[Escape 01.0] A New Life

by David J Antocci

  ***

  Abby made short work going up the side of the mountain. Dusk was coming, and she didn’t want to miss the smoke and spend the night sleeping in the open for nothing. She couldn’t help but let her mind wander to Eric, thinking of the last time she had come this way. They had passed right through here together. Now, he was gone.

  That was the first time Tom and his band of crazies had found them. She knew she didn’t have to worry about them too much this time. When they’d surprised them the first time, it had been six of them against Abby and Eric. There had been three men and three women. All the men were dead now. At least, she assumed Tom had not survived. She liked her chances against the women. Over the past few weeks, Abby had discovered she was a formidable fighter in her own right. She had already done plenty of damage in dire circumstances against strong and healthy adversaries.

  Now, the odds were one against three. However, of those three, one was half-blind and hobbling around on a broken leg, at best. Abby had never bothered to figure out that one’s name. She had already taken out Sara once, and who knew if she could even see straight, thanks to the broken nose Abby left her with the last time they met?

  The only healthy one was the redhead, Emily. From the little time she had spent around her, Abby sensed she was pretty meek. She didn’t know how she had played into Eric’s killing, given they had disappeared shortly after she had come on the scene. However, back at their camp, she’d never said a word, and had not put up a fight when Abby flipped her onto her back. She would be easy. Sara was scrappy, though. Abby had trouble deciding which one she should take care of first.

  She had covered the distance in record time. It was a good thing, too, because the sun would be setting in just a little while. She found a perch on top of a large boulder, where she sat to wait for the smoke to appear, telling her where her prey would be. She felt the back of her head. It was still tender to the touch, but her headaches had just about completely subsided over the past couple days.

  Staring out at the tops of the trees that led toward the ocean, she let her mind drift off. She found herself running from her faceless enemy again. She was scared this time, but not for herself. She was trying to protect someone very important. Whoever she was trying to protect was also holding her in place, like an anchor. It was as though she was chained to this faceless man. He’d hurt her, but she couldn’t leave. She couldn’t even protect herself. Her dream was interrupted by a thud when she hit the ground, having fallen off the boulder.

  Standing, Abby worked out her shoulder and shook off her disturbing dream. She looked out over the trees to find dusk had passed. Save for a few wisps of light on the horizon, she was staring into darkness. Damn it. She sat and took a piece of fruit from the bag Robert had sent her with. She ate her small, raw supper while brainstorming, trying to figure out what to do next. Hike back down and spend the night with Robert again?

  No, she would set up camp here. She considered lighting a small fire, as it would get pretty cool tonight, but decided she didn’t want to chance the orange glow giving her away. Plus, she remembered feeling the empty sheath on her right leg; she didn’t have her knife and flint anymore. Last time she saw it, it was in Sara’s hand. She didn’t want to think about that.

  Not that a fire would necessarily give her away. No one was looking for her, or would even know where to look. However, Abby did know where to look. The women she was looking for would not have the same concerns about lighting a fire. They wouldn’t be worried about the orange glow giving them away. As far as they knew, the only person who would be looking for them was on a raft in the middle of the ocean. Maybe they should be worried.

  If they were down at her camp, they would probably light a large fire to contend with the cool breeze coming off the water. She would likely be able to see the glow in the treetops once it was dark enough. It was just a matter of waiting. She climbed her boulder again, but after a few minutes, she worried she might doze off and fall a second time. So, she sat on the ground, leaning against it and waiting for complete darkness to come.

  While she waited, she thought. She was happy she had kissed Eric and was glad she had come to know him. She was furious he had been taken from her. Thinking about how she would go about killing the ones responsible, she almost started to feel bad for them. Emily would be quick, she decided, and first. No doubt, the redhead would be in the best condition of the three of them. She would take her time with the other two, though. It would be slow and painful. They would feel every ounce of pain they had caused Abby. They would feel it tenfold.

  Darkness came in the form of a moonless night, though the faint glow on the horizon told her the moon would come eventually. Looking up, Abby saw more stars than she had ever seen in her life. It had been decades since she could stand on the southern coast of California, look up, and see more than a handful of stars. What she was seeing now was astounding. It didn’t even appear real to her.

  Looking out at the water, her eyes followed the coastline to the area where she and Eric had set up camp. The tall trees and the distance prevented her from seeing the actual beach, but she knew where it was. She watched for the slightest flicker or glow in the treetops; any indication at all that the women were set up there. She scanned the area back and forth but saw nothing. For ten minutes, then twenty minutes, then a half-hour, she kept hoping but saw nothing.

  Damn it. She hurled a rock through the air toward the trees. If she had not fallen asleep, she would have seen the smoke—wherever it was—and the three of them would be on their way to dead by now. She climbed her boulder again and stood, making herself as tall as possible. The top of her head was the absolute highest point on the island at the moment.

  Remembering Robert had told her their former camp had been to the northeast, she scanned that area, too. She quickly looked over that entire section of the island and saw nothing. Slowly, she looked it over again. She was trying to see every inch of every tree. Still nothing. Closing her eyes, she breathed slowly. Her heart was pumping hard, her anger starting to get the best of her.

