Taking Angels (The Angel Crusades) (17 page)

I ran. What direction, where, it didn’t matter. I ran
to get as far away from Bastion as I could, as quickly as I
could. I ran through brush, thick and clinging at my legs
and waist. I ran around trees, dense and compact,
sometimes needing to slip sideways to get through. The
woods here, untouched by humans, impeded my progress
yet I pressed on.

Darkness fell on the forest and soon I couldn’t see
my hand before my face. I never knew what that meant
until now. I stopped, listening for pursuit for the first time
since fleeing. Nothing. Not a sound. Odd. Shouldn’t there
be animals out here?

Out of nowhere, a loud engine roared and light lit
up the blackness. The light shone maybe thirty yards
away; too close for my liking. I dove to the ground,
sliding under a fallen log and digging myself into the soft,
rotting debris, covering up completely so that each breath
brought with it the stench of decaying matter.

The light shone around, searching, looking for
me. I felt positive Bastion was behind the search. Only a
small tickle in my mind for an instant gave me doubt. For
the briefest moment I thought it might be Allister looking
for me, but the risk of exposing myself was too great to
chance.

I stayed buried, listening to the engine of a
helicopter roar overhead. Even as it faded into the
distance, I lay in my bed of rotting organic matter. The
prickling of insects, crawling across my skin, made me
want to scream, but I lay there, not willing to expose
myself. I bit my lip as other creepy-crawlies moved
across my exposed skin, some even getting under my
clothing, still I kept out of sight.

I don’t know how long I stayed hidden. I knew I
needed to get moving again to stay ahead of them. I
understood their desire to have me, to bring the Parks
down, was too great for them to ever stop.

I decided to stay put until first light. There was no
point in stumbling through the darkness, possibly injuring
myself, and making little progress besides. I closed my
eyes and steadied myself against the insects moving
around in the darkness. Nothing out here was poisonous,
right?

When it was time to go I stood, brushed myself
off, and picked as many bugs from me as I could find.
After the last uncontrollable shudder from plucking a
sizable insect from my hair and dropping it on the
ground, I headed out. At least, I started to. Then I
stopped, looking at the landmarks. They all appeared the
same, and completely different from last night.

I turned back to the log where I spent the night.
Noted the side I hid beneath, guessing my bed lay on the
side of the log from the direction I came from. I grinned
and stepped over the log and headed out, confident I
moved away from the cabin, and certain capture.

I pushed through the thick woods for hours, often
finding my path blocked by a thick growth of trees too
dense to push through or a marshy low-lying area with
mud that waited to suck me under the surface of the
water. Several times I was forced to backtrack and find
another way around. Nearing exhaustion, I broke out of
the dense foliage unexpectedly, tumbling down a steep
incline and rolling to a stop next to a gravel road.

I picked myself up, wiped the dirt from my face,
and looked first one way and then the other at the road
disappearing in either direction. I sat down, smiling to
myself, proud to have found civilization again. Now I
needed to find some people.

After resting a short time, I stood and
contemplated my next choice. Left or right? It sounded
easy enough, but the wrong choice could wind me back
around to where I started. I felt confident heading south,
back to the states; the best option. I looked up at the sun
sitting low in the sky already, sunset must be close. I
turned and began to walk, taking the southern direction
the road offered.

I didn’t stop as darkness fell. The moon rose high
and bright in the sky, lighting the road well enough to
continue on. Deer, raccoons, and even a bear startled me
as I walked, though they didn’t show much interest in me
other than a passing glance or a brief pause. I walked
alone most of the night.

Once, something large and on four legs strode out
ahead of me. I paused, waiting for it to clear my way. It
looked at me, the eyes glowing in the moonlight, and then
loped off into the woods. I continued on, but soon felt
someone behind me. Glancing over my shoulder, the
glowing eyes and lurking form padded silently behind
me, never gaining, but maintaining an even distance
between us.

I glanced back every so often as the yellow eyes
stayed there. I felt a strange kinship with my escort,
confident it intended me no harm and feeling less alone.

The animal I identified as a wolf, stayed with me
until predawn and then, with a yip of goodbye,
disappeared into the forest. In the dim before dawn I felt
a pang for my companion, even being just an animal, its
presence comforted me.

