by Leyton, Bisi
Bach wasn’t sure he agreed with his friend and he could see Felip’s remark made the humans very uncomfortable at the very least.
“Coles will most likely shoot both of them when he sees them,” Mrs. Kuti replied. “He still believes Bach is infected.”
Bach could see from Wisteria’s expression that this was yet another lie between her and her mother.
“Then we are going to have to work extra hard to convince him,” Felip answered. “We need to go now, Bach.”
The guys headed to the door.
“Be safe,” Wisteria called out Bach.
He wanted to hold her again, but something about her mother unnerved him, and Bach didn’t know what it might be.
“What are you waiting for? Go, so we can lock up,” Lara snapped at them, pushing him out of the door.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
The sun was setting by the time Bach and Felip left the rest of the group. Hearing the low- pitched siren going off in the distance, they made their way to Wisteria’s home.
He and Felip waited on the roof of a taller house across the street for any sign of movement. He’d turned on the lights of her home, hoping it would cause one of the Red Phoenix people to check it out.
“We should start with the address Wisteria gave us. We can always come back and check her home later,” Felip suggested as he joined him on the rooftop.
Bach shook his head. “You stay here and I will check this address she gave me.”
“Or you could just renew her and then we could leave. We would be home for sandwine this evening.”
“She would not like that. As a human, the idea of a renewal makes her afraid.”
“Human? You call them human now? That is very curious; you no longer see her as Terran.”
The word hurt Wisteria too greatly for him to continue to use it in front of her. He didn’t realize he had stopped using it at all.
“Being this close to Terrans must be trying for you. You have changed so much,” Felip commented.
“I have not changed.”
“If you had only renewed her the first time you saw her, we would not be here. If you renewed her you could mold her into the form you desire and she will be that for you. I must tell you, I am a little jealous.”
“Why?” Bach kept his focus on the street below. Even on the moonless night, Bach could see clearly what was happening on the empty street.
“Because once you have renewed her you will be done with the Great Walk. Lluc will forgive you for running away and you will have your Thayn. Then, you will re-enter our society as a Sen-Son.”
“I will not renew her, Felip. I cannot do that to her. I will not do that to her.”
“So the Mosroc has taken hold. I used to think that the Mosroc was just a story. Husbands and wives go their whole lives without ever receiving it and yet you experienced it as a child with the first Terran you meet.”
“You could tell?”
“It was obvious from the moment you brought her to the Hunter Tower.”
Slowly, Bach raised his head and turned to his friend. He couldn’t believe he’d not seen the truth before this. Without a word, Bach walked to the end of the roof, toward the back garden.
“Where are you going?” The steward appeared in front of Bach as he was about to jump. “You will not have the vantage point if you are on the ground. How is that going to help you capture the Red Phoenix agents?”
“They are not coming because you would not bring me to where you know Red Phoenix will be.”
“What are you talking about? We need to stop these people—”
“No, you want me to fail!”
“You sound paranoid.”
“No, but I should have been more paranoid. There is a Thayn on this island: Nate Weiss, and you renewed him.”
“It is impossible. I am not of the Ino caste and do not have the ability to renew Terrans.”
“You could have summoned Red Phoenix to the Hunter Tower. You could have renewed Piper and convinced her to go through the threshold with the obsidian crystal. D’cara, Enric ias too lazy to learn how on his own. That was why Piper was so afraid of you. You might have given the Terrans the obsidian crystal we found here. I do not know.”
“Listen to yourself, Bach. This is why we call Terrans a virus. You have begun to develop these wild stories.” Felip stared at him gravely. “Bach, you have no right to question my honor,” Felip seethed.
Bach didn’t answer.
“How can I clear my name? I cannot raise Piper from the dead or force a Thayn to betray their master.”
“I do know this. You knew Wisteria and I went through Mosroc bonded. Yet you have continuously pressured me in to renewing her. Knowing it could turn me insanely mad. You were not happy when Enric pulsed Lluc so that I could come here. My question is—why would my friend do all this?”
