Hell To Pay: Hellhound Champions Book Two, page 22
“I’ll be here.”
“And don’t forget your pants.”
Everyone with the pants. He grabbed a pair of sleep pants from the drawer of in the cabin. They kept a bunch of generic clothes there in case they needed them, and quite frankly, Sol couldn’t be bothered to put on anything else. He went outside, but listened to the sound of Cody’s breathing for a moment before opening another portal.
When he walked through it, he was shocked as hell to find his alpha and alpha-mate sitting in the clearing by the gate, leaning against a tree.
“What the hell?”
“It’s about time,” Meshaq said. “Tell me what’s happening.”
“A million and twelve things, Shaq. And I don’t even know all of them.”
“Dammit.”
“Why are you here?” Sol asked.
“The goddess told us to wait. That you’d be here soon.”
“Where were you?”
“It’s a long story. Tell me, Sol.”
Sol sighed. “It’s been a hell of a day. Let me sum it up for you in one word: aswang.”
“No. Those nasty fuckers.”
“Right? She didn’t tell you?”
“No.”
“And I had reason not to.”
The goddess had appeared without the usual pull of magic they felt on her arrival. Both Meshaq and Solomon dropped to their knees. “Rise, my champions. We have much to discuss.”
They stood once more and Meshaq gripped Solomon’s shoulder. He couldn’t help but lean into the touch. It was so good to have him back.
“May I?” the goddess asked Sol, holding out her hand.
He bowed his head and she touched him gently, replaying the events as Sol experienced them.
When she finished, she sent a pulse of magic through him and he’d never felt stronger or more powerful. “It has happened,” she said quietly.
“What?” Meshaq asked.
“The time has come for us to make a change, my champion. The upcoming battle is going to divide many of us, but your mate is the hope we need to hold them together.”
Meshaq didn’t respond, but he gripped Sol’s shoulder harder.
“And I find myself in need of someone with your skills, champion. There are many who will not understand the changes, who will lose faith in us and our ability to keep this world safe. You must go to them, with your mate, and show them that all is not lost. That hope lives on. We will need them to stand their ground and to ready their own warriors to defend them against the fight to come.”
“What are you saying?”
“My sisters and I have already gifted you with the power, Meshaq. You are now more than you were before. Did you not feel the difference? We only waited for another alpha to take your place. And now, one has stepped forward, proving himself able to lead the hellhounds as you begin your new quest.”
Sol shook his head. “No. I didn’t—”
“Of course, you didn’t, Solomon. And Meshaq will always be your alpha. The alpha of alphas. The leader of all of our kind in this realm. He will need you more than ever in the coming days. But your paths must diverge for a while. Solomon, will you accept this duty that I offer to you? Will you lead my hellhounds and the other champions I send your way? Will you maintain peace in this realm as we approach this time of turmoil?”
“I… I will do as you wish, my goddess.”
He felt another flutter of magic through him.
“Meshaq, what of you?”
“I will also do as you wish, my goddess.”
“Good. Go home to your pack, Champions. Meshaq, you will return to me at dusk tomorrow. And now, I must go. My brother is awake.”
She blinked away and Solomon turned to Meshaq in confusion. “Her brother?”
Meshaq squeezed his shoulder again. “I have much to tell you. But first, let’s go check on the pack. I find I must see for myself that they are okay.”
“Wait a second,” Drew said. “Don’t you think we should talk about the fact that he’s glowing first?”
Solomon glanced down, startled, wondering what the goddess’s magic had done to him. If he was glowing and Cody saw him, he’d never hear the end of it. But he wasn’t. He looked up at Drew, confused.
“Not literally glowing, idiot. Glowing, glowing.”
Solomon frowned at his alpha. “Huh?”
“I believe he’s trying to say you look happy. Things with Cody worked out?”
Solomon couldn’t help but grin, and he suddenly understood exactly why his alpha always looked like such a dope around Drew. He was doomed. “Yeah.”
