Realm Komiks Prequel: New Worlds Chapter 21 Refuge

Chapter 21:

Refuge

The vehicle eases through the gates to the small airport, a plane sitting football field away. “There’s your plane, Mrs. Smith.” Agent mumbles with some sort of relief in his voice. “Wait here. I will return.” He parks the car and pulling the key out he exits toward the plane, engaging with other men similarly dressed as he is.

Susan’s car door suddenly opens, causing her body to jolt from the unexpected noise. Officer Steve Walsh stands on the other side. “Are you okay, Mrs.?”

After the initial shock she softly answers with a question of her own, “Do you know what is going on?”

“Not in depth,” he admits, “I personally took the phone call from the older gentlemen at the gas station. He was concerned, also with conspiracies, but overall had well intentions toward your safety.  Said you were desperately trying to contact your husband about getting your daughter to safety.” His palm falls against the top of the car, “Why don’t you stand out here?”

She hesitates for a moment, finding the agents, XXG giving her a glance before following the others on the open plane. Steve reaches his hand out to her, helping her out of the car. “Thank you.” She tries to force a smile on her face. “Do you believe in aliens?”

“Little green men? No. But I guess our country has been faced recently with a new era. From what I know of, most of them look like us.” He glances toward her and then gently pulls her body from the car so he can shut the door.

“They think my family has alien blood. Apparently they recruit aliens and…well, I’m not sure what they do with them. Some were locked up.” Her eyes stare at the plane and the open hatch, waiting for what happens next.

“Do you have alien blood in you?” The officer nonchalantly enquires.

“Not that I ever knew or thought. But now they are after my daughter to do some testing on her.” She turns toward the officer, “Over my dead body.”

His lips tighten, “I’m sorry. Truly I am. I’m here to help you. I know that must be little comfort with what you have must endured recently.”

“I appreciate it. You’ve put your butt on the line with little answers. I just don’t know what you can do to help.” She turns back toward the plane as men begin to exit toward the runway.

“We have little time left to discuss options. I’m not going anywhere until that plane is in the air. I will take you where you need to go. I have a lot of friends but no family or attachments to keep me here. Not anymore.” He hastily speaks as XXG heads towards them.

“If I don’t go I will never get to the Bahamas where I need to be.” She speedily answers.

“I have a friend that flies planes. He would get you there. Key West at least.” His words almost trip over each other as XXG approaches, his glasses now useless with the low sun.

“Mrs. Smith, they are ready for you to board. I have another assignment and must depart.

Find your way to the plane and another agent will assist you when on board.” His head turns to Steve. “Steve Walsh.” His voice intimidating. “I want you to know I will never forget your name.” His body pauses before the officer, then he continues the vehicle. “Mrs. Smith, they are waiting.”

Susan swallows giving the officer one last look before walking across the runway toward the plane. Her feet are heavy, cement sliding over the asphalt, to the flying metal box. The still air presses against her nose as she finds the railing, an agent standing next to the entrance, expressionless, his dark glasses covering his eyes, almost a clone to XXG. Susan consciously has to lift her left foot to find the steps, her head turning to find Officer Walsh. He still stands not far from XXG’s vehicle, watching her. His presence gives her some uncertain courage, leading the rest of her body to the entrance of the plane. The small plane is fashioned differently than any commercial airline she has flown, a long bench with seat belts along the wall, reminding her slightly of an old army plane, from movies she had seen.

A woman sits on the bench, her back propped against the wall, and she lifts her head meeting Susan’s eyes. The woman’s long raven hair flops over her forehead, straggling over her shoulders.  Susan slides on the bench from across, her young face watches Susan fidget for a moment.

“What did they recruit you for?” she bluntly speaks, cutting past any introductions.

“I… uh…” Susan caught off guard stumbles to find her words.

“You must be new? No secret we are being used for our curses. So, now, what is yours?” the young woman, barely twenty, boldly prying for information.

