by Ami Urban
"Those idiots you picked up on the side of the road, man!"
"Wait...What?" My head was beginning to spin.
"They fuckin' jacked you, man! They live in there, man." The punk pointed his gun at the tower.
"You mean they—"
"Jack!"
The two of us jolted at the scream. It sounded like Lisa. I turned in the direction it had come from and found myself face to face with Rupert.
"I see you've found Connor." The man's face had completely changed from one of distress to smug satisfaction.
"Oh, shit!" The punk named Connor turned tail and started running, the chains on his jackets clinking together.
"Oh, no you don't." Without a second"s hesitation, Rupert pulled out the Ruger and shot the guy square in the back.
I ducked at the sound and found myself horrified at the site of the poor kid"s body bleeding out in the sand. But I regained my composure quickly enough to twist around and point my gun in Rupert's face.
"Drop it." I leveled my voice as best I could.
"I don't think so."
"Why did Lisa scream?"
A twisted smile came across Rupert's face. "You want the truth?"
Without realizing what I was doing, I pulled the hammer back on my shotgun. I wasn't even going to count to three.
But even before I could pull the trigger, Rupert pointed his gun at my leg and fired one shot right into my knee.
"Fuck!" I went down. Blood poured between my fingers.
"Bye bye!" Rupert waved the pistol, turned and hightailed it out of there before I could blink.
"God fucking damn it! I need this knee! Of all the fucking places to shoot me!" I rocked back and forth in the sand. My head throbbed from the noise and dust.
"I need a vacation."
"Jack!"
Lisa screamed my name again. Her yell pushed adrenaline into my veins. I had to get to her before something bad happened. Rupert had shot me with a .22, so it was likely " albeit painful " to walk, but it definitely needed to be treated right away.
"Here goes nothing..." I gritted my teeth and stood straight. Bones scraped together. Pain shot into my thigh and all the way up my back.
"Fuck it." I inhaled deeply and started running.
When I turned the corner, I couldn't believe what I saw. Lisa was covered in blood. Her clothes were stained red and there were little droplets on her face. She was trying to hold Rex, but he was squirming and on the verge of what looked like a mental breakdown. Alex, Sylvia, Rupert and his wife were nowhere to be found.
"What the hell happened?" I went from looking at Lisa's stoic face to the trail of blood that led to the door of the casino. When I looked back at her, I noticed her eyes were fixated ahead.
"Lisa?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
For a second, words refused to come to me. "Wha...but...you're covered in blood! Whose blood is that? How did this happen?"
"We should leave."
I felt my brow lower and my heartbeat quicken, causing my knee to throb. It wasn't the time for her to be stubborn and emotionless.
"Well, yeah... Rupert and his wife are not good people. But we need to find Alex and Sylvia."
Rex's face was turning violet.
"it's dangerous here. We should go."
"But, I"
I wasn't able to finish my sentence because a half roar, half squeal erupted from Lisa's son. His color turned from purple to red as tears streamed down his cheeks. On instinct, I covered my ears and shut my eyes. Sheesh the kid was loud.
His wailing seemed to snap Lisa out of her daydream. "Alex's in there."
"What?!"
"One moment." Lisa knelt down to her panicking son and placed a hand on his head. Ever so gently, she stroked his hair. "Shhh... It's ok, Rex. Nothing is going to hurt you. it's just you and me here. Just you and me."
I watched in awe as Rex slowly broke from screaming, to just crying and finally to sniffles.
"Would you like the glasses?" She continued to pet his head as he nodded. She fished around in her pockets for a moment. From the back of her jeans she uncovered a pair of dark sunglasses and placed them gently on his nose. The affect was immediate. He calmed.
"The sunglasses are his own world. He prefers darkness, so it blocks out everything else."
"Oh..."
She glanced at my leg. "What happened?"
"I got shot."
"By who?"
"Rupert."
"I should look at it, but Alex is in that tower. I don't know if she's alive or dead."
