Aftermath (32 page)

Emma's Story

No–no–no–no–
no
! My phone chirped. The lights flashed, and then nothing.

“Damn it!” I mumbled aloud. Now how would I get ahold of Lucas?

I was on the corner of Clark and Sherman, just like he told me. Except there was no bar on either corner, and he didn’t answer his phone the three times I tried before it died. Lucas said something about an alley, didn’t he?

All I saw was a travel agency, a shoe store, and a tall business building.

The sky was grey and the air cool without the sun. A few people passed me on the street. They walked with purpose, and I guessed they were headed to the fancy restaurant around the corner.  I loitered, uncertain which direction to turn. Traffic was thinning, and most of the angled parking spots were empty as I strolled by.

When I turned back, I noticed a few people a block behind me. The group was loud and looked to be college-aged guys. I wondered if they came from the bar where Lucas was. I thought about heading toward them, to see if there was an alley or an entrance that I missed, but as I watched them from the corner, something told me not to.

The sky darkened. I hesitated, unable to take my eyes off them. One guy was pushed into the empty parking spot in the street, while another staggered forward, catching himself before he fell. Their voices carried in the still air, louder than the distant sound of a car horn and police siren.

I took a step closer to the darkened building behind me, hovering in the safety of its awning. But as the group continued toward me, increasing their stride, my heart began to race.

The tall one in the middle raised his arm and pointed at me. Someone whistled, while another yelled out, “Hey, where you goin’?”

The creep’s words echoed behind me as I hastily crossed the street, sprinting in front of a car, and then jogging to the opposite corner. Clark Street was darker than Sherman, with buildings on one side and only one streetlight mid-block. There was no sign of a bar, or an alley, or whatever Lucas said there would be.

Stuffing my fists in my pockets, I walk-ran down the sidewalk. I was warm under my jacket, despite the fall evening breeze.

“Hey, wait up!” the creep called.

I ignored him.

When I reached the streetlight, I checked over my shoulder. Reflections loomed in the bookstore’s window behind me. Glimpses of his friends running to catch up caught my eye before I again focused straight ahead.

“Yeah! You! Wait up! Where you going tonight?” the creep yelled.

“Want some company?” someone else asked, followed by more voices and words I couldn’t decipher.

Someone laughed a deep growl. “Wanna party?”

“You shouldn’t be alone out here.” The voices sounded closer.

The desire to run was overwhelming. I didn’t want to look scared.

“Never show fear,”
Dad once told me. Of course, he was referring to sports.
“Don’t let your opponent know you’re afraid,”
he said when I was smaller than the guard that defended me in basketball.

“Okay, Dad,” I whispered, as if he were there with me.

A gentle breeze carried the scent of fried food. It was suddenly a comforting, safe smell, and I found myself charging ahead. The illumination of the red-and-yellow sign shined in the distance.

Just one more building
, I thought. McDonald’s had never looked so good.

Out of the shadows, in a gap between two businesses, a heavyset woman appeared, wrapped in a long, beige sweater that looked too thin for the cool October evening. I jumped, stalling on the sidewalk momentarily.

Her warm eyes met mine briefly and, for the tiniest of moments, I felt better. At least I wasn’t alone any longer.

The woman passed by, as the creep caught up. Words flew between them and, for a second, I worried for her safety. Would the pack of drunks harass her, too? As much as I wanted to stop and help, a little voice in my head told me to run.

Before I could listen, he gripped my upper arm and spun me around to face him. Cold eyes met mine, and chills ran through my veins. I found myself unable to breathe as he stared at me, and his friends spoke to the woman.

“Hey, where you headed?” he asked.

“Um… I, ah…” I stammered and looked down. Everything about him was dark. An unzipped ebony jacket exposed a charcoal, button-down shirt tucked into ink-colored jeans. A gentle shake later, I felt compelled to look into his jet-black eyes.

“You really shouldn’t be alone out here at night. A pretty girl like you.”

“I… I have to go,” I said, though I didn’t move. His eyebrows rose, as his pupils dilated. Even his complexion was dark, not like the fair ivory skin I had. Something told me not to look him in the eye, but I couldn’t look away.

“No, you don’t. We haven’t even partied yet.”

“I need to go,” I said, struggling to get out of his hold.

“Leave her alone,” a deep voice from behind me called out.

A startled look crept up on the creep’s face, and he let go of my arm. Before he could change his mind, I turned and ran into the arms of my hero.

It was Ben.

Ben's Story

Emma’s heart rate was elevated when she fell into my arms.

I didn’t expect this kind of greeting and wasn’t prepared for the reaction my human body disclosed. Outwardly, I was awkward, afraid to touch her. My palms got clammy, and my breathing accelerated. Inside, I wanted nothing more than to hold her and sweep away her fear, to tell her who I was.

“Sorry.” She pulled back. Tears flowed down her cheeks.

“Hey… what’s going on?” I asked in the most soothing voice I could muster, given the hybrids nearby. Molly, disguised as an older woman, detained them momentarily. She kept her identity hidden, so as not to scare them away prematurely.

