The Phoenix Curse (Book 2): After

by D. R. Johnson

  My stomach twisted. The taste of his blood and sweat on my tongue grew thick again, and I coughed. I wanted nothing more than to pull the trigger and end the snarl on his face, but I didn't have the courage. If Ali was right though...

  "You're already dead." I said softly. The words slipped out, and Allan furrowed his eyebrows before replacing the glare again.

  "Tristan can't even save Gwen from me. I'll make sure to punish her for your sins." He said, but I ignored him. I knew he'd never get the chance.

  "Do you know how Russell was bitten?" I asked him. He blinked, seeming perplexed that his threats didn't faze me. I watched him squirm against his bonds for a second, testing them, but there was no give. I'd tied him pretty tight.

  "No." He finally snorted.

  "Ali bit him." I said flatly, watching his reaction intently. He frowned again in confusion, unable to put the pieces of the puzzle together. I honestly didn't expect him to understand what I was saying without me spelling it out for him. I wanted to tell him. I wanted him to know what was coming as the fever tore through him.

  "Maybe I'll take old Anna down to the pits." He said, attempting to rattle me with threats again. "Even an old teacher can be taught a thing or two. Think she needs to learn a lesson on who she allows to run around up here, don't you think?"

  I stayed silent, staring at him for a few moments. The angry look started to fade as he began to lose the confidence he'd gained when Gwen left. I guess he thought a kid would be a push over, but he was wrong.

  "Ali's infected." I said as the sweat dripped from his forehead. That gave him pause again, and I could see the thoughts whirling in his eyes as he connected the dots one by one. For the smallest fraction of a second, his eyes widened in dread, but it was quickly replaced by anger as he lashed out at me.

  "You lying little prick!" He screamed as he kicked at me, but I easily stepped out of his range. The motion rolled him to his belly again and he was stuck there for several moments as he struggled to find a way to right himself. He cussed and screamed at me the whole time.

  "You son of a bitch, untie me right now! I'll make sure Reed lets me at that sister of yours. I'll tie you up with her and make you watch!"

  I kicked him in the ribs. He grunted and briefly fell silent, but it did little to subdue him completely. He was hell-bent on getting to his feet and making good on his threats. I had to find a way to get him under control soon.

  Setting the gun down, I grabbed one of the baby's soft blankets, meaning to gag Allan with it. As soon as I got close, the fat man began to thrash around violently and I was struggling to get the cloth around his face when Tristan burst into the room.

  My mouth went dry at the sight of him. His eyes were wild with anger and his jaw clenched so tightly he shook. Tristan didn't pause as Allan tried to turn over again. He grabbed the pistol from the dresser before turning his scowl down on Allan.

  I stumbled backwards, scrambling to get out of the way. There was no talking Tristan out of his course of action like I'd been able to do with Gwen. I wasn't ready to see Allan murdered right in front of me, but I couldn't look away either. I watched in horror as Tristan stepped over the man, the gun tightly in his grasp.

  Allan writhed beneath him and the smell of urine flooded the room. I slapped my hands over my ears waiting for the gunshot, but it never came. Instead, Tristan whipped the pistol down against Allan's temple. Allan's body convulsed and he was out cold.

  I blinked in surprise as my mind processed what I'd just watched. Then I tried to commit that move to memory. It could come in handy.

  Tristan straightened to his full height, towering nearly a foot taller than me. He closed his eyes, rolling his shoulders back as he took in a deep, settling breath. The rage faded as he composed himself.

  Turning to me, he said, "We can't stay here. We've had an evacuation plan in place for the children for a while now. Did Helen fill you in?"

  "No." I shook my head, but I wasn't surprised. It all made sense that this is what Helen had been hinting at.

  "Look," Tristan started. "About earlier--"

  "No." I said and shook my head. "I understand. You did what you had to do."

  Tristan's brow creased as he sighed. He finally nodded, accepting that I needed no apology. We both looked back to the unconscious mound on the floor. Tristan poked him with his boot and his body jiggled, but he didn't stir.

  "What are we going to do with him?" He mumbled.

