Shocked by Casey Harvell Page A

good people—but they were people. It is plain unrealistic to believe that I won’t have to do it again: because when the time comes I will.
    The call that we’re ready to load sounds. We walk to the army helicopters that will be transporting us. They’re five total. Lucas grabs my hand and pulls me towards the center one. The other female soldier and one of the males follow and climb in with us. The blades spin loudly above us while the pressure and wind jostle us about and disorient everything. I swallow hard. I’ve never flown before.
    Through all the commotion Lucas manages to secure me to a handle with a looped seatbelt contraption. Nobody else seems to bother with it. I happily grasp it, glad to have something to keep me steady.
    Next thing I know my stomach drops and a feeling of weightlessness takes over. The ground below us shrinks and we’re in the air.
     
     



Evil
     
     
    Once my stomach finds a place to rest comfortably inside me (after the flying has stabilized somewhat) it’s actually kind of nice. The view is incredible: this otherwise unattainable bird’s eye vision of the hills and valley’s below. It starts getting colder as we go. When we cross the line into Carch’s territory no one says anything. It becomes obvious enough when everyone’s suddenly on edge. Their demeanor set changes to fully anxious. Their eyes look out in every direction around us. All of them except for Lucas. He catches my eye and winks.
    The helicopters start their descent and once again my stomach hits my toes. We land and our team moves quickly to the edge of the clearing.
    “We go about two clicks east. There will be a guarded refugee camp according to our intel and satellite images. We’re unsure of the conditions we may find—just so you’re all prepared. Any survivors that can be moved safely will be brought to the helicopters. Everyone ready?”
    We nod in unison and begin to move. Lucas tries to hand me a pistol but I shake my head. It’s safer for all of us this way. Sort of .
    The lights and fences come into view first. The smell is putrid: sour and filthy, death and sickness, human waste and who knows what else. The place looks like a broken down prison. It’s certainly not fit for people to live in.
    Rage for Carch fills me. She’s the reason I know I’ll kill again. One day I will find her. When I do, for myself and the good of mankind I’ll ensure she can never hurt anyone again.
    Two team members move to cut holes in the fence. They wear gloves, but when the touch the metal of their tool to the wire of the fence sparks jump like a bug in a zapper. They reach to try again and I stop them with a hand to their shoulders. I haven’t the need to charge up like this since I was struck by lightning—but that doesn’t mean I can’t. Heck, the extra juice may come in handy. The other’s watch in fascination while I raise my palms a foot away from the wire and suck all of the energy into me. It’s beyond exhilarating. I stumble when I back away and let them cut the wire. We have to be quick before someone resets the fuse or whatever to fix it. Lucas grabs my arm to steady me. He doesn’t let go until we’re through the fence.
    The place gets a solid twelve on the creep-o-meter scale. Seriously, if this place isn’t cursed, it will be surprising. The evil here is palpable.
    Stains cover the concrete blocks of the building in every hue. I stare at the building and it seems impossible to breach. The doors appear made of solid steel and the windows are all covered with metal grates.
    Everyone around me stops when an arm shoots up and I don’t have a chance to wonder further. They crouch to the ground. Lucas tugs me down with the rest of them and puts a finger to his lips telling me to keep quiet. Something moves up ahead and I crane my neck for a better look. The figure moves away and more hand gestures are made. I look at Lucas, unsure as to what’s going on.
    Lucas moves his head close to mine.