Star Eater
Chapter Forty-Two

Mason dodged another blow, but took the second to his face. His head snapped back and he hit the dirt ground. Get up, he thought. Get up.

Claws sank into his legs and he screamed. Then he was flying through the air again. He crashed into the ground hard, jamming a shoulder already swollen from multiple kicks. He rolled twice before skidding to a stop. Get up, he thought. He was running out of energy and he had no idea how much blood he’d lost. And he would lose more blood. He knew it. He knew Joseph was biding his time on the sidelines, enjoying the show.

Get up, he told himself. He was not going to die so quickly. Every moment he fought, every second they focused on him, they forgot about Ava and his mother. They had to have gotten away. Ava promised. At least his death wouldn't be in vain.

The second Joseph had returned home, the beating had commenced. They thought Mason was the leak. They had started looking into his accounts for connections to the Sharpes and the FBI. Mason took some pleasure in knowing that someone was still ferreting their secrets out after his death. Perhaps that someone would take his family down. Wouldn’t that be lovely?

Now, he was just entertainment. Put up against the other minorlings until he died. His opponent charged. He was fully transformed. So was Mason, much good it did him. Mason managed to throw his bleeding legs out at the last second and trip his opponent. A cheer went up from the surrounding audience. They weren’t cheering that Mason had avoided more pain, only that he was still fighting. Their entertainment was prolonged.

Mason managed to get on top of the other minorling. He went for the eyes. He had no more compunction about killing. He was pretty sure he’d killed at least three other minorlings today, but he’d lost count. Who knew, some could live. The minorling under him screamed and thrashed. He wrenched Mason’s claws out of his eye sockets, but the damage was done.

The minorling’s eyes began to gush and gush. Mason aimed a blow to his temple and his opponent went still. His legs barely held up Mason as he stood. Still, he turned to where Joseph spectated, and spit in his general direction.

"You really are quite a good fighter,” Joseph said.

“Joseph, let him go,” a voice rang out.

The crowd of daemons parted as Kai walked up followed by Ava. Mason’s heart sunk. What was she doing back here? What could she possibly be thinking? She had promised.

Ava was carrying a box, and Kai had one ungloved hand firmly on her bare arm.

“What is this?” Joseph asked. He stared at the box.

“This is your evidence,” Kai said.

“The minorlings said you never came out,” he said, eyes narrowed.

“The guard dogs you left were in the middle of being questioned by police when I got out,” Kai lied.

Joseph didn't say anything. Either he knew that was true or he didn't care.

What a dick, Akuma thought.

“Give me the box, Kaito,” Joseph said.

“It’s ‘Kai’ asshole. Kai. It’s not that hard to say,” Kai snapped. “And I’m not giving you anything until you let Mason go.”

Joseph’s eyes narrowed and then he laughed. “Where is Akuma?” he asked.

“Akuma can’t come out and play right now,” Kai said.

Joseph considered this and then said, “You think you can just walk out of here?”

“Actually, yes,” Kai said, glancing at Ava.

One of the minorlings made a dive for the box. Kai had been anticipating something like that. Akuma was ready. While Kai gripped Ava’s arm hard, the demon phased them out. The minorling dove through thin air and skidded painfully across the loose stone driveway. Akuma immediately phased them back. Kai was too exhausted for holding a phase. They’d never done it this often in one day and they could feel the strain on Kai’s body. The minorling stood up and gawked at Kai and Ava. He wasn’t the only one.

Everyone around the circle was gaping except Joseph and Cole. The daemons closest to Kai backed away, giving him a wider range. He had their complete attention. Good.

“Here’s how this works,” Kai said. “You let Mason leave with us, and we leave the box at the bottom of the driveway.”

“That was not our arrangement,” Joseph snapped.

“Well, it is now,” Kai replied evenly.

“You can’t give that to him, Kai,” Mason hissed. “Take Ava and go.”

“You are a traitor to the last,” Joseph said, eyeing Mason with disgust. This seemed too much for Mason. Despite the fact that he was bleeding from multiple wounds, exhausted, and staring at his own death, he raged.

“I’m the traitor?” he shouted. “I didn't eat my own son. I didn't drive my wife to suicide. So don’t talk to me about being a traitor.”

“You’re going to die today,” Joseph said. “For betraying this family to the FBI and the Sharpes, and for betraying your own kind.” 

“He didn't betray the family, Uncle,” Ava said. “I did.”

A ripple of shock and surprise went up around the courtyard. Then the minorlings started laughing at her. They didn't believe her. How could Ava, the quiet, timid, dyslexic girl possibly be the leak?

Kai felt Akuma’s rage rise to meet his own. Adrenaline started pumping back into his system, washing away the exhaustion.

“You?” Joseph asked, and threw back his head in laughter.

Mason, however, was staring at his sister, several things clicking into place. The flower shop was right next door to where the police had raided for evidence of the shooting his father was arrested for. Ava was always trying to get there. And then, of course, she’d been sneaking into Joseph’s office. And she had known they were using Kai. She had been keeping tabs this entire time.

Ava raised her chin proudly. “It took a while to bug Guided Way. But once I got a good angle, the video of father shooting that man really paid off. Agent Matthews certainly appreciated it.”

Joseph’s smile faltered. “Video,” he said softly, his eyes zeroing in on the box in her hands.

Kai swore. A video meant that the evidence was digital. Whatever was in the box didn't really mean as much. He saw that revelation spring onto Joseph’s face. So did Mason.

“Ava—” Kai started, and then an explosion knocked him off his feet.

Link hung up the phone and looked around. Okay, he needed to go blow something up. Shit, he thought. His dad was asleep, luckily, but Link had no doubt he would wake up if he took the car. And yet, he needed a car. Hurry, Link thought.

