Forge Faith

by Hayden James

  As William approached, he saw the man scurry back up the hillside and over, out of his view. “This is insane,” he muttered, in disbelief of what he had witnessed. Part of his disbelief had to do with the notion that his dad was not some sort of doomsday alarmist anymore, what his dad had been saying all along was actually coming true.

  Thinking the person must have left some clue, perhaps footprints that he could trail them, William moved up the hillside to where he saw the man, further off of Dwight’s property.

  Now partway up the hill, William continued up, growing tired as the incline was steep up the side of the hill. Figuring just where he had saw the man spying on Dwight’s property, he looked at the ground, searching for shoe prints. As he surveyed the area, he came across a binocular cap and a baseball hat with the logo of the local feed store on it. He picked it up and put it in his pocket to show to Dwight.

  William made his way to the top of the hill, to see if there was any sign of who was spying on them. Looking on the other side of the hill, William did not see anything. He went down the hill, making it halfway down to inspect further. As he came to the bottom of the hill, he did find the impressions of horse hooves in the mud. Someone who rode horseback was spying on them. William left to find Dwight and to give him the news.

  “Yeah, I know this feed store,” said Dwight as he examined the baseball cap and fidgeting the binocular cap between his fingers while he sat at the kitchen table. Rachel poured herself a cup of tea of the water that was freshly boiled from the fireplace. “Dang, I knew there was some deal between the feed store and the Mayor. Before all of this happened, the feed store, Johnson’s Feed, practically paid for the Mayor Elisa’s campaign. But this baseball cap could have been worn by just about anyone,” continued Dwight.

  “So you think the feed store and the Mayor are in cahoots?” Rachel asked turning around with her warm cup of tea.

  “To put it mildly, Hell yes! I wouldn’t be surprised if the feed store has become Mayor Elisa Tyler’s and Sheriff Murphy’s new headquarters. But Johnson’s Feed is one of the biggest employers in Tucker Hollow. They must have the allegiance of just about everyone in this town. Could have been anyone spying on us, but my money is on someone from the Mayor or Sheriff’s camps,” explained Dwight.

  William became uneasy with the notion that someone had been spying on them, and it very well could be from the people he was trying to get Dwight to side with. The disheartening thing was that they did not know for certain who was behind the spying.

  Dwight appeared to be in deep thought. He took a bite of his spice cake, a recipe that his late wife had made, and they enjoyed a slice every afternoon. Dwight had adjusted the recipe and made it in the solar oven next to the kitchen. William could tell that Dwight was uneasy with the fact that someone had been spying on them, especially when they were uncertain of who it actually was. This was an odd realization for William, because William had assumed that Dwight was expecting this to happen, at least at some point.

  “Well, William, I think you might be right,” announced Dwight.

  “Right?” William said as he was in shock hearing those words. As far as William was concerned, Dwight was the one who was right.

  “That’s right! For once, you’re right,” repeated Dwight.

  “I was certain you would say the opposite. What do you mean?” William asked, confused.

  “Well, you see, you’ve been wanting us to get an alliance with our fellow community members. Now, joining the garden that the Mayor and Sheriff have their grubby little hands on is completely out of the question. But, finding others that are like-minded, that is something I could get behind. You want to form an alliance with a few of our neighbors?”

  “I do. I think it would be wise,” confirmed William.

  “Well, that is something I could get behind. This was your idea and I agree with your decision,” answered Dwight.

  Still confused by what Dwight was intimating at, William could not fathom that Dwight first of all said that William was right and secondly that he’d consider aligning himself with someone. “So we are going to join forces with the members of the community?” William clarified.

  “That one is for sure a no. I’m not sure who we can trust in this community. No, we must be more strategic than that. We are going speak with some of my friends in the neighborhood and find out where they stand in the issue of the Mayor and Sheriff commandeering everyone’s resources to distribute on their terms. I’m certain they have made some enemies along the way. I realize that I have been the most vocal in the resistance, but there must be others who are not liking this,” elaborated Dwight.