  "If we're leaving, just leave him there." I answered without thinking. "He's infected anyway."

  "What?" Tristan's eyes went wide as his head shot toward me. I tried to swallow, but was unable to. Hoping there was no blood left on my face or, if there was, Tristan would mistake it for my own. I shrugged.

  "I think, anyway." It was a weak attempt to cover my fumble. Gwen had seen me bite him, though. When the two of them talked, they could easily figure it out. If Ali had been right, then Allan would be a dead-brain by tomorrow evening.

  Tristan's eyes were still intently focused on me and I shifted nervously. "Can we just leave him here?"

  His eyes narrowed for a moment, but then he nodded. There would be questions if I stayed with him much longer. I tried to work up a story in my head at the same time hoping that Ali was wrong. Tristan was still frowning as he pulled a bag from the closet and said, "Help me get some of their things together."

  I followed his command, rounding the bed to see the little pallet the baby had been sleeping on. I started throwing toys, pacifiers, and clothes onto the blankets and wrapped it all up in a loose bundle. Tristan was quick too, grabbing a few of Gwen's things. We were both more than ready to get out of there.

  Tristan paused for another look down at Allan before we left. "Are you sure?"

  "No." I shook my head, hoping again Ali was wrong. If she wasn't, then I had just ended a man's life. The realization began to work its way through me as Tristan made for the door. I followed as the sickly feeling in my stomach returned.

  "Doesn't matter. If I ever see him again, I'll kill him anyway." He mumbled.

  There was a small crowd waiting for us in the hallway. Anna was among them, pacing in a tight circle and still wringing her hands. As soon as she saw me, she jumped at me.

  "What have you done?" She screamed, her hands reaching for me as if to grab me. Startled, I sidestepped her easily, but the jerky movement brought a stabbing pain into my ribs. The unexpected twinge nearly doubled me over.

  "Anna!" The gravelly voice snapped over Anna's tirade. Tristan also came to my rescue, stepping in front of me and basically forming a wall between us. I didn't understand. I had saved Gwen. Would she rather have let Allan have her? I grew angry, but Anna had backed off as soon as Tristan intervened.

  "Come, children." She said as she retreated, gathering some of the younger gawkers and pushing them back to her room. As the hallway cleared, I saw Charles standing with Helen at her doorway. Stephanie was at her own room, holding the baby as Gwen rushed to Tristan.

  He caught her tightly in his arms as she broke down in tears. While Tristan consoled her, Helen's boney hand fluttered at me, waving me over. I began to move, and the sound of heavy footfalls on the stairs sped me up. No one else seemed to hear them.

  "Someone's coming." I hissed.

  Everyone reacted defensively, Stephanie and Helen both shrank back into their rooms, and Tristan pushed Gwen away, spinning to meet whoever was coming. He was imposing enough, but as I circled to stand behind him, I saw he still had the pistol tucked into the back of his pants.

  It was only a matter of seconds between the time I made my announcement and the door swinging open. The tension in Tristan was exhaled as Hawk stepped into the hallway. He was followed by a dark, stocky man I hadn't met yet. The man's head was shaved so smooth it was shiny, even in the afternoon light coming in from the window.

  "So far, so good." Hawk said to Tristan as he passed him. He was focused on me, shoving a pack into my hands as he reached me. I gasped as I
recognized it as Ali's main backpack.

  "She's okay." He said quickly. "And she's safe for the time being, but you two can't stay here. Reed's not going to let her be."

  "Hawk." Tristan interrupted him. "We're already too far into this. It has to be now. The kid says Allan's infected."

  Hawk didn't even flinch, but the look he gave me spoke volumes. He knew. "Joss is right. I can keep Reed distracted for only a little bit longer. A couple hours at most. We have to move fast."

  "So the fuse has been lit." Helen said as she stepped to her doorway, leaning heavily against the frame. Hawk pulled away from me to go to her, and I stared after him confused. This sounded big. My eyes roved over the faces of the adults for some hint as to what was going on.

  "There's no going back." She continued, and Tristan was nodding in agreement. "Reed can be broken with just a few more well placed blows."

