Arrival

It was dark by the time Mason made it to Culton. The group had discussed it and decided that they would not stop until they made it to their destination. It had taken them all day to find a vehicle that would fit everyone and one that had a key and gas.

After they found the school bus a few people had suggested they find food to bring, just in case. Mason did not see a reason to disagree and they went on a hunt. No one knew when the government was going to step in, or even if they ever would. Few worried about the potential repercussions of breaking into a grocery store and grabbing as much as they could fit.

One person was against it, and every time she spoke up Mason wanted to slap her. Once or twice he had considered just leaving her to fend for herself. But, no matter how much she had complained, they both knew that she was in the minority and complaining was all she could do.

"Are we sure this is the right way?"

Gabriel, a man in his late thirties with dark brown hair and brown eyes, spoke up. He was standing up next to the driver's seat, bracing himself with a hand on the seat and dashboard. Mason was driving and taking it slow down the gravel road. They both looked at the phone on the dash that they had been using to find their way.

"The GPS says it is."

"It's just so far out of town."

Mason caught sight of the road they were supposed to turn on a moment too late and slammed on the breaks. Gabriel nearly ended up on his ass and let out a string of curses as he adjusted his stance.

"It's probably safer out here. Knowing Issac, he wouldn't join up with others if it wasn't a safe spot."

Gabriel snorted, "You sure put a lot of trust into that man."

Mason shrugged as he shifted the gears and backed up. The bus was large and difficult to maneuver. He was handling it better than when he had first sat behind the wheel, but it was still rough. Once it was lined up, Mason turned into the driveway.

"I've known him a long time. We were in the same foster home with his sister. That alone is a bond that's hard to break."

Gabriel could not argue that one. He had been a social worker for nearly ten years. Before that, he had spent his own time in the system. He had met Mason about three years ago when they had both been volunteering at a soup kitchen. When everything went to hell in KC he had tagged along with Mason to Raytown, his own son in tow.

Gabriel glanced back at the teen sitting behind Mason. Black hair that was just a little too long and unkempt, dark blue eyes that stared blankly out at the dark night. Rick had turned thirteen a week ago and yesterday, when everything had gone wrong, had been the one to save his father when his mother had turned into a monster and tried to kill them.

"There's someone outside."

Gabriel turned to look and, sure enough, a man had stepped off the porch and was waiting with arms crossed. The headlights of the bus lit up the front yard, revealing a car and a black van parked to the right. Mason parked the bus just behind the vehicles, center of the yard just in case they had the wrong place.

The moment the bus stopped the man walked toward them. The man was tall, Gabriel decided that the stranger was taller than him. The stranger seemed average, but something about him sent a chill down Gabriel's spine.

"You guys with Issac?"

The voice came across as friendly enough.

"Yes. I'm Mason, my friend here is Gabriel."

"Ethan. Boss said to park it and rest."

"Thanks."

Mason turned the key and the bus shut down. Everyone in the back stood and started to make their way out of the door that Mason had opened for them. Seventeen people in total, not counting Mason or Gabriel. People that they had come across while wandering Raytown looking for Mason's childhood friend.

When Mason stepped out, Gabriel and Rick behind him, Ethan stepped over and the two shook hands.

"Any chance I could talk with your boss tonight?"

Ethan shook his head, "Sorry, the boss said not to disturb him tonight. We've got cots and blankets set up for everyone. You're the second group of people today. Boss went into town earlier today to check it out and ran across quite a few mutated."

"Is that what you're calling them?"

Gabriel asked, moving to stand next to Mason as they followed Ethan inside. They were the last to make it inside. No one was in a mood to question anything and were already finding a cot to claim. There was a couch up against the wall to their left. Ashton was sitting at one end of the couch with Darcy sitting on a kitchen chair at the end of the coffee table. Cards were sitting on the table, a clear marker of what Ethan had been doing.

"That's what they are. The boss can explain it better, I'm not good with all the technical stuff."

