Eden Rising (Eden Rising Trilogy Book 1)

by Andrew Cunningham

  “We all have our roles,” answered the reverend. “You teach them skills they can use in the physical world, and I teach them about the glories of God.”

  “Look around you at the devastation,” said Ben angrily. “Is this the glory of God? Maybe that’s why you led them here, so they wouldn’t see what the rest of the world looks like.”

  “I notice you are out here, as well.”

  “We are,” said Ben. “But we choose to be. We’ve prepared ourselves for living out here. You’ve done nothing. We’ve tried to teach them, but they have no interest. Well, we’re done. Lila and I will go out hunting tomorrow and find some food for you, then you’re on your own. We’ve tried our best.”

  “And we thank you. God will reward you for all you’ve done.”

  Ben just shook his head and walked away.

  That night, as they were lying in their tent, they reviewed the week.

  “Do you feel we’ve done any good here?” asked Ben.

  “No,” replied Lila. “I had great hopes when I first saw them, but how can you help people who don’t want to help themselves? Jack is the only one who seems willing to work at it.”

  “He asked me today if he could come hunting with us tomorrow. I think he’s going to ask if he can go with us when we leave here for good.”

  “He’s married. What about his wife?” asked Lila.

  “He said earlier this week that his wife is so devoted to Reverend Wilson, they no longer have much of a relationship. I don’t think they would miss each other. How would you feel about him coming with us?”

  “Well, if there really is a reason for everything, maybe we weren’t here to save all these people. Maybe we were just here to save one of them,” said Lila. “I’d be okay with it.”

  “I know we haven’t talked much about it lately, but you’ve seemed better this week,” observed Ben.

  “It comes and goes,” said Lila. “But it’s not too bad right now. We’ll have a lot of time to talk about it.”

  Holding each other, they fell asleep.

  They were up bright and early the next morning and made themselves breakfast. Jack joined them. Although he was middle-aged—Ben thought in his mid-forties—he didn’t seem embarrassed to be looking to two teens for his salvation.

  “Thanks for letting me come with you this morning,” he said.

  “Our pleasure,” said Lila.

  As expected, Jack brought up the subject of traveling with them when they left for good.

  “I can’t stay here,” he said. “It’s so stifling. I need to get out.”

  “We’ve already talked about it,” offered Lila. “You are welcome to join us.”

  He was grateful, and told them so. Since he didn’t bring up the subject of his wife, neither did they.

  They set off, rifles in hand, on their mission. They had mixed feelings about it all. Even if they had an abundant day, what would it really mean in the long run? These people were eventually going to die, thought Ben, and there was nothing they could do about it.

  Strangely, they saw very little game that day. By noon, all they had were two rabbits. They sat under a tree and ate some granola bars they had brought. It was an unusually hot day, and they were exhausted. Lila had spells of dizziness.

  “Are you okay?” asked Jack.

  “I’m pretty sure I’m pregnant.”

  “Ah, and you have morning sickness. My wife had it. It passes.”

  “I hope so. I didn’t know you had kids,” said Lila.

  “We don’t. We did. We had a son. He died from leukemia when he was seven. That’s when we gravitated to Reverend Wilson’s church. It’s also when my marriage died.”

  “I’m sorry,” said Lila.

  “It was a long time ago. Maybe it was for the best. He probably would have died from this anyway.”

  They started back mid-afternoon, with slim pickings. They managed only two quail in the afternoon.

  As it turned out, it didn’t matter at all. They walked out of the woods and into the camp, and stopped dead in their tracks. It was carnage. Jack immediately threw up.

  Everyone was dead. They had all been shot, and were lying at unnatural angles all around the campground. Some of the women had been violated.

  Lila dropped to her knees. “Noooo,” she cried.

  Ben just stood there, not knowing how to react. Finally he walked slowly into the camp and checked to see if anyone was left alive. He saw Reverend Wilson lying there, with a bullet hole in his head. He heard a moan and moved quickly over to a man he remembered as Raymond. He had been shot in the stomach and the chest. Blood was everywhere. Ben knew there was nothing he could do for him.

  He knelt down. “Who did this?” he asked.

  “Men,” said Raymond, choking on his blood. “Prison uniforms…some had.”

  “How many men?” asked Ben.

  “A few … don’t know.” And he died.

  What had happened to the world? In disasters, weren’t people supposed to come together and help each other? Was our society even more screwed up than I had thought? If the disaster hadn’t happened, was this the future we were looking at anyway?

  He walked back to where Lila was standing, tears streaming down her face. She was clenching and unclenching her fists. Her face had turned to stone. Her eyes reflected an anger he had never seen before. It scared him.

  “I’m going after them,” said Lila.

  “I thought you were tired of all the death,” answered Ben. “It would be better if we just headed for the Smokies and got lost in the forest.”

  “Do you realize how much killing they are going to do?” asked Lila. “This isn’t like Wells and Sharp. These people live to kill and rape. They’re machines. I don’t care where we end up, we will never be safe with them out there. I’m going after them. I have to. You can come or not.”

