Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Hunting Season

In the Silver Arrow, David filled with anger and spite. He had never seen such torture committed on a human being, let alone it being three of them. Even the Brotherhood or Liam’s Legion had the honor to deliver death by the edge of a sword. The images were still burned into his eyes. Recalling Jason’s face being black and red, pulsing veins breaking from his skin. Growths of purple puss fell from the tears in his skin. Blood turned midnight flowing from every crevasse in his body. Hanging upside down crucified, nothing left but torment in his eyes.

Eve placed her hand on his shoulder, “Hey,” She said. David jumped from his trance. He had been staring into his compartment. His armor had been sitting carefully placed. Scratched and cracked from the battle of the Sanctuary. “You okay?” Eve asked him.

“Yeah,” David said, unsure if it were true or not. “I just don’t think I can unsee it all.”

“I don’t think I’ll ever get it out of my either,” Eve admitted. “They’ll pay for it.” Eve reached into the compartment pulling out David’s breastplate.

“You don’t need to help,” David told her, “I can just pull it all together.”

“I know,” Eve said, still pressing it against his chest. Buckling the pieces together on him. David looked down on her, helping her adjust himself to each piece placed against himself.

Kevin sat in the co-pilot seat alongside Virgil. “Few more miles.” Kevin said, “Seems like they’re in a warehouse at a city’s oasis.”

“Thinking we just land on the roof and go from there?” Virgil asked him. Steering the Silver Arrow into a slight bank. All the guardians were dressed in their chest rigs and cloaks attached to the single pauldrons.

Gabriel sat near the ramp, looking out the window, watching the clouds pass by them. Allison, next to him, pushed her hand under his. Both gripping tightly. Gabriel held her hand in return. Turning his head from the window to stare into a more exciting view. Her green eyes. “I’m sorry.” They both said.

“No, I was being selfish,” Allison told him, pressing her lips together into a scrunch.

“I should’ve communicated better.” Gabe said, “I just wanted some time with my brother.”

“You shouldn’t be sorry for that,” Allison said, “When he leaves, I’ll still have time with you.” She rested her head against his shoulder, “I’m going to miss seeing them together.” She nudged her head towards David and Eve. She was still dressing the young knight in his armor.

“As much as I hated the idea of them, it is bittersweet seeing them like that,” Gabe admitted.

“Do you still have that horn?” Allison asked.

“I do, but when I try to sound it, nothing comes out.”

“Maybe it was a one-time deal,” Allison said. “Yet you still carry it, don’t you?”

“Ever since I found it in the river, yes,” Gabriel told her.

Eve finished clipping David’s cloak to the neck protector on his back. “Helmet?” She asked him. David shook his head no. “Okay,” Eve said. She still felt scared of him from the morning. Starring up into his brown eyes, admiring him. Missing the kiss he had given her that night on the battlefield.

“What?” David asked, looking down on her still. Finding himself guarding his heart like a wall against a flood. “Why are you staring at me like that?”

“I can’t look at you?” Eve asked him, smirking slightly.

“Not like that,” David commanded.

“Can you guys get a room?” Stephen snarked, sitting in the corner, headphones in his ears.

“Shut up Stephen, I wanted to see how far it went this time,” Chris said, throwing his head back. Rubbing his temples with his fingers from one hand.

Kevin entered from the cockpit doors, “That’s going to have to wait.” He pulled up his tablet, swiping away at a map.

“What do we got?” David asked as Kevin made one last swipe as a hologram appeared in the middle of the bay. Everyone looked at the slow-rotating warehouse building.

“Seems like our wolfpack is held up in their den here,” He pointed.

“Looks like an oasis for supplies.” Richard stood up.

“Oasis?” Eve asked.

“Where shipments are distributed to companies in the surrounding areas.” David said, “Trucks will stop there to drop off or pick up shipments to take to a business.” David walked over to the hologram. Looking over the building, looking at various possible entrances.

“Virgil thought we land on the roof and insert into the windows along the north and west side,” Kevin said, pointing at the respective areas of the building.

“No.” David said, “That gives them time to escape from the first floor on the ground.” David looked it over.

“Alright, boss, what are you thinking?” Gabe asked. “We just can’t walk in and start swinging our swords.”

“Virgil will land on the roof, Allison, Stephan, and Ethan will stand guard on the roof with the Silver.” David walked over, dropping their tags on the hologram. “Jasmine, how are you feeling on blinking everywhere?”

“Not today,” Jasmine said. “I’m not angry enough.”

“Jasmine, I want you to disable all their vehicles, keep them from leaving. Especially the shipping trucks. Kevin, Chris, and Rich will insert from the roof’s door and make their way down to the second floor.” David dropped their tags on the map.

“Where does that leave Eve and me?” Gabe asked, looking at the last three tags.

