Forsaken World (Book 3): Rite of Passage

by Watson, Thomas A.

  “The Nazis are after the little dicks, bad,” Ian chuckled.

  “I know who the little dicks are, but Nazis?” Jennifer asked, taking the towel off her head.

  “The white supremacist survival group, Soldiers of the New Dawn,” Ian told her. “They hit the Devil Lords’ safe house outside of Walker. Killed all of the little dicks and none got away, though some tried.”

  “Walker is only five miles from here,” Lilly said, not understanding why the boys were so relaxed.

  Leaning back in his chair, “Well, the Nazi compound is only twelve miles away, so why should we get excited?” Lance smirked. “The little dicks didn’t want any, so I doubt the Nazis want some.”

  Remembering the videos Lance and Ian had taken of their ‘deeds’, Lilly felt queasy. “Anything else?” she asked, trying to push the nausea away.

  “Oh, yeah,” Ian laughed. “The Nazis got hit by stinkers hard. Don’t know how many they lost, but I listened to one getting eaten on the radio.”

  As her mind supplied the images, Jennifer drank from her glass of tea not fazed in the least because she got to see ‘deeds’ done to others. “I thought the Nazis only transmitted on coded radios,” she said, taking a drink.

  “Sometimes they do and even when they don’t, they talk in code. We got most of our information from the little dicks,” Lance explained and Jennifer saw Lance glancing out of the corner of his eye, staring at Lilly.

  “Lance,” Jennifer said with a grin and Lance jumped, whipping his head around to face her. “Are we going to take steps against the Nazis?”

  “They bring their ass near here and we will,” Lance said. “Like I said, they’re Nazis. That group outside of zone four to our north, all white? Nazis took them out.”

  Giving a sigh, “We’re sure?” Jennifer asked.

  “Yep, a little dick patrol found a swastika painted on the door,” Lance answered.

  Slapping the table, “I told you the little dicks knew where they were,” Ian said cheerfully.

  “Well, they didn’t when Bones made the map,” Lance shot back. “Patrol tomorrow. Lilly, you’re up.”

  Shrugging, “Fine,” Lilly said.

  Clearing her throat, Jennifer leaned up to the table. “Can I ask? Will this be another night patrol?” Jennifer asked and Lilly tensed up for a second before forcing herself to relax.

  “We are starting before sundown just checking the diversion fence but yes, it will be a night patrol,” Lance said.

  Never in her life would Jennifer have believed the boys would be moving around at night with stinkers, but they had started. In truth, Ian and Lance seemed to like moving around at night more than during the day. “Are you going to work on the shopping list?” Jennifer asked, pointing to the fridge.

  On the front door held by magnets was a sheet of paper that listed what to look for on patrol. Most of the stuff listed, Ian and Lance had put there. This was how the ladybugs had got their snowman nightgowns.

  “We don’t go out for fun,” Ian said, patting Jennifer’s leg.

  Looking up at Jennifer, Ian’s face went blank. Jennifer smiled seeing Ian wasn’t looking at her face, but his face was red. “Ian, my shirt is on,” Jennifer chuckled.

  Clearing his throat, “I know,” Ian said, not looking at her as he patted her leg and turned to Lance. “We doing barbed wire runs?”

  “Hell, yes!” Lance cried out. “Since that diversion fence got up, we’ve had one stinker in six days reach the cabin. The lightest day before the fence was five in a day.”

  Standing up, Allie looked at Lance. “I want to come,” she said, trying to look tough but couldn’t pull it off with her doll face.

  Ian pointed at Allie, taking a breath as Lance spoke. “Are you sure, Allie?” Lance asked and Ian’s mouth fell open.

  “Yes, Carrie and I played rock, paper, scissors and I won, so I get to ask to go first,” Allie said.

  Lance was glad Allie wasn’t smiling and nodded at her, then turned to Ian. “I think they should be allowed to. Another set of eyes never hurts,” Lance said.

  “Lance-,” Ian started and Lance’s face turned into a scowl.

  “Hey!” Lance shouted. “They came out putting up that diversion fence and because of that, we got it up in two days. Without them keeping an eye out, that fence would’ve taken us four days.”

  Narrowing his eyes, Ian took his hand off Jennifer’s leg and put it on the table as he glared at Lance. “They are little girls and don’t need to be out there,” Ian snarled.

