(Sur)real

I sat in the backseat and listened to Frank’s impatient tapping on the steering wheel. We’d been driving for hours since our last break near dawn, and I needed to use the bathroom.

“Can we stop?” I asked.

He growled angrily.

“Bathroom or food?”

“Both.” If I only asked for a bathroom, he would find somewhere to pull over and make me go on the side of the road…with him watching.

In silence, I waited for his answer. It took a few minutes.

“There’s a station up ahead,” he said. Anger laced his words.

I felt the vehicle slow.

“Don’t try anything when we get in there.”

“Do I ever? I know where my loyalties are.”

When the car stopped, I remained in the back until I heard my door open. He tapped impatiently on the frame as I unbuckled and slid out. The shadows of the Others zipped around us, painting my world grey so I could see my way toward the gas station door.

I pulled the sunglasses from my pocket and placed them on my face.

“Take ‘em off,” Frank said from behind me.

“We’re not supposed to call attention to ourselves. And, my eyes will do that,” I said.

He growled and opened the door. As I stepped past, he leaned in.

“He’s not here to know,” he whispered.

I kept moving, not allowing any worry or fear to surface.

In the bathroom, I exhaled shakily and splashed water on my face. Frank was dangerously close to losing control. Since the moment Blake had called him back into the office and told him to drive me west, Frank’s resentment had grown. Why would Blake tell him, a pure and strong Urbat, to listen to a weak, blind Judgement? Frank’s failure to obtain the provider had cost him much within the Urbat ranks. He’d lost Blake’s respect and was desperate to get it back. That’s why he’d been ideal to drive me across the country. However, his desperation wasn’t keeping him in line as planned.

After quickly using the facilities and washing, I opened the door. My sense of smell wasn’t anything compared to either the werewolves or the Urbat, but it was better than most humans. Even without the shadows dancing around Frank’s body, I knew he was standing right outside.

“I’m sorry I took so long.” My quiet apology was sincere. If Frank lost any more of his composure, I would suffer.

Frank didn’t immediately answer or move. I hesitated, listening. Although the shadows gave me basic outlines, there was much I still couldn’t see. Things I needed my other senses for…like the faint sound of Blake’s voice.

“You called him?” I said in surprise and concern, not bothering to suppress either emotion.

Frank disconnected the call on Blake’s recorded message.

“Yeah, and he isn’t answering. It’s your turn.”

“He was clear when we left. He doesn’t want to hear from either of us until we get there. If I try contacting him and he asks why, what am I supposed to say?”

Frank stepped close.

“Something is wrong. I can feel it.”

My pulse jumped in panic, and I looked around as if suspecting whatever he sensed was within the gas station.

“Not here. With Blake,” he said.

One of the shadows started swirling crazily around the person behind the register.

“We have the attendant’s attention,” I said softly, facing Frank. “We should make our purchases and go back to the car.”

“Do you know how close I am to not giving a shit about what Blake says?” Frank asked with menace.

“Yes.”

I waited, wondering what he’d do.

“Then stop acting like you’re Blake. I don’t listen to you.”

He turned and headed toward the register. I followed slowly and stood by the exit as he tossed several bags of something onto the counter. He didn’t waste time with idle chat, although the woman behind the register tried.

As soon as he’d paid, he strode toward me and pushed the door open.

“Hurry up.”

Neither of us said anything more until we were both in the car. Something landed in my lap before I had a chance to buckle.

“Get ahold of Blake,” he said. “I need to know where we’re going.”

“You’ve already guessed where we’re going, just like me,” I said, calmly.

He hit the steering wheel. “Then tell me why.”

“Do you honestly think Blake confides in me? Blake tells me what to do, and I listen. I know what will happen if I don’t.”

A brush of sound was the only warning I had before his hand closed over my throat. The shadows, which had been swirling outside the car, moved inside, churning around Frank in a wild frenzy. Frank leaned over the back of his seat until he and I were almost nose to nose. His pungent hot breath bathed my face as he spoke.

“Call him.”

My heart hammered in my chest and fear pooled in my stomach, but not for the obvious reason.

“I can’t,” I rasped. “If I do, we’ll both be in trouble.”

