The awakening hc-1

by Stuart Meczes

  I have to help!

  Within seconds of making it to my feet, one of the Golems sent me spiralling back down again. Helpless, all I could do was watch. So I did the only thing I could.

  “Someone help Gabriella!” I screamed as loud as possible.

  Midnight glanced at me and then to his struggling leader. As he moved to help, a hidden beast vaulted at him from the trees. He dodged to the left and unleashed an almighty kick. His boot tore all the way through the Hivemind’s chest as if it were paper. The tip crashed out the back, severing its spine. He shook off the carcass, marched over to Gabriella and wrenched the Vampire’s head off with one colossal tug.

  “Thanks Midnight,” Gabriella breathed.

  My eyes switched to Sophia and Rachel. They were back to back, surrounded by three Vampires. There was a ripping sound and a large set of silvery insect style wings burst out of my Science teacher’s back. She furled them backwards around Sophia, giving her extra protection. The baby Witch pushed her arms through the gaps. The Vampire she fought looked enraged, perhaps aware of how many of its pack had already died. Snarling, it arched up onto its hind legs and slashed at her with razor claws. With incredible skill Sophia parried each blow, then smashed her tiny fist into its face. With a hideous squeal it shrank back. Sophia stretched her arms out towards the creature. A jet of flames shot out of both palms, igniting the Hivemind in a searing ball of fire. It thrashed about screaming in agony as it burned. One final gurgle escaped its throat and then it became a heap of dust.

  Now I finally understood why they let a child on the team.

  More Vampires flocked out of the trees to take the place of the ones which had died. Gabriella sprinted forward and ran up the chest of the nearest, driving her sword downwards into its skull. She wrenched it back out and vaulted off as it burst into a cloud of ash. Still in mid-air she lifted the sword above her head and brought it down on another. It sliced clean in half, before dissolving into two symmetrical piles of ash. Landing in a crouch, she jerked the blade through a third creeping up behind.

  Rachel was making good use of protecting Sophia whilst dispatching her fair share of feral Vampires. Several lay dying at her feet, riddled with long wooden stakes. Her gun oozed smoke. Still, everywhere I looked, more Vampires appeared. Sophia had underestimated the amount by at least half. Even the Guards were busy fending off a few which had managed to get through. Then like a light switched on in my brain, a wave of panic washed over me.

  Where’s Rahuman?

  I scanned around, but only saw the feral Vampires locked in battle with Orion. That was when I felt a rough arm lock around my neck and yank me backwards.

  Now I knew exactly where he was.

  Rahuman sank backwards into the forest, one hand clamped over my mouth to stop me yelling. It was ice cold and smelled foul — like rancid meat. I watched helplessly as the Golems continued to fight Vampires, unaware of my disappearance. My heels raked lines in the dirt while my fingers clawed at the Bloodseeker’s arm, trying to break free. No use. His grip was too tight and my angle was all wrong. Bright spots splashed across my vision and my head started to feel light as the crook of his elbow cut off my airwaves. He was strangling me to death and there was nothing I could do about it.

  “That was far too easy,” he snarled, his hot reeking breath pouring over my face. “Just like stealing a baby. It pains me to lose my precious siblings in the process. But your death will make up for their sacrifice. I shall take great pleasure in snapping every bone in your body as I drain your blood.” He drew his arm in tighter. My neck muscles strained against the pressure. As the darkness began to seep in from the edges like a puddle of dark ink, a single word flashed into my head.

  Gun.

  I had to let the word marinate for a moment before my oxygen starved brain could decipher it.

  I have a gun.

  Acting fast, I let my hands go slack, which made the iron grip across my neck double. Spittle flew from between my clenched teeth and onto my lips and chin. I grabbed for the gun, but it snagged on my waistband. I tugged again with no success. The grip coiled tighter still and the darkness spread. I knew I only had seconds before I was out, and then it was game over.

  The Bloodseeker smiled. I could hear the wet slide of lips parting over teeth. “Ah…you are so close to the edge Alexander. I can feel it.” He sounded almost aroused.

