[06] Slade

by Teresa Gabelman

  “Initiates, you have a ten-minute lead. You each have a map to get you to the end safety zone. There are two off-road vehicles placed in different locations. I suggest you look very hard for these bonuses because they are the only ones you will get. I know you have been over everything repeatedly in preparation for today. We do our best to make sure everyone makes it out of initiation in one piece, but death is possible as it is with anything. Be careful out there and good luck.” The man’s eyes scanned again, this time landing on Jill. “You’re going to need it.”

  Jill glanced at Steve who was looking at her. “Burger flipper is looking more and more like a better career choice.”

  Sloan walked up to them. “You guys are ready for this. You’re as good if not better than any of the others. Work as a team and get your fucking asses to that safety zone.”

  “Thanks for the pep talk, sir.” Steve frowned, glancing around.

  Jared, Sid, Damon, Duncan, Jax and Slade all wished them luck. Slade stopped in front of Jill, a hint of worry in his eyes. “Stay safe, no matter what.”

  “That’s the plan.” She gave him a wobbly grin.

  He looked like he wanted to say more, but turned and walked away. Jill followed Adam as they made their way past the Warriors to the front. Stopping, they waited for the go ahead. Jill stared straight ahead. There was a clearing before them that ended where the thick woods began. Her stomach twisted painfully. On the other side of those woods, lay what she had worked so hard for, what they all worked so hard for.

  “I got a plan.” Adam glanced behind them, then either side.

  “Thank fuck, because for a minute, I thought we were going to wing it.” Steve sounded relieved and just plain nervous.

  Adam left their group and spoke to each group of trainees. He came back with a smile. “Once we hit the woods, find a good vantage point.”

  “Vantage point for what?” Steve’s nerves were showing in his high-pitched voice.

  “Dammit, Steve, be quiet,” Adam frowned, then grinned at them. “To take hunters out. Go high if you can.”

  “Shouldn’t we just run straight for the safety zone?” Steve looked at the other trainees who were nodding and looking at Adam. “Shit. Guess not. Fucking crazy if you ask me. I say run like your ass is on fire, but no, not us. We do stupid, climbing trees and shit to shoot highly trained fucking Warriors.”

  “Shut up, dammit,” Adam hissed. “This will work.”

  Jill nodded. Glancing over her shoulder, she found Slade who stood alone, but watched her. A loud horn sounded. Giving him a small smile, she turned and followed the rest of the trainees into the clearing.

  As soon as they went into the woods, everyone dove for hiding spots, scrambling to find a clear shot. Jill scrutinized her surroundings. Staying close to her group, she climbed up a tree. Getting in position, she raised her gun and waited. This was either brilliant or suicide. To make sure she knew where her team was when the shit hit the fan, she scanned the area. Steve was just below her using another tree as a shield and looked like he was praying. Adam was on the other side of her, also in a tree but lower than her, his gun raised. Dillon was further up, kneeling in some brush with a clear view to the field.

  Another horn sounded and Jill had a sudden case of fear. She wanted to drop out of the trees and run as if her ass was on fire, just like Steve suggested, but she held strong. Glancing at Adam, who held his hand up, she waited. Looking back at the field, she watched the Warriors arrogantly walk straight into a trap.

  “Now!” Adam shouted and the popping sounds of paintball guns echoed throughout the woods. Jill hit three with kill shots. Curses and shouts filled the air as the Warriors realized what was happening.

  “Get the fuck out of here!” Adam yelled.

  Jill jumped out of her hiding spot. Adam grabbed her as they followed Dillon who had studied the map and was their lead man. Tree branches smacked her face as she raced through the woods. Excitement mixed with fear kept them going. Jill had just turned around to look behind them when her feet hit nothing but air. It was like she was back at the paintball center. What the hell! As her body rolled, hitting small trees and rocks, she realized they had run right off a mountain. After what seemed like forever, the fall came to an abrupt halt. Trying to catch her breath and figure out if anything was broken, she sat up slowly. Okay, that was much more of a fall than at the paintball club. She understood what was meant by dying during the initiation.

  Adam crawled toward her. “You okay?” He looked her over.

