A Number, Not a Name

Among the Fallen

The blackout van steadily rolled along the road. Metal handcuffs tore and cut into Jason and Tasha's wrists. On either side, they were flanked by a henchman who sat silently with their gun drawn. Elias and another man sat in front of them. The light from the moon shone on Elias, illuminating the features they'd recently grown accustomed to, as well as the smug expression on his face. Tasha found the sight beyond infuriating. She shifted her gaze out the window, trying to avoid it.

The chimes of a church bell echoed in the night. One. Two. Three the clock struck. Tasha and Jason's flight to D.C. had long since left the day before. They couldn't help but think back to how close they had been to completing their mission. Only a few hours had stood between them and its end.

Out the window, lights of various buildings and warehouses gleamed and shone through the dark. In the distance, Tasha and Jason could make out the familiar shape of a building. They soon realized it was the old bar where they first made contact with Dalmar.

Seeing it now they felt a cruel sense of irony. The last time they'd seen this place they had been somewhat nervous but mostly full of excitement and passion. Even more so for Jason who saw this as a chance to prove themselves on the field, and secure the free world in the process. For a moment it seemed like they could take on the world. Now desperation drove their every move. It was no secret their backs were against the wall. Their whole focus now was on staying alive. If they could do that, that would be enough.

The van swerved and weaved its way through the streets. A few pedestrians dotted the surrounding landscape. Some cast a few curious glances at the van but paid it no attention beyond that.

The honks and cars and sirens of the city faded to the rumble of a gravel road as the van drove out of town.

Pine and birch trees surrounded them. The air was full of the typical smells of the forest. The bright lights of Bulin had faded into dim bulbs in the distance. The driver eased down on the brake. The car rumbled to a stop. A clunking sound of the front door openingangrierterrified and footsteps clomped outside. Elias stood and stomped to the back of the van, the floor rattling under his weight.

As if on cue the doors swung open. The driver's cold stone face looked back at them. Another man, pistol raised, stood beside him.

"C'mon!" Elias reached down and grabbed Tasha's arm, yanking her to her feet.

Elias dragged Tasha to the back of the van. "Let her go! Take me instead!" Jason screamed after them.

"Quiet!" One of the henchmen slammed his fist into Jason's face.

Elias and Tasha stepped out of the van and the door shut behind them. On the side of the road was a gray car. Elias threw Tasha into the back. He climbed into the front passenger seat and the car took off down the road. They drove for several minutes until the vehicle came to a stop.

As Tasha gazed out the window she was convinced that she'd been here before. The large silver greenhouse in the distance. The rows of the lilium armenun. The large bent birch feet from her. It all seemed strangely familiar. Finally, it dawned on her, it had been the night of the gala. She'd seen them during her limousine ride with Dalmar. Her eyes widened, they were on Delmar's Property. Tasha had tried her best to prepare herself for whatever was ahead, but couldn't reason with the knots in her stomach

Headlights came into view. A white box truck came closer inch by inch and crawled to a stop several feet from where the van was parked.

The man in the driver's seat exited the truck and opened the passenger door. A man exited the vehicle and stepped onto the gravel. Night shadows and the tinted van windows obscured his face, yet his silhouette seemed eerily familiar. From the back of the box truck, four men exited