  With a final desperate tug, I yanked at the gun. It broke free into my hand. After thumbing the switch into the fire position I jammed the barrel into Rahuman’s arm, right underneath the elbow. I knew there was a chance I could hit my own face, but I didn’t care, I had to get this repulsive creature off me.

  I squeezed the trigger.

  There was a loud boom followed by a sickening scream. The grip around my neck went slack. I whirled around and collapsed to the ground, choking and gasping for air, which I took in greedy gulps.

  Rahuman was doubled over, clutching at his arm, which was now a stump. White smoke billowed out of the wound and the edges glowed red with embers. Thick lumps of congealed green blood spilled onto the grass with muted, plopping sounds. The severed part of his arm lay twitching on the ground like a wounded animal.

  “GAAHHHHH!” he screamed in fury. “You little bastard! What have you done?”

  That was my cue to escape. As I staggered past, he swung desperately at me, his clawed nails missing by inches.

  The forest seemed to be against me as I fled. Every thick branch seemed to be trying to grab me, every root tugging at my feet, attempting to trip me up.

  I stumbled forward to the sounds of anger and hatred from somewhere near behind. Every few seconds I descended into a coughing fit. My throat felt like I’d been gargling acid.

  My heart leaped when I saw the two cars in the distance. I prayed that the keys hadn’t fallen out in the struggle. I fumbled in my back pocket and felt the unmistakable jagged metal of car keys.

  Yes!

  Unlocking the Ferrari, I flung the door open and dived in, slamming and locking it. My hands were trembling as I tried to jam the keys into the ignition. They slipped out of my grip and fell down the side of the seat. I swore loudly. As I bent down to retrieve them, there was a massive thud from above. The car roof sagged. Fear seized me. I couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. Silence reigned for a few moments. Then I whimpered as I heard the high pitched squeal of clawed nails scraping against the metal roof.

  “I still have one good hand Alexander,” came a calm voice from above. “More than enough to flay your skin off while you watch.”

  There were two more thuds on the roof and I saw a couple of Hiveminds drop to the ground around the car. As they looked at me with their slicked marble eyes, I felt despair spread its way through every part of my body.

  From deeper in the forest, Gabriella was shouting my name frantically.

  “She won’t get here in time I’m afraid,” Rahuman snorted.

  With a flash he’d jumped down onto the bonnet. I looked directly into the cold eyes of the Bloodseeker as he loomed over me. A true predator.

  My heart sank. I knew he was right.

  There was a loud crash as he plunged his remaining hand into the windshield and tore it right out of its frame. He cast it deep into the forest. Now the last bit of protection I had from this monster had gone.

  “I really can’t see why everyone is making such a fuss about you. You’re nothing but an annoying insect I shall take great pleasure in squashing.”

  I snatched the gun, but he swatted it out of my hand before I even had a chance to aim. It clattered down several yards away from the car.

  “That trick only works once boy. Time to die.”

  I shrank back into my seat as he leaned into the car and bared his teeth. I felt around for something…anything that I could use. My hand curled around something long and cylindrical on the seat cushion.

  The Booster! It must have fallen out of my pocket when I jumped into the car.

  Rahuman pounce
d.

  I shut my eyes and stabbed out the injector. It connected with something soft and once again Rahuman’s screams filled the silence. Without even waiting to see what had happened, I dived across the seats and scrambled out of the passenger door. Hit the grass and rolled. Heading straight for the gun, I scooped it up into my hand. I stood upright and breathed out hard.

  As I stood there — sweat slicked hand curled around the handle of the gun — something inside me began to shift. Slowly the fear slipped away, replaced by the survival instinct I’d felt when I’d been attacked by TJ.

  It’s him or me.

  For the first time I looked over to see what had happened. Rahuman was writhing around on the car bonnet, screaming in agony, clawing at his face. As I moved towards him, I was also vaguely aware of the two Hiveminds around me, who were reeling on the floor, mimicking their leader as if they were the ones who’d been hit.

  As I got close, I saw the full extent of the damage. The booster had lodged into the Bloodseeker’s left eye. It was bulging and the veins around it had turned a disturbing shade of green. The left side of his face had swollen up like a balloon. The macabre horror of it only registered for a second before being replaced by the knowledge that I temporarily had the upper hand. It wouldn’t be long before he recovered.

