by Miriam Bell
“What is-?” I say confused as another drop lands thickly on my tongue.
The coppery taste sends panic down my throat. I sit up and realize I’m alone on the container. Lonnie, Jay, Bryan and Daniel are nowhere to be seen. Blood begins to pour down all around, splattering the truck I sit upon.
“Noooo.” I scream in a hurry to escape. There is no one to help.
I attempt to stand on the slippery surface but fall hard onto my bended knees. My hands slide through the color of red. The site, turning my stomach. I try again to take shelter from the assault but my limbs are unable to find purchase. I gaze helpless in a scary fascination as the blood’s warmness latches onto my bare arms like a predator. The liquid slithers like a snake- the redness deepening as it travels up to my shoulders. A piercing sound brings pain to my ears. Moments pass before I realize it’s my own scream.
Suddenly, ominous smoke fills the air halting the rain. The colored vapor wraps around me in a whirling haze. I choke on the fumes, tasting metallic on my tongue. Images of Carter flash by in a frenzy, his muffled cries, his body submerged in flames and the fragrance- the sickening perfume of death. I rock back and forth chanting to stay calm.
“I didn’t kill him!” I shout to the darken sky- letting myself feel the bitter burning of sorrow. “I tried to save him!”
Laughter circles around me on a gust of wind as tears flow down my ash covered face. A voice of grit and hate whispers in my ear.
“Too late. I’m here.”
Then, darkness.
I awaken to Bryan shouting, “Get up! Get up!”
I glance around confused, trying to figure out where I’m at. The blood has vanished, along with the taste of metallic smoke. I stand to see what is going on and finally understand his words.
“Wake up. They’re here. Wake up!” Bryan grabs his knife and focuses on me. “Run Millie. RUN!”
I turn to the trees to discover about two dozen men emerge. They’re larger than the men we fought before and much more menacing. I realize the ones we ran into earlier were nothing in comparison to these men. These soldiers must be the elite of the cult’s army. One of the largest men, wears loose clothing, easy to move in. His face is dirty but his hair is pulled neatly into a ponytail behind his neck. He glares at us standing tall and well built. They all are.
Jay sets loose a wave of arrows. They fly from his bow with practiced skill, hitting the opposing men’s arms, chests, and legs. A few hit their mark and those men drop to the ground dead. It doesn’t take long for the soldiers to react. The large men launch behind tree trunks and old automobiles, anything to shield themselves from Jay’s fleeting supply of arrows. With a curse, Jay throws his empty quiver and bow to the ground and removes two long daggers. We all dash to the edge of the sixteen wheeler and jump to the ground. My weapons are unsheath as soon as I roll from the ground.
“Bryan go with Millie,” Lonnie says as he pulls out a long knife.
“Run!” Jay shouts as he sprints by us and in front of the large vehicle.
I look past Lonnie’s shoulder and find the cult’s soldiers advancing.
“No,” I say, sternly. The hatred I felt before swells in my chest. “I’m fighting.”
I push past Bryan. He grabs at me but I move out of the way of his touch and run straight toward the men of my nightmares. The fear that has been gathering fastens itself around my heart, releasing the adrenaline I crave.
My enemies welcome my coming. They know my intentions even though killing someone living gives my soul lingering heartache. This is my life now. I understand why my dad wanted to keep me from the red zone’s clutches- the uncertainty the wilderness holds, the danger.
“I’m sorry Dad,” I say as I acknowledge it’s too late.
Tom’s voice echos in my ears of usefulness. I draw those words into my very being as I shove my fear away and swing my axe at one of the cult.
He is about the same height but outweighs me by at least fifteen pounds. He reflects my swing with a large blade. I counter quickly dropping to my knees and slamming my hammer into his shin. I hear the crunch as I stand, spinning around with my axe and slicing through his gut. He holds a look of surprise and pain as his intestines begin to ooze from his split stomach.
