AN: Hello everyone. There has been some confusion for a few readers it seems. It is bound to happen in something written to be mysterious by an amateur. Since everything is laid out already, I will review. Skip the following paragraph if you have no questions and I hope you enjoy chapter 12.
No one has actually seen the Unmentionable other than Stephanie. But she doesn't really remember it because the unmentionable has the ability to make you forget with his lovely burning red eyes that sooth away all thoughts, all pain, all feelings and replace it with nothing. He prefers this state because his prey does not resist and feels no upset afterwards. He congratulates himself in his very kind treatment of all his human delicacies. So why does Stephanie remember him in her nightmares? Well if a person has seen something so many times, they start to remember and no spell of forgetfulness can combat repetition or the human will. Why didn't Ranger run out and catch him once he found out? Well he tried. Very hard in fact. So much, that he almost drove himself to the brink and ended up a cranky, tired, hot mess. But depite all the searching, there was no trace of him anywhere. How do you track something that has been hiding perfectly for a millennium? How do you track something that rarely leaves behind physical evidence and never leaves behind anyone that remembers him? Stephanie is the first living person that has any memories of the unmentionable. But they are really nightmares more than memories and can't give any solid leads to his current location. Hopefully that helps highlight the challenges our heroes face. But they wont give up the fight.
Chapter 12
"So the alarm goes off if anything is in the vicinity of the sensors? But how do we know if it's a person or just an animal that set it off?" I scratch my head as I try to wrap my brain around this latest plan.
"No animals, Estephanie" Hector gives me a slightly offended look
"Ok so, this little doodad can tell the difference between animals and people!?" I hold up what looks to me like to black little "malt ball" with a red light in the center.
The guys and I are in yet another meeting on tracking the unmentionable. We are planning how we are going to lay and wait for him. Once he emerges, we will then spring our trap.
"Beautiful, Hector's equipment is high tech. Think of the tiny energy changes ghost hunters on TV shows pick up. Half of those are false alarms and caused by cold spots from bad pipes. Don't you think we could easily pick up solid bodies and determine if it is an animal or person?" Lester says. Then glancing at Hector. They exchange a look. He grins and settles into his seat.
"Got it. But how can it tell the difference between a person and an unmentionable? And can it even detect an unmentionable? Maybe they don't give off heat or whatever this thing detects or…."
"El movemiento, Chica" Hector says calmly then moves his hand over the small round object he holds in his fingers. "Brrrrring" and he grins wide after making the fake alarm sound.
"Pure movement? What if he moves too fast for the sensor to pick him up?"
"It doesn't matter. If the light beam is broken for even a second, then we register it. The size and shape of the object will be recorded "
"So if it's less than a second? ..then you won't."
"Chica!..." "Bomber!" Lester and Hector exclaim at the same time. Lester grabs me in a head lock and starts rubbing by head, messing my hair up.
"Okay, ok. Stop already." I laugh. "I ..was .. just" I fight Lester off a little annoyed at his sabotage of my hair. But it did distract me from my worry. Lester releases me and Hector puts his arm around my shoulder then sneaks in a poke on my ribs with his other hand. I can't help but laugh at the tickling sensation. It actually makes me feel better. Ok I am getting a little too worked up and stressing over this tech stuff.
I really don't get it. All these details and how they work. But I don't have to get it, I realize. I just have to trust the guys and that it will work.
I grasp the basic plan. The team is going to monitor the top places that we are sure the unmentionable visited before the trail ran cold. The guys and I will put laser sensor alarms out so if there is a whisper he even steps foot in any of these locations, we will be alerted. This is the agony part of waiting and watching, in any good capture.
We will monitor so many areas because we have no idea where his hideout or lair is. He likely has one or had one. We don't know if he will return to the same location or set up a new lair when he returns. But it is likely he will cross into a favorite hunting ground, if it is safe and easy for him to visit. Ranger thinks it is possible he has multiple locations, he sleeps at or lives in or whatever he does, when he is not prowling the streets of New Jersey. This may explain why he is so hard to track when in the Trenton area.
Normally the Hunter teams would move on after a set amount of time, thinking the unmentionable had changed his hunting ground. Historically that is what it looked like unmentionables did. The unmentionable does not know Ranger and his team know about me. Based on this, we can wait for when he returns, thinking the Hunter teams have left.
Bobby estimates The unmentionable will wait at least 6 months, maybe a year, for the Hunter teams to abandon watching an area closely. Hunter teams for the past 50 years will watch an area that had a confirmed unmentionable activity for up to a year. But never less than 6 months. If an area is suspected of having activity twice in the same area, then a whole new protocol occurs that makes the area heavily watched for years. Most unmentionables do not need to return to an area. At least that is what the Hunter Association thought. This belief has changed with my current case.
"The unmentionable is most likely off seeing his other favorite targets and doing regular hunting." Says Bobby. It is clear he is thinking about this a lot and trying to understand his movements better. "I think his hunting area is much wider than we suspected and Trenton is just one of many spots in his current territory. "
"So he is making his rounds through the eastern seaboard?" I say as Bobby leaves the room and enters the hallway
"Could be. But I think we were mistaken before. I think his territory extends much farther than the US east coast. He may not return for more than a year. It would give plenty of time for things to calm down and the Hunter teams to lose his trail. If we didn't know about Stephanie…" Bobby adds the last sentence like it is an afterthought but it sounds more like a worry.
"Possibly. But let's not count on it" says Ranger as they carry in more boxes of high tech supplies into the conference room.
"Babe,..brownies?" He says raising his eyebrows when he sees the plate on the conference room table surrounded by wires and sensors and all the other gadgets strewn around.
"You don't like chocolate?" I gasp and put my hand on my chest feigning a look of horror.
Hector laughs in glee and Lester just grins. Probably because Lester isn't the one getting heat from Ranger even though he probably deserves it for something we don't know about yet.
"Babe..." The inflection of his voice as he licks his lips send the message 'you know that's not true'. He scans me down and back up before returning his penetrating eyes to mine. I can't help but blush a little. An image of his sweet abs and a sinfully chocolaty midnight snack all over us flashes into my mind.
"Cookies, doughnuts croissants" he murmurs
"That was cronuts last week. A cross between a croissant and donut" Ranger shakes his head
"Sweets improve the mood and calm the you know… well anyway, thats why I only bring in a sweet once a week. Though, I kept your concerns in mind soooo these are healthy brownies"
"Mmm" Ranger raises an eyebrow and looks unconvinced. Lester freezes midbite, his mouth wide. He pulls back looking at the brownie crestfallen.
