Arc 3 - Chapter 16: Careful Steps I

(Reverence 2, 59 / 7:25PM)

The sun began to rest.

With the deadly rays dimming in the horizon, so did the roar of an engine. Opening at the same time, both driver and passenger doors swung wide open, and then shut. Shaking the van for a split second, Luke and Jack both in unison walked toward the back.

Reaching the back doors, Luke wiggled his fingers onto the keypad. Hearing the doors click, they swayed open, causing Luke and Jack to take a step back as they exit out.

“Luke? How should we go about this?”

“Why am I always the planner?”

“Well for one, you’re lucky. Just look around. For all I care, analyze dirt, grass even.”

“I-I’m not some genius!”

As Luke and Jack talked, six others stepped foot onto the hardened dirt. Feeling its coarse exterior, Sean was the first to notice a large hill near them. Scratched the back of his head, he cocked his head to the right.

“Hey lovebirds. We could use that hill to check on the ranch. Better to collect info than go blind, right?”

“Hey yo. I like girls.”

“S-Same!” Yelled Luke.

Keeping his head low, Luke, Jack, and Sean had their weapons holstered on their hips, as they walked up the hill. The dead grass trickling against the ends of their pants, bits of pollen rubbed their ankles. Feeling their skin rash, it was as if someone tickled them with feathers.

Once they reached the top, the rest of the group hovered near the van. Having a Joshue Tree cover their presence, it reached a height of three stories.

“There it is.”

From within his leather jacket, Jack took out binoculars lavished in black metal. Wielding it with his left hand, he raised it up to his eyes. And allowed them to settle on the ranch in full sight. North, South, East, West, fields of garlic surrounded the village.

Being in the center of it all, was a third-story ranch house. Moving the binoculars downward, there was also a barn on the Southern side, and stables on the eastern. Along with the accommodation of many guards. Four watch towers, all being east, west, north, and south quadrants.

“Those guards in the watchtowers have sniper rifles. Judging from the layout, and our original position, the best way to enter is through the east and south.”

“What about the north and west?”

Jack analyzed the quadrants once more, and noticed a large gravel road from the west. Patrols going up and down that road, he soon moved the binoculars toward the Northern side.

Bits of vineyards and fancy bushes were detailed, meaning the unknown could occur. Moving his eyes onto the southern side once more, a large wooden gate looked guarded by a few guards. Wielding carbine rifles and Thompson machine guns, they wore thin brown jackets and cowboy boots.

Along with black flat caps.

“For what I could see, going through the western road would be suicide. The southern gate doesn’t look that bad, but the east looks almost empty. I have no clue on the north.”

“Do the guards look attentive? Relaxed? On edge?”

“They look mean. That’s all I could detail.”

Lowering the binoculars he wielded, he grappled the simple tool with his right hand. Using his left, he combed bits of his hair, while turning his eyes toward Luke and Sean. Forcing out a smile, his cheeks scrunched up in pressure.

“If that family is rich, then they’d probably have the meanest looking dudes they could buy.”

“So?”

“They’re not run-off-the-mill guards.”

“And we’re not run-off-the-mill soldiers either.” Said Sean.

Sean pushed up a grin, and placed one of his hands in his pockets. Leading the two to follow him, the three of them walked down the hill rustled in tall grass. Luke, who was right beside Sean, had his eyes pinned on the group who waited for them.

Once they reached the bottom, Luke rubbed his hands as the others stared at him. Feeling sweat beginning to flounder his face, his cheeks paled.

“We’re going to be in two groups. One group will enter through the South, and the other will enter East. Jack will stay behind, giving us support from behind that Joshua Tree.”

Everyone except Luke glared at Jack, making him raise his hands up in a form of surrender. Giving himself something to laugh at, he slowly walked back toward the van.

“Hehe, jealous?”

“Anyway, me, Sean, Hope, and Miles will go through the eastern side. It looked empty, but who knows. Better than the western side than we saw.”

Miles grabbed the helm of his collar, as the heat already drenched his white shirt in sweat. Despite most of his leather jacket covering his shirt, the heat that lingered continued to rise from the ground.

