Four (Their Dead Lives,1)

by Scott, Zack

  Evans tumbled across dirt, bruised and bloodied. Battling on the ground was Eddie, swinging his machete at the cloaked Embracer that had almost impaled Addison with the steel spear earlier.

  Addison fumbled to unholster Evans’ pistol. He shot a glance behind and Sofia, hunched over, continued to grab her mouth and gag, black splashing across the canyon. He tugged and tugged at the holster. Fucker! With no luck getting the pistol, he snagged a grenade off Evans’ vest. He charged at Sofia, about to pull the pin. A dark hand shot out, swiping the small explosive from his grasp. He tried to drop and grab it. He tried. But she wrapped around his neck, throwing him several feet away. A sharp pain exploded in his arm. Shaking eyes saw bone snapped from his skin. He cried.

  “This what you want?” Sofia lifted the grenade off the ground. “I thought you wanted me.” She sounded more funny than scary, talking without a full tongue. You disastrous woman. She cracked her neck, opened her mouth, and her tongue grew, sliding out longer than humanly possible. Addison gagged at the sight. As it hung past her chin, she rushed for him.

  Kicking and crawling with his one good arm, Addison tried to escape. He tried. But she grabbed his ankle. Dragging him under her legs, she pinned him again. Her tongue swirled around, much like the helicopter blades had before.

  “No, no!” He blocked his face as the tongue flopped around his arm.

  “Give me a little kiss, Addy.” Her dark eyes pressed close to his. “A last kiss.”

  Evans flung her off in one, roaring charge. “Handle your girl,” he said, after catching his breath over Addison. Turning back to the helicopter, Evans yelled for Eddie and ran away.

  Addison’s eyes landed to the dropped grenade. He snagged it and spun. Sofia rushed back for him as he popped the pin off.

  They collided. Addison—weak, bloody, and defeated—somehow landed on top of her.

  “Give it to me, Addy!” Her possessed tongue flipped and flopped, sticking to his face for wet seconds.

  “What did I say to you on the roof?” He struggled to keep her down, and wasn’t sure if she was toying with him. “You want to know what I said?” Her legs wrapped around his. Locked. She laughed, tongue swirling. “I said, EAT IT, you snatch!” And he shoved the grenade in her mouth. He fought instantly to break free, but she bit hard around his wrist, grabbed his tie, and bound him with her legs. Those dark eyes ignited wide.

  Trapped by the only woman he’d ever loved, Addison screamed until the explosion took his voice.

  EVANS

  Enough biting, stabbing, neck-grabbing, shooting, exploding and crashing. Time for home. Evans searched for his carbine in the helicopter wreckage. Through the debris, he saw their legs. “Slinger, crouch.”

  Her face met his. “You okay?”

  “Affirmative.”

  Eddie leaned from the cabin, stretching his hand. “Jon, let us go.”

  But Evans froze. The black cloak fluttered to the helicopter, landing right at the pilot’s side. “Eddie, watch out!”

  Eddie spun, unsheathing his machete and slicing the cloak open. The Embracer flashed a step back. Eddie continued his charge, raising the machete high. The Embracer slid under the attack, kicking the pilot’s legs and tripping him down to the ground. Evans spun away, evading the falling body.

  Something attacked Addison.

  “What was that, Specialist?” Slinger asked from the other side of the wreckage.

  Two Embracers? There is no surviving this. Wanting to save his sergeant, Evans dropped to Slinger’s eyes. “Take Kelsey to Numark, now!”

  “Not without you.”

  “Chelsea, go!” Spinning back, he reached for his handgun. A black fist connected with his jaw. He leapt on the cloaked beast as it rushed him into the canyon wall. His back cracked, causing him to slump over the Embracer’s shoulder.

  Eddie lunged off the ground. The machete struck the cloak and a boisterous roar flew off the grey face of the Embracer. Pulling the hood back revealed the same haunting dark eyes from the yacht. Evans hated those eyes.

  A gloved hand wrapped around the specialist’s forehead, thrusting his head roughly against the canyon wall. Sight blurred. Body lifted, he was thrown by the fucker once again. He slid across dirt, weakened and dazed.

  From nearby came the sounds of Addison’s struggle.

