They might as well get this over with. The girl's face had settled into a hard stare. He knew the look. Revenge. He'd lived with it for eighteen years. He knew what that lava-hot desire did to a kid. His revenge had twisted him into knots and ruled his life, even love and prospects for a happy future couldn't overcome its hold. It was strange seeing the transformation take place before his eyes.
He put a hand on her shoulder and gave her a gentle squeeze.
The grimy window leading to the flagpole was nailed shut. Fortinbras used a rickety wooden chair to break the glass. The chair leg proved to be the perfect tool to clean off the jagged glass edges. He crawled out, tightened his legs around the pole, which seemed sturdy enough, and shimmied to Jason's body. Holding the boy by the noose around his neck, he cut the rope with his free hand. He used the rope to drag the body inside. Archangel hauled Jason inside and laid him on the floor. He'd been dead for awhile. The aroma of decay and feces filled the gray hallway.
Jo's eyes watered as she stared at her brother. She leaned down, touched his forehead, and whispered something before she stepped back.
Yanking a frayed tapestry off the wall, Archangel shrouded the boy's body.
"You leaving him here?" Jo asked.
"For now. When we're done, we'll come back and get you both," Fortinbras said.
"You gonna burn him?"
Fortinbras nodded.
"That's best. Proper like."
"Well, Jo," Archangel said, handing her the two pistols he'd stuffed into his belt. "In here."
He opened the office door across the hall.
The room was small and sparsely furnished, a desk and a rickety shelf holding a few papers.
"Hide under the desk. Anyone come in here and try anything, you shoot until they drop. Find out if they're friendly first. We don't want you to shoot us. Don't close your eyes. Can't hit things with your eyes closed. We'll be back." He glanced at Fortinbras.
Jo stared at the guns. "Yeah."
"You shot a gun before?" Fortinbras asked.
She nodded. "Jason taught me."
"One pistol at a time. Use both hands. Stay put. Stay quiet. Promise."
She nodded.
They walked down the empty hall. In the distance, a bomb whistled. Seconds later the explosion came. Something that sounded like a cannon firing boomed. Fortinbras estimated they were at the edge of town.
Archangel grinned. "Akbar is definitely having more fun than we are."
"But we're getting the boss man."
"Corday says there's five Betrayers right outside Burkhart's door. They watched as their guys went down in the plaza. Didn't try to help them. They're waiting for us."
"So, where's Burkhart?"
Archangel grinned and shrugged. "His office?"
They turned the corner. Corday leaned against a doorway. Stepping into the hall, she frowned, almond eyes squinting into angry slits. She motioned them inside.
"This is a goddamn circus. You assholes finished playing games?"
"We just secured the plaza," Archangel said.
"Yeah, and there's five Betrayers waiting down the hall and who knows how many in Burkhart's office. If surprise were an elephant, it would be you two."
"Surprise is overrated. Five Betrayers aren't a problem," Fortinbras said.
Corday gave him her don't be an idiot look. "The problem isn't here. There's several gangs on the outskirts of town, waiting. There are Betrayers with the gangs. This is a takeover."
Archangel sighed.
"Burkhart planned all this?"
She shook her head. "Don't think so. Akbar and I think the Betrayers went along with Burkhart but implemented their own plan."
"War." Archangel rubbed his chin. "So, war."
Gunfire and bombs punctuated in the background accompanying their discussion.
While Archangel paced the room, Fortinbras stared at Corday, who didn't flinch from his gaze.
"Akbar? The deal?"
He liked Corday because he liked strong, independent women, but right now, he wasn't in a liking mood. She stared at him. He knew she was trying to frame the bad news in a way that wouldn't make him go ballistic.
"Yes, it's not a bad deal."
Archangel stopped pacing. "Every deal with Akbar is a bad deal."
"At some point the Betrayers are going to come looking for us. You going to let me explain?"
Fortinbras clenched his jaws and took a deep breath. If what Akbar said was true, and lying wasn't among is negative traits, then the whole city was screwed. If Akbar couldn't keep the gangs at bay, a lot of people would die, and Betrayers would either take over the city or leave it in shambles. Neither option was good. He'd take a third option even from Akbar.