Another man nearby strikes. His punch lands on my face. Pain burst from out of my cheek blurring my vision. I lash out with my axe into the empty space not seeing where my attacker stands. His other fist slams into my stomach, forcing the air from my lungs. I fall to the ground clutching my weapons. The impact of my knees hitting the hard ground causes pain to flare in my legs.
My vision clears long enough to distinguish my enemy as he prepares for the death blow. I’m glad Connor isn’t here to see my demise but I’m also sorrowful that my dad will lose yet another person he loves to the red zone. I anticipate the final searing pain. Will it be my neck? Through the chest? Will it hurt? But it’s taking to long, too much of a hesitation. I peer through my obscure vision expecting the haze of a blade racing toward my throat. Instead, above me is a blond headed man with a long scar that stretches down his jaw bone and onto his neck. His eyes are cold as he studies my face then bends to grab for my weapons.
I recoil from him and retract my axe and matching hammer out of his reach all the while wondering why he didn’t just kill me.
“Be smart girl,” he spits. “I won’t hurt you if you give in.”
Anger ignites in me. I kick out in a move Connor made me practiced over and over. The stranger tumbles to the ground just as my boot connects with his face. Blood burst from his nose. He curses bringing his hand up to stop the bleeding.
I take the distraction to my advantage and bring my axe down through his shoe severing his toes. He howls in pain.
“You little bitch!” he screams, reaching for his foot.
In a flash, Jay lands on him, the point of his knife burying into the man’s chest. My vision finally clears, leaving me with the image of his twitching body and the expression of pure determination on Jay’s features.
I stand unsteady, clutching his outstretched hand.
“You’re okay,” he whispers.
I squeeze his fingers in reassurance not trusting myself to speak. Still holding his hand, I pick up my hammer.
“No, No lady,” says an unfamiliar voice. “You won’t be needing that.”
I scan the faces of the group of men surrounding us, the sharp points of their blades pointing outward. One of the largest soldiers winks at me and the hatred I felt earlier blazes. I spit at the ground beside his feet. Amusement flashes in his eyes as he signals to another one of his men.
In the distance, I observe Daniel attempting to fend off three men much more skilled than he is. He clutches at his chest in anguish, his wound bleeding. They’re toying with him, I realize as they alternate attacking. The dark haired one lashes out drawing another red slash across his arm. Daniel grunts in pain and thrusts his blade toward the man’s waist. He dodges easily.
The other attacker hooks Daniel’s legs resulting in him falling on the uneven ground. Daniel having lost his main weapon lashes out with a small dagger. It’s only a matter of time now. Jay’s hand on mine tightens. There is nothing we can do.
“Go after the other,” the blond man commands of his comrades.
Two men break away from the surrounding group and sprint toward the trees.
I scan the carnage searching for Lonnie and Bryan. They are nowhere to be seen. I let out a sigh of relief that at least they’d gotten away.
“Don’t see Lonnie and Bryan,” I whisper to Jay.
“Quiet!”
Another voice booms from behind us. I clench my jaw and focus on the faces of the dead men lying on the ground. We had killed a lot of their soldiers but not nearly enough. The weight in my heart grows heavier as another five of the cult’s army approaches us.
“They won’t get far. Ethan and Max are tracking.”
“Good,” Blondie says, eyeing me coldly.
; I move closer to Jay, repositioning my weapon and taking strength in the warmth of his hand. They don’t seem to want to kills us or we’d be dead. With any luck in a last ditch effort, Jay and I could kill a few more.
“Don’t get any ideas girlie,” the man that winked at me says. “You can’t win so you might as well give up while I’m still willing to let you.”
One of the soldiers shifts impatiently while another allows an ominous smile to appear on his face. I sneer at him.
“I’m the only one who’ll threaten here,” a young articulate voice says from beyond our growing crowd.
They part for him as he glides toward me. I venture to glimpse around him, past the crowd as they split but I can no longer see Daniel off in the distance- only listen to his grunts and the sound of fists striking. When the young man reaches me, I notice other cloaked figures mingling within the gathered soldiers like equals but still giving the impression of superiority. Each man who wears the crow’s mask emits a substantial amount of power and control. Their tan leather masks hover inside their heavy hoods and I’m reminded of the resistance of the blade I’d used to pierce through their comrade’s chest. I long to repeat the action, to hear death’s rattle breath for the man who addresses the group.
