AER Ch. 9 Wrong Move

    Kent stared at Renegade in shock. It had been Ace who dove in after him! All these years he thought Scarlett had been the one to save him. After all Ace had done that night, it would make the most sense! “But… I thought Scarlett-”

    Renegade shook her head. “Ace beat her too it. Dove right in. I came down right as he went in. My sister was fit to be tied, of course, but since I had given you warnin’ there wasn’t much she could do with me.”

    When Kent thought back to it, the person who had dived in after him was larger than Scarlett. The biggest thing that set the two apart, Kent realized, was Ace lacked a tail. Kent looked down at his chest then back to Renegade. “So, Ace was the one who got the water from my lungs?”

    Renegade nodded. “Yep. Took him a few tries, but he finally managed to get it. You woke up briefly, flailin’ like a fish outta water tryin’ to fend him off, but Scarlett pressed your carotid and put you back under.”

    Kujo walked back around and laid his head in Kent’s lap. He nudged the soldier, and Kent patted his nose. “So um, is Rusty… I mean… did you and Ace…” Kent had no idea ask his question, and the words would only tangle themselves up before he could get them out. 

    If Renegade had whiskers, Kent was certain they’d be twitching with amusement. “Did me and Ace what?” she purred.

    Kent gave up with a huff, knowing the Hyde was messing with him for her own sick amusement. He didn’t expect anything less of her. “You know what I mean,” he grumbled, crossing his arms.

    Kujo growled and nudged Kent’s hand again. The soldier sighed and patted him on the nose again.

    Renegade snickered. “Aw, you’re so adorable when you pout.”

    Kent scowled. He’d been called many things. Lobster, bloody back, soldier boy, redcoat, bastard, and some things that would make his mother rise from the grave and slap him should he repeat the words. But adorable? Never. 

    Of course Renegade would be the first to call him that. As long as it wasn’t Ace. Now that’d be weird.

    Amber eyes glittered with amusement. “Hey man, it’s true. But, have Ace and I had some fun? Yep. Spendin’ too much time in the woods can make one… frisky.”

    Kent did his best not to show horror.

    “Are Rusty and Luna ours? Not genetically.”

    Wanting desperately to get off the subject of Renegade and Ace’s personal lives, Kent focused his question on the final sentences. “So, there’s two kids?”

    Renegade scratched behind her ear then shook herself. “Yes, there’s two. Luna is about a year younger than Rusty. And she’s not genetically ours either.” A tired laugh followed Renegade’s words. “Kent, I’m sterile. I couldn’t have kids even if I wanted to.”

    Sterile. That must have been horrible to find out. To be doomed to a life where offspring was impossible. Who’d look after her and Ace when they got old? Or, did they even get to a point where their bones became brittle and their bodies began to fail? Kent frowned. He was thinking about them as if they were normal people instead of killer aliens. But maybe, despite what they were, they weren’t so different from him. Or maybe, he wasn’t from them.

    “How is Ace?” Kent asked, then upon realizing how stupid the question sounded he added, “As a father?”

    Renegade blinked slowly. “Rusty and Luna think he does a wonderful job, and I do too. He’s the right mix of kind yet stern for them. But he has a lot of doubt and often worries if he’s doin’ everything like he should.” She shook her head. “He’s so worried he’ll fail to give them the two things he never had.”

    Kent cocked his head to the side. From what Renegade had told him, he could guess the first thing. Ace wanted to be the father he never had, and was worried he failed just like his father had failed him. But surely a minor slipup wasn’t nearly as bad as giving your child to a cult to pay off depts. But Kent realized that, while Ace may have seemed invincible and confident almost to the point of arrogance in the army’s eyes, he harbored a heavy load of self-doubt.

    He’s no so unlike us after all. But, for that second thing… I just don’t understand what it could be! “One is a father, right?” Kent asked. Renegade nodded. “What else did he not have?”

    Renegade didn’t speak for a while, and when she finally did, it was a whisper. “A childhood.”

