by Cheree Alsop
I knew I shouldn’t have brought her here, but there was something about her so refreshing and whole. Each member of the pack carried hurts and burdens not visible to the naked eye, and retreated into their pain in their own ways. Kyla, however, truly seemed like she wanted only to help. She cared, despite what we were. She had helped me when no one else would have, when the whole world had retreated and left me to die. She knew what I was, but still stayed.
I shook my head and pushed the button for the lift to descend. Kyla looked up and waved. I lifted a hand, my mind clouded. I knew I had trust issues. I had convinced myself long ago that there was no one I could entrust with my pack and what we did. Yet, here she was making sandwiches with Shadow. Something inside told me just to go with it, the same thing that made me bring her here. I didn’t know if it was faith or stupidity, or just the blind need to have someone else understand what we did, but she was here.
When I reached the bottom, Phoenix was waiting. “We’re ready to scope out the area.”
I glanced toward the kitchen where Kyla was. Phoenix followed my gaze. “I’ll take her home first.”
Phoenix surprised me by shaking her head. “I think she should come with us.”
I stared at him. “She could get hurt. It’s too dangerous.”
“She could also help,” he pointed out. At my look he rubbed his forehead. “Look, it might be nice to have an outsider see what we’re up to, and what we’re up against.”
“How could that help?” I asked, but his words made me think.
He shrugged. “Not sure, but I still think it’s a good idea.
I hated to admit it, but I wanted Kyla to go with us. I wanted her to see what we did and understand the truth about the Falconans. She trusted me, of that I was certain. The question was if I could trust her enough to let her into our lives the way she had allowed me into hers.
Chapter 17- Kyla
Marek took a shower and changed into a set of black clothes after coming down from the roof. The other Shifters were busy preparing for something; when I asked him what, he held me with his calm blue gaze. I wondered at the wildness in him that made his blue eyes turn gold. How did it feel to have an animal side? Did the wolf instincts drive him or did his human side dictate his actions?
He let out a slow breath. “We’re going to do something dangerous but necessary. I was going to take you home, but,” he hesitated, watching me carefully, “I want you to come along.”
My heart skipped sideways in my chest. The way he looked at me let me know he still questioned his decision and was leaving it up to me. The thought of him in danger again so soon after being injured turned my stomach. “Would I be able to help?” I asked.
His eyebrows lifted slightly and a shadow of a smile touched his lips. He nodded.
That made up my mind. “Then I’d like to go.”
A few minutes later, I was on the back of Marek’s motorcycle. He was quiet and collected, ready for the task ahead. He drove the bike as though it was a part of him, leading us as if he was a creature of the darkness speeding past. I held tightly to him as he weaved through the dark alleys of downtown Charlton. His muscles were tight through the black leather jacket he wore.
The others followed on similar motorcycles, each fitted with the new government approved exhausted systems that were now required on all engines to cut down on noise pollution. They also proved handy for stealth missions.
The rain that had started just before we left the Den hit my helmet visor like tiny bullets. Marek’s headlight was off and I wondered how he and the others could see in the darkness through the rain when all I saw were the dark shadows of buildings rushing by. Behind Marek, Shadow, Flint, Phoenix, and Raven rode on their own motorcycles. I tried to picture Kip on one, but couldn’t. He seemed so young compared to Shadow and Flint. I was glad he didn’t know this side of life, that he was carefree and didn’t have the haunted look of the hunted in his eyes.
It was past midnight, so most people were inside in obedience to the curfew. The few we saw were either homeless and trying to avoid being picked up by the Falconans, or prostitutes standing at the dark corners. The penalty for being homeless was prison confinement, and prostitution was punishable by on the spot execution, so I figured we must be deep downtown where the Falconans seldom went.
Marek led us to a dead-end alley where we left the bikes. Phoenix handed out the contents of his backpack. I was surprised when, after giving Marek and Raven pistols and keeping two for himself, he handed me a small Beretta. I glanced at Marek, who nodded. “We never know what we’re getting into; it’s better to be safe than sorry. Besides,” he said as he strapped his .45 into a built-in pouch on his bullet-proof vest, “Fewer Falconans is never a bad thing.”