"Don't be afraid just try it. It won't bite you"
"That would be less scary than how it will taste" Lester has a disgusted look on his face and Hector and the other guys look disappointed
"Don't be a baby you haven't tasted it."
"Do they have sugar in them?"
"Yea, OF course duh" I give him a silly eyes and smile look for that question. He barely shakes his head at me and the edges of his lips turn up. Hector laughs at me.
"Flour?"
"Uh, Just try them" I smile. Do I look suspicious?
I take a bite of one "Mmmm see, wow these are soo moist and chewy. More than I expected." I take another bite and close my eyes "so rich, and softer than the ones from the box mix" Thank you Ella for helping me make these from scratch.
Ranger was out doing some work last night. I didn't go. It's still too creepy outside after dark even, with him. To pass the time, we made these until he got back.
All the guys are frozen staring at me. I guess they are still suspicious. I don't know why. I ate them in front of them.
"Angelita esta una pequena devil". Hector says softly. I wink at Hector letting him know I understood him (more or less) and not to worry just try them. He takes a big bite. The first one to trust me. Ahh I am touched. I look at him as he eats it and smile. I can't help it.
"Delicioso Chica" He smiles wide back at me. I am so pleased.
"See Hector knows how to enjoy a good desert" Taking a big bite of my brownies I beam at him as I chew. So happy that he is enjoying this with me. Hector nods and smiles back and I give him all my focus.
"Si, soy El Hombre" He takes another bite. The others in the room race to grab the brownies and take a bite
"It has a sort of deeper taste underneath all the chocolate, reminds me off….fruit?" says Zero. I smile at Zero. He is perceptive and notices details. I can see why he is assigned in the Six position on Alpha team the most often. But I never expected he'd give such a detailed food review.
"You have to try it too" I say in a low sultry voice as I press a bite of brownie to Ranger's lips. He stares into my eyes and opens his mouth and lets me feed it to him. He swallows the mouthful and raises his eyebrows giving me a 'not bad' little nod. Sweets are never bad in my mind. But he isn't interested in them. Well.. except sometimes after midnight.
"They're good, Beautiful. So why are they healthy?"
"I'll tell you tomorrow." The guys groan and start harassing me to tell them now. "or if Ranger eats a whole one." I add to appease them and I give Ranger a mischievous grin.
"Babe" he raises both eyebrows and slightly shakes his head. I know that look. So not happening. He gave me that look last week when I made a wonderful bubble bath for him before he just jumped into the shower. The shower! It smelled so sweet and was waiting for him after he came in all tired and covered in sludge. Who wouldn't want to sink into those towering piles of foam surrounded by glowing candles? Plus, the relaxing lavender scent. That's a masculine flower, right? It's not like it was rose scented. He just took a 5-minute shower and then went to read a report.
"Ok, ok..okay, half a brownie" I perch on the edge of the table in front of Ranger "Then I'll tell you the secrete" I whisper and smile, enticing him to open up. His eyes light up slightly and he surprisingly allows me to feed him a second bite. which is half a brownie. I didn't make them humongous.
The guys all stare at us silently. I realize I am staring at Ranger's lips and licking mine. I snap to and break the spell by saying in a matter-of-fact business voice. "Instead of white flour I used black beans puree"
"What? That is gross, I won't eat any more" "That is cool" "I can't even tell" "That's why it taste a bit fruity"
All the guys in the room comment at once.
"What?! It has real chocolate and sugar in it and you loved it before you knew anything." I roll my eyes at the ones stating it is gross.
Ranger looks at the guys complaining about the brownies they just scarfed. "Just avoid sweets" that shuts everyone up
"We will complete the installation of the sensors and monitoring devices this week. We still need a plan for tracking the unmentionable once he enters the monitored zones" Everyone scrambles back to the meeting and work agenda, when Tank speaks.
"Not all areas will need a tracking device. The areas in yellow are less likely to have activity but we still want sensors to track overall activity with images in case it increases. If activity is unusual, then it will indicate something is on the move. The areas in orange on the map need sensors and video images with the travel trajectory of the target. In the red bullseye zone, we need a way to tag and track anyone who breaches this zone." Ranger clicks through the image of the maps on the screen. The red bulls eyes is my apartment.
"How about.. any time a sensor goes off, a tracker fires into the target" Lester says
"No. too easy to misfire. Allows the unmentionable the ability to recognize he was tagged" Ranger is in front of the group near the presentation screen. He instantly rejects the idea.
"Si the laser es radioactive?" Hector smiles at me. He is trying to use as much English as he can for me and Tank.
"That's an idea" Bobby says deep in thought "If we can somehow simultaneously get a radioactive residue on anyone that breaks the sensor's laser path."
"And then build a device that only looks for that specific isotope" says Lester enthusiastically
"Hector you're a freaking genius!" Hal jumps up. Everyone sits in shocked silence as Hal turns pink and then I can't help but laugh. Only Hal would say that or actually get that enthusiastic out of this group of too cool comandos.
The rest of the meeting is spent discussing the building of a tracker and how to get the isotope to contaminate whoever breaks the sensor's light beam. A new monitoring station is also created at Rangeman as all these areas of the city that need monitoring make for a lot of sensors and data. I guess it will be called monitor Bay 3? But I think we should give it a name. Enough with these letters and number designations. What is the name of an animal that stalks and kills bats? Like an equivalent of the mongoose to the cobra. That's what we should name this monitoring station.
Three weeks have passed since that meeting. I've been on several day mission with the guys. Usually I go with Ranger. We still pick up my skips from Viny's office but I understand now why Ranger only takes the higher bonds. Shop lifters and vandals don't seem to be worth all the time we spend tracking them down. Compared to the skips and missions his team do, I can see how the criminals Ranger tracks pose more danger to people's safety and the community compared to the lower bonds I take from Vinny. But then again, I would be dead if I had ever tried to take in these types of people by myself. Look at John Brown. But he isn't a good example. Even he surprised Lester and his team with his ferociousness and strength.
Sometimes it is just Ranger and I, checking on cameras and other security issues for Rangeman clients. If we have something more complex or dangerous we take a whole team. The times we went in to grab a skip he always has me be his partner or battle buddy, as the guys call each other. The other men always have a partner too, when they enter buildings.
