Prepper's Betrayal: post-apocalyptic survival action and adventure thriller

by AJ Newman

  The woman let the kids drink first, and only after they were finished, she took a drink of the nourishing liquid. “I guess we don’t have a choice. Kids, let's go get warm.”

  Kate asked, “Where did you come from?”

  The woman pointed east and said, “Ashland. Hell, I don’t know the direction. We’ve been walking for two days, and I’m lost.”

  Kate asked, “Why did you leave Ashland in the winter with two feet of snow?”

  “I’m Roxie Deane, and my dad was the mayor of Ashland. The gang’s leader decided he didn’t need my dad anymore. One of the gang tipped Dad off a couple of days ago, and we left with only a small amount of food and the clothes on our backs just before they raided our homes. My dad and mom died the first day. My husband died last night. My kids and one of my neighbor’s kids are all that’s left. His parents were killed by the gang months ago.”

  The trip to the cabin was uneventful, but the youngest kids had to be carried all the way there. Granny B had joined Jerry and Doris and greeted them as they brought the family to the cabin. Granny B helped take the kid’s coat off and moved them close to the fire to warm up. Doris gave each of them a hot cup of cocoa, and then Granny B started her subtle interrogation. “I hear you’re from Ashland. How was life down there?”

  Roxie said, “Life was bad but tolerable until the gang took over the city. They let my dad keep managing the city as long as he did exactly what they wanted. What they wanted was all our resources and young women. They left me alone because of my dad. They controlled the distribution of all food, fuel, and medicine. It was like living in Venezuela twenty years ago. Ashland was such a great city to have fallen so low.”

  Granny B asked, “Did you work outside your home?”

  “Yes, I was a teacher. I taught science at the middle school.”

  Granny B asked, “Did the gang keep the schools open?”

  Roxie frowned, “Yes, but only for the sixth grade and below. They made all the older kids work on the farms and crude factories.”

  Tom heard factories. “What did they make in these factories?”

  She replied, “Everything from Meth to reloading bullets. They gathered all the mechanics and forced them to fix all the old cars and trucks. Apparently, older vehicles weren’t affected by the EMP blasts. Can I ask some questions?”

  Granny B said, “Of course you can.”

  “Do you have enough food to take in five hungry people?”

  Tom sat down across from Roxie. “We can make it until early spring. I hope you like rabbit stew, rabbit soup, roast rabbit, and …. You get the picture. We also found some grain and other supplies during our scavenging trips. I also send out hunting parties to gather as much game as possible. We have a couple of cows and goats for milk.”

  Roxie looked confused. “Where do all of you live? There’s no place for cows here.”

  Tom crossed his fingers behind his back. “Yes, we all live around here. That’s all you need to know for now.”

  Roxie’s head shook. “You’re pulling my leg. This is a large cabin, but there isn’t that much room.”

  Tom then realized his team had to travel back through the cave to avoid leaving footprints in the snow. He said, “You have to keep this secret. My grandpa lived here for many years and hollowed out the hillside behind the cabin.”

  He pointed to the wall. “There’s a secret door right there, and we will go through it to our living chambers. It’s a bit smelly with the cows and goats but easier to heat than the cabin. We’ll keep your family out here until we can empty a room for your use.”

  She didn’t speak for a minute. “That would make a great place to hide when the gang finally comes this way. They intend on taking all the land and ranches all around Ashland. I heard my dad talking with one of Mendoza’s men about a group of ranchers hiding up here in the hills. They need the cattle to feed their people. Mendoza thinks he’s building an empire. That’s why we came up so high in the hills. We hoped to find them and join their group.”

  Granny B didn’t trust the woman’s words, but then Granny B didn’t trust almost everyone, not in her family. “We’ve heard about a couple of ranches on the east of here in the flatter area. I think they might be over toward Tulelake and Copic. Our men have rounded up a few loose cattle, but we assumed they came up the hill from the ranches down in the valley. Ranching in these hills is almost impossible. Tell us more about the gang and how they can keep control over so many survivors.”

