The Aberrants Box Set (Books 1-5)

by Sarah J. Stone

  “All right, we’ve got some whisky and some vodka, about four bottles with the labels picked off.”

  “What, no mixers?” Dannon cut in.

  “Hilarious, but I thought those wouldn’t be very useful, so I left them in the cabinet.”

  “Are they in glass bottles?” Jaelle asked.

  “What?”

  “I asked, are they in glass bottles?’”

  “No, I heard you, I just don’t see why it matters.”

  “I don’t know if it’s because I’m a woman, an Aberrant or a new comer, but this would go a lot faster if you guys didn’t question my every suggestion as if it were the most ludicrous thing you’ve ever heard.”

  “We’ll deal with our intrapersonal skills later,” Bradley said. “Javi, go see if any of those bottles were glass. Jaelle, please explain why it matters.”

  She knew she was being a bit pissy, but she was feeling a bit prickly with all the tension. “Isn’t it obvious?” she asked. Bradley leveled her with a stern look and she finally relented. “Molotov cocktails. I figure we can use half of this alcohol for traps, and half for making some incendiary projectiles.”

  “Why does it sound like you’ve read all of this out of a book?”

  “Wikipedia article, actually. But that doesn’t mean it won’t work. Besides, I once set fire to an abandoned trailer on accident and it threw the gangsters I was running from off my track long enough for me to get out of town.”

  “And when did that happen?”

  “When I was twelve. Not important right now, though.”

  “Only one of the bottles was glass,” Javi said, having crept back to their side. “However, I found some empty ones underneath. I figure we’ve got enough here for about eight Molotovs, as long as we’re careful with whatever else we use the booze for.”

  “Not bad,” Bradley said, rubbing his chin. “What’s the status on our boney friends?”

  “Still haven’t moved.”

  “Huh. What are they waiting for? Giving us all this time seems counterintuitive.”

  “It does,” Jaelle agreed, her eyes sweeping over them again. “Unless you take into consideration how much weaker they are during the day.”

  “If that’s true, then why did they reveal themselves so early?”

  “Easy,” Dannon joined in. “If they waited too long, we would clear out and be in their way. If the Aberr… I’m sorry, if Creed had anything to do with setting this up, I’m willing to bet part of their deal was that they had to fight us. By gathering here, sure they give up their surprise and risk that we’ll attack them head-on, but they’re assuring we’re stuck here for at least eight hours.”

  “Plenty of time for him to get some distance between us.”

  “But how did he know the medic was here?” Jaelle asked, her brow furrowed with concentration. “It doesn’t make sense that he would be privy to that information previously, because then the massacre of this town wouldn’t be new. But then how could he have possibly found out around the same time as we did?”

  “We could have a leak, I suppose.”

  “Unlikely. I didn’t reveal where we were going until all the others had left, so everyone who heard is in this room and none of us have had enough time to split from the group to set all this up.”

  “I guess that part will remain a mystery,” Javi said. “But I’m less interested in that and more in what we’re going to do with the alcohol.”

  “Grab some sheets from the overturned cots. We’re going to be making booze-braids.”

  Despite the situation, a crooked grin spread over the ex-Hunter’s dark face. “Good thing my sister taught me how to take care of my own hair.”

  Oh, Jaelle hadn’t even thought about that. She had assumed that everyone knew how to at least do a basic plait, but considering half the men in the group had short hair and most likely had short hair their entire life, it probably wasn’t a skill they had picked up. Well, late was better than never to learn.

  “Here’s three. I figure that should be enough for the alcohol we’ve got.”

  “Very good,” Bradley said, stepping in to be the leader once more. “Micah, Dannon, you tear the sheets. Javi, Jaelle, you braid. Jason, you keep watch with me and make sure everyone’s guns are loaded. We’re definitely going to need munitions for this fight.”

