Authors note: heeeey sorry for being gone for so long! I know i mentioned that because i had finished my ged classes and graduated id probably have more free time to write, but. then my sister had a baby! :'))) his name is julian, i love him so much but. she has to work a Lot so she has the money to take care of him, so he gets left with us most of the time which means im more busy than ever 8') but as always ill continue to update whenever i can and hope everybody enjoys what i have in store! thank you!
Trigger warnings for this chapter: Mild violence
POV: Doyle
I can't estimate how long we've been walking, or how far we've made it up the mountains behind that god awful facility. I've stopped looking up at all, instead following my feet and the sound of snow crunching beneath them. They kick up a plume of white powder with every step. My skin is cold but my breath is hot, creating a cloud of white in front of me, nearly obscuring my vision. On autopilot, we push forward.
The building we escaped from is far in the distance now, a mere pinpoint on the horizon getting lower and lower, but I won't stop until we can't see it anymore. The first thing I noticed after climbing out that window was how much smaller it feels from the outside.
I'm starting to really feel the weight of Zak on my back, the product of yet another mistake. I told him to run, as fast as he could and as far as he could, which wore him out before anyone else. We caught up in no time. No matter how strong and skilled, he's still 11, and it's still the middle of the night. Having to piggyback him the rest of the way up snowy mountains in Alaska seems like a bit of an overkill on karma's side, but whatever. My responsibility, I guess.
A dry chuckle wants to escape my throat, but it comes through sounding more like a cough. Responsibility. It still has an almost satirical ring to it, and as beat up as I am, it's hard to resist taking another punch. I brought us to Alaska. I got hammered and let everyone get kidnapped. I killed a guy 10 feet away from my nephew. We're now in trouble with what I can only assume is two different groups trying to hurt him. If we're really talking about making it up to everybody, there's like, 20 people I should be carrying right now.
Unfortunately, I've only got two of them right here with me. With the one resting on my back, I look to Ila, who's marching ahead. Though I'm sure she's never been all the way out here before, I feel more comfortable letting her lead. Her turf, I've caused enough problems already. Meanwhile, Leonidas Van Shady Bitch is still not looking back at me. I want so badly to interrogate him, but it'd waste too much breath. I already look like a fog machine. Better save it for when we find somewhere safe. I can think of some biting insults while we wait.
"Up there, you think?" Ila points out a wide mountain ledge about 50 yards away. We're not unreachable, but the height of the rock wall is blocking the wind, which might work as some cover for the night. I have no way of telling where we are now compared to Enki, but with nothing but mountainside visible, I decide to relax as much as I can. (Not much, but enough.)
I'm quick to lay the nearly sleeping Zak down so we can set up camp. He rolls over, showing me that he's awake, but not enough to care about whatever the boring adults are doing. Ila sits next to me, with Van Rook taking the time to sift through his belongings. Soon enough, he procures a box of matches, with a triumphant smile as if he's now the hero of the situation.
"Where you gonna get the wood."
He frowns.
"I will be right back."
Ila and I shoot each other an apathetic mocking look as he takes off in his search for anything dry enough to burn. The wind howls in my ears, but the exhaustion of our night out begins to take over. With the others at my side, I decide to close my eyes for a moment too.
Slowly, so slowly that I almost don't realize, I feel light washing over me. It's not like the light of the sun, its neon rays come through my eyelids like something celestial. When I see it, the realization is somehow calming. Northern lights. Aurora borealis. Something I hadn't had the chance to see before, and I'm genuinely comforted by something like a natural occurring phenomenon these days.
When Ila also finally takes notice of the ribbons of color banding across the sky, she sits forward like a child at a movie theatre.
"Oh wow, it's been a while since I got to see these. Usually there's too many city lights."
As always, when I'm presented with something good for once, my calm eventually turns somber. I think of how much the rest of the family would love this. This isn't like the moon and the sun, where I can see it and know that even if it looks different, they'll see the same one soon enough, wherever they are. This reminds me only that I am not with them.
It stings. It seems unnatural for something so gentle and natural to appear before us as if we aren't in complete, total fucking chaos. After all we've been through, and the sky still dances.
I clear my throat, realizing awkwardly how long I've avoided a response.
"Yeah, same here. . . I mean, the last time I was up on snowy mountains like this. . ." I catch myself before I get lost in my words. "I was too young to remember." Phew, almost overshared about childhood trauma and let a girl know I experience human emotion. As if this wasn't already messy enough.
"When I was little, my mom and dad used to take me and my siblings places like this every now and then, but it got too hard once the kids started getting older. And of course, when they wouldn't stop getting new kids."
"Uh ohhh. Freaky parents alert?" She groans harshly. I am unapologetic and hilarious.
"At least half were adopted. And some weren't even really my siblings, they were just our friends and neighbors kids, but they stuck around so much they began to feel like our family. We were always more comfortable that way."
"Didn't you ever get tired of it?"
"Tired of what? All the fam stuff?"
I nod hesitantly, realizing just then how cold it sounds.
