"We have you surrounded. Surrender now or we will open fire!"
The whole van went deathly silent. Everyone looked scared out of their minds. Except Athena, she only looked determined.
"Take a hostage," She told Maddox.
"What!"
"Take a hostage, buy us some time. Use Lucien, they won't fire on him, I'm reasonably certain."
"Reasonably..!" Maddox gaped at her, but Athena didn't change her mind.
"Might as well," Maddox grumbled. He took out a large hunting knife, grabbed Lucien, and opened the van's side door. Everyone held their breath.
"Hold your fire!" Maddox yelled as he stepped out of the vehicle. "Shoot and I'll cut this kid's fucking throat out!" He certainly sounded as if he would do it. Overhead two military choppers circled. A third was on it's way. No one breathed.
The megaphone man turned to his comrades, they looked as if they were deciding how to negotiate. They didn't fire, thank God. The third helicopter was fast approaching, but even Andrew was silent. Athena was staring out the now open door, though at what Echo couldn't quite determine. "Get ready," She whispered
"This had better be a damn good plan," Maddox snarled, glaring at the line of police officers pointing their guns at him. One sniper and he would be done for. The third helicopter was finally overhead and close enough that Echo could make out the massive guns and missiles attached to the thing. They had certainly pulled out all the stops for them; somehow, Echo wasn't that flattered. Beside her, Athena smiled.
Echo had no idea what exactly happened in the next few moments. The deafening roar of the helicopters was suddenly drowned out by a whistling, followed by an explosion above them. Out the front window Echo saw a helicopter slam into the ground between them and the police line, burting into flames. Milliseconds after a second crash and the other helicopter fell between the van and the police line on the other side. Athena grinned, Echo gaped, and Maddox cursed and ducked as the second chopper ignited. The third helicopter, still flying, slowly descended and landed on the over pass.
"I do not believe it." Bold said.
"Fuck!" Cried Shy. Andrew started crying again as Irvine jumped out of the car.
A woman leaned out of the chopper from the pilot's seat. "Get in!" She screamed over the blades. No one wasted any time wondering what was going on. If this was their chance at escape, they were going to take it. The police officers were so stunned that one of their own choppers had taken out the other two that they just lowered their guns and stared. It wasn't until they were back up in the air that Echo saw the police started to swarm around like ants in and anthill.
"Buckle up," The pilot growled, pulling on the controls to make them go higher. She was the most beautiful woman Echo had ever seen. Tall, elegant, with long, silky dark hair and mocha skin. She was probably in her forties, but even still she was like an angel to Echo. "Cover fire, Dana," The woman said to her co-pilot, a younger woman with red hair and bambi-big eyes.
"Yes ma'am," Dana replied, flipping at controls before jumping out of her seat to fire rounds at the police cars trying to chase them.
"You are both my angels!" Lys gushed, giving both the pilot and Dana a kiss on the cheek. The pilot brushed him away angrily. "Sit down and shut up!" She snarled, "I have to concentrate."
Echo sat down dumbfounded and watched Maddox go on like nothing strange was happening, helping Shy fix up her arm.
"What's the plan?" Irvine was asking the pilot woman.
"I've killed the tracers on the chopper." The pilot explained quickly, "We've got to leave the city, get away from roads and lose the cops. Then we'll ditch this thing. I know where we can get some vehicles."
The police were already falling so far behind that Echo was sure they would never catch them. But the chopper couldn't fly forever. Eventually they would have to land. Maybe the police would get more choppers in the air and catch them. This was far from over.
"You guys must be Chosen too, right." Lys said excitedly from the back. "How did you know we needed help?"
The pilot did not seem to like the question very much. "We just did, alright!" She snapped, "Do you know how much shit I'm in? If they catch me I'll be court marshalled! Dishonorary discharge, prison, maybe even the death sentence! I've just helped you kidnap the first son! This is treason!"
"Hey, we've all got a death sentence if we're caught." Ro added shyly. "Thank you for helping us, Miss...?"
"Rachel," The pilot said, sighing. "And that's Dana," She pointed her thumb at her doe-eyed co-pilot.
