Survival Rules Series (Book 2): Rules of Conflict

by Hunt, Jack

  Denise walked over to him and bent at the waist and placed both hands on his legs and looked him in the eye. “So you have no feelings for women?”

  “None.”

  “Is that so? What about your friend over here?” she said grabbing him by the cheeks and directing his face towards Erika. “You feel anything for her?”

  He shook off her hand and blew out his cheeks. “Please. Her? No way. No offense. Not my type.”

  Erika rolled her eyes.

  “Why do I get the distinct feeling you are lying?”

  “It’s the truth,” Nate said with a tinge of sarcasm. Denise stared at him real hard as if she was trying to peer into his soul. Gus walked over and gave Denise a nudge. They walked farther away and Gus leaned into Denise and whispered in her ear. Her nostrils flared as if incited by something he’d suggested but then her demeanor changed and a smirk danced on her face. They both looked back at Nate and then Denise said, “Jesse. Come over here.”

  He groaned rubbing the side of his jaw as he made his way over.

  “What?”

  Denise’s lip curled. “Kiss him.”

  “What?” Jesse and Nate said almost in unison with a look of shock.

  “You heard me.”

  Nate shook his head. “Oh, c’mon now. I’m a one-man type of guy,” Nate said. “I mean your boy is all fine and all but…”

  “Ma.”

  “Do it!” she said without taking her eyes off him.

  Nate flashed Erika a look.

  Jesse looked for support from Gus, then his sister, but they just dropped their chin. Neither one had the balls to stand up to her. Slowly he began shaking his head. “I’m not doing it.”

  As he started backing up, Denise grabbed him by the collar and pulled him close. “Boy. Are you hard of hearing?”

  “But Ma—”

  “Do it.”

  What hold did she have over them that they would fear her so much? Maybe if Jesse had been younger but he was close to nineteen years of age. And yet by the way they cowered around her, it was as if all of them had the mentality of a scared five-year-old.

  Reluctantly Jesse approached Nate and got really close. As he did, Nate leaned back with a look of reservation, maybe hope that it was all just a ploy and she’d tell him to back off. But when his face got close, instead of going through with it, Nate reacted and head-butted him square on the bridge of the nose. His nose burst like a fire hydrant and Jesse staggered back crying out loudly.

  Denise rushed in with a knife and yanked Nate’s head back.

  “NO!” Erika yelled.

  “I knew it,” she said looking at him then turning to Erika. “Gus, take him outside and finish him off,” she said cutting loose the binds around Nate’s ankles.

  “I’ll do it,” Jesse shouted, blood dripping fast from his nose.

  “You are in no state.”

  “I’ll do it!” He rushed over and launched a hard uppercut to his jaw before grabbing him by the collar and forcing him towards the entrance of the cabin. Erika pleaded with Denise to intervene but she wouldn’t listen. Jesse unbolted the cabin door and swung it wide. He was just about to thrust Nate out into the night when a bullet tore through Jesse’s skull crumpling his body.

  “My boy!” Denise yelled as she rushed towards the door.

  Gus grabbed Denise and pulled her back then shouted to Zara to close the door as she was nearest to it. Before she had a chance to reach it, Nate dashed out into the darkness. She slammed the door closed and all three of them went for their rifles and took up positions either side of the windows. They were shouting to each other incoherently, trying to gauge who was outside. Erika had no idea but the fact that she didn’t hear another gunshot after Nate exited meant either he was lucky or it was someone they knew.

  Denise was a blubbering mess. One minute she was chewing Gus out, the next looking at her son’s lifeless body. Her tears soon subsided and anger took over. One glance at Erika and she knew where she was going to channel it. “This is your fault.” She rushed over to Erika and grabbed her by the throat. “Who are they? Huh? Who is out there?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Denise slapped her across the face. “Don’t lie to me. You said, ‘About five minutes from now, they are going to come busting in here.’ Who are they?”

  “I told you, I don’t know. I was making it up.”

  “Bullshit. My boy is lying dead over there because of you.”