  Dwight hesitated for a moment, taking a bite of his cake. “I’ll give you a list of some of my friends, and neighbors whom I think will side with us. But, to be honest William. I’ve made a lot of enemies in this town. I think you’re our best bet to negotiate the terms of the relationships.” Dwight made it clear that he would keep himself hands-off on this project.

  Day Sixteen

  Chapter Three

  Liam Conner

  Man’s Best Friend Veterinary Clinic

  West Campbell, North Carolina

  6:47 AM

  “This is not looking good,” said Dr. Davidson as he examined Prue’s wound. “I thought with the topical disinfectant I used yesterday that we would see different results in the morning.” Dr. Davidson examined Prue in the exam room, she sat on the same table as the day prior.

  The wound appeared to be red, inflamed, and to be painful. Liam had a difficult time seeing Prue in so much pain. The thigh was so swollen that Prue had a hard time moving it as it was sore, stiff, and fatigued. “Am I all right to travel?” Prue asked, tears welling up in her eyes as she appeared to be on the brink of despair.

  “You should be all right to travel,” replied Dr. Davidson. “I’ll give you some antibiotics. One course should do the trick.”

  “Thank you,” Liam interjected as he held Chewy.

  “I’m ready to get back on the road,” said Prue as she turned to Liam who stood by the doorway. “We need to get there tonight.”

  Liam was relieved that they could get back on the road but was worried about Prue. He was also grateful for the generosity of Dr. Davidson who really saved the day. He began recounting how much they had relied on the generosity of strangers, strangers who lent a helping hand when there had hit rock bottom or were pushed into a corner.

  “Take it easy on the bike,” suggested Dr. Davidson. “I heard that thing at least two miles away coming down the street,” he added. “That rough ride could not be good for someone who is struggling with an infection.”

  “I will,” replied Liam. “We should get there tonight, but we have over a hundred miles to cover, and we’ll have to go slow in the rain and because of Prue.”

  “Right. Better safe than sorry. That’s a tough trek, I know you guys must be worried sick over Prue’s parents, but be cautious,” warned Dr. Davidson, he had a compassion that stretched for miles. Liam nodded and helped Prue down from the exam table.

  The pair made their way to the motorcycle where it was parked out back of the vegetarian clinic. Dr. Davidson walked them out and waved goodbye as Prue strapped Chewy to her back and climbed on the bike behind Liam.

  With three kicks, the bike started, and Liam hit the road, pulling back onto Charleston Street. They made it to the outskirts of town before Liam put the motorcycle into high gear, taking advantage of the open road, but traveling slow enough so Prue was not stressed by the roaring engine.

  “What is that up ahead,” Prue asked, pointing over Liam’s shoulder. Liam’s eyes were on the road, so he could not see what she was referring to. The road winded through the Smoky Mountains and was rough from the rain. Liam was using all of his concentration to keep the bike steady.

  Prue’s statement worried Liam, even though he did not know what she was referring to. Unaware of the obstacle ahead, but cautious from Prue’s warns, he slowed the bike to a
prudent speed. They came down a curve of the mountain side and Liam could get a view of the road below, where Prue must have spotted something in the road. He soon saw what she was talking about. Liam squinted to make out what was happening on the road below them, the same road they were traveling on. Liam could barely believe his eyes.

  As the arrived closer, Prue must have seen the remnants of a massive accident that was now blocking the road. From either direction, cars could not pass the wreckage. Cars laid on top of each other from the mountain side to the edge of the road.

  At least ten cars had piled on top of each other, in an unbelievable and gruesome accident. “How are we going to get through this?” Prue asked.

  Liam slowed the bike down to a stop and put out his legs to keep the bike upright. “Wow! This was quite a crash,” concluded Liam. He took a moment to look at the cars smash onto each other in a violent scene. “I hope everyone was all right,” he muttered, still in shock at the sight. Most of the cars did not resemble cars anymore as they were compacted on each other.

