Page 30 of Dark Medicine

“It was easy for me at first. The men who were shot could easily be pulled into a building, and I could work on them there. Then it got harder. We were clustered together, and I couldn’t just start operating without confirmation, or I would have been suspect.

“Somehow, Kane knew and forced everyone to move away from me. I was able to work on everyone quickly and at least secure the men until transport arrived. When we returned to base, Moore was standing there waiting for us. He asked the men what happened, and each one looked at Kane and me as if we had three heads.”

“Did they give you away?” asked Fiona.

“No. I don’t think they really knew what to say, and those that suspected were too afraid someone would think they were fucking crazy. Kane and I knew, though. Moore set us up. Either he wanted to see what all the hype was around the two of us, or he already knew. We pretty much worked on the same team going forward. Kane and I knew what he was doing, so we were careful not to expose too much.”

“The last tour we shared, insurgents raided a small village on the outskirts of our control. The village elder had three daughters. The insurgents raped and beat all three. When I arrived, one was already dead. The other two should have been. Kane did his thing, making sure I had a wide berth to help the girls. The elder watched me but said nothing.

“When we left, he promised to keep my secret. He called me a shaman. Two days later, he was hanging from a tree outside the base, his body stripped of its skin. His daughters said that Moore questioned him for hours about me, but their father refused to tell him anything.”

“Oh my God, oh my God, I think I’m going to be sick,” said Fiona, leaning over.

Adam stood and rubbed her back, pulling her hair away from her face. He looked back towards the hill and saw Kane and Aislinn headed their way. The tourist crowds had thinned. Only one bus and two cars remained in the parking lot below. Adam spotted Spook and Flip walking along the cliff edge, laughing.

Adam felt them before he saw them. Two men walking from the lower pathway stood behind him, not visible yet to Kane or the others.

“Hello,” said Zurvel.

“Hello,” said Adam cautiously.

“I believe you have something that we need,” said Bellum.

“I don’t know you, mister, so it’s doubtful I have anything that you need.” Adam grabbed Fiona’s arm and pulled her behind him, blocking her from the two men. He knew that if the others saw the move, they would know something was wrong.

“That’s where you’re wrong, Dr. Thorn. You all belong to us, but right now, we only need Miss Graham.”

Adam’s face remained emotionless, not daring to show his shock that these men knew their identity.

“Sorry, friend, but no one owns me or Fiona.”

He saw the man standing furthest from him pull the small handgun from his coat, holding it close so as not to rouse suspicion. Adam watched him raise the weapon slightly, and then just as quickly, it flew from his hands into the waiting sea below. He grinned, knowing that Flip was close by.

“What the fuck!? Why did you do that?” growled the other man.

“I-I didn’t,” he said, staring into the sea.

“I can send you in after it if you like,” said Adam calmly. “It’s awfully cold, but you won’t feel the cold after the two-hundred-foot drop.”

“I don’t have time to fuck with you, doctor. Give us the girl, or you will be sorry!” yelled Zurvel.

“Sorry, no can do,” said Adam, grinning. He watched as Zurvel lifted off the ground, his feet dangling, kicking out at the invisible force holding him hostage in the air.

“Wh-what the hell is happening?” asked Bellum.

“What’s happening is you’ve fucked with the wrong people. Now, you tell us what Moore wants with us,” said Adam, staring at Bellum.

Unfortunately, he took his eyes away from Zurvel for one moment too long as he withdrew a knife. The glittering blade flew through the air, lodging into the side of Adam’s neck. Seconds later, Zurvel sailed over the edge of the cliff, plundering to the surf below. His mangled body on the rocks swept out to sea within moments.

“No!” screamed Fiona dropping to her knees beside him. She pulled the blade from his neck, blood gushing faster than she could hold it. Suddenly Kane was by her side, his large hand held over the bleeding artery.

She vaguely heard the thundering footsteps of Spook, and then the large shadow of Flip knelt at his head. Fiona concentrated on the wound, her hands sliding beneath Kane’s.

“Fiona, you can’t…” started Kane.

“I can and I will,” she said grimly.

Her hands heated, closing the wound. She focused on the tear in the artery and held still, her hands repairing the vessel. Never before had she been able to see the damage until Adam. Fiona felt the blood dripping from her own mouth and nose. She knew it was normal, but Kane and the others did not. Their shocked faces registered panic, and she knew they would attempt to tear her away.

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