Winter's Fury - Volume Two of The Saga of the Twelves

by Richard M. Heredia

  Joaquin’s eyes bored into the smaller boy, more of the whites showing than before. “You should remember that when the time comes,” was all he said. Just as abruptly as he had looked up, his head fell to his chest and he seemed to dose off.

  Derek could only stare back aghast and looked from one of them to the next uncertain of what to do or how to respond.

  “Don’t be too alarmed, Derek,” soothed Anthony. “It is just his Gift.”

  That appeared to drain the tension out of the other boy. “Ok, man, ok. But… wow, that was weird!”

  “Just don’t forget what he told you, ok? Once Joaquin has an episode like that he is never wrong,” expounded Anthony to which Derek nodded. “Good, because it might save your life…” Anthony left the rest unsaid.

  He turned toward the rest of them.

  “Well, I guess since we have time, we might as well do something and get everything together that we’re going to take with us back to the cave. We might as well be productive, especially since we seem, at least for the moment, to be safe.”

  Marianna watched as Anthony stood up.

  Sophie followed suit.

  Then the rest of them stood as well.

  “Yeah, it might be some time before we can say that again, huh?” commented Jason with just a touch of sarcasm.

  “You can say that again,” joked Andrew from beside her, almost back to his usual self. After he had laughed at her and she had given him a mental beat down.

  “So, you all know what to do. Let’s get to it then.”

  “Let’s do this!” encouraged Derek as he sauntered off toward the mall entrance of the store with a bounce in his step.

  Marianna could only frown after him not sure why he was going in that particular direction. Her thoughts scattered when Hyun came up to her, walking on ginger-toes she touched her upon the elbow, her fingers light.

  “You wanna help me find some travel food?”

  “Sure,” she replied and began to follow the girl.

  They got three steps when Anthony tapped them both on the shoulder.

  They turned in unison.

  “I’ll go with you.”

  The both smiled and nodded at their leader.

  He returned it. “That way I can fill in any gaps Joaquin left out. You can tell Kimberly and Derek later, ok?”

  They agreed.