  "I'm not leaving Gwen again." Tristan added.

  "Alright." Hawk interrupted. "Reed has seven men down, counting Allan. That only leaves five left if we don't count the wildcards."

  "It's now or never, brother." The newcomer said with a thick Spanish accent. "Reed will take this whole place down if he thinks he's lost."

  "Maybe." Hawk answered, turning to look at me. "He may have found something else to devote himself to."

  I swallowed hard as all their eyes seemed to turn to me. I wasn't sure I had followed the whole conversation, let alone try to add to it. I remained silent in my confusion.

  "Joss," Hawk started. "You need to make sure you get Ali away from here if this all goes south."

  There was a brief pause before Helen filled the silence. "Make sure the boy knows why."

  Hawk's eyes closed as he bowed his head, taking a moment to collect himself. When he looked back to me, his hazel eyes were penetrating. "If I can't take care of Reed, he'll come for her, and he won't stop until he's dead or he's done."

  The blood had drained from my face, and the weight of the backpack in my hands seemed to drag me down. We weren't escaping. We were bait.

  I looked at all the faces in front of me, the adults that had coordinated this elaborate plan to save the children. I spotted Charles poking out from behind Helen. When they said Reed would take everyone down, would he kill the kids too? Afraid I already knew the answer to that question, I couldn't take that chance.

  I continued my look around the room and found Stephanie standing next to Gwen. She was still holding the baby. Both pairs of dark eyes stared back at me, and I understood. Ali and I had to run. We weren't like these people anyway. Determined, I turned back to Hawk and nodded.

  "Miguel," Hawk began to give orders, addressing the bald man first. "Help Joss get to the exit point, then get your ass back here. Tristan, make sure the kids get to the safe floor. Breck has guard duty tonight, so unless I can convince him to switch with Remy, you guys won't have much time."

  "I'll take care of Breck." Helen stated.

  "No." Hawk countered immediately.

  "Yes, Ryan." She said, her voice growing softer, and Hawk gave her an agonized look. "This is my part to play. These kids don't need an old woman slowing them down."

  Hawk took a deep breath before he stepped to her and planted a kiss on her frail forehead. I heard him whisper as he pulled away, "Be safe, Nana."

  "You too, boy." She answered, patting his arm affectionately. In that short exchange, it became clear to me then how Reed was able to manipulate Hawk.

  Hawk looked back to the other two men. "Are we clear?"

  He received two curt nods in return, and Tristan and Miguel both turned down the hallway, heading for the barricade at the end.

  "Okay, Joss," Hawk turned to me. "Are you ready?"

  I nodded, still wide-eyed and confused. I asked the most important question of all in one word. "Ali?"

  He smiled. "This is where she'll be. Do you know which way is north?"

  I listened as he laid out the directions. I would be looking for a white house with red shutters, and then I'd be with Ali again, free of this place but still on the run. My heart was thundering in my chest with anticipation by the time he turned to go. I didn't even hear the click of the door as it shut behind him.

  ~ ~ ~ ~

  Tristan and Miguel were moving the barricade of furniture around while a group of us watched, the seriousness of the situation still sinking in. Gwen, Stephanie, and Charles stood with me as Anna poked her head out of her room.

  "You're going to get us all killed." Anna snapped at Helen. The heavy woman had let her mask fall away. She was a completely different person than who I'd first met.

  "That's not going to happen." Helen replied with confidence. "Once Ryan takes care of Reed, all the men that have the nerve to hurt a child have been dealt with, mostly thanks to Joss and that wonderful sister of his."

  "What's going on?" Stephanie interjected, and I was relieved to know I wasn't the only one that was out of the loop. Unfortunately, she received no answer as Anna continued.

  "There are still twenty men down there that we don't know." She said, but Helen wasn't deterred.

  "By sunset, there'll be less than that." She said with a wicked grin full of yellowed teeth that managed to give me chills. "Now get those babies together and to the safe floor."

  Anna stopped arguing, but still huffed to show her displeasure. She disappeared back into her room to flush out the children. Amanda was in the small crowd, holding the hands of two younger boys on either side of her. She gave Gwen a bright smile as she passed her.

