In the aftermath of the gunfight H.E.S.P. had come out on top. They had sustained some casualties: two killed, eight with nonlethal injuries, but the Red Ring had been decimated in return. Bodies lay scattered across the forest, the trees riddled with bullet holes and droplets of blood. Most of the Red RIng were dead, having fought back even when injured. Louis’ influence had made them numb to the pain and their own inhibitions so H.E.S.P. hadn’t had much choice but to respond with lethal force.
Terry was getting medical care from the medics. He groaned with a hand over his eyes as they wrapped his leg in a bandage after removing the bullet. “I’m done. I’ve been shot too many times tonight. There is no way I’m going down that cliff.”
“It is fine, Terry,” Zola said. “I do not think the Captain would be keen on that either.”
“They’re already setting up equipment by the cliff’s edge,” AJ said looking to me.
I nodded. “Keep an eye on them and let me know when they’re ready.”
AJ nodded seriously but fidgeted with nervous kid energy.
I smiled at him. “You’ve been really brave tonight.”
He shrugged. “I didn’t do much. I’m not strong enough to fight.”
“You knew that and yet you still stood in the fray with us. That makes you twice as brave in my books, Ajna.”
He puffed out his chest a bit at that. I wasn’t exaggerating, he truly did impress me. I couldn’t imagine doing what he did tonight when I was his age. It was clear that he had lived a much harsher childhood than I did, one that made him strong in all the ways a kid his age shouldn’t have to be.
“You’re a hero now.” I tousled his hair. “I don’t want you thinking otherwise.”
He pulled his hood down over his face, trying to hide a smile. I turned to look around. “Where is Graham?”
AJ pointed away from the soldiers and deeper into the forest. I spotted Graham’s broad shoulders resting against a tree. He was talking to his former student, who sat in a spot of flattened grass with his arms around his knees. His Shape loomed over him, its strangely small eyes taking everything in.
I approached and could hear Graham speaking, “… come to accept change, you will feel better. We will all have to accept a lot of change after this is said and done. Shapers are coming out into the public eye. You will be one of many Cast refugees from Sillwood. I hope that means you will learn that you are not alone in your struggle.”
Rami kept his eyes on the ground, but he nodded along.
Graham heard me and turned. He looked tired but happy. “How are you, Nick?”
“Still in good shape. I healed up the minor injuries,” I said, motioning at my neck. Rami didn’t react, keeping his eyes glued to the ground.
“Why are you way over here?” I asked Graham.
“The soldiers are wary of Rami’s Shape, probably with good reason. Rami isn’t able to fully control it. Right now, the plan is to surrender him into H.E.S.P. custody once we’ve had some time to process things and calm down.”
“Makes sense. You’re gonna stay up here then.”
Graham sighed. “I’m sorry. I would ask H.E.S.P. to wait, but I understand that time is of the essence.”
I held up a hand. “No, it’s fine. You’ve done so much for me already. I think it’s best for you and the others to stay here. Terry, Zola, and you are hurt, Richard is unarmed, AJ is too young for this, and you need to tie up loose ends with Rami and Louis.”
“I agree. Although I have very little to say to my brother. I know exactly why he did the things he did. The Ghost Ring offered him violent excitement and money, two things he can’t do without. Now he will reap the consequences. I suspect he will be in jail for a long time.”
Family issues. I couldn’t help but think of my dad.
“Do you forgive him?” The words left my mouth before I really considered their impact.
Graham looked at me solemnly. “I do. I still love him and always will. I hope you didn’t misunderstand me when I said I have very little to say. We retread the same ground whenever we speak. I suspect it will be the same when I visit him in prison. Perhaps until we are both old.”
He smiled softly. “In some strange way, I’m glad it was him that got me into this mess, all those years ago. I think it helped me stay open-minded about Shaping. It’s just another variable, not inherently good or evil.”
Guilt flickered in my stomach. “Inherently violent, though.”
“I don’t think that is necessarily true. Used creatively, Shapes would be a great asset to humanity. A way to help the needy and bring up all of humanity. Its potential is vast and untapped.”
Graham’s eyes were bright as he spoke, “Despite everything, I feel as though we are a step away from a truly wonderful new age of humanity but…” he tempered his excitement, “I should not speak so highly of it when it is at the root of this tragedy. Forgive me, that was the scientist in me speaking without considering context.”
“I hope you are right,” I replied.
“Nick. I have utter confidence that you will reunite with Nell and save Sillwood.” His gaze was steady as he spoke, “I can already see that future. Can you sense her?”
I nodded, tapping my temple. “We’re so close, I can feel her constantly in my head.”
The pulses of the Tree were almost more akin to a constant pressure now that we were so close.
“But she is distracted by whatever the Tree is doing to her. Maybe I can get her attention once we descend.”
Graham suddenly stood and embraced me in a hug.
I stood still, unsure of what to do. He released me, eyes glistening. “The Rings are over. I can tell it’s time for you to move on. If we don’t meet after this, I won’t fault you. It has been a pleasure.”
“I… I feel the same.” I was flustered. The hug had pulled me back to my awkward self, the one that only looked at people’s shoes. But it didn’t come with any guilt. Instead I only felt the lingering warmth of Graham’s hug, as if he had given it to me for keeps.
