Snow & Ash: Endless Winter (19 page)

His heart bashed against his ribs and his breathing was a ragged rasp. He’d been throwing himself full tilt down the mountain to catch up with Sasha. He’d like to believe that she wouldn’t do what Skylar accused her of, but he’d seen the ugly jealous look in her eyes every time she looked at Skylar.

Sasha was only eight when the bombs dropped and she’d grown up listening to Dads and Pops constant reminders to not trust anyone else and always put their group first. It wasn’t impossible that one jealous fifteen year old would do exactly what Skylar had said.

The road was just ahead, he could see it through the trees. Once he hit pavement he’d make even better time and should spot Sasha up ahead. He reached out and grabbed the last tree before the pavement started and used it to pivot towards town but the glimpse he saw of the road had him swinging all the way around and back in the direction he had just come before diving down behind some dead bushes.

He lays there and tries to catch his breath and figure out what to do. He just barely caught a look at the people in the road but Belle and Sasha were easily recognised by their red hair. So was Mickey from his size and sheer ugliness. Marsh could only assume the other man was Ted. That was confirmed a few minutes later when he heard Ted bark at Sasha to move faster as they passed close by to his hiding place on the way back up the mountain.

What should he do? He could follow Sasha and Ted back up to Skylar’s and try to beat them there or he can try and free Belle from Mickey. He really wished he had taken that rifle from Skylar now. The only other thing he could think to do was get back to town and try and get help from his Dads and Pops if he’d made it back.

Marsh peeps around the bushes and sees Mickey sitting on the trailer with Belle at his feet on the pavement. Ok, they’re not going anywhere until Ted gets back which will take at least an hour and a half. That is if Skylar doesn’t shoot him as soon as the door opens so town it is. He needs help and he needs to let his Dads know what’s happening.

Marsh carefully moves deeper into the dead forest until he’s far enough in not to be seen from the road before paralleling it to get around Mickey and Belle. As soon as he’s far enough along he leaves the forest for the road and then runs as fast as he can back to town.

“We have to move faster!” Lance yells at the ragged group of refugees that he had convinced to flee the hotel.

As soon as the temperature had started to rise this morning he had left the ski chair operator outpost building that had saved his life. The scouting trip had gone wrong after the second day when one of Ted’s men had tried to put a knife in his back. That guy had ended up with an arrow jammed through his own neck for his effort. Lance had already seen enough of the group of savages that were living in the resort to know they were a solid threat. The screams of their victims echoed across the empty ski runs as they were cooked over huge bonfires and then consumed. Lance had to get his family away from the tempting target the hotel was to this group.

He should have been back three days ago but he was forced to take cover when the temperature started to drop so quickly. He knew exactly what it meant from previous years when a radiation cloud had passed through. It was sheer luck that he learned of an even worse fate. He had to pass fairly close to the resort to make it back to town and saw the group of savages massing for an attack. He got all the information he needed on their target when he came across one of the animals alone in the trees relieving himself. After getting what he needed from him he broke his neck and left him to the animals before sprinting for home.

What he found at the hotel was chaos. The generators were dead, Ted and Mickey were gone and his husband was chained by the ankle to a wall. No one had seen any of the kids for days and Lance didn’t know where to begin to look for them. He had to push the devastation he felt to one side and deal with what he could control. He came very close to just taking Ethan and running, leaving everyone in the hotel to their fate but his husband convinced him that there were still good people here, not to mention children.

He yelled and screamed and bullied them to get them all moving and out of the hotel and town. They headed north just because it was away from where the savages were coming from. Lance and Ethan figured they would get everyone far enough away and then regroup and try and find some kind of shelter that would temporarily hold everyone.

Lance had to look down at his feet in order to not yell at them to move faster again. He was starting to think that he and Ethan would have to leave the group behind for their own safety when a murmur flowed through the crowd. His bow was off his shoulder with an arrow notched in an instant as he scanned in all directions for the threat he knew was coming. What he saw instead was his son sprinting towards him.

