by Brandon Hale
“Pretty much,” Lily said.
“Okay,” Scott said. “I’m in.”
“Count me in,” Grung said.
“B-Team go,” Ellie whispered with a mischievous grin.
Lily pulled the rope up from the outside and dropped it on the inside. She turned to the group, “Ninjas or pirates?”
“I say ninjas at first,” Scott said, “at least until we determine how many werewolves are down there. If werewolf population turns out to be low, we change to pirates.”
“Sounds good to me,” Grung said.
“Of course he wants pirates,” Ellie added. “I mean, look at his arm.”
“Did you pick on kids in wheelchairs in high school?” Grung asked.
Lily looked down at the city. It was mostly empty now as the pre-dawn light began to filter into the air. “Okay,” she said, “let’s do this.”
***
In that moment, Lily found herself again. After eight weeks of insecurity and self-doubt about her ability to lead, Lily finally understood. During training, she wasn’t home. Her home was here, in the field.
Ultimately, her training was meaningless. Sure, she learned a few new tidbits about vampires and werewolves, and she learned how to use a few more complex weapons. She came out of training with a team, which was great, but it did little to help her personally.
During training, every decision was agony. But here, just now, she had made a decision that anybody else would call absurd. There was no good outcome. Even if they managed to get these people to safety, she would likely face hell back at the base for disobeying the most important order of her very first mission. Really, it was downright stupid to go into this town.
And yet, in her mind, it was the only choice.
In the field, Lily didn’t make decisions with her mind. She didn’t even make them with her heart. In the field, she didn’t make decisions at all. She followed a path that always came to her clearly and obviously. In the field, instinct took over, and so far her instinct had never been wrong.
Not once.
During training, her instinct was a whisper, its voice often drowned out by reason and logic. In the field, her instinct was the only voice she heard. And right now, it told her these people needed to be rescued. If her team hadn’t volunteered to go with her, she would have gone alone.
Because, at the end of the day, her instinct trumped everything.
***
After making it to the bottom of the wall, they darted from building to building until they were crouched behind the church. The sheriff’s building was on the other side.
Lily turned to Ellie. Before she was able to say anything, Ellie said, “I’m on it,” and was gone.
Five and a half minutes later, she was back. “Four werewolves,” she informed them. “All of them are in the front office, playing what looks to be Go Fish.”
“Are they in wolf form?” Grung asked.
Ellie looked at him for a few seconds, then said, “No, Grung. They’re in human form.”
“Would’ve been funny if they were big hulking werewolves playing Go Fish,” Grung said.
Ellie stared at him for another few seconds, then turned to Lily. “The humans are in the jail cells in the back, but it looks like the key to the cells are hanging on the wall, Barney Fife style.”
“If we use silencers,” Scott said, “we might be able to get in and out unnoticed. Might.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Ellie said. “As soon as they realize the prisoners are gone, they’ll come looking for them. Our only real hope is that these guys are the only werewolves in town. If that’s the case, we’ll at least have the entire day to get back.”
“If the prisoners move at a decent pace,” Grung added, “we could be back to the rendezvous well before dark.”
“We’d have to act now,” Scott said. “It’s a risk. There could be other werewolves in town. It’s a big town.”
“You’d think they’d have better security here,” Ellie said.
“Why?” Scott said. “This isn’t some secret base. It’s just a town, pretty deep in their territory. These walls aren’t to keep out attackers. They’re to keep in the humans.”
“Maybe we should check for guards at the front gate,” Grung said.
“Already checked,” Ellie said. “The front gate’s wide open and I didn’t see any guards.”
“I guess with the humans all turned,” Scott said, “they’re not too worried about attempted escapes.”
“Makes sense,” Grung said.
“Okay,” Lily said. “The clock’s ticking. Pirates or ninjas?”
“Four werewolves,” Scott said, “all in the same room. I say pirates.”
“Definitely pirates,” Grung said, adding quickly, “shut up, Ellie.”
“My nature prefers ninjas, obviously,” Ellie said, “but I don’t want to be the killjoy in the group. So I’ll go with the majority and say pirates.”
Lily grinned. “Pirates it is.”
***
The four werewolves sat in the floor, each holding several cards in their hands.
“Do you have a four?” one of the werewolves said.
“Go fish,” another replied.
The first werewolf stared for a moment, then said, “I know you have a four.”
“I don’t have a damn four, Hal. Go fish.”
“I challenge,” Hal said. “I am certain you have a four.”
“You can’t challenge in Go Fish. That’s scrabble, idiot.”
“You have a four, Tim!” Hal yelled.
Tim squinted. “What makes you so sure? Have you been looking at my cards?”
“Calm down, ladies,” the third werewolf said. “It’s Go Fish. The fate of the universe isn’t at stake here.”
“You shut up, Gary!” Tim said. “He accused me of cheating.”
“I wouldn’t mind a good steak,” the fourth werewolf said. “Rare, of course.”
