The Big Ten: The First Ten Books of the Beginnings Series

by Jacqueline Druga

  Ellen was working in containment when she heard Robbie’s message loud and clear. The main radio was still placed in containment to be centralized. She monitored it while Greg summoned Joe and the others. It wasn’t long before Frank showed up. He picked up Robbie’s message on his own radio. Together with Joe, Henry and George, they waited for Robbie to return.

  When Robbie did there wasn’t any introduction, one word opened the lines of communication, it was one word he spoke to Dean. “Talk.”

  “No.” Dean argued.

  Joe could hear a struggle, then a thump. He looked about at the faces who stood quietly around him listening, hearing what he did. “Robbie, come in.”

  Robbie lifted Dean back up to the chair. “I’ll start it for you. There’s some things I want to say first. Then you will tell them the hell you are going through.”

  “Never.”

  Robbie grew angrier, he began to see red, Dean was being too obstinate, too sure of himself. Not frightened enough. “Listen up Beginnings. Did you like my little warning to you? You Dad, sent your men right into a trap. Trusting the wrong people again I suppose. I heard we got two of your men. That’s what my men reported. We already out number you. I bet now you’re wishing you hadn’t ousted so many good men huh?”

  “Make you’re point Robbie. What is it that you want?”

  “In. And your head.”

  “You’re gonna have to take my head. And I’ll never let you in.”

  “We’ll see. Notice how the letter writing stopped. Want to know why? Tell them Dean.”

  Dean’s voice was heard in the distance. “Fuck you.”

  “Tell them!” Robbie shouted then struck forth at Dean, letting the sound of a hard slap be heard through the airwaves.

  Ellen heard, her body jumped at the sound. “Oh, my God. Joe, do something.”

  Joe was helpless, there was nothing he could do at that moment but listen. “Dean, tell us what he wants you to tell.”

  Robbie grabbed Dean by the hair and lifted him to the seat. “He still won’t talk. But he talked enough in his letters didn’t he? I have to give it to you people that was a clever one. Bible references. Thought I wouldn’t catch on. I did. Your boy screwed up. But he paid. Didn’t you Dean. He paid with his body. Right Dean? . . . Still not talking, try this.” Robbie pulled out his gun and placed it to Dean’s temple. “Tell him to talk. Tell him now. I have a gun to his fuckin’ head . . . listen.” The clicking of the hammer was heard. “Tell him to talk.”

  Ellen shrieked out and flung herself toward the radio. “Do something, Joe.” Frank grabbed her and pulled her back, holding her tightly, he could feel her shake.

  Joe’s heart raced, the tension was insurmountable. “Dean for God’s sake do what he wants. It’s not worth your life. It’s not.” Joe knew the desperation in Robbie’s voice. Dean was taunting him, pushing him to the edge. Dean didn’t realize that his value would be lost in Robbie’s rage. At the end of Robbie’s gun. “Dean.”

  Dean reached for the radio, the cold gun pressed to his skin wasn’t the reason he was giving in. It was Ellen’s scream. But he wasn’t about to give Robbie what he wanted. He wasn’t about to tell Beginnings how badly he had been beaten. He pressed in the button, took a deep breath and spoke softly. “Joe . . . Joe tell Ellen . . . tell her . . . tell her I don’t think I’m making it back. Tell the kids I love them with my heart and soul.” He handed the radio back to Robbie.

  Robbie smiled and finished the contact with Beginnings. “We’ll be in touch. I suggest you prepare for our arrival.” He turned off the radio and placed it on his desk. Dean’s message was better than he anticipated. It said more than even the most descriptive details would have given. It showed Dean’s fear, whether Dean realized it or not. Robbie signaled his men to take Dean away. He was done with him and he’d get him again when he needed him.

  “Nothing. They’re gone.” Joe threw down the radio’s microphone. “Jesus, I thought Dean was a dead man.”

  Ellen broke away from Frank’s hold, her arms swinging. “What are you going to do? All of you?” Her voice was desperate and cracking as she talked. “They’re killing him. They beat him. Help him.”

  Joe wasn’t in the mood for it. “Frank handle her.”

  “Come on El, let’s go for a walk.” He reached out his hand for her. She moved from it.