Flint silently helped me adjust a small headset so I could hear Marek’s orders. The brown-haired boy’s hands shook slightly and he refused to meet my eyes; even so, he seemed less nervous than I felt. My lack of knowledge as to what I could expect in the next hour kept my eyes straying to the mouth of the alley in search of an attack.
Raven caught my glance. “Don’t worry,” he said with his reckless grin. “We’re the ones attacking.”
I nodded, feeling only slightly relieved. “You’ve done this a lot, I take it?”
Marek heard us from where he twisted a silencer onto his gun. “Raven’s had my back at every Lost bust we’ve done. Stick with him and you’ll be safe.”
Raven gave me a shrug and then grinned again. “It’s like a job, only there’s people trying to kill you whether you succeed or fail. Kind of a lose-lose situation, but a good one.”
At my stare, Phoenix laughed. “More like a win-win situation, Rave. We kill Falconans, we win; we rescue the Lost, we win. There’s no losing about it.”
Shadow gave a sigh and shook his head. His dark grey hair fell in front of his eyes and he pushed it back with a gesture that reminded me of Marek. “And thus, you see the irony of our situation.”
This time, everyone stared. Raven looked as though he was trying not to laugh. “Did you just use the word ‘thus’ in a sentence?”
Shadow shrugged. “I like to be dramatic.”
I laughed. “I have a brother that’s the same way. To some it’s annoying, to others, it’s charming.”
Shadow gave Flint a nudge with his elbow. “You see that? She said I’m charming!”
This time, it was my turn to grin. “I said people find it annoying or charming; I didn’t say which one I thought it was.” Flint elbowed Shadow back and he winced.
Marek showed me how to put the silencer on my Beretta and instructed me to take the safety off only if Raven and I were being shot at. “Our goal is to get the kids and escape with as few shots fired as possible. We don’t need the cops on our tails along with the Falconans.”
He led us to the front of the alley, then pointed to a large sewer drain. “This will be our escape. Flint calculated that it’s a half hour run back to the Den through the drain system.” He glanced at the boy for affirmation and Flint nodded. “Good. We’ll leave the bikes.” At Phoenix’s mutter, he gave a grim smile. “We’ll come back for them later. The Falconans know who we are, so they won’t be scouting for evidence anyway.” He looked at his watch. “Phoenix, take to the roof and stop the truck.”
Phoenix nodded. “With pleasure,” he said with a glitter in his cat-like green eyes. He turned and left without another word.
Marek scanned the rest of them. “You know what to do. Stay in contact, but don’t clutter the airwaves. Let’s keep this simple.” At Flint’s questioning look, he said, “As simple as possible.”
Marek disappeared into the alley across the street, his black clothes and hair fading into the darkness. I searched for him from where I stood. My heart jumped when I saw the unexpected reflection of the lamplight in two golden eyes. He was watching us, making sure we remembered what we needed to do, and that we were safe.
Rain fell softly around us, creating a feeling of surre
alism, like this was all a strange dream. I watched the boys wheel garbage cans out into the road, a barrier to slow the truck down. I jumped when Raven touched my elbow. “Ready?” I nodded and followed him to our post at the corner of the street where the truck would turn.
After setting up his gun, Phoenix climbed back down from the building and used a crowbar slung from his backpack to pry up the grate that would be our escape. He then disappeared silently back to the roof.
“Now, we wait,” Marek’s voice said quietly in my earpiece.
Waiting was the hardest part. I felt restless and edgy. I started at every sound, amazed at how loud the rain seemed as it fell around us in the darkness. Somehow Flint had shut off the four lamps that lined our chosen street, and we waited without flashlights. Raven hummed an old song from Disturbed, his voice a quiet counter-cadence to the rainfall.
After what seemed like centuries, Marek whispered to us, “It’s one o’clock; keep on your toes.”
