by Angela White
“Get in there!”
Cole shoved him into the first dusty cell, the second already occupied, and Luke stared at the sight of Jenna lying on the bunk.
“You locked up your own mother?” he asked incredulously.
Cole flushed darkly. “She’s safer here. Even you have to know that.”
“But, I don’t. We didn’t find anything on our hunts,” Luke probed and was rewarded with confirmation of the eyes he’d been feeling on them.
“Don’t matter. He doesn’t like you snooping.”
“Who?”
The Sheriff’s countenance tightened and he slammed the door shut with a loud clang. “You know.”
He rotated the key in the lock and tossed it to the deputy. “Watch them while I go check in.”
Luke waited for Jenna to say something when the deputy went outside with Cole, and he was unprepared for what came.
“My son’s got it, the infection. You’ll have to kill him, too.”
The door opening again halted Luke’s response. Clearly unhappy, Deputy Higgins walked in and Luke guessed he wasn’t okay with the things that were going on. Instead of trying to talk his way out, Luke gave the man a nod of understanding.
“It’s hard to do the right thing on Pitcairn. It always has been.”
The deputy regarded him, but didn’t answer and the former POW shrugged. “Just wondering what comes next for us.”
Higgins gestured to the gun case on the wall. “Waiting on the orders.”
Luke was surprised by the honesty. “Sounds like you’re not a fan of killing women.”
“I used to have a mother, too,” Higgins swore softly. “She taught me better.”
“Your ma was a fine lady.” Jenna’s voice was toneless despite the gentle words. “Kind, caring, and strong. This island don’t like that.”
“What do you mean?”
Unable to view her because of the wall, Luke shivered at Jenna’s eerie warning.
“The island will kill her if it can.”
That, Luke didn’t doubt. He’d observed the way the tides rolled in when Kendle neared the water, even when it wasn’t time, and he’d heard the angry roars from their cabin bed when he woke her from a nightmare about the shark.
Strange things were happening here and the townspeople weren’t responsible for all of them, Higgins was sure.
“Will you let her go? Please.”
“No. If he brings her here, she’ll die with you.”
“Thank you for the truth.”
The deputy snorted. “Sure. Anything else I can not do for you?’
Luke leaned against the wall by the window so he could peer outside. “I have some questions.”
Higgins settled into the chair behind the desk, uninfected brown eyes interested. “I’ve got nothing but time to kill until the order comes down on you two.”
5
Kendle emerged from the tunnel after dark with her nerves on edge. More than once, she’d been sure there were footsteps other than hers, and a minute ago, she’d thought someone had tripped and fallen.
In a hurry, Kendle let her survival instincts take over. As soon as she cleared the cover, she ran.
Trying not to break off a clear path, she wove in and out of the shadowy vines for a long minute before climbing a tall tree. Its weak branches only let her go into the first layer of the canopy, but it was enough to give her cover as she waited to see who else came from the tunnel.
Inside the dark ground, Ethan peered up through the open hatch, mind whirling. She couldn’t know for sure he was in here unless he came out. If he didn’t, she would use this hatch again.
Wiping his face free of the dirt wall he’d stumbled into, the playboy kept moving toward the hole-up; sure that’s where she would eventually go.
Kendle waited, able to see the open hatch from her vantage point, but with each minute that crawled by, her worry for Luke grew. Had she imagined the noise? How did she know it was Ethan? Because she’d been able to feel the menace? It could have been anything in there and she didn’t have time to wait and discover what ground-dwelling animal had spooked her. She had to get to Luke before they hung him.
Kendle climbed down and resumed her journey, staying in the jungle this time. She wasn’t going back in that tunnel without Luke unless she absolutely had to.
Kendle realized she was a lot closer to her destination than she’d thought. The town lay in front of her, shops being lit. She ducked into the thick greenness to form her plan. To her delight, she picked out Luke’s shadow through the jail window and sighed in relief. He was okay.
“Fire it up!”
The yell came from behind her and Kendle sent her body up the nearest tree in a mad rush. Leaves floated down, the weeds swaying heavily. She held her breath as the sentry and his torch bobbed in her direction. If he were observant, he would discover her. What should she do?
The sentry was an elderly man with arthritic hands and a permanent hump to his shoulders. He scanned the area and Kendle stiffened when he stared at the place where she’d been.
The old man had been an island resident for more than fifty years. He looked up.
Kendle froze, hoping maybe his sight was bad.
He gazed directly at her for a brief second of concern and shocked her with his raspy shout.
“All clear. Movin’ on.”
As he left, he dropped a bag that was obviously meant for her.
Confused, but not about to stare a gift horse in the mouth, Kendle climbed down and opened the bag to find what she least expected; a way to free Luke and end the madness.
Apparently, some of the residents here not only knew what was going on, they knew who the good guys were and wanted to help.
Kendle shouldered the heavy bag as she crept toward the jail. Great. They needed all the aid they could get against the Mayor and his evil son.
Sliding along the trees, she stopped in the shadows, listening for the right moment to let him know she was there.
“Kendle was right.”
She heard Luke mutter in anger.