  They all settled into their assigned tasks. If it wasn’t for the baker’s dozen plus one monsters outside, it almost would have been fun, like some sort of grown up Girls Scout meeting. However, as much as Jaelle would have liked to forget about the flesh-eating monsters waiting just beyond the wall, she couldn’t.

  They had maybe three hours before the sun set and she didn’t like the idea of having to fight the beasts at night. Under the cold, winter moon was when they were the strongest, and although it wasn’t the snow season yet, she didn’t know what kind of difference that might make.

  It was hard to say exactly how much time passed as her and Javi made about a dozen braids, the rest of the fabric being set aside to be shoved into the top of the liquor bottles. She supposed it would help if she had a phone, but that had been long since left behind along with her old life in Braywire. Hopefully, David would be able to cancel the contract when he recovered enough to go home.

  What a strange thought to have. Even with monsters outside the door, she was still worried about her ex-lover’s finances. She needed to put that out of her mind if she was going to get over him.

  Easier said than done.

  “There!” she said, perhaps a little louder than necessary as she tied a knot in the end of the last braid. “All done.”

  “Good, now let’s soak the ends in the liquor then get this around choke points.”

  This time, everyone went about that order. Soon enough, all the doors were lined, as well as doorways. After Bradley affirmed that the monsters still weren’t moving, they went on to barricade all of the windows and doors with the dozens of cots and cabinets. Everyone knew that it wouldn’t be enough to hold out fourteen Wendigos forever, but at least it would make sure that no one got the drop on them.

  Wait… Jaelle looked up as the reality of her own words dawned on her. She was panting a bit, just having ripped the top platform of a bunk-cot off to screw across part of the wall, but that hadn’t slowed down her mind at all.

  “I don’t remember seeing any stairs, but is this a two-story building,” she asked. “Or one?”

  “Dammit!” Bradley cursed. “The roof!”

  “What about the roof?” Jaelle asked. “Is there something wrong with it?”

  “Not specifically, but it is a weak point. Barracks are built with flat tops in case the residents need a sudden escape or a place to fortify themselves so they attack from above. It’s not like it’s going to collapse, but that many Wendigos could tear through it in just a couple of minutes and then it’ll be raining the monsters and all our clever little braids will mean jack-shit.”

  “What can we do? What kind of traps can we set up on a roof with the supplies that we have?”

  “I’m… I’m not sure.”

  “Can we set fire to it?” Jaelle offered.

  “Yeah, that’s a great idea,” Javi said, rolling his eyes. “Because that’s a great idea that won’t end with it collapsing on our heads in a shower of sparks.”

  “Torches,” Bradley said, snapping his fingers. “We can use the legs of the cots as a post and use a combination of the cot stuffing and sheets for the tops. Make sure to keep them thick enough to they’ll burn for at least a while.”

  “Well, you’d better hurry,” Dannon said. “If the falling temperature is anything to go by, we’ve only got two hours before sunset, max.”

  “Great,” Bradley said with a very dry smirk. “Guess we better make the most of our time then. Micah, your turn to keep watch at the window. I feel the need to be a bit more hands on.”

  “Whatever you say, sir.”

  They traded placed and Jaelle didn’t waste much mo
re time on conversation. Once more, they all spread out in the room, gathering supplies that they needed to hopefully fend off any Wendigo roof collapsing. The entire time, her heart was in her throat. Usually in instances of high tension such as being completely surrounded by a demi-undead enemy, Jaelle would turn tail and run. That was how she had survived to be nearly thirty with a near-constant threat of death hovering above her head.

  Yet, she very much wasn’t running. Her time of reacting was over and it was time for her to be proactive. Even if that meant facing off against the most terrifying creatures she had ever had the unfortunate luck to lay eyes on.

  Dannon was right. The sun was beginning to set as they finished making their ten or so torches, the horizon turning to a brilliant mix of magenta and indigo. When everything was all said and done, they all looked to each other uncertainly.

  “So, who’s going up to the roof?” Dannon asked. “I’m guessing y’all don’t want the blind man up there.”