  “Allie!” Lance snapped, stopping Allie from shouting and Lilly knew Lance’s eyes had never left Ian’s face. “Ian, they have to learn and they do everything they are asked,” Lance said, standing up. “I’m willing to take my decision outside and discuss it in the yard.”

  The anger left Ian’s face as he looked from Lance to Allie. “I know they are doing great, but I don’t even like them leaving the cabin,” Ian said in a soft voice. “I can’t lose my sister,” Ian mumbled.

  “Neither can I,” Lance said in a normal voice, sitting back down. “But as you know, we would never see it because we would be dead before anything got close to Allie or Carrie.”

  Staring at Allie, Ian took a deep breath. “Allie, I will go along with this but the first time you act like an ass on patrol, I’m going outside with Lance to discuss my choice.”

  “I will, bubba,” Allie said with a small smile. “We promise. We have to help fight.”

  Carrie stood up beside Allie and held her hand. “We dare those motherfuckers to mess with us,” Carrie beamed as Ian and Lance tensed up.

  “No, we double dare those motherfuckers,” Allie cheered.

  “Lance, you’re the one that let them watch Pulp Fiction, so don’t start,” Jennifer said, trying not to laugh. The first time the ladybugs walked around the cabin quoting Samuel L. Jackson, Jennifer had laughed so hard she’d almost passed out.

  Rolling his eyes, Ian turned to Lance. “I told you,” Ian mumbled with a groan.

  Still holding hands, Allie and Carrie moved over and climbed into Lance’s lap, laying their heads on his chest. Lilly fought off a pang of jealousy as Lance hugged both the girls.

  Knowing if anything was said about the language, the ladybugs would continue the language, Lance looked over at Ian. “My stuff is ready to go, is yours?” Lance asked.

  Giving an evil grin, “Oh, yeah,” Ian chuckled.

  “Guys, we really don’t want to draw any attention that would make people search around here,” Jennifer said, but knew it was useless.

  Hugging the ladybugs, “We aren’t putting traps out for people yet, unless they get near the cabin,” Lance said.

  “Can we watch a movie now?” Carrie asked, looking up at Lance with a smile on her cherub face.

  “What do you want to watch tonight?” Lance asked and Lilly knew that concluded the end of the meeting.

  “Two of the man with the ponytail,” Carrie said.

  Nodding, “Get them,” Lance said and the girls jumped out of his lap, running for the entertainment center.

  “Ponytail man?” Lilly asked, looking over the table at Jennifer.

  “Steven Seagal,” Jennifer said, getting up.

  Getting up and grabbing stuff to clear the table, “Their movie choices are starting to get more violent,” Lilly noted as everyone helped clear the table and load the dishwasher.

  “We watched two Disney movies last night,” Lance said, wiping the table down.

  Busting out laughing, Jennifer grabbed the table. “Yeah, Carrie yells out, ‘Bust a cap in that bitch’ to Cinderella,” Jennifer howled, beating the table as she laughed.

  “Better than Allie telling Mulan to shank that asshole,” Ian mumbled, making Jennifer laugh harder.

  With the kitchen done they found the ladybugs waiting, standing in front of the sectional and holding brushes. Nothing was said as Lance and Lilly sat down behind them, taking the brushes and brushing out their hair.

  Drop
ping onto the sectional, Ian grabbed the remote and pressed play, then pulled Jennifer in his lap. As the previews played, Jennifer leaned to Ian’s ear. “Will you brush my hair?” she whispered.

  A slight blush crept up on Ian’s cheeks as he nodded and Jennifer ran to get a brush and sat down on the floor between Ian’s legs. Slowly pulling the brush through Jennifer’s hair, Ian winced when he hit a knot. When the brush wouldn’t pull through, Ian moved to another spot.

  Leaning over, Lance grabbed Jennifer’s hair above the knot. “Like this, Ian,” Lance said, showing him how to brush the knot out without pulling hair.

  “Thank you,” Ian smiled as Lance moved back to Allie’s hair. “Wonder if there is a hairstyle merit badge.”

  “I can get it, if there is,” Lance said as the movie started.

  “Can I see your scout uniform?” Lilly asked, brushing Carrie’s hair. “If it’s here?”

  Shrugging, “Yeah, they’re here and I don’t care,” Lance said.

  “You have more than one?” Lilly asked.

  “Lilly, you have a summer and winter uniform,” Lance told her. “And Ian and I have three of each.”

