46. Lazarus #2
Revenant assuring me that the twins will be fine has my heart skipping beats as I wonder what would have happened to them when we took that exit. I thought I heard gunshots, but I couldn’t be certain.
Techno asking me to turn on a beacon setting in my phone with step-by-step instructions is the next message.
Salem’s message asking what building I’m in and where the omegas are gives hope that this will shortly be a nightmare behind me.
I start with what I can help with most. I text Salem what I can accurately describe about the buildings, where I saw Honey disappear to, and where I am currently.
Then I start following the directions for whatever a ‘beacon setting’ is on my phone.
I’ve finished the final step when the doorknob rattles.
Expressly, I tuck my phone away and wait for whatever will come next.
The doorknob rattles for a moment more before the door is pushed in, and Salem slips inside.
He closes it behind him and leans against the wood before raising his finger to his lips.
Outside, two alphas boisterously carry on a conversation as they walk by. When they’re finally out of earshot, Salem braces himself on his knees and draws a few deep breaths.
But he looks up at me with an amused grin. “Thought for sure I was caught there. Damn card trick wasn’t working on the handle, and then the deadbolt almost had me beat against the pick set. So, fancy seeing you here.”
Salem’s nervous joke is evident. He’s definitely shaken about nearly being caught.
“You need to save the omegas before you save me.” I point him right back out the door he came in.
“I’ll need help getting the omegas out of here.
I looked in the windows of that building, and there are at least eight rooms, and some rooms have more than one omega.
The sun hasn’t set yet, and I’m just one guy.
Techno is waiting in the tree line to cloak the omegas I bring back, but it’s a long and exposed run to get there. ” He argues with a shake of his head.
“They’ll be coming back for me before they deal with the omegas.” I explain. Unless we could get all the omegas out of here in time.
But eight rooms, some having double omegas. Even with the cloak of my shadow, on the journey to Techno, it would take time. Especially if we only move a couple at a time to stay under the level of suspicion.
“The other option is we wait it out until Rev can get here with the club. But I’m kinda wondering how much danger we’re in.
Techno did some scouting, and we found an armory.
” Salem lets that thought hang in the room like a bad omen.
“It was supposed to be four of us, but they shot Zephyr, and Phoenix is down with a nasty fall from his bike. I don’t know the details, but it’s bad. ”
My heart stutters, and I twitch, wanting to get back to the two of them. But I take control of the situation. I force myself to remain calm. “Go and start saving the omegas. They are currently deciding whether they are going to kill me or hurt Honey. It could be a very short discussion.”
“Alright, you’re the boss.” Salem draws a breath. “I hope to see you again.”
He turns and peeks out before slinking off into the low-hanging sun, leaving the door unlocked behind him.
The choice I made hangs heavy over my head.
I pace the hallway between the rooms. Back and forth, trying to reassess and reassure myself that this is what is necessary.
But I know I’m right. They’ll choose to kill me.
It goes against every doctrine, but an omega has more worth than an excommunicated alpha.
That doesn’t mean they won’t wait until later to fulfill their sentencing.
After only a minute of pacing, I pause at the door, ready to follow Salem out, when the sound of footsteps draws nearer. Backing away from the door, I steady myself, ready for what might come.
“Shit, he didn’t lock the door.”
“If Asa escaped, it’s not me who will pay for the sin.”
The door pushes open, and two younger alphas are on the other side. The look of relief as they see me is almost enough to have me feeling it for them.
One of the alphas offers a tome to me. “Prophet Clement wanted you to have this. I’m supposed to tell you that it should remind you of where you came from.”
I step forward toward the two of them with my hand extended to take the tome. “It’s nothing personal.”
My shadow behaves as it should, slithering sinuously around them. They don’t know they’re on death’s doorstep until it’s too late. The serpent suffocates the life out of them while they claw uselessly at air.
I withdraw my shadow as soon as I’m certain they’re dead. Perhaps I should feel bad for killing them; they’re young, younger than the twins.
But House of Apostles has been corrupted. The offenses against the twins are just marks added to a rapidly growing list. It’s time for the doors to be shuttered and those who are faithful to find a new place to worship.
Salem is nowhere to be found when I open the door.
The entire yard and public areas of the community are barren.
Walking across the open grounds would be the quickest way to the omegas.
But it’s the most exposed. I do what I assume Salem would be smart enough to do and slip around behind the buildings.
The sun has nearly set, and my shadow cloaks up around me, obscuring the hard lines of my body into the darkness surrounding me.
I find Salem one building over. He’s crouched down, hands resting in the sparsely weed-covered dirt.
“Salem,” I whisper, alerting him to my presence.
He holds up one finger, silencing me.
I stalk forward all the same, and when I come into range, I hear why he was silencing me.
It’s Jerome speaking. “If he can be brought back into the fold —”
“Enough. Asa has to go,” Clement snarls.
They’re arguing, standing in the building next to us, near the window.
I wrap my shadow’s cloak around Salem, and together we move forward, inching our way through the darkness past their window.
Two buildings to go, and we’re onto the next task in our quest, and I am feeling premature relief that we’re nearly done.
Salem crouches low at the end of the building, looking around from the lowest vantage point before flagging me forward behind him. I can’t help but feel pride in my chest, for he’s come so far from the scrappy little beta he was to a more honed member of the club.
“Are there seriously no betas in this place?” Salem mumbles as we watch a group of alphas, various ages, walk across the center ground of the community toward the gathering hall.
“No betas.” I confirm before explaining the doctrine. “They’re to find their own way to God.”
“No wonder betas are mostly polytheists,” he grumbles before moving again to the next building, and then, finally, we move to the front of where the omegas are sequestered.
Salem works the deadbolt open and then the handle locks until they’re free.
Once we’re inside, my shadow snakes into the lock on the first door.
Any one of these doors could contain Honey, and I wish our bond was complete so I could sense her better.
Please, God, let her be in this room. But it’s not her.
It’s a little omega, hardly even in her teenage years, huddled in the corner.
“I am here to get you out of here. Do you wish to be rescued and taken somewhere safe?” I offer my hand to her.
She’s not dressed in the clothes of the faithful. It is not likely she has family within House of Apostles.
She nods and struggles to stand. My shadow immediately rushes to her aid, helping her to her feet and then steadying her as she walks across the small room.
Salem leads the way, carrying the omega from the room he entered.
I close the door behind us and then cloak us as we slip into the darkness.
We move straight down the row behind the houses of the faithful, all the way to the far tree line.
It’s nearly a mile of walking to get to where Techno waits in the trees.
“I thought you were never coming back.” He shakes his head in frustration but takes no time in swapping my shadow’s cloak for his and covering the omegas. “Revenant and the club are almost here. Two minutes max. We have orders to leave no alphas alive and to bring any omega we can.”