After another day of walking, not meeting any
vehicles or seeing any signs of humans, I feared I might
walk forever without coming across anyone. Just as hope
waned, the gravel road intersected blacktop. I stared at
the surface filled with disbelief and relief. Tears rolled
down my cheeks and I scolded myself for being so
foolish, but knowing I stood closer to rescue than before,
I cried openly.

I followed the road, seeing nothing but trees and
rocks all morning, and ready to jump into the roadside
lined with high, uncut grasses at any sign of life. It was in
this heightened state of anxiety when something
recognizable crept into view. The longer I walked, the
surer I felt the convenience store where Kendal and I
stopped for gas and clothes lay ahead. I quickened my
pace, my spirit lifting. I hurried to the door, swinging it in
as the bell on the handle sounded. I rushed to the counter,
the same lady sat on a stool, looking out the window.

“I’m so glad I found you,” I gasped, knowing the
tattered image I must be.
The feeling started small, an itching just below the
surface then it grew, becoming harder to ignore as I stared
at the woman sitting motionless on her stool.
“Hello?” I said.
The woman didn’t move.
“Excuse me, I came in the other day,” I tried
again.
The woman stared out the window as if I didn’t
exist.
I inched around the counter moving next to her,
studying her and seeing something unnatural about her
posture, her stillness. I reached up, touching her shoulder
with a finger. Her body moved under my touch then
sprang back, stiff.
Terror rose up as I took a step closer to see her
face looking out the window at the pumps. Her eyes
stared, glassy, while her mouth hung open, slack and
empty.
I leapt back, banging into the shelving holding the
cigarettes and they tumbled down over me in an
avalanche of white packages. A ping on the air hose by
the pumps spun my attention outside. A small man with a
long ponytail stepped out of the back seat of a large,
black Mercedes. A dozen or more men hovered around
two other cars and scanned the surroundings.
Bastion. My mind raced yet I stood frozen in
place staring at the man as he slowly turned to look at the
store. I ducked down behind the counter. Had he seen
me?
I crawled along the counter and into the back
room. Scrambling to my feet, I ran for the gray door
leading out the back. I pulled the door open and burst out
in a full sprint only to slam into someone so solid and
hard, the wind shot from my lungs and I crumbled to the
ground.
The man grabbed me by my forearms, pulling me
to my feet as I gasped for air. He turned with me, his
ponytail swinging around and brushing against my
shoulder. I opened my mouth to scream, but his hand
clamped down before even a whisper escaped.
He pulled me along, hand over my mouth, around
the back of the store to a waiting car. He opened the door,
threw me inside, and the car roared into motion before I
could right myself.
I felt someone in the back seat next to me and I
looked up, expecting to see Bastion. Angelina’s worried
face met my gaze and I flung myself at her, hugging her
tightly, my eyes clenched shut and the tears dripping
down my cheek.
“You found me,” I sobbed. “You found me.”
The reunion, cut short as the Camaro squealed out
of the parking lot amidst cries of protest from the men
standing by the pumps. The sounds of pursuit and the
ensuing roar of engines cut into my embrace and I righted
myself in the seat to look out the back window as three
black cars raced after us.
“How is she?” Allister shouted from the driver’s
seat.
“Battered, bruised, and stinky, but she appears
alright,” Angelina said.
“I’m okay,” I yelled over the engine noise,
overjoyed to see his beautiful face again.
“We’re not out of this yet,” Taylor, the owner of
the not-Bastion ponytail pointed out.
“We can’t outrun them,” Allister admitted,
glancing back in his side mirror at the gaining caravan of
Mercedes.
“They won’t be alone,” Taylor reminded him.
“I’m sure they’ll call ahead for help.”
“We can’t let that happen,” Allister countered.
“We have to take them out.”
“Take them out?” I shouted. “There’s at least a
dozen of them and only four of us.”
“Fifteen, actually,” Taylor corrected, shrugging as
I gave him a TMI look.
“Angelina, can you handle two?” Allister asked,
glancing back at her in his rearview mirror.
“Two, maybe more.” She nodded.
“That leaves six for you and me.” He turned to
Taylor.
