Part 28 (1/2)

A second later, the projectiles disappeared into the haze. I waited for some kind of detonation, an explosion or something.

Nothing happened. It was like the ma.s.s had swallowed the missiles whole.

”Has it done anything aggressive yet?” I asked.

”Overcame a middle school camping trip and some hikers. One of the kids got a text out before it went completely dark.” Uncle Mike gripped the headrest of the seat in front of him. ”All it said was, 'G.o.d, Mom. They're here.' And that's the last anyone heard from them.”

”Those poor kids,” I whispered.

”Then there was that news crew,” Ramirez said. ”They flew too close in their helicopter. This black tendril shot out of the cloud, wrapped around the aircraft, and dragged it in.”

”Wait!” The anchor at CNN said, pulling our attention back to the screen. ”There seems to be a message coming from the disturbance. Let's put it on audio.”

There was some static, then a low, dull voice said, ”Archer, you have until sunset tomorrow, or every life is forfeit. You struck the bargain. We've gathered here to collect. Come pay in full.”

The anchor and his cohosts went nuts, speculating what the message meant, but I knew. I'd told off the devil and now he wanted payment.

My dark brother always was one for unnecessary drama. Case in point? Black holes. I mean, honestly, who invents soul-sucking gravity wells for entertainment? Tink said. If it's a fight he wants, it's a fight we'll give him. But the theatrics? Please.

Her sarcasm helped curb the mounting fear chilling my blood. Which was good, because the officers were all looking to me, as if I held the answers to this puzzle.

”How long until sunset tomorrow, Mountain time?” I asked.

”Off the top of my head? Twenty-six hours, give or take a bit,” Julie said.

”How much longer until we reach Peterson Air Force Base?”

”Eight hours,” Mike said. ”And a three hour drive out to the park.”

”That gives us some time to prepare. Call ahead. Tell them to have a battalion-combat tested soldiers only-ready to roll out from Fort Carson in the morning.” I wasn't sure the mobilization of hundreds of soldiers was necessary, but given the size of that dark ma.s.s, I wanted to ensure we had enough backup. ”Also, make sure they shut down the highways along our route. We need to move fast.”

Uncle Mike nodded. ”I'll call the general right now.”

”There's something else. Every hot spot we were monitoring reports back clear,” Julie murmured. ”All of them. Not a single report of supernatural activity.”

Jorge sighed. ”The voice said they've gathered. Have all the monsters in the world descended on Colorado?”

”That's what it sounds like,” Julie said. ”And they're waiting for us to show up.”

Ramirez, who continued to stare at the laptop, said, ”It's been an honor to serve with all of you.”

We shared grim glances. The enormity of what we were faced with wasn't lost on anyone.

This was a one way trip.

We had a police escort-both civilian and military-from Peterson to Fort Carson. They drove us onto base around two a.m. and headed straight to a large conference center. Despite the hour, light shone in nearly every window and a pair of guards waited at the door for us. They saluted until every person on the team made it inside.

Davis met us in the lobby. He'd stayed behind to maintain operations, and I was glad to see him. He always took care of every little detail, and we needed that.

”Is everyone ready?” Uncle Mike asked. ”I should meet with command as soon as possible.”

”Sir, yes sir. Four hundred men, armored vehicles, fuel, supplies, ammunition, all ready and waiting,” Davis said.

”Has the disturbance gotten any bigger?” Ramirez asked.

”No, sir. It's like the voice said-it seems to be waiting.” Davis shot me a nervous glance. ”For Archer.”

”Then we'll deploy at oh-nine-hundred. That will give us a little time to decompress before we leave.” Uncle Mike rubbed a hand across his eyes. ”Davis, make sure everyone gets something to eat. Good stuff-not MREs. Wake up the kitchen staff if you have to.”

Will smiled. I wished I could bring myself to be excited about food, but I wasn't hungry. I was too angry and wound up. In less than twenty-four hours, I would either have saved my sister, or doomed humanity to death in the dark.

Kind of hard to care about my next meal with that kind of pressure.

”Is there a place to clean up?” I asked, more as an excuse to be alone for a while. The stares, the whispers, all of it was getting to me in a big way. I needed time to focus on what came next and I couldn't do that here.

”There are bunk rooms set aside for each of you upstairs,” Davis said. ”You're in 203.”

”Meet in the command room at oh-six-hundred,” Uncle Mike said. ”Until then, don't leave the building. Dismissed.”

”I'll be in the chapel,” Ramirez murmured. He had a set of rosary beads looped around his wrist.

Johnson laid a heavy hand on my shoulder. ”You need anything, you know where to find us.”

I nodded and followed Ramirez to the stairs. On the second floor, he went left and I went right. Room 203. My last stop.

Unlike most barracks, this one was more like a hotel, because civilian contractors stayed here while meeting with base administration. Better, there was a private bathroom in each room. I wouldn't sleep, but a hot shower would do me some good.

Before I could do that, though, I had three texts to send.

To Dad: I know where she is and I'm going to get her back.

To Mom: I love you. Don't watch TV for the next twenty-four hours. Promise me.

To Ella: You've been my reason for breathing. I love you more than life itself.

I closed my eyes, knowing what this would do to her, but she had to know. If I had the slightest opportunity to free my sister so she could end this war, I would do it. Even if it meant dying to save her.

So I added one last word to Ella's text: Goodbye.

Messages sent, I turned off my phone and left it in the nightstand. I didn't need it anymore. Then I stood in front of the mirror and took off my dog tags. I'd leave them here with my phone.

Today, the war ended. And, most likely, so did Matt Archer.

Chapter Thirty-Four.