The Fifth

by K. D Rawlingson

  I sat there in complete shock, this poor girl how had she managed to keep it together.

  “After mum, they looked set to start on me, they were taunting me about what they were going to do to me and how they would kill me but before they could a fourth man with glowing red eyes came in. He told the others it was time to go. Something stung my neck and the next thing I know I woke up gagged and tied in that stinking barn.”

  I held her until her sobbing eased, but made a promise to myself and Kayla.

  "Oh, Honey I'm so sorry. I can't believe you had to go through that, they are evil bastards and I swear we will find them and make them pay."

  I didn't ask Kayla if she knew what they looked like, the image of those four men would be forever ingrained in her memory and wherever they were, we would find them. Kayla gave me a massive hug and dried her eyes as best she could with the rain soaking us.

  “Do you know what they want with everyone?”

  “Na just that those big monster things come in once at night with an old lady she makes us line up where the gag is taken off we have a few minutes to drink and eat then she puts the gag back on, if you talk she takes your food and water away and you are left to starve, if you tried to escape then those monster things gave you a punch and you weren’t trying to escape again, you weren’t doing anything again. I haven’t heard a single voice apart from hers in over a week, every second night she takes a few with her and we don’t see them again.

  We couldn’t talk and ask each other what’s going on when they weren’t there because of the gag. Even if they could they are scared to death of those monster things, there is so little food and water most of the people really are half dead.”

  “What did the old lady look like?” I asked changing the subject I hated to think of all those women stuck there in that barn but I had already gone over the idea of saving them all a hundred times and each time the concluding fact is I could only help them if I could actually get them out and as that was not possible just yet. I had to concentrate on what I could do. I had got Kayla next, I would find Sol.

  "She had short curly hair, was about seventy and had an awful grey dress with an apron on top. She looked like she had just stepped out of Downton Abbey."

  I couldn’t help but chuckle at her remark it had been bugging me who Cass reminded me of and Kayla had hit the nail on the head.

  "I don't think she was human though, as her eyes would glow red when she got angry and the little old lady persona would vanish."

  “Her name was Cass.” I told Kayla “And no I don’t think she was human either.”

  “Was?” Kayla asked confusion in her eyes.

  "Umm yeah, I sort of accidentally killed her when I escaped." I didn't tell Kayla how as I didn't want to freak her out and thankfully she didn't ask.

  “Good” was all she had said.

  Chapter 19:

  The rain wasn't letting up but the sky wasn't as dark as before so, knew that dawn mustn't be far off. If they hadn't already soon, someone would find Cass and notice me missing, I was running out of time. I tried to put together a picture of where we were, from what I had seen so far and it wasn't a lot, there was a big Oast house. There was a barn full of captive women and another one filled with men, the place seemed to be surrounded by fields. I knew there had to be a road because of the gravel driveway but hadn't gone that was so didn't know where it led to. I had yet to look around the back and another side of the building and with my luck that is exactly where Sol would be being held. I feared going back the way we had come from, it was far too risky that I might be spotted especially with two of us but maybe if we went around, across the fields we could take a look and see if there was another barn where the men were kept. I told Kayla my plan.

  “I’m coming with you”

  “Kayla, you don’t have to. I understand if you want to get as far away from this place as possible. But I have to look for Sol I’m sorry.”

  “Sadie, I told you I’m coming with you. We both know I wouldn’t have made it out of there alive if it wasn’t for you.

  “You don’t know that and even if, that were the case it doesn’t mean you owe me anything you could take off and not look back. I wouldn’t blame you.”

  She gave me a look that said I was crazy if I thought she was going to that, and I couldn’t help but be pleased she had decided to stay. I had told myself while lock up in that room alone I would put myself out there a bit more and I meant it. I liked Kayla and was glad she was staying with me.

  I hugged her something I didn't normally do "Thanks, Kayla"

  She smiled and shrugged her shoulders like it was no biggy and we both set off around the edge of the Oast house perimeter, out of the wooded area and back into the torrential rain.

