THE CRUEL SEVEN

by Terence Mitford

  Summer glanced at Erica. The woman nodded, and the girl filled another plate, which Billy placed down in front of Lisa.

  Lisa stared down at the food, then raised her head. “Thank you, but I would feel guilty eating while Mike is still out there on his own.”

  Erica frowned at her. “I’m sure he wouldn’t want you going hungry, would he?”

  “Well no, but—”

  “But nothing then, eat.”

  From the woman’s tone, it was clearly an instruction rather than an invitation.

  The others kept their heads down as they tucked into their stew.

  Lisa picked up a fork and began to eat. She found this family a little strange but maybe she should make allowances because they live so far off grid and may have lost some normal etiquette, if they ever possessed it. As the younger members shoveled food into their mouths, she suspected that maybe they never had.

  Lisa was last to finish and as she put down her fork, she glanced at Erica and smiled. “That was nice, thank you. Can we go and get Mike now?”

  Ed stared at her but said nothing. Erica scowled. “Patience girl, we’ll get your precious husband when we are ready. Summer, bring the wine.”

  Summer got up and collected a jug from another shelf. She returned and placed it down in front of Ed. Then she made several trips as she brought eight glasses from the countertop and placed them next to the jug. Ed grunted his appreciation and poured out the wine, ensuring that he and Erica had the lion’s share.

  Lisa wanted to scream. Don’t these people realize how serious Mike’s situation is? She started to question herself. Had she made it clear? Had the message got lost in the delivery? She stood up and looked at Erica. “I’m sorry, but I can’t sit here drinking wine while Mike is back there at the crashed plane with a broken back. He can’t walk and he has no food.”

  She took a breath. Now no one could doubt how serious it was. She waited for a response.

  Erica took a huge gulp of wine, swilled it around her mouth, and swallowed it. “Damn it, girl, you are impatient. Has he got water?”

  Lisa took another deep breath and tried to calm herself. “Yes, he has a small bottle of water, but it won’t last him long.”

  “Then stop worrying. He’ll be fine. Sit down and drink your wine. I made it myself.”

  Lisa glanced around the table. The others sat staring at her as if waiting to see what she was going to do. She sat down and took a sip from her glass. Whatever it was, it was nothing she could call wine. It was bitter and gritty and it took all of her willpower not to spit it back out. But she swallowed it down and remained quiet. Her pleas to rescue Mike had fallen on deaf ears, so as she stared into the glass between her hands, she decided to try a different approach. She would sit still and say nothing.

  After several minutes without a word from anyone, she glanced around the table at the others. They were still watching her. The silent tactics hadn’t worked.

  She managed a muted smile. “Sorry, I’m just anxious, that’s all. I didn’t mean to sound ungrateful. I will wait until you are ready to help me.”

  Erica slapped the table and burst out laughing. “Did you think we were going to leave your husband out there to die?”

  Lisa forced another smile. “No, of course not, you have been so kind to me, cleaning my wounds and giving me food and this… lovely wine.”

  Erica stood up, walked around the table, and filled Lisa’s glass. “I’m glad you like it.” Then she walked around and placed her hands on the shoulders of the twins. “My boys will go with you to bring your husband back. We have a stretcher they can use.”

  Lisa couldn’t conceal her relief. She gave out a huge sigh, followed by a full-blown grin this time. “That’s great, thank you.”

  The twins took after their father, tall, with broad shoulders and big hands. They should easily be able to carry Mike on a stretcher.

  Erica looked at the twins. “You can help this poor girl first thing in the morning.”

  Lisa jumped up again. “In the morning?”

  Erica seemed surprised. “You don’t think you can find your way back there in the dark, do you?”

  “Well, yes, I did. We could use flashlights.”

  Luke, the eldest boy, sniggered. “How long did you walk for to get here?”

  “Just over three hours.”

  “That’s six hours there and back. We don’t have flashlights that will last that long.”

  Ed chipped in. “Yeah, and it’s pitch black under those trees at night. Can’t see a hand in front of your face.”

  Lisa slumped back down in her chair, deflated. “I’m worried about leaving him overnight.”

  Erica turned the charm back on. “Don’t worry, Sweetie, He’ll be fine. You’ll see for yourself tomorrow.”

  Lisa’s mood sank at the thought of Mike having to spend the night out there alone. No doubt he’d be worrying about her too and could have no way of knowing if she was okay and whether she had found help.

  She reached down into the green bag still draped over her shoulder and took out the small flashlight.

  Ed watched her. “That won’t get you far.”

  “I was thinking I could take Mike some food.”

  “If you go wondering around out there with food, you’re likely to attract unwanted attention. You might not make it back to Mike.”

  Lisa finally accepted that she had no choice but to wait until morning. She glanced at the twins. “Can we leave at first light?”

  The twins nodded in unison.

  Erica looked at Summer. “Go and prepare the cabin so Mike has somewhere to rest up. Sweep it out and put sheets on the bed.”

  Summer nodded and walked over to a cupboard and pulled out sheets and a blanket.

  Lisa turned to Erica. “Cabin?”