"I am hereby declaring you Angel and Bambi," Lys said, ignoring their names.
"What?" Snapped Rachel/Angel. "Don't change my name, kid."
"I don't want to be called Bambi," blinked Dana/Bambi.
"He does that to everyone," Echo laughed, and she introduced everyone. "Think of it like codenames, you saved our lives, so you deserve to be called 'Angel',"
Angel rolled her eyes but dind't argue any more. Bambi only frowned. The police were getting too far away to fire at, so she rejoined Angel at the controls.
"Plot us a course, Bambi," Angel snickered. Bambi frowned but didn't argue, "Yes, ma'am,"
**
Angel landed the helicopter behind and old barn that looked as if it had been abandoned for a hundred years. Echp felt nervous about leaving the safety of the helicopter, but the sound of police sirens had died down. The sense of tension among the group had not yet left. Bold was fussing over his twin, who was growling that she was fine although Echo was sure she was secretly enjoying the attention. Once the chopper was powered down Maddox spirited off with Angel, Bambi and Irvine, swearing more than was usual even for him.
"They're probably trying to come up with a plan." Lys said, seeing that she was watching them. "Come on, take a rest. It's been a long day." Lys took her hand and led her over an old, dilapitated picnic table where Ro and Athena were sitting with Lucien. The boy still looked terrible. He was clutching his head in pain, but he had at least regained consciousness.
"Are you alright?" Echo asked as they approached.
Lucien nodded, "I'll be fine in a bit. Today's been a bit of a shock."
Echo smiled in understanding, "Take your time."
"Lucien called Angel and Bambi," Athena explained.
"How'd he manage that?" Lys wondered.
"It's my gift," Lucien spoke up, "I can sense other Chosen, communicate with them, find them, and sometimes, if my need is great, I can call them to me as well. I couldn't use them to their full extent when my father had me hooked up to the computer. I didn't want him to know what I was capable of. It was bad enough when he found out I could track you. If he knew I could just compel people to come to me..."
"Bad news," Lys agreed.
"Will the Hunters not be able to find us now?" Ro wondered.
Lucien shook his head, "It will be considerably more difficult for them, but I wouldn't get your hopes up too far. They have enough information about existing Chosen to hunt you down again."
"So no break from running just yet," Lys commented.
"Not just yet," Lucien looked over at the adults, who were in the midst of a heated discussion. "There's something I should tell them before they finialize their plans." and with that, Lucien got up and left them to wonder what he was talking about.
"Strange kid," Lys mumbled.
"Do you know what he's talking about?" Ro asked her younger sister. Athena was chewing on her lip nervously.
"I think I might," Athena said.
"Well, what is it?"
Athena shook her head, "Never mind, I'm probably wrong." She looked up at her big sister. The strength in her eyes had faded away so she looked like a normal child again. "I'm sleepy now, Ro. Can I take a nap?"
Ro sighed but nodded her consent.
"That doesn't sound like a bad idea," Echo added. She covered a yawn with her hand and followed Athena back to the chopper to nap in one of the seats. She had a feeling she wouldn't be able to sleep much over
the next few days. Best to sleep whenever she could.
*
The adults seemed to be very pensive when Echo awoke a few hours later. They were sitting around looking moody or keeping themselves busy with small tasks. Maddox was talking to Angel near the barn, and Irvine was taking care of Andrew, but no one else was visible.
"Where is everyone?" Echo questioned, looking around.
"Most of the kids went to sleep in the cars, I don't know where Ro and Lys got off to." Irvine answered.
"Cars?"
"Yeah," Irvine pointed to a second barn far off in the distance. "Seems Angel had a pair of SUVs set up for exactly this kind of situation, though she didn't know why she felt compelled to do it at first."
"Is this Angel's place then?"
"Her parents', I think."
"Oh..." Echo looked around. "I'll go see if I can find Lys or Ro."
"Sure thing," Irvine went back to bouncing Andrew on his hip.
