by Perrin Briar
He stood up and approached them. They were two yards from where he thought they should have been. Get turned around in this fog and you were doomed.
“We have to leave here,” Bryan said. “Now.”
“What’s going on?” Cassie said. “Will they help us?”
“No,” Bryan said. “I don’t think so.”
“How did they get here?” Aaron said.
“Originally?” Bryan said. “The same way we did, I suppose. Come on, we have to go hide somewhere until they’re gone.”
They headed along the beach before climbing up the seafront and lay prostrate on the bluff of the rise.
“What are they doing here?” Zoe said.
“They came to pick up some kind of stash,” Bryan said. “I’m not sure what exactly.”
“You kids get some sleep,” Zoe said. “We’ll keep watch.”
“Get some sleep with random strangers on the same island as us?” Cassie said. “You must be joking. I’d sleep better if Jack the Ripper was here with us.”
And so they waited. But despite Aaron and Cassie’s protestations, they soon began to nod off. A twig snapped in the woods behind them, and then something else crunched underfoot. These soft sounds alone were enough to awaken the sleepers.
“I told you we should have turned right at the tree!” the scared voice said. “Didn’t I say that, Earl?”
Aaron and Cassie’s eyes widened and they peered left and right. The three men were coming from directly behind them. Bryan pressed his index finger to his lips, asking for silence.
“Will you shut up?” the deep voice said. “We’re only a few yards from where we want to be.”
“We would be in the right place if you’d listened to me in the first place,” the scared voice grumbled.
“Do you want to taste the back of my hand?” the deep voice said.
“Ah!” the scared one said.
“You didn’t really hit him, did you?” the croaky voice said. “You know it’s my job to do that.”
“I didn’t touch him,” the deep voice said. “He’s just complaining for nothin’.”
The scared man fell flat on his ass. He blew on his feet.
“What’s wrong with you now?” the deep voice said. “I told you, there’s no monsters on the land.”
“I know that!” the scared voice said. “It’s the sand! It’s hot!”
“What are you talking about now?” the deep voice said. “The sand ain’t hot.”
“That’s cos you’re wearing my boots!” the scared voice said. “If you were barefoot like me, you’d know the sand is hot.”
“It’s nighttime,” the deep voice said. “There’s fog. Why would the sand be hot?”
“I don’t know, but it is!” the scared voice said. “Look!”
“I swear, if this is a trick…” the deep voice said.
“It’s not a trick!” the scared voice said. “I swear! Just touch it! There!”
There was a pause as the deep voiced man knelt. Bryan couldn’t see what was going on, but he knew what was going to happen. The leader of the gang—who Bryan assumed was the deep voiced man—was going to touch the sand and realize there had been a fire there. Which meant there was someone else on the island. How it would play out after that, Bryan didn’t know.
But he could think of three potential outcomes. Either the trio would let them go and head back to their ship, ignoring anything had happened, or they would tell their captain, and who knew how he would react. Or, the gang would come looking for the family themselves.
“You don’t reckon the monster did it?” the scared voice said. “Maybe it can breathe fire. All the worst demons can.”
Deep voice didn’t respond. He was thinking. Yes, Bryan thought. He was the leader. The dangerous one.
“Look what I found,” the croaky voice said. “A long blonde hair. Belongs to a real beauty, I reckon.”
“Yeah,” the scared voice said. “I reckon so too. What do you think, Smithy? Should we go look for them?”
Silence as Smithy thought. Very dangerous, Bryan thought.
“Yes,” Smithy a.k.a. deep voice said. “I don’t see no harm in that. The girl might be needing our assistance.”
“Yeah,” the scared voice said. “She might be needing us to save her from her innocence.”
“You’re so coarse, Skinny,” Smithy said. “No element of common humanism to be seen within your skinny frame.”
“So, we’re not going to… rescue her?” Skinny a.k.a. scared voice said.
His voice dripped with disappointment.