  Erica smirked. “It’s just a storage shed that we were turning into a room for Summer and her man. She’s nineteen now and it’s time she gave us some grandkids.”

  “Oh, where is Summer’s boyfriend?”

  Erica raised an eyebrow. “She hasn’t got one yet. But we are taking her into town next month to find one.”

  Lisa laughed at what she thought was a joke. But one look at Erica’s face told her it wasn’t. She turned her laugh into a smile. “I’m sure she’ll find one soon.”

  Erica scowled at her. “Why?”

  Lisa struggled to answer. “Well… because… I mean… she’s a pretty girl.”

  Erica laughed. “No, she’s not. But the boys in these parts can’t afford to be too choosy.”

  Lisa didn’t respond. She just wondered why Erica would be so cruel about her own daughter. Summer was a plain girl, but with a haircut, a little make-up, and a nice dress, she shouldn’t have any trouble attracting the opposite sex.

  Summer had shown no reaction to her mother’s comments as she carried the bedding in her arms and walked outside. Maybe she was used to it, or maybe she didn’t dare risk her mother’s wrath by answering back.

  Lisa sensed that Erica and Ed ruled the household with an iron fist.

  But she saw an opportunity to talk to the girl on her own. It would also be a chance to see where they were intending to put Mike.

  She jumped up from the table. “I’ll help Summer with the bedding.”

  Lisa followed Summer around to a separate single story wooden cabin about twenty yards behind the main house. Inside was a double mattress on a metal framed bed, a chest of drawers, and a wooden chair.

  Summer pointed to a door on the far wall. “In there’s a composting toilet, a tub, and a washbowl.”

  They dressed the bed, and Summer swept the floor with an old broom. Lisa found a rag and set about dusting the drawers and bed frame. As they worked, Lisa asked, “Do you like living out here?”

  Summer stopped and looked at Lisa. “Why wouldn’t I?”

  “No reason, it’s just it seems very remote. You probably don’t get to meet many people, do you?”

  “Ma says people are
not nice. She says all they care about is money and possessions.”

  “Money helps to buy the things we need.”

  “Ma says we don’t need anything. Just each other.”

  Lisa nodded. “I suppose it’s good to be content with your life. Are you looking forward to meeting a boy?”

  “Ma says it’s time.”

  Lisa found it sad and a little disturbing that Summer began every sentence with ma says. It seemed the girl didn’t have a mind of her own. But she decided not to pursue any further questions.

  When they returned to the main house, Lisa smiled at Erica. “It’s all done and ready for Mike.”

  Erica put down her glass. “Good, now you can help Summer with the dishes.”

  “Of course.” Lisa walked over and used the vertical hand pump to fill the basin, then worked by Summer’s side until all the plates were clean and dried and put away onto the open shelving.

  9

  MIKE

  As night closed in and darkness engulfed the plane, Mike checked his watch. Lisa had been gone five hours, so it was possible that by now she had found someone. He did the mental arithmetic. If she had stumbled across help, they would no doubt have insisted on attending to her wounds and feeding her before embarking on any rescue mission. At least he hoped they would. Because despite his injuries and his predicament, Lisa’s welfare was still his priority. Life would be worthless without her.

  So he added an hour to the five it would take her to return with help. Then he nodded to himself and wondered why it hadn’t occurred to him sooner. It was already getting dark and the forest canopy was so dense there was very little moonlight filtering down between the trees. Which meant it was unlikely anyone would attempt a rescue mission until morning. First light at best.

  So he closed his eyes, and as he tried to sleep, thought about Lisa. He remembered her mannerisms, at least before he had let her down so badly the previous month. The warm smile she gave him every morning. The way she kissed him hello and goodbye. The way she nestled close to him whenever they were in company, as if gaining confidence from him being next to her. The way she would toss back her hair when happy, and even the way she would wrap it around her finger, twisting and pulling when upset or stressed.

  He remembered how she wrinkled her nose when she laughed, the warmth of her breath as she parted her lips just before kissing him, and the softness of her tongue as it gently probed his.

  Then his heart skipped a beat, and he opened his eyes as he remembered how he had nearly destroyed the thing he loved most in this world. How could he have been so selfish, inconsiderate, and stupid to risk it all for a quick fling with a sex hungry neighbor?

  He hadn’t even enjoyed it because he hadn’t been able to get Lisa’s image out of his mind as the woman from next door seduced him in an alcohol induced romp. But if he was honest with himself, he couldn’t blame the alcohol or the neighbor. He had known that what he was doing, and he had known it was wrong.

  Then, to compound matters, he had confessed all to Lisa. Was this a selfish act, too? Had he told her about it to relieve the stress the secret was causing him? Because if he had, that would have been another selfish act. So he considered this for a moment. He could have kept quiet and let history put it behind him and it would have remained his secret. But he recalled his thought process and remembered that it hadn’t been an option for him. He had screwed up and had to come clean. He’d betrayed Lisa, and she had a right to know. And she had a right to decide for herself if she wanted to stay with him after what he’d done. So, as he sat paralyzed in a smashed up plane in the middle of the forest, he nodded to himself. He had been right to tell her, and he had told her for the right reasons. But that was no consolation. Because after what he did, he was still in the wrong.

