by Maxey, Phil
She looked away. “If that is true, then I have the tablets, which if they attacked I would destroy. They would not chance that…” She looked again at the hybrid. “Who are you?”
“I am the king you failed to kill.”
“What?” She took a step back, not realizing the wall was so close behind her.
He sat back in his chair. “I am Freon. And as you can see. I left my sarcophagus a long time ago.”
She shook her head. “You’re him? You mean you have been… living amongst humans for—”
“A long time. Now, take a seat general, for if you truly do want this island to be free from the kings’ control, we have a lot to discuss and do, and not much time to get it done.”
*****
Anna sat on a small padded seat at the back of the cockpit. Outside, winds howled and waves crashed against the hull. She was tired, but not as tired as the man whose eyelids kept threatening to close. “Let me take the wheel for a bit.”
He smiled. “I’m—”
A bleep came from one of the displays in front of Joel, but his exhausted brain couldn’t work out which one. It happened again, and this time he was able to narrow it down. A mass of neon green was just visible at the top of the circular screen. They looked at each other as a smile broke out on their faces at the same time.
“Is that it?” she excitedly said. “Is that Puerto Rico?”
He leaned down slightly to try and get a better look. “I… don’t know. It’s definitely something large and solid. About… ten miles from us.” His head flicked to the drenched windscreen but it was too water logged to see any detail through. “Take the wheel.” She did and he walked to the door, pushing it open as a gust of wind almost pulled it from his grasp and looked out into the dark. Tiny sparkles of light were just visible on the horizon. He pulled it closed. “I think it’s land!”
The internal door behind opened, with Nelson appearing in the gap. “What’s all the commotion?”
“I think we made it. There are lights on the horizon!”
Nelson continued through the cockpit area, pulling the door open once again and briefly stared out into the dark, just about seeing what Joel just had. “I think you might be right.”
Joel looked at the radar again. “Bearing is due east, which is where the coast should be.”
“I’ll tell the others,” said Anna. She threw her arms around him, squeezing him tight then moved off through the door to the other decks.
He leaned down and picked up his binoculars, handing them to Nelson. “Take a look outside, tell me what you see. If there are lights, maybe there’s a town there.”
Nelson braved the wind and waves once again and leaned out just enough for the eyepieces to fit through the gap. “We’re too far away still. Can’t tell if their buildings or maybe boats or ships in a bay.” The older man looked behind him. “You got any maps of this part of the island?”
Joel shook his head.
“Well, we’ll know soon enough.”
The other door opened and Corine, Kizzy and Barry moved into the small space. Kizzy kept on going, walking up to Nelson. “Gimme, gimme, I want to see!”
“I wonder if they got hamburgers!” said Corine.
“I miss apple pie,” said Barry.
Nelson frowned, giving the young woman what she wanted, and she leaned out placing them against her eyes. “Hey I can see… looks… like… a ship… large one…”
“What kind of ship?” said Joel, trying to be heard against the howling wind coming through the opening to the weather outside.
“Umm… like a war ship… you know like the navy has.”
“Yeah, there’s an army base on the island. Galloway never mentioned a naval presence though.” He asked Nelson to take the wheel and moved to the external door. “Let me take a look.” Turning the dial on the binoculars, the dark shape of a large ship was visible against points of light beyond. He pulled the door closed. “War ship of some kind. Appears to be moored a mile from the shore. The bay must be two shallow for it to get any closer. We’re—”
A heavy thump landed on the foredeck and demonic cat’s eyes appeared in the darkness just outside the windscreen.
Joel opened the door to Copeland who peered inside, bending down slightly, his clawed hands on the door frame. “Corporation is already on the island.”
“What?”
Joel leaned out once again, making the Drak lean back and scoured the horizon trying to see more details but it was too dark. He looked at Copeland, wind and rain battering both of them as the boat rocked and swayed. “Are you sure?”
“Black uniforms on the ship and the town. Military vehicles have been offloaded from the ship, including some light tanks, but they can’t get directly to the shore so that’s slowing them down.”
The cockpit door opened with a smiling Anna, who’s expression soon dissipated. “What’s going on?”
Joel turned to face her, his windswept hair partially covering his face. “The corporation have beaten us to the island.”
She let out a breath.
“Do you think the general and the others know?” said Corine.
“We’re still a long way from San Juan, so probably not.” He looked back at Copeland. “Can you find us a place to get to shore, away from the town?”
The winged man leaned forward, his box in one hand. “I need you to look after this…”
Joel took it, nodding, as the Drak turned and leaped into the storm.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Anxiety bubbled within Marina’s stomach as the humvee she was in drove down an innocuous dirt track surrounded by a forest, which was battling sheets of rain and wind. Despite the sun having just risen the sky was a dark swirl of gray. The vehicle momentarily paused, as a gate was raised, then continued deeper in. She wasn’t sure if they were still on the base, as they had been driving for some time but then she saw what they were driving towards. A triangular bomb shelter, the like of which she had seen before. This one looked just as old, with strands of green covering its roof.
