“I’ll be careful, sir, and thank you sir,” said Benson as he hobbled off, removing the bandages.
“What is he doing? I just stopped the bleeding,” said Cade.
“It has to look real, Cade, or else his cover is blown,” said Sepia.
Gan nodded. “I wonder how you made gunman sometimes, boy, seriously.”
They headed out of the Archives at a run, conscious that time was against them.
“You think that behemoth is still out there waiting for us?” Cade said as they made their way down the tunnel.
“I hope so. If it’s out there it means we will have less to deal with,” she said.
“How bad is it when we are hoping for a behemoth to be outside waiting for us,” said Cade.
“We need to get to Grey Command and that means going through the park at night without help. You need to focus, gunman,” said Gan. His voice held a hard edge and Cade grew serious.
“Yes, sir. Let’s make it happen,” said Cade. They had reached the door at the end of the tunnel. On the other side, the park and the Unholy waited for them.
TWENTY-TWO
A contingent of agents poured out of the elevator once the doors opened. One of them opened a medical kit and treated Marks’ hand. The others fanned out.
“They shot me and Benson. He’s back there, if they left him alive,” said Marks.
“Benson, sir?” asked one of the agents.
Marks waved the answer away.
“Go check the area near Antiquities --he should be around there somewhere.”
Benson rounded the corner and hobbled over to where the agents stood. He counted close to fifteen agents. The response team is impressive. Someone must be nervous, thought Benson.
“I’m over here, sir. I couldn’t stop them,” said Benson.
“What was the reason for your presence down here, sir?” said the lead agent.
“The Overseer wished to become more familiar with the Archives in light of the heightened Nightmare activity in the city,” said Benson.
The lead agent took down notes as Benson spoke.
“Why come down here to the Archives? I’m sure there are other ways to get information. The network, for instance, is a valuable resource,” said the agent.
“The Overseer felt it has to do with the wards guarding the park.” In every lie let there be a grain of truth. “So he thought this would be the best place to look for a solution,” said Benson.
“Was anything removed from the Archives?” One of the agents asked. Marks looked at Benson, but his face betrayed no emotion.
“No, nothing was removed, we managed to surprise the intruders in the middle of whatever it was they were doing. I shot one and they returned fire, hitting us,” said Marks.
The lead agent turned to face Benson. “Is that what happened?”
“Yes, that’s what happened they came in through the old sewer line. They must have used some kind of explosive, considering the damage,” said Benson.
“Why are you asking the same question again? The thieves are probably still in here. Go find them,” said Marks.
“Yes, sir,” said the lead agent. He didn’t look convinced but followed the instructions given to him. The agents headed off in the direction of Antiquities leaving Marks and Benson alone with the medical personnel.
Marks didn’t say anything and looked away from Benson. He appeared to be in deep thought as he made his way to the elevator.
“How is his wound?” said Marks to medic.
“He was lucky. An inch over to the left or right and he would have been done,” said the medic.
“That was fortunate,” said Marks.
The medic finished wrapping the wound in bandages then stood to make some notations in his tablet.
“Can you walk?” Marks said as he began to walk away.
Benson tested the leg and grimaced, more for effect than actual pain.
“I can manage. It’s not too bad,” he said.
“I don’t think they will find anything, so let’s head back up --we have things to plan,” said Marks.
“Tell them I returned to my office. I expect a report of this activity on my desk within the hour,” said Marks.
“Yes, sir,” said the medic.
As the elevator doors closed Marks pressed his hand on the panel and the elevator began its ascent into the nexus of Home.
**********
It was quiet in the tunnel. Gan started working on the locking mechanism. If something was waiting for them on the other side of the door he didn’t want to attract its attention.
“How the hell are we going to get out of the park? Getting in is not a problem it’s the getting out part that makes it fun,” said Cade.
“Give me the book,” said Gan. “You are going to have to push it tonight, Sepia. Once this door is open you draw your sword and you run as fast as you can for the edge of the park. We will go in the opposite direction.”
“That’s our plan? She’s bait and we run in the other direction?” said Cade.
“Well, unless you want to be the bait? I don’t think you will last out there long with the Unholy on your ass,” said Gan.
“I don’t like it, but we don’t have a choice, do we?” said Cade. “Blue, you be careful, and don’t stop for anything. Let me translate that for you. Haul ass until you are out of the park,” said Cade.
Sepia handed the book to Gan, careful to keep it wrapped with the cloth.
“I’ll go first and get their attention. Wait one minute and then you head east. I’m going to take them to the West side. Don’t worry about finding me. I’ll find you,” she said.
She stepped out into the dark of the park. Tonight the hunter would be the hunted. She took a few steps and looked up into the night sky. The stars winked at her, oblivious to the danger she found herself in. For a moment she wished she could be up there, away from all of this. Then she heard the branches break. She drew her blade slowly and expanded her awareness.
“Let’s go for a run,” she said as she took off.
The first creatures she noticed were the wolves. They were on the fringe of her awareness closing fast behind her.