  “No Frank. You promised me you would try to get him home safely.”

  “I will try El.”

  “They’re gonna kill him first. You heard it. Didn’t you? Or don’t any of you care? Go get him and those children. Now. What’s with all these drills if you aren’t going to attack them?”

  Frank had to get her out of the room. “El, calm yourself. Walk out of here with me now!”

  “No. Just let me know when you’re doing it.”

  “Soon.” That’s all Frank could say. That’s all he wanted to say.

  “Then Dean will be dead. And it’s on your heads.” She pointed around the room at all of them and stormed out.

  Frank followed her. He was faster than her and was able to stop her before she walked too far away. “El, come on let’s talk.”

  “Just leave me alone.”

  Frank pulled on her arm. “You need to talk.”

  Ellen ripped from his hold. “And you need to leave me alone! You of all people, you could care less!”

  “What do you mean I can care less?”

  “It’s perfect for you, isn’t it? Dean gone.”

  Frank felt the heat hit his face. He reached out and grabbed hold of Ellen’s arm again. “Let’s go. Not here.”

  “No.” Ellen pulled, Frank wasn’t letting go. She kicked her leg hard into his shin.

  “That’s it.” Tugging her to him, Frank wrapped one arm around her, lifted her up and carried her nearly under his arm to the social hall. Ellen struggled against him the entire way. He burst open the door, locked it and set her down.

  With a growl Ellen flung herself at him, slammed her hands hard into his chest with the entire weight of her body.

  “Go ahead.” Frank taunted with anger. “That’s what’s gonna make you feel better. Huh? You wanna take it out. Well take it out in here. But don’t you dare take it out on those who only want to help you.”

  “You don’t understand what I’m feeling!” Ellen screamed.

  “Try me.”

  “Guilt!” She stepped back and her hand flung into a chair sending it flying over. “Anger!” she threw another. “I’m so . . .” She lifted the table tossing it over on its side. “So mad that the last thing he had to hear from me is how bad I hurt him.” Screaming in her outrage again, Ellen spun and grabbed onto another table. She lifted it, then moved to the next.

  Though it wasn’t how he preferred it, Frank remained calm watching Ellen take it out on all the furniture in the social hall. The crashing, the banging were only physical noises of the emotional turmoil she felt inside.

  From her throat she cried out as she threw the last table. Emotionally exhausted she dropped to the floor, brought her knees up to her chest, clung to them and began to rock.

  “El.” Frank moved to the floor with her.

  “It wasn’t supposed to happen.” Ellen mumbled as she rocked. “It wasn’t supposed to happen.”

  “What wasn’t?”

  “I wasn’t supposed to feel again. I lost it. I lost it five years ago and I didn’t want it back.”

  “I got news for you El. You never lost it.” Frank placed his arm around her. “You kept it deep, deep inside of you. You didn’t want to feel. You didn’t want to hurt. Well, tough. Tough. We all feel. We all hurt. Welcome to world of being human.” He heard her cry. A soft single sob as Ellen’s head dropped again. And scooting even closer to her. Frank wrapped both arms around her and held her. There was too way to make her feel better out beyond the walls, beyond the sanctity of Beginnings, laid a piece of their lives, a piece of everyone’s lives and hearts. And until those pieces arrived home safely,
no one in Beginnings would ever be better.

  CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

  July 19

  One of his men said they spotted it, not far from the highway, off deep in the wooded area. Moses was delighted to hear that, he wanted to hear that. The burnt man in the jeep was proof of one death, yet they hadn’t found the other Beginnings’ man. They had been searching for two days and nothing had turned up.

  Following the word of the man who said he saw what appeared to be a body, Moses set out to the spot on horseback. It wasn’t far from Egypt, but it was far from Beginnings. And if it was Beginnings’ man, then Moses wanted to keep on riding straight to the back gate. He wanted to return their lost soul, with a huge smile on his face.

  Robbie insisted to him that it didn’t need to be done. That Beginnings knew of their loss and it was foolish and dangerous to be wandering off alone. Moses didn’t care, at six foot eight he was bigger than any man he had encountered. He could handle anyone.

