounding up shifters? When would they realize they had a way of testing if someone was a shifter or not—by using the basal temperature shifters naturally ran at? Of course, mistakes would be made—anyone running a fever would have a high temperature, but at some point they were going to learn that they had a way of at least filtering the numbers down. It looked like Blake’s cousin, Chogan, had gotten his way. The government had admitted the existence of shifters, but at what cost?

  Dana sat in a chair opposite, and leaned forward, her hands anxiously twisting together. “So what do they mean when they say the problem has been contained? Are they talking about the place where they’ve taken Toby?”

  Peter nodded, trying to focus on the immediate problem. “I think so, though other camps are probably being set up around the country.” He picked up his tea and took a sip, the hot fluid scalding the inside of his mouth.

  “We were there,” added Mia. “When we left, Toby was unharmed.” Peter felt her gaze settle on him. He glanced at her, reading in her eyes what she wasn’t saying to the Wests. When they’d left, some other shifters were far from unharmed.

  “But I don’t understand,” Robert said, his brow furrowing. “If you were able to leave, why didn’t you bring Toby with you?”

  Peter had been waiting for this question. “It wasn’t that simple. They knew Toby was a shifter, though they didn’t know about me, and of course, Mia is human.”

  Robert put his hands on his hips. “You need to take us there, now!”

  Peter raised a hand. “No, we can’t go back. Not yet anyway. We were lucky we got out ourselves.”

  “Well you need to tell me where they are, and I’ll go there myself and demand to have my son back!”

  Mia got to her feet and gently placed a hand on Toby’s father’s arm. “Robert, you need to think about this. You heard what they said on television. You’ll be prosecuted. Even worse, if you cause too much of a problem for them, they’ll shoot you. How are you going to help your son if you’re either imprisoned or dead?”

  “I’d rather be imprisoned with Toby than out here knowing he’s in danger.”

  Mia had predicted this, Peter realized. She’d said they’d feel this way. She understood the emotions of distraught parents, though she’d never been a mother herself.

  “You don’t know that they’ll put you in with the other shifters,” Mia continued. “They’ll probably throw you in a regular prison with regular criminals. You won’t be any help to Toby there.”

  Robert West sank down into the closest chair, his head in his hands. “So what do you suggest we do?”

  “I know it’s hard, but I need you to sit tight. Don’t get involved in anything to do with shifters. You’re already known as Toby’s parents, so if you give the government a single reason to think you’re going to do something stupid, they will jump on you in a matter of seconds.”

  “But we can’t just sit here,” Dana’s voice was almost a moan.

  “Yes you can,” said Mia. “We are doing everything we can to make this situation right again. We will stay in touch and let you know as soon as anything changes.”

  Chapter Six

  “WE NEED TO do something about the bodies.”

  Everyone looked to Chogan as he spoke. “We don’t know how long we’re going to be here for, and I don’t know about everyone else, but I don’t fancy sharing this place with the dead.”

  The weight of Enyeto and Kasa’s deaths lay heavy on his shoulders, and he thought if he allowed himself to think about it too much, he would lose his mind. Having the bodies lying right before him was more of a reminder than he needed.

  He didn’t want to let any more of the people down who had followed him here. Perhaps Enyeto had betrayed him, but that didn’t change the fact that he’d known the bear shifter his whole life. And Kasa hadn’t understood what she was getting herself into. She’d been saved from danger, only for him to plunge her right back in. Two of his people were dead and he couldn’t shake the responsibility. He would do his best to offer Enyeto and Kasa the correct burial rites once they’d gotten out of this bind, but
for the moment he needed for himself and the rest of the shifters to be able to think clearly. They couldn’t do that with their potential fates staring at them with blank, dead eyes.

  He looked to the other men—Michael, Rhys, and Blake. Harry Bernard, the older man, lurked in the back of the room. Chogan wouldn’t ask Toby to go through the trauma of touching a dead body, though he was unsure how long he’d be able to offer the boy any special favors.

  “Michael, Rhys, get hold of Kasa’s body and take her outside.”

  Michael stared at the dead woman. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can—” Abruptly, he turned and ran into the small bathroom in the corner of the cabin. The door slammed shut behind him and sounds of retching followed.

  Rhys rolled his eyes. “Don’t worry. I’ve got it.” He bent and lifted the woman, hauling her over one shoulder, as if she was only passed out from a heavy night drinking.

  He and Blake would handle Enyeto. It seemed to be the least they could do. It was with an air of sobriety that they lifted his body, Chogan by the arms, Blake at his legs. Despite the size of his spirit guide, Enyeto had not been a big man, and they carried him easily between them. Awkwardly, they made their way out of the cabin, eyes and ears strained for any signs of the military. Chogan knew soldiers were lurking not much more than a mile away, but for the moment they were being left alone.

  Rhys followed, carrying Kasa’s body. They walked beyond the line of trees, and set the bodies down out of sight of the cabin. It was cool enough for the bodies not to spoil within a few days at least. That would buy them some time to figure out how to get out of here and try to get their bodies back to the reservation. At least, with their bodies not buried, the spirits of Enyeto and Kasa would not be impeded in their journey into the afterlife. Being exposed would help their ascent.

  Chogan straightened and wiped his palms on the front of his torn jeans. “I hope their spirit guides will be able to keep any animals off the bodies until we can get them their proper burials.”