  She fired a jab into Erika’s gut, then struck her again in the face. Erika winced in pain and curled into a ball as Denise continued to rain down blow after blow.

  “Denise,” Gus yelled before rushing over and dragging her away.

  “Get the hell off me.”

  “We need to get down into the bunker.”

  Coming to her senses, she shouted at Zara. “Zara, take her down.”

  Zara hurried over, scooping her rifle behind her back while Denise pressed a button just below the breakfast island in the middle of the kitchen. Up to that point Erika hadn’t seen how she opened or closed it. Machinery churned beneath the floorboards, then the granite top island shifted to one side revealing the opening to the ladder that went down to the bunker. After making sure her restraint was tight, Zara took a firm hold of Erika’s arm and shoved her down the diagonal ladder. “Get down there, now!” Any resistance was met with brute force.

  Above she heard Denise arguing with Gus about retreating to the shelter. Shots rang out and glass shattered. A steady flurry of rounds broke the yelling between the two of them. Seconds later they must have returned fire.

  Once Erika was in the bunker, Zara guided her through to the living room and thrust her into the sofa before taking a seat across from her and keeping her rifle on her. Erika tried to get comfortable but the binds around her wrists were so tight they were cutting into the skin.

  “Who’s out there?” Zara asked, a few tears welling in her eyes.

  “I don’t know.”

  Zara gritted her teeth. “I swear I am going to kill you myself before this night is over,” Zara said.

  “Zara. Zara! I want you up here now!” Denise bellowed as gunshots echoed.

  She got up and moved across the room and returned with some more rope, then grabbed a handful of Erika’s hair and dragged her off the sofa over to a pipe against the wall. She wrapped the rope around her binds and tied it off around the pipe before rising to her feet and then touching the tip of the rifle’s barrel against Erika’s cheek. “Don’t you go anywhere now,” she said. “I’ll be right back.”

  Zara took off disappearing around the corner. Erika began tugging on her restraints but they were too tight. She even tried to pick away at them with her teeth but it was pointless. She screamed in frustration and cursed. Her face stung and her eye had swollen from the repeated punches to the face.

  Shifting her body around she pressed her feet against the steel wall and began to pull as hard as she could. If she couldn’t get the binds free, perhaps the pipe would come loose. While she tugged, she heard the machinery churning away, sealing her inside the bunker. They weren’t taking any chances.

  Within seconds of dashing into the darkness with only the thought of escape in mind, a dark figure blindsided him from the left and tackled him to the ground. For a second, he thought it was Gus until he rolled over.

  “Tyler?”

  Tyler cut his restraints and handed him a Glock. There was no time for a reunion. “How many are inside?” Tyler asked.

  “Three. Erika’s inside,” Nate blurted out.

  “Who the hell are they?”

  “Your guess is as good as mine. Though they seem to know your brother and family. The woman’s name is Denise.”

  Nate looked off to his right and saw Bailey.

  “Denise Jenkins?” Tyler asked.

  Nate shrugged as he rose to a crouch and wiped his hands together. “The guy’s name is Gus, and they have two lunatic kids.”

  Tyler nodded. “Ye
p. That’s her. She’s a real headcase.” With one knee on the ground they peered through the darkness at the cabin. Lights from candles flickered, making shadows dance as the occupants glanced out the window then pulled back.

  “Assholes showed up at your brother’s home and took us at gunpoint. Figured they could use us as some form of leverage or distraction to clear out your old man’s stash.”

  “Like that would happen.”

  “That’s what I told them. Crazy woman wouldn’t listen.” Nate looked around the dark forest. “Is it just you?”

  “Yeah.” He motioned to Bailey. “She picked up Erika’s trail.”

  “Well I’ll be damned,” he said looking at Bailey across the way. “Look, man, we have got to get some backup.”

  Tyler shook his head. “There’s no time.”

  “They have a bunker below the cabin, Tyler. Trust me, they aren’t going anywhere.”