“I have none.” Susan finally decides to speak. “I’m going to the Bahamas, being released there. Meeting my daughter.” She hears another vehicle from the distant, echoes across the runway, tunneling up the entrance of the plane. Susan turns toward the young woman who is sneering at her comment and then decides to stand, observing a white, unmarked bus on the other end of the runway. “ A bus?” she thinks out loud.

“The rest of the ‘team’ they call it.” She informs and oddly eyes Susan, “Do you really believe this plane is flying to the Bahamas?”

“Outside of it, maybe, but close.” Susan continues to watch the agents as they engage in discussion outside of the large transporting unit.

“I don’t know who you are, lady, or what your story is, but I will let you in on a small secret.” She stands up and leans in toward Susan, “We are flying outside of Hungary, destined for war. I guess you are merely some kind of collateral damage in all of this.”

“War?” Susan’s brows burrow in her forehead as she struggles to comprehend what the woman is saying. “There is no war.”

“There is. And it is spreading. The vampire planet is here on Earth. Creeping.” She awkwardly walks her two fingers up Susan’s arm toward her shoulder, “They are creeping through Romania to Hungary and who knows where else. Leaders are trying to keep it low key, as to not send our world into panic. And we, well assuming not you, but we, I  and the people in that bus, out there, are being sent in for battle. We will be the weapons since world has no other clue of how to defeat them. We are an easy liability. You are an easy liability. You really think these men in black let someone go?” she mocks, “See you later! Have a nice life lady! Yea right, like that happens.”

She gives a sly smirk toward Susan, the bus doors opening yards from them and people beginning to shuffle aboard. “You may think I am some kind of crazy woman, but after all I have witnessed and been through, I have no reason to lie to someone, so plain, as yourself.” She falls back onto the bench.

Susan’s heart falls further into her stomach, the inside twisting as she processes the outlandish information she has just received. Some of the people exiting off the bus in restraints, being treated as if they were once prisoners.  “They lied to me.” She finally process. “They just want to get rid of me.”

“Don’t feel so bad. You aren’t the first and you won’t be the last.” The woman slides back against the wall.

“I have to get off this plane.” She turns to the woman in a panic.

“There’s nowhere to go. No one to trust around these towns.” She flatly says. “Always someone in cahoots with these people.”

Susan’s breath becomes heavy, “I have someone. He’s still here. I think he’s still here.”

She goes to rush out the door but her elbow is yanked on pulling her back. The young woman desperately stares at Susan, her eyes an unusual mellow gray. “How do you know you can trust them?”

“It’s a leap of faith I’m willing to give him. I’m out of options right now.” Susan swallows.

The woman grips her arms tighter with desperation, “Take me with you.”

Susan shakes her head, “I can’t. I’m not even sure I can get myself out.”

“Try.” She tugs at her harder, “Don’t leave me behind. You wouldn’t even know where they were sending all of us if I weren’t so forward.”

Susan struggles against the thought, watching the group of people nearing the plane with agents to both sides of them. “I’m not like them.” The woman holds tightly.

Susan turns toward her, “I don’t have much time. I have to save my daughter. I can’t get out with both of us.”

“I was someone’s daughter once too.” She let’s go of Susan’s arm allowing her to freely choose. “I won’t interfere, but I beg of you to think of a way to take me with you.”

Susan looks outside, an agent now at the bottom of the stairway, “Take your seats.” He calls into them. “We have more coming aboard.”

Susan pushes against the woman whispering into her ear, “Follow my lead. Make sure to mix in the crowd as they enter. Make sure to walk in front of me.”

Her head bobs, her dark locks falling on Susan’s shoulder.  “I know there is only one chance.” The woman admits.

As the crowd comes closer, single file, Susan begins hurrying down the steps, “I forgot something of importance. Agent XXG gave it the officer since he had to run off. I need to quickly retrieve it.”

“There isn’t an officer around.” The agent dryly announces. “Head back in. We are set for departure.”

Susan feels her stomach tighter, grappling from panic. He told her he would wait until the plane was in the air…

“Mam, back on the plane we have others to board.” The agent reminds her, a restraint man now eyeing her as he waits to board.

