Dark Confessions

by Angie Sandro

  Landry quickly folds up the map and stuffs it into his back pocket. He throws George a challenging grimace. “Either you walk, or I can carry you swaddled in blankets like a colicky baby. Your choice, Deputy Dawg.”

  George snorts. “I can walk. Help Ivy.”

  Everyone scatters to grab supplies from the various cabins. We meet up in the yard in front. Bess leaves a light on in the largest. “Maybe it’ll buy us some time if they think they found us unaware.” She shrugs and slings the strap on her rifle over her shoulder, then passes out the extra ammo she got from her gun safe. “All right, everyone stay close.”

  She leads at a brisk walk to the side opposite of where we entered. The moon doesn’t penetrate the thick branches overhead. We use the hurricane lanterns Bess had stored in the cabin, which don’t spread the light farther than a circle of ground at our feet. We huddle together, shivering and darting frantic glances into the darkness with each creak and groan from the dense undergrowth.

  With my shield partially down, I sense the witch battering at the barrier. We made finding us far too easy. All she had to do was head in the direction of the giant ball of fire and smoke that followed the explosion. It narrowed the search radius to this area of the swamp. Damn. I hoped we’d have more time.

  “She’s here.” Ivy rubs her eyes with her fists. “I can’t hold her off any longer without draining my strength.”

  The time has come to fight. I release a deep breath. “Let it fall.”

  Dena gasps. “Let what fall? The shield?”

  “Yeah. It’s done.” I relax my mental grip on the ties holding the blanket of power over the island. The moment the witch steps onto land, a pulse of pure energy blasts forth in a rippling wave. It snaps small saplings like they’re toothpicks. The force of power spreads from the epicenter, losing strength the farther it gets from the source. It still hits hard enough to buck the earth itself and sends us scrambling to maintain our footing.

  Grabbing the tree trunk, I regain my balance. “They’re here,” I shout. “Run!”

  CHAPTER 13

  Bessie

  Freak Earthquake

  The ground shakes beneath my feet in the mother of all earthquakes. Worse than the one that destroyed Marcheline Dubois’s mansion and killed so many of my friends. My next thought, after grabbing on to what I hope isn’t a tree covered in poison ivy, is to hold on to my boyfriend’s Ivy for dear life. Dena and Anders have George between them. They lean forward, bracing their feet against the ground. They barely waver, riding the waves of earth like they’re world-class surfers.

  A loud crack comes from above my head. I glance up, then shove Ivy aside. My hands rise to protect my face from a falling branch. An offshoot of the limb, full of thick leaves, strikes my back and knocks me to my knees. Before I have a chance to panic, Ferdinand runs over, then slides across the shaking ground like he’s making for home plate. He grabs the branch, which is as big around as my body, and lifts it high enough for me to crawl free. He squats at my feet and runs his hands along my body, searching for injuries.

  “I’m good,” I yell over the roar of toppling trees. The forest has never been so loud. “Everyone else okay?”

  “We’re fine.” Landry helps Ivy to her feet. He pats her on the head, and she rolls her eyes.

  Dena gets nods from Anders and George. “Us, too,” she says.

  Ferdinand rises. “Let’s get out of here.”

  Dena steps forward, then raises her hand. “Wait.” She sways, spinning in a circle. “Death’s singing. The door to the other side is opening. Someone’s dying?” She stops abruptly and points. I raise my lantern. Trees, ripped from the roots as if torn asunder by a rampaging giant, have crashed into one another, falling like dominoes. “Estrada’s missing.”

  “Estrada!” Ferdinand runs into the darkness. A flash of pure terror opens my mouth to beg him not to enter the maw of death, but I choke on my cry.

  The forest goes eerily silent. We all freeze, straining for some sound to point us toward Estrada.

  The voice is barely a whisper. “Here…”

  Dena reaches Estrada first. Her wail sends cold sweat trickling down my spine. I rise and rush toward them. With each step, dread grows over what I’ll see. Anders has Dena wrapped in his arms. He presses her face against his shoulder as she sobs. I wipe sweaty palms on my pant legs. I wish I didn’t have to see what has her so upset, but I promised to keep Estrada safe. I brought him out here and put his life in danger. Whatever has happened is my fault. My responsibility.

