[REND] 18.1 - Rambo Wolf Gal

“Bunkers? What bunkers?” I was just making conversation with Overdrive while waiting for the hero wannabes to start the commotion and lure the guards away from the sea. Yep, I planned to swim to the 2Ms’ base—if water was Dario’s planned exit, it’d be my entrance. But I was surprised that Overdrive might have an idea where Deen and I could train. This guy was proving himself more useful than just transportation.

“You know that New York has abandoned subway stations and tunnels?” Overdrive mimed swerving paths. “Lots of just empty space underground?”

“Yeah, I know.” I had seen a couple of horror movies set in those abandoned New York tunnels, but I didn’t know they were actually real. Of course, I wasn’t going to reveal my ignorance. “La Esperanza has abandoned tunnels, too, doesn’t it? Why did you call them bunkers?”

“Because there are actual bunkers beneath the city. Constructed around fifty years ago, thereabouts. Probably more. Most people have forgotten about them by now. But we sometimes use it for, er, meetups away from Marsh Row. Change of scenery.”

I didn’t bother asking what those ‘meetups’ were. “Were they made in the aftermath of the Adumbrae War? Oh, wait. That’s like seventy plus years ago.” I snapped my fingers. “Ah, the Purple Bloom in Hawaii!”

“One of the biggest Purple Blooms ever,” Overdrive said. “Not counting the massive ones during the Adumbrae War.”

“Right, I remember stories of that one.” The Luku Purple Bloom—Dad extensively researched it.

When I was a little kid, my family jumped all over islands in the Pacific, from Hawaii to Guam, and even to the Philippines. Given my vampiric paleness, no one would believe that I was born in Hawaii. If we had stayed there, I might be permanently tanned. And I would still be human, surfing the waves and eating coconut, or whatever Hawaiians did. Funny how fate worked.

“Corebrings sunk some islands just to kill the Luku Purple Bloom,” I continued, pretending to be an expert on Adumbrae. “But isn’t Hawaii far from California? There’s the entire Pacific Ocean between us.” Did I get the geography right? ‘Geography’ was the subject about places and shit, wasn’t it? Geology was something else, I think.

“Very far, yeah,” Overdrive said. “But can’t stop people panicking up and down the West Coast. I’ve heard this story—dunno if it’s true—of a submarine spotting an Adumbrae Titan a month after the Purple Bloom in Hawaii was destroyed. The giant bastard walked underwater for a whole damn month. Gramps used to tell me that an underwater Titan would get me if I didn’t listen to him.”

He’s giving me his backstory? Wow, did Overdrive think we were close or something? Or was this supposed to be an emotionally gripping scene of the gangster showing his vulnerable side, coaxing humanity from deep inside the monster?

“Well, good thing you listened to your grandfather,” I said with a soft tone. “No Titans showed up, after all.”

“Uh… yeah,” Overdrive said with a shrug. “He’s not really my grandfather—anyway! People got scared to kingdom come, and the government threw money at the problem. But there was no need to worry because the Corebrings bagged all the Titans. The bunkers were never used. I’m sure some haven’t been visited by anybody since—”  

“Uh-oh, looks like we have a problem,” I cut in, nodding at the sea. A speedboat headed towards us. Those had to be the 2Ms’ goons; I could even see guns. Overdrive’s car sticks out in this place. And I wanted it to get spotted.

“What are we going to do?” Overdrive asked, raising his arm. It hissed as it opened up to reveal a barrel. “I’m ready for a fight, Red Hood, ma’am.”

Funny how he had a brave face because he was with a strong Adumbrae. He probably thought he’d take just cover, shoot here and there as a show of helping, and flee if there was too much danger. Gain brownie points without much risk. But it wouldn’t go that way.

“Since they’ve seen you and your cool car,” I said, opening the door, “go and entertain them.” I hopped out and slotted myself in the space between the tractor and the trailer of the semi beside us. I waved at a flabbergasted Overdrive. “Don’t get caught or you’re dead. Take care!”

I didn’t need to explain that if he’d survived the 2M’s men and ratted me out, I’d hunt him down. If he ratted me out, assuming he’d have the chance to do so, I’d hunt him down. This’d be really embarrassing if he didn’t understand what I was implying.

Anger flickered on Overdrive’s gaunt face, replaced by determination. He got a cocky smile on as he saluted me. “I’ll show my worth to you!” he shouted before wildly reversing his car just as the dudes on the boat fired at us.