Susan begins to back away, and as she hits the top step she notices a set of cruiser lights. Without a moment of thought she shouts out while pointing, “He’s there! Over there!”

The agent splits two people aside spying the man standing by the cruiser.

“He has it. Agent XXG told me it was crucial I bring it aboard. It will only take me a moment to grab it. I’ll run.” She quickly tries to give reason, her hand singling toward the young woman inside the plane whom now has crept closer to the entrance.

“Hurry up.” The agent agrees.

Susan hurries down the steps and the prisoners begin pulling up the stairs. She pauses for a moment strolling slowly, her heart thrusting against her chest, trying to give the woman a chance, now conflicted if they will ever make it out together. Susan begins to slightly pick up her speed and almost trips as someone swiftly slides before her.

“I almost gave up.”

“Run” the woman commands, suddenly at a galloping speed. Susan picks up pace rushing toward the cruiser, seeing Steve prepare, with passenger door open, and he fastens his seat.

The two women slide in the front seat shutting the door and his foot hits the pedal hard, speeding away. Susan peeks outs the window, noticing an agent on radio.

“You changed your mind and brought a friend.” Steve speeds pass closing gates to the main road.

“Will we make it?” alarmed Susan grabs the dashboard as they make a turn.

“Depends.” Steve tries to decide, “What changed your mind?”

“They are heading to Hungary. Nowhere near the Bahamas.” Susan informs.

Steve gives the woman a glance and then back at the road as he makes another turn, “Did she tell you this? The one who wanted to escape?”

Susan suddenly flings her head toward the woman with doubt. “It’s true.”  The pale woman exclaims, slightly offended. “Everything I told you is true.”

“I believe her.” Susan admits.

“Then they will not come looking for you, Susan. They will not currently care, if all you tell me is true. They will have bigger things to worry about right now. If you keep quiet, that is. However, I can assure you that they have already sent someone to your house to collect your daughter.” The officer discloses his theories.

“My daughter isn’t there. I will get to her and be able to keep her safe, then.” Susan finds some relief in her voice.

“You could have. We could have.” Steve gives the two women a glancing sigh, “But we do not know what this woman, you brought with you, means to them.  With this, we could have little time to escape the area.”

Susan glares toward the young lady who shifts her eyes away silently.

“Do you want to inform us?” Steve asks.

She shakes her head, “You can’t leave me. It’s a suicide mission.  They’ll find me. I’ll die.”

******

Steve slows the cruiser into a seedy motel parking lot. “I need at least five to six hours.”  He hands a wad of cash toward Susan, bypassing the nameless woman.

“I…” Susan’s word trip at his generosity.

“We haven’t gotten time for Thank You now. What name will you check in under?” He asks.

“uhhhh…” she thinks for a moment.

“A favorite band, writer…” he suggests.

“My daughter loves the book Jane Eyre,” she remembers.

“Okay, then, I will ask for Jane Eyre’s room when I return. Speak to no one else and open your door for no one. The front desk will call up for any visitors. I will be the only one to know your check in name.” he gives her a reassuring nod. “Tell them you want the room by the hour. They will not ask questions.”

Susan nods in agreement. “Okay.”

“If I don’t return…” he begins.

“What do you mean if you don’t return…” she interrupts.

“Look, I have no family here, but I do have a lot of friends. I will need to get fake ids, a plane fueled and a couple other loose ends I’ll need to tie if I don’t want us found. I will easily get these things, but if they have any clue that this woman is with us… they will be looking for me. This isn’t a big town, other police officers will know where to find me.” He pulls out a card from his wallet, “If I don’t make it back by the sixth hour, call this man. He is trustworthy. Tell him you know me and he will get you to Key West, at  least.”

The young woman finally chimes in, “Why do you give up everything to help her?”

Steve gives no hesitation at all, “Because it’s the right thing to do.”

“I don’t know how to thank you, we aren’t rich…” Susan begins with a bit of guilt in her voice.