  Landry falls against a tree and slides down the trunk. He clutches his head in his hands, muttering, “Damn it! This can’t be happening. It can’t…”

  Ferdinand stands in front of the toppled tree, arms outspread to keep Ivy and me back. Foolish, beautifully overprotective man.

  “Let me pass,” I murmur, already pulling a shield of detachment over my thoughts. I fade into the safe place I use to protect myself from the ugliness of a bloody crime scene or when observing an autopsy. I lift my lantern.

  Light shines upon Estrada. The doctor lies on the ground, covered by branches and leaves. I keep my gaze on his face. I don’t need the gruesome image of his crushed chest seared into my mind. His breath whistles, and blood flecks his lips. He won’t last much longer.

  I crouch at his side. “Dr. Estrada?”

  His hand fumbles across the ground, and I take his clammy fingers in mine. “I’m dying,” he says matter-of-factly, putting effort into speaking each word.

  Not one to sugarcoat the truth either, I nod. “It appears so. I couldn’t keep my promise to protect you. I’m sorry.”

  “I was doomed”—he gasps—“the moment I agreed to work for Ivanov. My choice…”

  “Don’t let your death be in vain, Alonso. Help us save Mala and Eva.” I squeeze his hand. “Please. Where is your research?”

  His laugh turns to a bloody cough. “Research? Discarded.”

  “You tossed them? But why?”

  His gaze shifts from my face to the sky. “So many stars.”

  “Estrada, don’t you die on me,” I yell, wanting to shake him.

  A smile flickers on his lips. “This isn’t a movie. I’m dying. You can’t stop it. I should have used the serum on myself. Instead…the test subject…” His voice hitches, then trails off. “My beautiful creation lives. A part of me continues in…her.” He sighs the last word.

  A chill envelopes my body, raising the hairs on the nape of my neck. I release Estrada’s slack hand and wipe mine on my pant leg.

  Landry stares at the air above the body. “His spirit’s free. He’s dead.”

  Dena sniffs. “His soul just entered the vortex. It’s gone.” She brushes hair from her wet cheeks. “I really hated the man for what he did to me and Anders, but what a horrible way to die.”

  Landry takes off his shirt and lays it over Estrada’s face. The expression on Landry’s face chills me to the bone. “What do you think he meant about test subject? Do you think he experimented on someone else? How the hell do we trade an innocent person for Mala?”

  Million-dollar question, easy answer. “We don’t.”

  “Does it even matter right now?” Ivy yells, and I’m not the only one who jumps. She glares at us and waves back the way we came. “The witch woman and her assassins are on the island. Let’s go.”

  The horror of Estrada’s death fades beneath a sudden rush of adrenaline. My Lord, how could we have forgotten we’re being hunted? Estrada will only be the first casualty if we don’t get to the boathouse. I’ve no idea how much time has passed since Ferdinand said the witch touched land, but it won’t take long for them to cross the island. It’s not that big. “If everyone’s okay, we should go.”

  I find my rifle beneath the branch that almost brained me, then lead the group down the narrow path. I ignore the twinge in my ankle. I don’t have the luxury of caving to pain. If my run’s more of a hobble, I at least keep us moving at a steady pace. We stay in single fil
e, looking over our shoulders for lights shining in the darkness. Nobody talks. We don’t have enough breath. The path ends at the wooden boathouse built on a dock. I open the door, waving everyone inside.

  I don’t have to be a mind reader to know what the collective thinks about Little Diego. As boats go, it’s less than impressive. Half the size of the one we rode in on, it has only two seats. We’ll be huddled together, and our combined weight will slow us down. Landry begins prepping for launch.

  Ferdinand, Anders, and I return to the tree line to keep watch.

  “What do you sense?” Anders asks Ferdinand.

  He stares into the forest, barely breathing. I prepare myself for a bit of mumbo jumbo about energy juxtapositions and croutons in space, or whatever, to explain how the woman’s able to track us across the bayou like she’s part hound, part water moccasin. I’m getting a bit tired of running for my life.

  Instead he shrugs. “Not much. They breached the perimeter, but I’m blind to how far they’ve come.”

