Exterminators Infected (The Exterminators Book 1) (40 page)

“Are you sure?”

“Did you take a test?”

“How do you know?”

“Why?”

The questions came in waves. Marshall put his hands up in a stop motion. “Wait! Listen! I just found out a couple of weeks ago. The baby is coming in November. It just happened. We didn't plan for it.”

Nick was in total shock. Peter shook his head. “This isn't good. What about your Exterminator duties?” Peter asked.

“I'll still do them,” Marshall answered.

“Do you even have the slightest clue on how to raise a kid?” Nick asked, skeptically.

“Lucy and I will figure it out!” Marshall responded.

“You don't even have a job,” Peter pointed out.

“You're eighteen man. She's seventeen. You guys just started your life together,” Nick added.

“I get it. We are stupid. We should have been more careful. It's too late now though. We are having this baby.” The boys watched as Marshall defended himself. “I expected you guys to be a bit more happy for me or something. Maybe more supportive.”

“It's not that,” Peter began saying. He wasn't really sure how to finish it.

“It's that...we're worried. I think you'd be a great father. You're so young, though. It's not the most ideal time to have a kid either. With these crazy ass Summoners popping up.” Nick put his hand on Marshall’s shoulder. “But, you are my friend. I will be supportive one hundred percent. You can count on me to help you out the best I could. Not as a leader, but as a friend.” He smiled at Marshall. Marshall nodded happily.

Peter walked next to Marshall. “I think it's a very dumb idea. However, it wasn't my idea so that's just my two cents. I will also try to help out in any way I can. Just note, I do not change diapers. I did that with my little sister. I will not do it again.” Marshall laughed at Peter.

“Thank you. Both of you.” They walked together for a while longer before going their separate ways.

Nick walked into his house. His father was bringing down a suitcase from upstairs. “Hey son!” he shouted as he stepped off the last step. Nick went over and grabbed the suitcase. It must have weighed over fifty pounds. For anyone else it’d be heavy but for Nick it was simply another bag to carry over his back. He placed it near the doorway and looked back at his father. He remembered a similar feeling of bringing these boxes in when he first moved into town, wondering how so much changed in such a short time period. It was almost scary to think that almost a whole year had already passed.

“Thanks,” his father said wiping off sweat on his forehead.

“No problem, pops.”

“Forgot how old I'm getting. Thing is a heavy bastard,” his father chuckled.

Nick went into the kitchen and grabbed a drink. Taking a sip of it as he sat down. “So, we leave in two days?”

“Yep! Are you excited?”

“I am. It'll be nice to get away for a bit.”

“Be nice to get away from work for a while. The damn guys are driving me crazy!” He laughed as he sat down next to his son. He placed his hand on his son's shoulder. “I'm really proud of you. You got used to the move quick. You passed school. You even met a wonderful lady. I'd say you adjusted pretty well here.”

“I also hunt down monsters and kill them.”
Nick smiled at his own thoughts. “Yeah pops, it's been a crazy good year.”

“Well let's have a relaxing time out there then, huh? Get away from all the stress. I know I sure as hell need it!”

“Yeah, me too!” Nick said cheerfully. He could use the vacation; to get away from all the stress and pain that happened this year.

“Start packing then. We leave in two days. I'm heading to work to finish up some paper work. I'll be back tonight.”

“I'm probably going to spend the night at Kelly's house. Want to spend a little bit more time before saying goodbye.”

“Even respectful of women. You sure are a great son.” He smiled at Nick and rubbed his head. Nick pushed away his hand, laughing. “I'll see you tomorrow,” his father said and he walked back up the stairs. Nick watched and then looked towards the window imagining how much his life had changed in only a couple of months. Wondering what else was in store for him.

Peter walked into his house. He could feel a different aura around the house as of late. It was less stressful due to no drunken father being around. His mom was in the kitchen cooking. “Hello honey!” she called loudly. “Dinner will be ready in an hour.”

“Sounds good,” he said smiling. He began walking to his room when he spotted his sister in the living room watching TV. “Whatcha doing?”
“Watching TV.” She kept her eyes on the TV the entire time.

“You want to go to the park tomorrow?”

She turned away from the TV and to her brother. “Umm...yes?”

“Are you asking me or telling me?” he asked laughing.

“I do!” she screamed in excitement.

