Spliced

“Hey Zeph?” Falco yelled though the wall “You still there?”

“Somehow,” Zephyr yelled back, “and you’ll never guess who else. Did you find Sirius?”

“Yeah,” Falco replied. “Who else have you got?”

“Amanda.”

“Wait, what?! Hang on, I’ll get Sirius to bust through. Stand back.”

“Okay” Zephyr yelled back. He shot a happy glance at Amanda then frowned. She didn’t look quite as happy as he felt. In fact, she almost looked ready to bolt.

“Hey, it’ll be alright,” he gave her a smile. She managed a weak one back and nodded. They both backed away from the wall.

A pile of rocks went flying. The wall opened up. Sirius entered. He paused when he saw Amanda, his expression unreadable.

“Amanda!” Falco said cheerily, as he stepped into the room. “Sirius said you’d wandered off somewhere.” He frowned still not sure how that had happened.

She shrugged. “Found my way back.” She avoided Sirius’s eyes.

Wolf narrowed his eyes, his gaze shifted from one person to the other, observing them all closely.

“Well, glad we found you.” Falco replied. “Lucky turn of events.”

“You have no idea.” Zephyr eyed the doorway behind them nervously.

Amanda glanced towards Kass, She briefly imagined fireballing the woman but found herself unable to even hold Kass’s gaze. It was one of the few staring competitions Kass would ever win against Amanda.

“Well let’s go find Cat and Indi.” Falco began to walk back down the corridor. The others started to follow except for Sirius who waited until Amanda walked by him. He grabbed her wrist gently.

“Amanda?”

Amanda jerked her wrist away. “Don’t!” she said loud enough that everyone else turned to see what was going on. She walked past them to the front of the group and didn’t stop. A few metres on she briefly turned to look at them and asked “are you coming?” before continuing on.

The others looked questioningly at Sirius.

Sirius shook his head then held up a hand. “Just give me a moment to talk to her.” He walked after her leaving them all standing around looking confused.

“What was that about?” Wolf asked to no one in particular.

Zephyr shook his head and nodded in the direction that Amanda and Sirius had gone. “We need to stick together. Or at least within close range.”

Falco gave a nod of agreement and led the way after them.

Tanya and Wolf followed him. Kass hung back slightly. Zephyr took the opportunity to walk beside her and talk.

“Kass what are you doing?” he asked quiet enough that no one would hear.

“I . . .” Kass met his gaze then dropped her eyes.

“He’s married,” Zephyr reminded her.

Kass nodded and whispered back, “I know,” in a voice that said she really was sorry.

Zephyr didn’t pursue the topic further.

Cat had never been as thankful for her strict workout regime as she was now. She’d managed to carry Indi all the way back to the entrance of the labyrinth without needing a rest. At some point the creatures had given up and slunk back into the darkness. Indi still had her shield up, although she seemed pretty worse for wear. Everything was going great until Cat reached the entrance and found herself face to face with nine armed soldiers.

All of them wore full combat gear. Their faces were unreadable but she recognised the two she’d knocked out earlier. Indi conveniently chose that moment to pass out completely, her shield disappearing as she did. Cat set her down on the floor gently, never taking her eyes off the men in front of her. She laid Indi just before the corner, against the wall. On the off chance there was going to be shooting she’d at least make sure Indi wasn’t going to get hit.

“Hello boys” she said in sultry cocky tone, even though one of the soldiers was a woman. They all carried pistols and she didn’t like the way they were looking at her.

“We’ve been instructed to request that you come with us,” one of the men told her.

“Instructed by whom?” Cat asked.

He didn’t reply.

“Where to?”

“Bring your friend,” was all he said with a nod in Indi’s direction.

“What happens if I refuse? It is a requst no?” Cat asked.

“If you don’t come with us we’ve been instructed to shoot you.” He spoke without emotion. She noted most of the soldiers were avoiding eye contact, except for one cheeky fucker on the end who looked just a little too gleeful at the prospect of bloodshed.

“Ah.”

“We’ve also been instructed to retrieve the weapon you are carrying.”

“This weapon?” She put her hand on it. They all eyed her cautiously. She noted a couple flinch. Nine soldiers. Five bullets. Too many to shoot. Not much of a choice.

The light above started to flicker presenting Cat with one other option.

Cat took note of where they all stood and their stances. She assessed who was likely to be the most threatening.

“Okay,” she said as if in agreement and moved her hand away from her gun.

Some of the soldiers relaxed.

The lights went out.