  The three of them walked toward the area where the food was stored, Anthony already talking.

  ~~~~~~~<<< ᴥ >>>~~~~~~~

  ~ 28 ~

  A Ghoul from the Past

  Day Four, Sunday, 4:46 pm…

  Hyun sat against the cushion atop the lawn chair. She did so as slow as possible, easing her weight up against it. Albeit, she had to manage this somewhat to the side; she was trying not to put undue pressure on her wounded back. It still ached and pinched if she moved too quickly. The three Tylenol she swallowed a few hours ago were making a big difference, though. She glanced around, her position near the center of the space the others of their group had cleared. She surveyed all the hard work her and companions had done over the course of the past few hours.

  The air mattresses, now designated their sleeping area, were still in the same general place as before. Only they had pushed them farther back against the racks of baby clothing. This provided more space for the lawn chairs, like the one she rested upon. But it also made room for the deep-cushioned patio chairs and matching glass-topped tables now filling the space. Now there was more than enough seating for all.

  Along the right side of the clearing, the group had laid out a multitude of large pet pillows and plush rugs for the members of the Fist. Should a few of them decide to rest nearer to their human friends, they would be more or less comfortable. Though the space before the mall entrance to the store was more spacious, it was cold and drafty as well.

  To her left, the pile of supplies they were taking with them to the cave continued to grow. Now it included large backpacks for each of them. They had stocked them with new clothes, toiletries and a few personal items individualized to a person. Also, a few days’ worth of “travel food” she and Marianna had scrounged from the food section was within as well. These provisions were meager, but hardy. Small bags of trail mix, energy bars, crackers and packages of beef jerky would not hold them for long. But they weren't meant to in the first place.

  Of course, Marianna had frowned as deep as her face would allow, but said nothing out loud. After all, she had lived off granola bars for four days. They had kept her alive. Maybe not in the best condition, but alive nonetheless.

  On top of that, there were two full-scale tool kits. They were jammed into separate stainless steel toolboxes that weighed close to fifty pounds each.

  Next to them were three, twin-pulley, Compound Bows and all the arrows that Marianna could find. Sixteen full quivers, holding twenty-five arrows each. Who knew Target would stock so much lethal weaponry.

  An assortment of baseball bats, hockey sticks and golf clubs lay in piles as well. She assumed Andrew had gathered them to use as weapons. Though why he had added hockey pucks, golf balls and baseballs as an afterthought, she had not quite figured out. Maybe we supposed to use them as missiles of some sort?

  From the lower floor of the store, she could hear the continual pounding and sawing sounds made by Jason and Joaquin. They boy were busy modifying the shopping carts they had brought from Vons. Four new, over-sized carts they had found here at the Target store were undergoing alterations as well. She was a little anxious herself to see how the skies would work versus the snow sleds they had attached before. She was hopeful Jason’s idea would prove sound. It sure sounded like a good one to her, in theory at least.

  She glanced up at Andrew’s approach with Marianna in tow. Both of them were carrying armloads of what looked like rifles and pistols, magazines and cartridges. She could not contain her shock as they walked passed her, Andrew with a satisfied look on his face.

  “I thought Anthony said not to get anything inadequate, Drew. I thought you promised it would be so,” she managed when they began to unload their burdens near the Compound bows.

  “He did say that and I did promise, but these aren’t real ballistic guns.” He said this with a flourish. He pulled one from the throng, a weapon that, to her, definitely looked like an assault rifle used by the U.S. Special Forces.

  Has he lost his mind? she wondered as she stood with deliberation and walked closer toward him.

  “I don’t understand,” she declared, looking at Marianna for support, but the girl just smiled back at her.

  Oh great, she thought. Now we have two loons in our midst!

  Andrew laughed at her confusion, which annoyed her. “This, my dear Hyun, is an AUG Styer Air Sniper Rifle, fully auto-electric, and shoots only bb’s. Although, it does shoot them pretty freakin fast." He paused to look over the weapon, flipping from one to the other. "They are supposed to be accurate up to 100 yards, but still it isn’t a real gun. I would say it is adequate. Wouldn't you?”

  Her eyes bulged, incredulous. “That’s a god damned bb-gun?”

  “Yup, pretty cool, huh?” he answered. “It won’t bring down anything big, but it will sure scare away anything smaller than a good-sized dog. You know, discourage it from coming any closer and shit. I thought the older guys could carry these high-powered bb-guns. The rest of you could lug some of the more traditional pump-action types, which are those ones over there.” He pointed to the pile Marianna had placed on the floor. Sure enough, there were eight or so more “normal” looking bb-guns.