Hal and Tim were still staring at each other. “I’m not playing anymore,” Hal said, “until he gives me the four that I know is in his—”
The front door flew open and all the werewolves looked up to see Lily – on one knee – with Scott standing behind her. They each held two pistols.
Four rapid shots later, all four werewolves were dead as their cards floated softly to the ground.
“Really,” Grung said as they all stepped into the room, “we’re pretty terrible sneakers, if you take it in the literal sense.”
“Get the prisoners,” Lily said as she inspected the werewolves to make sure they were dead.
Grung and Ellie jogged down the hallway leading to the cells.
Lily walked to the window and looked at the nearby church.
“Lily, you’re rescuing all these people. That’s enough,” Scott said softly.
Grung and Ellie returned to the room, followed by the prisoners. Most of them looked terrified, but hopeful.
“You should fill your canteens with water before you go,” Lily said, still looking out the window. “It’s a hard walk so you’ll need to keep everyone hydrated. If there are any containers here that can easily be carried, take them.”
“What are you looking at?” Grung asked.
“Go,” Lily said. “Get your water and get these people on the road. Move as fast as you can.”
“Why are you talking like you’re not coming?” Ellie asked. She turned to Scott. “Why is she talking like she’s not coming?”
Scott just shook his head with an exasperated look on his face.
“Don’t worry,” Lily said. “I’ll catch up. But you really can’t wait for me. We have to get these people to the rendezvous before dark, which shouldn’t be a problem as long as you keep moving.”
“What the hell are you planning?” Grung asked.
Lily turned around and looked at him. “I’m going to kill that damn pr
eacher.”
“I’ll go with you,” Scott said.
“No,” Lily said. “You guys have already risked too much. I think I can kill one vampire in his sleep.”
“Lily, there could be werewolves in there. You don’t know how many—”
“No, Scott. Get these people out of here. That’s an order.”
“You’re infuriating,” Scott said.
Lily smiled. “It’s cute that you care. Now get the hell out of here. I’ll be with you before you know it.”
***
Lily quietly cracked open the front door to the church and slipped inside. She silently shut the door behind her and stood still, letting her eyes adjust to the darkness. The windows were all covered with large, black curtains. The only light in the entire church was from the few candles that were still burning. Apparently, the preacher liked to go to bed in candle light.
A dark, rectangular shape sat at the front of the church. Lily felt confident it was the preacher’s coffin. As she slowly walked toward the front, some movement to her right caught her eye. Beside her, a vampire was asleep in one of the pews. Lily’s heart stopped.
It wasn’t the preacher.
He apparently shared the church with other vampires. This could be a problem, Lily thought. She looked around the church to see more vampires in the other pews. Dozens of them.
Preacher, I sure hope you do me the courtesy of dying quietly.
She got to the front and saw that the rectangular object was indeed a coffin. The lid was open, most likely because the preacher had no reason to fear intruders. Lily leaned forward and looked inside.
The preacher was inside, motionless.
Please be easy, please be easy.
Lily reached down and pulled a wooden dagger from a sheath in her boot. She lifted it above the preacher and took a deep breath. Here goes nothing.
“You don’t want to do that,” The preacher said as he opened his eyes. “You know you don’t, child.”
Before Lily could strike, the preacher was standing behind the up-raised lid to his coffin.
“Well, crap,” Lily groaned.
“You’re wearing a Day Soldiers uniform,” the preacher said. “Surely you were taught that vampires are very light sleepers.”
“I was,” Lily said. “I just underestimated how light. All of the vampires I’ve killed were awake.”
“I doubt,” the preacher said, “you’ve ever killed a vampire, child.”
“You’re pretty wrong on that one, preacher,” Lily said.
“That’s good to know,” the preacher said. “It means your transformation will be your penance.”
“No thanks,” Lily said. “I think I’m just going to kill you and leave. I do appreciate the offer, though.”
“I think,” the preacher said, “my congregation might hinder your exodus.”
Lily turned around to see that the other vampires were now standing in front of their pews. She quickly counted them and said, “Fourteen.” She turned back to the preacher, but stood at an angle that allowed her to see him and his congregation. She smiled. “They’re not going to hinder anything. And why the hell do you talk like that?”
One of the vampires sprinted toward her.
Lily dropped to one knee and flung her stake at the attacking creature. The stake pierced its heart, killing it instantly.
“Fancy,” the preacher said. “But now you’re unarmed.”
Lily quickly pulled another stake from her other boot. “I’ll hold onto this one.”
“Your optimism is quite charming,” the preacher said. He looked past her to the other vampires. “Take her. Now.”
They all began to walk toward her. Lily’s mind raced. She’d killed hundreds of vampires in a single night, but most of them had come at her cautiously and only a few at a time. These vampires clearly had no concern for their own well-being, and they knew if they attacked together, she couldn’t take them all.
This is a problem.
“When you get her, hold her,” the preacher said. “Remember, feeding is forbidden. Simply hold her. I will turn her.”
“You know,” Lily said as she backed toward a wall, “I normally feel sorry for vampires. You’re the first one I’ve ever hated.”
