Chapter Forty-Two

The Chosen safe house was far larger than Ravenscroft had first thought. Of course, he, Xenia and Lioness had come in under the cover of darkness and he had not been able to catch a glimpse of the sweeping corridors that led from the outer rim of the ‘house’ where his room was and to the main portion of the fortress. Ravenscroft had a hunch Zoot kept his quarters in the direct center, surrounded by layers of those faithful and unfaithful to him, protecting him from any sort of attack.

“This is quite an impressive setup you have.” Ravenscroft commented to Lioness who seemed intent in walking along side him, her expression cold and stony. “How large is this safe house anyway?”

“Quite large.” Came her clipped reply as she tucked a strand of golden blonde hair streaked with vibrant blue highlights behind her ear. “If you think you can escape this place as easily as you freed yourself from the prison, you can think again. You are surrounded by those most loyal to my brother and to Zoot.”

“Of course.” Ravenscroft pursed his lips, studying each of the passive faces of the guards that they passed. Their robes were slightly different than those of the guards on the Northern Island, a deeper shade of blue, almost navy, though the cut was the same. Ravenscroft wondered if there was any significance in that, but determined he would ask someone other than Lioness later.

After they had been walking down one corridor for approximately ten minutes Ravenscroft was a little surprised to find his escort group joined by another. The individual they were escorting, however, had put up quite a fight and several of the Chosen guards were marked with scratches or torn robes.

“Xenia.” Ravenscroft greeted her with a smile, thankful to see a familiar face that was not wearing white eyeliner. “How have you been?”

“Just capitol.” Xenia rolled her eyes, yanking her arm away from the male guard who seemed insistent on guiding. “I finally fell asleep and then I have these psychos telling me I have an audience with Zoot. Honestly, Ravenscroft, I think the whole lot is off their rocker. Everyone knows that whack job is dead.”

“Silence.” Lioness glared down at Xenia, her cat-like eyes glowing with an inhuman light. “You will not disrespect Zoot in such a manner.”

“Oh save it, Lioness.” Xenia snapped back, clearly not in the mood to be bossed around. “You know, I thought you were more intelligent than the rest of the Chosen, but you seem to be buying into all this mumbo jumbo too. Zoot is dead, honey. I hate to be the one to break it to you.”

“And I relish being the one to tell you that he is not, honey.” Lioness’ lips curled up in an evil smile. She turned her attention away from Xenia for a moment, made a quick motion with her hand and suddenly Ravenscroft found them being taken down a different corridor, one that seemed to almost magically appear, though he knew that was not possible.

Ravenscroft attempted to memorize the route they were taking, but after several twists and turns he realized it was quite impossible. Besides, he had a hunch that the corridor that had appeared had some sort of secret entrance that Lioness had beckoned to one of the guards to open.

At last the escort, which had reduced dramatically in numbers after they had turned down the hidden passage, stopped at an ancient looking doorway that was well over ten feet high. It reminded Ravenscroft of the doors found on many of the old Catholic churches, only far more foreboding.

“Open the doors.” Lioness instructed one of the four remaining guards. The guard stepped up and swiftly heaved the ancient doors open, straining from the effort. Ravenscroft peered past the doors, hoping to catch a glimpse of what lay ahead of them, but was disappointed to see only darkness, inky black darkness.

“What are we waiting for?” Xenia gave a sarcastic laugh as she stepped forward and away from her Chosen guards. “Let’s get this magic show over with, shall we?”

Lioness scowled at Xenia but waved the guards away. “We will go the rest of the way alone.” She informed Xenia and Ravenscroft. “But if you think you can overpower me you can think again. I will not hesitate to kill either of you and even if you do manage to get past me, you will never find your way out of our fortress.”

“I’d like to give it a try.” Xenia taunted, but Ravenscroft recognized her challenging words as a mask for her fear.

“Come on, let’s just go.” Ravenscroft’s voice came out as a whisper, though he had not intended for it to. He moved forward, taking the lead as he stepped into the welcoming darkness, instinctively closing his eyes.

Shortly after the threesome passed through the massive doorway Ravenscroft heard the familiar creaking of hinges and knew that the door was being shut behind them. Needless to say that knowledge did not comfort him one bit as they began to flounder in the darkness.

