CHAPTER 9: OPERATION: SAFE RETURN

I continued to follow the car down the gravel road, to a paved road, then onto a highway. After being stuck in a closed room with no fresh air, the open road is just what the doctor ordered.

We continued down highway 172 for about an hour before we exited onto a side road by mile marker 37. A couple of minutes later, we turned onto the back road just before the Pulton Bridge. We drove on it for another hour.

Cece and I have been keeping tabs together in case we need to come back.

Right when I thought we were lost, in the middle of a damn forest, we came to a rundown circular research center. It kind of reminds me of the Jurassic Park building. It is circular with dirty, dark windows. The sides are dirty from years of neglect and a black roof.

I decided to hide my motorcycle by covering it with fallen branches and leaves, camouflaging it. Granted, it helps that my bike is black, and it is dark out here, but you still want to take precautions, just in case. After hiding it, I began to sneak through the woods for a closer look.

I watched as the woman, I’m assuming is Mousy, took one of the children to the building where a doctor met her with a stretcher. The kid was either asleep or she did something to knock them out. Either way, she is on my kill list.

They went inside for a few minutes, then went out for the second kid. After the second child was out of her car, she got in it and drove away without looking back.

Talking to Cece, I say, she knows the children. They trusted her to go with her without saying anything or making a fuss. When we get back, we need to ask the Alphas or Luna Amelia, who matches the scent and fits the criteria. Hopefully, they will let us hunt her down or at least let us help them.

“I feel the same way. What I don’t understand is their motive. Why would someone who has the trust of the children and the pack betray them?” Cece is hurting. She has a motherly, gentle soul, so she feels great sorrow at what the children are going through.

Then, in a quiet voice, one I have never heard her use before, she asks, “What do we do now?”

She sounds just as heartbroken as I feel. However, there is no time for that. I need to make a plan.

I go to my bike and start moving it to look for a good rally point. Somewhere that is easy for us to get to, but they can’t find, even if they are looking. It also needs to be open enough for some buses or larger vehicles to get in. I don’t want to have to make multiple trips. I need everyone to leave at the same time.

Once I have it all figured out, I tell Cece my plan:

Move my bike to a rally point where large vehicles can fit. We will need a ride for the kids. Once we do, call the Alpha and tell them our location and exit plan.

Research the building. Look for floor layouts, exits, and blind spots. I explain blind spots as places where you’re essentially cornered with no way out.

Find where they are keeping the children. I have equipment in my bag that we can use to help with that.

After looking at an aerial map of the area, I think I found a perfect rally point and I head in that direction. I am parked about 45 minutes from the road that we came in on, there is an abandoned road about a little over an hour's walk from the building, which is about a 2-hour walk for children.

I mark it on a copy of the map on my phone so I can send it to the Alpha. I grab my gear and start walking to the building, stopping to mark the trees every so often with white spray paint.

“Why are you marking the trees?” asks Cece. I can feel her confusion and curiosity through the link.

That way, if I can’t lead the children, I can tell them to follow the white X on the trees.

“Oh, that’s a pretty good idea. What about the guards? If they see them, they will know how to follow us,” she says. See, she asks the right questions.

It doesn’t matter. We will be well ahead of them even if they do follow.

As I am walking, I’m holding a device that keeps scanning for cameras or sensors. As soon as it registers a sensor, it kills the relay back to the sirens. When it senses a camera, it replays the last few seconds before we came into view, essentially making me an invisible woman walking.

Just as we got to the building, I started to pull out some other gear we would need.

“What are we going to do once we get inside?” Cece asks. She sounds deeply focused.

I couldn’t answer her, so I pulled out my iPad and looked for a floor layout. After half an hour, I found it. The facility has cells around the perimeter and a computer center in the middle to keep an eye on the cells. There are offices on either side of the one entrance to the building, making sure that anyone who enters has to walk past a lot of people to get to the cells.

What the fuck was this facility for?

I can tell Cece is just as pissed as I am, as we can only guess what the building was used for.

I began to think of a plan, and a few minutes later, I had it, but first, I need more information on where the kids are.

Taking out my thermal heat signature gun, I turned on the monitor and walked around the building. They are to the right of where we exited the woods and on the opposite side of the only entrance.

“There they are, but how do we get them out?” Cece was starting to panic a little, so I sent her calming energy. “Thanks, Maxann.”

Cece, we’re not going through the front door; we’re going through the wall, but first, we need a way to get them home.

I snuck back into the wood line and reached into my bag, pulling out the cellphone I stole from the garage. I dialed Alpha Zane who I heard Luna Amelia mention once. The phone rang three times before it is picked up.

“Alpha Zane,” he answered sleepily with a deep sexy voice. It sent a shiver down my spine.

“Alpha, I am sorry to wake you, but my name is Maxann, and I found the missing children–”

“What!? How? Why didn’t you notify us sooner?” he growls.

