Rise of the River Man

by L. S. O'Dea

  “Break them.”

  “I can’t. I already tried.”

  “You’re stronger now, as you change. Try again.”

  He hesitated and then grabbed the chains and pulled. His arms ached but nothing. He dropped the shackles on the floor. “See, I’m not stronger. I’m not changing.”

  “Keep trying. Or find a way. Escape.”

  He dropped on his bed. “I wish you’d stay.” It was the closest he’d come to asking.

  “I can’t.”

  He’d expected that answer. Pleading never changed anything.

  CHAPTER 5

  THE NEXT MORNING, MUTTER stood at the front of his cage as six of the Almightys’ Guards drug the body of the thing he’d called the Voice out of the room. It was oblong with no particular shape, just a blob. Two tiny arms stuck out from each side and four tentacles protruded from what was probably its head.

  A wet trail on the floor left by the Voice’s body ran from the cell out the door. There was no way that thing had ever been a Guard. What else had it lied about? He glanced at the other enclosures. It didn’t matter. The Voice had been right about one thing. He needed to get out of here before the things in the other cells got free.

  After dinner he paced in his cage. Soon, Ableson would be back for their nightly walk. He had two choices, ask for more freedom or escape with the chains around his ankles. If he escaped, he’d have to hurt Ableson and then the authorities would hunt him down. The streets that the strays inhabited were tough and if he was wanted someone would turn him in for a reward. That left asking for more freedom, but he’d have to be smart in how he worded his request. Unfortunately, he’d never been good with words, only his fists. He dropped on the bed, his mind racing and his muscles twitching with nervous energy.

  The door opened and Ableson entered, grumbling under his breath. He sat at the desk.

  Mutter walked to the front of the cage.

  “I can’t take you on a walk tonight. With the”—Ableson’s eyes darted to the enclosure where the Voice had lived—“loss, the professor has dumped all the paperwork on me.” He smiled, sadly. “I’ll make it up to you tomorrow.”

  Here was his moment. Good or bad, he had to try. “Sir?”

  “Yes?” Ableson turned toward him, eyes friendly.

  A surge of courage raced through him. “Can I go for the walk alone?” He couldn’t stop his legs from bouncing and his hands from clenching at his sides. “Please. I need to smell the air. Run. Swim. Please.” If he had to stay locked up, he truly felt that he’d die.

  Ableson moved closer to the cage, studying him. Mutter could grab the Almighty, snap his neck and take the keys Ableson kept in his pocket, but he forced himself to remain calm, waiting for the right moment.

  “Can I trust you?”

  He nodded, hope flaring in his gut.

  Ableson glanced at the door. “Give me an hour. I need to make sure that everyone is gone. Then, I’ll let you run on your own tonight, but you have to swear that you’ll return. I’ll get in real trouble if you don’t.”

  “I promise. I’ll come back. Thank you. Thank you.” He wanted to drop to his knees and kiss the Almighty’s feet.

  Ableson’s eyes narrowed. “If you run, I will find you and then you’ll never leave the cage again.”

  He swallowed and nodded. Ableson turned and went back to his desk.

  The next hour was the longest in his life, but finally Ableson checked the hallway and then came to the cage.

  “Put your ankle chain on.”

  He’d been hoping the Almighty would overlook that, but he bent and did as he was told.

  “Be back in thirty minutes.” Ableson opened the door.

  “Our walk is an hour.” He wouldn’t get far with these chains on in thirty minutes.

  “If you’d rather not go.” Ableson started to shut the door.

  “No. No, please.”

  “I’m taking a big risk by doing this.” The hardness in Ableson’s face softened.

  He stepped out of the cage. “Thank you. You don’t know how much these walks mean to me.” They were the only thing keeping him sane. If he tried to escape and failed, the walks would end. He wasn’t sure he could live like that.

  “I do understand. I’ve spoken to the professor about having outside pens too but....well, he doesn’t understand what being caged all the time does to you Guards and House Servants.” Ableson patted him on the shoulder. “Maybe, the success we have with you will help to convince him to let the others enjoy the outside too.”