Luke saw that Hope was nervous, as her fingers fiddled with one another repeatedly.

“Don’t worry. We’ll be ok. Trust me.”

“I know … I know …”

Giving him a shy nod, Luke slowly turned toward Luna, Benn, and Chris.

Looking like Luna already wielded her metal batons, Chris had himself holding a mauser pistol. With Benn holding his machine gun like a corpse, Luke felt traces of sweat swelter his face.

“You three will be entering the South side. If things get hectic on our side, you guys will direct some of their attention.”

“Yeah yeah, whatever you’re thinking, we’ll execute it. Leave it to us.”

Luna already acknowledging his command, Luke finally took one last look toward the Joshua tree. The leaves were all too weak, all too crippled in yellow.

Turning his eyes toward the evening sun, 1/8th of its body began to descend into the horizon. Feeling the nostalgia swell within him, Luke huffed out air through his nose. Before he glanced back at the others.

“We’ll wait until midnight. For now, let’s just rest underneath this hill.”

“Doing what?”

“I don’t know … did anyone pack a deck of uno?”

________________________________________________________________________

(Reverence 3, 59 / 12:01AM)

Bits of the antique fence creaked, as a trail of crops gave way to a group of animals. Looking like the animal crawled, or bent down, the waist-deep garlic pushed a path for the group …

That wore leather clothing.

Crouched down, their boots mingled with the soil. Smelling the abhorrent stench, the garlic enough wrinkled the woman’s nose and even her face. And yet, she squinted her eyes into the dark leaves that brushed her face.

[Remember. You guys are the backup bait for the bait. If things get too hairy on your end, retreat back to the Joshua Tree.]

Not even halfway through, the sound of laughing and crackling was heard in front of them. Slowing their walks, the pathway toward their destination grew larger.

Benn glanced up toward the sky, his frown ever present on his face. But Luna came to a heavy halt, one she felt heavy breaths plow on her neck. She knew those breaths from anywhere, as only a rook or newbie would succumb to such nervousness.

‘Damn idiot…’

Turning around to face him, she still had that frown wrinkled in coldness. Upon seeing his face, he averted his eyes to the dirt.

“Can you keep your breathing in check? We’re trying to remain quiet.”

“But … I thought … well …”

“Sighs … look at me.”

“H-Huh?”

“I said look at me.”

In a stern voice, Luna threw her authority straight at him.

Sucking in whatever air he had, he marinated his lungs in garlic air. But he saw Luna soften her stare, her frown loosened and her body relaxed. She didn’t smile, nor did she grin, but kept a rather neutral tone.

“You’re going to be fine. If Luke thinks you’re not up for it, you would’ve been hanging back with Jack.”

“I-I guess that makes sense…”

“But please don’t be an idiot. Believe me. The ones who charge into battle first, are the ones to lose their life.”

Luna could remember that fight vividly.

Feeling each rotated chain, it chipped off bits of metal like it was forging iron. Each strike diminishing most of her strength, she could barely feel her legs keep hold of her body. Buckled knees, yet titanium-strength, did she really have to allow her vengeance to arouse her?

If it meant that she would die? Or rather suffer a great blow mentally, then by all means…

“Take it from me, kid. I wouldn’t be here talking about this subject, if it weren’t for some other idiot…”

Using his left hand, he patted his cheek that was smoothened in dry skin. Patches of his fingers griseled in dirt, a low grunt emerged from his throat, and slanted a look to make himself look mean.

Which made Luna furrow her right eyebrow.

“Yes ma’am.”

“I’m not that old you idiot. Now be a smart idiot and get behind—”

“That kid is crazy. Who in their right mind finds love in a beast-human?”

“The boss’s son definitely has a fetish. I mean, who would want a cat-girl as their girlfriend?”

They all heard audible voices, murmurs that were dozens of meters away.

Keeping a firm hold on her metal batons, she had her fingers hover over the central buttons. Squinting her eyes through the patch of dark leaves, she trailed the glow of a lantern, with the voices beginning to harden. Like a lightbulb, it lit up their surroundings, and especially the surface of the garlic crops.

“Benn. Chris. We need to fall back a bit.”

