Innocent Shadows

by Warren Ray

  “I don’t want your food, besides, I’ve got to get over to see Jarvis.”

  “You got a couple of hours before you need to be there, now open up.”

  “No.”

  Winters raised his eyebrows impressed by her bantering with these fools. She had the same kind of smart mouth Sadie had. She could outwit anyone, and this girl was just as good if not better. Of course, Finley knew who was backing her up on the other side of the door. Good. She deserved this moment of empowerment. Winters found it surprising to learn the wife was just as guilty as the husband was. He hadn’t been sure about what he was going to do with her but now made up his mind on her fate.

  “What the hell’s gotten into you? Where’s Randy?”

  “I told ya, I wore him out tonight. He is dead tired,” said Finley in a humorous tone.

  Jimmy grabbed the door handle and started shaking it. “Open this damn door, Wannabe, you hear me.”

  “An odd nickname,” thought Winters.

  “If I have to rip open this screen, Wannabe, I’m gonna beat your ass.”

  “Finally, something you’re good at, cause it sure as hell isn’t screwing.”

  Winters formed a lopsided grin and nodded his head. “That was a good one.”

  “You little bitch. I swear I’m gonna beat the hell out of you.”

  Winters flipped down his goggles figuring the show was about over.

  The sound of the generator got louder when the back door opened. Jimmy’s wife ambled through the dark kitchen toward Finley, who was oblivious to her presence. She wound up her right arm when Winters stepped forward and met her with his right arm throwing her off balance. In one swift motion, he covered her mouth, pulled out his knife, and sliced her throat from ear to ear. He laid her down in the darkness and whispered to Finley to let Jimmy in.

  “Okay, Jimmy, you win,” she said unlocking the door before stepping backward.

  He stormed inside and wrapped his hand around Finley’s throat squeezing hard.

  Winters grabbed onto the back of Jimmy’s hair and pulled him off her. He tripped over Winters’ foot and screamed out as a knife plunged into his stomach. Jimmy’s blood began soaking his dirty white t-shirt as Winters jammed the blade into his throat.

  Finley stared through the darkness wide-eyed and didn’t say anything as Winters stood up. He couldn’t decide if she was surprised or in shock as to what just happened.

  “You okay?”

  “That was awesome. I mean you just took out those two slimy jackasses and you did it, like, really fast and without, like, any kind of bother. Mister Winters, you are a badass.”

  “Oh, well, I thought you might be in some kind of shock or something.”

  “Hell, no. Those two deserved it, I mean, let me tell ya something, I’ve been, like, having to put up with these two dirt bags because, Randy was, like, always trading out his time with me for drugs. I mean, these two aren’t even on my list and they smell, I mean they really, really smell bad. And, I swear they never brush their teeth, their breath is disgusting.

  Winters scratched the side of his head and started laughing to himself at how fast she was chatting. A big weight had lifted off her shoulders, which opened the floodgates of non-stop chatter.

  She continued as she waved her hands around. “Did you hear how I was mouthing off to him? I swear I was laughing so hard on the inside. Like, I thought I was gonna pee my pants. I mean, I have been dying to say these things in, like, forever, but I couldn’t, cause I mean, you know, I had to act all meek and mousy and pretend I was really enjoying myself. Oh man, I just can’t stop talking.”

  “I can see that. Why don’t you splash some water on your face and maybe take a couple of deep breaths?”

  “Okay, yeah, yeah, I’ll try that,” she said while turning on a battery operated lamp sitting on the counter.

  Winters flipped the goggles up and curiously watched as Finley splashed cold water on her face a few times as she danced at the sink.

  None of the girls he had rescued before had acted like this probably because the situation was different from the others. These girls were not being held captive and even lived at home. They had crappy choices, but still, they made them. What an odd thing. Did they understand that even though they didn’t have physical chains, they still wore them? Winters shook his head figuring it was for psychologists to debate.

