Shifted

32. Kalaya

"We must kill someone. Make it known we aren't bluffing. I say we kill an adult, stab a child and throw them both out there."
"We are not stabbing or killing children," I gaped at my fellow shifted.
"They wont take us seriously otherwise. We could also just bring them upstairs, open a window and toss them out."
"No, we can injury an adult, fine, maybe even kill one if we have to. But we are NOT hurting children. There's a limit," My voice broke off even thinking harming a child.
"I wonder if that's what the humans will think, as small little Snakegirl tries to escape, I wonder if they'll hold back on stabbing her little body through. Because she's a child."
My fists tightened at my sides. "As they like to remind us, we are not them," I spoke through gritted teeth before relaxing a bit. "We are better than them."
"I'm sure that will comfort us all as we all lay out dying. As our kind is wiped from this world." Another input.
I choked. "Please guys, we cant. We cant."
A heavy hand was on my shoulder. "I'll do it." Matters finally speaks up, looking resolved but pain in his eyes. "We need to do something or this was a waste."
Matters...
I snapped out of it instantly as I stared out the window at the angry crowd outside. At the fire in their eyes and hatred in their hearts as they shouted at us. As guards surrounded the house.
They would break in. They would rush us.
I nodded. "It's ok, I'll do it." I relented.
"You don't have to, one of us are more than willing-"
"No, this was my plan, I lead you here, and more than likely we stand on our graves. I've killed you all, " I whisper, "Its only right I ensure you don't die with blood on your hands."
Matters grinned that didn't reach his eyes. "My friend, I've already have blood on my hands. Why do you think I drink so much? " I looked at him and nodded. "fine, it's you and me. I want you to take a few children upstairs. Shout from the window, hang a kid from it if you have to. but don't kill them, it should be enough to stop them from rushing in.
"And if it isn't?" We stared at each other for a beat. I walked over to the window to assess the outside situation.
I looked out and saw the parent's retreating to another building. I saw the General, the look in his eyes. And I knew it wouldn't be enough. He was heartless and would kill all of these children if need be while blaming it on us.
I had a sinking feeling in my gut that nothing we did would stop them from barging in and killing us all without a care for the hostage. With the parent's not watching, my plan was going to shit. Of course them being drunk was causing them to be easily lead away from their children. They trusted the general too much. They didn't see the real him. Didn't know the guards they thought were protecting them, were all monsters who assaulted and treating living beings as nothing more than bugs to squash.
We were doomed. In a matter of moments we would have to stand our ground. We'd have to fight to the death. We would die from being overrun. But it was ok. We just needed to hold off long enough for Snakegirl to complete her side of things and get everyone to freedom.
I didn't have time to feel regret or despair for my upcoming death, for the deaths of my fellow shifted. for the blood that would stain these floors. I had no time for fear and tears.
"New plan, we set up the children all throughout the building. If they want to slaughter us, they'll have to do so in front of the children, we can use the teachers as-"
"Person incoming to the back of the building!"
"Seperate the teachers and children, we're going to use the teachers as shields and the children as distractions. Get everything into order. I'll be right back," I hissed and ran towards the back to the awaiting shifted who was on guard.
"It's just a woman."
My heart nearly stopped at her voice.
"Please let me in to talk. It's just me, they don't know I'm here." Josalena's soft voice spoke out.
Josalena. No. I didn't want to see her tonight. Had already said goodbye in my mind. But here she was, arriving at the worst time. I narrowed my eyes. Did the General send her?
I let her in, grabbing her close to me. "What does he plan? Is he going to-"
"He doesn't know I'm here. I'm here to warn you, please there's a way out of this mess-" I gripped her arm and tugged her.
"Board that door back up, yell if anyone else comes." I called over my shoulder as I pulled her along. Her eyes widened as we passed the second door, an empty room with two large windows and a closet door, that I had checked earlier. She yanked on her arm that I was holding and pulled me inside.
We were alone together, in a chaotic situation. I didn't think I'd ever see her again, this whole night I had been trying not to think about her and the light she brought into my life. I couldn't help it, I pulled her close to me, only hesitating as my lips lightly brushed hers, it wasn't until she leaned in the rest of the way that kissed her with everything I had. Her lips were soft and yielding against mine, my skin felt on fire, I felt addicted to this feeling of being near her, of her soft moans against my mouth. When we pulled away we were breathing heavy.