Before we left the vehicle the first time I went out with his team, he turned to me and said. "You're with me." I knew he meant I was his partner. "Don't leave my side"
"What, uh no" I was surprised. But I get it. Partners shouldn't wander off. His eyes were still looking at me unblinking. What is it?
"The safest place is next to me." He is serious. But he is the best fighter I know and smart. I smile at him and nod. He lets out the smallest of sighs as if a worry has lifted off him somehow.
We walk to the door and he knocks. No answer. The guy is in there hiding. I know Ranger is going to burst in since he doesn't need a warrant as a bond officer. The Six and his battle confirm they are in position covering the back.
Ranger takes a deep breath and slowly starts to let it out. I have never noticed him doing this before. He is centering himself. I am behind him on the narrow porch. I reach out and grab his hand latching onto his pinky and ring finger. I squeeze it twice and whisper. "Here. Behind you" So he knows I am here, on his left side. He continues the rest of his exhaling breath. I see all the unneeded tension leave his muscles. He is calm, yet alert and ready to spring. I move a step back. I am ready.
Ranger knocks again. Nothing. Bam he kicks the door open entering at the same time. I follow behind him. I see nothing but his back until we're crouching against the wall. Then I scan the dim room. I hear scuttling and running feet in the other room. The FTA is going for the back door. Slam.
Our skip doesn't make it far. Zero and Luis grab him. Ranger is on the run talking to his men through the live commlink and I am right on his heels. It didn't take long to subdue the skip and after loading him up, I drive everyone to the police station. That was the first time I was part of Ranger's team.
I've been part of Alpha team many times since. Before we enter, Ranger always looks at me and says 'stay close'. I always grin back at him. I can't help it. It almost feels like he is saying something more than 'you're my partner, my battle, for this trip.' He says it not in words but in his movements. In the way he always steps in front and has me follow close behind when we walk through the door. In the way he glances back as we turn a corner to check I am hugging the wall. The way he smiles at me after we've finished and I am still near. See, I didn't wander. I am here by your side. Where else would I go? I'm watching your back.
I've just completed a final search on the last high bond I brought from Vinny's. That was before I knew unmentionables existed. It wasn't so long ago but it feels like a lifetime ago. This skip seems to be linked to John Brown somehow. A comrade? But it isn't clear. It didn't come out until I ran the search myself and then poured over the data. I brought it up to Lester and he grinned and seemed rather pleased and surprised at my conclusions.
This changes everything. Ranger will assign 2 teams to take him in. His name was listed John Smith. Yea, I know. Fake name. You'd think he would pick something less obvious. I really started digging and discovered his name was Andrew Complo. His record showed he was a regular mediocre street thug until about 5 years ago. Right after the Slayers had their little street war and died out, he emerged and built a mini empire. Actually, my hunch is that he is the lieutenant of someone else. Like how the Mafia has a Capo that does all their work for them. I can't really prove it on paper. It's just the pattern of his sudden change in smarts and business style. If he was that smart why didn't he do this before? How did he suddenly figure out how to gain so much street power and reputation? Exactly. That is why I suspect he isn't the mastermind.
I stretch and go to the break room while I wait for the final report that I sent to the printer. I send the shorter team notes to the cloud for upload to the team Leaders phones.
"Hi Stephanie."
"Hi Michael how's the leg?" He shrugs and smiles moving around the break room on crutches. He has at least 5 more weeks in a cast. He will be on desk and monitor duty until then. After that it'll be light duty, while he gets back up to speed and full strength.
"Anything good to eat?" Ben comes in. He is also on desk and light duty. His ribs are still very sore and they keep him from going on teams that see any action. The guys greet each other with a man hug and fist bumps
"I was about to mix up something sweet."
"Ahhh Beautiful brings the forbidden fruit again." Lester saunters in
Even healthy brownies failed here. But it doesn't stop my craving for something sweet and delightful.
"This is indulgence without the sin" and I smile as the rest of the guys start to grin. Well I don't think sugar is a sin, but I want to support the breakroom snack guidelines.
I pull a giant old blender out of the cupboard.
"What's this?" Lester says in a mocking voice. I got it for a great discount at Good Will. There isn't a blender in the break room, nor one in my stuff. What's the point of buying a new little streamlined one, until I figure out if this idea works out?
"It's Old Blue's friend so don't knock it." I know all the guys for some reason love that old '53 Buick that I borrow from my parents.
Lester raises his hands in surrender
I get out frozen strawberries, plain yogurt, lemons, sugar, honey, frozen peaches, bananas and of course chocolate syrup just in case, and set them on the counter
"Wahlaah smoothies."
It doesn't take long for the guys to get enthused. I mean they always have fruit or yogurt in the fridge as allowable snacks. Why not combine it for some delicious yum.
I load up the blender with some yogurt, strawberries, a squeeze of lemon, and some honey and press the buttons. It roars to life like an ill lawnmower. Reeving and sputtering as it hits the chunks of strawberries. But it is working and soon a smooth drink with strawberry bits comes out
"Not, Bad Beautiful" Lester drinks half his glass "You may be able to hide a scoop of Ranger's power protein in it" the guys grimace
"What?"
"No! It would ruin it. Nothing can cover up that nasty flavor" says Ben
"Nor the smell. Not even the sweet fruits of Angelita here" Says Luis finishing his last gulp.
I guess Alpha team and the other men were exposed to some of the healthier drink powders over the years. They have vitamins mixed in, I think, which gives them an unpleasant flavor. Ranger offers them to them if they are beat up and need to recover after more grueling missions.
The guys all laugh and empty the blender. Zero and a few other men from Alpha team and the floor crew come wandering in. Soon we are having a mini smoothie party.
Lester pulls out his phone and turns on some music "You know what this is missing, alcohol." He smirks.
I roll my eyes since it is forbidden during shift and turn to make some more smoothies.
This time, the liquid refuses to move so I remove the lid and try to push the fruit and thick paste forward again. Suddenly. Rooharaor blup the blender roars and burps liquid into my face. Then ROROROROAAA the motor is running faster and smoother than it ever has before. Screeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee the liquid is spinning thin and smooth and flying out everywhere.
"Turn it off!" Lester and a few other guys from day crew yell. I blindly punch the buttons to only have it spin higher.
"Ahh" I hear a few men call out behind me and I know they are hit as well. I grope for the plug and pull it. The blades halt. Phew.
I wipe the cold liquid away from my eyes and peek out.
