No Where to Run (The Story of Alexis Rose)

by Raven K. Asher

  Chapter 13

  Day 28

  I wake up in Jax’s arms. He smiles down at me and rubs his thumb across my bottom lip. “You’re going to love your hair. It looks pretty damn awesome, if I do say so myself.” I quickly touch my hair which is much shorter but still a decent length. I sit up in the bed and run my fingers through it. It’s softer than I’m use to.

  “It’s softer because of the type of hair dye I used.” Jax says reading my mind. I stand up from the bed and walk naked over to the mirror above the dresser. I’m shocked at what I see. My hair is no longer long and blonde it’s a dark black. Its shoulder length but cut with tons of layers. I smile and finger the ends which are dyed red just like Jax’s.

  “I love it, Jax. How did you learn to cut like this?” I turn to face him. He stands and walks over to me. He fingers my hair.

  “My sister taught me. She was going to school to be a hairstylist. I was always her guinea pig.” I laugh then hug him.

  “Thank you Jax, you have no idea how much this means to me.” I pull away but he grabs my face and pulls me in for a kiss.

  We both groan as someone knocks on the door then barges in. It’s Ax. “Striker wants to leave soon. Are we bringing the girl along or what?” They both look to me. Ax’s gaze travels down my naked body and I shiver, not from being cold but from the fear of being around Ax. I can feel it in my bones that he’s no good.

  “I’ll go with you guys, but first can we drop my horse back off at my house. I can get us a lot of supplies if we stop there, guns, food and pretty much anything you want.”

  Ax nods. “I think we can work something out, I’ll talk to Striker.” With that he walks back out the door.

  Jax grabs me back in for one last kiss before helping me dress. I put on my jeans but add on a pair of leather chaps. I put back on my combat boots and I grab a tight black long sleeve shirt. Jax hands me a long knee length deep red leather jacket and I put that on last. I look into the mirror. I look nothing like my former self and I smile. Jax walks up behind me and my smile grows. We look like one bad ass team.

  “All I need now is a few piercings.” I state and Jax smiles. “Let me guess you can do that, too?” He nods and goes over to one of his bags. He comes back over with a few supplies. I sit down on the bed. “What do you think I should pierce?”

  “You would be hot with an eyebrow ring and maybe a lip ring.” I nod and he gets on with it. I barely feel the pain which should have been a big red flag to how numb I was, but I ignore it.

  Jax finishes up and gives me a quick kiss before packing the bags and heading outside. I follow him closely.

  “Damn girl, I thought you were hot before and now…….Just damn.” Striker says while walking over to me. “Do you really have a place we can get supplies and guns?” I nod.

  “Yeah, I do. It’s my house where I came from. I just want to get in and get back away from there as fast as possible.”

  “Alright girlie, we can do that. Ryder found us a good truck and trailer to haul the horse. He’s already loaded up, and before you get your undies in a bunch don’t worry, Ryder is good with animals, him and Jax there, grew up on a farm.” I glance to Jax and he nods. “Jax, you and Ryder can ride with the girl in the truck while Ax and I will ride on the bikes. We put yours in the trailer with the horse.”

  Jax nods. “Sweet.” He turns to me. “Let’s get a move on, Rebel.” I laugh as he smacks my butt. We walk to where Ryder is standing next to a fairly new gray f150 and horse trailer.

  “Pretty sweet ride, huh?” He asks as we approach.

  “Yeah, pretty sweet.” Jax answers as I peek into the window of the trailer. Tornado pokes his nose out at me with a mouth full of hay. I pat his nose.

  “Let’s roll.” Striker yells out, from the back of a Harley. We pile into the front of the truck with me in the middle.

  ****

  On our way back to my house we run into a town infested with the dead. Ryder plows over as many as he can before the truck comes to a stop. Striker and Ax are shooting them from behind us. I panic. My breathing becomes too heavy and my vision starts to blur. I’ve never seen so many in one place, there has to be over a hundred and that’s not including the ones we killed with the truck.

