Kill Them All

*Kelly*

“Thank the Goddess,” I say. The cars are heading towards us on the horizon, and Eli has already received confirmation that they are Mark's warriors. They've come to meet us in some decent cars that won't fall apart on the highway like this piece of shit threatens to do around every turn. At least now Eli can get to Kamila in time.

As they get closer, I see that there are two cars, and one is much closer than the other. As it gets closer, I can see why: it's a two-seater sports car, and it appears to be very fast.

Eli slows our van while we figure out the logistics. Obviously, the sports car is here for Eli so he can get to Kamila as quickly as possible. I would love to be there when the babies are born, but it is much more important that he arrive on time. He probably wouldn't be in the delivery room with four ET1s taking up space anyway, so I'll wait until everything is ready and the babies are brought out for me to see and hold.

I could go with Eli and have one of us drive, but that car seems to be too much for me and, honestly, Eli shouldn't be driving anymore. The closer we have gotten to Kamila, the more nervous she has become. I guess it's typical of an expectant father, and I think it's pretty cute, but he really needs to get there whole. Whoever is driving the car right now seems to know what he's doing, so I'll just let him get Eli to the maternity ward on time.

After a bit of arguing, Eli stops the van and jumps out just as the sports car catches up to us. He wastes no time getting in, and the driver accelerates. I guess the babies are coming sooner than we thought. I hope it makes it on time.

That leaves me with Heather, Eustace, Brent and Sean. There's only one other car, and it's still heading down the highway.

“I'd better drive it,” Eustace says, nodding toward the driver's seat of our old van. I doubt the thing will make it back to its pack without falling apart or running out of gas, so I guess it's best to let it follow us back to Mark's pack to regroup and maybe properly fix the poor thing.

When the car stops next to us, we see that there are only three seats.

“Heather, come with me,” I say. —Brent and Sean, do you want to go with Eustace or ride in the front seat with us?

“I better go with Eustace,” Brent says. —I don't want him to get lost or stranded here.

“Me too,” Sean says, “unless you feel more comfortable if I go with you.”

I shake my head. Eli has already verified that these are Mark's people, so I trust them completely. “You guys keep going,” I say.

“I'm pretty attached to this old van,” Sean says. —I would love to see her arrive on her own.

The boys are strange. I laugh and shake my head to express that thought, then climb into the back seat of the car while the boys drive away in that tattered van. It goes surprisingly fast; I guess they are trying to compete with the sports car. Men, wow.

I fasten my seat belt and look out the window, enjoying the view. The sun is setting on the horizon, and the rolling hills are taking on a Kamilado hue, with golden rays of the last bit of sunlight filtering through soft, fluffy clouds. It's a beautiful scene, and ideal for setting the mood for what's to come. Kamila is safe, the babies are being born, and I'm sure Eli will arrive in time to witness the first seconds of her journey to parenthood. Everything is perfect.

But then my head suddenly tilts to the side, hitting the window at the same time Chris shouts, “Oh, shit!” from the driver's seat.

I hear Heather scream, followed by the sound of breaking glas... and crunching metal as the entire car overturns. I try to reach out to hold her, but I can't even control my own body as the car continues to tip over.

We finally stop, and I force myself to move my head to see if Heather is okay. She's moving and moaning, but Chris looks bloody, hanging halfway out the front window. And he's not moving at all.

I try to get my bearings. Somehow the car has landed on its feet after who knows how many rollovers, but the space inside is noticeably smaller because of the twisted metal. I unbuckle my seat belt and try to get closer to Heather to check her better, also unbuckling her seat belt so we can get out of the car, if possible open the doors.

My head is poun....., and just as I'm reaching for the door handle, I see movement outside. The door opens before I can do it myself. At first, I feel relieved. Someone must have seen the accident and stopped on the highway to help us.

But that quickly fades when I hear Heather scream. I look to see her being roughly dragged out the door on the other side, then suddenly feel someone pulling on my arm as some sort of cloth is pulled over my head.

I start to move but don't get the chance to transform into my ET form when I feel a sting on the side of my neck, and the world quickly goes black.

***

*Adam*

"Did you call me, Your Majesty?" I ask. That's an understatement because she's been yelling at me for the last fifteen minutes, which is how long it takes me to run from my room to her chambers. Well, actually I was screaming through the mental link, but that may be even worse because it always gives me a severe throbbing headache.

“Adam!” he bellows as I run towards him in the hallway. "It's about time, you incompetent idiot!" You are fired!

—I... what, Your Majesty?

—I said you're fired! I've got a new ET2, one that's going to do the job damn well!

“Work…” I say, and then I see the man standing next to King Gene.

I've seen him around the castle, but I hadn't paid attention to the man before. Now that he is standing right in front of me, I examine his demeanor. Something isn't quite right, and at first I can't put my finger on it. He looks normal enough, even friendly somehow, completely relaxed and confident as he stands his full height next to the king, making Gene look like some kind of child's toy in comparison.

But when I look into his icy blue eyes, I see it: a cold, calculating intent that sends a shiver down my spine.

“Yeah, you fuc... idiot,” Gene says, and I just realize he's still talking. —I hereby officially dismiss you as my ET2 and appoint Alastor DravenET as ET2 of Black Rock to as...ist me as I rule the kingdom!

I'm in complete shock and I just stand here, looking at these men. Gene walks away, and I can see a slight smirk pas... over Alastor's face as he turns and follows him. I stand there in the hallway, realizing my mouth is still open. I close it and continue in silence, standing next to the door through which they have just entered, the king's private suite.

“Idiot,” Gene says. "I'm glad I got rid of him." Now, you are clear on your first mission, right? These ET1s and their offspring are a threat to my crown, and as long as they breathe the same air as me, they will interfere with my role as the rightful ruler.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Alastor says.

Hearing his haunting voice for the first time restores the chills throughout my body that I felt before.

“Okay then,” Gene says. —The four ET1s, the breeder, and all those miserable children sired by ET1s that are coming out of her, kill them all.