…end interlude

Marsh had been gone for over an hour and I hadn’t spoken to Rex once. Realistically, I knew Sasha’s possible betrayal wasn’t his fault but I had finally let myself trust someone and it was hard to swallow. Besides, he seemed to be just as mad at me from the way he reacted. As if I wasn’t supposed to worry about my home and brother falling to men who had no problem leaving children to die in the woods.

There was no way I could just sit and wait to see if Marsh would bring her back so I kept busy cleaning up breakfast dishes, giving the boys quick showers and milking Nods. I swear I must have wiped the same area of counter in the kitchen ten times before AIRIA finally announced two people, male and female had entered the perimeter.

Rex jumped to his feet and pumped a fist in the air.

“I told you he’d bring her back! Now you’ll see she wasn’t going to do what you said.”

I just shook my head at him. “AIRIA open the airlock and let them in. There’s no need to decontaminate.”

I was in too much of a hurry to hear Sasha’s explanation to worry about such a small amount of exposure. They’d only been out there for less than two hours and the cloud was gone.

Rex and I watched the red light above the door in silence. The boys had a movie playing at a low volume but their eyes were on us as we waited. Finally, the light turned green and the door slid to the side. Sasha came flying through like she had been pushed from behind and I jumped back so she wouldn’t crash into me. My eyes shot back to the door to see why Marsh had been so rough with her and instead found a gun pointed at my face and Marsh wasn’t holding it.

Rex yelled out and backed away when he saw who was standing in the door. I didn’t even need him to tell me that this was Ted. Rex looked from him to Sasha who was getting to her feet with total confusion on his face.

“Sasha, what did you do?” He asked chokingly.

Sasha got to her feet and sent Rex a look filled with apology.

“I did what I had to, to save my mom. She’s all I have.” She turned to Ted and stood up taller. “There, I kept my end up, now can I have my mom back? You promised!”

Ted let out one of the ugliest laughs I’ve ever heard. There was no surprise at all in me at what he told her.

“Now why would I do that? I now have the keys to the kingdom and some pretty little princesses to keep me company. No, I think I’ll just let Mickey keep your Mom as a consolation prize for me dumping him.” He laughed again as Sasha dropped to her knees and started to weep, then turned to me. “You must be Skylar, just so you know; Sasha doesn’t like you very much. Nice digs you got here. Greedy little girl to have kept all this to yourself but Sasha tells me you decided to share after all. That won’t be happening, at least not with anyone but ME!”

I’m numb, I feel nothing. This is exactly what Dad had said would happen if we tried to help others. My voice is flat when I speak.

“AIRIA, voiceprint Ted. He is an intruder and threat to our safety. Lock down.”

Ted’s looking at me with contempt but starts swiveling his head around as thunking noises come from every door in the living quarters. There is now no way he can enter the cavern or exit to the outside without my permission.

“What just happened? What did you do?” he yells at me.

I give him a level look, free of fear.

“Did you really think you could just walk into my home with your little gun and take over? Did you really think it would be that easy? This is a military grade bunker, run and maintained by an artificial intelligence system. Do you think you can negotiate with a computer? We are now on lock down with all doors locked and sealed. You will have no access to any of the supplies or technology in this bunker.” I half turn away from him and address the ceiling. “AIRIA, monitor vital signs, any harm to myself or Ben…” I catch Rex’s agonized look but look away. “Or Matty and you are instructed to flood this room with a lethal amount of gas to terminate the threat.”

I turn back to Ted who’s not looking so cocky anymore but still points his gun at me.

“We go, you go.”

He and the others have no way of knowing that I’m bluffing, at least I think I am. As far as I know AIRIA doesn’t have that capability, but I’m not a hundred percent certain. The fact that she didn’t acknowledge my command makes me think I’m right.

Ted waves his gun around at the others before grinning.

“Well, it looks like we’re in a stalemate then. I can’t hurt you and the kids without dying but I’m not leaving with nothing, so let’s just get down to negotiations then. What’s stopping me from shooting your friends here to get you to co-operate? You didn’t mention them to your fancy computer.”