They did not have to wander for long, however. The instant the doors shut completely the entire room lit up, illuminated by the light of more than a thousand candles. Ravenscroft spun around, knowing that there had to be some sort of trick, but he saw no one who could have turned a lever that would light all the candles at once.

“Stand fast, Ravenscroft.” Lioness stated, her voice strained and Ravenscroft found himself wondering just how often Lioness went to visit her fearsome leader. “Do not let Zoot think he has made a mistake in selecting you.”

“Selecting him? Selecting him for what?” Xenia demanded, obviously not intimidated by the light show as Ravenscroft had been. “I want some answers, Lioness. And I want them right now.”

“Patience, dear Xenia.” An eerily familiar voice echoed through the massive room. “All will be revealed to you in time. My time.” The voice trailed off with an evil maniacal laugh that chilled Ravenscroft to the core.

“Oh, so you’re not really dead, now are you?” Xenia was staring straight ahead, into the portion of the room that was still dim. Her hands were planted on her hips and Ravenscroft began to envy her cool head under the circumstances.

“Brilliant observation, Xenia.” Suddenly a form stepped out from the shadows, a form that Ravenscroft knew well from his months on the streets before he founded the Wild Kats.

“Zoot.” Ravenscroft gasped, feeling his voice die in his throat. “You are alive.”

“Yes.” Zoot grinned evilly, his milky blue eyes lighting up with a fire that made Ravenscroft extremely uncomfortable. “I see I cannot pull anything over your eyes, Ravenscroft. Come, we have much to discuss.” He beckoned them forward with the slightest movement of his hand. “And so very little time.”

~*~*~

“Amber! Danni!” Minxy burst through the doorway, her eyes wide with fright and her normally meticulously neat hair askew. “You have to come quickly! Jaguar has spotted someone approaching the camp. Three forms. He’s not sure, but they could be Chosen.”

“The Chosen?” Amber’s heart stopped beating in her chest as her hand fluttered to her throat. “But it’s too soon. Far too soon, we’re not ready…”

“Confidence, Amber.” Danni whispered softly beside her as Minxy raced out of the room, hurrying to warn the next lodge of what Jaguar had seen. “If there are only three of them the chances are they’re either a small patrol or deserters.”

“Deserters… I hadn’t thought of that. Thank you, Danni.” Amber nodded, clinging to that hope as she straightened up, studying the brunette carefully. She had wiped away the tears from her face and she seemed at least a bit more in control of her emotions, but Amber was not sure. “Are you okay, Danni? Do you want to stay in here for a bit longer while I see if there is anything to get excited about?”

“What? And spend the rest of my life hiding?” Danni shook her head. “No. I spent the first fifteen months after the virus hiding in my father’s apartment, terrified of what was going on outside the safety of my walls. I’m sick of hiding, Amber, and I’m determined to never do that again.”

Danni seemed to grow in confidence as she spoke the words and at last Amber was positive that Danni would more then be able to handle her own outside even if it were an attack. “Come on,” Amber linked arms with Danni. “Let’s find out what all the hubbub is about.”

Danni nodded and forced a brave smile on her face as they stepped through the doorway. Already the entire village had begun to prepare for the worst. Those who were not wounded had formed a solid line, weapons of all sorts in their hands. Behind them stood those who were wounded but not seriously, also gripping whatever their hands could find that would serve as a weapon.

“Amber!” Cloe exclaimed from her position on the front line. The thirteen-year-old was holding one of the discarded Chosen blades confidently, as if the weapon was only an extension of her arm.

Keeping her eyes off from the blood stained blade, she focused her attention on the petite girl who had dramatically begun to mature since the war had begun. “Is it the Chosen, Cloe?” Amber inquired softly, feeling Danni’s grip on her arm tighten.

“We’re not sure yet.” Cloe admitted. “Jaguar raced back to the village before he got a good look at them.”

“So they might not even be heading towards the village.” Danni’s let out a sigh of relief.

“Let’s hope not.” Amber gritted her teeth. “But we’ve got to be prepared. Danni, stay back here. I’ll go to the front line—“

“No.” Danni shook her head, her eyes narrowing. “I already told you, no more hiding.”

