After The Turn: Redemption

by Daniels, Melvin

  “Who needs the most exercise” Jared had once said to all his Knights “The fat guy, he’s the guy for the job, I’m always looking out for people’s wellbeing”

  Chloe’s eyes lit up, she had only been selected for market day once, and only been outside three times since she was auctioned. The other two for announcements and public shows of punishment by Jared and his establishment.

  Aiden put out her yoghurt for breakfast like he did every morning. And spoke quietly so he would not be heard through the thin walls.

  “I’m nearly through, two maybe three more goes and I’ll have it ready for you”

  She smiled and threw her arms around him, embracing him, for the first time. “Thank you” she said.

  Chloe sat at the patio table and rushed her yoghurt as quickly as possible, whilst Aiden was getting himself ready for a day at work.

  “I’m on market security today, so if any of the traders do anything, you’re my number one priority”

  Suddenly there was a crash next door, it sounded like a glass breaking, and loud yells, incomprehensible words. Except for Aubree repeatedly saying,

  “I’m sorry, I’m sorry”

  Suddenly there was a mighty thwack, as if he slammed his fist into Aubree’s face

  Aiden opened the door, ready to confront McCormack, Chloe stood right over his shoulder.

  The stairs creaked again as poor Keith made his way back up the stairs, he had gotten back to the office and remembered he had something else to organise, he squeezed past Aiden on the hallway, and headed for McCormack’s door, the commotion still going on inside.

  “McCormack, your patrol is heading out they are waiting for you, you need to be at the briefing with your new watchman” Keith said nervously, he had had run ins with McCormack before, and was petrified of him.

  “I’m just coming you, fat fuck!” he shouted, the door pulled open and there was McCormack, thick long black greasy hair, an untidy beard, his skin had a slight yellow tinge to it. He was wearing a red and black chequered shirt, arms ripped off at the shoulders, pulling up his zip on his filthy blue jeans.

  “You clear this mess up” he shouted back into the room “And make sure you’re ready for what you got coming later. Bitch” he slammed the door and stepped out of the room “Lead on Tubbs!” he mocked Keith

  Chloe noticed that McCormack had not locked the door, he just walked out behind Davison, she wanted to go in. But Aiden had to cuff her to himself to escort her to the market area. They walked down the stairs and out of the front door, leaving the poor girl alone sobbing to herself, with more misery awaiting her later.

  As they strolled down the hill, Chloe took in all the sights, the beautiful blue sky, the birds singing. The gentle breeze caressing her skin. The smell of freshly cut grass, she knew she was going to work, but it was such a privilege to get out of the room. It was believed that the traders were more likely to buy from the market if women were doing the selling. As most of the traders were male, they would relish interaction with the opposite sex therefore spending more time at the market and buying more items.

  On one side of what was once the main road through the village, stood several stalls. Each selling different things, some sold food, others sold clothes, tools, entertainment, alcohol. Whatever had been scrounged, stolen or made over the last few weeks.

  Chloe arrived at her stall, which was selling books both fiction and nonfiction. A popular choice was do it yourself books or encyclopedias, informative books. Knowledge was the key these days. Aiden un-cuffed Chloe and connected her to a chain that was hidden behind the display table of the stall. He apologised as he did so, he knew it was inhumane this treatment of women, but he had no power to stop it, so he said goodbye and headed off to his work.

  There was always two women on each stall, just encase trouble broke out, or a trader was stealing things. With Chloe was a short woman probably in her mid-twenties, she had blonde hair tied back into a ponytail, she looked tired and stressed.

  “I’m Lara” she said introducing herself to Chloe “I haven’t seen you out here before, you been here long?”

