Jack shook his head.
Abraham’s response, however, was less perceptible. His gaze fell to the laces on his boots and his jaw clenched and unclenched rapidly, like he wanted to say something. Or perhaps his mind was busy going over the conversation. But as for the emotion attached to his expression, Suzette couldn’t make one out.
She turned and stared at the side of the van, a small worry planting itself deep within her. Just minutes ago, she was in her apartment, thinking about how she could probably work well with the pair of men. But Callie’s words about companionship on her difficult path flared up in Suzette’s mind like a warning. The unpopular trail ahead of her wouldn’t be an easy one, and Suzette wondered where these men would fit alongside her. These guys probably won’t stick around for long. I shouldn’t let their opinions or emotional distance get me so worked up. Why should I? They’ll just be gone soon, down their own separate paths. The idea brought her down from her anger, but she felt a little empty at the new thought that she may have to venture all alone down her own road for a while.
After several minutes, the van stopped and Jack turned to them. “This the right spot?”
“Yeah.” Abraham grabbed his coat and flung it on. Then he opened the back door and together, he and Suzette slipped out to the same spot Vinnie’s body had last been seen.
Jack took off. “I’m going to find a better spot to park,” he said through the earpiece.
“Don’t stay stagnant for too long,” Abraham warned, making his way to the dried puddle of blood, now just a dark stain against the asphalt.
“Roger that.”
“So, how are we going to do this?” Suzette asked.
Abraham pointed to the blood. “I’m going to try and pick up a trail.”
He watched as she leaned down, trying to spot the stain in the dark. She can’t see as well as I can, he reminded himself. When she finally noticed it, she stood up, set her hands on her hips, and tapped her foot.
Abraham got to work. He glanced around, trying to find anything else that may be useful for tracking. Next, he sniffed the air, but the only thing he could smell was the blood, the old, faint scent of the victim’s cologne, and the pungent, foul smell of the city in general. Taking a few steps away from the murder spot, he picked up the sight of tiny droplets heading east. He followed them a few feet and stopped short, catching sight of Suzette a few yards ahead of him.
“What about this way?” she asked. “I feel like this is the right way.”
He huffed and continued following the blood speckles until he stood next to her. So, she’s got an interesting power after all. Impressive. But he tried not to look at her for fear his interest showed. Instead, he pointed to the minuscule trail. “She had blood on her hands, remember? Left a trail.”
Suzette looked around. “I don’t see it.”
“It’s there,” he said. “It’ll only get us a little further ahead, but now we know which direction she went.”
“What will you do when the trail runs dry?” Jack asked into the earpieces.
“Maybe Suzette will tell us where to go next,” Abraham suggested jokingly.
Suzette didn’t reply, only continued to stare at the ground, trying to find the trail, then toward the east.
Abraham trudged on ahead, letting Suzette fall behind. It was only a few minutes before the trail ended near a pier. They stepped out onto the wooden planks and stopped.
“Washed her hands in the ocean, huh?” Suzette stepped back onto the asphalt and looked around the area.
“Seems like it,” Abraham agreed. He took in the salty breeze, hoping the stink of the ocean still lingered on Hester. As he stepped back, the smell softened and seemed to collect in a thin trail. Perfect, he thought. But when he turned, Suzette was heading south, walking so fast and with such a cheerful bounce in her step that it looked like she was skipping. Confused, he hurried after her, only to find that she followed the saltwater smell Hester had left. “You can smell it?” he asked.
“Smell what?”
He frowned, though only to keep his focus on the trail. “Never mind.”
She shrugged and continued on.
This time they walked side by side. Neither needed the other to actually find Hester. I wonder if she knows that, he mused.
“You guys think you’re getting close?” Jack asked after a few minutes.
“I don’t know,” Suzette answered. She told him their location.
Abraham held an arm out, stopping her. They paused against the dark side of a building as they realized they had entered into a more populated part of town. There were a few people on the lit streets, but a huge park sat in front of them, darkened by a vast area of trees.
Abraham and Suzette teetered on the edge of the darkness, neither one wanting to step out.
“What now?” Suzette asked. “We could try the rooftops, maybe.”
But Abraham tilted his ear toward the area and focused. The voices around him were clear as day. He weeded through them, listening to tones and levels. After a long minute, he caught a quiet, hysteric voice. He furrowed his brows, listening as the same voice went from mournful to scorning, almost like two people arguing.
“Mae culpa!” the voice wheezed. “I didn’t want to!”
A sensation on his arm drew Abraham’s attention away. Surprised, he looked down.
Suzette gingerly gripped onto his arm and leaned over it on her tiptoes, trying to study his face. “Did you hear something?”
He quickly dropped his arm and she let go. He frowned at how easily her touch seemed to take away his attention. Regaining his focus, he glanced over at the park. “She’s in there.”
Suzette’s fingers flexed by her side. “So, do we just make a run for it over there?”
A fragrant smell drifted to Abraham’s nose, freezing him on the spot. The familiar perfume turned his blood cold. He closed his eyes, fighting the horrible, shameful memories attached to it. When they disappeared, he opened his eyes and looked to the rooftops above them.