The counter, cupboards, wall near me and some of the men are splattered in pink.
"I guess the blender is running ok now" ha ha. I smile sheepishly
The guys start laughing, a few complain, but most of them start grabbing paper towels and wiping up the mess. Bobby goes to get the mop.
"Beautiful, what possessed you to run the blender with the lid off?" Well it worked before when it was stuck. Besides, it never spun fast enough to spray anything out.
"Blame my lack of judgement on my tired mind?"
Bobby returns with the mop and looks at me with concern "Nightmares still keeping you awake all night?"
The happy mood freezes and all the smiles fade away.
"oh No" Not since Ranger switched to days. When I awaken in fright he is always there and I am able to calm down and go back to sleep in less than an hour.
"Beautiful?" Lester's voice and eyes tell me he wants the truth. He and Bobby are looking at me with concerned eyes. The ones I don't know so well, stand in awkward silence.
I laugh and continue to wipe the pink liquid off of my hands and arms.
"Oh no its Ranger keeping me up all night.." I stop short when I see Lester's devilish smile. Uh oh now this is definitely giving information to the enemy.
The mood instantly changes and Lester starts whooping and laughing even though Bobby tries to tell him to stop being an Idiot
"If you get tired of him, you can always come see me"
"Lester! What are you thinking" I look at him in pretend shock. "We were gaming."
Now the other guys start chuckling then they are laughing and they help me wipe up the mess
"Right, Ranger's a gamer, Beautiful."
All his men are laughing since Ranger doesn't even play tiny games on his phone. I wonder if he has ever touched an xbox controller
"Oh he plays games, he's a master" I mutter and Bobby and Hector burst out laughing and then refuse to tell Lester why.
"What's all this...Babe?" Ranger comes in and sees the of group of laughing, joking, mopping, smoothie drinking, wiping up, pink mess of people in the break room. I guess we are a bit loud and rowdy. Not at all the quiet serious hard working group from this morning.
No wonder he looked at me and said "Babe?" with his eye brows raised and something in his tone. Not exasperation? I hope not. Maybe he is more stunned? I hope so. As I don't mean to give him a hard time.
Guilty. I turn to him and smile as big and happy as I can "Want some?" He nods and then grabs my arm and pulls me close licking my right jaw.
" MMmm Strawberry"
The guys are all laughing and whooping now and I am now pink in the face again. This time not from the smoothie.
"Nice, but I still prefer plum" That's the Ranger I know. I smile up at him. Pleased he obviously isn't annoyed by all this. I am happy. His eyes no longer have that haunted look nor dark circles under then.
"Be ready to leave in 5." He tells the group.
"You can come on our mission if your want, Beautiful? We can wait 20 minutes if you need to get cleaned up. "
"Ok" I jump at the chance to go on a day mission.
Ranger turns back after seeing his men are off. He steps forward and takes my hand
"Go find your own partner. She's coming out to play with me" he gives Lester a steady non blinking stare.
"I just need a moment to clean up" I am a bit worried. I'm not sure if they can wait as 2 teams are leaving to go after Andrew Complo.
"I'll help" He the moves his lips up the side of my neck. I feel the tip of his touch lightly grazing my neck as he kisses up. Once he gets to my left ear he flicks his tongue in and licks the outside rim. "The rest can wait 'til later." He whispers hotly
"AHH" a shiver runs down my neck. I doubt smoothie got inside my ear. I give him a questioning look. He grins and takes a hot wet towel and wipes my face and neck gently. Then he hands it to me and I wipe the cool sticky residue off my arms and shirt. I rush to the sink and wash my hands and arms as high up as I can with soap and water. I feel better. I wipe and rinse any smoothie clumps out of my hair and then pull it up into a ponytail.
He is right behind me. I can feel his body pressing on my back. His face is in my hair. He inhales deeply. "Sweet." I turn and face him
He nods once as if to say all is good and takes my hand. In his other is a flack vest that I know is for me, and off we go to meet Alpha team.
"You know maybe you should let me bring in sweets once a week. It's a lot less mess"
"A cheat day is allowed" Ranger says nonchalantly
"What!?" I glare at him. He never gave me that impression. But now he can never take it back! I can't help but smile. I am getting excited planning what I will bring. I forget my unease over the fact I feel a little messy and that there are little bits of strawberry scented residue still in my hair somewhere. He smiles slightly and his eyes soften.
By now we are at the garage. The moment his team sees him they open up the SUV and jump in.
We've been staking out the houses where Andrew Complo is seen most often. Though based on my search, it doesn't seem to be his home. He just crashes here, and there. He runs various drug and weapon deals and business out of multiple sites. He moves around a lot. I can't really find a central area that he lives and works out of. He does seem to have his hands in a lot to pots and hold a lot of street power and fear. We have 2 teams, Alpha and Bravo on site, with a backup team on standby. This is because John Brown might be part of his network and Ranger isn't taking any chances.
So far nothing. I am in the driver seat, the 'Bulldog' position. Ranger, as Alpha Lead, is sitting shotgun next to me. Zero is in the back behind me as the 'Six' and we have Luis as his battle. Will short for William is second gun to Ranger or to Zero. I met Will when he was driver, or the Bulldog, for Alpha team when they came to help with John Brown. Today we have a 5-man team and so does Bravo team.
Ranger has just finished reporting our status to the Control Room and getting an update from Bravo Team. They are parked on the street behind Andrew Complo's building. I see a face for a moment flash past the window before it disappears.
"He's there inside." I am shocked. Ranger freezes.
"Are you sure?"
"It looks too similar to his picture" he is even creepier than John Brown. "Besides his eyes are a dead giveaway" I can't help but shiver
"Got it". "Bravo Lead this is Alpha Lead. Complo is inside. We'll take the front. You take the back. Leave Bulldog for guard and escape protocols. Copy?"
"Alpha Leader this is Bravo Leader. copy that. We're moving. Out"
Alpha team swiftly exits. It looks like I am staying in the car again but so is the Bravo team Bulldog since we are doing guard dog and escape protocols. That means the driver picks up the team during a chase to pursue a fleeing FTA. I also come get the team to help them escape danger. I will bring the SUV as close to the door or anywhere I am needed for easier loading of a difficult skip or an injured team mate. Naturally both drivers serve as lookouts too and guard any unloaded prisoners. Like Echo team's driver watched over John Brown with me while they recovered Charlie team. I guess that's why the call sign for the team driver is Bulldog. We guard and chase.