“Good. Tell me about it later.”
“No, tell me now,” Drew demanded. “Oh, and we should totally bring doughnuts. Maybe some from that shop in New York, you know, the one—”
“No,” Shaq said.
Drew laughed. “Are you actually telling me no? Sol? Did he actually tell me no?”
“I’m pretty sure he did.”
“Hmm. Well, Cody was telling me that he’d never had doughnuts like that before and that he’d always wished he could—”
“You’re making that up.”
“I wouldn’t lie to you, Sol.”
Sol twitched.
Meshaq did, too.
“We’re going to get doughnuts, aren’t we?” Meshaq asked.
“Yep.”
Drew cackled and held out his hands. “Come on, boys. This is going to be fun.”
Of course, they arrived at the Jerricks’ with boxes of doughnuts. Shaq and Drew were immediately swarmed. Sol pushed his boxes in Calli’s arms as Jedrek scowled down at his sigil.
“Really? I don’t even get a doughnut?” Jedrek complained.
Sol twitched and a sudden insight came over him, one he’d never experienced before. “It’s the old farmhouse. Where we found the kids,” Sol said. “Another coincidence?”
“Probably another hiker,” Calli said. She stuffed a jelly doughnut in her mouth.
Sol wasn’t sure, but he didn’t feel like anything else was going on. It was weird. He’d have to talk to Shaq about it. His alpha always seemed to know what was going on, to have stronger instincts than they did. This was probably part of it.
“Go, Jed. Let me know if you need me, okay?”
It took a second, but Jed figured it out. “Yes, alpha.”
Calli choked on her doughnut.
Sol stole the top box of doughnuts and went to find his mate. If Cody found out about this from anyone but him, there’d be hell to pay. No way was he letting that happen. Besides, he’d brought the special doughnuts so he should get a few good mate points for that at least. He crept into the cabin and found Cody in the same spot where he’d been when Sol left. The sun was rising, though, so several hours must have passed. Time did work differently in the goddess’s realm sometimes.
He ran his hand down Cody’s back, hoping he survived waking him up. It was worth the risk to his life when Cody opened his eyes and smiled. “Sol. You came back.”
“I told you I would. And I brought presents.”
Sol nudged the box on the nightstand and Cody’s eyes lit up. “Drew was telling me about them. He said—”
Cody pushed himself up and stared wide-eyed at Sol.
“What did he say? What’s wrong?”
“He said he’d make sure I had them at my wedding. Did we get married? Did I sleep through it? Did you fuck me so hard you gave me amnesia? Well? Answer me, Sol!”
“We did not get married. No, you didn’t sleep through it. I tried to fuck you so hard I gave you amnesia, but it didn’t work. I’ll have to try harder next time.”
Cody smacked his arm before grabbing the box. “We totally got hellhound married. It was the biting thing, wasn’t it?”
Cody shoved a doughnut in his mouth and groaned. It sounded a lot like the one he’d made for Sol the night before. Sol scowled.
“Don’t scowl at me. I’m fine with it. I mean, you’re gonna have to put a ring on it, but you should probably tell me you love me, first.”
“You told me not to.”
“Since when do you listen to me?”
Sol scooted closer and took the other half of the doughnut out of Cody’s hand. He shoved it into his mouth, then grinned at Cody’s scowl.
Cody grabbed another doughnut and Sol moved around so they were both leaning against the headboard. Cody settled against him, and Sol let out a sigh. “I love you.”
“I figured as much,” Cody said.
But he had a twinkle in his eye as he held out the other half of another doughnut.
“You don’t have to say it back.”
“Okay.”
Sol growled.
“I’m immune to those already. Oh, hey, what’d the goddess have to say anyway?”
“Nothing much. Just made me alpha of the pack.”
Cody blinked, then laughed. “Yeah, right. Which doughnut do you want next? I’m glad you brought the whole box. We can share them.”