I should’ve known Dorian would drag the Order into this. It changed everything. He took a step back toward the building’s fire escape.
“Where’re you going, Stud?”
He whirled back around and began to snarl at the silhouette of the tiny woman, only to remember it was Suzette.
She jammed her thumb over her shoulder, toward the park. “Hester’s that way.”
Abraham relaxed at her innocent, concerned stare and thought for a moment. “I’m going to get to the other side, that way we can take Hester down easier.”
“Good plan,” Jack said. “The cops aren’t patrolling that area right now, so you should be good.”
“Be careful.” Suzette turned toward the park.
Abraham let out a quiet sigh and climbed up to the roof. There, he scanned the tops of the other buildings, a tight knot in his stomach. Where are you?
And then he saw a figure moving quietly across the rooftops of the buildings on the right side of the park, making its way around. But when Abraham caught sight of the figure, the figure caught sight of him as well. It froze for only a second before retreating hastily into the darkness.
Using his rising anger, Abraham ran and hurled himself across the rooftop to the next one. He would show no mercy.
—
Dorian peered out of the car window, careful not to be seen by any curious eyes. He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel in a steady rhythm, looking around at the faces of the few people present.
Still no sign of her. Am I at the right place?
He pulled out his phone and unlocked it, opening up his previous text-message conversation with a little pig contact icon. He scanned over the short talk, barely an hour old.
Found her. Sent patrols away.
If I make a mess?
I’ll clean it up. Let me know if you need anything.
An address followed.
Dorian glanced out at the street sign once more, only confirming the l
ocation. He sighed and leaned over the wheel, surveying the people as they walked, but still no Hester.
A shadow stirred deep in the park, catching his eye. It had to be her.
Dorian’s body relaxed in an instant as he fell into his role. He rolled his neck and shoulders, letting them loosen. Then he reached into the passenger seat, grabbed the dirty old coat he’d placed there, and threw it on. With his last once-over, he pulled down the visor and studied Abraham’s face in the mirror as it studied him back. The actor frowned that critical way Abraham always did, like nothing was good enough for him. He chuckled once at how perfectly he replicated the brute’s severe look.
Dorian reached into the glove compartment, grabbed the gun, stuffed it in the back of his belt, and quietly stepped out of the car. As he crossed the street, he glanced up at the rooftops, hoping to catch a glimpse of the agent from the Order. Of course, as expected, he found nothing. So, he continued toward the trees, channeling Van Helsing’s persona—long, careful steps, head slightly down to avoid detection, yet always aware of his powerful presence. The only problem was staying as quiet and alert as Abraham would.
Yet when Dorian got to the park, even with the lack of both light and his own hunting skills, it wasn’t difficult for him to find Hester and draw closer to her. She was far too busy muttering insanely to herself, crying out sorrowfully one minute and thrown into a hot temper the next. Sitting almost under the walking bridge, she rocked slightly, torn between hugging her knees and beating at her head with her own fists.
Dorian strolled up behind her stealthily, but not stealthily enough. She turned in enough time for him to see terror flash across her face before his fist delivered its blow. She flattened out on the ground, only able to muster a groan. Dorian kicked her over on her front, set a heavy boot down on her back, and pulled out his gun. Unable to stifle his wicked glee, he smiled and took aim.
“Abraham—stop!”
Dorian turned, bewildered, and took in the small woman dressed in what looked like a black jumpsuit and… Is that a mask?
“What do you think you’re doing?!” she demanded, rushing up to him. “This wasn’t the plan! We’re supposed to get her help!”
Dorian found himself speechless; the woman had caught him by surprise. Stupid! Abraham’s never taken by surprise! He felt for a brief moment a sense of failure in his artform before he quickly channeled Van Helsing again, delivering the coldest, most condescending glare he could muster. “I changed the plan.” He turned back to Hester and brought his finger to the trigger.
A pain shot through his head, chattering his whole frame and sending him crashing to the ground. The gun flew out of his hand, disappearing in the shadows. When he looked up at the young woman, she stood with her hand over her mouth, almost like she was shocked by her actions as well.
“Oh, I’m so s—!” But she stopped and looked at him oddly. “Wait, you’re not Abraham!” She turned her head away. “Hey, guys! I’ve got Dorian Gray here!”
Dorian stumbled backward, his face burning with shame and anger. How does she know?! He slowly rose, examining the woman standing before him for anything recognizable, wondering how on earth some nobody could see through his act.
She suddenly gasped and darted forward, rushing past Dorian. “Hester, please come back! I just want to help!”
When he turned, Hester was already close to the edge of the park, sprinting with all her might. The sight ignited Dorian’s rage. With a few strides in Van Helsing’s strong legs, he was behind the masked woman. He gripped tightly onto her arm, bringing her to a halt and spinning her around. Without warning, Dorian drove his fist towards her face. To his surprise, she quickly deflected it with her arm and countered it with her own jab.
