by Sean Kidd
“The world I destroyed” Sophie howled.
Bob stopped the vehicle and pointed at a closed gate, “Well, I’ve got some good news for you, and I’ve got some bad news.” Sophie already knew the answer to both, “Let me guess. The good news is, that open gate is a way through. The bad news is, there’s a dead border patrol agent standing there with a machine gun.” Bob shot a smile at Sophie, “Close, but the bad news is, I’m going to get that machine gun!”
CHAPTER 49
October 13th 9:00am
Luther came back a few minutes later, and met up with Tommy. Everyone seemed to scatter throughout the building, trying to avoid Kane. Tommy was sitting on the bumper of the Humvee when Luther showed up, “Dude! I thought he was going to kick your ass after she kicked him in the balls!”
“I know right! I think I shit myself a little.” Luther laughed, pulling his pants away from his ass crack. “So where did you guys find that chick? She’s pretty hot!” Tommy asked. Luther motioned to Kane’s office, “He got all pissy last night, and freaked out on us. Cowboy asked me if I’d drive, and I figured, anything to get out of here for a while. Cowboy told us if we came back empty handed, Kane would kick our asses, so we just kept driving around. I had to take a piss and pulled in behind a building. I was figuring maybe I could get a little shuteye too, while Cowboy came up with a plan. So I’m standing there peeing, and see three kids pull into an old car dealership. Cowboy wanted to snatch the girl after they fell asleep. Once it got dark out, I snuck over and peeked through a window. They were all passed out on a couch. Stupid kids. We kicked in the door and snatched the bitch!” Tommy was wide-eyed listing to the story. “So did ya smoke the other two?” Tommy probed, as he put his finger to his head like it was a gun. “Na… Cowboy just used the tranquilizer darts. We shot all three. They went out like a light, never even knew we were there, at least not until they woke up hog-tied. They’re probably waking up right about now wondering what the fuck happened.”
“Ha! Ha! That’s funny shit. I wish I could have been there to see that.” Tommy cheered.
Luther took a seat on the Humvee bumper next to Tommy, “Yeah, good times man.” Luther caught a whiff of something and moved his head around, with his nose leading the way, “Do you smell that?” Luther asked. Tommy joined in the search, “Yeah, it smells like diesel.” Luther got down on his knees and looked under the Humvee, “Shit! We’re losing fuel. We must have hit something. Kane’s gonna be pissed.”
Tommy crawled under and checked out the damage to the undercarriage. “Don’t bother telling him Luther. It’s a small puncture. I can plug it, no problem.” Luther was bent over talking to Tommy, who was still laying under the Humvee, “Thanks buddy! I owe you one, I didn’t want to have to tell Kane. I don’t have any more ass for him to chew off.”
Kane walked into his office where Sidara was chained to the ceiling. He flipped on the lights and took a seat behind his desk, “I bet you think that was pretty funny, what you did to me out there in front of my men. Maybe I should make an example of you.” Sidara twisted on the chain. “I don’t give a fuck what you do to me. Do you think I’m afraid of you, you blonde-haired little fuck? Why don’t you come over here and teach me a lesson?" Sidara screamed and pulled on her chain lifting her feet into the air, swinging them wildly. “Well, are you coming over here, you little pussy?” Kane calmly got up from his chair and walked over to Sidara, just out of the range of her feet, afraid to get any closer. Kane reached to the back of his belt and pulled out his cane knife, “Not so tough now, are you?” Sidara took a step back, as he moved in extending the knife toward her throat, “I could end you if I wanted, but I have other plans for y-”
Kane was interrupted by Sidara’s foot striking his balls again. He fell to his knees and looked up in time to see Sidara’s other foot connecting with his nose. Kane fell to his back reaching for his nose, which was now laying on the side of his face. “It looks like I broke that shit!” Sidara taunted. “Cowboy!” Kane hollered. “That’s right! Call your little minion, you sick bastard!” Cowboy came running into the room, “Boss, are you okay?” “No, I’m not okay! She broke my fucking nose!” Kane screamed. “Do you want me to find the first-aid kit, Boss?”
