There was movement down below me. Carefully I leaned over slightly to see below without moving too much. It was a raccoon. He stood up on his hind legs and sniffed up the tree, his front paws resting on the trunk. After standing there a few moments of what I assumed was deliberation he dropped down and waddled off through the bushes. I watched him poke his way through the leaves. He froze on his way to the next tree. I looked further up to see what had startled him. It was a group of three people walking very slowly. The raccoon ran off as fast as his legs would carry him and disappeared into the undergrowth.
One of the people laughed at the raccoon. Another one hissed at him to shut up. I stayed very still as they walked closer and closer to me. There was no way they could know I was up here. Could they? Did I leave a trail? Was there mud or anything on the tree to suggest I was up here? I fought the panic that threatened to bubble up and over. I was a sitting duck up here. I had no advantage except surprise but how good was that when I was exhausted and no weapons. I bit down on both of my cheeks to keep myself still. None of them looked up, they were all focused on the ground, spreading bushes side to side with their weapons. Presumably looking for a trail of any kind. One of them passed right below me and I sunk into the tree as far as I could go. I forced myself to look at the leaves in front of me. This way maybe they wouldn’t feel me staring at them and they would just keep on going. Please just keep on going. Please go. I’m exhausted, I wouldn’t be able to do anything if they found me. I was dead if they decided to look up. I had nothing to protect me from them no weapons, nothing to use in my defense. My stomach gurgled angrily at me. I froze. I even stopped breathing. Did they hear that? They passed right on by my hiding spot with no questions or raised alarms.
I let go of my breath that I had been holding when they continued on their path. That was too close. Damn. No more of that, I can’t handle that stress. I blew my breath out softly. If I had my bow, I could’ve taken them down without any hesitation. But I don’t have it. I pinched the bridge of my nose and tried to release all of the tension that had built up within me. I would wait until night fall then I would make my move. What my plan was I wasn’t sure yet but I was going to get whoever else they had out and make sure that Vince died tonight. He wouldn’t live to see another day. I was positive of that.
…
I waited till night fully fell before climbing down from my hiding spot. I groaned in pain as all of my cuts and scrapes opened up again. The blood had clotted causing my clothing to stick to my skin. The rain had stopped hours ago so I had started to dry out but I was still freezing. All my muscles were stiff from the cold and exhaustion. When my feet hit the ground, I stretched my back, I swung my arms back and forth just to try to get some of the blood flowing again. I stomped my feet and hopped back and forth a little bit just to get the stiffness out. Just get moving. Force the stiffness out while you walk Alice. No other choice since a bubble bath is so far out of the question it’s just a theory. I moved as quickly as my sore body would let me but cautiously back the way I came.
The clouds still covered the sky so there would be no moonlight to see but at least it wasn’t raining. I had to retrace my steps but it was taking me longer than I had thought it would. Well I’m not running for my life so of course it’s taking longer. I grumbled to myself. When I came to the incline, I took my time in climbing it. I set my feet down slowly to avoid making any unnecessary noise. Every time I heard something that sounded unnatural, I dropped to the ground. I would lay there shivering until I was sure that no one would pop out of the darkness and grab me by the neck.
They would be patrolling tonight if they were back from trying to track me down. The only reason I got away was dumb luck. One wrong move and they would have had me and I never would have gotten away. Dumb luck and not knowing when to quit was my saving grace, more so today. I sent a silent prayer above that I could have some more luck on my side. But even as I sent it, I doubted that he even listened to prayers anymore. I squatted by a tree just inside the tree line and watched. This was still the same camp that I had gotten through before but this was the other side of it. Which meant that I would have to either circle it or go through it anyways to get to the rendezvous point. Looks like I had a long night ahead of me. I sat there and shivered. I wish I had my coat but those bastards took it. I gritted my teeth.
I moved back behind the tree and stood up wincing as my legs popped. I did a quick stretch and peeked around the tree again. There was still no movement and I had been out here a good half an hour. Well nights a wasting. Where should I check first? I guess I could check the police station. That’s where they kept me so logically that’s where they would keep other prisoners. Well that’s the first stop then. I took a deep breath and darted across the open ground. I kept my head low and moved fast. When I reached the building, I hugged it. Staying as close to it as possible I walked alongside it until I came to the edge. Where I ran to the next building, slowly making my way to the police station where I had been held. No lights were on which made it easier for me. I slowly zigzagged using the buildings almost like jumping blocks to keep myself hidden.
Funny enough now that I was moving with a goal in mind, I felt better than I had for the last few hours. Not by much but just a little bit. I came around the corner of the last building and looked across to see the police station lit up like it was Christmas day. My heart sunk. How was I supposed to get in there? Shadows moved around in front of the windows but none of them came out. Ok so on to plan b. Create a distraction to get them out of the building. Before I could even think about moving or formulating a plan the door slammed open and two men walked out. One of them was Vince. I recognized him by his short stature.
The man behind him was speaking, their voices carrying on the still night air. “You really think he had no idea where she went? They had to of had a meeting point. If we interrogate him more, I think we can-“
Vince whirled around and punched him in the face. “Shut up. Just shut up. One more word and I’ll cut your tongue out.” Vince stalked away and the man stood there for a moment rubbing his face before going back inside.
