They followed her in the small door, though Austin had to crouch down to avoid hitting his head. He was surprised to see how roomy the dome-style house was. There was a small kitchen area, a seating area, and a bed off to the side. A single door towards the back of the open space would likely be the bathroom, he guessed. There was a small pot-belly stove against the wall with a coffee pot sitting on top of it. He could feel faint heat coming from the area, evidence of an earlier fire.

  Dr. Bastani gestured for Austin and Malachi to take a seat on the small sofa while she grabbed cups from her kitchen and filled them with the dark, fragrant liquid. Austin sipped the lukewarm coffee, appreciating the strength of it and waiting for the doctor to tell him what she knew—if anything.

  She sat down in the wood rocking chair next to the stove. “I’m sorry you boys came all this way, but I can’t help you.”

  “You have to help us,” Austin insisted.

  She guffawed. “I don’t have to do anything. I’ve got the encryption software on discs, but it isn’t going to do you any good.”

  “Can I have the discs anyway?” Austin asked, hoping Nash would know how to use them, or maybe Amanda.

  “No. You won’t know what to do with the program. Only a trained cryptologist will know how to decipher the information.”

  “Then come back with us,” Austin insisted.

  She shook her head. “I’ll do no such thing.”

  “We can’t sit on this information and do nothing. We need to know what they plan to do. That’s the only way we can stop this,” Austin hissed.

  She shrugged. “You can’t do anything. This is already happening. I tried to warn people and everyone ignored me. They all laughed at me, but I guess we know who’s laughing now.”

  “You’re right. They should have listened. But we need you now,” Austin insisted.

  “No. That’s my final answer. Finish your coffee and get out of here. I don’t like guests and I’m not going with you,” she said, her voice firm.

  Austin was tired, cranky, and sick of people telling him there was nothing he could do. His frustration had pushed him to the point of no return. He dropped the coffee mug and lunged for the woman. She shouted and tossed the cup of warm coffee at him, but he didn’t stop his attack. He wrestled her to the ground instead, getting her belly on the floor so that he could sit on her back.

  “Grab something to tie her up,” Austin shouted at Malachi, who was sitting on the couch, staring at him with a stunned look on his face even as Austin wrenched the woman’s arms behind her back.

  Malachi jumped up, looking around the room before he found a lamp. He yanked the cord, trying to pull it from the lamp, but it wouldn’t give. Austin grew impressed with his ability to think on his feet as the kid raced into the kitchen area and grabbed a knife, slicing the cord.

  “Here,” he said.

  “I have to hold her,” Austin grumbled, barely able to keep the fighting woman restrained on the floor.

  Malachi wrapped the cord around her wrists and tied a knot before Austin rolled off of her. She was still kicking and hollering.

  “I’ll get another cord,” Malachi said, running to the other lamp in the room and quickly slicing off the cord.

  “Stop moving,” Austin growled.

  “I’m not going anywhere with you!” she shrieked.

  “Yes, you are. Where are the discs?” he asked.

  “I’m not telling you anything!”

  “Malachi, search the place. Trash it if you’re so inclined,” Austin ordered.

  “No! Stop! Wait!” the woman screeched.

  Austin had had a gut feeling the woman wouldn’t want her place trashed. Everything was in its place. It was all too perfect. He suspected she was a little on the OCD side.

  “In the bottom drawer,” she hissed.

  Malachi rushed to the side of the room where a chest of drawers was pushed against the wall; he yanked it open and, after moving some clothes around, pulled out a small plastic case.

  “This?” he asked.

  “Yes, you little brat,” she snarled.

  “Good, let’s go,” Austin said, getting to his feet and easily lifting the slightly-built woman.

  He tossed her over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry and walked out the door. He was not in the mood to ask her to pack or if she needed anything else. It would take all day to get back to the house—hopefully, no longer than that. He was anxious to get back and finally find out what was on the drive.

  32

  It felt weird to be around the house with so few people about, but Savannah actually felt like a valuable member of the team while carrying the small pistol Uncle Ennis had given her to protect herself. Now, though, she walked along the perimeter Ennis had instructed her to patrol. Drew, Audrey, and Bonnie were on the opposite side of the house, putting in more booby traps and keeping their eyes and ears open for soldiers in the area.

