The Eden Projects (Book I)

Chapter 33. Lord of Maggots.

- Kasper -

"MOVE." Kasper shouted.

"Not until you tell me where you went-" The girl at the gate positioned herself bravely in front of him.

"Why does it matter." He shuffled Zak's arm back up and over his shoulder. He was swaying like a tree, threatening to fall any moment. "Move or I'll make you." Zak was either hurting or adrenaline fueled. He hadn't stopped shaking since they got into the truck and no matter how many deep breaths he took, nothing seemed to stop it. Kasper's jaw was clenched so tight, he thought it might never open again.

"Riley... Just let us in." Zak looked to her through his one good eye.

She stepped back, eyeing him, and then the gate that was locked between them. "I can't let you in here. Somethings off."

"Fine." Kasper straightened, marching Zak back towards the truck, propping him against it. "Stay here."

"R-ight." He threw a lopsided thumbs up.

"Get back." Kasper rolled up the sleeves on his damp jacket. "Now."

"What?" Riley took a step.

"Or don't." He moved quickly, taking hold of the fence. The cold chain links rang out under his muscled fingers. He tested its strength, giving it a nudge to the side. Shadows tugged at his vision.

...tear it apart...

In a whirr of crackling energy the chain locking the gate in place snapped in two, the fence slid quickly to the side with an ear bleeding whine. His chest ached from the motion. He had forgotten the bullet still housed somewhere in him. He gave the gate one final shove and it slammed into its waiting partner. Riley took another step back. "I said move-" A chill spread down his fingertips as his hands took on their feral shape. "-you always have to make this difficult... always you-" The words stung him with an aching familiarity.

"HEY."  Zak shouted from behind. "-Don't." His voice wobbled closer.

Kasper stopped short of grabbing her. Riley's eyes were wide and circled. Who is she? What had he intended to do if he had grabbed her...

"Not a good plan Kas." Zak tapped him, pointing upward.

His eyes followed. Two winged people, just like Ace, sat with their legs dangling off the edge of a building. The shorter daring him to do something. Just seeing them irked him. They were posted high up, watching like two pigeons on a wire. Kasper sighed, looking her up and down before turning to help Zak again. She didn't move. 

"Help me." Zak whispered.

"Okay-" Kasper spoke low and for a moment, he searched for his friend's name. "Zak." He squinted when it came to him.

The two shuffled quickly through the camp, each step only drew out more questions. Why had they come here, who were the two guys on the roof there, and where had Ace gone with all his knowledge. Why were there people searching for him, what did they have to do with anything?

"That one." Zak pointed to a building just ahead.

Kasper nodded, hiking Zak up higher on his arm, nearly dragging him to the door. In one swoop he grabbed the handle and pulled it up. Let himself in, and allowed it to close leaving only a few inches open at the bottom. The unit settled into the stillness as Zak crumbled onto his mattress. Looking around, Kasper lowered onto an old wooden chair near Zak who had started the slow process of unlacing his combat boots with short groans.

"Who is she?"

"You don't remember-" He slid off his last boot, falling backwards on the makeshift bed. "-her? I hate Fog so much. That's the fourth time he's put me down."