by Gwen Cole
The rain kept falling from the sky, and I couldn’t stop trembling.
Even so, a smile still itched along my lips when two men came out of the woods, but the look on Dersa’s face made my lips fall short. He stormed out of the forest and onto the road, walking straight towards me with a strict determination. The look in his eyes made me shrink back against the truck, but I had nowhere to hide.
“Pick her up!” he shouted over the rain, but I could still hear the venom in his voice. My heart began to throb within my chest as he came closer.
The man closest to me grabbed my arm and yanked me to my feet. My knee screamed in protest from being under weight, but there was nothing I could do but try to stay conscious. My eyes searched franticly for a way of escape, but they only landed on a soldier whose back was turning away from me, not wanting to watch what was about to happen. And I recognized him; the same soldier who put a stop to his fellow soldier who was going have his fun with me in the woods.
It didn’t look like he was going to help again.
My sight of him was blocked just as Dersa’s fist punched my jaw, snapping my head to the side. My whole head vibrated and my eyes stung as I squeezed them shut. Tears brimmed, but I wouldn’t let them escape. I would have fallen to the ground from the blow but the soldier who was clung to my arm held me up so Dersa could do it again.
The second was worst than the first, hitting the same place over again. His fist came away bloodied after the second blow and I couldn’t seem to breathe. The hand around my arm disappeared and I slumped to the ground in a blurry haze, unable to stand on my own.
Dersa turned again towards the forest, fuming with anger. “You can blame yourself for what’s going to happen to her!” he shouted. His voice echoed through the trees but there was no response.
I shivered as I laid unmoving on the wet road. With my face pressed into the grimy earth there was no denying that I was scared of what was going to happen to me. My life was spiraling downward and I had no control over it. It was a horrible feeling. A frightening one.
Dersa turned back, facing his wide-eyed soldiers, now realizing he had acted out. He put on a placid face, hiding his sudden outbreak.
“Put her in the back and let’s move out,” he said.
One of the soldiers looked passed him into the woods and asked, “Where’s Hadenson?”
“He’s dead,” Dersa growled as he jumped into the truck cab, slamming the door behind him.
My thoughts were in a daze as the truck bounced down the road; it was as if they were trying to hit the potholes. I wouldn’t have complained if they had decided to knock me unconscious. The blood from my knee was soaking through the cloth and was making a small puddle of red on the floor. I didn’t know why I hadn’t yet.
What I thought was about twenty minutes later, the truck slowed to a stop, and two soldiers brought me back out into the rain. It didn’t make a difference because I was still shaking. We were standing in front of an old factory that they transformed into an outpost right off the main road. I felt lightheaded as I stood there looking at the building that I would probably die in. I wanted to hurl. The rope dug into my skin as I strained against my bonds as they dragged me forward.
They led me inside. I could feel warm blood running down my legs dragged behind me, leaving a crimson trail like some sort of zombie. The pain was now numbing my brain, leaving me in a dreamlike state that I wasn’t going fight against.
It was better this way . . . feeling nothing instead of everything.
We entered a big storage room with a high ceiling, now with computers set on top of crates and boxes. There were soldiers everywhere; crowded around computer screens and in dark corners smoking cigarettes. There were others cleaning their rifles and taking short naps before they had to leave again.
Dersa dismissed the soldiers still following behind us but the soldier to my right hesitated before leaving. Dersa’s eyes followed him, making sure the soldier was going to leave before taking me farther in into the building, half dragging me along, making me stumble after him.
We went into another room that was being used as a mechanics shop. Men were working on trucks and others were welding, sending sparks and fumes into the air. A few people looked as we entered, but most just ignored me. I think I liked it better that way.
He led me away past everyone, behind a few big vehicles and it made my skin crawl. We were alone behind the large trucks and I didn’t want it to be that way. My voice wanted to shout out for someone, but who would come? Nobody here cared about what happened to me.
Dersa looped another rope through my already tied hands and secured it to a pole in the center of the small room. He was forcing me to stand, but I tried to not put any weight of my leg, using the metal post behind me as support. I silently hoped he would punch me enough so I would black out. To send me to a place far away from here. But I had a feeling he wasn’t going to let me off so easily.
“I’m going to make this simple for you,” Dersa said in his rough voice. “If you don’t answer my questions, I’m going to hurt you.”
I thought about it, and figured I was already a goner.
“Well, prepare to be disappointed,” I answered, trying to smile.
He backhanded me hard across my cheek. My eyes were to the point of watering, but I held them in. I looked into his eyes again and said, “You must have made a lot of mistakes out there to allow one person to get past your radar. What a shame.”
He stepped closer so he was right in front of me. He smelled of cigarettes with a mixture of aftershave, and I felt dirty just being close to him. I decided on the spot to aggravate him more. “And you just made another mistake.”
He looked at me curiously. “And what would that be?”
“Getting too close,” I answered, kneeing him in the groin with my good leg. It was almost too much pain for me to bare, leaning on my bad leg, even if it was only for a moment. But it worth it, seeing him doubled over and pounding the floor with his fist, his face contorted with rage. It was probably a stupid thing to do in my position, but I didn’t give a crap at this point.