  "It's time to go on an adventure, isn't it?" She was so excited. Tristan was waving her on at the end of the hallway and the children rushed down to meet him. I could no longer see Miguel, but Tristan was helping them disappear into the barricade. Anna reluctantly followed, herding her group along.

  Gwen and Stephanie started making their way down the hallway, going from room to room to gather up the rest of the children. I counted them. Thirteen kids. Glancing at Charles still standing at Helen's side, I upped the count. Fourteen.

  "Are you sure you won't need my help here?" I asked. We were both watching as Connie made it to the end of the hall, but she refused to let go of Caleb and it quickly flustered Tristan. That, in turn, made Caleb nervous and he began to cry. Stephanie had been helping Gwen and the baby, but she turned to help calm the distraught mother and child. In the end, it was Stephanie that got them through while Tristan stood to the side to watch.

  "It's safer for the children if you get your sister away from here." Helen finally responded, her voice sad. "I don't like asking you to do this, but it's for the greater good. Like I told you, Reed's an evil man, but he's smart too. He'll know he's outnumbered, so he'll go to ground and wait for his opportunity. We'll never be safe here until he's dead or gone, and he'll never be gone unless something else he considers truly important pulls him away."

  "Won't Ryan be able to take care of him?"

  "Perhaps." She said, cocking her head to the side. "The stink of something wrong will make it to Reed soon enough. Ryan might never get the chance. We have to make room for all possibilities."

  A picture of Stephanie's sad eyes flashed in front of me. She had become a trustworthy friend during my short stay, keeping my secret. I felt like I was abandoning her. I couldn't imagine what kind of hell this would turn in to if their plan failed.

  "Are you sure this is going to work?" I was worried and wanted reassurance. The only answer I received was silence.

  Regina and the twins were slipping through the barricade and Tristan turned to wave us on. Helen pulled Charles against her in a tight squeeze. Her raspy voice cracked. "You take care, little helper."

  Charles threw his arms around her waist, returning the hug. Then, without a word, he spun from her and raced down the hall. Tears swelled in Helen's eyes when she looked at me again.

  "Nothing's ever guaranteed, boy, but I have faith." She said, going back to her room. This time, she left the door open as she shuffled to her recline
r. I stared in long enough to see her pull a sawed-off shot gun from where it had been hidden and lay it across her lap as she sat down.

  The tortured grip on my stomach didn't let go as I nodded a goodbye and jogged down the hallway to meet Tristan. Charles had already disappeared through the stack of furniture and Tristan was getting antsy from my delay. I quickened my pace.

  As I approached, I saw the hole in the middle of the furniture wall that everyone had crawled through. Towers of couches and chairs supported other couches and chairs, and it looked like it could all cave in at any time.

  "It's sturdy." Tristan said, urging me through.

  "Sure it is." I mumbled under my breath and bent down to toss Ali's pack in front of me. I crawled over an armrest to enter the couch tunnel and, as I made it through the cluster, was surprised at how secure everything felt. Tristan was already crawling in as I made my way out the other side where Miguel waited on us.

  "Clear." Tristan said as he stood.

  "I'll fix this on my way back in." Miguel said, waving his hand toward a pile of chairs that had been used to camouflage the passageway. "You think Remy's had time to get the west side clear?"

  "Everything should be ready. They'll be on the other side of the pits. Even if the kids make some noise, no one should be around to hear them." Tristan answered.

  "Got it. You ready, brother?" Miguel motioned to me as he started down the hall. As soon as I realized he was talking to me, I fell in behind him. Brother must be a common term he addressed everyone with and I just wasn't expecting it.

  Charles was in front of us, trailing some of the other kids walking down the long hallway. They turned at the end, disappearing from view. This hallway was much longer than the one I'd been living in for the past few days. Occasionally, one of the younger children would make some noise, but for the most part, everyone remained silent.

  My interest was growing in where the safe place was that the kids were being led to and if it was really safe from Reed. I doubted it, and knew the best option was leading him away from this place. Dread and sadness mixed together in my chest, and I couldn't wipe the frown from my face.