“We’ll have to see how things pan out,” Smithy said. “We’re already late. Stoneheart will be sure to take the cattail to us when we get back. So we’d better take out on the girl now what Stoneheart will take out on us later. It’s only fair.”
“Sounds plenty fair to me,” Skinny said.
Bryan didn’t like the direction the conversation was going. The men needed to be avoided at all costs. Or better yet, removed from the equation altogether.
“Get out of here,” Bryan whispered to Zoe.
“No,” Zoe said, gripping Bryan’s wrist.
“Hide,” Bryan said. “I’ll slow them down.”
“You’ll never take them all down by yourself,” Zoe said.
But that wasn’t Bryan’s plan. He just wanted to slow them down, to give the others the time they needed to escape. But escape where?
These men were likely heartless killers, no doubt having claimed dozens of lives between them. Bryan was a businessman. He’d only ever dealt mortal blows to business proposals. Bryan doubted he could delay the men for long.
He got to his feet, shuffling backwards, away from the beach ridge. They headed into the forest. Bryan jogged through it, but not too fast. His purpose was not to lose his family, but to get some space between them and the men.
“Did you hear that?” Earl said.
He was referring to the family’s noisy footsteps. Great. Instead of losing the men, they’d inadvertently attracted them to their location. Their footsteps would be audible and easy to follow. They couldn’t head much farther into the forest before the strangers would catch up to them.
“Spread out,” Bryan said. “We’ll stand a better chance if we spread out.”
“Bryan,” Zoe said. “There’s a better way.”
“How?” Bryan said.
“We get them to stay in a place we control, of our own choosing,” Zoe said. “Then we attack them.”
“If we attack them, their friends will only come looking for them,” Bryan said.
“But not before we take their little boat and head to the island Aaron saw on the horizon,” Zoe said. “The fog could cover our escape.”
Bryan’s eyes moved to the side. He hadn’t considered that. He shook his head.
“They might catch us,” he said. “And who knows how far their ship is from shore. If they shout, they might get their friends’ attention, or else attract other… things.”
The monster. It sounded ridiculous, the kind of thing a child afraid of what was under the bed might say.
“The men certainly thought there was something dangerous out there,” Bryan said.
“Between real men or potential monsters, I know which one I’d prefer to face,” Zoe said.
Bryan nodded in agreement.
“How should we begin?” he said.
“We have two options,” Zoe said. “Either we use Cassie to lure the men into a trap where we can attack them-”
“We can’t do that,” Bryan said.
The idea of using Cassie as bait made him feel physically sick.
“Or, I have the same color hair as Cassie,” Zoe said. “It could just as easily have been my hair they found on the beach. They don’t need to know Aaron and Cassie are here. They can run and hide. The fog will give us some protection. We have the element of surprise on our side. It might give us the edge we need.”
“And if we fail and they ki
ll or capture us?” Bryan said.
“Then we’ll be dead, or we’ll go with them,” Zoe said.
“No,” Bryan said. “You can’t let yourself get captured. You know the kinds of things they’ll do to you if they take you back to their ship.”
“But Cassie and Aaron will be safe,” Zoe said. “At least they can live out their lives. They might even find a way out of here.”
It was a dangerous plan. Bryan didn’t much like the idea of putting Zoe in that kind of position.
“No,” Bryan said.
“Bryan,” Zoe said, her voice growing harsh. “There’s no other way. They’re hardened criminals. And we’re not murderers, Bryan. They don’t have the same morals we do. I’ve never taken a man’s life before. I’m not sure I’ll be able to. Listen, I can pretend to be injured, to get them into position. Then you attack.”
Cassie stepped forward.
“Sounds good,” she said. “Except for one thing. You honestly expect us to run away and hide while you take all the risks?”
“It’s the only way to keep both you and Aaron safe,” Bryan said.
“Ain’t gonna happen,” Cassie said, folding her arms.
“I agree,” Aaron said. “The best chance we have is if we work together.”
