Cynetic Wolf
FOOTSTEPS AND FANS

‘Calter?’ I said, shell-shocked as we connected.

‘The old Colts’ stadium. Lucas Oil. You have twenty minutes. Meet me there, alone,’ he added. ‘Southeast corner of the field, what’s left of it.’

I mouthed the name to Henk and Ganla before adding, ‘You won’t get away with this. You’re a monster, you—’

The call ended.

“Henk, I need a lift. Old Lucas Oil. Is the VTOL ready?”

“Everything’s ready,” Zedda said. “But are you sure about this? After what you’ve been through… You can’t do this, not alone.”

“I have to!” I snapped. “It’s my fault this happened.” Why couldn’t she see that?

“I’m coming with you!” she burst out. It wasn’t a question.

“No you’re not,” I said, shaking. “I can’t—I can’t have to worry about something happening to you.”

“It’s not just you anymore, Raek!” Zedda hissed through gritted teeth. “We have—” she paused, noticing everyone as if for the first time.

Ganla cut in, “She’s right, Raek. We can’t afford for you to go by yourself. You’re our best hope at a peaceful resolution.”

“Fine! We can send backup, not by air though,” I added. “They need to come from the sides and avoid detection at all costs. Henk can bring me to the wreckage, and I’ll walk in on my own. You guys arrange backup. If Calter’s going to try something, he’ll have the area jammed. We’ll need backup comms.”

“Or we could track your signal,” Ania said. Everyone turned to look at her. “If Raek had a simulcast going out, if his connection died, we’d know he got jammed. If that happens, it’s a trap and we rush the place, right?”

“Ania, you’re a genius!” I exclaimed.

She blushed, picking her nails, a proud smile on her face.

“Okay. We need to go. I’ll simulcast to this address.” I sent a link to each of them. “You guys coordinate the backup, a small team. No more than five.”

They nodded.

Fifteen minutes later, Henk and I passed over the dark remains of the stadium. It must have been impressive in its day. Today though, most of the walls and seating had collapsed, cracked by Caen’s harsh winters and lack of maintenance.

We couldn’t see Calter from the air, too much debris and temporary housing littered the place. Plus it was enormous. He could be anywhere. This was nuts, but what choice did I have?

I jumped out as soon as we landed and surveyed the rubble, hurrying off. Eyes open.

Picking my way through the cold, dead landscape, I heightened my senses, heart rate quickening. He could be anywhere. At the edge of the stadium, I headed for a dilapidated entrance to my right. It looked safe enough, but looks could be deceiving.

Inside was a mess. The stadium had been the home to tens of thousands of homeless during the ruthless winters, before the government kicked them out. The ground was covered in wrappers and bottles, all manner of packaging. Most wasn’t recyclable. A lot had changed in the last few decades.

From the crumbling stands, I scanned the ghost town in front of me with thermals. A familiar glow illuminated the place, but nothing moving. The place reeked of despair and better times, death too.

Creeping toward the field, I hopped to the bald astroturf and set off for the Southeast corner. Calter should be there.

The field was huge, grimy tents and biofabbed huts everywhere; remnants of the displaced strewn like leaves in the wind. Suffering for decades...

Something moved. “Calter?” I yelled. “Zedric? Frankis? You there?”

A stumbling shape emerged and fell to the ground. It was Frankis, arms and legs magcuffed, mouth covered. Calter must be nearby.

A crash behind me. I dove, spinning as I did. Zedric toppled, similarly bound. At least he was alive.

What was happening?

“Calter, you wanted this meeting!” I shouted as I got to my feet, heart pounding, every noise amplified. “I’m alone and unarmed. Show yourself!”

“I did.” A figure turned the corner and fired, shattering the silence.

I leapt and the blast incinerated the ground I’d been standing on. Shit. Another hit Zedric in the chest, killing him instantly. Not him too.

I tried messaging the others. No luck. My connection was gone, jammed. Frankis whimpered something unintelligible.

“You don’t have to do this, Calter!” I shouted. “You have me, that’s what you wanted. Let the boy go!”

A slight movement behind me. I ducked, firing. A scream as a black-clad figure collapsed, army insignia on his fatigues.

Calter had brought a hit squad. How many?

Another rounded the corner, blaster leveled. Somehow, I got off the first shot and dodged his hurried blast. There was an explosion several meters away. I ran as blaster fire filled the air.

My one chance was the maze-like complexity of the area. If Fury had lied and brought men, he’d have more than enough to finish the job. He didn’t strike me as someone who left things to chance.

Escape or wait for backup, there was no other way. Would they be fast enough?

The building in front of me collapsed.

Sprinting for cover, I heard footsteps everywhere. Another figure knelt behind a wall. I fired. Two more.

A VTOL took off.

At least Henk was coming, if I could hold out.

Eruptions to my left. They didn’t know where I was. Maybe the jammers blocked their comms as well. A VTOL appeared over the northern walls.

Huh? Shouldn’t Henk have come from the southwest?

The ship opened fire.

The area to my left detonated, sending chunks of concrete and turf flying. I raced for cover. I had to get to the walls.

Blaster fire behind me caught my attention, missing me by centimeters. Dropping, I started crawling. The VTOL would have thermal imaging. If they saw me, I was a sitting duck.

It turned my way, closing the distance. I wasn’t going to make it.

I ran, and the pilot took a few seconds to react before the barrage resumed. That probably saved me.

When I saw the second VTOL, I knew I was done for. Was my hearing damaged? Why hadn’t I heard it?

The second closed at a blistering pace as the first raced toward me, guns rattling. He rose higher, lining up the shot. The second ship smashed into it. What the—?

A ball of flame enveloped the pair. They crashed to the earth with a resounding BOOM that rocked the night. Henk! He’d sacrificed himself.

Another friend gone… A raging sadness engulfed me. Two shadows materialized to my right, soldiers running to check the pilot. I shot both.

Where was Calter?

Frankis screamed, and I turned back. I had to get him out of here. Sneaking along the outer wall, I backtracked. A soldier looking down his scope lost his throat before he realized what happened.

Another was lying under a tent, muzzle pointed toward Frankis. I thanked my wolfish ancestors as I slipped in for the silent kill.

I’d dispatched nine of Calter’s men so far. How many more could there be? And where the heck was my backup? They should have been here by now.

Frankis was up ahead, hanging by a thread. Blood pooled from a wound on his forehead and his right leg was twisted at an unnatural angle. Reminded me of Bruce. He didn’t have much time.

A crunch of footsteps. I spun, preparing to fire. Something made me hesitate.

It was Henk.

“Henk?” I whispered. “You’re alive? You made it? But—”

“Autopilot,” Henk said. “Dove out before impact.”

“Where are the others?” Were they okay?

“Somewhere in here.” He looked around. “I don’t—”

A scream. We took off.

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