"Tell me."
"As you already know, he'll declare martial law. As you can hear, he's already called in other Legates. Hopefully, they'll stop the gangs before they get into town."
"Martial law. Some deal. So, he'll take over the town, which is what he's been trying to do for years. Damn it, Fort, I didn't like this." Archangel's glare could melt steel.
"Here's the rest," Corday continued, ignoring Archangel's outburst. "Fort's contract with Collins ends now. He'll sign papers stating he will not kill Collins. Akbar thinks we might need him to rebuild the town. Martial law will last two months, unless we decide it should be longer. We, us three, will lead in restructuring the government of the town."
Fortinbras waited for his anger to rise. It didn't. He should have been pissed that he couldn't kill Collins, but he didn't feel anything. No one could be more surprised than he, but he realized when he made the phone call to Akbar that he'd have to give up his revenge. Maybe he was getting soft? Maybe the hatred would come later? Right now they had a job to do. He knew Akbar would somehow eke out more time to rule the city, but Corday had done some good negotiating.
Archangel stared at Fortinbras, pressing his lips together as if he were biting back words.
"I don't want to lead," Fortinbras said.
"You're worried about leading? What about Collins?" Archangel asked.
He shrugged.
"You have to lead. Akbar was clear. That point isn't negotiable. You two agree?" Corday looked at Archangel, who hated Akbar more than Fortinbras.
"I'm in," Fortinbras said.
Archangel nodded.
"Fort, call him now," Corday said, pointing to the phone.
"The phones work?"
"No one ever said the Betrayers were intelligent or good strategists."
The phone rang once.
"Fortinbras?" Akbar asked.
"Yeah. We agree to the terms."
"Good choice. Try to keep Burkhart and as many Betrayers as possible alive. We want to send a message. The gangs are fighting back, but many are running. You take care of things on your end."
He hung up, feeling as if one burden lifted only to give him another.
"Let's do this," Fortinbras said.
Corday led the way. They were in the short end of the L-shaped building. The hall ended, opening into a larger expansive room, a corner area leading into the long side of the L. At one time, this room had probably been a lounge area for employees. Burkhart had left this area to decay. The decor was trashy-rot with a touch of chaos. Broken furniture, discarded cabinets, and rubbish coordinated with the unwashed floor, a rodents' paradise. Corday motioned Fortinbras to go left and Archangel right. She covered them.
Fortinbras surveyed his section, which except for a large storage cabinet that leaned towards a metal chair, there wasn't anywhere to hide. He didn't like the feel of this, but there wasn't much choice. He opened the cabinet door slowly, hoping the cabinet was empty. Jerry, a man he recognized as one of Burkhart's guards, huddled down at the bottom of the cabinet, covering his head with his arms. The man glanced up. His wide frantic eyes grew wider, but he sighed when he recognized Fortinbras.
"Thank god, it's you. I'm not ar
med," he said. "Can I get out?"
Fortinbras waved him out. "Where's Burkhart?"
"In his office. He's monkey-ass crazy. Brought all them Betrayers in. They're demented. I mean really nuts. When I saw what was happening, I tried to get out, wound up here, hiding like a scared rabbit."
"So, he's helping them take over the city?"
A forced laugh escaped Jerry's throat. He shook his head and shrugged.
"No, he thought he was taking over the city. The fool. He didn't tell anyone. The Betrayers killed a bunch of our guys like it was nothing. They're holding Burkhart in his office."
"Is there any way to get into his office without walking right into the Betrayers?"
"Yeah."
"Go tell that nice lady over there," Fortinbras said, pointing to Corday.
Across the room, Archangel held his hands over a woman's mouth as she fought to get away. She kicked and clawed at him as he struggled to move her toward Corday. The woman head-butted Archangel in his pretty face. Fortinbras rushed to the other side of the room, leaping over furniture. His friend's nose bled profusely, spilling over the woman's white blouse. He ignored Archangel, who still held the woman as he mouthed obscenities. Taking the woman's head in both his hands, Fortinbras stared her in the eyes until she quieted. He'd seen her before and hoped she recognized him. She was young and scared.
