Three worlds collide, p.37
Three Worlds Collide, page 37
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Clutching his left shoulder where Michael’s shot had landed, the remaining guard stepped past Clay and moved to check on a partially unconscious ABCs lying on the ground. He helped him up and they shuffled slowly over to Jackie. Still dazed, ABCs leaned heavily into him. The guard doubted the wisdom of going to such lengths for this guy. He had just gotten all the other guards killed. He did not want to be next. Besides that, he’d really had enough of the goddamn Alphabet King. Now, it appeared he’d just gone too far. But a payout was coming, and the guard needed to hang in there. His family, his children, were counting on that money. Once he received what he was due, maybe he would leave. Until then, he needed to keep this guy moving.
ABCs resisted the guard for a moment while he got his bearings, then lunged at Clay.
The guard held him back. “I took care of him.”
ABCs glowered back at the guard. The red light had faded to a dim outline around the irises of his eyes. “I don’t understand,” ABCs half said to himself. “I should have been more powerful. I should have easily defeated him.” He coughed then spat on the ground beside Jackie. He touched his fingers to his lips and face to feel the wounds and check for blood. His face was battered and bruised. An eye was beginning to swell.
ABCs looked at Clay’s unconscious form, then to Michael. He and the guard were out of ammo. Why not just stomp on his throat? ABCs mused. He walked over and looked down at Clay. He could not think of any prophetic words, so he simply raised his foot to stomp his neck. But before he could, they heard a crack right before another bullet struck inside the compound, then the sound of a distant gunshot. From the darkness beyond the courtyard, he heard the far-away metallic movement of a slide. They had just been fired upon again by a rifle. The round just missed him. He and the guard immediately hunched down and shuffled to the side, away from the view in the gap. He thought for a moment of how he could get out of the cover of the courtyard and to the gunman but decided against it. He told the guard, “Gather the guns.”
The guard looked dismayed. “We have hand and arm wounds. That will slow us, we don’t know if they still have ammo left. Maybe we should get the girls and get into the tunnels. We can regroup on the other side,” the guard suggested.
ABCs looked around at the destruction and then nodded in agreement. Staying out of view, they both bent to take one of Jackie’s legs and pulled her into the main room. Her head bouncing over the bottom edge of the window frame as they unceremoniously dragged her through the shattered glass on the floor. Little cuts in her scalp soaked the back of her head crimson. The movement made her stir, and she murmured something unrecognizable. The guard rolled her over on her stomach and pulled her hands behind her back. She offered no resistance. He took a long zip tie from a pocket and secured her wrists, leaving her lying face-down on the glass-strewn floor.
Finished binding Jackie, the guard stood and crouch-walked over to the SUV to grab two handguns they’d stowed earlier. The Excursion had been riddled with gunfire. The front end torn to pieces. Vapor hissed from the grill. He grabbed the two handguns and gave one last look inside to see if anything else could be used. He noticed a kitchen knife in the backseat, covered in blood. Remembering what that had been used for, the guard didn’t even consider picking it up.
He turned from the truck and crouch-walked back inside. He slowed as he passed Jackie. She still looked unconscious. He reached out a hand to try and rouse her but reconsidered and left her there. He moved to the hallway door and flipped the switch up and down to check the lights. Nothing. He cursed and followed ABCs down the dark hallway to get Elena and the other women.
Chapter Fifteen
Sean pulled his weapon off the roof of the Suburban, stowed it inside, and returned to the driver’s seat. Wisely, he had not attempted any more shots. He was nowhere near as good as his brother. He didn’t want to draw enough attention to bring on an attack, nor did he want to reel off gunfire into the courtyard with his brother, Clay, and Jackie in there. He had been observing through the night scope when he saw ABCs and the guard move to his left and vanish into the darkness.
Martha had remained in the front passenger seat the whole time. Sean noticed she looked oddly calm, almost distracted. “We have to go check on my brother.” He started the SUV and crept forward, lights off.
