“And you know where this is?” Yorro asked.
“Yes, and how to stop it,” Treycore added. “We have a weapon that can destroy it, but we’re gonna need help to get there.”
“You’re just telling me this now?”
“We’re playing this all by ear, and we need to get to Washington State, but we can’t get there on our own. Or at least, it’d be easier if we had some people to help us fight our way through these fucking monsters.”
“And you want me and my men to help you fight these dogs so we can get to this thing, I take it. To leave our families and friends defenseless so that we can head on what must surely be some sort of suicide mission to take on whatever the hell is creating these monsters?”
“Yes.”
“Fuck that bullshit,” one of his guys said.
“We don’t even know this guy, boss,” added another. “He could be working with the Almighty.”
Yorro scanned Treycore up and down. “I’ll come with you.”
A ruckus started up, the various members calling his decision into question.
“We can’t leave our families,” one of the many dissenting voices called out.
“I’m not asking anyone to leave here,” Yorro said, his voice stern, commanding an authority that was surely the reason he was the leader of this pack. “I’m going, and I expect you guys to stay here and watch over this place, make sure everyone stays safe in my absence. Raid, I’m placing you in charge.”
“Not happening, Yorro. I’m coming with you.”
Yorro shook his head. “I’m sorry, but that’s not an option. Someone has to stay behind and keep our group safe. Lanzar, Fyrow, I want you both to come with me, but it’s a request, not an order.”
“Of course we’re with you, boss,” Fyrow said, and Lanzar followed with, “Yeah, we gotta keep your ass safe so you can get back here.”
Yorro chuckled before turning back to Treycore. “Well, looks like you got yourself a new team.”
Treycore was relieved to hear it. “Then allow me to debrief you on a few things…”
***
Kinzer, Hayde, Quintz, and Eilee spent a couple of hours traveling through the sky from the portal to their meet-point. It wasn’t too far from the portal they’d entered Earth through. Just long enough that Quintz felt like his arms were about to fall off from carrying Eilee for so long. Hayde surely was just as depleted from carrying Kinzer, who had volunteered all-too-eagerly for the alleged traitor to carry him. Despite how angry Kinzer was with Hayde, Quintz knew there was more to their story.
He’d known something was amiss all along, but after speaking with Hayde about Maggie at the Seredey Sanctuary, he was even more certain of it. Kinzer had told him about what Hayde had supposedly done, but there was more to the story. Hayde was lying about whatever had happened. He didn’t know why, but certainly a guy who didn’t give a shit about Kinzer wouldn’t have been so eager to keep by his side in his time of need, or carry him so close as they flew to their destination. Hayde cared about Kinzer, and Kinzer shared something in return for him—something that bothered Quintz, especially as he had grown increasingly fond of Kinzer, even more than he thought he would before he had fought with Aerysn to add Kinzer to their team.
“Right there,” Quintz said, nodding toward a cabin in the hillside.
He led their descent, moving them quickly through the cool breeze. As he landed, he made sure Eilee was able to find her bearings quickly.
In a silver silk dress she’d packed to change into after they’d crossed into the mortal realm, she walked across the grass toward the two-story log cabin. It was one of the many facilities Siege had procured to use in such instances.
Quintz retrieved a key that was hidden under a rock in a garden of bushes before the front porch, and they headed inside. Quintz found an old radio, turned it on, and caught up on the most recent events, trying to see if the apocalypse had bled into the mortal realm yet. It didn’t take him long to discover it had, and he and his companions listened in horror as newscasters reported about the monsters that now ravaged Earth. Quintz knew, more than any of them, that meant they didn’t have much time.
He led them into the kitchen, where they sat at the table for six.
“We need to discuss a plan of attack,” Kinzer said.
“We can do that tomorrow,” Quintz told him. “Right now, I’m going to fly around and see if I can’t find a town or something—steal a cell phone. Aerysn left me with a number of one he stole after he fled Heaven. If I can reach him, then I can get an ETA for when they’ll be here.”
“Fair enough,” Kinzer said.
Quintz wasn’t thrilled about making the journey, but after half an hour’s rest, he went on his way, found a nearby town, and stole a cell phone from one of the first houses he came to. He called Aerysn immediately, and to his relief, he was there. Speaking in code, they assured one another they were okay and that they would see one another soon. They didn’t want to press their luck beyond that. Then he returned to the cabin and told the others Treycore and Kid would be arriving soon…and the sooner the better.
They didn’t have time to hesitate. They needed to strike before Janka and his army of grundars became too powerful. Before there was nothing of Earth left to save.