“Susan,” Steve stops her, “If I wasn’t ready for a new life… I’d find another way. Daisy and I have been itching for the beach. We are going to love a life there. Now hurry and check-in.”

Susan grabs for the door and pauses, “Daisy?”

Steve  shoos her with a slight chuckle, “Hurry before we are caught. I need to get rid of this cruiser.”

Susan gives a slight hesitation and then steps out with the lady following behind her. Steve gives a slight wave before driving off.

******

Susan slides the key card opening the motel door. Its interior isn’t worn down as the outside of the place, but outdated with a late ninety’s décor.  Susan flips on the light.

“I’d love to shower.” The woman turns toward Susan as if asking for permission.

“Of course. I wouldn’t mind one myself.” Susan admits.

“You can go first.” The woman sits on the bed, staring at the blank television.

Susan hands her the remote and watches as the woman stares at it for a moment then  turns to Susan. “I’m not sure how to actually use the remote for the television.” She  blushes.

“I still don’t know your name.” Susan sits across from her in a desk chair, the only chair in the room.

The lady makes light, “That’s complicated.” Her cheeks tighten as her lips purse forward.

Susan encourages, “I never found a name to be complicated.”

“1096.” The woman rolls her eyes.

“1096?” Susan confusingly repeats.

“Yea. That’s my ‘name’. That’s what I am called. 1096. P1096. That is project 1096.” She stands up from the bed and heads toward the window, closing the blinds.

“Is that what you want me to call you?” Susan softly pities.

The woman shrugs her shoulders, “I guess.”

Susan stands and slides against the carpeted floor to join her by the window, “If you don’t remember another name you may have gone by, is there one you might have always wished to have?”

“I slightly recall the name Nora, though I’m unsure if it was mine or my mother’s.” she returns to the bed picking up the remote again. “TV button will turn it on?”

“Yes, I believe so. They make them all different.” Susan watches her, now noticing how childlike she still is. “Is it okay if I call you Nora, then?”

“Yea, that works.” She answers with her attention now more toward the television set. “So, are you going to shower first?”

Susan tries to figure out the woman for a moment, her sudden aloofness almost confusing. “Okay, I will do that and then you can get one.”

“Great.” Nora answers, attention on the set while she thumbs through the channels.

Susan gives one last lingering watchful eye before retreating to the bathing room behind her.

*****

It is an outskirt village from the bigger cities in Romania, cluster of houses close together, separated between valleys of luscious green grass.  Dominious and Figaro were sent to mandate the area, now filled with only some mothers and children. Given a small Divobitian army to assure their safety against mothers who become desperate and dare an escape, this prediction completely wrong. The mothers want nothing but to assure the safety of their children and Dominious and Figaro have shown too much protection and kindness among the mothers and their children.

Dominious resides in a cozy home with Figaro, small but the essentials of her needs. Two children stay with her, they are of age six and four, a sister and a brother, already orphans, before the vampire reign ever began. Sabina quickly took to Dominious, and Dominious adored her immediately.

“Read a story, puh-lease?” Sabina climbs upon Dominious’ lap and before Dominious has a chance to answer, Sabina’s tiny brother, Marius, quickly tumbles over them both.  “Marius,” Sabina whines, “Be gentle.”

“I’m afraid no little boy knows the word gentle,” Dominious snickers tickling the boy causing him to giggle.

“Okay, then,” he stands up behind Dominious, running his fingers through her hair, “I’ll work extra hard at gentle.”

Figaro scoots in next to the three, pushing his way against them, “Boys are meant to play rough,” he grabs the small lad by his torso tickling him. The youngling struggles to stand up against Figaro’s fingers and plunges into him toppling down on Dominious and Sabina.

“Ugh,” Sabina grunts in frustration, “If you’d like to wrestle like boys find yourselves outdoors. I’m trying to have a story.”

“Boys.” Dominious playfully scolds. “The dear’s words are proper. Sit now and listen to her story.”

They shuffle on the bed, currently propped with pillows to appear more as a couch. “You without age and Life without death,” Dominious introduces the title. “ ‘Once upon a time something happened whose like never occurred before—if it had not happened..’”