  “Are you supposed to be out here by yourself?” Wendell asked as he walked towards her out of the brush.

  “I’m on duty. Uncle Ennis wants me watching for any intruders,” she answered.

  “With a gun, even. Your dad won’t be happy when he sees that,” he quipped.

  “My dad knows I can handle a gun,” she retorted. “What are you supposed to be doing?” she asked.

  He shrugged. “I’m watching the house. Ennis took Harlen and Tonya with him to check the traps and make sure no one’s been sneaking around the property. Apparently, Harlen is some excellent tracker now,” he grumbled.

  Savannah ignored his snide comments. She’d come to realize Wendell didn’t like anyone except for Ennis and maybe her. She wasn’t entirely sure he wasn’t nice to her face and then turned around to talk bad about her to anyone who would listen, but she didn’t have reason to think he disliked her yet. Her dad had told her not to trust him, though, and she was taking that advice.

  “We all have to do our part,” she replied.

  “I suppose. Are you worried about your dad and your boyfriend?” Wendell asked with a grin.

  “I don’t have a boyfriend,” she replied quickly.

  “Good. I don’t think your dad would allow it anyway.”

  She rolled her eyes. “It isn’t up to my dad.”

  “Why would you want that kid anyway?” he asked as he fell into step beside her. “They’re weird. All of the God squad is a little out there. Every time I turn around, one of them is praying for something.”

  “I don’t think they’re weird. They just have some strong beliefs. That’s not a bad thing. They’re nice people,” she offered.

  “Whatever you say. I don’t trust them,” he snapped.

  She laughed. “I don’t think you trust anyone.”

  He only shrugged. “You’re right about that. Trust no one but yourself is what I always say.”

  “That’s a rough way to live,” she told him.

  “What’s with you and Malachi anyway? Are you trying to get with Nash? I heard there were some things said,” he said.

  She shook her head, knowing he was looking for gossip. “There’s nothing with me and Malachi. His parents told him to stay away from me. They’re convinced I’m the spawn of Satan,” she said with a disgust.

  Wendell threw his head back and laughed. “That’s funny. The dad is dead, and the mom seems to be a little out of it most of the time. If you want that kid, I think you can persuade him. You’re a pretty girl, but if I were you, I would hold out for something better.”

  She shuddered with revulsion at his weird compliment. “I—”

  The wind was knocked from her lungs as she was tackled to the ground from behind. Her hands broke her fall, her palms cutting on the jagged rocks and sticks littering the ground as her knees slammed into more rocks before she dropped flat to her stomach.

  Wendell actually shrieked and attempted to flee, but her attacker launched off of her and tackled him to the ground. Savannah tried to get to her knees, but her chest felt constricted, sending her into brief panic as she struggled to breathe.

  Wendell was rolling on the ground, his arms and legs flailing as the man in a black uniform tried to restrain him. Savannah finally managed to suck in a gasp of air and lunge at him, knocking him off Wendell.

  “Gun,” she gasped as they fell sideways.

  Her single word was lost on Wendell, who had scrambled to his feet and taken off running for the house. The man in black pushed Savannah away and went after him. Savannah staggered to her feet, looking around for the gun that had been in her hand when she’d been knocked to the ground.

  She found it and raced towards it. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the man coming back for her. He was fast on his feet—there was no way she could get the gun and shoot him before he was on her again. Instead of trying, she raced into the trees, dodging and weaving around massive trunks and going right through the thorny shrubs that seemed to be everywhere.

  Savannah wasn’t sure where she was going. She simply moved fast, without the time to orientate herself to her surroundings. She saw an opening in the trees up ahead and thought it signaled the road they took to go to the fishing hole. She raced towards it, realizing too late that it wasn’t a clearing, but a ravine. She tried to stop, her arms flailing out as she fought to keep her balance.

