The Mountain Resort

by Bruce Allsman

  Feeling Daisy's emotions, Jasmine couldn't bear the idea of leaving her here with her cannibal family. That girl has no place here, she thought.

  "Daisy will be back," she said. "We have to help her."

  "Yes, we must," Henry said. "She's our only hope. We better get some sleep. It's going to be a long night."

  They lay down on the ground. Aware of the cold, hard ground and the warmth of their bodies, she felt her heartbeats returning to normal and her trembling had ceased. Feeling at ease with the idea of Daisy helping them escape, she dozed off. Soon she heard faint footfalls again and she opened her eyes. Henry, who was already standing, helped her up.

  It was Daisy, who came as promised. A wave of relief washed over Jasmine.

  After Daisy unlocked and pulled open the grill door, Jasmine followed Henry out of the cell.

  "I'll meet you guys later," Daisy said. "In your RV. Follow my instructions, you'll find me."

  They thanked Daisy and took from her a flashlight, a Bowie knife, and a hunting rifle.

  "Everything will be fine for you," Jasmine told Daisy and hugged her.

  "We don't have much time," Daisy said. "You have to go now."

  Daisy then told them exactly how to get out of there.

  "This maze can get pretty confusing," Daisy said. "Be sure to follow my instructions to avoid getting lost. If you are lost in here, no one can help you."

  They confirmed with Daisy the exact route they should take.

  "See ya later," Daisy said and hurried away.

  Without further delay, they set off into the maze of tunnels, taking quick steps, not looking back. Jasmine recalled the exact route Daisy had told them.

  ***

  Henry and Jasmine went along the tunnel heading toward the hidden exit Daisy had told them about. The tunnel seemed to go on forever, Jasmine thought. She wasn't sure if they were right to trust Daisy, and she hoped Daisy was really helping them. Carefully, they trudged along the dark and deep tunnel, Henry always illuminating the way with the flashlight. What would they face when they reached the exit, she wondered.

  When Henry switched off the flashlight, she knew they had almost reached the tunnel's exit. The scent of the forest reached her, flooding her mind with images of danger and of the unknown. Her legs started to tremble, so she stopped behind Henry, held his arm, and pulled him back, hesitant to continue. She wanted to ask him things before they proceed.

  "Henry wait," she said. "How are we going to get away, Daisy didn't tell us how. We'll need a vehicle."

  "We'll find out soon enough," Henry said. "Maybe have to improvise."

  "I think Daisy wants us to …," she said hesitantly, "kill her family."

  "I don't think she expects us to do that," Henry said.

  "I think she means exactly that," she said. "How else are we going to get a vehicle? What do you think the rifle is for?"

  "Damn it, you may be right," Henry said. "I don't know if I can do this. I'm not sure I can. I know our lives depend on it. But if I'm really forced to … ."

  "We don't need to kill anyone," she said. "Why don't we just get to our RV? She told us to."

  "I'm not so sure," Henry said. "What if the RV hadn't been repaired? She didn't confirm that."

  "Maybe she had repaired it," she said. "We have to get to our RV. Just make sure we aren't seen. And use the rifle only if we need to."

  "I hope I don't need to use it," Henry said.

  "Let's go," she said.

  At the tunnel's exit, Henry pushed open a wooden door, and she followed him out. They stood for a moment, trying to gather their bearings in the dense forest. It was good to breathe in fresh air again, she thought. Looking up at the sky, she could tell it was going to be daybreak soon.

  "Where are we?" she asked.

  "I don't know yet," Henry answered. "Daisy said there is a trail nearby. You wait here while I find it."

  While Henry was busy searching, she stood, alone and aware of the total silence in the forest surrounding her. It was early morning. A dense blanket of mist smothered the mountainside.

  "I think I've found it," Henry said when he came back. "Follow me."

  Following Henry, shivering as she walked, she rubbed her hands vigorously to keep them warm.

  "Keep close behind me," Henry said. "We have to hurry."

  For half an hour, she followed him closely, looking down carefully at each step, treading through the dense forest undergrowth. When Henry stopped, she looked up. The tiled roofs of the resort buildings were partially visible, although still shrouded in mist.

  "From here onward, we must be careful," Henry said. "Keep quiet."

  Her hands were shaking.

  "Jasmine, be brave," Henry said and held her hands. "We will get through this."