“Right.” Amber grinned ruefully. “No more hiding. Come on, then. Let’s go meet these Chosen—or whoever they are—and show them that we will not be messed with.”

Cloe nodded her head confidently and led the way past the waiting and ready rebels. Amber shot reassuring smiles at all those who seemed a bit more panicked, though she silently prayed that all this resistance would not be necessary. She sucked in a deep breath. They would find out soon enough.

Flanked on her right side by Cloe and Danni on her left, Amber felt a false sense of security as she made her way to the front, her eyes scanning the path leading into the village expectantly. She did not know how far away the unknown trio was, but she figured they would be emerging from the bushes yonder any minute. She steeled her nerves, preparing for the worst but praying for the best.

Less than three minuets later a familiar blonde head poked through the foliage followed by a petite brunette and a handsome young man that Amber had desperately trying to forget.

“Bray!” Danni whispered beside Amber, her voice inflection betraying the great love she held for that man in her heart.

Amber closed her eyes, praying silently that Bray would not wound Danni. She had struggled through enough already.

~*~*~

“You can’t avoid us forever, you know.” Caribou planted her hands on her hips and stared down at Pride in disapproval. He had changed much from the confident young man she had been attracted to back before she left with Great White. Back then he had exuded confidence and self-assurance with his every step. He was hardly a shell of the man he had once been.

“I can try, can’t I?” Pride shot back, his eyes challenging her to beg to differ.

“I suppose you could.” Caribou frowned, shaking her head in dismay. Even his voice sounded weak and pitiful. “But it wouldn’t work very well. This mall isn’t that big, you know. Eventually one of the other Gaians will see you. And then that little friend of yours seems determined to drop your name at every chance.”

“My little friend?” Pride echoed, arching an eyebrow.

“Ellie I think her name was.” Caribou pursed her lips, only feeling slight bad for stretching the truth. She had only had one conversation with Ellie, but the pretty blonde had mentioned Pride by name, though Caribou highly doubted she had been asking each of the Gaians if they knew him.

“The nosey newspaper girl.” Pride grumbled, folding his arms against his chest.

“That would be her.” Caribou nodded. “So come on, Pride. Please? At least say hello. Let them know that you’re alive and well.”

“No.” Pride spat, shaking his head adamantly. “I won’t, Caribou. You wouldn’t understand.”

“Have you tried me?” Caribou softened her tone, sliding down against the wall into a crouched position in hopes of making Pride a bit more comfortable. “I’m a pretty good listener, you know.”

“I know, but it’s not as easy as telling you what’s going on.” Pride sighed heavily and Caribou knew she had him. “It’s complicated. Really complicated.”

“That means it involves Eagle. Or Amber as she seems to want to go by again.” Caribou nodded her head, her suspicions confirmed.

“What have you heard?” Pride asked, his voice ragged with emotion.

“Not much really.” Caribou answered him, keeping her tone sympathetic. “No one really seems to know what’s going on between you two, though from what Manatee has told me you aren’t exactly together any longer. Is he right?”

“Maybe.” Pride shrugged. “Maybe not. I really don’t know. Nothing makes sense anymore. I thought things were going great and then he showed up.”

“He?”

“Bray.” Pride curled his lips up in an angry sneer. “The love of her life, only she didn’t want him either. Suddenly she didn’t want either of us, she just wanted to be alone. I tried to be patient, to be understanding, to do all the things that I knew I should do, but I couldn’t take it any longer, Caribou. She was driving me crazy. I love her so much and it hurts so bad to know that I’ve lost her forever.”

Caribou nodded slowly, highly doubted Pride was really in love with Amber. Infatuation for sure, and Caribou knew Pride held a great respect for her, but she had never sensed the chemistry between the two that would scream that they were in love with each other.

“Pride,” Caribou formed her words slowly and carefully, knowing that if he wasn’t ready to hear them that they could do more damage than Amber had unconsciously done. “I know you’re really hurting pretty badly right now and you just want to be left alone, but believe me when I tell you that’s not going to help.

“It will only make things worse. If you keep to yourself you’ll never be able to break free from the self-pity and pretty soon you’ll wake up one morning and not even recognize the face that is staring across at you in the mirror.” Caribou offered him a tentative smile, hoping to gauge what affect her words were having. “You can’t let this breakup destroy you Pride. You’ve got to let it make you stronger.”