“These… these…” she whimpered before wiping her eyes and clearing her throat. “I’m sorry. It’s just that my phone died, I was lost… and then, these guys started following me. I… I was scared. That’s all.” She gave a weak smile, but I heard her thoughts when my hand rested on her arm. She was happy to see me, and it wasn’t just because of the situation.

I looked to the group of hybrids crossing the parking lot. They stood tall and confident, walking in a pack with the biggest one in the middle, slightly ahead of the other two. I nodded in their direction. “These the guys?”

She glanced at them. “Yes.”

“Go inside and wait for me.”

She nodded, and I watched her until she was safely in the restaurant. Molly remained in disguise, lingering between two buildings and near a portal, a safe distance away.

“Hey. The girl’s with us,” one of the hybrids called to me.
The balls of these guys
, I thought. Not that it surprised me.

I shook my head. “I don’t think so.”

“Yeah? Well, I do,” the blond-haired one answered as he moved closer to me.

A dozen agents that Molly summoned surrounded the hybrids in inconspicuous spots around the parking lot. Three were atop the two-story building next door, a handful were hidden between cars, and some were crouched behind bushes lining the parking lot. Several were even in plain sight on the sidewalk and in the restaurant.

What are you doing here?
I asked in a frequency they would be able to hear.
And what do you want with the girl?

The tall one, clearly the alpha by his position of lead hybrid amongst his two flanking rank, stopped mid-stride.
Something’s wrong,
he said to his buddies. He glanced around, not knowing the voice came from me.

You’re right. Something’s wrong. Where’s Victor?

With the mention of his name, the alpha hybrid nodded and the three dispersed in opposite directions, my team in pursuit. Frankly, I was getting tired of chasing hybrids, but I knew we needed to capture these guys. The tall one was not here to warn us like the one back in London.

This one was out to kill.

***

Emma watched from the window in McDonald’s entry. As I approached her and our eyes met, she smiled. It made leaving my team in London worthwhile.

“Hungry?” I asked.

She hesitated, but I insisted. Having held her in my arms minutes earlier, I knew her last meal was pancakes her aunt made for breakfast.

“So what are you doing here?” she asked after we got our food and sat down in a booth. “In Evanston, I mean. I thought Claire said you had some family thing.” She took a bite of her chicken salad.

“We did. Have some family thing. In Libertyville. My buddy and I are headed to a party down the street.” I nodded toward a couple at a booth on the other side of the restaurant. “And you? How did you get lost here in Evanston?”

I listened intently to her story. When she finished, I suggested calling Lucas and began to dial before she could protest.

“Lucas. How are ya?” I said when he answered. “I heard you’re here in Evanston. You with TJ and Drew?”

“No, they went back already. Where you at?”

“I’m just getting a burger, but I’m headed to a party in a few.”

“Oh. Yeah. We’re headed to the city now. To some club.”

“Really? That’s cool. Who’s with you?” I asked.

“Trent and some buddies of Ray’s. You know? My stepdad. This guy’s got some club downtown and doesn’t care that we’re minors. You wanna come?”

Tracking what Lucas was up to interested me, but when Emma’s eyes met mine, it didn’t matter. “Yeah, hey. I’d love to. But I’ve got friends waiting for me. Oh. And hey, I’ve got Emma here. She’s been looking for you. Her phone died or something. Here she is,” I said, handing over the phone.

Lucas was hanging out with his stepdad’s buddies. Something wasn’t right about that.

On it,
Molly said in response to my thoughts. I didn’t even have time to issue orders.

You shouldn’t be doing fieldwork,
I retorted. Then again, I camouflaged her from the action in London, so she likely didn’t realize the full impact of her exposure.

Let it go, Ben. I know about the hybrid in London.

I should’ve known the girls would talk
. I’d prefer you let tracking agents follow Lucas. You need to go back to Wisconsin, or at least meet Emma and I at the safe house.
She sneered.
Okay, fine. Do it your way. But I’m going on record as having directed against it.

Parker?
Jorgenson’s thoughts interrupted our conversation.
Commander E agrees with you, but there’s no other available agent with Molly’s experience. Bianca and Claire have subdued the hybrid in London and are detaining him now. By all expectations, we believe Victor to be in London, so if Molly’s up for it, let her do it.

Yes, sir,
I said, knowing I already lost the battle.

I ignored Emma’s conversation with Lucas. He’d let her down. At least I wasn’t the one to break the news he was a loser.

Lucas did it himself.

Emma's Story

Lucas was a jerk.

“I called you, and you didn’t answer. Emma, they were my ride. I
had
to go,” he said.

I shouldn’t have trusted him. And the worst part was that I couldn’t even complain to Aunt Barb about what happened since I wasn’t supposed to be here. What if I wouldn’t have run into Ben? I mean, really? Lucas just left, when I was on my way to meet him?

“Look, we’re at a house just a few blocks from the bar. We can come get you,” he said, then added, “if you want.”

“No, thanks,” I answered and hung up. I was steaming mad, and Lucas knew it. Even if Ben couldn’t take me back to my car in Highland Park, I knew there were trains running most of the night. I just had to get back to the Davis Street station, that was all. I picked at my salad, as Ben finished his burger. I wasn’t hungry anymore.