He steps closer not fully understanding the danger he’s in or maybe he’s too arrogant to acknowledge. His dark gray cloak flutters with another step resulting in blondie’s stern warning.
“Nicholas, sir, don’t get any closer.”
Nicholas spins sinisterly, the slight tilt of his mask sending a shot of ice through my bones.
“Quiet,” he hisses from beneath the leather, sounding more like a snake than human.
Blondie motions to the others to stay back after crowding closer to hear the exchange.
“Why don’t you get the one that escaped, Ben, instead of endeavoring to command me.” He pauses. “That’s your job.”
I startle at the meaning of his words. One got away, not two. I grip Jay’s hand more tightly. He understands because he tenses.
“Sorry sir,” Ben says, angrily before marching off.
The crowd of faces fill in his place among them as he leaves with two other soldiers.
I can hear light laughter coming from underneath a few of the masks- the sound like a chorus of mockery.
“You’re not hurt are you girl?” Nicholas asks, turning back to me. “Come now put down the weapon. In fact, lay them all on the ground.”
He motions toward the hammer but I ignore him, gripping my axe more firmly. I hadn’t realized the weapon was in my hand.
“Nicholas,” One of the crows says with the dullness of boredom. “Careful. You might not like Ben but he has a point.”
Nicholas turns confidently displaying his back to me.
“Watch them,” he demands to a nearby soldier irritably and stocks back toward the group of cloaked men- displeasure showing with each crisp movement.
They huddle close together speaking quietly. I watch as the singled out soldier steps closer displaying his blade in warning.
I loathe them all more than anything as I listen to the beating of my comrade, taking place behind the tall soldiers.
“What are we going to do Jay?” I ask, trying not to gain any more attention.
A man nearby makes a sound of disapproval. I cut my eyes and mouth a undeniable curse toward him. He scowls bringing forth a taunting smile of my own.
“Stop that,” Jay reprimands. “There is nothing we can do,” he remarks as I grimace. “Unless you want to die?”
I shake my head and ignore another disapproval sound from our detainers.
“I still have my weapons,” I whisper annoyed, striving to hold back any sound of fear.
“Not for long,” he replies.
I release his hand, letting it drop to his side as one of the soldiers joins in the crow’s discussion. The absence of his touch sadly makes me feel alone- the extra strength gone. He glances down at his abandoned hand and takes a deep breath.
“They’ll kill us no matter what. We’re unclean,” I say, not bothering to whisper.
“Shut up!” a soldier yells.
“I’m the unclean,” Jay flashes a look at the cult’s members, “They seem to want to keep you.”
I glare at the group.
“Because I’m a girl no doubt.”
Jay nods and says, “Probably.”
The infuriated soldier steps toward us pointing his ill crafted weapon toward Jay’s throat.
“I said shut up.”
Hate engulfs my senses as I think of all the unsaid horrors that wait for a woman within a group of murderous men. I’m not ignorant. I’ll kill myself before I let anything happen. I’m about to pull my axe on the soldier when the crowd parts just enough to where I can see Daniel being escorted our way.
“Let me go, you murderers!” Daniel shouts from a distance as two large men drag his weak body, arms bounded.
They hurl him to the hard ground in front of the still arguing cult members. I wince when I see his face. Blood flows heavily from his forehead, cascading down over his swollen eyes. His clothes are torn and caked with blood and dirt. For a moment our eyes meet and I choke on my sob.
“You two were having a little too much fun with this one,” Nicholas’s deep voice draws.
“Only following orders, sir.” One says, nervously.
“No matter. We’ll cleanse him of his sin.” He gives a subtle nod granting Daniel’s tormentors silent permission to proceed.
A man slams his boot between Daniel’s shoulder blades forcing his face into the soil. I lurch forward but I’m stopped by the edge of a blade. The soldier I sneered at holds a staff fashioned with a jagged blade edge. My eyes widen when he gives a warning jut. I move out of the way of the weapon as they begin kicking Daniel. Daniel scrambles to stand but loses his balance. I glare at the knife in front of me.