Sol decided to let him live in denial for a little longer. Besides, he wanted another doughnut, too. He pulled apart one of the really gooey ones and held it out to Cody.
“Wait… were you serious?”
“Yes, I seriously love you.”
“Not about that. Clearly, you’re in love with me.”
Sol growled again.
“I meant about the alpha thing.”
“Oh, yeah. I was serious.”
“Did I get hellhound married and become the second in command of a supernatural force of super soldiers in one night?”
Well, when he put it that way. “Yeah?”
“Goddess, I love you.”
Sol grinned. “Yeah?”
“No seriously, we’re going to have a crazy, insane life, aren’t we?”
“Pretty much.”
“Do you think the pack would get mad if I called them my puppies?”
Sol snorted. “I can only defend you from so much, Cody. There are lines.”
Cody finally took the doughnut Sol held out. They chewed quietly for a moment before Cody turned to him again.
“We’re going to actually and for real have a crazy insane life.”
“You up for it?”
Cody crawled into Sol’s lap and cupped his cheeks in his hands.
“Yeah, HellBent. I think I am.”
An out of control alpha lion meets the hellhound of his dreams. Can Jedrek tame Nick, or will this lion’s dark secrets cause more havoc than a hellhound can handle?
Check out Give Him Hell now, or turn the page for a preview of the first chapter.
Preview: Give Him Hell
Lightning crashed. Close. Too close. Cool blue light bathed the forest for a split second before blackness swallowed it up again. The fur on his face stood on end. Goosebumps crawled over his arm. He tried to make out a path forward, but he couldn’t see any kind of way through. He spun around, trying to find anything familiar, but of course there wasn’t anything. He’d never been outside the house, as far as he knew. He hadn’t been born there, but he also couldn’t remember a time before living there. Wind whipped the heavy rain so it battered him from all sides. Lightning struck a tree off to his left, and he jumped.
“Please,” he whimpered as he used one of his long claws to carve a deep notch on one of the trees as he hurried forward. He’d been leaving nicks along his path, hoping they would be enough to lead him back to the house so he could save the others. Jenny’s screams still rang in his head. They had taken her to The Room. The one they did all their… experiments in. Her scream cut off abruptly, and they all knew what that meant.
Thunder cracked and the sky lit up again. He pushed ahead through a copse of trees, and spilled out onto a road. He recoiled as light flooded the area. He crab-walked back into the trees, reaching up to scratch the bark even as he tried to hide himself.
“Hello? Is someone out there?” a soft voice called out.
He couldn’t let them get him. He had to get away, to get the others away from them.
“Are you there? Are you hurt?” she asked. She moved further into the trees, stopping right in front of him.
“No, stay away!” he shouted around the fangs. They’d done something to him, and now he was stuck like this. He couldn’t let her see him. It was A Rule. The most important Rule. No one could see them like this.
She sat down on the ground in front of him. She smiled and held out her hand. “It’s all right. I can help,” she said quietly. “What’s your name?”
He shook his head. He couldn’t remember it. Mrs. Foote had only ever called him lion. Her helpers just called him kid. That’s what they called all of them. Some of the newer kids knew their names. The ones that were there before him didn’t. They couldn’t remember them. He used all their names, as often as he could, so no one else would forget.
“That’s all right. We’ll give you a new one, okay?” She looked around and noticed the mark on the tree, following the line to another one a few yards back. “How about Nick for now? At least until you remember?”
Something about her made him feel safe. Someone he could trust. He tentatively reached out and took her hand. It was warm, and somehow dry, even in this downpour. He watched as his claws receded, and he could feel his whiskers retreating.
“How?” he sobbed, collapsing into her arms.
“Shhh, little one. I have you. You’re safe now.”
