“We can’t afford to tip toe around this any longer, Hector. We escape this place or we die,” she replied then turned back to MJ. “A little less than half of us are only here because…where else could we go? We don’t agree with what he does, but the alternative is, well you’ve seen how evil he can be.”
“We want to be free of Moses for good,” Persephone interrupted. “We want a life back, whatever is left of it.”
“Yes, we do and if you plan to escape this place, you’ll need our help. Moses’ followers aren’t the brightest but they are loyal and they are vicious.”
MJ pulled a chair out and sat down. She gave Faith an inquisitive look then motioned her hand toward the chair across from her. “What do you want from us?”
Grinning, Faith sat down and folded her hands across her lap. “Is it true what the girl says?”
“Yes. There are more of us. But our supplies are low. We need food, drinkable water…but we can protect ourselves and now that we know we can breathe this air, there’s room for hundreds.”
“We know this land well. Where to hunt, what places to avoid…we could help each other.”
“And what about Moses?” MJ asked and raised her eyebrows.
“What would you do with him, MJ?”
“I’m going to kill him.”
“You won’t hear an objection from us. We would have it no other way. When will you do it?”
MJ looked away for a moment and took a shallow breath. “You have the numbers to support this?” she asked.
“We do and without a leader the others will run.”
“When we get within view of our base, I’ll do it. I’ll kill Moses.”
“You have our support.”
MJ stood up and extended her hand. “Then it’s settled.”
Faith gripped her hand tightly and shook it. “I think it is. Pleasure to meet you, MJ.”
“The pleasure was all mine.”
Faith and the other men left the room, leaving Persephone behind. She closed the door then made her way toward Alistair.
“How are you? I mean…considering.”
“I’ll live,” Daniel replied with a sheepish smile.
“I just wanted to um, to tell you…”
“Thank you,” Alistair cut her off. “You saved my life. I, um, I thought I was dead. You saved my life.”
“You saved mine.”
Persephone grabbed Alistair by the sides of his face and leaned forward. She lightly rubbed her fingers across his cheeks then kissed him on the lips.
“Thank you,” she said again then turned and left the room.
“I’m telling,” Daniel said as soon as the door closed. “Amber is gonna kill you.”
CHAPTER 27
WE LIVE TO FIGHT
“Do you think they’re still out there?” Max whispered.
They were huddled in the same abandoned warehouse that Alistair had found. It was likely the only structure left standing beyond the pit. But Craig and Max didn’t know anything about the pit yet.
“I don’t see anything. It’s too dark to see anything.”
“What were those things? Why the hell is there something like that up here? Did you see them? There were hundreds.”
Craig winced and grabbed at his leg where one of the wraith’s had attacked. His suit had taken the brunt but he was already in bad shape. “Yes, yes, I saw them, Max. I saw them too well.”
“Sorry…I—I was scared.”
“You came back. That’s all that matters.”
Max removed his helmet and for the first time took a deep breath of outside air. He coughed and cleared his throat then breathed again. Wincing, he lowered his head and ran his fingers through his hair. “I shouldn’t have left you.”
“It’s in our nature. You ran, you tried to protect yourself. But you came back, you came back and saved my life. That’s all that matters now.”
Max nodded and stared at the rickety door, the only thing that separated them from the beasts outside. He sighed and shook his head from side to side in disbelief. “You think that’s what happened to them? You think they ran into those things?”
Craig laughed. “If they did, I think their population took a hit. MJ doesn’t take kindly to being attacked. There were five of them, they all had guns and none of them was a cripple. I’m sure they’re fine, Max.”
“Yeah…yeah, I’m sure they are.”
They didn’t speak again for a while. They sat in silence, listening to the rain attack the thin metal roof. There was something calming about the noise, it kept their minds off the fact that they were being hunted. It kept their minds off the fact that they had no clue where the first group had gone and if they were still alive. They could lie to each other but they couldn’t lie to themselves and deep down they both felt a sense of loss that wouldn’t go away.