Cat dropped down low. She fired three bullets in quick succession at where the most threatening soldiers had been standing. Moments later bullets flew over her head in return. She rolled to the side and found Indi in the dark.

She heard a low growl from nearby and feet fast approaching her. She froze and braced for impact. It ran right by her. More creatures followed. All of them ignored her. A moment later screams erupted from the soldiers. The creatures were more fixated on the sound the soldiers were making, that or the movement. Cat decided her best chance was probably while the soldiers and creatures were focused on each other.

Cat waited until it sounded like they’d all gone by and then in one fluid and silent motion she hoisted Indi over her shoulder and stood up. She paused a second. Nothing came at her. She walked forward as quietly and as slowly as she dared, balancing Indi’s weight carefully. The nearby shouts and screaming would have covered any noise she made anyway.

Every now and again she’d hear a shot fire. She got almost all the way across the room before a bullet came wizzing her way. She winced as it grazed her arm. She cursed inwardly at leaving her jacket upstairs. A moment later something bigger came flying at her from the side. It crashed into her knocking her over. Indi flew out of her hands, landing somewhere closer to the corridor they wanted to go.

Cat gasped for air, momentarily winded but also acutely aware that it was on her! She rolled over fast and forceful, elbow out, knocking the thing off with a sharp crack. Managing to pull her gun, she fired right as the thing leapt at her again. Warm, wet, liquid covered her chest and she tossed the unmoving mass to the side. She lay still. No more came at her. The rest were busy with the soldiers. She could hear them.

She moved over to where Indi lay. No time to check for injuries. She went to lift her up but cringed, silently, as hot pain spread through her left side. She settled for grabbing a hold of Indi’s wrists and dragging her off down the left hand corridor. Something else grabbed Indi’s feet and tugged. Cat dropped Indi’s wrists. She stepped forward, toward the creature by her friend’s feet, dropped low, and placed a roughly aimed kick to its face. It went flying backwards with a yelp. It growled at her, then turned and ran back to easier meat. Cat could no longer hear any screams from the soldiers. She was running out of time. She bent down and pushing through the pain in her side, as silent and a swift as she could, but with no sudden movements, she hoisted Indi over her shoulder and walked down the left hand corridor, one hand on the wall, guiding her way.

Eventually her hand felt a door but it was locked. She kept moving. Another door, also locked. Onward. More doors. Finally she found one that was unlocked. Cat pushed her way inside. She shut the door behind her, lay Indi on the floor, and collapsed with her back against the door.

It was a moment or two before she noticed the smell. It was the unmistakable smell of cooked flesh and burnt hair. She got up and groped around in the darkness for a light switch. She found one and flicked it on. The room was lit up by a single bulb hanging from the ceiling. It was a perfectly square room and in the centre was a chair. Not your normal sit down for lunch chair. This one had restraints. A mirror spanned the entire length of the wall facing the chair. Apart from that the room was empty. Obvious bloodstains marred the concrete floor. They had entered what looked like an interrogation room.

There was no one here and Cat was tired, so she sat back down against the door. There was no lock on the inside so hopefully nothing would try to get in. If it did at least she’d be warned first. She wanted to sleep. She almost dozed off but her glance drifted over to Indi. She needed to check if the woman was okay first.

The cuffs of Indi’s jeans were shredded but other than that she seemed okay. Her pulse beat at what seemed to be a normal rhythm.

Cat returned to her spot by the door and it’s wasn’t long before Indi groaned as she started to come to. Cat watched Indi struggle to sit up.

“Oh my Goodness!” Indi groaned and rubbed her eyes underneath her glasses. How those things had managed to stay on Cat didn’t know. Indi frowned and squinted at Cat. “Cat? Where are we?” She groaned again and clutched at her head. “My head feels like someone set a sparkler bomb off inside it.” But even as she said it she seemed to be recovering.

“Look on the bright side at least you didn’t get shot,” Cat replied as she gave her bullet wound the once over. It had taken off more skin than she had thought but nothing life-threatening.

“Shot?” Indi finally gave Cat a proper look. She blinked. Cat was covered in blood. Her eyes widened. “Cat, what the hell! Are you okay?” Indi started to crawl over to her.

“I’m fine, it’s just a graze, the bullet barely touched me” Cat replied.

Indi stared at her in shock “You got shot?”

“Isn’t that what I just said? Oh the blood, that’s not mine, well most of it’s not.”

Indi didn’t look convinced.

“I’m fine Indi.”

Indi frowned but she seemed too tired to argue.

“That probably wasn’t quite the best time to pass out, although it could have been worse.” Cat also sounded exhausted.

