“Clint? What in the hell are you doing here?” Vince asked, scurrying inside with Jensen. They shut the door behind them.
“I’s headed for Texas after my run in with ya’ll, but the damned feds caught up to me. I needed supplies,” Clint explained. “Ain’t you glad you didn’t kill me?”
Vince laughed at the irony. He had wanted to kill this man a long time ago. This man and his gang of thugs had got the drop on an exhausted Erika and Star. They had visions of doing horrible things to Vince’s wife and daughter. Vince and Dex interrupted their plans, killing all of them except Clint. After Clint showed them a safe way north, Vince had listened to Erika and let him go.
“I guess so,” Vince replied. “I always thought Erika had been wrong to let you go. I guess she wasn’t.”
“I see you’re still getting use out of my cloak,” Clint commented, angry it had been taken from him.
“We sure are, but Clint, I need you to focus. How many more guards will be between here and Tweed’s office?” Vince asked.
“Hell, if I know. I ain’t never been in enough trouble to get sent up there,” Clint replied.
“That’s where were headed,” Vince declared.
“Well, ya’ll are on your own,” Clint commented.
Vince and Jensen entered the shower room of the refugee prep area.
“What is all this, Vince?” Jensen whispered in wonder.
“They make sure all the refugees are cleaned up before they are displayed to the landowners for adoption,” Vince stated.
Jensen shook his head in disgust. They entered the waiting room on the other side of the showers. There was noise on the other side of the wall, but the room was empty.
Vince pointed left. “That door takes you back into the main area of the Luxor. That one,” he pointed right, “will take us to the adoption rooms.”
They went through and ran down the hallway to another heavy wooden door with stairs inside. Gigantic windows revealed the chaos on the streets as they climbed. The fire line between the landowners and refugee areas had grown and extended out far into the distance. Finally, they stepped onto the landing in front of the door that would take them to the hallway where Mathew’s office was located, Vince took a deep breath.
“This is it,” he told Jensen.
They slowly opened the door. Vince went first and was met with two guns pointed at him. Knowing Jensen was behind him, he jumped and rolled, shooting the man behind the door while Jensen took the man on the other side.
They heard a door slam. Vince and Jensen approached the door and opened it quickly.
“Just hold it right there,” Mathew Tweed said as they entered. “How nice of you to join us, Vince. It’s been a while.”
Mathew Tweed stood between two guards with guns pointed at them. His chubby finger grasping the trigger of another gun that was pointed at Nancy’s head.
“Get on your fucking knees, Vince, or I’ll kill her,” he lashed out suddenly. “Your dark friend too.”
They complied with Mathew’s orders, and the two guards came and took their weapons.
“There, that’s better. I wasn’t expecting you, Vince. Where is that whore of a wife of yours?” he spat at Vince, always keeping his gun on Nancy.
Nancy was white with fear. Her eyes begged for Vince to help her.
“Not talking? Show him what happens when refugee scum don’t do as they’re told, Captain,” Tweed hissed.
“With pleasure, sir,” the captain answered.
He was a horrifically large man with a missing tooth and scars lining the left side of his face. For someone of his size he moved fluidly and stood over Vince. As Vince looked up the captain smashed his gun into Vince’s mouth. Vince slumped over to the side and spit blood and a tooth on the floor. The captain smirked, showing off his missing tooth.
“Now, let’s try this again,” Mathew said calmly. “Where is that bitch-ass whore of a wife of yours? If you’re here, she’s here. Where is she, Vince?” he raged.
Vince said nothing, and Mathew indicated for the captain to continue the assault. He smashed Vince hard across his head with his gun. Vince fell to the floor, his head bleeding. The captain looked to Mathew and Mathew gave a sign to continue. The captain put the gun down on Mathew’s desk and punched him again and again.
“I know where she is,” Jensen announced, watching the captain wind up for a strike that would have smashed Vince’s skull into the floor.
“He wants to talk,” Tweed commented. “See, Nancy, people are always willing to be helpful. You just have to ask the right way.”