With this, I had ensured Overdrive’s loyalty.

‘Loyalty’ probably wasn’t the apt term. Compulsory participation? Essentially, I did to Overdrive what that asshole, Dario, did to Deen and me. I didn’t even plan for this—it just occurred to me a few minutes ago. But in Overdrive’s view, I was a master manipulator.

The boat guys continued to fire. Bullets pinged off the semi’s metallic parts. Overdrive sped away.

I hope there’s no dent on his car, I thought while crouching down. I liked the leatherwork inside. It made me want to ask Mom to buy me a car just to decorate the interior.

But that was for next time. For now, the number of ants thinking they were a match for me was increasing.  I could hear the roar of vehicles closing in—these must be from the base. I was lessening the guards there, a much better effort with immediate results compared to prank-bombing Eve. Peeking to the side, I spotted a jeep with a mounted machine gun chasing after Overdrive.

Could they catch up to him? He paid a huge amount of money for a speedometer with lots of numbers. I hoped he’d make it out alive because I wanted a minion to order around—it was a satisfying feeling being the boss of someone.

What if I had my own criminal organization someday? I could be a kingpin.

A queenpin!

There should be a word like that.

Screeching tires nearby. The hum of an engine. The shouts of men layered the sounds of stomping feet. Another group was searching for me, notified by the boat guys that a possible intruder was left behind.

“Time for the real Red Hood to make a debut… Second debut? Could there be such a thing?” Peeling away the pimple patches on my palm, I concentrated on summoning the wolf mask.

I was fine with disturbing the peace of the base because I knew that the hero wannabes were already inside. Deen was also with them. Our agreement was that if she left the hero wannabes, she’d message me. Since there was no word from her, it meant that she stuck around. I bet Dario forced her to do so. We already expected this to happen.

Her Garg-Owl would save her from becoming my food once I’d rampage around the base. As for the hero wannabes, it’d be their fault if they found themselves in my mouth.

“Fan out!” shouted one guy. “You two, check over there!”

“Clear! Don’t forget under the trailers.”

I put on the wolf mask and became… Red Hood? No, I should have a separate name for this body—Red Hood was the persona I had presented to the Marsh Row people. Best if everyone thought that we were different people. I’d think about that later. The fun part of the movie was about to begin.

My body instantly changed after wearing the wolf mask. I wriggled my snout, analyzing the scents around me. Saltiness of the sea. Ocean—the Pacific Ocean, to be precise. Metal. Grease and gasoline. I could also smell the disposable grunts closing in.

My jaws yearned to clamp on something alive, to crush bones and tear flesh. Muscles were pumped for action. I wanted to feel my claws stab deep into a heart and feel life leave it. Fucking melodramatic.

Someone was nearing me. I could smell what he ate for lunch—something with onions and cheese. I could also sense his apprehension, his rapidly beating heart, his tensed muscles. I could reveal myself and start the fight. Bullets wouldn’t do anything to me. At this close range, I could kill him before he could shoot.

That’d be it. Lame.

The ears on top of my head wiggled—I could hear the speed boat veering left, likely sweeping the side of the docks for other infiltrators. They thought that the men from the base had me cornered. A huge wrong move.

I knew what to do for more drama. Tension. Thrill!

I clambered to the top of the trailer as noiselessly as I could. My Erind brain and predator brain were united in this endeavor. I hugged the hot roof of the trailer while crawling to the other end. The men below shouted at each other while continuing their search.

Listening to their voices and footsteps, I honed in on the guy at the back of the pack. By movie rules, he should die first.

I glanced over the side of the trailer. Nameless Extra One, who now had a nickname, was seven feet behind his buddy. He had his gun pointed down while walking. Shooting the ground wouldn’t help him. I climbed down the side of the trailer with extreme control over my muscles, my claws piercing the metal sheets to hold me in place.

Hearing the noise of metal tearing, Nameless Extra One looked up. He opened his mouth to yell. I reached down and palmed his entire face like it was a basketball. Unfortunately for him, my hand had claws. Closing it meant driving the claws into his skull, instantly killing him. I pulled him up just as his buddy turned around.

“Murdock’s gone missing!” came the shout.

“Where did he go?”

“He was right behind me!”

Panic laced the shouts of the men.