  It was no use—she was sliding, falling twenty feet down, her arms and legs bumping against rocks as she fell. She barely managed to keep her head protected as she slid down the side of the steep ravine. She hit bottom and looked up to see her pursuer on the edge of the ravine, looking for the best way down. Her body ached and her skin stung in the places that had been scraped on the way down as she forced herself to push away the pain and get up.

  “Help!” she screamed, hoping Ennis or someone was nearby.

  Her eyes darted around the unfamiliar area as she got to her feet once again, prepared to run for her life. There was a shout then, drawing her attention back to the man in the black jumpsuit. He was rolling down the hill, Wendell standing on the ledge above and looking very satisfied.

  Savannah lunged, picking up a rock the size of a softball, ready to hit the man with it the moment he wasn’t a moving target. The man stopped rolling and got to a sitting position. Savannah stood a few feet away.

  “Don’t move!” she shouted.

  The man had blood streaming down his face. He looked up at her, his eyes glazed. She could see he was seriously injured, swaying where he sat, his hand covering the wound on his head with blood trickling out from between his fingers.

  “Let me go,” he muttered.

  She scoffed. “Yeah, right! You nearly killed me.”

  “I was only trying to talk to you,” he insisted.

  “Do you normally jump on people you want to talk to?” she snapped.

  “My name is Fabio. I don’t want to hurt you. I’m looking for a man, Merryman. I swear, I only wanted to talk to you,” he said, his words beginning to slur. “There’s a reward.”

  Savannah felt fear running through her. They knew her dad and they were searching for him. If this man had made it that close to the house, the others wouldn’t be far behind. She looked up and saw Wendell daintily coming down the hillside, over where it was less steep and a lot less rocky.

  “I don’t know anyone by that name,” she lied.

  He nodded. “Okay, I’m sorry. I’m going to go,” Fabio said, holding up his hand and trying to smile.

  She smirked. “I don’t think so.”

  “Where’s your gun?” Wendell asked, rushing to her side.

  “Back there somewhere,” she muttered. “Where’s yours?”

  “I didn’t have one,” he replied sheepishly.

  “What do we do with him?” she whispered.

  Wendell looked at her, apparently surprised she’d asked him. “I don’t know. We can’t leave him out here. He’ll go back and tell his people.”

  She looked at the rock in her hand. “I can’t kill him,” she said, her gut rolling with the very thought of it.

  “Well, I’m not going to kill him,” Wendell said with horror.

  “I promise, let me go and I won’t tell anyone you’re here,” Fabio said, his voice growing weaker.

  “I don’t believe you, Fabio,” Wendell replied.

  “Please,” Fabio said, swaying heavily before falling backwards into the ground.

  Wendell and Savannah stared at him. “Did he faint?” Savannah asked.

  Wendell moved to pick up a stick. He carefully approached the man, jabbing his side with the stick. The man didn’t move.

  “Maybe he’s dead?” Wendell suggested.

  “Check!” Savannah shrieked.

  “No way! You check!” Wendell shot back.

  “Oh my God, you’re such a pansy. Move,” she stomped towards him, keeping the rock in her hand. She stared at the man’s chest, seeing it rise and fall. “He’s alive.”

  “So, now what? Do we run?”

  “Like you did earlier?” Savannah said, glaring at him.

  “I was going to get help,” he said, looking extremely guilty.

  “Sure, you were. So where is it? Look, we can’t leave him out here. When he wakes up, the first thing he’s going to do is tell his people.”

  “Are you saying we’re going to take him to—”

  He stopped talking when she put her finger to her lips. “I’m saying, we tie him up out here. Somewhere no one will find him. We’ll need to gag him,” she said, nodding as the idea bloomed in her head.

  “With what?” Wendell asked.

  She sighed. “Go get some rope.”

  When it looked like he would protest, she gave him a look that she’d practiced on her father many times. Wendell nodded and headed off back up the hill, leaving her alone with the soldier. She stared down at his bloodied face. He was probably Nash’s age, she realized. It was sad. He was so young and already doing horrible things. She stepped away from him, keeping her eyes on him and remaining ready to throw the rock at him if he moved.

  It felt like forever before Wendell returned. He wasn’t alone. Ennis was racing along behind him and nearly tumbled down the hill.

