by A. R. Shaw
“Isn’t that a bitch? Welcome to the apocalypse,” Marvin said.
“Kent?”
“Something happened there,” Kent said. “We think your leader has her. Where would he take her?”
Marvin smiled at him.
It wasn’t what Kent expected. He’d said something significant and he didn’t know what it was.
The smile was almost sinister. “You mean Davis? I thought you said Jerry escaped.”
“Kent?”
“We don’t know his name. He was your leader. Where would he take her?” Kent yelled at Marvin.
“Kent!”
“What, Boyd?” Kent yelled.
The squealing brakes made them brace and everything else in the truck shift.
When it came to a full stop, Boyd pointed out the windshield. “She’s there!”
Kent couldn’t believe his eyes. Wren stood there in the middle of the road, the headlights blinding her.
One moment, he was stepping from the cab of the truck, the next, it seemed to take forever to get his hands on her. He ran, of course, yelling her name. “Wren?”
Then he stood there, gazing down at her, his child in everything but blood. Her eyes barely acknowledged him. “Wren? What happened, honey? Where’s Jason?” She didn’t answer so Kent looked around. He looked around for a body, Jason’s body.
Grabbing her by the shoulders, he could see the marks on her neck in the darkening light. “Wren, where is Jason?”
“He…took him,” her raspy voice said. “He took him, instead of me. He took him, instead of me,” she repeated.
Kent pulled her into him and took a deep breath. He wondered how much pain and sorrow one person could take.
She shuddered and let out a deep cry. “He traded…himself…for me!” Her scream tore through the dusk.
Kent held her out from him, not letting her go, just holding her away to peer into her eyes. To reach her there. “I would expect nothing less from Jason, Wren. Right now, I’ve got to get you back, and then we’ll find him. We’ll find Jason.”
She was shaking her head. Kent knew that was a bad sign.
“I’m not leaving him. I’m not going back.”
Without even thinking about it, he flipped her over his shoulder. She pounded against his back and kicked and screamed as he made his way back to the truck with her and pushed her inside.
“Hold her. Do not let her go!” he said to Boyd.
Boyd looked terrified but did as Kent requested. It gave him just enough time to fill another syringe.
Over the cacophony Wren made, Marvin said, “Is that really the only answer you have? Just knock everyone out? That’s your only solution to adversity?”
Kent was nodding his head rapidly. “If only I had a limitless supply,” he said as he plunged the needle into Wren’s upper arm. She glared at him as she fell asleep.
When the noise she made finally ceased, Marvin said, “That’s the girl you wanted to rescue? I think my plan was better.”
“Shut up,” Kent said. “Hand me the radio, Boyd. And turn this thing around.”
35
Davis
No sooner had they left than Davis realized how much pain he was in, and the fact that he was still barefoot. The wounds to his heels were freshly open, cracked and bleeding. Without the adrenaline rushing through his bloodstream, the pain came on full force.
The boy marched in front of him and slightly to the right as Davis kept the gun pointed relatively in his vicinity. He didn’t expect him to pull anything…of course, that’s when you should be worried. Except that the pain was distracting as hell.
“Slow down,” Davis said. “I’ve gotta stop a second and grab my boots. You got anything in there to make a sling out of?”
Drone boy shook his head.
“Figures,” Davis said and then looked up quickly as the boy began to tear away the lower hem of the shirt he wore.
“Hey, I didn’t…” Davis began to say but then suddenly the young man held out the piece of fabric to him. “Thanks,” he said. He was about to holster his handgun when he realized that was probably what the drone boy was waiting for to make his move. Davis could barely move his left arm with the increasing swelling.
“Nee tu…”
“No…don’t try to talk. God…I know what I need to do. You stay right there and don’t even attempt to move. Got me?”
The young man put his hands up in the air and nodded.
Davis saw his boots lying near the log he’d sat upon earlier…before the chasing and the shooting and kidnapping. Oh, and the bleeding. Can’t forget about the bleeding. “Ask the universe and she shall deliver,” Davis said as he flipped the med kit over. He knew the kid had no idea what he was referring to. It didn’t matter to him. He sat down and looked at the kid for a long moment while he wiped off the blood on his shoulder and arm wounds with a balled-up, discarded shirt. Most of the bleeding had stopped. He opened the med kit. “Man, look what a difference a flood and a decade will make,” he said as he stared into the pristine first aid kit’s contents. “All those sanitary bandages.” He located a few of the supplies he needed and sat the rest beside him. After that he used antibacterial ointment and bandages to seal the wounds for now.
Shaking his head, Davis couldn’t believe drone boy even used his mouth to speak. These barbarians were relentless. And here he was, himself…one of them. He’d known of Hyde, fucking Hyde. Sick mother…that’s what they all called him behind his back. His penchant for medieval torture devices was legendary. The man never had a friend in his life. No one could sleep at night around him. He was too freaking sick. Davis never had the displeasure of meeting him up close in person but saw him speak a few years ago in Astoria during a mandatory get-together. Mandatory was the code word used for be there or be dead. Even so, the guy had a way of creeping you out in an auditorium full of people. The difference between Hyde and the rest of criminal society was that he enjoyed it. He had no qualms about letting others know he enjoyed torture. It fascinated him.
