Escape: The Wasteland Chronicles Book Two

by Rashad Freeman

  Tim shuffled past Maddox and leaned around the corner to get a better look. Just as he did, the sound of a gunshot crackled into the air. The two men skidded to a stop. They turned on their heels and ran back to the wall.

  Tim and Maddox both ducked to the ground. Tim could feel his heart thundering in his chest. It beat so loud he was certain the other sniper could hear it.

  “Come on out!” Mark yelled. “It’s clear. I told that asshole I’d find him.”

  Tim breathed a sigh of relief and shuffled to his feet and smiled. Maddox stood up and quickly ran back around the wall cautiously rounding the corner. Tim followed him, checking his back for the other two gunmen.

  Maddox immediately grabbed the bags and slung them over his back. He waited for Tim to catch up and then started moving towards the trees.

  “Keep coming!” Mark yelled. “I got you covered.”

  They moved across the field as fast as they could. They half expected to be shot at any moment. As they crossed into the tree line Tim fell to the ground in pain.

  “Get up old man, you look like shit,” Mark said as he extended his arm.

  Tim flashed a faint smile then groaned. Maddox stepped in between them and turned to Mark.

  “We can’t leave the other two out there. They’ll follow us,” he said.

  “Well look at you growing some balls,” Mark chuckled. “Okay, Tim since you’re so damn comfortable why don’t you just keep laying there. Maddox and me will go shake the bushes.”

  ~~~**~~~

  Bullets hit with an awful shrieking sound, splitting the rock just to the left of Lenny. Dust and bits of debris shattered into the air. Rattled but unharmed, Lenny scampered to his feet, leaving his gun on the ground.

  Rebecca rushed forward and took aim with her pistol. “Drop that thing kid, before you kill all of us!” she yelled.

  In front of her was a nine year old boy who’d just pissed his pants. He was shaking and tears were streaming down his face. His eyes shifted between Lenny and Rebecca as if he wasn’t sure which one would kill him first.

  Lenny was still in shock. He stood staring at the boy with his mouth wide open, his face contorted in abashment. This was exactly the type of situation he wanted to avoid.

  The boy dropped the rifle then collapsed to the ground in tears. Rebecca quickly kicked it away and stepped backwards. She kept her gun pointed him, but there was a sense of relief in her face.

  “What’s your name?” she asked. “And where the hell did you come from?”

  The boy didn’t respond right away. Sobbing, he slowly lifted his head and stared into her eyes. “My…my name.”

  “Hey!” someone yelled from behind them.

  Lenny turned just in time to see a muzzle flash. Bullets ripped past him and he dove to the ground and started to roll. Broken pieces of rock exploded into dust.

  Someone else had made it up the incline, the woman that had been in the lead. She stood at the edge of the plateau firing like someone possessed. She swung back and forth screaming obscenities at the top of her lungs.

  Rebecca darted forward and tackled the boy, falling on top of him. They landed behind a rock and tucked into a ball. Lenny rolled behind a cluster of thick bushes and started to scuffle backwards. He left his rifle behind as he made it for the cave.

  Suddenly, the crackle of another gun went off and the woman stopped shooting. Lenny lifted his head and looked up. Through the smoke and the dimming light he could see her pause and lower her rifle slightly.

  She staggered and then keeled over near the edge of the plateau. Her hands clutched her stomach. Her head was bent forward towards the ground. With a blood churning groan she fell to her knees and dropped her gun.

  Crimley slowly emerged from the mouth of the cave, the ancient rifle held firmly in his aged hands. Lenny looked back at him and nodded his head thanking God the old man had been back there.

  “Mom!” a voice called out as three more figures rose up from the valley.

  The younger man dropped his rifle and rushed to the fallen lady. He slid beside her, catching her in his arms. He wiped the hair out of her face and pressed his hand over her stomach.

  “It’s gonna be okay.” he whispered to her. “Help me! Somebody help me!”

