by Cate Dean
“Care to share that?” Detective Sampson appeared at my side, pistol in his hand. “I think we’re going to need the information, sooner rather than later.”
“Fire,” I whispered.
“Got it. Get us there, Zach, and double time it. I can smell him. He’s closer now.”
We moved faster, the Fenris spreading out to cover the human members. Sam kept close to me, scanning our surroundings. The passage opened into a cave that had partially collapsed, forcing us to climb over jagged rock.
I scrambled down the last pile, ignoring my protesting ankle, into the mouth of another cave. I froze when I saw Dad.
I limp ran to him, my heart pounding so hard I knew Sam and the other Fenris could hear it. He was tied to a stalagmite, his clothes torn and bloody.
“Dad?” I reached out, touching his lowered face. He jerked under my hand and lifted his head. “Dad—”
“Alex—oh, sweet God. You have to get out of here—”
“We’re not leaving without you, Mr. Finch.” Sam stepped forward, a knife in his hand. “Any of you.” He sawed at the heavy rope binding Dad to the rock, and I saw Jake and Detective Sampson doing the same to the other people. Smoky torches lit the huge cave, creating wild, moving shadows that kept me on edge. “Eyes on me, Alex.”
I understood when my gaze skipped past the big man on the end—and landed on the remains tied to a stalagmite next to him.
“God—” I covered my mouth and swung away from the grisly sight.
“He started his hibernation feast earlier today,” Dad whispered. His voice was raw, and he looked awful. Haunted. From what little I could see, the Wendigo had enjoyed his feast in front of them. “We need to get out of here.”
“That’s the plan, Mr. Finch.” Sam eased him off the rock. Dad clung to him, his legs shaking.
“Please call me Lee, son.” He looked over at the other captives. Jake and Candace had the couple free, and Detective Sampson supported the other man. He looked like he’d taken the most damage. The Wendigo had obviously punished him for fighting back. “Let’s go. Alex.” He closed one bloody hand over mine. “If something happens, I want you to keep going, get yourself out of here. Are we clear?”
I swallowed. “Yes, Dad.”
There was no way I was leaving him behind.
Zach and Misty led the way through the huge cave, each of them holding a torch. With wounded people, we couldn’t afford to stumble around in the dark. We moved as fast as we could, the light making us easy targets. My muscles were stiff with fear, and I could hardly breathe.
I jumped at every sound, every shadow. I knew more than the others exactly what the Wendigo was capable of. I wouldn’t be able to take a normal breath until we were out of here, and far away.
Sam disappeared through the cave entrance with Dad—and rushed back in, his face white.
“We have company.”
“I’ll distract him.” Jake handed the man he was supporting to Zach. “No argument, Sam. I’m going to let my Fenris out to play, and I have more control than you.”
Jake changed before Sam could open his mouth to argue, leaving a pile of shredded clothes on the cave floor. I still jerked involuntarily every time I saw him in his Fenris form. He was the reason my life changed forever.
I heard claws scratching on stone. A second later a huge, skeletal figure loomed in the mouth of the cave.
It screamed, the sound furious, and too human. Before it finished Jake was on it, his claws digging into the broad, bony shoulders.
“Go!” Sam’s shout echoed around us.
He held on to me and dragged Dad with him, pulling us past the struggling monsters. They were evenly matched, but the Wendigo had outrage and fury on his side. I knew how that could fuel even a wounded opponent.
We ran, following Zach through the maze. I could hear Jake and the Wendigo, their snarls and screams bouncing off the walls, echoing after us. A blood chilling scream, and the silence that followed it, had us all moving faster.
After endless minutes, I saw the entrance to the caves. Dad’s breathing was ragged, and I knew he wouldn’t last much longer. Sam tightened his grip and hauled Dad and me forward, moving past Zach.
He skidded to a halt as the Wendigo leapt out of a tunnel and blocked the way out. Blood dripped from the long, sharp claws. Jake’s blood.
Black eyes glared at us, the only part of him that was still human. He screamed, and I saw his muscles tense, like he was getting ready to attack.