  Opening her eyes, she immediately saw a bright, orange glow dancing on the treetops about one mile straight down the mountain from where she stood. “Gotcha.”

  Abby hopped down from the boulder. It was dark, but her eyes were completely adjusted, and she could see well enough to make it down the mountain to the tree line. Once there, she would have to move slowly. That’s fine, she thought. It is still early. She was full of rage, but she wasn’t stupid. She wasn’t about to storm into the camp while the three of them were sitting around, awake. She would wait until the middle of the night, when they were all sleeping. That was when she would make her move. That was when they would pay for their crimes.

  17

  AFTER SEVERAL HOURS spent tripping over rocks and through the trees, Abby finally found her way to their camp. She watched the area for a long time. She had been sitting there, crouched in the trees, for what seemed like an eternity. So far, she had not seen any type of movement. It had been over a week since she had floated away on that raft and watched Eric die, and not for a moment had she stopped thinking about her revenge. It was almost surreal to finally be so close to it.

  The camp was set up in a small clearing, and there was a large lean-to shelter on the far side, much like the one she had built by the beach. Almost directly in the middle of the clearing was a stone-lined fire pit, and there was a small, metal pot sitting on a stone next to the dying fire. Whatever was in there smelled pretty good. Of course, since it had been weeks since she sat in a proper kitchen for a real home-cooked meal, just about anything smelled good. She had actually come to enjoy Robert’s rabbit stew, though. She might even try that at home—if she ever got out of there.

  How to go about this? she wondered. She didn’t have a weapon. No doubt, she could find a thick stick of some sort to use as a club, but she wasn’t about to go storming into the shelter against three women, armed only with a stick. She had no idea
if they were even there. Would they all be there? What might they have in there with them? She reminded herself she was here to kill, not get killed.

  Mesmerized by the dying fire, she was struck with an idea. She could smoke them out. It would be simple. Light a branch on fire; preferably one that was nice and dry, with lots of leaves on it. She could place that at the base of their lean-to, and within minutes, their shelter should go up in flames.

  There would be one of two outcomes from there. They would either come running out to escape the fire, where Abby would be waiting for them. Or, they would stay inside, choke to death on the smoke in their sleep, and burn in the blaze. Either option was fine with Abby—though she did hope at least Sara would come running out.

  It didn’t take long for her to find a fallen branch covered in dry leaves. She selected one about the length of her arm. It appeared it had been lying on the ground for quite some time. The leaves even crackled in her hand a bit when she squeezed them. It would be perfect.

  She stood, silent and still, staring at the shelter. The only problem with her plan was she would have to cross open ground. The fire was in the center of the camp, and that was where she had to go if she wanted to light the branch. At this point, she had been watching the camp for hours with absolutely no sign of life. She did not even hear any noise coming from the shelter. For all she knew, she was about to burn down a perfectly good—and empty—shelter.

  Working up her courage was nearly effortless. She simply thought about Eric being cut down on the beach, while she watched helplessly from the water. The woman—correction—the bitch responsible for that was right in front of her. All she had to do was be ready to punch her in the throat when she came running out of the lean-to. The camp was, and had been, completely silent. They must be sleeping. Simple.

  She carefully stepped out of the trees and was about three strides from the tree line when she caught a dark figure out of the corner of her eye. Abby’s feet were swept out from under her, while something pushed her from behind, slamming her chest into the ground and knocking the wind out of her. While she lay gasping for air, someone jumped on her back and wrapped her wrists and feet within seconds.

  Whoever was on her back had gotten up. Abby rolled over to see a mane of thick, red hair flickering by the firelight. It was Emily; the one Abby figured wouldn’t be a problem.

  Abby hissed through her teeth, “Let me go. Just let me go. Let me kill the blond-haired bitch, Sara. The one who killed Eric. Let me do that, and I’ll leave. You’ll never see me again.”

  The woman said nothing, but grabbed Abby by the arm and lifted her to her feet. Abby couldn’t believe how strong the woman was. She very well could have been one of the hands that had grabbed her that first time they’d had a run-in with Tom and his people.

  Emily dragged her over to the fire, despite Abby’s best efforts to be counterproductive.

  “This would be easier if you would untie my feet, you know. I can walk.”

  “It’s better for us both this way. I don’t want to hurt you, but I will.”

  “Why not? You people haven’t had a problem hurting me up until now.”

  Emily sighed and spoke in a hushed voice. “Just shut up and listen.”

  Abby scowled at her. “Make me.”

  “So, it’s going to be like that,” Emily observed. “All right.” She forced her to sit down on a log by the fire. Emily tossed some more wood on the fire, then sat across from her at a distance.

  They stared at each other. She thought about the last time they had seen each other around the fire, Abby having flipped her onto her back and left her tied to the other woman. She would have described her as cute then. Now, any childish cuteness was gone. She was a woman on a mission.

  Abby kept glancing over Emily’s shoulder, looking at the lean-to. She asked, “Is that where they are?”

  “How did you get here?”

  “On a raft. The same one I floated out on. Are they in there? The other women?”

