Atoning (Darkness Rising 3.1)

Being a part-time wildcat, Maya's a first-rate climber. As for me, it was one of the few physical skills I was good at even before I went on the run--my small size and a few gymnastics trophies made me a natural. Up we went, shimmying into a tree as close to the camp as we could get. Then, we did something I never would have dared before--moving from tree to tree. I've had practice, though, goofing around with Maya, and we managed to position ourselves right over the camp.

Maya and I texted the guys to let them know where we were, and then we silenced our phones against the inevitable replies. At a noise from below, we peered through the canopy to see Moreno perched on the same table I'd sat on earlier. He had a beer in one hand and a trail guide in the other. A fire blazed in the pit, the only source of light in the dark campsite.

"You getting that lantern?" Moreno called. "I can't read this damn thing by firelight. Hell if I know why I'm reading it at all. Those kids are in serious shit when they get back here. We're not taking them hiking in the morning. They'll be lucky if I don't haul their asses home tonight."

"They're teenagers," Luke said. "Cut them some slack. There are far worse things they could do than play hooky for a few hours. I want to see that waterfall tomorrow. I'll read the trail guide myself, just as soon as I find this lantern." A shuffle of movement from their tent. "Are you sure you packed it?"

"Yes, I'm sure, just like I'm sure it's exactly where I said it was." Moreno snapped the trail guide shut. "I suppose you need me to come there and find it."

"Well, it's a little hard to find without actual illumination. You're the one with the flashlight."

"Penlight," Moreno said, taking out his keys and flicking it on. "Which doesn't do shit, as you're about to see."

He stalked off to the tent, disappeared inside and said, "The least you can do is hold the flap so I get some extra light."

"How? The fire's over on the other side."

Moreno grumbled, and I heard him moving things around the tent, saying, "Goddamn it, you made a mess. Why the hell were you looking in my backpack? I said the duff--"

An oomph cut Moreno off mid-word. Then, a gasp. Maya was already dropping out of the tree. I scrambled down as the sounds of struggle erupted from inside the tent. Then, the pfft of a silenced shot. Maya let out a cry, and a dark shape charged into her, sending her flying off her feet. I hit the ground and took three running steps before I saw who'd knocked her down. It was Derek, now on his stomach a few feet from where she was doing the same.

I caught a glimpse of Rae, hunkered down where Derek had left her, on the other side of the fire. Daniel was running toward them, hunched over. Derek saw me and started pushing to his feet, his eyes so wide I could see the whites. I hit the ground before he got up, and we all went still, gazes fixed on the tent, silent now.

"Fuck." It was Moreno, the word coming on a heave of breath. "You fucking, stupid kid. Goddamn you."

Daniel veered toward the tent. When Maya and Derek started to rise, he motioned a game plan. They nodded and separated, circling around the tent, animal instincts keeping their footfalls silent.

Daniel glanced my way to make sure I was staying where I was. I can hold my own in a fight, but my powers don't give me any advantage. In this situation--like when they'd been fighting in the alley--the best thing I could do was stand watch against unexpected interference. That also meant keeping an eye on Rae, but she was staying where she was.

Daniel neared the tent flap. Inside, Moreno was still cursing. A sudden hiss had Derek, Maya and Daniel going still. It was the lantern, hissing to life. I could see Moreno's figure inside the tent now, crouching as he muttered under his breath.

"Moreno?" Daniel said.

Moreno shot up. "Goddamn it? I told--"

"Throw the gun toward the door."

A sigh. Then, a thump.

"Yours, too. And if I see you disappear--"

"I'm not going anywhere." The thump of a second gun. Moreno's silhouette waved his hands over his head. "Can you see me?"

"Where's Luke?"

"Well, I'm guessing you heard that shot."

"Is he okay?" Maya called.

Another sigh. Deeper. "No, he's not. Dumb kid. Can I come out, and we can have this conversation in person?"

Daniel retrieved the guns and had Moreno walk, hands on his head, to the fire pit. We all joined him there, Derek escorting Rae. Moreno glanced at her, eyes narrowing as if she looked familiar. Then, he said, "Fuck. Is that what this is about?"

"Tell us what happened," Maya said.

As Moreno started to explain, I leaned over and whispered something to Maya. She nodded, and I went to the tent. Derek watched me but didn't come after me. I could hear Moreno telling his story as I slipped into the tent.

I tried not to look at Luke's body. It wasn't as if I hadn't seen a corpse before. I'm a necromancer; I see more than I like. A necromancer can't only communicate with the dead--she can raise them, too, and part of my wonky, genetically modified powers means that my zombie juice is a little overpowered. I've been known to accidentally reanimate dead things. Which is not pleasant--for me or the poor spirit caught in the rotting body.