  “Rebel stay with us babe, we need your help.” Jax yells over the moaning of the dead as he places a gun into my hand. The metal is cool to the touch. I gaze down at the gun wondering just how we are going to make it through this.

  The truck starts to rock as the dead push in closer. They try anything and everything to get us inside. I grab Jax’s arm.

  “I don’t think I can do this, Jax.” I state.

  “Yes you can, Rebel. I know you can. Me and Ryder will take care of most of them you just cover our backs ok?” I nod. I can do this.

  “Just don’t shoot us in the ass.” Ryder warns and I grin.

  Ryder climbs over my lap and both men countdown silently before shoving the passenger side door open. Shots ring out as they all fight for our lives. I step out behind the guys and pick off any of the dead that stray too close. Ax and Striker make their way over to us and surround the front of the truck.

  For every dead we drop it seems like five more replace it. I get one last shot in before my gun clicks. I’m out of ammunition. “Oh. No.” I curse to myself before rushing back to the truck to find more. As I turn back around to get back to the guys something grabs at my ankle and I fall down to my knees. I look back and scream.

  One of the dead we hit with the truck has my ankle in its grip. I kick trying to free it but it somehow manages to hang on. I curse and try to stomp with my other foot at its mangled face. Dark blood is pouring from its empty eye sockets and its bottom jaw is missing. I cringe and give it one last kick. I scream out in anger and my foot connects perfectly with its head, breaking its neck. Its grip finally loosens and I scramble back on my hands to get away.

  “Rebel, watch out!” I hear Jax yell right before hands grab at my hair. I jump to my feet and jump back out of the dead’s grasp. I hear a shot ring out close by and dark blood sprays across the side of my face. I turn to see Ax grin and run back to the ongoing fight. There are a lot less dead walking around.

  I stand in place in shock as I watch the men drop the dead one after the other. The gun falls from my hand as flashes of my brother and mom flood my mind. I can’t take this, it’s all too much. I close my eyes tightly and cover my ears. I can still hear the gunshots ringing out.

  “Rebel, babe, are you ok?” Jax asks as he grabs a hold of my face. My eyes fly open and I instantly drop to my knees with relief. We all made it.

  “I’m ok, Jax.” I lie as I look up to him. He shakes his head knowing that I’m not ok but doesn’t push. He holds out his hand for me to stand and I take it after a few moments. Once on my feet I sway a little, so Jax wraps his arm around my waist. He looks down at me with growing concern in his eyes.

  “We are going to have to find a place to find some more guns and ammunition. We are almost out. We are lucky that wasn’t a bigger group.” States Striker as he comes over to us. Ax follows close behind him.

  “I figured we were close to being out.” Jax turns to me. “Do you know anything about this town?” I glance around and nod. I’m very familiar with this particular town. It’s where my dad took my brother and me to shoot and to buy our guns.

  “Yes, and I know exactly where we can find all sorts of guns.” All the men grin. Ryder walks up from behind me and lays his hand on my shoulder. I turn around to him.

  “Rebel, I need you to come back to the trailer and calm your horse down he’s going crazy.” I nod and rush past him to the trailer. It’s rocking side to side as Tornado kicks and rears back. I rush up and into the back door of the trailer that Ryder left open.

  “Easy.” I walk up to him with my hands out. He stops then eyes me up. Once he realizes it’s me he bows his head and I pat his nose. “That’s my boy. Your ok now and I’m ok, too.” He nuzzles his nose into my chest and
I continue to pet his head.

  After he is calm enough and back to eating his hay I exit the trailer and rejoin the guys who are all talking quietly at the front of the truck. They all stop and watch as I approach. I look to each of them. Jax glances away when my eyes meet his. What the hell?

  I ball my fists ready for a fight. “Someone better tell me what the hell you guys are planning right now.”

  “Don’t get your panties in a bunch, girlie. What we talk about isn’t your business. Show us where we can get guns so we can find a place to camp out and get cleaned up for the night.” Striker growls out at me, getting into my face. It takes everything in me to keep from hitting him. Hitting him would be bad.

  “Fine, but I won’t stay in the dark forever. I will find out what you’re planning.” He nods then steps back.