“Copy. Move slow. Both of you.” Whispered Benn.

In agreement, the three of them slowly crawled through the crops. Trying not to kick or sway the stems, each meter they crossed was the increment of a loudening heart. Holding their breaths, and narrowing their eyes, they felt dirt latch onto the front of their pants…

Before one of the guards turned to their left.

“Oi Billy-Billy. Did you see that?”

“See what?”

“Something moved in those crops … can it be?”

“Probably some field rat. We’ll just scare it off like usual.”

They both cocked the sides of their rifles.

Ceasing their crawling, their voices immediately halted as their footsteps grew. No air to flow through their nostrils, they steadied their eyes upon either the lantern … or the dirt they laid on.

‘Shit! I thought they would be drunk or half-awake!’

Feeling the yellowish light beginning to warm, heavy breathing began to erupt from Chris. Feeling like an anvil was pressed on his shoulders, Benn wrinkled his whole face, as he reloaded whatever bullets he had in the chamber. Dirt beginning to rustle, and the crops beginning to sway forth, Luna knew what would become of them …

If they were caught.

‘Shit shit shit! I got to think of something! What would Luke do?! What would he …’

Gritting her teeth, Luna didn’t allow any breath to whistle through her lips. Stiffening her chest and stomach, no blood flowed within her arms and legs—

—The footsteps stopped.—

‘What would I do…?’

________________________________________________________________________

Peeking his head out from a corner, one man took in the quantity of guards patrolling the roads. Up and down the gravel pavement, Thompsons and Carbines nestled within their forearms and hands. Their eyelids nestled in eyebags, they looked sleep-derived.

The peeker had light-brown hair, and a side bang covering his right eye.

“Those guards looked overworked, meaning their reaction times would be slower than usual. Unfortunately, there’s too many guards patrolling one road…”

“If you’re rich enough, you could buy your own sins to save more money. That’s Haxouburg for you.” Said Sean.

“Enough with the socialist lecture. Luke. What do you propose with the gravel road? Should we take it?” Questioned Miles.

Luke didn’t have to glance back at the road, as he already knew the measures and risks.

If they decide to play ninja, it would only worsen the risk of being shot. Shot and injured to be exact, they didn’t want to dwell in any casualties whatsoever. Even if the odds were in their favor, the risk of failing … It was too large.

“The closer we get to the house, the more tight security would be. We’re going to need a near perfect diversion for Sean to fully enter in.”

They all heard a loud laugh startle the air.

Perking their ears upward, they all stared at the direction of which it came from. Looking like it was from the shed, Luke pushed his hands in his pockets, before entering into the stables.

Manure wrinkled his nostrils, making him muster a frown as he tread through the ground. The stables littered in darkness, the three of them followed Luke’s lead. They noticed that the livestock … only housed one species.

“No way…”

Another loud laugh squealed the tension.

Pitched in dark green fur, the creature looked to stand six feet tall. Having a long snout and pointed ears, stripes of black struck across the sides of the maleficent animal. Turning its head to the dumbfounded Luke, it wasn’t just that same creature.

Many more turned their heads, mostly at Luke and his friends.

“Well what do you know? Green Haxouburg donkeys in the flesh. You think we could steal one of them?”

“We’re here to get info, not donkeys. But …”

The green donkey in front of him lowered its head, as its snout was within touching distance. Its black-colored eyes gazing into Luke’s red eyes, he raised his hand toward its nose. Feeling its fur against his palm, many strands of fur dug into his nails.

—They look nice.

Locking eyes onto the majestic creature, the donkey closed its eyes and raised its snout. As a sign of thanks, it opened its mouth … and unveiled a tongue captained in saliva.

To where it licked Luke’s face.

—Maybe not.

It then croaked out a breathless laugh. All four of them taking a step back, they heard the other donkeys follow suit.

“Shoot! Everyone back to the fields!”

Without looking back, the four of them ran out of the stables corroded in noise. It didn’t take long before the gravel was replaced with dirt. Fertilizer mingling against their boots, Luke glanced back, and saw the stables becoming less in size.