I stood there watching Vince walk away while shaking in anger. They were interrogating one of them. This was not forgivable. I closed my eyes and took deep breaths. Right now, I had no idea of how I was going to make it in the police station, so I opened my eyes and stared at the path that Vince had gone down. All I was seeing was red. It was time for that party that Vince had been so happy to invite me to.
I carefully followed him down the street, sticking in the deeper shadows. He didn’t turn around once to check to make sure he was alone, the overconfident, arrogant bastard. I stayed at least half a building behind him just in case he did turn around or if I made some kind of noise, he’d be less likely to hear it. There were no close calls or anything. He was the only person that I saw out and about. There were a few buildings that we passed that had lights on but no people. But it ended up being unnecessary. He approached a small office building that looked like it had housed an insurance company at one point. It was a low long building that was sparsely decorated on the outside. The windows were all boarded up so no light could escape to the outside. It was surrounded by a small parking lot that was dotted with plants that had sprung up through the pavement. He produced a key and unlocked the door. He looked around before stepping inside, pulling the door shut behind me. I could almost bet that he had locked the door behind him but it never hurt to check. I waited a few moments for him to leave the front area to go wherever it was that he was going. Let him get himself tucked into bed for the night before I decided to pop in. My feet started to fall asleep in my crouched position. Hesitantly after looking around me I stood up and wiggled feeling back into them.
I sprinted across the parking lot and up to the door. Being very careful of my breathing, tried to take a few breathes to calm my heart but it wasn’t interested in being calmed down. My nerves were on fire while I carefully twisted the handl
e and to my surprise it clicked open. My nerves went on high alert. Does he know I’m here or is he expecting someone else? Well if he is waiting for someone else then he’ll get the surprise of a lifetime. I paused as I pushed the door open a crack. Don’t hesitate Alice. I opened the door slowly and stepped into the entrance way. I silently shut the door and locked it. Didn’t want any unexpected visitors. And that’s all I can do about that right now. Right there in the front was a small kitchenette. I looked down the hall and there was nothing only a crack of light coming from a room. On silent feet I stepped over to the drawers and opened them quietly. My heart felt like it was trying to beat its way out of my chest. I looked down the hallway again to make sure it was empty. In the first drawer was some spoons and spatulas, in the second was the one with the cutlery. It was in there that I found what I was looking for. A large kitchen knife, with a serrated edge to it. Just as quietly I slid the drawers shut and crept towards the room that was lit up. It was the second door on the right. I stood in front of it and tried to remember what it was like to breathe properly. I felt like electricity was being dumped into my nerves making my heart beat a mile a minute.
I took a deep breath, remember Alice, no hesitation. I grabbed that door handle and yanked the door open. Vince looked up in surprise. He had no shirt on, just his pants not even socks on. He closed the book that he was reading and set it down on the desk beside him. “Well good evening. I wasn’t sure if I should be expecting you tonight or not.” He gave me a sickish grin that sent chills down my back. “Still playing the silent hunter?” He mocked. “It would be difficult to do without an advantage.” He stood straight and showed off the muscles that rippled under his skin.
I showed him the knife. “I do.”
He went still and looked at me with a little more respect than he had a moment ago. “Alright. Do you want to sit then? Maybe change out of those clothes? They look wet and dirty. I even have gauze here to wrap up your cuts. You did surprise me. I saw you go over the fence, normally the razor wire stops everyone, everyone but you. You got guts and the fact that my men couldn’t find you shows you got brains too. Why don’t you put the knife down and we can talk about this like civilized people? I even have food.” He pointed to a cupboard above his head.
“No.” I pursed my lips. “How bad did you torture him?”
“Who?” He smiled and sat down on the edge of his bed.
“You know who?”
“No really I don’t.”
I gripped the knife tighter. “My father.”
“Oh. Him.” He stretched out, making me think of a cat. “Yeah I remember him. I remember how disappointed I was when he begged for his life. He begged me to let him go.” Vince chuckled to himself. “Such a coward.”
“Liar.” I breathed out. My blood was boiling. Who did he think he was calling Dad a coward? Dad was no coward.
“Well think what you want to think. It won’t change the truth.” He grinned and stood up again. “Now why don’t you put that knife down.” He slowly stepped towards me.
I froze, I couldn’t help it. He came to a stop in front of me. His breathing was very soft and even, he made no sudden movements as if I was a wild animal that would bolt if he even so much as breathed too loud. His lips were slightly parted and raised in a smirk. He thought he had won.
I brought the knife up and shoved it into his stomach. His eyes went wide and his mouth went slack. He looked at me quizzically and then looked down to see the knife was hilt deep in him and my fist was curled around it. He looked back up, he opened and closed his mouth. He reminded me of a fish out of water. I pulled the knife out and let it drop to the floor by my feet. He didn’t know where to grab, one hand went to his stomach and the other grabbed my shoulder. He stood there swaying staring me in the eyes. His were wide and glassy. He let go of his shoulder to grab his stomach with both hands. Without emotion I kicked him and sent him sprawling to the ground. He curled up into a ball and didn’t move.