  We walked for ages, both of us were dripping wet and freezing cold and had found nothing apart from fields. Dawn had broken but because of the rain clouds it was still fairly dark, the thunder and lightning had stopped a while back and the fire I had felt inside of me earlier had died down to embers. I could still feel it an ever-present feeling inside me since Cass, swirling around my body but the intensity of it had gone. I knew the pair of us couldn't go on much longer like this. Kayla was in a little dress which had stuck to her where it was so wet. I wasn't doing much better with my ripped t-shirt and jeans and both of us were walking barefooted.

  I was still sore from the lashes I had taken but thankfully I was still healing rapidly and most of the open wounds were now sealed. Kayla tried asking what had happened to me while we walked but soon found that with the wind and rain battering us, we needed everything to just keep walking.

  When we finally found our way around through the many fields to the back of The Master's property and spotted another barn that looked much the same as the one we were held in, I knew it must be the male quarters.

  Just as hope started to fill me, it was firmly squashed back down when I saw the three Hell Hounds pacing the perimeter, as much as I wanted to race over and see if Sol was in there, I had to be careful. I couldn't help him if I got recaptured and I couldn't leave without knowing. I stood there peeking through a hedge knowing there was a possibility that Sol was so close but so far away.

  I looked to Kayla to ask what she thought and her lips were blue, she was shivering so much she looked as if she was going to pass out. As much as it killed me, I knew I had only one real choice I need to get me and Kayla out of this rain and somewhere warm quick. I still had no idea where we were, there was too much open ground between us and the barn and in our condition, we would useless at even getting away from one of those flying beasts let alone fighting all three.

  I knew where this place was now if, I got me and Kayla somewhere safe I could come back here later. I just prayed Sol was in there and he could hold on till then.

  "Come on we need to go"

  I kept my voice low in fear of the Hellhounds hearing. The barn was about five hundred feet away and the noise of the rain would probably drown out any sound we made but I wasn't taking any chances.

  “What, no Sadie you have to see if your brothers in there?”

  “It’s too dangerous I know it and you know it. We’re freezing cold, soaking wet and in no condition to do anything. As much as I hate the thought of leaving we need to get somewhere warm. I will come back later.”

  Kayla scowled at me.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked

  “If we leave now, it will both of us that comes back later. I told you I’m with you, you helped me, I’ll help you. We’re in this together now ok!”

  I knew I was right to like this girl, she was strong and fearless with a damn good heart. I nodded at her that she was right and we quietly made our way back through the fields to find somewhere warm.

  When we were far enough from the Hellhounds I told Kayla about the gravel driveway at the front of the house and that it had to lead to a road. We quickly discussed the possibility of getting caught again but we were out of options. We had
been walking around looking for the barn to find Sol for ages and the only thing we had seen were fields, corn fields, fields ploughed and ready for seeding, cow and sheep fields, cover in shit. We were currently standing in a sea of rapeseed coming up to our shoulders, we had trudged through mud and crap and were fucked. The pair of us were half starved, had been beaten, gagged and tied up, had little clothing on with no shoes. Finding the road was our only option of finding warmth out of this weather. We kept making our way in the direction we thought the road could be in but hopefully far enough from the entrance to the Oast house.

  It wasn’t long before Kayla was so spent that I was half carrying, half dragging her along but I was also drained and with the weight of two of us I just couldn’t manage.

  Kayla tried to get up but we were both just too tired, too wet and too cold. We were in the fucking middle of a sea of yellow when a few lone trees came in sight, somehow, we dragged ourselves there with the last of our strength and huddled under the small canopy. I used some of the crops to cover our body and help keep us warm.

  When the storm had first started I couldn’t have been more thankful but now, that same storm was going to be the death of us. Even though the intensity of it had died down the rain wasn’t letting up. Maybe, if we hadn’t been kept in the condition we had over the last week, we might be in better shape but that wasn’t how things were.