“Fuck, we don’t have time for your alpha attitude, so get your head out of your ass and listen.” I hear another growl, but I continue as if I didn’t.

I explain what I need from him: buses, supplies, food, and backup.

“Also, be prepared to fight your way out in case they find out the kids are missing before we reach the rally point. I will see you in two and a half hours. Don’t be late or we’re fucked.” I hang up and send him the coordinates.

Cece says nothing as I reach into my bag and pull out 4 devices that allow me to walk through solid walls. They disrupt the electrons of solid matter, turning it temporarily intangible.

I scan again to confirm no guards. I place the devices on the wall, activate them and step through.

The children are all asleep and separated into two cells, girls in one and boys in the other. I wake one of the oldest girls, briefly explaining the plan. I walked her to the wall and stuck my arm through. She gasps with wide eyes. Then push her through with me. She passes out in shock. When she wakes, I ask her to help me gather the others. After some coaxing, she calms and agrees to help.

We start waking the girls first, then the boys. I call it a magic trick to keep them calm. Once all the girls are through, I move the device to the boys’ cell. They’re ready and cooperative.

With just two boys left, I ask about others, the guards, and rounds. They say we lost a couple young kids, but other than that no one else is left and the guards won’t check again until 6 am. It’s now 4 am. We have time.

I organize the kids, and we start moving. The older ones carry the younger ones, and we make steady progress. I encourage them constantly.

Thirty minutes from the rally point, we hear sirens.

“Stay calm, we are about 30 minutes out, I need everyone to start running. Jonny, I need you to take this phone,” I said, handing it to him, “Follow the white X’s on the trees, it will lead us to the rally point. If we get separated, call Alpha Zane, he will know what to do. I am going to stay behind everyone and fight if needed.” They all obey and pick up the pace while I call Zane.

“Alpha Zane,” he answers gruffly.

“It’s Max, they know the kids are missing and they are coming for us. When you get here, heading northeast. We are about 30 minutes out. I will send you a pin of our exact location,” I say, then hang up. I send my location.

Ten minutes later, we meet. The warriors help with the toddlers. Four men, including Zane, head straight to me.

We catch their scents and Cece whispers, “Mates.”

“They are right behind us. The sirens went off about 15 minutes ago. With our pace and theirs, they would be about 5 minutes behind us,” I say, not leaving time for them to say anything else.

We hear barking not too far behind us. I look over my shoulder and see flashlights.

“Shit, keep going, get the kids home, I’m staying to end these fuckers,” I say to the men who stopped with me, as I take out my swords.

Zane shakes his head and grabs my arm, “We’re not leaving you here alone. More of my warriors are at the rally point. We will be safer fighting there than here.”

“We are wasting time. Save the pups first, fight later,” the dark-skinned male says. He’s right. I reluctantly agree and start running.

I glanced over my shoulder and see the dogs gaining on us. While still running, I grab my bow from around my shoulders and knock an arrow. Without missing a step, I turned around, running backwards. I then drew the strings back and released, taking down the dog. I turned forward and continued to run. I do this several times until just two dogs are left and I take them out with my knives.

As I turn forward, we break the tree line. Buses are ready. I see the shocked looks on the men’s faces.

One of the Alphas exclaims, “What the fuck.” I grin, “Boys, there is a lot you don’t know about me.”

We wave the buses to go as we head to their truck and my bike.

He gets on, “I take it your riding with me,” I asked Zane.

“Yes,” was all he said leaving no room for argument. I had him a helmet before grabbing mine.

“Ok, then you drive,” I said, handing him the key, and I hop on backwards.

“No, turn around, that is not safe,” growled Zane.

“I need to be able to shoot, and I can’t do that facing forward,” this earned me another growl and I couldn’t help but chuckle.

I think I am going to enjoy pissing him off and making him growl.

Wait, no. I shouldn’t be thinking about those things, I can’t stay with them. I chastise myself.

As we ride, three men appear on four-wheelers. I smoothly knocked three arrows back-to-back, hitting my mark.

Then, two trucks with bowmen appear ahead. One Alpha climbs out of their truck and returns fire. I stand on the bike. I have one foot behind Zane and another on his thigh. Zane holds my leg to stabilize me so I am able to shoot in all directions.

I return fire efficiently. One of the trucks slammed on the breaks, barely missing us and positioned themselves behind the Alpha’s truck. I light a kerosene arrow, draw, release and blow their engine.

As I turn to face forwards, an arrow hits my collarbone. I throw a knife into the archer’s neck.

“Are you okay?” Zane asks.

“I’m fine, be prepared for the truck to lose control,” I reply and take out the driver with an arrow.

“Hold on,” Zane shouts as he holds my leg tighter, and I duck down to awkwardly grab onto his shoulders. Their truck crashes into trees.

We don’t see anyone else. We catch up with the buses.

Before sitting, I break off the arrow’s end so I don’t hurt Zane. I turn on the bike's microphones.

We’re safe.

We’re going home.