Felip’s stare became even more intense. “Friend? We have the same grandfather but because my father is a small part Terran you cannot call me your cousin. I will never be a Sen-Son, even though my father was born first and should have been Sen.”
“I apologize, cousin.” Felip was right. Bach had never called Felip his cousin, and calling him cousin now didn’t even seem natural to Bach.
“When I finish the Great Walk with you, I will remain in the Haro caste, but Enric—the lazy fool that he is—he will rise to Ino caste, the highest caste. You would have starved to death if I had not taken care of both of you. What do I get? The honor of being your servant!”
“And this is how you raise this? By playing these games? Felip, you…” Bach grew angry. “You are trying to keep me here?”
“You are getting smarter,” Felip replied and with that, he struck Bach across the face.
Bach plunged to the ground before he knew what was happening. “Ah,” he let out.
Felip leapt down from the roof and smashed into Bach. The earth around them trembled.
“Felip, stop this,” Bach yelled.
“Then stay down!” He kicked Bach in his chest and stomped on it.
Catching Felip’s left foot, he tossed his cousin across the garden.
Felip sailed across the air and crashed through a wooden fence, disappearing on the other side.
Bach sprang up as fast as he could, but Felip charged into him. The two boys collided into the stone wall of the house, cracking the bricks.
“Felip, stop this!” Bach pushed him away.
The steward staggered back for a few seconds, then bolted toward Bach. Before he could hit Bach, the Sen-Son struck him with a succession of rapid blows across his body, causing Felip to stumble back.
“We can petition the Sen together about this. We can take it to the Elders if we have to,” Bach pleaded. His body and heart were aching by this new revelation of betrayal.
Felip showed no sign of slowing down. “I do not need your charity!”
* * * * *
How long had they been down there? Had something happened to Bach and Felip? Wisteria tried to force her mind not to wander. Sitting at the table in the bunker, she drummed her fingers on the surface to occupy her mind. There was not much to do, but wait and hope.
Cheung sat on the floor, leaning against the wall while staring at the ceiling. Occasionally he sighed or moaned in despair, but he didn’t speak.
Her mother, on the other hand, was the picture of calm. She sat on the mattress, making notes.
“You’re not going to talk to me about what’s going on?” Wisteria asked her.
“No.” She continued scribbling. “And if you insist, I’ll tell you an interesting story and you will be terrified, but it won’t be true.”
“What are you writing?” Wisteria asked her mother.
“I’m planning the meals for the rest of the week,” she replied. “We’ve got to make the rations last.”
“Now?” Cheung inquired. “This isn’t the best time.”
“If we don’t make it out this list won’t matter, but if we do? Then
it’s one less thing to deal with,” her mother replied casually as she wrote.
She wanted to understand how her mother did it. Did she lie so much that she was able to lie to herself? Perhaps her mother could also be crazy?
“It’s a mind game, Wisteria.” The woman seemed to read Wisteria’s thoughts. Rising from the mattress, she strolled over to her and perched on the table. She gave Wisteria a piece of paper. “Being down here helpless isn’t easy for me. To trust one of the Family? Makes me want pull out my own hair. Having to rely on them not just for my safety, but yours too? It’s insane for me to even fathom.”
“You’re coping, though,” Wisteria replied.
“We won’t be locked here forever. Good or bad, this is going to be over. Either I stress about it, or I think up options,” her mother defended.
“Options? Like, who will die first when we run out of air?” Cheung quipped.
“I’ve decided it will be Cheung,” the woman answered coldly.
Wisteria’s mind raced. Who was this woman?
Her mother slid off the table and swung around to face the door. Footsteps approached from the outside of the shelter.
“Could it be them?” Wisteria whispered, but this didn’t feel like Bach to her.
“Lara, it’s Corporal Blair, Kyle Blair,” he called. “Are you all right?”
