Nothing, he admitted. There was nothing in his power that he could do. He and Mercy were outnumbered twenty to one, with more of Scarlet's numbers inside and atop the building standing guard with scoped rifles. An attempt to rescue the children would be utterly futile, but their only chance to make a move was now. Maybe it's better to try, knowing we'll fail, than not at all, he thought. Ethan gave his word, but he's not here to help us. Adam grew angry. Trusting him was my first mistake. It seemed the only plausible option was to wait for Scarlet to return Mercy her freedom, then they could later locate the children together. But where are they being taken to? Does Scarlet even know? Despite himself, Adam mustered all his strength to accept the situation for the time being.
Fire burst from one of Marcus' cars, a deafening bang with it. Metal and glass ruptured in all directions. Adam dropped to the concrete, his hands covering his ears. He was flat on his belly before he was aware what occurred. It took place a dozen feet from him. The clans were scattering around the building, their weapons drawn. Some fled inside, some rushed out to the field. Scarlet's men shielded her as they escorted her inside. Before long there was gunfire, but it did not initially come from Scarlet's men, it was aimed at them. Bodies fell as the men ran from the courtyard to meet Marcus' men in the field. Marcus' men were proficient, while Scarlet's men were too slow to adequately react.
Now! Adam screamed at himself as he sprinted back to his allies at the house. Every second it took him to reach them felt like a significant loss. At any moment, one of the children, even Mercy herself, could be wounded or killed.
He burst open the door. The others were already on their feet, their weapons prepared. “Let's go!” he shouted. He led them in a sprint out the front door then across the street, passing between two other estates, and straight for the lair. They crossed the parking lot unharmed. Just as Ethan said, there were no defenses at the north end to quell their advance. Adam ran his group to the main doors, and sure enough, it was already unlocked for them to enter. “Karl's in the last room on the left!” With that, the others sprinted past him. Adam veered to his right to take cover, avoiding fire from guards that appeared at the end of the hall. He saw several of Karl's people drop. They took cover and returned fire. Still, every second was vital, and he had none to spare. He took the risk... Keeping his head low, and his hands over his head, he ran to the side of the hall, using his helplessness as a shield, shouting, “Don't shoot me!” To his surprise, it worked. He avoided being harmed at all as the guards continued to repel Karl's rescue party. Had they seen Adam bring the intruders, they would have shot him first.
Adam looked through a window at what continued outside beyond the south wing. For the brief time he watched, he saw a blur of Mercy in the far distance, leading multiple figures half her height into the neighborhood. They made it, he joyfully thought. He could only imagine the terror she must have felt to even attempt that.
The battle was already dying down. Before long, Marcus and his men were retreating, and Karl's people were likely of little to no threat. Adam feared he may have led them to their deaths. He forced himself not to think about it as he exited the building through the nearest back door, running after Mercy. With all his strength, and his feeble endurance, he reached the distant street where he had last seen her frantically fleeing. He might have heard Scarlet scream his name, but chose not to pay attention. Narrowly, and with a tremendous amount of luck, he escaped, and it seemed Mercy had as well, with at least most of the kids.
“Now what?” he whispered to himself. There was no sign of any of them. Gunfire and screams from the school were audible even from that distance, as if he was still amid the chaos. It was agonizing to hear. People are being killed out there, he repeated over and over in his mind. He had half a mind to turn back and rescue the wounded...
“Adam!” he heard. The sharp voice was Mercy, standing somewhat hunched in front of a house about fifty feet away. He ran toward her at once.
“Are you okay?” he asked her.
She did not respond; instead, she gripped his wrist excruciatingly, dragging him inside the house she selected for their haven. All six kids were there, a little shaken up, but intact.
As Mercy shut the front door hard, locking the bolt and knob, he said, “It's a miracle you all got out of there unscathed.”
“I told them the plan before they brought us outside,” said Mercy. “They listened... They listened well.” Despite her condition, she wore a partial smile. “It's a miracle.”