  He cringed inwardly. His escape would eliminate any chance the others had of ever going outside. Still, life was hard. He had to think of himself. “Thank you again.”

  “Don’t let anyone see you,” said Ableson.

  “I won’t.” He slipped out the door and hurried down the hallway as fast as his hobbled legs would allow.

  Once outside, he headed straight toward the canal that ran near the woods. His scent would be covered by the water. He glanced back at the house and lab; all was quiet. He waded into the ditch, sinking into the cold, dark water. It was refreshing, invigorating. He began to swim, using his chained legs like one big flipper.

  He flew through the water, switching from canal to canal but always heading for the city. There he would find something to remove the chain and then he’d lose himself in the strays’ alleys. Ableson and Conguise would search the surrounding areas first. It would be weeks before they thought to look in the city. By then, he’d have made a little money and he’d be gone.

  CHAPTER 6

  MUTTER ARRIVED IN THE city just before dawn. He’d made great time in the water, but he had to find somewhere to hide until he removed the chain. He shuffled through the maze of alleyways. He passed a few stray Guards and Servants but the ones out at this time weren’t dangerous. These were the younger ones, the weaker ones, the ones who couldn’t fight for the good food at dusk, but instead picked at the leavings. He was in the middle of the city now, a perfect place to hide. The faint smell of meat drew him to the dumpster behind a grocery store. He hid in the shadows and sniffed. There was still some food in the bin, rotten fruit and vegetables. The meat was long gone but they’d toss more. Until then, the fruits and vegetables would have to do.

  He glanced around. The area was empty. He moved as quickly as he could to the dumpster, jumping inside and following his nose to the food. He filled his pockets and then hopped out, hobbling into the alley and hiding behind a stack of boxes.

  The food was not good, but it stopped the rumble in his stomach. The sunlight had arrived and with it the city came to life. He’d have to wait to find something to remove the chain. He’d search around noon when the city settled down for lunch. He had to have the restraint gone by dusk or risk being attacked. He rested his head against the brick wall and dozed.

  A slamming door woke him. A small, female House Servant carried bags from the grocer and tossed them into the dumpster. He inhaled, catching the scent from the bags. Cleaning supplies, no food. She paused, her light green eyes scanning the alley. He held his breath, afraid to make the slightest sound. The boxes blocked him from view, but Servants had excellent hearing. Her nostrils quivered and her ears tipped toward him. There was nothing he could do to cover his scent and he’d never reach her before she escaped into the store. All he could do was wait. After a few minutes, she turned and went back inside. A stray Guard around here shouldn’t be anything she hadn’t encountered before and yet, the alley was quiet. There would be food here every night. Someone should have set up camp like he had. His nerves hummed. Chain or no chain, it was time to go.

  He moved up and down the alleyways, searching through the piles of debris for something that he could use to remove the restraint but there was nothing. It was late afternoon when he found himself back at the grocer’s. There were no new scents of Almightys or Guards. She hadn’t called the authorities about a stray. He stared at the chain. The Voice had said to use his hands to break them. Of course
, the Voice wasn’t in his right mind or his right body. Still, he sat down, clasping the chain near his ankles and pulled. Nothing. He was not changing. The Voice had been wrong. He leaned his head against the wall. That left him with only one option.

  He made his way toward Sovee’s home. It was risky. Sovee belonged to Vickers and could report him, but the older Guard might help him, if the price were right.

  He went around the back of the house and tapped at the door. “Sovee, you there? It’s me, Mutter.” The door opened. Sovee was a big Guard almost as big as him.

  Sovee smiled, the scar across his face pulling his one eye almost shut. “I figured you’d be dead by now.”

  The older Guard stepped back and Mutter slipped inside.

  “Someone bought me. Can you believe it?”

  “And you repaid them by running?” Sovee stared at Mutter’s feet.

  “It wasn’t a good place.”

  “We do as we’re told.” Sovee was a perfect Almighty’s Guard, never questioning only obeying. “I tried to teach you that, but”—he shook his head—“you must have been on your own too long.”

  “Can you help me or not?” He didn’t need a lecture.