I said a final farewell and walked back towards the others.
Zola stood as I got near. “I’m coming with you,” he said.
I stared at him as he displayed one of his strange moments of powerful confidence.
“Everyone else is staying behind,” I noted. “You’ve all seen enough horrors to last a lifetime.”
“What?! I’m not staying behind,” AJ piped up.
“Yes you are,” Richard said gruffly. “I’m not explaining to your mother that we got to a safe place outside of the city and then dropped you off of a cliff back into the thick of it.”
He waved us on. “Go. I’ll stay back and make sure Terry doesn’t get himself shot by saying something stupid.”
Terry only groaned dramatically in response.
Over near the edge of the Sill, H.E.S.P. was in a frenzy of activity. I saw the explosives being placed at intervals in a wide semi-circle. The operatives were already putting on rappelling gear. It appeared we were running out of time.
I turned to Zola. “Last chance to back out. You’re injured after all.”
The breeze moved his hair away from his serious expression. “Nope. You’re not talking me out of this. You can beat a dead horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.”
“I have no clue what that’s supposed to mean.”
Zola grinned but didn’t elaborate.
We walked to the edge of the cliff and looked out over the dark city. The wind rushed through from the woods and pushed past us to howl over the cliffside. We were so high up. The pulses of the Tree beat against my skull, drawing me closer, trying to pull me over the edge.
Soon the soldiers were ready, dressed in black, dark as the night, lined up in rows along the cliffside. Ropes were spooled out over the edge and down into the abyss. The section of the Old Town we were dropping into was steeped in shadow.
My eyes slid upwards once more. Spheres of pulsating red and grey hung in the sky, crowding out the stars. Were they getting closer? I still wasn’t sure if I was hallucinating them.
Zola helped me get my harness on. He slid the rope through my carabiner and tested the snugness with a tug. A soldier came to inspect our harnesses and give us a nod of approval. When he left I spoke quietly to Kent. “I don’t want to sound crazy but…” I gestured upwards. “You see them too, right?”
Zola nodded with tight lips. “Trying not to. It gives me a small panic attack every time I try to think about what they could be. Aliens? Gods?”
“Can’t H.E.S.P. see them?” I muttered while sneaking glances at the soldiers nearby. Everyone was busy double-checking equipment, speaking with their commanders, preparing for the impending descent.
“If they can, they have got more discipline than me, not to keep glancing upwards,” Zola said while wiping his brow.
“I thought so too. I think maybe only Shapers can see them.”
I left a more frightening observation unsaid: that the two massive planet-like orbs appeared to be pulsing in rhythm with the Tree. I couldn’t be sure, as the pulses sometimes felt as though they were warping space as they passed me, the forceful emotions making my muscles tense and my mind race for something to fixate on, to pursue. But it made sense. H.E.S.P. had called the Tree a Beacon. It was broadcasting signals for a reason known only to Organ. But it had something to do with the entities hanging overhead like overripe fruit.
“Listen up!” It was the Captain of squad six speaking. He was harnessed up as well and he spoke from his place at the back of one of the rows. Zola and I were ushered into place at the middle of a row.
“The mission is a go. We will rappel down the cliff and reach a location a few blocks away from the target. Continue with your assigned role regardless of what we face down there. Lethal engagement is approved. We can’t afford to fail and I think you can all assume why.”
Zola glanced nervously towards the explosives.
The Captain continued. “You are all the bravest women and men I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with.” Then he turned to me, a hard look in his eyes. “Wickerman.”
I stared at him blankly.
He smirked without mirth. “That’s what my men have been calling you. Escort Wickerman to his Witch. He and his ally have permission to use their Shapes. Only move to neutralize them if you can confirm that they have turned against us with utmost certainty. Otherwise we won’t be making it back.”
The squad seemed to take this in stride. Not that I could see their faces behind their gas masks, but shoulders were squared and hands rested firmly on the ropes. No restlessness. They were indeed brave.
“Wickerman, we have a lot riding on you. Make it to your Witch. Claim the Beacon. Alter the broadcast. We’ll handle the rest.”
I nodded while branches folded over my face like the weave of a wicker basket.
“Alright. Mission is go on three…”
Two soldiers were on my line in front of me. The first turned his back to the cliff and stepped closer to the edge. The other frontrunners did the same.
“Two…”
The wind was strong enough that I had to lean slightly against it so as to not be pitched over the side. Zola’s bandaged hand rested on my shoulder. They had given him gloves but his nails were already breaking through the tips. His nails shone iridescent in the crimson light.
“One. Go! Go! Go!”
The first of the operatives hopped backwards in tandem, disappearing below the cliff. The line thrummed as it grew taut. I was pushed closer to the ledge by Zola, who no doubt was being guided forward by the soldier behind him.
The soldier in front of me turned to face me. I could see his blue eyes behind his mask. He winked at me and then dropped away.
Then it was my turn. I took one more look over the side. The soldiers were barely visible on the cliff face, slowly descending by kicking off the rock face. Turning around, Kent was visibly sweating.
“Scared of heights?” I asked.
“Just this one,” he replied.
“See you at the bottom,” I said and leapt out into the open air.