Fear the Night
Chapter 6-The First Night

Chapter 6: The First Night

Isabellaand Yukio stood a good distance from the cage as Faye the Drone snarled atthem, pacing the width of her cell as Maverick stood at her dish on the chainoutside the cell.

“What’sthe matter, babe?” he smirked at her. “Don’tlike an audience?”

“Sh-Shouldyou tease her like that?” Yukio trembled in fear, keeping his eyes on Faye.

“Oh,I talk to her like that all the time,” Maverick replied, waving him off andstill looking at the Drone himself then kneeled in front of the dish and gentlyurged, “Come on, Faye. You did ityesterday. Did you forget?”

“Maybeshe’s not hungry?” Isabella guessed and Maverick sighed.

“Thisis breakfast for her,” he replied. “She should be hungry.” He stood tall with another sigh and turned tothem to say, “Well, might as well introduce you to her.”

“Uh,we’re ok,” Yukio replied as the two stared at him with wide eyes. “We don’t need—”

“We’llstart with you,” Maverick chuckledand grabbed the other man’s arm. Yukioshook his head vigorously as Maverick continued to pull him closer to the cell.

“Say‘hello,’ Yukio,” he said, patting the man’s shoulder reassuringly.

“He-Hello,”Yukio sputtered with a slight frown of wonder as to why he was doing this. “Hello, Faye.”

Shesnarled and tried to reach for him through the bars but he jumped and duckedbehind Maverick to escape her reach, even though he was out of it by a fewinches. Maverick chuckled again andlooked at Isabella. All he had to do washold his hand out and she stepped toward him, taking his hand which made herheart skip a beat. Yukio watched themboth carefully as Maverick pulled Isabella in front of him.

“Thisis Isabella, hun,” he smiled at Faye. “She’s the one that named you.”

TheDrone suddenly froze, her yellow eyes staring intently at Isabella. Maverick didn’t fail to notice this andfrowned in wonder when Faye pulled back into her cell. Isabella shifted on her feet, feeling likedthe creature was evaluating her which Maverick knew she was.

This is new, he thought to himself. Shelooks like she’s sizing Bellup.

“Maverick,”Isabella muttered out of the corner of her mouth, snapping him from histhoughts. “Why is she staring at me likethat?”

“Idon’t know, Bell,”he admitted and couldn’t help adding, “Maybe it’s actually a boy and yourpretty face is making an impression on him?”

“W-What?!”she breathed and instantly turned red as she headed to where Yukio was standingnext to the stairs. “You’re veryamusing, Maverick!”

“Extremely,”Yukio chimed in sarcastically, narrowing his eyes in suspicion at Maverick ashe added, “Hilarious.”

“I’mhere, just for that purpose,” Maverick smiled, turning toward them and bowinglow. “I live only to entertain andamuse.”

Isabellagiggled and Yukio shot his glare at her. He didn’t like the way this was going. He was for the match at first, but they didn’t have time for itnow. Suits and Drones were afterMaverick; a fugitive’s life wasn’t for Isabella. But, if they ended up falling for each other,he wouldn’t stand between them.

“Maverick! Look!” Isabella gasped pointing toward thecell and Maverick whirled around to see Faye pulling the dish through the bars.

“Decidedyou were hungry, huh?” he smiled and knelt down as Faye began devouring herfood. “Hey, Yukio, could you get thenotebook out of that safe, for me?”

Yukionodded and did as instructed as Isabella cautiously approached the cell andknelt down next to Maverick.

“Doyou do this every night?” shewondered.

“Everynight since she’s been here,” he confirmed. “And every night until Lock-Dah.”

“What’sLock-Dah?” Yukio asked as he handed Maverick the notebook.

“That’sthe day the first Drone appeared,” he explained, making himself comfortable towrite. “The 40th anniversary isthis year, in the 39 days, actually.”