"We are here to help you," he whispered.
She relaxed and quit fighting.
"My friend wants to get you to safety so we can go get the bad guys. Nod if you understand."
She nodded.
"Nod, if you'll be quiet if he lets go"
She nodded again. Archangel released her.
Wobbling like she was going to faint, she grabbed Fortinbras' arm.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know. I thought . . ." she whispered to Archangel.
"It's okay. Go home. That way. It's clear." Fortinbras pointed to the hall they'd used earlier.
She scurried away.
"It's not okay," Archangel hissed. "Look at my face. I think my nose is broken."
Corday joined them. Normally, her face was pale; now, her skin was ashen, and her features set in grim determination.
"I sent Jerry away. Here's what we are going to do--"
"Go kill the bastards," Archangel said, holding a white handkerchief to his nose.
"Shark's their leader," Corday said.
Archangel stopped doctoring his nose and studied Corday. His expression softened, but his steel gray eyes were as hard as the metal they resembled.
Shark had been at the academy with them. From the beginning, he was sadistic and on the dark side of crazy. When Corday was twelve and Shark nineteen, he kidnapped and tortured her. It took Fortinbras and Archangel two days to find her. They beat Shark bloody. He'd laughed at them. At his hearing, he told Akbar and the judgment council he had wanted to know what it felt like to hurt her. The council ordered him to rehab. No one was sure what that meant, but it didn't sound like a good punishment. After talking to Akbar, Archangel decided rehab was a polite way of saying "We are going to put him to death." That night Shark escaped. The council sent Legates after him, but they didn't find him.
"You okay?" Fortinbras asked, knowing she was anything but fine, and his question was stupid. But asking was a way of letting her know they had her back.
She nodded. "We'll wound him and one other for Akbar. For the rest, do what's needed."
"Your plan?" Archangel asked.
"That was the plan. If you could put three or four arrows in strategic locations in Shark's body, I'd be happy."
He grinned. "With pleasure."
The tricky part was going to be approaching them without being seen. They worked their way down the hall, stepping into doorways until they spotted five men standing around the hall, whispering and staring out the window as if they weren't concerned about another attack.
"Do you see Shark?" Archangel asked.
"No. He's probably in Burkhart's office," Fortinbras said.
"What are they waiting for? Why didn't they come after us? It doesn't make sense."
"It's a trap," Corday said.
"Shark's with Burkhart. When we attack, they come out and kill or capture us." From his pant pocket, Fortinbras took out what appeared to be a pocket watch. Opening it, he pulled a small cylinder that unfolded into a telescope. Positioning himself in the doorway so he could easily step back, he surveyed the hall and the men milling around.
"Revenge," Archangel said. "He's not worried about what's happening out there. He's waiting for us. Payback."
Trip wires. Running across the hall from the next doorway and the doorway after that. Knowing Shark, he wanted them alive. Whatever the wires set off, it probably wasn't going to be enough to kill them, but it would definitely signal Shark. One man stood next to something draped with an old tattered bedspread. From the shape, he'd guess it was a very large gun. He folded the telescope.
"There're five men. One is guarding what looks like a very small cannon or some other kind of weapon. There are two trip wires in the next two doorways. We need to get closer. Corday, you're using silencers?"
She nodded.
"They aren't very alert, so we should be able to do this fast. When they're down, we'll backtrack, go into Burkhart's office the back way."
"The noise will warn Shark," Archangel said.
"I'm counting on that. They'll be preoccupied while we go in through the back."
The distant sound of explosions accented their plan. Gunshots followed the explosions. The fighting was moving closer, maybe blocks away. What he didn't know was which side had the upper hand.
"Careful with the trip wires. Go," Fortinbras said.