“You two will downgrade to your normal clothes. Draw their attention by talking to whoever is at the front desk.” David dragged and dropped their signatures on the map.

“Great, I hate talking,” Gabriel said sarcastically.

“Where does that leave you?” Kevin asked.

“I’m going to find my way inside and find their boss.” David said, “I’m getting answers.” David dragged and dropped his tag inside the building.

“What’s our rules of engagement?” Ethan asked, looking at the armored David.

“Don’t hurt civilians. I’m assuming this is where they house their human trafficking operations.”

“I was asking more about kill or no-kill.”

“I don’t care. These wolves have stained this world for too long.” David said. Eve looked at him, concerned. David has always held close to his belief of only injuring and taking prisoners. Never had he held so much animosity towards someone. She was unsure that he was the same man she had longed for. “Any questions?” Everyone stayed quiet, looking at each other, some with their arms crossed. “Wait for the word, then we will begin our assault.”

“Understood,” Gabriel said, taking off his gear.

“Good, Virgil, begin the descent quietly,” David said to him in the cockpit. Virgil nodded, flipping switches as the lights in the bay turned red. The stealth systems were now engaged. David sat down in his chair, taking Eve’s string doll, tucking it inside of his arm brace. Eve sat down in her chair as well, taking a deep breath. Wishing she could figure out what was wrong with him. If only they could get away from it all.

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Gabriel and Eve were dressed casually. Eve in a black hoodie and jeans. Her hair was tied back into a ponytail. Gabriel was dressed in a red flannel and cargo pants. “Let me do all the talking,” Eve said to him as they walked to the front of the building. Lights are still on in the front entrance. The rest of the lights were out or dimmed.

“David really sent the two most unconvincing people, didn’t he?” Gabe said sarcastically, chuckling underneath his breath. Eve laughed with him before they started up the steps to the warehouse. “David, we’re entering now.” He said into his earpiece before taking it out and shoving it into his pocket.

Jasmine and David were sitting on the roof across the way, “You have the explosives you need?” He asked her as he stood up. Stretching his arms out, the armor on his body clinking.

Jasmine nodded, “I’ll make do.” She stood up as well next to him. “You think you’re going to sneak in there with all that armor?”

“Sneaking in isn’t necessarily the plan.” David said, “Just be ready for my signal, don’t blow up anything with civilians in it.”

“That goes without saying.” Jasmine stood on the edge of the roof, her toes hanging off.

“I’ll spare you the essay. It’s been hard if I’m honest.” Jasmine said, looking at the sky. “I still feel horrible for the way I treated him. I just wished that I could wake up hearing his TV being too loud in the mornings one day. Now it’s just silent.”

“I know what you mean. Though, I wouldn’t know what I would do if I had lost Gabe.” David said, “He can be a pain sometimes, but he’s my pain. You’re stronger than I am.”

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“I don’t think that I will ever forget him. The only thing I can do is remember him, all of our fights, all of our laughs. I think that’s the best I can do. Do my best so that when the time comes, he’ll be proud of me.”

“Carlos is proud of you.” David placed his hand on her shoulder, “I know it.”

“We should get back to work. Happy hunting, David.” She said; David just nodded. Releasing his hand off her shoulder. He walked away, heading to the north side of the building to climb down the ladder. “David.” He stopped and turned his head before grabbing onto the ladder. “Thank you.” He smiled.

“Happy hunting, Jasmine.” David grabbed onto the ladder, sliding down to the ground. Jasmine took a deep breath through her nose, exhaling from her mouth. Her eyes glowing yellow.

“How may I help you, ma’am?” The secretary at the front desk asked Eve to enter the front door. “We weren’t expecting visitors today.” Eve looked around the room; there was only one door that leads to the rest of the warehouse. The door was full of energy behind it, pain intertwined with malice.

“Yes, my name is Ms. Roberts, and this is my colleague, Mr. Larry. We’re here from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. We’re coming through to inspect all the warehouses to make sure everything is up to code.” Eve said to her, walking over to the front desk. Gabriel following her, he could hear all the cries from all around. There was no doubt between the both of them. This was the center for human trafficking.

“Strange, we’ve never had an inspection at this time of night.” The secretary said, “I can get the paperwork, but you don’t mind me asking for identification or some paperwork, do you?” Eve swallowed the pit in her throat. It was a good cover until then.

Gabriel began to pat around at his pockets, “Ah man, don’t tell me. I left it in the car; I’ll go grab it.” Eve was thankful for the save. Gabe turned around and headed outside the doors.

“Mr. Larry is always forgetful,” Eve said as she leaned on the front desk. “I apologize for the wait.”

“That’s okay, I must say. You both look incredibly young to be inspectors.”