“Sorry,” Indi replied now taking the time to look around the room. “So what happened?”

“Bunch of soldiers wanted us to go with them. I didn’t trust them. Things go a bit hairy. There was some shooting. Had a bit of help from those creatures actually.”

“Are we safe?” Indi asked eyeing the door.

“For now.”

“Should we go find the others?”

“In a moment.”

“Where are we?”

Cat shrugged.

Indi studied Cat. She looked pale underneath all that blood and her eyes were somewhat unfocused. Her knees were curled up and her hands clutched at her stomach.

“Cat?”

Indi got to her feet and for a moment thought she was going to faint. Then the feeling passed.

“Careful” Cat warned, watching Indi wobble slightly.

Indi walked over to Cat and knelt down next to her. “Show me the bullet wound.”

Cat twisted her arm so Indi could see, then shook her head. She winced slightly. “That’s not . . . that’s not what hurts. It’s . . .” Cat winced again and pulled her legs up to her chest. She felt better curled up. “I got hit in the side, it’s probably nothing. I just need a moment.”

“In the side?” Indi questioned, noting that Cat’s hands were more across her lower belly.

“I’m pregnant” Cat finally breathed the words out quickly, not missing Indi’s questioning look, and wanting to get the questions over and done with. “It hit me in the side though so...”

“Cat where does it hurt?”

Cat grimaced. “All over, but mostly in the side, I think, I don’t know.”

Indi wasn’t sure what to do. “Who’s the father?” she asked.

Cat laughed then groaned “That’s what you’re asking. Does it matter?”

“I guess not.” She couldn’t see anything outwardly wrong but that didn’t mean Cat didn’t have internal injuries. “If it hit your side . . .”

“I probably just bruised the muscle,” Cat finished. She struggled up, pushing Indi off.

“What are you doing?”

“We need to keep moving” Cat replied.

“Cat you don’t look like you can walk. Maybe I should go get help.”

Cat got to her feet as if to prove a point. She winced then reached for the door to open it. Feeling her vision start to waver she placed one hand on the door to balance herself but ended up leaning against it instead. She slid back down to the floor.

“Gimme a sec,” Cat breathed.

Indi rolled her eyes. “Shuffle that way a bit.”

Cat did as she was told. Indi grabbed the door handle and pulled the door open an inch.

“Were the lights on before?’ Indi asked.

“No.”

“Well they’re on now. We need to get a doctor. If we can just find the others. Tanya is down that hall somewhere.”

“I’m fine. I just need to rest a bit.”

“You’re not fine Cat, and there doesn’t seem to be anything out there now.”

Cat nodded. “Just give me a minute.”

“No,” Indi replied. “You need to wait here. Falco, Wolf and Sirius can’t be far away. I’ll go and get them and bring them back. Maybe they already found the others.”

Cat shook her head “No way. What happens if you pass out again?”

Indi nervously adjusted her glasses and tucked a strand of dark hair behind one ear.

“Look,” Cat said. ”Give me a hand and we’ll go together.”

Indi helped Cat to her feet and Cat placed an arm around Indi’s shoulder.

“Okay.” Cat nodded. “Let’s go.”

“Are you sure?” Indi asked.

Cat nodded again “I’m fine.”

“Amanda!” Sirius slowed to a walk as he caught pace with his wife.

“Amanda!” he grabbed her shoulder. She stopped walking. He gently turned her to face him. He glanced back down the corridor. The nearest corner wasn’t far away but he couldn’t hear anyone approaching yet. He turned back to her expecting to be met with angry eyes but instead she just looked tired.

“I’m sorry.”

“In the middle of a job?”

“I know . . . I don’t know what I was thinking. That was a mistake. I love you.” he trailed off, not sure what else to say to make it all alright. To take the hurt out of her eyes.

Amanda studied him. “Did you . . . did you kiss her or did she kiss you?”

Sirius opened his mouth to answer but approaching footsteps and voices cut their conversation short.

The rest of the group rounded the corner. They stopped short when they saw Amanda and Sirius.

“Uh sorry you did say you wanted some privacy. We just didn’t want anyone getting separated again. We can step back around the corner?” Falco started to turn back.

Amanda shook her head. “We’re fine.”

Sirius avoided looking at anyone.

Wolf watched them both with interest. He’d known them a long time. He’d known Amanda longer, since high school to be exact, but he was good friends with both of them. It was obvious something was not right between the pair. Despite his concerns though, it wasn’t his business to pry. If they wanted to talk then he’d listen. Sometimes being patient meant people were more likely to open up to you.

