Crossing Bedlam (19 page)

Running out of ammunition, Katie repeatedly grabs the nearest person by the arm to twist the gun-holding limb toward another enemy and taking a single shot. When she sees a large handgun that she wants, the warlord draws the keen knife on her bowler and slices the other woman’s fingers off to claim the weapon. Using both hands, she fires at a man sneaking up on Lloyd and lets the kickback aim her next shot over her shoulder. Knowing someone is behind her, Katie fires and hears someone curse as their nose is blown off. Finding the power of the gun too much for her aching shoulders, she flips it into her other hand and bashes a nearby enemy in the face. With a shrug, she steals the man’s machinegun and finishes reloading it. Letting Lloyd keep the other soldiers busy, Katie hurries to the doorway and fires into the mob that is coming up the stairs. She ducks back onto the balcony to avoid return fire, one of the bullets clipping her leg.

Not wanting to lose the competition, Lloyd continues ducking around the tightly packed soldiers. Being in such close quarters and moving quickly, he gets his enemies to shoot each other more often than they graze him. The insane tactic has left him with several superficial cuts and bruises, but nothing that hurts enough to slow the killer down. He eventually whittles the attackers down to two men, one of which he groin kicks over the balcony railing. The last soldier moves his gun, but it is blocked by the sword and his shots fly harmlessly into the distance. The nozzle of the nail gun is shoved into the man’s mouth before the trigger is rapidly pulled and he drops at Lloyd’s feet.

“Any left out there?” the killer asks as he joins Katie near the door. A grenade rolls through the entrance, but the pair kick it back down the stairs. “My foot was in front, which means those kills are mine. Puts me at . . . I lost count.”

“I knew I forgot to do something,” the warlord replies while lying down. She crawls and stretches out of the doorway to fire careful bursts at the back of the retreating enemies. “Looks like this attempt is dying down. Means I have a month of peace around here. I’d say these guys are like punctual cockroaches, but they’re too bloody stupid to compare to insects. How’s our friend doing with the big guns?”

“At this point I think they’re engaged and discussing children,” Lloyd replies as the sounds of gunfire die down. Two more blasts with the howitzers go off before the battle ends and Cassidy hits a pedal to drop the shield. “What are we going to do about our competition? Since neither of us kept score, I assume it’s a tie.”

Katie kisses him hard on the lips, the pair oblivious to the bodies that surround them. “Let’s just say you’re not the only one with a crush. I loved the way you moved and got them to shoot each other. The use of the nail gun at the end was simply artistic. Makes me wonder what other things you’re creative with.”

“I once beat a man to death with a ream of paper. Though I’m only sticking with the topic of killing because I don’t know for sure if you’re talking about sex,” the grinning man states, leaning in for another kiss. He sighs and pouts when his forehead is tapped by the woman’s machinegun. “Fine. I won’t get greedy. Kind of like the teasing anyway. Guessing you want us to help clean this mess up.”

“I have specialists for that, so we’ll be going to the circus for a few days. It’s in Peru, which is LaSalle’s twin city and part of my territory,” the warlord replies while examining her blood-soaked clothes. Claiming the periscope, she watches the last of the Chicagoans retreat into the distance. “We’ll settle our business and restock you before we head out. That way you can continue on your journey after the celebration. Though I do hope you stay for a little while longer. Both of you are rather interesting and I feel we’ve barely gotten to know each other. Not a good thing considering we’re going to be working together.”

“True, but how is there a circus with the Guardians running around?” Cassidy asks, her bangs sticking to her scarred forehead. Even with her pea coat removed, the heat from the three weapons has caused her to be covered in sweat. “Last I heard, they freed all the circus animals and killed the owners within the first year. Please don’t tell me you have a war going on with them too. Lloyd and I have had more than enough run-ins with Guardians on this trip. It’s like we’re cursed to keep bumping into them.”

“Nothing to worry about,” Katie replies, accepting a cup of tea from a maid that has creeped up the steps. She cringes at the terrible temperature, but is still thankful that the young woman held her kitchen post during the attack. “Besides, I never said anything about animals being at this circus.”