  “You don’t know Denise. She’s a resourceful woman. If she catches wind that the coast is clear she’ll be gone and who knows what they’ll do to Erika. I need to get in there.”

  “Are you out of your mind?”

  “For sure,” he said, looking at him, his lip curling. “Let’s do this,” he said lifting his rifle and jogging towards the cabin at a crouch. They ducked down behind some heavy brush and waited for them to emerge or appear at the window.

  Tyler peered through the scope on his rifle, anticipating a head coming into view. As soon as it did, he would squeeze off a round. Although he knew Erika’s life was at risk, he was well aware that if they had originally taken them to use as leverage, this situation would be no different. They would use her as a means of negotiating their way out, or hunker down in the bunker and use what every good underground shelter had — an escape hatch. The question was, where was it?

  The rope cut into her wrists creating red marks as she tugged with all her might. Exhausted and out of breath she stopped and began examining the pipe, looking for anything that might be sharp on it. Higher up, there was a bracket that held the pipe close to the wall. It was thin. Rising to her feet she slid her wrists up and tried to reach it. Standing on tiptoes, Erika began moving her hands back and forth, rubbing the rope against it. She saw the rope fray ever so slightly. A smidgen of hope rose in her. “C’mon. C’mon,” she said.

  Above, she could hear the sound of more gunfire.

  Was it the cops? Had the driver she’d seen on the road witnessed them forcing her into their van? Was it Tyler?

  Someone was causing enough trouble that Denise wanted all three of them up there. She couldn’t believe she had such little disregard for her kids that she would place them in harm’s way. Erika couldn’t fault Zara or Jesse. They were nothing more than a product of their parents, as was everyone. Except Denise and Gus took bad parenting to a whole other level.

  That was when she heard the breakfast island move again but didn’t hear anyone coming down. Were they preparing to seal themselves in and use the bunker like a massive panic room?

  Moving fast she kept scratching the rope against the metal. Within minutes it had frayed and she was slowly but surely working her way through it. Erika cast a glance around the room, searching for anything she could use as a weapon.

  Seconds turned to minutes and finally the binds came away and her hands were free. A brief moment of relief was followed by panic as gunshots echoed and she heard Gus let out a cry. More gunfire. Denise bellowing at Zara to get down below. Erika knew she had seconds to get something, anything to protect herself with. That was when she saw a lamp on a table. She snagged it up, took off the lampshade and yanked the cord from the wall. Moving quickly down the corridor she ducked behind the door that led into the cramped room that exited the bunker. She heard Zara cursing and her boots striking the metal rungs as she came down. Erika tightened her grip on the lamp and prepared. She’d only get one shot at it. If she screwed it up, she’d find herself on the ground with a bullet in her. Her palms began sweating and her mouth went dry.

  The sound of boots got louder.

  Then Zara hit the ground and approached the door.

  Erika raised the lamp above her head and waited.

  As soon as she stepped out into the hallway, Erika brought the lamp down as hard as she could. It struck Zara square on the side of the skull. She collapsed to the ground but didn’t go unconscious. Erika dived on her and they began wrestling for control of the rifle. Although older than Zara, she wasn’t built like her. That girl had some serious strength even though Erika had the advantage and was straddling her from above. With both hands on the rifle she pressed down using her full body weight to try and get the rifle under Zara’s chin.

  “Mom!” she yelled but her voice was lost in the sound of gunfire.

  At some point the rifle flew out of their hands and now all she could do was lay into her. Multiple punches later, Zara managed to buck Erika off her and grab the lamp that was off to the right. Instead of using it like a hammer, she grabbed the cord and wrapped it around Erika’s throat. It happened so quickly. One second Erika was on top, the next she was face down with Zara on top trying to strangle her to death.

  Darkness crept in at the sides of her eyes and she knew if she didn’t react fast it would be lights out. Her fingers clawed the floor of the bunker while Zara on top taunted her. “Take a lamp to me, would you? How does this feel?”