“Ididn’t know you had a holiday forthat,” Yukio said, sitting next to Isabella as she sat from kneeling. “Why would you wanna celebrate something like that?”

“It’snot so much a celebration as a remembrance,” Maverick replied.

“Whywould you have to remember it?” Yukio wondered. “You don’t need a special day to remind you that there’s creatures outthere that could kill and eat you, do you?”

“Notreally,” Maverick chuckled. “But that’snot what’s being remembered.

“Fortyyears ago, this Country was ruled by a man the people appointed as Presidentwho had a daughter but no wife. Wheneverhe made an appearance with his daughter, over time, she started to look palerand paler. It might have been because ofher long black hair or lack of sunlight…no one knows for sure.

“Shewas never happy, hardly ever smiledand never laughed. Everyone thought she was going through a darkphase since she was young and had no mother for most of her life. Unfortunately this wasn’t the case.

“Onenight, the President’s secret police found him bloody and dead in his room andhis daughter was nowhere to be found. They thought someone had killed him and kidnapped the daughter, but whenone of the night patrolmen was on duty outside the home, he spotted someone…orrather, something that looked likethe girl and reported it.

“Butinstead of trying to help her, they reported her dead and said that everyoneshould stay inside their homes at night. They set a curfew and everything, telling people it wasn’t safe to beout after sunset.

“Lateron, people found out why. The Suits keepthe laws set down by the last President and they’ve been making up some of newlaws we live with now.”

Hepaused and scoffed, hissing, “Damned Suits.”

“Howdo you know so much about what happened if the police told everyone she wasdead and you weren’t even born yet?” Isabella wondered as Maverick shut thenotebook. He looked to them with a sigh.

“Becausethat night patrolman who saw the first Drone was my father,” he replied,solemnly.

Beforeeither Isabella of Yukio could respond they heard scratching above their headsat the top of the staircase.

“Oh,no,” Maverick breathed as he stood and all three looked to the stairs.

“Whatis it?” Isabella wondered, hesitantly.

“Thedoor,” he replied, not looking at her. “It’s unlocked!”

“Butyou said they have trouble with doors!” Yukio reminded him as he and Isabellascrambled to their feet while Maverick dropped the notebook and ran up thestairs.

“Theyfigured out how to open mine!” he called and Yukio and Isabella ran after him.

“Yousaid they were stupid!” Yukio shot back at the bottom of the stairs.

“Nowis not the time for this conversation!” Maverick growled at the top of thestairs, gripping a huge handle on the door to keep it closed.

“I’llhelp!” Yukio called to him then turned to Isabella at the bottom step to order,“Stay down here.”

Shenodded and Yukio hurried up the stairs to grip the other end of thehandle. The door started liftingslightly and the two men pulled as hard as they could, struggling to keep thedoor shut. They heard the Dronessnarling and scratching above them and felt them trying to get the door up toget in.

“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“Isabellastared at the staircase in terror, her face paling as she also heard thescratching and snarls. She backed awayfrom the stairs until her back came to the bars of Faye’s cell. All she could hear was her own heart thumpingin her chest in panic. She frownedslightly when she felt the end of her cloak lift up slightly, but didn’t turnaround.

Shesensed like she was being watched and shivered when the hairs on the back ofher neck stood up. A low growl rumbledbehind her and she gave a gasp but it was cut short when she was yanked back bythe hood of her cloak. The back of herhead wedged between the bars but the knot of her cloak around her neck chokingher and keeping her from yelling for help.

“Mine,”she heard a voice growl into her ear, but that was all she heard.

She talks?! Isabella thought to herself, but thatwas the extent of the thought as she lifted her hands to the knot of hercloak. She could feel Faye’s griptighten on the cloak to pull her tighter against the bars. Isabella’s fingers couldn’t untie her cloakfast enough but when she finally diduntie it she shoved herself forward and onto the ground with a grunt.

