Forty-Two Abel

"No!" I hurled forward at the sound of shots, thinking they were targeting Tobias. I'd been on edge since he offered himself to Orcus and his men to save Sterling and me, so it took me a second to realize that the gunfire was coming from the sky and not Orcus's men. The Creed's guards were quick to recognize danger and lunged themselves at Orcus, using their bodies as shields to protect their leader from the airborne attack.

"Back to the woods!" Tobias yelled, his voice cutting through the tension and screams around us. He seemed to be unscathed, but the guards near us were not. Tobias ran toward us, pointing to the woods.

We turned and fled. Guards were running toward us; my ears rang as more drone shots picked them off. Luckily, they missed Sterling and me, almost as if on purpose. More guards emerged from the woods and began shooting at the drones. What the hell was going on? Why were they firing at their own weapons? The field turned into a dust bowl, burning my eyes. I coughed as I inhaled the floating dust.

"We gotta go," Sterling urged, grabbing my arm and guiding me deeper into the woods. We stood behind a tree trunk, watching Tobias approach.

In a swift motion, Tobias slid on the ground, seizing the fallen guards' weapons. He tucked guns in his waistband and filled his pockets with ammo. He stood and scooped more rifles from the ground before sprinting in our direction.

The cult's guards managed to fell two drones, only for new drones to hum overhead. More gunshots were fired. Billowing smoke and annihilated cult men was Tobias's background as he ran. It was a sight straight from an action film. The drones pursued The Creed tirelessly, their relentless barrage of fire raining down on them.

An explosion boomed in the distance, and the ground rattled where we stood. One of the unmanned flying aircraft had launched a bomb at Orcus's headquarters. Half of the building was obliterated within seconds. Too bad Orcus hadn't hidden there, he would've been reduced to ashes by now.

Tobias reached us and gathered me in his arms, the rapid beating of his heart thrumming against mine. He let out a sigh and relaxed his shoulders, then peppered the side of my face with kisses. "Are you okay, baby?" he asked. He released me from his hold and examined my body.

"I'm fine," I answered. "But don't ever do that again." I pulled his face toward mine and kissed him, not caring that Sterling was watching. The moment our lips met, the world around me slipped into the shadows and only Tobias and I mattered. No danger. No chaos.

Sterling cleared his throat. "We have to go before they find us here," he said.

Still with his eyes closed, Tobias brought our foreheads together and inhaled my scent before glancing at Sterling. "You cool?" he asked.

"Yeah," Sterling answered, tapping Tobias's back. "Are you two …?" He pointed between Tobias and me.

Tobias and I stared at each other. "It's complicated," we said in unison.

Sterling smirked. "Isn't it always?"

"Why are they shooting them?" I asked.

"I don't know, but it looks like the drones aren't here for us, they're after Orcus," Tobias answered. He handed Sterling and I rifles and handguns, and filled our hands with ammo. "Follow me." He led us to the main gate of the Restricted Zone using the trees as our cover.

With The Creed busy taking down the growing number of drones, we managed to get a quarter of a mile away from the action before guards entering the Restricted Zone spotted us and opened fire.

"Shit!" Tobias cursed, pulling me and Sterling down. Leaves and fresh bark from the nearby trees exploded like shrapnel from the fury of their guns. Only when a roar of engines sounded did their onslaught halt. A convoy of rugged vehicles busted through the metal gates, plowing past the guards. Men in black emerged from the vehicles, taking the rest of the guards down one by one with laser precision. Was The Creed under attack? First from the air and now on the ground?

"Archer!" Tobias hollered.

"You know them?" My eyes widened in shock.

"Yes, they're here for us. They're my friends I told you about." Tobias jogged to meet his friends. "Let's go!" He waved Sterling and I out of the woods.

The man named Archer met us halfway, while the rest of his buddies stayed behind, scanning the perimeter like trained soldiers. Four more large vans joined the first four, blocking the entrance of the Restricted Zone. "Where are the others?" he asked.

"Some of the trainees are still inside," Tobias replied.

Archer studied me; his scarred face made him look very intimidating. "You Abel?"

"Yeah."

He nodded. "And you?" Archer directed his attention to Sterling.

"This is Sterling. He's with us," Tobias introduced. "Where did those come from?" he asked, pointing to the sky.

"They're ours. Zero's operating them."

Tobias's friends had come prepared. I wondered where they got their resources. "Are you an assassin too?"

Archer raised his brow and chuckled. I guessed they weren't used to being asked so directly. "We all are." Archer pointed to the guys behind him. "Now, go get the rest before the cops raid this fucking place. We'll cover out here."

More guards from all over the compound funneled through the Restricted Zone, weapons raised and firing. Archer and the rest of the assassins stood behind their vehicles, shooting back. Obstructing the main entrance was a smart move, because they cut everyone's access to get inside to aid their losing squad.