  “I’ve been here a little while, not really sure how long to be honest, what about you? Who owns you?” Chloe asked Lara

  “About two months I think, but this is my third time at market” answered Lara “And a guy called Fitzpatrick” Chloe nodded in acknowledgment. “But I need to get out of here”

  Chloe refrained from asking too many details, in fear of giving away her own plan of escape, she just listened to Lara’s countless problems and distain for the environment they live in. But also, she could not trust that she was not a loyalist trying to obtain information about possible rumblings of discontent amongst the settlers. Although she had no reason to suspect Lara of any such activity as her plight seemed genuine enough for her to believe. She did not fancy ending up being publicly punished.

  Hours passed by traders came and went, goods were traded Chloe kept thinking of poor Aubree back in her room, alone and upset, and she remembered, the door was open.

  Lara was bartering with a trader, a very tall man with a long grey beard, he was wearing a cloak the hood pulled up over his head, obscuring his face. In one of his hands was a long stick which resembled a wizard’s staff, on top of which sat a horned sheep skull. The man seemed strange and eerie, his long bony crooked fingers flicking through books, historical books. Chloe leaned in and whispered to Lara.

  “I need you to cover for me, there’s something I got to do” Chloe said quietly

  The trader gave an inquisitive stare to this unusual of interruptions. “If Becky asks, I’ve had to go to the toilet, say I think I have morning sickness or something”

  Becky was the appointed spokesperson for the women in the village, she was the only one allowed to freely roam. Her job was to look out for the welfare of the women, and report back any misgivings there may be. She was supposed to be the voice of the people, but it seemed she was just a tool for the hierarchy to oppress the people. The fact that she was appointed by Jared himself, struck distrust and resentment by the women in the village. They felt that they could not trust her with anything, therefore no mistreatment or neglect would ever be reported. Or if any uprising were to occur regardless of size it was believed she would not stand by the people she was appointed to serve. She was corrupt.

  “Mr. Healy!” Chloe shouted as she saw Aiden on one of his circuits of the market.

  She waved her arms about grabbing his attention, he noticed out the corner of his eye, changing his direction swiftly, he pushed through the hustle and bustle of the trading and headed directly for Chloe.

  “We got to go back home, before McCormack is back” She rushed the words out as quickly and quietly as she could.

  Aiden disconnected the chain then re-cuffed Chloe and made a hasty return trip back to the house, trying to be as discreet as possible.

  They got back to the house, Aiden let Chloe go and she ran up the stairs, heading for McCormack’s room. The door was still ajar. Chloe pushed it further open gently, the smell was disgusting, it hit her instantly. The smell of alcohol and tobacco mixed with the potent stench of cannabis, with an unmistakable odor of urine and feces. The curtains were drawn, it was dark and dingy, mould growing on the walls. Damp setting in the corners. And in one of those corners was a young girl, curled up tightly in a ball, chained to the wall, not only by her ankle, but also her neck, she was restricted unable to move anywhere, the bucket for her to use as a toilet was deliberately moved out of her reach. She lay there in the corner, stripped completely naked, sobbing covered in her own mess.

  Chloe cleaned Aubree up the best she could, Aiden shepherded water from the bathroom in a bowl leaving it by the door to respect Aubree‘s privacy, Chloe searched the room for something to cover her up finding a blanket underneath a pile of needles.

  Dabbing the dried blood from Aubree’s nose she asked

  “What happened? We need to get you out of here” Chloe ask
ed.

  “He punched me in the face, it’s my fault I.I.I. deserved it” Aubree stammered.

  “Why?” Chloe was puzzled this girl was defending this monster “How’s this your fault?”

  “I’m pregnant” Aubree answered.

  Aubree agreed for Aiden to enter the room. They both crouched down next to the poor young girl.

  “We got to tell Becky about this” Chloe instructed “Look at her McCormack is destroying her”

  “No! you can’t tell her he beats me, or any of the other stuff” Aubree exclaimed

  “What other stu..” asked Aiden, Chloe stopped him from finishing his sentence, she wasn’t going to make her relive it all.

