Inquisition

by Marcy G. Dyer

  She sucked in a breath, Vixen had Adriana cornered. Her sister couldn't die. She'd already lost Miguel and Raul. Not Adriana, too. She steadied her aim and fired at Vixen. The shot went wide, but the woman took her focus off Adriana, and her sister bolted. Maybe she would live a little longer.

  Randi aimed and fired again, but Vixen ran toward the house. She froze. No. Her mother was in the house and Randi's body had adhered to the concrete. Her heart thudded in her ears, and she willed her feet to move. She had to get to the house and save her mom.

  She forced her feet to move toward the door. One step at time, and soon she was running. She flew down the stairs and ran to the house. Where was Vixen?

  Soft singing came from the kitchen. She ran to the door. Oh of fall the things to do when they were under attack, her mother was cooking. "Mom, come on," she whispered. "You've got to get out of here."

  Adriana ran into the kitchen. "Oh good. You're here. She's looking for her dog. We've got to get Mom out of here."

  "I'm trying." Randi tugged on her mother's arm. "Come on."

  "Mija, I don't want to do this."

  "You can't keep your head in the sand forever," Adriana hissed." You're leaving. Now." She turned to Randi. "Can we get her out of here?"

  "Where did Vixen go?"

  "Upstairs." Her mom pointed overhead. "That's why I know I'm safe here. She doesn't want me."

  Randi resisted the urge to slap her mother. "No, it means you weren't a priority, but she will kill you. We're going to the basement. I'll lead. Adriana, you follow."

  They sandwiched her mother between them and ran for the basement stairs. She flew down the steps on her tiptoes and allowing her knees to absorb the shock instead of letting her feet to hit the floor hard. They gathered in the basement. She ushered them into the closet, opened the secret door, and led them to the tunnel. "Wait here. I want to hide this access. Just in case we need to use the tunnel again." Randi darted back and closed all of the doors. Then made her way to the front of her mother and sister.

  "I still don't see the sense in all of this. Leaving this home is not something I want to do." Her mother swiped at tears. "You brought us here because it was safe. How did this happen?"

  "It was safe from the infecteds, but not from opportunists. They have more people than we do, and when Reginald took his wife and kids and left her town, it enraged her. She's not sane, Mom."

  They reached the upper hatch and Randi held up her hand to stop the forward progression. She climbed the ladder and eased the hatch open a crack. No one around. "I'll lead the way to the car. Adriana, you get into the Porsche and take off as fast as you can as soon as Mom's in the car with you."

  "What about you?" Adriana narrowed her eyes. "We all need to leave."

  "We will. There are still several vehicles here. If that fails, we'll take the ATVs, but I have to get everyone together."

  "I can't do this." Her mother leaned against the wall with her face in her hands. "Can't I just hide here until it's over with?"

  Randi thought about it. At least no one would find her or Adriana there, but if she died her mother and sister would be trapped.

  "Mom, that's not an option. Randi is trying to keep you alive. Please do what she says." Adriana grasped her mother's face in her hands. "Listen to her. She's out there fighting for our lives. If she wants you to go, you need to do as she says." Adriana hauled her up from the floor and pushed her toward the stairs.

  "Why are agreeing with Randi?" Her mother balked again. "Not long ago you argued with everything she said."

  "Something Dad said. I wasn't fair to her and you know it. Now listen to her and go. If you don't, I'll haul you up by your arms."

  Her mother turned and did as Adriana said but she muttered to herself in Spanish the entire time.

  Once they were all on the ladder near the top, Randi eased the hatch open again. She slipped out and pulled her mother and sister into the clear before slamming it shut again. "Run for the car. Now."

  Adriana took off toward the Porsche, but her mother stood with her mouth gaping open, staring at the carnage. "Mom, move." She gave her a shove, but her mother was rooted in place. If she didn't get her moving, sniper fire'd hit them both.

  "Mija." She covered her mouth with her hands. "It's like a war out here. I heard the gunshots, but I didn't look. Baby, it's horrible."

