Surviving Day By Day (Book 1): So it Begins (55 page)

Tabitha spoke up, “What the fuck are we supposed to do while y
ou two do this John Wayne thing…
Applaud?”

Alden reached over and touched her face lightly then smacked her on the top of the head. “NO, you and Beth will be right here and here.” Again pointing to spots on the map that were to the left and right of where Alden and Colt would be riding. “When we
are
clear
of
the camp we’ll peel off, You know what that means right Colt?”

Colt nodded and looked to Beth, “That means I turn left
or right, right?” Beth nodded.

Alden frowned, “You will go to the right and Beth will be over there, I’ll peel left and hook up with Tabby. As soon as we clear the center of camp you two girls open up with the M-16’s in full auto mode. Use short three round bursts and count each number will equal 3 shot so when you get to eight get ready to drop the clip and reload.”

Alden stood up and reached his hand out to help each one of them up. They stood in a circle looking at him and at the map. “I’m not going to lie to you; this is going to be bloody and very intense. Things may seem to happen at an extremely fast pace or it may seem like slow motion. One or more of us may not make it. It’s six against thirty six the odds are in their favor, but we have the edge we’re sober and we’re fighting as a unit.”

He turned to Charlie and Ceara. “You two have the most important job. You will set up here at the edge with the M-60 machine gun. Don’t open up till they start coming at you.” Ceara looked at him, “AT US, WHY
AT
US?” Alden placed a hand on her shoulder, “Honey that,” Pointing at the drawing, “Is going to be the only way out. They’ll all want out. These are punks, wannabe bikers and tough guys. When the shit hits the fan, they’re going to be every man for himself and this will be their only choice. When you see them bunch up open fire again short bursts. Ceara you count, but with you
r weapon
, for every burst
it will
equal ten rounds. Each belt has five hundred rounds. You should only need one belt but be ready to reload if you have too. Keep your second can open and next to you.
”

Alden turned to Charlie,
“
Charlie, remember if you reload you have to pull that bolt back once and then continue to fire.” He looked into each one of their eyes, “So any questions?”

Colt looked to the mapped again, he pointed to the rectangle, “What was that?” Alden looked to the map, “I couldn’t get close enough but I saw movement in there
,
so they may have some kind of livestock.” Colt nodded, “That may be an area we should avoid shooting on, wouldn’t hurt us to have a cow or two. Hell Alden, if we’re lucky they could be dairy cows and you would have fresh milk.”

Alden smiled, “I wouldn’t turn that down.”

Colt looked to his gun as if it were an alien being; he had never thought he would ever hold a weapon like this. He swung the gun over his shoulder and looked to Beth, “Can I talk to you for a minute?”

Beth looked around to everyone, “Well of course, what is it?”

Colt shuffled his feet, “I kind of meant in private.”

Beth looked surprised, “Oh, I’m sorry, yes of course.”

They walked off with Colt in the
lead;
he stopped a little bit away from everyone. He ran his fingers through his hair nervously, “Look
,
I just wanted to make sure you were ok with all this.” He leaned his shoulder on a tree, “Well, that isn’t really what I wanted…Look, I know we haven’t known each other for long but I do care about you and it would kill me if anything happened to you. I lost Jessica, Please don’t think I want you to replace her, no one could.
”

Colt ran his fingers through his hair again, he was pressed for time and didn’t know how to say just what he meant,
“
What I guess I am saying is that anytime something happens the first thing I think of is you and your safety. You have shown you can take care of yourself but I can’t help my thoughts. I’m sorry if I am upsetting you, I don’t want too. Just promise me you won’t take
any unnecessary risks, Please!”

Beth looked at Colt for the longe
st time and listened to him, wondering just why he was having such a hard time saying what he wanted
. When he had finished she walked over to him and gently ran her fingers through his hair. “You missed a spot,” she said with a sweet smile on her lips.

After removing her fingers from his hair, Beth gently cupped his face in the palm of her hand and spoke to him very softly, “Colt, you are the biggest part of the reason that I am doing this. You were the very first one I found and quite honestly
,
you were the first one I opened up to, then we had our first fight. So you’ve got to trust me on this one. I will not take any unnecessary risks but in turn
,
I need you to have my back because Alden is quite right. The odds are not looking too good right now. However, with Billy Bob and all his squirrely kin folk out there getting plastered as shit the odds will be changing. So
we got to be on the same page.”

Colt’s eyes got very big and then he shook his head agreeing with Beth.
Beth took his arm leading him back to the group,
“Look, I’ll tell you what….. We make it back home and after I get the kids taken care of how about you and I continue our little talk say over fishing or something fun, just the two of us?” Colt remembered how him and Jessica would do the same silly things together
and he smiled, “You got it.”

Charlie watched as Colt and Beth broke away from the group. He looked over to the prisoner tied to the tree, then to Ceara. “I kinda wish Beth would back off a little. I ain’t no baby that needs to be watched.”

“You suffered a concussion you goof.” He smiled weakly at her comment, “Goof? Is that your new term of endearment for me?” The two laughed and started to walk away to their own little corner. He watched as Tabitha huddle close to Alden and a thought came to him,
w
e are all breaking
up with those we’re closest to.

The girl on the tree started to shake again this time violently. He watched as she twisted and turned and finally heard her moan as her bowels released and the smell came off her. Charlie looked at Ceara, “I hate to say this but I feel sorry for her.”

He turned and went to the Stephanie
,
he
started to loosen her ropes. As soon as she had a movement she turned violently and kicked him in his groin. Charlie went to his knees and the woman tried to grab the hunting knife off his belt. Stephanie stretched and on the third try had the handle in her hand when she was suddenly slammed back against the tree. Ceara had grabbed her by her dirty hair and yanked her furiously off of Charlie. Grabbing the knife out of Stephanie’s hand she shoved it under her throat, “I’ve had it with you, you fucking cunt!”