"I mean, yeah. yes. Absolutely. But, I dunno, I never felt left out. It meant there was always somebody there for me."
As her words trail off, I see her eyes, staring distantly. They look lost in the way that mine almost were. Back in memories. As much as I hate to interrupt it, there is a question weighing on my mind.
"So. . . Why do you live alone in Teller?"
Her gaze comes back to me, surprised but not shaken, not even a little bit. Must be a question she had to answer to her 1,000 siblings at some point too.
"I just wanted to know what it was like. Yknow, alone. People act like that's just how it's supposed to be when you grow up, right? But then before long I became a doctor so, I suppose it's just not for me. I'm too nosey. I guess you could say I'm drawn to other people."
Drawn to other people. A smirk settles on my face, it's the polar opposite of how I feel, something I've struggled with for years actually.
A few days ago, I would have been jealous. Annoyingly jealous. Quiet. Rude, even more than I already was. Through our time spent together she's melted this into a simmer, and reminded me that we can still have one thing in common; fighting 'Kur' by helping Zak. It's a rare reaction, one most people would have to be talked into. I have no choice, and she apparently can't resist. If we can contradict so much and still decide to come together, we might actually have a chance at beating all those that have jumped the gun to make themselves Zak's enemy.
"So, is it just you and him then?" She asks. It's starting to feel like we're playing zone-out ping pong with everyone question. Is this what 'opening up' to people is like? I don't like it. I just wanna say something dumb or inappropriate.
". . . For now. His mom and dad were-. . . are trying to figure something out. I'm just hiding him out here until they can."
"I see. . ."
"OH, and the bird's not his only pet. There's a komodo dragon too. And a. . . well, think like. A really tall, stretched out cat. He can almost speak english."
"Okay, that sounds more like the family I could imagine for you two."
I smile, my throat tightening for what I want to say next. It stays barely above a whisper, a good thing, since I'm still unsure of how awake Zak is.
"He misses them a lot. . . and a few months ago, we lost contact with them. Shit's been way too dangerous ever since Argost started talking so much about Kur, so . . . it really is just us right now."
"He's lucky to have you, then."
In a pathetic display, I laugh, loud and sudden, I can't help it. My hands rush to my mouth after I realize how uncomfortable the act of sheer self deprecation must seem. I'm not used to my problems having an audience, and it's easy to forget that not everyone else is as eager to boo me from the crowd.
"SORRY, sorry, god, sorry, it's just. . . with the way his parents are, I'm probably not their first choice for this job. . . and well, I'm new to this, but I'm pretty sure getting drunk and being caught by intruders isn't in the parenting books. It might be a scene in like, a Home Alone sequel or something."
"Hey, you know what, I brought out the wine." She laughs back, throwing me off.
"I also suggested we go to my house cuz I thought it'd be safer somehow." She gestures incredulously towards the last sighting of our favorite russian hacker. "Van Rook was apparently snaking you the whole time. You may be the troublemaker of the bunch, but we fucked this one up together."
"I know, but-"
"Yeahhh, I know. He's yours."
I give her a 'don't be so sappy' eyeroll, but I'm sappiest one of all. Things have changed so much, too much. All the edgy training missions and rule breaking, when I could just be the fun uncle. The bad influence uncle. The distant uncle. I try not to grimace at that thought. It wasn't that bad, I mean, I'm sure I could have done better, but getting dropped into this head first probably wasn't anybody's idea of how to make me understand the meaning of family or whatever. It's just not my natural environment. In the same way Ila is drawn to others, putting me in a teamwork situation is like trying to touch the same sides of a magnet.
Unexpectedly, ironically, I feel something brush over the back of my hand, gingerly avoiding the welt that's formed from Enki's whip. I can sense the painful outline of Ila's injured palm on top of mine. I don't look, neither of us do. I don't react at all, because I know I'd freak out and ruin it. It's better left like this, in a stunned silence, almost like we're both imagining it.
This dreamish moment stays just long enough for our comfort, though it's inevitable interruption isn't any less jarring.
"Oy, I found something."
Van Rook approaches with everything but wood, it looks like some camping gear that blew away, or litter that people carelessly left behind. Our hands discreetly slip apart, while I try far too hard to act natural.
"Okay, time to explain yourself turboslut."
Zak stirs again. Oh god, of all the things I've said tonight please don't tell him hear me calling Van Rook a turboslut.
". . . Enki was doing something weird with this, I'm not sure what, but I figured you might want it back." He slowly unsheathes the item from it's brown paper bag, the item that he had shot another man over, and I now understand why.
So broken that he can barely hold it with one hand, he grasps the Kur relic. Panicked, Zak's hands fly up and over his eyes, though the pieces aren't put together enough to create even a glint of orange. The object is chipped and worn, almost desaturated of color. It's missing an eye, the teeth are falling out, it's definitely seen better days. I let out a laugh of disbelief.
"Wait wait wait wait wait, why was he asking us so desperately who Kur is if he had THAT the entire time? And why didn't he just ask YOU?"
