by Jami Gray
Leaving Bon to watch her back—not the smartest thing she’d ever done—she darted across the yard. Despite the distance being only a few feet the exposure left her spine twitching. She crept up the short stoop until she could hunker beneath the window frame. Didn’t matter if it was boarded up, light still seeped around the edges. Better to stay low so she wouldn’t warn whoever waited inside. With her ear pressed against the weathered door, she wrapped her hand around the knob and watched the thin sliver of light.
There was no sound but every instinct she possessed screamed someone waited on the other side. Lovely. She just needed a clue to their position. She began to turn the knob. The narrow light on the right side of the window just above the window ledge flickered. Good enough. Before whoever lurked inside could shift out from behind the door, she threw it open, using her shoulder to add to the impact’s weight. The door hit with a sickening crack and elicited a muffled grunt. As counterweight began to shove the door back, she rolled out of the way and came up in a crouch, knife out.
Throwing up her arm, she barely managed to dodge the blur of movement as her target attacked. A stinging line from shoulder to elbow indicated she wasn’t the only one armed with a blade. Stepping in to her attacker, she retaliated, going under his arm and slicing along his ribs as she knocked his blade hand aside with her other arm. They separated, circling each other. The guard was on the leaner side and handled his weapon with an easy familiarity.
She’d have to move fast to gain a chance at getting control of his knife. Before the realisation finished she darted in, her blade aimed for his neck. Blocking his strike with her left arm, she earned another wicked slice, even as her blade met skin. Unfortunately, he managed to jerk out of range and stumble back. Taking advantage she closed in. He swung out and she slapped his blade away, going under his swing until she could sink her knife into his gut. A dark growl sounded as he wrapped a hard hand around her wrist, holding the blade in place.
She didn’t fight him, instead she used her free hand to block his incoming strike and loop his arm in a brutal joint lock. Twisting, she used her body weight to snap his arm at the elbow. The sound of his knife hitting the ground was drowned out by his pained bellow. The grip on her wrist loosened, and she twisted her knife before yanking it free. She stepped back as the guard clutched his stomach with his uninjured arm and dropped to his knees. Not keen on getting in reach, she nailed the bastard with a kick to the temple and brought the short, brutal fight to an end.
As he lay in a crumpled heap on the floor, Vex swept up his discarded blade and tucked it into the small of her back. Never knew when a back-up would come in handy. Besides it would be a shame for the blade to go to waste. With the guard out of commission, she took a minute to scan the quiet interior. Other than the solar lamp hanging on a nail on the wall for light, there were little signs of life in the ramshackle entryway, or coming from the rickety set of stairs climbing to the second floor. Since there was no sound of anyone running to the fallen guard’s rescue, either Math had neutralised the other inside guard or she would soon be playing a deadly game of hide and seek. Knowing fate was a fickle bitch, she needed to get a move on.
Deciding to clear the bottom floor first, she bypassed the room to the left, which was clearly empty since no-one rushed out of it. Creeping down the dark hall, she aimed for the room in the back. She slipped by a couple of empty doorways guarding more empty rooms. She was closing in on the shadowed room at the back when the creak of wooden floorboards drifted from above. Shitshitshit! They were upstairs. She didn’t waste time turning and rushing towards the stairs.
Despite picking her path carefully, she managed to cover the first set quickly, only pausing once she reached the first landing. Skirting the hole dominating one side, she did a weird hop-leap combination to gain the second flight, wincing when the floor gave an audible creak. The narrow staircase was unforgiving and she was forced to slow as she picked her way up, avoiding holes and rotten steps. By the time she reached the top and a long, equally narrow hallway, a line of sweat cooled along her spine.
Rooms, some with doors, some without, lined the hall, but it was the light slipping across the warped floorboards at the end of the hall where it branched off that she zeroed in on. Goal in sight, she crept down the hall, slipping past the first empty doorway, taking the time to test each spot as she inched along. No sense in making her presence any more obvious, not until she was certain all possible threats were out of play. By the time she reached the end, her pulse had settled into an anticipatory beat.