Minutes ran by as they struggled with the demons in their mind. Craig teemed with frustration and anger. He was a soldier, he didn’t run, he fought. But now he could hardly do either. He didn’t know how to be injured. He didn’t know how to bide his time until he was whole and then strike. He was a man of action and the sideline was no place for a warrior.
Max was also out of his comfort zone. Back in Atlanta he’d done what needed to be done. He’d changed just enough for his own survival. He wasn’t the type to rush into the fray, to run toward the sound of gunfire. He knew he belonged in a lab coat, not a flak vest. But those days were gone, the weak died and survivors did whatever it took. But still.
“I don’t want to die out here,” Max mumbled. He regretted the words as soon as he’d said them.
“We’ll be fine. Even if we have to shoot our way out of here, we’ll be fine.”
Max smiled then leaned his head against the wall and closed his eyes. It didn’t take long for him to fall asleep, even though he fought it as best as he could. Stress and the distance they’d covered had drained him.
His dreams were vivid, so real that he felt like he might never awaken. He found himself back in Atlanta, driving through the downtown streets like he’d done so many times before. Cindy was with him, smiling and waving her hand through the wind as her hair whipped across her face.
The sun beamed on the back of his neck and shifted in his seat uncomfortably. At every light he considered putting the convertible top back up but Cindy was having too much fun. Besides, there was no substitute for the feeling of the sky soaring to meet him.
It was perfect, too perfect but it was what his life was supposed to be. He could’ve lived in that dream, stayed asleep and never faced the horrors that were now his reality. Dreams were all he had left because life had become a nightmare.
“What do you want to do today?” he turned to Cindy and asked.
“Ping pong?” Cindy replied with a shrug.
“I could go for some of those wings.”
Cindy grinned. Max stared back at her and felt a sudden stab in his heart. He knew that smile and knew the lies it hid.
“This is where I want to live forever,” Cindy said. “Forever with you.”
Max smirked but he knew she was lying. “What about Jake?” he asked sarcastically. “Is he gonna live with us too?”
“You know I don’t love him. It was nothing. It was just a mistake.”
“It was everything. You were everything.”
He turned back toward the road and mashed his foot on the pedal. The car roared as it zipped faster and faster down the congested highway.
“Slow down,” Cindy warned.
“Why? What do you care? You ruined my life already.”
She didn’t reply immediately. She stared into his eyes and swept his hair back then rubbed her hands across his shoulders. “Fine,” she said. “Fine.”
Max tightened his grip on the steering wheel and hardened his jaw. Cindy smiled and leaned in closer until her face was nearly touching his. He could smell her breath as it wafted over his nose but something was wrong. She smelled like death, like blood and d
ecay.
Max pulled his head away and stared into her eyes. Cindy’s face became blurry and when she spoke it was garbled and animalistic.
“Cindy? Cindy, what the hell is wrong with you?” he asked. “Cindy!”
She didn’t reply. Leaning forward, she pressed her face into his. Her hot breath blew against his chin as she stuck her tongue out and licked his cheek. A low grumble vibrated from deep within her then a loud crackle broke the air and Max jumped up.
He blinked as a warm crimson liquid rolled down his face. Chunks of flesh and bits of splintered skull were trapped in his hair, what was left of the creature it belonged to was sprawled on the ground beside him. He was disorientated and couldn’t remember where he was until he looked up and found Craig staring down at him.
“One of those things got in. There was an open door around back. Glad I found it when I did. From now on, we sleep in shifts. I don’t think those things are leaving any time soon.”
CHAPTER 28
THE FINAL STRAW
Morning came quickly and brought with it a palpable fear. Not only a fear of what Moses would do but a fear that whatever they did wouldn’t be enough to gain their freedom.
