The Divide_Legacy

by Mitchel Grace

  Back at the crash site, Veronica’s hands were bound, and she was dragged through the desert for a half-mile until they reached a jeep where they forced her into the back. She was seated between two men who stunk to high heaven. Neither of them smelled like they had taken a shower in weeks, but that should have been the least of her concerns. Just what kind of men was she stuck with? Would they kill her, hurt her, or even sell her into slavery?

  “Relax. I might be a thief, but when I give my word I keep it. You won’t be hurt,” Desmond said as he glanced into the rear-view mirror and saw the worry on her face.

  Veronica nodded, but she knew the truth. Her mother and father no longer ruled Raines. They didn’t have ten million credits, and they weren’t young anymore. Even so, she knew what they would do. Alex and Sarah would come for her, and that would only result in one thing. Death would be the end for all of them.

  Veronica shook her head, knowing that her foolishness would be the death of everyone she loved. Why hadn’t she hidden like Travis? Life would have been so much easier. Who even knew if Roger would make it home to tell her parents after the gunshot he had sustained? Blood had covered his shirt back at the crash site, and she couldn’t imagine that he would last long without finding a doctor.

  She should have been concerned. Nothing about the future was certain, and for one man, another job awaited some twenty odd years after the one that had changed Raines forever.

  Chapter 1

  The Journey Begins

  Alex Morgan awoke early as his body jerked itself awake. He sighed and shook his head. More and more rough awakenings were becoming routine. Alex didn’t know what it was this time. Sometimes dreams he couldn’t remember would be the culprits for ripping him away from his sleep, and at others it would be worry for his daughter. Veronica was far away by now, though. In fact, the job could even be finished for all he knew and she was on her way back. Still, as a father he worried.

  Ultimately, Alex knew there was no need for that, however. He had asked Roger to go with her, and there was no one else in this world he trusted more besides Sarah. Roger would protect Veronica if there were any need in it, which he wasn’t so sure there would be. Alex hadn’t left the safe city walls in well over four years, and back when he did, it looked much better than he remembered. It could be that the age of survival of the fittest was over, and no one had to worry about anything other than some warm weather outside of the walls.

  Alex turned over and looked at his still sleeping wife. Sarah was just as gorgeous as she had ever been. After two kids, he had expected her to change, and she did for a while, but Sarah had ultimately lost the baby weight and stayed in peak condition. In some ways, he thought that she might be even more beautiful than the girl he met so long ago, but that was only in his mind. Sarah was an attractive woman, but age had left its little marks with a few wrinkles that were just starting to show, some stretch marks from their children, and the mature and somewhat less optimistic eyes that come with life experience. For him, every mark and every look was a map leading back to what they had been through, however. It was their story, and the more of it he saw in her, the more Alex could see the type of beauty that only comes with time.

  As Alex quietly got up and walked out of their large master bedroom, he stepped into the bathroom to see something that wasn’t exactly a beautiful sight to him. Age might have suited Sarah, but the man staring back at him in the mirror looked almost unrecognizable to him. In his twenties, he had been muscular and athletic. Now he was in his late forties, however, and muscle had turned to fat as he transitioned from being a fighter to the ruler at Sarah’s side. Sure, it wasn’t all bad. He had lost some of the weight, and his arms weren’t exactly small. He had at least retained half of the muscle on them, and the definition was definitely still there, but his six pack abs had been replaced with a bulge of fat that showed more than he would like. Sarah had told him it was normal for a man of his age. After all, it wasn’t like he was overweight, though he was right on the cusp of being there. His doctor was already warning about his elevated cholesterol and blood pressure.

  Alex sighed. How had he gotten here, and what would Jake think if he could see him now? He had gone from a street fighter who was better than anyone he knew with a gun to an aging and ailing man who hadn’t picked up a gun in over a decade. Maybe Jake would scold him, saying he had gone soft . . . literally. Then again, this just might have been Jake’s goal all along. Living in a world where he didn’t have to fight or shoot wasn’t so bad, was it?