Echo wandered away from him and towards the old barn. The large door was opened slightly, though it was still pitch dark inside. Echo pushed the door open carefully and looked around, trying to get her eyes to adjust to the darkness. The barn looked as if it had once been used for horses. It was divided up into several stalls, and near the back she could see another door that was left open. It probably went into a storage room of some kind. Old, rusted tools hung from hooks in the walls, though it looked like no one had used them in years. The smell of the place was of old, rotting wood and hay.
Echo was about to turn around when she heard voices from within, though they were too muffled to make out. "Lys?" Echo called softly, "Ro?" She didn't know why, but she crept quietly towards the storage room door, trying to figure out whose voices she heard. As she got closer, she was sure that she could make out Ro's voice. Did that make the other one Lys? Echo reached the door and was about to let herself in when she heard her name.
"What about Echo?" It was Lys's voice.
"Will you just forget about her for a second? Lys I -" Ro was definitely the other one. Why were they talking about her?
"This needs to stop, Ro," Lys was saying. "I know you miss Loch but -"
"Stop it!" Ro's voice was harsher than Echo had ever heard it. "I know you're not him, okay? I know that! I just -" Ro stopped a moment and took a deep, shaky breath. "It hurts, Lys..."
"I know it does. For me, too..." The voices trailed off, and Echo figured it was an opportune time to break into the conversation. Ro sounded like she needed a friend. She pushed open the door and stepped inside, and immediately wished she hadn't.
Ro and Lys were standing there in the corner of the storage room, Ro with tears streaking down her face. Lys had his arms around her, one hand placed gently on her chin and they were kissing. Echo stepped back and tried to duck out quietly, but ended up walking into a rake instead, noisiliy knocking over a jumble of tools.
Ro and Lys sprung apart guiltily and stared. Echo stared back for what felt like hours until she found her voice. "I um...I didn't mean to...What I mean is, I didn't realize..." Echo didn't know what she wanted to say. Her heart felt like it had been encased in cement. Ro and Lys? Together? How had she not seen it earlier? She was such an idiot! Lys was staring at her in absolute horror, but Ro was looking down at her feet. And here Echo had though that Lys was interested in her. She really was stupid. Why would Lys care about her when he could have beautiful, blonde, busty Ro instead? She could feel her eyes start to water. She didn't want Lys to see her cry over him. Echo's hand flew to her mouth to stop the sobs and she turned to run.
"Echo, wait I-!" Lys's voice was too late. Echo dashed out of the barn as fast as her legs could carry her. It felt like her whole reality was shattering.
"Echo?" Irvine questioned as she shot past. She ignored him and ran out into the overgrown wheat fields that blanketed the farmlands. She just wanted to be alone for a whiel to get it all out. She made it halfway through the first field when she tripped over an uneven patch of ground and fell to her knees. Her hands and knees were scraped and stinging, but the pain in her chest was worse. She couldn't find the will to get but up, so she just sat there and cried.
"Echo!" She could hear Lys calling her. "Which way did she go?" There was a pause and then she heard Lys's voice getting louder. "Echo? Echo! Please just come out and talk to me?"
Echo refused. He was absolutely the last person she wanted to see. He probably thought she was an idiot too, for beliving that he was doing anything other than playing her. She could hear Lys walking around in the wheat field, looking for her. Echo remained hidded in on the ground, holding her breath and waiting for him to leave. Eventually, he did.
Echo didn't know how long she was sitting out there for. It was beginning to get very dark outside, and around the time she was considering showing her face to the group again she heard footsteps once more. Echo froze, hoping it wasn't Lys again.
"Found her, over here," A voice was suddenly right behind her, making Echo jump in surprise She twisted around and saw Bold pushing away stalks of wheat to get to her. Shy quickly appeared behind him as well, running at nearly top speed to throw her uninjured arm around Echo in a tight hug. For some reason the comfort made Echo feel like crying again.
"I heard what happened from Ro," Shy explained.
"Lys is an idiot," Bold added with a growl.
"Sush, Bold!" Shy snapped. "I'm really sorry,"
"H-how long...I mean, did you know?" Echo wondered.