  Roxie stood up, took her bulky sweater off, and backed up to the fire. She stretched and showed off her assets before she said, “My feet and butt are finally warming up. I’ve never been so cold in my life. Herb must have cared a lot more for me than I thought. We’d been divorced for two years, and yet he came to rescue me when I called. The poor man died to get us this far.”

  Kate’s antenna went up. “How about telling us about the gang, as Granny B asked?”

  “They took the guns from everyone and all but a couple of days’ worth of food from our cupboards. We were dependent on them. Many of Ashland’s people fled the area. Most headed north, and others went to Klamath Falls. There are about twenty gang members and another forty locals who have joined the gang. They have their pick of the women and get the best food,” Roxie said.

  Kate asked, “How many people are left in Ashland?”

  Roxie said, “I don’t know. Mendoza ordered everyone to the town square a month ago, and I’d guess maybe fifteen hundred folks, counting the kids.”

  Granny B asked, “Speaking of kids, which ones are yours?”

  Roxie pointed at the oldest boy. “Paul Cox was our neighbor’s son. The other three are mine.”

  Kate noticed Paul’s head shook a bit side to side, and his fists were clenched. She said, “Paul, I need some help outside. I forgot something.” She looked over at Tom and said, “Hon, please help Paul and me outside.”

  They put their jackets on just as Roxie stood up. “Paul is very tired. Could someone else help you?”

  “No, Paul will be a big help,” Kate said as she opened the door and ushered Paul and Tom outside.

  The wind had calmed a bit, and the sun shined for the first time in several days. Kate stopped a few feet from the front door. “Paul, you’re safe. No one can hurt you now.”

  Tom looked at the undernourished boy. “I know Roxie isn’t your mom. Are the other kids her children?”

  “The two small ones are hers. Joey and I are brothers.”

  Kate asked, “Why did they bring you with them?”

  Paul said, “We were the mayor’s slaves. We were carrying their supplies.”

  “Were you voluntary servants or forced into slavery?” Tom asked.

  Paul said, “They killed my dad and took my mom to be their whore. The mayor and Roxie beat us if we didn’t do what we were told. Look at my ankles. They kept us chained to our beds at night,” and then added, “The apocalypse has brought monsters out into the open for all to see.”

  Kate said, “You’re safe now. Does she abuse her kids?”

  Paul chuckled, “No, but she’s not much of a mother to them. She treats them like pet dogs. Please don’t leave me alone with her. She has two pistols in her jacket.”

  Tom said, “We’ll move the children to a safe location while we figure out what to do with Roxie. You’ll be safe.”

  Kate said, “Paul, go back in while Tom and I discuss what to do.”

  The boy opened the door and disappeared into the dimly lit room. Tom said, “Who can we trust?”

  Kate said, “I don’t trust her. She’s a conniving bitch.”

  Tom laughed. “Do you really think all that showing off her assets was an attempt to get the men on her side?”

  Kate said, “Bill’s eyes almost popped out of his head.”

  Tom said, “Let’s separate the children and have Granny B question them. You and I can interrogate the woman. Let’s go back in. My feet are freezing out here.”

  Tom opened t
he door and followed Kate into the cabin. They heard, “Raise your hands, or I’ll shoot.”

  Tom and Kate raised their hands. Tom’s eyes took a couple of seconds to adjust to the dim light. In front of him was Roxie with two small pistols. One pistol was stuck in Granny B’s side. Granny B’s eyes cut toward the woman with fire in her eyes. The other pistol was aimed at Kate and Tom. His friend’s guns were on the floor.

  Roxie said, “Paul, take their pistols from their holsters.”

  Paul took Kate’s pistol and then passed behind Tom. Paul reached under Tom’s parka and pulled his extra pistol from Tom’s belt. He then took the gun from Tom’s holster, pitched two pistols to the floor, and said, “They’re unarmed.”

  Roxie shoved Granny B away, and suddenly, there was a loud explosion behind Tom followed by two more shots. Roxie stood there with a hole in her forehead and blood running from her chest. A second later, she toppled like a tree felled by a lumberjack. Her head thumped the plank floor and bounced. Tom turned toward Paul with his knife ready, and Paul had extended his hand, which held the pistol butt first to Tom.

