Surviving Until The End

by Vera Quinn

  Then I see the electrical tape and duct tape. I grab them. Not sure why but they can be used in a lot of situations. Then I see the edge of a small box underneath the last shelve near the floor. I squat down and pull it out. It is a small metal box but there is a place for a small key. I try to open it and it won’t open. I run my hand on the box and try to see if it is taped to the box. Nothing. I remember when I was little and if Pop locked something up, he hung the key on the wall somewhere, so he wouldn’t lose the key. I look around the walls of the closet and nothing. I walk out and into the kitchen and start looking over the walls. Nothing.

  I open the cabinet door where the dishes are, and there it is. I take it down and go back to the closet. I pick up the box and go back to the table in the kitchen. I insert the key and open the box. There is a small twenty-two caliber pistol, semi- automatic. My Ma has one just like it, she calls it her purse gun. It strikes me odd that the men would have this at their hunting cabin, but I am glad they do. I have used my Ma’s repeatedly. It’s one of the cheapest hand guns that you can target practice with. There are two boxes of bullets to go with it. I expel the clip from it and make sure the chamber is empty. Everything seems alright with it. I reload it, but I don’t put one in the chamber, and then I get up and put the gun and shells in my duffel. I lock the box back and return the key.

  Now I know Brody should be away from the cabin, so I go back to the bathroom. I open the medicine cabinet and take any kind of medicine I can find. There’s not much. Some Tylenol, alcohol wipes, Band Aids, and I find some rubber bands. I stick all this on the side of the cabinet and then turn and get the water going. It feels nice and hot. I take the t-shirt off and put it on the cabinet and find a clean wash cloth and a towel. I put the towel on the cabinet and bring the wash cloth with me, as I get in the shower. I can finally relax a few minutes and let this hot water take the kinks out of my shoulders. I try to relax. I really do but my mind strays.

  My mind goes back to last night. The way Brody made me feel cherished and valued right up until we both found our release. I have never felt so loved and the physical release was the first with a man. I have masturbated before, but it felt nothing like Brody made me feel.

  My first time at sex was wham bam thank you ma’am, but never talk to me again. Last night I could almost fool myself that Brody might have true feelings for me. Not the fairy tale kind of happily ever after, but the real feelings between a man and a woman. I had been having doubts about my ability to walk away from Brody because I have strong feelings for him. I think I am half way in love with the man, but how does that make sense, since we just met a couple of days ago? I was having mixed emotions and feeling confused but when he went right back to what would happen starting this morning. He was right back to business and all the warm feelings he had given me slipped away with each word. It was mind blowing sex, but Brody made me aware that he is way out of my league. I came on to him and this is my fault, not his. He tried to warn me, and I should have taken it to heart instead of ignoring it. I got exactly what I asked him for, one night, and it will be enough. The memory is seared into my body and mind. I don’t know why I didn’t think of a condom. Because when it comes to men, I have no idea how to handle any situation.

  I hate being bossed around but I love when Brody took control. The mention of the morning after pill put my teeth on edge. I did not plan on getting pregnant, but I did mean to have sex with Brody and I should have thought that out a little more. I believe every woman has control of her body, but I believe if I did get pregnant, it is my fault for not thinking of protection and my responsibility to care and love that child. The morning after pill, in my opinion, should not be used as birth control. In some situations, it is right, and women always have the right to choose those times. This is not one for me. I know when I walk out this door I will not see Brody again and that will be alright. I don’t have his address, but he told me his cousin works for the Wood County Sheriff’s Department. I can send the money for everything I borrow back in care of the Sheriff’s Department. I also have his cousin’s name and I can make a trip back through their hometown after I have Faith with me and then we’ll drop the gun off. I am brought back out of my thoughts when the water starts to cool off. I wash and condition my hair quickly and then turn the water off. I reach for the towel I sat out and try to get all the dripping water out of my hair and then I dry off my body and put on my panties and bra and then the clothes I brought in here for me. I will put the sweats over my shorts before I leave. I take the bar of soap and wrap it in a wash cloth and then dry the bottles of shampoo and conditioner. I lay them all on the cabinet. I put on some of the men’s deodorant that I found last night and then sit it on the counter. I brush out my hair and put two rubber bands in it, so it will stay up. I hang my towel over the shower to dry. I make sure everything is wiped clean. I take the rest of the stuff to the duffle bag and pack it all in there. I walk back to the kitchen and clean everything up. I take a bottle water out of the refrigerator and put it in the freezer while I clean everything else up. I notice a box of matches by the stove.

