An Uncertain Fate, page 11
part #3 of An Ungoverned World Series
“Are they all dead?” he asked. It was an effort to speak. His throat was raw and his voice hoarse. He winced every time words left his mouth.
“Nah, we took mercy on a few of them, the women really. You know how it goes. But I don't take kindly to this treatment and I'm not forgetting it was your idea to come out here. Anyway, there was this old woman we saved, and she managed to patch you up with whatever herbal remedy that was. You'll have a nice scar there, though. It'll look like you've been lynched. Have fun explaining that in the future.” Donny laughed again.
“She was quite useful really, although she needed a little persuasion to help the people who needed it. But anyway, I think we're going to have to give up on this hunt for Nick. I'm getting bored of this place you know. The senoritas of Mexico are calling me, and I feel I am doing them a disservice by staying here. Nick's probably dead anyway, and if he's not, he could be anywhere. I have better things to do with my time.”
Donny sauntered off. David burned with anger. Donny was annoying. He couldn't see that there were higher purposes in life. David staggered forward, still trying to regain his strength. The sounds of rape and torture greeted his ears. Sadly, he had gotten used to those noises by being around these men so often. There was nothing he could do about it either. He had saved Tori, although by saving her he had cast her out into the wild and she was probably dead. These women all were screaming for help, but he knew he couldn't do anything for them. So he turned his head away and walked on, ignoring their pleas.
He tried telling himself they deserved to be punished, that they had tried to kill everyone, but nobody deserved this. If they deserved punishment, then what did he deserve? He thought about Max. How easily the trigger had been pulled and his body had just fallen to the ground. Everything he ever was had been taken away from him by David, and for what? To prove himself to these men? The things he had done sickened him to his core.
An old woman was sitting at the edge of the camp, alone. David walked up and sat down beside her.
“It never was supposed to come to this. When we decided to bring other people into our group we knew there would be risks, but not like this. After Nick...well, we grew desperate, foolish even. We tried to kill him and his friends by drowning, but they were swept along into the river, back toward the city. We thought we needed a more direct approach. It all made sense. We were going to make the world a better place and--”
David had had just about enough of hearing about their philosophy. “Thanks for saving my life,” he said. The woman just smiled thinly, her cloudy eyes swimming with sadness.
“I did what I could, but I don't know that I saved your life, young man. You're just as much a prisoner as I am. Look at all of this. Are you really free with them?”
“I guess not. I started all this because I wanted to exact justice on a man who had my best friend killed. Everything I've seen, though...” he coughed a little and gasped in agony.
“Your throat is going to hurt for a while. Gillian was an expert, though. She made sure there was no lasting damage. It will get better eventually. Here, have these,” she rummaged through a bag beside her and pulled out some pills.
“Take these whenever the pain gets really bad,” she said. David nodded toward her and threw one into his mouth. It tasted bitter.
“My name is Beth. I think you should know that before I die, because I know I'm going to. These men don't seem the type to leave people alive. I used to be a school nurse. I was on my way to see my family for the summer when the plane went down. We should have kept to ourselves. Some of us wanted to, but Gillian and the others, they were intoxicated with what we had experienced. I felt it too, but it was more of a personal thing for me. I'd already made my peace with the Lord when I knew the plane was going to crash. He wasn't done with me yet. At first, I didn't understand why, but now I think I do. Perhaps I was left here this long so that I could rescue you. I don't know why you got mixed up with these people, but maybe you will find the man who killed your friend and avenge him.” She sighed and looked up to the sky.
“I'm looking forward to it you know. I think I'll be happier when I'm up there. This world has been forsaken. I think it's the end of days. Evil has spread across the world and the Lord is calling his servants back home.”
David didn't know if he agreed with that, but he certainly could see her point. Looking around he saw the worst aspects of man, and in the middle of it all was Donny, standing there like the devil himself, reveling in the chaos and the wild abandon. This was no place for faith or joy. It was horrid. David felt the revulsion swim in his stomach. He turned his eyes away again, but even so he could not ignore what was happening all around him. He wished he could do something about it, but he was only one man and what strength was one man against such sin? He turned back to Beth to see her rummaging around in her bag again.
“I am not going to suffer at their hands,” she muttered to herself. “I think you still have a place in this world, but if you want to leave then take this,” she pressed a pill into his hand.
He looked at her and saw the resignation in her eyes. Her lips were pressed into a thin smile and before he could do anything to stop her she swallowed the pill. Her face was peaceful for a moment and she closed her eyes, but then they shot open and her body shook. Foam poured from her mouth and she gripped onto David so tightly that her nails threatened to pierce his skin. He slammed his fist against her back, trying to get her to cough up the pill, but it was too late. Whatever it was had worked too quickly for David to stop its effects and Beth was dead.
Hers was just another life that had been taken by this world. Another good person like Mikey who had been ripped away. Maybe she was right, and they were the lucky ones. Maybe those left on Earth were the ones who didn't deserve to be in heaven. David certainly didn't, not after the things he had done. Yet, there still was time. There still was time to make it right. He had been losing his sense of what was right and wrong, but now he was surer than ever. He looked at the ugly scene around him and this time he did not turn away. He watched each and every atrocity being committed. It was the only way to cleanse himself.