  After taking a few deep breaths, she said, "I'm ready."

  She followed him down the winding trail toward a building. When they were about a hundred yards away, she recognized it--the workshop. All was quiet. He stopped when they were about ten yards away. The workshop's sliding door was wide open. Someone could be inside waiting for them, she thought. Henry gestured her to wait for his signal to continue.

  When he signaled, she took a step after him and heard the first shot. A tree branch near her shattered and Henry sprinted to the left, heading for cover behind a low concrete shelter. She scrambled after him, her legs shaking, and her head crouched.

  "I think it's Gregory," Henry said. "We've been setup."

  "No, Daisy got caught, that's all," she said, refusing to believe that Daisy could betray them.

  "There goes our escape plan," Henry said and cursed aloud.

  Two more shots pierced the silence of the dawn, ricocheting off the concrete wall beside them. How had Gregory found out, she thought. The rest of his family will be out soon so we must act fast.

  "Shoot back," she told Henry.

  Henry raised his rifle, aimed, and squeezed the trigger. He didn't miss.

  Obviously, Gregory was unaware they had a weapon. Silently, he crumbled to the ground. His rifle fell to his side as he grabbed his chest, at a large bloody gaping hole.

  By now there were sounds of footsteps coming from the front of the main building.

  "They are coming," Henry said.

  Henry and Jasmine shielded themselves behind the concrete wall, crouched low and peered out. From the main building, Wilma came rushing out, her face red with exertion, and in her hands, a machine gun. Spotting them immediately, she raised her weapon.

  Jasmine pulled back quickly, just in time to avoid the spray of bullets as they pounded the concrete wall. Wilma had trapped them and will wear them down soon, she thought.

  "We've got to end this before Sean comes out too," Henry said.

  "Is he even here?" she said. "And Daisy?" Would she help us, Jasmine wondered.

  More bullets hailed against the wall as Wilma fired on them relentlessly.

  "We can't hide here forever," Henry said. "I'll distract her. You head for the RV. Keep low and go fast. Wait for my signal, then go."

  Although her legs had gone numb from crouching beside him, she nodded to his command and waited. He positioned the rifle's barrel, signaled her to move, and then began firing several shots in succession. She ran toward the workshop, reaching it just in time as Wilma was returning his fire.

  At the workshop's entrance, she kept out of Wilma's line of fire and stepped aside Gregory's dead body. Staring down at it, she grabbed the gun but found it was out of bullets. There was a moment of silence, as if Wilma was either reloading or waiting for Henry to give up.

  "Give up, or suffer a long slow death," Wilma shouted.

  Wilma began another round of gunfire and Jasmine watched in horror as Wilma came toward the workshop. Henry saw what was happening and tried to intercept Wilma. Wilma fired toward his direction.

  Jasmine realized she must help Henry get into the RV but Wilma was in the way. Checking Gregory's pockets, she found a clip of bullets, hurriedly loaded
Gregory's gun, and shot at Wilma but she missed. Wilma dropped safely to the ground.

  Henry took this opportunity and ran toward the workshop. Wilma, in prone position, raised her gun, aiming slowly and then firing a single shot just as Henry was nearly at the door. He stumbled and Jasmine ran forward quickly, pulling him into the workshop.

  Wilma shot at them again, her bullets raining against the workshop's wall.

  "Your leg," she said to Henry.

  "Just a graze, I'll be all right," he told her. "Hurry, she's coming."

  Jasmine raised her gun with both hands and faced the workshop entrance. Seconds later, when she heard Wilma's wail, she placed her finger on the trigger.

  Then Wilma came toward her, with machine gun leveled. Jasmine aimed and squeezed the trigger several times. Wilma fell to the ground and was still.

  Jasmine's entire body shook, her hands still gripping the raised gun. Slowly, she dropped it, stepped over to Wilma, stooped and confirmed that Wilma was dead. Then she went back inside the workshop toward Henry.

  "We'll need to get you to a hospital," she said.

  "I'm all right," he said.

  "You're bleeding, put pressure on the wound, and be still," she said. "I'll get the bandages."

  He'll need antiseptic and bandages from their first aid kit, she thought. She had to go get it from the RV. Feeling her way around the dark workshop, she stepped toward the RV. Without any warning, all the lights were switched on, illuminating the entire workshop.