  “Think the rains caused this?” Prue asked.

  “Must have,” replied Liam. “Looks like everyone got out. I don’t see anyone left behind,” he added looking at the symbol of destruction in front of him, a reminder that the world as he once knew it was no longer. An accident such as this would have had emergency vehicles and had been cleared.

  “Where are we?” Prue asked.

  “We are about to arrive to Asheville,” answered Liam.

  “Wow! We are close,” said Prue. “My family often went to Asheville for the holidays and taking out-of-town guests to the Biltmore. They enjoyed the vibrant art scene that Asheville offers. Once you meet them, you’ll see why.”

  Liam looked puzzled, staring at the accident as the cars that piled on top of each other. As he assessed a safe route to get past the accident, he concluded that there was no room to safely pass the crash. The crash extended to the shoulder of the road before it dropped off down the mountain side. “I can’t get us by this, not even with a motorcycle,” exclaimed Liam, frustrated. Yet another setback. He thought for a moment more.

  Liam finally realized that there was an evacuation road he had passed by a few miles back. “We are going to have to back track a few miles, but I remember seeing an evacuation road that should work and get us down the mountain,” he explained. Prue nodded in agreement to the plan and Liam turned the bike around and headed the very stretch that they had just completed.

  “Wow! I didn’t think idea would have worked,” said Liam over his shoulder and feeling relieved as he and Prue entered Asheville. Liam’s idea worked as the pair could make it down to Asheville, avoiding the crash and pile up of cars. They made their way to Candler on Highway 151 before heading south toward Hendersonville.

  Liam became concerned for Prue who was now seeing for the first-time places where she had grown up and vacationed with her parents, destroyed. That must be so difficult, seeing places where happy memories were made, knowing that they will never be made there again, not in the same way at least. Liam was thankful that he didn’t have to see Indiana or family vacation spots like the Ozarks in complete destruction, he was spared from seeing the world that way, but worried about Prue and how hard this must be for her. “The next town we will hit is Hendersonville,” yelled Prue over Liam’s shoulder.

  “Hendersonville?” Liam asked. A pit formed in his stomach, and he was not sure why.

  “Well, we are now in Hendersonville,” announced Liam as he read the Welcome to Hendersonville sign as they passed the city limits. “Decent-size city,” he added, feeling the pit of his stomach turn into a pain as he was uncertain what type of laws now governed this city.

  “Well, the good news is we are almost to Spartanburg,” replied Prue with excitement in her voice. “My family often stopped here on our way to Asheville. It’s the biggest city between here and the Greenville area in South Carolina.”

  Liam pulled up to a four-way stop, adhering to the rules of the road. The high buildings with windows that lined the road set off alarm bells inside Liam, which only added to the pain in his stomach. “Things are looking a little rough here,” muttered Liam as he noticed trashcan fires along the road, and broken store windows. He proceeded through the intersection.

  “Yeah, things just don’t seem right,” added Prue. Liam figured she must have been feeling the same thing that he was, there was an odd feeling of uneasiness that permeated from the depths of Hendersonville.

  “Who knows what form of anarchy is ruling the city,” he added. “People just seem angry and anxious here.” Liam watched as a group of four pedestrians walked by, one holding a baseball bat. They looked like they were out collecting supplies from anyone who they could take them from. Liam was grateful that they were traveling by bike.

  Liam pulled up to another four-way stop sign. “Oh my word!” Liam shouted realizing what it was instantly. Gunshots came from the second-floor window of an apartment building. The bullets grazed by both of their heads from both directions. The bullets ricocheted off of the adjacent buildings.

  Well aware that they had to get out of there and fast, Liam throttled the motorcycle before putting it in gear. “Hold on!” Liam shouted as he gunned the engine. Prue held on tight, wrapping her arms around Liam’s waist, the velocity force making it difficult for her to keep her grasp.

