“Doesn’t she understand he what he’s going to do to her?” I asked.
Abby was lingering nearby, but her eyes were glued to Tina and Ross. She twisted her fingers against one another as she watched them. Abby let out a short breath.
“OK. I’ll talk to her,” Abby said before marching over toward Charlie. Charlie pushed at Logan’s chest and started walking away from him when Abby stepped in front of her.
Logan stood there with his mouth hanging open. He looked as though he was stunned by whatever Charlie had said to him.
“She said she’s afraid of getting captured again,” Ryder said running his hands through his hair. He pulled them out, and his hair stuck out in random directions.
“Ross is going to do the same thing those natives did,” Shawn mumbled.
“We don’t have enough to convince her. No proof,” Ryder said.
I swallowed as I watched Abby talking with Charlie. “We don’t, but she does. Let’s hope whatever Abby’s about to tell her will help her change her mind about staying.”
Tina had told us it was going to be a short break. Ross glanced over at Charlie and Abby more than once. Having the two of them together was making him nervous, at least that was how it seemed.
When it was time to get moving again, Charlie smiled as she went back to the front of the group with Tina and Ross. My shoulders slumped. Whatever she told her hadn’t worked.
As we started moving, Abby looked back at us over her shoulder. “She says she’s sorry.”
“Is that it?” I asked.
“No,” Abby said looking around to make sure everyone was where they were supposed to be and that no one was paying attention. “She also said not to leave without her.”
Logan grunted, but I could tell he was smiling. “Then what’s she doing up there?”
“Keeping up appearances,” Abby replied. “I suggested it.”
Ryder let out a heavy breath, and Logan patted him on the back. Shawn smiled, but the best I could manage was a small nod.
It wasn’t like I had wanted to leave her behind with creepy Ross, but she had been… difficult to deal with. She wasn’t a team player, at least not on any team that I was a part of. The way things were, she was a thorn in my side.
“Now it’s just a matter of when,” I said. “How much further until we reach the renegade’s camp?”
Abby touched her lip as she looked around. “Hmm, one more night, I think. We usually reach their camp around midday.”
“I want to be gone before then,” I said finishing my sentence just as Ross jerked his head back.
I worried that maybe he suspected that something was going on. Maybe that was why he’d wanted Charlie at the front of the group in the first place. If his plan had been to divide us, it would have worked, but thanks to Abby, he had failed.
I wanted to ask Abby if my suspicions were right. If Ross had, in fact, hurt her in some way, but really it wasn’t any of my business. Whatever she’d told Charlie had been enough to change her mind. That alone told me enough of what I suspected must have been true.
The rest of the day we traveled in silence. I was stuck in my head trying to come up with an escape plan.
We followed their every order with a smile. We played the part. When a brick house came into view, I knew our time was running out.
“We made good time,” Tina said with a big smile. She brushed her hands off on her thighs as if it had been hard work walking at the front of the group.
The sun was still out, but it would be night in a few hours. I didn’t know how we were going to get away once we were all locked up inside the house together.
The wrinkled look on Shawn’s face told me he’d had the exact same thought.
“Hey,” Tina said, stepping up next to me. She laughed when my body jerked. “Didn’t mean to startle you like that. I need to pull you away from your friends for a minute. I’d like to talk to you.”
“About what?” I asked as a wave of prickles moved up my spine.
Tina squinted at me. It looked like she’d swallowed a lemon.
I forced a laugh. “I mean, sure of course, what would you like to talk to me about?”
“Come with me.” She turned on her heel and walked away from the group.
I glanced back at them over my shoulder. Shawn, Ryder, Logan, and Abby all looked at me wearing the same worried expression. I wanted to put my hand on my gun, but I couldn’t. Tina would notice.
My heart was pounding. The sun, although on its way to the horizon, felt hotter than it had all day.
“I have something I want to ask you,” Tina said scratching the back of her neck.
