Arc 3 - Chapter 15: Preparing For The Raid

(Reverence 2, 59 / 11:55AM)

A few hours later…

“You sure you're alright with this?”

“I heard he planned the counterattack, meaning he knows how to strategize pretty well. But planning plans isn’t what I’m worried about.”

Inside the large living room, the afternoon rays brushed into the ventilated space.

Christian had his hands to his sides, as he talked with another man wearing the same attire. Brown outdoor jacket, khaki pants, his boots were lavished in a sandy color. Not only that, but his whole face was covered in fur, and his nose was nothing more than a nuzzle.

With golden colored fur, and baggy ears, he looked to be a dog-human.

“Just deliver the goods as promised ok?”

“Sure man. I should be back in about a day. If not, I’d probably be staying at some bar or tavern.”

“Noted. Thanks.”

Waving off the dog-human, Christian sighed, before he turned his body around with the butt of his boots. Just as he did this, he heard the rattle of kitchenware.

Walking toward the kitchen, he pushed both of his hands into his pockets. The cold air swelling his face, he only had to take several steps before he reached his destination. In that kitchen, was a light-brown haired man wearing a lab coat.

“What are you two doing?”

“Cooking.”

Wine glasses, small and large, littered the cutting spaces that could’ve been used for cooking. Measuring cups, pipettes, Luke had turned the kitchen into his own personal lab.

Another man was helping Luke with some of the liquids, and he had silver-hair and a miner hat. Within his hands, was a small wine bottle that held the same properties of water.

Seeing that Christian pushed on a deadpan face, Luke shyly smiled.

“No wonder you guys are criminals. Did you have permission to even set this all up?”

“Yeah. Kenji told me that he’s fine with my experiments.”

“Boss. Refer to him as the Boss. Anyway … what are you concocting?”

“It’s a secret. But, it is flammable.”

“Noted. Just one question, and this has been gnawing on my mind…”

Fred softly cursed under his breath, his words unable to even graze through Luke’s ears. Knowing he was frustrated, the meddling of liquids and concoctions wasn’t Fred’s strongest suit. Fred was known to invent, not to mingle with liquids. While Luke was the opposite.

But right now, he had his eyes glued onto Christian. Seeing him furrow his brow, Luke locked his boots onto the marbled floor.

“Why did you go along with Sean? I heard you two have history, so why agree with him?”

Luke lowered his head, as the latex gloves he wore slightly squeezed within his fingers. Trying to snap, the latex blocked whatever noise it tried escaping. In order for his credibility to remain standing…

—“I feel watched.”—

Chris and Pacifica pulled up next to Christian, as Luke opened up to the tanned man. Remaining quiet, Luke felt his eyes hover around the floor repeatedly.

“Ever since that incident with the courthouse, I just get that feeling, like someone is watching me.”

“Do you know who?”

“That’s the problem … I don’t even know if anyone is watching me—but I just feel it.”

Pacifica folded her arms, and had both of her hands pressed onto her skinny biceps. She cocked her head to the right as his words marinated her.

“So what you’re saying boy, is that someone’s into you?”

“Not like that, no. It’s like that feeling of someone older than you … keeping tabs from above.”

“Say … you look familiar, boy.”

Christian and Chris squinted their eyes, and trailed Luke’s body from his hair down to his boots. Glancing at his light-brown hair, along with his red eyes, his skin was smooth and glistened in white.

A button nose, a slightly sharp jaw, it pushed Christian to go through the corridor of memories. Trying to find a face, one that he was finding, Christian took a step back.

“I swear, you look vastly familiar to someone I’m looking for.”

“Someone?”

“A man with brown hair and red eyes. I’ve been going through hoops to find any clue on him.”

“If it’s ok to ask, was he close or…”

Chris and Pacifica held their breaths.

In that instant, Christian clenched both of his fists together, as he strained his body from the waist down. Looking downward to the floor, all of his frustration soared into the tips of his toes, and around his heels. His throat sequenced in parchedness, a tranquil yet unholy tone drew from his vocals.

“He did something to me … something I’ll never forget. All I know, and all I can do, is finding him.”

Luke felt his face grow warm, as the nervousness drew out from him. Feeling like he had awakened something, the demons that Christian barely controlled only paled Luke’s face.

So controlling with the tension, Fred stopped what he was doing, as his hands grappled the end of the wine bottle.

“And once I do, no prayers will save him. Not even an ‘all father.’”

