by Angela White
“Our life’s work has just begun and already I feel so old! I thank fate endlessly for my men. They keep me fighting as much as the memories do. I will find my father and Safe Haven, and along the way, I will earn the right to live there.”
Alexa’s Travels: Book Two
The Killin’ Fields
By
Angela White
Copyright © Angela White 2014
All rights reserved.
Made in the USA!
Table of Contents
Prologue
Remnants
Evening One
Hello In The Camp
That’s How It’s Done
Small Favors
Haunted
What Devil Rains Be these?
Undead Egos
Then, And Now
Short Ride, Wrong Side
A Grand Island
Lincoln
Zones With Old Bones
Betrayed and Repaid
The House in the Corn
A Hag? Oh, Hell
Free Will
Travelin’ On
Extras
…Book Three
…Deleted Scenes
Run!
Wolves in the corn
Rats at our boots
Dodging the stalks
Leaping the roots
The air alive with fire
The ground ruthlessly yanking down
The earth shook in anticipation
Yet we heard not a single sound
Not even our own ragged breathing
As we fought to stay on the quest
Seven fighters determined to succeed
To outlive all the rest
Chased by demons
Hunted by the past
We’re not supposed to finish this job
Betrayed from stern to mast
The house in the corn
The dimension to another gate
Horrors slinking across
With bloodlust to sate
Throw the knives!
Fire the gun!
Wait, it’s a trap!
Run, damn it! Run!
Prologue
Nebraska
September 2016
“You’re not going in there?”
Alexa’s men glared at Paul for the disrespect, but also understood his reluctance. The field of corn in front of them was menacing in its endlessness. The chilling wind and roiling gray sky under the green haze was simply overkill.
Paul took a step back from the glares, but didn’t give in. “That’s the Killin’ Fields. No one comes out on the other side!”
Alexa’s men turned to their leader and found her disappearing into the corn. Her choice had been made.
“Shit,” Paul protested. “She is crazy!”
That earned him another scowl from the men who had agreed that it would be better for everyone if the awkward scientist gave up and returned to the government base. Out here, he was only a burden to be handled later.
“Can’t we talk about it?”
Alexa didn’t pause and neither did her fighters, but they did steal quick glimpses. They weren’t able to ignore Paul the way Alexa could, but they had no doubts about their choices, their own levels of commitment. This would be hard for anyone without confidence and determination.
Paul was quickly out of sight, divided from Alexa’s protection by rows of tall black corn with orange tassels swaying eerily in the breeze. When the wind picked up, the stalks moaned like a dying man, sending terror into Paul’s guts.
“Wait! Wait for me!”
The heavy clunk and clink of Paul running shattered the silence.
“Don’t leave me!”
Alexa stopped and her men glowered at Paul. They didn’t want to go against Alexa, but they didn’t understand why Paul was here.
Paul drew up at the hostile air. “What?”
“Get in your place!” Edward growled, pointing.
Paul did it with jerky movements that sent pieces of loose gear banging against each other.
Alexa’s lips tightened as she began to walk again, and Edward fell in step with her, sensing a distraction might be good timing on his part. “I’ve heard stories.”
“I’d hear them later,” Alexa stated curtly, aware of his tactics. Her army didn’t want Paul here and would try to get rid of him, while also trying not to offend their leader. It was a tight rope to walk.
“Wrong spot. Stay an arm’s length to the left,” Daniel said lowly to David. “Remember rule 2b for tight quarters.”
It was a gentle reminder of the training that the rookies, that all of them, were undergoing, but Paul wasn’t catching on like the others. He would be fine one day and have to be told again the next morning.
Alexa listened vaguely to the conversations and lessons that were going on behind her, content the senior men were helping the new ones in the ways she needed them to. My father’s code and mine are only different because I’m on foot with only six men. If I had a camp, a full army, I would have to do things his way, as well. I don’t need an army for this quest. I’ve been blessed with strong, loyal, beautiful men-exactly what I required.
The six males making a conscious effort to maintain the basic traveling formation all had big muscles and dark hair that made them appear related, but each of them wore it differently. For David, it was loose and almost long. As a blacksmith, he’d kept his hair trimmed for safety, but that cell was open now. For Edward, it was a tame mass of ebony that curled around his ears to give him the appearance of someone who had earned a high station of command. Mark and Billy both preferred the previously gender restricted braids. Mark had a whole headful of them, where Billy sported only two braids on each side that were tied together in the back. Daniel had kept the short spikes that connected him to his past, and so had Jacob with his curls. It was a sexy mixture of dark hairstyles that Alexa admire during those nights when she refused to dream anymore and needed a good distraction.
Unsure of her thoughts or mood, Edward stayed close and quiet, hoping she might talk to him. It had been two weeks since she’d told them a story or even held a conversation that wasn’t related to their quest. It was maddening and they’d agreed to ask for more information and accept whatever punishment she gave in return.