  “What do you think?” he asked curious of her reply. The cast of his face seemed genuine enough.

  Hyun thought about it for a while, then nodded her head. “I think that’s a good idea, because there is no telling what is going to be out there by the time we leave this place. Honesty, I sure would’ve liked to’ve had one of those when that spider-monkey-thing attacked me.” She paused with a wry twist of her mouth. “I am assuming the others woul
d see it same way. It’s not like we’re out to kill everything we come across right, we just want to keep some of the bad things at bay. It makes sense.”

  She was stunned, though, when he smiled ear to ear and without warning lunged forward to give her a big hug. His eyes sparkled. She stifled a yelp at the pain that lanced through her upper body, not wanting to curb his enthusiasm. It still did not hide the fact her back was protesting like a bitch.

  “Sorry, if I hurt you, but thanks, Hyun.” Then, more to himself than her, “I knew it was a good idea!” He spoke with a flood of emotion in his voice.

  She looked at Marianna uncertain. She did not want her to get the wrong impression.

  The other girl was still smiling back at her, and then turned to Andrew. “See, Andrew, I told you, you could be brilliant when you needed to be,” she decried.

  He turned back toward her and winked. His gaze found Hyun and he spoke through a grin, “Well, I gotta go and get the batteries for the rifles and the electric pistols. So, I’m off.” He extended his hand toward Marianna. “My dear…?”

  Marianna gained her feet, taking Andrew’s hand without hesitation. “For sure!” she squealed with delight.

  Together, they walked off, hand-in-hand. Andrew holding the lantern high and in front of them, so they could see as they left the better lighted area where Hyun remained.

  She could tell already they had fallen for one another. The fact they had only known each other for a quarter of a day was a non-factor in this case.

  What the hell is it about this place? People are falling all over themselves!

  She returned to her seat, wincing as she moved to sit on one butt cheek. She leaned more onto her side than against the spot where the spider-bat had wounded her.

  Once she settled, she watched as Louis and Anthony’s sisters came back from the toy department again. They had a bunch of action figures, all different types representative of a myriad of cartoons and movies. They were talking amongst themselves, excited, but not too loud. They strode over to the air mattresses, sat down and began playing with each other.

  She took her eyes from them for a moment and stared up at the ceiling, wondering what the next few days would bring for them. She was trying to guess through all the possibilities. Pondering with every bit of rationale she could muster. Did they stand a chance against the enemy Joaquin and Anthony said they have to face soon? She had seen some of the Gifts of a few of her companions. Even though they seemed powerful, fantastic, beyond anything she had seen in the past. She still doubted if their powers would be enough. Compared to some of the creatures and entities she heard told were her newfound enemies, how would they fare? She knew there had been no deception from any of her companions. Just as she knew there were immense powers awaiting realization by a majority of the Twelve. Still, she was not sure, especially with herself. How could she stand up to those that had created the Melded World from nothing?

  The more she thought about it, how was she so different from any other sixteen-year-old girl? When she boiled it down to its’ basic components, she was just living her life and going to High School? Why was she regarded different from all the others girls her age living on Earth? She did not feel unique or special or gifted or anything, even now. Other than the ache in her back, she felt the same as she had in the past. Why was she a chosen one? Why all the drastic measures? It did not make any sense to her, not in the least. Despite the fact she had lost everything for a specific reason. She did not see herself as the harbinger of some heretofore hidden, miraculous Gift. Where was this mysterious power she held in her bosom or gut, or wherever the hell it was residing? Simple as she could make it, she just did not feel it. That worried her. When the proverbial shit hit the fan what was she supposed to do? How was she supposed to react or fight?

  The funny thing though, it was all beside the point. The more she thought about it, the more she could not escape one simple truth. She was not a fighter. She was not one to be aggressive and get physical. It was true she was a gymnast and thus stronger than most girls her age. She could run circles around any of them as well. This excluded some of her friends on the track team who seemed able to run for days and not break a sweat.

  But that did not change what was real. Being in a competitive sport did not make her some kind of G.I. Jane. It did not make her some steroid ridden, East German, female weightlifter from the 80’s. Not in the least. She might be assertive on the uneven bars or on the pommel horse. But she was not your regular fist-a-cuffs, thrown-down type of girl.

