Morningside Fall (30 page)

It was the tallest building for miles around, and even though it wasn’t all that high compared to many places she’d been before, the unbroken urban sprawl that surrounded them made Cass feel like they were on an island mountain amidst a concrete sea. What she saw when she reached the edge, however, took her breath away.

Far below, what looked like hundreds of Weir teemed throughout the enclave and the surrounding area, swarming like insects from an overturned nest. Just in front of the building, however, a stationary knot of them had formed. Most of the ones in motion didn’t seem to be following any particular pattern, but whenever an individual drew near the cluster, it quickly diverted its path to join the group, like iron filings collecting around a magnet. Even stranger, they had all gone utterly silent.

“I just don’t understand it,” Sky said, as he watched the creatures scurrying below. “They wiped out the whole enclave?”

“Looks that way,” Gamble said. “And then took it over.”

“I’ve never heard of that happening before. Ever.”

“Me neither. Like Swoop said, I hadn’t really thought about where they went after dark. Never would’ve guessed that, though.”

Everything about it seemed wrong. Even more wrong than usual. Cass thought back to the night they’d attacked the gate of Morningside. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something about the Weir had changed. Something significant. Something dire.

“You think they can see us up here?” Sky asked.

“Tough to say,” Gamble said. Then she looked at Cass. “What do you think, Miss Cass?”

Cass stared down over ninety feet. Even through her veil, the sunlight affected the details she could make out like a thin mist.

“I’m not sure if they
see
the same way I do,” she said. “But I can make out the shapes fine, just not much detail.”

“I didn’t think they’d come out in the daylight,” Sky said.

“They usually don’t on their own. It isn’t natural,” Gamble said.

“Nothing about them is,” Sky replied. He gave Cass a little look out of the corner of his eye right after he said it, like he hadn’t meant to say it out loud, or he was afraid she’d take it the wrong way, but Sky didn’t say anything else.

“I think Wren’s right,” Cass said. “They know we’re in the building. But I have no clue what they’re doing about it.”

“Never known them to be much for planning,” Mouse said from behind them. He came up and stood next to Cass, between her and Gamble.

“How’s Wick?” Gamble asked.

Mouse shook his head. “I’m worried.”

“You’re always worried when someone’s hurt,” Sky said.

“Not like this,” Mouse answered. “I think he’s got some internal bleeding. Lots of ways for that to be real bad, and most of ’em I can’t do anything about out here. Could go into hypovolaemic shock, might be fluid leaking into his chest cavity…” He shook his head. “Even if it stops on its own, things get too heavy, his blood pressure could drop to critical.”

“So, what’re you saying?” Gamble asked, and the fear was evident in her voice, no matter how much she was trying to control it.

Mouse wouldn’t look at her. He just kept staring down at all the Weir below. “I’m saying we don’t all get out of here without some kind of miracle.”

“Finn know?” Sky asked.

“Not yet.”

“How about Wick?”

“He knows he’s in trouble. Pretending he’s not.”

They all stood in silent thought after that, each no doubt running through the scenario from every angle they could think of, looking for a good solution. Nothing was presenting itself to Cass. It’d never occurred to her that any of Gamble’s team might not survive, not really. Up until now, they’d all seemed invincible. But now, in that moment, everything became entirely too possible.

And then the Weir broke the silence.

“
Spshhhh. Naaaah
.”

The call, or chant. Worse this time. A chorus in perfect unison from every single Weir in that cluster.

“
Spshhhh. Naaaah
.”

The Weir stood down below, packed tightly together, staring up at the roof. Stragglers continued to join the cluster. And as they did, they each took up the call. They were packed so closely together it was almost impossible to get a count on how many there were, but Cass estimated a hundred or so.

“What is going on down there?” Sky said.

“I don’t know, but I hate it,” Gamble said.

“Can I start shooting?”

“Not yet.”

“
Spshhhh. Naaaah
.”

“I know what it is,” Wren said from behind them. Cass hadn’t even heard him walk up. They all turned and looked at him. He was standing just a few feet away, eyes wide and glassy, even paler than usual. “I know what it is, now.”

“
Spshhhh. Naaaah
.”

“What is it, baby?” Cass asked, knowing in her heart whatever the answer was, it would be more frightening than the uncertainty.

He looked at her with absolute despair.

“They’re saying ‘Spinner’, Mama. They’re saying my name.”