  “Yeah.” She looked over at Steve and Dillon, who were also checking over each other.

  “So I take it that mountain wasn’t on the map,” Steve whispered, limping over to grab his gun.

  “Dammit.” Dillon looked around frantically.

  “What?” Adam hoisted himself up, limping toward Dillon.

  “I lost the map,” he hissed looking around.

  They all looked at the top of the mountain. “So how important is the map?” Steve frowned, then raised his hands when they glared at him. “Okay, I get it. It’s important.”

  “We have to find it.” Adam frowned. “Spread out, but stay alert.”

  Jill retraced their tumble down the mountain. Climbing up, she was shocked by how far they had fallen. This was not a good start. Hearing brush rustle, Jill dropped, lying flat. Looking up, she saw two hunters right above her.

  “Is that a map?” one of them said.

  Shit, this cannot be happening. Jill glanced around, trying to figure out what to do.

  “Sure the hell is,” the other one laughed. “Poor bastards are going to be running circles out here trying to find their safe zone.”

  Glancing down the hill, her eyes met Adam’s. He shook his head at her, but she knew what had to be done. They needed that map. One thing going for her was they had their backs turned toward her. Slowly and as quietly as she could, she made it to her feet. Aiming her gun, she put her finger on the trigger and pulled. Purple paint exploded on the back of one of their heads.

  “Motherfucker!” He grabbed his head, swinging around as did the other one, his gun raised.

  “I’m going to need that map,” Jill said, praying Adam or somebody had a drop on the guy.

  “Looks like we got us a standoff, pretty girl,” he smiled, cocking his eyebrow.

  The pop of a gun went off. “Son of a bitch.” The hunter turned, showing yellow on the back of his head.

  Jill carefully headed up the hill to snatch the map out of his hands. “Thank you.”

  Adam, Steve and Dillon slowly ventured up, guns poised. Jill looked past the hunters to see another team raise their guns to them. Adam waved his thanks.

  “Come on.” He grabbed the map from Jill, giving it to Dillon. “Don’t lose it again.”

  They ran next to the other trainees who had helped them out, figuring they were stronger in numbers. Popping sounds echoed throughout the woods, making it sound like a war zone.

  “We’re close,” Dillon whispered, scanning the area. “I think…”

  A loud rustling sound surrounded them. Jill raised her gun, not knowing what was going on. Glancing over at the trainees they were running with, she watched in horror as they were swooped up in a large net. One of them looked toward them and shouted, “Run!”

  Jill did just that, but started too slowly.

  “Jill, come on, dammit.” Steve was waving his arm at her to come on.

  “We have to help them,” Jill hissed, spinning around. “You guys go on if you have to, but I’m helping them. They helped us.”

  “Fuck, is this a girl thing or something?” Steve cursed.

  “She’s right.” Adam came up beside Jill.

  The sound of others running toward them had them scattering to find a hiding spot. Adam fell down flat next to Jill. They watched as three hunters walked up to the captured trainees.

  “This works every damn time,” one of them laughed.

  They watched as the hunters dropped the n
et, releasing the trainees.

  Jill frowned as an idea hit. She had no clue if it would work, but it was the only thing she could think of. “You got a plan?” she asked Adam who lay beside her, just to make sure he didn’t have a better plan than hers.

  “Nope,” he whispered back.

  “I do, but if it fails…” Jill looked over at Steve, “run your asses off like it’s on fire.”

  “Oh, you don’t have to worry about that,” Steve whispered back with a snort.

  As the hunters were trying to get their confidential word from the trainees, Jill eased herself up. All three hunters held their guns loosely. Jill raised both hands, concentrating like she had never concentrated before. One hunter actually looked down at his gun for a second before dismissing its movement.

  “What the fuck are you doing?” Dillon hissed.

  “The question is, do you know if what you’re doing will work?” Steve cringed, ready to make a run for it.

  “I have no clue.” Jill pushed her hands forward, and then pulled them back hard. The guns were pulled out of the hunters’ hands. Jill threw her arms toward the trainees. The guns flew through the air landing near them.