“Yes, we are,” Cheung called back. “Have you caught the intruders?”
“Everything’s under control,” Blair answered enthusiastically. “We’ve got everyone and now we’re checking that everyone is safe and accounted for.”
“Shh.” Her mother crept to the door.
“They said Cheung was working with them, Lara. If he’s in there with you, you’ve got to let us take him or stop him from leaving,” Blair replied.
Her mother took out a handgun and handed it to Wisteria.
“They lied to him.” Cheung backed into the corner. “Wisteria said they want me dead. They want you to do it.”
“Shh.” Her mother walked up to Wisteria and hugged her.
The door started to open and Wisteria hurried over to it, pushing it closed.
Cheung joined her. “It can’t be opened from the outside,” he said.
“Unless the door’s bad.” Her mother joined them to push the door closed. “Which means Bach knew.”
Bach couldn’t have done this. She didn’t believe it. Right now, that wasn’t the issue. Who was out there with Blair and what did they want?
“We’re trapped,” Wisteria stated.
The door was forced opened. Wisteria, Cheung, and her mother were careened across the room.
Blair slid through the gap. “Are you guys okay?” he said warmly. “We need to get you out of here.”
“Thank goodness…” Cheung was relieved.
Her mother pulled out her gun and pointed it at the soldier.
“Calm down, I’m one of the good guys.” Blair held up his hands.
Wisteria wasn’t convinced. How was Blair able to hold all three of them off and come through that door?
“This door is broken. That’s why we couldn’t house the Fletchers here. How did you find this place?” Blair said as Rupert and Vic Fletcher stepped in.
Wisteria couldn’t help noticing how much older Vic looked. It was like he’d aged ten years in hours.
“Hello, Edmund. We’ve been looking for you. Lara? I’ll never get used to that name. You’ll always be Demi to me,” Rupert said. “You can’t believe how happy we are to find your little hideaway.”
His voice caused the hairs on Wisteria’s neck and arms to spike. She couldn’t fathom why these people kept calling her mother Demi.
“What is this?” Mrs. Kuti flipped out her gun.
“We’re here to make a deal.” Rupert moved toward her. “Let’s talk, Lara.”
Vic drew his weapon and Wisteria’s mother did the same. Both shot at each other within a second. Her mother hit him in the arm and he shot her in the chest.
“Mummy,” Wisteria cried as her mother fell. She crawled over to her mother.
Blair dragged her back. “Vic, what are you doing?” he asked. “Lara’s valuable to us. Coles won’t want her getting hurt; we needed her as a hostage.”
“Yeah, well let’s hope he can’t tell the difference in the dark, between Lara and the girl.” Vic struggled to get to his feet. “We only need the child alive.”
“That means we only need one hostage,” Vic replied. “Any preference?”
Rupert shrugged and fired.
Wisteria’s mother screamed. “Damn you.”
“Mum.” Wisteria broke free and rushed over to her mother, who lay bleeding on the ground. “Why?”
“Baby, I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you. I only wanted to keep you safe. I was afraid you would end up like me. It’s a mess.” The woman smiled up at Wisteria and large tears fell from her eyes. “I’m going now and I’ll miss you so much.”
“No, please don’t,” Wisteria pleaded as if she could negotiate with death. “Wait, I’ll be back with help.”
“Promise that you’ll look after your brother for me? And Elliot, he’s not as bad as he seems.” She coughed up some blood. “Promise you’ll stay away from oleander. I love them both and I love you, Wisteria.”
“Get up and move now.” Rupert grabbed Wisteria by the neck. “Lara, it’s been a privilege and an honor. I’ll take good care of your daughter. Vic, get her out.”
Vic drew Wisteria away from her mother. She tried to force her way back, but he was too strong.
Wisteria continued thrashing her arms around, trying to break free. “Mum,” she screamed. “Let me stay with her. I won’t go with you.”