Nick cracked an eye open and stared at the wall. It was still dark out, but he wouldn’t be going back to sleep. Not after the nightmares plaguing him more and more lately. Besides, now that he was up he could go in early to work and pick up another shift before his scheduled route. With a groan, he swung his feet over the edge of the bed as he sat up and rubbed one hand over his face. His fingers came away wet. Crying in his sleep again. Not surprising, given his dreams. Memories. Nightmares. Whatever they were. He could still see their faces. They were so clear in his mind. Almost like a freeze-framed video.
He walked to the kitchen on stiff legs. Yesterday’s dishes still sat in the sink, along with a stack of takeout containers. He knew he should clean it up, but he couldn’t be bothered. Besides, in his mood, he’d probably just throw everything out and buy new forks. Plastic ones, so he wouldn’t have to bother washing. It’s not like he was a chef or anything. He didn’t really care. Right now, all he cared about was aspirin. And caffeine. Caffeine was necessary. He powered on the coffee maker and got dressed while he waited for it to heat up. Then he filled his travel mug and headed in to work, only glancing at the wall in the corner of his living room.
The ride to the distribution center was quiet. Sure, it was three o’clock in the morning, but still. No post-closing time drunks or after-party stragglers on the road. He parked at the back of the lot and went in.
“Morning, Bill,” he called as he punched in.
“Hey, Nick. I’d say you’re here early, but it’s not really for you, is it?”
“Couldn’t sleep. Whatcha got today?”
“Lot of offices downtown. Amazon sprees in the ‘burbs. Even the outskirts are heavy today.”
Nick studied the zip code map Bill had up on the computer in front of him. “I’ll take these,” he said, pointing to the routes on the furthest edges of their territories.
“You sure? They’ll take you all day.”
“I don’t mind. Good for clearing the mind, you know?”
“If you say so. At least I don’t have to worry about assigning them to Frank or Jesse. You know they’d bitch for days.”
Nick laughed along with him, mostly because it was expected. He didn’t feel much like laughing today.
“All right. We’ll get you loaded up while you go plot your route. We’re expecting one more truck this morning, and it’s got some packages for you. Not much you can do until it gets here.”
Nick shrugged. “I’ll go help the guys first. Get it done quicker.” He clapped Bill on the shoulder and headed deeper into the warehouse.
“I wish I had ten more of you,” Bill called as he walked away.
“No, you don’t,” Nick muttered.
After last night’s dream, he didn’t even feel like there should be one of him, let alone ten. He got busy getting ready for his day. The route he planned took him along all the smallest country roads he could find. He would be crisscrossing the northern part of the county, scouring every inch he could. Searching, searching, searching….
He was exhausted by the time he got home. He’d managed to pick up two more routes that took him back over the western portions of the county he’d already been to. He sighed as he stripped out of his uniform, dropping his shirt on the floor as he headed to his command center in the corner of his living room.
Maps of surrounding counties covered the walls. He’d drawn grids over them, and each grid was crossed off with a big, red ‘X’. Looking over the map on the table in front of him, he realized he’d have to move again soon. Try the next county. He sighed and marked off today’s grid and went over Tuesday’s again while he was at it. Of course, he’d had no luck. Notes and photos were pinned to the wall next to some grids. Possibilities for him to check again later. Maybe he missed something. Maybe the house was shielded. Maybe….
His phone pinged again, with another message from Mikey. Call me, bro. Got some big news. Nick shook his head and pushed it out of his mind for now. He loved his brothers, but he couldn’t bear for them to talk to him right now. Not with the dream so fresh in his mind. He stared at the wall, spacing out as he focused. He stared until spots formed in front of his eyes and he realized he’d dozed off, his exhaustion finally catching up with him.
“Where are you?” he mumbled before crawling into bed, not bothering to turn out the light. He was out as soon as his head hit the pillow.
He was dreaming again.
At least he knew it this time.
The screams had died down, leaving them all whimpering in each other’s arms. Mrs. Foote and her helpers finished with whatever experiment she’d done and had dumped Jenny in the room. Nick did what he could to comfort her. The wolves were gone, on some sort of mission to steal more kids or something. Mrs. Foote had complained about having more mouths to feed.