“No, I want you to get her out of my office and lock her up with the other bitches! I’ll deal with you later!” Kane yelled, as he stormed out of the room. Cowboy left Sidara chained up and left the room. He came back a few seconds later with a strange-looking pistol. He pointed it at Sidara’s head, “Listen. I’m just trying to do a job here. I’ve got to lock you in the room with the other women. You can either walk with me nice and easy, or I’ll shoot you in the neck with this tranquilizer gun. That pounding in your head, that’s from the tranquilizer dart I shot in you earlier. Trust me, you don’t want to get hit with this again. It will be ten times worse when you wake up.” Sidara’s head was already pounding, if it worsened, it'd be unbearable. Cowboy motioned with the gun, “So do you want it again?” Sidara shook her head “no,”
“I’ll be nice.” she said with a raise of one eyebrow. Cowboy moved in cautiously and removed the lock from the office chain. Cowboy grabbed the end that was still connected to Sidara’s neck and motioned for her to move along, “Keep going straight. We’re going through that door by the table.” As they passed the table, Sidara noticed that it was covered with dried blood, and each of the metal legs supported a pair of handcuffs with an extended chain, “What’s that for?” Sidara asked.
Without looking at the table Cowboy said, “You’ll be lucky if you never find out.”
Cowboy gave a yank on Sidara’s chain, forcing her to stop walking, “Put your face against that wall with your feet as far apart as you can.”
“Why are you going to frisk me?”
“No, it’s because I don’t want you to break my nose with those feet when I open the door.” Sidara smiled and leaned her face against the cinderblock wall and spread her legs. Cowboy opened the door and gave it a push, “Get in!” Sidara looked back at Cowboy, “What if I don’t want to go in there?” He let out a sigh, “Then I’ll shoot you with my tranq gun, drag you in there, and then you’ll wake up with one hell of a headache.” For the second time in five minutes, Sidara conceded to the cowboy. She knew there wouldn’t be a third. She stepped into the room, and the door slammed behind her. “Fuck you!” she screamed while turning to check out her new cell.
Sage, Kate, and Jen were sitting in a circle on the floor. She walked over to the three women, eyed Sage and Kate, but said nothing. Sidara squatted down next to the third woman, “You must be Jennifer. We’ve been looking for you!” Jen looked up, wide-eyed and mouth open, “How did you know my name?”
“I met up with your boys, Chevy and Two-gun. They saved my ass, so I told them I would help find you before I headed south.” Jen gave Sidara an inquisitive look, “Two-gun?” she asked. “Yeah, Two-gun…… Ty? It’s a nickname I gave him, because of that fancy holster.” Jen knew the exact holster she was taking about. Ty wanted to wear it every time he went to the range with his father. She thought it was absurd, but boys will be boys, “Are they both okay, and is their father with them?” Sidara thought she would soften the blow by letting her know the Chevy and Ty were fine, but explained that she wasn’t sure where their dad was. Jen stood up and wrapped her arms around Sidara, “Thank you!”
“For what?” Sidara asked.
“Because now I know, at least my boys are fine. Until now, I had no idea.”
Sidara gave a little laugh, “They had better be fine. They’re the ones that are going to get us out of here!”
CHAPTER 50
October 12th 7:40am
Bob steered the jeep off the road and into the grass median between the north and southbound lanes. He studied the Customs' booths. The only movement he saw, was coming from the border patrol agent who was now pacing back and forth. The agent was guarding the border, even in death. “Listen closely to me, Sophie. No matter what happens, I need y
ou to stay here in the vehicle. You’re the only person left that can fix the world, if something happens to me. Start the vehicle and drive south, stay on the highways until you reach Atlanta. Don’t look back!”
Tears already started flowing down her cheeks, “We don’t need the rifle! Let’s just go around. Please, Bob!” He grabbed both of Sophie’s hands, “You know we can’t do that Sophie. Who knows whom or what is out there waiting for us? We need some kind of protection.” Sophie dropped her head and continued to cry against Bob. He put a finger on her chin and lifted her head until their eyes met, “Hey, it will be okay. I’ll be right back!” Bob gave Sophie a kiss on the lips and opened the jeep door. He stepped out and grabbed the paper cutter guillotine. He took one last look at Sophie and turned walking away. “Bob, I love you!” she called out. Bob stopped and turned back to her, “I love you too, Sophie!” Bob kissed his hand and blew it to her. Without realizing it, she grabbed the kiss from the air and held it to her heart.