The word "dead" came from her mouth in monotone. It almost sounded like she didn't care about her friends.
"Ok, well...I found a way in, but the door is probably rusted shut."
"Where?"
She began walking around the side of the casino before I could even point in the general direction.
"This way..." I said under my breath, limping behind her heels."What happened back there, Lisa?" I watched her wipe blood from her face and shake it off her hand.
"I'm not going to discuss it now."
What the hell? "Why not?"
"Because."
I tilted my eyes toward the sky. "Okay, mom."
She ignored me as a set of stairs came into view. The rusty door looked the same as I'd left it. Silas was at least gone. There was a large pool of red on the sand a few yards ahead, but Connor's body was gone. As Lisa rounded the corner to descend the concrete structure with little Rex in tow, I leaned against the shoddy railing.
"You owe me an explanation, though. I expect it later."
"I don't owe you anything." She inspected the door carefully, letting go of Rex's hand and pulling on the handle. But it didn't budge.
"I think I deserve to know what happened. I'm not trying to pry. I'm only concerned."
"I appreciate the concern, but it isn't necessary." She began looking around on the ground for something.
I heaved a loud sigh. "You know...I'm not a creep. At least I don't think so."
"Okay." She found a discarded metal pipe and picked it up.
"Okay, so...I want to get to know you. I want to make sure you're safe. I want to make sure the kid is safe. If you tell me what happened, I can help."
"No, you can't. I'm perfectly capable of handling whatever emotions come out of that situation. I don't need any help. I don't need protection, but, again, I appreciate the concern for our safety."
"The lock is the weakest part." I watched her try and insert the pipe between the door and the jamb.
"Thank you."
"don't mention it. But now you owe me."
She took a deep breath and pushed against the pipe in the opposite direction the door would open. "Why do you have so much insistence on needing affirmation that I trust you?"
I pulled back a little. "Is that what I'm doing?"
"Yes."
"Oh."
The pipe broke free of the door and clambered to the ground. Rex squeaked but Lisa reassured him by saying his name softly.
"Here. Gimme." I held out my hand for her to give me the pipe. She looked up at me. I couldn't explain what kind of look she gave me or what she was thinking. She looked angry, but a subdued angry. Her brows were low, but she did pick up the pipe and hand it to me.
"Sorry if I pried too much." I rounded the corner toward her.
"it's fine."
"You can tell me what happened whenever you're ready." I threw her a smile and a wink, but there was virtually no reaction.
"I don't need a therapist, but thank you. I can handle my own thoughts."
"you're sexy when you're stubborn," I joked.
"Thank you."
There was an awkward moment where we looked at each other. "Okay."
"Okay."
I shook off the weird thoughts in my head and rolled my shoulders. Bracing myself with one foot securely planted on the concrete and the other against the wall, I wedged the pipe between the door and its jamb.
> "Here goes something." I pushed hard against the pipe with as much force as I could. The door wasn't budging, but I had to keep going. A little girl's life was at stake and I couldn't take a risk that big.
My head was only swimming with thoughts of a gruesome scene to come. Whose blood was on Lisa? Was it Alex's or Sylvia's? Were they both dead? Were those idiots torturing them?
There was a loud clang to bring me out of my thoughts. The pipe broke and took me down with it. I hit my bad knee and could feel the pull of ligaments. Pain shot through my hip into my upper back.
"Fuck!"
"Are you all right?"
There was an emotion in Lisa's voice. It was concern. My heart almost skipped a beat, but I decided that wouldn't be a good idea.
"Yeah." I put one hand on my good leg and wobbled to a standing position. My knee throbbed, but I could walk at least. Lisa's face held what looked like fear for a split second. But it quickly returned to stoic.
"The door"s open."
I looked. Sure enough, there was a sliver of blackness meeting us from the cracked open door. We were in. Taking one last look at each other in the light, we gave a simultaneous nod of agreement and stepped into the darkness.