“And don’t forget your pants.”
Everyone with the pants. He grabbed a pair of sleep pants from the drawer of in the cabin. They kept a bunch of generic clothes there in case they needed them, and quite frankly, Sol couldn’t be bothered to put on anything else. He went outside, but listened to the sound of Cody’s breathing for a moment before opening another portal.
When he walked through it, he was shocked as hell to find his alpha and alpha-mate sitting in the clearing by the gate, leaning against a tree.
“What the hell?”
“It’s about time,” Meshaq said. “Tell me what’s happening.”
“A million and twelve things, Shaq. And I don’t even know all of them.”
“Dammit.”
“Why are you here?” Sol asked.
“The goddess told us to wait. That you’d be here soon.”
“Where were you?”
“It’s a long story. Tell me, Sol.”
Sol sighed. “It’s been a hell of a day. Let me sum it up for you in one word: aswang.”
“No. Those nasty fuckers.”
“Right? She didn’t tell you?”
“No.”
“And I had reason not to.”
The goddess had appeared without the usual pull of magic they felt on her arrival. Both Meshaq and Solomon dropped to their knees. “Rise, my champions. We have much to discuss.”
They stood once more and Meshaq gripped Solomon’s shoulder. He couldn’t help but lean into the touch. It was so good to have him back.
“May I?” the goddess asked Sol, holding out her hand.
He bowed his head and she touched him gently, replaying the events as Sol experienced them.
When she finished, she sent a pulse of magic through him and he’d never felt stronger or more powerful. “It has happened,” she said quietly.
“What?” Meshaq asked.
“The time has come for us to make a change, my champion. The upcoming battle is going to divide many of us, but your mate is the hope we need to hold them together.”
Meshaq didn’t respond, but he gripped Sol’s shoulder harder.
“And I find myself in need of someone with your skills, champion. There are many who will not understand the changes, who will lose faith in us and our ability to keep this world safe. You must go to them, with your mate, and show them that all is not lost. That hope lives on. We will need them to stand their ground and to ready their own warriors to defend them against the fight to come.”
“What are you saying?”
“My sisters and I have already gifted you with the power, Meshaq. You are now more than you were before. Did you not feel the difference? We only waited for another alpha to take your place. And now, one has stepped forward, proving himself able to lead the hellhounds as you begin your new quest.”
Sol shook his head. “No. I didn’t—”
“Of course, you didn’t, Solomon. And Meshaq will always be your alpha. The alpha of alphas. The leader of all of our kind in this realm. He will need you more than ever in the coming days. But your paths must diverge for a while. Solomon, will you accept this duty that I offer to you? Will you lead my hellhounds and the other champions I send your way? Will you maintain peace in this realm as we approach this time of turmoil?”
“I… I will do as you wish, my goddess.”
He felt another flutter of magic through him.
“Meshaq, what of you?”
“I will also do as you wish, my goddess.”
“Good. Go home to your pack, Champions. Meshaq, you will return to me at dusk tomorrow. And now, I must go. My brother is awake.”
She blinked away and Solomon turned to Meshaq in confusion. “Her brother?”
Meshaq squeezed his shoulder again. “I have much to tell you. But first, let’s go check on the pack. I find I must see for myself that they are okay.”
“Wait a second,” Drew said. “Don’t you think we should talk about the fact that he’s glowing first?”
Solomon glanced down, startled, wondering what the goddess’s magic had done to him. If he was glowing and Cody saw him, he’d never hear the end of it. But he wasn’t. He looked up at Drew, confused.
“Not literally glowing, idiot. Glowing, glowing.”
Solomon frowned at his alpha. “Huh?”
“I believe he’s trying to say you look happy. Things with Cody worked out?”
Solomon couldn’t help but grin, and he suddenly understood exactly why his alpha always looked like such a dope around Drew. He was doomed. “Yeah.”
“Good. Tell me about it later.”
