The Reaper

by S E Lunsford

  The hand swung wildly back and forth as Carlisle tried to get out of its way. Rolling Cassie up and over the seat I fell backwards before scrambling up and climbing over my friend who lay motionless. Just as I threw myself over the backseat, Carlisle threw himself towards the cab of the car, pain exploded in my forehead as mine collided with his. The talons stretched out towards Carlisle who ricocheted backwards. Through the black spots in front of my eyes, I threw my arms around his neck managing to hold on to him and pulling him towards me as we heard a scream of frustration from the creature. He managed to scramble over the backseat, and I saw that blood was blooming through a slit in the back of his shirt.

  Distant popping noises came from outside as a ping on one of the vehicles windows turned into a crackling sound as it began to bend inwards. The sound of another ping organized itself in my mind, telling me someone was shooting at the creature. It swung down from the roof and righted itself on the bumper looking in, narrowing its eyes as it considered me for a moment. Tilting it head to the side, a horrible grin spread across its face as if it knew something I didn’t.

  “Get out of here,” Rosalie screamed next to me.

  The sound of her voice wiped the grin off its face. Stretching out its wings, it launched itself off of the vehicle and flew away, maniacal laugher following in its wake.

  Her energy expended, Rosalie’s little body slumped against mine as I wrapped my arm around her and the vehicle sped up.

  We slid down to the floorboards, wedging ourselves between the seats as Cassie lay oblivious on the backseat. Carefully pushing blond strands off her hair off her face, I couldn’t help but feel how clammy she was and how pale her face had gone. I hoped that I didn’t hurt her with all the pushing and shoving I did. A small hand lightly touched my arm.

  “She’ll be okay,” Rosalie whispered.

  I nodded. “Are you okay?”

  She nodded before moving closer to her brother who wrapped his arms around her.

  “You can't tell anyone,” he said flatly, his voice barely a whisper.

  “Tell anyone?” My forehead furrowed and immediately began to ache. “Oh wow,” I put my hand up to feel a slight egg beginning to form there. Carlisle had a matching one that was already black and blue. Rosalie reached up to it put her palm to his forehead for a moment before taking it back again, leaving only the trace of blue where the bruised and swollen flesh had been. In that moment she became pale, almost as white as Cassie and dark bluish circles formed underneath her eyes. Reaching out towards me, she took a deep breath. I gently grabbed her hand, shaking my head slightly and grimacing as my head began to throb with the movement. She reached out trying to get past my hand.

  “No, it takes too much,” I said placing her hand back into her lap as she slumped against her brother, her eyes fluttered as she tried to keep them open.

  Settling back against the seatback, I tried to rearrange myself so I was more comfortable, but decided that it was an impossibility.

  “You guys okay back there?” Robert’s voice boomed into the back seat making us all cringe.

  “Good,” he said without waiting for an answer. “I just hope we get back to base before that bugger comes back with his friends.”

  “Friends?” Carlisle didn’t looked pleased as he said the word.

  “Sometimes they come in groups,” said the dark haired guy looking out the window. “This guy was pretty stealthy all things considered.”

  “Wonder what it was looking for?” Robert mused.

  “Could be anything,” I whispered, looking over half of our motley group, as my thoughts skittered towards the others.

  Chapter 4

  Dust kicked in through the back window as we turned onto a side road towards the ocean, until metal gates manned by more armed guards rose up in front of us. I craned my neck around to get a better look, but only saw high concrete walls on either side as we drove into an underground garage.

  The vehicles pulled over, parking against the far wall as their doors were opened. Slowly getting out of the vehicle, I stretched out my arms and legs as I gazed around the garage noting the amount of SUVs and military vehicles that were parked there. Carlisle let out a low whistle next to me. Rosalie, on her feet although just barely, flinched at the sound.

  “Looks like these guys were prepared for the end of the world,” he murmured.