  Lila’s remarks stung. Ben had never heard her like this. He grabbed her arms and tried to look into her eyes. “Lila, calm down.”

  “Calm down?” she cried. She pulled away and smacked his chest in frustration. “Look around you. How can you tell me to calm down? Look at the women. Look at the children. How can you be calm? Who would do that to children? I have a child inside me. You think I want her to die like this? They have to be stopped. I’ve had enough of it. This world has gone to hell. I don’t care what I said about the killing. I want to see their blood flowing like a river.” She was talking nonstop. “We’ve wondered what our purpose is. Maybe this is it. Maybe we’re meant to stop anyone else from suffering the fate these people suffered. If you want to go on without me, that’s fine, but I’m going after them.”

  Lila had snapped. She was shaking in her fury. Ben grabbed her and held her in a bear hug. She struggled at first, and then collapsed into a heap at his feet, tears flowing down her cheeks.

  Ben sat down next to her and put his arm around her.

  “Lila, listen to me. It’s always been you and me. Always. What you do, I do. We’ll go after these guys. We’ll get them one by one, and when they’re all gone, we’ll head to the Smokies and live our quiet life. Don’t ever think I would leave you.”

  She looked at him. He heard a quiet “I’m sorry.” He continued to hold her.

  Meanwhile, Jack was standing over his wife. He said nothing and shed no tears. But Ben knew he was grieving in his own way.

  The night we had talked about the killing, and how it made us feel, seemed so long ago. We were sure then that it was over. But this was different. We were hunting now, hunting the worst type of vermin, the kind who killed just for the fun of it. I thought back to Nick’s explanation of the mob mentality. This wasn’t that. These weren’t basically good people caught up in something exciting. These were hardcore murderers. Raymond had said some wore prison uniforms. If they were convicts, this wasn’t going to be easy. At the same time, it made it even more urgent for us to do something about it. A group this violent would be a danger to everyone—ourselves included. How could w
e ever live a peaceful life, knowing that at any time these men could show up? Lila was pregnant. Could I really let my wife—did I really use that word?—and child be in danger from them? Our reputation would mean nothing. Not to this crew. No, it was time for one final act of violence on our part. An act that could very well save the lives of many. If we didn’t do this, we would always wonder. We would always be looking over our shoulder. No, we really had no choice.

  Chapter 18

  (Lila)

  I was seven. Thinking back, it was the last time I remember my parents smiling. I guess it was probably a year or two after my sister died, and I'm sure it was hard for them to put on the facade of happiness, much less even be able to function.

  We were sitting at a picnic table next to a cabin my parents had rented on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee. We had just come back from the beach and were having lunch. The whole thing is hazy, but I remember three men coming up to us. I couldn't tell you what they looked like, but I'll never forget the smell. It was a combination of cigarette smoke, alcohol, and unwashed bodies and clothes, and was so offensive, I had my hand over my nose. They were creepy, and I think my parents sensed it. They were nice to the men at first--they might have been asking directions ... I don't really know--but after a few minutes, my father became agitated. There was some arguing, and the next memory I have is all of us walking into the house. My mother was crying, and she told me to go into my room and lock the door.

  I remember the yelling and the noise of things breaking and of feeling so scared. There was a tiny closet in the bedroom and I crawled in and curled up in a corner. The men must not have had interest in me, because the next thing I remember, it was late at night and my father came and got me. He looked bad. There was blood on his clothes and his face was all puffy and purple. He hustled me out to the car where my mom was covered in blankets in the front seat. I asked her if she was okay, but she didn't answer.

  We drove back home to Newton that night and nothing was ever said about the incident again. Being seven, it eventually faded from my memory, but obviously my parents never forgot.

  I realize now that all these years, it wasn't that my parents didn't trust me. That incident, combined with the death of my sister, had sapped them of all confidence. They were going through the motions. They felt an obligation to keep me safe, but no longer had the energy or enthusiasm to do it rationally. Limiting my activities protected me in their eyes. What I saw as controlling and overbearing behavior on their part was simply shame; shame at their inability to control the situation so many years earlier. The end of the world had brought an end to their suffering. They were dead now, and for the first time in years, I realized that I loved them. The picture I took with me from my house was lost in the tornado, so I no longer had any reminder of what they looked like. That made me sad.

  Their life was ruined because of what those men did to them. And that’s why I had to go after this group. I vowed to never have to feel the shame of being at someone else’s mercy.

  Chapter 19

  Lila was still shaking. Ben knew that something about this incident affected her profoundly—much more than any of the other deaths they had encountered. All he could do was to continue to hold her. He saw Jack pick up his rifle and walk up the path.

  “Jack,” he called. “Where are you going?”

  “I have to go after them,” Jack replied. “I just have to go after them.”

  “Wait,” said Ben. “We’re going after them too. We’ll have a better chance together.”

  Jack hesitated, stopped, then turned toward Ben. “We have to go soon then.”

  “We will. Let’s come up with a plan. It’ll be dark soon. I think we should go at night. There will be less chance of us being seen and more of a chance of us seeing them. They’ll probably have a fire.”