  Paul said, “She made that easy. I was planning to shoot her and ask for forgiveness. Ding dong the witch is dead.”

  The other three children ran to Paul and hugged him. Paul’s brother said, “We’re free.”

  The other two cried and clung to Paul and his brother. Tom was speechless for a minute. He looked over to Granny B. “How did she get the drop on all of you?”

  Granny B said, “Your merry band of men fell for her turning away from them and pulling her pants down. While their eyes bugged out, she turned around with a pistol in both hands.”

  Tom looked down at the body and saw her pants were down around her knees. “But,… Granny, what distracted you?”

  Granny B pointed her finger at Colt and Bill. “I was watching their tongues hanging out and Doris about to slap the dog crap out of Roxie. Damn, I had my hand on my .45 but started snickering at the men for being taken in by the tramp.”

  Tom turned to Paul. “You saved us. We owe you. What do you think she planned to do with us?”

  Paul turned to Tom. “She probably would have turned you into Mendoza to get back into his house. She was kicked out of his bed for killing one of his other women in a jealous rage. She was evil.”

  Tom looked at blood pooling on a warped floorboard and another pool draining through a crack between the boards to the ground below. Tom thought for a minute. “Well, folks, we did a bang up job on selecting her to join our group.”

  *

  Chapter 14

  The Cave

  Tom and Kate stayed with Paul and his brother in the cabin while the others took the two little ones to their living area in the cave. Tom talked with Paul and learned more about Paul and Ashland’s current state. Paul was seventeen, and his brother was fourteen. Paul’s mom and dad were in law enforcement. His dad had been an Ashland police sergeant, and his mom was a deputy sheriff.

  Tom probed. “Did your parents teach you about gun safety?”

  “Yes, we spent hours at the range. I’ve been shooting since way back in 2031. I had my own Glock 17 - sixth generation and an older Bushmaster AR chambered in .223. Dad went to all the local shooting matches. He was an expert with his custom-made 9-mm.”

  Tom rubbed his jaw. “Did he teach you to engage a threat like you did today?”

  “Yes, I practiced for hours shooting perps. One to the head and two shots to the body. He also drilled me in shooting criminals with body armor. One to the head and as many to the legs as it took to bring the asshat down. Oh! I’m sorry about the language.”

  Tom chuckled, “Not a problem for me but be careful around Granny B. Paul, what do you want to do with your life?”

  Paul didn’t hesitate or think before answering. “I want to keep my brother safe and help him survive this disaster.”

  “Paul, I think you and your brother would be great additions to our group. Is your brother trained in firearms?”

  Paul grinned, “My brother is as good a shot as I am. We’d like to join you. I’m smart enough to know what I don’t know. We’d die in a few weeks on our own. I wish my parents had been into survival skills as well as shooting. Place me in a dark alley with an armed thug, and I know what to do. Surviving during an apocalypse wasn’t high on my dad’s list.”

  Tom gave Paul the join the team speech and then asked if Paul had any questions. Paul looked around the room. “Our guns are in that gray bag by the fireplace. I hid them from Roxie but was able to fetch them when we left that day. When can I have my pistol?”

  Tom said, “As I mentioned, you will be on probation for a month, and then you decide if you want to stay with us, and we decide if you are a good fit for the group.”

  ***

  A few hours later, the weather turned for the worse and a fierce blizzard set in for four days. The drones were grounded, and the group wasn’t able to see any potential dangers. The same weather that blinded the group also kept everyone else trapped in their homes by their fireplaces. Dozens died in Ashland and the nearby cities because people were lost in the whiteout blizzard and died trying to fetch food or medicine. Many died only a few feet from their homes or the food distribution center.

  Tom and Kate stayed with the two boys during the blizzard. Tom did the cooking, and Kate performed the area surveillance with one of the drones all week. Jackie and Kate took turns checking the area every eight hours.

  Tom had given the boys’ guns to Rick to keep in the cave even though he had a good feeling about the two young men. They spent the day schooling the boys on various survival skills and playing board games.