Their plan wasn’t really a plan, it was more of the outline to a haphazardly put together idea. An idea to be free of Moses once and for all. If Faith could rally the numbers she claimed, they might have a chance, but a lot was riding on the word of a woman they’d just met. And that didn’t bring them much comfort.
Alistair awoke to the sound of someone beating on the door and things shifting around inside of their cabin. After a short, uneasy sleep he found himself disorientated and straining to clear his head.
“Get up!” Daniel yelled to him. “We’re getting the hell out of here.”
Wincing, Alistair stood up as MJ pulled open the door. Moses pushed himself inside with an annoyed look on his face. MJ tried to bar his way but he barreled past her and stopped in the middle of the room.
“Making yourself at home?” he asked as he stared around the room.
“What the hell do you want?” MJ growled.
“It’s not what I want. It’s what the people want…what he promised us,” Moses replied and pointed at Alistair. “So, let’s not keep the people waiting.”
With a stern face, Alistair stood up and yawned. He stretched his arms then turned toward Moses. “I’m ready when you are.”
Moses turned his face away as his mouth stretched into an awkward smile. He walked to the door and paused before looking over his shoulder. “This has always been mine, you don’t know what I’ll do to keep it,” he grumbled then walked out.
Alistair didn’t reply but followed him outside with the others. He looked around at the swarm of people huddled along the path and tried to swallow down the fear lodged in his throat. Women, children, men, probably a third of Moses’ followers, all ready to meet their savior, or tear Alistair apart if he didn’t deliver.
“Where’s everyone else?” Alistair asked.
Moses laughed. “Only the most devout, the most faithful will make this journey with you. Lead the way, prophet,” Moses growled in sarcasm.
Alistair glared at him then turned back to the crowd. “What about Persephone?” he asked as he missed her face among the mob.
Moses straightened up and rubbed his hands together like he was cleaning them. He had an odd look on his face and as Alistair bore into him, he looked away. “She went ahead of us,” he started then faced Alistair and straightened his back. “Oh yes, she was eager to meet her lord. She left you something though.”
One of the guards held out a filthy potato sack. Moses took it then walked toward Alistair with a devilish grin. He angrily pushed it into Alistair’s hands with a satisfied look on his face.
“I kept this part from the Vees,” he said lowly. “A present, just for you. You did do this to her after all.”
Alistair swallowed a lump of razors as his heart seized. He felt the world spin around him and his grip on the bag slipped. Stumbling backward, he regained his footing and took a deep breath.
The bag was knotted and his trembling hands had trouble loosening the kink. His fingers ignored his commands, his arms felt weak. His knees buckled and his shoulders slumped as if the world had been laid across them.
“What is this?” he mumbled more to himself.
Moses didn’t reply but thrust a stern look in his direction, laying blame for everything that came next. There was complete silence as Alistair lowered his eyes and slowly untwisted the bag, hesitating before pulling it open.
The mob had already figured it out. Of course they did, violence was common place for them. But Alistair couldn’t accept it. Even though he knew what had to be in there just as well as they did…he wanted to believe he was wrong.
He held his breath for so long he forgot what air was. His heart beat with deliberate purpose, slamming against his chest at such a slow pace he feared the next beat would never come. Life was at a standstill, and whatever came next was hidden within the filthy sack that he held in his hands.
With teary eyes, Alistair looked up and found MJ. She stared back at him with flames smoldering behind her pupils. It was a mother’s rage, the anger that grew like a shield to protect loved ones. She shook her head slightly from side to side but they both knew Alistair had to find out.
Moses puffed up his chest with pride. A smile stretched across his face as he narrowed his gaze, knowing in seconds he would deliver his fatal blow. “Don’t you want to see what she left you?” he asked. “I don’t think you’ll ever forget it.”
Alistair wiped his face and bit his lip so hard that it bled. After bracing himself, he scowled at Moses, then reluctantly looked into the bag and immediately heaved forward. Collapsing to his knees, he cried out, “No!”