The couple Ben knew on the opposite side of the restaurant glanced our way. “Looks like they’re ready to go,” Ben said. The auburn-haired girl smiled back, and the guy nodded. They looked to be about our age, or maybe a little older.

“Oh.” It suddenly dawned on me that he wasn’t here to be my knight in shining armor, though he played that part well. My little crisis interrupted his plans for the night. “Sorry. Thanks for rescuing me… and for dinner.”

He put his hand on my arm. “Don’t go. Come with me… it’s just a few friends, and then I’ll drive you back.”

“Um… my car’s in Highland Park.”

“Okay, then I’ll drive you to your car. Later.”

My heart raced, and I was sure my face was bright red.

Of course, I had to accept his offer.

Ben's Story

Emma blushed easily.

I reached for her hand, as we crossed the street. Reading her thoughts, I was flattered. I held back my smile, made small talk, and occasionally glanced at the Sleeper Agents that I introduced as friends. They followed us the two blocks to the safe house on Clark. The single-family home on Hinman was much nicer, but with looming hybrids in the area, I couldn’t risk the distance. For now, the rundown, three-story, brown brick home would do. Not to mention, it was more realistic for a college party than the grandma-style Cape Cod.

Music thumped as we neared the safe house. Two agents on the porch greeted us when we arrived. They were rookies like Claire, but with other responsibilities. One tracked immortals, and the other did reconnaissance missions. The house was filled with agents from all divisions and tenures, a result of the Victor sighting and hybrid scare earlier that evening.

The tall building housed three apartments, one per floor. Doors were heavily guarded. Indestructible walls and unbreakable glass prevented unauthorized entrance. It was common in all safe houses. The only way in was with security clearance—something Victor would never receive. Even the portal in the attic was monitored.

“Hey, Ben!” a seasoned agent said, though we never worked together before. “Want a beer?”

“Sure. Emma, did you want one?” I asked, not letting go of her hand.

She nodded in response, although I felt her reluctance. I introduced her to the girls on the couch and the guys playing beer pong. She smiled and courteously asked and answered questions better than I expected, being the stranger in a group.

“Parker!” Pete Jorgenson’s spoken voice surprised me. I turned to see my handler with an open Guinness.

“Hey. Haven’t seen you in ages,” I said, shaking his extended hand. “Pete, this is Emma.” Jorgenson’s appearance was a youthful twenty, without the receding hairline we were accustomed to back in our world.

“Emma, good to meet you.” He reached for her hand and kissed the back of it.

A bit over the top, don’t you think?
I glared at him.

“It’s nice meeting you too, Pete.” Emma blushed.

“It’s about time Ben brought someone to one of our parties.” He winked at Emma, and then continued. “You don’t look like a beer-drinking girl. How about a hard lemonade?” He didn’t wait for a response. Instead, he turned toward a girl in the kitchen, who opened a bottle, poured its contents into an ice-filled plastic cup, and handed it to her.

“So, Emma, tell me about yourself. How did you and Parker, here, meet?” he asked, not skipping a beat.

I glared at him again.

Emma’s rosy cheeks turned fire red, and she looked to the floor.

“Oh, I don’t mean to put you on the spot,” Jorgenson said. “I’m just happy he’s found a girlfriend.”

I was about to scream in his thoughts, when Emma regained her confidence. “Actually, Pete,” she said, “we’re just friends. Ben was my knight in shining armor tonight. He found me wandering and lost… with no cell phone.”

“Is that right?”

She nodded, taking a sip from her drink.  “How long have you known Ben?” Emma asked.

“Seems like forever,” he responded, glancing my way. He took a liking to her spunkiness, which was good for me since it allowed me to fix Emma’s phone and check in on my team. It was a window of distraction that Pete took advantage of. He and Emma began whispering and laughing.

What did you find?
I asked Molly after learning that Claire and Bianca had everything under control back in London.

I followed the alpha’s scent back to a house on Astor,
she answered.

Any sign of the hybrid or his pack?

One was caught. Two are at large. He’s being held in the city,
she said.
The house has been cleared. I’m going in.
I watched through her eyes as she opened the wrought iron gate, climbed the handful of stairs, and entered through the double doors. The foyer was rich in detail with wide, cherry trim. To the left was a long sitting room. A Victorian loveseat in dark blue was against the wall. Rose-colored wing chairs sat at the window, separated by a pedestal table with an old, hand-painted red lamp.

As Molly ventured deeper into the room, she noticed a buffet near the open staircase. Atop the chest were antique photo frames filled with pictures of men and women. Her heart thumped faster, as she glanced at the collection. Memories of the London apartment filled her thoughts.

A picture of a young, dark-haired man with an older gentleman caught her eye. She picked it up and stared into it, though she didn’t speak her thoughts. Others were of the same younger man in various stages and outfits. Some looked hundreds of years old, while others only decades. She opened the top drawer of the chest and found dozens of loose prints. Molly shuffled through them and again found the image—the same photo—of herself.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she gasped. This time, it was because the note in pencil on the back read
Mom.