by Brandon Hale
“So Wallace just came out and revealed himself?” Ellie asked.
Scott nodded. “There were a total of seventy-four werewolves in the military who came out together. Wallace was one of them. And it’s a damn good thing they did. We’d have been screwed without them.”
“I’ve heard of the seventy-four,” Lily said. “I didn’t know he was one of them.”
“He led them,” Scott said. “There’s no way we would have survived a month without them. Before the war, we had no way of detecting a werewolf. The seventy-four allowed themselves to be studied. They trained soldiers on how to detect a werewolf in human form. Thanks to the seventy-four, humans were able to sniff out the werewolves that were living among us.”
“The purge,” Lily said. “I definitely remember reading about the purge.”
“Yeah,” Scott said. He turned to Ellie. “So you can take my word for this. Werewolves are not evil. They just have a different perspective on what this world needs. And thank God not all werewolves shared that perspective. If they had, humanity would be food right now.”
“Okay, Mr. Know-it-all,” Grung said, “I have another question for you.”
“Sure,” Scott said. “I’m pretty sure I can answer it.”
“Wow,” Lily said. “Might want to work on your modesty there, soldier.”
Scott laughed. “I have plenty of flaws. Hell, you saw my epic failure with the power objects. So when I’m good at something, I’m going to embrace it. And when it comes to the history of the Day Soldiers and the Legion and the war, I know my stuff.”
“I’m glad you brought up power objects,” Grung said, “because that’s what my question’s about.” He pointed at Lily.
Lily sighed. She knew this was coming. “You’re talking about my decision that prevented us from getting proper training.”
“Oh, hell no,” Grung said. “I loved that. It took guts to stand up like that. I’m talking about what happened when you took the cross. You burned it without even touching it. And Abbie seemed… I don’t know… excited. And then she handed you a damn rock.”
Lily felt relief rush through her. At least one member of her team appreciated her stupid little protest. “I must admit,” she said, “I felt a little guilty that she spent so much time on me.”
“I think,” Scott said, “Lily proved something today that Abbie and Wallace have suspected from the day they met her.”
“Which is?” Grung asked.
“That Lily is like Abbie,” Scott said. “She’s a channeler. She’s got the touch.”
“The touch of crazy or the touch of bitch?” Lily asked.
Scott groaned. “Let me guess. You guys don’t know Sister Abbie’s history either.”
“That’s why we have you,” Ellie said. “It’s our responsibility to stay ignorant, just so you have a place on this team.”
“Nice,” Scott said. “Well, before the war, Abbie lived in a convent in Ireland. She was a teacher in a local school. Nothing special. During the first major assault on humanity, her town was attacked by vampires. And not just a few. Apparently, there were a lot of vampires in Ireland. They swarmed the town and overtook it in a matter of minutes.”
“How did Abby survive?” Lily asked.
Scott laughed. “You’ll like this, Chief. She didn’t just survive. She killed them all.”
Lily’s heart soared. “What?”
“Yeah,” Scott said. “With a table leg. She kicked a table over and ripped the leg off to use as a stake. Then she just went out onto the streets and started slaughtering them. When everything was said and done, she had killed hundreds of them and led the few human survivors to safety. She didn’t have a scratch on her.”
“How?” Grung said.
“They were infants,” Lily offered. “Like in Iveyton.”
“Would you stop with the infant crap?” Scott said. “You didn’t survive Iveyton because they were infants. You survived because you have the touch. Just like Abbie.”
“Explain,” Lily said.
“We all have the ability to harness the good within ourselves,” Scott said. “That’s how power objects work. But a few people - like, less than one percent - don’t have to harness it. They just have to release it.”
“I don’t understand,” Lily said.
“No vampire can touch Abbie,” Scott explained. “She doesn’t need a cross or a rock. Her body is a power object. She can burn them with her hand. Her goodness or positive energy or whatever the hell you want to call it… it just pours from her body. And I’m pretty sure that after Wallace saw what you did in Iveyton, he suspected you had the touch too. I’m also pretty sure that today you proved they were right.”
Lily didn’t like that at all. For the past ten years, she’d dreamed of being a Day Soldier, but this wasn’t what she wanted. She wanted to be part of something bigger than herself. This was different.
Scott apparently noticed the worry on her face. “Don’t overthink this, Chief. You have a very rare ability, but you’re not alone. I have a photographic memory. I see words, and I never forget anything. Ever. Ellie can climb vertical objects like some kind of weird animal. And Grung, from what I’ve read, could take Chuck Norris in a fight.”
Grung laughed. “Nobody can take Chuck Norris in a fight.”
“My point,” Scott continued, “is that we all have talents and skills that make us special. If you’re going to lead this team, you have to learn how to embrace yours.”
***
After breakfast, they waited on Abbie to come to the new alley to continue training. Ten minutes passed. Then twenty. Then thirty.
“Maybe we misunderstood,” Grung suggested.
“No,” Scott said. “She specifically said we’d be starting in this alley. She’s up to something.”
“I can go scout the other side,” Ellie offered. “See if she’s still there.”