  She liked designer clothes and expensive handbags. She was religious when it came to her manicures and pedicures just as she preferred only the best of lotions and crèmes for her face and body. She adored silk sheets and cashmere sweaters, brand name jeans, and the latest in high-heeled fashion. She was not a fighter, a warrior. She was not a duelist-to-the-death, so fuck She-Ra and Red Sonja and Sheena, Queen-of-the-mother-fucken-jungle! They were something she was not. Something she could not be. How was she going to battle a host of hellish creatures, if she did not have the slightest inclination to do so in the first place? It did not make any sense to her.

  She was still wrapped in her thoughts when she heard someone sit down on the lawn chair next to hers. Too distracted by the questions flowing through her mind, she turned to look out of habit. She gasped in disbelief when she heard Kimberly’s voice - the very last person she has expected to come and rest beside her.

  “Hey, Hyun, can we talk for a minute?” she asked, her voice was pregnant with expectation.

  Hyun could only stare at her, nodding, at a loss. She did not want to hope.

  “I never did get the chance to tell you. I’m sorry for the way I talked to you out on the street… or the trail earlier.” Kimberly spoke with tones muted, measured. “There just hasn’t been the time… or the privacy.” Her voice was turning evermore reluctant, with each word that left her mouth.

  Hyun sat up at half the speed she would under normal circumstances. She grimaced as she felt the bindings around her body stretch and apply more pressure to the wounds in her back. She looked into Kimberly’s eyes, seeing remorse and a tiny speck of fear. She felt glad over the apology. Yet, she was just as disdainful of Kimberly’s attempt to smooth things over between them. She had always been so disingenuous in the past.

  “I’m not sure I can trust anything you say, Kim,” was all she could muster through the pain and the distrust between them.

  Kimberly seemed to stiffen at that. If she had them, Hyun was sure her hackles would have bristled with anger. But astounding as it might seem, the girl appeared to get control of her emotions and breathed deep a few times.

  She gazed back at Hyun through a frown the Korean teen could not read. “I guess I sort of had that coming,” began Kimberly, somber, “especially since I have not been the most honest person with you.”

  “It goes much deeper than that, Kim. All this ‘stuff’ is so much more than some little tizzy between you and me. You know that,” she said with an edge, not willing to let things lie on the surface this time around.

  Kimberly took an expansive draught of air, held it for a few heartbeats. She let it go in one great exhalation, but stayed silent.

  “He’s fucking gone, Kim!” ejaculated Hyun with sudden ferocity, her hands balled into fists. She struck the cushion of the lawn chair on either side of where she sat. She could hold back no longer. “He has no control over you here. Don’t you get it? He’s not going to jump out from behind some goddamned box or something. He’s not going to yell at you, or tell you what to do. He’s gone. Everybody’s gone. Can’t you see that? Everything we knew before has changed. And, if we get out of this alive, everything we knew in the past will be even more different when we return.”

  Hyun’s vehemence seemed to stun Kimberly, shock her, because this was not the same girl. This was not how she expressed herself. That much was plain. Too much between them had gone unsaid for far too long. It needed to get out - one way
or another.

  Kimberly let her head drop into her hands. She cradled them for a while.

  Hyun stared at her with flared nostrils, breathing in and out with emotions so old they were stale. They left her mouth feeling desiccated, unclean. “He’s not here, Kimberly. He’s gone. Whether you like it or not, he will not be here to boss you around. You will have to do things by yourself, for yourself from now on. You will have to, because you can’t hide behind him and his temper,” continued Hyun, but in a softer, more subdued tone. “You will have to stand on your own two feet, and find that girl I used to know when we were in middle school. You remember her? The strong, independent Kimberly Madison before there was a Sonny, before all this.” Hyun swung one of her legs over the width of the lawn chair. She was facing Kimberly more direct. She put her hands on her knees, leaning forward. “You do understand what all this mean, right?”

  There was only silence.

  “Kim?” prodded Hyun. “You know this, right?”

  Still the other girl did not stir, but rubbed her hands on her forehead, refusing to look up. Her chest was filling and un-filling in rapid successions, though no sound came for her.

  “Kim?” Hyun attempted once again. “This has –.”

  “I know!” exclaimed Kimberly of a sudden, looking up at Hyun with a lost look on her face almost as if she was laying eyes upon her for the first time. “I know!”

  “Good,” muttered Hyun after a time. “That’s all I wanted to hear.”

  At her side, Kimberly flung herself against the back of her own lawn chair, so violent the entire seat creaked in protest. She stared up at the ceiling in the same fashion Hyun had done only moments before.

  Hyun could see there were tears streaming down her face now.

  The girl did not utter a single sound.

  “You ok, Kimmy?” asked Hyun, using her old nickname for the girl that, at one time, had been her closest friend.