  “Oh,” Lilly nodded, leaning back and looking at Carrie’s hair. “Thank you. I just want to see it because I feel cheated. You and Ian learned more from scouts than I did in high school.”

  Satisfied with Allie’s hair, Lance handed the brush to her. “All done,” Lance said as Allie put the brush down and then she and Carrie picked up something from the floor.

  They both turned around, holding bottles of nail polish. “Can you please?” Allie begged, bouncing on her toes.

  “Pretty please?” Carrie pleaded, bouncing beside Allie.

  “Um, guys, I don’t know how,” Lance said, hearing Ian snorting while trying not to laugh.

  “Lilly does and she can show you,” Allie said as Carrie climbed in Lilly’s lap.

  “Lilly can do mine this time, showing you how to do Allie’s,” Carrie said, looking up at Lilly with a smile.

  Seeing the smile, Lilly saw a devilish gleam in Carrie’s eyes that made her heart speed up. “I usually had my nails done by others,” Lilly said carefully.

  Climbing up in Lance’s lap, “Then you can do it!” Allie cheered, putting the bottle in Lance’s hand.

  “Okay,” Lilly said, seeing the devilish gleam in Allie’s eyes turn to mischief. “I need some stuff from the bathroom.”

  Carrie moved out of Lilly’s lap and as she got up, she saw Ian was biting his bottom lip so he wouldn’t laugh as he brushed Jennifer’s hair. Looking down at Jennifer’s face, Lilly saw Jennifer’s lips were puckered and tears were on her cheeks with Jennifer’s body shaking as she laughed silently.

  Grabbing supplies from the bathroom, Lilly looked in the mirror at her reflection. “Those two little girls hold all the power here,” Lilly told her reflection, daring her reflection to disagree.

  Moving back to the couch, Lilly and Lance started painting pink polish on the girls’ fingernails. “Wow, you’re good,” Carrie said, leaning her head back on Lilly’s chest.

  When fingers were done, the ladybugs moved to the couch and put their feet in Lance’s and Lilly’s laps. “Hit that bitch hard!” Allie yelled at the screen.

  “Allie, no yelling,” Lance said, dabbing her toes with the brush.

  “Sorry,” Allie whispered, never looking away from the TV as Jennifer climbed up in Ian’s lap and they both tried not to laugh. Lilly put her nailbrush back in the bottle when she was done and Carrie hugged her tight.

  When Lance was done, he put the brush back in the bottle, proud of his work. “There,” he said with pride.

  Allie lifted her hands and feet up smiling and then hugged Lance. “Thank you,” she said, squeezing Lance’s neck.

  “You’re welcome, ladybug,” Lance said, hugging her back. When he released her, Allie got down and grabbed the bottle of nail polish Lance had just put on the coffee table.

  Allie turned around, holding it back out, “You have to do Lilly’s now,” Allie said and Jennifer and Ian stopped snickering.

  “Um,” Lance said, trying to think of any words.

  “Lance,” Allie whined, dropping her arms to her side. “She’s our super special friend.”

  Feeling panic spreading through his body, Lance tried to get his brain to think of anything as Carrie leapt off the couch. Standing beside Allie, Carrie’s face slowly turned sad. “Lance, it’s not fair,” Carrie said. “You do it real good.”

  Seeing Lance was uncomfortable, Lilly was about to speak when both girls whipped their heads and the sad expressions were replaced with a menacing glare. Telling that thought to go to hell, Lilly leaned back on the sectional and the girls turned back to Lance who was looking at his lap, trying to think.

  “Allie, you need to lay off,” Ian said and Allie spun on him.

  “Be quiet, stupid head,” Allie snapped.

  “Lance has done enough for you and Carrie,” Ian said tensely as he narrowed his eyes.

  “We aren’t talking to you, meanie,” Carrie snapped, stomping her small barefoot hard on the floor. “Just stick your tongue in Jennifer’s mouth and leave us alone!”

  “Carrie!” Jennifer gasped, lifting up from Ian’s lap.

  Allie and Carrie turned back to Lance, ignoring Ian and Jennifer. “Please, Lilly has to be like us,” Allie said and like a switch had been thrown, Allie and Carrie’s expressions changed to sadness. Looking at Lance with pouty eyes and lowering their heads, they held each other’s hand.

  Looking at the two, Lance sighed as he nodded. “Okay,” he said and the ladybugs jumped in his lap, driving him back into the sectional.

