“What is it that you need help with?” she asks, cracking her knuckles and rubbing her sore neck. She gives a thumbs up to Lloyd, hoping he keeps his mouth shut for a few minutes. “Gas, water, food, and repairs to the vehicle will only be the beginning. Though it depends on what you need from us. It’s rare that a Librarian accepts the help of a person like me. Not sure any of you have ever been willing to hire a man like Lloyd.”
“We can discuss my request during the drive to Cleveland,” Awry says, accepting Cassidy’s offered arm. He lets her guide him to the passenger side door, which he squeezes through and tries to get comfortable while Lloyd is cramped in the back. “All I will say for now is that you are correct about there being gangs in the city. Yet they are what keeps Cleveland together and safe. What I will ask you to do is prevent them from going to war. More can be explained once we reach our destination.”
“Interesting,” the blonde states as she struggles to start the engine. The jeep roars to life and she pulls back onto the road, a low hum making her worry. “I can tell you right now that this job is going to cost you more than car repairs and supplies. Hope your order is ready to owe these two wanderers a favor.”
*****
Standing at the street corner, Cassidy stares at the lakeshore building that is on the other side of a concrete clearing. A garden is in the center of the circular area, half of it an attempt at nurturing vegetables and the other an array of flowers. The distant structure is like nothing she has ever seen before with the more visible part a glass pyramid and a square tower on its backside. Blocky additions are on the right hand side of the building, which has been covered in vivid pictures that make Cassidy think the residents keep changing their minds about the decorations. Coming off the left and sitting on Lake Erie is a circular structure that is adorned with a patchwork of old concert posters. With the warm and calm weather, there are people fishing along the shore and in small boats, which are meticulously tethered to pylons to avoid floating away. Far in the distance, the outlines of military vessels can be seen waiting to stop anyone from trying to escape into Canada. Not wanting to dwell on darker times and how the rest of the world is going on without her, Cassidy turns her gaze back to their destination. Milling about the building’s entrance are at least thirty people, who are dressed in a variety of outfits that range from tight leather to a simple jeans and t-shirt combination.
“This is going to be awesome,” Lloyd whispers, bouncing on his toes. Not having a shirt to perfectly fit in with the locals, he keeps glancing at the image of a muscular, albino biker on his chest. “I always wanted to come here. That’s the problem with being a wanted man. You have to hide and stay away from the fun things in life. Don’t even get me started on trying to get a taxi or finding food. It almost made me want to turn myself in.”
“Weren’t you caught at the Bronx Zoo?” Cassidy asks, subtly checking the gun beneath her pea coat.
“Yes, but that was to see the baboons. Totally worth it,” the grinning man replies, waving to the distant gang members. Two of them hurry back into the building, signaling for the others to keep an eye on the strangers. “I think they saw us standing here in the open. Our master plan of kindergarten level stealth has failed. Now we must fight or talk our way to victory. Please let me take option one. Uh, why do you keep scowling at the building?”
“I just don’t get it,” she admits while scratching her head. Noticing a pamphlet sticking out from under a discarded box, Cassidy wonders if the place is still open to the public. “The Metal Minstrels are supposed to be one of the strongest gangs in Cleveland, but I see no defenses on this building. They’re vulnerable from the water and the street. That glass is too easy to break and they haven’t put any barricades up. These people can’t possibly be protected solely by their reputation. I know Awry said they could be arrogant and were more interested in living a comfortable life than causing trouble, but this looks downright lazy. What’s with the odd name too?”
“I’m guessing somebody is developing a fear of getting sued over copyright infringement as our story progresses,” Lloyd replies with a shrug. Stretching his arms over his head, the killer gets closer to the gang’s territory and sits on a flat-topped pylon. “Never mind. They could have traps or use a tactic of baiting enemies inside to maintain a home advantage. From what we’ve been told, only the smaller gangs fight over territory while the bigger ones focus more on maintaining the city. The Metal Minstrels, which does have a nice ring to it, might not have any real threats to worry about.”
“Then why do they need people like us?”
“Because we needed an obstacle in Ohio to overcome.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You can’t have more than one adventure in each location when involved in a journey tale.”
“I’m just going to pretend that makes sense and approach the people with guns.”
Cassidy tucks her hands into her pockets as she heads for the nervous gang members, their eyes locked on the strangers. She tries to keep their attention on her, which gets easier when Lloyd raises his arms. Most of the locals are armed with clubs, chains, and knives because of the difficulty in finding bullets. The few with guns remain in the back, but refuse to lift their weapons until they know there is a real threat. Without being challenged, the intruders get within swinging range before the nearest gang member pounds his metal bat on the ground. Stopping at the wordless warning, Cassidy pulls a wooden book out of her coat pocket and presents it to a woman with a long chain coiled around her arm. Her heart is beating hard in her chest, but the sensation only makes the young woman excited and more aware of her surroundings instead of distracted by fear. This heightened awareness becomes stronger when the Librarian symbol is accepted and the mob parts to let the one with the baseball bat lead the two travelers toward the building.