  “Sorry, friend, you’ll have to sit this step out. Obviously, some of us should stay down here.” Bradley rubbed his chin and Jaelle just noticed that his stubble was beginning to go from five o’clock shadow to full on scruff. “Of course, I’ll go up.”

  “Negatory, sir,” Javi said. “You’re the only one who’s been to this facility place. We can’t risk you.” The youngest of the ex-Hunters nodded resolutely. “I’ll go.”

  “And I’ll help,” Jaelle offered, standing from where she had been crouched on the floor.

  “Please, if I can’t be lost for the sake of the mission, then you definitely can’t.”

  “Actually, you all can keep going on without me and might even be in less danger. Besides” – she sent him a dangerous sort of side eye – “I’d like to see you stop me.”

  “Fine, fine. I know a lost battle when I see one. Just be careful.”

  “We will.” Javi looked to me. “I place the torches, you light ‘em?”

  “Sounds good to me. Now where is hatch we’re all talking about?”

  “This way,” he said, motioning back toward the common room that they had first walked into. “I’ll give you a boost.”

  Jaelle followed along, until they reached the right spot. It was really only noticeable by a thin outline of a square on the ceiling and an almost invisible length of fishing line attached to it. Javi gave it a yank and she heard pressurized hinges hiss, then the entryway slowly slid opened.

  For a moment, she was sure that a Wendigo was going to be waiting there, claws outstretched and teeth bared. Thankfully, she saw nothing except for an increasingly darkening sky.

  “Come on,” Javi said, bending down to cup his hands for her. “I’ll give you a boost.”

  She gave him an exaggerated bow. “What a gentleman.”

  “The least I can do for a lady.”

  Without any more dawdling, she stepped into his cupped hands and let him help her upwards. She caught the lip of the opening and pulled herself up, then reached back down for him to hand her the torches. Once that was all taken care of, she offered him a hand, as well.

  “Up you come,” she said.

  “No need,” he answered with a crooked smirk. “But you might want to move.”

  Jaelle did as he asked, and sure enough, the man shot up from the hole, landing in a crouch next to her. His features were half-shifted and quickly transitioned back to human, but she was still a bit shocked.

  “That was impressive. Never seen anyone do that before.”

  “Thanks. We all have our talents. Now, I better hurry in setting these up. I don’t want to be out here when the sun finishes saying goodbye.”

  “Me, either.”

  Jaelle stood, pulling the lighter that Dannon had given her out from her bra. It would only take a couple seconds, maybe half a minute at most for Javi to set up the first torch, but she found her mind pulling toward the Wendigos. She didn’t know if it was morbid curiosity, or the desire to know exactly where her enemy was, but either way she turned to look over the edge of the roof to look at the frightful fourteen.

  They were still there, but instead of their stares boring into the window below, their heads had all turned upwards. They knew she was up here.

  Before she could look away, her eyes locked with the largest of the creatures’. Solid pools of black with only that single azure light within, she felt like she was drowning in those ageless depths. She was both cold and overheated at the same time. Far away and yet entirely too close to these monsters

  Help me!

  Jaelle jerked at the sound, her eyes going wide and her heart skipping a beat. “David!?” She called, ears searching for where that sound had come from. “David, where are you? What are you doing here?”

  Jaelle, why did you leave me? You promised you wouldn’t.

  “David?! I had to. You know that. I had to protect you!”

  She took a step toward the sound, trying to lock onto it so she could be in his arms once again. But as she moved forward, a strong hand gripped her and yanked her back. Away from the edge of the roof. Away from David. Away from those inky, consuming stares.

  “What the hell are you doing?”

  Confused, she blinked rapidly and looked back to see Javi gripping her arm with an iron grip, a concerned look on his face. “I… I heard David.”

  “Are you an idiot? Wendigos can mimic voices!”

  “But… how could they possibly know what he sounded like?”