  Finley grabbed a towel to wipe her face and then put her hair in a ponytail. “Hey, let’s go get Jarvis now. I guarantee you that boy is stoned out of his mind right now. I can help you out too, okay? I mean, you know, I can help with any of them really, I mean I can totally help you stop these suckers.”

  Winters nodded. “Okay, but on one condition.”

  “Sure, anything, I mean I’ll do anything,” said Finley, who hadn’t stopped moving around.

  “When we get outside, you need to stop talking, okay?”

  “Oh, yeah, I’m sorry. I talk a lot when I’m nervous.” Finley looked down at Jimmy and his wife. “I mean, I’ve, like, never seen anyone get killed before, but wow, what a rush.”

  “I understand. Are you going to be able to handle yourself?”

  “Mister Winters, I’m totally up for this. I hate these bastards for what they’ve been doing to us.”

  “Good, now just do me a favor and call me, Cole.”

  She nodded twice. “Okay, Cole.”

  Winters wanted her to settle down and decided to ask about the nickname he heard.

  “So, can I ask why he called you, Wannabe?”

  “Yeah, cuz, you know, I supposedly want B’s, so, you know, Wannabe.”

  Winters gave her a confused look.

  “You know, B cups, you’ve seen me, I’m flat-chested.”

  Winters’ face turned bright red and he didn’t know what to say.

  “It’s okay, Mister Winters, I mean Cole, I don’t really care.”

  Winters couldn’t change the subject fast enough and asked her to write down all the names and addresses of the guys involved. She took the list Ashley started and completed it in a few minutes. Winters studied the list and nodded in satisfaction. He then escorted her outside. He put his hand to his lips when she started to ask him another question. She raised her hands up and whispered an apology. They scurried through the darkness to Jarvis’ house. When they arrived, Finley grabbed his arm and told him Jarvis had company.

  Chapter 18

  After checking Randy and Jimmy Boyd off the list, Finley led Winters to her next stop. He was intrigued by the spunky girl who took a bad situation for what it was and dealt with it as best she could. Despite the fact that what she was doing would be frowned upon by any civilized society, she was providing for her mom and little sister. Anyone desperate for food could rationalize that it was acceptable and use it to get through a bad situation. However, her enthusiasm for helping him was evidence enough that she didn’t like what she was doing and wanted it to change.

  They arrived at Jarvis’ house and found a couple of vehicles in the driveway. Finley whispered to him that he was having a party with his friends. Jarvis also had a generator running to power the house.

  Winters escorted her across the street behind an overgrown hedgerow. He scanned the area with the night-vision goggles and didn’t see anyone outside.

  “How many do you think are there?”

  “Definitely three, maybe four,” whispered Finley.

  “More girls?”

  “Oh, yeah, two maybe three.”

  Winters continued to look across the street.

  “Hey, can I try those?”

  Winters took the goggles off and helped her put them on.

  “Oh, cool, you can see everything, and it’s all green.”

  Winters remembered the first time he had tried them on and of having the same reaction. It was like looking at a TV screen or being in a video game. He’d been using them long enough now to not give it a second thought. He let her keep them on while he asked more questions.
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  “Will any of them be armed?”

  “Hmm, probably just Derek. He usually has, like, a gun on him.”

  “What does he look like?”

  “Tall and skinny. He’ll be the only blond haired guy. But I wouldn’t worry too much though, because I guarantee you, like, everyone in there is already stoned.”

  “Even the girls?”

  “Yeah, I mean, you know, it helps you through the night.”

  Winters understood and brushed it off. If anything, it was going to help him accomplish what he was about to do. The last thing he needed was a bunch of girls screaming and getting in the way. He wanted to make sure she was correct with her assumptions and came up with a plan. She agreed and took off the goggles before running across the street. He watched her enter the house and sat there waiting for her signal.

  It took five minutes before a pen light turned on in the middle window. The light blinked four times signaling there were four guys and then two longer blinks for two girls. Winters’ heart quickened as he ran across the street. He had decided if they were stoned then there was no need to turn off the generator, which would only alert everyone. He wanted them in there as relaxed as possible. He would just go in the front door that Finley had promised to leave unlocked.