  The sun shined bright on the morning of the fifth day, and Kate sent up one of the drones from the cabin. Paul and his brother asked if they could watch. Tom replied, “Yes! Maybe you can give us a tour of the gang’s operation. Kate will check out our surrounding area for any dangers first.”

  Kate flew over the ground around the cave first and then steered the drone to look at the ranch. There were no signs of anyone in the area. The imminent attack that Sam had mentioned didn’t exist, or the snow had changed the attacker’s plans. He had Kate fly around all the possible roads and paths leading to the ranch and cave and again didn’t see any tracks or signs of any people. He then had Kate fly north of the ranch to see if the cattle had gone into the dense woods. Tom watched the screen and said, “The cattle are hiding in the brush and trees. I’ll bet we lose a bunch of them due to the snow and predators.”

  Kate replied, “Jackie and I can fly over with the armed drones and shoot or scare off most predators.”

  “That’s a great idea! Of course, we can’t guard the heard around the clock, but we can thin out the predators by killing everyone we see. I’ll also set traps to kill some more of the nasty beasts. We should have been doing that all along.”

  Kate finished observing the area around the ranch and guided the drone east and down the hills to Ashland. Tom said, “Paul look at the monitor and guide Kate to the gang’s headquarters.”

  Paul gave them a bird’s eye tour of all the gang’s operations. “That’s where they make the drugs. They make Meth and cut shipments of cocaine and heroin in that building.”

  Tom shook his head. “Are you saying that drugs are still arriving from Mexico?”

  Paul said, “Mexico and China. The drugs arrive by boat at the San Francisco docks. They are transported across the country by vintage trucks and motorcycles.”

  “So the apocalypse hasn’t slowed down the drug trade?” asked Kate.

  Paul answered. “Yes, it has, but only because there are fewer people to use them. The gang doesn’t push drugs in Ashland but does sell the drugs to all the other cities north of the California border. They trade drugs for guns, women, food, and precious metals.”

  Tom thought about what the young man had said. “I’m sorry that you even have to know that crap. Is the government or anyone else trying to stop the cartel?”
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  Paul smiled. “Yes, the vigilantes, which is a new group started by Mendoza’s ex-girlfriend. She was assassinating Mendoza’s men and blowing up as many shipments as possible. She disappeared a few weeks back.”

  Tom frowned and took a deep breath. “Does the ex-girlfriend have red hair?”

  The boy became excited and leaned toward Tom. “Do you know Samantha? I think she’s hot.”

  Jackie replied before Tom could open his mouth. “Yes, we know her. She left our group and abandoned her daughter Lucy. She was the leader of the vigilantes until they threw her out of the group.”

  Paul was surprised. “I didn’t know she had a daughter.”

  Tom’s head snapped toward Paul. “How did you get to know Samantha?”

  “My dad joined the resistance and had me run messages and take food to her over a month ago. I saw her a dozen times, and we were forced to hide together a couple of times for several hours. She is one of the bravest and strongest women I’ve ever known.”

  Tom asked, “What did she say about her relationship with Mendoza?”

  Paul fidgeted and looked away. “Am I being interrogated? I like Sam, and she saved my life twice. I won’t speak ill of her.”

  “I don’t want you to speak good or bad about her. I just want the truth. We thought Sam was one of us, and then she went AWOL and left us without an explanation. She showed back up asking for favors and then disappeared again. The last time she deserted her daughter,” Tom said.

  Paul frowned. “I asked her about family once, and she said she never married and didn’t have any kids. I know she hates Mendoza and destroys his drugs and drug manufacturing buildings every chance she gets. Dad thought she might have been in law enforcement at one time in her life.”

  Kate asked, “I can’t imagine that high-maintenance woman ever lifting a finger to do work, much less arresting bad guys. What made him think she was a LEO?”

  Paul said, “Dad mentioned that Sam handled herself like a cop when they attacked one of the gang’s outposts. She’d shot two men after kicking the door down, saw another, and rolled head first across the room, shooting another while rolling. He said she moved like a trained SWAT team member. Oh! He also said she used some of the same jargon police use when the bullets were flying.”