    That hit Kent hard. His mother hadn’t passed on until he was a teenager, so he knew what it felt like to be a kid, carefree and happy. To run around with no worries and knowing he’d be safe when he slept at night. But Ace? He hadn’t known the joys of being a carefree child, able to play until his parents called him home for dinner. He hadn’t known what it felt like to sleep safely. Everyday had been a fight for him. Every day he had had to worry if he’d make it through the night.

    Suddenly, Ace’s behavior made a lot more sense. He hadn’t exactly been raised well, and his tendency to rip and tear everything when he was attacked by the King’s soldiers wasn’t anything against them. He wasn’t probably even seeing them. He was seeing those who tortured him for all those years, and was only trying to keep them away.

    Ace isn’t a monster, just a boy who grew up way too fast in the wrong environment. He’s just a man like the rest of us, a man who wants to keep his family safe. Kent frowned. He had seen Rusty, the boy, but the other one, Luna… “Is Luna still asleep?”

    Renegade shook her head. “Nah, she’s with Vincent.”

    Kent frowned. “Vincent? Who’s he?” he asked, absently rubbing Kujo’s scaly snout. A low rumble of pleasure rumbled in the hybrid’s throat.

    Renegade eyes the beast’s thumping tail. “Our mechanic. Self-described muscle-bound whackjob who just wants to enjoy his toast. He’s not extraordinarily muscular, but he does have some muscle on Ace. He’s a terrifying sight, especially with those purple eyes and scar, but he’s a big softy at heart.”

    Kent, chills going down his spine, decided to take her word for it. Vincent, if he had muscle on Ace, had to be frightening. Ace alone was scary. When he wasn’t tickling his adoptive son or teasing Kent, at least. “Is Vincent Ace’s brother?”

    Renegade’s eyes flew wide, answering the question without words. “No no no. He’s just a very close friend. Like Rusty and Luna, he’s not blood, but he’s family. As we all are at Castle Spade. You’ll probably meet the gang eventually if you decide to stay.”

    But I can’t just stay with them forever! The army will… oh shit! “Damn!” Remembering there was a young child in the house, Kent quickly covered his own mouth with both hands.

    Renegade’s head rocked back at the expletive. “What the? I didn’t expect to hear a word like that from ya.”

    Kent looked at her and uncovered his mouth. “What? Why?”

    Renegade gestured towards him. “You’re just too… pure for that.”

    The army does things to you… as does nearly drowning then getting the hell whipped out of you. Kent stammered, “I… I have to go.” He stood, bumping Kujo’s muzzle. The beast huffed, then lumbered off into the kitchen.

    Renegade stood as well, having to look down at Kent with her height. “Repeat?”

    Kent looked at her with almost wild eyes. “I promised two captains I’d meet them for drinks later tonight. I have to go!”

    Renegade stepped in front of him as he started towards the door. “Kent, hold your horses. Two captains asked you, a private with absolutely no grand heritage, to drink with them tonight?” she asked, tone thick with disbelief and what Kent recognized as suspicion.

    Kent nodded, moving towards the door again. “Yes! I have to meet them at Fox Run Inn.”

    Renegade stopped him again, this time grabbing his shoulders. “Kent, wait just a minute! Fox Run Inn? We’ve smelled Wolgolveri around there. I wouldn’t go.”

    Kent grabbed her wrists and tried to tug them off. “I thought you said you wouldn’t stop me from leaving?” he asked, tone bordering on mocking.

    Renegade’s eyes glittered dangerously, and Kent took a step back. He still had to remember just who he was talking to. “A, watch it, soldier boy. B, I never said we wouldn’t stop ya from doin’ something stupid. And this is a ten on the stupidity scale.” She shook his shoulders. “Can’tcha see? This might very well be a trap.”

    The words were out of Kent’s mouth before he could stop them. “How do I know you two ‘saving me’ isn’t a trap?”

    Renegade’s eyes widened, and Kent realized with shock there was almost hurt in her eyes. Unable to , she murmured, “You don’t.” She let go of his shoulders and stepped away. “You don’t.” She walked past him, tail trailing against the wooden floors. Without turning her head, she said, “But, if ya do decide to listen and trust us, I’ll be in the room at the very end of the hall fixin’ your bed.” She disappeared down the dark passageway.