“We’ll all go,” Lily said. “If she is up to something, I don’t think we should split the group.”
The others nodded in agreement. The group crossed the street to the original alley.
The vampire was gone.
“Okay,” Lily said as she walked toward the spot where the vampire had been, “who stole our vampire?”
The alarms again blared throughout the streets.
“We’re together!” Grung yelled. “How did we set off an alarm?”
Ellie pointed to side of the building, just above the door Abbie always came from. An alarm was attached to the wall.
After a few seconds, the alarm went silent. Abbie’s door opened and she stepped out. “That’s two for Ellie and one for the rest of you. You have to be more careful or you won’t make it a week.”
“So you add alarms?” Scott said, agitated. “That’s not exactly fair.”
“If you kill a vampire and leave his body in the street,” Abbie said, “it will get noticed. And that street will be watched.”
“Well, damn,” Grung said.
“This is going to be a frustrating eight weeks,” Ellie said.
“Assuming,” Lily added, “we make it that long.”
Part Three:
The Cadets
Chapter 11
Infiltration
Day 27.
Leo sat at the table, drinking his coffee.
“She’s not coming, man,” the young man beside him said. His name was Enrico and he was another sniper for the Day Soldiers.
“I know,” Leo said. “Really, at this point, I come for the coffee.”
“Liar,” Enrico said. “Why do you do this every day?”
“I told you,” Leo said. “I just like the coffee here.”
Enrico laughed. “Whatever, brother. Let’s go. The graduation party will be over by the time we get there.”
“You go on. I think I’ll chill here for a while.”
“Seriously,” Enrico said wi
th a groan, “she’s not coming. Her training isn’t even half over. Sneakers train for eight weeks, and they are not allowed to leave during that time. You know this.”
Leo sighed. “I know. I just really hate that she’s not here for my graduation.”
“It’s not her fault our training is just four weeks,” Enrico said. “Besides, you’ll be able to attend her graduation. That’s something, right?”
“Yeah,” Leo said.
“Come on,” Enrico urged. “Chin up, my brother. After tomorrow, you are officially a dotter. Let’s celebrate.”
“You’re right,” Leo said, standing up. “Let’s go.”
This time, Enrico sighed. “You really don’t want to, do you.”
“No,” Leo said quietly. “I don’t.”
“Then sit your ass down,” Enrico said. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to get me a cup of this coffee that has you so devoted to this place.”
“You don’t have to stay, man,” Leo said.
“Don’t be stupid,” Enrico countered. “You are my friend. If you stay, I stay. Think of it this way. You’re saving me from a hangover.”
Leo laughed. “You’re welcome,” he said. “And thank you.”
Enrico put his hand on Leo’s shoulder. “This woman,” he said. “She is very important to you.”
“She’s my best friend,” Leo said.
“Then we will sit and miss her together,” Enrico said.
“You’re a good friend, too,” Leo said.
“Dotters stick together,” Enrico said. “Now I will return momentarily and we will begin missing Lily.”
Leo was actually very pleased with his training. Life was much better than he thought it would be. He wasn’t alone. He had made friends. Some, like Enrico, felt more like family than friends. He had done very well in the training and was about to become an official Day Soldier sniper.
All in all, life was good.
But he still missed his friend.
In the distance, an alarm started blaring. Leo knew it was coming from Sneaker City.
“What is with all the alarms there?” Enrico said as he sat back down with a coffee in his hand.
“I guess they really have to learn how to move around without getting spotted,” Leo said.
“Have either of you been drinking?”
Leo turned around to see his commanding officer, the man who had been his trainer for the past four weeks.
“Just coffee, sir,” Leo said, surprised that his commander was there.
“Okay,” the man said. “Both of you come with me. Now.”
***
Ellie stood in the hallway, watching the alarm slowly scan the living room. When it was pointing in the opposite direction, she sprinted to the spot directly under it and pressed herself against the wall. She carefully reached up and yanked the cables from the back of the alarm.
“Okay,” she said. “That’s all of them.”
“You sure?” Grung said as he stepped into the room. “This can’t be a repeat of last night. I only have three alarms left and then I’m out of here.”
“Sissy,” Ellie said. “I’m down to two and you don’t see me crying.”
Scott stepped from another room. “The bedrooms are clear. There was one alarm in the master bedroom, but I got it.”
Lily stepped from another room. “This kitchen,” she said, “is clean.”
“Sweet,” Ellie said. “We have ourselves an apartment.”
“She’ll figure it out and change it tomorrow,” Scott said.
“That’s probably true,” Lily said. “That’s also tomorrow. For tonight, enjoy yourself. There’s plenty of food in the cabinets and two beds. We’ve done well.”
“We have running water!” Grung yelled from the kitchen. “And hot water!” He ran back into the apartment’s living room and headed down the hall. “I’m taking a shower!”
“Did anybody even see him go into the kitchen?” Lily asked.
“Not I,” Ellie said.
“I get it next,” Scott said.
“Not a big believer in chivalry, I see,” Lily said.
“I haven’t had a shower in a week,” Scott said. “’I’m sure my stink is great. Me getting clean as soon as possible is chivalrous.”
