Page 96 of No Man's Land

Thank God. Thank you, God!

Behind them, Lottie and Violet stepped down and pulled the door shut behind them. In the hazy pool of Witch Light, Josef scanned the ground near his feet for something to use to brace the door. He spied a large piece of concrete and said, “How about—?”

Light flared from all angles, blinding electric torch beams slicing through the dark. And hiding behind them in the shadows gleamed blank saucer-like eyes and weird, distorted faces. Josef staggered back in fright, Alex swaying and grabbing onto him to keep his balance.

What the fuck was this?

Then, from the light stepped a slight, familiar figure. Neat, orderly, and pointing a gun. “We’ll take him from here, Mr Shepel.”

The creatures were all holding guns on them, Josef realised; he recognised their dull gunmetal gleam. A dozen of them, standing in an arc around the door. Waiting.

His gun, of course, was in Dutta’s possession. Dutta, who walked calmly to stand at the newcomer’s side. Fucking traitor.

“Saint,” Alex said, struggling to stand upright, almost to attention.

“You disobeyed orders, Lord Beaumont.”

“Orders to die!” Josef spat. “But now he’s cured, so you can shove your orders up your—”

“Cured?” Saint scoffed. “You’re talking aboutwitchcraft.”The word dripped with disdain. More than disdain, revulsion.

“I’m talking about—”

“Might I suggest,” interrupted Lottie, “that you secure this door before you bicker? There are several rather angry ghouls on our heels.”

Saint ignored her entirely, although he turned and murmured something to one of the creatures behind him. On a silent command, half of them detached themselves from the group and headed towards the door. Which was when, with sickening understanding, Josef realised that they weren’t creatures at all but men. Men wearing gas masks, and laden with gas bombs.

“The ghoul are no longer your concern,” Saint said, as his men filed through the door and closed it behind them.

“What are they going to do?” Josef asked in horror.

Saint stepped closer, small and harsh in the strange light. “You’ve been warned before, and this is your final warning. Stay away from that which you don’t understand and about which you have no business knowing.”

“No business knowing?” Josef laughed, incredulously. “You don’t thinkthis”—he gestured around them—“is my business? It’s everyone’s business!”

“Of course it isn’t.” Saint looked genuinely baffled. “It is Society business.”

“Yeah? Well, we’ll see about that when I tell the whole fucking world what’s going on down here.”

At his side, he felt Alex flinch and glanced over to see him shaking his head in warning.

“I doubt evenyourlittle newspaper would publish such an…outlandish story,” said Saint. “And if it did, who would take it seriously? You’d be a laughingstock—or worse. They’d call you a shell shock case.”

There was too much truth in that for comfort. Nonetheless, Josef said, “We’ll see about that, won’t we? Don’t forget—I still have a photograph.”

“Josef, stop," Alex hissed. "Please…”

Saint levelled an accusing finger, his face dark in the shadows. “Listen to me, Shepel. Thus far, I have been forbearing—at Lord Beaumont’s request. But my patience has surpassed its limits. And so, I warn you: if you come to my notice again, it will be for the last time.” Then, to Alex, he snapped, “You’re with me. Now.”

“What?” Josef held Alex tighter. “Fuck off. He can’t walk. He’s broken his leg.”

Dutta said, “I’ll help him.” He lifted his weapon, aiming it lazily at Josef. “Step back, Mr Shepel.”

Josef could see Alex’s fucking gun tucked into Dutta’s belt. The bastard must have known this was coming; it must have been the plan all along. And Josef had handed over Alex’s weapon like a bloody idiot. Well, fuck Dutta. Josef wasn’t letting Alex go. Not this time. “You can’t just abduct him. Who the bloody hell do you people think you are? Even the government can’t—”

But Alex pulled away from him. “It’s all right,” he said stiffly, loud enough for Saint to hear. “Stand down, Mr Shepel. And thank you for your assistance.”

Josef stared.Thank you for your assistance?

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