1
LENNON
Gunpowder and blood scent the air. Although soon, it’s going to be murder, if this bitch so much as twitches.
Holding my gun aimed between the two of them, I dig out my phone with my spare hand. My hand is shaking so bad, it’s hard to dial the number.
Thankfully, I get through on the first attempt.
“I need assistance.” I interrupt the person answering before they can get out a hello. Under me, a soft whine adds to my panic. My phone drops from my hand and the call disconnects. Taking a slow, steadying breath, I wipe my bloody hand and dial the Alliance hotline again.
A man’s voice interrupts. “Where are you? Are you okay?”
“I need help. Please.”
Cradling the phone between my shoulder and the side of my head, I triple check the parking garage and Ares again. The floor we’re on remains clear, and he keeps breathing, both good signs.
“Can you tell me where you are? I can get a pickup team sent to you,” the man says, his voice calm and steady.
“I’m at the back of the Entertainment Centre, in the main park station.” My stress is making my mouth dry and my voice croaky. I cough before I talk again. “I’m okay.”
“That’s downtown Darlington, right?” I hear the distinctive sound of a keyboard in the background as he talks.
“Yeah.”
“Give me a second.” He mutes our call. It only takes a couple of seconds before he comes back. “Okay, I have a team about five minutes away.”
I can do five minutes. I sink to my knees in relief, hoping that Ares can do five minutes too.
“Where are you exactly?”
It’s weird, but it’s like I’ve forgotten. Looking around, things make more sense. An orange pillar is next to me, and I find more of them now my panic is subsiding. “Orange level. Basement three in the underground garage on Third and West.”
Everything is coming back now that the initial shock is wearing off. And it’s like I become hyper aware. The thundering bass from the nearby concert echoes in the background. The carpark feels deserted except for me, and them. I purposely block their offensive scents, focusing on the comforting familiarity of Ares.
“My car is here,” I offer as an afterthought.
The man from the Alliance types some more before he starts talking again. “You have your car there?”
“Yeah,” I answer back quickly.
“Get in your car. Lock the doors.”
He barely finishes speaking, and I hiss back at him. “I can’t lift my dog. He’s hurt.”
“You need to save yourself.” His tone changes slightly as he gets more persuasive and bullish.
“I’m not leaving my dog,” I snap. But as soon as I say it, I feel bad.
He can’t see me; he doesn’t understand why I can’t pick my dog up. And he definitely doesn’t understand how important Ares is to me.
Clearly though, he’s more astute than I gave him credit for. His voice drops low as he tries to pacify my rising tension. “Okay, sorry.”
He keeps his tone subdued, making his voice easier to listen to as he starts continually updating as soon as he knows. “How are you going? I’ve got a team nearly there; they’ll be able to help. Do you need an ambulance?”
His question makes me focus, and I have to actually look down at myself. Nothing hurts too bad. I know I haven’t broken a bone or been stabbed. But I also know I’m running on adrenaline so anything is possible. It takes a few moments and I look at the gash on my arm, trying to figure out how bad it is. “I’ll need medical attention, but nothing is urgent. A vet is critical. And then these two…”
He stops his typing, his mood shifting suddenly. I can literally feel his emotions rising, like he’s pissed off again. “Two?” His question is a bark.