  So maybe this crash was karma. Maybe the universe was paying him back for his actions. Maybe he was meant to die out here and let Lisa go on with her life with someone new. And that person would be the luckiest man in the world. And if that happened, he had only himself to blame.

  He closed his eyes again and imagined Lisa somewhere safe, with people who were caring for her, and before too long, he drifted off to sleep.

  10

  LISA

  While Lisa helped Summer with the dishes, the rest of the family had gone outside. She watched them through the window as they gathered a few yards away, as if in some kind of private conference.

  She glanced at Summer. She was watching them, too. “Do you know what they are discussing?”

  Summer threw down the cloth she had been using to dry the plates and walked to the door. She placed her hand on the lever and glanced back. “No, but it probably has something to do with you.” Then she pulled open the door and joined the others.

  Lisa just stood watching them, unsure whether to follow or to wait until they had finished.

  After a few minutes, they stopped talking and turned back to the house. A shiver ran up Lisa’s back as they headed for the door.

  Ed and Erica walked in and sat on a couch. The others climbed the ladder and disappeared from sight.

  Lisa waited by the kitchen for a moment before walking over to speak to Erica. “Is everything all right?”

  The woman looked up at her through narrowed eyes and a furrowed brow. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

  “I was just wondering if my presence here was causing a problem.”

  Erica chuckled. “Well, it was unexpected. So we were just trying to decide what we do with you.”

  “What you do with me?”

  Erica grinned. “Yes, where we put you.”

  Lisa’s heart missed a beat.

  Erica laughed. “I mean, where do you sleep tonight, here, on one of these couches, or in the cabin out back?”

  Lisa breathed easy, but she had a feeling Erica was getting some pleasure from toying with her. “I will be fine in here if that’s okay.”

  Erica nodded. “It is okay with me. Just watch out for Ed in the middle of the night. He sleep walks sometimes. I caught him in Summer’s bed last year.”

  Lisa glanced at Ed. He just stared back, expressionless. She studied Erica. Was she joking again? She remembered how Erica had spoken about Summer in front of the girl. And she recalled how she appeared to have gained some pleasure from the discomfort the antiseptic had caused. Did Erica have a sadistic streak? Did she enjoy shocking and causing emotional pain? Could she really be that cruel?

  Lisa sighed inwardly. Maybe she was being too sensitive and reading Erica wrong. Maybe her stressful day and initial apprehension outside in the woods were clouding her judgement.

  Maybe she shouldn’t analyze this family too closely. After all, the twins had agreed to help at first light. So all that really mattered right now was staying on this woman’s right side so she could rescue Mike and get him into town.

  Erica nudged Ed’s leg. “Come on. Let’s give the girl some space and let her get to sleep. She has a big day tomorrow. She is going to be reunited with her husband.”

  Lisa gave the woman a huge grin. Erica’s comment reinforced her suspicion that she was worrying too much and that maybe everything was meant in fun and not to be taken too seriously.

  Ed handed Lisa a glass. “You didn’t finish your wine.”

  She took the glass and gulped down its contents, trying hard not to wince.

  After Ed and Erica had left the room, she stretched out on the couch opposite the fireplace. The logs that Ed had put in the grate earlier were not much more than embers now, but the low level of heat was comforting and should help her fall asleep.

  Just as she closed her eyes, Erica returned and handed her a blanket. “Here, this should make you more comfortable.”

  Lisa waited for the door to close behind her host, then she stood up and slipped out of her dress. She laid back down and pulled the blanket over her, and wondered why she felt so drowsy. Could stress do that to her or was it the homemade wine. Whichever it was, within a few minutes, she drifted off to
sleep.

  11

  LISA

  Lisa opened her eyes just as the first sign of sunrise streaked through the kitchen windows. It took only a second for her to register where she was and what she had to do that morning. She jumped up and pulled on her dress, and as she folded the blanket, an image of Ed’s face staring down at her flashed through her mind. She blinked and it was gone. Then she sniggered to herself and blamed Erica’s comment last night for activating her imagination. Although she had to admit, it had seemed very real.

  Dismissing the image, she listened for any sounds of movement from above, but it was all quiet.

  Not wanting to disturb the entire family, she crept to the ladder, intending to climb up and wake the two boys. But as she looked up, a foot appeared on the top rung and one of the twins climbed down.

  Lisa waited until he turned towards her. “Frankie?”

  He shook his head. “Freddie, Frankie’s coming.”

  A few seconds later, Frankie climbed down. “Summer usually makes us eggs for breakfast,” he said.

  Lisa nodded. “Of course, I’ll do it. Where do you keep them?”

  “Under the chickens out back. I’ll go get some.”

  Lisa turned to Freddie. “Where is the bathroom?”

  He pointed to the middle door on the opposite wall. “Ma keeps the towels on the top shelf.”

  Lisa thanked him and went to freshen up. The bathroom was basic. A lavatory inset into a wooden box, a tin bathtub, and a small tin bowl on a wooden support in the corner completed the set.

  A pipe with a shower head protruded through the wall above the tub, and a chain hung down next to it.