Leech 01 Caleo

by James Crawford

  “Get down; we have company.” Nolan slid on his underwear. “About thirty people, half with guns.”

  “Where is Nick?” Caleo knelt down, searching for another exit.

  “He's hiding out back in the dumpster,” Nolan whispered. “There are five men entering right now. Stay low and find us a place to hide.”

  Caleo and Nolan crouched on the floor, their pants in hand.

  “They split up, two heading down towards us, three towards the other end of the store.” Nolan pointed in the direction of where the men were heading.

  “Fitting room dead ahead, we can hide in there,” Caleo suggested, gesturing to the middle of the store.

  The two of them headed in that direction, running low from clothing rack to clothing rack.

  “Go!” Nolan whispered, pushing Caleo ahead of him into the entrance, following behind him.

  “Ding, Dong.”

  Caleo cringed at the sound of a tiny motion detector that sounded as they passed by.

  “Quick, up there!” Nolan whispered, pointing at something around the corner.

  Caleo ran around the corner to see that Nolan was pointing to a small shelf. “How is sitting on a shelf going to help?” Caleo hissed.

  “Go up and over. Then find some place to hide.”

  Caleo climbed onto the shelf and pulled himself onto the wall where he jumped to the floor on the outside of the fitting room, landing in a stoop just as the motion detector sounded again. Caleo heard a loud scream followed by another as something was slammed against the wall.

  A radio screeched behind Caleo and he ducked into the nearest clothing rack just as two more soldiers ran past him heading towards the fitting room. The motion detector sounded again and Caleo could hear the men yelling for Nolan to come out. A loud bang followed and all was silent for a moment. Caleo sat up carefully, listening for a sign that Nolan was okay.

  “Let’s go, step out real slowly, and don’t try anything or you'll be in a lot of pain.” A man startled Caleo as he poked him with the end of his gun.

  Caleo crawled out of the clothing rack and stood up, keeping his hands in the air to show he was not going to try anything stupid.

  “Now, it sounds like your friend is causing some trouble. I want you to end that problem right now. Me and you are going to walk to the entrance and you’re going to call your friend to come join us.” The man shoved the gun to into Caleo’s back.

  When they reached the fitting room, Caleo noticed four more soldiers running to meet them. When they arrived the man said, “Now call your friend and have him come out.”

  “And if I don’t?” Caleo asked defiantly. It was answered by the butt end of a gun being shoved into his gut.

  “We have your friend!” the soldier yelled. “If you do not come out with your hands on your head, your friend here is going to get severely hurt.”

  When Nolan didn't appear the man yelled, “We're going to electrify your friend with enough voltage to take down a horse if you do not show yourself. … You have three seconds!” The man paused. “One, two—”

  Nolan stepped out. “Don’t shoot, I’m coming out!”

  “That wasn’t part of the deal,” the soldier said, raising his gun at Nolan. A sound like air being forced out of a pipe escaped the gun and a large egg shaped object embedded in Nolan’s chest. Enraged, Nolan ran at the man, only to have three more embedded beside the first.

  Nolan’s body convulsed as he struggled to get at the soldiers. A fifth object was fired and landed on Nolan’s shoulder. He crumbled to the floor, convulsing.

  “He's down, sir, should we turn off the cuffs?” a soldier asked, facing the man that caught Caleo.

  “Not yet,” he said, still watching Nolan convulse on the floor.

  “But, General, one of those things could take out a horse, five would kill an elephant.”

  “Do you have the evidence to back that up?” the General asked, turning his attention to Caleo, who was watching in horror at Nolan flopping around on the floor. “Okay, turn three of them off while we search for anyone else.”

  “Now be a good boy and tell me if there's anyone else around here.”

  Caleo was too distracted by Nolan to notice the General. The General backhanded Caleo across the face, then asked again.

  “No,” Caleo said angrily.

  “No, what?” the General asked.

  “There's no one else,” Caleo answered flatly, looking the General in the eyes.

  “When you answer me from now on it will be Sir or General, do you hear me?”

