I'll Protect You

Chapter 11

Henry gripped his tickets tight, these were his way to freedom. He had his head turned down, as if he was playing on his phone, but he was still looking out for any and all people that may be police or be threatening.

Years in jail had taught Henry a lot. He knew never to trust appearances, never to turn your back on others, and to always be on top of the food chain. He also knew that the best way to win a fight was to be crazy. Crazy didn't know if they were winning or losing but would fight anyway. Nobody in their right mind would go up against someone who's crazy, not even police officers. Now the only people Henry trusted were his pack mates, because that's what they are now, a pack. Even though Oliver didn't complete his initiation, didn't mature into Wolf, they were still pack.

Honestly, Henry was a little disappointed that Oliver hadn't been able to kill the police officer, but he had always kind of expected it. Oliver was always a bit too soft, too dependent, but that was okay. Henry was their leader, their Lion. Jack and Richard were muscle, and David was their sharpshooter. Oliver didn't need to kill, he could be their tech person, getting fake passports and papers. He knew that Oliver wouldn't stop them from killing, but wouldn't participate at this time. That was okay though, because he needed to be more careful now, guiding him gently instead of pushing him into the deep end like he did before. Wolves are pack animals, one of the only in the group. Lions had prides, sure, but they weren't made up of male lions, and so he was fine being independent. So were the others. He wasn't used to having a proper pack animal, but it could be could for the group. Teach them responsibility and whatever.

"Brought some coffee," Oliver said, coming back to take a seat next to his brother, "Already gave some to Jack, Richard and David." He handed the coffee to Henry, and then took a sip of his own drink. Henry glanced over to Jack, who was sitting a couple of seats away. For now the pack had to split up, and hide themselves in the crowd, and so Jack was a few seats to the left, Richard in front and to the right, and David sat a few rows behind, watching their backs. Henry sat in the middle, Oliver by his side. The youngest of the group needed to be protected.

"Is that coffee?" Henry asked, gesturing at Oliver's cup and Oliver blushed.

"Nah, it's hot chocolate," he replied.

"Let me guess, extra sugar, marshmallows and vanilla?" Henry smirked.

"Yeah, you know me," Oliver said, nodding and taking another sip. Henry's heart sunk for a second because yes, he knew his brother, but he also didn't. He had spent so long in prison, being tough, keeping Oliver safe from the side lines, and he never got to see Oliver grow up, or graduate and he didn't even know if Oliver enjoyed university or if he hated it. He didn't know what Oliver's favourite colour, or sport, or book.

Well that was going to change, Henry decided, because know they were starting a new life together. Where they could hear about what the other enjoyed, or hated, and everything would be easier.

Henry felt his phone buzz in his hands and he frowned at the text. It was sent from David, saying that he had seen security.

"Careful," is all Henry said and immediately Oliver hung his head, and pretended to be engrossed in whatever was happening on his phone, a game or something. Henry stiffened at his side, lifting his phone and pretending to take a call, really he was just looking around for threats. He spotted the security guard, and then saw who was trailing behind. It was one of those police officers that came to interrogate him when he was still at prison. Not the lady, she was dead, the other one. Henry nudged Oliver softly, and the younger brother looked at the older quizzically.

"What?" Oliver asked, and Henry nudged him again.

"Go do something away from me. I recognise the police officer," Henry explained, and he kept an eye on his brother as Oliver stood up, not making the movement seem worried or hurried, and went into a nearby shop. Henry glanced back at the security guard and the officer, Tom, he thought his name was, and was almost scared as Tom left the guards side to go after Oliver. Luckily, Oliver saw this too, and ducked into the toilets.

The security guard approached Henry and asked for his passport, which Henry gave over without hesitating. It was a fake one of course, made by Oliver while Henry had been...occupied. Their real passports had their real names, which had been realised to the public. It was kind of satisfying to see their faces displayed on televisions, with the words scrolling underneath warning everyone that they were 'dangerous and armed, do not approach at all costs'.

Henry watched closely as his pack members pulled out their own fake passports and handed them over to security for them to check. The security passed over some people and didn't ask others, in fact, the security glossed over Richard, but stayed near Jack for almost too long. Once he was sure everyone had been checked, Henry stood, and made his way into the bathroom where he had seen Oliver enter, slowly pulling out a knife as he went.

"Stop this, Oliver," Henry heard Tom say, "you can come back with me to the station, we can give you a lesser sentence. C'mon, you didn't kill anyone, so why would you stay here with these guys? They are clearly dangerous." Henry gripped his knife tighter, still staying out of sight, trusting Oliver to handle this.

"I'm with my brother," Oliver replied, almost desperately, "I'm with my brother and his friends and I finally feel like I belong somewhere. I know their dangerous and I couldn't care less! They wouldn't hurt me."

"How do you know that though?" Tom asked and Oliver smiled a little.

"They've only hurt people who hurt me, they protect me and so why would they want to hurt me?" Oliver turned to wash his hands, not noticing Tom's thunderous look.

"They hurt Madeleine," Tom argued and Oliver shook his head slowly.

"I was meant to kill her, as part of my initiation. She would have died either way," Oliver said, turning off the tap and facing Tom again. Then the officer got more aggressive, and grabbed Oliver by the shoulders.

"She didn't have to die," he said, overcome with grief, "you are sick if you think she had to die, absolutely horrible. She was a wonderful person and you killed her." Tom shook Oliver and Henry stepped out of the shadows, holding the knife to Tom's neck.

"Let go of my brother please," he said and he felt Tom stiffen in shock. Oliver was gently realised and he stepped backwards quickly to avoid being grabbed again.

"I'm okay," Oliver whispered and Henry nodded at him.

"What are you going to do now?" Tom asked and Henry ignored him.

"Go guard the door," he told Oliver and the youngest Peterson ran to do just that. Then Henry grabbed Tom's neck and squeezed.

Tom fought back of course, using his training to try and get Henry off, but Henry had fought police men before, or people who had been trained as police but ended up in prison, so he knew how to trap him affectively. He watched as Tom slowly lost consciousness, eyes fluttering closed, and then dragged the almost dead weight into a stall. He locked the stall door from the inside and then proceeded to snap Tom's neck. It may seem like overkill, but Henry had been sure that he was dead after the big showdown in his house. He had seen a patch of blood where the heart would've been, but they just have hit his shoulder instead, judging by the bandage Tom wore.

Henry slithered out from under the door, checked the lock was firmly in place and that nothing seemed out of place from the outside. Then he washed his hands and stepped outside. Oliver was waiting for him outside the toilet door and Henry noticed that he was shaking slightly. He was visibly frightened of something.

"It's okay, there was no blood, we won't be found," he said, and Oliver nodded, before turning around and hugging his older brother.

"I was worried, Tom's a policeman," he explained and Henry just hugged him back. They stood like that until their ticket was called, and then they walked onto the plane hand in hand. They settled down in their seats, not far away from their pack this time, and prepared themselves for freedom.

Sometimes, Henry would look back, would see the way everyone was together as they were meant to be, his brother at his side, his friends around him, and he would smile.