“I’ll kill you, then him, if you move.”
The soldier’s eyes land on Jay then flick back to me. Nicholas, with his arrogant stride, approaches Daniel and grabs him by the neck. They are so close to us. I could save him.
Daniel cries out in a mixture of pain and horror so much like Carter that before I can process what I’m doing my left hand snakes around the soldier’s weapon- gripping the wood tightly. I give a sharp pull, knocking the distracted soldier off balance. As he tumbles forward, a disbelieving expression appears on his face. My axe’s blade slides through the tender skin of his neck. The skin parts; spurts of his blood splash on my clothes, joining the drying blood of his comrades’. I’m too quick and the distance too short to be stopped, I strike out at Nicholas, slicing his reaching arm completely off. I hear alarmed gasps from the crowd as Daniel falls to the ground once again but this time with a severed arm still grasping his neck.
Nicholas screams in disbelieving agony as the others take action. I spin colliding my weapon with a thick blade. Too bad distractions and shock only last for so long. A satisfied smile plays on my lips as I stare up into Ben’s face.
“Stupid girl,” He sneers, overcoming my strength.
I laugh, the sound edging in madness. My axe falls to the ground.
“You did warn him,” I say, clashing my hammer against his strike,“and thanks for not taking my weapons earlier.”
I glance over to Nicholas, who is passed out from shock and bleeding to death. Other cloaked crows hurry to aid their fallen leader but he has lost too much blood to survive. They crowd him like buzzards to a carcass.
“Drop your other weapon!” Ben yells, finally at his end.
I hear muffled sounds from Daniel. He lays vulnerable on the ground, unable to escape.
“No Millie. Don’t,” he says, mustering his strength before slowly attempting to stand.
In response, I withdraw from Ben and throw my hammer to the ground.
“I’ve no choice Daniel,” I say and glance at their bodies scattered before us.
We won’t make it past the night
. The remaining cult members, seeing that I’m unarmed, rush me, kicking my weapons far away from my grasp. An older man with mud smeared on his face frisks me, searching for any hidden knives. I smile to myself knowing that he missed Tom’s pocket knife tucked away inside my boot. I struggle when I’m restrained by two other men. Thin rope encircles my wrist and my legs are swiped out from underneath me. I wince when my knees hit the ground. A silent Jay mirrors my position across from where I’m being held. His eyes beg me to be still, to not panic. I don’t need him to say how hastily I’ve acted but I couldn’t watch as Daniel was strangled by a self righteous bird.
Ben circles, stalking me like the prey of an intimidating animal. The sharp pain of his knee slamming into my back sends my body falling to the ground. My face is held painfully against the the dirt causing a rock to dig into my already bruised cheek . I cry out when Ben’s shoe rest on my head.
“We’re not allowed to hurt her,” one crow masked man states.
“Can we hurt him?” Ben asks emotionlessly. I struggle anew when I hear Jay’s painful holler.
“No. We need him,” the man says nonchalantly.
Ben makes a ticking noise as I try to turn my head. His foot placed heavily on my temple keeps my body in place- the rock digging even more into my cheek. All I can see is the feet of those around and the severed arm still twitching in front of Daniel’s battered body. He ventures again to stand but again and again he collapses.
Suddenly, the hard boot is gone and I’m dragged to a standing position.
“You will be to blame for your friend’s death,” Ben says, restraining me roughly.
“Nicholas was going to kill him anyway,” I sneer at him not being about to see his face.
In front of me, a cloaked man approaches holding Nicholas's crow mask.
“You’re right,” Ben admits.
“Why do you care anyway? You didn’t like him,” I taunt and struggle with his restraints. His grip tightens.
“You’re right again, I didn’t.”
Amusement fills his voice but he doesn’t say another word as the approaching cloaked man hurls Nicholas’s mask to my feet. I notice he wears one similar as the discarded object bounces off my shin.