  Marching over, I seized his oily hair, sliding him down the bonnet and onto the ground. He landed hard on his side. I drove my foot forward into the injector, driving it even further into the wound. The noise he made was horrific, but it didn’t stop me. This monster had killed countless already, and now tried to kill me. He had to be stopped. I rolled him over onto his back and pressed the gun into his chest over his blackened heart.

  I pulled the trigger.

  The recoil forced me backwards. Rahuman’s chest crumbled from the impact, rippling from the centre outwards like a shockwave. Thick white smoke curled from the wound and the area around it caught on fire. The flames spread, until his whole body became a raging inferno.

  As his flesh burned, Rahuman stared at me with his remaining good eye. I could tell he was confused — not quite sure how he’d come to be the one dying. He stretched his mouth into a demented smile before choking out his final words. They were barely audible over the roar of the flames.

  “It’s coming for you.”

  Then his eye rolled up into his head and he became still. From around me, there was a crescendo of noise. I turned to see the Hivemind’s jerking and thrashing about on the ground, as they too burst into flames.

  Sweat dripped from my forehead as the heat from the burning Umbra reached me. From behind I heard Gabriella crying out for me.

  The next few minutes were vague, like a dream. I vaguely felt Gabriella’s arms wrap around my waist and pull me away from the increasing flames. The rest of the team arrived minus the Golems. Most of them were covered in blood. I couldn’t tell whose. Rachel’s wings were shredded. The bottom section of one had been completely torn off. Midnight was limping, one arm wrapped around Delagio. The right arm of his suit was ripped. Blood seeped out, dripping to the grass and staining it red. Sophia hurried behind, retrieving a booster from her belt pack. When they spoke, their words were distant and slow, like they were travelling through glue. “Alex took out Rahuman. I can’t believe it,” uttered Rachel. ”Unbelievable,” breathed Delagio. Midnight gave a slow thoughtful nod. Her arms still locked around me, Gabriella looked into my eyes. Hers were wide and damp. “Alex, I’m so sorry, I didn’t realise it was a trap. I–I should have known. Please forgive me.” “It’s okay,” I said, the words booming in my head like I had earplugs in. “I’m alive. I’m fine. Everything’s fine.” Then I passed out.

  16

  My eyes opened and I clutched onto the fading whispers of my dream. Flashing images of an iron mask and the thundering of hooves. A derelict mansion. A graveyard. Gabriella’s angelic face. As the fog of sleep parted, her face remained. I blinked and understood that she wasn’t part of the dream. The raven beauty was holding me in her arms and staring into the distance, a sweet smile on her face. Then I heard the steady hum of a car motor and felt the small bumps of a road.

  I was in the Range Rover. Delagio had the wheel; Rachel was in the passenger seat, speaking on a mobile phone. I was lying on the backseat, head resting in Gabriella’s lap. Her soft fingers stroked my hair as she stared out of the window. Small waves of the mysterious sensation buzzed from where her fingers touched me. It felt good this time. So good I was about to close my eyes and pretend to be asleep when Gabriella looked down and noticed I was awake. Her rose coloured lips blossomed into a smile. “Hi honey,” she said in a soothing voice. “How are you feeling?” “Tired,” I confessed. She tapped a hand on my chest. “I should think so too. Taking out a sociopathic Vampire leader will do that.” Delagio swung around in his seat — which was probably a bad idea, but I was too tired to care. “Man, you nailed Rahuman back there!” “Err thanks.” “Road Delagio,” ordered Gabriella. He swung back around and shook his head. “Wow, usin’ Luminar blood on an Umbra. Genius idea!” He drummed his hands on the wheel. “Are we going back to the base?” I questioned, focusing back on Gabriella. “No, we’re taking you home.” “What about my training?” “Another day, right now you need to rest.” “So what was that tattoo about, on Rahuman’s arm?” I asked.

  “The Eye of the Abyss,” answered Gabriella. It’s a marking that Rogues use to identify each other. All of them have one somewhere.”