He laughed. He wasn't really sure why he laughed but he did. He felt her excitement. A child's happiness just to hang out with her older brother? Perhaps it was the fact she was going to the park that made her that happy. He wasn't really sure but it made him happy as well. “Okay, we'll go tomorrow afternoon. Be ready or I leave you home.”

“I'll be ready! Thanks, Pete!!!” she shouted really loud as she ran to tell their mom. He continued to his room and shut the door. He sat at his computer counter and began typing away on the computer unsure of what came over him, but resolving that he didn't want to live so enclosed anymore.

He grabbed his cell phone and went through his contacts. He only had around twelve. He only needed one though. The blue bar on the phone highlighted Rachael’s name. He left his finger hovering above the send button for a moment, wondering what to actually do.
“I like her. Do I “like” her though? You respect her power. Yes. You also think she's pretty. Yes. Do you like her though? I believe I do. Do you like her enough to want to spend time with her? Yes. You want to train with her though. Well, yes. I also want to know her. Do you? Yes.”
He fought with his mind for a while, trying to figure out the right answer. Then he heard a voice from his cell phone.
“Uhhh hello?”

He put his ear to the phone. “Hi!” he said louder then he wanted.

“Umm is this Peter?” she asked, unsure.

“This is I. Peter.”

She giggled. “Hey! How's everything?”

“Good. I was wondering if you wanted to come to the park tomorrow? The one near my house? I'm taking my little sister.”

“That sounds awesome!” she said happily.

He could feel his heart speed up a bit. “Really? I was hoping you'd say yes. I really want to get to know you.”

“Awww that's very sweet.” She wasn't mocking him, but even if she was he wouldn't have gotten it. He was excited that she had said yes.

“I don't want to come off weird,” he told her quickly.

“You aren't weird. Not to me. I thought it was very sweet that you called me like this. Most boys would just text me or something. You did a very brave thing.”

“Well, my friends tell me I'm pretty brave.”

She giggled again. He wondered why she laughed so much. Was it because he was making a joke? Did she naturally like to giggle? He couldn't figure it out. Yet he liked when she did it. It made him smile every time she did.

“Well, come by around one. We'll be there.”

“Okay, just text me the directions. I'll meet you there.”

“Okay sounds good!”

“See you tomorrow, goodbye Pete!” she said cheerfully.

He smiled. “Goodbye Rachael, see you tomorrow!” After hanging up, he just sat there with a wide smile.
Marshall walked into a small playground to the side of the park. He watched as kids jumped off the top of the obstacles all the way near the monkey bars. He smiled, remembering when he used to do that as a little kid. The youngest kids playing in the sandbox in the middle of the playground were building huge sand castles, only for one of the boys to trample through it and destroy it. The mom's on the bench were chatting away the gossip of their lives. He smiled at it all, as it brought back so many memories.
He walked to the end of the park, ducking under a small tree, and looked at the small underground hut. It was an underground passage he and Fred had made years ago. He remembered they took weeks to build it, putting a little cardboard door on it. The rain and winds had since destroyed the door but the hole still remained. Once you crawled inside the hole it was like a mini cave. He smiled as he peered inside, wishing he was still small enough to fit in it.

He sat down outside of it instead and placed the case near the hole. “Hey, Fred. This is for you. I know you aren't here but if you were you'd want this. It's the second Rod. Man, we'd be such a badass team together right now.” Marshall could feel his eyes getting watery.

“Is it weird I still sometimes wonder how life would have been without these Exterminator missions. Without the Rods? Without meeting Carl? I wonder where I'd be. I think, maybe you'd be alive. Then again if nothing changed, we'd never have been friends again. It was thanks to these missions we even became friends again...” He looked at the hole. “It's thanks to these missions you aren't here anymore though.”

He leaned back and tilted his head to the sky, wondering just what would have happened. “Sometimes I sit wondering what if it was me who Riven took over instead. You would probably go to the ends of the earth to get me back, wouldn't you?” He could feel the tears forming now. “Yet I'm sitting here talking to a hole. What kind of friend em I?”

He closed his eyes as one of the tear drops fell down. He could feel the moisture of it on his face still. “I'm sorry I let you down man. I'm so sorry.” He could feel a few more tears falling from his eyes.

After a few moments he wiped his face. “I can't be like that anymore though.” He looked at the hole. “I gotta think positive. I cried enough. You wouldn't want me to be a little baby for the rest of my life would ya?” He laughed. “Plus I'm going to be a father. I know. You'd probably say I'm an idiot. It's crazy! Yet, I feel this sense of relief. Like everything is going to be okay. Ya know?”