“You pig,” Nancy squeaked out.
“Wait until you see what I’m going to do to your daughter. Maybe I’ll let you watch,” he said, licking her ear.
Vince heard Mathew’s words through the fog clouding his head. He willed himself to stay conscious. He had to end this.
“So, Mr. Black, where is she?” Tweed demanded. The captain had now turned in Jensen’s direction.
Jensen had only wanted to divert attention away from Vince. He didn’t have an answer.
“She’s flying overhead right now on a purple Pegasus,” he replied.
“What? You think this is a game?” Mathew thundered. “Captain!” he ordered.
The captain swooped his gun up off the desk and smacked Jensen across his skull with it. He holstered the sidearm and beat Jensen until his hands bled.
“Don’t kill them. Get them back up,” Tweed shouted.
The captain backed off and the other soldier helped him to prop the men back onto their knees in front of Tweed. Mathew had loosened his grip on Nancy, feeling more confident with the men’s weakened condition.
“Vince, can you hear me?” Mathew asked standing in front of him with Nancy. “I will kill her. I have you now, so where is Erika?” Tweed asked, cocking his gun.
Vince realized this might be his only chance. He summoned all his courage and strength. Shooting his body out, he kicked out Mathew’s knee and grabbed the captain’s legs. Jensen took the cue and launched at the other man, taking a shot to the arm as he struggled with the man for possession of the weapon.
The captain tried to pull his gun but dropped it as he fell. Vince grabbed it, shooting him in the leg. Cursing, the captain wrestled Vince for it. Vince pulled the trigger again and a bullet ripped through the captain’s chin from the gun that was wedged between them.
Mathew, seeing the progression of the fight, threw the weight of his obese body on top of Vince, pinning the weapon under him. He looked to the other soldier for help, but he was still locked in combat with Jensen.
Nancy, thinking fast, grabbed Mathew’s letter opener off his desk. She made a shrill crying sound as she launched through the air, gripping Mathew’s body with her legs and stabbing the letter opener into the back of his neck.
The door flew open and slammed into the man Jensen was wrestling. Jensen snatched the weapon from the man and shot him as Bennet, Erika, and Dexter stood in awe of the violent scene in the room.
“Mom?” Erika asked as the woman coated in blood looked toward her. “Mom! Oh my God, are you guys okay?” she yelled as she approached and saw Vince’s body under Mathew’s with the corpse of a soldier next to him.
His swollen eye looked up at her. She exhaled deeply. He was alive.
Chapter 37
Star watched Vince leave. More and more refugees started gathering around the warehouses. They were mostly women and children, ten years of age and older. They were being diverted away from the fighting. The train would take them away from this horrible place. SSgt White, Greg, Mitchell, and young Carmen stayed diligently by the essential controls to the gardens. If anyone tampered with the chemicals the gardens could be wiped out in a snap. Star went with Penny and Jen to go help Alex organize people and start loading them onto the train.
Once Star had Penny and Jen set up, she went back to check on the guys. Sergeant Walker and Sergeant Julie Pontever met her in route. Star thought Julie looked
great. She was in her mid-thirties now and her brown hair was tied back tight. She was strong and looked healthy. Julie and Sergeant Walker had formed a relationship years ago and they were still together.
After greeting each other warmly, Sgt Walker informed her that he had gotten Erika and Bennet through the gate. Star told him about the dilemma with Nancy. Sgt Walker and Pontever knew that was going to be an issue, but they weren’t sure how to handle it themselves.
Pontever went to go help Penny, Jen, and Alex while Sgt Walker accompanied Star back to the control room. SSgt White was leaving when they approached. He turned and looked back for a moment before rounding the corner of the warehouse.
“I know that guy,” Sgt Walker commented.
“SSgt White? He’s with us, Sergeant,” Star explained.
“He’s with the feds,” Walker insisted.
“You must have him confused with someone else,” she explained as they entered the warehouse.
“I’m telling you, Star. He’s with the feds,” Walker explained.
“Who?” Greg asked, overhearing their conversation.