  Randi took a deep breath, grabbed her mother by her shoulders and shook her. "You've got to move. Now. Adriana will help you process this when you get out of here." She shoved her mother toward the car. Adriana had the engine running, and Randi opened the door. "Get in." She shoved her mother toward the gaping door. A shot rang out and her mother crumpled to the ground. Randi screamed, shoved her mother's limp body in the car, and swallowed. She had to fight. No time to get lost in the grief. "Go. As fast as you can. Get out of here. Please." Before she lost Adriana, too.

  Chapter 22

  Bryan watched in horror as Faustina dropped. The sweet woman had never done anything to anyone. Why didn't he take Vixen out in her sleep when he had the chance? She had guards outside of her quarters around the clock. He couldn't have gotten to her, but he could get to the windmill and take Pepper out before she hurt anyone else.

  He ran down the stairs and met Steve Mims. One of Vixen's elite. Bryan pointed his handgun at Steve's chest. "I don't want to kill you, but I will if necessary."

  Steve smirked. "We aren't stopping until you're all dead. Traitor." He raised his weapon, but before he could squeeze the trigger, Bryan fired two shots, dropped his magazine, and reloaded.

  He left Steve's body in the stairwell and darted out of the tower toward a four-wheeler. If he could take down the back fence and get to the windmill, he could do away with Pepper before anyone could stop him.

  Randi caught his arm. "Where're you going?"

  He pointed toward the bridge. "I'm going to take out the fence, and take down the sniper in the windmill. It's taken me a while to figure out which windmill she's hiding in."

  "I'll turn off the electricity, so you can get through the electric fence, too." She turned and ran toward the secret passage. He pulled as close to the hatch as he could to help protect the tunnel from onlookers. While she turned off the electricity, he fired on those in the compound. Alton. Bryan fired at the man and struck his arm. The man didn't drop into a screaming mass. Just grazed him.

  Randi returned and motioned for him to go. He flew past her, through the fence, used the downed fencing as a makeshift bridge over the moat, and pressed against the windmill. Sweat dripped down his face. He readied his weapon, ducked through the door, and climbed the ladder as quietly as he could. Before he got very high, Pepper's face came into view. Her eyes went wide, and he fired. The sound of the shot echoed in the metal chamber causing his ears to ring, but she dropped.

  He climbed out and returned to his ATV. Ears still ringing, the gunfire from the camp sounded muffled. He flew back to the camp. The metallic odor of blood mingled with gunpowder reached him before the screams of those inside did. How long before he could hear again?

  Vixen's group cut a swath through the group. He needed to get Reginald's people out of here. Now.

  Mary Anne emerged from the back tower as he breached the fence line. Kaley fired on her and dropped her to the ground. Before he could raise his gun, Kaley fired another shot. He took a deep breath, and as he exhaled, he fired at Kaley. She dropped her weapon, grabbed her chest, and stared at him with her eyes wide as she fell to the ground.

  His gut clenched. How many had to die on both sides before this came to an end? He looked at Mary Anne's body. If Reginald saw her, he'd come apart and get killed. He was the only one left with any medical knowledge. They had to keep him safe. Where was the man?

  He ran to the tower and up the stairs to get a better view of the land. Reginald needed to head to the campground with the children.

  Reginald kneeled over Mary Anne's body wailing. Just what Bryan wanted to avoid. He ran back downstairs a
nd grabbed Reginald's arm. "We need to get you out of here, man."

  "I can't leave her."

  "So you'd rather stay here and die and leave your daughters to grow up without either parent?" Not to mention, they needed him now more than ever with Faustina, Miguel, and Mary Anne gone. "Get up." Bryan grabbed his arm and tugged. "Take one of the four wheelers. They have plenty of gas. Head straight to the campground as fast as you can. When you get close, radio Adriana. She'll lead you to their campsite." He shoved Reginald toward the vehicle. "Go."

  Reginald stumbled toward the ATV, climbed on, and headed through the ATV garage. Bryan hoped he made it in one piece. They couldn't keep losing people.

  He trudged back up the stairs, walked onto the bridge, and resisted the urge to slam the door as hard as he could. He'd joined these people to help keep them alive, but they were perishing right in front of him. He had to figure out a way to keep the rest of them safe.