  Alex splashed some water on his face and brushed his teeth. It still amazed him after all this time that this could be his place. The bathtub was huge with jets all around it, and the double sink with a marble top was an extravagance that he had no idea would be an option. Back in the streets outside of Raines, they didn’t even have running water. They would have to rinse off in the streets, oftentimes naked in front of neighbors. Maybe I can handle being a chubby aging man with luxuries like this, he thought and smiled.

  After he was done, Alex walked into the kitchen where he popped some bread into the toaster. He had been advised to stay away from bread by his doctor, but that wasn’t happening. Some eggs, toast, and hash browns would be the perfect way to start the morning. Coffee was also a necessity. Just after he had put the coffee on, Alex heard a knock at the door. Then he heard another a second later, only this one was louder and more rapid, like whoever was on the other side was in a hurry.

  “Hold on! I’ll be there in a second!” Alex yelled, annoyed that the noise had probably woken up his wife and son.

  “Alex, we ran into some trouble, and you’ve got to come quickly!” Roger said, panic showing on his face, as Alex opened the door.

  “What do you mean you ran into trouble?” Alex asked as he studied the dread on Roger’s face. Why wasn’t Veronica there, and was Roger about to give him the worst news possible? Could his daughter be dead?

  “They got her!”

  “What are you talking about? Who got who, and where is Veronica?” Alex asked, hoping against everything he felt in his bones that somehow this would be okay.

  “It’s a long story, but some men captured Veronica.”

  “You lost my daughter?” Alex asked in disbelief. He hadn’t meant to sound so accusatory, but it came out that way out of instinct. If Alex hadn’t been so worried in that moment, he would have regretted the harshness in his tone.

  “No, it wasn’t like that! We were in Nevada, and I could barely stay on the road because in most places sand was covering it. In one of those spots, some people had buried road spikes. I hit them, and we flipped. After that, a sniper tried to pick us off. I got hit, but I was able to kill him. Four other guys got to Veronica and held her hostage, though. I didn’t want to drop my gun, but they were going to kill her.

  “I thought quickly just like you always taught me to. I told them who she was. Common people still think you and Sarah rule Raines, so it was enough to pique their interests. They think that they can get ten million credits from you by holding her hostage. I know we don’t have that kind of money, but it was the only play I had. If I hadn’t pretended she was the daughter of someone who could pay any amount of credits for her safety, then they would have killed us right there. You have to believe me on one thing, Alex. I did everything I could. I would die before I let her be killed. You know that, right?”

  Alex could see the hurt in his eyes. Roger loved Veronica. How much he loved her Alex wasn’t sure. They had an odd attachment to each other. When Veronica was a girl, that attachment had been more like he was a big brother, but lately he thought his daughter looked at him in a different way. That wasn’t quite acceptable for Alex, given that Roger was a decade older, but it was why he knew concretely that Roger was telling the truth. He had done everything he could, and there was no use in torturing him by blaming Roger for this mess.

  “It’s okay . . . well, it’s not really, but this isn’t your fault. You did well just by giving
us some time. Do you know where these men are right now?” Alex asked, now looking more composed. He didn’t feel calm, but he knew that Roger wasn’t, and when Sarah heard this news she would immediately panic. Someone had to hold it together, and that responsibility was going to fall to him.

  “Thank you for that. They gave me some coordinates to find them. How are we going to fix this, though?” Roger asked anxiously.

  “Simply. I’m going to see them, and when it’s all said and done, no one will ever have to worry about those men again.”

  “Slow down a minute! You haven’t left the walls in how long?” Roger asked with doubt. He knew how capable Alex had been before their lives changed, but that felt like a lifetime ago now.

  “I still know how to shoot, and I’ll do anything to get her back, Roger. Now, are you going with me?”