“That guy that just left, SSgt White, I saw him here a little over a month ago,” Sgt Walker said. “They flew him in on a helicopter.”
Everyone was deep in thought, unsure what to do. Suddenly the noise outside the warehouse grew louder and the sound of gunfire filled the air. Mitchell went to go look.
“The feds are pressing this way!” Mitchell commented.
“What did he say before he left?” Star asked Greg.
“Who?” Greg was confused.
“SSgt White. What did he say before he left?” Star wondered.
“He mumbled something about how we were going to lose the gardens,” Greg answered honestly.
Star realized there was a mole amongst them. What the repercussions of that would be she didn’t know, but they would have to start changing plans quickly. Sgt Walker was thinking the same.
“We’ve got to move the civilians,” they said in unison, looking up at one another.
“And I’ve got to warn my folks,” Star added. “Where did SSgt White go, Greg?”
“He said he had to find Vince and Erika,” he replied, realizing the plot White was weaving.
“I don’t know what the feds are planning to do here, Greg,” the sergeant worried. “You might want to think about moving your people out of here. I know we need this food, but it’s not worth your life.”
Sergeant Walker bounced out the door to go get the civilians to a safe area on the other side of the train.
Star ran out into the crowd of refugees defending the warehouses. She went to the edge and tucked inside a building. There were refugees in there bravely defending against incoming Federal soldiers looking for a flanking position. She went to the back and slowly made her way behind enemy lines with a group of refugees that were going to try the same flanking tactic on the feds. How will I ever find them, she wondered. The refugee line began to surge as they were joined by armored mercs and Militiamen that could best the fire power of the feds.
From the shadows, she recognized the Federal unit going by to help bolster the Federal lines. Her ex-boyfriend was in that crew. She thought she recognized him amongst them, but she would never be sure. Turning her head toward her destination, she saw the Luxor looming in the distance. Hatred for the place still welled inside of her.
It took all of Erika and Bennet’s strength to hoist Mathew Tweed’s bulging corpse off Vince. Vince took a deep breath and started coughing.
“Are you okay?” Erika asked.
“I’m fine,” Vince answered.
“That’s good because you look like shit,” Erika said sarcastically. “Both of you,” she said, looking to her mom. “All of you,” she concluded as she looked at Sergeant Jensen.
Dexter ran into the room and hugged his grandma tightly as tears ran down her face. Erika helped Vince to his feet and went and joined Dexter in loving up her mom. She could barely keep her tears in check, but there was no time to celebrate yet.
“Thanks, Nancy,” Vince told her, hugging them all tightly.
“That was bad ass, mom!” Erika commented.
“Now we know where you get it from, cupcake,” Bennet laughed.
Jensen chuckled as well, holding his arm. Bennet put a quick field dressing on the wound and made sure everyone was ready to move. As they exited, Clint approached.
“How ya’ll doing?” he asked nonchalantly.
“We could have used some help,” Vince commented.
“I can see that,” Clint said.
“Clint? What the hell are you doing here?” Erika wondered, confused by his appearance.
“You know this guy, Erika?” Bennet asked, looking at the chains on his feet.
“Long story, but yeah,” Erika answered.
Bennet took out his gun, to everyone’s surprise. He pointed it at Clint and they held their breath. Then he pointed it down at the chain stretched between his feet and fired. It broke. Clint cracked his left eye open just a little and felt around on his body. Then he looked down between his feet.
“Hey, thanks, mista’,” he elated.
“We can’t have you slowing us down,” Bennet concluded, heading for the back staircase.
They made their way into the street and formed a circle around Nancy as they fought their way back toward the warehouses. Gunfire seemed to come from every direction. They were getting close as they turned down another alley. Staff Sergeant White was there.
“SSgt White,” Bennet called. “Why aren’t you at your post?”
“I have one more thing to do before my mission is accomplished,” the SSgt answered with a faraway look in his eyes.
“What are you talking about, son? The mission is not over until the compound is ours,” Bennet replied, confused.