“We can’t take the risk you’ll get hurt,” Zoe said.
“That risk is reduced if we work together,” Aaron said. “And if we’re all going to get out of here, we’re going to have to work together.”
“I’ll be the bait,” Cassie said.
“Cassie, no,” Bryan said, shaking his head.
“It makes more sense for both you and Zoe to attack,” Cassie said. “You’re both bigger and stronger than me. So, shut up and let me do this.”
Bryan shut his eyes and let out a long breath.
“Okay,” he said. “But nothing is going to happen to you, Cassie. I promise.”
“I know,” Cassie said, giving him her most confident smile.
The undergrowth crunched and snapped behind them.
“They’re coming,” Bryan said. “Everyone get into position.”
Bryan and Zoe hid behind a pair of trees on either side of the clearing. Aaron headed on a little farther before taking his position. Cassie lay on the ground, sprinkling some of the detritus over herself and mussing up her hair, as if she’d just suffered a fall.
Cassie could see Bryan and Zoe hiding behind their trees from where she lay, but the approaching strangers wouldn’t know they were there. They wouldn’t even know how many of them there were.
From behind his tree, Bryan could see Zoe. Her face was scrunched up in fear. Bryan reached behind himself and felt for the rock knife he’d used to hack the coconuts open. Zoe saw him do that, and bent down to pick up her own weapon: a large rock. It wasn’t very heavy, but if she brought it down hard enough, it could smash a skull.
Bryan couldn’t allow what the men wanted to do with Zoe and Cassie. It would be over his dead body—literally—before that would happen.
The foliage snapped and was pushed aside as the men emerged from the darkness. Cassie lay sprawled on the ground. Her expression became relieved at the sight of them.
“Well, lookie what we have here,” Earl said.
“Oh, thank goodness,” Cassie said. “I got washed up on this island and have been living here ever since. I was walking and tripped. I think I sprained my ankle. Can you help me?”
“I claim first dibs!” Skinny said, stepping forward.
Smithy’s arm flashed out, holding Skinny back. He eyed the clearing, his expression unreadable.
“Hold on there, partner,” he said. “You don’t just go rushing into a girl like that. You’ve got to take your time. You’ve got to make conversation. You’ve got to set the mood.”
“I don’t care about no mood!” Skinny said, taking another step forward.
Smithy’s arm flashed out again.
“Then observe, and learn,” he said.
He turned to Cassie.
“Hello there, little lady,” he said.
“Uh, hello,” Cassie said.
“I notice you appear to have tripped and fallen over,” Smithy said.
“Yes,” Cassie said. “I think I sprained my ankle.”
“Ah,” Smithy said. “I did wonder why you hadn’t gotten to your feet yet.”
“It hurts,” Cassie said.
“I’m sure it does,” Smithy said. “We’ll come to help you in just a moment. Are you all alone here?”
“Yes,” Cassie said. “Can you please come help me? It’s really sore!”
Skinny took another step forward.
“I’ll come help you all right!” he said.
Smithy grabbed Skinny by the collar and pulled him to the ground. Skinny howled in pain.
“I must apologize for my friend,” Smithy said. “Some men are little more than wild dogs.”
He took a few steps forward, just in front of the two trees where Bryan and Zoe were hiding.
“When we came here, I could have sworn I saw several people’s footprints through the forest,” Smithy said.
“I came here back and forth, looking for food,” Cassie said.
“Well, that explains it,” Smithy said. “Except for the fact the footprints appear to be various sizes.”
“They must have changed size each time I came and went,” Cassie said. “Disturbing them can have that effect.”
“I stand corrected yet again,” Smithy said with a warm smile. “How did you get here, little lady?”
“I was sucked through a hole and came here,” Cassie said.
“Oh man,” Skinny said, rolling his eyes. “Seriously?”
“A hole,” Smithy said, not taking his eyes off Cassie.
Bryan was getting a bad feeling about this.