“No, tell me now,” Drew demanded. “Oh, and we should totally bring doughnuts. Maybe some from that shop in New York, you know, the one—”
“No,” Shaq said.
Drew laughed. “Are you actually telling me no? Sol? Did he actually tell me no?”
“I’m pretty sure he did.”
“Hmm. Well, Cody was telling me that he’d never had doughnuts like that before and that he’d always wished he could—”
“You’re making that up.”
“I wouldn’t lie to you, Sol.”
Sol twitched.
Meshaq did, too.
“We’re going to get doughnuts, aren’t we?” Meshaq asked.
“Yep.”
Drew cackled and held out his hands. “Come on, boys. This is going to be fun.”
Of course, they arrived at the Jerricks’ with boxes of doughnuts. Shaq and Drew were immediately swarmed. Sol pushed his boxes in Calli’s arms as Jedrek scowled down at his sigil.
“Really? I don’t even get a doughnut?” Jedrek complained.
Sol twitched and a sudden insight came over him, one he’d never experienced before. “It’s the old farmhouse. Where we found the kids,” Sol said. “Another coincidence?”
“Probably another hiker,” Calli said. She stuffed a jelly doughnut in her mouth.
Sol wasn’t sure, but he didn’t feel like anything else was going on. It was weird. He’d have to talk to Shaq about it. His alpha always seemed to know what was going on, to have stronger instincts than they did. This was probably part of it.
“Go, Jed. Let me know if you need me, okay?”
It took a second, but Jed figured it out. “Yes, alpha.”
Calli choked on her doughnut.
Sol stole the top box of doughnuts and went to find his mate. If Cody found out about this from anyone but him, there’d be hell to pay. No way was he letting that happen. Besides, he’d brought the special doughnuts so he should get a few good mate points for that at least. He crept into the cabin and found Cody in the same spot where he’d been when Sol left. The sun was rising, though, so several hours must have passed. Time did work differently in the goddess’s realm sometimes.
He ran his hand down Cody’s back, hoping he survived waking him up. It was worth the risk to his life when Cody opened his eyes and smiled. “Sol. You came back.”
“I told you I would. And I brought presents.”
Sol nudged the box on the nightstand and Cody’s eyes lit up. “Drew was telling me about them. He said—”
Cody pushed himself up and stared wide-eyed at Sol.
“What did he say? What’s wrong?”
“He said he’d make sure I had them at my wedding. Did we get married? Did I sleep through it? Did you fuck me so hard you gave me amnesia? Well? Answer me, Sol!”
“We did not get married. No, you didn’t sleep through it. I tried to fuck you so hard I gave you amnesia, but it didn’t work. I’ll have to try harder next time.”
Cody smacked his arm before grabbing the box. “We totally got hellhound married. It was the biting thing, wasn’t it?”
Cody shoved a doughnut in his mouth and groaned. It sounded a lot like the one he’d made for Sol the night before. Sol scowled.
“Don’t scowl at me. I’m fine with it. I mean, you’re gonna have to put a ring on it, but you should probably tell me you love me, first.”
“You told me not to.”
“Since when do you listen to me?”
Sol scooted closer and took the other half of the doughnut out of Cody’s hand. He shoved it into his mouth, then grinned at Cody’s scowl.
Cody grabbed another doughnut and Sol moved around so they were both leaning against the headboard. Cody settled against him, and Sol let out a sigh. “I love you.”
“I figured as much,” Cody said.
But he had a twinkle in his eye as he held out the other half of another doughnut.
“You don’t have to say it back.”
“Okay.”
Sol growled.
“I’m immune to those already. Oh, hey, what’d the goddess have to say anyway?”
“Nothing much. Just made me alpha of the pack.”
Cody blinked, then laughed. “Yeah, right. Which doughnut do you want next? I’m glad you brought the whole box. We can share them.”
Sol decided to let him live in denial for a little longer. Besides, he wanted another doughnut, too. He pulled apart one of the really gooey ones and held it out to Cody.