Gillian had died, but with her last act she had made him into an avenging angel. Like a phoenix he would rise, and he would see that justice would be served on Nick, Donny, the other men, and anyone else who deserved it. When it was finally time for him to lay down his life he would look back and be content with all he had accomplished. He was not going to let power corrupt him anymore. He was a force for good and he was going to act like it. He placed his arm on Beth and watched the scene before him unfold. None of the men knew they were going to die by his hand, but their time was coming soon.
Chapter Sixteen
Joe had a fine idea for how he could get some alone time with the kids and keep his secret. It was so smart he had to stop himself from smiling in a smug manner, for he could not let anyone onto the truth. He'd been up all night, twisting and turning with thoughts of Millie. His body had been burning and his mind was on fire. It was a pain he had not felt since the first days of the apocalypse when he'd realized that Tanya had left him. He had to do something before it drove him crazy. So, he had arranged a meeting with some of the other adults to put forward his proposal.
“I've been thinking about this a lot over the past few days, and I think it would be a good idea for me to take the kids camping,” he said.
The other adults, some of whom were parents, looked at each other in shock. Joe knew that it would take some convincing on his part, but he was confident he could make them agree. After all, they did pretty much worship him as a hero and he had their complete trust. It was almost a joke how easy it was for them to trust him. He needed a break anyway. It was getting harder and harder to keep his impulses under control. Acting like such a good man was taking its toll. Having Tori around only exacerbated it. She was following him around like a little puppy and he quickly had grown tired of it. She was worse than Jackie and rarely gave him a moment's peace. All she did was go on about her ordeal. Joe just wanted to turn around and tell her she deserved it for being such a little brat.
But no, he had to control himself because he couldn't risk losing everything he had here. It was a sweet deal, almost a paradise for a man like him. It was even almost enough to soothe the pain that came from thinking about Tanya. Millie made for a good substitute, but he had yet to put her to the real test. He sorely hoped she would be able to surpass Tanya. Then at least there was hope for escaping the past, but Tanya was always there in his mind, tormenting him, torturing him. If he ever saw her again, he would rip her apart.
“Now, I know what some of you are going to say, but you know me. I'm going to keep them safe. Nothing bad is going to happen to them, and if we run into trouble we'll head straight back. I'm not going to let them be in danger.”
“Joe,” said Anne, a portly woman who always seemed pretty righteous to Joe, “you know we all admire you and respect you for the things that you've done but you can't really expect us to agree to this? They're our kids! We can't just let them go out in the world. We all know how dangerous the city can be. We're safe here, but out there...I know I wouldn't be comfortable sending James out. I'd worry myself sick,” she said, and many of the other adults agreed.
“Hold on a minute, Anne,” a man called Randy said. He had short black hair and had two sons. Sadly, his wife had been lost in the attack on the hospital.
“Let's not dismiss it so easily. I know the city isn't the safest place, but I think we've mapped the nearby area and we know there aren't any threats. None of the hunting parties have reported anything and, I don't know about all of you, but I'm getting pretty tired of living in fear. I want to get back to as normal a life as possible. I don't want my kids growing up being scared to go outside. Some of my best memories are from when I was a kid and I ran around with my friends. I'm not saying we let them go out without supervision, but we all know Joe. We can trust him. Let's give our kids a chance to be kids. They're going to have to learn how to live in this world sooner or later. We all can try hiding from the truth, but this world isn't going to get any safer. At some point we're going to have to let them go and it might as well be now.” Again, more people nodded. Joe approved of Randy. He was a good, sensible man.
“Joe, where are you thinking of taking them?” Anne asked.
“I thought we'd trek out to where I hunted that boar. There's plenty of forest there to find a good place,” Joe replied.
“Isn't there anywhere nearer? I don't want my kids going that far out,” Norm said. “I mean, I want my kids to have fun as well, but I'm not prepared to take a risk like this for the sake of camping. Maybe if it was nearer I could see it but--”
“This is madness, none of you can really be happy with the idea of letting your kids go out there!” Mandy cried.
Joe had been wondering when she was going to get hysterical. According to her, the world was ending over and over again. Everything was a drama. He wondered how she managed to enjoy any part of her days as she was always finding something to complain about.
“I'm not letting my Abigail out into the city when it's like this. I get that Joe is capable of looking after himself, but it's not just himself is it? It's all of our kids. They're not hard enough for this world. They need to be taught carefully. We can't just throw them in the deep end when there are wild animals and wild men out there. How are all of you going to feel if the worst happens and Joe comes back saying that all our kids got mauled by a bear or something? We must be more careful in the way we live. We must always approach it from thinking about the worst thing that could happen and then take precautions. That's the only way we'll keep everyone safe.”