  John, a man from Atlas he'd only met a couple of times, aimed at Randi. No. He wasn't taking her, or anyone else, out. Bryan aimed and fired four rounds into the man.

  He continued firing on anyone not from Reginald's group. Why didn't he stop this before it happened? He should've blown up Atlas. But the children. He refused to kill innocent children, and if he'd bombed the town a hundred or so children might've died. Still, he should've done something to prevent this. These people deserved better.

  Where was Vixen? The woman had to be hiding out in safety. Was she in the house? He could sneak in and kill her. As satisfying as that thought was, the war would continue. Her minions wouldn't stop until she gave the okay.

  The only option was to continue to fight until everyone got out of the camp, so he would fight until Randi gave the evac order, then he would fight to keep them safe as they left. His life didn't mean much anymore, but these people, they were good, decent people who wanted to make a difference in this messed up world, and he'd do anything to give them a chance.

  Reginald gunned the ATV through the fence and careened onto the road as bullets whizzed by him. Why couldn't Vixen leave his family alone?

  He wished he could pray for Mary Anne to be alive, but he knew better. It wasn't a nightmare. She had no pulse and wasn't breathing. "God why did You do this?" he screamed. "She was a good person. You messed up again and took the wrong one. Why do You always get it wrong? First David, now Mary Anne? Don't you know, I'm the one who needs to die. No one else." He jabbed his thumb at his chest. "I did this."

  His chest ached, and his arm went numb. He pulled to the side of the road and stopped. Mary Anne. The only woman he'd ever loved. He'd treated her like dirt. Yet, she'd forgiven him. He vowed to change. Her death needed to count for something. That meant he needed to become a good person. A man she might've been proud of.

  He rubbed his hands against his jeans and pulled back onto the road. How would he tell Belle and Katie about Mary Anne? They deserved better than the life he'd given them.

  The road into the campground came into view. He whipped into the campground as his ATV sputtered and died. Great. He keyed the radio and called Adriana.

  She came to pick him up in the Porsche. He slid into the passenger seat, and she looked at him. "Are you okay?"

  "No. Mary Anne's dead."

  She put her hand on his arm. "I'm so sorry."

  He turned to her. Her swollen eyes had red rims. "Who did you lose?"

  "Mom. Miguel." Her voice was barely a whisper.

  Those two were a gut punch. Miguel and Faustina, two more innocents. Bile crawled up his throat.

  "We knew going in people would die. I just expected it to be me before either of them. If Mom had listened to us and evacuated before the attack..." Her voice cracked.

  Reginald rubbed his face. "How do I tell the girls?"

  Adriana pulled to the side of the road and broke down into hysterical sobs. After she'd exhausted her tear supply, she looked at him. "I'm sorry. This is hard. I don't know how to tell the kids about Mary Anne. Or Mom and Miguel."

  "You haven't told them?"

  "No." She wiped at her eyes. "I know it's going to hurt them."

  "We can't hide it. If we try, it will only hurt more in the end."

  "You're right." She heaved a sigh, put the car in gear, and started down the road again. "I'm glad you're here to tell them with me."

  She rolled to a stop in front of a large cabin. The motor home sat to the side. "They're in the cabin. It has more room. The RV was a little crowded with all of the kids and four dogs. We made a pen for the goats out back."

  "I'm impressed."

  She gave him a teary-eyed smile. "Thanks. I had to do something when I got back, and they were struggling to keep the goats from wandering away, so we got busy with some of the fencing supplies."

  Fritz bounded up to them as they opened the door, but the other three stood between the door and the family. The Akita, he couldn't remember her name, held her head low. A menacing growl emanated from her throat.

  "Shasha," Adriana called.

  The dog bounded up her with her tail wagging.

  Belle and Katie ran into the room and grabbed him. They held to him as tight as they could. After a few moments, Belle released him. "Where's Mom?"

  "Girls, let's sit down." Adriana tried to guide them to the large bed.

  "No. Where is my mother?" Belle planted her hands on her hips. "I have a right to know."

  Reginald didn't try to stop the flow of tears. "She didn't make it."

