Ashes and Madness

by J. B. Havens

  “No need for that shit, woman. Not like you served.” He slammed his water bottle back into this pack. Anger carved onto every inch of his face.

  “No. That’s true. But my Daddy was a Marine and raised me as one.”

  “Whoopie-fucking-do. Until you’ve said that oath and put on that uniform, you don’t understand.” He growled.

  “Sure, you’re right, I guess. Whatever.” I was hoping that my dismissive manner and rudeness would drive him away. I had nothing but respect for anyone who wore our countries flag on their arm, but I needed him gone.

  “I get what you’re trying to pull and it’s not going to fucking work. I’m going with you. I repeat, strength in numbers. Once the shit really starts to hit the fan, you’re going to need me as much as I’ll need you.”

  “If you need backup so bad, why did you desert your unit? Hum?” I nudged his boot with mine.

  “Because what we’re being ordered to do is wrong. The police aren’t the problem in this country, the protestors, aka terrorists, are.” He caught my eyes with his. The color of his irises was startling, a storm cloud grey, deep and dark—full of mystery and power. I was getting my first good look at him in the light. Dark red hair that needed a trim, coupled with a strong jawline, and his height made him more attractive than I wanted to admit. He was a little soft around the middle, but still powerful looking.

  “Done staring yet? Should I strike a pose? Let you take a selfie with me?” Smirking he pulled a cell phone from his cargo pocket, holding it out to me.

  “Fuck off. Actually, you know what? Thanks for saving me and all, but I’m gonna go.” Popping a few Motrin, I took a swig of water to wash them down. “You do whatever it is that you were going to do. If you follow me, you won’t like the consequences.”

  Standing and slipping my pack back on, I turned north. I’d only taken a few steps before his words stopped me.

  “You saved me as well. And I didn’t really have a plan. I just couldn’t shut down my home town and stand guard against my neighbors and friends. I couldn’t look my best friend, who is now the Sherriff, in the eye and tell him to ‘move along’.” He walked ahead of me, blocking my path.

  “I don’t understand why you want to come with me so bad.” I moved to step around him but he countered, blocking my way again. “Don’t you have a family or something? Go bother them.”

  “I do have a family actually. Mother, father, sister, and my boyfriend. But if I go back there I’ll be arrested and executed for desertion.”

  I stamped down any molecule of sympathy that arose. “So that means what to me?”

  “We can help each other. Stick together and make it through until life goes back to normal.” He shrugged, trying and failing to appear casual.

  I could see the fear written on his face. He had training that I didn’t and he was strong. I had no idea how long I would have to be out here, could be weeks or months. Years. Who knew? He said he had a boyfriend, which was good news for me. I didn’t want to be bothered with some soldier’s hard on. Was I actually considering this?

  “You don’t even know where I’m heading.”

  “Doesn’t matter. Could be a cave or whatever. I don’t fucking care. We both have a better chance of survival together. You know I’m right.”

  I gave myself a moment to think about it. To really consider what he was saying. The thought being alone in my father’s cabin the rest of the summer and fall did not sound appealing. I could do it, but if we ended up needing to be there all winter… I would need his help.

  “Fine. But I’m in charge. Period. Don’t like it, you may as well go now.”

  His smile was charming and straight out of a toothpaste commercial. Dimples and all. “You won’t regret this.” He stepped aside with a bow and wave of his arm.

  “Oh, I already do. But you have a good point. If we’re out here over the winter, I will need your strong back to help prepare so we don’t freeze or starve to death. Just remember I’m not letting you come along for your conversation skills. Keep your shit to yourself.”

  “Affirmative.”

  Rolling my eyes, I led us north. I think we were safe to slow down. There had been no signs of pursuit as of yet. We’d be at my father’s cabin by late afternoon if we kept up this pace. Rest tonight, then tomorrow was prep and expanding the defenses. This thing could be over in days or never. I was going to prepare for long-term.

