The Law of Retaliation

by Jon Athan

  The Law of Retaliation

  Jon Athan

  Copyright © 2017 Jon Athan

  All Rights Reserved.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  For more information on this book or the author, please visit www.jon-athan.com. General inquiries are welcome.

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJonAthan

  Twitter: @Jonny_Athan

  Email: info@jon-athan.com

  Book cover by Sean Lowery of http://indieauthordesign.com/.

  Thank you for the support!

  WARNING

  This book contains scenes of intense violence and some disturbing themes. Some parts of this book may be considered violent, cruel, disturbing, or unusual. Certain implications may trigger strong emotional responses. This book is not intended for those easily offended or appalled. Please enjoy at your own discretion.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter One

  The Incident

  “Where is this 'home away from home' you promised us, sweetheart?” Alexa Martin asked from the passenger seat, a sly smirk plastered on her face. She leaned over the center console and caressed her husband's clean-shaved face. She joked, “I don't think we'll ever get to this lake house if we keep driving in circles.”

  His hands at ten and two, Ryan Martin glanced over at his wife. He cracked a smile and shook his head. He wasn't bothered by Alexa's playful teasing. Her puckish demeanor was part of her charm—and he loved her for it.

  Ryan was a 27-year-old man with a promising career in advertising. Like his lovely wife, he was effortlessly charming. His straight brown hair was stylishly tousled, like the messy hair of a movie star. His sparkling blue eyes could hypnotize the staunchest person.

  Alexa was a 24-year-old artist—a painter, a poet, a writer. She didn't bring home as much money as her husband, but she served as a pillar of support for the family. Her black hair sat on her shoulders, curly and slick. Her brown eyes glimmered with youth and hope.

  They were perfect for each other. Their love was unshakable.

  Ryan turned in his seat and stared down the desolate tree-lined road, his headlights leading him through the darkness. A sea of trees surrounded the lonely road. There were a few cabins and lake houses hidden among the trees, too, separated by swathes of forest. Yet, the area still felt cold and abandoned.

  Ryan said, “We should be getting there soon. Trust me, hun, we're not driving in circles.” He chuckled, then he said, “Besides, if you were driving, we'd probably end up driving straight off a cliff or crashing into a tree. You know it's true, too.”

  “Whatever,” Alexa responded as she smiled and rolled her eyes—it was probably true. She stared out the passenger seat window and said, “It's creepy out here. It's like there's no one in these woods. No one can hear you scream... Tell me: what made you want to rent a 'cozy' lake house in Middle-of-Nowhere, Pennsylvania? Was it the 'Albino Cannibals?' Or do you just like a good bargain?”

  “It's the cannibals. It's always the cannibals,” Ryan responded, smirking.

  “Yeah, I thought so. I don't mind a few cannibals as long as this place is cozy. I just need some sleep—some real sleep. I can't wait to fall into a comfy bed and relax. Well, if you ever find the way...”

  “Don't worry, I know where I'm going. Trust me, we're close.”

  “How close?” a drowsy, feminine voice asked from the back seat.

  Ryan glanced at the rear-view mirror and smiled.

  Lucia Martin, the couple's five-year-old daughter, sat in the back seat of the sedan. The raven-haired girl rubbed her eyes and groaned, barely awakening from her slumber. She smacked her lips as she stretched out. Her white sweater and pink skirt shifted as she shuffled on her seat. She tried her best to find the most comfortable position.

  Sitting in the same seat for hours could make the most well-behaved child snap.

  Ryan and Alexa stared at the rear-view mirror, mesmerized by their daughter's innocence. Her big brown eyes, her soft round face, and her short curly hair captured their attention. Her smile—a gentle smirk—caused their hearts to pound. The girl was a shining beacon of purity. She was a symbol of hope and innocence.

  Ryan said, “We'll be there soon.”

  Lucia responded, “Are you sure, daddy?”

  “What? You don't trust your own father?”

  “I trust you, but... Don't you remember? You got lost one time when you were taking me to school.”