I look down at Sasha with disgust and pull her to her feet.

“Go for it. Do what you want with this one. She had no problem putting two children in danger to get what she wanted. As for Rex, well, I’ll feel really bad about it but he brought this viper into my home so his fate is not my problem.”

I don’t let myself look in his direction when I say such hateful words. I can only hope he knows I’m bluffing and trying to stall for time. I just need for Ted to relax and let his guard down. If I can get to my rifle or get the boys out of this room I might be able to do this monster some damage.

“You know, I think I believe you. You’re pretty cold, I like that in a woman. So, where do we go from here?” He asks before giving Sasha a shove towards the back of the room and out of his way.

I don’t answer him as he starts to poke around the room. He heads over to the kitchen but keeps his gun pointed in our general direction. When he looks away for a second to look into a cupboard he opens, I wave the boys closer and take a step towards the back wall. I’m frozen in place when he glances back.

“Got any grub in this place?”

“Sure, there’s plenty in the fridge and even more in the pantry beside it.” I tell him.

He gives me and the others a menacing look and waves his gun at us again before turning and opening the pantry door. While he’s looking inside, I nod at Rex towards the back wall where the door to the cavern is and he immediately moves closer as I take another step back. When I see Ted turning towards us I call over to him.

“There’s cooked bacon in the fridge left over from breakfast.”

Ted lets out a whistle of admiration and immediately turns and pulls the door to the fridge open and bends over to look inside.

This is it, this is the time.

“AIRIA, all lights off!” I say just above a whisper followed by “AIRIA, open living quarter cavern entrance door!”

The lights go out and I hear the thunk of the lock opening before the sound of the door sliding open. I’m spinning and rushing to where I think the door is. I barrel into one of the boys and push him ahead of me before smacking my elbow hard on the side of the door. The boys and Sasha are crying out and Ted’s yelling behind us. I feel strong hands shove me through and I fall to the floor of the cavern just as there’s a flash as Ted’s gun goes off. I catch a fleeting glimpse of Rex’s outline in the door before he drops. I think he’s made it through so I yell.

“AIRIA, shut the door!”

As soon as I hear it slide close I yell for all lights on. It takes my eyes a moment to adjust again and when they do I let out a scream of defeat. Sasha and Matty are cowering on the floor beside me but Rex and Ben aren’t here. What causes my heart to almost stop is the fine spray of red droplets that are on the floor between me and the door.

I gotta think, because that’s blood. I’ve got to do something…BEN!

I scramble to the door on my knees and rest my palms and forehead on it. What now, what do I do now?

“AIRIA, how are the vital signs for Rex and Ben?”

“Skylar Ross, Rex Larson’s vital signs indicate that he is in distress. Benjamin Ross has an increased heart rate but all other signs are within normal range.”

Ok, ok Ben’s fine so that’s Rex’s blood but how bad is it and what can I do?

“AIRIA, can you tell how bad Rex is hurt?”

“Skylar Ross, Rex Larson’s vital signs indicate he is in distress but are not life threatening at the moment.”

I take a deep breath. Ok he’s ok for now but what will Ted do?

“AIRIA, patch me through to the living quarter’s speakers.”

“Skylar Ross, channel open.”

I can hear them. I can hear Ted ranting and swearing and glass breaking. Underneath that I can hear Ben’s muffled crying and what I think is Rex moaning.

“Ted, TED! Can you hear me? Shut up and listen to me!” When I can’t hear him anymore I continue. “Same deal applies except now it includes Rex. If you hurt either of them or Rex dies from his wounds, I’ll gas you! So you better give him a towel to stop the bleeding. Now, I’m going to put you together one hell of a care package and you’re going to take it and leave.”

I wait for a reply and it comes quickly. “Why the hell should I believe you after that stunt you just pulled? You list off everything I’m getting and I’ll let you know if it’s good enough!”