  Sovee nodded and Mutter followed him farther into the house. He’d been here many times over the years. Sovee, who was retired from the ring, trained Vickers’ fighters. The old Guard opened a closet and pulled out a pair of bolt cutters.

  “Where’d you get those?” Guards were not allowed to have dangerous tools.

  Sovee’s hard, brown eyes glared at him.

  “Sorry. None of my business.” As long as the chain was gone, he didn’t care what the old Guard did.

  Sovee grunted in agreement and with one quick cut the chain was separated. It took a little more work to remove it from Mutter’s ankles but soon he was free.

  “Thanks.” He headed toward the door.

  “Be at the carriage docks tonight when the moon is high.”

  He should have known he wouldn’t get away without paying. “I need money. Do I at least get a cut?”

  “I just gave you three.” Sovee chuckled at his joke.

  He wanted to punch the other Guard in the face, but instead said, “I’m hungry. I need to eat before the fight.”

  “Then you better hurry. The dumpsters will be picked clean soon, if they aren’t already.”

  Typical. Sovee was no one’s friend. He opened the door. The sky was dark. He strode down the alleyways, no longer concerned about the others who lurked in his path. He was big and scarred; there weren’t many who would pick a fight with him now that the chain was gone.

  When he arrived at the grocer’s, the dumpster was empty. There was still a little rotten fruit, but he needed meat. There were lights on in some of the neighboring stores, but the grocer’s was dark and quiet. He crept to the building and tried the back door. It was locked. If he broke in, he’d have to find another place to eat tomorrow, but he couldn’t fight without food. He glanced around. The alley was empty. He grabbed the handle, shoving his shoulder against the door. It groaned a bit at the pressure and then popped open. He slipped inside and followed his nose to the meat.

  There were rows of packages, red, bloody and delicious in the refrigerated section. His mouth watered. He grabbed a handful and turned to leave. A pair of pale green eyes stared at him through the darkness. It was the Servant from earlier. He’d assumed that she’d left with the grocer. He should have been more careful. There was no way he was going back to the shelter especially under these circumstances. The authorities killed thieves right away.

  “I don’t want any trouble,” he said.

  “Then you shouldn’t have broken into my home.” She glided through the shadows.

  He kept her in sight as he made his way toward the door. He could kill her with a snap of his wrist, but he’d have to catch her first and that might take time which he didn’t have. Plus, she wouldn’t go quietly and that would bring help from one of the neighboring stores.

  “Put it back and I won’t report you.”

  “I can’t do that.” He needed this food more than the grocer.

  “Then you’ll be dead at the shelter tomorrow.”

  “They’ll have to find me first.”

  “Oh, they’ll catch you.” She moved out of the shadows, closer to him but still out of reach. “You do not exactly blend in.” She was even smaller up close. “Put the meat back and leave.” Her voice was firm.

  He sniffed. “Why aren’t you afraid of me?”

  “Why would I be?”

  This was a first. All females feared him. Even before his scars he had not been an attractive Guard, his features blunt and hard.

  “Just because you’re ugly doesn’t make you mean or fast and you’ll have to be quick to catch me.”

  She raced forward. Her claws connected with his arm and sliced through his shirt. He lunged for her, ignoring the pain. He didn’t expect to catch her, just scare her away from the door, but his hand locked on her wrist. He spun her around, pulling her flush against him, the packages falling to the floor. He wrapped his other hand around her throat. It would be a simple task to snap her neck, barely a movement, but he hesitated. Her bones, tiny beneath his touch, reminded him of the little Guard. She struggled in his grasp. He blocked every move she made, keeping her close. Her body was firm, yet soft. After a few moments she stilled, her eyes meeting his and holding.

  “Now, what?” she asked.

  “I don’t know.” It was obvious that he wasn’t going to kill her or he’d have done it by now.

  “You can’t have the meat. I’ll get in trouble.”

  “You protect this place?” It was a job usually given to Guards or maybe a Guard and Servant, but never a Servant so young and small.

  “Yes.” The word was almost a hiss. “I’m deadly.”

  He grinned. “I’m sorry. You’re just so little.”

  “Let me go and I’ll show you.” She bared her teeth.