“I hate Dreadwolves,” she said under her breath. The tattoos covering her body grew warm. In addition to protecting her from damage, they also gave her increased strength and stamina. This translated into her being able to push her body harder than a normal person. It also meant she could run fast --faster than a pack of Dreadwolves.
“She’s got their attention. Let’s hope she can keep it. Come on, boy, time to go,” said Gan.
Gan and Cade left the tunnel and began running in the opposite direction from Sepia. In her awareness, she could sense them making their way across the park. She blocked that from her mind and focused on the task at hand. She needed to be more of a diversion. She started yelling and howling along with the wolves that chased her.
“That’s bound to attract something,” she said. She wasn’t disappointed as the earth trembled slightly.
“Maybe it was too much of something,” she muttered as she kept running.
It was the behemoth.
“What the hell was that, Gan?” said Cade.
“If I had to guess, I would say it was the behemoth that was waiting for us. Before you say it, we can’t go back and we can’t help her. She’s a hunter, and a damned good one. She can handle this,” said Gan as they made their way to the East side of the Park. Be careful, blueberry.
The behemoth was fast, faster than the wolves and it was getting closer. She ran faster than she thought possible. Her muscles were screaming at her and her ink flared keeping her warm and whole.
She soon realized out-running the behemoth wasn’t going to be an option. She could hear Gan and Cade in her head telling her not to stop.
“No choice. I’m not going to run so I can die tired and exhausted,” she muttered to herself as she slowed.
She stopped running and gathered herself. She didn’t thin
k she could match it in strength, but if it was chasing her sword, maybe she could fool it. She put the sword back in the scabbard and felt for the behemoth’s location.
It slowed down and stopped and then started turning around in the opposite direction.
“Shit, the book! It probably does the same thing as my blade.” She had no way of contacting them. Her coms were damaged after the fight with the siroc.
She drew her blade again and the behemoth turned toward her, giving chase again. It was close now. Close enough for her to hear its breathing.
“I can smell you, hunter,” it said. “I can smell your fear. I will kill you slowly and then your friends after you.”
Its voice cut through the night settling in the pit of her stomach. She felt fear, but it wasn’t going to stop her. If she had to kill this creature to get out of the park alive, then she would kill it or die trying.
“Come get me, bitch.” She held her sword before her and sensed its approach. That can’t be right. Why would it be up so high? She rolled out of the way as it landed where she stood moments earlier, leaving an impact crater the size of a small van. Debris filled the air as the behemoth walked towards her.
“Hunter, you still don’t understand? The time of humanity is coming to an end,” said the behemoth. It picked up a boulder and hefted it in one hand.
“It’s time to crush you like the insects you are. Tonight I’m going to start with you.”
It threw the boulder with such velocity Sepia could only rely on reflex. She jumped to the side, avoiding the bulk of the large stone. The edge of the boulder clipped her in the shoulder and sent her spinning. Her ink flared and her arm hung lifeless. She stood up slowly, breathing hard.
“You think that hurt?” she said. “You must not have dealt with hunters. We don’t quit, we don’t lie down. We get shit done. Tonight, judging from your smell, you’re the shit,” said Sepia through clenched teeth. She was outclassed and she knew it, worse, the behemoth knew it and was toying with her.
The pain threatened to overwhelm her and the ground tilted for a second. Blood ran down her arm freely. The bones knitting themselves made her gasp in pain, catching her breath. She shifted forward and slashed at the behemoth. It stepped back, dodging the strike. Once out of range, she turned and ran. The behemoth began laughing behind her and started running. She pumped her legs as hard as she could. It felt like running in water--each step heavier than the last. Up ahead she saw the wall enclosing the park.
Her field of vision tunneled in and the edges grew dark. Her ink was coping with too much at once. The damage she was taking was overwhelming its ability to keep her functioning. In a few moments she would lose consciousness.
Wonder how many hunters died like that? Passing out in the middle of battle and getting finished. Seems like a flaw in the system, she thought as she ran. It was a skill that improved with time and experience. Over that time the ability to absorb greater damage increased. It also made the first few years of being a hunter the deadliest, for the hunter. Just need to get to the wall. Her vision was out of focus. She stumbled once and righted herself, moving faster. The behemoth landed in front of her blocking the wall.
“Where to now, little Hunter?” said the behemoth. Her shoulder was mobile now and she gripped her sword with both hands. The anger flared inside of her and her blade was covered with the black aura in the next second. It had never happened so fast, a part of her brain registered.
“You will get out of my way or die where you stand,” she said.
Her voice had turned feral, and a guttural laughter escaped her lips. The behemoth cocked its head and looked uncertain. Her eye was glowing. She could see the light reflect off her blade, a dull green spilling into the night. It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered as she charged the behemoth. She dove into its chest and buried her sword there with a double-handed thrust. The behemoth screamed in agony. She left the sword buried in the behemoth to the hilt as she back-flipped off it. The black aura remained on her hands as she advanced. The behemoth backed up, unsure what it was facing.