  He reached the handle and let out a breath as he opened the door. The door opened into a small foyer where the smell of marijuana was obvious. Mixed in were various odors from incense and candles. Winters heard soft music coming from the living room. He peeked around the corner. A lamp was turned on low and there were a few lit candles scattered around four people, two of which were in the throes of sex on the couch. Winters pulled out his knife and approached a couple who were sitting together on a smaller couch. The man, who looked to be in his late twenties, had dark hair and was wearing headphones listening to his own music with his eyes closed. The teen girl also had her eyes closed and didn’t notice Winters cover his target’s mouth before pressing down to slice his throat. The victim’s arms reached up for a moment before falling back to the cushion.

  This kill reminded him of his first ones back at the train station. He had snuck in on sleeping men who had been drinking. He had been scared and unsure of how to do it. Of course, now he was an experienced killer and didn’t hesitate or question what he was doing.

  The girl next to his first victim never moved a muscle. The other two across the room were still going at it and Winters decided to wait on them. He wanted to know where Finley was and heard voices over the soft music coming from the back.

  He started down the hallway and slid against the wall to the first opened door. He took a quick peek to find no one there. He looked at the half opened shade where Finley had signaled him. Voices came from the back bedroom where the door was open and a low light spilled out into the hall.

  “C’mon, Wannabe, take it.”

  “I don’t want it, Derek.”

  “Take it,” yelled another.

  Winters crept in closer and figured the other one was Jarvis. They didn’t sound too stoned, but then he didn’t know much about it.

  “Wannabe, you’ve got a long night ahead of you, so don’t be testing me.”

  “Testing you? Don’t make me laugh, Derek. Have you ever passed a test? I mean, I heard you even flunked your GED.”

  Winters struggled to hold back a laugh. He then heard a slap and Finley curse aloud. Then another slap as Winters came through the door to find a blonde man knocking Finley to the ground. The blonde, who had to be Derek, fell on top of her and grabbed her arms. The other one cheered him on. Winters swung his left arm around Jarvis, covered his mouth, and sliced his throat. The man went limp in his arms and Winters let go of him. He fell to the carpet with a loud thud, but not enough to alert Derek. Winters then stepped over the dead man and grabbed onto Derek’s blonde hair pulling him backward off Finley.

  “What?” Derek yelled out confused.

  Finley kicked him in the face before Winters thrust his knife into the side of his neck. Blood ran down Derek’s neck as he floundered on the carpet before taking his last breath.

  Winters looked at Finley’s red face as she stared at Derek. “You alright?”

  She nodded and got up off the floor. Her eyes lit up under her thick eyebrows. “Did you hear my GED joke? That was so worth the beat down, I mean, his jaw, like, about hit the floor.”

  “Keep it down, I’ve got one more.”

  “Who?”

  Winters shrugged his shoulders. “They were getting it on.”

  “Oh, that’s Laney and Owen.”

  “But he’s one of them, right?”

  “Oh, gosh yes, he’s like thirty and she’s only seventeen.”

  Winters shook his head in disgust. He padded back down the hall to find Owen still on the couch with her. Finley followed and scurried around him as they came into the living room. She grabbed a tall wooden candle holder that held a lit candle and swung it at Owen. The blow landed on his back as the candle went flying.

  “What the hell?” yelled Owen as he turned around to see Finley holding the makeshift club. “Whaddya go and do that for, Wannabe?”

  Finley swung it again, but he blocked the blow and jumped off Laney. He stood up in his birthday suit and hadn’t yet noticed Winters, who stepped back having decided to see just what Finley was made of. She stood five-foot-five and was full of energy. Did she have the nerve to follow through with her mouth? He would let her have another minute or so before taking Owen out.