“How is everyone?” asked Adam. The youths gave positive responses and nothing more. They were the most patient children he had ever met. He turned to Mercy. “We shouldn't stay here long. This is Karl's turf. After today, he's...”
“What?”
“He's gonna want me dead. I practically left his people to die back there. Everything went to hell.” Adam paused. “If his people find me...”
“Then stay inside, and stay away from the windows. Actually, we should close the windows, and barricade the place with whatever we can. In the morning, we'll leave.” Adam admired Mercy's ability to focus raptly. He admired that immensely. Heart and tenacity, he thought. Mercy added, “Karl's not a threat as long as he's imprisoned.”
Adam nervously retorted, “I helped free him.” Mercy demanded an explanation with only her eyes. “Ethan told me to lead Karl's gang into Scarlet's base. More distraction, I guess. It was to buy us time, but... There's a chance Karl escaped alive.”
Mercy nodded. “Alright. We'll leave as soon as possible, just in case. We need to find food for them, though,” she said, glancing at the kids who were patiently seated on the shredded living room couches.
The two began to scour the cabinets in the kitchen and the pantry. They were thorough, but found nothing, just as Adam had expected. They searched every drawer, every opening, every corner. Eventually, Adam found himself looking for crumbs, and he intended to collect those crumbs regardless where he found them. The house was filthy, even for being abandoned for months. The place appeared to have never been taken care of much.
Adam found a door leading to a basement, prompting him to ask Mercy, “Have you checked if anyone's here?”
“Of course,” Mercy replied while still more focused on scavenging.
“So, there's no one in the basement?”
“No, Adam. I checked.”
He nodded and pondered a moment. “Okay, maybe we should have them hide down there until we're ready to leave?”
Mercy paused. “Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.”
They led the six little ones below, attempting to ignore the stench of all that had been rotting down there. The kids found a plethora of toys and miscellaneous objects to play with, and as expected, they began to fight over who got to have what. Adam allowed it, though prepared to interfere if they got aggressive with one another. He looked at Mercy, who was watching them with a peaceful expression of affinity in her eyes. It also brought him peace. A great sadness showed itself in her eyes as well, and he knew why.
He had never met her niece, but he saw the love Mercy had for her. It was a love that remained as strong as it ever was, but that love was aching, seething, and was filled with regret.
Mercy looked down, then at Adam before approaching him. She seemed to want to converse, but Adam didn't wish to interrupt her moment with his presence. He quickly said, “I'll keep searching for something. There's got to be food somewhere here.” Mercy nearly said something, but instead simply acknowledged.
Adam placed his arm across Mercy's shoulders and kindly embraced her. Then he returned to the stairs. At the top, he was met with a bludgeon to the throat by a bat. It was enough force to inhibit him from making a sound, but not completely cut off his air. Adam frantically looked up and saw a familiar face, followed by two more. It was Karl's girlfriend, and men he had led with her to the school. “Told you he was in this house,” said one of the men, who then struck him with a bat.
Adam panicked, and while g
asping desperately for air he attempted to call Mercy. But he realized it was best not give away her presence, or the kids'. The woman's two guards pummeled Adam from head to crotch as he tried to crawl away. He had only made it to the living room before he couldn't crawl any longer. Karl's girlfriend watched with delight. Soon, Adam couldn't help but cry out with every kick and punch.
Mercy appeared at the top of the stairs, slamming the basement door behind her. She screamed in horror. For that brief moment, the men stopped.
“Fresh meat,” one said, staring with lustful appetite.
“Kill him first,” said Karl's girlfriend.
“NOOO!” screamed Mercy. She spotted a small cutting knife and, snatching it from the kitchen counter, ran at the men. Just as one pulled a pistol from the back of his pants, Mercy threw her body full-force at him, knocking the gun out of his hands. Karl's girlfriend gripped Mercy's hair and forced her back as she continued to scream.