  Chapter 6

  Ace followed the tracks, even in the dark it was easy for him to trail after them. He’d been raised in these woods, this is what he was good at. He’d heard the noises coming from Bubba’s cabin, figuring he’d get to watch and maybe beg for a turn with that bitch so he’d checked it out. Only to find Bubba dead in a pool of blood and the woman gone.

  He should have told the others, but he wanted her all to himself. Bradley, their leader, would be furious he’d left the camp without permission. He’d take whatever punishment he had coming as long as he managed to get his hands on the black-haired mouthy slut. She’d be begging him for death before he was done. And even after he killed her he might keep her around for a bit. He liked them when they were quiet.

  There was someone with her. Boyfriend maybe? If he was her man, why wasn’t he in the truck with her? No, maybe someone grabbed her. Stole her from Bubba… from him.

  “Nah, that ain’t gonna fly with me, boy. She mine. I’m gonna find ya and peel yer hide off while she watches.” He flinched, expected the smack to the back of his head every time he was caught talking to himself. He relaxed when nothing came. Giggling at the image of a skinless man, he picked up the pace, determined to find them before nightfall.

  ****

  The cabin was in sight. A little more weathered than the last time I’d seen it, but still in great shape. Deep in the forest of some land my father had purchased from the state long ago.

  “Here we are.” There was no road leading up to the cabin. The only way in was to hike. If I’d made it in the truck, there was a small garage of sorts about a mile south. Well hidden, the truck would have been safe there. When he built it, solar power hadn’t been an option yet. So there was no electricity and water came from a well and hand-pump in the small yard at the front of the cabin. There was an outhouse set a short distance from the back door, nestled in a small stand of trees. There were no modern amenities in sight.

  “Huh, well, I guess I’ll be doing some hunting then.”

  Chuckling, I dropped my pack to get my keys. “You’ll see.” Opening the door, I led him inside. It was a basic cabin, two main rooms on the ground floor, the kitchen and living area with a loft above. The loft had two small bedrooms that each only had enough space for a twin bed and small nightstand. There was a wood fired stove/oven combo in the kitchen and a fireplace in the living room.

  A film of dust covered everything and cobwebs hung in the corners. “Well. It’s better than the barracks, so it works for me.” He dropped in pack on the couch, dust flying into the air around it. Inspecting the kitchen, he found the cupboards full of canned goods, candles, and pretty much everything we’d need to prepare meals. “Nice set up here.”

  “Yeah, this was my Dad’s place.” I pointed to the photos on the mantle. Each was a memory of my time here with my Dad. He built this cabin after my mom died. It was a place for us to both retreat and spend time together away from regular life. I picked up the newest frame, contained within it was the last memory of my father. His big arm was slung over my shoulder, a day’s worth of fishing strung on a line in my hands. Trout of every size and color. Last summer was our final visit here together. After we’d gotten home, he’d set me down and explained that he’d been to the doctor. He had cancer and wouldn’t survive the winter. He hadn’t. Shaking the memory loose, I dusted the frame with my shirt tail and replaced it on the field stone mantle.

  “Molly? You okay?”

  “Sure. Tonight we rest. Tomorrow we tighten up the defenses.” I turned my back on him and ascended the ladde
r to the loft. A thin privacy wall separated the two rooms. I took the room on the right, my father’s old room. The ceiling was low and sloping, I scooted on my knees around the bed and opened the window. A gust of fresh air blew in, stirring the dust and stale smell around me. “Hey, Ricky, open the windows down there will ya? We gotta air this bitch out.”

  Wood swollen with humidity screeched as he opened them. I began stripping the bedding off the small mattress, throwing it over the loft. It would be too much of a pain to wash them, but I at least wanted them outside and shaken. The ladder rattled as Richard climbed up. “I’ll get my bed,” he said softly.

  “Thanks. We can’t wash them today, laundry is an all-day affair out here, but we can at least get the dust off them.”

  “Got it.” His sheets and blanket sailed over the railing, landing on top of mine in a big white pile. “I can start dinner, while you do the sheets? I can make something out of just about anything.”