The wind blew hard for just a moment. He could feel the air blowing through his shirt, wiping away the tears that were left on his face. He let it embrace him while feeling the nice heat from the sun rain down on him as the wind gave him a sense of peace. He loved it.

“I don't know if I believe in all that afterlife stuff. It's scary to think about what happens when we die. I should probably just follow the advice you told me. Stop thinking about when we die and start thinking about the life we are living before getting there.” He smiled at the hole. “I'm thinking you were pretty much right. Stop worrying and live a little. Right?” he chuckled.

He twisted around to place the case inside the hole, pushing it in as deep as he could and then stood back up. He smiled as he kicked some dirt in to block the holes opening. “That's for you buddy. You would have been the best Exterminator on our entire team.” He wiped his watery eyes once more before he turned away.

In front of him appeared a rock. On it was the address he needed to get to by this evening. The sun was beginning to set so it was already getting close to that time. He checked the address. Once taking a mental note he smiled and grabbed his cell phone placing a three way call.

“Hello?” both Peter and Nicked answered.

“Boys. We got a mission. Meet me in fifteen minutes at the park.” All three hung up, getting ready for another hunt against the Unknowns.

Chapter 32 – Shadows
“Wes,” the youngest of the two men whispered. Wes, a tall young man with brown eyes, turned around. He kept his hood on as they approached the apartment building. “You said four were up there, right?”

“Yes, James. For the fifth time we have estimated that there will be four targets. Our mission is to eliminate all four and gather the crystals. Just follow my lead.” James nodded. He was bald, shaved it by himself, with blue eyes. He also had his hoodie up.

They both slipped into the apartment door and slowly made their way up the steps. They made sure not to make any sound as they slowly crept up the stairs. They could hear loud music on the second floor. They chose to ignore it as they traveled up the next flight of stairs. Upon approaching the third floor they stopped. “This is it,” Wes said, pointing to the door.

James went ahead and put his hand to the door. He had his pressure glove on as he put his ear to the door to listen in. He only heard faint voices deep inside the apartment. “I hear a few voices but they aren't close. I'd assume it's safe in the front.”

“You assume? Just use the ear modifier.”

“I can't. I already made a pressure glove and a dagger. I don't want to use the third crystal yet. What about if we get into a fight?”

Wes pushed James lightly out of the way. “I mean really. How the hell are you even one of us?” Wes pulled a crystal from his pocket and held it tightly. It formed into an ear piece with blue and red lines going throughout. He put it on his ear and listened at the door for the voices. He could hear them perfectly now.
“I don't know why we gotta be here this late.”

“It's to keep guard of the crystals. They said they'll come by in a few hours to pick ‘em up.”

“Yeah but why us? We can be doing important stuff.”

“This is important.”

One of the other men laughed. “This isn't important. It's babysitting. We are being treated like teenagers!”

The arguing continued. Wes pulled away from the door. “Four of them for sure. I could hear the breathing. They seem pretty stupid.”

“Perfect. So Neil should take care of them if we mess up. No problems!” James said happily, almost too loud. Wes smacked him in the back of the head.

“You seriously are an idiot sometimes. Listen, we get in there and dispatch as many as we can. Only call for his assistance if we need too. I've had enough of having to rely on our leader.”

“All right. Alright,” James rubbed the back of his head. “No need to be violent.”

“No, there's going to be violence,” James grinned at that.

Wes grabbed another crystal out of his hoodie. He formed a dagger and held it in his left hand. He grabbed another crystal and formed a glove. He placed it on the door. After a few seconds of keeping it there the lock snapped off the front. He caught it and laid it on the floor. He then put his finger inside the door lock and held it there. After a moment it came lose and the door slowly opened.
“You ready?” Wes asked. James nodded and they entered the apartment.
Quickly, Wes made his way to the left, sneaking into the dark kitchen. James slid to the right, hugging his back to the wall. He slowly made his way towards the open bathroom door. While he did that, Wes walked through the kitchen. He was used to darkness, so he could see objects in the dark, and he easily made his way to the other side of it. He could hear chatter through the door. He held his ear close and listened. One of the people in the room was leaning on the door he was listening from. Two others were on the edge, near the window. The forth in the center of the room.
James went slowly into the bathroom and ducked under the sink. He placed his hand on his ear and spoke softly. “Positions?”