With her spine pressed against the dubious protection of the wall, she snuck a quick peek around the corner. Light came from a room tucked halfway down. A quiet rumble of conversation reached her, but it was too low to identify the speaker. Here’s hoping it’s Math. Taking a deep breath, she adjusted her grip on her blade and began working her way forward, her eyes constantly scanning for threats. The damn itch at the back of her neck had set up shop, leaving her jumpy.
She made it to the doorway without incident, careful not to cross the spill of light. The minor success should have chilled out her nerves. Unfortunately they were still bouncing around. Repeating the back to the wall movement, she managed a quick look inside. Recognising the familiar set of Math’s shoulder towards the back of the room, she noted the sprawled body tossed to the side as she rushed in. ‘Math.’
At her voice, his head turned and the naked fury and grief in his face about knocked her on her ass before it disappeared under a stony mask. ‘Found your admirer.’ He nodded to the body on the floor.
She came in, making her way to the corpse. Using the toe of her boot she kicked him over. Sure enough, the man from the Hole, who headed out earlier, stared back with unseeing eyes. Guess Trip owed them one for taking out a rat. She turned away and went to Math’s side. In front of him, bound to a chair was a badly beaten man. She winced. Looked like Math had found Cam. Barefoot, stripped to the waist and wearing only a grungy pair of pants, she thought he was dead until she caught the faint rise and fall of the burnt and scarred chest. Light provided by the small camp lights set on either side spilled over hair that may have been blond at one point, but now bore the distinct rust colour of old blood, covering the bent head.
Taking in the signs of both recent and repeated torture she marvelled at the will that kept this poor soul breathing. ‘Shit, and I thought Si looked bad after his time with the Raiders.’
Math cut through one of the thick cords wrapped around Cam’s waist. ‘Cut through the rope at his wrists.’
‘Got it.’ She moved around Math, crouching at Cam’s side to slide her blade between the rope anchoring his arms to the chair’s rear legs and his torn wrists. As she worked, she kept his arms still with a gentle hand. Only when they were free did she carefully let them hang at his side.
As she rose from her crouch, Math asked, ‘Can you hold him, while I get him free?’
‘Yeah.’ She tucked her blade into a boot and considered how to hold Cam without hurting him. Based upon the amount of visible damage, that was a hopeless endeavour. Since Math needed access to the rope on Cam’s waist and torso, she’d have to hold him from behind. Moving behind the chair, she bit off another curse as the mess of Cam’s back came in to view. It looked like so much raw meat. The prospect of getting out of the Hole with the shape Cam was in was looking decidedly grim. Shoving her worry aside, she got as close as she could without putting pressure on the chair’s spindled back. She leaned over and carefully crossed her arms over Cam’s battered chest.
Math worked quickly, slicing through the thick rope and tossing them aside. His movements caused Cam to groan. Math winced and checked Cam’s face. From her position, Vex couldn’t tell if Cam was aware or not, but Math said, ‘I know it hurts, man, but hang in there.’
When the last piece loosened, Cam’s weight sagged in her arms, forcing her to shift her weight awkwardly to make sure he didn’t fall into Math. Off balance she was slow to react when Cam�
�s arm jerked out of her hold and his fist swung out. ‘Math!’
Her warning hit the same time as Cam’s fist nailed Math’s cheek. Injured or not, there was enough force behind it to knock Math sideways. He cursed as he caught himself with his hand against the floor.
Vex managed to grab Cam’s wrist when he drew it back for another hit. Not an easy feat with her position, but she didn’t want to hurt him, so she hung on.
Math crowded Cam, his hand cupping his friend’s face, forcing him to listen. ‘Cam! Cam, it’s Math. Stop, man. Don’t make me hit you. Do you hear me, Cam?’
Cam’s arm went limp and his hand uncurled. ‘Math?’ It came out on a hoarse croak.
Vex slowly brought Cam’s arm back down, then let go before she went back to holding his shaking shoulders.
Math didn’t let go of Cam’s face. ‘Yeah, man, it’s me.’