Chains and a sturdy lock are removed from the inside of the doors, allowing Cassidy and Lloyd to enter into the surprisingly clean museum. There is clutter on the floor and bags of garbage collected from their latest party, but the surfaces show signs of being recently scrubbed and polished. Unlike other landmarks around the country, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has been preserved by those who have claimed it as their home. Only a few display cases have been broken into and destroyed, the items taken by overzealous gang members. The gift shop has been turned into an armory, which is guarded by a shotgun-carrying man in zebra-striped pants and a leather jacket. With all of the levels and fixtures above their heads, the travelers find it impossible to get a clear view of everything or discern how many people are watching them. It is obvious that an intruder would be blind to any danger from above until they reach the middle of the pyramid where stairs lead to the second floor. Perched on elevated platforms, at least five snipers are relaxing next to their readied weapons. The barrels of their guns are delicately placed against one of the pyramid’s panes of reinforced glass, which can be flipped down by the press of a remote control. As she is led deeper into the hideout, Cassidy notices wired explosives at several key points that will bring this part of the structure down. She smiles and silently admits that she was wrong about the place being unprotected. If anybody ever fought their way inside and the Metal Minstrels believe they will lose, the gang can simply collapse the building on their enemies’ heads.
Lloyd stays in the rear of the small group as they wind through the seven floors, the gang members under orders to stall the travelers. His curiosity and tempered excitement keep the colorful escort at ease, none of them able to entirely distrust a man who appears to share their interests. They are still a little leery of him because of his orange pants, which several people recognize as part of a prison uniform. Still, his open joy at being in the museum is enough to let Lloyd get away with touching a few jackets and instruments that are not behind glass. Any attempt to do more than a gentle touch causes one of the nearby guards to threateningly cock their shotgun. With a sigh, the serial killer behaves himself and avoids tellin
g his hosts that repeatedly doing that makes him think the weapon is not loaded. Like a little boy on a school field trip, Lloyd wants to do whatever he can to extend his stay and not be locked up away from the fun.
The gang members remain outside the doors, which burst open to let a crowd of excited children into the hallway. With their escort moving to lead the kids outside, Lloyd and Cassidy find themselves alone and unsure of what to do. A fake cough causes them to turn around and face the founders of the Metal Minstrels. Leaning on a microphone stand that ends in a spike, a skinny man with wild, blonde hair and shockingly blue eyes grins at the travelers. Making sure not to appear too friendly, he pats the butt of a pink shotgun that is loosely strapped to his decorative belt. Wearing tight pants and an open shirt, he resembles a stereotypical rock star that might moonlight as either a male stripper or a flamboyant vigilante. As if she stepped out of the same era, the curvy redhead looks stunning in a silk shirt and tight jeans. The woman has a leather jacket from one of the displays, the garment showing no signs of abuse or damage. The hunting rifle on her back can be quickly shrugged into her hands, but the immediate danger is the hand-axe that is decorated with a red and black bandana.
“I’m Rose and this is Tyler,” the woman says while chewing on a homemade toothpick. She spends a few quiet seconds eyeing Lloyd, the flicker of recognition on her face. “Awry told us that we’d be getting a celebrity. Didn’t expect it to be someone so infamous. Here I thought all of the serial killers had been executed or left to rot in their cells. Not sure if the country can handle a man like you wandering around.”
“Lady, it couldn’t handle me before it fell to pieces,” Lloyd replies with a broad smile. As Rose moves, he notices a feathered toy for cats sticking out of her pocket. “So, how do you know our mutual friend?”
“We find having Librarians who came from our ranks to be very useful,” Tyler replies, his steely voice revealing his impatience. The challenge in his eyes softens when he turns his attention to Cassidy. “Awry was told not to tell you much about the situation. We want to keep this issue a secret for as long as possible. Not only for our reputation, but it could create some panic within the city. Come this way.”
“Awww. He didn’t say it right,” Lloyd pouts, earning a chuckle from Rose. Passing through the doors, they find themselves among panes of glass that are covered in signatures. “If you picked this place as your personal space then I must say I’m impressed. Wonder how many of these people are still alive.”
“We’ve heard rumors about various celebrities being seen around the country,” Rose replies while taking off her jacket due to the humid interior. Having removed the right sleeve of her shirt, the gang leader blatantly shows off a forearm tattoo of a savage-looking rabbit. “Maybe we can give you a full tour after things settle down. As Tyler said, we want to keep this contained and every minute brings us closer to a bigger problem. Have you two had any dealings with Guardians?”
Cassidy groans and rubs her eyes, the thought of contending with another deadly zealot giving her a headache. “We ran into a sniper defending rhinos in New Jersey. I’ve had a few encounters over the years, but that’s been the worst one yet. Now you’re going to have to explain the situation and offer us something in exchange for our help. Sorry about sounding cold and heartless, but putting my life on the line isn’t a hobby. My mom was all business when it came to these things and I like to follow her example.”