  Anders draws himself upright. “Should I send my other, more ruthless half after her again? I mean, if I’m a murderous monster, shouldn’t I use it to our advantage so we can escape?”

  My mouth opens to ask what he means, but then I remember the black smoke rolling off his skin and shudder. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “I agree,” Ferdinand says. “The witch won’t be caught off guard like the last time. She already knows how to hurt you, and we don’t have time to wait for you to heal. Besides—”

  “You still don’t trust me to control it.”

  “Burning to ash is number forty-three on my list of ways I want to die,” Ferdinand says. “I’d rather fall from a plane without a parachute, get eaten by a gator, or die in a spelunking accident.”

  “Shh…” I wave for them to be quiet, then point toward a flicker of light in the distance. “Is that a flashlight or a lightning bug?”

  The light grows, then goes out.

  Anders nods and gestures toward a low bush. He and Ferdinand take up positions on either side of the path while I run inside the boathouse. “They’ll be here soon. Are you ready?”

  Landry kicks the side of the boat. The engine sputters, then turns over. “Let’s go.”

  Anders and Ferdinand hear the motor and come running. Once we’re all on board, Landry steers us onto the lake. Shouts come from the woods. A whistling sounds, and then the boathouse explodes. Flaming debris rains from the sky. Screaming, I throw my arms over my head. Ferdinand drapes his large frame over me. His shirt smolders, and I pat it out. At least this boat has a fire extinguisher in case of an emergency. It doesn’t take long to put out the smoking embers.

  Another flash of light from the beach and hot plasma peppers the lake. My eyes widen. “What the hell?”

  “They’re shooting off RPGs?” George crawls to my side. “Who are these people? Ex-Russian Army?”

  “My guess is they’re mercenaries who work for Ivanov,” I say. If I had any doubt about whether they wanted us dead, it’s gone now. “Landry, get us out of here.”

  “I’m trying, but I can’t see where I’m steering. If I go any faster, I’m liable to crash into a tree.”

  What to do? Turning on a light so we can see will give the shooter on the beach a clear idea of where we are. The only reason he hasn’t shot us out of the water is that we blend with the cypress trees and tall grass growing in the shallow lake.

  The sound of a fan comes from the across water, and I groan. This situation keeps getting worse. The witch planned well. She’d dropped off some of the people to search the island while sending the boat to catch us if we try to leave. We don’t have our own missiles to blow them up. We have to outrun them in a boat that sputters and smokes like it’s about to die any minute.

  The shouting from the beach grows louder. Everyone huddles down. Instinct kicks in. I whip up my rifle and place the night-vision scope to my eye. The guy holding the RPG stands at the water’s edge. He puts the launcher on his shoulder and points in our direction. I don’t have a choice. Him. Or us. My finger squeezes the trigger. The impact of the bullet against his bulletproof vest throws him to the ground. Another mercenary runs to pick up the launcher, but I put a bullet at his feet. He dives for cover.

  Ferdinand whistles. “I didn’t know you’re a sniper, Bess.”

  “LT gets first place in all of the competitions,” George says, his tone warm with pride. “She doesn’t like to brag about her skills.”

  I continue to scan the island through the scope. “I don’t have to brag. I’ve got you to do that for me.” We’ve gotten a ways from the beach, so I crawl to the opposite side of the boat. The other craft approaches fast. They aren’t hampered by having the light off and can take full advantage of their speed. I brace the rifle. “I can wing the driver. He’s riding high. The witch…she’s there. She’s a tougher shot.”

  Ferdinand pauses. “If you take the witch out now, maybe the whole plan to kill us falls apart. It’s obvious she’s in charge.”

  “I’ve two bullets left. If I miss…” My voice doesn’t betray my dismay at being placed in this position. It’s self-defense. They’re trying to kill us. It should be a no-brainer—kill the leader and we’re safe. But I’m not comfortable shooting anyone. Never have been. Never want to be. Luckily my training hasn’t failed.

  I can do this…I aim for the woman’s head.

  Ferdinand lays a hand on my shoulder. “Take out the driver. Slow them down.”