  "No." Belle pointed to the door. "Go get her. Now."

  "Baby, she died." He looked to Adriana for help.

  "Belle, honey, look at me." Adriana captured her chin in hand and turned her head. "You know your dad would never lie about something like this. Many people died today. I'm sorry your mom was among them."

  She crumpled to the floor sobbing. Katie lowered herself into the floor and wrapped Belle in her arms. She whispered something. Her voice too low to carry.

  He reached for her, but Adriana caught his arm. "Katie's been there. Let her comfort Belle for a while. I need to talk to my kids about Mom and Miguel." Her face paled and the skin around her eyes bunched. She walked toward the door as if her legs were too heavy for her body.

  "Do you need me?"

  "Yes." She turned to him. "Please."

  He joined her in the other room despite his breaking heart.

  Toni, Lori, Chris, and Tommy were in the floor playing with some toys. Probably ones Josh and Randi found and gave them for Christmas. Would his nephews get out of what was once their safe haven alive?

  Adriana sat on the floor with the children. "Do you understand we left our home because bad people wanted to hurt us?"

  They all wagged their heads yes.

  "Those bad people killed Abulita, Miguel, and Belle's Mommy."

  Tommy turned his head to the side and looked at her. "But they're coming here in a little while. Right, Mommy?"

  Lori sat with her eyes wide, but it was obvious they didn't understand.

  Chris shoved Tommy's shoulder. "Don't be a stupid head. They're dead. That means they ain't coming back. Ever. Just like my mommy and daddy."

  "Don't call others names."

  Chris crossed his arms and glared at her. "He needs to grow up. Everyone knows that when you die, your body rots back to dirt."

  Adriana narrowed her eyes at Chris. Reginald sat in front of the boy. "Chris, you need to help Tommy understand, but maybe not in such a graphic way. Their bodies are dead, but their souls went up to heaven to be with Jesus." He hoped karma didn't bite him for this lie, but the children needed some kind of comfort.

  "You ain't even believe that." Chris sneered. "I heard you talkin'. You think they rot into the dirt, too."

  Reginald took a deep breath. "Chris--"

  "Ain't nobody here care that they killed my folks. Why should I care about a bunch ol' killers dyin'?"

  Izzy walked up to the group with her face crimson. "Christopher Allan Parks, enough." She shoo
k her finger in his face. "That man you called 'daddy' used to beat the snot out of you every day. He did horrible things to me. Things you don't understand. Josh killed him trying to save Mom. These people took us in, treated us like their own children, and yes, they do care that we lost our parents. Mr. Xever has spent hours talking with us and trying to help us. You are just being mean. You're acting just like the man our mother married. I don't even understand why you would call him 'dad'."

  Chris's face paled, and he stared at the floor. "I ain't actin' like Mel."

  "Yes, you are. Those are the things he said to us about our real father. I can't believe you."

  He looked at her and ducked his head. "I'm sorry."

  "I'm not the one you were mean to. You need to apologize to Mr. Reginald, Ms. Adriana, Tommy, Lori, and Toni."

  "Yes, ma'am."

  Izzy led Reginald to the other room. "What are we going to do with Chris? He cannot grow up to act like Mel. I won't have it."

  Reginald slipped his arm around her. "Chris was close to Miguel. He's hurting and lashing out. That's all. We all deal with grief in different ways."

  Chapter 23

  Josh clicked his radio. They had to evac, now. When he tried to raise someone in the perimeter, a woman he didn't recognize responded to him. "Who is this?"

  "The person who's going to kill you. We've reduced your numbers greatly, but we will finish the job. Maybe not today, but one day soon."

  "Vixen." He spat the word out like it tasted bad on his tongue.

  "So nice to meet you, Joshua. Now, be sure to tell Reginald this is all his fault."

  Josh switched his radio off and prayed no one else used theirs. He had to round up the rest of the group and get them out of this place. They'd lost too many already. Why didn't he insist they bolt before Vixen attacked? They could've sabotaged the place. Destroyed the house, fences, and taken everything of use.

  He scrubbed his hand over his face. There would be time for self-recrimination later. Now, he had to get the rest of his family out of here.