Henry Russels
It's seriously ridiculous that decent clothes are required to attend a council meeting. I actually was able to borrow some clothes from Collin. Just a normal dark jeans with a black button down shirt. Although I kept the top few buttons open. Otherwise, I can't breathe.
Now I'm just waiting to go inside. The Elders are discussing why this meeting had to be tonight. I call my friend. Fingers crossed that he answers.
'Hey, I have to keep it short. What is it?'
'A few questions, actually. How does Wade get his hands on this list? And is it possible that what you gave me is just the tip of the iceberg? Will there be a bigger list?' These are probably questions I need to answer to the Elders.
A sigh is hearable. 'It looks like he has someone somewhere on the inside. He started to look around after we captured the rogue. And to be honest, you can count on it that the list will get bigger. I think that this is a start of a whole new hunt for these guys.' He takes a deep breath. 'Look, I don't know what is it yet but if I can get my hands on a new part of the list I will send it to you. I don't know what he's thinking but he still wants to kill every single one of us. Starting with the ones who have a gift.' He whispers. 'I have to go. I'll call you later when I have the chance. Good luck.'
'You too, be careful... Whoa, stop, this insider for Wade, any idea who that might be?' I can see that Keaton comes out and makes a finger gesture for me to follow. I keep one finger up as in I need a moment.
'No, but maybe I can find out. However, I need to be careful and cover my tracks. This is dangerous, Henry. If you don't hear from me in a week then it's over for me. They would interrogate me first and then kill me.'
I do not like it that he seriously wants to risk his life for this. 'Be really careful and cover your back. In about a month, if possible, I want to see you again. Good luck.' I hang up and put my phone in my pocket.
'They're ready to see you know. Try to answer most questions and don't lie. They will know it.' He smiles faintly.
I shrug my shoulders. 'I don't see the point in lying anyway. The truth will always come out.' We walk inside and I can see a large round table. Every single Elder seems to be dressed just like I am right now. Still in normal clothes. Maybe some might have their own business or something.
'Henry Russels, first of all, welcome.' A man starts in a black suit with a tie. It all suits the man and add some authority to his attitude. 'It has come to us that there is important information for us. Information that came to you and you asked, via Keaton, to move the meeting up for tonight...'
'This better be good because time is money.' Someone cuts the man off. 'I still have things to do tomorrow.'
'Unless the hunters find you first and kill you.' I respond quickly and yet making eye contact with the man who was talking first.
Only that he crosses his arms. 'I don't listen to threats from you, boy.'
I take the list, which I wrote down for this meeting. Just like I look at the man who seems to be the leader. 'This is just a small list of names of Gifted who got into the hands of hunters.' I give him the list. 'The hunter I'm talking about is Wade Cooper and he just started to hunt us, the Gifted.'
'What is this? A hitlist?'
A few respond like I was hoping for. Shocked and surprised. 'No.' I say shaking my head. 'It's more a Deadpool and it's just a matter of time before he will have all our names. However, this small list might be distributing already under the hunters.' I can see that someone turns a bit pale. 'We need to act fast and alert the others.' I look at Keaton. Who just nods to me in an encouraging way. 'I hate to say this but leave the pack. You would be safer on your own, otherwise, you would put the whole pack in danger as well.' I swallow because every Elder has their eyes on me. I can do this.
Except for one. He starts to laugh. 'I'm a lot safer in a pack than on my own. We're werewolves. Wolves, we stand tall and stronger by numbers.'
'There's also death by numbers. It's called mass murder. I know these hunters, this Wade Cooper because he's chasing me for five months and now he'll be more determined to kill me because I'm on this list myself.' I look for the one who thinks he's safe. 'I thought that an Elder is supposed to be super intelligent, wise and with more experience than me. I just learned about the Gifted today. And I maybe don't know everything about the Gifted but I do know hunters. The ones I'm talking about are like a damn pitbull and they would use our children as target practice.'
Abruptly he stands up, making his chair fall over. 'I am intelligent and more experienced than you, you little runt. You should talk with more respect...'
'Carl, sit down and just listen to what he has to say.' The other one stands up. His attitude dominating over this Carl guy. 'Henry, how did you get this list?'
'I have an informant with the hunters. He helped me once to escape and after that, he informs me in time.' I explain. With everything I know, I can't tell them that one of them might be working with the hunters. Nor that I can say who my friend is.
This Carl guy stands stubbornly. 'And how do we know that your informant is hundred percent reliable. Maybe it's just another trap from the hunters and they're misleading you.'
He seriously needs to start listening. No, that's not it. He doesn't believe. 'Alright.' I take a step back. More to look at the bigger picture. 'I wouldn't be here if that list wasn't a threat. Me, I'm doing whatever it takes to help others to stay alive. Go ahead and go back home to your wife and children, but don't come knocking on my door when the hunters did find your pack and killed every single one of them in front of you. Kidnapping your alpha in the process to get names from other Gifted. Every human might have a breaking point but so do we. And an alpha could break sooner than you think when his entire pack has been murdered in front of him.'
'Carl!'