They pulled up near a small path to the entrance, where two guards stoically stood. She got out with Carla, Evan, Shannon and captain Ayers.
When the trucks came to collect them, they were reluctant to believe the message that had been relaid from Alfredo via the captain. That he had talked to the general and they had come to an ‘understanding,’ whatever that meant. Ayers went on to explain that they are to be taken to a meeting which was happening in a secret location, and that Alfredo and the general would be there. It could have all been a ruse to get them to hand themselves over to the authorities, but the alternative was to run. To disappear into the wilds of the island, hoping Galloway had better things to do than chase them all down during a storm, but unlike the mainland, there were only so many places they could hide out. She was also done with running. When she discovered that the corporation’s reach had stretched across the ocean, her instinct was to pull further away. But Alfredo was right. He and the colonel had struggled to make the island somewhere special. A vamp free zone. It was worth finding out if what the captain was saying was true. So once she knew Jess and Jasper were safe with Sasha and Sophia, she agreed to the meeting.
Quickly escorted by Ayers, who waved her ID at the guard in front of the sturdy looking entrance, they made their way inside, which was completely different to what Marina expected, being bright and new. She also realized that the part of the bunker she had seen was just the top section, for they were soon descending a set of concrete steps to another door, this one also guarded but appeared twice as thick once it was pulled open. Another hallway, but this one had a series of doors. Ayers ignored them all and walked to the one opposite, where she typed in a key code and this time when the door sprung open a cacophony of voices escaped.
The room the two hybrids and one human had entered appeared to be a command center of some kind. Screens sat upon the far walls and desks, with uniformed men and women busily working.
>
“Follow me,” said the captain. They moved down the central aisle to the front, passing another guard into a smaller conference room.
Relief and anger struck Marina at the same time. She was glad to see Alfredo seated at the table, but had the opposite reaction on seeing the general. Gus and Clement were also there, each of them not wanting to meet the newcomers’ eyes.
“Ah, I’m glad you are all—”
“You’re a fucking traitor!” shouted Evan at the hybrid woman with the four stars on her lapel. He went to walk towards her, but Marina walked partially across him blocking his progress. “We trusted you! And you were working for the kings! People died! And what about Joel and the others? Is that why they never made it back?”
Galloway’s expression was a mixture of shame and fear, neither of which made any difference to Evan or Marina.
“I did what I felt I needed to for the town to survive. Maybe once you’re older—”
Marina could feel the young man’s anger about to explode, his vamp side wanting to be let free. She felt the same, but there must have been a reason Alfredo arranged the meeting. She looked past him to an anxious looking young woman behind, who immediately realized what Marina wanted.
Shannon placed her hand on Evan’s arm. “Evan…” He leaned away, but she held on tight. “Evan!”
He turned around. “What?” he shouted.
“Not here. Not now… Let’s go outside.”
Marina could feel the affect the young woman was having on his heart rate. He nodded and they left.
“Well… that was exciting,” said Clement. He looked down, sighing. “Not that I can blame the young man. But we have bigger fish to fry.” He looked at Galloway, who appeared frozen. “General? You were saying?”
She looked at him. “Yes, umm…” Then briefly looked at Marina and Carla asking them to take a seat, before looking around the table. “Alfredo, who we now all know is much older than we thought—”
“Who you tried to kill…” said Marina.
Alfredo looked at the woman opposite. “Marina. She didn’t succeed. And now, we are all here with a common purpose. Trying to find a solution to what is surely about to crash down upon our heads. The king’s think I’m dead. That’s good. Unfortunately, it also means they will also be on their way here to reclaim the tablets.”
“If they come at us with just a group of Alkrons,” said Gus. “We can handle it.”
“The problem is if they have upgraded their abilities since Jankle,” said Clement.
Galloway glanced at the ancient king, then looked at the two men by her side. “Actually, there is one other thing I’ve not told both of you yet.”
“Now what?” said Clement.
She looked at Alfredo, who continued for her . “I have a way of destroying the scourge.”
“Destroying the scourge?” said Gus. “What does that mean?”
“It means no more vamps. Anywhere,” said Carla.
The two men looked at her, then back at Alfredo.
“How?” said Clement.
“The tablets,” said Marina before Alfredo could respond.
“Ah, yeah, that vamp bomb you exploded before with one of the tablets?” said Clement. “I take it, that’s what we’re talking about? But on a larger scale?”
Alfredo nodded. “Yes.”
“It also means no more Alkrons,” said Galloway.
“And that’s a good thing,” said Marina staring directly at her. The general frowned.
“The virus will be removed from all living organisms across the planet,” said Alfredo. “If there is a heavy viral load in a body, that body will die with it.”
Clement slid a hand through what little hair he had. “Right…” He looked back to Alfredo. “And you’re certain it will work?”
Alfredo nodded.
“Why haven’t you already used the tablets to do that then?” said Gus.
“The tablet that you brought with you, needed time to recharge. That time is almost over. Tomorrow we will end the scourge.”
*****
Joel struggled to steer the boat towards the small rocky shore, that was miles south of the town the corporation had settled in. The bow crashed up and down, the engine straining as they neared the concrete ramp which descended from a beach of wooden houses on posts, some of which had collapsed into the waves.