  She swung again but missed as she wasn’t close enough to him. He then rushed her, but Finley stepped to the side and landed another blow on his back as he stumbled past her. He came at her again and she danced to the side again. His reflexes were dulled by whatever he had taken.

  “What the hell you doing, Wannabe?”

  “What I should have done a long time ago.”

  Owen puffed his chest out. “You’re dead. You hear me, dead.”

  Finley started laughing while swinging the club back and forth. “No, Owen, you’re the one who’s dead.”

  “Brave words, little girl.”

  “Are they?” she asked pointing the candlestick at the bloody corpse on the loveseat.

  Owen turned to see blood running down his friend’s neck. His jaw fell open as he asked, “Is he dead?”

  “Damn right he is.”

  Winters looked over at his handiwork and grimaced at how much blood had oozed out after he left. It looked gruesome enough to shock anyone. He then caught a movement in the corner of his eye. Laney, a five-foot-two light brown haired girl, jumped on Owen’s back and wrapped her legs around him while pulling his hair. The quick action surprised Owen and Finley took advantage by charging him. She used the candlestick holder as a battering ram and belted him in the stomach knocking out his wind. He collapsed to his knees. Finley swung at him but Owen managed to grab onto the makeshift club. He pulled hard to wrestle control away from her as she leaned backward while still holding on. Laney got off his back and started punching the side of his head with little effect. All three began screaming at each other.

  Winters stepped back amazed as he watched the struggle unfold before him. The two girls were battling a common foe and appeared to be in control. Winters figured they both needed this, and he decided to allow them to take it as far as they could.

  With her blows not having much effect, Laney reached for a vodka bottle that was sitting on an end table. After grabbing it, she wound up and hit him across the head. Liquid splashed out as it landed with a loud thud, but it didn’t break. Laney tried again, striking him on top of his head. Again, more liquid drained out, but the bottle didn’t break. The blow caused Owen’s arms to go limp, and he let go of the candlestick making Finley fall over backward. She scrambled up, and both girls looked encouragingly at each other before striking him again. Their blows landed one after another. Laney finally broke the bottle on the next try. Glass and vodka shot out in different directions as blood poured down the side of
Owen’s head. He fell over and Finley gave him one final blow.

  Chapter 19

  Winters wasn’t sure if he was surprised at either the viciousness of these two girls or the eagerness of the attack on Owen. He had only met Finley, but she didn’t seem to be a violent person. However, escaping the bonds of slavery is such an overwhelming sensation that it puts you in a different frame of mind. He’d witnessed it with Reese when she killed three of her oppressors as soon as she was released. These two didn’t seem much different from Reese. Winters had been confused when he learned what was going on and how the girls handled it. He wasn’t sure if or how much it bothered them, but having seen these two in action, he realized they hated it.

  Winters stepped into the living room where the two girls were breathing rapidly over their victim. His movement startled Laney and her eyes grew wild as she flung her hand up using the broken neck of the bottle as a defensive weapon.

  “It’s okay, Laney,” said Finley. “He’s with me.”

  Laney swayed from side to side while keeping the jagged glass aimed at Winters.

  Finley dropped the candlestick “Laney, this is Cole Winters.”

  She darted her eyes between Finley and Winters and began nodding in recognition. She then realized her state of undress and dropped the bottle before using her arms to cover up. She stared at Winters as he bent down to check on Owen.

  “Is he dead?” asked Finley.

  “Not yet, but he will be.”

  “Oh man, did you see us? I mean, I can’t believe we just did that. And Laney, the way you jumped on him, I mean, like, that was so friggin awesome. I knew we could get him, and Cole, I’m so glad you, like, didn’t stop us. I so wanted to do this.”

  Winters closed his eyes and shook his head slightly at how fast this girl talked. Of course, she had good reason to. It wasn’t every day you had an opportunity to beat on someone who has been tormenting you.

  “Laney, I mean, wow, what gave you the courage?”

  She looked at Finley. “I didn’t want him to hurt you. And the way you were standing up to him, it, like, gave me the courage to do the same.”