*****

The drive to Peru is no more than fifteen minutes, which is mostly because Katie’s new chauffeur has yet to memorize the local roads. She is about to punish him when she remembers it is his first day on the job, the man’s predecessor having been killed in the fight. By the time they reach the old Peru Mall, Cassidy and Lloyd have dreamed up many horrific sights that are awaiting them. Their imaginations are driven wild by Katie’s playful descriptions over the walkie-talkie, which she occasionally ends with an amused chuckle. Wearing a slinky dress that is slit up the left side and a leather jacket, the warlord looks like she is going out to a club instead of a circus. She is a little disappointed in her guests wearing their regular clothing, Lloyd trying to appease her by wearing a shirt with a British superhero team on it.

The two vehicles park in reserved spots near the main entrance, a band of children approaching to beg for arcade coins. Katie drops a bag of the tokens at their feet while Cassidy hands over one of the rolls she keeps for such a situation. The kids look at Lloyd for more, but the serial killer can only show that his pockets are empty while avoiding eye contact. He is more interested in the large crowd of visitors and vendors who have come to do business and indulge in the circus. The four anchor stores have been painted to resemble tents, each one adorned with posters that have been vandalized so much that they are unreadable. Cheers can be heard from inside and the sound gets louder as they push through the other attendees. They make slow progress until Katie takes the lead and fires a shot into the air, everyone getting out of the way to let the warlord through. Claiming a few skewers of what her companions hope is beef, she leads them into the largest of the entertainment areas.

Sections of the upper floors have been removed to allow some of the acts to work high above the audience. Long ribbons, rings, and other hanging objects are there for the performers, most of them working without a net. There are inflatable cushions on the ground floor to save them from falls, but there is always the risk that they will miss or bounce into the crowd. Square sections have been cleared for entertainers who demonstrate acts of either great strength or incredible flexibility. Each of the performers nods their head to Katie when she arrives to show their act to Cassidy and Lloyd.  A table of food has been set up on a cordoned off dais after word of Katie and her guests spread ahead of them. Looking forward to some rest after so many fights and their exhausting journey, the two travelers relax behind the velvet rope and watch the aerial display.

“I remember seeing something like this when I was a kid,” Cassidy mentions, admiring the grace of a woman suspended by thick ribbons. Wiggling her fingers like an excited child, she carefully chooses several chocolates from a box. “It’s been too long since we got to relax and enjoy ourselves. Even in Cleveland, we had to move quickly because of the . . . Shit! I forgot about the Half-Dead chasing us.”

“Just had to ruin the moment,” Lloyd says, popping one of his pills. The unlabeled medicine and a single bottle of aspirin is all they are keeping, the rest having been traded for fuel, a lifetime pass through the territory, and fresh food. “I wouldn’t worry about it. Next time we meet up with that thing, I’ll tear it apart. That threat would have been better, but I’m not sure if Half-Deads have all of the parts I’d consider repositioning.”

Cassidy pulls out an empty sandwich bag to stash some candy for the road, her eyes glaring at her grinning companion. “For the last time, you are not fighting it. Even if you could hurt the Half-Dead, it’s radioactive. Not so much that you can’t go near it, but its touch burns and enough contact will make you sick before you could finish the job. I’m sorry, Katie, but I don’t want to bring that monster down on your head.”

“Guess our time together is coming to a quicker end than I expected,” Katie replies, raising her glass of wine. An intricate trapeze act steals her words, the entire crowd holding their breath until the performers land safely on a secure ledge. “A toast to our future endeavors, which I hope are plentiful and profitable. We may only be making a deal for medicine now, but I’d like to find other areas for us to explore together. Not that I want to contain you. Just know that you two will always have a home here.”

“Thank you. We’ll certainly keep in contact and watch for anything you may want,” Cassidy promises as they clink glasses and take a drink. She smacks her lips a few times due to the sweetness of the wine, her taste buds preferring milder drinks. “I’ll be seeing a friend in Iowa who might have something we can use for long-distance communication. Wish cellphones still worked for more than flashlights and cameras. I heard some engineers are trying to reestablish the tower system, including filling in gaps the old network had. You wouldn’t happen to know about that, would you?”