  “Of course!”

  “And I am, too,” Alex’s son, Lee, said as he stepped out of his room.

  “No, you aren’t!” Sarah said as she walked into the living room.

  “How much did the two of you hear?” Alex asked and sighed, knowing that it was now too late to derail the metaphorical runaway train that was coming his way. There was no way he was getting Sarah to stay home, and keeping Lee there wouldn’t exactly be easy either.

  “Pretty much everything. You two weren’t exactly talking low. If my sister is in danger, then I can help. You know I can!” Lee pleaded. His plea sounded a bit childish to Alex. It was more like a little boy’s cry not to be left behind than a concerned brother.

  “No, and that’s the last we’re going to hear about it. Go to your room, so your father and I can talk,” Sarah said.

  “Mom, I . . .” he managed to say before she interrupted him.

  “Please, Lee! This is hard enough already,” Sarah said, showing the cracks that Alex feared she would.

  He nodded, even though he was tired of being treated like a child. After all, he was seventeen. His dad had started working on things much more dangerous than this when he was only fourteen. In the old world, he would have been a man, but now he was just a boy under his parents’ thumbs.

  “What’s the plan?” Sarah asked.

  “We’re packing all the guns we have, and I’m going to get her back. It’s just that simple,” Alex answered.

  “What about the people here? Surely some of them would help us.”

  “That’s wishful thinking at best. People are safe inside the walls, and unless they’re drafted to do something, they don’t leave. As someone who’s been out there, I don’t blame them.”

  “Well, then let’s do this,” she said.

  “Let’s? You aren’t going anywhere. You can’t.”

  “And why can’t I?” Sarah asked. He could tell it was a loaded question. Alex couldn’t tell her not to go, or it would start a fight, and he didn’t have time for that right now.

  “Look, I know from experience that you’re the best person to help me with something like this, but what about Lee? We’ve got one child who’s in danger. We don’t need another. Stay here, and look after him,” Alex said, trying to appeal to her with reason.

  “Nice try, but he’s seventeen. He can look after himself for a few days.”

  “I know that, but we might not be coming back. He looks like a man, but he isn’t yet. Lee will need someone if this goes south, so one of us has to stay. You know that deep down.”

  “So you stay then,” she said, not meeting his eyes. Sarah knew that wasn’t even an option. Alex would go, no matter what.

  “We don’t have time for this. Talk while we load the guns and pack,” Roger interrupted, hoping it would speed this process along.

  They loaded the guns first, and all the while, Alex and Sarah talked about what to do. It sounded like they were arguing, but Roger knew better. They weren’t angry with each other. They were desperate and afraid - afraid that their daughter would die - afraid that one of them might not be coming home. Thankfully, by the time they started packing their clothes, they had finally quieted down, and the near shouting match had turned into an understanding conversation between two people who were simply worried.

  “Hey, come here for a second,” Lee said to Roger as he stood out in the hallway.

  “What is it?” Roger asked after stepping into his room.

  “You said there were four guys, right?”

  “Yeah, but why?”

  “Well, there are only two of you. There will be three if Mom goes, but I was thinking. The odds still won’t be in your favor. You could use another man to pull a trigger, and I had weapon’s training in school. You know I’m right about this, so convince Dad to let me go.”

  Roger thought for a moment. It was true that having help would be good, but one of Alex’s children was already in danger. Putting another one in harm’s way was completely out of the question. Besides, he cared about Lee like he was family. Taking a risk with his life seemed wrong.

  “I’m sure we could use you, but you don’t know what it’s like out there. You aren’t prepared for it, so do yourself a favor, and stay here. It’s for the best,” Roger said.

  “That is complete bull . . .” he said before Roger cut him off.

  “It’s not my decision, but I care about you. Trust me when I say you’re better off here. I tried to tell your sister that, and look at where she is now.”