“That's ludicrous!” Randy said. “You'll never be able to keep everyone safe, no matter how much you prepare. It's not like the world was all roses before anyway. There were dangers out there and we all managed to make it through. Sure, the dangers are different, but it's the same principle. We can't keep our kids sheltered. How is that going to be any help when they're older and they must to fend for themselves? It's not very good preparation is it? This is a good way to build their character and I'm all in favor of it. This is a great idea, Joe. Anyway, we're acting like this is a unilateral decision. Surely it's up to the parent of each child to decide for their own child if this is a good idea?”
“Of course it is, but I think there are some ground rules that need to be decided upon first,” Anne said, and then turned to Joe. “I think that where you propose is too far away. You need to find somewhere closer. I understand that you're responsible alone, but I think we should be sending out people to check on you, just in case you need a hand.”
Joe was about to protest, but he realized it wouldn't do him any good. He couldn't think of a good reason other than pride as to why he wouldn't want any help. So, he had to shut up and grin. As long as he still had some alone time...that was the important thing.
“Now,” Anne continued, “it's going to be up to each parent to decide. I, for one, am not going to put James in harm’s way. Perhaps in the future I will reconsider, but I still think it's too much of a risk at the moment. I understand that the children will have to grow up at some point, but I think we have to wait a little longer and make sure there are no present dangers.” Mandy slumped in her chair, folded her arms, and shook her head.
She couldn't believe that anyone in their right mind would agree to something like this. Joe's mouth twitched into a smile. He liked getting under their skin and it was fun to see them all arguing about something so mundane. They acted like they were in some sort of senate talking about the matters of the country, but they were just a lot of blowhards. It was all a joke and none of them could see it.
Jackie was there too, of course. That woman couldn't keep her big nose out of it. She vouched for Joe and said that Millie definitely would be going. Joe breathed a sigh of relief at this. Millie was the only one he wanted to go anyway. The other kids were fine, but none of them sparkled like she did. She was like a diamond in the rough. She just needed a little polishing to be perfect and Joe was going to begin her education on this camping trip.
“Thanks to all of you for this discussion. I'm glad it wasn't dismissed out of hand because I truly believe it can be a good thing for these kids. I think that they'll all benefit from this experience. I think it's time that we start looking beyond this care home and begin taking this city back for ourselves, and this is the first step toward that. Of course I'm glad that others will be coming along to keep us safe, and I hope we all can have a good time. Maybe we could even make it a regular thing, if the kids enjoy it too. I can promise you that your kids will be safe with me and at the first sign of danger I'll pack up and we'll return here. I'd like to leave before night falls, so for those of you whose kids are coming can you let them know and tell them to meet me out front in three hours,” Joe said diplomatically. He nodded toward all of them and then briskly walked out of the meeting room, rubbing his hands with glee. He was about to get everything he wanted.
Returning to his room, he got the bag he'd brought with him from home and packed a few things for the evening. Tori was there and asked him what had happened. He told her all about it. As soon as he mentioned the words camping her eyes lit up and she exclaimed with delight that she would go with him. Again, Joe couldn't very well turn her away by saying that it was something purely for him and the children. He couldn't let even a flicker of suspicion arise. He should have been more careful, though, and known this would happen. He had been swept up in his own excitement and hadn't thought it through. Of course Tori was going to want to go with him. She had been joined to him ever since he'd found her in the woods and she wasn't about to give him a moment's peace now.
“It's going to be so much fun,” she said as she linked arms with him.
It would be fun, Joe thought, but not in the way that Tori described. He just couldn't wait until he was alone with Millie and could carry on the conversation he had started the previous night, which had been so rudely interrupted. Finally, he would be alone without that meddling Jackie, and he was sure he could make Tori stay in the tent. He'd take a bottle of whiskey and ply her with alcohol until she became sleepy or something. She didn't look like she could hold much liquor. He sent her away to gather some supplies.
He planned to camp for only one night, thinking that was best since the whole notion seemed to put everyone on edge. One night was all he needed, though. It would go well and then there would be other nights where he and Millie could sneak away by themselves. He would have everything he ever wanted. He leaned back for a moment against the wall and smiled. His mind was so filled with turbulence that sometimes it was hard to keep control, but this relief was palpable.
Soon enough he and Tori were downstairs waiting for the kids to arrive. Randy dropped off his son, Norm dropped off his two kids. Another couple of kids arrived, but Millie still had yet to come. Joe was getting anxious. She was late. Surely Jackie wouldn't have changed her mind? Maybe Millie didn't want to come...maybe she had told Jackie about the previous night...no. Joe couldn't let himself be seized by fear. That only led to weakness and he wasn't weak.
“How long are we going to wait for others?” Tori asked.
“We'll give them another few minutes. I wouldn't want anyone to miss out on this just because they were running late, and we're not in too much of a rush,” he said evenly. His heart jumped a little when he saw Millie and Jackie walking toward them. Millie looked excited, scampering along with a gleeful smile on her face. Jackie's eyes were ice though when she saw Tori.
“Oh, I thought you were taking the kids yourself,” Jackie said coldly.