Like a mannequin, Fred was frozen in place, like he heard words that were engraved in ice. With Chris and Pacifica averting their eyes sideways, they didn’t want to deal with the frustrated Chrsitian.

[Just run … go …]

“ … I need some time for myself.”

Pushing his head down, he made his way toward the upstairs floor, with every step creaking the wood.

Chris scratched right below his armpit, his fingers brushing away bits of dirt he probably rolled around in. Meanwhile, Pacifica blew air through his lips, as a long exhale she stored wrinkled all of her lungs.

“Call yourself lucky that you’re guests. He hates it when anyone brings that stuff up. Let alone talk about it.”

“I-I’m sorry…”

“No worries boy. It’s—It’s a long story, that’s for sure.”

Luke shyly rubbed the back of his head, as he smiled at Pacifica with nervous eyes.

Fred began to resume the concoctions, his entire focus shifted back onto the liquids and wine bottles at hand. The bottom of his latex gloves crinkling in the cold, bits of ice already glued to the rubber.

“Hey Luke. You going to help me out here?”

“Yeah Fred, no worries.”

Luke glanced back at Fred, and gave him a soft nod although Fred didn’t look back. Returning his eyes toward the two of them, Luke had his hands clasped together as he smiled.

“Guess I should be getting back.”

“Got it boy. See ya.”

Having Chris in tow, Pacifica walked toward the garden, since her eyes caught a glimpse of a freckled brown elf. Seeing that he was working, all under the desert sun, her eyes narrowed and her lips smacked.

Leaving Luke and Fred to do their experiment, an experiment that rode either they live or die.

________________________________________________________________________

(Reverence 2, 59 / 5:59PM)

On the driveway of the Adobe, a brown van was parked on the side of the entrance. A group of five nestled near, the sun from above glowed its merciless heat onto them.

Because they wore black clothing, darker clothes absorb more heat than usual. With it the region being a desert, and the wind having oven breath…

“It’s hot…”

“No shit.”

“Shouldn’t we take off these stupid jackets? We’ll be cooked like rotisserie chicken.” Said Jack.

“Unfortunately, Boris said it is required to wear them. Even when it’s this … hot …”

“Required my ass … he could suck my left tit for all I care.”

They were drenched in sweat.

Hearing a door close to their right, the five of them turned to notice an elf with ginger hair. His hands in his leather jacket, he strolled through the sidewalk with little stress. Seeing Luke, Luna, Hope, Jack, and Benn all battered by the sun, a dry chuckle came out from him.

“You all look like you’re about to pass out.”

“We’re not used to his weather…”

“Believe me, I wasn’t used to his weather at first, but look at me.”

“Let’s just get the hell out of here.” Said Luna.

“Ok ok. Someone has desert anger…”

The six of them walked toward the brown van, their boots somewhat grilled against the sizzling concrete. Luke being the first to reach the back doors, he stood in front of the lock, and saw…

One of the doors was slightly open.

—I don’t sense danger. Guess someone forgot to lock the doors.

Wiping his forehead, the sweat that got onto the leather began to sizzle and steam. His hand on the handle, he opened it wide, and kept his eyes on the group he led.

“Alright, everyone pile up.”

“Sir yes sir.” Said Sean sarcastically.

Sean was the first to step up into the back, and took a glance at the wooden cabinet sitting idly. Letting a long shiver run down his back, he sat near the back doors, and had his butt rest against the metallic cushions. With Benn sitting next to him, Luna and hope sat on the opposite side.

Jack being the driver, Luke being the passenger, it was standard seating until Luke saw someone exit the entrance door.

“Hey that’s Miles.”

“I wonder what he wants to say.”

Miles walked right up to Luke, his face pushed down with his hands against his sides. Luke could only wryly smile at the tall man, considering his decision to go with Sean was at odds with everyone.

“Are you guys barely leaving?”

“Just about. We haven’t revved up the van, why?”

“Because … well …”

Miles raised both of his hands up to his temples, and scrunched his eyes with his thumbs. Looking exhausted, mostly mentally, he had the tips of his thumbs narrowly sinking into his eyeballs.

As the more he rubbed, the more he remembered the words heeding from a cowboy.

[What are you a chicken? Go help out your brethren. Who cares if it’s the Zirardge ranch, be the shield that Gwen made you to be.]

