Page 10 of Monster

“The Chinook?”

Deacon’s eyes widened.He staggered to his feet and began to walk out from the cover of trees. Drake raced over and dragged the incoherent man back into the shade.“What’re you doing? You’re going to get us caught.”

“No,” Deacon said, pushing against Drake’s arms.

The Chinook circled back and came closer.

Great. They saw us.

“The Chinook… is my people,” Deacon spat.

Drake met the dragon shifter’s stare.“Are you sure?”

Deacon could barely walk… he was weak, exhausted, and who knew what was going through his head.“It’s them. Bull won’t stop… looking for me.”

Drake met Jaeger’s stare for a moment.

Jaeger shrugged. “I’d sure like to stop dragging this fucking cage.”

Drake glanced over to where the helicopter was hovering… low, and nearby.They’d spotted them, there was no doubt.

If it was Zed, they’d soon be surrounded.What little energy they had left wasn’t enough to win a battle.They’d just get themselves killed.

Might be better than what Project Zed has in mind for us.

If it was Deacon’s men… it was salvation.

Drake turned toward the Chinook. He came out of hiding and saw two men hanging out of a half open doorway, searching the ground. He took a deep breath and took another step.

One of the men caught his eye. And then the other.

Drake sensed Deacon and Jaeger step out behind him.

“Bull,” Deacon said, barely audible over the sound of the rotors.

A joyous smile crossed one of the men’s faces… and the helicopter landed in the clearing.

Drake turned to face Deacon. “These are your people?”

Deacon dropped to his knees, sweat coating his body. He nodded.“Yes.”

Within seconds the two men were upon them.One raced to Deacon’s side, the other cautiously eyed him and Jaeger.

“He was hurt,” Drake said to the man on the ground.“Project Zed hit him with something. He’s not healing.”

“Who’re you?” the man on his feet asked, sniffing.

“They’re… okay,” Deacon said, lifting his hand to the man.“I promised… safe haven.”

“Stop talking,” the man on the ground said before rising and helping Deacon to his feet. “Follow us,” he added to Drake.

“There’s one more,” Jaeger said.

Both men turned to look at Jaeger.

“In a cage… over there,” he added, tilting his head over one shoulder.

“A cage? You brought a cage with you?”

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