“Take the wheel!” said Joel to Nelson. “I’m going to try and tie us to the top of the ramp.” The old man nodded as the whimpers of scared kids filtered up through the floor to Joel’s senses. He pushed open the door to the storm, holding the handrail best he could, then pulled the mooring rope free and leaped towards the rocks, but he slammed into a gust of wind which pulled him back into the ocean where his hands scrambled to get purchase against the seaweed and concrete slabs. Water surged into his lungs as he battled against the waves tearing into the beachside homes. Refusing to let go of the rope, he pushed his boot between two worn pieces of concrete and heaved himself up and onto the drenched surface, gulping for air, then flung himself backwards as the boat crashed into the ramp just missing him. Realizing the rope was about to be pulled from his grasp, he sprang forward, wrapping it around an iron post multiple times, finishing just as a wave sucked the boat back into the ocean. The rope tensed almost to breaking point, its threads starting to splinter.
Dalton and Kizzy staggered on to the main deck.
“We need to get the kids off now!” he shouted at them, his words being taken by the howling wind and rain, but each nodded and quickly moved back inside. He sensed a presence by behind him and spun around to Copeland, leaning into the storm.
“I can help get the kids off!” he shouted.
“Yes!”
The Drak beat his wings, momentarily being driven back but then took to the air and glided the short distance to the deck where Hector appeared, the old man forcing his way forward against the wind with a trail of children behind him, some with lifejackets.
Joel could see the old man protesting, who then looked his way. He waved his hands. “Let him help!” Even through the sheets of rain he could see Hector frown. The old hybrid turned, mentioning something to the children who were huddled together, hanging onto the handrail, then helped one closer to Copeland, who wrapped his arm around the boy and sprang into the air, making the jump to the top of the ramp in one swift move. He gently placed the child on the drenched concrete, who quickly ran to Joel then leaped back to the deck again.
Anna appeared with Barry, both with full backpacks on.
The rope snapped. In a blur Joel grabbed it with one hand, and the iron pole the other, the force of the boat almost pulling his arm from his socket. Seeing the danger, Dalton leaped to his side, both men now fighting against the might of the sea to hold the vessel close.
Copeland grabbed two more kids, one in each arm, leaping to the top of the ramp, then back to the boat which in a sudden rush of waves surged forward, smashing up against the ramp, momentarily beaching on the concrete. Seizing the chance Hector picked up the other kids, lowering them to Joel and Dalton while Anna did the same for Barry.
Kizzy and Amos jumped down, and just as the waves started to pull the damaged boat back into the ocean, Nelson ran from the cockpit and leaped onto the shore.
As the bedraggled individuals walked away from the sea, Copeland looked out, panic in his eyes. “Where is it!” He moved towards Joel with fury in his eyes, but Anna stepped in front.
“I’ve got it!” she said to the Drak, then placed her pack on the floor, lifting the flap, and pulled out the wooden box stashed inside. Relief washed over the taller creature. She handed it to him. “We wouldn’t leave it behind.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Marina sat in the high-backed chair in front of the flames from the basement fire. Jess and Jasper were asleep on a sofa opposite and being almost noon she felt the same, but her mind wasn’t letting go. She wondered if the days of running from vamps, and then the corporation were about
to come to an end, and what life would be like being… human. Joel’s blood had given her a thirst the like of which she had never experienced before. She imagined it similar to an addict jonsing for another hit. A chemical pull so powerful that she would literally kill to have someone else’s blood cascading through her mouth then throat. She wouldn’t miss that. But the strength, agility, speed, she would, and she wasn’t sure if she was ready for them to be gone.
Footsteps reverberated through the metal door and it opened to Alfredo entering the room. He smiled on seeing her as she did him. He looked at the sleeping children then nodded for her to follow him.
They were soon on the other side of the large room, where the banks of screens showed trees on the grounds being bent and pulled, while debris mingled with blankets of rain.
“Looks pretty bad out there,” she said.
He nodded. “It is, but it will get worse. We no longer have satellites of course, but from the years I have spent on the island, this feels like it will become something more dangerous. Perhaps a hurricane.”
She looked at the ceiling.
He smiled. “Don’t worry we are quite safe here.”
“Did they let you see the tablets?”
He sat in the single chair, as she sat on the edge of the desk. “Yes. The third tablet is on track to be fully useable by sunrise. I have set the Alkron bomb to detonate at the same time.”
She let that idea settle for a moment. “You trust her?”
He scoffed. “Not one bit. But I convinced her the kings will be coming, and this is the best way to defeat them. Once the tablets detonate, there will just be two human brothers, with no power over anyone.”
“What if those that follow them, still do?”
He stood, moving close to her. “Then we defeat them the old fashioned way.”
*****
The wind howled outside a school hall, while a piece of roof on the single-story building clattered in reply. Neither sound was enough to wake the eight children who were sleeping on bundles of clothes on the tiled floor. The two that remained awake, the two changed by the scourge sat in a corner, laughing at a book that Layla had brought with her.