Hero Force United Boxed Set 1

by Baron Sord

  “Sir! I can’t let you leave!” he commanded. “Don’t go anywhere, sir! Stop! Sir!”

  “Eads and Silverado! Run the plates!” I barked and ran out the front doors, sprinting off the hospital grounds onto 5th Avenue. I was long gone before Coffee Cop made it to the doors.

  —: Chapter 34 :—

  …No don’t! Please don’t kill me! I’ll do anything! Please! Pleeeeease!

  Minutes later, I was sprinting down 30th Street and hopped over the guardrail, dashing down the spongy ice plants covering the steep slope. It didn’t take long before the streetlights on 30th were too far behind to cast any light.

  It was almost completely dark down here in the bottom of Switzer Canyon. A glint of moonlight was all I had to go on.

  The trail was narrow and rocky. Tall bushes surrounded me on both sides, denser than a hedge maze. High atop the ridges on either side of the ragged canyon, the backyards of multiple million-dollar-homes overlooked the dried riverbed. Most were dark this late at night, but a few glowed distantly with porch lights or interior lights that promised the comfort of civilization that was so close yet so far away.

  …Please let me go! I promise I won’t tell! Please!

  The mental voice was that of a young woman in a state of absolute terror.

  I ran through the dark maze of bushes, aiming for the source of the distress call. When I was right on top of it, I didn’t see anyone. But I knew I was in the right place. I could feel it.

  The night was silent.

  Turning, I couldn’t see anyone in any direction because my view was cut short by the surrounding screen of random plant life walling me in. Visibility was no more than 5 or 10 feet in every direction.

  Trusting my intuition, I decided to hide in the bushes and wait.

  Minutes later, I heard rustling, then rattling river rocks.

  Someone was coming.

  Two shadows emerged from the maze of scrub. A large one dragging a smaller one. Silvery moonlight drizzled over a man and a young woman.

  The woman appeared lifeless.

  The man dragged her off the riverbed and up into the bushes opposite me.

  I quietly crept out of hiding and followed. Worked my way up the slope behind them.

  Some distance up the hill, the man dropped the woman in the dark dirt and sat down next to her, breathing hard. He thought, Fucking cheerleader cunt. Thinks she’s better than me? Thinks she can flaunt her body like that every damn day and I’m not gonna do anything? Fuck no. She’s mine now. All mine to fuck any way I want. I’m already fucking hard just thinking about it.

  The young woman moaned sleepily, “Where am I?”

  “You’re with me now,” the man whispered. “You’re safe.”

  “What?” In the darkness, she pushed herself up on her elbows. She was barely visible through the screen of intervening trees and shrubs between me and them.

  The man said, “Relax, everything is gonna be okay.”

  “Mr. Kayhill? Is that you?” the young woman asked tentatively.

  “It is,” he said in a friendly tone.

  “What happened? What am I doing out here? I was getting in my car to go to practice and I… I don’t remember. Ow, my head. What happened to my head?”

  He thought, She never saw me coming. He said, “Someone tried to attack you, Brianna. I saved you. Brought you here where it’s safe.”

  “What?” Brianna said. She thought, This is really weird. And my head is killing me. Did Mr. Kayhill hit me?

  “Don’t worry, Bree, you’re safe. We’re all alone. No one can hurt you here.”

  “Um…” Brianna trailed off. He is totally creeping me out. I have to get out of here before he does something weird. Her mounting fear was palpable.

  That was my cue.

  I was about 10 yards below their position on the slope. I didn’t want to scare Mr. Kayhill into doing something dumb. I laughed softly, “I am so drunk right now it’s not even funny.” I started stumbling up the slope toward them. “How the hell do I get out of here?”

  Mr. Kayhill tensed and thought, Who the fuck is that?

  “Over here,” Brianna said quietly.

  “Shhh!” Mr. Kayhill hissed. “We don’t know who that is!”

  “We’re up here!” Brianna said shrilly. Please help me, please help me, please!

  I said, “Which way is out?” I pushed through the bushes until I saw the two of them crouching in deep shadow. “I am totally lost, you guys,” I chuckled. “Can you show me how to get out of here?”

  Mr. Kayhill thought, Who the fuck is this guy?