From the Desk of Dr. Lisa James
October 17
It was a terrible idea. Pushing the metal door open to the inside of the casino, I took a quick glance at Jack while squeezing Rex's hand.
What happened to Sylvia outside the casino was utterly incomprehensible. But I knew I'd deal with that later. Because Jack was right; Alex might have still been alive and if I didn't make sure then my decision would forever weigh in the back of my mind. I couldn't have that.
So, we made the journey through the door into the dark casino. I wasn't expecting much, because I never gambled. Gambling was a waste of a life and became an addiction for many people before the outbreak.
Surprisingly, the inside was lit enough so we could see. Most of the slot machines were dark. Some were smashed in " I'd assumed for the money. A few remaining were actually lit and spinning through nonsensical imagery unrelated whatsoever to gambling.
A large metal structure was in the direct center of the casino. I assumed it was representative of the Eiffel Tower"s interior in Paris. But I'd never been to Paris.
"Wait." Jack's voice almost startled me. He spoke in a harsh whisper while holding an arm in front of me. I looked sideways at him. I didn't understand why he felt the need to protect us.
"Do you think they can hear us?"
"They already know we're inside." He was looking all around " at each wall, stairway and corner.
"How do you"
I was cut off by a loud screech. It sounded like nails on a chalkboard. Jack instinctively pushed Rex and me behind him. The, just as suddenly as it had started, the noise stopped. I looked around for the source.
"Machines are malfunctioning." Jack used his normal tone.
"Why aren't you whispering anymore?"
"Because."
I straightened out and planted my feet squarely. He was in my way. Rex was also beginning to fidget.
"Because why?"
My sentence trailed into oblivion when I saw Rupert standing in the center of the casino. he'd changed " now wearing a black trench coat with a purple shirt and leather pants.
"Welcome, welcome!" He raised his arms above his head. There was a full twenty seconds of complete silence before someone spoke.
"Uh..." It was Jack.
Rupert lowered his arms. For the first time, I could see movement. There were men all over. They were hiding in dark corners and behind the slot machines. Some were on their hands and knees.
"we're here for the little girl." Jack didn't shift at all. He was still.
Rupert laughed. "Rosalie? Rosalie is just a stuffed doll on the fifth floor the men use to...pleasure themselves."
I made a face.
"Good to know... What about the woman and her daughter?"
"Do you really believe we'd let her go without...compensation?" Rupert's smile made my stomach churn.
"Look, Rupert," Jack began with a sigh. "These ladies didn't do anything to you. They belong with us and if you just give them back, we'll mosey on out of here without a peep."
Rupert laughed again. It was a throaty almost satanic sound. "I don't think so. You see, we are a community here. We have rules to abide by. Sometimes when we catch someone, we recruit them."
There was a rustle from the hidden men " a sort of murmur of agreement.
"And sometimes we eat them."
It was the final statement that set me on edge once again. My stomach began to roil while my palms were beginning to moisten.
"Any questions?"
"Yeah, one." Jack raised his hand as if we were in school. Rupert paused, his face stoic. "Where do babies come from?"
You could have heard a pin drop, I swear.
He looked at me and shrugged. "What? My dad was never around and my mom was too embarrassed to start the conversation." He turned back to Rupert. "All right, I get it. We all have to live somehow. You...guys chose this way. But women gotta be stringy, man. Just let them go."
Rupert reached behind his back. "Or what?" He brought out what looked like a high-powered pistol plated with gold and pointed it at us.
Jack did the same, positioning the sawed-off shotgun right at Rupert's head. "Or I'll kill you."
"I'd like to see you try. My men here will tear you apart if your trigger finger so much as twitches."
"Yeah, well right now it's plenty itchy."
They played a game of stand and stare for a solid two minutes. It was almost as if no one else were there. As if it were just the two of them aiming at each other. Both wanting the same thing and willing to fight for it. My understanding and appreciation of Jack tilted upward a bit. He was willing to risk his life for two people he barely knew.