Bob watched the border patrol agent pace in the open gate. He bent over and ran a slow jog, like he had just exited a helicopter. The median grew deeper as he got closer to the border crossing, giving him the perfect cover. When he reached the border, the median was blocked by an eight-foot chain-link fence topped with razor wire. Bob wanted to avoid that wire at all costs. He had no choice, but to work his way up to the median and attack the border agent from the front. On his hands and knees, he crawled up the incline and stopped, lying flat, looking over the top of the berm. The agent was just standing there now, moaning with every other breath. There was no way to get any closer without the agent seeing him. He had no choice. Bob’s final thought as he jumped over the side of the berm was if the dead agent had remembered how to use that rifle he had slung across his chest. As luck would have it, he didn’t. The agent never went for the rifle, but rather lifted his arms and made an awkward attempt of a trot toward Bob.
Bob picked up speed, charging the agent. The two men looked as though they would collide. At the last second, Bob twisted, doing a side step, and swung the guillotine completely removing the agent’s arm. He stopped and turned back to the agent, now lying on the ground. Bob paused to watch the blue swirling corneas, before lifting the guillotine over his head, “I’m sorry about this, my friend.” The blade dropped slicing the agent’s head open. Black fluid oozed onto the pavement. Bob un-slung the M4 rifle and took the ammo pouch off the dead agent. He glanced back at the jeep and gave Sophie a successful wave. She stepped out of the vehicle and hurried to Bob. They met with an embrace, “Don’t ever leave me again, you son of a bitch!” Sophie sniveled. Bob laughed and gave her a kiss on the lips, “Don’t worry, never again. I promise.”
A minute later, they were back at the jeep, “Have you ever shot a rifle before, Sophie?” She gave him a ridiculous look. “I didn’t think so.” he said, while handing her the M4, “Here’s your two-minute lesson.” Bob stripped the mag from the rifle and showed Sophie how to load it and chamber a round, “This is your safety.” Bob pointed to a thumb lever behind the trigger, “Bring it up to your shoulder, look through the sights and put the peep hole on whatever you want to hit. Now pull the trigger.” Sophie pulled the trigger striking a red octagon shaped sign that read ARRET. She lowered the gun and said, “That was kind of fun.” Bob smiled. “Well, I’m glad you enjoyed it.” He took the rifle from her hands joking, “Let’s get in the jeep Annie Oakley. We’ve got a lot of road to travel today.” Bob turned as a dead woman lashed out, taking a hunk of meat from his neck. Neither of them had seen her coming. Bob screamed and dropped to the ground. The dead woman straddled him taking more bites from his chest and face. He tried to fight back, but he was too weak from losing so much blood. Bob felt his eyes starting to close as he saw the guillotine strike the woman on the side of the head. The dead woman stood up, spinning in circles with the guillotine sticking in the side of her face. After a few seconds, she dropped to the ground kicking her feet. Sophie yanked the blade from the woman’s face, lifted it above her head, and struck again. This time she buried the blade all the way into her skull. Sophie left the blade where it stopped and ran over to Bob. He was clutching his neck, and blood was coming out from between his fingers. Sophie ripped off part of her shirt and held it against the wound, “Don’t you die on me, Bob? You made me a promise!” Bob smiled at her. His teeth were covered with blood. Sophie knew the cut was mortal. “We need to get you in the jeep and find some place I can help you.” Sophie dragged Bob into the jeep and drove through the border, looking for a place that might have medical supplies. Sophie got off the highway exit and came into a small village on the New York side of the border. She had luck on her side. The first building she saw in the village was an animal clinic. She pulled into the parking lot, jumped out of the jeep and ran for the clinic door. She banged her fists on the glass, screaming for help. Glancing back at the jeep, she could see Bob turning pale. Sophie picked up a rock and smashed out a side window on the clinic. She crawled through, and unlocked the door. By the time she got back to Bob, he was passed out, “Wake up! You have to help me. Get on your feet soldier!” she ordered. Half conscious, Bob made it to his feet, and they hobbled into the clinic. They made it to the lobby, where Bob collapsed on the floor. Sophie left him to search for medical supplies. She found gauze, bandages, and silk for stitches. Sophie raced back to the lobby, poured iodine over the wound and packed it with gauze. “Sophie, please stop.” Bob held her hand and tried to manage a smile, “I love you!” he mouthed.
Sophie bent over clutching his face, “Please don’t go! I love you too! Please no!” she cried as she buried her face in his chest. Bob lifted a hand and put it on the back of her neck, “It’s gonna be okay, baby. Get to Atlanta! Be strong for me.”