I was done here, it was time to get out and leave this all behind. I stepped over his body and turned the light off. Being very careful I stepped back over his body and shut the door. This should buy me some time before they realize that he’s dead. If they come in and see no lights hopefully, they can assume he’s sleeping and they won’t bother him. I exited the building and looked around carefully. No one was around. So far, my luck was holding out, and as long as this kept up for a little longer then I would be home free. The sky was still covered in clouds so I didn’t have to worry about the moon illuminating me against buildings or having to hide in its shadows. Quickly I retraced my steps back to the police station. It didn’t take me long but I was still cautious when I heard voices or doors opening. I heard people but I didn’t see them.
All the lights were still on at the police station. Maybe there was a back door or a window I could get in through. But now times a factor, so let’s go through the front first. I creeped forward. I stopped by the front door and looked in through the window, even though it was a huge risk I had to take it. There was no one that I could see. I pulled on the door and it opened. They did a very good job around here of keeping their door hinges well oiled. I got to give it to them but it’ll be their downfall. I closed my eyes and tried to remember the route that we had taken to get out of here, I hated wandering around lost especially with people who wanted to hurt me hanging around. Not much of a choice so I simply followed the meandering hallway glancing into rooms before I passed them. They were all empty. As I got closer to the holding cells where I had been, I could hear a voice. It was pissed off sounding. The door to the holding cells was open. I slipped in and the voice was coming from down the hall. I passed the cell that I had been held in without glancing in. The voice and the light were coming from the last cell. I came to the door way and looked in.
Dean was tied to a chair, so I had been wrong about the shadow looking like him. Rick and Richard had gotten out, the most unlikely to work together. Dean’s chest was bloody and his face was swollen with a broken nose that had contributed some of the blood on his chest and stomach. The guy who was talking absolute nonsense was ugly teeth. He had his back to me and was just talking away going on about how pissed off he was about how he hadn’t caught anyone in the chase. I shivered at the thought of him touching me. I couldn’t leave ugly teeth alive but I didn’t have any weapons. I did have my belt but could I stomach choking him to death? I watched ugly teeth take a knife and run it down Dean’s chest. Slowly, and gradually getting deeper under he had ran the blade down his entire torso. Dean screamed in agony as fresh blood poured itself out of his wound.
My brain shut off and I quietly unbuckled my belt from my waist and created a loop big enough to slip over his head. Dean looked up and met my eyes. He gave a distinct nod. Greasy hair guy tilted his head and started to turn around to see what Dean had been nodding at. Before he could finish his turn, I slipped my belt over his head and around his neck. I tightened it as tight as I could get it and latched it shut. I pulled his arms down and kicked his feet out from underneath him. He frantically bucked and lashed out. I looked everywhere for his knife. Dean kicked it with his toes, spinning it towards me. My hand grasped the sweaty handle, letting go of ugly teeth momentarily. I plunged the knife into his back, repeatedly until he stopped moving. When he stopped moving, I slid off of him and leaned against the wall. Ringing silence filled my ears. This was the second man that I had killed in less than an hour. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him. Everything seemed to zoom in on him, the fact that I had killed him. But the thing was that I didn’t feel bad about killing him or Vince. They had both deserved it, multiple times over. But what scared me was how numb I was about it. When had I become so cold?
Dean started whispering and it took every ounce of willpower to focus on what he was saying. To pull myself out of my mind. “C’mon Alice. You got to untie me and we need to get out. C’mon girl!” He snarled.
I stood up on shaking legs and looked to see wha
t was holding him to the chair. Just rope. I grabbed at the knot and started fiddling with it. I was going too slowly because he snarled at me again. “Get the knife you idiot.”
Idiot? “Maybe I ought to leave you here.” I hissed at him. I crouched down next to the body and pulled the knife out of his back. It made wet sound as it left his body. I grimaced. Now that the adrenaline was gone, I noticed that stuff. Dean must have actually gotten a look at me because he looked horrified.
“What did they do to you?”
I shook my head. I didn’t want to talk about it right now. I quickly cut the ropes off of his arms and feet. He rubbed his arms and legs to get the blood flowing again. I handed him the knife. I wanted to take the back seat for a while. Too much had happened in too short of time, exhaustion had settled on me again. But this time it wasn’t going to be shaken off. Dean seemed to understand and or at least didn’t question me giving him the knife, for which I was thankful. He led the way out, and he seemed to have a better understanding of the building because we went out a different door than the one that I used. The door led us out to some kind of loading dock, which carefully we jumped off of. Using the darkness, we were able to sneak out of the camp without much hassle.
Dean didn’t start trying to have a conversation with me until we were almost on top of the rendezvous spot. I ignored his questions. I just wanted to sleep. I didn’t care that I was cold or hungry or the fact that I hurt all over and that my blood had dried to be a sticky residue over the majority of my body. I just wanted this night to be over with. I stumbled along just trying to put one foot in front of the other while keeping my mind blank.
Dean grabbed my arm and turned me around to face him. I stared numbly at him. “Alice what happened out there?”
Dead Paper Birds Page 25