  “We got to at least tell her your pregnant” Chloe said. “Then we can get the relative aid for you”

  At that moment, the front door to the house was thrown open, and someone came storming up the stairs, Aiden and Chloe stood up in panic. Was McCormack back already? They tried to rush around and get out, but it was futile, they would have to face the consequences. A figure appeared in the doorway,

  “There he is. Take him down” Becky ordered, flanking her were two Knights, they moved around her and grabbed Aiden he didn’t put up a fight. “And that one, she must be a conspirator” pointing at Chloe.

  One of the Knights took Aiden out of the room and marched him downstairs, Becky stopped Chloe

  “What is this about?” she asked, looking down her nose at Chloe.

  Looking back around at Aubree, Chloe answered

  “She’s pregnant, she is only fourteen, I’m sorry I had to check on her” Becky walked further into the room and stood over Aubree.

  “Is this true?” she asked.

  Aubree silently nodded in confirmation, sniffling her nose running from crying so much. Becky turned back to Chloe.

  “Let her go” she said to the Knight. “Thank you, Chloe isn’t it?”

  “Yes ma’am” Chloe answered.

  “Please, call me Becky, thank you for looking out for this young girl, every pregnancy is precious. It’s just the way it is done here that’s wrong”

  Becky took a step out of the room and stood at the top of the stairs.

  “What’s happening to Aiden?” Chloe asked, “Why has he been taken away?”

  Becky turned to Chloe “Didn’t you know?”

  Chloe was puzzled she shook her head profusely.

  “Your friend Lara. She escaped”

  Chloe was in shock; she must have gotten herself off the chain when Aiden released her. “It was on his watch; he will be punished appropriately”

  12

  There was a chilly breeze, carrying the smell of the dead with it, they had seen a flock of the life eaters on their way back trundling through the fields heading towards the common.

  Seamus had greeted them with a certain amount of hostility, he had thought he had seen the back of them for good. When they rocked up with two vehicles instead of just the pick-up there was great panic amongst the campers, not knowing if they had been sold out, whether the Knights were back to darken their doorway yet again.

  “You can’t just turn up here” Seamus spat furiously “We are settled, we don’t need the worry we felt safe”

  “It wasn’t our intention to but you on edge, we are grateful for this” Drew tried to reassure Seamus by overly expressing his gratitude “Thing is mate. I thought you might be able to help, or point me in the right direction of someone who can?”

  Seamus tugged on his beard pondering what was coming. It was just the two of them sat opposite each other inside the kitchen tent, over one of the pop-up tables. Seamus was about to talk when they were interrupted.

  Tommy opened the flap to the kitchen, with two steaming hot mugs in his hand.

  “Got you guys some coffee, its instant rubbish, probably decaf, most definitely stale, but it’s better than nothing” Drew took a mug from him “Oh and its black, we not got the dairy set up yet to get milk” he chuckled.

  “Thanks Tommy” Drew said, “How’s your Nan holding up?”

  “Same old, same old” Tommy said shrugging bobbing his head from side to side “Doc James is here again today”

  Tommy left so Seamus and Drew could get down to business, sipping their tasteless coffee through gritted teeth.

  “What can I do for you?” Seamus asked

  Drew put his mug down on the table, and leaned forwards, closer to Seamus.

  “The Knights” he began “They have a market day; I was hoping to use the occasion to get in and search for Sarah”

  “And how do you need my help?” Seamus was bemused

  “You can’t get in without a license, one which is authorized by the Knights, or so Connor says” explained Drew.

  “Right? and what gives you the impression I have one?”

  he too put down his mug and leaned into the conversation, his chair sinking into the ground with the shifting of his weight.

  “I didn’t know if you know someone, maybe a local who does have one?”

  Seamus leaned back, sat bolt upright, took a deep breath through his nose. Thinking, if he knew of anyone, or if he wanted to pass the information on.

  “I don’t know someone with one personally, but I know someone who does” follow me.

  They both got out of their seats, left the coffee mugs to go cold behind them, they headed back out into the camp.

  “We have a guy here, who knows a trader, he doesn’t speak much about what he trades, or anything about him really” Seamus explained.