“No! I can’t do it by myself! Please Bob, I need your help!” Sophie felt Bob’s hand slide off her neck and fall to the floor. “No!” she screamed.
CHAPTER 51
October 13th Noon
After three hours of hunting the diesel on foot, the trail seemed to disappear, “They must have turned off somewhere!” I said trying to figure out how we had lost it. Chevy was walking around the road in circles trying to spot it again, “It’s not here, Ty. They had to have pulled in somewhere.”
“I don’t understand it. We haven’t passed anything except a few gas stations and the fairgrounds.” Chevy perked up, “That’s it, the fairgrounds!”
“That doesn’t make any sense. There’s nothing there, except a bunch of buildings, and they’re mostly barns.” Chevy shook his head at me, “No dude, you’re way wrong! Think about it, they have all those buildings. They’re full of food and water. They’ve got barns there that are mini power stations. Their generators run all the rides and power the summer concerts. That’s not all. What’s behind the fairgrounds?” I shrugged my shoulders, “I don’t know. I've never been back there. It’s all gated off because of the……. Holy shit! The Army Reserve Center.”
“You got it, buddy! Food, power and the National Guard Center. Where do you think they got the Humvee from?” Chevy was right, Army vehicles and weapons.
I thought about it for a second, “We can’t just go strolling in there. They could have Bazookas and shit!” Chevy rolled his eyes at me, “I don’t think they have bazookas anymore, Ty. Even so, I bet they might have access to some pretty bad-ass weapons!”
“So we need to come up with a plan, and it’s gotta be a good one. Let’s head back to your truck, and I’ll try to come up with something.” An hour later, I wished we hadn’t left the truck by the dealership. We still had a good two-hour walk ahead of us. About a third of the way back, we had to cross the old turnpike, and it gave me an idea, “Hey Chevy, do you remember when we use to have outdoor parties back in high school?” He shook his head and smiled, “Like the one at the Barracks Golf Course? Yeah, that was epic!” Chevy used his hand to simulate his truck flying over the pond. “Yeah, I know the story. I was there, but I was thinking about the times w
e use to party down the old turnpike near Wiggle Town.” Treadwell Mills was the real name of West Plattsburgh, just beyond the city line, but ever since I could remember it had a slang name, and that was Wiggle Town. The only thing worse than a town with the word wiggle in it, was the fact that the town’s occupants were referred to as Wigglers. Sometimes you can’t make this shit up.
Chevy was listening intently, “Of course, I do. We use to party back on the trails all the time.” Hoping for him to catch on without having to explain everything, “Where do those trails end?” Chevy responded, “At the Saranac River, and the back of the fairgrounds. That’s it!” he grabbed me by arm and pointed toward the woods off the road, “We can take my truck down the trails and spy on those guys from the woods. They’ll never see us!”
“Jeez, that’s a good idea Chevy!” I said sarcastically. “Thanks, Ty!” Sometimes all you could do was shake your head. Surprisingly, we didn’t run into any trouble on the rest of the way back to the truck. I made sure we stayed off the roadway, and we both kept a good eye out for the Humvee.
We got back to the truck and got off Cornelia Street. We didn’t want to take a chance of being spotted again. Chevy was eating, so I drove. I backtracked into the city and cut across the west end housing area. The west-end started behind Plattsburgh State University and slowly inclined up to the edge of the city limits. Like most towns in America, the further up the hill you got, the more your house was worth. Once we were out of the west-end, I hit Rugar Street, which brought us right into Wiggle Town. It had been a few years since we had been in those woods, they had changed quite a bit. There used to be a turn off from the main trail, but it was now blocked by a trailer park. “What do you think?” I asked Chevy. With a mouth full of a granola bar he answered, “Screw it. They’re all dead. Drive right through their yards. The trail has still got to be back there. It's just gonna be a little bumpy getting to it.” I stepped on the gas and tore through someone’s front yard. We came around the back of the trailer, and we could see the trail head. It looked like it had years earlier, it was obviously used daily by Wiggle Town’s four-wheeler connoisseurs. The trail was a little rough, but it stayed wide enough, we didn’t have to find an alternate route. We took a couple of wrong turns, but eventually made it back to the fairgrounds. “Okay, so what do we do now?” Chevy asked.