I thought of all the things I wanted to tell her but it was as if I was heading someone else speak for me as I said,
"I don't have time for you right now. You need to go." Truth be told I selfishly did want to see her before I died. But I could feel the time ticking, could feel how close death was coming. And I couldn't hang onto anything or anyone who made me want to live. Here I was, half wanting to trade my freedom for the ability to just be in her arms as much as I could. For as long as I could. I had to get her out of here before I caved into what I really wanted.
Josalena's expression looked hurt. "I want to help you, I've been trying to help."
"Oh really?" My eyebrow ticked up. I wanted to shut her up with more kisses. To drink her in and not have to hear the lies. I wanted to believe in the delusion, not face the reality.
"Yes!" She insisted. "I've been playing the dutiful daughter, going house to fucking house around stuck up snots to get information. Don't you ever wonder why no one ever travels? Why we, even the humans are stuck in this village?"
"I didn't know you were stuck too," the fact gave me pause. "But I can't think about this right now, kinda in the middle of something here," I stepped back from her and indicated towards the window where the shit show outside was.
"He'd rather all these children die than let you free, this was a fool plan," tears poured from her eyes and I hated myself for not immediately pulling her back into my arms, and Instead moved further away. I couldn't get lost in her embrace and arms. I didn't even have time for this conversation.
"The townspeople would hate him," I pointed out.
"Hate him?! Kalaya this is a perfect time to get the humans to harden their resolve. They've been wavering in their beliefs, questioning everything. I'm sure in the next five to ten years they'll all have decided its time for equal rights. There have been recent published articles in the daily newspaper on how it's wrong. There's been debates. Now, you've given him the perfect opportunity to turn everyone back on you for good!"
"My people don't have another five to ten years of this in them! Five years? I watch those around me dying every day. Five years no one in this house would be alive anyway."
"I know," Josalena cried, "which is why I agreed to marry the royals son. I was to go on a tour outside, come back and get married and from there I'd have power."
I laughed. ridiculous. "If you think being the wife to some rich human will give you power then you should never open your mouth to give me advice ever."
She flinched and it cooled the anger that had started boiling within me at the thought of her flirting with a rich man with probably many shifted as servants to try to get married. A union in which humans like to tie themselves for life. For life. That was her plan? I'd rather she didn't plot ever again. Although seeing how I was leading my people into a mass slaughter and at least every shifted in this building would be dead before sunrise, I guess I didn't have much room to talk.
"Trust me, Kalaya. Trust me," she pleaded. "This plan of yours isn't going to go anywhere, you'll have gained nothing from this. Let me save you. Call this off, gather your shifted, bring them in here and tell them to trust me and I'll get you all out safely. With me is the only way to get you all out of here alive."
She didn't realize, we didn't, no, we couldn't be saved. Rather we didn't want to. That was the point. The longer we held this fort down, the longer we distracted the general, the more likely Snakegirl and the rest would succeed. This was a suicide mission and I didn't have the heart to tell her that. We'd go down fighting here, at this building. And we'll make it last if we have to. If we have to go out one limb at a time. Painfully slow. It didn't matter. We just needed time. As much as we could to distract. Honestly best case scenario, they'd want to drag us out and torture us first instead of killing us on site. That would distract them even longer, to be able to focus on us and taking us apart piece by piece.
"I trust that you want to help," I had to get her out of here before all that unpleasantness began. "But we are staying here, all of us, and seeing this out, unless you can lead us out the front gate with all my people, we aren't following you out of this building."
I knew in my heart she wanted to help. But I also knew this wasn't her fight.
She made a noise of distress, "I just need time, we just need more time. Please let's go talk to your people as a group. Please Kalaya. We don't have time."
"Exactly. Time is running out, and trust me. I have a plan of my own. It's time for you to leave."
Josalena was looking out the window. I stepped forward to see why she had such an expression, but she turned and rushed to me. "Please," she threw her arms around me. "You have to act now. Make this stop. You'll die." Tears spilled down her cheeks and my heart instantly clenched.
"It's time to go," I repeated firmly. Her eyes flashed as if understanding that I knew I could die and was staying anyway.
I turned away, rushing to the door. We were out of time. If I stayed in this room too long, it might become too late. I had to make sure we gave Snakegirl enough time. And she was safe, they'd never hurt her. "Just please go. I don't want you to have to see any of this," I said honestly, pausing at the door.
I'll just order a shifted to take her away, maybe then someone here at least, could be spared.
"I'm sorry, I can't let you," Joselena sobbed as my ears twitched at a sound but before I could turn my head fully, a sharp pain at the back of my head is all I felt as I fell into darkness.