  “Oh right.”

  It suddenly dawned on me that we were minus some of Orion. I remembered how Midnight had been limping.

  “Wait, where are Midnight and Sophia — are they okay?” I fretted trying to sit up. Gabriella eased me back down. It was Rachel who answered my question. She flipped her phone shut and rotated to face the back.

  “They’re fine. That was Midnight on the phone just then. He’s with Sophia back at the Warren. Apparently your dispatching of Rahuman has caused a bit of a stir.” She raised an eyebrow. “You appear to be somewhat of a celebrity Alexander.” And with that she turned back and fell silent.

  Celebrity? The word bounced about in my mind. It seemed like a word that didn’t fit when applied to me. Just like another word which until now had always been something other people had. Popularity.

  Gabriella squeezed my arm. “See everyone is okay. Well, everyone apart from the Golems, but they don’t count.” She shrugged, “Faru will just make more anyway.”

  Silence descended in the car and I let my mind wander. Rahuman’s grizzly death kept replaying in my head. Now that I’d left survival mode and become me again, the thought of the fire singeing his flesh and his swollen eye made me feel sick. I thought of the last words he’d said. They had to mean something, but what? “It’s coming for you,” I said aloud. “Sorry?” said Gabriella. “That’s the last thing Rahuman said to me. Right before he died. Does that mean anything to you?” Gabriella’s smile slipped from her face. She seemed to shudder internally for a second. “No. I–I don’t know what that means.” “He probably meant the SOS,” Rachel suggested.

  I pulled myself off of Gabriella’s lap. “Rahuman did say he had been sent to find me. But why am I so important to the SOS? You’re a far greater threat to them than I am.” “An example,” interjected Delagio. “They want to destroy our hope. The idea that we could grow strong again.” “Exactly,” agreed Rachel. “So, what do we do?” I asked, watching the greys and greens of Chapter Hill slip past the window. Gabriella placed a hand on mine. “We kill every single SOS who comes near you.” Her fierce expression told me that she meant every word.

  *

  It was gone midday when the car pulled up at my house. Gabriella came around to help me out. I noticed for the first time that she was back in normal clothes — probably so that it wouldn’t arouse suspicion.

  As we headed up the driveway, I was surprised to see the Audi parked by the house.

  Gabriella noticed me staring. “We got an agent to drop it of
f. All of your things are by the back door.”

  I nodded and pressed the doorbell. As we waited, Gabriella unzipped her jacket and pulled out the handbook. She pressed it against my chest.

  “Read it. All of it.”

  “Okay,” I promised. I took the book and clutched it tightly in my hand.

  After a minute or two there was the sound of movement in the hallway and the door swung open. Mikey stood in the doorway, hair dishevelled, wearing a tatty t-shirt and shorts.

  “Bro you could have dropped a text, I haven’t heard from you all da-” he stopped when he noticed Gabriella standing next to me. A boyish grin appeared on his face. “Say no more. Hey Gabriella.” “Hello Mikey,” she replied with a pleasant smile. “Sorry for ringing the bell, I forgot my keys last night.” “Not a problem. Anyway, what you both still standing there like a couple of Jehovah’s for? Get in here!”

  “I can’t.” Gabriella gestured to the idling jeep. “I’ve got to get back home. Have a good evening you two.” She gave me a hug, letting her lips linger near my ear. “Don’t worry, the house is protected.” She kissed my cheek and walked to the car. Soon it had disappeared from sight.

  I stepped through the door. The television in the lounge was blaring a scene from Mean Girls. Mikey only put that film on when he had female company. He grinned and I raised a hand before he had a chance to speak. “Not right now Mikey. I’m shattered. We can exchange details later.”

  He laughed and padded into the lounge, closing the door behind him. I heard him talking with someone in excited whispers.

  As promised, my things were in a waterproof bag outside the back door. Grabbing them, I dragged myself upstairs, flopped onto my bed and was asleep in seconds.

  I was in the garden again, peering through the fence. Drifting tendrils of fog breezed around me, their ghostly touch leaving cold, damp patches on my exposed skin. My pulse was hammering in my ears. I stared into the swirling fog.