Authors: J.D. Miller
“You okay?” he asked.
“F-fine.” Silvia coughed. “Don’t stop moving.”
Sprinting across the open courtyard, Carter spied the footman’s door. The small tunnel stretched through the gate, the outside world lying beyond. Reaching the door, Carter shook the handle back and forth but to no avail. Silvia’s expression shifted to despair as she watched Carter struggle. They were locked in.
“God dammit, why?” Carter grunted, throwing himself at the door. Breathing haggardly, he peered through the grated window on the door. Halfway down the tunnel, a path shot away at an angle, presumably to the guard post. A faint light glimmered around the corner, setting Carter’s mind ablaze.
“I’m probably about to do something really stupid.” He breathed and took a step back.
“Eh?” Silvia grunted.
“When I do,” Carter continued, ignoring her, “all hell is going to break loose. Stick right behind me, and keep your head low, got it?”
Silvia didn’t question him. She nodded, still catching her breath. Carter turned back to the door. Then, summoning all of his courage, he rapped his pistol against the door as loudly as he could.
“Hello?” he shouted. “Hello! Please, unlock the door!”
Down the road behind them, shouts broke the night’s eerie calm. The Covenant was coming. Beyond the door, Carter couldn’t see any movement.
“Damn it all.”
Backing up several feet, Carter lifted his foot and slammed it into the door as hard as he could. A sickening crunch echoed through the street as the wooden latch beyond splintered and the door swung open. Looking back, Carter caught a glimpse of a Covenant squad as it rounded the corner.
“Run,” he shouted. “Run and don’t look back!”
Carter shoved Silvia in front of him and through the now-open door. As he ran, the shouting behind them intensified. Without warning, several shots rang out, slamming into the walls behind them. Carter ducked low, keeping Silvia safely in front of him. Nearing the end of the hall, something grazed his side, shooting a fiery pain through his entire body. Gritting his teeth, Carter enveloped Silvia in his arms, throwing them both into the second door.
The second door flew off its hinges at their combined weight. Grunting in surprise, Carter separated from Silvia, rolled several feet, and then slid to a halt. Behind him, more gunfire mixed with the near-constant shouting, adding to the barrage of sound. The city guards were finally joining the fray. Carter struggled to his knees.
We need to make it into the woods while they’re busy fighting.
“Carter, are you okay?” Silvia asked, running over. She offered Carter her hand but stopped short, pulling away. Confused, Carter followed her gaze. A small pool of blood sat half-formed next to him, staining the side of his jacket.
“Oh my God.”
“I’m fine, it’s only a scratch.”
Carter forced himself to his feet, trying to hide how unsteady he felt. The whole world swayed. Blinking his eyes, he stumbled forward, away from the gate.
“Come on.” He grunted. “We can worry about me once we reach the woods. If they catch up to us out in the open like this, we’re screwed.”
Silvia nodded, following him toward the tree-line. Behind them, the chaos continued to intensify. The pain in Carter’s side acted like a double-edged sword, pushing him forward yet slowing him down. When they reached the tree-line, Carter leaned against the nearest elm. Letting his bag slide off his shoulder, he peered back toward the gate. The gunfire stopped behind him, flashlight beams appearing, as the Covenant walked the perimeter of the gate.
Wonder how long before they discover my blood trail.
“Are you okay?” Silvia’s voice drifted over from somewhere in the dark. Despite having lived on The Shell all her life, she seemed to be holding her own. When she got next to him, she knelt down and rummaged through his backpack.
“Come here,” she commanded. “Take off your jacket.”
Carter obeyed. Stripping himself of his jacket, he shivered, the cold night air enveloping him. The left side of his tank top clung to him, soaked red. Pulling out his spare tank top, Silvia ripped off a strip and uncovered the wound.
Sure enough, the bullet had barely scratched him. Carter ground his teeth together. It prickled and burned, blood dripping from his side like a sieve. Lifting the side of his tank top, she tied the strip loosely around the wound.