  “Yes,” Caleo said through his teeth.

  “Yes, what?” the General asked as a soldier delivered a kick to Caleo’s ribs as if by some unspoken command.

  “Yes … sir,” Caleo said, gasping for air.

  “Load them in the truck for processing,” the General said, quickly turning back to Caleo and grabbing him by the hair so he was forced to look him in the eyes. “ And leave the cuffs on just in case we need to take him down again.”

  The General picked up Caleo by his hair, and forced him to stand. “Now get up and follow the man in the front.” He kicked Caleo in the butt, causing him to stumble forward into the soldier in front of him. The soldier retaliated, grabbing Caleo by the hair and delivering a swift kick to his gut. Caleo fell to the floor gasping for air.

  “Get up!”

  When he didn't respond, the General grabbed Caleo’s hair and hoisted him back to his feet. “Now move.”

  Caleo was marched to the front of the store where four soldiers stood waiting, two with guns and the other two held batons in their hands.

  “Put your hands on your head and prepare to be searched,” one of the men with a baton said.

  Caleo was shoved toward the man.

  “Search what? I’m in underwear, and as you a can see I can’t hide anything in these,” Caleo said, hoping to distract the men from seeing his golden mark that was only half concealed under his waistband.

  “Don’t talk back to your superior,” the solider warned, digging the end of the club into Caleo’s chest. While the other solider inspected Caleo, carefully looking over his entire body, Caleo held his breath, watching him. Without warning the soldier behind him pulled his underwear to the floor. Caleo tried to cover himself, but a pulse of electricity emanated from the baton, sending Caleo to his knees.

  “I think this one needs a more thorough search,” the solider said, rubbing the top of his club in the palm of his hand as Caleo struggled to pull the layers of underwear back on, desperately trying to hide his golden mark as he pulled them up higher than they should be worn.

  “He’s fine, get him on the truck,” the General said dismissively. “Besides, I want this one searched. He's got to be a Leech.”

  Caleo was hauled to his feet and pushed out the door as Nolan was thrown at the General’s feet.

  Light rain started to fall as Caleo was shoved towards the large semi-truck parked in front of the building. He could see only six soldiers outside the store, most were standing around the truck. A solider walked by and Caleo straightened with surprise when he noticed a gold ring with the word Blessed written in gold inside a ring embroidered on the jacket of all the soldiers’ right shoulders.

  If this is the Blessed army, we're in deep shit! Caleo looked around searching for any means of escape.

  “Move it!” a solider yelled, shoving his gun into Caleo’s back.

  Caleo was escorted to the rear of the truck as the rain poured out of the sky, soaking him and the surrounding soldiers. He was forced to stop as the doors were pulled open.

  “Get inside!” one of the soldiers yelled as Caleo was shoved from behind. As he climbed into the truck his foot slipped off the ladder slamming his chin into the metal bumper. Caleo collapsed to the solid concrete where he lay face down on the pavement, blood pouring from his chin mixing with the puddle of rain water that had collected.

  “Get up!” Another soldier kicked Caleo in the ribs.

&
nbsp; When Caleo didn't respond, the soldier flipped him over with his boot. Dazed, Caleo looked around and saw Nolan being dragged out of the store by four men towards the truck. The sound of a gun cocking drew his attention back to the soldiers standing over him. He looked up to see that one of the soldiers had pointed a gun at his head.

  This is it. I’m going to die right here, Caleo thought as the soldier kicked him again.

  “I’m moving, I’m moving.” Caleo rolled over trying to dodge the blow.

  “I said get ...” The soldier paused as a rock hit his helmet and fell to the ground beside Caleo.

  Caleo slowly reached out and grabbed the rock and smiled. “It’s ice!”

  Caleo looked up to see all the soldiers looking around to see where the ice chunk had come from. Ice chunks started to pelt the ground all around the parking lot.

  “It’s just hail!” the General yelled, turning to the other soldiers that were running for cover.

  He looked back down at Caleo. “Get up and get in the truck.”