I see that the man bows his head. 'I don't mean to be disrespectful. I'm only telling you what could happen if the hunters find us.' I take the small break to take the conversation back to where it belongs. 'This is not about who's right, or to think that my informant is playing a game with me. This is about our safety and that's what matters. As long as we debate about what to do, others are dying out there. If they find a Gifted in a pack, then the pack will be killed and to them, that's a bonus but they will capture the Gifted in order to get new names out of him or her.' I also see a few women among them.
'Keaton, you brought him here. What do you think?' Someone else wants to know.
Keaton nods shortly. 'I know what really happened when Henry got the list this afternoon. He saw his own name on it and he had a panic attack. Collin was close so he brought Henry straight to the doctor himself. Instead of taking his rest by doctors orders, he came looking for me. Asking my name first. Are you Keaton Wyatt. After I confirmed, he showed me this list.'
A surprised sound comes from most of them.
'I didn't know a werewolf could have a panic attack.'
I shake my head. 'Me neither, but it did. I could hardly breathe.'
'How human... to have a panic attack.' Carl sniffs.
'I am half human... just like you.'
The leader stands up again. 'That's enough. Carl, get outside and cool off.'
'But he's the one who...'
The man shakes his head. 'He's just responding to whatever you say. And right now, I've heard more common sense coming from him than from you. You're the Elder and you should know better.'
I can see that Carl leaves the room. 'I just have one question. What are we gonna do now? With what we know now, we can't just sit back and do nothing. Four of your friends are already killed. And keep talking about it, isn't going to help either because one of the six left, will be their next target.'
Keaton agrees. 'Henry is right.' He swallows. Like he's about to make a decision himself that he doesn't like. 'I'm gonna tell my packs that I will take a vacation. I don't know for how long yet, but I don't want them to get hurt or to get killed because of me.' He looks at me. 'I don't want to be responsible for a whole pack to be swiped off the earth just because they know me. If he would let me, I could teach Henry how to learn, understand and to use his power. So, I guess I wouldn't be traveling alone.'
My brain takes over again. 'We could use it.' I make eye contact with all of them. 'By traveling together we can also warn the other packs. By talking to the alpha, we'll know who's Gifted and tell him or her to get away from the pack.'
'Why not send an email or make a phone call?' Someone suggests.
'I'm sorry, but no.' I shake my head. 'Not only do we get smarter but the hunters do too. An email is traceable down to an IP address. With a phone call, you can locate the receiver and back.' Now to look at Keaton. I understand it's a big decision for him to leave his pack. 'We can spread the word and make them believe us. At the same time, he can teach me some things and learn me the rules I need to know to be a Gifted.'
The leader nods. 'It could work. At the same time, we can start talking about making a plan. If the Gifted is ready to leave the pack to save them, where do they need to go? It's not like we can round them up and put them in one place together. That would be an easy target.'
I smile a little now that I can hear the others. They are definitely a part of the discussion now.
'I guess it's better they learn how to survive on they're own. If they would start to travel to alert the others as well, it's only better.' Another guy reacts.
A woman with long platinum blond hair nods. 'And make a plan at the same time. Let a few cover the ground of Canada. A bit bigger team to take on America and a small team to go to South America.' The look on her face shows that she's thinking.
'We are everywhere. Europe, Africa, Russia, Asia and Australia. If these hunters do spread the list then none of us is safe,' starts some man with a bit grey hair. 'I know some Gifted in Europe. I can go there and set up a small group to inform every pack.'
Time to leave. I have work to do as well. 'This is where I leave. I know what to do myself and I have my bag packed fast. So I can be on the road within an hour. After everyone is warned about this Deadpool, I can come back and we can start planning our own attack on the hunters. We are and will be werewolves so they will come after us no matter what. But I'm not going to wait for them to attack. I prefer to attack them on a land that I know by heart. In an environment that I can be in control instead of them.'
'Your right that we should have the upper hand when we have to fight.' The leader nods. 'And I guess that fight might be getting closer than we think. But first, every Gifted should now about this. I will talk to my alpha and make the other Gifted to go away, including myself. However, I'll stay in the city close to my pack, just to be able to stay in contact with all of us.'
This time a smile shows on their faces.
'Thank you, Henry, for everything...'
'Is Gilliam Russels your father?' A man with dark brown hair asks.
I nod slowly. 'Yes, that's my father. I'm traveling for two years, so I haven't seen them for a long time.'
He smiles. 'You look like your father. A good man, honest, justified and one hell of a detective. Like father, like son, right?'
'Absolutely.' I grin. 'He taught me everything and I helped him.' I sigh. 'I wanted to be a detective just like him...'
'Don't.' The leader shakes his head. 'We need people like you. And you don't need to work with humans to do just that.'
A friendly smile shows on the man's face. 'Your father should be proud of you.'
I know. I can even imagine what he would say to me if he could. If you can make a change then do it. Get your ass on the road. 'I'm pretty sure he is, thank you.' I take a step back. 'It was nice to meet you. But I'm going. The faster I can be on the road.'
'Take care, Henry, and be careful.'
****************************
Thank you so much to anyone who just added On the Run to their reading list. Or the voting. Just another update before this year is over. ;p
Happy new year everyone! May it be a healthy, inspiration, and creative year. 🎇🍷