Martha stayed silent as they approached the opening to the compound. Sean pulled the car off to the left side and parked it behind the wall that had been used for cover. He and Martha opened the doors and got out. Sean retrieved his rifle and silently stalked to the corner of the gap. He paused, holding his weapon up and peered around. He saw Michael on his back, unconscious, and Clay lying on his stomach in the dirt, his head twisted to one side. In order to have any chance at helping them, Sean knew that he needed to tamp down the concern rising inside. If he allowed himself to indulge in his fear for their lives, he would lose his focus.
Sean moved up in the gap and stopped at the next corner, checking lines of sight to make sure there was no movement. He leaned the rifle on the wall and went to his brother. Closing the distance between him and Michael in two steps, Sean reached down, put his hands under Michael’s shoulders, and pulled him around, dragging him back into the relative safety of the gap. He laid him down and waved Martha over.
She had grabbed the duffel with medical supplies and waited near the outside corner of the gap. She lifted the bag, hunched low as she walked over to Michael, checked for a pulse, and assessed his condition. After a moment, she heard his raspy breathing and saw a lot of blood around his shoulder. She looked over the bulletproof vest he wore and noticed how it was pitted with impact marks and gunshot residue. She let out a brief sigh as she reached to his sides and shoulders to pull apart the Velcro. She lifted the front panel of the vest off, pulled up his shirt, and checked his abdomen and chest. No new wounds, but bruising was beginning to show. She thought maybe the original wound near his shoulder had started bleeding again. She reached into the med pack to retrieve the scissors and a roll of clotting gauze. She had watched Jackie dress the wound earlier.
As she worked on Michael, Sean moved back to the corner and peered into the courtyard again. Clay was beginning to stir. His hands moved to lift himself up. Careful not to make any sounds, Sean sprinted to him and lifted Clay to his feet. He threaded his arm under his shoulder and helped him walk back into the gap. He let him down gently, leaning his back against the wall. Sean took out a bottle of the hydration drink, opened it, and lifted it to Clay’s lips. Clay gulped some and then coughed after he swallowed it down. He looked up at Sean gratefully and took the bottle from him. “Go help your brother,” he told Sean.
Sean nodded and moved over to Martha’s side. “How is he?”
“Looks like the vest saved his life, but the original wound started bleeding again. I’ve repacked it with the clotting gauze. He should be okay.”
“Those bullets came from nowhere,” Michael coughed out. His eyes opened to see Sean and Martha leaning over him. “You came to get me,” he said, looking Sean in the eyes.
“Of course,” Sean said back quickly. “But we have to get our shit together. I saw ABCs head into the building but I’m not sure where he went. I’m pretty sure they took Jackie inside. We’re in the gap for now, but we should do something.”
Michael nodded. “Put the front panel of my vest back on.”
Sean helped him with it, then lifted him up to a seated position leaning on the wall. He took another bottle from the bag, opened it, and tried to help Michael drink.
He grabbed the bottle from Sean. “I’m not that bad yet.” He took a long pull, then turned to Clay, who looked exhausted with his head hanging over his chest.
He smiled and said, “I know how you feel. When those bullets hit me, I got my breath knocked out, then I guess I just passed out from exhaustion or blood loss, or both. I tried to stop him, but I couldn’t stay...” Michael coughed dusty phlegm from deep in his throat. He spat and tried to continue. “But I—”
Clay cut him off. “Evan stayed with me much longer this time. I... I mean we actually beat ABCs. Then I got hit from behind.”
“We can do this later,” Sean implored them. “What are we gonna do now? You guys look like you’re done.” Suddenly, Sean heard rustling from the direction of the courtyard. He reached for his rifle and took aim, scanning for movement, seeing nothing.
Martha spoke up, “Clay.”
He didn’t respond.
“Clay,” she repeated.
He looked up this time.
“Evan is here.”