The team soon enters and I hear a few 'clears' across the live commlink. Both Alpha and Bravo team are of course on the same channel since we are working together. Nothing. They clear every room. Besides a few angry people I hear Ranger ordering to get down or stay back, they find nothing. I see something on the ridge of a roof for a moment. A silhouette that flashes and then it is gone.
"This is Alpha Bulldog, I think someone was just on the neighbor's roof. But he disappeared down the other side of the building."
In moments Ranger orders a few men to run through the yards and half of the team jumps in the vehicle. We roar around to the other side, but there is nothing. Everyone gets back inside and we slowly drive down the street. It looks like he got away. Did he silently leaped out of the 3rd floor window and onto the other building; then climbed up onto the roof and scamper over and down the other side? That seem unlikely. This isn't a movie. I barely saw a flash of his silhouette of whoever was up there. If anyone was up there. I am sure no one thinks that is what happened.
Driving away. I take a turn through the parking lots and some smaller little alley like streets. There are older structures and vacant buildings mixed in with warehouses and industrial like buildings. This area is like a maze and gets little traffic. I'd run here if I wanted to disappear or not be found as I did bad things.
"There!" Through the buildings I see him. His cocky stance gives him away. But also, the way he moves is distinct and screams danger. I have to tear my eyes away from tracking him so I can drive. Because I feel I must watch his every move, like I would a predator.
"Stay back. Take it slow Babe." I slow down to a crawl, inching along behind the buildings, watching and waiting . Finally, we see him enter an older, smaller structure set back from the street in between two towering warehouses. We park and Ranger has me get out.
"Everyone comes this time." We can't pull in closer to the building the way it is nestled between the towering warehouses. This causes an almost courtyard effect of cement around it. It also has old crumbling half walls near the dumpsters. It is secluded out here. I suspect Ranger brings everyone because if Andrew evaded the team and ran, he would just catch the drivers alone. Me alone.
Everyone is out of the vehicle. Ranger looks over at Bravo team and signals to their leader for them to form up. They will enter the back door.
"Zero point. Will and Luis right and left flanks. Bulldog and I will sweep the area and cover your back" He arranges the Six, Zero, in front with Luis and Will on either side behind him and behind them, we stand.
As we walk forward, I feel Ranger grab my right hand and squeeze my ring and pinky finger twice before he lets go. "Stay close" he says low. I look up at him and smile.
Since the first time I went with his team, he always does this. It's our code. Sometimes he doesn't even say the words. He just squeezes my hand and looks into my eyes and I know he is saying. Stay close. Stay safe.
As we get near the cement walkway he glances at Bravo team around the side of the building. He continues to sweep the area in front and behind us constantly alert, watching as his team moves forward. I mainly look behind watching the teams back, so Ranger can concentrate on the building and the sides where his team is advancing.
Over the live commlink I hear Bravo team calling out about some kind of bird or flying insect. Since Ranger and I are farther back, we can still see around the side of the building. It's a haze of white caused by small fluttering objects. A swarm. All I see are white blurs flitting here and there. I hear a slight hum as the swarm races around the side of the building and up into the sky to join with another column of white blurs that have flown around the other side of the building. Now they snake together like bats leaving their cave.
They twist and turn like some strange living smoke then turn and dive back towards the ground. They arrive first at Zero, Luis and Will who are nearer the building's entrance. The men yell and swat at them as they are enveloped in the white flurry before it thins out some and comes sweeping over to us. The buzzing of blurring wings, like the sound of humming birds or bees fills the air. Their white bodies and whirring wings flash in the sun. Hmm bats, insects, strange little birds? What could this be?
Ranger pushes me down as he grabs a 2 by 4 board and swats them away , pwat, fwat. I see the little white bat insect things plummet away from us as he slams into them. I see him wince. As he continues to swat them. Are they stinging him?
Then I feel it. Hundreds of tiny razors on my neck. I snatch at my neck. In my hand are long ragged wings attached to a thick tough body the size of my finger with 4 limbs that come to a sharp claw like point . It has a round head with fan shaped pointy ears at the sides of its face. There are no noticeable eyes other than 2 slits that I could see, but I don't know. Its round mouth is completely encircled with rows of tiny sharp teeth. They remind me of little knives. It pokes my hand with the ends of it sharp tipped arms causing me to release it in pain and surprise.
The impish bat creatures continue to pommel my head and face. One bites the edge of my ear slightly and scratches at it. I swipe at it before it can get a good grip and my ear piece flips out. As it falls to the ground one of the bat imps smacks into it and flies away. I hear a screeching chirping sound. It stole my ear commlink? Great! Now I can't hear or talk to my team or the control room as easily.
One flies in front of my face and makes a high pitch screeching scream, showing me its double rows of teeth circling its round mouth. The hundreds of wings that are diving and beating upon me suddenly turn away and start attacking Ranger.
"What imp fairy are you?!"
"Pixies!?" I hear Ranger gasp in disbelief. He pulls me to him pressing my face into his chest and tucks his head down on top of mine. Extending his hand in front of us and over his head he sprayes mace at the pixies as he turns quickly in a 360-degree circle. Decreasing his pace, Ranger continues to spin spraying in an attempt to create a cloud around us and keep them at bay.
It works for a while as the mace lands on them. They make a high pitch screeching trill but the mist starts to fall back on us too. With our heads tucked down, it mainly falls back on our clothes and hair. I feel my exposed skin burning.
Once the can is empty, I slowly look up. The swarm has thinned and Zero and the other guys are nowhere to be seen. I can see little red round circles made up of jagged cuts on Ranger's neck and arms. Bite marks. The front of his shirt has a few snags and I am sure it is from their vicious teeth biting through his T-shirt. Ranger seems a bit dazed and he is pale. A slight sheen of sweat glistens on his forehead.
I feel a little lightheaded and woozy myself from the bite I received. I can't imagine how he is feeling with so many bites. The pixies are still fliting around us. The sound of their buzzing wings and high pitch screech is unnerving. Though they are no longer swarming around Ranger, they still dive in and bite him and flit back out again. They move so fast I can't see what they are doing. One is on his chest now and gone before I can swipe at it. Another is on his neck and in a flash gone. But it leaves behind a red ring. I know they are still biting him mainly at his front where there is no mace residue. But they also still attack him on his back. Biting into the burning chemical, they then scream as they speed away in a frenzied frantic flight pattern.