  I could only nod as I watched Robert and the dark-haired guy take Cassie out of the backseat and head toward a door that was clearly marked stars. I moved to follow but immediately found myself looking at the wrong end of a gun. Sighing heavily, I took in the man dressed in camouflage who had it trained on my forehead.

  “Either you let me go with my friend, or you’ll be sorry,” I hissed quietly.

  The gun bounced slightly as he chuckled.

  Bringing my hand up, I grabbed the barrel of the gun pushing it to the right as I brought my right leg around and kicked him in the stomach. His breath whooshed out as I brought the butt down on the back of his neck as he fell to the ground. Flipping the gun back in my hands, I pressed the muzzle into the soft spot on the side of his neck. Blood pounded in my ears, and I gritted my teeth together as my name filtered into my mind from far away somewhere between beats.

  “Not a good idea,” I spat out as hands grabbed me from behind, I fought and kicked against the hands as I was dragged to the ground.

  “Dani,” Chris’ voice came from right next to me. Looking over, I saw him touch one of the men who held me and whisper something to him. The man nodded releasing me and the others did the same. Their hands were replaced with Chris’ tight grip on my elbow who dragged me up. I found my footing as forcing me forward towards a door that led to a stairwell.

  “Don’t say a word,” he ground out between his teeth.

  “Incoming,” yelled a voice behind us.

  Whirling around, I saw men in black and camo flow in from seemingly every corner of the garage as the sound of guns took over outside. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Edward escape from the guards who were herding he and his siblings towards another door. Pushing back against Chris, I stepped out trying to escape his grip only to have him grasp me firmly lifting me up and hauling me towards the door.

  My legs flailing, I head butted backwards feeling the impact of my head on his chin startle him into stopping which was the moment I needed. Wiggling out of his arms, I ran back towards the garage opening, stopping at the edge of the ramp and looking up at the sky that had turned dark with churning wings.

  “Oh crap,” Edward said from beside me.

  Frozen on the edge of the action, he and I watched as bullets tore into the wings of the flyers causing them to careen away only to be replaced by more. The keening of creepers rose up in the fray thats noise had drawn them to the area. Looking around, I made sure that we were encased by cement as silence fell outside. Even the creepers became quiet.

  Instinctively both Edward and I stepped back, allowing ourselves only a sliver of a view to see what was happening. We were standing so close that I could feel the steady rise and fall of his breathing. I struggled to keep my own heart rate under control, matching my breaths with his as a strong voice rose up in the silence.

  “Enough of this,” a voice rose up over the scene making the hairs on the back of my neck rise as I recognized it as the voice of the angel who was in the village.

  Slinking even further back I took a deep breath, smelling myself and hoping the stench stayed where it was.

  “What is this about?” The voice came again.

  A man with long black hair tied in a ponytail and a long dark beard strode by us with purpose. Chris moved silently behind him, stepping over to us and glaring at me as the man made his way up the ramp until all we could see were his leather boots.

  “You have no place here angel,” the dark haired man sneered. His attitude made my stomach clench. I remember the televised display the angels made of the bits and pieces of those who defied them in the early days. Si
nce they released the creepers Cassie and I had stayed away from angels wherever we could as well as the creepers themselves. As far as I could tell, one was just as bad as the other.

  Chris moved closer to Edward and I.

  A laugh carried over us, “Come now John, I have no intention of doing anything to you, I’ve just followed my pets, and here we are. Why do you think they are so agitated that they would attack you here?”

  “I have no idea why they’ve attacked,” John answered. “Just make sure you take them and your other abominations with you when you leave.”

  “Then let me enlighten you,” the calm voice replied. “They followed humans here, one in particular that was rightfully theirs, she was marked.”