  “Looks like we lost them!” Liam shouted, the motorcycle increasing in speed to ensure they were far away from the gun fire. Not pausing for anything until they were several miles from the apartment buildings. When Liam gunned the engine again, the back tire began fishtailing as it lost traction.

  “Careful!” Prue warned. Liam made an effort to slow down the bike, but the speed coupled with his inexperience as a motorcycle rider, did not fare well for the pair. Liam lost complete control of the bike and had no chance of recovery. The bike’s tires came out from underneath the two as they skidded on the slick concrete, sparks flying as the titanium ground on the pavement. Landing in a pile of debris, the motorcycle crashed into several trashcans that lined the street, full of rotting waste.

  “Prue!” Liam shouted, worried about her safety and the fact that she was wearing her cutoff jean shorts.

  “Liam, I’m fine,” she screamed back from under heaps of trash. “Make sure Chewy is all right,” she continued, pinned underneath the bike as well. Liam wiggled himself from under the motorcycle to get to Prue and Chewy. Without even checking himself, he tended to the dog and made sure he was all right. Thankfully, Chewy was traumatized and appeared to be in shock, but he appeared to be just fine.

  “Chewy’s fine,” he answered as Prue cried hysterically.

  “Oh, thank goodness,” she replied to Liam’s news, breaking down further into tears.

  “Let’s get you out now,” Liam said after he took Chewy out of the carrier and held him. With his free hand, well aware that Chewy was Prue’s prized possession. Soon after they both embarked on this entire journey, he realized that Prue’s safety, security, and emotional soundness revolved around Chewy. Liam dug Prue and the motorcycle out of the garbage, her leg pinned by the bike.

  Liam felt awful that he allowed the bike to crash and put Prue and Chewy at risk. He was operating on sheer adrenaline. He lifted the bike high enough and Prue squeezed out from under it. “How are your wounds?” Liam asked with panic in his voice.

  Looking at her legs and seeing they were all in tact, Liam breathed a sigh of relief. “I seem to be just fine,” answered Prue. “Thankfully, the exhaust pipes that the Bubba Brothers outfitted on this bike were so large that my leg never made contact with the road.”

  Liam was so relieved to hear that as he was worried about Prue’s wounds and her infection. “You mean to tell me that the deafening unmuffled noise we’ve been listening to for the past two weeks actually was for a reason all this time?”

  Prue chuckled, the first time she had been able to since her accident the day before responded, “That’s
right. Appears to be it wasn’t all for nothing, and somehow I managed not to injure myself worse.”

  “So thankful,” muttered Liam as he held Chewy. “How’s the bike?” he asked.

  Prue took a moment to look at the motorcycle and answered with a discouraged look on her face, “Liam, the chaises and the frame are all bent. We can’t drive this thing anymore.”

  Discouragement filled Liam’s body as he knew they were so close to the finish line and to have this happen so close Liam felt as though the universe was conspiring against him.

  Prue reminded Liam, “We aren’t that far away, only around forty-five miles. We can walk to Spartanburg,” she suggested. “We’ve walked further,” she added.

  “Well let’s get going,” he answered, picking up Chewy’s carrier from the pavement and strapping it to his back. Liam took the pack he had from the bike, the bag that held all of their supplies, ammunition, and firearms. He strapped his supply pack on his shoulder, giving Chewy room in his carrier. Liam would not allow Prue to carry but a smaller bag of supplies. She was too weak from the infection that she was fighting to do any heavy lifting. Prue put Chewy in the carrier and the two began the trek on foot. “We might be able to find a car that I could hot wire,” he added, feeling hopeful.

  The two began their journey, on foot, following the main road out to the highway, Liam wishing they were both still on the motorcycle and was worried with Prue’s fatigue from the infection on how she would hold up.

  The pair had made it just outside of Hendersonville when Liam heard the roar of vehicle engines. “This can’t be good,” he said to Prue as they walked down the street.