After I was bit on the neck and the pixie screeched out in a long scream, none of them approach me. I try to bat them away from Ranger, but there are too many of them fliting in and out. Ranger gets more sluggish as he bats them away with his wooden board. He is now starting to breath hard and sweat is clearly dripping down his face and arms.
He slams two pixies and they crash into the side of the building. He stumbles, off balance, from his last swing. I pull him to the ground behind a dumpster and wedge him between the dumpster and the corner of a half wall. Straddling him, I lay against his body to try and block him from their bites. All that mainly sticks out are the bottom of his legs.
"Babe." He pants.
"They won't bite me. They are starting to leave" He doesn't resist. His breathing is labored and his skin is cold and clammy. My heart drops and my chest constrict in fear.
Then suddenly the majority of the pixies swarm up twisting into a column into the sky. They split into two lines and then dive into the upper windows on either side of the building. A few of the nasty little things remain fliting around the outside of the building.
I pull back and look at Ranger. He is no longer panting. He is so still it frightens me. His skin is pale and cool and his eyes are closed.
I want to update the control room and get some help. Or at least warn someone that backup will be attacked so they don't walk into this blind like we did. I remember hearing Ranger on the live feed before my commlink was stolen by the pixies. I have no clue if he had a chance to call in anything before we got caught up in fighting. I know the other men on the teams didn't. They just disappeared without a sound.
I search through my cargo pant pockets for my phone to call the control room.
I glance up and Ranger's eyes are open, a blank look in them. It isn't that look of masking his emotions. It's as if he doesn't see me. It seems like he is looking through me at something on the other side of the yard. He slowly rises and turns towards to building and begins to walk towards it.
"Ranger?" He keeps walking slowly forward like he doesn't hear me. "Are you ok?" My heart is racing. He can't just walk in there; its swarming with pixies. Has he lost his mind? My stomach plummets into my feet. All the men are gone. I look up at him as he continues his slow mindless march to the building. He is nearly to the two little steps in front of the door.
I grab his hand. "Carlos, don't go" I plead clasping his hand in both of mine and rubbing the back of his hand with my thumbs. He hesitates. His muscles tremble like he is resisting a great weight. He turns his head slowly to me and his eyes become clear for a second.
"Run" I barely hear his hoarse whisper. Then his eyes are empty again. I take his gun from his belt holster. But he doesn't even flinch or acknowledge my actions. His face remains trance like. He takes another slow step forward and I grab his right leg and wrap my arms and legs around it like a child. Still he doesn't react or try to pull me off. But walks ever onward
Step…clomp, step….clomp, step…clomp. His gait slows only because of my weight, but he steadily moves onward. Now I truly know what it means to have a blank expression. Not only is it in his eyes and face, but even his body moves forward like a machine. Gone is the energy and warmth that I didn't even realize envelopes his every action.
As we get to the top step I let go, get up and follow close behind him. Just like we always do when entering a building. He always acts as my shield. He stops his slow march and reaches for the door. He is turning the knob. I lean my forehead on is back and grab his left hand and squeeze his ring finger and pinky. Once, twice. "I am here" I whisper. my heart hammering in dismay. I jusy don't know what to do to help him stay safe.
Just before he pulls the door opens, he hesitates and freezes. I see his frame trembling like he is lifting a heavy weight for just a second.
"Babe" I barely make out the word, it's so soft, that if I wasn't flush against his back I would have thought it was just a small sigh.
"Staying close." I whisper fiercely. Just like I promised. Then the moment is gone and his body is blank again and he moves forward and into the building.
I am amazed. The ceilings are 2 stories high. The room is all open with the sun on the 2nd story windows streaming down to the old wooden floor. The ceiling looks white and alive but then I realize it is just crawling with pixies. A second-floor balcony circles the one room building and there is a raised area at the far end directly in front of me. The rest of the building is completely open and empty of any walls or furniture. Up on the balcony that surrounds the open space, I see Zero and Luis and Will all tied up. The men of Bravo team are there too. Some upside down and sideways. What?! They are staring off into space with a blank expressions and others are unconscious. None of them look good.
So this is what was meant when people whispered in dread about being 'carried off by the pixies'. It's more terrifying than I imagined.
I look closer and see some of the men are wrapped in blankets of super shiny black plastic. Others are tied in ropes that are shiny and black like wet tar. Who ties people up like that? It is wrapped all around their body like they are a spool and the rope is a thread. As I look closer, I see it is too shiny and clings too closely to their bodies to be plastic. Even worse, it is growing. The sheet that was just around one guys stomach, has crawled down to his ankles and sucked itself all the way to his upper chest. It clings to him like a thick second skin that shines like wet tar.
I gasp in horror. Soon it will cover his neck. Will it stop there, or cover him completely? Will he suffocate?
I wonder if it is tight and constricting as I strain to see if the shimmery slick ropes dig into the men. But I can't see the detail clearly. I only see the ropes are spreading and merging together and soon they will all be encased in the black ooze.
I hear a voice whispering and laughing. I continue to walk behind Ranger. I peek around his shoulder and see Andrew Complo on the platform his black red eyes, dark and empty as water at midnight. A vicious grin slides across his face. He appears to be talking to himself but I know better. I feel its gaze from everywhere and nowhere. Somehow it's hiding in this open empty room.
I close my eyes and place my hand on Rangers shoulder, as he continues to walk toward the platform, letting him guide me forward. There. That is where it is. I instantly open my eyes and look to the corner of the platform. A shimmer in the air moves across the room. Then it starts to darken and suddenly a fluttering of a thousand dots congeal to form into a massive black shimmering mass. It looks like a shiny black blob of ooze at first but then it twists and convulses until a face forms, then 2 arms and a torso, then legs. The wet black tar shifts and congeals into a shimmery black dress revealing a pale face and dark arms. A woman with smooth skin and a strangely beautiful glow emerges. Her dark eyes glitter coldly like dark glass in her light face. Her teeth remind me of cut diamonds as she smiles a large mirthless grin.
"Well, well, what have we here?" and she laughs. If you can call that sound a laugh. It definitely isn't human. It is high and musical. It reminds me of comparing a music box to a piano. It plays the tune but really can it be said to have the warmth and depth of a real piano? Is it pretty? Maybe. But some music boxes are also very eerie and sad.
By now Ranger has climbed the stairs of the platform and is standing motionless in front of her as if waiting. She takes his face in her hand. His latte skin contrasts in her long fingers that glow like dark moon beams.