  Behind him, the older man looked nervously back and forth between Lenny and Rebecca. His gun was lowered and he seemed unsure of what to do. He didn’t move until the taller, dark-skinned man grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back.

  “Stay behind me sir.” he said firmly.

  Marching forward he pointed his gun at Lenny. He scowled angrily and even though the sun had set Lenny could see the menace in his face.

  Crimley rushed towards them with his rifle tucked into his shoulder. “Drop it damn it. Drop that gun,” Crimley yelled.

  “No can do old man.” the tall man responded calmly.

  “Benjamin, maybe it’s best if we just leave now,” the older man mumbled to him.

  “Sir, they shot Wendy and…and what about Drew?”

  “Drop that damn gun!” Crimley yelled again.

  “I already told you, that aint gonna happen!” Benjamin screamed back.

  “What about now?” Rebecca asked and stepped toward him.

  She had the kid by his collar and her pistol pressed against his temple. “Drop the guns, now or I’ll splatter this kid’s brains all over this fucking rock.”

  “Oh my God, Drew!” the older man gasped. “Benjamin do what they say. Do it now!”

  Benjamin quickly lowered his rifle and let it fall to the ground. Lenny grabbed his gun and aimed it at Benjamin. He stepped forward and stole a glance towards Rebecca.

  She pulled Drew firmly by his collar with Crimley following behind her. The boy was still in shock and offered little resistance.

  “Please…please don’t hurt him,” the older man pleaded.

  “Crimley, run and find Gloria. Tell her someone’s been shot,” Lenny said.

  Crimley nodded then turned and headed into the cave.

  “What’s your name?” Lenny asked.

  The older man looked at Benjamin. Benjamin shook his head from side to side and narrowed his eyes. He looked back to Lenny and started to stutter then mumbled something under his breath.

  “Hey asshole! Your name, or Drew here is gonna be missing his face!” Rebecca shouted.

  Lenny glanced at Rebecca and raised his eyebrows. Her methods were crude, but they worked.

  “I’m Robert, Robert Grimwold. Please…please just don’t hurt my boy.”

  “We have no intention of hurting anyone. You guys came up here firing at us,” Lenny said defensively.

  “And somehow Wendy’s got a hole in her stomach,” Benjamin replied.

  “That crazy bitch came up here shooting,” Lenny shot back.

  “Don’t call my mom a bitch,” the younger man said, still holding his hand over her stomach.

  “Quiet Scott. I’m sure it was just an accident, all just an accident,” Robert said, trying to calm the situation.

  “Robert, why don’t you gather up all those weapons and make a neat little pile over here,” Lenny pointed. “Slowly.”

  Robert did as he was told. He gathered up all the weapons and stacked them at Lenny’s feet. Then he backed away and held his hands in the air.

  “Now, can you release my son? Please.”

  “Just a second. Who the hell are you people anyway? Where the hell did you come from?” Rebecca asked as she gave Drew another jerk of the collar.

  “Lenny,” Crimley yelled.

  He ran out of the cave with Gloria next to him. Gloria carried a small satchel and took a knee next to the wounded woman.

  “I need to look at it,” she said to Scott.

  “Don’t touch my mom!” he growled and pushed her away.

  “Enough of this shit.” Rebecca said.

  She slung Drew onto the ground then marched towards Scott. With the butt of her handgun she smacked him in the face and he rolled back
wards.

  “Hey!” Benjamin protested.

  “Stay the fuck out of the way,” Rebecca warned, with her gun pointed at him. “Gloria, do what you need to do.”

  Gloria pulled at the woman’s shirt and inspected her wound. She shined a small flashlight on her and under the glow she could see the dark, red blood that was slowly seeping out.

  “Lenny, we need to get her inside now.”

  “Okay. Crimley help her,” Lenny responded. “You,” he said and pointed at Robert. “Tie your friends up with these.” Lenny pulled a wad of plastic zip ties out of his bag and tossed them to Robert.

  Benjamin huffed defiantly and took a step forward. Rebecca confronted him with a demented look on her face. She raised her gun and swung it towards him.

  “It’s okay. It’s okay,” Robert pleaded and began to fasten Benjamin’s hands behind his back.

  Benjamin scowled at Rebecca. She sneered back at him then turned and grabbed Scott. Once they were all secured Lenny ushered them into the cave where Gloria was working on the injured woman.