A deafening gunshot sounded close to them, blasting a hole in the ceiling above. Adam and the others immediately turned their heads toward the open front door. Standing within its frame was Ethan, a 12-gauge shotgun in hands. He lowered it and approached them slowly. “Don't touch her,” he said in his distinct emotionless tone.
The woman relinquished Mercy, keeping her eyes fixed on Ethan. As Adam coughed blood from his throat, he wondered why Ethan was there, protecting Mercy of all people. He adjusted himself to look at Mercy, who was crawling on the ground backward away from the brute. Karl's girlfriend asked Ethan, “You here to protect them?”
“To take her,” he answered, looking at Mercy. His superior weapon stayed raised.
“And what about this asshole?” said one of the men, who pressed his foot on Adam's throat.
“Mercedes, and no one else.”
“And if we refuse?” asked the same man.
“You die.”
There was a moment of silent tension. The two men slowly moved their hands toward their weapons. Adam thought he might have a chance to save Mercy if he seized the gun on the floor, but Karl's girlfriend raised her hand toward her guards. “Let him take her.”
“What?” cried Mercy. “No!” She stumbled onto her feet, reaching toward Adam, but Ethan was already there, firmly wrapping his arm around her neck. She struggled until she passed out. Then Ethan lifted her over his shoulder, carrying her away.
Adam had tried to reach the pistol, but couldn't. Just as Ethan left the house, fading from view, the guard lifted his foot off Adam's neck, took his pistol and fired two rounds into Adam's throat.
The pain didn't faze him. He had only sadness as he hoped the children would never be found by the thugs who killed him, and he pitied Mercy that she was about to suffer a fate worse than death.
Adam accepted his fate as he drowned in his blood.
MERCY
“Mercy!”
She looked back and perceived the massive mob chasing them. It covered the street, and the streets beyond. It was the man with the torn coat. She knew what he was going to do. She saw Scarlet among them, and all her people, with Ethan silently following by her side. She ran fiercely, keeping Haley by her side, but the mob was keeping up, despite walking at a steady pace.
“Aunt Mercy! They're catching up to us!”
They saw a truck up ahead and ran straight for it. Once they got inside, the vehicle started up on its own and Mercy slammed on the gas. But it would not move. The tires exploded. Then the entire mob behind them opened fire. The cockpit filled with bullets as if it provided no cover. Mercy could feel the metal and ricochets impacting her body, but none pierced her skin.
“NOOO! Help, Mercy! HELP!” Mercy saw Haley beside her, screaming as bullets were throwing her against the dashboard, opening her body and splattering blood over Mercy's face. “AHHH!” Her screams alone inflicted pain on Mercy.
She felt hands rip her out of the car. Ethan's face was above her as he forced her onto her feet. All the mob was around them, continuing to shoot Haley as they surrounded the truck from every direction. Mercy tried to free herself from Ethan's grip, but he was too strong. “Give up!” he demanded, but she struggled all the same. “She's dead. Give up! You're coming with me.”
“No! She's alive!” She bit Ethan's arm but her teeth chipped on contact. Ethan threw her onto the concrete then crushed her neck with his heel...
“Ahhh!” she inhaled deeply as she forced herself awake. Sweat covered her; the air froze it almost immediately. She could hardly see. The room's only illumination came from outside, through the filthy window. Ethan stood in front of it, peering through the blinds before he turned to Mercy.
“You need sedation,” he stated as a matter of fact. “That's your second time tonight.”
Mercy took a moment to collect herself, struggling to remember where she was, or how she got there. He choked me, she recalled as her last memory. Her neck felt untouched, though. “Where am I?”
Ethan ignored the question. “Keep it down if you don't want them hearing us.”