Had Davis known then what was coming, a couple of stray bullets to Hyde and Tale’s heads would have meant justice and mercy to hundreds.
But then it’s too late and now here we are.
At least Hyde was dead. And that’s why he’d been sent to deal with them. He’d failed and now his family was likely going to die too if he didn’t make it back soon. Having the kid with him, one of theirs, was all he could provide in exchange for his failures. They’d hurt him, might even kill him, but since he was a drone operator he certainly had more to offer than the girl. It might already be too late and if it was, Davis told himself, he’d do what he could to set the boy free before he killed Tale. That was his failsafe plan anyway. If he found out that his family was already extinguished…then all bets were off.
When Davis finished with his shoulder wounds, he sucked in a breath as he used a sanitary wipe to wipe away as much debris from his heels as possible and applied ointment to them as well. He added bandages only to keep road crap from sticking to the wounds, in hopes he’d receive real medical care in a few hours when they reached Astoria.
Slipping his modified boots back on, he said, “Right as rain,” between gritted teeth. “Come on, Drone boy, let’s go.”
He didn’t see fear in the kid’s eyes, though. He patiently waited for him, even. It was like calling a dog to tag along on a walk. That was something curious about the situation. Anyone else would look for an escape. Tried to flee. Fumed at him…anything, but not this guy. Possibly it was because of the obvious torture. Maybe he was curious about Astoria. Hell, if he had it in for Tale with a plan for vengeance…he’d help the little bastard.
“What’s your name, kid?”
The boy stopped walking, stared at him and raised an eyebrow.
“You can write it down. Don’t try to talk. That’s just creepy sounding. No offense.”
Jason took out a ballpoint pen and ruffled paper pad, so worn the page edges curled up like w
ood shavings, from his zipped-up jacket pocket. It was getting colder. He scribbled something down in the center after using his palm to flatten a space between the curls and turned the pad over to show Davis.
“Jason. Nice name. I’m Davis. Sorry to make your acquaintance. Let’s get going.”
36
Jason
When Sloane had mentioned they needed a spy and he volunteered, he imagined there was a possibility of being recaptured. However, he didn’t plan to stay captured. His goal was to find out where their camp was located and any valuable information along the way and he fully intended to do that, knowing he might be giving his life for the cause.
Having Wren safely away from this guy was a huge relief. Now if he could only get Davis to move along faster, they might make it before it was pitch dark. Visibility was an issue, but Davis’s injuries were slowing him down.
Just when he thought he might just take his chances now and flee, Davis grabbed him by the scruff and pulled him forward as they walked around a bend in the road. “I know what you’re thinking, kid. But you’re not getting away.”
That’s when Jason saw the glowing fire lights up ahead. At first, he thought the entire bridge was on fire. That wasn’t it. There were torches set up all along the way. As they came into the clearing, a Humvee barreled toward them.
Davis said close to the back of his ear, “I’m sorry, Jason. I didn’t want to do this. You’ll soon understand.”
With the sun setting low across the water and the bridge lit up in torchlight, Jason was exposed. There was nowhere to run or try to escape.
As the Humvee came to a sudden stop in front of them, several men piled out. A lot of yelling ensued, though Jason could only see the angered faces of those surrounding him. Davis shoved Jason into the arms of two guards as a battered blue pickup showed up and a man stepped out.
“Hey,” the guy said to Davis. They shook hands.
They talked for a few minutes while Jason stood there being frisked by the two guards. As they found the knife hidden in his jacket, Davis said, “Nice.” And Jason smiled and shrugged one shoulder up.
The man talking to Davis reached for a handheld radio clipped on the side of his waistband. Jason’s eyes lingered on the device for a few minutes as he spoke into it. This guy was white, tall, and lean with dark hair. He seemed familiar with Davis. Possibly a friend. And best of all, he had radio equipment.
The man pulled the radio away from his face and gave orders to the two guards holding Jason. One said something back to them and then Jason felt them pulling him away toward the Humvee.
Jason quickly scanned the blue pickup truck again, and the man holding the radio, before he was shoved in the back seat of the Humvee.
37
Sloane
“What do you mean, you’ll be here soon?”
Kent’s voice bordered on hostile. She didn’t blink. “I mean, we’re on our way. You said Wren was shaken but looked otherwise okay?”
“Yes. Again…why are you coming here?”
“They have one of ours. They have Jason. We’re ending this. We’re ending this tonight.”
“Sloane, stop.” Kent’s voice suddenly dropped. “I can’t…I can’t lose you. Look, come and pick up Wren and then go back. I’ll take care of this. I’ll get Jason back.”
“No. We can discuss this soon. It’s going to take more than you and me. We are going to fight back. We’re going to win this.”
She ended the call then and stared straight out the windshield at the littered road ahead.
“Well?”
She looked over at Chuck driving the Jeep.
“Wren’s safe. She told Kent that Jason traded himself for her.”
Chuck tightened his hands on the steering wheel and nodded. “I’d expect that of him.”