The shadows wailed in excitement around us.

“We’re running out of time, Frank. I can feel it.”

To punctuate my words, the swirls outside the car started to take shape. A person walked toward our vehicle. Something hit the window hard.

“I’m calling the police,” a voice said.

Frank’s hand abruptly left my throat, and his door opened. The woman scrambled backward but didn’t make it far. Her scream was brief. The shadows converged on her body before Frank even released her. They always did that when someone died near me.

As she fell, she twitched and jerked with their attempts to inhabit her. They couldn’t. But that didn’t stop them from trying.

The door closed again, and I could smell the tang of copper—of blood—that Frank brought back in with him. The engine started, and the car jolted in reverse. I swallowed painfully and buckled. Outside the window, the shadows continued to try to possess the woman. Any observer would think her movements death-twitches.

The car jerked to a stop then lurched forward slowly. The synthesized beeps gave away Frank’s attempt to reach Blake yet again. The sound of the pre-recorded voice caused Frank to hit the steering wheel and swear. A moment later, a loud clunk came from the front. He’d likely thrown the phone.

“I need to know what the fuck he’s thinking,” Frank seethed. “What are we supposed to do when we get there? And what about when we’re done? Does he really think they’re going to let me walk away just because you’re there?” The car sped up.

“I don’t know what he thinks, Frank,” I said softly, turning in my seat to stare at the grey tornado spiraling over the woman’s body. “But I think we might both die. Sooner than either of us wants.”

“Say one more word, and I won’t give a shit who’s protecting you.”

I wisely faced forward and stayed quiet. My throat ached from where Frank had gripped me. I would have bruises. If Blake were here, he would have killed Frank for what he’d just done to me. If Blake were here, he probably would have finished what Frank had started.

Around me, the world suddenly came back to life. Smokey wisps circled and twirled inside the car and out, defining whatever was closest to me. Frank’s seat. The trees just beside the road. Everything floated in an otherwise light void. The Others never bothered with the ground unless I asked. And I never asked unless I was alone.

I shifted in my seat, and something crinkled beside me. My hand brushed over a bag, food that Frank had thrown at me. The idea of eating didn’t appeal to me, but I opened the bag anyway, hoping to appease some of Frank’s lingering temper. My fingers found a scant number of pretzels at the bottom of the package. It was a good thing I wasn’t really hungry.

The tapping on the steering wheel increased as I crunched, so I only ate a few.

“Would you like some?” I said politely.

“No.”

“How close are we?” My voice was barely a whisper, but he heard. The tapping stopped.

“Close. A few hours.” The tapping resumed.

I set my head back against the seat and tried not to think about what might happen, but it proved too hard to ignore the future we were racing toward. What would happen when we got there? Would they even know who I was? We knew from Joshua that the dreamer had learned her history and our purpose, and she’d been afraid. That had been our last contact with him before everything started to go so very wrong for Blake.

The hum of the tires on the road and Frank’s impatient tapping on the steering wheel crawled into my ears and ate at my thoughts with annoying persistence.

When the car started to slow much later, I sat up and looked around. Trees surrounded us on both sides. The Others raced ahead, outlining more trees.

“Are they here?” I asked.

A wailing filled the air, along with Frank’s snarled, “No.”

“Tell him we’re here,” Frank said, pulling the car to a stop.

“Have you tried texting him?”

With a snarl, he opened his door. I quickly released my seatbelt and braced myself. My door flew open, and Frank jerked me from the car. My head hit the jamb on the way out, likely intentional. Bitter cold wrapped around me and burned my lungs with each careful breath while the Others swirled around Frank in a frenzy.

Frank’s fingers dug into my shoulders as he yanked me toward him. His sour breath bathed my face, and his nose touched mine.

“You are less than worthless,” he said, his voice deceptively calm. “You think this is some kind of game?” The flat of his hand cracked across my face, lightning fast. I would have staggered if his fingers hadn’t returned to grip my shoulder again.

Face throbbing, I focused on his shape and tried to breathe through the pain.

“Where are your witty comments now?”

“Beating me doesn’t change anything,” I said slowly. “Blake will continue to ignore us, and you and I will still need to—”

Crack.