She turns his face in her hand as if examining him then let's go and strums her black 4 inch claws through his hair. Each round black nail comes to a deadly vicious point.
"Let him go." I am surprised how loud my voice is. I should be trembling in fear before her.
"ohhh?" she smiles and laughs "and you'll let me keep the others?"
"No. let them all go"
"Or what?" I don't say anything I just stare at her and fumble around. She frowns at me haughtily. I have moved the safety off of Rangers gun in my cargo pocket and mine in my holster, under the cover of my fumbling.
"I'll let you go. Tell the Dark Lord I graciously let his pet go. Leave now." Her eyes are cold and menacing but there is something more. She seems a bit anxious.
"I won't leave my friends." She grins and shrugs her shoulders in mockery and turns away
"Let me kill her my Queen." Andrew murmurs his vicious smile sliding onto his face again
"No. Fool. Why did you lure them here!" she whispers. I can feel her fury. Someone is definitely in trouble.
"If you release everyone we'll just clear out of here. If you want, we can help you punish this disobedient servant of yours and take him off your hands for a few days?" I smile and pull my cuffs out.
"Now they are here. I can't just let them walk away. I offer you one chance to leave. If you don't take it, then you're all mine!" She grins ruthlessly at me, her teeth flashing, and her eyes shimmering. A chill races down my spine as I hear a few low groans from the men on the balcony. She laughs a tinkling music box chuckle that is eerie and murderous and glances at them. I see a few sparks of red flowing across the guys that are completely covered from neck to ankle in the shimmering black tar. My minds reels. What is going on?
"Leaving pet?" I hold my ground, slowly moving my hand to my gun "No? well then I guess you'll die. Since I can't keep you."
"Let me, my Queen"
"No! No connection to me." She turns and screams at Andrew then turns and looks at Ranger "But someone else." She strokes his neck down his shoulder. He stands motionless. "You think of him as yours, don't you?" She looks into my eyes and her pretty lips sneer with cold contempt. "Let me show you, he isn't. He is my pawn until I decide to discard him"
I feel the fury burning hotter in me. Ranger and his men are not mindless toys. While she focuses on him. I grab the gun from my hip holster step quietly to the side around Ranger and fire into her.
I feel the weapon firing back in my hand, smell the burning smoke, and hear the loud noise echoing in the emptiness. 'Don't get distracted. Focus on aiming at her,' I tell myself.
She contracts into a black blob and springs to the wall. Then to the ceiling. I track her as best I can as I continue to fire, trying to make sure I hit my target. Sometimes I hear the bullets pinging off the rafters and hitting the walls, other times I hear nothing but the gun firing and hope I am hitting her. As around the room we go until, I hear click, click, click. My clip is empty. I drop it and reach up to my vest to grab another. Her clawed hand closes on mine.
"Enough." She sighs "I am not in the mood." I am panting but she isn't even short of breath. I am sure I hit her at least half the time! Do bullets not affect her? Next time, I will stand closer.
"Pretty slave." Ranger turns and walks up to her side. "Kill her and make sure to leave her shell far from my lair" She looks at me with disgust and fear and walks away. Ranger stands motionless and blank. He turns and suddenly springs towards me. I jump to the side just in time for him to land right where I was. Ranger stands still then turns towards me blankly. Oh no, he is getting ready to spring again.
I reach into my cargos as I back away watching him closely. As he springs , I jump to the side. This time Ranger reaches out snatches my arm and pulles me back. His fingers are so tight I gasp at his grip. He reaches down to his right ankle pocket blankly searching. But he finds no knife. I took it when I was wrapped around his leg. Then he goes to his holster and fumbles around, no gun.
"Carlos. Wake up!" I plead and stroke his face. He freezes. "Come back" I whisper into his ear.
"No! Slaves are so mindless. No blood. There should be no trace here!" the dark shimmering woman commands.
"That's why you should let a servant do this my queen," Andrew simpers
"Shut-up. This is your fault!"
When she notices Ranger frozen over me, she screams in anger and makes a high pitch screeching that reminded me of the pixies. A ripple travels through Ranger's body and he is blank again. He pulls me forward until I am right in front of him and then suddenly moves his hands to my neck and squeezes the air from me.
I pound his chest and jab at the soft spot on his neck that usually would make anyone choke and let go. He doesn't budge. He doesn't flinch. He blankly continues to slowly apply more pressure. My head is spinning; my lungs are burning.
I know Ranger. He fights to keep me safe. It's this witch that has enslaved him with her horrible spell.
I want to tell him to keep fighting. That I am fighting with him. But I have no voice. So I reach out to him and instead of pulling away from his strangle hold, I relax into it, pulling myself close and embracing him. Being so close in a hug suddenly changes his grip on my neck. Now I can take a tiny half breath.
"trust you" I gasp then hug him with all the strength I have left. Because I also know Ranger could have crushed my windpipe in one motion. He could have snapped my neck. He could have killed me so many other ways in one clean bloodless motion. But he didn't. I know he is fighting. If anyone can resist her spell, he can.
His hands slowly release their strength though they remain around my neck. It doesn't take long for the witch, or whatever she is, to notice he isn't killing me.
He suddenly drops his arms, stands up, and walks to her again. She looks at him closely. It is clear she called him to her without speaking.
"To difficult to control. even as a mere slave. No matter, he has other uses." She swipes her claws over him. Red electricity crackles off of him and she sighs. Through the corner of my eyes I see the same sparks on the other men. And she seems to glow a little brighter and stand more alert.
"They are all rather willful. Too bad. I would like them as servants. But even as slaves I am sure I can get at least one of them to dispose of you" She closes her eyes and her brows furrow in deep concentration. I hear a snaping sound then a thud. I look up and one of the men I don't know from Bravo team slowly stands up and starts to walk down the balcony catwalk towards the stairs.
"This one will do." He blankly descends the stairs now and walks towards the dark mistress. He stops in front of her. He looks paler, more drained than Ranger and rather ill. I feel concerned for him even though he will shortly be her mindless assassin.
The dark mistress' eyes glitter and she points a finger at me. He snaps to attention though he is still blank in every way. Not that blank expression guys give you that has meaning to it, this is a mindless shell. He pulls out his knife and walks towards me.
"No! Mindless fools. No scent or trace in the lair" she screams "Just remove her. Then kill her. Pixies! Escort." Suddenly the air is buzzing and I see the white little creatures fliting around in a circling whirlwind.