  The hunters and the trainees all stared in shock for a split second until all hell broke loose. Adam stood, taking the first shot, hitting one hunter on the side of the head. Dillon hit another one. Jill’s gun jammed as she aimed at the third. Steve took a shot, but missed. The remaining hunter snatched a gun from one of the trainees aiming it at Jill. Knowing her dreams were about to end, Jill frantically worked her jammed gun. The hunter took a shot, and for a split second, Jill prayed she could dodge it, but she never got a chance.

  Steve jumped in front of Jill, taking the hit, knocking her over. Dillon and Adam blasted the hunter with continuous shots until they got the kill shot.

  “Son of a bitch, that hurts.” Steve rolled off Jill.

  “Dammit, Steve, what are you doing?” Jill scrambled up, grabbing him, praying he wasn’t hit by a kill shot.

  Steve looked down at his chest. Jill’s eyes saw the unmistakable red splattered over his heart. Their eyes met.

  “No!” Jill looked back down, hoping it was just a trick of her eyes, but it wasn’t. “Why? Why did you do that, Steve? Dammit.” She even tried to rub it off.

  “Because you deserve it more than me.” Steve fake punched her in the chin with a smile. “Plus, I had to pee, so it’s all good. I can repeat next time. I’m not going anywhere.”

  “I do not deserve it more than you!” Jill sat back, looking at him in shock.

  “Fuck.” Adam stared at Steve’s chest.

  “Go on and get your asses to the safety zone.” Steve rose, raising his hands. “I really do need to pee.”

  Jill hugged him hard. “Thank you.”

  “Don’t thank me,” Steve grinned. “I’ve got some things in mind. Paying me back for my hero sacrifice, will be worth it.”

  “Come on, Jill.” Adam grabbed her arm, pulling her away.

  “Go kick some ass.” Steve spun around, strolling toward the hunters who were walking off the field. “Okay, which one of you shot me? Hell of a shot, but it hurt like hell.”

  Jill glanced back hearing Steve. She grinned when one of the hunters patted Steve on the shoulder, walking off the field with him. Steve could find a friend anywhere.

  Travelling about a mile and a half since leaving Steve, Jill heard what sounded like gunshots, not the pop of a paintball. Stopping, they searched around them, then at each other. “That wasn’t paintball guns.” Jill stared in the direction of the sound. Suddenly, the horn blew long and loud.

  Hunters sprang into action, running out of hiding places taking their vests off. Jill, Adam and Dillon took off following them, knowing that something bad was going on. Five hunters ran up beside them.

  “Follow us and keep aware,” one instructed as the hunters surrounded them, real guns drawn.

  “What the hell is going on?” Adam asked, but as they made their way into another clearing, there was no need for an answer.

  Warriors and trainees lay scattered through the field. Warriors surrounded them with guns drawn toward the woods. It looked like a war zone. Cars and motorcycles were flying into the parking area a few yards away. Other Warriors and trainees were making their way toward the wooded area in full-combat mode.

  Jill’s eyes searched for Slade. Dropping her paintball gun, she rushed through the field. Warriors lay dead, silver slowly killing them, but not one cried out. In their final moments, they lay dying, with another Warrior at their side, giving what comfort they could.

  Frantic as the field became more crowded, relief swept through her when she spotted him. He was close to the parking area working on someone. Jill pushed her way through the mass of Warriors, losing sight of him for a second. She knew Adam and Dillon were behind her. Her eyes glanced at the small stone building Slade was next to, using it as a pinpoint to relocate him if she needed to. It took a second for the sign above the door to register.

  “No!” Jill pushed her way through, knocking Warriors out of her way as she headed toward the restroom. Slade was bent over Steve, blood was everywhere. “No!” she screamed, trying to get to him, but Duncan grabbed her.

  Jill fought with everything she had. Slade glanced toward her quickly; the look on his face told her everything she needed to know.

  ******

  Slade had already made his way to the safety zone. Searching through the trainees already arrived, he looked for Jill. Sloan stood with arms crossed, leaning against a tree.

  “No sign of them?” Slade asked, heading toward him.

  “Steve is the only one.” Sloan nodded toward the crude block building. “He’s taking a piss.”

  “Damn.” Slade frowned, hating one of theirs failed the initiation. He continued searching the clearing, hoping to spot Jill soon. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, the sudden sound of gunshots rang out.