  Alexa gasped, astonished by the story. She glanced over at Ryan, who kept his eyes on the road, then she glanced back at her daughter. The girls shared a laugh.

  Alexa asked, “Is that true, baby? Why haven't I ever heard this story before?”

  “That's because it never happened,” Ryan responded, struggling to keep a straight face. He glanced at Lucia through the rear-view mirror and asked, “Isn't that right, sweetie?”

  Lucia nodded and said, “Oh, yeah. You wanted me to keep it a secret, right? Oops...”

  Alexa said, “It's okay, Lulu. At least we know we'll be sleeping in the car tonight. Right, Ryan?”

  Ryan did not respond. His eyes locked on the road, he slowed the car down to fifteen miles per hour and leaned forward. Alexa, baffled by her husband's behavior, turned in her seat and stared out the windshield. From afar, she could see two cars parked on the right side of the road—one with the hood up.

  A group of men stood around the vehicles, circling the cars like sharks at sea. A young man with short blonde hair waved at the Martins' car, clearly asking them to stop. Stranded motorists—the idea seemed plausible.

  As Ryan slowed the car down, Alexa tapped his forearm and asked, “What are you doing?”

  “What do you mean? I'm going to see if I can help them.”

  “No. That... That's not a good idea. Don't stop the car, Ryan.”

  “What? Why?”

  Alexa smiled as she glanced back at Lucia, trying to keep a semblance of control. She didn't want to scare her daughter with tales of violence and death.

  She leaned over the center console and whispered, “You know you can't be so trusting these days. There are psychos everywhere. Just keep going. I'll call someone when I get signal or when we get to the lake house. Okay?”

  Ryan furrowed his brow and chuckled. He stopped laughing upon spotting the fear in his wife's eyes. His wife was genuinely worried about their safety. He understood her concerns, too. The past few years were not great for Good Samaritans. A good deed could become a violent sin in a moment's notice. With precious cargo on board, the risk wasn't worth it.

  Ryan nodded and said, “Okay, okay. Let's get to that lake house.”

  He shrugged and waved at the stranded motorists as he drove past them. He glanced at the rear-view mirror. The blonde-haired man walked to the center of the road with his arms extended away from his body, as if he were surprised and offended by Ryan's refusal to help. The young man appeared to be furious and hostile. Maybe Alexa was right, Ryan thought, maybe we dodged a bullet.

  Luc
ia asked, “Why didn't we help them?”

  “Don't worry about them, baby. They're grown men. They'll be fine out here,” Alexa responded. She turned in her seat and asked, “What do you want to do first when we get to the lake house?”

  “Hmm... I want to eat s'mores!”

  Alexa giggled, then she responded, “S'mores? We're not camping, sweetie. It's a lake house, not a tent.”

  “I know. I want to eat s'mores anyway. Pretty please? With a cherry on top?”

  Ryan said, “Alright, alright. We're not camping this time, baby, but this lake house has a fireplace. We'll make some s'mores there. Besides, I kinda want some, too.”

  “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Lucia enthusiastically said.

  The family gasped as a horn blared behind their car. The high-beams of the pursuing vehicle illuminated the interior of the Martins' sedan. Alexa and Lucia turned in their seats and stared out the rear window, but they were blinded by the bright light. Ryan glanced every which way, startled by the sudden noise and illumination.

  The young father muttered, “What the hell is this guy doing? What–”

  Before he could utter another word, the truck rammed the back of their sedan. Ryan tightly gripped the steering wheel as he struggled to control the vehicle, swerving left-and-right. Alexa and Lucia screamed as they swayed from side-to-side.

  As he regained control of the sedan, Ryan glanced out the window to his left—shocked. A muscle car drove beside them, casually cruising on the wrong side of the road. He recognized the driver, too—the blonde man. He glanced over at the rear-view mirror and grimaced. He realized both of the vehicles were parked on the side of the road about a mile back.

  They weren't stranded after all.