  “Works for me, dude.” Descending the ladder and going outside I got to work shaking out the bedding. After I got as much dirt off each one that I could, I hung them on a tree branch. It wasn’t prefect, but the sun and fresh air would go a long way toward making it tolerable to sleep on.

  A prickle of awareness slid down my spine, the hairs on the back of my neck popping up in a rush. Someone was watching me. Turning back to the cabin, I could see Richard through the windows, he was bent over going through the cupboards, not looking out here. If there was someone out there, I didn’t want to alert them. My knife was still at my waist, but I had no other weapons on me. Carefully hanging the last quilt, I went back inside.

  Shutting the door behind me drew a questioning look from Richard. Putting my finger to my lips, I flipped the deadbolt and pushed the slide blots into the ceiling and floor. The metal rods were inch thick steel and over six inches long. The locks coupled with the steel crossbeams made it so once locked, this door wasn’t opening.

  Coming over to where I was standing with my back to the door Richard stood beside me. “What’s going on?” He whispered.

  “Someone is out there.” We must have been followed without either of us realizing it. Whoever was out there was good.

  His body instantly tensed with alertness. Handing me his side arm, he readied his rifle. He slipped on the cloak of professional soldier effortlessly. “Stay away from the windows.”

  “Gee, thanks for the advice Captain Obvious, and here I was about to put my head out so he could shoot me.”

  “You’re a pain in the ass.” Dropping to his stomach, he army crawled to the window by the door and cautiously looked out.

  “Thank you.” I smiled my best ‘you know I’m cute’ grin and ignored his eye roll.

  “I see ya in there! Bring out the woman and I’ll kill ya quick. If you make me come in there after yas, I’ll make it real slow, boy!” Ace’s voice shattered the silence.

  Richard army crawled back to my position behind the couch. “Who is this fucker?”

  “He was the underling of the guy we killed. They kept fighting over me. His name is Ace,” I replied.

  “I don’t care what his fucking name is, dammit. Is he alone?” Richard’s shoulder brushed mine as he sat closer.

  “How the hell should I know? I’m not the hillbilly whisperer!”

  “Time is running out, bitch! Give yerself up. If you make me come in there, I’ll cut out your tongue and mouth fuck you until you choke to death!”

  “This guy is a real winner…” I let my sentence trail off. “Well, I have an idea. Daddy built tunnels under the cabin. There’s a whole other emergency living space down there. And… an escape tunnel. You go down and come out behind him and I’ll give myself up to him as a diversion. But you better make it snappy.” I left the rest unsaid.

  “A tunnel? Really? Where?” Frantically looking around, he was coming up empty.

  “You’re sitting on the entrance.” Smirking, I pointed downward to the rug we were sitting on. “Come on, we’re out of time.” A pounding was starting up on the door. I’d go out the back, no way did I want that lunatic in here.

  Scooting forward on my butt, I pulled back the Navajo rug to reveal a trap door. Heaving it upward on silent hinges, I handed Richard the flashlight stowed on the ladder for this very reason. “Here. You’ll need this. Follow it straight back, do not pass go, do not sight see. There will be another ladder like this one. It opens in the woods about two-hundred yards behind the cabin. Fucking hustle, you got me? I’ll give you a count of fifty until I go out.”

  “Copy that. You’re a stone cold bitch, you know that right?”

  “I’ll take that as a compliment.” Shoving him down the ladder, I shut the door and put the rug back in place. The pounding on the door was harder, like he was using a log to try and break it down. He could beat on it until the end of days, it wasn’t going anywhere. An oak door reinforced with steel cross beams wasn’t coming down with anything short of explosives.

  I did my own army crawl through the kitchen to the back door. Ace could see me if he’d stop beating on the door long enough to look. I kept the pistol in my hand, hoping I’d get the chance to use it. Maybe I could sneak up on him before Richard came out? I was no solider, this was all new to me. I’d done drills with my father, but doing it for real was very different. My hands were shaking and my heart felt like it would beat out of my chest. The mixture of high octane terror and spiking adrenaline was flip-flopping my stomach.

  The pounding on the door quit—my time was up.