  “Don’t pry too much, girlie. You may not like what you find.” He warns then walks off to his bike. I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. My shoulders sag as I turn back to look at Jax. He still won’t meet my eyes. I shrug it off and climb my way into the truck. I don’t have time for dumb games. I close my eyes for a few minutes thinking of Hunter and Lucca. I really do miss them but I’m not ready just yet to see them again.

  Ryder’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts. “Which way to the gun shop, sweetheart?” He looks to me with concern but he quickly covers it with a sly grin.

  I point down the road we were traveling on. “Go two blocks down from here turn left then three blocks down from there. It’s called the “Bulls-eye” It’s located right on the corner.” He nods and starts up the truck just as Jax jumps in. He doesn’t say a thing as we take off.

  There are a few dead wondering around as we make our way to the gun shop but Ax and Striker quickly put them down. I flinch at every shot. Jax places his hand on mine and I force myself to smile. Everything will be ok.

  Moments later we pull up in front of “Bulls-eye” it looks relatively untouched. I let out a sigh of relief. I really hope we don’t find any dead inside. Ax and Striker get off their bikes and head to the front door. I look to Jax. “What are they doing?”

  “They are going in first. They will clear it of any dead then we can go in safely.” Jax states calmly, but I can see his jaw tighten in anger.

  “Hopefully, the dead are all they find.” Ryder mutters under his breath. I glance to him and see his jaw is also tense. I wonder what’s got them so wound up.

  Soon enough I get my answer as Ax and Striker return to the door with a young man and girl. Both look to be around eighteen. The girl screams as Striker grab a fist full of her short black hair. I gasp. “What are they going to do to them, Jax?” He doesn’t answer me so I turn my attention to Ryder. “Ryder, what are they going to do?”

  He bows his head then looks up at me sadly. “If they are lucky, Ax and Striker will kill them quickly.” I shouldn’t have been surprised but my mind reels with what’s about to happen. I have to stop it. The girl lets out another scream. I’ve had enough so I try to climb over Jax who grabs my waist firmly and pushes me back into my seat.

  “Damn it Jax, let me go. I have to help them. I can’t just sit here and watch them be murdered.” He doesn’t let me go and doesn’t say a word. He’s really pissing me off. Ryder grabs my arm gently and I turn my attention back to him.

  “If we let you go out there they will kill you, too. But more than likely they will beat and rape you first. Jax and I can’t let them do that to you. Try to understand where we are coming from.” I stare at him dumbly. My life really isn’t more valuable than another’s. We all deserve a chance to survive.

  “Both of you can go to hell. I can’t watch this shit happen. I’m not afraid to die.” It’s a lie but no one calls me out on it. I was scared to death earlier to die.

  “It’s not going to happen.” Jax growls out. “I’m not going to let you get yourself killed.”

  “I don’t give a shit what you want or think, Jax. I am going to stop this.” He grunts as I slam my fist into his stomach. His eyes widen with surprise as I jump over his lap. I feel Ryder’s hands grabbing for me but I’m too quick. I’m out the door and just about to take off toward Ax and Striker when I hear a gunshot. Shit I’m too late. I watch in horror as the young man’s body drops to the ground and the girl cries frantically, she begs for them to spare her life and both men grin and laugh as they begin to strip her body. Acid rises in my throat at the thought of them raping her.

  I rush over and land a solid punch to Ax’s face, his lip splits open and blood gushes out. He grins up at me as he wipes the blood away then charges for me. I can’t dodge him fast enough and he forces me to the ground. He pushes a gun to my temple and I groan. “Just kill me you piece of shit.”

  He laughs out but his face is red with rage. “Jax, you should really keep your girl in line. I think she needs to be taught a lesson for this stunt, blood for blood. What do you think, Striker?”

  “I agree with you, Ax. If she’s going to stay with us then she has to learn and since she hit Ax then he’s the one who gets to lay out the punishment.” Striker laughs and turns his attention to the nearly naked girl. She has stopped struggling. Her eyes look dead, she’s already given up. I know that look because it’s been clear in my eyes many times over the last few weeks.