“Wait… were you serious?”
“Yes, I seriously love you.”
“Not about that. Clearly, you’re in love with me.”
Sol growled again.
“I meant about the alpha thing.”
“Oh, yeah. I was serious.”
“Did I get hellhound married and become the second in command of a supernatural force of super soldiers in one night?”
Well, when he put it that way. “Yeah?”
“Goddess, I love you.”
Sol grinned. “Yeah?”
“No seriously, we’re going to have a crazy, insane life, aren’t we?”
“Pretty much.”
“Do you think the pack would get mad if I called them my puppies?”
Sol snorted. “I can only defend you from so much, Cody. There are lines.”
Cody finally took the doughnut Sol held out. They chewed quietly for a moment before Cody turned to him again.
“We’re going to actually and for real have a crazy insane life.”
“You up for it?”
Cody crawled into Sol’s lap and cupped his cheeks in his hands.
“Yeah, HellBent. I think I am.”
An out of control alpha lion meets the hellhound of his dreams. Can Jedrek tame Nick, or will this lion’s dark secrets cause more havoc than a hellhound can handle?
Check out Give Him Hell now, or turn the page for a preview of the first chapter.
Preview: Give Him Hell
Lightning crashed. Close. Too close. Cool blue light bathed the forest for a split second before blackness swallowed it up again. The fur on his face stood on end. Goosebumps crawled over his arm. He tried to make out a path forward, but he couldn’t see any kind of way through. He spun around, trying to find anything familiar, but of course there wasn’t anything. He’d never been outside the house, as far as he knew. He hadn’t been born there, but he also couldn’t remember a time before living there. Wind whipped the heavy rain so it battered him from all sides. Lightning struck a tree off to his left, and he jumped.
“Please,” he whimpered as he used one of his long claws to carve a deep notch on one of the trees as he hurried forward. He’d been leaving nicks along his path, hoping they would be enough to lead him back to the house so he could save the others. Jenny’s screams still rang in his head. They had taken her to The Room. The one they did all their… experiments in. Her scream cut off abruptly, and they all knew what that meant.
Thunder cracked and the sky lit up again. He pushed ahead through a copse of trees, and spilled out onto a road. He recoiled as light flooded the area. He crab-walked back into the trees, reaching up to scratch the bark even as he tried to hide himself.
“Hello? Is someone out there?” a soft voice called out.
He couldn’t let them get him. He had to get away, to get the others away from them.
“Are you there? Are you hurt?” she asked. She moved further into the trees, stopping right in front of him.
“No, stay away!” he shouted around the fangs. They’d done something to him, and now he was stuck like this. He couldn’t let her see him. It was A Rule. The most important Rule. No one could see them like this.
She sat down on the ground in front of him. She smiled and held out her hand. “It’s all right. I can help,” she said quietly. “What’s your name?”
He shook his head. He couldn’t remember it. Mrs. Foote had only ever called him lion. Her helpers just called him kid. That’s what they called all of them. Some of the newer kids knew their names. The ones that were there before him didn’t. They couldn’t remember them. He used all their names, as often as he could, so no one else would forget.
“That’s all right. We’ll give you a new one, okay?” She looked around and noticed the mark on the tree, following the line to another one a few yards back. “How about Nick for now? At least until you remember?”
Something about her made him feel safe. Someone he could trust. He tentatively reached out and took her hand. It was warm, and somehow dry, even in this downpour. He watched as his claws receded, and he could feel his whiskers retreating.
“How?” he sobbed, collapsing into her arms.
“Shhh, little one. I have you. You’re safe now.”
Nick cracked an eye open and stared at the wall. It was still dark out, but he wouldn’t be going back to sleep. Not after the nightmares plaguing him more and more lately. Besides, now that he was up he could go in early to work and pick up another shift before his scheduled route. With a groan, he swung his feet over the edge of the bed as he sat up and rubbed one hand over his face. His fingers came away wet. Crying in his sleep again. Not surprising, given his dreams. Memories. Nightmares. Whatever they were. He could still see their faces. They were so clear in his mind. Almost like a freeze-framed video.