We raced through the chaos, ducking and weaving past the hail of bullets as we made our way to the barracks. Unsurprisingly, the barracks stood unpatrolled. The guards were too busy fighting the drones and the guild of assassins to keep an eye on five young men.

"Help! Help!" my friends screamed.

"Let us out!" They banged on the door repeatedly.

We galloped through the corridors to reach my friends. The guards had locked our room with a padlock, trapping them inside.

"We'll get you out of there," I called.

"Nine!" Seven exclaimed. "Thank goodness you're here."

"What's going on out there?" Two asked.

"The Creed is under attack," I answered.

"What the fuck? By our guys?"

I leaned on the door and spoke. "No, Tobias's friends are here to rescue us."

"Stand back," Tobias ordered.

There was a scurrying sound, then someone yelled, "Clear!"

Gunfire pierced the air as Tobias shattered the lock into pieces. I wasted no time in pushing the door open.

The guys squinted when the light from the hallway beamed into our dark quarters.

"Go outside and stay together. There are vans waiting for us." My friends spilled out of the room and I led them outside, the pounding of our boots drowning out all other noise. I glanced at our room one last time, hoping to never set foot in this prison again.

Seven and Two hesitated, glancing back at me and Tobias. "Are we safe with them?" Seven asked. He'd always been the most anxious in our group, but I couldn't blame him. We'd gone through a lot, and one look at Archer and the assassins' domineering presence would make even the bravest soul wary.

"We're safe with them," I assured them.

"I trust them with my life," Tobias added. He directed the guys to board the vehicles, mumbling, "You'll be fine," whenever someone glanced at him with concern.

More bullets streaked across the sky, my attention torn between the exchange of shots at the gate and in the middle of the cult. I needed to reach Orcus before the drones got him, or worse, he escaped. The possibility of Orcus getting away ignited a surge of determination to take matters into my own hands.

"Where're you going?" Tobias asked, blocking my way.

"I'm gonna kill Orcus," I said, gripping my rifle tighter. My desire to make him pay for the death of my father and for making us suffer burned strong. He stole our childhood. He ripped us away from our families. He ruined our lives. It was time for payback. "I can't just let him walk away."

Tobias locked eyes with me, understanding in his expression. He nodded. "Hey," he called to Archer. "Wait for us."

"Why?" the blond guy standing next to Archer asked.

"We gotta pay someone a visit real quick." Tobias didn't wait for him to reply. "Let's go," he said, motioning for me to follow as he led the way.

The distant thumping of helicopter blades stopped us in our tracks as we approached the building where Orcus was taken by his guards earlier. "He's escaping!" I yelled.

"Not a fucking chance." Tobias veered toward the source of the noise. We climbed up the stairs of the three-story building until we reached the rooftop.

"Is he one of your guys?" I asked, watching a towering muscular guy engaged in a fierce battle with Orcus's men, effortlessly dispatching them one by one with calculated precision, just like the assassins downstairs. Five of Orcus's men lay on the ground unconscious, while two guards tried to stop the man from getting to Orcus, who was feet away from the helicopter.

"He's not one of us, but he's an assassin Orcus brought to The Creed to fight with you all tomorrow. We call him The Wolf."

"Why is he fighting them and why is he after Orcus?" I asked.

"I don't know." Tobias drew his gun, aiming at The Wolf.

There was something eerily familiar about the man. I'd seen him before, here in The Creed. Realization dawned on me like a lightning bolt. "I know him!" I blurted.

"You do?" Tobias whipped his head in my direction.

"Yeah. He was one of us. He was taken away from his family when I was younger." I studied his face, and my certainty grew stronger. "I remember him and his twin brother."

The Wolf knocked the last guard out and ran to get Orcus next.

"Fuck!" The helicopter's blades created a tornado of wind and dust as it began to lift off. The Wolf's outstretched hand grazed the skids, his fingers barely brushing the metal before the helicopter soared beyond his reach. I watched helplessly as Orcus glanced down at us, escaping justice once again.

Tobias aimed his rifle at the chopper, firing two shots. The pilot's bloody head fell against the window.

The helicopter shuddered and began to wobble erratically before its nose tilted down. Orcus opened the door and jumped out before it plummeted to the earth. A thunderous crash rattled the building with a force that shook the ground. The smell of burning fuel and acrid black smoke engulfed us, stinging my nostrils and choking my throat.

"Wolf!" Tobias called, aiming his gun at him.

The Wolf raised his arms and turned around. He pointed his index finger to his chest, then pointed his hand to Tobias over his open palm.

Tobias raised an eyebrow. "You're with us?"

The Wolf nodded.

"The Reaper sent you?"

The Wolf shook his head but continued to sign. It was clear he was unable to speak, and it was remarkable that Tobias understood him.

Tobias lowered his gun and The Wolf's posture eased.

Enough of this. I raced downstairs, fury boiling within me. The Wolf and Tobias trailed behind me. "Abel, wait up," Tobias called.