  I wash up the dishes and then I open one more can of fruit and drain part of the juice off. I make myself eat it. It’s not very appetizing, but I am eating so I can keep my energy up for this hike. Unlike Brody, I am not sure of my way out of here. I reach for the box of matches and decide to go ahead and grab the can opener too. I am finished in here. I go back to the backroom and get my duffle bag. I dig in one of the storage tubs that had the paper and pen and games in it and bring out the paper and pen. I write out an I.O.U. for the stuff I am taking and tell them I will return the twenty-two. I also write out a note for Brody. I have tears in my eyes by the time I am finished but I push myself to get out of here. I put the sweats on and push them up to my knees. It’s already getting warm outside. I grab the duffel and put pen and paper in it and then grab the two notes and go back to the kitchen and put the two notes in the middle of the table. I grab my bottle of water and put on top of everything making sure to keep it away from the paper. I close the top of the duffle and then go outside and flip the breaker to the water pump. Then I return to the house and switch off all the breakers. I grab the duffel and lock the door on my way outside. I see a machete in the side of one of the trees. I go and take it out of the tree which is no easy feat. I feel the edge of the machete. It’s not the sharpest but it is not dull either. I will need this going through the woods. I can ditch it or stuff it in my bag when I get to the highway. I look one more time at the cabin that I spent the night with Brody in.

  My Ma always said be careful what you wish for, and I guess I just learned that lesson the hard way. This cabin will always hold some of the best and some of the worst memories of my life. That sounds awful after what I have been through with the Hell Keeperz, but they could never touch my heart. I will take physical pain any day to the kind of pain I hold inside now. I turn my back to the cabin and head in an angular direction from Brody. The highway must be that direction, I am just going to come out on a different part of the highway, I see the path that Brody took, but hope like hell I avoid Brody and his friends and family.

  Chapter 11

  Brody

  It takes me longer than I thought it would to hike out of the woods and make it back to the highway. I step out on the highway away from the woods and put the battery back in the phone and call Kaden. I wait for an answer.

  Kaden answers, “Wood County Sheriff Kaden Samms. How can I help you?”

  “You can tell me why no one has bothered to come find my ass.” I know Kaden can hear the irritation in my voice.

  “Is this Brody? You are breaking up.” I walk further out in the road.

  “Is that better?”

  “Yeah, much. I thought Rebel would have picked you up. We were slammed with a fire, a plant explosion, and a murder. I am running on two hours of sleep here. Sorry man, if I had known Rebel wasn’t covering your ass, I would have been there. Where are you?” I take a
deep breath and try to get a hold on my anger. I know if Kaden was able, he would be here. He doesn’t even know my location and I am annoyed at him. I am worried about Charity being at the camp by herself and I am taking my frustration out on Kaden.

  “I didn’t mean to snap, it has been a long few days. I walked through the woods from our old hunting camp. I am on 515 right now. I need you to grab my four-wheelers so that we can go back and pick up a woman. I need to get her to the Demented Revengers clubhouse. I fueled them up before I put them in the shed behind my house. The extra keys are where they usually are. I need something to drink.” I don’t want to forget anything. “I will be under the shade of the trees, back out of the way. You won’t be able reach to me. I don’t want anyone tracking this phone.”

  “Can you give me a clue where on 515? Any part of that highway can take you back to the camp.” Kaden is right. I look around. Then I see something that is useful. “Due south of here you can see the very top of Mr. Potter’s feed siloes and to the east is that pond we always snuck into to fish when we stayed out here. I think it is Mrs. Sadie that owns it now.”

  “Are you sure about your directions?” I laugh at that.

  “Yes, asshole. The same men taught me that taught you. I checked out the moss on the trees and the position of the sun. Going radio silent.” I know Kaden is trying to lessen the anxiety I am feeling but until we have Charity safe it is not happening.

  “Lie low Brody, I have a feeling that all our activity in the county is all tied to the Hell Keeperz MC.” I have the same feeling.

  “Roger that. I’m out.” I turn the phone off and take the battery out. I would destroy the phone, but it may be useful. I don’t think a prospect would have essential information, but there are some contact numbers that can be used. I walk back to the shade of the trees and stoop down, so it is harder for me to be seen. I hear the rumble of motorcycles and the thought that Kaden contacted Rebel but as the sounds get louder my gut tells me to move further into the woods. I look around at the trees and then I see a couple of trees down and that is going to be the best cover I am getting and still be able to see what is going on. I bend down and make sure my shot gun can’t be seen. I see the Hell Keeperz MC cuts on the bikers and they slow down but never stop. They were eyeing the woods closely, so I hope Kaden gets here sooner rather than later. I dig down and get comfortable. I hear when the bikes turn around and make their way back and they slow down again. If there wasn’t five of them I would confront them, but I am the only defense between them and Charity. The back bike is going slower than the others and I get a license number off his bike. I pick up a stick and write the number in the soft dirt, that way I don’t forget. They go further up the road in the opposite direction than before and again I get one tag number of another bike and I write it down. This time I hear the bikes rumble and they pick up speed. It sounds as if they are leaving but I don’t trust that at all. I stay put and wait. I didn’t remember to cover my tracks, but I am not moving to do it now. I don’t know how long I stay sitting this way until I hear the sirens. Before I can see the police cars I hear another motorcycle start and speed off in the opposite direction than the sirens are coming from. I will never ignore my gut feeling again. I stay where I am until I can’t hear the motorcycle and then I get up and I see that Kaden has brought company with him. When I step out of the woods I hear the rumble of bikes again. Kaden stops and backs his vehicle up. He leaves it in the middle of the road and exits his door with a bottle of water in his hand. “The Hell Keeperz riders where just here and they may be returning.” Kaden is shaking his head. One of the officers in another car gets out and there is another SUV behind it with my four-wheeler trailer hitched to the back of it. I hear the bikes getting closer. Kaden motions for the car behind him to pull up next to him and then he looks at me.