  He couldn’t refuse the dare. He dropped his arms and she attacked. The first slash, across his cheek, caught him by surprise. He’d been sure that she’d run. The second one he blocked, clasping her hand in his and spinning her around, her back tight against his front.

  “How did you do that?” She turned her head, trying to see his face. “Guards are not that fast. Ever.”

  He lowered his lip to her ear. “I am.” He’d never been attracted to a Servant, disliked all he’d ever met, before her. She had spirit and it had been a long time since he’d been with a female. Eat then mate, those desires coursed through his blood, demanding.

  A bell sounded. She stiffened in his arms. He covered her mouth with his hand to quiet her scream, but she remained silent.

  “I forgot my house keys,” yelled the grocer. “Help me find them.”

  “Please leave,” she whispered against his palm.

  He let her go and hurried out the door. He slipped into the alley, lingering in the shadows. The lights came on in the store and there were voices and movement but nothing to hint that she’d told the Almighty about him. His stomach clenched. He still needed food. Maybe, he could find some on the way to the docks. The lights at the grocery store went out. The back door opened.

  She stepped outside, carrying a small bag. She stopped at the dumpster. “Guard,” she whispered. “I know you’re here. I can smell you.” She stuffed the bag under the dumpster. “For you.” She went back inside.

  He waited a few moments and then darted behind the garbage can and reached underneath. It was a small chunk of meat, barely a bite, but his hand trembled as he put it in his mouth. No one had shown him kindness since his mother. He went back to his spot in the alley. His stomach rumbled more insistently now that it had tasted what it desired. He leaned against the wall, watching the building and waiting for the time to leave.

  CHAPTER 7

  MUTTER DIDN’T HAVE ANY trouble finding the location of the fight. He’d been here before but only to watch. Vickers’
Guards weren’t allowed to participate in street fights.

  Sovee waved to him. He pushed through the crowd.

  “When do I fight?” He wanted to get this done.

  “Turn around. Let Noodles take a look at you,” said Sovee.

  He turned slowly. The betting was starting. He’d fight soon.

  “Hmm. You still sick?” asked Noodles.

  He faced the other Guards again. “No.”

  “You were a good fighter. Surprised Vickers let you go,” said Noodles.

  “I lost.”

  “You won’t lose tonight though, will you?” asked Noodles, his tone hard.

  “Nope.” He’d like to ask who he was fighting but he needed to be confident. If Sovee didn’t make enough money the other Guard might make him fight for free again.

  “I’ll back him,” said Noodles.

  “What? Wait.” His eyes met Sovee’s. “I thought you were backing me.” This was not good. He knew Noodles by reputation and if he lost the fight, the other Guard would own him for a long time. He’d be sent on jobs that no one wanted to take like stealing young Guards for the sex trade or catching Servants for the meat market.

  “How does me spending my money cancel your debt to me?” Sovee laughed. “Nope. Noodles will back you and I’ll bet on you. We all win.”

  He glared at Sovee. They had never been friends but this was betrayal.

  “I don’t think he’s happy about this.” Noodles patted Mutter on the back. “You’re up. Go make me some money.”

  He sent one last glare at Sovee and stepped into the circle in the center of the crowd. His opponent pushed through from the other side. Mutter kept his face impassive. Half the battle was won on perception. If he showed weakness he was done, but this would not be easy. The other Guard was tall and lean with long arms and huge fists.

  His opponent approached. By the roar of the crowd the other Guard was moving fast, but to him it was like slow motion. He stepped aside, putting his foot out and tripping his enemy. The Guard hit the ground but jumped up quickly, lashing out and connecting one of his huge paws with Mutter’s jaw. He staggered backward, his head spinning but instead of sinking into the dizziness he lunged forward, his fist slamming into the other Guard’s chest. The crowd shouted as his opponent landed a few hard blows to Mutter’s face and stomach. He felt nothing but the desire to attack. He sent an upper cut to his opponent’s jaw and the other Guard stumbled. Mutter wrapped one arm around his enemy as his other fist continued to punch, digging into flesh, over and over. The thuds became a pattern, a chant in his head, kill, kill, kill.