Beautiful Death (Bella Morté Trilogy Book 1) (28 page)

“All of them… dead.”

She snapped her finger in his face. “I need you to snap outta this an’ tell me what the fuck to do. Remember, this’s my first huntin’ experience, which I hope all aren’t this brutal.”

Shaking his head, he sniffed the air. “You’re right. Now, this is where you use your, not to sound stupid, but powers to sense where they are, by sniffing the air.”

“I have sniffin’ powers?”

“Yes, very good ones, I might add.”

“You’ve turned me into a fuckin’ bloodhound?”

Smirking, he pointed to the aisles. “They have the ability to sense the good virus in you. Well, you have the same ability to track them as well, by smelling their rotting flesh, their tainted blood.”

“’at sounds lovely.”

“It will smell sour and lead you to them.”

She breathed in, cringing while rubbing her nose. “All I smell is blood. It’s nasty too. It leaves this horrid aftertaste in the back of my throat.”

“No, try harder. Breathe in and concentrate on finding them. There are many in here, so it will hit you before long.”

She tried again. “Wow! Smells like a dumpster o’ rotten fruit.”

“Exactly, focus on where that smell’s coming from and you shouldn’t have any problem finding them.”

Jessi looked out the window and nudged Tyler. “Am I losing my mind or are there two people standing in the store?”

He jumped up and looked out. “Oh shit. They look normal to me!”

Nell sneered, shaking her head. “How normal can they be to see all that blood and stand there like they don’t? That’s definitely
not
normal.”

Jessi tapped on the window. “Hey! You people might want to get out of there! There’s something in there with you!”

“More like
some
things.”

Alexander got up and beat on the window. “Yo! You’re going to die if you just keep standing there!”

Charles waved his hands in the air. “Get away from here! Go get help!”

“Who the fuck they gonna get to help us? Last I heard, Superman was as hard to find as Santa.”

Dani turned to look at the bus, putting her finger to her lips shushing them. “Hush! You’ll get their attention an’ they’ll be comin’ for you!” Shaking her head, she turned back to Vince. “People can be such idiots at times.”

He turned to look at the bus, motioning for them to quiet down. “No, they’re trying to warn us about what’s going on. A good leader listens to her people, even if they don’t make sense.”

“Oh. These are gonna be
my
people?”

“Yes. Don’t judge them, be patient with them, and above all else be understanding.”

“Okay. I guess I can do that.”

“Good. Now let’s go hunting.”

Charles leaned in his seat, staring out the window. “What are they doing?”

Nell shook her head, observing. “You know after everything I saw today, I don’t think there’s anything that could shock me anymore. Not a thing.”

Jessi nodded. “I know what you mean.”

Alexander watched them. “What I don’t understand, is why aren’t those things attacking
them
? They’ve been in the store with plenty of time for them to know they’re there.”

“Yeah, and those two are just standing in the aisle. I think they’re talking.”

“Yeah, but what else are they doing and who the hell are they?”

Tyler leaned against the window. “I’m sure we’re about to find out.”

Dani turned, rushing off to one side of the store as Vince raced off to the other. They soon disappeared in the aisles.

Jessi blinked. “Should I be getting hopeful that maybe these people are here to rescue us?”

Nell shook her head. “No honey. I think they have some death wish. Maybe they’re adrenaline junkies?”

Alexander scoffed, sitting back in the seat, brushing off the blood on his forehead, wiping it on the seat in front of him. “I think they’re insane.”

Charles watched for a sign of either of them. “I think they might be here to rescue us.” He looked up at Jessi. “Why else would they have made it this far, in this battle, without dying? They had to go through that bunch that was after us.”

“Just the two of them are going to take out this whole store and save us?”

Nell sighed. “I hope they brought some reinforcements then.”

Alexander nodded. “Yeah, like Batman, Superman, Spiderman, and Wonder Woman.”

Tyler saw some movement outside and shushed the others who were talking normally. “Sh, there’s someone outside.”

They watched as a handful of the killers ran back through the gigantic hole, leaving the store. They weren’t slow about it, but they were quiet. They ran back down the road.

“Okay, that was strange,” Jessi said, confused.

When Dani and Vince split up, they went through the store, cleaning house. Hacking and slashing until there were only a few left. Dani chased one of them to the front of the bus where she continued fighting him. She used her sword.

Nell looked out curiously. “What is that crazy white woman doing? I tell my friends all the time, you white folk do some of the craziest shit. Well, this is some of that crazy shit.”

Charles shook his head. “Naw I’m white, and you won’t find me doing anything remotely as insane as that. I may be brave, but I’m not stupid!”

Jessi blinked. “I think she’s fighting it.”

Dani faced the man. He had nowhere left to run. Bringing his hand forward, he tried to claw her. She brought the sword around and with a turn of her wrist chopped off his hand.

Tyler cringed. “Oh damn! You
know
that shit hurt.”

Alexander winced. “Ouchy-wa-wa!”

Blood spurted as he raced towards her with a roar. He didn’t seem affected by the missing limb. She spun around, slicing his head completely off, severing it from his neck. It flew into the windshield with alarming speed. The face turned so they could see his eyes darting back and forth seeing them. Everyone squealed in horror.

Wiping off her blade, Dani turned, racing off to find another.

Nell blinked. “Okay. I stand corrected.
That
shocked me.”

“Is anyone else turned on by that?” Alexander asked, looking around. “No?”

Jessi looked from Alexander back out the window. “Yep, you were right. White folks are crazy.”

Nell nodded. “I know it’s true. Trust me.”

Charles pointed where the head was stuck hanging on the windshield. “Hey, that’s encouraging!”