Sam pushed us behind him, shaking as he started to change.
“No,” I whispered. If Jake couldn’t stop him, Sam would be torn apart.
I acted on instinct, and the desperate need to protect the two men I love most in the world.
I grabbed the torch out of Zach’s hand and threw it at the Wendigo.
~ ~ ~
The scraps of fabric covering the Wendigo caught fire.
He shrieked, clawing at the burning remains. The fire spread fast, igniting the thick, ragged hair on his arm.
Detective Sampson pushed past me, a second torch in his hand.
“Get them out, Sam.”
He ran straight at the Wendigo and shoved his torch into the concave chest.
The Wendigo screamed, slamming the detective against the wall. Rock rained down from the ceiling.
“Go.” Dad caught me around the waist and pushed me toward the cave entrance. “It’s going to collapse. Move!”
I limped forward, looking over my shoulder to make sure Dad wasn’t staying behind. He was right behind me, helping with the other kidnapped people. Bigger rocks tumbled to the ground, Jake and Candace barely escaping the cave before they fell.
Jake kissed her, took her jacket to wrap around his waist, then ran back into the cave.
“Heroic ass.” Tears slipped down her cheeks, and Misty moved to her side, hugging her as we watched the cave entrance.
A huge boulder crashed to the ground. We all had to scramble backward to avoid the stone chips flying through the air.
“Come on,” Sam whispered. He clutched my hand, and I knew it took all his control not to go in after them. “Damn it, Jake.”
A second boulder bounced off the first, and set off a chain reaction.
Sam shoved me to the ground and wrapped himself around me. The ground shook, jagged rocks pelting us as the cave entrance collapsed. I coughed, choking on the dust that coated us.
“Alex—” Sam turned me on my back and pushed hair off my face. “Talk to me.”
“Okay.” I choked some more, and looked for Dad. He was on my left, his eyes closed, blood on his face. “Dad—” I pushed myself up and leaned over him. “Dad—oh, God.”
“Here, sweetheart.” He opened his eyes, flinching when he moved his head. “A rock caught me on the way out.” Sam and I helped him sit, and I examined the gash on his forehead. “Is everyone else safe?”
I glanced at Sam—and my eyes widened when I saw two figures stumbling out of the dust that still cloaked the front of the cave.
“Sam—”
He turned, leaping to his feet to catch Jake as he lost his balance. Candace was right behind him, her medical bag in her free hand.
“You stupid lug.” Tears edged her voice.
“Love you, too,” Jake whispered.
Detective Sampson collapsed next to him. Zach moved to his side, Misty hovering between him and Jake.
Sam crouched next to Jake. “The Wendigo?”
“Still burning when we dove out of the cave. Even if he survives,” Jake let out a sharp gasp when Candace swiped antiseptic over a gash in his arm. “He’s in there for good.”
“We’ll keep an eye on it, just to make sure.” He turned back to me and cradled my cheek. “Thanks for the quick thinking. How did you know?”
“I ran a search on the claws. You can thank your dad for the fire part—he wrote about the Wendigo in the haven guide.”
“Is that what it was?” The younger man sat behind us, hugging his wife. “What the
hell did it want with us?”
Candace moved to them, in brusque doctor mode. “It doesn’t matter. All you need to know is this—you don’t know who took you, you never saw them, and you don’t remember what happened before we pulled you out of the cave.” She gave the couple, and the big man sitting next to them a look that would have the Devil backing away. “Understood?” They all nodded, and Candace turned back to Jake. “Misty—put them in order of need. I want everyone patched up before we move out, in case anyone needs more than I can pull out of this bag.”
“Got it.”
Sam pushed to his feet seconds before a figure stepped out of the trees. He was inches from jumping the intruder when I recognized the hideous plaid coat.
“Sam—it’s Henry.”
He aborted his leap, and grabbed one of Henry’s waving arms. “You can get yourself killed by—”
“What? Walking into a clearing full of Fenris?” We all stared at him. Henry pulled out of Sam’s lax grip and waved his hand. “My cabin’s nearby. Come on—there’s room for all of you. I don’t trust that cave to hold the nasty lug.”