“I’d cover your mouth if I were you,” she muttered.
Carter clamped his mouth shut. Silvia pulled the strip tight with a quick tug. He stifled a scream, his head swimming. His legs failed him, and he fell against the elm tree, emptying his stomach into the grass.
“C-Christ.”
“Are you all right? I know it’s just a scratch, but if you keep bleeding that bad, you’re gonna
—
”
“I’m fine. Let’s keep moving.”
Grabbing his bag, Carter started forward. Behind them, the hunting party howled into the night like wolves on the prowl. Silvia gripped Carter’s hand again, following him into the darkness. The woods spread ahead of them, a maze of trees and brush.
*****
“Carter? Carter!”
Carter’s head shot up. He sat propped up against another tree, somewhere in the woods. To the east, the first glint of sunlight peeked over the horizon, bringing with it the impending dawn.
We’ve been running all night.
Carter glanced around, lightheaded. He didn’t remember stopping, only the endless running. His side felt cold, but his limbs burned. He stuck his hand under his coat, pulling it out to find cherry red staining his fingers.
Damn. Bled through the bandages.
“Please, Carter, answer me.”
Silvia’s voice echoed through Carter’s head. She sat on her knees next to him, shaking the sleeve of his coat. He glanced at her, trying to remember.
“Why are we stopped?” he slurred, forcing himself back onto his feet.
“Don’t you remember?” Silvia asked, tilting her head worriedly. “You said we were stopping so you could get your bearings.”
Carter nodded mechanically, not remembering anything after reaching the woods. In the distance, he could hear the sound of rushing water.
“Come on, we’re almost to the river,” he said. “Once we get over the bridge, we should be home free.”
Carter pushed off the tree, ignoring the pain. He kept his breaths shallow, minimizing their effect on his side. As the sky turned from pitch black to a dark purple, he glanced around.
There’s no way they’ve just given up.
“Hey, how far past the river do we need to go?” Silvia asked, keeping pace.
“It’s just a little bit past the—”
An unintelligible howl sounded behind them, sending Carter’s heart sinking in his chest.
That’s no wolf.
“C-Carter?”
“Go! Run!”
Carter shot forward, his side throbbing. As he ran, he gripped his companion’s hand tightly. Silvia stumbled forward, doing her best to keep up, but Carter knew she couldn’t keep this up. They were both barely able to stand.
A shot rang out, piercing the early morning like a cannon. Carter instinctively ducked, but the shot went high, splintering a tree limb several feet above their heads.
“Aaaah!” Silvia cried out. Tripping over herself, she tumbled away from Carter, landing in the grass.
As their hands separated, Carter swiveled back, staring at his companion. She made no move to get up. Staring at the ground, Silvia clenched her teeth together, shaking as she fought back tears.
“Silvia, what are you doing?” Carter shouted. “We need to keep going! Come on!”
“I-I can’t…I-I can’t take another step. I’m done, Carter.”
“What?” Carter couldn’t believe his ears.
Silvia refused to meet his gaze. She kept her eyes trained on the ground, a pool of tears forming beneath her.
She’s on the verge of collapse.
“I’m d-done,” Silvia managed, holding back sobs. “I’ll buy you time. Just go. It’s me they w-want anyhow.”
Time froze. Carter couldn’t move. Silvia. Her strength and determination to get home rivaled no other. Yet here she sat, ready to meet her fate head on.
She’s just like me. Just like I was that day.
An unbearable heat rose in Carter’s chest. For a moment, it dwarfed his pain, urging him forward. He swore as he hoisted Silvia onto his back before bolting through the trees.
Silvia gasped, wrapping her arms around Carter’s neck. “What are you
—
”
“We’re partners now, remember? Like hell I’m just gonna leave you behind!”
Carter ran, ignoring the pain. Up ahead, the trees thinned, signaling the small clearing beyond, followed by the river.