Alexa’s thoughts had drifted to Paul’s very different coloring and she tried not to frown. What was it about blond men that she didn’t care for? Paul was fairly attractive and wasn’t built badly despite being hunched over, but she felt no desire for him at all and that was unusual. Descendants were especially aware of each other, in ways most people couldn’t match, but with Paul, there was an actual repellant. She hadn’t narrowed down the cause yet. She assumed it was his weakness, but wasn’t sure. There were plenty of faults to pick from.
Edward winced at a loud crunch as Paul waded through the brambles that the rest of them had just avoided. “He’ll learn. We are.”
Alexa didn’t confirm or deny that, and Edward hadn’t expected her to. She preferred silence to lies.
They’d traveled steadily for ten days and though it would be a couple more weeks before the tracing drugs would be completely out of Alexa’s system, she’d made a full recovery. Only a small scar remained on her neck and in her heart. They’d stopped in a few empty South Dakota border towns to resupply themselves before dropping into Nebraska. They’d found old and new battlefields almost as soon as they’d hit this state. Alexa had collected several pouches of dust.
They’d reached the first cornfield two days ago, and it was as if the hardy crop had taken over the entire state. As they walked, the roads were becoming mere paths between t
he rows.
The wind sent a fresh round of moans through the tall corn and the fighters searched harder through the jungle of stalks and tassels they were now submerged in. The ten-foot plants rose haughtily in every direction and the spongy ground under their boots suggested they might sink at any moment despite the lack of rain. It made them all uneasy and Paul’s loud clumping drew their emotions to an easy target.
“Shut up, damn you!” David growled as Paul coughed and spat.
“Hush now,” Daniel tried to soothe his students, but he understood. If things had happened this way as he first joined the quest, he wasn’t sure if he would have been able to handle it despite being in Alexa’s healing glow. It had only been him and Edward for the first month after she’d saved him and nothing would ever compare to it. Jacob and David were trying very hard to fit in, and they were making great progress, even with Paul along. Without Paul, they were sure they would already be stronger, better trained. The scientist was a constant distraction.
“Why bother? He’s so loud that no one will hear us over that racket!” Jacob nearly snarled. He and David often felt cheated by Paul being here to start their time with Alexa. It had ruined some of it for them.
“I agree,” Mark added angrily, looking at Paul. “You’ll get her killed!”
Paul glowered at them, still hunched over despite all the exercise he’d gotten since leaving the bunker. “I will not!”
He’d been thinking about killing his father, not paying attention like they’d been telling him to do for the last ten days. He was trying to decide if he liked being a killer now, or if he wished he’d done it sooner and been a murderer of the cruel man in his sleep. This feeling of freedom, of weighing nothing, would have been even stronger.
Two steps later, Paul tripped and his carelessly packed gear scattered across the ground.
Alexa stopped again. Her shoulders were rigid, and her fighters braced for discipline.
“Are you sure, Paul?” Alexa inquired tonelessly. “A month with me may get you killed by my men. These last ten days have added up.”
Paul picked himself up, flustered. “Please!”
“Pick one of them to take charge of you. Five minute break,” she ordered, surprising the others.
If they had to take charge of him, he had to be accepted as one of Alexa’s men, and that wouldn’t happen if the six of them had anything to with it. The thought was unanimous.
Paul glanced at Edward, who he admired (and feared) the most after Alexa.
Edward rolled his eyes in prideful resignation. “Fine. Start by ditching the computer. That world is gone. Next, lay out everything in your pack and do it fast. I’ll help you sort.”
Alexa stayed where she was, listening, and the others took up positions around their stopped group. It took time to learn new ways, Alexa understood that. These small issues, like Jacob still occasionally fighting with his faulty foot and Edward’s thick-headed pride, would settle themselves out in time, but not if she constantly harped on them. Even Mark and Daniel still made too much noise sometimes with their hearty male voices and it had brought trouble, but overall, she was pleased with the progress of her men.
Alexa’s thoughts returned to Paul. He wasn’t one of her men and thank the gods for it! He was a twitchy, ticking bomb that she’d chosen to use to her advantage. It was tricky, dangerous, and not guaranteed to be as useful as she hoped. In fact, the man might even blow too soon and screw it all up. If it went well, Paul would keep his life under his own free will. If not, he would die or return to the bunker’s safe captivity.
David came to Alexa’s side, black, feathered hair blowing sexily. “I know what you need. What’s going to happen.”
Alexa didn’t blink. Her men were smart. She’d expected to be called on the future of the quest at some point. “You’ll tell the others?”
“Yes.” David agreed. “But not unless Lincoln doesn’t work.” He hesitated, face darkening, then ran a hand through his hair in an unconscious defense. “And if it doesn’t?”
Alexa wanted to be angry, but the quest came first. “Carry on.”
David didn’t think that was possible for some of them. “And if you die?”
“Carry on!” Alexa ordered, eyes flashing annoyance.