‘Took you fucking long enough, bastard.’
Weak though it was, his complaint made Math’s lips curl. ‘Sorry, had to pick someone up to help save your ass.’
Cam’s head lifted and turned to look at her, swaying a bit. ‘Well, hello.’
Vex looked into the battered face, one eye swollen, the other streaked with red, broken vessels, nose out of joint and cut lips trying to curve, and she couldn’t stop her grin. ‘Hey there, handsome.’
Cam turned back to Math, his body tilting heavily to the side. Math and Vex caught him, holding him upright. ‘At least you didn’t come barreling in on your own.’ Cam hissed but managed, ‘Guess that means you’re wising up?’
Math shifted until he could help Cam stand. ‘I’m not the one playing punching bag for a bunch of third-rate heavies.’ It took a great deal of cursing and a few groans, but they got Cam up. ‘Let’s bail.’ Holding Cam’s arm over his shoulder with one hand, his other arm around his friend’s waist, Math craned his neck to Vex.
Reading his silent request, she came around to take point, skirting the body on the floor. As she passed the men Cam asked, ‘How many did you eliminate?’
Half turning she watched Math lead the wounded man around the corpse. ‘Two. That one and one outside.’
When they looked to her, Vex added her tally. ‘Two, one exterior, one interior. Think our lookout got one.’
Cam grimaced. ‘If he didn’t, you’ll be missing one.’
‘Just one?’ Math asked as they continued to the doorway.
‘Yeah.’ Cam leaned against the doorframe. ‘Earlier tonight, this guy showed up. Didn’t catch much, but I think he lost his partner in the Green. He argued with that bastard—’ he indicated the body on the floor, ‘—then left.’
The men fell silent as Vex moved down the hall to check the first turn. Nice to know their shadows had been halved. While she’d love to assume Bon managed to take out the other outside guard, luck never stuck around in situations like this. With Math busy with Cam, it was up to her to get them out without getting killed. Studying the dark hall, she stretched all her senses for anything out of place. Although her nerves still hummed and her neck still itched, nothing moved. Good enough. They couldn’t stay here forever. Vex motioned them forward.
They made their way downstairs without incident. The crumpled heap of her attacker still lay where she left him to bleed out. Stepping around him she chanced a look back to warn softly, ‘Watch your step.’
Light played over Cam’s sweat-streaked, grey face and she worried he wouldn’t be able to stay upright for long. Based upon the grim mask Math wore and the fury flickering in his dark gaze, she figured he shared her concerns. Hand on the knob she waited for the two men to join her. Keeping her voice low, she met Math’s gaze. ‘I’ll signal you.’
He looked to the door, then back to her and gave a short nod. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and stepped into the night.
Chapter 17
Following the dust trail from Vex’s bike, Math steered the modified off-road buggy they liberated from Gus’s shop around the sharp hairpin curve taking them further up the mountain. He did a quick check on Cam, strapped into the passenger seat. Aware, but barely hanging in there. Switching his attention back to the road, he hoped to God they were close to wherever Vex was taking them. After Bon admitted to only taking out one guard, it had become crucial to remain unseen. Not easy when you were dragging a half-dead man along with you. The trip from where Cam had been held, back through the Hole and to Gus’s shop had been nothing short of an endurance test, even with Bon using every shortcut he knew, and the kid knew his shit.
About an hour before dawn they reached Gus’s deserted garage. Bon disappeared, off to collect the stashed bike they promised him as payment. Vex went on a hunt for a vehicle they could use to get Cam out. While she did her thing, Math did his best to treat the worst of Cam’s wounds. It wasn’t much more than field dressing and a few quick stitches, but it was better than nothing. Although Cam might disagree, if he wasn’t slipping in and out of consciousness. Proving she had talents not yet revealed, Vex managed to liberate a modified buggy hidden in the back. Together they got Cam belted in, and then Vex added a cracked helmet from one of Gus’s dusty shelves. When Math raised a brow in question she said, ‘No shocks equals a rough ride. You’ll be too busy keeping wheels on the ground to keep his head from slamming the frame.’