Blood-stained hair was clumped together, sticking on Persephone’s face. Her severed head was bruised and beaten, her eyes swollen shut, her face so disfigured he could hardly tell who it was. She died poorly and suffered worse than anyone should ever have to. Alistair immediately felt the stab of responsibility dig into his heart.
“She’s stronger than she looks,” Moses said in a dark tone. “But in the end, she broke, they always break.”
Faith gasped and tried to catch herself. She looked away, focusing her eyes toward the rest of the onlookers. Her hands coiled tightly into nervous balls as adrenaline flooded her body, preparing to fuel her getaway.
“She told me about you,” Moses continued. “About the plan the two of you had.”
Every word that oozed from Moses’ lips was a coal thrown into the inferno raging inside of Alistair. He was going to kill him. Nothing else mattered. Not today, not tomorrow, not getting back home to his family. He was going to kill Moses.
“You think you could just come in here and take her? You thought what…that you two would find somewhere safe? Get married, raise a family? Yeah, she told me all about your little plan. But Persephone was mine. This flock belongs to me! And soon, they’ll see who you really are, and maybe I’ll put your head in the bag with hers.”
Alistair leapt forward and drove his knuckles into Moses’s face. He could feel his fist crunching into the bone, smashing it to pieces. Blood gushed from Moses’ nose and he stumbled backward then fell over.
“You bastard!” Alistair screamed. Consumed with rage, he jumped on top of Moses and started swinging wildly.
At first no one in the crowd reacted. They were either shocked or undecided which way they wanted the action to break. Faith watched with a clenched jaw, hoping Alistair would end it all right there. MJ and Daniel were more concerned with Moses’ guards. As Barnaby moved to intervene MJ charged him but Faith grabbed her by the arm.
“This isn’t the right time,” she whispered. “Stop your man. If this goes too far Moses will have his guards execute you all. We need to thin out his followers first.”
MJ swallowed down her anger and nodded. She wanted Moses dead more than anyone else bu
t she was a professional and understood the importance of timing. Trailing Barnaby, she grabbed Alistair by the arm and dragged him away.
“Let me go!” Alistair roared.
“Not now, Alistair,” she growled in his ear. “Not now!”
“He killed her!”
“I know, I know. He’ll get his. I promise.”
“Barnaby!” Moses shouted as he staggered to his feet and wiped at his nose, smearing blood across his face. “Bring me his head!”
“Wait!” Faith pleaded. “You can’t!”
She stepped in between them as MJ whipped around like a cornered bear. Moses contorted his face and scowled at them both. He bit his lip, stifling the threats that lay at the tip of his tongue. With a deep breath, he composed himself then looked up at Faith.
“Why, Faith?” he asked through gritted teeth.
“Would you deny your people their chance to meet the one God because of a misunderstanding?”
“Misunderstanding?” Moses glanced at Alistair and wiped his face again. The bag with Persephone’s head was a few feet away and he kicked it and pushed the guards away from him. “Misunderstanding? I killed this traitorous bitch! I don’t think there’s any misunderstanding.”
“Then the misunderstanding is mine,” Faith replied firmly. “It was God’s will that you were chosen as our leader. God’s will that brought this prophet to us after you yourself promised us for so long that one day this would happen. Certainly, you don’t mean to oppose the will of our God?”
Her words soaked in and the rest of the crowd tilted their heads and shifted, showing their agreement. They stared toward Moses with defiant looks as he smiled and ground his teeth.
“We can forgive this man’s outburst,” Faith continued. “He doesn’t know our ways, doesn’t know the sacrifices we’ve made, or what God has demanded of us to survive. Let him seek your mercy, Moses, so that he shall be forgiven.”
“Is that it, boy? Are you sorry?”
“Fuc---” Alistair started to reply but Daniel shoved a hand over his mouth.
Deconstruction- The Complete series Box Set Page 98