Just get over the bridge. They won’t cross into church territory.
“Thanks, partner,” Silvia whispered. As she leaned her head on his back, they burst through the tree-line, stumbling into the clearing. The sound of running water roared in the distance.
“Don’t thank me just yet. Start looking for a bridge, okay.”
“A bridge?”
“Yeah. It’s an old footpath, so it’s only wide enough for one man at a time; it will slow them down a lot more than it will us. Past that, the church won’t be far off.”
Silvia obeyed, leaning away from his back and peering around the clearing. Up ahead, the river roared. Carter pushed himself with all his might. The pain in his side threatened to rip him in two at any moment. Still, the river beckoned him forward.
“Carter, over there! It’s the bridge! I see it!”
Silvia’s hand shot out, pointing ahead of them. Carter adjusted his course, heart pounding. Behind him, the Covenant broke from the trees.
Come on! Just a little farther!
When they reached the bridge, Carter’s entire body turned to lead. His feet stopped, his brain seizing. For a moment, they stood there, silent. When Silvia finally spoke, her voice seemed choked.
“No, that’s…it can’t be.”
The bridge stretched out over the wide river, the wood turning to charcoal about a third of the way out.
The bridge. It’s gone?
“Carter?” Silvia breathed, shaking his shoulders. “What do we do? Carter!”
He didn’t respond. He stared at the bridge as it mocked him. The sound of the Covenant’s advance behind them grew deafening. Without warning, Silvia’s weight slipped from Carter’s back. She stumbled forward, and when she fell, she crawled.
“Come on, we can swim across! I don’t know how, but if I stick to you, I’m sure we can
—
”
“No.” Carter’s voice rang like an echo, hollow and monotone.
Silvia turned to face him, her temper flaring, but as soon as their eyes met, she began to cry. Carter fell to his knees, hugging her.
“I’m sorry, Silvia. I’m sorry I couldn’t get you to safety.”
“W-why are you apologizing? If anything, i-it should be the other way around. I dragged you into this mess. I led you to your death!”
Silvia tried to push him away, but Carter held on tight. After a while, she stopped resisting, hugging him back as her face merged with his shoulder.
“I don’t regret a single decision I’ve made since I found you in that wreck. No matter what happens, just remember, given the chance to go back and do it all again, I’d still help you. If this is how it ends, so be it; at least I can die with a clear conscience.”
Behind them, their pursuer’s footfalls faded. Lifting her head, Silvia stared behind Carter. The sound of about a dozen safeties clicking back merged with the roar of the river. Carter closed his eyes.
This is it.
Gently pushing Silvia away, Carter rose. Holding a hand to his wound, he felt the cold, metallic grip of his handgun glance off the back of his hand. Then, forcing a grin, he turned.
Fourteen men stood there, each holding a rifle. Most of them were Covenant members, but several new faces stood amidst the crowd, most likely hired guns or slavers. Among the group stood Drew. Dressed in his usual attire, he trained his rifle on Carter’s head. Stepping forward, Carter smiled like a madman.
“What, all these guns for one guy? I’m honored, fellas.”
“Shut up.”
“Where’s your boss, Drew? Too good to carry out his dirty work himself?”
“Not at all, Mr. Hale.”
Marcus strode up from behind one of his lackeys, his revolver drawn. He grinned menacingly at Carter, eyes blazing with silent fury.
“Do you remember what I told you?” Marcus asked.
Carter remained silent.
“I told you I would hunt you to the ends of the Earth if you betrayed me. Do you remember that, Mr. Hale?”
Carter said nothing. Subconsciously, his hand slipped around his gun.
“I warned you, Mr. Hale,” Marcus screamed. “What do you have to say for yourself?”
“Go to hell, you bastard.”
Marcus’s lip twitched. Stepping forward, he raised his revolver. Carter flinched, his knees threatening to buckle.