Rustling through the crops, they didn’t care if their presence was like a feral animal. Turning his head forward, Luke upchucked air smoothly, while everyone else breathed erratically.

“We should get further away from the stables.”

“But we’re straying from the house as well. If we stray farther, the sneak in would be a lot harder.” Said Sean.

“I know but—”

—“Billy-Bob! We got ourselves an armadillo roaming the fields!”—

— “Shoooot! You know what to do!”—

All of them crouched down, and ceased their sprint with dead silence.

Leaning their cheeks close to the dirt, the ground mingled in fertilizer wrestled their noses. Hearing rifles being clocked in, they quickly turned their bodies to face the sky, rather than the ground. Although they used the crops for cover, the guards had with them a lantern.

Hearing his heart thump against his chest, the glow that sparkled the green crops grew.

—Oh no … oh no no no …

The lantern’s yellow light only made Luke inhale, through dry nostrils. And it didn’t take long before they slowed their walk to a crawl.

Because the crops blanketed them, Luke didn’t move from his spot. The stems were too thick, meaning crawling wouldn’t deter any rustling. Then again, his feet were shrouded in static.

One of the guards being a meter away, he moved the barrel of his Thompson slowly. Along with the other guard, they squinted their eyes upon the morse code of leaves.

“Wait a minute…”

The guard hunched his body ever so slowly, as his barrel began to break through the leaves. His eyes ever so narrowed his finger began to move closer to the trigger.

“That’s not no arma—”

Like the spring of a recoil, Luke thrusted his right foot.

Because the leaves masked traces of his body, it meant what he did with his arms and hands weren’t details. Once the guard dropped his rifle, Luke jumped up with only his lower body, and lunged at him quickly. Wrapping his left arm around his neck, his right hand pressed onto his mouth.

A cloth marinating his palm, Luke strained his teeth as he slammed his butt on the dirt.

—Please go to sleep! Please go to sleep! Please go to sleep! Please go to sleep!

The other guard instantly aimed his barrel at Luke, but it was all too quick. He dropped his rifle.

Rolling his eyes into the back of his head, he crashed his knees on the dirt before landing on his chest. No groan, no breath to draw out through a parched throat, the young man from behind wiggled his fingers.

‘Man, didn’t know Pacithiest training would be that useful.’

With Sean taking care of the other guard, Luke finally felt the guard’s willingness die down. More and more, his limbs began to wobble, making his muffled screams soon dim into oblivion.

Pulling the cloth away from his nose and lips, he pushed it into his jacket, and began to get up. Feeling the fertile soil stain his jeans, bits of mud grobbled onto the leather.

“That was way too close.”

“At least we took care of them. Hey, it could’ve been a lot worse.”

“Just what the hell you two doing?”

Two others emerged from the crops, as dirt latched onto their clothes. All four of them standing idly amidst the crops, Miles himself made his height dominate them, as his question reached into unopened ears.

Hope, who was silent throughout most of the raid, scratched her left cheek.

“Luke. The more we pull stuff like this, I don’t think we’ll…”

“Promise me Hope, and you two Miles. This plan that we’re going through—”

“Will work? Look Luke, I won’t diminish your luck, or your smarts … but please.”

Miles raised one of his hands up to his forehead, and softly rubbed it with his thumb and pointer. Strands of hair trickling his knuckles, it didn’t matter, as all of his attention was on Luke.

“We’re not that lucky compared to you. That’s the thing. You may get out of shitty situations with ease, but not us.”

“ … I understand.”

Luke took a step back, although Miles didn’t have a posture of dominance or imposition. To him, it was more or less a morality check. Although his sanity wasn’t lost, nor wasn’t his morals, Luke knew that Miles didn’t mean anything. To him, all of this was some sort of gamble Luke rolled.

“Anyway … I uh, I think this is a great spot for me to do it.”

“But we’re still waiting on that signal. Remember?”

Sean folded his arms, and huffed air through his mouth and nose. Tapping his foot against the dirt, he looked back at the hill hiding Jack. Feeling like he was lolly-gagging, Sean didn’t know it yet, but he had a feeling…

“Seriously, just when is he—”

—A sniper shot boomed through the fields.—