“Me?”
“Yes.”
“OK…,” I said forcing myself to keep my eyes on her even though I wanted to look away. Tina was making me anxious, the way she was shifting her weight back and forth. “What can I do for you?”
Tina settled herself and widened her stance. She crossed her arms and moved her jaw as if she were chewing something.
Her eyes moved down the side of my body and set her gaze on my hip. After a second, she looked up and met my eyes. “It’s about your gun.”
Chapter 20
I wrapped my fingers around my gun, gripping it tightly. Tina held up her hands and smiled.
“Whoa, cowgirl,” Tina said with a slight drawl. “It’s not what you think. Hear me out.”
“Go on,” I said keeping my eyes glued to her.
Tina took a cautious step back. My jaw felt stiff, but I kept my breathing calm. It felt as though time was slowing down around me.
“It’s just that we had an idea,” Tina said slowly lowering her hands down to her sides. “If I had your gun, temporarily, at the front of the line when we travel, it might keep us all a bit safer.”
I shook my head. “No.”
“We’re a team here. All you’d have to do is ask, and I’d give it—”
“No,” I said staring into her eyes. There was an emptiness inside them. It was obvious that Tina had been through hell. I couldn’t imagine the things she’d seen or been through. All of it turned her into the shell of a person that was standing in front of me asking for my gun.
“Ross and I both think—”
“I won’t give up my gun. Not for anything.” I said my fingers twitching. If she took even one step toward me, I’d pull it out.
She patted down her wild hair and sighed. “Well, OK. But if something happens and I could have saved us if I’d had a gun, I guess it’ll be your fault.”
“Are you kidding me?” I said under my breath. “Whose fault would it have been before you met me?”
“Mine. But now, since you’re on our team and you have something that could save us all. I guess the blood will be on your hands.”
“I’ll take that risk I guess,” I said pressing my lips together. “I have training. My accuracy is nearly one hundred percent. Have you ever even used a gun?”
Tina grinned. “Oh kid, there was a time we all had guns. One day, you’ll have to toss yours too.”
I wouldn’t ever get rid of my gun. It may become useless, but I’d never get rid of it. Maybe it was silly, but it reminded me of my dad. As long as I had it, I felt like he was with me.
“Well, go on then. Go back to your pals,” Tina said gesturing back toward the group. “Oh, by the way, your friend Charlie. She’s a real doll. Now that girl is a team player.”
“OK,” I said, not wanting to turn my back and walk away.
Tina walked back toward the group whistling to get their attention. “All right folks hide the goods like usual.”
After I made my way back to Shawn, I lowered my head and rested on the boxes, attempting to catch my breath.
“What was that all about?” Shawn asked. I could feel Ryder’s and Logan’s eyes on me too.
“She asked,” I said gasping for a breath, “for my gun.”
“Jesus Christ,” Ryder said.
Logan pushed his shoulders back
and pressed his fist against his palm. It looked like he was ready to fight.
“What did she say?” Logan asked.
I looked up and saw Tina and Ross looking back at us. I lowered my head back down.
“She said it would help the group if she had it. Because she’s leading the way.” I drew in a deep breath. “At least I think that’s what she said. I lost focus and started worry something was going to go wrong.”
“What did you tell her?” Ryder asked.
“I told her there was no way I was going to give up my gun,” I said.
“Good,” Shawn said. “And not good. We need to get out of here.”
Tina waved at us. “Let’s go!”
We pushed our carts following the others. They parked them inside of a dirty brick garage that had a dented-up sliding door. Once everything was inside Ross yanked the door closed.
Charlie and Abby were standing just behind us. They both wore the same wide-eyed expression.
Charlie looked as though she were some kind of state of shock. And if I had to guess, Abby was both terrified to leave but anxious to get away.
Ross walked over with a grin stretched across his face. He looked me up and down before turning to the group.