Ethan turned to the newcomers and explained where the kitchen and bathroom were, then brought Mason's group over to the couch and introduced them to Ashton and Darcy.

"I'm calling it a night myself. Ashton, I'm going to leave it to you to get them fully settled, and to lock up."

Ashton nodded, "I think I can handle it."

Ethan turned to Mason's group, "Boss only said I had to greet you. I ain't good with the rest. Just don't cause any trouble or make a lot of noise that makes the boss come down and you'll be fine."

Ashton watched Ethan go up the stairs and disappear into his room. Once Ethan was out of sight Ashton turned over the cards that had been left face down.

"Bastard bailed 'cuz he had a bad hand."

Darcy chuckled and put all of the cards back in the deck. Mason sat down on the couch and leaned back with a yawn. Gabriel steered Rick away and they went to claim cots for themselves.

"You guys been here long?"

Ashton shook his head, "No, got here this morning."

"Mind if I ask you how it is here?"

Ashton let out a long sigh and glanced upstairs, then over at Mason.

"It's all right. The people are friendly and it's certainly safer than in town."

"What's upstairs?"

"The boss stays up there. Well, basically all of the ones with authority stay upstairs."

Mason sat up, "What is the boss like? My friend sent us here, told me I should talk with Soren, whom I'm assuming is the boss."

"Ah, that means your friend is Soren's man in Kansas City. Soren is different. I can't say anything bad about him, if he hadn't come around when he did we'd be dead. Fuck, the man went into a daycare crawling with mutated just to save a bunch of kids."

Mason could understand why Issac would be willing to work for someone that was not with the government if what Ashton said was true. Mason had known Issac and Carol long enough to know that Issac had a thing about knights and helping the innocent. He could not see Issac turning his back on his job as an agent to work for someone who was a bad guy.

*******

Avery was in the middle of writing out a cooking chart when he heard the sound of a door being closed. He looked up at Soren who was leaning against the pillows piled up against the bed's headboard. Soren's eyes were closed and Avery was not certain if he was thinking or communicating with someone, or both.

"The people that Issac sent to us have arrived. I should probably deal with them tonight, but I think I've had enough of dealing with humans for the day."

Soren opened his eyes and looked at Avery, "Add to your notes: I want to send out a team to Culton in the next couple of days. There should, hopefully, be more survivors. The team will also be tasked with getting supplies. We need to start building houses for people to stay in.

"We bring in any more and there won't be enough space inside."

Avery nodded and went back two pages to make the necessary notes. He found himself growing still at what Soren said next.

"Have you decided where you want me to mark next?"

"Anywhere but my thighs."

Avery had decided on that because any marks would cause his holsters to rub and leave him in pain. It would make moving and shooting difficult.

"That's not working within the parameters of what I told you. I don't want to be told what I can't mark. I want you to tell me where you mark."

"D-do I have to?"

"It takes away my fun if you don't."

Avery closed his eyes and took a deep breath, and released it slowly.

"My chest."

"Now, was that so hard?"

Avery kept his eyes closed, he did not need them open to know that Soren was smiling. Soren enjoyed his games and Avery was learning to go along with them. Resisting would not end well.

"Madelyn came to me today, while I was in the kitchen getting the plates."

Avery opened his eyes and looked at Soren. Soren's response was to raise an eyebrow but did not say anything.

"She, uh, told me about what happened between the two of you." Avery looked down at the notebook, finding it hard to continue to look at Soren. "She seemed upset, more so when I mentioned that you owned me and I had no say in what you did or did not do."

"She's our weakest link at the moment. Lost her control at the end of doing the vaccinations. I'm still holding out hope that she can get her shit together because we can use her knowledge. It would be a waste to kill her because she can't be trusted around humans."

Avery felt the bed move and a moment later Soren placed a finger beneath his chin and forced him to look up.

"Next time she bothers you, just send her to me and ignore her."

"Yes, sir."

Soren smiled, "Now, let's see about having a little fun and giving you a new mark before we turn in for the night."