Dauntless (5 page)

Scout cocked his head, a quizzical expression on his face. A faint glimmer of understanding passed over his eyes. He nodded slowly, sorrow filling his face; my eyes filled with tears.

“Be ready to climb,” I whispered, placing my hands on the rock wall, getting a good hand hold. Scout touched his chest again and then motioned at me with the same hand. Sebastian let out a choking sob and I forced myself to keep my composure.

Scout was saying goodbye.

7

With a screech Scout threw himself towards the pack, hands and feet flailing, taking all of them by surprise and startling them into spreading out a little. Scout grabbed the smallest pack member and wrestled with the petite male. Scout snarled and ripped the male’s throat out with his teeth then threw him out into the water. The rest of the pack shrieked, panicked and ran as a group back down the sea wall towards the lagoon. It gave us the opening we needed. I gripped the stones, the barnacles slicing into my skin as I put all my weight into my hands and tips of my feet, climbing as fast as I could. Blood curdling howls and screams reached my ears, but I dared not look up.

In moments, I’d scaled the wall and was pulling myself over the lip, scraping my hands and knees but thankful to be on this side of the sea wall. Sebastian was right behind me, breathing hard, his head low.

A high pitched shriek snapped my head around to see Scout held between three Nevermores, his belly bare to the sky.

“Oh God please no,” I whispered. Scout’s eyes found mine as I stumbled to my feet, and for a moment I was unsure of whether to run or help him. Scout blew a raspberry at me as one of the female Nevermores struck, her face and teeth burying into his exposed flesh.

Scout let out a howl of pain, and I reached down for Sebastian, pulling him to his feet and hustling him up the slippery slope of grass, scrambling to the top.

The screams continued, striking my heart through with the reality of what I’d done. It was taking so long—usually when a Nevermore killed, it was over quickly, and in a way, mercifully.

“He challenged them,” Sebastian said as if reading my mind, answering the question I hadn’t voiced. I glanced at him, his face hard and drawn. I doubted I looked any better at this point.

“Why does that matter?” We skirted between buildings, Sebastian mimicking my movements, always just a step behind.

“He challenged them and defended us, proving he was no longer loyal to the pack. They will keep him alive a long time; they’ll all participate, even though it means letting us go. They’ll all want a piece of him,” he said. “Literally.”

I snapped my mouth shut. I didn’t want to know the ins and outs of a Nevermore pack. I had enough fodder for the nightmares that would haunt me for the rest of my life. I didn’t need to add to it.

As we entered the underground parking lot, I let out a sigh of relief. We’d made it; the Jeep was in view, we had a vial of the cure, and Sebastian was with me. The cool, dim interior echoed our footsteps back to us as we walked to the Jeep. Sebastian didn’t seem to be able to do more than that, his body wrung out from fighting with the cure for the last few days.

I leaned my head against the Jeep and took a deep breath, one hand holding the keys tight, the other cradling my belly. For just a moment I needed to pause, to slow down. It felt like I was forgetting something, or if that wasn’t the case, that I would forget something vital, and important. Everything was happening so fast, I barely had time to think, I could only react.

I hiccupped back a sob that started to well up. Scout had just died for us and I didn’t even have time to grieve for him properly. His loyalty had saved us and all we could do was run away. Scrubbing away tears, I pushed the grief back down. Later, I had to believe that there would be a later to say goodbye to Scout, to be grateful for his sacrifice. Right now, we had to go, there was no more time to waste on wondering and thinking how things could be, or might have been, different.

I opened the door to the Jeep and slid into the driver’s seat. Sebastian was still making his way around the vehicle, his every step laboured and stumbling. I turned the key, the engine coming to life easily, and leaned across to open the passenger side door for Bastian. Taking his hand I balanced him as he struggled to make his body do as he wanted.

A sudden and thunderous boom filled the parking lot, and Sebastian was only halfway in the Jeep.

“Get in!” I screamed at him as I revved the engine. There was a second boom and then an answering groan from the twenty plus story hotel above us. Shit.