  I looked at Kayla, she was in far worse shape than me. I had a feeling that the magic swirling about my body was helping to keep the edge off and even though I was just as wet, it was the tiredness that was becoming my main problem. I was having a hard time keeping my eyes open. Kayla started muttering about kangaroos, I had no idea what she was talking about as I could only hear every few words and thought it was probably her thinking about being somewhere hot like Australia.

  Tiredness must have finally got the better of us and we drifted off to sleep or maybe passed out from the sheer cold I don't know but, either way, I was woken with rustling nearby. I wanted to be instantly awake but I felt groggy and slow while I tried to wake Kayla. She wasn't responding to my nudges, but I was terrified to speak in case I alerted whoever was nearby to our presents. When my gentle nudges weren't having any effect, I turned my full attention to her. My panic rising that not only could we be caught but that she was not waking.

  At the sight of her purple lips and grey looking skin, I half forgot about the noise and could only see someone else dying in my arms.

  I shook her feverishly and whispered her name in her ear. The grogginess I felt was passing with each second that ticked by.

  “Kayla, Kayla please wake up we have to go.”

  On the third attempt, her eyes fluttered open and I breathed a sigh of relief that she wasn't dead.

  “Sadie I’m so cold, I can’t feel my toes.”

  I looked down at her toes, the rain had washed some of the mud off and her pinkie toe looked as if it was going black. I wasn’t sure if she was going to be able to save it from the frostbite I thought was forming but I knew if I didn’t get her somewhere warm now her feet were going to be the last of her problems. She could go into some kind of hypothermic shock and die.

  The rustling was getting louder and I knew I didn't have the time to get us both away and I wasn't leaving her. The only thing I had left was my magic. I could feel the heat all around my body, some part of me told me that I had opened it up permanently and could reach it anytime I wanted but I didn't know how exactly. In the room with Cass it had been by accident would it work the same now?

  With time running out I slid Kayla round to the back of the tree trunk and covered her with the crops. I stood up and shook my arms, taking a few deep breaths. I could see the long stems of the rapeseed moving aside indicating whoever was coming was now, here. I had no more time to ponder how to access my magic, I closed my eyes took a final deep breath and swung my arms out in front of me. I thought it would be the same as when I had reached my hand out to Cass. I thought lightning or whatever it was would come shooting out but instead, a gush of wind rippled through my fingers and tore the long stems of rape immediately in front of me out the ground and in to the air like missiles, while the rest flattened like a giant had been sat there all day and had just got up.

  The force of it had blown me off my feet and I was sat on my arse a few feet from where I had been stood with my mouth open in surprise. In the middle of the fallen crops sat two people who looked just as stunned as my face must have looked. One of them was a man I recognised, it was Will.

  The other was a dark-haired woman I didn't, but suspected from Sol description it was Sarah. She was dressed like a Navy Seal might dress dark trousers and bomber jacket, her hair was tied in a ponytail. As they got up I noticed her holster and counted three guns on show and was suspecting she had more hidden. She was dressed for combat, was pretty but even from here I could see the hard look on her face that said she wasn't someone you messed with. Will's face changed to one of being shocked, to a big smile. He was dressed far more casually in dark jeans and boots and what looked to be an expensive wax jacket. He was up and at my side in a flash, while I was still sat on my arse surprised by their arrival.

  “Sadie I’m so glad we found you. We have been looking for you for days.”

  Will helped me to my feet and introduced me to Sarah who said Hi and actually smiled at me which took me by surprise, she then turned back to Will.

  “Will we have to hurry Nico’s will be looking for her.”

  Will hushed Sarah and returned his attention back to me.

  “Sadie, we need to get you out of this weather and back to the car do you think you can walk or do you need me to carry you?”

  I was a little surprised he was being this nice considering the last time I had seen him I had knocked him out then, left him to tidy up my mess in a smashed-up kitchen but more than that was how had they found me? Not that I wasn’t extremely grateful it was just I couldn’t be more in the middle of nowhere if I tried.

  “How did you find me?”