  I inhale, then let the air slide across my lips as I pull the trigger. The first bullet slams into the driver, throwing him backward. He topples soundlessly from his seat. I aim for their engine and take my last shot. The engine sputters and dies. A woman’s voice yells curses into the darkness, which fades the farther we travel from them. Time to get the heck out of Dodge, ’cause I’m out of bullets.

  “Let there be light, Landry,” I yell.

  “Aye, Captain.”

  We lose our pursuers on the twisted channels of Bayou du Sang and come to land at the last place on earth I want to be. I’ve never been comfortable in this neck of the woods. Old Lick Road has a bad reputation for a reason. It’s been a repository of bloody carnage and mayhem throughout the centuries.

  The hairs on my arms rise and a trickle of cold sweat rolls down my spine when we step foot on the boggy, shoe-sucking land. I breathe in a slow breath, and my nose wrinkles as the scent of rotten eggs from decaying plants assaults my senses.

  I glance at my companions. They’re in as bad a shape, if not worse, than I am. Even Ferdinand’s broad shoulders droop. I want to wrap my arms around him, then kiss him until the fear bottled in my chest releases like a popped champagne cork. I want my mind to fizz and fill with pleasure, instead of this soul-draining ache. But even the idyllic interlude we had will end after we complete our rescue mission. Real life will intrude. Questions I’ve put on the back burner will have to be answered or our relationship will wither and die.

  As soon as we break free from the old-growth forest and step onto Old Lick Road, I ask, “Anyone have cell service?” I pull my phone from my pocket and check for bars. Most of the time, it’s sketchy. “We’ll need to call for transport.”

  George waves his cell. “I got ahold of Dixie. She’s sending the van.”

  “Tell her we’ll meet them at the cemetery.” The entrance should be about a mile from our current location. I pick up the pace, eager to get back to civilization. I have to find out what happened to my officers. I’ve been running scared for so long, I pushed their fates from my mind. It was the only way to stay focused on the test at hand. Now I need to know. How many survived the ambush?

  Ferdinand comes over. “Have you come up with a plan?” he asks. “Since we have a possible location where the women are being held, do we call in SWAT or try something stealthy?”

  “No offense,” Landry says, “but I’m not all that confident the law can handle someone like Victor. I don’t want to
risk Mala’s life. Once Victor discovers we don’t have Estrada’s research, he could kill her and Eva, or they could be put in the line of fire if your deputies get trigger happy with that rampaging monster on the loose.”

  Dena shoves a branch out of her path. “I agree. We’ll need a supernatural assault. We can’t do that with a bunch of people who’ll pass out if I use my superstrength to beat Victor’s zombiefied ass. Plus, we know he’s not working alone. I saw another guy in my vision. Victor by himself is hard enough to take down. I’m not sure even all of us together can handle more of Ivanov’s modified mercenaries.”

  My eyebrows rise. “And what, pray tell, makes you think you’re coming along?”

  Dena lays her palm against her heart and gasps. “Why, Lieutenant Caine, don’t tell me I’m not invited to the party.” Her eyes harden. “This whole mess started because Victor had orders to capture me.”

  “That’s not entirely true, darlin’,” Anders drawls, wrapping his arm around Dena’s shoulders and giving her a squeeze. “But I wouldn’t have anyone else protect my back.”

  I snort. Obviously, he’s smart enough to keep on her good side. And I can’t lie to myself. I’ve been with these people a full day. I wouldn’t have anyone else at my back in a supernatural shit storm either. “George, how about if you and I head to the hospital? See if we can figure out who the test subject is that Estrada spoke of before he died. He said ‘she,’ so my guess is he injected the serum into one of the female patients.”

  “Money-hungry fool.” Dena’s eyes water, but she scrubs the back of her hand across her spiky lashes. “I’m not sure how I’ll tell Gabriella. She kind of had a crush on him until he kidnapped her.” She gasps and halts in her track. “Oh my—” She smacks herself in the forehead. “I’m so stupid. It’s Gabriella.”

  Her swift change in topic leaves my brain making an about-face. I glance at everyone else, but they seemed as confused as I am. Only Anders seems to be able to follow Dena down the rabbit hole. A slow grin lifts his mouth. “He had plenty of time to inject her while our injuries were healing.”