  “You looked into their eyes, didn’t you?” She nodded slowly, her brain feeling quite fuzzy. “All right, try not to do that. It lets them toy with you. Now, are you going to light some torches or what?”

  “Uh, yeah. Right. I’ll do that.”

  As she turned away from them, her mind started to clear and returned back to the mission. She went about lighting the fabric of each post while Javi finished setting them up, but the entire time her heart was racing.

  What would have happened if she had stepped off of the roof?

  She shuddered before shutting down that line of thought. It would get her nowhere.

  Once they finished, she went right back to the opening, her gaze never leaving her feet, lest she accidentally make eye contact again. It probably would have been pretty to see the ten points of flame blazing in the fading light, but she just wanted to be out of their direct view more than anything else.

  “Not a bad job,” Javi said, following along behind her as they dropped down. “Besides for that whole almost being hypnotized by the enemy.”

  “Yes, besides that,” Jaelle murmured, brushing herself off as she landed back into the house. Once her partner was also inside, she yanked the fishing line again and watched as the hatch slowly slid closed. At least it wasn’t one of the types that could be opened from the outside.

  “Well,” Javi said, giving her another look over, “now all there is to do is wait.”

  Chapter Five: Hungry, Hungry Monsters

  There were many words that Jaelle would use to describe herself. Some of them good, some of them not so good, and some of them couldn’t be said around polite company. But she had never, ever described herself a patient.

  So, waiting for darkness to fall, with the fourteen pillars of violent death just beyond the wall they were all huddled behind, was pure torture. Well, it wasn’t pure torture like being eaten alive was, but it turned out that anticipating being eaten alive wasn’t that great either.

  They discussed rushing them behind night could fall multiple times, and each time they reached the same conclusion. Meeting fourteen Wendigos in the middle of the open wasn’t worth the risk. There wouldn’t be any discharging of weapons because there was too great a risk of friendly fire, and it would be so incredibly easy to get flanked considering right now they were roughly outnumbered two to one. They would just have to hope that nightfall wasn’t going to give the creatures too much of a power boost and that the torches on the roof were enough to keep them from exploiting that architectural weakness.

>   “I can hear the night insects coming out. It’s happening, isn’t it?”

  “Yes,” Bradley answered, handing him a dagger. “Be ready.”

  No one said much after that, each of them quiet in the last moments before the coming store. Jaelle could smell their stress pouring out of them, thickening the air like soup, and she was sure the Wendigo could smell it too. Were they whipping themselves up into a frenzy, drunk on the ketones of their prey? It didn’t look like that. They remained as eerily still as always, not moving. Not breathing. If she didn’t know better, Jaelle would have thought they were dead.

  Well… maybe they were. She was beginning to wonder exactly where they fell between the living and those not quite so living. She supposed she would find out soon enough.

  It happened in the blink of an eye. The last of the shadows dwindled, disappearing into the velvet cover of night, and the stars bloomed above. Those fourteen pale pillars were no longer so stationary, and they all launched forward at once.

  God, the sound out of their mouths was horrifying! Some strange combination of a lion’s roar, a horse’s scream and the wails of the damned. It was cloying and revolting, sending a wave of both nausea and fear through Jaelle.

  Just like they had hoped, the monsters all raced straight toward the window, the only non-barricaded opening into the building. The Hunters all half-shifted in a wave, but Jaelle held back. She needed to judge the situation before she chose what animal to be, and unlike the rest of the men around her, she didn’t have a set half-shift to slide into.

  Thankfully, Javi didn’t miss a beat. Darting forward, he lit the braid they had tied to the bottom lip of the window and it went aflame.

  If there was anything that could be considered amusing about the situation, the Wendigos all slowed to a stop, eyeing the small fire with obvious distaste. It was such a weird juxtaposition to see great and terrible beasts flummoxed by a little bit of flame. She’d seen drunken college students be less afraid of an actual bonfire.