  He dismounted his horse in the dense wooded area. Look for the tree with the white flag. That is where his men marked where they believed they saw a body. The white cloth called to him, it drew excitement. As he neared it he saw the feet, they stuck out from beneath a brush. It struck Moses as odd, the body appeared to be hidden. Perhaps the Beginnings man ran and hid, only to die before being found. It was definitely a body laying there. Moses covered his mouth, the foul smell of rotting flesh sickened him. It was not a smell he had not been familiar with before. But what got Moses was why the body was so badly decomposed. Two days would not do it. Moses turned over the body to see who it was. Upon his recognition of the man, Moses filled with rage. He fell to his knees in disbelief. How did it happen? How did it come that one of his very own men lay before him, his neck seemingly broken. Moses cried out loudly, his voice echoing through the woods. He picked up the body to take it back with him. He came to the woods to find an enemy. He never expected to find the body of the young man he became so fond of, Boyle.

  “Robbie!” Moses kicked open the door to Dean’s room. He knew that’s where he’d find Robbie. The door flew open, and Moses rushed forward toward Dean, lifting him by the collar and slamming him to the wall. “Your people will pay!”

  Robbie grabbed onto Moses’ arm. “Release him.”

  Moses didn’t respond.

  “I said release him!”

  Moses dropped Dean to the floor, he covered his red hair with his clenched fist and bellowed out a loud chesty scream.

  The cry went through Dean. What was happening? Was Beginnings striking back? A sense of pride hit him, it was quickly followed by fear.

  Robbie knew it had to be bad, he tried to calm Moses, that was the only way he could find out what his enemy had done. “What happened Moses? What?”

  Moses huffed rapidly. His exhales carried sounds of heartache. “I want revenge!”

  “And you shall have it, but first you tell me why.”

  Before explaining his rage to Robbie, Moses took one more look at Dean. “Remember that kid that ran away? Remember Boyle, the one we couldn’t find?”

  Robbie’s heart pounded, he swallowed harshly. “Yes.” His voice began to quiver. “What about him.”

  “I found him. He’s dead. They killed him.” He pointed his huge hand at Dean. “Your people killed him. They found him wandering around and they took his young life.”

  Dean shook his head. “No Moses, they didn’t kill Boyle.”

  “Shut up!” Moses held his hand out towards Dean’s neck. What he wouldn’t give at that moment to break his neck the way that he thought Beginnings broke Boyle’s. He stared at Dean, who did not appear scared. “Your people will pay . . . Robbie.” He faced Robbie. “I want my revenge. Let me deliver one of them to their back gate. Let me give the second warning. My men are waiting outside for it. Let it come now!”

  Robbie wasn’t about to tell Moses the truth. “Take it.”

  Dean knew what those two words meant. It meant his life. He wasn’t going to back down, or hover. His time was coming, he was not going down screaming. With his heart racing, he lifted his head without fear, and waited.

  Moses stormed toward the open door. “Thank you.”

  “What are you doing? Where are you going?” Robbie asked.

  “To get him.” Moses answered then looked to Dean. “Did you think I would kill him? It won’t hurt them as much. I want them to feel the pain I feel. I’m getting the kid.”

  “Robbie tell him no.” Dean’s voice cried out. “No Moses. Please. My people didn’t kill him. Ask Robbie. Ask him who killed Boyle.”

  Robbie, with his right hand, swung back, back handing Dean to silence him.

  It didn’t work, Dean continued in his pleas. “Moses listen to me. That night, the night Boyle disappeared, Robbie told me. He told me that he killed him. Don’t do this, don’t hurt one of the kids. I’m begging you.” He grabbed for Moses, and Moses shoved him away.

  “Robbie, beat you.” Moses shouted at him. “Do you think I’d believe your lies? They’ll pay. They’ll pay with that boy’s life.”

  “No!” Dean charged for him. “If you have to kill someone. Kill me. Don’t kill one of them. Take my life. Please take my life instead.” Dean begged with everything he had. He pleaded like he had never done before. His attempts were futile. Moses shoved him to the ground and stormed out.

  Dean picked himself up and raced to Robbie. “Stop him. Stop him. He’s taking an innocent life because of your mistake.”

  Robbie turned his head sideways. “You know I can’t do that.”