“Let’s go inside,” Ross said placing his hand on Charlie’s shoulder. “Get some food. Some rest. How does that sound?”
He turned to look at Charlie. Her expression quickly changed into something soft, and warm, but she wasn’t fooling me. Ross beamed back at her. Thankfully, he’d been fooled.
Ross turned her body toward the house and led her toward the front door. Everyone else had mostly entered, except for Tina and Benny who were scanning the horizon.
“We good?” Ross shouted over his shoulder.
“Yeah, we’re good,” Tina yelled back before whistling for Benny.
I walked up the steps with Shawn at my side. My heart was pounding hard as I approached the door. I worried that once I was inside, I’d never be able to get out.
A droplet of sweat dripped down the side of my face. It felt like my body was taking over when I turned away from the house.
All I could see was the wide-open space surrounding us. It felt like it was closing in on me… about to swallow us whole.
“Keep moving,” Tina said, all the kindness she’d had was gone.
Shawn grabbed my hand and led me inside. When Tina shut the door behind us, it felt like the warm blood running through my veins had turned into ice.
I shivered.
Shawn put his arms around my shoulders, but it didn’t help. I didn’t feel any warmer, and I didn’t feel anywhere near safe.
“Should we get a fire going?” Ross asked.
“Nah,” Tina said. “Don’t think we’ll need one with how warm it’s been.”
The house had been emptied out except for what looked like a soggy, moldy sofa. It was a rather large living room with a fireplace. I tried to imagine what it might have looked before the storms, and before the wars, but my mind was blank.
“There are several bedrooms upstairs. You’ll all stay up there except for me, Ross, and Benny, we’ll stay down here. Cooper and Javier, you’ll take the first watch,” Tina ordered, and the two men nodded before walking out of the front door. “Gina, want to help me get some food?”
“Sure. Would love to,” Gina said, following Tina out of the house.
It suddenly felt like there was a little more oxygen in the house. That was until Ross stepped back into view.
As the night went on, we followed along with the others. Watching and waiting for an opportunity, but of course, nothing came.
Our only chance might be when everyone was asleep, but even then, we’d have to somehow manage to get out without disturbing Ross, Tina, or Benny.
After we ate, the others started to head upstairs. We stood there not sure what to do.
“Oh,” Tina said slapping her thigh. “I’ll show you to your room.”
“Unless any of you want to stay down here tonight,” Ross said, placing both of his hands on Abby’s shoulders. Tina shot him a look. “Kidding.”
I caught Abby watching us as we walked up the stairs. It looked as though she was struggling to keep it together.
Tina led us down the hall to the room further from the stairs. “You guys can take this room. If you need anything, we’re just downstairs. Don’t worry about waking me, I’m a terrible sleeper.”
I flashed her a tight-lipped smile. That was about the last thing I wanted to hear, but maybe I’d already known. I couldn’t even remember a time when I’d see Tina sleeping.
When she left the room, closing the door behind her, I ran to the window. I bit my cheek as I looked down at the ground below. It was a long way down.
I tried to open the window, but it didn’t move. At some point over the years, it had been nailed shut.
I pressed my back against the wall and slid down. My fingers jerked through my hair as I combed my hands back.
“We’re screwed,” I said.
Logan sat down on the bed, and a puff of dust shot up into the air around him. I covered my nose and mouth trying not to breathe it in.
“We’re not,” Ryder said pacing back and forth.
“Shh!” Shawn whispered pressing his ear to the door. He held up his index finger.
After a few seconds, I heard the floorboards creak. It seemed as though Tina had been outside the door listening.
Ryder walked over to me and crouched down near the window. He stared outside for a few minutes before waving everyone over.
“We can do this,” Ryder said. “Tonight. But if it comes down to it, you might need to actually use that gun.”
I reached to my hip feeling the cool metal against my palm.
“What’s the plan?” Shawn asked rubbing his hands together.