Fayeflew back from the sudden slack and snarled as she crawled toward the bars andreached for Isabella. The woman tried toback away but the Drone gripped her ankle tightly, digging her nails intoIsabella’s skin and causing her to let out a cry of pain.

“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“Yukioand Maverick heard the cry and looked at each other in horror.

“Gohelp her!” Maverick spat, bracing himself to take all of the pull of the door. “I got this! Go!”

Yukiolet go and the door opened just a little but Maverick yanked it back down withall his strength and braced himself with one foot against the wall.

Yukioscrambled down the stairs and stopped dead at the bottom in wide-eyedterror. Isabella was bracing herselffeet first against the bars of Faye’s cell while the Drone was still grippingher ankle, trying to pull her close enough to kill her.

“Getoff of her!” Yukio growled, running toward the cell. He bent down and Isabella latched onto hisarm as he tried to pry Faye’s hand from her ankle.

“Isaid let go, you stupid bitch!” he snarled at Faye and stood to slam his footinto the Drone’s face. She howled inpain and let go of Isabella’s ankle as Yukio pulled her far enough away fromthe cell. She was crying and wouldn’tlet go of his arm as she used her uninjured leg to shove herself as far awayfrom the cell as possible.

“Go---!”she choked, then swallowed before trying again, “Go help Maverick!”

“Hellno!” Yukio spat, sitting to pull her closer as they both watched Faye skulkaround in her cell. “I gotta make sureshe doesn’t do that again!”

“I’llgo sit on the bed,” she shuddered. “Gohelp him!”

“Shit!”

Theyboth jumped when they heard Maverick’s shout and Yukio scrambled to his feet,pulling Isabella with him. He helped heraround the corner to the bed and sat her down on it then ran back toward thestairs. When he reached the top, he sawMaverick still holding the door shut but only with one hand.

“Whathappened?!” he asked when Yukio grabbed the handle to help.

“Fayeattacked Isabella Yukio replied, struggling with the door and Maverick lookedat him with wide eyes.

“Isshe alright?!” he snapped.

“She’salive,” Yukio assured him. “It’s onlyher ankle. Damn thing tried to killher!” He looked down at Maverick’s righthand then asked, “What happened to you?”

“Iwas stupid and slid my hand where I shouldn’t have,” he replied in anemotionless tone. “Broke my fingers.”

Thedoor jumped a little more than before and when the two men slammed it shutagain, the Drones above snarled and hissed in anger.

“Yousaid this thing had a lock on it?!” Yukio recalled, still struggling with thedoor.

“It’soutside!” Maverick struggled as well. Hesuddenly had more strength in his left arm from anger at the Drones outside and the one below in the cell. Setting his jaw he loosened his grip a littlethen shoved Yukio against the wall so that he lost grip of the handle.

“Whatthe hell---?!”

“Letone in,” Maverick instructed in a dark tone and Yukio stared at him indisbelief.

“Letone in?!” he echoed in a shriek. “Are you nuts?!”

“Backup,” Maverick instructed as some fingers curled around the edge of thedoor. “Get on the other side of me.”

Yukiohesitated but did as he was told.

“WhenI tell you, pull the door back down,” maverick said and Yukio gripped thehandle ready to do as he was told. Thefingers at the edge of the door curled and before either of the men blinked, aDrone’s face was in the entrance and snarling straight into Maverick’s face.

“Now!”

Thetwo men slammed the door back down and the Drone wailed in pain but snarled inMaverick’s face again.

“Letgo!” he yelled at Yukio and the other man did as he was told while Maverickheld onto the door with his bionic arm. He let the door up then slammed it back down on the Drone’s head. He did this several times as Yukio backedagainst the wall, horror over his face. He’d never send anyone as angry as Maverick was at that moment and itscared him.

Thumpsand cracks were heard as Maverick continued slamming the door on the Drone’shead. Soon the creature wasn’t movingand its tongue was hanging out of its mouth while its head fell limp in theentrance.