Fifteen minutes later they were on the road heading back towards Pebble Creek. Or so Math assumed until Vex turned off the main route, taking them into the higher elevations outside the settlement. As they wove deeper into the foliage he was forced to slow until she finally stopped. He did the same, but left the engine running. She got off her bike and walked over to him. The buggy’s engine was so loud, she mouthed, ‘Follow me.’ To ensure he understood, she pointed towards what looked like a thick weave of trees and brush.
Giving her a nod, he watched her move to the grove of trees. She tugged and pulled at the heavy foliage until a dark opening appeared. Slowly he eased into the shallow cave. When the front bumper kissed the back wall, he shut off the engine. The early morning light barely penetrated, so there wasn’t much to take in other than rock walls and a dirt floor. He got out and went to unbuckle Cam, while Vex rolled her bike closer. Looking over she warned, ‘Careful, Math, not much room to maneuver.’
She wasn’t lying. His back scraped the cave wall as he squeezed between it and the buggy. He got to Cam and began undoing the seat straps. ‘Thought we were heading to Pebble Creek.’
‘Thought about it, but we missed one of Greer’s men. Once he gets word out, first place they’ll check is Pebble Creek.’
The certainty in her voice stopped him. He looked at her. ‘You think Trip will give us up.’
‘Think it? I know it.’
Math undid the last buckle and barely caught Cam when his friend slumped forward. The impact of Cam’s heavier body provoked a muffled grunt from Math and a groan from Cam.
Vex stepped forward. ‘Need help?’
Math shook his head, adjusted his hold on a barely conscious Cam. Knowing the injured man was operating purely on instinct, Math added a whip to his voice and ordered, ‘On your feet.’
Thankfully it worked. Cam moved with Math. He got his arm around Cam’s waist and locked his hand on Cam’s wrist, staying above the raw rope marks. Sweat lined Math’s spine as together they half-stumbled, half-shuffled alongside the buggy. As soon as they were clear, Vex rolled her bike into the narrow space.
He took Cam out of the cave and lowered him to the ground next to a thick tree. Vex replaced the cave’s camouflage. When she finished she worked her way back to them, doing her best to erase the tire tracks.
Next to Math, Cam lifted his head, trying to see, but with one eye swollen shut and the other bloodshot, Math figured his friend was basically blind. Vex came over and dropped into a crouch next to Math.
‘Where are we?’ Cam’s question came out slurred.
Vex answered, ‘Just outside Pebble Creek.’ She exchanged a worried look with Math. ‘We don’t have far to
go, maybe another fifteen, twenty minutes.’
‘Where are we going?’
Vex looked back up the mountain, then came back to him. ‘There’s a farmstead up there. The family knows me. They’ll give us a place for Cam to rest while I send one of them to Pebble Creek for Mandy.’
‘Mandy?’ Cam’s head lifted, a frown on his face. ‘I know her,’ he mumbled.
Considering Cam was about to keel over, Math ignored his ramblings and stuck to the conversation with Vex. ‘Works for me.’ He pushed to his feet, ignoring the protests of his aching body. Raising his arms above his head, he stretched his spine, then dropped his arms and rolled his shoulders. ‘Okay, let’s do this.’
Together he and Vex got Cam upright between them. Vex used her head to indicate the direction. ‘There’s a deer path behind the cave. We follow it up to the top of the next rise, then east. The farm won’t be far.’
Repositioning his hold on Cam, Math asked, ‘Did you catch that, Cam?’
Cam managed a weak headshake. ‘Missed it.’
No matter what it took, Math would get Cam to the farm. ‘Time to suck it up, you’re almost home free.’ With no more warning than that, he and Vex began hauling Cam up the mountain.
***
When the flat roof of the farmhouse came into view, Math considered dropping to his knees and shouting hallelujah. Cam managed to stay mobile for the first ten minutes, but instincts gave way to his injuries and he’d become dead weight. Math viewed Cam’s unconscious state as a mixed blessing.