“It’s a new program to train newbies like us to inspect buildings on our own. Tomorrow an evaluator will come to make sure we inspected everything.”

“Of course.” The secretary began typing away at the computer in front of herself. Warning that the inspectors were there. Eve just smiled.

“You don’t mind if I start in here?”

“Yes, I’ll print out our documents as well to speed this up.”

“Thank you, ma’am.”

Gabriel was outside, out of view. “Guys, I need paperwork for an inspection and fake IDs for OSHA.”

“You guys are idiots,” Virgil said as he began typing away at his computer.

“Considering that we didn’t have a plan in the first place, I think we’re doing just fine,” Gabriel said.

David was walking to the back, finding a door that leads into the basement. Striding quickly as he grabbed onto the lock. Manipulating the gears on the inside to release. Opening the door slowly, it was a dark room. His eyes began to glow, drawing his sword. Igniting the blade, a viridian green. Stepping down into the underground, trying to make out anything with his eyes. It was pitched black. A slight whimper tickled his ear. Turning to the wall to his direct left, a woman sat on the floor dressed in ragged clothes. Tattooed in handcuffs and a blindfold. Her lips were chapped and withered.

A sharp pain came onto his heart. This must’ve been where they held all their prisoners. He turned. There were rows of them, some close together for warmth in the cold basement. “Please don’t hurt us.” A younger voice said a little girl no more than fourteen had noted in the center. David said nothing, wanting to ensure their safety, but did not want to risk them being excited or loud in fear. Knowing they would not believe him. She brushed her head against the ground, the blindfold lifted from her eyes just enough for her to look up at him. “You’re not one of them. Who are you?” to her, he appeared like a knight in shining armor to rescue her.

David placed his index finger against his lips. The hatred in his heart was heavy, pressing onto his earpiece. “V, how long until police can get here?” He asked. The Watchers on the roof looked at each other in concern.

“Thinking this a police job?” Virgil asked, looking at a map of the area. “At least twenty minutes, maybe thirty.”

“Call them.” David said, “We have fifteen minutes to clear this place of all hostiles.”

“Roger that, I’m calling them now.”

“Wait for my signal,” David said as he turned off his earpiece. Walking over to the steps up into the building. Gripping his sword tightly, his sword burning ever hotter. His anger amplified his strength. He stopped just before the door.

“David.” He heard Eleazar’s voice from the darkness. “I know what is in your heart and your mind. You must not give into anger; you are better than this.”

“They deserve whatever comes to them,” David said, his teeth pressed tightly together.

“Do not give into wrath, be better than them.” His voice faded. David relaxed his jaw, inhaling deeply. His lungs expanded and tightened. His heart still pounding in his chest. He had to make a choice between vengeance and justice. He grabbed onto the door handle, twisting it slowly. It was locked. The door swung open, there stood a man. His eyes widened, looking at David, reaching for a handgun on his hip.

David was quick to act, swinging his sword swiftly. Removing the hand from the man. Pushing him into a shipping container, sending a loud thud throughout the building. David charged into the room, his eyes burning green. The room was filled with men. All eyes were on him. Silence, all waiting for him to make the first move. Never had they seen such terrible power in a man. His armor alone was enough to strike the fear inside of the mere men. “Intruder!” One cried out as the rest of the men drew their swords. David knew that they had understood their fatal mistake of charging towards him and not taking the time to escape.

“That’s our queue,” Kevin said as Richard pressed the detonator. The breaching charge exploded at the door lock. Reviving from the blast, Chris kicked the door open. Charging down the steps from the roof into the building below.

“Sounds like a party,” Eve said to the secretary. She looked panicked, reaching underneath her desk. Eve quickly drew her sword from her waist. Extending it out to the woman’s throat. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” Eve’s smile faded into one of seriousness. Gabriel opened the door, unsheathing his sword as he started for the door. Nodding at Eve as he passed her. “Now, I need everything on that computer on this.” Tossing a flash drive out on top of the desk in front of the woman.

David was facing each opponent, nearly breaking a sweat. Blocking one before cutting off his leg. The next charged into him, each in waves. David dodged his attack, delivering a swift kick to his stomach into the wall to the left. David was pushing ever closer to the stairs that head leads to the primary office. Multiple explosions were chained from outside. Jasmine had set them off before blinking up to the window, smashing it open with her elbow, leaping inside to join the battle.

Kevin, Richard, and Chris battled in the hallways on the second floor. Making a mess of blood and sweat all over the waxed floors and walls. Chris sent a bolt of lightning, punching through the chests of three men who had been charging towards him. Richard formed a shield behind Kevin before a blade came down on him. Kevin turned around. Richard lowering the security. Kevin thrust his sword outwards, drawing it to the left removing the hand of his attacker.