They stepped into the hall. All five men stood near the window staring out, probably watching the fighting. Archangel stepped over the first wire and whistled. The men turned in their direction, but before they could draw their weapons, two went down with arrows in their chest. Fortinbras' shot hit one between the eyes. Corday missed. The fifth man aimed at her. She stepped forward, dragging the second trip wire. Fortinbras and Archangel lunged for her. Colliding, they pulled her inside the open door as the hallway exploded, sending shrapnel and flames into the room. Corday lay buried beneath them. Fortinbras' right thigh felt as if someone had stuck a hot poker into it. A piece of metal about two inches long stuck out of Archangel's arm.
"You idiots, get the hell off me," Corday shouted.
Flames engulfed the hallway. Smoke billowed into the room.
Corday jumped up and glanced into the hall. "Let's get out of here."
Archangel tried to pull the shrapnel out of his arm, but his blood-covered fingers slipped. Corday covered her mouth and nose with her arm and disappeared into the hall. Fortinbras grabbed Archangel and pulled him into the hall, following Corday back the way they'd come. Behind him, someone shouted. Fortinbras limped forward as fast as he could.
"Did it kill them?" Shark shouted.
"I don't know."
"Find out."
"It's too hot."
Fortinbras pushed Archangel forward. Corday waited for them in the corner room. They could hear men searching the rooms behind them.
"Goddamn it, get this out of my arm," Archangel said.
Corday yanked the metal out and tied his bloody handkerchief around his arm.
"Your leg?" she asked Fortinbras.
"It's okay. We'll fix it later."
Corday motioned them forward. Near the back of the room hidden behind the cabinet where Jerry had been hiding earlier, they found a door, which opened into a short hallway and another door.
"Let's just rush in, shoot, ask questions later," Fortinbras said.
They nodded.
"You okay?" he asked Corday.
"Yeah, I don't know what happened back there. I'm fine now. I got it."
Fortinbras pointed out a tripwire, which they stepped over.
&n
bsp; "Let's try not to kill everyone," Corday whispered, as she kicked in the door. It flew inward, hitting someone standing in the wrong place.
She entered the room shooting. Fortinbras followed. Taking aim at the first man he saw, he shot him between the eyes. Burkhart, gagged and tied to a chair, tried to speak through the dirty cloth stuck in his mouth. Fortinbras shot the man standing next to Burkhart in the leg. The wound wasn't fatal, but the man was down screaming in pain. Standing near the window smiling, Shark held a gun to Jo's head. She stared at Fortinbras, her eyes wide with anger.
"Shop shooting," Fortinbras shouted.
Corday already had her hands in the air. She'd seen the kid before he had.
"Put your guns down, slowly," Shark said, chuckling. "I see the Angel didn't come with you."
Fortinbras didn't glance around. Apparently, Archangel had the good sense to hold back or he'd fainted from blood loss.
"I've been waiting for this day for a very long time." Shark winked at Corday. "We are going to have some real fun. You remember. I remember how you loved the pain. I've never had another girl like you."
"Let the kid go," Corday said.
Shark laughed. "No. That wouldn't be fun."
An explosion rocked the hallway behind them. The armed men turned their attention toward the hall. Fortinbras suppressed a smile. An arrow whizzed past him and hit Shark in his gun hand. Another slammed into his right shoulder. He dropped the gun, but held Jo fast. The next arrow caught him in his left shoulder. Dropping to the floor, Jo broke loose and crawled toward Fortinbras. Shark's face twisted in anger. When the next arrow caught him in the groin, Shark went down screaming in pain.
Corday punched the man with the leg wound in the face. Grabbing his gun and twisting his arm downward, she wrenched his gun from him. Fortinbras grabbed Jo and pushed her toward the hall. She took the hint and scurried past Archangel.
"Is that good enough?" Archangel asked, aiming another arrow in Shark's direction.
"We're good," Corday said.
Snatching up Shark's gun, she watched as the man cursed and writhed on the floor.
Fortinbras left Corday and Archangel to tie up Shark and his man. Jo sat on the hallway floor her arms wrapped around her legs. When she saw Fortinbras, she burst into tears. Ignoring the metallic smell in the air and thankful that the hall wasn't on fire, he sat beside her and patted her back, which seemed to make her cry more. Finally, he scooped her up and held her in his arms. He'd rarely felt this awkward and unnatural.
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