  Lee conceded and gave Roger a nod. At that point, Roger walked back into the living room to find that all of Alex and Sarah’s bags had been packed. Apparently, they were both going. In truth, he thought it was for the best. They needed another person there if they hoped to succeed, and from what he had heard, Sarah was almost as capable as Alex back in their day.

  “Great. So it’s decided then. We’re all going,” Roger said.

  “It is. We need to tell Lee, though,” Sarah said.

  “I’ll get the truck started. They left me with the perfect vehicle for the job. It’s the blue truck just across the street. Join me when you’re done,” Roger said and walked out.

  It was tough, but they explained to Lee why they had to go. Surprisingly, he took it better than either of them thought he would. Alex thought he almost took it too well, but he didn’t have time to worry about what his son might be planning while they were away. They were several hours away from getting their little girl back, and even when they got there, he had no idea how they were going to do this.

  Once they walked outside, Alex found that the truck truly was perfect for the job. It was a large four-wheel drive with a covered bed where they could put their things. He was surprised Veronica’s kidnappers had given Roger such a nice vehicle to travel in, but then again, they were expecting ten million credits out of this deal. They wanted their messenger to get home safely.

  “I’m driving,” Alex said emphatically and nodded for Roger to scoot over. Roger was soon met with a glance from Sarah, too, signaling for him to get into the back seat. He understood. Alex and Sarah had a lot to discuss on the way, and after driving all night, he could use some rest.

  “This is where you’ll need to go,” Roger said and passed him the piece of paper with the coordinates on it.

  “Good. Sarah, can you look the location up on the map?” Alex asked.

  “I’m on it,” she said as the truck started to move.

  They didn’t get halfway through the city before Alex suddenly stopped, however. Roger was already half asleep when the brakes slung him forward, bringing him back to the waking world. He started to ask Alex just what he was doing, but he spied the exact reason they had stopped. Travis, the draft-dodging coward, was standing on the side of the street. In truth, the kid would have done them no good, but Alex had a certain look in his eyes. His daughter was missing, and he needed someone to blame it on. Travis was as good as any other person to throw his anger at.

  “Don’t do any . . .” Roger managed to say before Alex slung the truck into park and bolted out of the vehicle.

  He sighed, knowing what he had to
do. Roger jumped out of the truck and chased after him. It didn’t take long for Travis to see the angry father coming toward him, and he ran for the alley. Alex might have been older than he used to be, but years of having to be quick had taught him how to run like his life depended on it. Travis, on the other hand, had lived a life of privilege and had the speed and stamina of a couch potato. Halfway down the alley, Alex tackled him to the ground. Travis immediately covered his head. He didn’t know why Veronica’s father was after him, but he knew this was going to be painful.

  “I’m sorry! Just don’t hurt me!” Travis yelled, his voice cracking in fear as he did.

  “You left it all to her, and look what happened! You’re a coward and a fool! Do you think all of this came for free! Men like me had to build it! We all have to do our part, and you . . . you let her get . . .”

  “He didn’t do anything, Alex! Get off him!” Roger yelled.

  “That’s exactly right! He didn’t do anything, and there should be a price for that.”

  “What happened? Just tell me, and I can make this right,” Travis pleaded.

  “Veronica was taken on the road. The people who have her want more credits than I have to give, and now we have to go fight for her life. If her partner had been there, maybe things would be different.”

  “I was just scared, okay? I didn’t mean for anything bad to happen.”

  “Well, something bad is about to happen to you if you don’t come up with a better excuse than you were a coward!” Alex threatened.

  “Wait a second! Just listen to me. I didn’t go when I should have, and I get that you’re angry about that, but what if I made it up to you now?”

  “And how could you possibly do that?”

  “I’ll help you get her back, if you just don’t hurt me.”

  Alex looked at him skeptically. If he were scared of a man approaching fifty hitting him, then would he really be any help in a firefight? It seemed unlikely, but they did need as much help as they could get.