  Caleo was hauled up by the arm and shoved in onto the truck.

  He climbed to his feet and stared into the dark trailer, squinting to help his eyes to adjust. Two rows of benches lined the walls with about ten people on either side, all looking towards him. Caleo smiled at the familiarity of the attention.

  “You guys act as if you have never seen a ghost before,” Caleo joked venomously, spitting blood from his mouth onto the floor.

  “Keep your mouth shut and move to the front of the trailer,” a soldier yelled over the hail battering the side of the truck as he appeared from the deep inside of the trailer.

  Caleo did as he was told and started for the front end of the trailer with the first soldier right on his heels. As Caleo moved forward, he noticed that the people’s eyes didn’t follow him. He looked back over his shoulder, wondering what could have their attention, when it hit him they were not looking at him after all— their attention was on the door, watching the only way out. He could see it in their faces as he walked by a few of them; they seemed to be contemplating making a run for the door. As he passed a soldier standing in the middle of the truck, the soldier stuck his foot out and tripped him, sending him falling into a man sitting on the bench. The man cowered back, covering his head with his arms as Caleo pushed himself back to his feet.

  “Move it!” the soldier yelled.

  “I could move a lot faster, if you—”

  Caleo was interrupted when the first soldier shoved him in the rear with his boot, sending him into the front wall of the trailer.

  “You should not talk back to your new owners, isn’t that right, Josh?” the first soldier said trying to egg the other man on.

  “Sit,” Josh said forcefully, pushing Caleo onto the bench then walking back to the front of the trailer where he sat in a chair between the two rows facing them so he could watch the captives.

  Caleo looked around the trailer and saw no way to escape but the way he came in. The hail was now back to rain, but still coming down harder than ever.

  “Nate, get your ass out here and help load this beast in the truck,” someone from outside yelled.

  The first soldier turned and exited the trailer. There was a commotion. Caleo craned his neck to see what was going on.

  “Don’t even think about it, kid!” Josh yelled, looking directly at Caleo.

  Caleo ignored him and stood up to get a better view at what was going on with what he assumed was Nolan.

  “Sit your ass down!” Josh screamed, standing up and walking towards him.

  “Josh! Get your ass over here and help pull him up!” Nate yelled from just outside the trailer door.

  Josh stopped walking towards Caleo and turned around and went to help his friends lift Nolan into the trailer. Caleo cringed when he saw four soldiers throw Nolan’s torso onto the floor of the trailer. His head smacked hard on the metal floor. Josh and Nate grabbed Nolan’s arms and dragged him face down to the front of the trailer where they dropped him by Caleo’s feet. Josh bent over and grabbed Nolan’s hair, pulling his head off the ground slightly. Caleo watched the man closely. Josh looked up and beamed into Caleo’s eyes and smiled just before he slammed Nolan’s head onto the hard metal floor.

  Enraged, Caleo sprang from his seat, punching Josh in the face and sending him to the floor beside Nolan. Nate slammed Caleo to the floor with a baton to the back of his knees. Caleo struggled to get to his feet, but Nate grabbed him from behind in a full nelson and held him in the kneeling position as Josh climbed to his feet wiping blood from his lip on his sleeve. When he saw Caleo struggling he buried his boot into Caleo’s gut. Nate let him go and he crumpled face down on the floor gasping for air. Josh bent over and grabbed Caleo’s hair just like he had done to Nolan’s.

  Josh whispered into Caleo's ear before slamming his head against the floor. “I’m going to make you my personal dog. I’m going to enjoy breaking you.”

  Caleo sat up on the bench with his back against the wall; his eyes couldn't seem to focus as the world spun around and around. Did I black out? How did I get up here? Caleo thought, then he noticed that everything was quiet. He rubbed his ears to make sure they were still working.

  “Hello?” Caleo stood up, but had to lean against the back wall to keep from falling. “Is anyone there?” He noticed a light at the far end and staggered towards it. “Is that a door?”