Maverickstopped slamming the door on the Drone and panted for breath. Ignoring the pain in his broken fingers, heshoved the Drone up and out then slammed the door shut.

“Whatnow?” Yukio whispered, maintaining the silence that was followed by the slam ofthe door.

“Now,”Maverick breathed in thought. “Now…whenI tell you, you’re gonna slam this door shut behind me.”

“Whatare you gonna do?!” Yukio wondered, but realization hit him and he stared atMaverick in disbelief then hissed, “You’re not gonna go out there, are you?!”

“Ifwe expect to be safe down here till morning I have to lock the door,” Maverickreplied. “They’ll be too busyeating. Just open the door slowly, letme out and after I lock it, shut it behind me when I get back in.”

“You’recrazy!” Yukio growled. “Suicidal! You can’t expect me to let you do this!”

“Ifit was just me and you, I’d tell you, I’d tell you to stay here and hold thedoor shut with me,” Maverick shot back. “But we have to protect Isabella! We have to take care of her and keep her safe! We can’t be messing around up here with thesethings! Now, slowly open the door beforeI shove you outta the way and to this myself!”

Yukiostared at Maverick for moment but nodded and gazed at the door, gripping thehandle with both hands. He slowly pushedit open as Maverick just as slowly stepped out and into the dark alley above.

Hewatched the Drones at the other and of the alley tearing apart the one he’dkilled then stood next to the door and pulled a brick out of the wall he wascloser to. Reaching into the hole he’dmade, he flipped a switch on the side and shoved the brick back in.

Yukiojumped when he saw bolts with slanted tops come from the wall just above theframe of the trap door. Maverick wasabout to jump into the opening again when he heard a growl behind him. He turned slowly and saw another Drone aboutto pounce at him, making him sigh in exasperation.

“Yukio,”he called. “Shut the door.”

“What?!”Yukio hissed, looking out enough to look around the alley. He looked to the direction Maverick wasfacing and paled instantly. “Shit!”

“Shutthe door!” Maverick snarled seeing the Drone crouch lower to the ground. “The button on the far wall will unlock it inthe morning. Shut the goddamn door!”

“Notwithout you, Mave!” Yukioargued.

Maverick growled in irritationand spun around just as the Drone launched itself at him. He shoved Yukio down with his foot andslammed the door shut after him. TheDrone landed on Maverick’s back, pinning him face first to the ground.

“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”““Mave!”Yukio shouted, slamming his hands on the door, but knowing it wouldn’topen. “Dammit!”

Heran down the stairs and ran to one of the boxes that he’d brought, not noticingIsabella limp around the corner and stare at him, then look around the smallroom.

“Where’sMaverick?” she asked timidly with wide eyes and Yukio whirled around to stareback at her with his own wide-eyed expression.

Stayon the bed,” he told her, then turned back to rummage through the box. “I’ll be right back.”

Helifted a gun fro the box and cocked it as Isabella stared at him in disbelief.

“You’llbe right back?!” she shrieked as Yukio stood and headed to the stairs. “What are you doing?!”

“Getin the bedroom!” he snarled and ran up the stairs as she stared at him.

Yukiostopped at the top and looked at the walls, looking for the button Maverick hadtold him about. He found a red button ateyes level and pressed it with his whole fist. He heard the bolts pull back into the wall and braced himself foranything that might come through.

Heslowly pushed the door open and heard Maverick grunting and shouting along withsnarls, growls and hisses from the Drones. He stuck his head up from the entrance and saw Maverick pinned against awall by a Drone, his foot on the thing’s chest. Yukio didn’t bother looking anywhere else and swung his armed hand outin front of him, took aim and fired.

Maverickwinced when he heard the shot and felt blood spatter over his face as the Dronehe’d been fighting fell sideways, dead from the headshot. He looked at Yukio with wide eyes but theother man kept aiming his gun in his direction.