  Alexa shook her husband's shoulder and shouted, “Look! They're saying something!”

  Ryan glanced over at the muscle car. He couldn't hear them, but the driver and the passenger appeared to be yelling. He rolled the window down an inch.

  The blonde man yelled, “Pull over!”

  “Don't,” Alexa said as she shook her husband's arm.

  “Pull over!” the men shouted from the muscle car.

  The truck blared its horn. Lucia cried in the backseat. Alexa shook his arm and screamed. Ryan was overwhelmed by the pressure. He couldn't think straight. The family was flung forward as the truck rammed them again.

  Ryan shouted, “Damn it!”

  As her husband slowed the sedan to a roll on the side of the road, Alexa asked, “What are you doing? Ryan, what... what the hell are you doing?”

  “What do you want me to do? Huh? They'll ram us off the road if we keep going. Just... Just stay calm.”

  Ryan sighed in disappointment as he parked on the side of the road. The truck parked directly behind the sedan, leaving less than an inch of space between the vehicles. The muscle car stopped in front of the sedan, then it reversed until it hit the sedan's front bumper. The family was boxed in.

  ***

  Ryan turned towards his wife and stuttered, “Ev–Everything's going to be okay. This doesn't have to be a–a big deal, okay? They're probably just mad because we didn't stop. It's an ego thing. I'll... I'll handle it.” He stroked Alexa's cheek and whispered, “You have to stay strong—for Lucia.”

  Alexa nodded in agreement. She shuddered and panted, fear burdened her shoulders, but she knew she had to stay strong for their daughter. She wiped the tears from her eyes, then she leaned back in her seat. She smiled as she wiped the tears from Lucia's cheeks. She even pinched her daughter's rosy nose and giggled, trying her best to comfort her.

  As his wife coddled their daughter, Ryan glanced around. There were two men in the truck behind them and two men in the muscle car in front of them.

  The blonde man climbed out of the muscle car. The young man had a Caesar cut and a clean-shaved face—a baby face. His sharp blue eyes could be seen through the darkness. He wore a tattered flight jacket, jeans with braces, a white t-shirt, and steel-toe boots—Doc Martens. As a matter of fact, all of the men appeared to be wearing the same style of clothing.

  The blonde man approached the sedan, then he knocked on Ryan's window. Ryan reluctantly rolled the window down another inch. The pair locked eyes, staring at each other through the glass.

  Ryan asked, “Is... Is there a problem?”

  The blonde man stared at Ryan with a deadpan expression. He huffed and cracked a smile, then he chuckled and shook his head—amused.

  The man repeated, “Is there a problem?”

  Ryan and Alexa glanced around. The young men surrounded their car. Due to their similar outfits, the men were difficult to identify. One of them appeared to be reluctant, though. He stood near the trunk of the sedan, nervous.

  The blonde man knocked again. He said, “Hey. Look at me. Look at me.” Ryan clenched his jaw and turned his attention to the man. The blonde man said, “It's okay. It's all good. Just relax, alright? I know you're scared. Hell, I'd be scared if I were stuck out in the middle of nowhere and surrounded by a bunch of strangers. So, let's make this easier for you. You're still stuck, but let's introduce ourselves. My name is Caden—Caden Clark. That's my real name, mister. Believe me, I wouldn't lie to you.”

  Caden took two steps back. He beckoned to his crew with a nod—come closer.

  Caden pointed at the bashful young man near the trunk and said, “This is Vincent. He's a good kid. He doesn't talk too much in situations like this 'cause he's shy and scared, but... he's a good kid. You have to remember, that's what we are: kids. I'm seventeen years old, mister. He's sixteen.”

  His shoulders raised and his head low, Vincent stepped forward. His hand trembled as he awkwardly waved at the family in the sedan. The shy youngster was identifiable through his wavy brown hair, which fell over his brow.

  Caden pointed at the other side of the car and said, “That's Jessie and that's Nathaniel. They're seventeen, too. Kids, you know? We're just kids.”

