Strays

by Justin Kassab

  The door to the roof opened. John didn’t open his eyes or turn around.

  “Go back inside. Don’t try to stop me,” John said.

  “If you are going to jump, hurry up. You’re hogging the good corner,” Kade said.

  This caused John to open his eyes and stare at Kade. He thought Kade of all people would be the one to stop him. Kade crossed the roof and hopped up on the ledge with such agility it appeared the six-floor drop didn’t faze him at all.

  “What are you doing?” John asked.

  Kade put his arms out and his head back as if he was about to swan dive. “Contemplating jumping.”

  “Stop screwing with me.”

  “Kid, do you have any idea how many times I have stood on this ledge and thought about how much easier learning to fly would be than actually going on living? And guess how many times in the Old World I was on the verge of doing the same?”

  John would have liked nothing more than to shove Kade off at that moment. John was hurting. This was serious. Not some joke.

  “This is your first.”

  Kade shot a sideways look at John and laughed. “More times than I am proud to admit. You know what kind of a week I just had. I screwed more pooches than there are breeds of dogs.” Kade pointed toward the earth below. “Between kissing the dirt and living with myself, one of those options is far easier.”

  “Then why haven’t you jumped?” John asked.

  Kade took a deep breath. “Because it’s the easy solution.”

  “Shouldn’t that be more motivation?”

  “If you want to take the easy way out, I understand. What no one ever tells you about life is that living comes with a price: pain. I tried to avoid the price for a long time. Then, the more I felt, the more I wanted out. I stand on this ledge and look down; the six floors give me perspective.”

  “What perspective is that?”

  “If there’s one thing in this world I can do, it’s endure. The price I pay in pain is nothing compared to the moments of joy. I could throw myself off of this roof and never have to pay that price again. Or I could carry the pain of what I let happen to Grace and persevere, endure, to try to find a way to save her.” Kade hopped back onto the roof and walked calmly toward the door.

  John looked at ground beneath him. He weighed Kade’s words. It would be an easy step to just let go. He wasn’t as strong as the others. That had been clear from the first day. But he was still here. Still standing. Still breathing. His days of fighting weren’t over yet.

  John stepped back from the ledge, and when he turned around, Kade held a can of beer out to him. The only time John had tasted beer was when Kade had used it to cleanse his mouth after stuffing a sock in it. The memory almost made him gag.

  John took the can from Kade and cracked it open. Kade held his beer up, and John tapped his can against it.

  “For those we love. For those we fight for. We endure,” Kade said.

  “We endure,” John repeated as they both took swigs from their cans.

  John tried to swallow his mouthful, but the warm liquid tasted almost as bad as Kade’s sock, and he spit it off the roof.

  “How do you drink that crap?” John asked, wishing he had a sock to get the taste out of his mouth.

  Kade took another long swig from his own can. “Endurance.”

  John took notice for the first time that Kade was bleeding from a number of scratches. “Shouldn’t you get patched up?”

  Kade smiled and took another swig. “To endurance.”

  Chapter XIII

  Are We Not Invincible?

  Kade had spent the night on the roof, and now his entire body felt stiff as a plank of wood. Sleep wasn’t something he got much of, but with Tiny in the medbay, he figured it would be the safest place for him to avoid her.

  He knew he had to talk to her, but there were two things he wanted to take care of first. When dawn took over the night, he set off to see his brother. Being careful to avoid any chance of being intercepted, he went through the dorm to escape over to the science center.

  “You want to do what?” Damian asked him once Kade had entered the lab. Victoria had even stopped going through the papers she was organizing.

  Kade looked at his brother’s finger. He had lost it at the first knuckle, and the injury looked brutal. The fact that his brother was pushing on so soon made him proud to share the same blood.

  “I want to help with the research,” Kade said.

  “Just to catch you up would take ages. And you have no scientific background at all,” Damian said.

  Kade clapped Damian on the shoulder and turned toward the door. “Just remember who outscored who on the SATs.”