  Immediately, all Warriors took cover, their training kicking in. Some knocked confused trainees out of the line of fire. As if in slow motion, Slade watched Steve walk out of the building. Turning, Steve looked at Sloan and Slade lying on the ground. His mouth opened to say something as his body jerked hard; he fell to his knees. His shocked eyes found Slade before he fell face first to the ground.

  “Fuck!” Slade army-crawled toward Steve. Grabbing Steve by the back of his jacket, he pulled him beside the building, rolling him over. Steve’s eyes were opened slightly. “Steve, hold on buddy.” Slade ripped his jacket and shirt completely off, seeing the exit wound right above his heart. Rolling him over, he checked the wound on his back.

  Jared slid to a stop next to Slade. Seeing Steve, he cursed. “Shit! Is he dead?” Jared looked around, his eyes scanning for danger.

  “Not yet, but if I don’t get him to a hospital, he will be.” Slade pressed his fingers to his neck feeling a pulse, weak, but there. “I can’t tell if this hit his heart, but all this blood isn’t a good fucking sign.”

  Suddenly, the gunshots stopped. “Let me get a car.” Jared stood, still hunched over. “Keep your fucking head down, Doc. Those are silver bullets.”

  “Give me your shirt,” Slade ordered before Jared left. Tearing Steve’s ripped shirt, he pressed his own to the back wound, Steve’s to the front, and Jared’s he wrapped around Steve’s body to hold them in place. Steve’s blood pumped out faster than he could control it. The shirt was soaked already. “Dammit!” Slade pressed harder, applying more pressure.

  Hearing her voice, Slade looked to see Duncan stop Jill. Her eyes went from him to Steve. The anguish in her face was more than he could take, forcing him to look away. Thank God, she was unhurt. His need to find her almost overrode his job, which was to save as many lives as possible, but since he knew she was safe, he could focus. He had been afraid to look over the field of fallen Warriors for fear of seeing her among them.

  Sloan ran over, a look of worry on his face. “I got the van.” Sloan helped Slade
pick up Steve, and Jared ran over to help.

  Slade looked up at Jared. “Keep her safe.”

  Jared nodded. “You just worry about Steve. I got her.”

  Once Steve was loaded in the van, Sloan slammed the door and ran to the driver’s side. “You’re in charge of our group. Keep me updated.”

  “I will.” Jared smacked the van as it drove by.

  Steve moaned when the van went over bumps, Slade tried to keep him still. “Hang in there.”

  “Wasn’t ready to go yet.” Steve’s voice was weak and faint.

  “You aren’t going anywhere but to the hospital.” Slade checked Steve’s pulse again, not liking his coloring. “You just fight, you hear me?”

  Hissing at the pain, Steve jerked. “Damn, it hurts.”

  “As soon as we get somewhere safe, I’ll give you something for the pain,” Slade replied. After a few minutes of silence, Slade figured Steve had passed out since he still had a faint pulse. They hadn’t lost him yet. He was startled when Steve grabbed his wrist.

  “Please don’t let me die as the guy who got shot coming out of the pisser.” Steve laughed weakly, then coughed.

  “No worries, Steve. Just hold on and you can tell this story however you want.” Slade’s voice was firm.

  A sad smile tilted his lips before he swallowed hard. His eyes met Slade’s. “Take care of Jill and Adam. They’re my family, you all are.”

  Slade nodded, watching as the life slipped away from Steve. “Goddammit!”

  The van stopped. Slade met Sloan’s eyes in the rearview mirror, a silent message passing between the two Warriors.

  Chapter 23

  Jill, along with Adam and Dillon, sat in shocked devastation. Jared walked over, sitting next to them.

  “Slade is going to do everything he can for him. He’s a damn good doctor. You know this.” He wrapped his arm around Jill, giving her a squeeze. “As soon as we are given the all clear here, we’ll head to the hospital.”

  Nodding, Jill watched numbly. The events and scene around her appeared dreamlike and hazy. She caught her thoughts and grimaced. No, a nightmare, a horrifying nightmare. Duncan headed toward them, his face a mask of anger. “They caught two and are bringing them down now.”