Lily laughed. “Your logic is stupid. None of us have had showers.”
“Exactly,” Scott said. “So as a gentleman, I’m going to suffer through your stink longer than you have to suffer through mine.”
“You’re such a hero,” Ellie said.
“I am,” Scott said. “I really…am…” He stopped talking and walked to the living room’s front window.
“What is it?” Lily said.
“I saw something on the street,” Scott said as he looked out the window. “It ran right by the window.”
“Great,” Lily said. “She can’t let us have one comfortable night in an apartment.”
“It wasn’t Abbie,” Scott said.
“Then who was it?” Ellie asked.
“I don’t know,” Scott said. “But it looked kind of… big.”
“The street lights probably just cast a shadow that made her look bigger,” Lily said.
“I’m telling you,” Scott argued, “it wasn’t Abbie. It moved like…” He hesitated.
“Like what?” Lily asked.
“Like a werewolf,” he whispered.
“Great,” Ellie groaned. “She’s brought in a werewolf.”
“Yeah,” Scott mumbled. “I guess so. I mean, we’re due to start our werewolf training any day now.”
“I guess any day just became tonight,” Lily said.
“So you think they’ve brought in an actual werewolf?” Ellie asked.
“I guess so,” Lily said. “One of the seventy-four, I suppose.”
“You know,” Scott said, “it’s not fair that she doesn’t let us keep weapons on us. I mean, it’s not really replicating reality if we have to give our weapons back to her after every training.”
“I guess Sneaker City’s meant to teach us how to survive without anything,” Lily offered.
“I guess,” Scott said.
Lily looked from Scott to Ellie. “You’re not going to like what I’m about to say.”
“Double watches,” Ellie said.
Lily nodded. “The price we pay for staying in an apartment on the ground level, with a front door and a back. Scott, since you called the next shower, I’ll take the front door and Ellie, you take the back. Radio silence unless something happens. Everybody, make sure you’re turned on.”
They weren’t allowed to carry weapons, but Abbie did give them each a small radio. Lily opened a pouch on her belt and pulled out a small ear piece. She clipped it to her ear. Scott and Ellie did the same. “Sound check,” Lily said quietly.
“Loud and clear,” Scott said. Lily heard his reply in the room and her ear piece.
“Loud and clear,” Ellie said.
Lily and Scott gave her a nod that indicated they heard her.
“Okay,” Lily said as she dragged a chair to the window beside the front door. “Scott, for now you go with Ellie to the back door in the kitchen. Since we’re on the first watch, it’s up to you to prepare dinner and let Grung know what the hell is going on.”
Scott gave her a two-fingered salute and walked toward the kitchen. Ellie followed him.
Lily sat in her chair and watched the street outside. The past four weeks had been challenging, but the training was starting to pay off. She no longer hesitated when it came time to make decisions, and they followed her orders without question. The mornings were filled with specific training and the evenings were filled with just surviving in Sneaker City. So far, all training had involved vampires, from appropriate weapons training to their strengths and weaknesses.
Abbie never brought another living vampire with her, but she di
d occasionally bring a dead one, just to work on power objects. The entire team was now proficient with crosses, even Scott. Lily had tried to use unusual items, like rocks, but she was unsuccessful every time. Almost four weeks into the training, she was pretty damn sure they were wrong about her having “the touch,” which was just fine as far as she was concerned. She felt good as the squad’s leader and didn’t care if she had some rare gift in regards to touching a vampire. She didn’t plan to touch them anyway, if she could help it.
Her earpiece beeped.
“Guys,” Lily said quietly, “Abbie is beeping me. I’m switching lines for a minute. Hopefully, it’s to explain Scott’s werewolf. Stay together until I’m back. If something happens, one of you come tell me in person. Lily, out.”
She pressed a button on her belt and quietly said, “Baxter here.”
“We have a problem.” It was Abbie’s voice, and – for the first time since she’d met Abbie – her voice sounded worried.
“Does it have to do with the werewolf in the neighborhood?” Lily guessed.
“You saw a werewolf?” The concern in Abbie’s voice was very unnerving to Lily.
“Yes, ma’am,” she said. “Scott was the only person who saw it, but he’s confident it was a werewolf.”
“Damn.”
“Abbie, what’s wrong?”
Abbie was silent for a few seconds, then said, “Earlier today, a soldier was caught downloading confidential files. He attacked the soldier who saw him do this and ran off. We’ve been searching the complex all day and still haven’t seen him. We suspect he’s a poser.”
“A poser?” Lily asked.
“Not important,” Abbie said. “The only area that hasn’t been searched yet is Sneaker City. We had assumed the alarms would inform us if he entered there, but if Scott saw a werewolf, it must be him.”
“Are you in the city?” Lily asked.
“No,” Abbie said. “I’m in the main building with Commander Wallace. Lily, you and your team are in very real danger. You have no weapons. Stay with your team. Find somewhere dark and quiet and stay there. Wallace is sending troops in now. They’ll be bringing you weapons. They’ll need your help to find this person. We don’t know how far he was able to hack into our system, but we can’t let him get off this base.”