  “No. How did you get here in the first place?”

  Abby did not answer.

  “You just woke up here on the beach, right? You were confused. You had no idea how you got here. You met up with Eric. You both noticed changes in yourselves—physical changes. You’re healthier than you should be. More fit. Right?”

  Abby smiled. “Let me guess. The same thing happened to you? Blah, blah, blah. Sara already gave me this whole speech to gain my trust.” She shook her head. “Fool me once, shame on you, but it’s not going to work a second time.”

  “All right, then, do you know why you’re here?”

  “I don’t, but I aim to leave soon enough. I just need to wrap up some loose ends.”

  “Well, let me tell you why I’m here, then. The United States has been fighting global terrorism for the past fifty years. Any country that really matters has nukes now. We’re never going to line up our forces against China or anyone else. That would be stupid for everyone involved. Everyone dies. The wars we are fighting are in cities, against a handful of terrorists.”

  She watched Abby for a reaction. She had none.

  Emily twirled her finger in the air, indicating everything around them. “This whole island is part of a government leadership program. They need the strongest leaders. People who can take charge and discipline a small group. It is a test—a test that’s out of hand, as far as the government is concerned. They can’t control us, and you were sent here to kill us and put a stop to it.” She stared hard at Abby.

  After a few moments, Abby said, “That is the most idiotic thing I have ever heard.”

  “Is it?”

  “It is. I’m not an assassin.”

  “Then, why the violence? Why try to take us out as soon as you met us?”

  “Because you kidnapped us and tied us up. We had to defend ourselves.”

  Emily nodded. “That’s exactly what I said, too.”

  “Huh?”

  “I’m glad you agree. That whole leadership test theory was bullshit. I’ve been listening to it for nearly a year.”

  “I’m sorry; you’re the one who was talking about some leadership program that the government sent me here to shut down. I didn’t bring that up.”

  “I know; neither did I. That was Tom’s theory. He was a lunatic.”

  “Excuse me?”

  Emily went on, “Tom and I arrived at the same time. He seemed normal enough for the first day or so, but I could tell something wasn’t right. He said he had been in the military, but he was vague on the details. He seemed to be something of a conspiracy theorist. There were others on the island already when we got here; others in your situation. He told me his theory one night. I had already suspected he was crazy, and he just confirmed it. I was glad that there were other people around. I didn’t exactly want to be alone with him, but that didn’t work out so well, either.”

  “Why is that?” Abby was definitely curious.

  “He killed them all one night. Then, it was just the two of us. He thought for sure he had ‘passed’ the test. When no one came to congratulate him and assign him his new post, he got very confused. Eventually, other people started to come to the island. He was very charismatic, and they all bought into the bullshit he was selling—until you guys.”

  “It’s not that we never bought in—though it does sound ridiculous. He never explained his theory to us.”

  Emily smiled. “You never gave him a chance. Instead, you tried to kill everyone. That’s when he decided you were sent by the government to put an end to the program. Honestly, he has been a lunatic since the day I met him. When I saw you had finally killed him, I was relieved. I didn’t have to be scared of him anymore.”

  Abby was skeptical. “That’s really your story?”

  Emily laughed. “I know; it sounds crazy. You have every right to think I’m just trying to trick you, but it’s the truth.”

  They were quiet for a long time, listening to the crackling of the fire. Abby was lookin
g at her feet, deep in thought. She considered Emily’s story. It made some sense when she thought it through.

  Abby shifted her shoulders uncomfortably. “The other women—are they here?”

  “No. You don’t have to worry about them.”

  “So, what do we do now?”

  “That’s entirely up to you. I would like to trust each other. I would like to work together—or at least, agree we’re not going to kill each other. There are very few people on this little outpost. It’s in our best interest to get along.”

  “With Tom gone, I don’t have to worry about you? You’re not going try to avenge his death or anything?”

  Emily laughed again. “I told you; I’m happy he’s gone. He was out of his mind. We’re all better off without him around. Besides, if I was going to avenge his death, why not just kill you now, while you’re tied up? You are at my mercy.”

  Abby thought about that. It was true. She was very vulnerable at the moment, and Emily was plenty strong enough. Emily could easily kill her, then and there. “Fair enough,” Abby said. “I guess that’s a reason to trust you a little bit. I’m not saying we’re going to be best friends right now, but if you untie me, that would be a nice gesture.” She smiled.

  “As long as you see we’re on the same team. But don’t make me hurt you.”

  “I won’t.”

  Emily went to work on her feet. She had a knife—a fairly dull one. It took some effort, but she eventually cut through and freed Abby’s feet. She stood behind Abby and worked on her hands, careful not to cut her. Once she freed her wrists, she placed her hand on Abby’s shoulder, half-expecting her to turn around and take a swing. “Same team,” she reminded her.

  “Same team,” Abby repeated.

  Emily moved in front of Abby, and they looked at each other. Emily felt awkward as Abby rubbed her wrists. “There is something else I need to tell you.”

  Abby spoke, as if she hadn’t heard her. Gesturing to the pot next to the fire, she asked, “What’s cooking?”