“We can trust him,” Dad said. He sounded beyond exhaustion.
“Course you can. Come on.”
Henry darted back into the trees, and we all struggled to our feet, the less injured helping those who couldn’t walk on their own.
After endless minutes, a rough-hewn building appeared through the trees. I blinked, not sure if I was hallucinating from the constant stress. I expected Henry’s cabin to be, well, a shack. What he led us to was a huge, one story cabin.
He clomped up the stairs and pushed the heavy oak door open, “I’ll get my kit. You all head to the living room. Plenty of seats for everyone.” He sounded delighted to have company, especially for a hermit.
The interior was even more of a surprise.
Well-worn but expensive leather sofas and chairs were spread around the huge space. A fire in the stone fireplace on the far wall warmed the room, telling me just how chilled I was. How chilled Dad must be.
I guided him to the chair closest to the fireplace and helped him sit. He cradled my cheek.
“I’m fine, sweetheart. Sit down—you look exhausted.”
“Dad—”
“Go on. I’ll be fine right here.”
He was right. We were safe, and I got him out. I still wanted to stay as close as possible, so I sat on the sofa across from him, ready to spring at the first sign that he needed me.
Henry returned, and Candace took the heavy metal box from him, her eyebrows raising as she studied the contents. “Nice,” she said, studying Henry. “Know how to use any of this?”
“All of it, missy.”
He treated Dad first, his touch surprisingly gentle. I watched him work with the familiarity of someone who had spent years around medical supplies.
Sam sat next to me, pulling me into his arms. With a sigh, I let go and lowered my head to his shoulder. Despite all the odds, we got everyone out.
I glanced over at Detective Sampson, who was trying not to flinch as Candace cleaned his wounds. He nodded to me, and I knew we’d be covered. Having a detective who was also a monster gave us the kind of protection that came in handy at times like this.
“Excuse me.” Detective Sampson stood, looming over Henry, a frown on his face. “Who exactly are you?”
Henry finished bandaging Dad’s right forearm, then squinted up at him.
“You’re that young gun detective, aren’t you? Big city cop, once upon a time.” Henry stood to his full height of five foot six and crossed his arms. “I’m Henry John McGinty, once the most respected doctor in Emmettsville.”
I stared at him. “McGinty—as in the old McGinty house?”
He grinned at me. “I like what you’ve done with it, using it to guard the old haven. Time someone started it up again.”
Sam stiffened, and raised his hand to stop Henry from spilling all our secrets in front of witnesses. Mentioning Fenris had been bad enough—though the Wendigo’s victims were still in shock, and probably missed the reference. They couldn’t miss this one.
“Stop talking about—” He froze when he looked behind Henry and saw that all of them were fast asleep. “How—”
“Sedative.” Henry pulled a syringe out of his pocket. “Just enough to keep them quiet. Been wanting to talk to you for a long time, young Sam Emmett.”
Sam stared at him. “Why—how did you end up here?”
“Hyatt destroyed my reputation. Bitter, ugly man.”
I couldn’t have agreed more.
“Thank you,” Dad said. He held out his left hand, and Henry took it, another grin on his face. “I want you to know I will always be grateful for what you’ve done.”
I knew Dad was talking about the public garden, without trying to mention it. Detective Sampson would jump all over that, and not let go until he had his answers.
Henry shook his hand. “Anytime, young man. I’ve enjoyed your buildings.”
Dad chuckled—and sucked in a harsh breath.
“Dad—”
He waved at me, his breaths evening out, too slowly. “Okay. A little too much excitement lately.”
I carefully wrapped my arm around his waist and laid my head on his shoulder.
“I was so afraid we wouldn’t find you in time—”
“Hush, sweetheart.” He kissed the top of my head. “We’re safe now.”
I glanced over at Sam. He was talking to Jake, and I knew they were already laying down plans to keep a watch on the cave. Just in case.