Ranger stands motionless. Suddenly he pulls out his gun from the small of his back and aims it at the dark mistress. She growls angrily. She slowly lowers her index finger and Ranger's hand starts to lower. Andrew pulls out a knife saying something about his Queen should let him, but I didn't catch what he said. I am too focused on Ranger and the dark women. Before Andrew can strike, Ranger growls and fires into the center of the dark mistress.
She screeches in fury and contacts to retreat but Andrew lunges with his long knife towards Ranger. I pull the gun out of my cargo pants and aim just in time to see Andrew stab his dark Queen.
She screams and convulses. He stabs her again and this seem to actually cause damage. I open fire on the dark woman and Ranger continues until his clip is empty.
The Pixies pick up speed circling us in a storm of screaming and buzzing as they bite and scratch at Andrew and Ranger. They slice at me with their sharp limbs, but they still avoid biting me. They furiously fly into my face beating their wings to distract and blind my aim. But I persist and continue to fire at the dark figure that leaps around the platform until my clip is empty. Soon the pixies storm abates a little, for some reason. I see the dark woman bent over Andrew. Her black claws and pale white fingers wrap around his throat.
"You cannot gain my power with treachery" she whispers "IF I die, then I take all I gifted you, with me" His eyes widen then he laughs a low mocking chuckle.
Red electricity arcs across Andrew's entire body and he stiffens unable to move. His eyes turn red like blood then black like deep waters then a dull brown color of normal human eyes. He looks tired and weak. The electricity continues to circle until his skin pales then turns sallow and yellow. He breaks out in a sweat and starts to breath heavily. Finally, she lets go and he collapses on the ground.
"One day." she mutters as she looks at him, then turns away. She looks better than she did a moment ago. She seems to be recovering somehow.
She clutches Ranger's jaw and the red electricity sparks between her clawlike nails. The men moan above me as arms of electricity sparking across them as well.
I race towards the . Her eyes shut, she concentrates on all the power crackling through the air. Frantic I sieze the arm clutching Ranger. A surge of electricity zings me and BAM! I am slaming into the floor on the other side of the platform. My ears ring and my head buzzes. I get up.
Charging at her I scan the area desperately for something, anything. I spy the long knife Andrew stabbed her with. It actually looks like a short sword. I snatch it up and plunge it into her back. She screams as the burning buzzing of electricity shoots through every muscle from my hands to my feet freezing me painfully in place. She lets go of Ranger and he crumbles to the floor, releasing me from my invisible prison. She steps back whirling on me, her claws raised. I plunge Rangers long knife up into her diaphragm or maybe it is her chest. I can't really tell. She gasps again.
"Treacherous servant you knew what you led here" she narrows her eyes at Andrew and then lets out a scream so piercing I am sure my ears are bleeding. She shatters into a million black pieces. The fragments swirl to the ceiling, before blasting out the windows and blowing away into the evening air.
The burst throws me back onto the floor. I hear the men upstairs drop from their bindings as the wind sweeps through the building. I crawl over to Ranger and throw myself over him and cover my head.
The Pixies swarming at the ceiling start dropping and disintegrating like ash. Others fly low in circles screeching and exploding mid aid. Their tiny sharp fragments rain down on us. Within moments it's over. It is so still I can hear my heartbeat.
I sit up and push Ranger from his side, onto his back. I see his chest rise and fall. Feel his warm breath on my cheek. His pulse is slow but steady. I pull his head on my lap.
"Ranger?" He doesn't move. His skin is cool and pale. There is no stirring from the other men. Searching his ear, I'm relieved when I see he still has his commlink. I snatch it off his ear and place it on mine.
"Control Room this is Alpha Bulldog come in. Over."
"This is Tank In the control room, where the hell have you been! Over"
"Both Alpha and Bravo Team are down we need immediate medical assistance. Over"
"Alpha Lead? Over"
"Ranger is unconscious, I think the other guys are all alive too, but I didn't get a chance to check everyone. Currently there are no threats. The pixies seem to be gone. Come. Send help. Please"
"The what!?...Hold on Bomber, we are on our way. Out" I hear the tension in Tank's voice. I can hear the desperation in mine.
I gaze down at him as he lays blank and motionless.
"You did amazing." My whisper breaks the silence that envelops us. One, two. I squeeze his ring finger and pinkie with my left hand as I stroke his hair and run my fingers gently down his face with my right hand. I am here.
His fingers twitch.
In the distance I hear a siren. It is growing louder. Coming closer. I smile at him.
"Help will be here soon." I bend over and kiss his forehead. Then his lips gently. He and his men are so brave. He is strong I think, as tears fill my eyes.
Foot Notes.
The recipe for the healthy brownies Stephanie served is a real recipe and I agree with Hector, it is delicious. If you want to try it. I wrote it below for you.
Fudgy Black Bean Brownies (they are gluten free because they use beans and no flour)
1, 15-oz can black beans drained and rinsed
3 large eggs
3 TBS canola oil
¾ cup granulated sugar
½ cup unsweetened coco powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ tsp peppermint (optional)
½ tsp backing powder
1 pinch salt (1/8 tsp I think)
½ cup semi mini sweet chocolate chips, divided
Preheat the oven to 350'F. Lightly oil or coat and 8x8 inch baking pan or dish with non stick cooking spray and set aside
Place the black beans in a food processor bowel or blender and process until smooth and creamy. If in a food processor bowl add the eggs, oil, sugar, cocoa, vanilla, peppermint extract if desired, baking powder, and salt and process until smooth. Add ¼ chocolate chips pulse a few times until incorporated in the batter. I don't have a food processor so I just remove the beans from the blender and put everything in a mixing bowl and mix with an electric hand mixer until batter is smooth. It still works well and you can put the ¼ of chocolate chips in at the same time as everything else.
Pour batter into prepared pan, smooth the top with a rubber spatula and sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup of chocolate chips on the top.
Bake 30-35 minutes or until the edges start to pull away from the sides of the pan and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan before slicing into 2 inch squares. IF I remember correctly the toothpick doesn't really come out clean. These are really gooey and moist so caution on that step. Just watch it for looking over cooked.
Per serving (1 brownie) Calories 120 , Fat 5g, Carbs 18 g, Fiber 2g, Protein 3 g.
From the cookbook "No Whine with Dinner: 150 healthy, kid-tested recipes from THE MEAL MAKEOVER MOMS" By Liz Weiss RD and Janice Newell Bissex RD