  Jessie and Nathaniel—the boys seemed to share a brain. One couldn't act without the other. The brawny men shared the same buzz cut hairstyle, too. However, Jessie had blue eyes and Nathaniel had brown eyes.

  Caden said, “That's out of the way. So, what's your name?”

  “My name?” Ryan repeated in an uncertain tone.

  “Your name. What's your name, mister?”

  “Ryan. My name is Ryan.”

  Caden smiled and said, “Well, it's nice to meet you, Ryan. What about the ladies? What are their names?” He leaned forward with his hands on his knees. He asked, “You girls have names, don't you?”

  Ryan leaned away from the window and glared at Caden, baffled by his mysterious intentions. Alexa leaned closer to her husband and grabbed his arm, terrified. Lucia whimpered in the backseat, scared and confused.

  Ryan said, “If you want to talk, talk to me. They don't have anything to say to you.”

  “Now that's just insulting,” Caden responded. “I introduced myself to you, mister. I'm trying to start this on the right foot. What is it? Are you afraid of lil' ol' me?”

  “What do you want from us?”

  Disregarding the question, Caden leaned forward and peered into the back seat of the car. He smiled upon spotting Lucia. She was an angel lost in the pits of hell.

  Caden asked, “What's your name, sweetie?”

  Lucia was frightened due to her parents' reaction. She cried when her parents cried. Their fear triggered her fear. She didn't know any better, though.

  She said, “Lucia.”

  “Lucia. I like that. It's a pretty name,” Caden responded, smirking. He turned and stared at Alexa. He said, “You have a beautiful girl. You should be proud. I suppose that's the product of two people like you, huh? Pretty, exotic names and–”

  “What do you want from us?!” Ryan snapped.

  Caden lifted his hands up, as if he were caught red-handed by the police. He smiled and said, “You're feisty. You're very feisty. Listen, mister, I didn't want to chase you down like th
is, but, you see, you ignored me down the road. You drove past a bunch of kids who were trapped in the middle of nowhere. That's just wrong, man. Do you know what it's like being stranded in a place like this? Huh? Why didn't you stop to help a couple of kids?”

  Ryan glanced over at the truck, then at the muscle car. He said, “It looks like you didn't need us anyway. You look like you're doing fine.”

  “That doesn't matter now, does it? You didn't know that when you drove past us, did you?”

  While the pair argued, Nathaniel slinked closer to one of the rear tires. He pulled a switchblade out of his pocket, then he stabbed the tire. Air hissed from the sliced tire and the car sank a few inches, as if someone had sat on the trunk. The Martins didn't notice the slight movement, though. The family was solely focused on Caden.

  Interrupting the conversation, Nathaniel said, “It looks like you have a flat tire back here.”

  “No, no, no,” Ryan whispered as he glanced over his shoulder.

  Ryan leaned over the center console and stared at the side-view mirror. Alexa placed her forehead on the window and stared at the tire. The couple were dismayed by the revelation. The man wasn't lying—they had a flat tire.

  Caden clicked his tongue and shook his head. He said, “Well, look at that. It looks like you might be stranded out here. The shoe is on the other foot now, isn't it?”

  Ryan stuttered, “I–I can... I can change it. I can, um–”

  “Can you? No offense, Ryan, but you look like the soft-type. I'm a betting man and I bet you've never changed a tire in your life. You'd probably call someone in a situation like this, right? Oh, but there's no signal around here, is there? Shit. It looks like you're fucked, doesn't it?”

  Ryan stared at Caden with a steady expression. He tried to keep a semblance of control. At heart, he knew the young man was correct in his assessment. He didn't know how to change a tire. He was, in fact, the soft-type.

  Caden snickered, then he said, “Listen, I think this is our chance to make things right. I'll tell you what we're going to do. I'm going to show you I'm a good kid, okay? I'm going to change your tire for you and get you on your way. I hope this will teach you to be more trusting. Maybe you'll help someone out in the future.”