The Herd

Chapter 13

P.O.V.: Cameron
James and I walked through the mall lugging the Jocks behind us, their wrists and ankles tied, until we came across Jewel and the others. The rest must have gotten here a few minutes ago. As if this was a cheesy romantic novel, James dropped what he was doing and ran into her arms. And by what he was doing I mean lugging around the Jocks, and when I said dropped I mean he dropped them both on me.
"Oh, yeah." I grumbled to myself. "I got it. Don't worry. Go to your girlfriend, ya black bastard." That last part I shrunk in my armor whispering it to my collar so no one heard.
"What was that?" Noah said beside me.
"Oh!" I exclaimed. "No. Nothing." I smiled.
"You got it, Cam?" He asked, gesturing to the two Jocks I was struggling to lug behind me.
"Well, actually I-"
"Cool." He patted my shoulder and walked ahead.
(Insert 😑 face)
"Haha. C'mon, Cam." Antonio came from behind me. He grabbed Ron from me and threw him over his shoulder.
"Thanks." I said.
We walked through the mall, making our way to the exit. The mall was relatively empty, the gunfire caused most to run away, but some still cowered behind stands and the stores. Noah and the others assured them that they were safe, but our reputation wasn't exactly... legal.
A security guard once came up to us with a taser gun and told us to stop. Kahu gave him a good growl and he ran like a bitch. Every other guard we came across just watched us pass as they talked into their radios.
There was this mother and her little boy taking cover behind a trash can. The mom looked like a stuckup lawyer, but the kid looked like he was oblivious to all evil in the world. He pointed at Kahu and said: "Mom, look. A puppy!"
Kahu looked at the boy and sniffed upwards. He hunched low and crawled over to the boy. The mother quivered and swatted at Kahu and said to back off, but the boy laughed and giggled as he reached out to the dog.
Kap crouched and rose his hand in a calming matter. "It's okay, ma'am." He said softly. "Kahu won't hurt him."
Kahu got up close and sniffed the boy's face. The boy giggled and grabbed Kahu's nose, making him sneeze. The boy laughed harder when Kahu started to lick his face.
The woman seemed to calm and even motioned her hand to pet Kahu, but changed her mind.
"Kap." Noah said. "We gotta go."
Kap nodded and clicked his tongue. "C'mon, boy." Kahu licked the boy one more time and then ran to Kap's side. "Good job, bud." He said petting him.
Ben crouched as he walked and patted Kahu's side. "Yunno, Kap. Your dog might be the only reason some people might like us."
"He's a good way to show we're not villains." Kap said.
"Yeah." I laughed. "The villains are these guys." I said bouncing Curt up and down, making him groan in his sleep.
We all shared laughs like we were normal friends hanging out at the mall. Good times. Reminded me of the old days when we weren't wanted criminals for multiple crimes including murder. But HEY! What's new, right?
When we got to the staircase that led up to the exit, Kap helped me carry Curt up as Macho Libre carried Ron up by himself. Ron was small, yes, but so was Antonio. Kap and I laughed together as we some how found a way to make fun of the fact that he was stronger than us.
We walked out the mall and made our way to the vehicles. I'm sure by now you're asking Where's the cops? Well, for one thing, our city police department are full of either slobs, or corrupts. There are a few good to the heart and rather badass cops that made us run for our money before, but that's why Noah likes to scramble their comms and radars while we're on any missions.
So yeah. It'll probably still be at least another hour until they check out the mall.
We threw Curt and his Boy Scout trooper into the bed of Ben's truck. Noah had driven it here instead of Ben because he wanted him to be one of the first ones here. I was chosen for a defensive and a medical point of view, whereas Ben and Kap were more offensive if we needed to act and help James.
     But, I helped him myself. Haha... yeah. No one cares...
     Antonio and Damien jumped in the back with them to make sure they didn't try anything if they woke up.
I threw my shield off my back and into Kap's trunk alongside his machine gun. I closed it up, and climbed into the backseat. I couldn't sit in the front because Kahu always gets shotgun. Not because Kap makes it a rule, it's more like because Kahu will take your fingers if you try to take his seat. So I just figured I'm okay with the backseat.
     Ben climbed in beside me and sighed. "Good job, Cam, by the way." He said, patting my leg. "James said you handled them pretty well."
     "Oh," Whoa... he complimented me. WOO-HOO!! "Uh, thanks." Nailed it.
     Kap came across from the right side and opened the the passenger seat. Kahu jumped in and the door closed behind him. Kap slid over his hood and opened his door. "Alright." He said sitting down. "Lets get this party started." He got the car started and closed his door. The music blared up but he turned it down almost instantly.
     The rumble of Kap's camaro made my neck hair tingle, but it was a beautiful sound. We pulled out of the parking lot and stayed close behind Noah in Ben's truck, keeping an eye on Antonio and Damien. We watched and laughed as they threw the Jocks' belongings out from the side. Phones, watches, and even Ron's small earring that he had in his left ear.
     "So," Kap said. "Ben you wanna help me out when I talk to the Jocks?"
     "Hell, yeah." He said.
     "Oh, yeah." I said. "What happened to that truck driver?" I asked.
     Ben snapped his finger as he remembered that too. "That's right. You never did tell us anything."
     "Wasn't anything to tell." He said. "The guy was just the normal guy who made the deliveries. When the Exterminator told you guys that he had a deal with the company, he was bluffing. There's no connection between the Exterminator and the shipping business."
     "What!?" Ben cursed and punched his leg. "That bastard! How'd he know we were fakes then?"
     "Well, he was expecting us." Kap said. "There's numerous ways he could have prepare his guards to prove they were legit. We just didn't have that proof."
     "Makes sense." I said.
     "No it doesn't." Kap said gloomily.
     "What do you mean?" I said.
     "Ben?" He said.
     I looked over and Ben looked as if he was hardcore thinking. "How'd he know we were coming...?" I said softly.
     "Exactly." Kap said.
     "It was a bounty." Ben said. "It's always out there. Every merc and assassin would have known to go after him, he was smart to prepare especially for us."
     "Yeah, but..." Kap shook his head. Kahu sniffed and gently yelped towards Kap, feeling the distress.
     "What's goin' on in that head of yours, Kap?" Ben said. "You don't think it adds up?"
     Kap shook his head again and waved his hand. "Nevermind. It's whatever, I'll just talk to Noah about it later."
     "Alright." Ben said leaning back. "Anyway, we talk to the Jocks and we're off for the Exterminator again."
     "We're still on that?" I asked.
     "Of course. There's no way we're going to let someone like that get away from us."
     "Yeah, the only ones that deserve gloating perks are us." Kap said.
     "I guess..."