“What will they do to him?”
He took a second to answer. “I um, I’ve only heard rumors but it’s likely they won’t let him live long. He’s defective…though they made him that way. It doesn’t matter. What he knows about us and his capability with the drones will give him some value, but any defeats or dependents detract from his worth.”
“He doesn’t have any dependents. They took him captive.”
“I know. That’s just the rules for their everyday citizens. He’s a prisoner. God only knows what they’ll do to him. Damn, I liked the kid.”
“Don’t refer to him as if he’s dead. This is not over.”
Headlights flashed out on the darkened road finally, letting them know they’d found them. Moments later, Sloane held her daughter in her arms, sitting in the laid-back front seat of their truck. Wanting to both scream at her and hug her at the same time, Sloane settled for just holding her groggy daughter.
“Mom? How did you get here?” Wren asked as she came to again. “Wait, where’s Jason?” she asked, shaking, and struggled to sit up in the reclined seat. Then the horror flashed on her dirt-covered face. “Oh God.”
“Wren…what can you tell us about the man who took him?” Sloane asked.
It was Kent who answered first. “We have all the information about this guy from Marvin. He’s cooperating.”
“Am not,” Marvin said from the backseat.
Sloane looked around the seat at their prisoner. He couldn’t make eye contact with her in his position, but he certainly was listening to their conversation.
“You’re one syringe away from La-La Land, my friend. Keep it up.”
Boyd, who was seated in the driver’s seat still, stifled a laugh.
Sloane wasn’t sure what was going on, but these guys had obviously been in the truck together for too long. She had a remedy for that.
As she motioned her head with a tilt, Kent followed her away from the rest to discuss their next move.
“Do you think you can get Marvin and his broken leg in the Jeep with us? I’d like to have Boyd take Wren home.”
“We should all head home. Sloane, think about the possible losses.”
“Do you think this is going to end if we don’t bring it to them?” She shook her head. “No, I’ve been fighting them since Horseshoe Lane. I’m not doing this anymore. And I’m sure as hell not going to wait for them to come to our gates again. This ends now.”
Kent held out his hand in a peace signal. “Okay, I just wanted to make sure.”
“Kent, just have Boyd take Wren home now. We have to get going.”
“I’m not going home!” Wren yelled.
Sloane looked around Kent to see her daughter standing nearby, with Boyd running to catch up with her.
“I’m sorry, she got up suddenly and ran after you guys before I could catch up,” Boyd said.
“It’s okay, Boyd. Wren, you need to listen. Boyd needs to take you back so that you two can take care of your sisters. They’re alone without you.”
Without a beat, Boyd stood there shaking his head, “I’m not going back without my sister. I’m sorry, Sloane. I can’t do that. Someone else can take Wren back. It won’t be me.”
Everyone began to yell at once until Kent whistled.
Taking a deep breath, Sloane said, “You know we might not be alone out here. We have people watching but arguing in the dark near enemy territory isn’t the best idea.
“Boyd, I understand what you’re saying. I think you know the risks. That’s your decision and I respect that.
“Wren, you’re my daughter. You do as I say. You’re going back because I need you to take care of your sisters and...”
“No, Mom. I’m not. I’m not going back and you can’t make me.”
“The fact is…”
“The fact is, I’m eighteen now. I can make my own decisions. I love and care about Jason. I’m as good a shot as any of you and I’m going. You need me. I can recognize the man who took him, too. You can’t afford the resources it will take to send me back. Mae and Nicole are better off without me there.”
Sloane’s heart shattered in a way, right there. It wasn’t because of her
defiance…it was because she realized her daughter was right.
“You realize you could die or be captured and tortured. You realize this decision is irrevocable?”
“I already made that decision the moment I headed out to find Jason on my own. You should not have sent him…alone.”
Sloane nodded. Her daughter was right on that one too, though that’s what Jason wanted.
She swallowed and looked to the ground. “We’re wasting time. Let’s go.”
38
Davis
They tossed the kid into the back of a van soon after their arrival. He was terrified. Not Jason…Davis. Why the kid had a knife on him and never tried to use it seemed odd but he figured Jason had his reasons.
Jason was stoic as hell. Davis didn’t understand it. As they stole his backpack and remaining items from him and dragged him away, he only clipped his chin at him in a kind of acknowledgment that confused Davis.
It was Davis that was terrified. He was pretty sure he’d just handed Jason to his assassins, and he was about to find out the fate of his own family. He held this futile hope by a string that they were fine.
That’s what they said when he climbed into the cab of the Humvee.
“Why’d you come back, man? You’re late. You know what that means.” Ivan always told it like it was.
“I’m aware. If you haven’t noticed, I’m also alone and I’m beat to hell.”
“What went down? God, you’re a mess.”
“I’ll tell Tale once I’m assured of my family’s welfare.”
Ivan said nothing as he drove over the torch-lit bridge. His chiseled profile revealed nothing. The only signal was his clenched jaw as he stared straight ahead.
“You’re not going to tell me? We go way back, man.”
“You know I can’t. Don’t even.”