“I don’t want to be stronger.” Pride stated bitterly, though Caribou had seen something give in his eyes.

“Yes you do, Pride.” Caribou assured him, reaching across and taking his hand in her own and giving it a tender squeeze. “You’re a strong man, Pride. Not only physically, but emotionally and mentally. You’ve always needed someone to depend on you, to need you. And that’s what was wrong with your relationship with Amber. She didn’t need you, and you couldn’t stand that fact.”

Pride said nothing for several long seconds and Caribou knew that her words had gotten through to him. She gave his hand one more squeeze, then slowly rose to her feet, smiling down at him. “Think about what I’ve said, Pride. There are a lot of people in this mall who really care about you and really need you. You’re looking at one of them.”

Pride did not look up, but Caribou knew that he had heard. She slowly backed away, pursing her lips together and hoping that Pride would wake up soon and realize how much he was desperately needed.

~*~*~

Bray stared at the miniature army that was assembled to greet them. They were all armed, though not very well, and it was painfully obvious that they thought they were under attack. His eyes scanned the crowd, stopping in the direct center where Amber stood, her jaw set in a firm and stubborn line that Bray knew all too well.

“Look at them.” Cougar gasped in dismay. “That’s all that is left.”

“We don’t know that, Cougar.” Robin whispered next to her young friend. “Maybe the others are hidden in the trees ready to spring on us or something.”

“Doubtful.” Cougar’s voice was wobbling dangerously and Bray knew that if he had not been standing there, one hand on each of the girl’s shoulders she would more than likely be in tears. “It’s hopeless, Robin. Hopeless.”

“It is not.” Robin spat back. “Don’t talk that way. We’re going to beat these losers. I know it. You’ve just got to be strong, Cougar. Be the friend I’ve always looked up to.”

Bray turned his focus away from the girls’ conversation, feeling as if he were eavesdropping even though they were making no effort to lower their voices. Instead, he found himself staring at a young woman who had separated herself from the company. She reminded him of someone, though she was still too far away to figure out who.

He watched her advance, realizing that she was rather pregnant, at least six or seven months, gauging from the size of her bulge. Her hair was short and raggedly cut, a deep rich chestnut brown that reminded him almost painfully of Danni.

“Bray!” The woman gasped out. “You’re alive. You’re really alive.”

“D-Danni?” Bray stammered as she threw her arms tightly around his neck, pressing her lips fiercely against his neck. “Is that really you?”

“Oh Bray!” Tears were streaming down her face, but there was no denying it was Danni, though her once stunningly beautiful face was marred by an ugly scar that ran nearly the entire length of her right side, the skin puckering in a jagged line. “They told me you were dead! I thought I’d never see you again but then Amber told me—“

“Wait a minute,” Bray halted her, holding her at arm’s length. “You know Amber?”

Danni nodded, gaining control of her emotions slowly. “Yeah. We’ve met. You’re right, Bray. She’s so amazing.”

“Yeah, she is a wonder.” Bray found his gaze going past Danni and to where the blonde they were speaking of at that moment was standing. She was watching them carefully, an unreadable mixture of emotions expressed on her face.

Danni fell silent and Bray realized that he had become quite obvious in his staring. He quickly turned back to the precious woman in his arms, forcing a smile to his lips though the scar on her face made him want to wince.

“I missed you, Danni.” He murmured softly, running his fingers through her short hair, knowing that there had to be a story behind that and the scar. His hand reached down and touched the firmness of her round belly, a strange joy filling his heart. “You’re pregnant.”

“Yeah.” Danni smiled giving him a small nod. “Nearly seven months now, I’m guessing.”

“Seven months. Wow.” Bray gasped, realizing that Danni must have fallen pregnant just before she was taken captive by the Chosen. “I can’t believe it. It’s so amazing, I don’t know what to say.”

“Don’t say anything, Bray.” Danni whispered, laying her head against his chest and wrapping her arms tightly around his body. “Just hold me and never let me go.”

Bray nodded, his arms automatically reaching around her still slim form. He pressed his lips gently against the top of her head, but found his eyes searching the slowly disbanding makeshift army, looking for the beautiful blonde his heart still belonged to.