Wes moved his face away from the door and responded in the same soft tone. “One on the door, one in the middle, two by the window.”

“Mark one is yours. I'll get mark two. We both charge mark three and four?” James held his dagger tightly.

“It seems our best option. Keep mark three or four alive.”

“Do I have too?”

“James...”

“All right, gee, joking.” James looked outside the bathroom door. He could see a straight line into the living room where his target, mark two, was standing. He could see the feet of mark one but no one else. He needed not worry, he would charge in and strike mark two before he could even react.

“On my count. One. Two-” Wes put the long daggers tip on the door. Right where the man's back would be. Right above the stomach. He needed a clean slice. “Three!” He dug the dagger in. He heard a horrible “UGH!” and could feel the pressure of his dagger. The man was already falling to the ground. He quickly withdrew the dagger from the door.
James rushed in the second he heard the dagger entering the first target. He dashed into the room and mark two turned around just in time to receive a slash from the dagger at the neckline. It went in quickly and out just as fast. Before mark two could even raise his Rod he fell to the ground, blood spilling out of his throat.

Mark three and four formed swords and were already in defensive position before Wes broke through the door. Mark one's lifeless body falling to the side. Now stood mark three and four ready to fight James and Wes.

“Who the hell are you guys!?” mark three said. He was a young black man trying to hold the sword straight.

The other was an older lady. She kept her calm, sword held tightly in her hand. She pointed it at Wes. “You dare attack us? Do you know who we are?”

“Summoners?” James said playfully.

The two Summoners looked at each other, confused. “If you know wh-who we are. Why are you at-attacking us?” the younger Summoner stuttered.
“Well, ‘cause we could for one,” James said laughing. “For two, we need what you got.”

“Who are you?!” the lady repeated, this time louder. She was about to strike at any moment.
Wes looked down at her belt, seeing three other Rods. “She's experienced. Be very careful of that one.”

“You worry too much man. We got this.” James whispered back. James gave a high pitched whistle. Neil, the third of the group, slammed through the window. As he swooped in, he grabbed the older woman's head and smashed it into the ground. She cried out in pain as her nose broke instantly. The younger Summoner jumped to the side and backed into a wall. Wes grabbed the woman's head and quickly snapped it sideways. She laid there dead.

“See? No matter how experienced you are a sneak attack is gonna kill ya!” James said gleefully.

“We weren't supposed to call our master, remember?”

“Oh yeah...damn.” James looked at Neil. “Sorry.”

Neil stood up and looked at the two students, then back at the scared Summoner. “It's fine. The mission will still be accomplished. He's still alive. We can use him for information.” He began walking towards the scared Summoner.

The Summoner fell to his knees and began to beg. “Please! I don't want to die! I don't know who you are but I'll give you anything. Just let me live!”

“What are the Summoners plans?” Wes asked.

“I don't know!” the Summoner screamed.

“Where is the Holder of Realms?” Neil asked.

“I don't know!” he yelled again.

“Oh this one is filled with tons of information,” James sarcastically said.

“If you don't know anything we won't find you useful at all. We will dispose of you then. Is that what you want?” Neil asked, no emotion in his voice.

“No, no, no!” the Summoner cried. “All I know is that they are getting ready for something big. We gather the crystals to open something. A big something. I guess it's a realm. I dunno! I don't know anything! I swear! All I know is they want blood. The Holder of Realms wants blood. That's all I know, I swear!” He began to cry hysterically.

“I think he's telling the truth,” James said.

Neil looked at the young Summoner. He lifted his head. The boy had red eyes, mucus coming out of his nose, tears were flowing down his cheeks. “Is that all you know?”

He nodded. “Yes...please Exterminator, sir. Do not kill me.”

Neil looked at his two students. “Exterminators? Isn't that cute,” James said.

Neil turned back to the Summoner. “We are no Exterminators. We are no Summoners. We are Shadows.” Neil drove his dagger into the boys chin. He watched as the boy gasped for his last breath, blood forming in his mouth. After a moment more he pulled the dagger out. The boy dropped dead to the side of him. Neil stood up and pointed to the middle of the room. Four crystals were on the floor “Gather them and let's go. We got work to do.”

The two students did as they were told. The four Summoners lay on the floor dead as the Shadows left silently.