  “You are the best in the whole world!” Allie squealed, kissing his cheek on the right and Carrie kissed the left. Dropping on each side of Lance, they pulled Lilly close and put her hands in Lance’s lap.

  As Lance painted her fingernails, Lilly watched Carrie and Allie lay their heads on Lance’s shoulders giving little girl praise and Lance was eating it up. Smiling now as he painted her fingernails, Lilly stared at the top of the ladybugs’ heads with apprehension.

  Jennifer looked into Ian’s face. “Lance has to grow some balls with those two,” Jennifer whispered.

  “You tell him, I’m not,” Ian huffed. “Last time I told him, we went to the backyard and broke Mr. Oliver’s white picket fence.”

  “Ian, they are our sisters and we don’t baby them like that,” Jennifer admitted and noticed Lilly was looking at the ladybugs like she was scared of them.

  “To Lance, they are his sisters, not ours,” Ian said.

  When Lilly put her feet in Lance’s lap, Allie and Carrie just ‘ewwd’ and ahhd’ Lance, as he did her toes. Finally done, Lance put the nail polish on the coffee table as the ladybugs hugged him, then jumped up to stand on the sectional. “Lilly is just like us now!” they both cheered and dove on Lilly.

  Laying on the sectional, Lilly couldn’t help but laugh as she returned their hugs very glad it was quick-dry nail polish. They both let go of Lilly and pulled her off the couch and all three stood in front of Lance. Allie grabbed Lilly’s right hand and Carrie her left and held their hands beside Lilly’s.

  “See? Just like ours!” they cried out and then jumped up and down, making everyone laugh.

  Carrie jumped on the couch and hugged Lance, pulling him down until he was lying on the couch. Climbing off his chest, Carrie moved up to his head and lifted it up before sitting down and pushing Lance’s head into her lap.

  Allie grabbed Lance’s legs, grunting as she lifted them on the couch. “We have to watch the movie,” Allie said, grabbing Lilly’s hand and yanking her to the sectional. Almost falling on Lance, Lilly threw her hand out grabbing the backrest to stop her fall and was looking down at Lance.

  Standing between Lance’s legs, “Come on, Lilly,” Allie grunted, pulling Lilly’s arm. “The ponytail man is beating those bitches down!”

  When Lance started to open his mouth
to complain about her language, Allie shoved on Lilly’s side and Lilly followed the pushes. Telling Allie to stop never entered Lilly’s mind. Letting Allie guide her, Lilly laid beside Lance with her back against the backrest.

  Grabbing Lance’s left arm behind Lilly, Allie draped it over Lilly and then laid down on the lip of the couch beside Lance. “Scoot back,” Allie snapped, wrapping Lance’s right arm around her.

  Scooting back, Lance and Lilly snuggled together, making room for Allie in front of them with both their heads in Carrie’s lap. Carrie rubbed their heads as she stared with wide eyes at the screen. “Don’t let him hit you, use a high block!” Carrie shouted.

  “Just pull a gun and cap that little punk!” Allie shouted.

  With a smile, Lilly rested her right hand on Lance’s chest and nuzzled the side of his face. “Thanks for the makeover,” she said softly and Lance smiled, trying not to blush.

  “You’re welcome, but I don’t want my nails done,” Lance grinned and squeezed Lilly with his left arm.

  “Bitch!” Allie screamed. “You don’t drive off without ponytail kicking your ass!”

  “Shh, Allie,” Lance chuckled, patting her belly since Allie had his arm wrapped up.

  “That bitch just drove away!” Allie shouted, waving at the screen.

  “Allie!” Lance laughed. “They chase him down, you’ve seen this movie before.”

  Lifting her head up, Allie looked at him. “I know, don’t ruin it,” she said, getting up and running off. The lights turned off and Allie ran back. “Dino, quit licking your butt!” Allie shouted over her shoulder.

  Lance held his arm up so Allie could lie back down, but Allie climbed over and shoved her legs behind Lilly’s back. “Allie!” Lance cried out as Lilly had to almost lay on him as Allie climbed behind her.

  “I can’t watch a car chase lying down,” Allie cried out, wiggling behind Lilly and forcing Lance to scoot over, but Lilly was thrown with most of her body on Lance. “Thank you,” Allie sang out.

  “I want to squeal tires and spin out like that,” Carrie announced, rubbing Lance’s and Lilly’s heads.