He walked to the kitchen on stiff legs. Yesterday’s dishes still sat in the sink, along with a stack of takeout containers. He knew he should clean it up, but he couldn’t be bothered. Besides, in his mood, he’d probably just throw everything out and buy new forks. Plastic ones, so he wouldn’t have to bother washing. It’s not like he was a chef or anything. He didn’t really care. Right now, all he cared about was aspirin. And caffeine. Caffeine was necessary. He powered on the coffee maker and got dressed while he waited for it to heat up. Then he filled his travel mug and headed in to work, only glancing at the wall in the corner of his living room.
The ride to the distribution center was quiet. Sure, it was three o’clock in the morning, but still. No post-closing time drunks or after-party stragglers on the road. He parked at the back of the lot and went in.
“Morning, Bill,” he called as he punched in.
“Hey, Nick. I’d say you’re here early, but it’s not really for you, is it?”
“Couldn’t sleep. Whatcha got today?”
“Lot of offices downtown. Amazon sprees in the ‘burbs. Even the outskirts are heavy today.”
Nick studied the zip code map Bill had up on the computer in front of him. “I’ll take these,” he said, pointing to the routes on the furthest edges of their territories.
“You sure? They’ll take you all day.”
“I don’t mind. Good for clearing the mind, you know?”
“If you say so. At least I don’t have to worry about assigning them to Frank or Jesse. You know they’d bitch for days.”
Nick laughed along with him, mostly because it was expected. He didn’t feel much like laughing today.
“All right. We’ll get you loaded up while you go plot your route. We’re expecting one more truck this morning, and it’s got some packages for you. Not much you can do until it gets here.”
Nick shrugged. “I’ll go help the guys first. Get it done quicker.” He clapped Bill on the shoulder and headed deeper into the warehouse.
“I wish I had ten more of you,” Bill called as he walked away.
“No, you don’t,” Nick muttered.
After last night’s dream, he didn’t even feel like there should be one of him, let alone ten. He got busy getting ready for his day. The route he planned took him along all the smallest country roads he could find. He would be crisscrossing the northern part of the county, scouring every inch he could. Searching, searching, searching….
He was exhausted by the time he got home. He’d managed to pick up two more routes that took him back over the western portions of the county he’d already been to. He sighed as he stripped out of his uniform, dropping his shirt on the floor as he headed to his command center in the corner of his living room.
Maps of surrounding counties covered the walls. He’d drawn grids over them, and each grid was crossed off with a big, red ‘X’. Looking over the map on the table in front of him, he realized he’d have to move again soon. Try the next county. He sighed and marked off today’s grid and went over Tuesday’s again while he was at it. Of course, he’d had no luck. Notes and photos were pinned to the wall next to some grids. Possibilities for him to check again later. Maybe he missed something. Maybe the house was shielded. Maybe….
His phone pinged again, with another message from Mikey. Call me, bro. Got some big news. Nick shook his head and pushed it out of his mind for now. He loved his brothers, but he couldn’t bear for them to talk to him right now. Not with the dream so fresh in his mind. He stared at the wall, spacing out as he focused. He stared until spots formed in front of his eyes and he realized he’d dozed off, his exhaustion finally catching up with him.
“Where are you?” he mumbled before crawling into bed, not bothering to turn out the light. He was out as soon as his head hit the pillow.
He was dreaming again.
At least he knew it this time.
The screams had died down, leaving them all whimpering in each other’s arms. Mrs. Foote and her helpers finished with whatever experiment she’d done and had dumped Jenny in the room. Nick did what he could to comfort her. The wolves were gone, on some sort of mission to steal more kids or something. Mrs. Foote had complained about having more mouths to feed.