Taking a ripe date and savoring the first bite, the purple-haired warlord leans back in her chair. “Sadly, you’re the beginning of my information network. Been entirely local until I decided we should be partners. Probably means you really should talk to that friend. Is there something on your mind, Lloyd? You being quiet makes me nervous.”

“Just taking in the scenery,” he replies, swirling the untouched wine in his glass. The noise and tightly packed bodies make him uncomfortable, memories from his time in Rikers Island seeping into his mind. “The warden used to hold tournaments for clients when he wanted extra supplies. Not to the death per say even though it happened fairly often, especially if he needed to make space for newbies. All the cheering and crowds around the pit. Needless to say, I’m the reigning champion and that might be another reason he’s so angry. Guess looking at these performers makes me feel like I was treated more like a freak than a human being. Eh, I’m not being myself for some reason. Let’s agree that I’m doing this to get a sympathy kiss from the great Duchess of LaSalle.”

“You got it,” Cassidy says with a half-hearted smirk. A change in the atmosphere makes the hair on the back of her neck stand up. “Some of the cheers outside are closer to screams. I think we have an incoming problem. Only question is if this is coming from us or Katie.”

The answer comes when a rag-wearing figure appears in the doorway and people rush away from the Half-Dead. The crowd is too chaotic for anyone to get a clear shot, so the two travelers decide to leap over the velvet rope and make a retreat. Lloyd suddenly ducks back under the divider, ignoring Cassidy’s urgent waving and cursing. He opens his mouth to say something to Katie, but she gives him a kiss instead. The hilt of the combat knife she previously had on her bowler is pressed into his hand before they separate. With a wicked grin, the warlord kicks him away and jumps onto the table to fire over the crowd. The bullets puncture one of the inflatable cushions and cause several people to duck. If she hit the Half-Dead then there is no way to tell because the assassin never breaks stride and has begun attacking anyone unable to get out of its way. Drawing her shotgun, Katie is about to shoot when she realizes that the blast would hit too many innocent bystanders. All she can do is wave the weapon at her retreating friends and order her bodyguards to drive the gasping creature out of the circus.

“Was that delay worth it?” Cassidy asks as they barrel through the rear exit. They keep running until they reach the parking lot and dive behind a pickup truck. “Now that thing is even closer and our jeep is on the other side of the circus. We should have known the Half-Dead would turn up after getting delayed in Illinois.”

“To answer your question, it was totally worth it,” Lloyd replies, showing off his new weapon. Peeking around the truck, he can see the assassin is outside and trying to figure out where they went. “The kiss was great too. I really want to kill this cock-blocking bastard. You stay here and I’ll go play operation, but with more blood and the buzzing is going to be replaced by maniacal laughter.”

“I see a better idea. Get in the back of the truck.”

“That plan sucked ass the first time we ran into this thing.”

“Just trust me.”

Lloyd begrudgingly follows Cassidy into the pickup truck, the young woman kicking in the rear windshield. She carefully climbs into the driver’s seat and hotwires the vehicle, which draws the Half-Dead’s attention. Driving away from the assassin, she checks her mirrors to make sure it is still chasing them. Innocent bystanders are fleeing the circus, those with cars rushing to the vehicles and making a mess of the parking lot. The entire place is a sea of anarchy, which requires a lot of concentration for Cassidy to avoid crashing while keeping track of the Half-Dead. Reaching into her pocket for the eight-ball keychain, the young woman hooks them with a finger and puts her arm out the broken window.

“Stop moping and get ready to jump!” she shouts, seeing the pout on her friend’s face. She sighs and drops the keys at Lloyd’s feet, not checking to see if he picks them up. “I’m sorry to ruin your fun, but this place is too crowded for a fight. Don’t forget that it’s us who have to face that thing. Not you or me, but us. I’ll be damned if I let you do it alone and I refuse to fire a gun in this chaos. Besides, we’re too close to Nebraska to waste bullets. Now jump off the fucking truck!”