  “I was under a lot more stress,” Damian shouted after him, but Kade was already down the hallway.

  Kade returned to Lambian, where he tracked down Mick, which wasn’t too hard since Mick wasn’t quite mobile yet. Mick’s room, which was usually kept to a military level of cleanliness, was more disorganized than usual. Kade pulled the desk chair beside Mick, who was lying in bed reading over a medical textbook.

  “Ready to pass judgment?” Mick asked.

  Kade patted his friend on the shoulder. “I’m charging her to you. She’s to be kept locked up until I say otherwise. If she becomes a threat to us in any way, I won’t hesitate to kill her.”

  “I’m glad you said that, since I already had the girls patch her up. It would have been a bit mean to treat her just to kill her,” Mick said.

  “You did that without my permission?”

  “Sorry, sir,” Mick replied.

  “Hell, don’t be sorry. I’m proud of you. As far as treating goes, what did they have to say about you?” Kade said.

  “I’m fine. Just need some time to recuperate. Did you know everyone already thought I was gay?” Mick asked.

  Kade shrugged. “Is that so bad?”

  “I just wish I’d have known,” Mick replied.

  The walkie on Kade’s belt chimed, then X’s voice followed. “Kade, we need you on the quad.”

  Kade pulled the walkie off his belt. “What for?”

  What sounded like a scuffle came through the receiver, then Ashton said, “Just get down here.”

  “Do you know what this is about?” Kade asked Mick.

  “I’d rather not lie to you,” Mick said.

  Kade stood up and left Lambian for the second time that morning. He made his way to the center of campus, to the quad. Coming around the corner of the first building, he saw the Little Bird helicopter that had been parked there since Jem had arrived before the winter.

  Then he saw two field hockey goals set about half a football field apart. The makeshift field was cornered with soccer flags. The athletic field set between the buildings and beside a helicopter made him wish he had a camera to take a picture of the whole thing. Unless he counted scars, he hadn’t collected many memories since setting off into the Primal Age. Maybe he could place an order with X to find an old Polaroid camera on his next grocery run.

  As Kade got closer, he saw that much of the cohort was on the field. X, Jem, Yuzuki, Franklin, Meredith, Emma, and Number Five were running around passing a ball around, while Ashton watched from the sidelines.

  Kade walked up beside his sister, trying to make sense of whatever game was being played, but as far as he could tell there were no sanctioned rules—just a group of people running around, laughing and having fun.

  “What is this?” Kade asked.

  “A surprise. X and I were talking about his grocery runs, and we felt that it might be easier for him to stay put if we had more to do here besides training. He made the point that would be easier to train if we had a sport to play. We wanted to come up with something that everyone would be able to equally suck at, so primal ball was born,” Ashton said.

  Kade put his arm around his little sister, being careful with her broken arm, and let a smile spread across his face. Hearing the cohort laugh was a joy for which suffering pain was w
orthwhile

  X, catching sight of Kade, came to the sideline. “Surprise.”

  “Good work,” Kade said.

  X tipped his hat. “You’re good with it?”

  “Why wouldn’t I be?”

  Wiping sweat from his forehead, X said, “Tiny said you’d kill me for proposing to Ashton.”

  “I didn’t tell him yet!” Ashton shouted as she held up her hand to show off the ring.

  Kade’s smile stayed on his face. He couldn’t have been happier for his sister. She’d landed the man of her dreams—even if, in the Old World, he was a thief.

  “Same deal applies. You hurt her, I kill you,” Kade said.

  “I need a best man. You up for the job?” X asked.

  X held out his arm, and Kade clasped with him at the elbow. “I’d be honored.”

  “Not sure where we’re going to find strippers, but I know you’ll come through for me,” X said.

  X’s head went to the side as Ashton backhanded him. The diamond left a small gash on his cheek.

  “I’m going to regret that ring,” X said, shaking it off. “Anyway, primal ball would be a lot more fun with a goalie.”

  “I’ve gotta talk to Tiny,” Kade said.

  “We’ll be here when you get back,” X said.