White pulled out his gun and pointed it at Erika.
“Don’t do it, Sabastian,” Vince called to the man he had come to know as a friend.
“I’m so sorry, Vince. I liked you, but she has to die for the good of our great union,” he explained, slowly tensing his hand. There was a gunshot. Erika stood motionless as her family stared at her. When they looked back to White, he had slumped forward, and blood poured from his mouth.
He spoke into a device on his wrist. “Las Vegas is compromised, target has not been destroyed.”
Then his breath left his body. Star came out of the shadows. There were short-lived hugs and thank-yous, but they had to keep moving. Pressing steadily back toward the warehouses, suddenly there was thunder in the sky. The deafening noise halted the violence in the streets. Looking up, Erika knew the sound. It was the fighter jets. They were leaving Las Vegas. Once in the air, they circled around and rained bullets all over the city streets. The team broke out into a full-on sprint as people on the ground began to scatter. The planes shot at mercs, Militia, civilians, and their own Federal troops with little concern.
Erika’s heart skipped a beat as they circled one last time, sending missiles and bombs exploding furiously everywhere. Erika looked back to see the Luxor and the strip erupting in flames. As she turned around the gardens exploded in front of them. Erika watched as the crowd of people flew through the air like rag dolls as the bombs rained down and shattered the city. They kept running. They had to get back to the rendezvous point. Suddenly, boom, another plane dropped a bomb directly in front of them. It blew them off their feet and their heads rang with the sound. Clint lay dead at Erika’s feet.
“We’ll never make it,” Bennet yelled above the deafening noise. “Quick, in here!” he yelled as they ran into a restaurant.
There was a walk-in freezer in the back. Bennet turned it off and told them all to get in. The building shook as the world outside exploded. They prayed in the corner.
Chapter 38
The freezer shook under the barrage. They huddled together in the dark, trying to avoid the falling items that had been sto
red on the shelves. Finally, the noise of the assault ceased. Bennet clicked on a small glow rod. He handed it to Erika and tried to open the door. It wouldn’t budge. He strained against the metal, but all his efforts were in vain.
“Oh man, this is not happening,” Erika muttered to herself as she watched Bennet straining.
“Come on!” Bennet yelled at the door.
Vince rested in a corner. The metal floor had begun warming. He grabbed one of the frozen steaks and put it on his face. Jensen’s arm was another dilemma. If they couldn’t get the door open, they couldn’t get his arm cleaned out. Star checked but there was nothing of use in here.
Dexter joined Bennet and they pounded relentlessly on the door. Dexter called out for help until his throat was dry and raspy. No one came. Bennet looked at his watch and began scanning the area. It had to be daytime now because Erika felt the heat start to intensify.
“Look, ice cream,” Bennet said, handing out the cartons.
“Really, Bennet?” Erika questioned.
“Why not? In a few hours, it will be liquid anyway,” he commented.
“I’ll take chocolate chip cookie dough in that case,” Nancy chimed in.
Once the ice cream was handed out, he took the rest and put it on another shelf. He lifted the empty shelf off its brackets.
“This is the plan,” he said. “Debris has blocked the door. Eventually they’ll search this area. We have to make sure we’re making noise while they’re searching. We’ll go on half hour shifts of banging the shelf against the door. Dexter, you’re up first.”
He went over to Sergeant Jensen and ripped the sleeve off his shirt, so he could get a good look at the bullet wound. Bennet agreed with Star that there was nothing they could do except wrap it up to stop the bleeding and put cold items on it to try and numb the pain.
However, Erika watched the packages of meat, wrapped in butcher paper, begin to drip blood on the floor. She knew they wouldn’t have frozen items for long. Nancy, Star, and Erika cleared the shelves of all the products and piled them neatly on the back wall. Piling them together would help them stay frozen longer, but they had other plans in mind. They lined up the shelves, so Vince and Jensen could lay up top and whoever wasn’t pounding endlessly on the door could sit on the bottom.
The Changing Earth Series (Book 4): Battle for the South Page 19