“Yes, Captain,” Shadow said with mock solemnity from where he and Flint hid by the garbage cans. Marek didn’t reply.
Raven snorted behind me and I turned to see his familiar grin. “Shadow’s been the comic of our group since we helped him escape a year ago. I don’t think we could convince anyone to take him if we tried.”
“Hey!” Shadow’s indignant voice squeaked over the radio. “I can hear you, you know!”
“I know,” Raven replied. “But it’s the truth.”
“Well,” Shadow retorted. “I didn’t have parents before, and don’t need none now. I’m the brains of this here operation.”
I heard a thunk followed by a muffled, “Okay, Flint. I’m the back-up brains. Watch what you do with your gun; it’s for shooting, not hitting!”
“Boys, let’s keep the radio open.” Marek sounded stern, but I swore I could hear a hint of laughter in his voice. I looked toward his alley, but could see only darkness.
I heard an intake of breath a few minutes later. “They’re almost here,” Phoenix said quietly from his vantage point on the roof.
I strained my ears and could just make out the slight hum of government-approved mufflers. My heart started to pound.
“Don’t move,” Raven reminded me quietly. “Wait until they stop at the trash cans.”
The truck turned right in front of us. It was a moving truck just under twenty feet long. Its sides were painted dark blue with a non-descript orange blur that might have been words on the side. Raven moved so that he stood to the front and right of me as if to shield me from danger. I felt a sudden surge of gratitude for the tall, slender bird Shifter.
The truck stopped at the garbage cans as planned and sat there for a moment. Phoenix’s voice sounded deep over the radio. “There’s two Falconans in the front, and I’m guessing two more in the back. I have the driver covered. Be careful; there should be more of them.”
My heart pounded harder; the thought of four Falconans had seemed daunting enough, but the fact that Phoenix expected more was terrifying.
The Falconan on the passenger side got out to check the obstruction. I heard the faint buzz of a bullet fired from a silenced gun; the Falconan dropped without a noise. The crash of breaking glass sounded earth-shattering above the hum of the truck’s quiet motor. Phoenix had just taken out the driver. I stood frozen to the sidewalk, unable to follow Raven as he made his way carefully to the back of the truck.
They had just killed two Falconans. The thought hit me hard and I almost dropped the gun in my hand. Marek appeared at the back of the truck beside Raven, his eyes golden and mouth tight. He was about to release the latch on the back door when two more Falconans on motorcycles sped around the corner, jerking me back to reality. The Falconans would kill Marek and his pack for what they were doing.
“Behind you!” I shouted into my mouthpiece. Marek and Raven dove to opposite sides. Bullets thudded into the truck door where their heads had been the moment before.
Both Falconans jumped from their still-moving bikes into the air. Their wings spread and caught the wind of their momentum, sending them backwards and lifting them higher. The abandoned motorcycles hit the truck like battering rams with an impact loud enough to alert every police officer within a mile.
The back door to the truck flew open. Two Falconans armed to the teeth jumped out and started firing in every direction. Marek rolled out from beside the truck and fired from one knee, catching the nearest Falconan just under his bullet-proof vest. The Falconan staggered and fell to his knees. The second Falconan rushed at the wolf Shifter, his shots going wide in his haste. Marek jumped to his feet and ducked out of my sight.
One of the Falconans from the motorcycles landed on top of the truck firing in the direction of Flint and Shadow. The other tucked his wings in at the last moment and dove through the back door into the truck. I heard the terrified screams of children. “A Falconan’s inside the truck!” I said in near hysteria. I ran forward, leaving the safety of the dark alley.
The Falconan on top of the van hissed when a bullet from Phoenix tore through his wing. He spun around searching for the shooter, and spotted me running toward him. The Falconan leapt off the van, tucked his wings in, and rolled when he hit the ground to come up running toward me, a gun in each hand. A bullet tugged at my sleeve and I stopped. My brain froze.
The Falconan was almost to me. His guns were pointed at my head, but he didn’t fire. I saw an eager gleam in his eyes as if he knew I couldn’t run and wanted to bask in the moment of my death. A shiver ran through my body. The gun felt heavy in my hand. I wanted to drop it. The Falconan was so close.
