Darkening Days

Chapter 30: The Trap

We all linger around after the "funeral" has finished. It was not much of a funeral- these men probably deserve much more, but what could we do? We couldn't go to the cemetery, nor could we, at the very least, have put them in coffins, as is the dignified way to be buried. But no, all we could do was go to the forest out back and bury them there, laying them in deep holes in the ground as carefully as possible and then covering them with dirt, and afterwards saying some words about them. Of course, I said nothing- as is expected, I had nothing to say. I didn't know these men. Accordingly, I felt like an outsider. Someone who has no right to speak of these men as if I knew them. I respect that, though, because I didn't know them, and, after all, I'm the reason why they got killed.

I stand stiffly, looking the other way and holding my arms up as various wires are tucked under my shirt. I can't help but feel embarrassed as Meade touches me. He had explained to me that he would have had Shana or the woman from the tech crew hook me up with these wires for the purpose of making this as painless for me as possible, but, unfortunately, they... were caught in that crossfire six days ago. There are no other women in the force to do this, so that left me with him, or some other cop.

"Alright, Krystal, you're good to go." He says, withdrawing his arm from my body awkwardly.

"Perfect." I say, relieved that this is finally done.

"Now to the Jeep we go. You're not nervous, are you?"

"No, no. I just wonder where I'll be tomorrow."

"You'll be back here, I promise. I...we won't let those monsters get you."

"I'm counting on it."

"Sure. So if you're ready, let's go."

"I'm ready."

We make our way to the far left side of the building, and we walk down a hall that I haven't been through since I've been here. At the end of the hall is a door with chipped paint. When we push through it, we step into the garage, or at least, I can be sure it's the garage; there are cars parked everywhere, and a big garage door in the back. I spot the only Jeep, which must be the Jeep Meade mentioned.

"Is this yours?" I ask as we approach it.

"Yes, it is."

"Cool."

He opens the door on the passenger's side. I step up into the vehicle and settle into the seat.

After he gets in on the driver's side, he starts the engine, and clicks a button on a rectangular device. The garage door opens, and we drive out.

He doesn't drive far down the road before stopping; he turns the engine off at the first intersection we encounter. He looks to me and says, "Good luck out there."

"Wait- this is where I get out?" What was the point in driving me here? I could have walked.

"Yes. We don't want to drive through town and get spotted, do we? If they see me dropping you off, they'd surely know it's a trap."

"Then why couldn't I have walked here?"

"I don't want to risk you getting snagged by someone other than Lance."

That doesn't make any sense, because that could happen anyway, but okay. I'll roll with it. "Okay. I'll be off now." I fling open the car door and step out. Meade nods at me before backing up, making a u-turn, and driving back to the station, where they'll be monitoring my every move. Speaking of "them"- I wonder if the Sovereign's watching me. Probably. With this thought in mind, I quickly look around. If he's watching me, he's definitely hiding.