“Stand her up,” Bishop requested as he came over.
Her legs doing little more than dangling, Serge and Swenson held her in the air.
“Lift her shirt up,” Bishop told him.
“With pleasure,” Swenson said, pulling up the front of her shirt.
“In the back, jerk-off,” Bishop corrected.
“I might have to later now,” Swenson teased, holding up the back of her shirt.
Serge laughed at his joke and high-fived him. They continued to talk but Erika didn’t hear their words. Bishop poured antiseptic that burned like the fires of hell and she never reacted. I’ll just kill myself, Erika thought, but what about Dexter? she reminded herself.
“I do have to admit, TJ. That’s a pretty good T. I almost think you could do it in cursive,” Bishop commented, coating the T with gauze.
“I could always try again,” he said, excitedly.
“No, you cannot! The General said, pure and unbroken. You already did enough!” CDR Grey reprimanded him.
“Ah, come on, Carl. You know this girlie is going to earn a J eventually,” he teased.
“Not now,” the commander told him “But we are going to need a chain.”
“I got it,” Merkley said, exiting the back of the SUV.
“Here, drink this,” Bishop said flatly to Erika.
He pressed a canteen to her mouth and tilted it back. The water hit her lips and although she welcomed death, her body reacted, and she drank the rehydrating liquid.
Swenson approached and wrapped the chain around her waist so that it rubbed tightly against the mark he made with the whip. He watched Erika grimace despite her best efforts as he synched it down.
“There we go, nice and comfy,” he hissed in her ear while he pulled. She could smell his sickening breath assaulting her nostrils.
“Where we at, boss?” Serge asked.
“We’re almost to Texas. We’ll start heading southeast when we cross the border. This is all traitor territory, so if we see anyone, she gets a hood. You got that, Swenson,” CDR Grey asked.
“How did I get babysitting duty?” he asked, grabbing the last of the gear from the SUV.
“You marked your territory, right? Well, now you get to babysit,” CDR Grey told him.
“That’s okay, you just walk right out in front of me and if I see that behind move one direction other than the direction we’re headed, there’s gonna be a little tiny T on your butt cheek too. Isn’t that right, Sheila,” he asked the whip.
Erika shuffled to her place as she was told. Somehow her feet moved forward. She wanted everything to seize, but she kept moving.
“That would be epic, brother,” Serge told Swenson.
“Right? A little T on the left side and a J on the right. I’ll have to try that next time,” Swenson said sadistically. “Here, hold this,” Swenson told Serge, passing him the end of Erika’s chain.
Erika walked for miles in front of Swenson while he played with his whip behind her. Crack, crack, crack, the noise drove her forward.
“Come on, girlie, you’re slowing down your shuffle,” Swenson teased, cracking the whip so close to her ear it cut the top of it.
Spinning around, Erika snapped, “I could walk faster if my feet weren’t tied together.” She was exhausted by his constant badgering.
“Turn around!” Swenson directed. “Nobody told you to stop walking.” He snapped the whip next to her head.
She glared at him but turned as he told her to do.
“We’ve walked for eight hours straight,” Merkley whined. “We need a break.”
The men looked at him, pondering his suggestion.
“If we stop and eat now, we can do another eight before we sleep,” the commander suggested to Swenson and Serge.
“Check it out. Rest stop 3 miles ahead,” Serge said, pointing to the sign. “Yah, mule, over to the rest stop,” Serge said, shaking the chain on Erika’s waist up and down while Swenson cracked the whip next to her head.
Every time it cracked, Erika blinked. She was growing more tired and irritated as the moments progressed. The zip ties on her ankles were cutting into her skin and the pain intensified with each step she took.
“I can’t go three more miles at this speed with these things on,” Erika said, never turning around or stopping.
“Stop,” Swenson told her. He rolled his whip up and put it back in its holster. Then he approached her, stepping out in front of her. “What did you say?”
“I can’t go three more miles at this speed with these things on,” Erika repeated.