“There are other worlds, like this one,” Cassie said. “They’re enclosed and cut off from one another. But the real world, where I come from, is big, up on the surface.”
“The surface,” Smithy said with a frown. “And where might this ‘surface’ be?”
Cassie pointed up at the sky.
“I don’t know how far,” she said. “But I think I fell a long way. Now, will you help me, please?”
“Sure,” Smithy said.
He took out a pistol and leveled it at Cassie.
“As there is no one else out here, I trust I won’t have need to use my pistol,” he said.
Cassie gulped, her eyes wide. Pistols, Bryan thought. Why hadn’t they prepared for that possibility?
“Skinny?” Smithy said. “If you please.”
“Finally!” Skinny said.
He jumped to his feet and ran toward Cassie, who screamed. There was no disguising the genuine fear in it.
“Help!” Cassie said as Skinny fell on top of her. “Get off me! Get off!”
It was too much for Bryan to witness, and he leapt forward, stabbing Skinny in the leg. He howled in pain, rolling off Cassie.
“Ow!” Skinny said. “He stabbed me in the leg!”
Zoe rushed forward and brought her rock down on the man. His roll knocked her aim off and she struck his arm instead. There was a loud crack.
Skinny screamed.
“She broke my arm!” he said.
And then Aaron came rushing out, roaring at the top of his voice. He brought a stick down, swiping Skinny across the face, making a whipping sound.
“Ah!” Skinny said. “He whipped me!”
Finally, Cassie drew her foot back and threw a swift kick up into Skinny’s crotch.
“Nngff!” Skinny said, holding himself and lying flat on his face.
“Serves you right,” Smithy said to Skinny. “I told you not to act like a wild dog, didn’t I?”
He raised his sights to include the whole family.
“So, a family,” he said.
“Please, don’t harm them,” Bryan said.
“Put your weapons down,” Smithy said.
Bryan eyed the pist
ol in Smithy’s hand. It was one of those old types where you had to fill it first with gunpowder and then put a ball bearing inside. The man might get off a single shot, but Bryan didn’t want to be responsible for whoever it might hit. He put his makeshift knife down. Zoe and Aaron followed suit.
“Good,” Smithy said. “Earl?”
Earl took four pairs of handcuffs that hung from his belt and tossed them to the family.
“If you please,” Smithy said.
“I want your word you won’t hurt them,” Bryan said.
Smithy pursed his lips, and then nodded. Bryan handed a pair of handcuffs to each family member. They were hoops with a bar that fastened them in place. Rudimentary, but effective. They took turns putting them on one another.
“On your knees,” Smithy said.
They dropped to their knees. Only then did Smithy stand up. Skinny, partially recovered, got shakily to his feet.
“You’ve got to let me get my revenge on them,” he said.
“Oh, I will,” Smithy said. “But first let me have mine.”
He pressed the pistol to Skinny’s forehead.
“What are you doing?” Skinny said.
“I hope this experience will teach you to be less of a dog in future,” Smithy said.
“Won’t do him a lot of good if he’s got a hole in his head,” Earl said.
“Will it?” Smithy pressed.
“Yes,” Skinny said. “Yes!”
A wet patch spread across the front of his pants.
“Yes, it will!” he cried.
“Oh, man,” Earl said. “Pull the trigger and do him a favor.”
“Okay,” Smithy said, pulling back the hammer.
“No!” Skinny said.
Smithy pulled the trigger.
Clack!
Empty. Skinny had his eyes clenched closed tight. He had heard the sound of the empty chamber, but hadn’t reacted yet. Then, very slowly, he unfurled his eyes.
“The gun was empty?” Skinny said.
“As empty as your bladder,” Smithy said.
“As empty as my bladder?” Skinny said. “What does that mean?”
He looked down at the front of his pants. Earl burst out laughing.
“You let me mess myself?” Skinny said. “I thought we were friends?”
“We’ve never been friends,” Smithy said. “I’ve never liked you.”
“That’s news to me,” Skinny said.