Letting his hands drop to his sides, a long exhale of air pushed out through his lips. His eyes somewhat dark, strands of his hair littered against his forehead.

“You’re going to need to be protected. Especially for Hope’s safety …”

“Uhm … ok … the back doors are still unlocked.”

Acquiring a seventh member for the strike force, Sean hissed out a single yes through his teeth.

Opening the two metal doors, Miles made his shadow grow, as he stepped foot into the van. His back hunched forward, he found a seat next to Hope, and saw Sean holding the back of his neck with his hands. His right leg over his knee, just seeing Sean mimicking a laid-back attire….

“You better not screw this up. All of our lives are riding on this, including others.”

“Oh chill out sugar tits. We’re not going to—”

“Do not ever, ever call me sugar tits again. Never.”

His tone was soft, yet drowned in venom.

Meanwhile, Jack pushed the key into the ignition, and turned it clockwise to roar the engine. Hearing the engine chuckle, it was only for about several seconds before the van was fully awake.

Until the smell of old gas wrinkled their noses.

Jack took a sniff again, and coughed out once. Luke however covered his nose with his jacket, as he narrowed his eyes.

“What did you put in the fuel tank?”

“I just put normal gas in, why?”

“Does the gas contain lead?”

“Hell if I know. Hey, gas is gas, but cheap gas is better—”

“Cheap gas? How much did you have to pump per gallon?”

“20 cents.”

Luke went silent.

Gas in Haxouburg was the cheapest in the world. But because technology has progressed slowly, laws were bent over to whoever was in power. And cheaper gas meant happier folks. But there was always a cost…

Remembering two types of gasoline, Luke widened his eyes and raised a hand up to his forehead.

“There’s lead in the gas!”

“Wait what? How?!”

“The engine is pumping out more carbon monoxide than it could handle! Quick! Let’s go! And open the windows!”

Clutching the shift, it was in between the speedometer and the wheel. Pulling it down, he had his foot instantly on the brake pedal, before setting the van into motion. Reversing his way out, his foot was heavy, which made everyone jostled upon the sudden shift in force.

Including the wooden cabinet.

Toppling onto the floor, the wood groaned from the inside and out. But then the groan turned … human.

“Miles.”

“Copy.”

As the van began to accelerate, but not so suddenly, Luna and Miles both hovered their butts against the seats. Feeling their fingers trickle against their hips, they saw the wooden cabinet rustle like an awakened coffin.

“Hello? H-Hello?”

“What the…”

“No way! Don’t tell me…”

Sean pushed out from his seat, and almost stumbled forward with the van finally moving. Barely able to reach the cabinet, he pushed his hands on the wooden cabinet, and opened the lid.

Poking his head out from the small furniture, a teen blinked twice with dried lips. Sweat floundering all over his face, it looked like he was on the edge of heat-stroke.

“When did you even get in there?”

“Water … need water…”

“Damn idiot. Here.”

Noticing a water bottle near where she sat, she reached down, and grabbed it with calm fingers. Giving the bottle to him, Chris snatched it, and pushed his lips toward the lid.

Chugging the water, the plastic creaked with every gulp he took. Once he was done, he crumbled the plastic like a ball, and let it drop to the floor.

“Man thanks a bunch. I thought I would’ve died there.”

“Just why the hell were you in there anyway? Trying to get a death wish?” Questioned Luna.

“Me? No. I was just waiting for you guys to set the sail going. So are we heading to the ranch?”

“Now hold on … shouldn’t you be with your brother and sister? I don’t think you’re allowed to come with us from what I heard.” Said Miles.

Getting out from the cabinet fully, he stepped onto the floor that was garnished in metal. Keeping his eyes locked on the floor, the very thought of a van … so expansive and so metallic was thrilling. His hands in his pockets, he shyly smiled through a sweat-filled face.

While Luna and Miles sat down, along with Sean. Being the only one to stand, Chris clapped both of his hands to form a prayer.

“Just let me tag along please? I won’t even be a hindrance to you all I promise.”

Miles and Luna remained silent, but before Miles would open his mouth, Sean interrupted.

“Eh alright. Just stick to the plan and you’ll be fine. But don’t tell them I said that…”

Sean allowed Chris to sit next to him, all the while the evening sun blew in through the high windows. Turning his eyes toward the rays, he allowed its maleficent light to glimmer …

‘Cause they’re the type to blame everyone but themselves.’

As they rode through the desert; on a van with no name.