  I stumbled forward and fell onto my hands and knees, trying to get closer to both of them. “Whoops!” I laughed. “I can’t stand up. How many fricking beers did I drink?”

  Brianna crawled over to me, “Do you need help going home?”

  “Yeah,” I chuckled. “I don’t know which way is out.”

  “Mr. Kayhill, we should help him go home, don’t you think?”

  “I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” Kayhill said. Fucking asshole is ruining everything. Now I have to kill him too.

  I said to Brianna, “Can you show me? Do you know the way out?”

  “I can figure it out,” she said confidently. “Here, I’ll help you up.” She grabbed my arm with a shaky hand. She was freaking out but staying strong.

  Mr. Kayhill said, “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Brianna.”

  “It is,” she insisted.

  “We don’t know who he is,” Kayhill warned.

  She said to me, “Stand up, mister.” She was trying to help me to my feet.

  Kayhill hissed, “Stop, Brianna. I’m warning you.”

  “No,” she said defiantly. “He needs to go home and sober up.”

  “Don’t do it, Bree,” he warned icily.

  She ignored him and helped me to my feet.

  In the darkness, Mr. Kayhill slashed out in a blinding blur. Something cut sharp and hard across my neck. The force of the blow and the surprise was enough to send me spinning away from Brianna.

  I slammed onto the sloped dirt.

  “What’d you do!” Brianna gasped.

  Mr. Kayhill growled, “The same thing I’m gonna do to you if you don’t shut the fuck up, you teasing fucking cunt.”

  “Is that a knife?! Did you stab him?!” Her voice was tight with panic.

  Without answering, Kayhill advanced menacingly toward her. A curved blade glimmered in his hand. A Karambit knife.

  Perfect for cutting someone’s throat open.

  I slapped my palm against my neck, expecting to feel the skin hanging open in bloody flaps while blood squirted out. Nope. Smooth and dry.

  Brianna backed up a step from Mr. Kayhill and slipped on the sloping hillside. She went down on her knees.

  He hissed, “Now you’re gonna get what you deserve, you slut fucking cunt…”

  She whimpered, “No don’t! Please don’t kill me! I’ll do anything! Please! Pleeeeease!”

  He grabbed her by the hair and yanked her head back. Lowered the Karambit to her neck. Unlike my neck, hers would cut easily. Kayhill grunted, “Now I’m gonna do what I’ve always—”

  CRACK!

  I slammed a fist into the side of Kayhill’s head.

  He went flying into the bushes.

  Shit. I had pulled my punch at the last second, but I had also slipped forward slightly on the slope when I’d thrown it. Hopefully I hadn’t hit him hard enough to kill him. If he was dead, it was his problem, not mine. Then again, the very idea made me nauseous. One death by my hands — Ice Statue — was enough. I didn’t want to add more.

  I turned to Brianna, “Are you okay?”

  “Oh my God, oh my God, oh my god.” She was shaking from head to toe.

  I said, “Brianna! Are you hurt? Did he cut you?”

  “Oh, oh, oh, oh…”

  “Can I check your neck?”

  She looked up at me in the darkness, her frightened eyes barely visib
le but for the glittering reflection of moonlight. Otherwise, her face was a dark mask.

  “Brianna, I’m going to check your neck for any injuries. Stay calm.” I ran my hand gently around her warm throat. I heaved a sigh of relief when I realized it too was smooth and dry like mine. “Stay here. I need to go check on Kayhill.”

  She stared at me blankly.

  Slice!

  Something tore across the back of my neck.

  Slice!

  Then down the length of my black T-shirt.

  Slice!

  This time crosswise, angling down my back from the other direction.

  I spun around to face Kayhill.

  Advancing, he slashed away in whirling X’s, aiming for my forearms and fingers.

  Now furious, I waited for a slow-motion opening between slashes, then fired my fist straight into his forehead.

  KOOM!

  I felt his skull collapse under my knuckles as I drove him bodily into the ground.

  He lay there in a motionless heap.

  I pushed him onto his back with the toe of my black boot.

  He flopped over and didn’t move.

  I whispered behind me, “Hey, Brianna? Are you still there?”

  No answer.

  I turned around.

  She was hastily crawling down the slope while whimpering.