“I’m honored,” the preacher said.
The vampires attacked.
Lily managed to stake one of them and kick another in the face, but the rest quickly overpowered her. They dragged her to the center aisle and forced her to her knees. The preacher leapt over his coffin and began to stroll toward her. “You’re very lucky,” he said. “You have been chosen to serve God in his war against the plague that is humanity. You will be transmogrified into—”
“I’ve already heard this speech!”
The vampire holding Lily’s left arm loosened its grip slightly, either because it was distracted by the preacher’s approach or because it was simply readjusting its grip. Lily didn’t care why. She jerked her arm as hard and fast as she could.
Her hand slipped free from the vampire’s grip, leaving the creature holding her black glove in its hands. Without thinking, Lily slammed the back of her hand into the vampire’s face.
The vampire fell to the ground, howling in pain. The other vampires instantly released her and jumped back several steps.
What the hell? she thought.
The vampire on the floor continued screaming as smoke rose from its face.
Lily looked at her hand and saw bits of the vampire’s skin.
“She’s a channeler!” one of the vampires screamed.
Lily quickly took off her other glove and turned to the preacher. She reached down and picked up her stake. “What happened to your smile?”
The preacher was walking backwards, a look of absolute terror on his face.
Lily wasn’t sure how she’d burned the vampire, but she was reasonably sure she wouldn’t be able to do it again. She knew her one chance at survival was through good, old fashioned bluffing.
“You know,” she said as she walked toward the preacher, “I’m really sick of people calling me child.”
She dove forward, driving the stake deep into the preacher’s chest. He tried to scream but was a pile of ashes before any sound came out. Lily turned back to the other vampires.
“Ashes,” she said. “He was really old.”
The vampires all kept a safe distance from her.
“I came for the preacher, not you,” Lily said. “Let me pass and I’ll let you live.”
The vampires stepped to the sides of the church, leaving her a clear path to the front door. Lily got to the door and reached for the handle.
Then stopped.
“I changed my mind,” she said as she turned around.
***
“She should have caught up by now,” Grung said.
“Yeah,” Scott agreed. “I should have stayed. What the hell was I thinking?”
“She gave you a direct order,” Ellie said.
Scott pointed a thumb at the group of people walking behind them. “We kinda gave up on following orders when we picked up these guys.”
“Something we appreciate very much,” a man said from the crowd.
They had been walking for over two hours. Overall, the former captives did well, even the children. They walked at a solid pace and had covered quite a bit of ground in those two hours. So far, there had been no attacks from any werewolves.
“I’m going back,” Scott said.
“Bad idea,” Grung said. “She could be on her way through the woods. If you missed her, we’d have to go back for you and we’d still be in enemy territory after dark.”
“Dammit,” Scott whispered to himself as he looked back toward the town. “I should’ve stayed.”
“Probably,” Ellie said.
Scott turned and glared at her.
“
What? I was just agreeing with you.”
“Well,” Grung said with a grin as he pointed back toward the city, “it all worked out. Here she comes.”
Lily came jogging in from the distance. As soon as she joined the group, she leaned over with her hands on her knees, and took in great gulps of air.
“You’re late,” Scott said.
“We…” she said through gasps, “didn’t… designate… a time.”
“I smell something burning,” Ellie said. “Does anybody else smell that?”
“Yeah,” Grung said. “Smells like a campfire or something.”
Lily stood up and took another deep breath. “Whew-boy… That’s a hard jog.”
Scott put a hand on her shoulder. “Lily, what’s burning?”
“We probably should get moving,” Lily said as she started walking.
Scott looked back toward the city and saw several trails of smoke rising into the air. He jogged up to Lily. “Did you burn down Gettysburg?”
“You guys made great time,” Lily said. “I was very surprised by how far you’d come.”
“Lily,” Scott said, “did you burn down Gettysburg?”
“I’m gonna go meet some of our new friends,” she said as she walked toward the group of prisoners.
Scott looked at Grung and Ellie. “She burned down Gettysburg.”
***
The two Day Soldiers stood by their vehicle, parked in the middle of nowhere in southern Pennsylvania. One of them leaned against a tree and pulled out a cigarette.
“Don’t light that,” the other soldier said. “We’re in enemy territory. Are you stupid?”
“It’s daylight,” the first soldier said.
“So? Do you know how far a werewolf can smell a cigarette?”
“Do you?”
“Well, no,” the soldier said. “But I’m sure it’s very far.”
The first soldier put the cigarette back in its pack, then looked back at the vehicle parked on the road. It was a small Day Soldiers transport vehicle, made from a modified Jeep Cherokee. It was designed to carry a maximum of ten passengers, including the driver. “I’m getting back in the Jeep,” he said. “I hate this waiting crap.”
“They’ll be here soon,” his partner said. “Their estimated arrival was three o’clock. It’s almost five.”
“They’re not coming,” the first soldier said. “Those estimates always have a built in buffer. They got caught. Or killed.”
“Well, Mr. Optimism, they have until seven. Then we can leave.”