"Oh, he did. I told him I didn't know, and he just brushed it off like it was nothing. I dunno, you want my opinion, I think we are messing with someone that's always three steps ahead of us and playing puppet master."
"Or he's just a lunatic." Zak states.
With the bashfulness of our short bonding sesh fading, Ila finally chimes in.
"Ok, whatever you're talking about, I agree. But what is that?"
"It's a Kur detector. I don't know exactly how it works, just some ancient dark magic stuff, the 'essence of Kur' or whatever, all I know is that it's supposed to glow when it's in front of Kur. The only time it doesn't is when it's broken like this."
Aka, when somebody destroys it on purpose.
I stare at what's left. It's eye almost seems to stare deeply back, angry over the abuse it's gone through. The fact that it's here, now, after all this time, holds a little hope. It means Doc and Drew have been active until now, after all. What stifles that hope is the burning question; Why now did they suddenly lose the only artifact in the world, even above the Kur stone, that can find their son?
Zak then speaks up, still lying on his side, hands cupping his face but eyes peeking through his fingers.
"Do you think he's gonna come after it?"
Van Rook shrugs.
"I don't know. I'm not sure why it's so trashed in the first place, but it's almost like he wants it gone. Who knows, maybe we did him a favor-"
Bang! Bang!
Aight. That answers that. Shitty answer, though.
A burst of ice and rock flies off the mountain wall. Van Rook drops to his knees, a distinct spot of blood spreading through his shirt on one side. I grab Zak, and being the doctor, Ila grabs Van Rook. Neither of us have a clue what to do next though. He found us. Deep in the Alaskan terrain, our cover has turned into our corner.
Enki makes his appearance, approaching agonizingly slow. His eyes are to the ground, he steps sporadically but seemingly with intent. As he nears, It's clear the intent is a display of power and a gesture of mockery, stepping one by one into the snow prints we've left behind, as if we had the time to cover them. Stopping by the fire to look up at the pillar of smoke, as if we'd survive the night without it. He knows exactly what he's doing without even having to say a word. Pointing out our mistakes even though he's always had the upper hand. "Futile." That's the kinda villain word I expect to hear a lot from him in the future.
He then silently scoops up the remnants of the Kur relic and stares at it, with feigned pity.
"This thing. . ." He looks up at me, so naturally. "I should have destroyed it when I had the chance."
Without another word, he drops it into our trash fire. His only hope at knowing for sure who Kur is, or having any evidence. Losing it wasn't enough, he had to find it and burn it.
". . . At a loss for words?"
Uh.
"Cmon, catch up, it's not always gonna be simple. Facts are, I don't need it anymore. Besides, I can tell who Kur is just by looking."
He peers over at Zak with a sinister smile. Zak shoots him a look of his own, one I've caught on his dad's face more than once. Specifically, it's the face when he's about to physically accost me.
"So you knew it was him the whole time?"
"You thought I didn't?"
"I thought you'd be pretty stupid if you didn't. I just figured that was an accurate assessment of your character."
"Cheeky. I hope you can keep that when the truth starts coming for you."
"So it can throw our stuff in a bonfire? I think I'll live."
"He won't." This last bit is spoken not like a threat or a promise, but a thoughtless playground taunt. It makes my skin crawl.
Suddenly, the fire roars. It glows and pops, like someone dropped a can of oil, before simmering into nothing but ash. Enki stares into it, unreadable.
The look changes to one of being taken off guard, similar to the moment when I sent a bullet flying past his head. The rev of a snowmobile engine comes tearing by, snow flies into the air as if it's falling for a second time.
Before I get the chance to evaluate the situation, I notice something in the corner of my eye that makes me jump. Zak, apparently holding a rock bigger than his head, over Both our heads, barely able to set it down beside us instead of dropping it.
"Were you gonna try and throw that at him?!"
"I don't know! He wasn't looking! He's just so annoyinggg, I wanted to surprise him!"
"The only one you 'surprised' was me!"
The engine drowns us out again. A large snowmobile swings by, the driver purposely flying off like Evel Knievel to stand between us and Enki. From the other side there comes yet another snowmobile, and this time, a familiar face. Or lack thereof.
Ohhh those stupid fucking masks.
The familiar one, with a braid sticking out on one side, gestures for us to get on. She's not the one I had gone after at Mary's Igloo, telling me I must've at least done a number on the other guy. Enki's expression as he stares us down remains cryptic, but I can almost sense a flicker of fear. I trust these people as far as I could throw them, which might end up being pretty far, but still not great. Unfortunately, they just made themselves our only option.
Van Rook nudges himself up.
"Go, take them, I can hold him off for a bit." He bluffs.
". . . Why?" I finally ask. He seems to understand how broad my question actually is.
". . ." His face begins to look serious. "Well, if the world ends, so does capitalism."
"I respect your honesty, but I'm leaving you here to die."
"What I mean is, in a world like this, I haven't got much else going for me eh?"
"That's sad."
"Just go, idiot."
It's not a hard decision to make after all that's happened and all that's at stake. Still, as we all settle behind our new ally and we take off, I make a stern command that I can only hope will actually matter.
"Come back for him."