  ~~~**~~~

  Mark and Maddox quietly made their way back towards the weapons depot. They split up and slowly approached it from opposite sides.

  It was now dusk and there was barely any light shining over the empty field. The towering trees that surrounded the area cast bizarre shadows on the lawn.

  Mark nodded his head at Maddox and then disappeared around the wall. Maddox sighed and moved quickly down the other side. Mark’s idea was to trap the other gunmen in the middle leaving them no choice but to surrender.

  Maddox slowly inched forward, his rifle gripped tightly in his hands. He moved cautiously, fear coursed through his veins like blood.

  He paused as he made it to the corner, wanting to make sure Mark had enough time to get in place. With a few short breaths Maddox spun around the corner and aimed his rifle.

  Mark hadn’t made it there yet, however the two gunmen were huddled near the wall. They’d both removed their masks and looked no older than nineteen.

  One was lying motionless on the ground. The other was leaning over him pressing on his chest desperately trying to resuscitate him. He was too concerned with his friend to even notice Maddox.

  Maddox watched them in silence from the shadows. He was close enough to take the shot, he knew he had to. He had to protect the camp, he had to protect the others from what this man would do, what he was capable of.

  Maddox took a breath and moved closer. He stared through his scope, centering the man’s head in his crosshairs. This was it, just one more step.

  The grass rustled underneath his feet and the man whipped around with a startled look on his face. He didn’t reach for his gun though. Instead he helplessly gazed at Maddox with fear in his eyes.

  Maddox froze. He had been ready to pull the trigger, but it was something about the man’s face that made him pause. He didn’t say a word, but Maddox could feel him pleading for help, calling out to him just as clear as if he’d been screaming.

  The man opened his mouth, but his words were devoured by the sound of Mark’s rifle. His face contorted in a mix between pain and surprise. A spray of mist showered Maddox’s face as he looked on in surprise.

  The man’s head jerked and his eyes clouded. Without a sound he fell forward, face first into the grass.

  Maddox wiped speckles of blood from his cheek and watched as Mark stepped over the other man. He looked down on him and then let off another shot.

  “You can never be too sure,” he mumbled. “Let’s get the fuck out of here.

  CHAPTER 9

  THE ROAD BACK

  Gloria shook her head at Lenny and then looked away. He stared at her thoughtfully, gazing at her blood stained hands. Then he nodded, acknowledging what he had to do next.

  Crimley had been pacing back and forth for the last hour. With a clenched jaw, he shot a glance towards Gloria then stormed off. Gloria watched him leave, her eyes welling with tears.

  “I tried Lenny. I really tried,” she turned and whispered.

  “It’s okay,” Lenny said. “I’ll tell them.”

  He cleared his throat and headed down the tunnel to his left. It was barely five in the morning, but the spiraling maze was showered in brightness. The walls were now lined with make-shift torches that Gloria had hung throughout the cave.

  Lenny counted his steps as he walked, trying to keep his mind off of the task at hand. The previous day had been a long one, with an even longer night. He hadn’t slept yet and wasn’t sure when he’d have the chance.

  It was exactly 182 steps before he made it back to the clearing. The sun hadn’t come up yet, but a small fire near the mouth of the cave illuminated the area just as well.

  Rebecca was standing with her back to him. She was facing Benjamin and the others. Her gun dangled loosely in her hand. Her other hand was on her hip with her weight shifted on her back foot. It was the most girlish pose Lenny had ever seen her pull off.

  As he neared her he coughed loudly to get her attention. Rebecca had been on the edge lately and he didn’t want to become the victim of a misplaced bullet.

  Rebecca turned to face him and smiled. Immediately reading Lenny’s face, her smile faded and she took a deep breath.

  “You okay with this?” she asked as Lenny stepped next to her and placed his hand on her arm.

  “I have to be, right?” Lenny said with a forced smile.

  Winking at Rebecca, Lenny walked past her towards the area where their “prisoners” were being held. As he moved closer Benjamin stood up and stared at him. He was tall and dark-skinned with the face of a warrior. Lenny was sure that even his bald head had a tactical purpose.