He grabbed one of the manuals he’d stolen from his dad, the one with the basic triggers. He left his room and took the stairs down two at a time. He paused at the closet in the back hall, where all his dad’s security stuff was set up. His dad had spent hours updating it so that he couldn't disable the alarm system and the cameras the same way. But Link had had time on his hands and spent a few hours this morning studying the new system.

Along with Kai’s burner phone and access to the internet, Link had figured out a workaround. He was hoping to save it for a truly epic night when he was either too close to patricide or he had a girl to sneak out to see. Looks like that wouldn't be happening. As much as he didn't like Mason, he couldn't let the guy just die. So he applied the workaround. There was no small amount of satisfaction watching all the lights on the electronics turn green for him.

With that taken care of, Link treaded down the stairs as quietly as possible. He went into the garage first. His dad had a survival kit assembled in a large steamer trunk jam packed with gallons of water, dried food, and medical equipment. Kai had said he needed to get the white powder wet. Link grabbed two gallons of water, a roll of medical tape, and loaded them in the car. He considered breaking into his dad’s armory and taking a trigger—but those things could be traced. He may hate the old man, but he didn't want him going to jail.

Best keep things simple, Link thought.

He grabbed the car keys from the pegboard near the door and stuffed them in his pocket. Then he reviewed his items. Water: check, adhesive: check, trigger—Link swore and snuck back up the stairs. He went into his room and dug around until he found the BB gun. He checked to make sure he had some BBs and then stuffed it in his pocket. The bomb he had in mind wouldn't be elegant, but it wouldn't be traceable either.

Pausing on the landing, Link listened but his dad still slept. He crept back down the stairs, into the garage, and into the car. This was the moment of truth. If his dad heard the car go on, he was dead. If he didn't help Kai, his friend, along with Mason and Mason’s sister, were dead.

“And I thought selling drugs was badass,” Link said to the steering wheel. He turned the key and the engine revved up. Before he could think about it too much longer, he hit the garage door button and reversed.

Ironic that his dad had taught him how to drive dune buggies and smaller vehicles years ago, when his parents were still married. Just like he’d taught Link how to shoot a gun. I bet he’s going to regret those choices today, Link thought.

Despite the fear of the consequences and the pressure of trying to blow up a front gate, Link was excited. He was breaking the rules again. Grinning, he pulled out of the driveway and turned the car towards Ventura.

It didn't take long to get to the secret base and since Link still had Kai’s key, he let himself in. Kai was pretty neat for a teenage boy. Link supposed he had to be when he had chemicals stored in the base. Link located the Tupperware full of white powder. He grabbed it and locked the base back up.

It took almost thirty minutes in traffic to get to the compound, Link swearing every other mile. It was an intimidating wall he pulled up to. On one side of the road was a small, rough woods, the other side a high stone wall with a solid black gate made of some kind of metal. Link parked out of sight and a little down the road to avoid the cameras covering the main entrance. He popped open the back of his dad’s truck and began constructing his bomb.

It was simple really. The bomb manual always said bombs were best when they were simple. Link taped the two-gallon jugs together. He picked them up and the Tupperware container. Pulling his hoodie all the way up and grabbing his dad’s sunglasses, he hoped it was enough to cover his face. Then, he ran up to the main gate, heart pounding. This was where things could get tricky. But no one stopped him. He heard shouting; he thought he heard Kai’s voice from the other side of the gate. Apparently, whatever was going on was taking the attention of the sentries as well. He glanced up at the cameras, but the lights were off. He hoped that meant nothing was recording because he’d forgotten to bring a mask and he doubted his disguise was that good.

Pushing that aside for now, Link dumped the powder along the seam of the gate, and then put the gallon jugs on top of it. Then he retreated back to the edge of the woods across the road. From there, he pulled out his BB gun and took aim. It had been a while since Link shot a gun of any kind. His first couple of shots missed entirely, hitting the gate with loud clinks. Link’s stomach dropped as he kept expecting someone to come out and yell at him, or worse, come out with a real gun. His shooting became more erratic as his nerves jittered.

Then Link forced himself to calm down, to focus, and aim. Breathing out slowly, he shot again. The pellet hit the top gallon jug in the middle. Water shot out of the side, missing the powder. Link cursed. He aimed again and let off a bunch of rounds. The jug exploded, the powder exploded, and a wall of heat knocked Link back off his feet.

He didn’t know how long he lay there dazed. When he could gather his wits, he stood up shakily. He couldn’t see anything through the smoke and fiery wreckage of the gate. The metal was twisted inward towards the house. Glancing around, he realized someone would be calling the cops ASAP if they hadn’t already. Link ran to the car and started it. All his instincts told him to run, but he couldn’t abandon Kai. Please come out, he thought. Please. I blew up the gate so don't be dead.

Kai blinked dust out of his eyes. His ears were ringing and his vision wavered. He desperately wanted to sink into oblivion. He could feel Akuma in his shadow also shaken. The demon began to slither inside but there was a roar and hands grabbed Kai by the hair and the shoulder and his world blurred.

It felt like his cells were baked and splintered, like they were barely holding together as he slid through reality. When he landed, he jammed his knees and scraped his palms and opened his mouth to cry out. Burning gas entered his lungs. Kai choked. Brimstone filled his nose and lungs. The air stung his eyes. He caught a brief glimpse of Cole dashing away into a barren desert. Mountains in the distance, green flashes of lightning, cracked earth, and an apricot clouded sky.

Then tears blinded him as he curled into a ball, gasping for breath, trying to breath. His chest burned like it was on fire and he clawed at his throat.

I’m going to die, Kai thought. I’m going to die on another fucking planet.

No, you’re not, Akuma roared.

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