Sebastian slid the rest of the way in, and promptly closed his eyes. I reached across and slammed his door shut then hit the gas pedal. The tires squealed on the slick pavement as we tore out of the underground parking lot. My foot hammered on the gas as we sped back out into the bright sunlight and the building began to collapse behind us, dust flying up everywhere. As if on cue, other buildings began to explode, the noise deafening, the smoke that flooded out making it hard to see.

I wrenched the wheel, dodging a large chunk of concrete that appeared out of the smoke, clipping the edge of the Jeep. My grip tightened as the vehicle rocked, but all four wheels came back down to touch the pavement. I let out a breath and stared at the road, using all my miniscule talent in driving to get us out of the war zone.

At the top of the hill, next to St. Peters Catholic Church once more, I slowed the Jeep and stared in the review mirror. A black cloud of smoke filled the sky, buildings enveloped by a massive roil of dust. That is, if there were any buildings still standing. Had Marks and his men gotten out? I didn’t dare go to the bunker, I was low on fuel as it was and any side trips would only suck the tank dry faster. I picked up the walkie talkie and flicked it on. A low thrum of static was all I got, no matter where I set the dial.

“Damn it,” I said, shoving the walkie talkie into the glove compartment. So much for that idea.

I looked over at Sebastian, his eyes still closed, his breathing far from even. I put a hand to his forehead and winced. His fever was still raging—that was not a good sign. He moaned and shifted in his seat, raising his hands to fend off an invisible enemy.

I shifted the Jeep back into gear and headed down the Third street connector and back on to the Inland Island Highway, the Parkway. I would have to leave the Parkway and get on to the Old Highway that ran along the water’s edge to see about finding a boat. Only, the gas tank was less than a quarter full and that would barely get us home, without any detours—and the Old Highway was “scenic.” Which translates to extra long and winding.

But, it had to be done; we had to find a way across to Vancouver.

My eye half on the tank of gas and half on the surrounding areas, I banked off the Parkway as soon as we were far enough from the downtown core and started up the Old Highway.

My mind began to wander as I drove, and it was a bloody miracle I didn’t run over the woman who ran into the road in front of me. I jerked the steering wheel hard to the right and swerved around her, jarring Sebastian and nearly tipping the Jeep over. Sebastian didn’t wake; he just lay there as I hit the brakes and sat there panting with adrenaline. I gripped the wheel and willed my heart to slow down. I took slow even breaths and tried not think about splattering the young woman all over the front of the Jeep. It had been that close.

The woman jogged up to my window. She looked to be in her mid twenties; was an average build, a little on the slim side, and had blond hair with purple streaks and a diamond nose piercing. She peered in and I got a good look at her hazel eyes, weary and drawn around the edges. I wasn’t the only one struggling to keep moving, to survive.

“I’m sorry. I just was so excited to see you and thought you saw me, too. You looked right at me,” she said, her voice light and airy.

I let out breath before answering. “Are you okay?”

She nodded. “My name is Annie, my brother Dustin is just over there, I was wondering . . .” She trailed off as she got a good look at Sebastian. No, his skin wasn’t as yellow as it had been, nor were there broom outlines under his skin as apparent. But, they were still there.

She backed away from me, her eyes wide, her mouth an open “O.” “You’re crazy. He’s going to eat you!” She yelped as she spun on her heel and sprinted away from me. I shook my head and got the Jeep going again. I tried not to think about her reaction; tried not to think about what it would mean when we got to Vancouver. Would there be blood tests? I couldn’t remember, the details were foggy in my brain, but I had to assume that there would be some sort of test. The officials there were unlikely to just allow anyone to get on a plane.

As we drove North, the number of Nevermores was drastically reduced. At first it seemed like every corner I turned there was a pack waiting for me. Then it was every other corner and then the population of Nevermores thinned, and I was able to drive for ten minutes at a stretch before seeing any of them at all.

We passed several harbours, but none proved fruitful. Either there were no boats or there were too many Nevermores to risk trying to even see if there were boats. Anxiety started to make itself known, my nerves fluttering with each passing mile. I glanced at the gas gauge and tapped it to make sure I was seeing it right. The indicator was lower than the E.

“Okay Bastian, we can’t look anymore, we have to try and make it all the way home,” I said, not expecting an answer.

