Project Rescue - A Shifter Novel (NaNoWriMo19)
Chapter 13 - Decisions

“What the hell? Manuel exclaimed.

I wanted to know what was happening but it was better if I waited where I was. But, boy was I a nervous wreck. Was it someone he knew. A drug runner, the monster, or his men? I hated not knowing what was going on.

A few seconds later, I heard Manuel on his walkie but I couldn’t hear an answer back. I listened as close as I could.

“Papai, voce ai?” He shook his radio. “Papa, resposta.”

Manuel walked back into the room. “There’s a fire back towards the groups campsite. I need to get someone on the walkie and replace out if they were in the village.”

“Oh, God, it’s all my fault,” I exclaimed.

“No! It’s that monsters fault.” I’m going to call a few of the others and let them know about the fire. I need to make sure they know about it. I’ll ask if they have seen the others too. Don’t panic, okay.”

I nodded my head. “I don’t panic, well, usually.”

He laughed. “I don’t imagine you do. I’m not leaving you here by yourself. The fire might have been a diversion. Did you replace the emergency escape hatch?” I shook my head. “It’s right here. Slide the wall back and you will be at the caves.”

I wrapped my arms back around my middle, nodding my head. As soon as Manuel walked back outside, I peeled potatoes and listened for any news. But, he must have walked away a little. I couldn’t hear anything.

I put the potatoes and thyme in the pan, stirring it quietly. I put the lid back on and sat on the bed, once again, lost in thought.

I didn’t want to leave the cabin. I didn’t want to be on my own again. I didn’t know the rainforest, where the hiding places were. Manuel said the escape hatch goes to the caves. What fucking caves? I thought it was too wet for any caves but I didn’t know for sure. I knew I could take care of a few of his men at one time but not more than eight. And, if he showed up - I was in deep shit. I didn’t know if he would kill me or marry me off right then and there. I would end up killing the prick on our wedding night, hopefully before we had sex.

I heard a movement and walked slowly behind the door, once again. I swear it was getting old. It wasn’t a few minutes before the door slowly opened and Manuel whistled softly again.

“You are looking to get dead, dude,” I whispered. “If I hadn’t heard a movement you might have gotten inside, then...”

“I didn’t make a sound,” he huffed.

I chuckled. “Did too.”

“Okay, maybe I did. I have news about the group you were with. They are okay and were in the village. They’re going to stay in the village from now on. One of the council members put them up in a hut in the middle of the village. No one is allowed to shift in the village as of right now.”

I smiled, the first smile I’ve actually smiled in a long time. I had only used fake smiles with the group but I couldn’t contain it. “Thanks, Manuel, for replaceing out about them. Why wasn’t Papa answering?”

Manuel jerked his head back at the smile and the words. “You’ve got a beautiful smile," he paused. "You speak Portuguese?”

I smiled again and nodded my head. “I understood what Papa was saying when we were on the boat. The group I was with thought it was Spanish and I didn’t correct them. Imagine how much fun they will have next year after learning Spanish all year.”

“Smart. I can’t wait to hear what the captains say,” he chuckled. “I like it.”

“You ready to eat? I think it’s about done now. I’ll check it real quick.” I forgot to let him answer, noticing after I had walked over to the Dutch oven. I checked the food and looked over my shoulder. “It’s done,” I said in a low tone of voice.

While I was dishing up the plates, Manuel set the table, putting a flower in a cup on the table.

I turned around and noticed the flower. “I hope this doesn’t mean we’re having a date, cause I don’t have a thing to wear.”

He loudly laughed, scaring the howler monkeys. They weren’t too happy with him at the moment but it didn’t take too long for them to quiet down. “I think my mate might have a problem with it.”

“You have a mate and you’re stuck here with me?” I asked.

“She’s the one who told me to take care of you or else she would have my hide, literally.”

“I would love to meet your mate. She sounds feisty.”

“Before I forget, I have a couple more men, who work outside of Brazil, taking care of any problem shifters.” He scratched his neck, not at all comfortable with this conversation. “The whole council, in every country, has five assassins at one time, with others training. The trainers are bored and would love to help. What do you, um, think?”

“I don’t have a problem with it. But, they will have to change some tactics,” I said as he raised an eyebrow. “Who do you think trained me? One of your own assassins turned. He was reported missing about six-years-ago. I don’t know his name but I know what he roughly looked like before he had major surgery.”

“What? Can you describe him, please.”

I closed my eyes, looking back into my memories as a child. “He speaks with a gruff voice, he’s tall, about six-foot-four, he has a birthmark on his upper lip, and he spoke with a small lisp.” I opened my eyes to see Manuel’s eyes hard, making me flinch back from him.

“I’m sorry. He’s my brother, a brother I thought long dead. But, to turn away from his family for drug scum, I’m angered with him, not you. Everyone was so proud of him for being accepted. I don’t know whether to tell them he’s alive or not. It would break their heart to know he turned.”

“Why don’t you let your grandfather know about him. I don’t know who’s in charge of the assassins but it sounds like they dropped the ball. Didn’t they check his DNA? Now, I’m worried about more working with them who have turned or going to turn soon.”

“They couldn’t check his DNA, he was blown up with a lot of different people and they couldn’t give the feds his DNA for obvious reasons,” he explained. “I’m not even sure about the assassins now. I have a couple of options. One, is the guy who lives here. He’s the government’s part time tech builder. He’s good as well as his partner in the business - both jaguars. They train with the military a lot.”

“It could work as long they don’t speak of this to anyone else. The problem with that is the government listens in to every conversation. He would have to call from a pay phone, if he can replace one. Or, he can buy a burner phone and use it a couple of counties away. He can’t pay for it with a credit card or check either.”

“You know about this stuff a lot, don’t you?” He asked.

I nodded my head, leaving the questions for another day. I had already spilled my guts than I cared to but I needed to trust someone.