He grabbed his nose in pain, feeling the warm blood start to trickle out. He quickly shook his head and continued attacking, but she always managed to counter or block him. She was very skilled, too skilled maybe, and for a moment, Dorian wondered if she was the Order’s agent. But if she was, why would she be working with Abraham Van Helsing? The lack of answers only frustrated him more.
“Who are you?!”
She beamed. “I’m the Onyx Fox!”
He furrowed his brows at her, confused.
Suzette took advantage of his state and gave him a swift roundhouse kick to the head. Then he was on the ground, rolling around and groaning, somewhere between consciousness and a knockout. She couldn’t just leave him there, though. Catching Dorian Gray was too good a chance to pass up. She stepped toward him but her feet turned her around, setting her in the direction of Hester.
She sighed and started after her. “Abraham, I took down Dorian Gray in the park. You should come pick him up.”
But there was no answer.
“Abraham?”
“He hasn’t been answering me, either,” Jack replied. “I’m just getting noise.”
Panic set in. Suzette moved a little faster.
—
Abraham’s vision blurred red around the Agent as he chased her across the rooftops in her typical, zig-zag pattern, sending them both in all sorts of directions. He wasn’t even clear which way they were heading anymore. All he could see was the Agent. All he could hear was her movements; Jack and Suzette’s voices were simple muffles in his ear. Of all the agents the Order had, they went and sent the only one who could put up a good chase again him. Almost like they planned for my interference.
Despite the struggle to keep up, Abraham felt exhilarated. He’d been so sick the past couple days that it was such a relief to be able to breathe without congested lungs. After the night of the charity ball, the sickness seemed to just disappear into thin air. He grinned at the thought of his newfound strength being the cause of such regeneration. The Order had spent years trying to build him into a machine. Now, he really was one. The Agent wouldn’t stand a chance.
The Agent moved to the ground.
Abraham ran to the roof-access door of the apartment complex he was on and practically flew down the stairs, brushing past a few people on his way. But he no longer cared about sound or attention, only getting her. Once he hit the ground level and exited the building, he sprinted in the direction of her scent, his free ear drowning out everything in his focus to picking up her soft, quiet movements much farther ahead. As he weaved between buildings, her figure darted in and out of sight. He made a sharp turn.
Something abruptly collided into him and fell in his way with a loud grunt.
Unharmed but dazed, he stopped short and stared confusedly at the victim as he tried to catch his breath.
Hester Prynne rolled onto her hands and knees and gripped her stomach, the wind completely knocked out of her. Her mouth tried to suck in deep swells of air, but the jolt of running into him had left the action difficult.
Abraham glanced around, looking for the Agent. When he didn’t spot her, he took out his gun and aimed at Hester’s head. No, he couldn’t let the Order make this woman a stronger weapon. There was no telling what kind of havoc they would wreak with such a debilitating power such as Hester’s. Why else would they send the Agent after her? I can’t let them take her.
His finger paused on the trigger, Suzette’s words on second chances nagging at him, almost as if she was there next to him, whispering the plea in his ear. His heart ached slightly at the painful memory; if only she knew how much he related. But he couldn’t let her know.
“Do it.”
Hester’s weak voice drew Abraham’s attention away from his thoughts.
She had rolled over onto her back, still wincing in pain. “Do it, please,” Hester whimpered, leaning up on her hands. “I didn’t want to kill those people. I really didn’t.” Biting down on her quivering lip, she pushed herself up onto her knees and stared up at him. “Please, you can’t let me hurt anyone else.”
Abraham tightened his jaw at the self-loathing that burned in her eyes. It was a look he knew all too well, one that sincerely begged for the end.
Hester’s
head fell as sobs overtook her. She covered her face with her hands and broke.
The sight made Abraham sigh. Stupid Suzette—getting in my head. He reached down with his free hand and jerked Hester up by her arm.
Suddenly, the scenery around him melted away, making him relinquish Hester from his grasp and leaving him in the pitch dark. Baffled, he looked around, only to find nothing. He held up his empty hands, sighing in relief when he could see them.
“Abraham.”
He jumped at his name and turned to the voice.
Hester stood at a distance, perfectly visible even amidst the blackness that surrounded them. She looked calm as she stood there staring at him. She was clean, sane, and happy, wearing a crisp white dress. A swell of life in her stomach drew Abraham’s attention the most.
What is this? He knew all too well that it was a vision, but he didn’t know what it meant. Could she really be pregnant? Who was the father? Would something be wrong with the baby, too? All the questions made his head ache.
Hester set her hands on her round stomach. Their eyes both came up from it and met. Then she gave him a small, genuine smile.
“Abraham!”
Suzette’s scared voice jolted him. When he blinked, he was surrounded by buildings once more. The gun was in his hand, but Hester was long gone.
“Abraham!”
Her franticness made him cringe. He thought about the Agent. “What? what’s wrong? Where are you?!”
She let out a loud, high-pitched groan.
His heart jumped and began pounding. “Suzette, talk to me!”
“We thought you were in trouble,” Jack snapped. “You haven’t been answering us and then you just went completely quiet for a few minutes. What happened?”
Blind World (The Onyx Fox Saga Book 1) Page 37