  Rightfully theirs? The words quickly took up residence in my mind running around chasing each other. Since it was a she there were just a few options to choose from. Besides how badly I smelled there was nothing marking me, but Cassie with her bioengineered gash and Rosalie with her healing talents could both be up for grabs. I wondered how safe we were here. I felt Edward’s muscles tighten and I knew he came to the same conclusion beside me. Chris placed gentling hands on both of our shoulders. I barely registered the small shake of his head.

  “This is safe harbor,” John said. “There are none in here that you, or your pets, can claim.”

  There was a heartbeat of silence that seemed to stretch into an eternity. “I’ll take my pets,” said the angel. “But, you’re on your own with the abominations.”

  Laughter rose up as the angel’s wings made their telltale sound cutting into the air, taking the flying creatures with him in a cloud of wings. As they left, the screeches of the creepers came back louder and more insistent than before.

  “Get the flame throwers,” John called out as he made his way back down the ramp. He stopped when he saw us. “You do collect some winner’s cousin,” he said to Chris. “Come on, you all look like you need more than a little something to eat.”

  “Cousin?” I asked Chris as we made our way down four turns of the stairs.

  He waved me off. “I’ll explain later.”

  Stepping into a hallway, a heavy door sealed off the stairwell thunking closed behind us, my mouth immediately began to water as a scent I never thought I’d smell again hit me. I took a deep breath as the sweet scent of bread floated towards us. The lowlit hallway with its cement walls and shadows along with the circumstances we found ourselves in did nothing to diminish my joy at the scent. I couldn’t help but smile.

  “I know right?” Chris commented beside me.

  “I’m thinking of Pavlov’s dogs right now,” Carlisle said behind us. I turned around to see that somehow the siblings had appeared behind us.

  “You look like Pavlov’s dogs,” Edward said, shoving his brother.

  “Where’d you guys come from?” I asked.

  “Apparently all stairways lead to the cafeteria,” smirked Edward. “And look here we are.”

  We stepped through a large doorway into a large room where the lights were somewhat brighter. It was filled with tables and chairs of every kind where just a smattering of people were seated around the room. They looked over at us, carefully watching as we entered before turning back to the food before them. None of them wasted a morsel of what looked like stew and bread rolls that were before them. A couple got up as we made our way to the back of the room where a man and woman were serving up the meals. They nodded at Chris as they took their dishes to a collection area, and made their way towards the door we had just walked through.

  “Good to see you here,” said the man as they passed by us. The woman just nodded. Slowly, I began to notice that others weren’t looking at all of us, but stealing furtive glances at Chris.

  Settling at a table with our bowls of stew and two bread rolls each, silence descended as we gulped, slurped and basically inhaled our food. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Rosalie tuck her second roll into her pocket being careful not to make any crumbs as she did so.

  With a stomach stretched past filling, I sat back and leveled my gaze at Chris.

  “How do they know you?”

  He shrugged, “John’s my cousin.”

  “Were you taking us to him?” I asked, feeling anger rise as the thought that we were four levels down in a concrete building began to take hold.

  He shook his head. “No, we lost track of each other when the creepers started to overrun the town we were in at the time. I had no idea what happened to him, but,” he looked around. “I’m not surprised he was able to land on his feet.”

  “So, just by accident we ended up here?” I raised my eyebrows.

  “Just by accident Dani,” he reassured me as his gaze settled on every member of our ragtag group in turn. “Besides none of us have really explained how we got where we got, and now might just be the time to do that.”

  Silence descended on the table, silence that was only broken by slight rustling as the younger siblings began to shift a little in their seats. I knew they didn't want anyone else to know about Rosalie, but the way that Jasper was moving made me wonder what he was hiding. Chris was watching him too.

  “We don’t have that much of a story,” Carlisle said.

  “Yeah,” Edward piped in. “We came from the San Fernando Valley, everyone there was zombies anyway, so we knew how to deal with them.”

  Chris chuckled at that, and I found myself joining in. After a second the others did too and the next thing I knew tears were rolling down my face. Carlisle was doubled over he was laughing so hard.