  Choking and gasping for breath Erika managed to roll and swing one leg over Zara’s head. From there it was a simple matter of forcing her back with her thigh. Zara kept a firm grip on the lamp’s cord even as Erika fought for her life. Then, suddenly she released her grip, more concerned with trying to get out from under her legs than anything else. That was all Erika needed. She stretched out for the rifle that was almost within reach. Seeing she was going for it, Zara bit into Erika’s thigh causing her to scream in agony. Erika went into fight mode and jammed two fingers into Zara’s eyes to get her to release the bite. It worked.

  As soon as she was free from her teeth, she cracked her in the jaw with two hammer fists then scrambled out of her arms for the rifle. But Zara wasn’t done yet. She clasped hold of her heel and tried to drag her back. Twisting around, Erika used her other foot to kick her in the face, then she went for the rifle.

  Zara was as tough as nails. Even though her eyes were red, and she’d taken one hell of a beating, she still managed to find the drive to not give up.

  But it was too late.

  As soon as Erika latched on to that rifle, she turned as sharp as an alligator and squeezed the trigger.

  One single round was all it took.

  A sudden eruption of red mist and Zara was dead.

  Unsure and freaking out, Erika kept squeezing the trigger expecting her to get up but she didn’t. Two more rounds and the magazine was empty. She tossed the rifle and staggered to her feet. With one hand on the frame of the doorway she looked down at Zara. Her mind went into overdrive. Escape.

  But how was she going to get out?

  23

  The gasoline canisters. Erika had spotted them in the storage room where they kept the generator. Moving fast she dragged Zara’s lifeless body to the far end of the hallway, and propped her up against the wall with the rifle cradled in hand. She positioned her to make her look as if she was sleeping. Next, she hurried into the storage room and carried out a canister of gas and began pouring it all over the floor, trailing it around Zara, the living room and through the hallways and into each section of the bunker until she found her way back to the cramped room below the ladder. She knew the smell would be a complete giveaway but hoped the sight of Zara would be a distraction. She glanced up and could still hear Denise bellowing at Gus as gunfire continued.

  One more canister of gasoline poured and then she looked around for a lighter.

  Erika searched through Zara’s pockets, hoping she was a smoker, but she had nothing on her. She scoured the countertops, cupboards and several of the rooms looking for matches or a lighte
r but there was none.

  As she continued her search Denise cried out, “Zara. What was all that noise?”

  Damn it.

  Her heart went into overdrive, pumping hard as she looked for a way to conceal herself. The sound of boots coming quickly down the ladder made her pulse speed up. Erika took up position in a small room just a few feet away from the entrance.

  She could hear Denise cursing under her breath.

  “What the fu—” Denise muttered as she reached the ground, her boots sloshing through gasoline. Within seconds she must have caught sight of Zara as she bellowed, “Girl. What the hell are you playing at? Where is she?”

  Erika heard Denise stomping away from the exit towards Zara. That was when she made her move. She bolted out of the room and sprinted to the exit just in time to see Denise raise Zara’s head and then cast a glance over her shoulder.

  “You bitch!”

  Erika didn’t waste a second.

  She knew Gus was above and there was a chance Denise would shoot her as she climbed the ladder but that relied on getting to the room and Erika was already halfway up. She moved like the wind, using every ounce of strength while looking up and down. She fully expected to see Gus at the top or Denise’s ugly mug looking up before shooting her, but neither happened. As soon as Erika’s head breached topside, she spotted Gus slumped against the wall, two rounds in him. He was still alive but didn’t have enough strength to raise a gun. He looked at her with glassy eyes as if only moments away from meeting his maker. That was why Denise had come down. She was panicking.

  Climbing the final steps to freedom, Erika heard her.

  “You bitch. Did you honestly think this would work?” she yelled as she began climbing.

  Out of breath, Erika looked down and replied, “No, but I knew this would.” She knocked one of the candles off the counter down into the hole. The candle bounced off the side, went straight past Denise and landed on the steel bunker floor.

  There was one large whoosh and the floor ignited.