Once he had composed himself again he stood and faced me with a knife in his hand. It seemed to appear from nowhere. The light glinted off the long blade, causing the fear in me to rise.
“If you don’t answer this next question,” he said, shrugging, “well, I’ll let your imagination decide what will happen.”
My stomach tensed and my hands started to shake. I couldn’t feel the air temperature, but I shivered without knowing if it was cold or hot. Right then, I guiltily wished West would come for me. Some things I just didn’t want to handle myself; some things I couldn’t. This was one of those couldn’t times. I knew I was being selfish and wished I wasn’t.
“Dersa!” His eyes tightened and the knife disappeared into his sleeve. He turned around to face the man who had come up behind him.
“Sir?”
The older man walked up to him and surveyed the scene. His eyes narrowed as his gaze drifted over me in a not-so-friendly way.
“Maybe you could enlighten me, Dersa, to what your job description is here? If I recall, you were hired to track our targets, not to torture answers out of them. Am I correct?”
“Yes, sir.” His voice was tight.
“That’s what I thought,” he said. “Now, do us both a favor and do your job.”
Dersa bent down to pick up his jacket but as he did he threw me a glare. After he had left, the older man walked forward and studied me like something he had won in a bet. I wanted to hit him for it.
“So, you’re the one who helped our little traitor escape. How very interesting.” He didn’t sound very interested. Another soldier came around the corner and waited behind the older man.
“You did good today, Private. I’m going to make sure you are promoted to Corporal by the end of the week.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Put her in the back,” the older man said waving his hand i
n my direction, “and make sure you have someone look at that leg. We need her alive.”
“Yes, sir.”
He left and I was alone with the soldier. He wouldn’t look at me as he came forward and untied the rope that was holding me to the pole. He supported most of my weight as he led me to the back of the building. I felt myself becoming weaker every step of the way; my lifeline slowly draining away in drops of red.
We stopped before a single room with a heavy door, equipped with a metal latch on the outside. He set me down on the floor inside and untied my hands. I watched his face as he did and when his eyes finally glanced up they reminded me of West’s, except different. They were . . . softer somehow.
I was almost sure he was West’s brother.
“Is your name, Devon?”
He stood up unperplexed and nodded. “Yeah.”
He glanced back at the open door then shut it quietly. Devon looked similar to his brother but he was bigger, unlike West who was smaller and more slender. I was confused to why he was here. I didn’t think the army would let him anywhere near to where his brother might be, in risk he might decide to turn against them, too. Then the answer was obvious.
“They don’t know you’re related to him, do they?” He shook his head, staring at the ground again. “So why are you here?”
He smirked at me like I didn’t already know. “Do you really think I wouldn’t help my own brother?”
“Of course not, but West wasn’t sure how you would feel towards what he did. Wasn’t sure if you would support him or not.”
He shifted his weight and sighed. “I didn’t at first. I was angry that he would turn against us like that. But I wasn’t thinking about the reasons behind his actions, I was to caught up in what other people thought was right, and not my own.
“I’m sure he doesn’t know this,” he said, “but he’s changed a lot of people’s thinking about this war. I’m seeing it everywhere, soldiers disobeying orders and some even leaving. The army is trying to control it, but there are too many to handle. It’s spreading more and more each day.”
“You mean people are changing? Just from what he did?”
“He seems like he started it all. His one act against us had more of an impact than anything that has happened since. He did what he thought was right, and it’s bringing people to their senses. And now, some people are starting to believe that this war was all a mistake.”
I couldn’t help but smile after thinking of the conversation that West and I had had.
“What?” he asked.
“A few days ago West was wondering why the army was so concerned about a lone runaway soldier. But I told him maybe they thought of him more than that. I guess I was right. He had more of an impression than he had thought.”
“Well, you are right. The army wants to find him badly to make an example out of him.”
“Well, at least I’m here instead of him.” I meant it, too.
“I’m sorry about that. I really am. I hate seeing the things they’re doing to you and can’t do anything to stop it.” I knew by the tone of his voice that he really was sorry. “I had no idea that he was traveling with someone.” Devon glanced at the door. “I have to leave, they’ll become suspicious if someone sees me in here. I’ll send someone to look at your knee.”
He left and I laid against the cold wall, finally able to release my built up tears now that nobody was around to see them.
I wasn’t sure how much longer I could hold them in.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
I could barely move my leg because it was so stiff. When I did try to move it, it just bled more and hurt beyond imagination. So I just sat against the wall. Somebody had come and wrapped a new piece of cloth tightly around it but nothing else. I guess they didn’t care if I ever walked again, they just didn’t want me to bleed to death yet.
There was a small window near the top of my room, and I could still hear the rain pounding down outside. It pattered the ground in a way that always seemed to make me tired. Hours went by at a grueling pace, and not having a watch only made it worse. A single hour might have passed when I thought it had been three. There was no way of knowing, especially without the sun.