  “Must be some good joke,” Johna said as he slid into the seat next to Chris. Immediately the laughter stopped as we looked at him. The scent of the forest floated over to me, a scent I would never have thought would come from him. It made me wonder if he had been out in the forest recently.

  “Took care of most of the zombies with flame throwers,” he said, laughing a bit to himself. “But then we had to scour the woods for any survivors just in case. But, it’s good to see you cousin,” he said his brown eyes twinkling as he put his hand on Chris’ shoulder. "Should have figured that you'd bring the enemy to the door, if we'd have the opportuniyt to see one another again."

  “Good to see you too, I wondered where you’d got to.”

  “You know, just surviving,” John replied, as his eyes took us in one by one, resting slightly longer on Rosalie and Jasper before moving on. “Looks like you have quite a crew here.”

  “There’s one more too,” I said.

  “Yes, I know Cassie,” he replied his eyes steady on me. “She’s being taken care of in the medical wing. It’s nothing we haven’t seen before.”

  My heart jumped in my chest.

  “So you can heal her?”

  He nodded as though it was an everyday occurrence. “We figured out what the toxins were in some of the bioengineereds,” he said. “Then we backed it out and figured out a way to counteract it. What she was bit by is pretty common, so we know what the antidote for it is.”

  “Can you do that with the virus?” Carlisle’s question came out like a shot.

  “The short answer is no,” John said. “As to why, well that would take too long for me to explain. It should suffice to say that what we have found is that it mutates too quickly after one of its hapless victims eventually dies for us to learn much about it.”

  Carlisle's brow furrowed as he thought about what John said. “It mutates too fast for you to get a track on it?”

  “Pretty much yeah,” John said. “You know much about it?”

  “Only what our dad talked about before he, well before he and my mom,” Carlisle’s words trailed off as his brothers and sisters went quiet lost in the grief that etched itself quickly on their faces.

  “Your dad was a physician,” Chris stated.

  “Yeah,” Carlisle said. “I was going to do an early start at UCLA pre-med, but then it all happened, and,” he shrugged as the lost life he was supposed to live undoubtedly flashed before his ey
es. I resisted the urge to reach out to him, to reassure him that I knew exactly what that felt like.

  Cassie and I had both been accepted to Arizona State before the world imploded. She was going to study journalism, and I was going to study international relations. We used to joke that I could make the news, and she could write about it. Sometimes in the deep nights we had somehow survived, we would talk in hushed voices about the what if’s. What if the creators didn’t create the creepers? What if they didn’t unleash the bioengineereds and who knew what else on the world? We’d be in our second year of university, going to Sun Devil’s football games, and as she used to say with a roll of her eyes, “still living at home.”

  Looking as Carlisle's face, the ache of those nights bloomed in my chest. Cassie and I had only allowed ourselves to think about the what if’s for so long until they became too much to bear. From that point on, sometimes we’d play a game of what do you miss the most. We’d play when hunger, exhaustion or even sheer boredom would threaten to overtake us as we walked from Arizona to the California Coast. The catch was we could only talk about the things we missed that were light, fun or funny. And even then, those would sometimes get to us.

  John’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Carlisle. “You look a little young to have been about to go to University when the virus took hold.”

  “We were home schooled,” Rosalie piped up. “And he’s really smart, so he was going to start early. They did an article about him in the newspaper and everything.”

  “Did they now?” John could barely keep the smile from his face.

  “Yes they did,” Rosalie crossed her arms and stared at him.

  “Well cousin, you do end up with the feisty ones,” John laughed as he looked over at Chris. “I hear this one’s feisty too.” He glanced over at me.

  “Very,” Chris agreed. “Bumped into her in one of the small towns just South of here, the angels scented her out.”

  John went silent at that statement looking over at me. “They scented her out?”

  “Yep,” Chris took a drink of his water, carefully setting the cup back down in the exact spot it was before he lifted it up.