Alexander nodded. “Yeah. I think they’re here to help.”

Nell watched the two running around and sighed. “I’m not sure how the hell they’re doing all that, but I sure as hell hope they’re on our side.”

Continuing to watch out the window, Jessi nodded. “For some reason, I think they are.”

“If not, we’re all dead anyway,” Tyler murmured.

“Hey, let’s think positively.”

“Okay. Yep, you’re right. They’re here to save us.”

“I like that thought better.”

After they removed the tainted from the store, Dani and Vince walked back to the bus. Soon enough the emergency exit on the roof opened and Vince stuck his head down, leaving Dani to keep watch. “Hello, please don’t start throwing things. I’m Agent Vince Moore. We’re here to help you.”

Tyler shook his head. “Oh thank God! I’ve never been happier to see anyone in my life!”

“Don’t worry, you’re safe now. Does anyone need immediate attention? Anyone badly hurt who needs to be dealt with right now before we go on?”

Alexander looked up, sighing happily. “No, we’re all good. We’re the only ones who survived. Out of this full bus, we’re all that’s left.”

Charles nodded. “You guys are a life saver, but how the hell did you do that?”

“Can you teach us how to kill them like that?”

Jessi nodded. “What you guys did was very impressive!”

Vince smiled. “Thanks, but we’ll get to that later. Right now, our main concern is getting all of you to safety. I need you people to climb out of this hatch in a quick, orderly fashion. It’s the only way out. The situation is under control, but we’re not out of danger yet.” He motioned his hand inside. “Let’s start with the women first. It doesn’t matter the order. As long as we get everyone out before they return, because trust me. They will be back.”

Tyler motioned to Jessi. “You’re up Kiddo. Don’t worry. I’ll be up soon enough.” He kissed her, before assisting her to the chair under the hatch. “Up you go.”

Vince pulled his head back as she climbed on the seat, reaching her hand up through the hole. Tyler pushed her from the bottom, while Vince pulled her up and through. One down.

Once she was standing on the bus, she moved slowly to stand beside Dani. She didn’t like heights, and she was high off the ground. “Oh my God! You don’t know how happy I am to see you guys. I thought for sure we were going to be trapped in that bus forever!”

Dani nodded. “It’s just lucky we came along or you very well could have.”

“Thanks for saving us, but how the hell did you do that?”

“It’s magic.”

“I watched them take out every person. You two came running in and they ran from you.”

“I’m Dani. Sorry we didn’t get here sooner, but we were held up on the outside.”

“I’m Jessi. We didn’t know what we were going to do if no one came. We thought about a mad rush to the back doors of the building to shoot up on the roof.”

“You would’ve been dead before ya got there.”

Inside the bus, Charles motioned to Nell. “Come on, Nell. You’re next.”

She crossed her arms over her chest, shaking her head. “No, I’m not going out there with those things. I’m just going to wait here for the police.”

Alexander groaned. “Nell, you need to get out of here before those things come back. You heard the man. They
will
be back!”

“No way. I’ll take my chances in this bus.”

Charles sighed. “You might as well think of this as the super heroes have rescued us. That’s a hell of a lot better than the police.”

“Nope, go without me! I’ll be just fine.”

“Come on, now. I’m not going to get my ass chewed up because you won’t get the hell out, and I’m stuck in here with you!”

“No! I don’t know them! How do I know they didn’t start this shit to begin with? They could be looking for more pet projects.”

Vince leaned his head back down in the hole. “Nell, is that your name?” She nodded, crossing her arms over her chest again. “Ma’am, we’re here to get you to safety. I refuse to leave you on this bus.”

“Well, I’m not going.”

“The longer you stay, the more you’re putting all of us in danger. Please, come out, so we can get you to safety.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

Tyler closed his eyes. “Nell, every second we waste trying to get you out of here is every second we all risk dying.”

“Then go! I don’t need you.”

“Don’t make us tackle you and throw you off this bus.”

“Crazy ass white folks! I’m not going anywhere. Go without me!”

Vince sighed. “Ma’am, I promise you we’re here to--”

Dani’s voice sounded above. “Move!”

Vince’s head disappeared, and Dani’s angry face showed through the hole. Holding onto the sides, she glared at Nell. “Look bitch, I don’t really give two fuckin’ shits if ya wanna stay or go, but if ya stay, you
will
get eaten. I understand you’re freaked about what happened. Who wouldn’t be, right? However, I need ya to get up this hole before more return an’ ya get everyone killed. Now, move your ass before I come down there an’ move you myself an’ trust me when I say… you don’t want that!”

She glared at Dani. It looked like a staring contest until she grabbed her purse and moved to the seat Jessi used. “Okay, let’s get outta here, but if my ass gets eaten, I’m gonna haunt you. You won’t be able to get rid of me as easily as you did those things. You understand?”

Dani smiled. “I do.” She pulled her head out of the hole so Nell could get through.

Vince shook his head as he looked at Dani. “Only you would think of that approach.”

“It worked.”

Nell put her foot on the chair and stood, pushing her purse out first. “Jessi, hold on to my purse for me.”

Jessi reached down and took it, clutching it to her chest. “I got it, Nell.”

She put one arm through, pushing off, trying to pull herself up through the hole. She used Charles’s head for leverage. When she teetered, she pulled a handful of hair.

He screamed out in pain. “Ow Nell, quit pulling my damn hair!”

“Oh, sorry about that, baby.” She released her grip, but when she almost fell, she grabbed a handful again. Arching a brow, she looked at Vince then Dani. “Are you sure I’m going to fit through this little bitty hole?”

Dani nodded. “Sure you will.”