  “I won’t stand for Ax punishing her. She hit me first, so I believe by your rules it’s me who gets to punish her. Which I will, I’ll even let you watch.” Jax stands above Ax and me. He looks pissed.

  “Fine by me, but first I’m going to have myself a taste of this lovely creature.” Striker pulls the girl by her hair back into the shop. Ax yanks me up and shoves me to Jax, then stalks after Striker and the girl.

  Jax grabs my arm roughly and retreats back to the truck. “You stupid, stupid girl, do you understand what position you have put me in now?” He slams me up against the truck and I lose my breath. He’s super pissed. Ryder comes around the truck toward us cursing and shaking his head.

  “What the hell are we going to do now, Jax?” They give each other a look. Ryder nods then rushes to the back of the truck where our bags are.

  “What are you going to do, Jax?” I ask and he lets out a loud sigh and bows his head.

  “I’m going to drug you so you don’t have to feel any pain. You’re really going to hate me later on for what I have to do to you.” He looks up at me with haunted eyes. “Why didn’t you just listen to me?”

  I shrug. “I couldn’t just let them get away with killing someone. Even though I’m going to be punished, my conscious is clear. I tried to fight for them.” Ryder comes back with a syringe. I don’t ask what’s in it as he pushes the fluids into my arm.

  “That should knock her out just enough so she won’t feel anything but she will pretty much be aware of what’s going on.” He frowns then turns his attention fully onto Jax. “What are you going to do to her, Jax?”

  “I’m going to do what Striker expects. I have no other choice.” Ryder nods then walks away. We hear the girl scream one last time inside the building before a gunshot rings out. We watch as Ax carries the girl’s lifeless body out and dumps it in the street next to the man they shot. Striker comes to the doorway and waves Jax to come in. Jax nods then grabs my arm tightly, dragging me inside. As we pass Striker he hands Jax a small whip. I cringe. “I’m sorry for this, babe.” Jax whispers just before we enter into a back room.

  Chapter 14

  Day 29

  I’m face down on a dirty old mattress when I wake up the next morning. I try to push up on my arms but pain slices through my back. I gasp and grit my teeth. Flashes of what happened the day before flash through my mind.

  “Hey sweetheart, try not to move much. I had to stitch your back up a little. The less moment you make the better it will all heal.” Ryder steps into my view and kneels down to me. I smile sadly up at him. He grazes his knuckles across my jaw. “Are you going to be ok, Lexi?” I nod quietly.

  “Where is Jax?” I ask with
a hoarse voice. It was practically gone from all the screaming I had done. I wanted to hate Jax but I couldn’t bring myself to. What he had done wasn’t something he enjoyed and he certainly went easier on me than Ax or Striker would have.

  “He’s in the other room. He figured that you wouldn’t want to see him. He’s been over there pacing and crying.” He sighs. “Of course, he doesn’t know I saw him crying but he was. He’s not like them Lexi and neither am I, we just got ourselves stuck with them and neither of us knows how to get away.” He looks off into the room absently then stands up. “I’ll be right back, sweetheart.” I hear his footsteps fade and a door opening and closing. I shut my eyes as a few tears spill out.

  Moments later I hear grunting and yelling outside the door. I tenderly roll to my side and somehow manage to get to my feet. I find a blanket nearby and cover myself since I seem to have lost my shirt. I make my way to the door stiffly and swing it open. On the other side stands Ryder with Jax in a head lock. I lets out a hoarse laugh and point to them both.

  “Really, you guys are too much. What are you doing?” Ryder rolls his eyes then let’s his arm fall away from Jax. Jax bows his head, hiding his eyes.

  “I was just trying to get him to come see you but he wouldn’t take my word for it that you wanted to see him.” I laugh again and turn my attention to Jax. He’s just standing still, watching me closely.

  “Both of you get in here. We have a lot we need to talk about.” I stand back and they walk into the room. I shut the door and make my way back over to the mattress. I look down at it in frustration and let out a groan. I have no idea how I’m going to get back down there.