Her eyes adjusted enough to see outlines throughout the room. An attic. Someone's attic. All items surrounding them belonged to others; to a family. Boxes and totes and old outdated appliances were most of all there was. She could only wonder if that family was still alive, and if they weren't, if Ethan had something to do with that. No need to bother asking him again where he brought her, nor about how he got them there. Answers to such questions were the last things she wanted to hear.
She saw what appeared to be an attic door behind her only steps away. Freedom only lay down the stairs and out the front door...
She leaped up, stumbling. She reached the door before she heard any movement from Ethan. The knob was locked, which wasted the few seconds she had. By the time she opened the door, she felt Ethan grasp her hair, throwing her back inside. Her body tripped over his extended leg. When she attempted to rise again, Ethan fell on top of her, digging his knuckles into her neck. “Don't struggle,” he breathed.
When she felt herself losing air, she finally relented, preparing herself for what he would do next...
Ethan only stood up, then extended a hand to her. She was in disbelief.
“I'm not going to hurt you.”
“But you'd leave an innocent man to be killed?” she scorned, refusing his offered help and standing on her own.
Ethan returned to the window. “One of you would inevitably die. I chose him.”
“You could've-” she nearly screamed.
“Could have what?” interrupted Ethan. “Adam was not my concern. I was only there for you.”
Mercy opened her mouth to respond, but she refrained. Ethan reverted his gaze to the houses and streets outside.
“Go ahead and escape, Mercy. Run back to Adam's corpse.” His words enraged her. She clenched her fist, her heart sped. “Run to the children you failed to save.”
That crossed the line.
“FUCK! YOU!” she screamed. “You don't care. You have no heart. You're scum! You should have been the one killed, not Adam. You deserve to rot in a pit!”
Ethan looked at her with no expression on his face. “You're right. I deserve to be burned. But I still need you for something. You swore you'd repay my favor.”
“I swore to repay you if you helped me free-”
“That's exactly what I did, Mercy.”
“You left them there. With no one to protect them. You left them to die. Who knows what will happen-”
“I helped them escape captivity. They were saved from a life of enslavement and defilement. What happened to them after that was not part of our arrangement. Want to save them, too? Leave, then. See if you can make it one block before Karl's men find you, or worse. Maybe the troops can take you in, where you'll be tortured for information and left to rot yourself.”
“Our troops would never do that.”
Ethan finally looked at her. “Our troops?” Mercy almost heard the brute laugh. “You certain of that assessment? You would be caught
in a zone that's rich with mobsters and thugs. And you're a woman. Women have run the crime in this city for forty years. The troops are close to reclaiming this neighborhood. Don't forget what it was like when 'our' soldiers patrolled the streets, like they still do. Remember how much freedom you had then? Remember SWAT teams were sicked on people who merely looked suspicious. Everything you did and said was tracked by people who could imprison or kill you without a trial. Remember the heinous things they got away with.” Ethan paused for a moment. Mercy nearly spoke, but refrained. “Run away. Trust your life to those people. Or stay with me where it's safe.”
Recollections came to mind. She admitted to herself that the state of the country was not much better before the Collapse. In hindsight, it seemed more as a decline than a sudden 'collapse.' All the stories of innocent people being punished for crimes they never committed. Her trust for Ethan remained as low as it always was, but somewhere inside of her she had to admit, he's right. She studied him for a moment. “What did you do? What happened at the school?”
“Hardly a school anymore.”
“You know what I mean!”
After some pause, Ethan sighed, then spoke. “The families kept records of their communications and business exchanges.”
Mercy waited for further explanation, but Ethan left it at that. So, she thought it over a moment. “You wanted records of something?” Ethan nodded. “Records of what, then?”
“Something Scarlet would never tell me.”
But you won't tell me what that is?” Ethan said nothing, likely implying his answer from the silence. “Fine, then.” Her thoughts returned to what she knew of the current world; the stories she heard, and to the sights she bore just in the past few days. “How do I know I'll be any safer staying with you?”
“I need something from you.”
“I get that part. How do I know you won't kill me when you're through with me?”
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