“They’re infected.”
“Oh yes. The result of eating contaminated food, they think. They found a cruise ship that had a hold full of supplies
“While they were searching for buyers.”
That sent his mind to Kendle’s words when he’d found her in the jungle, barely alive. “The ship’s gone…all dead.” Was fate ironic enough for this illness to have come from her cruise-ship of horrors?
“So they’re slave traders. They had a load of girls from South America when they found the cruise ship. They brought it all with them to wait for the buyers, but they didn’t come.”
“Whatever happened to the world, took them too,” the deputy clarified.
“It was a war, nuclear probably, but it could have been chemical, too. Their sickness might be an effect from that.”
“Does it matter?”
Luke sighed. “No. If it destroys the nerves and brain cells until rage is all that’s left, where it came from means little. How do we stop it from spreading?”
“Don’t have contact. Blood, sex.”
Luke’s mind shot to Kendle and he almost gave it away when he glanced out the window and saw her standing in the shadows with a machine gun. He relaxed his instant tension and kept the conversation going. That wasn’t the pistol he’d given her. She hadn’t gone to the hole-up.
“What about all the women they couldn’t sell?”
“Oh, they’re selling. Some to men here, most to random people they meet on their trips.”
“Trips?” Luke stared at the deputy. “That’s the engines we’ve been hearing, and the strangers in the jungle.”
Higgins kept tabs on the window, sure Sheriff Cole would return soon to finish the job.
“And the tree markings, they’re a path for the buyers to get to the women?”
“Simple codes for the Mayor’s idiot henchmen. They keep getting lost when they bring the girls
down.”
“From the estate?”
Like they’d have such dealings on their property, Higgins thought. “Ethan has a hole-up in a cave out by that rock wall his daddy bought for him. He keeps them there until we get a buyer…”
Luke’s gut twisted. “Or until he needs to hurt one of them to bring his rage under control.”
“Yes.”
Luke was burning to confirm his suspicion of why the man was telling him all this, but he forced himself to finish getting what he needed first. “How many are left up there?”
The Deputy’s voice was full of anger. “Enough to repopulate this shitty little island without any inbreeding.”
“You ready?” Kendle whispered as calmly as she could, angered at the sight of Luke’s injuries.
Luke didn’t lower his voice when he answered. “Thirty seconds.”
“You said you wouldn’t let her go. Will you let me?”
Higgins pushed his hat up. “I might be convinced to do that and more, Mr. Johnson. Especially if I suspect your intentions are to eliminate this island of some of the current plagues.”
Luke’s regard was just as hard. “I do and the method is standing at the window.”
“Tell her to stay down,” Higgins stated, pulling his hat forward as if he’d been dozing the whole time. “Cole’s coming.”
Grateful they had an ally, Kendle pressed herself as flat against the wall as she could, melting into the thick leaves that surrounded the brick building. Staying in the darkest of the shadows, she listened to the new conversation with one ear, and the jungle-bound town around her with the other.
“I have to go find Ethan. The Mayor said for you to stay here,” the Sheriff challenged hatefully. This little snot had been after his job long enough.
The deputy yawned tiredly. “Should I feed the prisoners?”
“No. Don’t leave this room until I come.” Cole wasn’t taking any chances with the too-quiet soldier and he slammed the door to add effect to his order. If Luke escaped, Higgins would die before the Mayor’s order came down.
“How long before he beats on people for release, too?” Luke asked, meaning the Sheriff.
“He won’t. He’s sworn to kill himself first and I mean to make sure he keeps that promise,” Higgins informed him coolly, ignoring Jenna’s moan from her cell. “Come on, have her slide it in the window and then get lost somewhere until this is over. If Ethan catches her, there won’t be anything left.”
Luke was putting the pieces together. This brave man had played the Mayor and his men for fools. As Higgins spun the key in the lock, Luke was trying to remember what he knew of the deputy. Very little, he realized. Public figurehead or not, Higgins was even more anti-social than himself.
Kendle handed the gun through the bars, waiting for the questions about where she’d gotten it, but when none came, she assumed Higgins was responsible. He’d known she would try to rescue Luke. From her reckless TV shows? Probably.
“You have to hole-up now for a day or two.”
Kendle swallowed a protest, knowing he was right. He needed to be able to travel fast and not be hindered by someone who would be squeamish. She would want to spare even those who didn’t deserve that kindness.
“I’ll go to Jenna’s.”
“No!” Jenna’s voice echoed from the next cell. “They stop there with girls sometimes, on the way through.”
“The cabin?”
Higgins ruled it out this time. “Nowhere near that beach. We have buyers lined up.”
“Moving stock?” Luke asked.
“Yeah, something like that.”
“I’ll go to the hole-up.”
Neither man liked it, but unless she hid in the jungle, there wasn’t much choice.
Luke felt her fear and his own rose up to match it. Something wasn’t right.
“We’ll pick somewhere–”
“Cole’s here, shit! It has to be now, get ready!” Higgins ordered, drawing his weapon.
“Don’t kill him!” Jenna cried.
“Hush now.”