  “Okay.” Jack, like Lila, was trembling with anger. “I’ll go to the top of the path and see which way they went on the trail.”

  Ben looked down at Lila in his arms. She was breathing easier. At one point she had begun to hyperventilate. He couldn’t understand why he wasn’t as affected by the massacre as the other two. It was obvious that losing his wife—no matter what their relationship was—could be devastating to Jack. As for Lila, he was sure it was the sight of the women and children that did it. But what about him? Was he unfeeling? He was shocked, to be sure, and sickened to a degree, but his lack of emotion bothered him.

  Lila was moving. She slowly stood up and hugged Ben.

  “I’m sorry I said those things to you,” she told him. “You didn’t deserve that.” She kissed him.

  “I know you didn’t mean it,” said Ben. “Let’s talk about how we’re going to get these guys.”

  Jack returned from the top of the path.

  “They headed south down the trail,” he announced.

  “Okay, so they’re going the way we were,” said Ben. “They will be setting up camp somewhere for the night. Probably not too far down the trail. If we let it get dark enough, we’ll see their fire from a good distance and can sneak in. Now I wish we had kept some of those M-16s. They would be more effective, and they hold more bullets. But we didn’t, so we work with what we have.”

  Ben realized as he was talking that he was going to have to come up with the plan. Lila and Jack were anxious to get going, but they were too emotional to plan effectively.

  “Wouldn’t they be the kind to find an abandoned hotel or some building for the night?” asked Lila.

  “I think they would, if there were any around. A little further north they would have run into some, but not here. Besides, if they’re heading south on the trail, it means they are going to find even more wilderness than here, so they’ll have to camp.”

  “It seems odd that they’re even on the trail,” said Lila. “I would’ve thought they’d stick to the cities.”

  “Yeah, except that probably most people left the cities for the coast or the mountains, like we did. Hard to kill and rape if there’s no one there.”

  Jack and Lila both winced at that, and Ben was immediately sorry he’d said it.

  He changed the subject by continuing with the planning.

  “Them heading south is an advantage for us. Towns will be few and far between. I’m sure we’re better equipped for dealing with the wilderness. The only way we can do this is guerrilla warfare. If it really is a group of convicts, I don’t think they’ll be expecting that. I say we go in for a quick attack, then take off and hide for a couple of days. Just when they think we’re gone, we go in again. We could do some real damage.”

  “What’s your plan?” asked Jack.

  “I think you and I should go into the woods and shoot into the camp from different corners, driving them out. They’re not going to camp too far off the trail—they have nothing to fear. As they run back onto the trail, Lila will be positioned to pick them off.” He looked at Lila. “You’re the best shot, so I think that’s where you would be most effective. After we send in a barrage of bullets, we head for some spot we set up in advance. Then we hide, and do it all over again.” He addressed them both. “This isn’t foolproof. Anything could go wrong. But that’s how I would do it.”

  Lila and Jack looked at each other, assessing the plan.

  “Lila, this group will be different than any we’ve run across. Wells and Sharp were bad, but these guys are far worse. They live to destroy. If they decide to come after us …” He left it hanging.

  “And that’s exactly why we have to do this,” said Lila, matter-of-factly.

  “I know. I just needed to say it.” He changed the subject again. He knew he was dealing with two people on the edge. “We’ll need to travel light. I suggest we find a place to hide our backpacks. We should just take our canteens, some light food, and, of course, a lot of ammunition. Then we need to figure out a place to meet, because there’s no doubt we will get separated. On our way down the trail, let’s scout out some spots.”

  “Can we go?” asked
Jack impatiently.

  Ben got angry.

  “Jack, listen to me. The only way this is going to work is if we have a plan and we stick to it. You’re mad and you’re out for blood. I can understand that.” He walked over to Jack and got in his face. “However, if you decide not to follow the plan, you will get us all killed. It’s dangerous enough as it is. We don’t need that. So I’m telling you now. You will be patient and you will follow the plan.”

  Jack’s face softened. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I just want revenge for what the bastards did. Don’t worry, you can count on me.”

  Ben held out his hand and they shook.

  “Thank you. Then let’s do this.”

  The sun had gone down, but Ben was cautious all the same. He was pretty sure they’d be camped somewhere, swapping their sordid stories of the day. Chances were they would be tired. He assumed a person couldn’t do what they did without expending a tremendous amount of energy.

  They walked slowly down the path, letting the little bit of moonlight that made it through the trees guide their way. When they had gone about a half an hour, Ben made out a narrow animal trail leading off to the left. He told the others to wait while he explored it. He followed the path about thirty yards and came upon a batch of large rocks. He quickly retraced his steps to the trail.

  “There’s a perfect place to use as our meeting place down that trail just a little way. There are rocks to hide behind or defend ourselves from if we are followed. We just need to find a way to recognize the path.”

  “There’s a broken tree limb over here on the other side of the trail,” said Lila. “The tricky part will be not passing it in the dark.”

  “If you do,” suggested Ben, “keep going until you reach the reverend’s camp, and then find a place to hide. We’ll know that if worse comes to worst, that’s where we’ll meet. Let’s leave our backpacks here.”