A shot rang out; this one unsilenced. The Falconan fell inches from my feet. Blood poured from an exit wound at its jaw. Marek leaned against the side of the truck, his gun still raised as he fought to catch his breath.
“Look out!” Raven shouted from the other side of the street. The last Falconan leapt out of the back of the truck and tackled Marek.
Marek kicked out, sending the beast flying over his head with the momentum of his rush. Shadow came running from Marek’s side of the truck and shot at the Falconan the same time as Raven. Both bullets took the beast in the back of his vest at close range. He slumped to the ground.
Flint helped Marek to his feet. Raven checked to make sure their leader was okay, then stepped up into the back of the truck. Someone turned off the engine. Phoenix appeared around the side. “Well, that was fun,” he said, shoving his guns into his backpack.
I found I could move again, though my limbs shook. I stepped carefully around the fallen Falconan.
“Fun?” Marek replied in an incredulous tone. He turned to me as I made my way slowly toward them. “You okay?” I nodded, unable to speak for the moment. He looked at me more closely, his eyes running down my body to make sure I didn’t have any bullet holes. “You sure? He got a couple of shots off.”
“I’m okay,” I managed to force out past my tight throat. He nodded, but kept his eyes on me as he brushed the blood and street grime from his pants.
“We’ve got to get outta here,” Shadow said. He indicated the truck.
I turned and saw that Phoenix and Flint were already helping kids down. Raven stood impatiently by the manhole. Every few seconds, he glanced back at the corner where he and I had waited.
“Right,” Marek said. He turned to the children and said in a calming voice, “Follow me. We’ll make sure you get back home.”
The children were scared. They ranged in age from about seven to fourteen, and I counted fifteen of them. It was less than I had expected, but when I realized the full scope of Marek’s promise to return them home, fifteen terrified, lost children was a lot. Marek motioned to me and I followed him to the sewer grate with the children close behind.
Marek spoke to them in gentle but firm tones. “You’re going to be alright as long as you stay with us, okay?” Several children nodded. He pointed at the hole. “Kyla and I will go first and we’ll wait for you at the bottom. Climb down sl
ow and don’t look down. We’ll be at the bottom of the ladder if anyone needs help, okay?” A few more kids nodded, their eyes not leaving Marek. He turned and went down the ladder.
I waited a few seconds, then followed, my heart in my throat. It was pitch black in the tunnel. When I reached the bottom, Marek set a flashlight in my hand. “Guide them down,” he said quietly. “They’re scared and have been through more than any child should. They need you to be calm and reassuring no matter what happens. Can you do that?”
I nodded and was about to ask what could happen when Phoenix’s voice sounded through my earpiece. “More Falconans just showed up to play! We’re sending the last kid down now. I’ll stop who I can and then follow.”
“Good,” Marek replied. We helped the children down, followed by Shadow, Flint, and then Raven. Gunshots sounded. “Hurry up,” Marek commanded Phoenix. “I don’t want you to get lost down here.” He led off down the dark tunnel without a light. I followed after him with Raven, shining my light back so that the children could see where they were going. Shadow and Flint brought up the rear with more flashlights.
We heard a final gunshot followed by the clatter of what sounded like the manhole cover closing. About a minute later, Phoenix came jogging up to the front of the group, his green eyes reflecting excitement. Marek shook his head but didn’t say anything.
I held the hands of two younger children as we walked in silence. One of Mr. Flinn’s rants surfaced in my mind and I said quietly, “These sewers were abandoned when they built the new lines after the war. No one would trust the old water systems because of the contamination.”
Phoenix nodded and said soberly, “Biological warfare is nasty stuff.”
Raven had dropped to the rear when Phoenix caught up. He now spoke quietly into the headset so as not to alarm the children. “Flint and Shadow think we’re being followed.”
“Investigate,” Marek replied as quietly. “We can’t have Falconans trailing us home.”