  Eddie continued the battle as Evans fought to rise. A step, a slash, a retreat, a dodge. The Embracer charged at Eddie, who in turn bounced off the canyon wall, evading the attack. He spun back, twirling with a slash, ripping the creatures stomach open using the machete. The cloaked beast fell over, grabbing its dripping organs. Eddie raised the machete over its head. “For my helicopter.”

  The Embracer snagged Eddie’s leg, yanked him to the ground before the blade connected. Eddie wrestled with the smothering shadow, creating a flurry of dark and dust.

  After Evans found the strength to rise, he smashed into the woman attacking Addison, then quickly spun back to the helicopter. “Eddie,” he breathed mournfully.

  The Embracer had snapped the pilot’s neck.

  Evans’ feet flew as he kicked off the ground. Falling to a slide, he grabbed the machete. A hand shot for him. A ferocious slash removed the Embracer’s leg from below the knee. Black blood poured across dirt.

  His face sprayed dark and Evans rolled to his feet. The Embracer hobbled in front of the specialist, snagging a broken piece of its steel spear. Evans struck. Parried. He kicked at the cloak. The steel piece scathed his hip. He struck again. Parried.

  On the offensive, the beast struck, wobbling on one foot. Evans mixed up his stance, becoming too slow to dodge. The steel impaled his thigh. Falling to one knee, he swung the machete at the beast’s face, nicking its cheek.

  A scream caused the weakened foes to take a brief break from their fight.

  An explosion threw Addison off the splattering corpse of the other Embracer, sending his back into a canyon wall. He tumbled to the ground. Small flames ate at his sprawled-out body.

  The steel spear ripped from Evans’ kneeling leg. He clenched his lips, fighting a yell, and swung the machete. Blade ripped through cloak, hitting flesh and bone. Before Evans could retract, the broken spear quickly slipped into his chest. His jaw locked open. Pain shot throughout his body. Eyes wide, he slumped over the Embracer, the two of them weakly propping each other up in a red and black puddle of blood. Keep fighting. The steel spear ripped from the specialist’s body and rose over his head, shimmering in the moonlight. A flash of Dylan’s face. A bright smile. Waiting. Almost home, he heard his uncle’s voice. One last rush gave Evans the strength to strike back, and he diverted the deadly path of the spear to the side, and he launched the final swing through the Embracer’s neck.

  Falling over, limbs weak to the numb, the specialist coughed up dirt and blood as the decapitated head rolled until the creature’s eyes turned to him. The darkness vanished, showing the old man’s humanity for the first time.

  Evans stabbed the machete in the ground, using it for leverage. Even with blood dripping from multiple gashes, he managed to make his way toward Addison.

  He paused by the Embracer’s still-rolling head; one swift kick sent it flying through the canyon. “That’s for sinking my uncle’s yacht.”

  The charred Addison stretched out a weak hand. His other arm had been blown off. His melted lips gummed together as he tried to speak. “Did I handle her?”

  Evans fell to one knee, holding himself up by using the machete. He said, “Handled.”

  Addison’s eyelids had burnt off, but now his eyes seemed at peace and he breathed his last worry. Turning from the charred corpse, Evans focused on the helicopter wreckage blocking his path to Numark.

  An impossible climb, the specialist thought with each painful step he took. But he needed his orders, he needed—

  His knees crashed to the ground and the machete slipped from his hand. The dying night blurred.

  “Jon!” A silhouette stood on the crashed helicopter.

>   Numb, his body fell forward, only to be caught in Slinger’s arms.

  “Numark,” he moaned like the decay.

  “It’s waiting for us.”

  He smiled, tasting blood on his teeth.

  Slinger said, “You’re coming home with me.”

  His light head slumped. “Is that an order?”

  Kelsey lowered next to them. “Is he—”

  “Let’s go,” demanded Slinger.

  The girls lifted Evans and the three of them headed for Camp Numark.

  Evans said, “A warm cot.”

  “Sounds too good.”

  JEFF

  We leave as—

  “Look at us, guys; a gook, two heebs and a bean,” said Scot.

  Jeff, blood dripping down his face, wanted to punch him for making such a stupid joke at a time like this. “Enough.”

  “What? We’re reunited again, just reminiscing.” He shrugged.