  Benjamin’s hands were still zip tied behind his back, yet he somehow managed to project a very threatening image. He stepped in front of Robert like a guard dog, waiting for Lenny to make his next move.

  “How’s my mom doing?” Scott stood up and asked. His left eye was swollen shut and his lip was busted, courtesy of Rebecca’s temper.

  Lenny shifted his gaze to Benjamin and then to Robert. His mouth hung open, the words dangling from his tongue.

  Benjamin already knew what he was going to say before he said it. He slid closer to Scott as Lenny started to speak.

  “We…we tried um to…” Lenny took a breath and swallowed hard. “By the time we got her in she’d just lost too much blood,” Lenny said and stared at Scott blankly.

  “So…is she coming out soon?”

  “Uh…she,” Lenny stuttered and looked to Robert for help. “She’s not um…”

  “She didn’t make it,” Benjamin said flatly.

  “What? No! She was fine, I was just talking to her,” Scott said in confusion.

  “She’s gone. It’s gonna be okay Scott, we’ll make it through this,” Robert said.

  Scott contorted his face, trying to make sense of their words. He started to hyperventilate and then fell to his knees. He leaned forward and let his head fall into the dirt.

  Lenny reached into his pocket and took out a small knife. He walked behind Scott and cut the zip tie that held his hands together. Then he did the same with the rest of them.

  “Don’t try anything,” he mumbled through gritted teeth as he cut Benjamin’s biddings.

  “What the hell are you doing?” Rebecca yelled. “We don’t know these people.”

  “They’re fine. This isn’t a prison and we’re not guards. Just…just watch them,” Lenny ordered and walked off.

  “Lenny this is stupid,” she retorted.

  “Just do it!” Lenny yelled back.

  ~~~**~~~

  “Wake up!” Mark said loudly as he slapped Tim in the face.

  Tim slowly opened his eyes and groaned. Turning his head, he looked around and squinted. They were sitting under an awning on a concrete slab. A long, silver warehouse with several beige garage doors was in front of them.

  “Where…where are we?”

  “Vehicle storage,” Maddox r
esponded.

  “How’d we get here?”

  “I carried your sorry ass that’s how,” Mark said angrily. “You passed out like a girl three miles back.”

  Tim grinned then took a deep breath. He made to stand up, but felt a rush of vertigo and fell back to the ground.

  “You’re not doing so well. Just lay there, I’ll get us a truck,” Maddox said as he caught him by the arm.

  “Good, that’s real good. I thought we uh, we um found when we found it,” Tim mumbled with a blank stare on his face.

  “Yeah you’re losing your shit Tim. Get it together,” Mark demanded.

  Maddox looked at them both and rubbed his face. “I’ll be back,” he said. “Keep an eye on him, he might get a lot worse.”

  “Yeah, you just go find us some damn wheels,” Mark growled.

  Maddox sneered and then ran off towards the warehouse. He stopped outside of one of the towering doors and looked it up and down. It was at least fifteen feet wide and nearly twenty feet high. A silver, heavy duty padlock attached to an iron loop kept it closed.

  Maddox took a step back and fired two rounds into the lock. It fell to the ground with a clunk. Grabbing the chain that hung to the side, he wheeled the door open.

  Sitting on a slab inside was a large military truck. It was green and rusted, but looked to be in good condition.

  Maddox opened the door and crawled into it. He ripped the paneling from the steering column and a bundle of wires fell out. Sliding under the steering wheel he pulled a pocket knife from his waistband. He grabbed the red and a black wire and started to cut way the plastic coating.

  Maddox touched the naked copper together and the lights on the dash flickered. He did it again and got the same result.

  “Damn it,” he muttered to himself.

  Confused, Maddox slid out of the truck and pulled open the hood. He climbed on top of one of the massive tires and looked inside of the engine bay.

  “Dam it!” he yelled and beat his fist on the side.

  The entire engine was missing. It looked like it had been ripped out, leaving loose wires and connectors everywhere.

  Maddox sighed and headed to the next storage unit. There was no vehicle inside, but he found a few half-filled gas canisters. He moved them out of the warehouse and continued his search, unit by unit.