David still didn’t confirm that he would and Alexa scowled. “What are you hiding from me?”
David winced. “Protecting myself, not hiding.”
Alexa wasn’t going to settle for that. He’d brought this to her, forced her to have this discussion, and now he would open up as well.
“Tell me who you are!” Alexa’s voice was a deep command that was hard to refuse.
“I’m a blacksmith on a quest,” he stalled. It was how he still felt.
“Tell me who you want to be.”
“An Eagle in Safe Haven’s army.”
Alexa let a sound of longing escape her lips. “Yes, as do I. Now tell me who you were!”
David flinched at the second demand. “I’d rather not.”
Alexa pointed ahead of them. “Evil resides there. We are the light. Get rid of your shadows or allow them to come between us.”
David had no choice. He would never forsake this quest. “I was an engineer…on the other side. I went AWOL.”
“You could have tried to join Safe Haven afterwards,” Alexa pointed out, finally placing the feel of her father that hung around this man by her side. It had been bright and clear in the dusty street where she’d first found him, but here, it glowed like the neon signs that used to light Vegas.
“I fought against them, killed. I wasn’t worthy,” David told her gravely. “I’m still not.”
Alexa understood that feeling, but it didn’t bother her that David had been with the enemy. So had Edward and Jacob, and Mark had been a criminal. It didn’t matter.
Alexa wasn’t good with comforting her men, but she managed to find a tone that sounded gentle. “You’ll tell them when we arrive. They’ll make the choice. Until then, store up points.”
David had planned to that, felt he had a start o it even, and he was grateful to hear that there was a chance for him to do just that and earn forgiveness.
“Hold still!”
They both looked over to find Paul flinching back from Edward’s big hands as he tightened, fastened, pulled, and tugged the scientist’s gear into the correct places.
“And stop drinking the crap you brought from the bunker.” Edward ordered. “We can track you by the smell of your piss!”
Paul stumbled backward and Edward snatched a handful of jacket to steady the nervous man. “Can’t you at least try? She will leave you behind if you keep slowing us down.”
Paul’s face filled with anger and embarrassment as he jerked loose. “I’ll still be with her when you’re dead!”
“Yeah,” Edward snorted. “Come on. She wants to be moving. Can’t you feel her impatience?”
Alexa turned toward the path she’d chosen and David took up the place on her right to cover for Edward, who would have a miserable few hours of trying to teach Paul the basics of their traveling formation that he should have picked up on his own by now just from doing it every day. It wasn’t hard, but it took concentration that the scientist didn’t seem to have. Paul was often causing them to stop while he examined some specimen that he’d only read about in the lab, or while he exclaimed over the hues of the sunset. It was as if he hadn’t been outside in his entire life.
For all they knew, he hadn’t.
“She’s getting ready to drill us,” Mark commented, making sure his gear was high and tight. The others did the same, muttering.
Edward’s frown grew as he shoved Paul into place. “Your fault, you go ahead of me.”
Paul started to protest,” What did I…”
Edward shoved the scientist forward. “Let’s go. Now!”
Ahead of them, Alexa was running.
The other fighters flew by Edward and Paul, and the horseman snatched the scientist by his jac
ket and jerked him deeper into the killin’ fields.
Chapter One
Remnants
1
“Get up!” Edward stopped and went back to the sweaty scientist, aware of his group getting further ahead with every second.
“The next time you fall,” Edward growled, hauling Paul’s cringing form to his feet. “I’m leaving you.
Gasping and pale, with bright red cheeks, Paul didn’t have enough air to argue with.
“Useless!” Edward pat, sliding his arm around Paul’s waist as the sound of boots faded. He hefted the man over his shoulder roughly and rushed to catch up as Paul cried out in pain.
Alexa heard the heavy steps, the crashing of two bodies through the corn that reminded her of their adventure on the bridge, and she brought her team to a stop. She waited for Edward to put Paul down and gave them a one-hundred count to catch their breath before she started walking at a quick pace. She kept it that way for the next hour, fighting the instinct that said faster was better. If slowing them down was the worst consequence of bringing Paul along, they would be fine.
“Feels like we’re being followed,” David stated. He changed to walk backwards, scanning. There hadn’t been much in the way of noise or sights today and it made the blacksmith alert to the slight changes.
Not doubting him, Alexa signaled her men closer, but didn’t stop. After nearly three days, they were deep into the fields and well, trouble had to come sometime, didn’t it? She prepared herself mentally, hands falling into a comforting routine of checking her weapons and gear. She didn’t need to confirm that her men were doing the same, but she did glance pointedly at Paul.
Paul tried to copy the others, but didn’t feel like he was being given a fair chance to prove himself. They had no sympathy for the sheltered life he had led.
“Boss.”
This time, Alexa did stop. David’s tone said they had trouble and he wasn’t sure what to do about it. She turned to see a little girl of about seven, pale as a corpse, standing behind them.