A loud banging on the door.

Dominious pausing looking toward the door as the banging grows louder. “One moment.” She says shoving the book into Sabina’s arms.

“I think my mustard will jump off.” She pouts, “A story is all I ask.”

Figaro leans off the bed and follows Dominious toward the door as she opens it. “Sorry, it is so late,” The tall lengthy vampire announces, “But this woman insisted she must speak to you.”

Dominious peers passed the man, seeing the frail woman nervously fiddling her hand, “Uh, my Lady…” she tries to find her words. “Well...one of our children have disappeared. We honestly have no clue of where she could be.”

Dominious sizes up the pale woman trying to think of her name, “Which child?”

“It is Iona. Do you know of her?” she almost stutters.

“Of course I do. Why didn’t her mother come?” Dominious questions.

“She is very fearful of all of you. She has a carrot of Iona’s safety, yet dreads that you might condemn her for the incident.” 

“The girl is of twelve?” Dominious wonders.

“Eleven.” The other mother reminds her.

“Your name again, Mrs.?” Politely Dominious ask.

“Anne.” She answers.

“Anne, you needn’t to fear me. I’m here to keep all of you safe.” Dominious reminds her.

“And I feel it my lady,” Anne agrees. “Why I insisted you must know, my lady. You will find her and assure her safety?”

“Of course I will. She is a child of mine as she is yours.” Dominious nods turning toward the children who anxiously await on the bed. “Please, read my precious Sabina her story. She has patiently been awaiting. I’ll return soon.” Dominious tries to force a grin.

“Yes, mam,” she agrees turning toward the children.

Sabina flings herself off the bed and scurries to Dominious, wrapping her thin arms around her waist, “Promise you will be back soon?”

“Of course, dear.” She kneels down to the child’s level and brushes her chestnut hair away from her hazel eyes. “I will always care for you.” Dominious embraces the child returning to her stance, leaving Sabina with a quick smooch on her forehead. “Go hear you story now. I’ll return soon.” She leads the child back towards the bed helping her up and handing her the book. She quickly kisses Marius on his chubby cheeks and gives the children one last pat on the leg of reassurance. Giving Anne a last nod and a subtle whisper of Thank you, she tugs on Figaro as they hurry past the vampire, closing the door behind them. “Come with me.”

“Which house was Iona in?” Dominious ask.

“Across the village, that way.” He points her in a direction. “Once you are over the hills, Stefan will lead you the rest of the way to the house.”

“We speak to the mother first, get an idea of where she might have run off to.” Dominious nods at the vampire and then Figaro. He returns the nod and they begin running, their feet pounding against the meadows as they hastily hit ten, then twenty, then thirty miles per hour, leaping under the moon lit pastures.

Figaro slows down stopping Dominious who races short behind him. “What is it?” she asks.

“The air, did you catch it?” he puts his face against the silent breeze, inhaling deeply. “The child, she’s out here. Not too far.”

“Do you think she ran?” Dominious wonders.

“The scent, it’s fading fast. Too fast for a child. Follow me,” he insists briskly heading west.

Dominious slightly struggles to follow, his legs longer and quicker than hers.  She loses him for a brief moment, as his speed surpasses her and then in a short distance, swallowed between groups of trees, a child’s terrified scream.  She pauses for a moment, searching for direction, inhaling deeply. Scents of sorts, stinging through her nose, she moves forward hastily into a clearing. There stands Figaro, snarling across from a sinister man, a vampire, one time a local of the country, staring, with the girl’s neck wrapped in his arms.

“Unhand the child at once or I will destroy you.” Dominious demands.

“I only answer to the Queen.” He growls.

“Impossible. I am the Queen’s lady and I’ve heard of no such direction. You are fresh vampire with blood thirst. You are allowing it to control you. Unhand her unharmed or you will die.” She orders.

“You are mistaken. My orders are to bring a child to the Queen’s warrior, Sir Lucius. The child is to be made an example of what will happen to the people’s children if anyone else tries to flee their towns and hide from the Queen.” He exclaims, grasping the girl tighter causing her to whimper.