Ryder leaned closer. “It’s simple. When everyone is asleep, we sneak downstairs.”
“That part might be simple, but once we’re downstairs, it won’t be as easy. Tina will be down there, and there’s no way we’ll get past her,” I said shaking my head.
“That’s where your gun comes into play,” Ryder said. “Hopefully you won’t need to use it, but if you do, taking out Tina and Ross should do the trick.”
“The others will hear the gunshot. They’ll come running,” I said rubbing my palms against my thighs. It wasn’t like I enjoyed the idea of having to kill anyone to get away.
Ryder’s head was moving up and down. “They will, but I don’t think they’ll do anything about it. And even if they did, by the time they got downstairs we’d be out the door.”
“What about the two outside?” Logan asked.
“I don’t think that would be a problem, do you?” Ryder asked.
Logan’s forehead wrinkled.
“You have your knife, and I have a club, worst case Emery has to use her gun again. Getting past the two outside should be easy enough,” Ryder said glancing out the window. “Sound good?”
“Wait. What about Abby?” Charlie asked.
Ryder nodded as if he'd already planned that part out too. “I'll get her. Everyone in?”
“Sure,” I said pressing my hands over my eyes. I exhaled and clasped my hands together. “Yes.”
Logan and Shawn both nodded. They didn’t need any convincing.
“Charlie?” Ryder asked.
She raised her eyebrow. “Can’t wait to get the hell out of here.”
“Perfect,” Ryder said giving her a big smile that made her flash him one right back. “Now,” he said letting out a slow breath, “all we have to do is wait.”
Chapter 21
The moon was a large, glowing yellow orb floating high in the night sky. None of us had fallen asleep. Not even for a second, but when we heard someone coming up the stairs, we pretended that we were.
The floor creaked with each soft step. I could tell whoever was coming, was slowly making their way down the hall, and there was no doubt in my mind they were coming t
oward our room.
I figured it was probably Ross. He was going to come and carry Charlie away just as he had with Abby the first night we’d stayed with Tina’s group.
I wouldn’t let that happen.
The doorknob squeaked. I tried to keep my breathing slow and steady as the footsteps padded across the floor. Closer and closer.
Whoever it was, was creeping toward me. I couldn’t see them, but I knew it without a doubt in my mind. When the footsteps stopped, the feeling of someone standing over me was overwhelming.
The second something touched near my hip, my hand moved fast. I gripped the handle of my gun and aimed it directly between the set of eyes that were looking down at me.
I blinked, surprised to see Benny standing there.
“Don’t,” he whispered. His fear filled eyes begged me not to pull the trigger. He slowly lifted his palms up toward me.
“Don’t move a muscle,” I hissed, pushing myself to my feet without taking my eyes off of him.
The others opened their eyes. Ryder was already on his feet pulling Benny’s hands behind his back. He jerked them harder, and Benny winced.
“What are you doing up here, Benny?” Ryder hissed.
“He tried to take my gun,” I said.
Benny shook his head. “I did not!”
“Shit,” Logan said, glancing out the door and down the hall. “Which one of them set you up to this?”
A smile filled with hate stretched across his face. “My Ma did.”
“Great. What do we do now?” Charlie asked, and something told me she wasn’t referring specifically to the Benny situation. She was wondering how we were going to get out of the house while we were holding Benny hostage. It definitely wasn’t going to make sneaking out easy.
“Hmm,” Ryder said raising an eyebrow.
Shawn cocked his head to the side. “What are you thinking?”
“Maybe having Benny is a good thing,” Ryder said clamping his hand down over Benny’s still smiling mouth. “I have an idea.”
“Think you might share it?” Shawn asked.
Ryder smirked. “Just follow my lead. Emery, follow me. Everyone else stay behind her. Keep your gun out. We’re going to pay Ma and Pa a visit.”
Ravaged Land: Divided Series - A Post-Apocalyptic Thriller Books 1-3 Page 26