Kendle had started fading into the greenness. “The hole-up.”
Luke’s hands were already flying over the machine gun, mind getting ready. “I’ll be there or Higgins will.”
Kendle heard the door open and darted into the dark jungle. She kept moving fast, no longer worried about making too much noise as she ran for the hatch she’d left open. Luke was about to draw the attention of everyone on the island as he eliminated the infected men. She would be safe underground.
6
Ethan stilled, ears finally hearing what he’d been straining for. The tunnel had no other hatches that he’d found and he’d gone all the way to the hole-up before picking his place. He wanted to take her to the estate and his special room, but his limit had been reached. It would have to start right here.
His nerves blared out another sickly blast of pain along his limbs and he clenched his fists to keep from growling. He needed a release. The hours of waiting, of hearing nothing that could be her, had weakened his control. And then there was a volley of gunfire that had lasted long enough to tell him something had gone wrong, but Ethan hadn’t left the darkness. Even now, he could hear sporadic shots in the distance and understood Luke had gotten free. Nothing less would have his father’s men pulling the trigger.
“Almost there… Almost there…”
Ethan leered in the pitch blackness. She was searching for comfort. How sweet. I’ll enjoy this one, I just know it!
Kendle sensed the lurking monster at the last minute, the waves of evil anticipation thickening until her hair stood on end. Just as the candle would have revealed his glowing green orbs, she dropped it and fumbled for the gun.
The flame sputtered out as he lunged forward and swung a big fist.
Kendle dropped the gun, swaying to her knees.
His boot caught her in the stomach, driving the fight and everything else from her. She fell against the earthen wall where she collapsed in a heap.
“Kendle! Kendle! Kendle!”
Ethan screamed repeatedly as he rushed toward her unconscious form, the fire in his infected blood blazing with victory. He couldn’t wait to taste her!
Chapter Fifteen
Leveled Playing
April 26th
Crescent Lake Refuge
1
“This is your Level test, Eagles. It has seven parts. Cage matches will be called three minutes before they start, so listen for your name. Draw a number from the hat, and then go to the area with that number.”
Neil clearly loved being in charge and Angela was glad he was running things. It meant he wouldn’t be the one in the cage with her. She didn’t stand a chance against the trooper, who’d started her regular Kai lessons upon Adrian’s approval.
Angela drew the firearms area first and it calmed her nerves to begin with something she was better than good at. She entered the training tent with a light heart despite the glares and mutters she endured. She loved guns and even the Eagles’ unease couldn’t ruin that feeling.
But Kenn could. He was the man in charge of this test and his thoughts met her across the tent. Go away!
More surprised at the near panic than his silent communication, she said, “I belong here as much as you do.”
Her quiet words drew nods from Seth and his team, and Kenn flushed scarlet.
“Maybe more,” one of Seth’s men muttered.
Kenn snarled in surprise. “Fuck you, Jeff!”
Instead of the fight Angela expected, the Level Four man stared coolly.
“You’ll get your turn. We won’t leave you on the outs.”
Kenn’s hands clenched, but again, the response surprised the lone female in the warm tent.
“Too late for that, isn’t it?”
Jeff was now firmly on Angela’s side, like the rest of Seth’s team. “Yes. You get what you earn in this new world.”
The warning was impossible to miss, but her Marine only acted l
ike it was a joke. Jeff had swung to Angela’s side in silence, and none of them knew what had swayed him.
“Remember that, when you draw my number for the cage match.”
Now Jeff was flushing, telling Angela he’d already lost to Kenn at least once, and she slid toward the targets, impatient. Why couldn’t they all grow up?
Jeff opened his mouth to keep the insults flying and Angela pulled her gun. She opened fire an instant later, silencing the fight.
The targets were set along the far wall, pinned to the triple-stacked hay bales and for a minute, there was only the muffled thud, whack of her shots landing.
Most of the Eagles in the tent had frozen, some going for their guns. When Angela lowered her weapon, they remembered how to breathe.
Her fingers flew over the hot metal, replacing the rounds fast in her annoyance, and those in her line of fire quickly cleared it as she got set for round two.
Lids shut this time, she pulled the trigger gently. None of those watching noticed the new arrivals to the tent.
The gun test had three parts; straight shooting, quick-fire shooting, and blindfolded shooting.
Angela removed the expended rounds, gaze going expectantly to the blindfold lying on the gun table and then to Kenn.
Kenn wanted to refuse, but her icy words sank into his humiliation.
“Do your duty or someone else will.”
It got his feet moving and the Eagles crowded around when he stepped behind her with the blindfold held out between both hands like a weapon.
Gun ready, Angela still felt uneasy when he carelessly wrapped it around her.
“On my mark.”
A sullen order, it eased the tension a bit.
“Go.”
Angela opened fire.
“She’s a natural born leader.”
Marc left the tent before the call, but the cheer behind them echoed loud and clear. “I know.”
He and Adrian had come from the trucks, both eager for the shooting tests. Observing was almost as good as participating. Some of these people were amazingly gifted.
Like Angie.
“It doesn’t have to be this way.”
“Yeah.”