Cass involuntarily grabbed Mouse’s arm. He in turn caught her arm in reflexive support, but she knew that he didn’t understand what Wren was saying. None of the others did. But now that Wren had made the connection, she knew he was right, no matter how much she wanted to deny it.

“
Spshhhh. Naaaah
.”

She could hear it too, now. The electronic squall was no longer just bursts of white noise. Instead, inhuman voices mimicking human speech.

“What?” Sky said.

“What are you talking about, Wren?” Gamble asked.

Wren walked closer to the edge and peered down. “It’s Asher. He’s in the Weir.”

C
ass regained herself and let go of Mouse’s arm, and his grip on her relaxed, though his hand lingered protectively. She went down on a knee next to her son, spoke in a low voice.

“It can’t be, Wren,” Cass said. “Asher’s gone. You sent him away.”

“But sent him where, Mama?” he asked, not looking at her. She didn’t have an answer.

“I don’t understand,” Gamble said. “You mean your brother’s one of them down there?”

Wren took another step closer to the edge of the building, but Cass reached out and grabbed his shoulder. He stopped in place, just stared down at the crowd of Weir still chanting below.

“No,” he said, shaking his head. “He’s
all
of them.”

It was almost too much to comprehend, the very idea too much to bear. After the events in Underdown’s throne room, when Wren brought Cass back to herself and Three lay dying, Asher had been there on the floor. At least his body had been. His eyes had been open, fixed and staring, but there had been no life in him. It hadn’t been any use asking Wren what he’d done to his half-brother; he didn’t exactly know himself. But as terrible as Asher had been, and as dangerous, Wren had still never really forgiven himself for taking Asher’s life.

I just wanted him to stop
, was all he would say.

Could it be that somehow, in some way, when Asher’s mind had been cast out of his body, he hadn’t truly been destroyed? Cass looked down at her hands, the slender fingers with their metal blades beneath the nails. There had been a time before that she could’ve believed it impossible. No longer. As shocking as it was for her mind to accept, she found she didn’t need to fully understand it to find herself believing.

“
Spshhhh. Naaaah
.”

“What’s ‘Spinner’?” Sky asked. “What does that mean?”

“It’s what Asher used to call Wren. Before,” Cass explained. “They called us different names.”

“So you’re saying your dead brother is controlling those things down there?”

Wren nodded.

“How do you know?” Gamble asked.

“I can feel him,” Wren said.

In the street below, the cluster of Weir remained pressed together. Others still wandered in and around the enclave, but no more joined the group. A number of them even seemed to be returning to the buildings from which they had come.

“He’s different,” Wren said, after a moment, “…but not.”

“What does that mean for us?” Mouse asked.

“Nothing good, I’m sure,” Gamble said. “But for now the situation hasn’t really changed, has it? I mean, if we kill all of ’em, will that be the end of it?”

“I don’t know,” Wren answered. “I don’t think so.”

There was noise back behind them, across the roof, and Cass turned to see Finn and Swoop rejoining the team. Both went immediately to Wick. Finn crouched down beside his brother. Swoop remained standing and seemed to exchange a few words with Wick, before heading over towards Gamble and the rest of them.

“How we lookin’?” Swoop asked.

“Not good,” Gamble said.

Gamble gave Swoop the rundown, as much as she could. There wasn’t really any good way to try to describe or explain what was going on with the Weir. Swoop took it all in with his usual stoicism.

“What about the rest of ’em?” Swoop asked.

“What do you mean?” Gamble said.

“Looks like about a hundred or so down there. Why aren’t they all together?” he asked.

“I have no idea.”

“Maybe he can’t control them all,” Wren said.

Finn and Able joined the group.

“Who’s on the door?” Swoop asked as they approached.

“Wick’s got it,” Finn said.

Swoop glanced at Mouse, but Mouse didn’t say anything.

“I know he’s in trouble,” Finn said, replying to the look. “He’s hurt, not dead. He’s got the door. So what are we doing?”

Everyone looked at Gamble.

“If anyone’s got ideas, now’s a good time,” Gamble said.

Swoop started off. “Blow the door. Shoot the rest. Make a run for it.”

“We’re not running,” Mouse said. “Not with Wick in the shape he’s in.”

“We can start picking them off from up here,” Sky said. “See how many we can get through.”

Gamble shook her head. “We’re not going to kill a whole town’s worth. Not before sundown.”