Tyler is about to speak when Rose puts a hand on his shoulder and gestures for their guests to follow. They move down the curving hallway until they reach a section that has been set up with cafeteria furniture. A long table has been covered with empty glasses and various bottles of alcohol that the gang has gathered and traded for over the years. The space reminds Lloyd and Cassidy of a bar, complete with a curtained stage for a band to play on. Two guitars sit nearby and Tyler claims the red one before taking a seat and inspecting the instrument. Rose heads for the stage and gets comfortable on the edge, her hand falling on a drumstick that she twirls in her hand. With no effort, she smoothly moves the toothpick from one side of her mouth to the other, which is a signal for her partner to continue the conversation.
Instead of talking, Tyler pulls a few pictures out of his back pocket and hands them to their guests. The images are of him and Rose soon after they established the Metal Minstrels and helped Cleveland come back together. In every picture, the pair are with an animal that ranges from a red panda to a baby deer. Every creature shows signs of having been injured and rescued, each one obviously on the road to a full recovery. One photo is of the pair helping a group of Guardians calm and help an adult elephant, the beast suffering from an arrow in its eye. The next picture reveals the gang leaders sitting in front of the bandaged animal, which is holding a bass guitar in its trunk.
“You had an alliance with the local Guardians,” Cassidy mentions, handing the pictures back to Tyler. Taking a seat at the makeshift bar, she runs her finger around the rim of an empty glass that is still decorated with a few grains of salt. “There’s a similar set up in New York City where the multiple zoos have been turned into a huge veterinary hospital system. You can’t release all of the wild animals from their enclosures without guaranteeing that they can get medical help. There has to be some responsibility for them because they aren’t in their natural environment. Where do you fit into this? I thought Guardians only trust their own in these situations.”
“There’s a lot of philanthropic history behind some of the names here and we felt like we should carry on that tradition,” Rose says, the explanation sounding more like gloating than an actual answer. Going to the bar, she pours herself a shot of whiskey and does the same for the others as an afterthought. “Did you see the kids leaving here? We teach them about this place and anything else we can fit into the lesson. Another one of our charities is that the Metal Minstrels act as guards and muscle for the Cleveland Zoo. Because of the city’s condition and reputation, they get a lot of animals and are undermanned because many of the local Guardians prefer to wander with their charges. We even had a team that would ride out to collect runaways or follow rumors about unprotected animals. Always with a Guardian escort of course. All we asked in return is the chance to visit the zoo and have an exotic pet. It was a red panda that I named Saul. Before you ask, the current situation forced me to give him back.”
Cassidy drinks her shot in one gulp, the liquor burning her throat since she is more used to beer. “At least it wasn’t tequila. I assume you want us to get your pet back. That’s going to be costly, especially if you don’t have a map of the place. Only plan I can think of is trying to pass ourselves off as Guardians and infiltrate the base. Trying to escape with a wild animal, which will probably be terrified and panicking, is not something I have experience in.”
“That’s good because we don’t want the one animal,” Tyler says while playing a few chords on his guitar. Drinking the whiskey, he casually shrugs at the taste and tosses the glass to Rose for a refill. “Our alliance was broken a few days ago when this new Guardian showed up and took over the zoo. The two of us were lucky to have been running late considering all visitors were executed instead of released. This man calls himself Amur and claims that humanity should bow before the rest of nature. He considers us abominations and zoos are nothing more than concentration camps for animals. Doesn’t matter to him that very few are permanently kept there and it’s more of a hospital. We don’t know where he came from, but I get the feeling that his presence puts a lot of people and animals in danger.”
“So you want assassins?” Cassidy asks, surprised that the two leaders look to be in sudden disagreement. Tyler nods while Rose shakes her head, the two of them scowling at each other. “I would really appreciate it if you gave us all of the information upfront. Keep feeling like I’m failing a test of some kind and that’s making me irritable. Just tell us what you want and we’ll state a price.”
“Tyler wants to use violence, but I want a c
hance to talk to this Amur,” Rose states, throwing the whiskey bottle to her sighing partner. She chugs her shot in a graceful motion, pausing to run her tongue along the inside of the glass. “A fight could make the situation worse, especially since this man seems to be unstable. If my attempt at reviving the truce through words fails then we’ll do it the other way. What I would like from you two is to act as my bodyguards when I visit the zoo.”
“That’s fucking ridiculous. Amur has already killed people, so you should take him out.”
“I only want one chance and nobody else is willing to go with me.”
“Sorry, but I don’t do suicide missions.”
Lloyd raises his hand, the empty shot glass covering his thumb. “What exactly were you going to pay us with? Might as well hear the offer before we say no. I assume that’s the smarter way to do business around here. Though I do agree with Cass and Mr. Glistening Chest Hair over there. Best to slit throats and hope the next leader is friendlier. If not then you repeat until bored or somebody with a sense of pattern recognition shows up.”
Rose goes behind the bar and rummages through several boxes to find the items that she thinks will entice her guests. Having heard about them from Awry, she has spent the morning considering what they want the most. Lloyd’s eyes light up when she offers a serrated knife in a sheath and a stack of graphic t-shirts that depict various band logos. As the serial killer examines his potential prize, Cassidy remains in her seat and shifts her feet toward the exit. Rose can tell that the young woman is determined to leave, the revelation of a modest-sized cardboard box having no effect on her decision.
Crossing Bedlam Page 8