As for me, I dropped the lifeless Nameless Extra One on top of the trailer. There was a slight urge to bite his head off, but nothing that I couldn’t suppress. It was easier to retain control if I didn’t get hurt. Also, I was laughing in my mind at the ants scampering on the ground, continuing to search for me and their missing friend.

“Possible Adumbrae,” said someone who sounded in charge. “I repeat, possible Adumbrae.”

“An Adumbrae? We’re fucked! We don’t have any electro—” He didn’t finish his sentence as my claws broke his skull and hooked into his mushy brain.

Another man was two feet in front of him. He turned around with a pistol raised. I threw his friend at him. Shots fired. The bullets hit his friend. And I went back up the trailer. I jumped to the other trailers as the blind dingbats converged on the sound of the shooting. Such brave guys, they were.

It was amazing to have the point of view of the monster picking off people. Usually, the movie would have the camera following the targets to capture their fear.  

“Buggy’s down! Contact with Adumbrae!” yelled Nameless Extra Two. He should be Three because Two was the second dead guy. I let Three live to spread fear to the rest of his pals. “Up… It’s fucking up there!”

“Graaorgh…” I curled my lips and bared my fangs. I deeply inhaled the wondrous odor of fear that filled the air. The 2Ms’ men shouted more. Their hearts were like drums. Their blood pumped fast through their veins. So inviting… I wanted to bite something!

I gradually grew stronger. My claws and fangs lengthened as my muscles became more defined.

“Regroup! Regroup!” It was Nameless Extra Leader—the leader of the three remaining men. A wise choice. Splitting was always the wrong move in movies. “We need high ground vision. Charlie, get up there!”

“The hell? We’re staying with a fucking Adumbrae around?”

“I’m not returning empty-handed to Big Marcy, you listening to me?” bellowed Nameless Extra Leader. “We need to report goddamn something useful!” He should be more open to his subordinates. He was the character who’d make the wrong choice and lead everyone to their deaths.

Staying was a very wrong choice. He should be more afraid of me than Big Marcy.

Nameless Extra Four was climbing the side of a blue semi. I charged at him, leaping over two trailers. All he saw was a blur as I pounced on him. Letting myself loose a bit, I clamped my jaws on the back of his neck and crushed his spine in one bite. Blood spurted everywhere. Metallic taste filled my mouth and made me giddy.

Perched on top of the truck, I looked down at the Nameless Extras below while their dead friend dangled from my jaws. My neck muscles stretched while I carried the weight of a body with my mouth.

The Nameless Extras had horrified faces. One had trembling lips. I even smelt the sharp smell of a guy pissing himself.

Perfect scene. Chef’s kiss.

And… cut.

Just kidding. We were going to continue until they were all dead.

“Shoot that blasted monster!”

They all opened fire. I widened my jaws and dropped their friend down on them. Then I was on my way to their jeep—I had a cool scene planned. They didn’t even nick me. Losers.  

“Where did it go?”

“Not around here, that’s what! Let’s fucking bail!”

“Retreat! Retreat!”

They sprinted for their sweet ride. But they were too late. The jeep was no longer there. The driver must’ve gotten scared by all the radio chatter about an Adumbrae and decided to drive away, leaving his buddies behind. I wanted to destroy the jeep and make the Nameless Extras despair, but I obviously couldn’t do that now.

I stood on top of a truck, watching the jeep zoom back to base, its mounted machine gun bobbing like someone who didn’t know how to swim. Turning left and facing the base itself, I spotted activity. My predator eyes could see quite far. People were running around. Something exploded. There was also gunfire that I could hear over here.

The hero wannabes started their attack. I should get going too. As for the remaining Nameless Extras, they slowed down as they reached the spot of their missing jeep.

“The coward left us! He fucking—argh!”

I jumped down and crushed his body under my boot. Nameless Extra Leader stepped back so he could point his rifle at me. I lunged and threw a punch that went inside his skill and out the back. The last guy turned tail and ran away. I yanked my hand out of the head of Nameless Extra Leader and picked up his rifle.

I’m going to be Rambo, I thought, aiming it at the fleeing man’s back. I pulled the trigger. The recoil of the gun was satisfying, though the pops were noisy to my sensitive ears. The bullets must’ve gone to another dimension because I didn’t hit him.

So much for that.

“Hrooarrr…” It’s your lucky day. I didn’t chase the last guy, running instead to the water. It was time for an amphibious assault.