“You earned those, remember? They’re your trophy to be worn with pride,” he explained in her ear as he circled around her.
“Two more links,” Erika requested.
He looked at her and chuckled, impressed by her tenacity. “If I give you two more links, what are you going to give me?” he asked, as he breathed down her neck.
“Less time getting to the rest stop,” she replied.
Swenson chuckled at her remark. “You’re so lucky you’re going to the Supreme General. I usually get to have so much more fun with the female bounties I retrieve. See, that’s why CDR Grey is here to make sure you get back to the Supreme General in one piece, but mark my words, the General always loses interest in his toys and then they go to the men. When that day comes . . .” he paused for a moment, rubbing his hands together. “Ooooh, I can’t wait!” he declared, jumping with excitement.
“Do I get the links or not?” Erika asked, ignoring his comments.
Her dismissal of his threats and the fact that he couldn’t take the actions he was thinking of only infuriated him more.
“Just give the girl the links, TJ. Her ankles are already bleeding, and we may be walking for days. We need her healthy or we’ll have to carry her the whole way,” Bishop told him.
“If you insist, Mr. Medic,” Swenson acquiesced, turning away from Erika quickly.
Bishop brought over three additional zip ties linked together. Before he approached to cut one of the links with his knife, he looked into her eyes. “If you kick me or pull any more of your tricks, I’ll let TJ take you down to one link. Deal?” he asked her.
“Deal,” she agreed, allowing him to approach without being attacked. He put the new links in between the old ones to lengthen her stride.
“Since Miss Whiny Girl got her links we should be able to pick up the pace,” TJ said, upset he was not able to continue his game with her.
He snapped his whip vigorously behind Erika, cracking the heels of her boots and the space next to her head. He drove the unit on at a vigorous pace. They reached the rest stop in little more than fifteen minutes.
The men sat down at a table with an old pole located nearby.
Serge was going to chain her to it when Erika protested, “I gotta go to the bathroom.”
Swenson looked at her. “You’ve only had sixteen ounces of fluid today and we walked over twenty miles. There’s no way you need to use the restroom.”
Startled by his attention to detail, Erika insisted again, “ I really do.”
“Give me the chain,” Swenson directed Serge.
Once in hand he pulled her into the restroom. The toilets hadn’t worked in years and people had defecated everywhere. Erika was almost sick at the smell. Swenson locked the chain to the old stall wall that remained.
Then he told her, “Turn around.”
Swenson cut the zip tie on her hands and stood back away from her with his whip ready in hand.
“Go,” Swenson told her.
“Aren’t you going to turn around?” she asked.
“Nope,” he replied. “Go.”
Erika was utterly humiliated as she pulled down her pants and underwear in front of the strange man. He smiled as he watched her relieve herself.
“Pull your pants up and turn back around,” he ordered.
She complied. He rezipped her hands and unhooked the chain from the door. They returned to the table where Bis
hop was making lunch. Erika’s stomach rumbled as she smelt the delightful smell wafting through the air.
Swenson watched her reaction. “Smells good, doesn’t it?” he asked.
Erika didn’t answer. She didn’t want to mess up a chance at getting some food.
“You already got a reward today, didn’t you?” Swenson asked her.
Erika looked at him curiously.
“The extra links,” he stated, kicking at her ankles. “Looks like all your rewards are used up,” he teased. “Would you like to earn another one?”
She didn’t answer so he continued. “Tell me, TJ, I promise to never run from you,” he directed her.
Erika just stared back at him.
“No? Then no food,” he said, hooking her to a pole.
Erika watched them eat their lunch. Her mouth watered, and her stomach felt like it was turning inside out. After they were done, they set off again. They walked for miles that day through the strange haze that the world became. When Erika’s feet couldn’t carry her any farther, Serge did. The giant of a man hoisted her like a twig on his shoulder and covered ground quickly even with her weight.