  “Which direction did they go?” I pointed to the direction they went, and the patrol car speeds off in that direction. I finally see the bikes coming down the road and I can make out Rebel in the front. The bikes stop behind the trailer and Kaden makes his way over to me and hands me the water. He takes me in from head to toe. “Isn’t that my shirt?” I laugh.

  “I got it at the hunt camp. I have some tag numbers written behind those fallen trees. Two of the motorcycle tags, so maybe me can find out some of the people in the Hell Keeperz MC.” Kaden walks over behind the trees and he bends down to write the numbers down. Rebel makes his way over to us.

  “Why haven’t you text me? I was worrying my ass off before Kaden called. What the hell went on after I left and where is that woman?” Rebel is straight to the point.

  “I did text you, but I received a text back from Cap saying to lay low for a while. When I noticed where I was I knew that the hunt camp we went to when we were kids was in walking distance, so I ditched the car, and Charity and I hoofed it through the woods. We spent the night at the camp and then I walked out this morning, so I could get help. I have checked for messages off and on, so I figured something was up with the phone. When I got to the highway I called Kaden and he brought the four-wheelers that way I can go back in and get Charity.” I take a drink of the water Kaden brought me.

  “Something is going on with Cap’s phone. He said he didn’t even text us the night we were snatched out of the diner. Not only that but hell has broken loose. The diner we were taken from burnt to the ground and Neldan was found with his throat cut.” I stop and think about what Rebel has said. Kaden walks up behind me.

  “Have you replaced your phone since you have been back?” I look at Rebel as I ask him. I see a car has pulled up beside Kaden’s cruiser. I see it is Mrs. Sadie’s. Kaden walks out to her car and she rolls her window down. I can’t hear them, so I go back to the conversation with Rebel. “I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before, but it sounds like someone has cloned some of our phones and they are spoofing Cap’s phone. He needs to get that phone to an IT person.” I look at Rebel “That isn’t cheap. Whoever is leading the Hell Keeperz MC has some deep pockets and they have someone that knows technology. The people involved with this, if they don’t have temporary burner phones, then the phones need to be checked and every phone needs to be checked for the latest apps uploaded to it. I’ll have Tyler get started on that when I get back to town. He is our IT guy and he has used the apps for doing the spyware. We use it sometime trying to track a fugitive.” Kaden walks over by where we are standing.

  “This just keeps getting better. We need to pick up that woman from your camp and then we need everyone back to the clubhouse. Cap is meeting us there. Cap’s had to call in some backup. We have people coming in from out of town and hopefully with a fresh perspective they will see something we have overlooked.” More people brought into this could be more people hurt by it. I look at Kaden for his response to that.

  “Rebel, anyone that is brought in from somewhere else still needs to follow the laws. We are not going to have a blood war in our small towns. This needs to be contained.” Kaden is firm with what he is saying. Rebel is not accepting what Kaden is saying. Rebel stiffens his stance and faces Kaden.

  “Sheriff, we all have family in our small towns. How do you like your sons being able to buy drugs at school? Do you trust Laura to go to the grocery store with your sons without having someone watching out for them? What about Jilly when she is in town? How about Charlie and Mrs. Gladys? Do you lose sleep because you are worrying about your family? What about kidnapping, killing and arson going on in your county? We all need to work together and quit fighting against each other. This needs to stop now!” Rebel’s voice has raised since he started his tirade. I know Kaden’s hands are tied and he is in a tough situation. Kaden being the Sheriff, is used to doing things by the letter of the law, this time it is just not possible. He has a choice to make. He has said that he has made his choice but now he needs to prove it. Kaden looks at me.

  “Let’s get this woman out of here and get the county vehicles out of the middle of the roads. Mrs. Sadie sa
id old man Potter is going to have feed deliveries for his silos. I swear these people out here know everyone’s business.” Kaden says in a calm voice. I know Kaden and the Demented Revengers are going to butt heads many times while we are hunting the Hell Keeperz MC. Kaden looks at the deputy. “Get those four-wheelers unloaded.”

  “Did Charity give you anything that you think we can use or give you a lead on a name?” Rebel asks me.

  “No, she didn’t. By the time we arrived at the camp we had time to shower, eat and then I left before she was even up this morning. The longer it takes us to get back to her the more I become nervous. What if the Hell Keeperz went in from another direction?” I tell Rebel. I have a bad feeling and I know it has to do with Charity. I walk over and pick up my shot gun and walk back over by Rebel.

  “Are you still believing what she told us? I think she was feeding us just enough truth to gain our trust. She knows more and as soon as we get her back to the clubhouse she is going to tell us.” Rebel has the same gut feeling I do.

  “The only thing I can tell you is that her story did not change the entire time we were together, and I don’t think that she is going to willingly stay at your clubhouse.” I hear the four-wheelers start up and it is not long before the deputies have them to us. I mount the first one and put my shotgun in the rifle holder. “When we get there do not forget Charity has a shotgun.”