  Jeff grabbed Kale’s shoulder. “I—I’m sorry.”

  “Fuck me, why are you guys apologizing to him? Are we forgetting what he’s done?” Scot stepped away. “There’s no redemption story here.”

  Jeff pulled Kale, Alec immediately following. “I’ll get to you in a second.” He turned and pointed.

  Alec paused. “I go wherever Kale does. He has Nicole.”

  Jeff yanked Kale’s wrist, spinning him back. “This true?”

  A nod.

  “Where?”

  A head turn. They all looked across the curved roof at another entrance to the apartment complex. “I’ll bring her out.”

  “Go, get her.” Jeff shoved Kale.

  “Wait!” Alec grabbed Kale’s arm. “We can’t let him out of our sight.”

  “I trust him,” said Jeff.

  Scot touched his own head. “I’m sorry, you trust him? This guy, who stabbed me in high school, and who likely shoved you off that cliff when you were drunk, and who keeps trying to kill us—you ‘trust’ him?”

  “He wants us all together,” said Jeff, “and if it wasn’t for him, we’d all be dead in that well, or—”

  Kale stared at Scot. “Be condemned like me.”

  “Take me to her,” said Alec.

  Kale didn’t move. “No. Let me go alone. Show me some trust and I’ll bring her out, unharmed.”

  Scot stepped to Alec, while grabbing two of his own stab wounds. “Don’t listen to him. Even with my severe blood loss, I feel like I have the clearest head here. Am I wrong?”

  He has to go alone. We have to caress his now fragile mind. “Please, guys, please, let him.”

  Alec and Scot stared at Jeff, as if looking at their leader.

  “Bring her out.”

  Kale went, scampering across the roof like a creature of the night. They followed him to the other side. He slipped in the apartment entrance, leaving the door partially open.

  “This is absurd,” groaned Scot.

  “Jeff,” Alec started, clenching his fist, “if anything happens to her, you’ll take every blame I’ll have to give.”

  “Understood.” Kale won’t hurt her. He can’t.

  Scot limped between them, cracking another wise remark. “So guys, how about this apocalypse? Crazy, right?”

  “Shut up, Scotty,” whispered Alec.

  Scot retracted. “I was so close to finding somewhere safe with Kelsey. We made beautiful passion, too.”

  They both said nothing.

  Seconds turned to minutes. No Kale.

  Alec sighed. “That’s it. I love you, Jeff, but you’re a naïve idiot.” He stormed to the entrance right when it opened.

  Kale stepped out, holding Nicole’s hand. Yes, Kale! Her mouth was taped and her wrists were tied. But she was alive. Her eyes spread wide upon seeing Alec. He rushed to her but Kale shot to the edge of the roof, pressing his bone-dagger around her neck.

  “Kale!” Alec flushed with light, eyes glossing white.

  Holy—

  “I thought his ugly-ass arm broke?” Scot questioned.

  “It healed, thanks for noticing,” sniped Kale.

  Alec stepped closer.

  “Wait, now wait a second.” Kale dragged Nicole closer to the edge.

  What are you doing? No, Kale. “You promised.”

  “And I’ll stick to it, but I need assurance I make it out of here alive.”

  “You cowardly piece of shit.” Scot stood next to the others. The three of them prepared for whatever Kale did next.

  “Words like those, man, Scot, they just lack the assurances I search for.” He popped his lips.

  “Kale,” snarled Alec.

  “Look, here, I’ll let you two say hi.” One quick rip took the tape off Nicole’s pale mouth.

  “Baby.” Alec stepped closer but Kale warned him back.

  “Alec, what’s going on?” Her innocent eyes filled with tears as she looked at the light in Alec’s own. “Your eyes?”

  “Yeah, tell her,” said Kale.

  “I’m getting you out of this, I swear. You trust me, right?”

  “I do.”

  Kale grinned. “So cute.”

  There will be no saving him or Alec if she dies. Think, Jeff, you can save everyone. “Kale, she has nothing to do with this, let her go.”

  “Ah, Homer, on the contrary, she has everything to do with this.” He raised the bone-dagger off her neck.

  “What are you talking about?” Scot asked him.

  “You see, she—” Kale’s words were cut off by Nicole slamming her bound arms into his stomach. She crawled right for Alec, his hand nearly touching her.