  As they walked through the camp, some of the campers recognized Drew, waved to him, said hello, or just nodded to acknowledge him. he felt so welcome here. He was beginning to think that he wanted to stay with these people. They passed around the outside of Omar’s tents, he and his two boys were playing football by the trees, whilst his wife was reading to their daughter.

  They approached a man, sat all by himself, cross legged on the grass, strumming an acoustic guitar. He was fiddling with the keys, tuning it by ear.

  “Drew, this is Paul” Seamus introduced them.

  Paul put down the guitar and stood up to shake hands.

  “Hi Paul” Drew began “Seamus tells me that you can help me”

  “Is that so?” asked Paul looking curiously at Seamus

  Drew proceeded in informing Paul of what they had been through leading up to and including the abduction of Sarah and the death of his friend Martin. he spoke of his plan of infiltrating the outpost where the last person he knew to have seen her, dead or alive resided.

  “What do you plan to achieve there?” Paul asked “You can’t exactly walk around approaching people, your draw attention to yourself”

  Paul picked his guitar back up and continued to strum and turn the tuning pegs to his guitar, searching for the perfect tone.

  “I just plan to have a look around see if I can spot her maybe, I dunno” Drew suggested vaguely “Or I could just go see the man himself”

  “PAH!” Paul chortled “Go see Jared? Seriously”

  “Why not?” asked Drew

  “You will only see him, if HE wants to see you” Paul explained “And if he wants to see you, you are in for a whole world of hurt” he continued “It’s his way or the highway, he makes all the demands, the rules… and his word is law”

  “So what?” Drew asked, “He kills all who don’t agree with him?”

  “Pretty much” said Paul

  He finally finished tuning the guitar, gently running his fingers over the frets and strumming a few cords. Drew found his constant fiddling with the instrument, frankly rude but at the same time incredible the way he could manage to find the perfect tune just by ear.

  “Do you play?” Paul asked

  “What?”

  “Guitar, do you play?”

  “No” Drew answered sharply “Can you help me?”

  “This is a Martin 00-18 authentic 1931” Paul mentioned “Do you know how much it was worth?”

&nb
sp; “No”

  “Brand new, you were looking at nearly six and a half thousand pound” Paul rubbed his hand along the polished rosewood neck “It looks beautiful, sounds beautiful, you can even smell how good it is”

  “Right?” Drew did not know where this was leading

  “Do you know how much it is worth now?”

  “No” Drew was beginning to get frustrated with Paul

  “Nothing” Paul looked directly into Drew’s eyes for the first time during their conversation, which appeared to be going in a tangent

  “What’s your point?”

  “Point is” Paul started “No matter how valuable something or someone was before all this, they aren’t worth anything now”

  Drew was angry, he wanted to bark a response back, but was lost for words. Paul continued.

  “Don’t get me wrong, what you want to do is noble, but is it worth getting yourself killed over?” he said “Would she. Sarah?” Paul looked to Drew for answer.

  Drew nodded gently

  “Would she thank you for it? Would she want you to die for her? Could she live with herself if you die saving her?”

  “I couldn’t live with myself, if I didn’t try!” Drew answered

  “But that’s just the point, you’d be dead anyway, you got to live here, in the now, your better to her alive, not risking yourself, and your friends for her”

  They sat for a minute or two, Drew watched as the people of the camp, went about their everyday lives, living in the now as Paul had said, Drew thought to himself, could he do it? Could he risk his life, and more importantly Marcus’ just so he could live with himself? Paul had a point, what was the point in dying to save her, if he wouldn’t be alive to be with her? And would it stop there? What if it got back to Jared that these people helped him? Would they be slaughtered by the Knights? Omar’s little family, Seamus? Tommy? Is it worth risking all their lives for one person?

  “Survivors guilt, it gets to you” Paul broke the silence.

  Drew looked over to him, his eyes asking to know more but his mouth not saying anything. Paul obliged.