“So back to the plan?” Falco asked his question mostly directed at Amanda.

“I’d really like to get out of this place,” Zephyr chirped in from the back.

Amanda nodded.

“Might want to reconsider that,” a raspy voice said from further down the corridor.

They turned to see Cat walking towards them. During their brief walk Cat had seemed to get some of her strength back, at least enough to walk on her own. She still looked like the walking dead. Indi followed closely at her side.

“I wouldn’t go that way if I were you.” Cat stated.

“What the hell happened to you?” Falco asked as he gave her the once over.

“A bit of a firefight” Cat replied. “We’ve been betrayed. I don’t think they called us here to hunt a creature?”

“Based on what?” Wolf asked.

Falco pushed forward and swept his wife up in his arms.

“Are you okay?” he asked her.

She returned his hug gladly then stepped back nodding.

He gave her the once over before relaxing. Indi didn’t look anywhere as near as bad as Cat did.

“Thanks to Cat” Indi added with a grateful smile in Cat’s direction. Her smile faded quickly as she remembered Cat’s pregnancy and present injuries. She wasn’t sure if she should mention anything to the others. On the one hand Cat probably didn’t want a fuss made. On the other hand she could be seriously hurt. Indi debated the decision for a moment. Given Cat was looking better than she had been 15 minutes ago Indi decided to keep her mouth shut for now. A little bit of doubt niggled at her though, Cat was unlikely to mention anything herself.

“Exactly what happened?” Amanda asked.

Cat relayed the events to the group, everything from finding the papers detailing the surveillance on them right up to the present moment. She left out the smaller details, things she considered unnecessary, like her injuries.

Amanda closed her eyes for a moment. Inwardly she cursed, kissing goodbye to the bulk of their pay check. When she opened them again she was more determined. “All right, I guess it’s time we got out of here.”

Sirius gave a silent nod of agreement. Falco looked unsure. Zephyr looked puzzled.

“Which way?” Wolf asked.

Amanda turned to Tanya “Is there another way out?”

Tanya, who had been so quiet most of the group had almost forgotten she was there, seemed taken aback. She was still processing how she had somehow ended up where she was when the day had started so normally.

“Err . . .” she hesitated, thinking “I’m not sure. I’ve only been on this floor a few times before.”

“The corridors looked like they go for miles,” Falco cautioned.

“And if we go out the way we came in we’ll likely get shot at,” Zephyr added.

“Or eaten,” Indi piped in.

“I don’t think the creatures are going to be a problem,” Amanda replied “and we have a shield for the bullets?” She gave Indi a questioning look.

Indi dropped her smile and opened her mouth to respond but Cat interjected first.

“Not around those creatures. Can’t you burn bullets?” she asked Amanda.

Amanda shrugged and was about to say something when Wolf interrupted.

“The creatures cause Indi’s headaches right?”

Cat nodded. “Seems so.”

Cat raised an eyebrow at Wolf but he went silent seemingly in thought.

“Do you have any ammo left?” Amanda asked Cat.

Cat snorted, “one bullet.”

Amanda nodded. “Save it as long as you can. Let’s go. They can’t possibly stop all of us. We’ll go find out what’s really going on here. Maybe it’s just a misunderstanding.”

Cat rolled her eyes in disagreement but didn’t say anything.

“Wait!” Wolf said. “In the interest of saving time and possibly getting a step up on what we’re about to run into maybe it’d be best if one of us ran on ahead, just to scope it out.”

Amanda turned back to face him. She glanced from to Wolf to Zephyr then back to Wolf.

Zephyr’s stomach knotted. As a quickfoot he was the fastest.

“Speed’s a bit difficult with so many corners,” Zephyr said, grappling for an excuse.

“I meant me,” Wolf interrupted. “I’ll smell anyone before I see them. No one will even know I’m there.”

“You seemed to be having trouble with that before and what about the creatures?” Amanda asked.

“I just got distracted by the body. But everything has its own scent. I should be able to pick them out.” Wolf replied. He turned to Cat, “And I’d like it noted, I had the right corridor before.”

Cat rolled her eyes and mumbled “Whatever.”

Amanda nodded to Wolf.

He walked to the front of the group and then waited.

Amanda turned her back to him. The others followed suit.

Once their backs were turned Wolf removed his clothes once more and started his transformation.

Tanya was tempted to peak. She’d only seen a werewolf shift once before and she’d found it strangely fascinating. She kept her eyes down though, not even sneaking a glance.

A moment later a brown coloured oversized wolf stood in the corridor. It turned and loped off at a much faster speed than any regular person could be capable of.