“Why?” He asked, startling me.

I thought for a minute before answering and gave him the best truth I could.

“Because I feel safe there. Because it’s home. Because I don’t know where else to go.”

“It isn’t that safe,” he said, his words slurred as if he’d been drinking.

“Well, we did fine until Vincent showed up. And, Dan is still there. He can help us,” I said, the sign for Bowser flashing by us. We were almost there; another ten minutes and we’d be in Fanny Bay.

Sebastian didn’t answer. The Jeep gave a cough and I grit my teeth.

“Come on baby, don’t fail me now,” I whispered.

I slipped the Jeep out of gear and coasted down a long hill, letting the engine have a break and hopefully use less gas. At the bottom of the hill, when the Jeep lost momentum, I put it back in gear and pushed on the gas pedal.

Again it coughed and sputtered, the engine running on fumes and hope. If we could just get over this next rise, we could coast almost all the way into Fanny Bay. It wouldn’t be a long walk from there.

On what must have been the last drops squeezed from the tank, the Jeep lurched past Rosewall Creek, up the hill and crested the top. I popped it out of gear again and the engine died.

We coasted down the road, past the Oyster operation and the gas bar and made it maybe another half mile on momentum. But, the Jeep only had so much to give and as it rolled to a stop I put the brake on and looked over at Sebastian.

“This is it,” I said. “We walk from here.”

8

We were about a five minute drive from home. Walking was going to take at least four times that long, maybe more with Sebastian lagging. With his arm over my shoulders and me taking as much weight from him as I could, we made our way down the side of the road.

Ten minutes later we weren’t even half way to the house, but at least we hadn’t run into any Nevermores. My ears strained for the telltale sounds of a pack bare feet running on the hard ground, the snap of a branch or any other noise that would give them away.

“You have to leave me Mara,” Sebastian said, his words slurred as if he’d had too much beer.

“I’m not leaving you so don’t bother. We’ll make it. We’re more than halfway there,” I said, keeping my voice low and soft.

“Liar,” He whispered into my ear.

I smiled and tightened my grip on him. “You calling me out? Want to take this outside?”

He grunted. “You don’t lie well and we’re outside so what do you want to do about it?”

I glanced up into his golden yellow eyes and lifted my left eyebrow. “When we get home, we’re going to discuss this liar business. I’ll probably have to beat you some. Maybe with a large stick.”

Sebastian let out a laugh and I found myself laughing too, if only for a brief moment. I snapped my mouth shut when I saw a shadow up ahead, a flicker of movement that stepped sideways and disappeared into the underbrush.

I pulled Sebastian into the ditch on the side of the road, making him crouch beside me. We were as hidden as we could be, though it wasn’t much.

“What is it?” He asked, his voice gaining clarity with each passing minute.

“Something up ahead. I don’t know if it’s a human or a Nevermore,” I said, keeping my voice low.

Sebastian stiffened in my embrace, his body going rigid under my hands. I glanced at him. “What is it, are you in pain?”

“You didn’t think of me as human?” His eyes betrayed the calm words, anger flickering through them.

My jaw tightened and my own anger began to burn. “What, you have a better way of identifying one from the other?”

He said nothing, just stared down the road at where I’d seen the shadow. This was not the time or place for an argument, much as I wanted to grab Bastian and shake him till he saw sense. I didn’t mean it in a derogatory way, but what else was I supposed to say?

We crouched in the shadows, not touching one another, the anger burning off both of us making it an uncomfortable silence.

“I think we should move on,” he said, moving to stand up. I didn’t stop him.

A loud, sharp crack and a bullet whizzed by us. Sebastian dropped back to the ground, his eyes wide and his mouth open.

“What the hell!” I yelled. “We’re human, stop shooting!” I reached to Sebastian and gripped his hand.

I didn’t realize until the animals were quiet just how much noise they were making. The birds around us had gone silent and even the crickets had stopped their late summer songs. I couldn’t hear anything, no running feet and no more gunshots.

Sweat trickled down the center of my face and dripped off the end of my nose. I scrubbed at it and dared to make my way to the top of the ditch and peek out, making sure Sebastian stayed put where he was.