Chapter 31
Smoke rose up as they crested the hill and looked upon the valley with the homesteads. It looked like winter had arrived early in the valley with the blanket of white ash covering everything, but it was dark and dingy at the same time. The puffs from fires traveled up and joined the haze that dominated the sky since the eruption. Vince stopped for a moment to take in the full scene.
“Come on, Dad. We’re almost there,” Star said, continuing forward.
Bennet was bringing up the rear and stood for a second with Vince.
“Unbelievable,” he commented.
“Seriously,” Vince agreed
“Come on, guys,” Star urged them forward.
Vince covered his nose and mouth as they approached the entry gate. Bodies were stacked in piles, awaiting burial outside.
“Oh my God,” Star commented with tears in her eyes. She was looking over the vast number of fallen people.
“Come on,” Vince said, urging her on.
He saw death on this scale before, right after the Great Quake. The images he never wanted to remember flooded back to him. They entered through the gate. A familiar face awaited.
“Sgt Walker!” Bennet greeted him.
“Sir,” he saluted. “SSgt Gleeson, Vince, and Star,” he said, accounting for the group.
“Hi, Terrance,” Vince greeted him.
He looked around curiously. “Where’s Erika?”
“Between us, taken by the feds,” Star answered sadly.
“What? Are you serious?” Sgt Walker asked, his eyes growing wide.
“Would we be here without her?” Vince responded.
“Must have been some plan to take down Erika Moore,” Walker speculated.
“They shot me in the head and the chest,” Vince told him.
“Damn, boy, I hope you got on your knees and gave thanks to the good Lord above. Typically, you don’t just walk away from that, brother. You must have one hell of a guardian angel.” Walker was in awe.
“Or not, Erika’s gone,” Vince replied sadly.
Sgt Walker shook his head in agreement but didn’t know what to say. Turning to Bennet, he asked, “Looking for LtGen Merkley?”
“You know that I am,” Bennet agreed.
“They have a command tent set up in front of the old yard. The feds blew the hell out of the base,” Walker told him.
“Do you know if Daniel’s okay?” Vince asked.
“Daniel and Nancy are alive. Vince, your boy is one hell of a fighter with that sword. That kid and Tillman killed about fifteen federal soldiers. It was impressive. Daniel and Nancy are staying with Geir. Tillman survived. He’s with Larse, but Mr. Rowan was killed in the fighting and his home was lost in the bombing.”
Sighing with relief, Vince almost fainted. Victoria caught his body as he grew weak.
“Whoa there, buddy,” Bennet commented, helping Victoria shoulder his weight. “You got an extra tent around here, Walker?”
“Yeah, there’s one available over in the camp,” Walker assured him.
“Get the hell off me,” Vince insisted, regaining his strength and shaking himself free. “I don’t need a tent. I need to see my boy and go get my wife.”
“Okay, Vince. We’re just trying to help,” Victoria said.
“I know, and I appreciate it,” Vince apologized. “You two both have people you’re worried about too. Why don’t you go take care of it and we’ll meet back up later?” Vince suggested.
“You sure?” Bennet worried.
“Go,” Vince assured him. “I’ll be fine.”
Bennet left to go find Michelle and report into LtGen Merkley. Victoria headed off in the other direction, concerned for her family.
“Let’s go find him,” Vince told Star.
They walked through the remains of the camp, following paths that were made through the debris. The cleanup effort would be enormous, and it looked to Vince like most people were packing up to evacuate. Word of the success in Denver gave people hope and many of them were headed out in that direction. Vince knew Denver didn’t look much different than this, but he wasn’t about to tell them that. People would make their own decisions about their futures.
Vince was sickened by the state of the homesteads. They were gone, the food supply annihilated. All that remained were crevices with building parts scattered around. Mr. Rowan’s home was non-existent. They turned down the road towards Geir’s workshop. It was out in the woods separated from the town.
Daniel was out in front, watching the road with Trucker.
“Grandma Nancy!” Daniel shouted into the building. “They’re back!”