I hadn’t seen Devon again since he brought me here. I had thought—and maybe hoped—he would come back, but never did.
The only thing that kept me happy was the fact they still hadn’t found West. I hadn’t seen Dersa again either, which was another good thing. I never wanted to see that man ever again. The guards outside my doors probably had orders to keep him away, but it also meant he was out looking for West. Which was something I also didn’t want.
When evening finally came, after my long and painful day, the guards opened my door again. Their bodies were silhouetted against the hall light making them look bigger than they really were. It wasn’t a welcoming sight to say the least.
“Mr. Kothem would like to speak with you,” one of them said, giving me a half smile—not a friendly one. They moved into my room and towered over me like hulking giants.
They pulled me up from my place in the corner and tied my hands again behind my back. They were purposely rough as the rope was tightened around them, causing me to clench my jaw. They dragged me between them down the halls. Every moment was a knife in my knee and by the time it was over, my eyes were stinging with tears.
We entered another small, dimly lit room and they set me down in a chair that was placed in front of a desk with the same older man behind it, who I assumed was Mr. Kothem. The same man who stopped Dersa from going to far with his knife. My guards stood on either side of me while Mr. Kothem sat writing like I didn’t exist.
It bothered me beyond reason.
“You may leave us,” he said, not looking up.
“But, sir—”
“I said leave.” He looked up at the soldier who had spoken. “I don’t think she’s going anywhere, even if she did manage to stand, she isn’t going to do much harm without her hands.”
They left without another word, shutting the door behind them. Mr. Kothem shuffled some more papers, my patience dwindling with every one. My knee was irritated by the way it was bent but I wasn’t able to move it. It was like an itch that couldn’t be scratched, except it hurt—a constant blinding pain.
“I need to know if you have any idea where he might be.” He finally glanced up from his oh-so-important papers.
Did he really think I would tell him? He asked the question like I would without a doubt. Well, he was in for some disappointment.
“You know I won’t tell you that, even if I did know.”
He shrugged that it wasn’t a big deal. “I figured you wouldn’t, but I had to try, didn’t I?” He gave me a smile but it was fake. When he saw that I wasn’t going to return the gesture he dropped it. “What’s your name?”
I didn’t answer.
“You’re not in any position to not answer my questions,” he said. “If you would prefer Dersa to be the one asking the questions, that won’t be a problem. I’m sure he would be more than happy to continue where he left off. But I, on the other hand, will just kill you. I don’t have much reason to keep you alive if you won’t answer questions. Unless there’s a chance that he will come for you but even if he does, he won’t get those these doors alive.”
“He won’t come after me,” I heard myself say.
Mr. Kothem sighed as he pull a drawer open and placed a pistol on top of his desk, leaving it there between us.
“Just answer my question,” he said. He fingered the trigger while it rested on the wood, pointing towards me. His eyes were cold as they stared into mine. “What is your name?”
My heart started to race. I could very well die in this room. He played with the trigger again, and a bead of sweat rolled down the side of my face. My knee was aching and causing my head to throb, making me extremely uncomfortable. I didn’t want to give in, but what was the harm in telling him my name? My name had nothing to do with the whereabouts of
West. And maybe it would keep me alive a little while longer.
“Reese,” I answered, gritting through my teeth. “My name is Reese.”
He smiled again and took his hand away from the weapon.
“That’s better.” Mr. Kothem took a drink of his coffee and took his sweet time doing it. “Were you the one who killed those four men in the clearing the day he escaped?”
I ground my teeth, not wanting to answer his questions. I saw his eyes drift towards the gun again and my heart pounded, but it wasn’t a normal steady beat. I was feeling weak, not mentally weak, but physically weak. I was feeling cold, but there was sweat rolling down my face. He had more power over me than I would have thought.
I felt ashamed of myself.
“No,” I said, “only two.”
He was silent for a while, just staring me down. “Where were you headed before you were separated from him?”
This was a question I would not answer. If West did go on without me, he would be in even more danger if I told the army which direction to look.
So I lifted my head, looking him in the eye. “You know I won’t answer that.”
“But you do know . . . don’t you?” He smiled again. His eyes drifted down to his papers, ignoring me once again. “You know, you don’t have to die. I have people here that could look after your knee, to make it possible for you to even walk again.”
“No, thanks.”
His mouth pressed into a thin line, hating my stubbornness. “Well, I can see you aren’t up for answering questions tonight. Perhaps you will be in a few days after you’ve had no food.” He looked at the door. “You may come in now.”
The guards returned and Mr. Kothem smiled again.
“Please return Reese, to her room.”
“Yes, sir.”
They picked me up from the chair and started to leave when Mr. Kothem held up his hand. “And Adams, make sure you make her feel welcome before the day is over.” He never looked at me again as we left, and the guards smiled at his command.
Only minutes later the two soldiers threw me into my room and shut the door behind them. I landed on the hard concrete and just laid there, heaving in the cold air that seared my lungs. My hands strained against the rope holding them together as the soldiers came closer, but it was no use. I could do anything to stop them.