  “Come out, come out wherever you are!” Ace yelled, sounding like he was circling around back.

  Twisting the knob, I cautiously opened the door. I’d decided to meet him head on and trust that Richard would get behind him in time to keep the bastard from carrying out his plan. As I crept out, I saw Ace’s retreating back going around the left side of the cabin.

  Holding the pistol out in front of me, I stalked after him. Reaching the corner of the cabin, I flattened my back against the siding. Listening carefully, I couldn’t hear anything other than the screech of insects and twittering of birds. Dropping to one knee and bending my elbows to keep the weapon close to my chest, I led with the pistol and popped my head around the corner quickly. Ace was thirty yards away, looking in the kitchen window.

  Ducking back behind the corner of the house, I steadied myself with a few deep breaths. The grip of the Glock was slick under my sweating palms. I killed Bubba without too much trouble, but this was different. He wasn’t right in my face, trying to end me.

  Calm your shit. Get this done so you can clean up and sleep for a day.

  Mentally lecturing myself usually didn’t do any good, but this time around it snapped me into action. Staying down on one knee, I again rounded the corner.

  My nose exploded in agony, a tooth fell onto my tongue and blood burst from my mouth and nose. I fell backward, too dazed to catch myself. White streaks of agony and shock blinded me. The pounding in my head was so loud no other sounds could penetrate. I barely registered a slap on my cheek.

  “Think I didn’t see ya, huh, bitch? Not much gets past Ace, no ma’am. I saw ya peek ‘round that corner. Picked up this here rock and took care ‘o business.” A thud next to my head vibrated through my aching jaw. “Now you just lay there and look at them purty lights and pay no mind to Ace.”

  My limp legs were jostled and jerked around as Ace stripped my pants down. He forgot to take my boots off first and was stuck. Cursing under his breath he made quick work of getting them off.

  “S-Stop.” I mumbled. The pain in my mouth was intense—blood was a salty thickness in my throat.

  I opened my eyes a slit, only to be blinded by sunlight. Ace was standing over me, fumbling with his belt buckle and sweating. I could hear him panting like a dog on a hot day. I tried to move, groaning in agony with even the small movement of my head. My fingers twitched but I was still unable to pick up my arms. It was like a lead weight was sitting on my body.

>   A loud boom made my ears ache and something hot and wet hit my face, followed immediately by a crash to my right. Something was laying on my arm, crushing it into the dirt.

  “Molly!”

  Richard’s voice cleared some of the shock away. “W-what?” I forced myself to lift my arm and wipe my palm down my face. Squinting at my fingers and hand, it was stained red with globs of greyish-pink material mixed in.

  “No, no, honey. Let me. Just lie still.” The weight was lifted off my arm and he was wiping my face off. “Let’s get you inside and cleaned up. I’ll deal with him later.” Richard hauled me up to my feet, making my head swim and my stomach clench. Glancing down I saw Ace’s body. I only knew it was Ace because it couldn’t be anyone else. Most of his face and head was destroyed by the bullet. His brains were leaking out of his broken skull onto the grass. My insides gave up the battle and I vomited. The violence of it making me wish I would just fucking pass out already. My skull was throbbing and my face felt twice its normal size.

  “Get it out. It’s okay. I’ve got you.” His platitudes were empty, but comforting nonetheless.

  We made our stumbling way back into the cabin. Richard laid me gently on the couch. Even as careful as he was, I still groaned in pain. The pain of my broken ribs was stealing the little breath I’d managed to recover.

  “I’ll be right back. I have to get water from out front.”

  Not bothering to respond I concentrated on remained as motionless as possible. The past two days had been hell on my body.

  Here’s hoping I don’t get a brain bleed or something. Well I must be okay if my sarcasm is still working? Right? You’d think that would be the first part to go. Mentally giggling, I tried to relax.

  The door shutting and locks clicking back into place pulled me back to reality. I opened my eyes again, not having realized I’d closed them, and watched Richard carrying a bucket of water. Dragging a chair over to the couch, he sat and began to clean me up.