“Itold you---!”

“Saveit and get your ass over here!” Yukio spat, firing again. Maverick looked behind him, hearing the bulletwhiz past his ear and saw a Drone jerk back, mid-leap fall to the ground, dead.

“Hurryup!” Yukio called again and Maverick scrambled on all fours toward the door asYukio got out completely. “I’ll lock itagain.”

“Lookout!” Maverick shouted as he got in the door and Yukio spun around and shotanother Drone charging toward them. Heturned to the wall and yanked the brick Maverick had pulled out before from thewall.

“Yukio!”Maverick shouted again, but before the other man could respond he’d grabbed thegun and shot three Drones. “I’ll coveryou!”

Yukioflipped the switch, shoved the brick back in the wall then jumped into the trapdoor and Maverick shot another Drone before ducking in and shutting the doorbehind him. They sat on the steps andpanted to catch their breath and Maverick glared at Yukio.

“Firstof all,” he panted, still holding Yukio’s gun. “I told you to stay here, and second of all, where the hell did you getthis gun?!”

“Itwas my father’s,” Yukio panted back. “And if I didn’t go after you I would’ve gotten an earful from Izzy.”

Theyboth looked at each other with wide eyes and scrambled down the stairs to roundthe corner into Maverick’s bedroom.

“Izzy!”

“Bell!”

Bothmen looked at each other with a frown each then turned back to Isabella who wassitting on the bed, blood drops running from the places Faye had dug her nailsinto her skin.

“Boys,”she replied and Yukio ran toward her to sit on the bed with her and hug hertightly.

“Whatthe hell happened?!” Maverick demanded, hurrying to his nightstand and pullingout a roll of gauze.

“Fayeattacked me,” Isabella answered as Yukio still hugged her and she held onto hisarm. “She grabbed my cloak and she wasright next to my ear when she spoke to me.”

Maverickfroze and stared at Isabella with wide, disbelieving eyes.

“Shespoke?!” he nearly shrieked and Isabella nodded vigorously.

“Shestood, too,” she went on. “She said,‘Mine’ and tried to choke me to death!”

“‘Mine’?”Maverick echoed, placing Yukio’s gun on the nightstand as he faced her. “What’s supposed to be hers?”

“Hello!”Yukio shouted, gesturing to Isabella’s ankle and the two looked at him. “Her ankle is bleeding here!”

“Yukio,there should be some disinfectant in my box, could you get it?” Isabellareplied and Yukio nodded, leaving a tender kiss on the side of her head beforestanding to do what he was told.

Maverickwalked toward her, knelt down in front of her, the roll of gauze in his handand gently lifted her foot onto his knee. She shot her gaze at him as he looked back at her with wide eyes.

“Isit broken?” he asked and she only shook her head. “It doesn’t feel broken at all?”

Sheshook her head again, not able to replace her voice. He nodded in return and turned to her ankleagain, using his hands to wipe away the streams of blood from her skin.

“I’msorry,” he mumbled and Isabella swallowed, trying to moisten her suddenly drymouth. “I didn’t think she’dattack. She’s never done that to me. Sure, she’s tried to grab me few times but the one time she did it was…playful.”

“It’snot your fault,” Isabella breathed and he looked up at her again. “You couldn’t have possibly known what she’ddo. And you were busy trying to keep theother Drones from killing us. It’s not your fault.”

“Bell,”Maverick smiled, warmly, “you’re such a great girl, ya know?” I’m sorry you got mixed onto this. You andYukio.”

“I-It’sno big deal,” she sputtered as she blushed from his expression.

“Izzy!”Yukio called, rounding the corner into the room. “Here’s the disinfectant and a cloth to wipethe blood from your ankle.”

Hehanded then to Maverick who stayed in his position in front of Isabella anddabbed the cloth with the bottled disinfectant as Yukio sat back down next toIsabella and maverick looked up at her.