Clay shook his head. “No more. I don’t think I can go on.”
“Evan says you have to. Jackie has been taken too.”
Clay looked away. A single tear streamed down his cheek.
Michael pulled his legs under him, reaching out for Martha to help him stand. Looking at Sean, he said, “Stay here and keep an eye on the courtyard. If you see anything coming at us, fall back and let us know.”
Sean nodded, stayed close to the wall, raised his rifle, and scanned the inside of the courtyard.
Michael stepped over to Clay and reached out a hand. Martha went to his other side. They heaved him up and got under his arms, helping him walk back out of the gap and to the Suburban. Michael opened the side door and Clay sat down in the frame, head hanging.
Martha looked to Michael and inclined her head to the side, indicating he should go. Michael took the cue and headed back into the gap without a word. Martha knelt and pulled the Zippo from her pocket. She flipped it open and spun the flint wheel with her thumb. The flame burst to life and she appeared to fall into a meditative state. She spoke to Clay as glints of orange circulated rhythmically around the edges of her irises. “Clay, the bonding of you and Evan means so much more than you realize. Beyond that of saving the girl and destroying the madman.”
Clay looked up, astonished but somehow calmed by her voice. Martha seemed to speak with deep wisdom when the orange flecks were present in her eyes. The flame of the Zippo danced as she spoke.
“A message needs to be sent to those who think they can get away with heinous acts such as the enslavement of innocent children, vulnerable women, and easily manipulated men.” The intensity of her voice increased. “A declaration from The Beyond, through this realm, and into the fallen souls and wicked energies—like a spear of light traveling through dimensions and into the heartless heart of evil. And today, Clay, you are the conduit for that message. You are the spear.”
Clay turned his head and looked out into the wide-open landscape. Something stirred deep inside him. Something primordial. In a way, he always knew it resided there, waiting. The time had arrived for him to unlock that part of his being.
“Clay,” Martha said gently as she rested a hand on his arm. “You must prepare yourself.”
Clay sat in silence as he continued to stare into the moonless night. The untamed landscape, teeming with life under a starry sky, was beautiful in its own way. He felt the strength of his natural connection with the Earth. Will this be my last glimpse of her splendor? He lowered his head and looked at the ground, filled with doubt. Then Clay remembered Jackie’s kind words. Elena nestled in the crook of his arm. The grip of Michael’s handshake. The joy in Sean’s eyes when he learned something new.
In an instant, his doubt transformed into resolve. These people were worth helping, worth saving. Good souls worth sacrificing for. They were part of his world. Once again, determination took hold. Any remaining questions were now settled in his mind and the answers gave him strength. Clay turned and lifted his hand. “Help me up.” Martha clacked the Zippo closed and reached for Clay’s outstretched arm.
Soft flecks of white light rotated in his eyes like the many moons orbiting Jupiter. Standing on his own now, Clay steadied himself. “I feel better, thanks. Let’s go see what Michael and Sean have in mind.” They walked together back into the gap.
“Everyone went into the compound on the left side,” Sean explained to Michael as Martha and Clay came around the corner.
“Elena is down the hall on the left side,” Clay stated. “I saw her through a window before a woman pulled her back out of sight.”
“We need to figure out a way to get in there,” Michael said. “There are weapons on the ground in the courtyard we could use, but I don’t think we should open fire down the hall with an AR15 if Elena or Jackie are over there with them.”
“Right. If I recall, they are out of ammo. ABCs got that .38 off me but used all the rounds,” Clay said.
“We don’t really know what they have,” Michael said. “My Glock is lying on the ground in there with plenty of rounds. Sean and I will set up on the inner corners with our rifles looking into the courtyard and try to see what we can with the night scopes. Clay, be ready. Martha, hang back and stay out of sight, okay?”
“Okay,” Martha replied, then turned to Clay. “Evan says he’s ready when you are.”