  Sean, she thought. He must be here, the only cannibal left, the sole remaining threat. A loud raspy voice came from somewhere at the back of the workshop.

  From the rear of the RV, Sean appeared with Daisy, keeping her close, twisting her left arm behind her back, his right arm wrapped tight against her right arm, his hand holding a gun pressed against her neck.

  "Shoot him, Jasmine," Daisy said. "I'd rather die than be with Sean."

  "I'll kill Daisy, if you get any closer," Sean said.

  Jasmine raised the gun in her hand, aiming at him.

  "Let her go," she told him.

  "Go ahead, shoot," he said. "You killed my Pa and Ma. I don't care. All I want ... to kill you all." He pressed his gun harder against Daisy's neck and she let out a scream.

  Jasmine's hand wavered but she wanted to pull the trigger, couldn't bear to see Sean blowing away Daisy's head. Sean could definitely pull the trigger before she could.

  "What are ya? Chicken?" he taunted her. He pressed the barrel of his gun underneath Daisy's neck.

  He was being stubborn, Jasmine thought. He could pull the trigger at any time but she refused to give up. If she gave up, all of them will be dead.

  "If you're not gonna use it, put it down," Sean told her.

  She hesitated but continued aiming at Sean's head. In the bright lights of the workshop, she was sure she wouldn't miss and was tempted to pull the trigger. Will she be fast enough, she wondered. It will be a difficult choice. She wanted this moment to end soon. Her heart was pounding.

  He would be faster and Daisy would be dead. Too young to die like this, Jasmine thought. Relaxing her grip on the gun, she lowered it slowly, and stooped down to place it on the floor.

  There was a shout from Daisy and everything happened fast. Daisy broke free from Sean's grip. His gun went off. Daisy grappled Sean. Sean shook Daisy free. His gun fell to the floor. Daisy scrambled onto the floor to grab it. Sean jumped on her. Daisy was trying hard to reach for his gun. They struggled on the floor, rolling this way and that. There was a shot and both became still. Finally, Daisy pushed Sean's limp body away from her. Jasmine rushed over to help Daisy up.

  "Are you all right?" Jasmine asked.

  "I'm not hurt, just a few bruises," Daisy answered.

  They stared down at Sean, his chest ripped open from the impact of the bullet.

  Daisy helped Henry into the RV, while she searched for the first aid kit. Fortunately, it was only a superficial wound, she told Henry after securing the bandage.

  Meanwhile, Daisy excused herself, and went out to pull open the workshop door wider. Minutes later, she brought in a bag and climbed into the RV. Glancing at Daisy's bag, Jasmine had an inkling that it seemed familiar.

  After ensuring Henry was comfortable, she went up front and climbed into the driver's seat. Daisy came to sit beside her.

  "I've repaired your RV," Daisy said with a smile.

  Jasmine started the RV and drove out of the workshop. A lingering feeling kept nagging her like an inconceivable notion. She had seen Daisy's bag before but she couldn't recall when or where. Pushing the ridiculous idea aside, she drove past the entrance archway and onto the mountain road, this time heading down the mountain slope.

  The End

  Thank you for reading my book. If you enjoyed it, could you please take a moment to leave me a review at your favorite retailer?

  Thanks and best regards,

  Bruce Allsman

  About the Author

  Bruce Allsman is a short story author and novelist. He writes literary, romance, contemporary fantasy, horror, crime, mystery, thriller and suspense stories. He has work appearing or forthcoming in over a dozen venues. When he's not writing, he enjoys learning foreign languages.

  Books by Bruce Allsman

  Please visit your favorite ebook retailer to discover these books by Bruce Allsman:

  The Beggar's Lucky Coin

  Mara

  Wira

  The Hikikomori

  The Bank Teller

  A Broken Wok

  A Dangerous Shelter

  Alley of Betrayal

  Dive of Truth

  In the Twinkling of a Bronze Eye

  Lovefullness

  The Auto Shop Case

  The Beach House

  The Chauffeur

  The English Author

  The Return

  The Requital

  The Tenant

  Their Last Vacation

  An Alien in the Arboretum

  The Mountain Resort

  Exit Plan

  His Brother's Keeper

  The Museum Curator

  The Food Critic

  Deana Fallows

  When the Student is Ready

  Connect with Bruce Allsman

  Contact the publisher: bruceyeoh at yahoo dot com