  “Hold on,” I said quietly. “Wait! I need your help! Brianna!” I caught up to her at the bottom of the hill, down on the round river rocks.

  She said, “Please let me go! I promise I won’t tell! Please!” He’s going to kill me. I have to get out of here!

  Once again: ninja mask, black clothes, gloves, etc. I probably looked more scary than Mr. Kayhill by a factor of 20.

  I knelt down next to Brianna, “I’m not going to hurt you. Calm down.” Now that she was in full moonlight, I could see she was young and beautiful. She had blue eyes and long blonde hair in a ponytail. She reminded me somewhat of Taylor Swift, but with a wider mouth, fuller lips, and kinder eyes.

  I said, “Who is that guy?”

  “My neighbor. Who are you?”

  “Do you know who the Masked Jumper is?” Again, I wanted to say Wildfire, but didn’t.

  “That guy from the news?”

  I nodded, “That’s me.”

  “No way,” she gasped.

  “Yes way,” I grinned, hoping she’d see the smile in my eyes.

  “You’re him?”

  “None other.”

  Now smiling, she shook her head and her long ponytail waved behind it, “I can’t believe you’re him.”

  “Neither can I,” I chuckled, “but it’s me.”

  “This is epic. You saved me. I mean, if you’re not lying, this is totally effing epic.”

  “I’m not.”

  “The Masked Jumper saved me!” she giggled. “I totally can’t believe it!”

  “Yeah. Can you do me a favor?”

  “Um… it depends what it is.”

  “I need to check on Mr. Kayhill.”

  She frowned, “Screw him! He was going to… Going to…” She grimaced. “I don’t even want to think about it right now.”

  “You’re safe,” I reassured her. “He can’t hurt you as long as I’m here. I’ll make sure you get home safe, but I need to check on him before we go.”

  “Uh, I guess so. What should I do?”

  “Stay close.” I stood up.

  She raised her arms and wiggled her fingers, “Help me up?” Evidently, any fears she’d had about my intentions had evaporated now that she “recognized” me.

  I grabbed both her hands and pulled her to her feet. “Let’s go.” I started up the hillside.

  “Wait,” she said. “Don’t go without me.” She was literally right behind me.

  I wasn’t sure what she wanted.

  “Here, can you…” She stepped closer and snuggled against my side, one hand on my chest. “Okay, I’m ready.”

  I put my arm protectively around her side and led her up the slope through the bushes. When we got to the hidden area where I had punched Mr. Kayhill, I said, “Stay behind me. In case he tries something.”

  “Okay,” she said, pressing up against my side.

  Kayhill lay there on his back.

  I crept forward.

  He didn’t move.

  “Stay here,” I whispered to Brianna, separated from her, then knelt beside Kayhill. It was so dark, I couldn’t make out any details. I shook his face gently and his head wiggled loosely on his neck. Tried to feel his pulse in his throat. Couldn’t feel anything through my gloves. Not wanting to leave fingerprints or DNA, I whispered, “Brianna, do you have a phone on you?”

  “Um, no. It must be in my car. Or I dropped it. I don’t know.”

  “Don’t worry about it.”

  “Is he dead?”

  “I’m trying to check,” I said sourly.

  “Oh my God,” Brianna gasped. Serves that jerk right! I knew Mr. Kayhill was a perv! The way he’s always staring with those creeper eyes of his! I never would’ve thought he was a murderer! I can’t believe he tried to kill me!

  I went through Kayhill’s pockets. Found a phone. It was password protected. But the password screen was plenty bright in the darkness of full night. I pointed it at his face.

  “Oh,” I muttered.

  “What?” Brianna asked, leaning over my shoulder to look. “Ew, that’s gross,” she grimaced.

  It was.

  Kayhill’s forehead was caved in.

  The skin wasn’t even broken.

  But the ragged divot was at least three inches deep.

  “Is he dead?” Brianna asked.

  “My guess would be yes.” I heaved a sigh. Now I had killed two people. First Ice Statue, and now Karambit Kayhill. Guess I didn’t know my own strength. Ha, ha. No, I wasn’t laughing.

  “What do we do with him?” Brianna asked.

  “Leave him here?” I chuckled morosely. I turned to her.

  She scowled, “Good. He deserves to rot out here. Like a dead dog or something.”