“Thisis gonna sting,” he warned and she nodded bracing herself. Pain stung on her wounds as he wiped herankle clean and Yukio watched in evaluation at the care Maverick in healingIsabella. Wasn’t this the same man whojust a few moments ago pounded a Drone to death and shot a few others?

Maverickfinished wiping away the blood then wrapped the gauze around she ankle as shestared at him with wide eyes. He cut theexcess gauze away with his teeth, causing her to stiffen when his breath fannedher skin only for a moment. He straightenedand knotted the bandage then smiled up at her.

“There,”he smiled, still. “All done.”

Yukiowatched the pair closely as Maverick gently let Isabella’s foot off of his kneethen stood and held his hands toward her. She frowned up at him then looked at Yukio who only shrugged and stoodas well to walk away. She turned back toMaverick who frowned back at her.

“What’swrong?” he wondered. “I’m only gonnahelp you up.” He smirked playfully thenadded, “I promise to behave.”

“W-What?!”she chuckled, nervously.

“Justgive me your hands,” he chuckled back, amused at her embarrassment. Finally, Isabella placed her hands in his andhe helped her up onto her good foot then steadied her on it.

“Tryputting your weight on it,” he advised. “See if it’s sprained.”

Shenodded and did what she was told. Whenshe placed her foot on the ground and felt no pain she smiled up at him andassured him, “I’m fine. It’s only thescratches.”

“Youcall those scratches?!” he laughed,gesturing to her ankle and she nodded with a giggle. He shook his head but froze when she placeher hands on his shoulders. He met hergaze as she continued smiling.

“Thankyou,” she murmured. “You didn’t have todo that. I could have bandaged myselfup.”

“I-It’snothing,” he sputtered, rubbing the back of his neck with his good hand, havingignored the pain in his broken fingers the whole time. “Now we’re even. You helped with my ankle, so…” He caught her gaze and felt his throat closeup so he cleared it then looked back at the cell Faye was stalking around inand back at Isabella to say, “Do me a favor, won’t you, Bell?”

“Sure,Maverick,” she nodded with a slight frown. “What is it?”

Heleaned in closer making her jerk her hands off of his shoulders, but he grippedher hands in his before she could escape.

“Don’tgo anywhere near Faye’s cell for while, ok?” he murmured and Isabella froze tolook into his eyes with wonder in hers. “Yukio would yell at me if I let you get hurt again.”

“Itold you it wasn’t---!”

“Iknow,” he interrupted. “But I still wantyou to stay away from it. I…really don’t want you to get hurt…again.”

Isabellasmiled and pulled her hands from his to wrap them around his neck and hug him,making Maverick stiffen and his eyes shifted in wonder of what to do.

“You’revery sweet, Maverick,” she murmured then pulled away to look at his face. “You play the tough guy, but I bet your heartis made of sugar.”

“Uh…”he sputtered then chuckled, nervously. “I, uh…I don’t think---”

“Ishould go see what Yukio’s doing,” Isabella smiled and patted his cheek beforestepping around him and toward the main room.

Maverickstood still for a moment then touched his cheek and turned just in time to seeIsabella turn the corner and smiled.

“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”Isabellarolled her eyes as she walked away from Maverick and thought, ‘Your heart is made of sugar’?! Izzy, you idiot!

Sheturned the corner and gasped to see Yukio sitting on the bottom step of thestaircase, a smirk over his lips. Rolling her eyes again she placed her hands on her hips and glared athim.

“Whatare you smirking at?” she snapped, seeing his amused expression. He scoffed and stood, still smirking as sheraised an eyebrow at him.

“You like him,” he murmured. “And it’s morethan wanting to be his friend.”

Isabella’sface dropped and she glanced back in Maverick’s direction then turned to Yukiowith a silencing finger over her lips as she whispered, “Swear you won’t even hint to it, please?”

Yukioscoffed and waved her off, heading to unpack the boxes.