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After unlocking the hatch, Dewey had made it down into the tunnel easily. The smell of the earth had struck him as he moved away from the opening. A string of bare light bulbs hung from the wall and led the way. It had started as just one tunnel and he moved quickly through. Suddenly, he came up on a fork. He stopped, not knowing what to do. The women were probably right, easy to get lost. He had considered turning around but knew he didn’t want to go back up into that hell storm. He would take his chances down here.
He paused, knelt, and tried to gather his senses while he caught his breath. After a bit, he tested both tunnels. Went down the right side first, only to find another fork. Same on the left. He retraced his steps back to the first fork. Unsure what to do, he sank down to find the cigarette pack in his hand. The lighter slid smoothly out of his pocket and he lit up, savoring the initial rush.
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Jackie lifted her head, shards of glass sticking to her face. Her skull pounded deep inside from the blow she’d received from ABCs. She pulled at her hands and realized she was bound. Staying as motionless as possible, she scanned the room as best she could. The lights from the SUV outside were dimmer now they’d been on for a while. Jackie saw no one. She looked out into the courtyard but couldn’t make out anything in the dark. Thinking quickly, she rolled over onto her back, pulled her legs up into a crunch position, and pinned her shoulders back. Bits of glass cutting into her hands and arms, Jackie pushed against the curve of her lower back, squeezing her abs as she slid her bound hands underneath and behind her legs. Then she pulled them over her feet, rolled on her side, and up on all fours, grimacing with pain. She pushed herself up to a crouched position then reached down and touched the wound on her leg, letting out a soft gasp at the sight of it. She saw a small room in the corner behind her, and shuffled in.
The small kitchen was the same as any other. She quietly pulled drawers out until she found the utensils. She picked out a serrated knife, turned it backwards in her hand, and sawed on the thick zip tie. It took an excruciatingly long time to cut, but finally gave way. Deciding to hang on to the knife, she pressed herself on the inside wall and looked out into the main room.
She saw only motionless dark on her left. On her right, a door led to a hallway where she saw the dim glow of a light at the end. She moved to the door and looked through the small glass pane. She didn’t see anyone but heard hushed voices coming from the far end. Some instinct in the back of her mind told her they had Elena down there. Jackie grabbed the handle and tested the door. It was unlocked and she pulled it toward her as she watched through the window. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw movement at the far end of the courtyard in the gap they had come through earlier. She recognized Sean’s lithe form take up position on the far inner corner. More movement at the near corner. A rifle barrel appeared around the edge of the wall in her direction. It had to be Michael.
Jackie considered how to get their attention. Remembering they had night scopes, she stood up behind the narrow column between the door and the shattered window frame and stepped out into view with her hands raised to shoulder level.
Michael’s gun settled on her first. He motioned to Sean, who also found her through his scope. She signaled them both, pointing down the hallway. Then she turned and crouched low, ducking back under the small window. She grabbed the door handle and slowly pulled it open. Suddenly, she saw a dark figure appear at the end of the hallway, followed closely by another. They emerged from the dimly lit room in the right-hand back corner and passed across the hallway to the other side, disappearing into another room. She pivoted herself back around the column and waved at Michael and Sean. When they found her in the scope, she signaled that she had seen two men at the end of the hall. She turned back around and thought about what to do. Then she heard muffled cries coming from the end of the hall. No doubt that was Elena, but her voice was mixed in with the cries of a woman. Without thinking, Jackie flung open the door and limped down the hallway.
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ABCs and the guard had gone to the spare bathroom at the end of the hall and found that the lights still worked. They used the basic first aid supplies in the cabinet and checked their wounds, working hastily to clean and dress them in the dim light. The guard inspected the handguns he had retrieved from the embattled Excursion while they discussed their next move. “How are the two of us going to move all these women and a girl through the tunnels? Tie them hand to hand as usual?” he asked ABCs.
“We’ll just take the girl and the woman for now.”
“What about the Paititi Three?”