Daniel and Trucker took off, sprinting towards Vince and Star. They hugged him tightly in a huge hug while the dog barked and licked at them. Nancy appeared behind him in the doorway as they neared the shop. She exited out into the yard as Geir appeared behind her. He did the same, and his wife Elizabeth appeared behind him.
“Oh my God! What happened to you two?” Nancy asked, moving forward to assess their conditions. She stopped and looked around curiously and then her eyes focused back on Vince. “Where’s Erika?”
“And where’s Cassidy?” Geir questioned.
“Geir,” Vince looked at him, hesitating.
“No, oh no,” Geir said, understanding the look in his eyes.
“She died in the battle,” Vince admitted.
“Oh, hell no!” Geir shouted, loudly. He spun in a circle, angrily pulling at his hair.
“She died proudly and with courage,” Vince assured him.
“And what about Erika, Vince?” Nancy implored.
“Yeah, Dad, where’s Mom?” Daniel wondered fearfully.
Vince didn’t want to say it. He didn’t want them to know that he let her be captured. How could I have let my guard down? he blamed himself.
“What, Vince?” Nancy demanded.
“She was captured by the Federal Forces,” Vince said painfully.
“It was Merkley’s son,” Star continued for Vince. “They shot Dad in the head and the chest.”
Nancy’s eyes opened wide at the story. “Are you okay, Vince?’ she wondered.
“I just want to get Erika back. I know there’s still time,” Vince fretted. “But the feds bombed the whole northern route. I don’t know if my parents survived. We didn’t know if you guys lived. Thank God we found you. Thanks, Geir,” he concluded, sharing his fears.
Geir looked at him with tears in his eyes. “It’s me who should thank you, brother. My son Wren was out in the front yard when the soldiers came. Daniel is a natural with the sword. He, Tillman, and Rowan put up one hell of a fight. They took out nine soldiers armed with automatic weapons. Daniel ran to the house to take Wren to Elizabeth when Mr. Rowan’s home was bombed. He was a fine man.”
Daniel stood proudly with his sword strap
ped to his back, but he was humble and mourned deeply for his sword master.
“How about Ned?” Geir asked curiously.
“Ned will be okay. He was shot in the leg and couldn’t make the trek by foot just yet,” Star told him.
“Did you hear anything about my parents or Greg and Penni?” Vince asked Nancy.
“No, they got hit hard on the pass. They’ve been sending runners back and forth with medical supplies, but as you can see they’ve been needed badly here as well. I did talk with one of the runners, but it’s almost impossible to get individual names of survivors,” Nancy explained, her eyes filling with tears.
Vince sat in a chair Elizabeth offered him. He was deep in thought. His body ached but his anger and love kept him alert and focused.
“What are you going to do, Vince?” Nancy fretted.
“I have to go after, Erika. I’ll talk to Merkley and see how many soldiers he can send with me, but I have to go. We already spent two days getting here. Who knows how far they are now. I gotta take time to go back,” he worried, thinking of details in his head.
“I think we could get a buggy running now and maybe shorten that time. I’ve had a truck in the shop, waiting for just this sort of opportunity,” Geir commented.
“I couldn’t ask you for it,” Vince told him.
“And I wouldn’t give it to you. I’m going with you,” Geir concluded. “My sister would want me to.”
Chapter 32
Erika flopped along in a daze over Swenson’s shoulder. His grip squeezing into her body, she hardly even noticed anymore. Wait for your moment, just wait for your moment, she kept telling herself. There was always a moment, a chance for escape, in the past. Maybe they’re alive, she told herself over and over. Suddenly, Swenson threw Erika on the ground. A rock poked sharply into her hip.
“Wake up! You’re walking!” Swenson barked at her.
Erika just lay there helplessly. Wait for your moment, she thought, watching Serge approach to get her up.
Swenson stopped him with a hand motion, watching Erika. “I said, wake up!” he demanded again.
Out of the corner of her eye, Erika watched his hand slide to his whip. He slid it out of its holster.
The Changing Earth Series (Book 5): Dark Days in Denver Page 20