  Caleo stopped in front of it and tried to look through the crack, but the light was too bright. Slowly, he pushed it open, letting light flood into the room. Curious he turned around and realized that he was still in the trailer. As his vision came back into focus, Caleo crumpled to the floor. Everyone in the trailer was frozen solid on the benches, a little girl lay shattered in two pieces on the floor looking up at him.

  “Why?” Caleo screamed and cried on the floor.

  “Caleo,” a voice called, startling him and causing him to look around. No one was there.

  “Caleo,” the voice came again, this time more husky.

  Caleo sat up and looked around the trailer for any signs that someone was still alive.

  “Hello?” Caleo yelled, running up the rows of frozen people looking at each face trying to find the source of the voice.

  “Caleo,” the voice said as something grabbed his leg.

  Caleo sprung awake panting for air. Although the trailer was dimly lit, he could tell that the people around him were still alive from the sound of most of them snoring.

  “Caleo,” the voice said again and someone shook his leg.

  He looked down and saw Nolan lying right by his feet: his hand wrapped tightly around Caleo’s leg. Caleo leaned over slowly so not to draw attention.

  “Yeah,” Caleo whispered, when he got as close as he dared.

  Nolan’s voice was barely a whisper and sounded painful. “I need water.”

  Caleo sat up and looked around the room for anything that might have water in it.

  “And what the hell do you think you're doing?” Caleo heard the voice and turned to see Josh standing at the back of the trailer looking right him.

  “Shit!” Caleo swore as he realized in his search for water he had stretched out a little too far. He sank back down, hoping that it would end the conversation.

  “I asked you a question!” Josh yelled walking towards Caleo. “And I expect an answer,” he said, timing his words so he finished right in front of Caleo.

  People around Caleo woke up and slowly slid away down the seat.

  “Nothing,” Caleo tried, knowing that it probably wouldn’t work.

  “Nobody looks for nothing. You were looking for a way out, weren’t you?” Josh got right into Caleo’s face. “Well the only way out is for us to let you out,” Josh yelled, covering Caleo in saliva.

  Caleo glared, daring not to wipe the spit from his face. “I was just looking for water.”

  Josh slapped Caleo across the face. “I was talking. You do not interrupt your master.” Josh grabbed Caleo’s hai
r and turned his head towards the other people. “Now look around. You see all of these people? I bet they are thirsty, too. Don’t you think they want a drink?”

  Caleo looked over all the faces in the room, stopping on a small little girl who was hiding in a larger woman’s arms. Her horror-filled eyes were looking right at Caleo. His mind went back to his dream where those same eyes stared up at him frozen from the shattered girl.

  “Do you think you're special or something?” Josh asked, pulling Caleo’s head to look back at him.

  I am special I just wish I knew how to use my powers.

  Then his dream of everyone being frozen flashed through his head crushing him as his eyes ran down the row of people again. Was it a warning not to use my power?

  When Caleo didn't answer, Josh backhanded him across the face “Do you?”

  Caleo answered with a simple, “No,” as he looked back down at the floor to see that Nolan was once again passed out.

  Josh then turned around and walked away. Caleo took a deep breath, sliding as far down in his seat as he could to avoid further confrontation.

  A woman screamed and a child cried, which drew Caleo’s attention and he sat up, looking in the direction of the scream to find that Josh had found a new victim to torment and it was the little girl in his dreams.

  Josh pulled the little girl from the woman while she screamed for her mother. “Don’t worry, I’m going to take really good care of you.” When the fat woman stood up Josh immediately shoved her down with his boot. “You sit down and shut up!” He pushed the gun to her forehead until the back of her head thumped against the wall.

  Just stay out of it. Stay seated and stay out of it.

  Caleo watched in horror as the little girl was dragged toward the rear of the trailer by the back of her dress as she screamed in protest.

  “Why don’t you just give us some water?” Caleo asked loudly, standing up on the bench. Everyone in the trailer turned to him and started to murmur amongst themselves. Josh stopped suddenly and turned to face Caleo. “And how about some food while you're at it? I know I’m starved.”