My jaw joint crunched slightly, and a small grunt of air left me.

“Have anything else to say?”

I shivered and kept my mouth shut.

“Good girl. Maybe you do have a brain after all.”

The Others stilled. Blindly, I turned my head.

“Don’t turn away from me,” Frank said, gripping my abused jaw cruelly and forcing me to face him.

“I have a brain,” I said. “And ears. They’re coming.”

He swore and released me. “Get in.”

He shoved me back toward the car, and I spread my arms wide to catch myself against the frame, not willing to sink onto the seat like he wanted.

“No, Frank,” I said, trying to swivel away from his gripping hands. “This is why we’re here. To face them. To give them a message.”

The bruising pushing stopped.

“What message?” he asked.

Tires crunched on gravel, and I turned my head toward the sound.

“What message?” Frank demanded, stepping closer.

The world exploded with motion again, outlining Frank and the four vehicles pulling to a stop just inside the clearing. Frank’s anger wrapped around me, and I opened my mouth to prevent another blow to my head.

“The only message that—”

A door opened. People started getting out of vehicles. Fear and trepidation pooled in my stomach. Anything else I wanted to feel, I kept hidden.

Frank moved to stand beside me. The Others converged upon the newcomers, giving me my first glimpse of the other Judgements and the werewolves protecting them. No one spoke. It gave me a moment to study the group of thirteen. Based on shapes and sizes, there seemed to be six women and seven men.

“My name is Olivia,” I said, taking a step forward and stopping. “I’ve been sent with a message. Which of you is Emmitt?”

“I am.” The owner of the smooth voice stepped forward.

“You’re the one who stole my sister, the provider, from Blake.” I turned my head slightly to the right toward Frank. “I’m sure you remember Frank.”

“What’s your message?” Emmitt asked crisply.

“Who leads you?” I asked. “Is it Winifred? Sam? Grey?”

“We lead our people together,” a woman said.

“Yet you spoke. So, it’s you I need to talk to.”

I turned to Frank. “What kind of ground is this?” I asked softly.

“What are you doing?” he demanded.

“What I was told to do.”

“You stay here.” His fingers wrapped around my wrist.

I sighed. “This will never end, then.”

He growled, shoved my hand away and told me to hurry up. Without knowing what kind of terrain I needed to cross, I started forward slowly, testing each step.

“It’s gravel and grass with a few divots,” Winifred said, moving to meet me halfway.

I lifted a hand, palm out and fingers raised. When she was close enough, I set my fingers on her face. She held still as my fingertips slid over her features. Worry pulled at her brow but couldn’t disguise the laugh lines around her eyes or mouth. She had kindness and strength. I hoped it would be enough to keep me alive for another day. I let my relief free.

“He needs to die,” I said, clearly.

The words had barely left my mouth when Emmitt, still a step in front of the rest, flew at a snarling Frank. Their growls and the sound of ripping fabric, along with a few soft female gasps, filled the air.

Frank’s end came swiftly, and silence once again claimed the clearing as the Others played with his body for a few moments.

“Are you all right?” Winifred asked.

I couldn’t remember the last time someone had asked me that and needed a moment to consider the question. The temperature stole my body heat with each passing second, my pulse throbbed in my face despite the frigid air, and my bruised throat ached with every swallow. Yet, I knew this wouldn’t be the end of our suffering.

“No,” I said honestly. “But it doesn’t matter. We need to leave.”

“And go where?” a new voice asked.

“I’m not sure. Hopefully somewhere warmer, though.”

“I second that,” another female voice said.

“I apologize if this sounds rude, but can you all say your names for me so I know who’s talking?” I asked. A lifetime of listening left me with a very good memory for voices.

“I’m Bethi.”

“I’m Luke, Bethi’s Mate.”

“Isabelle.”

“Carlos.”

“Gabby.”

“Clay.”

“Charlene. Do you want some ice for your face?”

Again, the unexpected show of concern gave me pause. They stood together just beyond Winifred, a united group. A group I needed to join. Would it be enough? I swallowed hard, the pain a useful reminder of what was at stake, before answering.

“No, thank you. It’ll be fine.”