“Got it.” Taylor nodded.
“What about me?” I asked. “How can I help?”
“You stay in the car, no matter what happens.
Kick and hit anyone who tries to get to you. We’ll defend
you the best we can.” Allister glanced over his shoulder,
catching my eye and pausing for a split second. His
determination and worry for me showed on his face.
“We have to do it now,” Taylor reminded.
Allister nodded, turning onto a side road running
parallel to the main road, racing down the gravel surface
with rocks pinging off the bottom of the car as we sped
along.
The black cars followed close behind. The trees
on either side of the road widened into meadow and
Allister hit the brakes turning the wheel quickly, sliding
along the grass to a stop.
Allister, Taylor, and Angelina exploded out the
doors, advancing on the speeding cars before they could
completely stop. I watched from my vantage point in the
back seat, leaning forward to lock the doors and peer
back at the three.
Allister raced full speed at one of the cars. He
leapt at the last second dipping his shoulder and turning
in midair. The grill and hood just missed him as he drove
his leg through the windshield and into the driver. The car
skidded to a stop as Allister scrambled across the hood
and braced himself for the men hurrying to get out.
Allister took each advancing man head on, rendering
them unconscious one by one, smoothly and efficiently,
with fluid punches and kicks.
I shook nervously at the chaotic scene, spotting
Angelina grappling with a man twice her size. She used
her greater speed to avoid his attempts to pluck out her
heart.
She jumped over his outstretched arm, wrapping
her arms around his neck as her body flew over his head
and tossed him to the ground. In his dazed state, she
struck him across his face, knocking him out.
Taylor stood surrounded by four men, all nearly as
large as he. His expression bore no emotion as he stood
rotating in place while the men tried to find an opening in
his defenses. One took the offensive and fell to the
ground after a well-placed strike to the head. Taylor
turned to the other men in the shrinking circle.
The passenger side window shattered, shards of
glass spraying me as I jumped away from an arm
reaching in the open window.
“You’re mine.” Bastion sneered, reaching for me
and catching a piece of my shirt.
I pushed my feet against the passenger side
flexing my legs, holding my body against the driver’s
side. The pulling on my shirt bent my body in half as my
legs held firm, but my back and waist couldn’t resist his
tugging. Reaching out, I slapped at his arm and hand,
trying to break free of his iron grip.
Bastion’s face leaned in the back seat of the
Camaro, grimacing with effort, his eyes wild with fury
and vengeance.
I reached back as I clenched my hand and drove
my fist into his face with all my strength, sending him
rocking backwards as his hands came up to cup his
crushed nose. Blood gushed from between his fingers.
“Ah, you bitch,” he screamed furiously. He took a
step towards the car, unwilling to admit defeat, then
stopped as he realized his men were losing the larger
battle raging around him.
I glanced out the back window to see many men
lying motionless on the ground while Angelina, Allister
and Taylor still stood.
Men raced back to the cars and Bastion retreated
as well, holding a hand to his bleeding face. The
Mercedes sped away with four men in them. Eleven lay
helpless upon the ground.
I unlocked the doors and slid out the driver’s door,
running to leap into Allister’s arms. He held me tight, his
face buried in the side of my neck, his vice-like arms
pressing me close.
“I thought I lost you,” he whispered.
“Me too.” Tears made my voice hoarse.
He leaned back to look at me, his nose scrunched
up.
“I know, I know.” I rolled my eyes.
“Sorry, but you smell like rotten leaves and
sweat.” He frowned.
We stood for a moment longer, silence hanging
heavily over the incapacitated Eternals in the meadow.
Taylor hung his head, shaking it slowly.
“What is it?”
“A sad day when an Eternal must fight one of his
own,” he sighed.
I lowered my gaze, nodding.
“Let’s get out of here,” Angelina spoke for the
first time.
I looked at them. It was unclear where their blood
started and their adversaries’ began.
Bastion’s blood covered my forearm and sleeve of
my shirt. I guess everyone drew an Eternal’s blood today.
We swept the glass off the back seat the best we
could and headed to the closest town.