Chapter 14
FOURTEEN
SLOAN
Everyone stood still as Sloan’s whistle died in the presence of the still air. The soldiers surrounding every side of the triangle ring looked at one another uneasily.
“There’re twenty rifles pointed at us now.” Sloan looked over to Kimberly. “Don’t do anything rash until help gets here.”
“Help?” Kimberly looked at her confused.
“All right, then.” Captain Tensor took a step forward, confident in his victory. “Hands on your head, step down from the ring, one by one.”
Sloan did as she was instructed, lacing her fingers together and resting them on top of her head.
“Sloan, what are you doing?” Edison did a double take. “We aren’t really going to surrender to these guys, are we? They’ll have us shipped back to New Hope in a second.”
“Trust me.” Sloan began to walk forward. Maneuvering her body through the ring ropes was a bit awkward with her hands on her head, but with difficulty she managed. Every move of her legs and torso reminded her exactly how sore she was.
“Just like that.” Captain Tensor coaxed Sloan forward. Finally, lowering his weapon, he held out a pair of chains. “Thought you were being clever when you turned your back on queen and country, did you? Well, look where it’s gotten you now, you stupid child.”
Any regret Sloan had in her heart for what atrocity was going to soon befall the captain and his soldiers was snuffed out like a candle in the presence of a storming gale.
“Thank you, captain.” Sloan stopped in front of the soldier now with her hands still on top of her head. “You’ve cleared my conscience for what is about to happen to you next.”
Captain Tensor looked like he was about to say something. The words never escaped his lips. Instead, a howl permeated the air around the entire group. A howl so chilling, it even made Sloan shiver in its presence.
Easy girl, he’s on your side, Sloan reminded herself. At least, I hope he’s still on my side.
The howl came again, now so close, soldiers were looking all around them for the origin of such a noise. Then, a black mass materialized from over the east wall. Everyone gasped and shouts ripped through the air as musket fire erupted in a volley of sparks and smoke.
Sloan ran from her spot near Captain Tensor. She almost forgot Elwood’s sound advice. Before she turned to join her friends in the ring, she placed a swift kick to the captain’s nether regions. He crumpled to the ground like a marionette with broken strings.
“Wait, don’t shoot him!” Sloan slid back into the ring under the ropes. She placed herself in front of Kimberly’s two guards, who were struggling to find targets in the mayhem happening outside the ring. “He’s a friend.”
“Are you crazy?” With wild, wide eyes, Kimberly was looking at the monster Aareth had become. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“What have you become my friend?” Edison looked on with a sadness Sloan had never seen from the energetic scientist. “What have you become?”
“You have to trust me on this one.” Sloan grabbed both rifles Kimberly’s guards held, one in each hand. She twisted the muzzles up, bending both weapons so they would be incapable of firing a single round.
The two guards looked at one another with wide eyes.
“Kill them!” Captain Tensor’s voice found room over the sharp rings of gunfire. “Kill the traitors in the ring.”
Sloan and the rest of the group in the ring hit the canvas as rifles swung toward them and sent a shower of lead in their direction. Sloan chanced a look over to where Aareth was tearing soldiers limb from limb.
He was a mass of black fur, bloody teeth, and claws.
Wherever he turned, death followed in his wake.
He had already worked his way through one side of the triangle ring and was making short work of the next.
In seconds, he would be on the final section where Captain Tensor was still shouting to his men to ignore the beast and kill everyone in the ring.
Sloan knew she couldn’t let her friends lie there and be targets for the soldiers to pick off. As tired as she was, she forced herself to her feet once again.
Her muscles screamed at her, but there was no other option. Sloan needed to be a shield for those who couldn’t protect themselves.
Bullets ripped at her arms and legs. They felt like punches that brought a stinging sensation with them, but in a heartbeat, the pain was gone and Sloan’s body was already beginning the healing process.
“You!” Captain Tensor ignored Aareth, who had already rounded the corner and was tearing into the men right next to the captain. “This is all your doing!”
Captain Tensor reached into his belt and pulled out a flintlock pistol. With a smooth, practiced motion, he extended his arm. His left eye closed as he took aim.
Sloan had to give the man credit. Aareth was baring down on him and still the captain held his cool.
That was the last thing Sloan remembered as the bullet from his pistol struck her in the head. She stumbled backwards, and everything went black.