  “I’ll walk you. These assholes are just making me jealous,” Ashton said.

  They walked side by side back toward the dorm, but didn’t say anything to each other. The whole walk Ashton kept opening her mouth to speak, but would then would shut it again and just smile with her cheeks going red.

  Kade grabbed the lowest rung of the ladder and hoisted himself up. “Thanks for the company.”

  “Kade,” Ashton said, swallowing hard. She glanced sideways like she was making sure no one else was around. “I don’t know if I’ve ever actually told you, but I love you.”

  He let go of the ladder and dropped to the ground. Gently, he gave his sister a hug, then lowered himself to give her a quick peck on the forehead. “When did you turn soft?”

  “You’re supposed to say, I love you too. That’s how that works,” Ashton said, pushing away from her brother.

  “I love you too.”

  She smiled at him and headed back to the game. Kade climbed the ladder, not sure if he was ready to face what he had been avoiding.

  * * *

  The new one in the pack turned out to be stronger than any of them had thought she would be, since she still looked like an other. Alpha stayed close to her. Without the claws the rest of them had, she was at a disadvantage, so he kept an eye on her. Any of his pack could pose a threat to the one the interloper had charged him with, and he had communicated he would protect her.

  Recently the pack had run down a deer, and Alpha was guarding Grace while she fed. Pepper nudged him in the ribs with her head, and Alpha did a pass to run alongside her before going back to watching over Grace.

  There was a crashing through the trees, and the council of foamers led by Beta were upon them. Beta leapt headfirst through the air, smashing broadside into Pepper. He landed on top of her and slashed her face with a clawed hand. Before he could strike again, Alpha threw a shoulder into him, sending him sprawling across the ground.

  Grace growled, locking arms with her attacker. Where her opponent’s hands met her shoulder, the claws dug in, but Grace didn’t give up her hold.

  Alpha wanted to pursue Beta and finish the job, but there were three more foamers catapulting toward them. The nearest was heading for Pepper, who was still like a turtle on her back. Alpha stepped over Pepper and planted his weight in front of her.

  The foamer leapt. Alpha didn’t budge. He caught the creature’s head in the air, letting his long claws pierce his opponent’s eyes. Another foamer smashed into Alpha’s side, knocking him to the ground. Alpha wrapped his attacker up and rolled before tossing him away. Rotating to all fours, Alpha braced for the next attack.

  Pepper was back on her feet and went to Grace’s aid. The two worked together to take her opponent to the ground, but the usurper fought frantically to keep them at bay.

  Beta crashed into Alpha, who wrapped his arms around him. Letting Beta close was the last thing Alpha wanted to do. He had seen his second fight many times, and now he got to feel it. Beta struck rapidly with his knuckles into Alpha’s ribs. Alpha tried to toss the smaller one away, but Beta had planted himself firmly.

  Alpha let out a howl of pain as the other two rebelling foamers slammed into him. He landed on the fallen branches and rotting foliage. Beta stayed on top of Alpha, and instinctively Alpha protected his head, trying to toss Beta off him. Beta was going nowhere, squeezing tight to Alpha’s sides with his quads. One foamer wrapped up Alpha’s legs. The last one pounced for Alpha’s throat. Alpha’s left arm caught the attacker by the neck, holding him at bay.

  Claws slashed and teeth snapped as the three foamers cut Alpha, but they were unable to deliver a kill shot. The two females were still locked in battle with the final foamer. Alpha had no help coming.

  He reached out with his right arm, trying to find a hold he could use to pull himself away. His fingers curled around the thick branch of a fallen tree. Alpha pulled hard, trying to remove himself from the skirmish. The branch snapped off in his hands. He was about to drop the branch when a strange instinct came over him. The interloper had held something in his hand when he fought the pack. Instead of dropping the branch, he tightened his grip around it.