Shy bit her lip and nodded guiltily. "Once Loch disappeared, Ro was a total mess. She was completely in love with Loch. Lys was messed up too. His brother was his hero. They were both so screwed up over Loch that I guess..." Shy sighed and looked off into the sky as if wondered how to sum up their relationship.
"Ro started to look to Lys for comfort. Lys did the same with Ro," Bold cut in.
"You guys both knew about this?" Echo asked. Why hadn't they warned her? The guilty expression shared by the twins was enough of an answer for her. They did know. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I'm sorry," Shy repeated. "They seemed to be getting over it. After we picked you up they weren't sneaking off together as much anymore, but Ro and Lys still seemed okay." She shrugged, unsure of how to continue.
"We didn't think it would turn out this way." Bold finished, "We're sorry. Lys isn't such a bad guy, he's just can't stand by and watch when there's a chance to be someone's knight in shining armour."
Echo was surprised to hear this from Bold, since he had confessed to liking her. Why would he stand up for Lys. Shy was nodding her agreement. "Maybe you should talk to Lys?" She suggested.
Echo shook her head. "I don't really feel much like talking to him right now."
Shy frowned, but didn't force the issue. "Well, at least come back with us. Maddox and Angel want to leave soon."
Echo was not looking forward to facing Lys again just yet, but she couldn't hold up the group. She nodded in agreement and stood up. Shy took her hand as they left the field together, with Bold trailing behind.
"Don't worry," Bold assured her, "We'll keep Lys away from you if you don't want to talk to him."
Chapter Twenty-Two
~*Angel*~
True to their word, the twins kept Lys away from Echo for the rest of the night. Echo retreated to one of the SUVs that Angel had stored at her parents' farm to rest while plans were finalized. The vehicles looked brand new. They still smelt like leather and were off-the-lot silver in colour. Within two hours of leaving the corn field, everyone was gearing up for another long car ride.
"Alright kids, listen up, we're gonna start heading west towards the Rockies now." Maddox announced in his usual gruff way. There was a collective murmuring.
"To the shelters?" Shy asked. "Already?"
Maddox nodded solemnly. "It seems that this end of the world business will be coming to a head awfully soon. Angel and Bambi," he pointed to the two women, who still seemed rather put off by their new nicknames, "will come with us unti
l the Hunters start to catch up with them. After that they're gonna run interference so the rest of us can get out safely."
Echo blinked in surprise. "Really?" She blurted, "You guys are gonna to put yourselves at risk like that, for us?"
"We're the most qualified to do it. Dana...I mean, Bambi and I have military training and I have several safe houses set up around the country. Don't worry about us, we'll be fine. Once we've lost the Hunters again, we'll join you at the shelters." She sounded confident, but Echo knew that Angel and Bambi were practically going on a suicide mission.
"So we're finally heading to the shelters, then? It's finally coming to a close?" Lys asked from the other side of the group.
Maddox sighed, "Actually, there's one last stop we have to make on our way."
The others looked up at him questioningly. Maddox's face was screwed up in an unreadable expression.
"What?" Shy pushed, "What is it?"
"Lucien has given us some information... now, there's no way to tell how up to date it is, but I know you'll all want to risk this extra trip."
"What?" Shy sounded agonized, and Echo had to agree. She was sitting on the edge of her seat, waiting for Maddox's revelation.
"According to Lucien there is a secret holding facility where captured Chosen are kept for research purposes." Maddox chewed his lip and looked across the group, his eyes stopping pointedly on Lys and Ro, "Now don't get your hopes up, kids, not all of those taken survive there very long. But it would seem that one of our own, Lochinvar, was taken there when the Hunters got him."
The immediate reaction was dead silence from everyone. Then, Ro let out a hideous cry and fell into a dead faint and would have knocked her head off a rock if Lys hadn't caught her. But the news had Lys's legs turned into jelly as well, and he couldn't stay upright. His brother, alive? He hadn't dared to dream of the possibility since Loch was dragged away by the Hunters. Lys sank to the ground in shock.
The next instant there was chaos, with everyone talking at once. "Loch! We have to save him!" Shy was screaming.
Marked Page 15