  Kale was quicker, and he yanked her back, pressing against her neck once again. “Ah, ah, bad, bad,” he admonished. The blade slid against her flesh, lightly nicking it.

  Light sparked brighter in Alec’s body. “Kale!”

  “Relax, only a scratch.” Kale relieved the pressure.

  “Why, Kale?” her words shook. “I thought we were friends.”

  “Friends? Ha! If we were friends, why did you try crawling away? Don’t you trust your friends?”

  “Enough.” Alec crouched, keeping his eyes with Nicole. “We will let you go, Kale, I promise. Just let me have her.”

  They were separated by mere feet. But Jeff, like Alec, knew no one would be faster than Kale’s blade.

  Kale grinned at them all. “That’s nice of you to let me go, Alec, really is. But I want something else.”

  This is not the Kale I know. “What?” said Jeff.

  “You see, Homer, when I said you were wrong about her, I meant it. She’s the reason Alec never did anything but care for her. So much power, and it went to waste.” Nicole looked up at him and he forced her to face Alec. “The regret on your face right now, Alec, it is quite—”

  “I regret nothing,” stated Alec, “except not killing you sooner.”

  Kale shrugged, “Meh.”

  “For fuck’s sake,” interrupted Scot. “Say what you want, you insane freak.”

  Kale glanced at all three of them. “This.”

  “Don’t!” begged Jeff.

  “Kale!” Alec lunged.

  Nicole made another attempt for Alec as the bone-dagger swung. Alec’s fingers touched her, but the blade impaled her heart first. Nicole slipped right from his touch, pulled back by Kale.

  The creature before them dangled Nicole over the edge of the roof with his one hand, grinned at Alec, said, “I want you to watch her die.”

  She fell.

  A throat-ripping roar broke from Alec, and he flung to the edge. His fingers grazed her ankle, but he missed and he collapsed, his frozen body hanging off the roof.

  Kale swiped his bone-dagger for the unseeing Alec’s neck. Jeff rushed forward, grabbed Kale’s shirt and tossed him away from the edge before he could take Alec’s head.

  Scot chased after Kale’s rolling body, kicking several times, but the blade sliced his ankle open. Falling over, Scot squealed away from the Embracer.

  Jeff passed him and lunged on
to Kale. He slammed a fist into his once-close friend’s face. Crack. Another. Crack. Black blood stained his knuckles. “What have you done?”

  “Meh,” he choked and grabbed Jeff’s large fist on the fourth blow. His dark veins bulged as he crunched bones. The blade swiped, taking the tip of Jeff’s nose with it. Shoved off Kale, Jeff crawled for composure.

  Kale lunged across the night, swinging down for his face.

  Scot flew from the side, slamming into the Embracer’s ribs. They tumbled across the roof, bodies tangling as one.

  Jeff rose.

  Kale shot to the air, blade first, stabbing Jeff’s breastbone, then he wrapped his own legs around Scot’s neck.

  “Get off me!” screamed Scot as he grabbed Kale’s ankles crushing his throat.

  The three of them were locked.

  Kale fought free from Jeff and went for another stab but Jeff strafed away. The Embracer’s face collapsed to the roof, legs falling off Scot, who grabbed his neck, coughing away from everyone.

  Jeff didn’t recognize his friend. What had happened to the boy who wanted nothing more than to be a hero? What had happened to his Nightwing? The body that resembled Kale possessed too much evil, hate, and death.

  And he had to die.

  Alec flashed like lightning into Kale and threw him to the edge of the roof. Catching himself, Kale stabbed the ground before falling over. He pounced to his feet, staring at the heaving Alec, said, “We will never leave as four.”

  Alec clenched his teeth. “We never did.”

  Light clashed with dark. Two bodies flew off the roof, vanishing from Jeff’s eyes as he sprinted after them. Skidding to a stop, he witnessed their descent.

  Kale fell back first, Alec right above him. Three stabs broke Alec’s flesh but he flipped Kale over, forcing him to fall face-first. Jeff swore Alec yelled, “Die,” during the last few seconds of their lives.

  Kale’s face slammed into a yellow fire hydrant and pieces of him exploded across asphalt.