  “Your magic”

  My face was probably a picture of surprise, confusion, and worry because that's how I felt.

  “Don’t worry I’ll explain all that later when we have more time, I know your new to the craft but Sarah’s correct lots of nasty people are looking for you we need to hurry, are you hurt?”

  “No, I’m fine but my friend Kayla needs help, she is freezing and keeps going unconscious you need to help her. I think Sols being kept in a barn not far from here but he’s being guarded by Three Hell Hounds and I couldn’t see inside so don’t know for sure. We need to find him and get him out”

  The words rushed out my mouth so quick I wasn’t sure if he heard me.

  “Will did you hear me? I said Sols in trouble” Waving my hand in his face he seemed to snap out whatever he was thinking of.

  “Don’t worry Sadie we’ll find him that’s what Sarah does. Now, show me your friend.”

  I led him to where I had covered over the freezing Kayla, he told Sarah to keep an eye out for trouble and she walked into the clearing I had made to keep watch

  "Kayla, Kayla" I shook her gently to wake her while praying she would be ok.

  Her eyes fluttered open but she looked as if she was staring into an abyss rather than me or Will.

  "We brought some spare clothes. Sarah has them in a bag, quickly go and get them" I left Will with Kayla and ran over to where Sarah was standing when I was about halfway between them both Will shouted, "And tell her all the info you have on Sol."

  I didn't answer back just continued over to where Sarah was. She stood there in a black bomber jacket, combat trousers, and boots. She looked as if the rain wasn't bothering her at all. Her face was set hard as she looked on for any incoming dangers. When I approached she smiled at me and asked: "Everything ok?"

  “Will said you have a bag of spare clothes? And I should tell you where I think Sols being kept.”

  Sarah stripped out her coat and took
off a small backpack that was underneath and handed it to me then put her coat back on while I filled her in with as much information as I could about where Sol was and what was guarding the building.

  “I need to get him out”

  "We will," she said in reply

  We gave each other a nod of the head, a silent promise, agreeing we would find him and by any means possible. Sarah's friendly demeanour changed and her face seemed to set hard again. Somehow, I knew she would keep her unspoken promise so, with a little more hope in my heart than I had moments before I ran back to Will with the bag.

  When I returned. I was greeted with a near naked man in only a pair of grey figure-hugging boxers. Will had stripped out his clothes and was now dripping wet but, he had Kayla on her feet and had put his jeans and t-shirt on her. His arms were wrapped around her waist, he was easily 6 feet and well-built so, engulphed Kayla's 5.5 small sized frame.

  He was rubbing her back trying to get warmth into her vital organs, his jacket was placed around her shoulders keeping the warmth he was creating in and even though it was still raining and Will was getting wet he stood there holding Kayla like it was a summers day. Neither the rain, wind or cold seemed to have any effect on him. He noticed me standing there.

  “Put the clothes on.”

  I looked from Will to the bag and then back to Will. When I open the bag, I saw they were mine, looking at the clothes in the bag and then back to the half-naked Will I tried to argue the point that I was fine and he should put these clothes on Kayla so he didn’t have to stand there in the pouring rain in only his boxers.

  “Just put the clothes on Sadie, we’ve not got time to argue about this.”

  “It’s ok I’m fine” but, even as I said the words I was taking them out the bag to put them on. There wasn’t loads, a pair of joggers, a baggy jumper and a pair of boots. The boots were the first thing I put on and within seconds my feet felt a thousand times warmer. They were the pair I had left next to the bin back at Susanne’s and would hold up well in this weather. I didn’t bother with the joggers. The pair of jeans I wore were ripped from the lashes I’d taken and had stuck in places to the wounds that were now healing. I knew taking them off would hurt like a mother fucker so, with the thought that the joggers would only get wet anyway I decided to leave the pair of jeans I had on and give the joggers to Will. They were lazy joggers I loved to wear when I was doing nothing and I didn’t even realise I had a pair at Susanne so god knows where he had found them from. They would be tight on Will but it would be better than what he had on now which was pretty much nothing.