“Hollow Men,” he whispered.
Sebastian examined what he could in this light. Hollow Men: artificial beings of leathery skin, pumped full of the foulest of gases and used as mindless muscle around the world. The cheaper sort could be dispatched with one slash from a sharp knife – the more expensive kind took a lot more effort. From their vantage point, it was impossible to say which kind these were.
“Do you have any weapons?” Sebastian asked softly.
“Just these,” Bennet said, pulling out a knife and handgun.
Sebastian jerked back. “What the hell are you doing with a gun?”
Bennet looked offended. “I’m here to rescue my wife from kidnappers. I figured a gun would be a good idea.”
“Do you know how to use it?”
“Of course. It’s not rocket science.”
“Have you ever shot at anyone before?”
“Hollow Men aren’t people,” Bennet said. “Shooting them is no different from shooting a target at the range.”
“And have you shot targets at the range?”
Bennet faltered. “I kept meaning to get around to it.”
“Listen to me,” Sebastian said, injecting a little calm into his voice, “I don’t feel safe around you when you have a gun. I feel, and I might be way off here, that you can’t be trusted with a firearm. If Odetta is in there, I worry you may accidentally shoot her.”
“Right.”
“Would you say that’s an understandable concern?”
“Maybe, yeah.”
“So will you put it away and promise not to use it?”
“OK,” Bennet said, looking embarrassed as he returned the gun to his pocket. “What about the knife?”
“Actually,” Sebastian said, taking it from him, “I’ll have that, if it’s all the same to you.”
“Probably wise,” Bennet said, then frowned. “But what am I going to do? I mean … I’m an Elemental. I could throw fireballs. Hollow Men are made of paper – they’d go right up.”
“Right, yes, maybe – but is Odetta fireproof?”
“Well, no …”
“Ah,” said Sebastian, “then probably not the best idea.”
“So what do I do?”
“You come in after me, and you try not to fall over. That sound good?”
Bennet sighed. “Yeah.”
“Then that’s our plan.”
Sebastian sneaked round the corner, and straightened. The knife felt good in his hand. Well-balanced. He took a deep breath. The door looked sturdy. He wondered how much this would hurt.
Before he kicked, a thought struck him, and he reached forward, turned the handle. The door opened.
OK then.
He ran in. The first Hollow Man started to turn and Sebastian slashed it across the arm, then spun, whipping the blade along the next one’s back. He flipped the knife in his hand and flung it. It went right through the third one’s chest, embedding itself in the wall behind. The Hollow Men staggered, not even attempting to stop the gas from escaping. Protected by his mask, Sebastian watched them deflate through a fog of green.
“Odetta!” Bennet called, hurrying in behind him. He immediately started coughing, his eyes streaming. “Is she here? I can’t see her! I can’t see anything!”
“I’ll check,” Sebastian said, guiding him back to fresh air. “Stay here.”
He had finished the search in less than thirty seconds, and joined Bennet outside.
“She’s not here,” he said.
Bennet was on his knees, blinking madly. “As soon as her kidnappers find out someone’s been here, they’ll kill her. They’re going to kill her and there’s nothing we can do about it.”
“Hold on a second,” Sebastian said. “Whoever’s been storing those Hollow Men here, they have to be the ones behind this. You’re a connected guy, Bennet – who do you know who can find out who owns this house?”
“None of my old connections will speak to me any more.”
“Surely there’s someone? Surely you still have friends who could check around for you?”
Bennet stopped snivelling. “Maybe,” he said. “Maybe I know someone who can help.” He took out his phone.
While he made some calls, Sebastian gave the small house another search. He found plates in the kitchen cupboard, and a single cup. There was a small amount of food – enough for one person.
“I might have something,” Bennet said when Sebastian stepped out. “This house is being rented by someone. I can’t find out the name, but whoever it is is renting a second house here, somewhere in Roarhaven. Maybe Odetta is there?”
“Maybe,” said Sebastian.
“We’ll have to wait a few hours before I can get the address, but you’ll help me? When I have it, you’ll help me?”
“Of course,” said Sebastian. “That was our deal, right? I help you, and then you help me.”
“Thank you,” Bennet said, grabbing Sebastian’s hand and shaking it. “Thank you so much for all of this. I’ve got such a good feeling. We’re going to get her back. I just know we are.”
Omen’s hands were shaking.
This was normal, he supposed, in the aftermath of a near-death experience – that and the chattering teeth were to be expected. He’d had a dose of adrenaline dumped into his system and now what was left of it was sloshing around in his bloodstream, causing all kinds of tics.
Someone had tried to kill him. Someone had actually tried to kill him.
A few younger boys came into the bathroom, chatting and calling each other names. One of them tried Omen’s cubicle. The lock rattled in its bracket and the kid said, “Sorry,” and went into the next one. Omen waited until they were all gone before holding up his hand again.
Yep, still shaking. That was probably going to last a while.
His knee hurt. It throbbed, actually. He must have injured it when he’d slammed into the wall under Peccant’s balcony.
Peccant