  With a mighty swing, Alpha clocked Beta on the head with the branch. Beta rolled sideways off of Alpha. He was out cold. The next swing came down on the back of the head of the one holding his legs. The foamer loosened his grip, and Alpha stomped him off. Freeing his body, he kept his grip on the foamer’s neck and slammed the weaker creature to the ground. Descending through a fury of slashes, Alpha bit hard on the neck artery and tore it open. The gush of blood covered his face as he turned to face the stunned attacker. The creature’s head was held low while it stumbled about. Alpha brought the branch high, like an executioner’s ax, and smashed in the mutineer’s skull, snapping the branch in half. Alpha rushed to the two females, but arrived just in time to watch them finish off their aggressor.

  Alpha sucked in deep breaths as blood dripped from a dozen small gashes across his body. Beta shook off his stun and found himself facing Alpha, Pepper, and Grace. Rearing back, Alpha beat his chest and let out a dominating roar.

  Beta’s eyes quickly accounted for the dead bodies around him. He backed away a step, but Alpha slammed down and closed the distance between them. Beta took the only option he had left and went to a low bow with his head to the ground.

  Alpha wouldn’t accept his submission and pinned Beta’s head down with one of his large mitts, then drew his claws across Beta’s neck in a quick jerk. While his former second bled out on the ground, Alpha lifted himself up on two legs and let out a series of hoots signaling to the rest of his pack that it was time to feed.

  While the others came through the trees one by one, Alpha returned to the two females. Pepper nuzzled his face and let out a purring sound. Alpha reciprocated the nuzzle, then curled his fingers around one broken half of the branch. He picked it up and turned it over in his hand, watching the motions as if the hand didn’t belong to him. Alpha stood as the proud patriarch and roared, lifting the branch high above his head, with Pepper on his right and Grace on his left.

  * * *

  Kade paced outside the door marked with a duct-taped T. He had been at it for more than a minute, but wasn’t sure how to open the conversation.

  “Either come in or go away,” Tiny yelled from the other side of the door.

  Kade opened the door and went in. Tiny was wearing a pair of athletic shorts and a black sports bra. The large purple bruise stood out against her milky skin, consuming most of her right side. She had dark circles under her eyes.

  “Wondered when you’d finally show up. Did anyone treat your wounds?” Tiny asked.

  “They’re air drying,
” Kade said.

  “You aren’t funny. Mick told me about Zack.” Tiny’s gaze shifted to the floor. “I didn’t think both of you could make it back. If it had to be one of you, I’m glad it’s you.”

  Kade let out a deflated sigh. “He was right. Neither of us deserves you.”

  “I think you should have a seat. I need to tell you something.”

  On Kade’s way to sit beside her, he said, “Zack made me promise I’d tell you he already broke the news before you could, so he knew he’d piss you off one last time. I know you’re pregnant.”

  Tiny looked ready to murder, then her face softened and she let out a laugh. “That would be Zack. Seeing as you never wanted kids, how are you doing with the news?”

  Kade sat beside Tiny, keeping his eyes forward. He ran a hand through his hair, then placed his sweaty palms on his legs. “I’d be lying if I said I was doing well, but I’m doing better than I was.”

  Tiny cupped Kade’s face and turned it toward her. “I’m not going to try to sell you on the odds, but keep in mind, thirty is a long life expectancy these days. If we have a daughter, Huntington’s will be the least of her worries.”

  Kade put his hand over hers. “I hate the idea of leaving you and a kid behind.”

  “I don’t like the idea of you leaving any more now than I will then, but you’ve built a village. Neither of us will be on our own.”

  “I’m scared,” Kade said, leaning his forehead against hers.

  She gave him a gentle kiss. “Me too. But like everything else, we’ll get through it together.”

  “There’s no chance it isn’t mine?” Kade asked hopefully.

  “What!” Tiny said through gritted teeth.

  “Just wishful thinking,” Kade said with a smile that disarmed her rage. “I still can’t figure out why you didn’t take the box of Snickers.”

  “What Snickers?”

  “When we stopped for Drew to use the bathroom. I came out of Sheetz with a box of Snickers. You were talking to Zack, then went into the store to get your own Snickers,” Kade said.