“I’m light on ammo anyway,” Finn said. “How about you all?”

“Same,” Swoop said.

Able waggled his hand, indicating he still had some, but not as much as he’d like.

“No chance they’re going to leave us alone, I guess,” Mouse said.

“Wouldn’t count on it,” Gamble said.

“We could go back in, start reinforcing floor by floor,” Finn said. “Start at the top, work our way down. See how far we get before they come. Try to get them choked up in the tight spots.”

“Take it to blade-work then,” Gamble said.

Finn nodded. “Haven’t had to reload one yet.”

Everyone stood silently considering. It would be hours of work, clearing and reinforcing each floor. And there was no telling when the Weir might actually launch their attack. For now they seemed to be content to stand out front, but Cass didn’t expect them to remain that way. Certainly when night came, the enclave would empty, and the full strength of the Weir would be upon them. And then they would have to fight until morning.

Images from the battle on the night they escaped Morningside flashed through her mind. They would never last.

“What about Lil?” Cass said.

Eyes turned to her.

“What about her?” Gamble replied.

“I could pim her. Maybe they could help.”

“I don’t see how,” Swoop said.

“I know they don’t look like much,” Cass answered, “but they lived in the open – in a village without walls – for years. They’re fighters.”

The team exchanged looks. Cass didn’t know what other options they thought they had. The sun was high, nearly noon already. “And they’re the only ones close enough to do anything.”

“Might not be time enough for them to get here and us to all make it back,” Finn said.

“Then we should probably ask them to get started now,” Cass said.

Can’t hurt to ask,
Able signed.
Maybe they know something we don’t.

Gamble gave a little nod. “Alright, do it.”

Cass pimmed Lil. She explained the situation as best she could, hoping to impress upon her how much trouble they were in – without making it sound like she was inviting them to certain death. After hearing it all, Lil told Cass she would talk to her people and see what they could come up with.

“She’s going to get back to us,” Cass told the others.

Five minutes passed. Ten. In the street below, the Weir remained pressed together, but they had thankfully given up their chant. The others had disappeared. Cass guessed they’d all returned to the shelter of the enclave. Mouse went to check on Wick again, and the rest of the team split time between watching the Weir and standing around restlessly.

Fifteen minutes. Still nothing.

“They’re not coming,” Swoop finally said. “And we’re losing on our own time here. I’m with Finn. Reinforce what we can, pull a staged retreat. Take as many of ’em as we can.”

“Roof as a final fallback,” Finn said. “Only one way up. Maybe we can choke the stairs with their dead. Make ’em change their minds.”

“If we blow the lower stairwell, we might be able to hold them there for a while.”

“How long do you think it’ll take to set up?” Gamble asked.

“Pretty much as long as we have,” Swoop said.

“Then let’s get started. Sky, keep eyes on, let us know if there’s any change. Mouse, stay close to Wick. Cass, Painter, I’m going to need you to come help.”

It was as they were crossing the roof back towards the stairwell that Lil finally pimmed Cass a simple message: “We’re coming.”

“Hold on,” Cass said to the team. “She says they’re coming. They’re on the way.”

“How long?” Gamble asked.

Cass asked Lil for an estimate, and communicated the reply. “Three hours.”

“And what’re they going to do when they get here?”

“Whatever you tell them to.”

Gamble thought for a moment, while the others stood by. “Mouse.” She waved him over, and they spoke together in lowered voices. “If we put him on a litter, can we move Wick out?”

“If we have to move him, yeah, that’s our best bet. But that’ll put us down three shooters.”

Gamble nodded. “You’ve got one?”

“Collapsible, in my pack, yeah.”

“You know when you whisper, I can tell you’re talking about me, right?” Wick called.

“We’re trying to decide whether to roll you down the stairs or just drop you over the edge,” Finn answered.

“Either one’s better than all this sitting around,” Wick said. He was trying to keep it light, but his voice already sounded thinner than usual.

“Swoop,” Gamble said, “how’s downstairs rigged?”

“Trip on the door, thirty-second delay off that on the stairs, plus another trip at the top.”

“How tough to rewire the door to a clacker?”

“Easy day… Unless they decide to come knockin’ while I’m workin’ on it.”

“Alright. Change of plans, gentlemen,” Gamble said. “We’re going to do some blockade running.”

“So, pretty much what I said the first time?” Swoop said.

“Yes, Swoop, you’re very smart, we should always listen to you, et cetera. We’ve still got to hold out three hours.”

