Read Online Alpha's Captive 04 - Haven by V. M. Black - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: V. M. Black
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a huge yellow eye.
It blinked—that was the only way that Harper could describe the small shields that came up to partially cover the eye before sliding back again, the metal visors above and below adjusting themselves.
A voice crackled through the darkness.
“About time you got here, you dumb ass-sniffer.”
Levi burst into laughter. “Shut up, ball-licker, and let us in. That thing is ridiculous. You’ve got to lay off the video games, man.”
The ball with the eyeball swooped and bobbed, and Harper realized it was at the end of a long metal arm.
“It looks good, though. You have to admit that,” the voice said.
“What’s the point of it, though? Open the gate!” Levi said.
There was a brief hum of electricity, and the gate gave a soft clang and began to roll back sideways, into the trees.
“What’s the point?” Beane’s voice, still coming from some invisible speaker off to the side, was filled with indignation as the yellow-eyed ball spun on its arm and waved its visors expressively. “Why does something so beautiful need a point?”
“I am still talking to B eane, right?” Levi said.
“Oh, okay, maybe it’s there to send the casual sort of snooper running. And to distract anyone from the turrets in the trees,” Beane said. “But it looks great, doesn’t it? And it’s got a camera inside, too.”
“Yeah, great,” Levi said, starting up the engine again and rolling forward. “Let me know when you modify it to spray poison gas.”
“Come to the main building,” Beane called over the noise of the engine, the yellow-eyed ball dancing in emphasis as they left the speaker behind. “You know where I am.”
“Be right there,” Levi shouted back.
They continued up the narrow road a short distance until it ended at to two old Quonset huts, metal half-barrel Army surplus buildings dating back to the second world war. Levi stopped the motorcycle, and Harper slid off.
“I’ve never actually seen one of these in person before,” she said, adjusting her purse strap on her shoulder as she stared at them in the moonlight.
“They’re just a decoy,” Levi said. “One of them’s set up as a two-bedroom house. The other’s a garage. Nobody lives there, though.”
He held out his hand, and Harper stared at it .
“Can you see in the dark?” he asked, wiggling his fingers invitingly.
“Oh,” she said, and she took it.
Despite the drive, his palm was warm against hers , and it was just a little rough with calluses. A man’s hand that made hers feel small and—stupidly, ridiculously—safe.
Levi led her straight into the trees that crowded around the small asphalt turnaround, and for a moment, Harper thought he was just walking at random into the woods. Then she realized that there was a trail there, made of compacted dirt and wide enough for only one person to pass at a time.
Ten steps inside, the trees cut off even the faintest reflection of the moonlight that fell on the road, and the darkness closed in like a blanket around her. Harper switched her grip so that her right hand was in Levi’s, then she put her left on his shoulder so she could step exactly in his path. She opened her eyes wide, trying to see something, anything. But the most that she could make out was the vague bulk of Levi’s shoulders, inches from her nose. Beyond that, there was only blackness.
Her foot hit a root, and she let out a curse as she stumb led forward, catching herself agaist him. He paused.
“Doing okay back there?”
“Sure thing,” Harper said. “It’s darker than the inside of a cat, but I’m just fine. Just try not to walk me into a hole or off a cliff, okay?”
“I’ll see what I can do.” There was a hint of humor in his voice.
“I’d appreciate it.”
He started forward again. “Branch, low and to your right,” he said.
Harper edge to her left and felt it brush against her leg through her jeans.
“Thanks,” she said.
“No problem.”
She followed him along in
It blinked—that was the only way that Harper could describe the small shields that came up to partially cover the eye before sliding back again, the metal visors above and below adjusting themselves.
A voice crackled through the darkness.
“About time you got here, you dumb ass-sniffer.”
Levi burst into laughter. “Shut up, ball-licker, and let us in. That thing is ridiculous. You’ve got to lay off the video games, man.”
The ball with the eyeball swooped and bobbed, and Harper realized it was at the end of a long metal arm.
“It looks good, though. You have to admit that,” the voice said.
“What’s the point of it, though? Open the gate!” Levi said.
There was a brief hum of electricity, and the gate gave a soft clang and began to roll back sideways, into the trees.
“What’s the point?” Beane’s voice, still coming from some invisible speaker off to the side, was filled with indignation as the yellow-eyed ball spun on its arm and waved its visors expressively. “Why does something so beautiful need a point?”
“I am still talking to B eane, right?” Levi said.
“Oh, okay, maybe it’s there to send the casual sort of snooper running. And to distract anyone from the turrets in the trees,” Beane said. “But it looks great, doesn’t it? And it’s got a camera inside, too.”
“Yeah, great,” Levi said, starting up the engine again and rolling forward. “Let me know when you modify it to spray poison gas.”
“Come to the main building,” Beane called over the noise of the engine, the yellow-eyed ball dancing in emphasis as they left the speaker behind. “You know where I am.”
“Be right there,” Levi shouted back.
They continued up the narrow road a short distance until it ended at to two old Quonset huts, metal half-barrel Army surplus buildings dating back to the second world war. Levi stopped the motorcycle, and Harper slid off.
“I’ve never actually seen one of these in person before,” she said, adjusting her purse strap on her shoulder as she stared at them in the moonlight.
“They’re just a decoy,” Levi said. “One of them’s set up as a two-bedroom house. The other’s a garage. Nobody lives there, though.”
He held out his hand, and Harper stared at it .
“Can you see in the dark?” he asked, wiggling his fingers invitingly.
“Oh,” she said, and she took it.
Despite the drive, his palm was warm against hers , and it was just a little rough with calluses. A man’s hand that made hers feel small and—stupidly, ridiculously—safe.
Levi led her straight into the trees that crowded around the small asphalt turnaround, and for a moment, Harper thought he was just walking at random into the woods. Then she realized that there was a trail there, made of compacted dirt and wide enough for only one person to pass at a time.
Ten steps inside, the trees cut off even the faintest reflection of the moonlight that fell on the road, and the darkness closed in like a blanket around her. Harper switched her grip so that her right hand was in Levi’s, then she put her left on his shoulder so she could step exactly in his path. She opened her eyes wide, trying to see something, anything. But the most that she could make out was the vague bulk of Levi’s shoulders, inches from her nose. Beyond that, there was only blackness.
Her foot hit a root, and she let out a curse as she stumb led forward, catching herself agaist him. He paused.
“Doing okay back there?”
“Sure thing,” Harper said. “It’s darker than the inside of a cat, but I’m just fine. Just try not to walk me into a hole or off a cliff, okay?”
“I’ll see what I can do.” There was a hint of humor in his voice.
“I’d appreciate it.”
He started forward again. “Branch, low and to your right,” he said.
Harper edge to her left and felt it brush against her leg through her jeans.
“Thanks,” she said.
“No problem.”
She followed him along in
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