I turned my head toward the rest.

“Thomas, Charlene’s Mate.”

“Michelle.” Her voice sounded shaky and strained, understandable given her connection with Frank.

“Emmitt, Michelle’s Mate.”

“I’m Sam. Can you tell us why you came here?”

“This was the most likely place the locator would know well.”

“The locator?” Gabby said.

“I don’t mean anything insulting by using that term.”

“I’m Grey. You look cold. We can talk in the cars.”

“Thank you.”

Winifred wrapped her hand around mine and gently drew it away from her cheek. A swell of embarrassment pushed its way forward, and I didn’t suppress it.

“Sorry,” I said. “I forgot I was touching you.”

“It’s all right. I’ll lead you to the SUV.”

“Keep us posted,” Isabelle said before she and a man moved toward a car.

The rest went back to their vehicles, splitting up the Judgements. Smart.

Winifred led me to the SUV. One of the smaller women walked beside me. It wasn’t until she spoke that I knew it was Bethi.

“Please tell me my mom’s okay.”

Winifred opened the back door. The Others swirled around the seats to guide me. I didn’t get in, though. I faced Bethi, who moved anxiously from foot to foot.

“Your mother?” I asked. I wasn’t sure if she was speaking of her birth mother or the Lady.

“When the news broke about werewolves being real, she called a news station then disappeared.”

I didn’t envy that she still knew her birth mother. It would only make what needed to be done that much harder.

“Blake didn’t take her,” I said. “He didn’t have time. I promise.”

“Good.” She let out a shaky exhale and climbed back into the third row of seats. I took a spot in the middle row. Winifred settled in next to me while two men sat in front. The last woman joined Bethi in the back. Before the door even closed, we were moving.

It felt weird that I was finally here, with them.

“Where to, Gabby?” Sam asked.

“South, I guess. There’s still not much movement,” she answered.

“What about Jim?” Winifred asked.

“He’s staying ahead of the Urbat for now. You might want to suggest that he find a car, though. They’re definitely tracking him. Others are moving position to the north of him. They aren’t coming at him but repositioning, I think.”

“Urbat?” I asked, unsure.

“Yes,” Winifred said. “How does Blake know where to place his men?”

“He doesn’t. His men have phones and send out group texts when they sight one of you or catch your scent trail. By communicating where you are and aren’t, they slowly pinpoint you. Sometimes.”

“Seriously?” Bethi said from behind me. “A mix of dumb luck and technology is kicking our asses? We need to end this now. We’re all together like she wanted.” Something tugged on my seat, and her voice moved closer. “Tell me you know how to make the Judgement so this can finally end.”

My chest tightened as I realized which Judgement spoke.

“You dream our past lives?” I asked.

“Yep. Every crappy one of them.”

“Can you tell me about mine?”

“There’s not much to tell. You’ve always died young.”

“That’s what I thought.” But not this lifetime. This lifetime would hold so much more suffering for me. For all of us.

“She’s told me what we are. Hope. Peace. Strength. Fortune. Wisdom.” Bethi said the last word with contempt. “I know what the others can do, but I’m not sure what Courage does. In each brief glimpse of your lives, you’re always sorta blind.”

“Not sort of. I am blind. To this world.”

“This world?” she asked.

“Yes. This world. The coveted playground for all the races to rule. It’s not the only world, just the most desirable one to inhabit. And, I don’t know how to make the final Judgement. The Lady only tells me the things I need to know when I need to know them.”

Bethi made a sound of frustration.

“I’m sorry,” I said.

“It’s not you. It’s her and the dreams. I’m so tired of dying.”

I couldn’t reassure Bethi. Not with what I did know.

“I do know that we need to decide what Judgement to make before the Judgement can be made.”

“What do you mean?” she asked through a yawn.

“Will we Judge in favor of the Urbat or the werewolves?”

There was a moment of silence.

“Bethi’s sleeping. Perhaps this conversation should wait until we’re all together again,” Gabby said.

I nodded and turned my head to watch the Others zoom around trees and signs and houses. After years of waiting, everything was starting to fall into place at an alarming speed.

Courage, the Lady whispered from the grey, a reminder of what I would need.