Gamble quickly laid out the plan. Mouse, Sky, and the three principals would remain on the roof with Wick: Sky to relay information about the Weir and their movements, Mouse to keep an eye on Wick, and the others, Cass assumed, largely to stay out of the way.

Swoop, Finn, Able, and Gamble were all headed back down to the bottom floor to rewire the explosives. Or rather, the three of them would provide security while Swoop did the work. And if the Weir came while they were down there, they would try to make a withdrawal up the stairs while continually engaging.

“And if that doesn’t work…” Gamble said, looking at Cass with a flat expression. “Good luck.” She held out her jittergun to Cass.

“You keep it,” Cass said.

“Won’t do you any good if it’s on me and we get overrun.”

“Don’t get overrun then.”

Gamble extended the gun out further and bobbed it up and down, waiting for Cass to take it. Cass held her hand palm out, and then flipped it around. Her thin blades sprang from their housing under her fingernails with a
snick.
For a moment the two women just looked at each other. And then, with a sigh, Gamble returned the jittergun to her leg holster.

“I can come with you, you know,” Cass said.

Gamble shook her head. “Better up here. Puts four shooters top and bottom. Well… three shooters and Miss Fancy Nails up top, I guess.” She flashed a quick smile. “Back in a few.”

The four of them headed towards the stairs, but Finn stopped and jogged back. He knelt down by Wick and put his head against his brother’s, and whispered a few words. Wick gave a little nod and patted him on the cheek. Then Finn rejoined the others and they disappeared down the darkened corridor.

“What do
we
do?” Painter asked.

“I suppose we wait,” Cass said.

“And hope the Weir don’t get tired of just standing around,” Sky said. He gave a little nod and returned to his position at the edge of the roof. Painter went and found a place near one of the large ventilation shaft covers, where he could be in the sun, but out of the wind. He plopped his pack down to use as a pillow and stretched out on his back, with an arm over his eyes.

Wick, of course, was still sitting, propped against some of the packs, with his rifle laid across another one where he could keep it aimed at the door. Mouse grabbed two of the packs off the ground, one in each hand, and lugged them over towards the door. Cass guessed they were a good sixty pounds each, but he didn’t seem to have too much trouble with them. He swung the door shut with his foot, and then piled the packs in front of it, one on top of the other.

“Gamble, Mouse,” he said. “Door’s braced, let me know when you’re on your way back up.”

Wren had gone to join Sky by the roof’s edge. He had his hood up, and was sitting cross-legged next to him. Cass walked over and sat down beside her son.

They all sat in silence for a time, watching the Weir down below. As terrible as they were, Cass found that the fear they inspired was diminished by the broad daylight. Surely the darkness of night lent them some greater measure of terror. Even so, seeing so many gathered as one force was daunting. The thought of the battle that awaited them was not one she relished.

But at the same time, if what Wren said was true, if Asher was alive in some measure, and exerting control over those creatures, something stirred within her at the idea of doing all she could to destroy them. Asher had hounded them long enough, had caused them more than a lifetime’s worth of sorrow. Cass would do whatever it took to ensure that he would never reach Wren again.

And another thought hung like a black cloud in the back of her mind, one she didn’t even want to acknowledge. The great dreadful unknown that had haunted her since her Awakening: the fear that she might somehow revert to a mindless thrall of the Weir. Now, a new possibility arose, more nightmarish than any previously conceived.

If Asher had found his way into the Weir, was there anything preventing him from reclaiming Cass as well?

“Hey, Governor,” Sky said. “All those down there. Any chance you could wake any of them?”

Wren was still and quiet for a few moments – before he finally shook his head slowly.

“Yeah,” Sky said. “Just thought I’d ask. Makes me feel better if I know that before I have to shoot them.”

The comment lingered in the air, heavy with the imminent storm that awaited them all.

“Could you do it again?” Cass asked. “Could you send Asher away again?”

“I don’t know, Mama,” Wren said. “I wouldn’t know where to start.” She leaned forward so she could see his face beneath his hood, and his eyes were sweeping back and forth, as if searching for a solution. “It’s him. I know it’s him. But he’s different somehow. He seems… bigger.”

Cass didn’t know what to make of that. Though it seemed that she so rarely knew what to make of anything these days. She put her arm around her son, not knowing what else to do.

“I wish Three were here,” Wren said.