  “Stop him, Robbie. Stop him now!” Dean stopped begging and reaching for Robbie when he saw Moses stomping down the hall. With him, he dragged Denny.

  “What’d I do?” Denny asked trying to pull away from the force of Moses. “What’d I do?” He saw Dean as he went past the room. “Dean, help me.”

  Dean charged toward the door only to be stopped by Robbie who flung him back to the bed. But he knew he couldn’t just stay there. If it meant his life he had to try, even if it was just to try to help Denny. With the sound of Denny’s call for help fading down the hallway, Dean, with every bit of strength he had, with all of his will, charged forth toward Robbie, knocking him over and onto the floor.

  He raced to the hallway, Denny wasn’t there. With no guards around, he flew out of the library, pausing only to grab the huge metal baseball bat that Robbie had setting by his desk.

  Out on the street he saw them. Moses and his men began to encircle a frightened and bewildered Denny. The fear in Denny’s eyes. The confusion on his face. Denny kept calling out. “What’d did I do? No. Dean, help me!”

  There was no time to think, nor worry about himself. He wasn’t important, Denny was, and Dean had to try with all of his might to save him. With rage he had never known before, he ran to the group of men and began swinging the metal bat. He hit one, then two, both on the heads, both fell to the ground. He had to get to Moses. “No!” Dean cried out as he crashed the bat down upon his back. “Get away from him!”

  Moses flinched as he felt the pain of the bat. The pain didn’t stop his outrage. He grabbed the bat from Dean with one hand, and with the other, he literally threw Dean to the ground. “Someone get him out of here!”

  Dean was helpless as two men took hold of him, dragging him back. His eyes connected with Denny’s, hand reaching forth as the young boy called to him once more for help. Denny was so young, so unsuspecting, so unaware that Moses stood behind him like a batter swinging forward with full force down to the back of Denny’s head.

  Dean’s knees buckled and he dropped to the ground as he saw Denny sail forth and land on the concrete. “Denny!” The veins in Dean’s neck protruded, his face turned red and he cried with his heart and soul to a boy who so desperately needed the help he could not give. The young boy who was surrounded by every single man in Egypt who wanted their revenge on Beginnings.

  Dean’s cries, his tears, his efforts, could not save the thirteen year
old boy, an innocent, who would die so violently at the hands of the savage beasts. Their arms swung forth, their legs moved about.

  First there was the painful heart wrenching sound of Denny’s cries. Calling out for help, begging for them to stop, like the little boy he so much was. Then the worst part of all came to be. It made Dean want to die, his anguish too much to bear. There were no more sounds, no more cries, there was only silence.

  CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

  Frank was pissed at himself. He held in his hand a metal trap. How brainless he could be at times, he thought. First he wanted to finish up his rounds early, he promised Ellen he would. It sounded easy enough. Finish the rounds, set new traps outside the back gate, go home. He had it all mapped out. After rounds he went to the back gate, he called for them to shut down the perimeter, he unlocked the gate. But he forgot the most important thing. The trap. Figuring he’d be only a few minutes, he had them turn back on the perimeter. The gate would be fine without its lock. A few minutes is all it should have taken. It would have taken. If it wasn’t bad enough that he forgot the trap, things only got worse, while in his haste, he broke the key as he turned the lock on the maintenance door.

  As he made his way up the grade to the back gate, Frank grabbed his radio. “This is me again. Shut down sixteen. I’m ready now.” He waited for a sarcastic response and was glad he didn’t get one.

  Frank stopped as he neared within fifteen feet of the gate. “No.” It wasn’t there before. He’d only been gone fifteen minutes. His heart dropped to his stomach the closer he drew. Beyond the gate on the dusty road way, he saw a pair of legs extended out from the tall grass. “Oh no . . . Dean.” He began to move, running towards the gate. The closer he got, the more he could see. The thin bare feet were totally covered in blood. “No.” Frank flung open the gate and raced to the body, stopping so fast at the legs, he slid onto the road causing a dust cloud. He reached his hands into the tall grass, grabbing the legs. He could feel the coldness of the flesh, he could smell the death. As he pulled out the body he knew the instant he saw the bloodied blonde hair, his hands were not reaching for Dean.