He checked her for weapons and found the handgun her mother gave her. Vic forced her out of the bunker. They began ascending the stairs.
“Stop,” she wailed.
“You need to shut up!” Vic banged her body against the wall. He was looking pale from his injuries. “I’m not playing.”
She heard three shots.
Rupert pushed Cheung ahead of him and out of the bunker while wiping blood from his face. He looked up at Wisteria. “She’s dead,” he said emotionlessly.
“Why are you doing this?” Wisteria screamed at him. “I’m going to kill you!”
Rupert walked up to her. “I’d like to see that.” He slapped her across the face.
She stumbled through the darkness as her captors led her and Cheung through the house. When she got to the quiet street, she saw Neil standing outside Blair’s car. Both men were dressed in black. The unknown man opened the trunk of the car.
“Where are we going?” she asked. “They’re not going to let you drive out of here. Even Blair can’t stop the guards from checking the car on a normal day. My mother told Coles you were here, so they’re really going to be looking for you.”
“You’re saying that we should just shoot you here?” Rupert retorted.
“Crap,” Vic moaned as he tried to wrap his bleeding arm. “Why didn’t she just kill me?”
“She wanted you to suffer,” Wisteria sneered.
Vic lunged at her but Rupert stopped him. “Neil, get her in the car.”
Neil grabbed her and tossed her inside the trunk. Cheung soon followed.
Once the car started to move, Wisteria kicked with all her might at the trunk door but it didn’t open.
The car stopped.
Moments later the trunk opened and Vic appeared. “Get out,” he told them.
“Where are we?” She cautiously looked around. They were surrounded by trees but she didn’t know where this place was. There was no way they could’ve gotten through the main gates with the noise she was making.
“Mulberry Orchard,” Cheung whispered. “This isn’t a good sign.”
Today wasn’t a day of good signs, Wisteria wanted to saw. She’d never been in Mulberry Orchard. As far as she knew, it was just an orchard that no one was allowed into, even the soldiers. An even worse feeling of
terror crept into her consciousness. “You know how to get out of here?” she asked.
“Yes, but you don’t want to get lost in here. I think we’re safer with these guys,” Cheung replied.
“What’s in here?” she asked.
“Research,” the teacher answered.
“Get a move on!” Rupert gripped Cheung’s shirt and thrust him forward. “We’re going on foot from here. Blair, hide the car.” Rupert marched them through the orchard.
They travelled through the hilly terrain. Wisteria didn’t know how long they walked. She’d lost track of time. Wondering about Bach, she feared Red Phoenix might have been able to hurt him again. “Where are you taking us?” she finally found the courage to ask.
“Open your mouth again and I’ll have him beat you unconscious.” Rupert gestured to Neil. “I can quite easily have you carried unconscious.”
“No, that will slow you down,” she replied.
“Wisteria,” Cheung implored. “You’ve got to keep quiet. You don’t want to make noise in here.” The teacher was more terrified than he was when her mother had been shot.
Her heart ached as she thought of her mother lying motionless on the floor. She was never going to see her mother, brother, or Bach again. At least David was safe.
She started to cry but quickly forced herself to stop. As they moved, she heard the low-pitched siren sound.
Someone had sounded the alarm.
“Damn it!” Rupert kicked Cheung. “Faster.”
The group came to a clearing where a black helicopter stood. The aircraft looked like the stealth ones she saw in movies.
Brenda and a red-headed man emerged from the helicopter. The woman smirked as they arrived and Wisteria noticed she was carrying her sword. Closing her eyes, she hoped and prayed that this was just a mistake or a bad dream.
“What are you laughing at?” Rupert asked Brenda.
“I’m surprised you made it so soon,” Brenda answered. “Demi just let you collect her daughter?”
“Demi’s dead,” Vic muttered and staggered to the helicopter.
The red-headed man moved to help him.
“And the Sen-Son?” Brenda enquired. “Did Felip deal with him?”