I wrack my brain for the magic item that’s going to make him happy. Food, water, guns, comfort items all that’s easy but what will make it
irresistible
to him? I’m trying to think of something, anything when a hand clutches at my arm making me flinch. It’s Sasha, her face is smeared with snot and tears.

“Just give him everything. Get Rex out of there and let him have it all!”

I growl at her and shove her back to the floor. I practically spit at her.

“Shut up! You shut up. This is all your fault, all of it! You get no say in anything! That’s my brother in there and this is MY home so you SHUT THE FRACK UP!!!”

She pushes herself back away from me with a white face and gathers Matty up against her like a shield so I turn back to the door. I open my mouth to speak and then close it. Frack! The speaker was still on so that means Ted heard all that. Well he’s dead wrong if he thinks I’m giving him everything. When this is all done they’re all out, all of them! It’s been just three days since I let outsiders in to my home and my trust and look what happened. No, it’s going to go back to the way it was before and I’m going to forget there is an outside.

“Ted, are you listening? Here’s your list. Food, water, guns, blankets, booze and survival gear. That’s what I’m offering.”

I hear Ted bellow out a laugh. “Are you nuts? You think I’m going to take the few bags of goodies that I can carry and leave all this?”

My mouth hardens and I lean my head against the door.

“No Ted, you’re going to take as much as a pickup truck can carry and drive it out of here.”

There’s silence coming through the speakers for what seems like a thousand heartbeats before he finally responds.

“DONE! But Skylar, the boy stays with me until I’m in that truck!”

I let out the breath I was holding and sag against the door.

“I’m going to need time to fill the truck so make sure Rex’s bleeding is under control. He dies, you die.”

I hear him say, “Yeah, yeah, yeah” through the speakers so I have AIRIA disconnect. I pull myself to my feet and slowly turn around. With the deal made all the rage drains out of me and I’m left tired and feeling beaten down. I look down on Sasha dispassionately but frown at Matty’s scared tear covered face.

“Matty, I’m going to get Rex out of there. He’ll be fine.”

He looks up at me with big sad green eyes that perfectly match his brothers and asks, “And Ben too? Ben’s going to be ok too, right?”

I give him a reassuring nod but my voice is weary.

“You bet, buddy. Rex and Ben will be just fine.”

Sasha watches me warily, waiting to see what I do next. I can’t wait to never see her face again but first there’s work to do.

“Get up. Get up and help me load the truck so we can end this.” There’s no bite to my words but they’re firm.

She pushes Matty away and gets to her feet, a spark of anger coming into her eyes.

“Why should I help you? Do it yourself!” I just stare her down and wait. Sure enough she’s got more to say. Her face takes on an ugly sneer. “Like you said, this is your house. Skylar Ross, perfect girl in her perfect home. Not so perfect anymore is it? How’s it feel to have to deal with reality, cuz this is the kind of stuff the rest of us have had to deal with since the world changed. You think you’re so special? You think you can just swoop in and take my family, take Rex?”

Ahhhh, there it is. The real reason all of this has happened. The envy and jealousy of a fifteen year old girl. I really, really want to just punch her in the face but it’s just not worth it so instead I try and put it in perspective for her.

“Yup, that’s me living the dream! It was a perfect life while I watched my mom bleed out in front of me the first day. I was ten. It was even more perfect when one of the people from your town shot my dad in the back, for his boots. I was thirteen and all alone with a two year old. Yup, perfect. It was so perfect that I decided to risk my life and my brother’s and my home to help your people.

Sasha, I never did anything to you but try and help. You came into my home and acted like a spoiled child. You were so jealous and petty over a BOY that you brought a dangerous man here and put two little kids and the rest of us in danger. For what, for revenge, to get your mom back? How’d that work out for you?” I shake my head at her in exasperation. “You will help me get that truck loaded because I’m done with your sick, sad, pathetic drama or I’ll just sweeten the deal with Ted by including YOU.” At her horrified look, I give her a cold smile. “After everything you’ve done, I wouldn’t even feel bad about it. Now let’s go!”