  “Are you okay?” he gasped, holding her by her arms and looking her over.

  “I’m fine, just a few bruises,” she assured him.

  “Help me tie him up,” Wendell said.

  “Tie him up? For what? Wendell told me you were going to tie him up and leave him in the woods. Why? We have to kill him,” Ennis insisted.

  “No!” Savannah near shouted.

  Ennis turned to look at her. “Savannah, he’s one of them. He’ll kill us if given the chance.”

  “We can’t kill him. He’s unconscious and unarmed,” she insisted.

  Ennis turned back to look at the man still lying unconscious on the ground. “Where’s his gun?” he asked.

  Savannah rolled her eyes. “I don’t know. I didn’t stop to ask while he was chasing me.”

  “Is he out here all alone?” Ennis asked.

  “I doubt it. He told me he was looking for a man named Merryman,” she said quietly.

  Ennis’s mouth dropped open. “What did you say?” he whispered.

  “Nothing.”

  “Are we going to kill him?” Wendell asked a little too eagerly.

  Savannah glared at him. He was clearly okay with killing a man as long as he didn’t have to do it. Ennis put his hand on the butt of the gun resting in a holster at his side. He looked at Savannah apologetically.

  She shook her head. “No, you can’t do that. Uncle Ennis, look at him—he’s probably seventeen or eighteen. He’s only doing what he’s been told. He doesn’t have a choice!” she pleaded.

  Ennis put a hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry, but if he lives, we won’t be safe.”

  Wendell stood next to Ennis, his back to the unconscious man on the ground. “Sorry, kid, but I agree with your uncle. I don’t care if he’s fifteen or fifty. He was too close to—” He stopped himself before he blurted out what he’d clearly been about to, that they were close to the house.

  “Shh,” Savannah hissed, not wanting to say too much in case the guy was playing possum.

  “Ow!” Wendell shouted, his hand going to the back of his head before spinning around. “He threw a rock at me!” he shrieked.

  Their supposedly unarmed attacker was now holding a knife and staring at them. “I’m leaving,” he hissed, as if talking hurt him.

  “I’m bleeding,” Wendell wailed.

  “Shut up!” Savannah shouted.

  Ennis reached for his gun, and Savannah wished she would have let Ennis shoot him when he’d been unconscious.

  She screamed when Fabio threw the knife at Ennis. Ennis shouted, jumping out of the way of the incoming knife, pushing Savannah to the ground as he moved. The knife landed inches from where Savannah fell. Ennis was already up, the gun pulled from his holster. He pulled the trigger over and over again, trying to shoot Fabio as he stumbled off through the trees.

  Wendell stood in shock, staring at Ennis and then Savannah. Ennis lowered the gun, running a hand over his face.

  “Now what?” Savannah whispered.

  “Now, we get back to the house as fast as we can. They’re going to be coming for us, and it isn’t going to be Fabio by himself,” Ennis said, dread in his voice.

  “My head,” Wendell whined.

  “You’ll live. Let’s go,” Ennis ordered, helping Savannah to her feet.

  Her mind was reeling. What would happen now? Would an army show up at the house? They couldn’t possibly hold them back. She fought back the tears that were threatening to fall. She needed her dad. He would know what to do.

  33

  Amanda hoped the explosives worked. They could end up blowing themselves up and getting Nash killed, assuming he wasn’t already dead. It was risky, but it was their only option. The five of them were doing their best to be as quiet as possible as they worked. They didn’t want to alert whoever was beyond the door of their presence.

  “What if they have a security system?” Ezra whispered.

  Amanda shrugged in the darkness. They had a glowstick inside a sock, muting the light to keep from drawing too much attention to themselves while they carefully placed the explosive in the crevice around the heavy door. Amanda’s hand was in a sock, too, protecting her skin from touching the explosive. She used her fingers to push the putty-like substance as far in around the hinges and the lock as she could before carefully placing one end of the detonator into the C4 and unfurling the thin wire as she walked backwards. There was no guarantee this would work. There was also no guarantee they’d find Nash beyond the door.

 

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