Gabriel was surrounded by four men. Pushing his palm out as it glowed a light blue, generating a fireball. It had failed, spitting a flame no more significant than an ember from a campfire. They laughed at him, “It was worth a shot.” Gabe said before leaping at one of them, thrusting his sword into his throat. He engaged the other three, staying on the defensive, waiting for an opening to take advantage of.

David was now at the top of the stairs. “Don’t let him get to the boss!” One yelled of the half a dozen men—all taking an undisciplined defensive on the catwalk staggered.

“Do you know who I am?” David asked as he stood before them. He could feel their fear. They wore it like cologne, burning David’s nose. They stood silent. “I am the voice in your head that fills your soul with doubt. I am the hammer of justice against your nail of treachery. I am the light in your shadows of fear.” His eyes began to burn from green to a soft white. “You stand before me as nothing more than mere pawns in my game of vengeance." One charged at him. In no time was he lifted from the ground. David grabbed him by the throat before he could think, starring into his eyes. “I can see what you did to them. You are a monster.” David scrunched his hand into a fist, punching a hole through the cavity into the man’s chest. The others can see David’s bloodied fist covered in a bright red from the other side of the man.

“Who else is stupid enough to stand before the iron might of heaven? I was once peasant, I slew Goliath, now I am a King!” David commanded dominion of the room, filled with anger and wrath. Taking the now dead man in his hand, casting him off the rails down into the ground.

“We’re going to die.” One said.

“Cowards!” The man in the back charged at David. His head was removed from his shoulders. David had drawn his sword at lightning speed. The others took no time to take their chances by leaping off the sides back down to the warehouse floor. Rather, taking their chances with Jasmine and Gabe, another fatal mistake. Gabriel and Jasmine were making quick, decisive actions on clearing out any stragglers left behind. David’s eyes turned back to viridian, gasping for air. What had come over him to make such violence. His heart, heavy in pain. Now was not the time to stop. He had to bring an end to the leader of the Wolves.

David walked over, breathing heavily to the door, kicking it open. Breaking off the hinges where the door sat. The room had a single computer. A large man sat at the desk. “You are coming with me,” David said, voice filled with anger. Pointing the tip of the blade at him.

“Is that how you introduce yourself, Mr. Locklear?” He asked. “My name is Harrison Dunford.”

“I don’t care what you’re name is. You’re coming with me.” David stood still. He stood with purpose.

“Not even curious as to how I know your name?” Harrison asked, confused. “So be it.” Harrison leaped from behind his desk, pulling out an ax. David stepped to the side, dodging his first attack, removing his hands from his arms. The man screamed in pain.

David walked over to the computer as the man bled out on his brown carpet. “Allison, I need a POW healed,” Removing his finger off the earpiece. David sat down in the chair, typing away at the computer. Searching through files for evidence. Plugging in a hard drive from his chest plate.

“Why don’t you kill me?” Harrison cried on the floor.

“It’s always interesting that people like you, big and powerful, now that your empire is crumbling from a teenager. You cry and muster in your failure. Don’t worry, the Order’s prisons are horrible.” David snarked. “Maybe you’ll get to eat. Who knows?”

“You don’t know what you’ve started, kid.” He said, laying his back on the wall. “I’m going to make you wish you never messed with me.”

“So, the main branch is in Japan, I see.” David was reading a dozen emails. “I knew it would be too easy to assume this was the center of operations. At least it is for the west coast.”

“You are messing with a mighty man.” Harrison said, “He will break you in two.”

“Can’t wait to meet him,” David said as Allison, Gabriel, and Kevin entered the room. “Don’t waste your energy on him. Just throw on some tourniquets and take him to the Silver Arrow.”

Allison nodded, dropping her medical kit on the ground. Gabriel held the man down from flailing at her. He was now under Gabriel’s control. Kevin walked over to David, whispering, “David, are you okay?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“You punched a hole through a man.” Kevin said, “That’s nothing like you.” Kevin was looking over his shoulder. His attention was focused on the screen. There were pictures, dossiers on each of the Watchers. “They’ve been watching us?”

“Yeah, for a while now,” David said. “We’ll look at everything later; for now, we need to get out of here. Police should be here any moment now.”

“Right,” Kevin said as he went over to the boss. Lifting him up, “Everyone to the Silver Arrow.”

The police broke into the building, firearms drawn. Clearing the empty front office, opening the door, they checked their corners, searching. There were corpses everywhere. Men knocked out or dead. Blood had littered the room. Never had they seen so many dismembered. Swords arranged into a path to the door in the back. One officer followed them, coming across the door opened. Turning on his flashlight, stepping down slowly into the basement. He found no more than fifty or so men, women, and children. Blindfolded and handcuffed. “Oh my God.” He muttered.