“I warned you,” she said. She dashed in and pulled out the sword, and cut off one of its legs in the same stroke. The behemoth fell to the ground, groaning. Black liquid oozed from its chest and leg. It began laughing as it lay on the ground. Sepia stood over it, sword in hand.
“You are no hunter. You’re one of us,” it said as black liquid escaped its lips.
“I’m not one of you,” Sepia whispered. “I’m worse.”
Sepia brought the sword down and removed its head, kicking it away. The body slowly began to dissolve until nothing was left. She walked to the wall and slumped on the side. She grabbed the top and pulled herself over, falling to the ground on the other side.
“There she is. Was that a behemoth? I haven’t seen one of those in years,” said a voice.
The cool stone felt good against her face. She could see the first rays of dawn just peeking over the horizon. A shadow fell across her face and three figures surrounded her. They were all women, but not hunters.
“Sisters,” Sepia managed before she passed out.
“She knows? Anna, how can she know?” said the sister who was crouched over Sepia’s body. She was the smallest of the three.
“Asha, it doesn’t matter what she knows,” said Anna. Asha removed Sepia’s guns and was about to remove the sword when Anna grabbed her hand.
“If you want to live to see the morning I suggest you leave that sword alone,” said Anna.
Anna turned to the third sister who dwarfed them both.
“Pick her up, Alexa,” said Anna. “Be careful not to touch the sword.
“Did she just face a behemoth alone?” said Asha.
“Yes, and no more talking. Our instructions are to bring her in,” said Anna.
“How did she face it alone? Isn’t she just a hunter?” said Asha.
“It would seem she is more than just a hunter,” said Anna.
Alexa picked her up. They placed her in a waiting vehicle and drove off. Anna removed the scabbard and placed the sword in it, careful to avoid touching the blade.
**********
Gan and Cade were outside of the park.
“Do you think she made it out okay?” said Cade.
“I’m sure she’s fine. She knows most of the safe houses in the area. As soon as she can she will call. We need to get to Command and find out what we can do about the wards,” said Gan.
Cade didn’t answer but his gut told him something was wrong.
TWENTY-THREE
Marks sat at the head of the table in the conference room. On either side of him sat a total of fifteen men, motionless and quiet.
“Please send in Benson,” said Marks into his intercom.
Benson walked in, his leg still stiff but no worse for wear.
“You wanted to see me, sir?” said Benson. He could see the maps on the table. Several areas were circled in red with notations next to them.
“Good morning, Benson. How’s the leg?” said Marks.
“It’s doing much better, sir. The medic gave me some painkillers and it’s coming along,” said Benson.
None of the men moved or acknowledged that Benson had entered the room. They may as well have been statues.
“I have a problem, Benson, that I would like your assistance with,” said Marks.
“Anything, sir,” said Benson. His gut told him this was a trap.
“Enthusiasm, I like that. Well, see, here is my problem. I don’t trust you. Don’t take it personally, I don’t trust anyone except for these men. Do you see these men sitting here?” said Marks.
Benson looked around and knew the type: ex-military, skilled and highly trained. They offered blind loyalty with a generous dose of psychosis.
“Yes, sir, I see them,” he said. He didn’t like where the conversation was going.
“Any one of these men is willing to sacrifice their life for me. I trust them implicitly. You, however, I do not. Do yo
u see my situation?” said Marks.
“No, sir, not really,” said Benson.
“I can’t have people close to me I can’t trust. It complicates things,” said Marks.
“Should I tender my resignation, sir?”
“That won’t be necessary. I do have a solution however. One I think you will appreciate,” said Marks.
“Yes, sir, anything I can do to help.”
“These men will be going into the park to deal with the breach problem,” said Marks.
“Have they located the stones?” asked Benson.
“They have pinpointed where the ward stones should be. After some aerial reconnaissance they will find the exact location of the stones and will try to repair them,” said Marks.
“Aerial reconnaissance will be difficult, sir, given the nature of the park and the EMP field,” said Benson.
“Didn’t I tell you he would be useful?” Marks said looking at his men.
The men remained silent. “Yes, the field complicates matters so they will engage in limited runs. I’m told it should take a few days to find all of the stones. When that is done this insertion team will enter the park and fix the ward stones.”
“I understand, sir. I don’t see how I can help, sir. These men look trained for this kind of work,” said Benson.
“Your help was instrumental in getting us to this point. I won’t forget how you helped me in the Archives. You will be joining the team to make sure this mission goes off without a hitch,” said Marks.
And to make sure I don’t come back, thought Benson.
“Consider this a test of sorts, Benson. You pass this and I see good things in your future,” said Marks.
“Yes, sir, I understand, sir.” My short future once we get inside the park. I have to get word to Gan somehow.
“This man here is Roland Dietrich. He will be leading the team you are on. All your orders will be coming from him,” said Mark.
Dietrich nodded to Benson. It was the only signal of acknowledgment he received.
“Please prepare your things. It looks like you will be entering the park in a few days. Should be plenty of time for your leg to heal,” said Marks.
Rise of the Night (Sepia Blue Book 1) Page 15
