The Twisted Links

Chapter 70

CHAPTER 70

The constant drip of water from one of the many pipes lining the ceiling beat in a slow pattern that if left down here long enough would drive any man insane. The warm stale humidity made the two men long for fresh air. A humming sound like the whirl of an engine that was different from the noise made by the cooling and heating units was overloud and Josh could barely hear himself think.

Flashback...

Josh had followed the two men for almost a mile the sun had set when the pair went into an alley. He didn't think they saw him. Nervous he crept closer to the entry. He slipped and went flailing into the opposite wall just inside the dark alley. Before he could recover, he was flipped around and a warm set of lips covered his own. Shock held him immobile but then he realized that the men he had been following stood there with a third man and they all guns out. Watching the dangerous group, Josh saw the men put their guns away, and walked past them down the street.

The man backed off quickly as soon as the coast was clear. The stranger was about Josh's height with dark hair and eyes that looked almost black. Josh was not into men at all but he had to admit if he was in an alley about to be killed and a stranger swooped into save him by acting like they were lovers who were unaware of their surroundings, the man definitely wasn't bad looking.

"Um. Thanks?" Josh said hesitantly unsure if he had jumped from the pan into the fire as near black piercing eyes stared at him.

The man nodded. "You need to be carefully. Following that crew is a sure way to ascertain your own death." He said in a deep smooth voice.

Though he hadn't seen the man clearly, Josh knew his voice right away. He didn't know if he should trust the man from the secret hall with the magic barrier. After all, Lady Orla was in danger from the group that she and this stranger worked for. The man left the alley quickly. Josh raced after him to keep up.

"Who are you?" Josh asked when the man slowed.

"Shh."

Josh's ears picked up the sound of voices talking in the distance. The man was gone when Josh turned around. The sound of a vehicle starting and a door slam turned Josh's curiosity into alarm when he realized that the truck was coming his way. Quickly ducking behind a dumpster, he waited. The truck pulled alongside of Josh's hiding spot and stopped. The window rolled down and to his surprise, the man sat in the driver's seat.

"Get in."

Josh ran around to the passenger side and was shocked to see a body on the floor.

"Hurry up!"

Josh swallowed and climbed while trying to avoid stepping on the man on the floor. The body let out a small groan.

"FUCK! He's still alive!" Josh yelled.

"No shit." The stranger said calmly. "Can't get info from a dead man."

They drove for several miles out to the middle of nowhere, stopping at an old abandoned gas station. The man's muscles bulged from under the plain black shirt he wore as he pulled the unconscious man from the vehicle.

"You need help?" Josh asked.

"No." The man said easily carrying the body without effort.

"You don't smell like a vampire or witch. So, what are you?"

"Get the door."

Josh hurried forward and accidently pushed the decrepit door off its hinges. "Oops."