  I couldn’t argue with her on that topic, but I had a mess on my hands. Brianna was witness to a murder I had committed, self-defense or no self-defense. She didn’t deserve to be dragged into this.

  First thing was first: flee the crime scene.

  “Let’s go,” I said.

  “Should we call the cops?”

  “No,” I snorted.

  “You’re right, we shouldn’t,” she said with satisfaction. “Let his wife think he ran out on her.”

  “Someone will find the body eventually. People hike here all the time.”

  “So? He’s the asshole. You didn’t do anything.”

  “I killed him, Brianna.”

  “So what? He was going to… I don’t know what he was going to do! But I can guess!” She was now angry. “What is wrong with some people? Is his brain broken?”

  It is now, I thought morosely.

  She said, “Why did he take me down here?” She shook her head vigorously and her long ponytail jiggled. Suddenly, she winced, “Ow, ow, ow! He totally hit me in the head! Even my neck hurts! I was going to swim practice! I can’t go like this! I have to change! My clothes are all dirty!”

  I was happy that Brianna wasn’t traumatized. Or maybe she was. Maybe focusing on her morning routine kept her from thinking too clearly about what had almost happened.

  I said, “I’ll walk you home. Where do you live?”

  “Where are we?”

  “Switzer Canyon. Near 30th.”

  “I live right on the canyon. You can see it from my backyard. I’m like one street over from here.”

  I led Brianna out of the canyon up to 30th using the route I’d come in. Once on 30th, she led me to a street full of huge houses. Not mansions, per se, but in this part of San Diego, not a house on the block cost less than $1.5 million.

  “There’s my car!” Brianna said. “Right where I left it!”

  A brand new Mini
Cooper was parked at the outside edge of a curve in the road. Beside her car, a chainlink fence with red reflective diamonds mounted on it blocked off a slope that led down into the tree-lined canyon. The fence had been pushed down in the middle and there was a path worn in the undergrowth where people obviously went down to walk or hike regularly.

  Brianna said, “This must be where he took me down into the canyon!”

  “Shh,” I said, fully aware we were surrounded by houses. It was still the middle of the night, but the sun would be coming up soon. The early risers might already be awake.

  “You should meet my parents,” Brianna smiled. “I live right there.” She turned and pointed at a large and luxurious house.

  “That’s not a good idea.”

  “Are you serious?” she giggled. “They would love to meet you! You saved my life! I have to thank you somehow! At least let me make coffee and muffins for the effing Masked Jumper. I’m great at baking. My mom taught me everything I know.”

  “Would you keep your voice down? Please?”

  “Sorry,” she said.

  I glanced around briefly to make sure no one was watching us. Then I whispered, “Listen to me, Brianna. This is serious. I may be the Masked Jumper, but I’m on the hook for killing Mr. Kayhill.”

  She scowled, “Eff him! He got what he deserved! You protected me!”

  “That my be true, but I don’t want to go to court. Or jail.”

  She waved a hand, “You won’t go to jail. I’ll tell the judge what you did.”

  “It’s not that simple, Brianna.”

  “Yes it is.”

  I noticed the SDSU logo on the front of her hoodie. She was in college. Older than I’d thought, but still young. “Listen to me, Brianna, I—”

  She reached up for my mask, “What do you look like under there? I bet you’re as cute as your voice.”

  I pulled my head away, “Don’t.”

  “Sorry.”

  “I need to go. But I need you to promise me not to tell anyone what happened.”

  “Of course not,” she snorted. “Mr. Kayhill can eff himself.” Her eyes suddenly goggled. “Oh, wait. What if the cops ask questions?”

  “How well do you know Mr. Kayhill?”

  “A little. He lives — I mean, he used to live a few houses down. With his wife. She is going to be sooo pissed when she finds out!”

  Unless Mrs. Kayhill knew her husband was a kidnapper, potential rapist, and potential murderer, I was pretty sure she was going to be horrified when she realized her husband was missing. More horrified if and when she found out he was mysteriously dead. I was also confident Mrs. Kayhill wouldn’t believe the truth if she ever heard it, especially if she didn’t know about her husband’s “extra-curricular” activities. If anything, the crime scene looked like someone had attacked him and murdered him in cold blood.