Dominious turns toward Figaro, who shrugs and back at the creepy vampire. “I’m in charge of all the children and their mothers. She returns with me and I will speak to the queen directly.”

“I will not return without a child. If I do I will die.” He spits.

“You will die if you try to leave the girl. Give Iona to Figaro and I will personally escort you to the castle.” She request.

His eyes shift toward Figaro whom nods, “Do as she says. She will keep her word and assure your life.”

His eyes now shift back to Dominious. “Do it.” She commands through her teeth.

He unravels Iona and shoves her toward Dominious, Iona running into her arms and holding her tightly. “You saved my life.” She sobs against her.

Dominious pulls her in close stroking her hair, “Now, come everything is all right. I need you to return to your mother with Figaro. She worries of your safety. Hug her extremely tight tonight, remind her you are guarded.”

“Yes, I will do so.” Iona gives Dominious one last squeeze before strolling toward Figaro.

Dominious lifts Iona upon Figaro’s back. “You will travel faster this way.” She comforts the girl, removing the cloak off her shoulders and wrapping it around the child, “You will have a chill from the night and the speed in which he will take you. Try to stay warm.”

She comes face to face with Figaro and he gives a toothy grin, “Give the royals my love,” he mocks.

Dominious gives a slight chuckle, “Perhaps they are threatened by your abundance of kindness.”

“Perhaps.” He leans in and kisses her while the little girl holds tightly against his back.

“It is you kindness that allows me to love you so incredibly much.” She touches his curly locks through her fingers, kissing his neck, her eyes meeting Iona’s, “Protect my man, little one.” She snickers with a jolly tone.

“Of course, my lady.” The girls snuggles her face into Figaro’s shoulder.

Figaro steals one last kiss before leaping away into the silent night.

Dominious turns toward the man, “Your name, Sir?”

“Roland,” He mumbles.

“Okay, then, let’s go see the queen. Get this over, shall we?” She calls disappearing into the night.

*****

Sultana glides down the grand staircase, her heals softly cushioned by the endless red hallway carpet. Lucius is close to her side, informing her of the latest details he has inquired from the outside world. “Planeteers are confirmed to have landed.”

“Where?” she questions.

“There is some confusion on an exact location.” Lucius lowers his voice.

Sultana turns toward him, “You know better than anyone that confusion will quickly mark as an easy target.”

“I do, your majesty. I am, of course, swiftly demanding a black and white painting.” He continues. “The Planeteers are arriving sooner than anticipated. May I suggest, I take to the battle field.”

“No.” Sultana firmly demands halting her stride, “You are most useful by my side.”

“Once the Planeteers begin to arrive, my presence will keep the fresh ones from going into frenzy.” He suggests.

“If that is what we must do, you will still find me by your side.” Sultana directs her attention down the hall as a male vampire stops at the hallway entrance.

“Gergo.” He announces, “And I bring news to Sir Lucius.”

Lucius gives the queen a nod and meets the man half way down the hall. Sultana carefully watches as they exchange words, Lucius nods and then returns to Sultana.

“Roland hasn’t returned yet with a child. Do you think he is rogue?”

Sultana leers, “No.”

“How would you like me to proceed?” Lucius inquires.

“If Dominious caught up to Roland he is dead. In that case, he was unworthy and didn’t deserve the opportunity to live among us.” She begins walking again, “Roland’s demise can only be interpret that Dominious is on her for a visit.”

“Then we move onto the original plan once she arrives?” Lucius’ eyes wickedly burrow behind his skull.

Sultana gives mild thought before answering, “If she arrives with Figaro, let’s wait things out.”

“And if she comes alone…” Lucius begins.

Sultana completes his theory, “I will entertain her while you send men to destroy all she thinks she protects, especially Figaro.”

Lucius grimaces, “You know this will destroy her.”

Sultana thinks for a moment, “Yes, temporarily; But she will become stronger due to it.”

*****

Read Chapter 22: Arrival

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