The kidnap victims were starting to wake from their stupor. Candace examined everyone, until she was satisfied enough to let them walk on their own. She stood and moved to Henry, her arms crossed.
“You know your stuff, old man.”
“Yes, I do, young lady. So do you.” He patted her shoulder. “Don’t stop trying to help them, you hear?”
She blinked. “How—”
“I keep up with the happenings in my own town, even if I don’t like to participate. But maybe it’s time.” He studied each one of us, his green eyes lively. “The fools who believed Hyatt are gone or dead. I’d like to be a part of this new haven, study some of your residents. I could even play gatekeeper, move back into my old house.”
I don’t know who was more shocked, Sam or Candace. Jake surprised me by stepping forward and clapping his hand on Henry’s shoulder.
“You’d be more than welcome, old man.”
“Jake.” Sam finally snapped out of his shock. “I don’t—”
“You will. Who better to keep out the locals than our own crazy hermit? No offense.”
Henry cackled. “None taken. I did spend most of my free time terrorizing the boys foolish enough to test me.”
Sam rubbed his forehead. I knew he was frustrated, and that he couldn’t talk in front of the other people, who were now aware, and paying attention to the odd conversation.
“We’ll continue this later,” he said.
Henry grinned at him. “I look forward to it.”
Sam helped Dad to his feet. I stood and moved to Dad’s other side, guiding him out of the cabin and down the stairs. His raw, uneven breathing worried me.
We made our way through the shadowed trees. I didn’t want to be anywhere dark again for a long time. Dad was limping by the time we got to the parking lot next to the Stop and Shop, his pace slower with each step.
Mom was not going to be happy.
Sam helped him into the SUV, then supervised getting everyone else home. Detective Sampson stopped him long enough for a quick conversation, then eased into his car and followed Candace out of the parking lot.
I waited for Sam next to the driver’s side. He walked right to me and wrapped his arms around me, his body shaking. I knew exactly how he felt.
“I need to hold you for a minute, or five, then I’ll take you and your dad home.”
“I’m good with that.”
We held on to each oth
er, until he eased back enough to tip my chin up and kiss me. It was for comfort, and confirmation that we had survived. I had never felt so loved, so accepted for who I am, until Sam.
He let me go, and led me around the SUV, lifting me into the passenger seat. I checked on Dad, who was sprawled across the back seat. He was asleep, more color in his face. Hopefully, the fact that we were both home, basically in one piece, would be enough to avoid a lecture.
Sam took his time driving the short distance back to the house, pulling slowly into the driveway. Dad sat when he stopped the car.
“Thank you, Sam.”
“It was my pleasure, sir.”
“I strongly suggest you say goodbye to Alex here. My wife is not going to be happy, and you have not earned her wrath.” He flashed a smile. “This time.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Lee. We’re going to be family soon.” He opened the car door and eased himself out. “I’ll meet you on the porch, Alex.”
“Okay, Dad.” I knew that meant we had until he reached the porch to say goodbye. I yanked Sam forward and kissed him, not sure when I’d be able to escape the house to see him. By the time we separated, we were both fighting for breath. “Call me tomorrow, see if I’m still in one piece.”
“I will.” He brushed his lips over mine. “And you will be. Your mom won’t bruise you before the wedding.”
I laughed when he winked at me. It felt so good to be free of the fear again. Yes, I knew there’d be more adventures, and more monsters creating challenges.
But for now, we could celebrate winning another battle, and look forward to the day we’d go home together.
I couldn’t wait.
~ ~ ~
To say Mom was angry would be an understatement.
But she was more relieved to have Dad home, and mostly unharmed. We let her shout, let her cry, then hugged it out.
After she had calmed down, she gathered up all the leftovers in the fridge, and we sat around the dining room table, munching on food and telling her what had happened. Well, most of what had happened.
“I wish I could say I’m glad it’s over, but it’s not over, is it?” She looked at Dad.
“You knew, Beth, when you agreed to let Alex be part of the haven.”
She sighed, then leaned against him. “Can we cut back on the excitement until after the holidays? I have a wedding to get through, and I’d like to look good in the photos.”