Orcus was dragging his body across the ground. The fall had shattered his legs; bones had pierced through his skin and were protruding out of his pants. His face was deformed with agony. His eyes locked onto me. "Help me?" he pleaded. "I'll give you anything you want, just help me."

What I wanted was my dad back, but that was impossible because of this monster. As I approached him, I could feel the weight of all the heartache and sorrow he had caused us over the years. Memories flashed before my eyes, a bitter reminder that my family would never be whole again. I remembered the sleepless nights haunted by nightmares of his cruelty, the tears I shed, and the scars, both physical and emotional, that I would bear for the rest of my life.

But through it all, I persevered. I refused to let him break me.

He took Dad's life, and there was only one way this could end. "You know the difference between you and a shadow?" I asked, towering over Orcus. "A shadow only appears when there's light. You won't see one anymore." I aimed my gun over his head.

"I should've killed you and your family too," Orcus said, his eyes filled with hatred.

I pulled the trigger; a surge of triumph radiated through me.

Tobias stood beside me and draped his arm across my shoulders. "It's over," he whispered. "He can never hurt you again."

The Wolf stood over Orcus's dead body and spat.

"Orcus had The Wolf's twin brother killed during a fight, that's why he was here—he wanted to kill him too," Tobias explained. "Let's go."

I rode with Two and the rest of the guys and the assassins in silence. They all watched Tobias and me with our joined hands, probably wondering what was going on between us. I was wondering myself, but there would be another place and time for explanations.

Our vehicles screeched to a halt, jolting us forward in our seats. "We've got a situation," our driver announced. We turned our attention to the windows. Shock wouldn't even begin to describe what I felt. The assassins loaded their guns, ready for another fight.

Archer's radio beeped. "What's the plan?" Zero, who I'd learned operated the drones, asked.

"We fight," Archer said.

"No!" I yelled. "That's our families." I pulled the lever open and ran outside, my friends following behind.

I stepped out of the vehicle and was met with a sight that both surprised and impressed me. The women of The Creed stood before us, their stance tall and proud, their faces bearing the marks of battle. The field of the Central Compound was littered with lifeless men in black ski masks—the cult's women, armed with machine guns, had taken them all down.

Confusion swirled within me. How were they able to fight and use guns? Had they been planning this all along?

They lowered their guns when they realized who we were.

"How? What?" Seven asked.

"Those men are from The Firm," Tobias said, pointing at the dozens of lifeless men, some with dripping blood wounds between their eyes. "Probably sent to Orcus for backup. I doubt they expected this warm welcome."

"They took them all out?" Archer whistled.

"Looks like it," Zero said.

"Abel!" Maddy's voice cut across the din. I searched the crowd for her. She emerged from the group of women and hurried toward us. I beamed with pride. She had her gun draped over her chest, her waist adorned with ammo. I wrapped her in my arms when she reached me. "I'm so glad you're okay."

"Where's Mom?" I asked.

"Somewhere safe," she replied. Maddy hugged Tobias next.

"Mom!" Two cried and hurried to his mother.

"Orcus is dead," I told Maddy.

Maddy looked behind her. The Creed's elders and men had joined the crowd. "Orcus is dead!" she cried.

An almighty cheer sounded as they raised their weapons in the air.

"I'm glad to see you, Abel," Two's mom said.

"How did you do all of this?" Tobias asked.

"Orcus and The Creed underestimated us. They never believed we were capable of fighting, so we turned their underestimation to our advantage. Our men"—she nodded toward the guys who were busy disarming The Firm's fallen soldiers—"they helped us collect the weapons and taught us how to use them." She leveled her machine gun at my face. "We were the blind spot, and no one saw this coming."

"We need to leave this place," Zero said. She peeked at the tablet attached to her palm and continued. "More assassins from The Firm are coming, and they will keep sending them until we're all gone." The frown on her face said it all. "We can fit everyone." Zero hooked her thumbs behind the six vans. "And we'll take you anywhere you want. But it's not safe here."

"Where are you going?" Two's mom asked.

"Our war with The Firm is just beginning. We're headed back to the East Coast to plan our strategy." Tobias glanced at me, sadness in his eyes. Did he think I was letting him go? That I would leave without him?

"We'll fight with you," she said with conviction. "We have nowhere else to go. They robbed us of our life, and we will make them pay."

"I'm with you until the very end," I said, squeezing Tobias's hand.

"I want you all to think of what you're getting into," Archer said.

"Kid," Two's mom said. "Look around. Do you think we don't know? We all know what we're signing up for."

Archer chuckled. I was amazed he could find the humor in all of this. "I like you," he said. He extended his hand to shake hers. "Archer."

"Scarlet—but they call me Mama Red," she said. "We need your help finding the rest of our boys." She turned and addressed everyone. "Listen up, everyone. We're leaving this hell in five minutes. Be ready."

"Let's go get Mom," I said, running with Maddy and Tobias.