It was Jack who finally broke the staring contest. "What do you want?"
A smile spread across Rupert's face. "I'm so glad you decided to comply." With a single nod of his head I felt Rex's hand slip out of mine. I spun around to see a sunken looking man pulling him away. The sunglasses fell off his nose and dropped on the carper with a soft plop.
"Hey!" I ran after the man only to be grabbed by another one. I struggled. I kicked him hard. I tried to remember some defense training, but my mind wasn't working properly. The only thing on it was getting Rex back safely. The other man was able to subdue me as he carried me into the darkness. I stretched a hand out.
"Jack!"
October 17
"Son of a bitch!" I watched helplessly as two of Rupert's henchmen took Rex and Lisa away from me. When I turned back toward him, he had lowered his gun. "Give them back!"
"Tis a fair trade."
"Since when?"
Two other men came out of the shadows. Alex was between them, but there was no sign of Sylvia. She was kicking and screaming. She was a fighter. Luckily, she seemed unharmed." When she saw me, she struggled free.
"Jack!" She ran to me, throwing both arms around my waist. "Mom"s dead!"
"Jesus Christ..." I knelt down and let my gun fall to my side, but I kept a firm grip on it. "Are you okay, honey?"
Her face was streaked with dirt and tears. In her eyes was fear, sorrow and a little anger. I could see it all in the way she looked at me. It just about broke my heart.
"They said they were gonna eat me."
I took a deep breath. "Everything"s okay, now, honey. I've got you." I stood back up while keeping a protective arm around Alex. "Bring them back and you can have me."
Rupert laughed. The sound was beginning to hurt. "I'm afraid not. Woman on the menu tonight, boys!"
There was a collective rush of what sounded like rejoiced whispers.
"Bring...them...back." I pulled the hammer back on Silas's gun. Rupert's smile faded fast. The room erupted in clicks from hammers. It was almost deafening. I could only see about twenty men, but it sounded like hundreds.
"it's time for you and the girl to leave."
"Jack?" Alex sniffed and looked up at me. It was hard to see the hurt in her eyes. I had to think quick.
***
I paced outside by the SUV. Alex followed my movements every time I turned around. I didn't know what I was going to do. Could I have snuck in and somehow found the room Lisa and Rex were in and rescued them without anyone seeing? Doubtful.
Man that sentence had a lot of and"s.
"I wonder how long Lisa can fend for herself."
"If Rex is involved...she'll handle it." Alex's response to my question meant for no one startle me.
I stopped for a moment to look at her. All the fear from before seemed to have drained from her face. she was even kicking her feet aimlessly.
"Could she... Could she, like...kill someone?"
"Aunt Lisa? I wouldn't be surprised."
I was impressed. "Damn. that's hot."
"You're weird." Alex's words were laced with humor. She didn't really mean it.
Hmm... I was getting off track. What could I do to save them?
Could I have just gone in straight massacre style with guns blazing? No, that wouldn't work because I only had...
"I only have one gun." I finished my thought out loud as I stopped pacing.
"What is it?" Alex's brow was furrowed. I shot her a grin and approached the passenger side of the vehicle.
"I've got a plan."
***
I watched Alex from a distance. She was a brave one. Willing to stand alone outside with those men all around. A trooper is what I would have called it. She wanted to help so badly that I had to give her the opportunity.
I snuck around to a window under the tower of the building. They were all boarded up, but I used it to my advantage. After taking a deep breath, I pounded my fist against the raw boards for three seconds. That was Alex's cue.
I rounded a pillar and pressed my back against it. When I heard the casino door open, I peeked out enough to be able to see their feet. There were four of them.
Alex began crying. It was a horrible sound. She wailed like a cat. In between the tears, she sputtered, "He left me! He just left me!"
She was a pro.
"it's just the little brown girl." One of the men shuffled his feet. "I'll get her. Tell the boss." The other three pairs of feet walked off. Perfect.