    Kent watched her go, then looked at the door. Renegade’s words bounced around in his head, brewing up a massive storm of confusion. Should he believe Renegade and stay? Or should he risk the Wolgolveri and make it to the captains? He could always sneak back here afterwards.

    Ace had hurt him before. The Wolgolveri… well they did try to shoot him. But surly they couldn’t have found him so quickly…

    He nodded. He had made up his mind.

    “Drinks it is,” he muttered, despite a small voice in his head telling him to just stay put. Something told him things were about to go horribly wrong, but he shoved it away.

    Ace almost killed you last time. Only a crazy person would trust him now. It’s just a trick. A mind game. They could have been making that story about his past up. Yeah, that’s it. It was just a story! Just a story… Right?

    He walked over toward the door, only to have Kujo block his path. The hybrid growled, ears pinned flat against his head. Kent gulped and looked him up and down. There was absolutely no way he could fend off this beast. If he pushed Kujo, and the animal attempted to bite him…

    Voice a pleading whisper, Kent asked, “Kujo, please. Move.”

    The animal’s ears went up at the word please, and he cocked his head to the side, one ear down and one ear up. He blinked.

    Kent’s head mimicked Kujo’s as he blinked in disbelief. Had Ace actually taught him to follow an order if someone said please? He frowned, then repeated, “Please.”

    Kujo lowered his head and shook it side to side. A small bark came from his throat, sounding suspiciously like the word “No.”

    Kent tried once more. “Please. I have to go.”

    Kujo stared at him, before hanging his head and relenting. But just as Kent reached from the door handle, Kujo grasped his claw with his arm. Kent jumped and looked at him. “What?” he hissed, heart thumping from the scare.

    Kujo growled, tugging Kent towards the table. Unable to even guess what the hybrid wanted or jerk his arm free, Kent followed the beast to the table. Kujo let go of his arm, then grabbed what Kent realized was a knife off the table. Turning back to Kent, he held the knife out in his flexible spike.

    Wait… is… is he giving me a knife? Kent reached out slowly, and, when Kujo didn’t move away, took the knife. He turned it over in his palm, inspecting it. The blade wasn’t long, but it was sharp and looked sturdy. Kent looked back at Kujo, who just shook his head and lumbered past.

    Kent had no clue why Kujo would give him a knife, but he did know one thing. That animal had understood every single thing he had said. That was an animal with a human brain. He knew what Kent was trying to do, and knew Kent was in danger. He also knew how to reply back, and, from what Kent could tell, also could express human emotions.

    Kent watched him go, then turned and ran out the door, knife in hand.

    Are all creatures on Ace’s planet that smart? Or is it just Kujo? he thought as he ran past the dented boulder and into the bushes.

    The sudden bark from behind him reminded him very quickly that there were definitely other creatures as smart as a human. And they were now on his tail.

    He made his choice. No turning back to Ace now. There was only one way. Forward.

    Breaking into a sprint, Kent shot down the hill, trying to make it back to that road. But all the trees looked the same, and the undergrowth seemed to have sprouted hands to grab and pull at him. It was too dark, he couldn’t see. He was all turned around, running in circles until he didn’t even know which direction he had run from. All he knew to do was run, and run, and run.

    Kent gasped for breath, panic building as he soon heard pursuing footsteps. Lots of them.

    Heavy, gaining footsteps.

    Hot, putrid breath on his heels.

    Claws outstretched towards him.

    Foaming, snapping teeth ready to tear into his legs.

    Images racing through his mind.

    Blood.

    Torn flesh.

    Broken bones.

    Then sounds.

    Cracking.

    Crunching.

    The ripping and tearing of flesh.

    Gurgled screams.

    Sadistic, howling laugher.

    The footsteps getting closer still.

    Closer.

    Closer.

    Closer.

    He could feel their breath on his neck…

    “Private Davis! Stop!”