She began to push the knife in her as the woman mumbled under the gag for her to do it. Ceara was about to drive the knife home when she was lifted off her feet. Alden had come up from behind, seeing what was happening he decided to step in.

He twisted with Ceara in his arms and placed her roughly on the ground. Grabbing the knife, “This is my prisoner not yours or Charlie’s. I and I alone will decide when and where she dies if she does.”

“GOD DAMN IT ALDEN SHE WAS GOING TO KILL HIM.” Alden looked at Charlie, “Get your ass up and get out of here and take her with you. If you’d done what I said, you’re nuts wouldn’t be in your fucking stomach right now.”

Charlie got up still holding himself
,
he looked at Ceara, “He’s right. You’re right. Fuck her, let him figure her out. I’m done trying to be nice to people.”

The two walked away as Tabitha stood next to Alden, “You ain’t lettin’ the bitch go are ya?”

“Not yet, but we are going to use her in this little plan.” He turned tightened the r
opes once more and walked away.

When Beth heard the commotion that had been going on she reached over and took Colt’s hand, “Come on….” After seeing Charlie walk away in agony Beth looked over at Colt and he looked as if he was going to hurl. “Alrighty then,” Beth was trying to make light of the situation but knew down deep inside that Alde
n was a thousand percent right.

Quickly Beth turned and went over to Charlie
,
“You alright?”

Charlie winced in pain and had a very distraught but mad look on his face. “Wrong question… sorry
…
Look… I am going to tell you the same thing I just told Colt over there…. let’s get this shit done and get back home where we all can relax a
nd I will make us a nice dinner!”

Charlie just looked at her then sarcastically said, “A big mac with fries.”

Beth looked over and said, “Well I was thinking about
tacos
but making a run for the border probably won’t be happening anytime soon.” Charlie looked over at Beth
and gave her a halfhearted smile
. Beth placed her hands on h
is arms, “Let’s do this thing!”

Ceara stayed right with Charlie but kept glaring at the girl and Alden. She couldn’t figure out why Alden would stop her from slicing the bitch’s throat. He got to kill the one guy without anyone saying a damn thing, why couldn’t she do the same thing. Charlie looked down at her, “Ceara
just
let it go, we got way too much on the line for you to be distracted.”

Ceara now turned the glare on him but soon switched it, “I know, but that bitch would kill us if she was given half a chance.” Charlie nodded, “I think I already proved that
,
but I know Alden, well sort of, and he has to have a plan or he wouldn’t have just left her there.”

Chapter 9 – Knock Knock

Tabitha kept right on preparing for the war that was about to be going on and while doing this she also kept a vigilant eye on the skank. When she had everything ready Tabitha began pacing back and forth looking to where she knew that all hell would be breaking loose then she occasionally looked back at the prisoner. A few minutes passed when she just suddenly stopped, “So Alden, how much longer, cause I think with everything that has gone on here that we need to start putting this plan into action.”

Tabitha looked back over at Charlie then looked back at Alden then continued a tad calmer, “I am just getting eager to get this fucking thing over with.” Realizing that what she just said sounded a bit antsy and then she spoke back up, “Whatever you say I will do
,
I know if we rush into this without thinking
,
we will more than likely lose someone and I don’t really want that
.”

Alden looked at the group, he knew they were eager and rest was not an option anymore. He walked over and untied two of the horses. Taking the reins he walked back and handed one set to Colt. “Alright let’s move out but quietly.”

He untied Stephanie from the tree and motioned for her to climb up on the horse, “You get ride for a bit cupcake,” he said in a hard tone, “But I control the reins. One wrong move and I’ll snap this halter hard which will cause ole Bessie here to rear up and knock you on your ass, at which point I’ll kill you.”

Stephanie glared at him then her eyes went soft again
,
Alden knew given half a chance she’d run straight to her gang and tell all. He also could tell that she knew her little gang of tough guys might be outmatched and she wanted to be on the winning side. As the group moved out Colt rode behind Stephanie and Alden. Charlie brought up the one horse that had the heavy weapons loaded on it. He could see the fires in the distance that did not seem as bright as they had been earlier. The voi
ces had died down too. Tonto le
d the group with Max by his side.

Charlie realized his palms were wet with sweat and his stomach was turning. The group had moved slowly for about a half hour when Charlie saw Alden raise a fist. He moved up next to him and there just through the trees he saw the camp. It was as Alden had described almost down to pens that Colt thought were livestock. Charlie pulled a pair of binoculars out and took a look. One pen did indeed have some cows, but the next one a little farther over had a disturbing site.

It wasn’t co
ws and sheep or even chickens, i
t was wanderers. Charlie whispered to Alden and pointed. “Boss, Take a look” Alden took the binoculars from Charlie and scanned the camp. He saw the two pens and then saw something Charlie hadn’t. It was then he was glad he’d picked Colt instead of one of the women.

He motioned for Colt to come over as Charlie held the reins to Alden’s horse. “Take a look.” Colt did and suddenly stopped, “MY GOD” Alden motioned him to be quiet. Colt handed the binoculars, “Alden they have women tied up, spread eagle.”

“I know, I know. We need to watch that. There were three but I think only one was alive the other two are wanderers.”

Colt shook his head, ‘That’s just sick, man.” Alden looked at him and Colt knew to keep his mouth shut.

Turning to the girls Alden motioned them forward. “Beth, you work yourself around to the right, Tabitha to the left
,
stay in the trees and be quiet. You got five minutes to get into position. When we pass through start firing and pick your targets and for God’s sake don’t shoot one another.”

The girls took their weapons off the pack horse and started out as Alden jerked Stephanie down. Holding her tight he looked at Ceara and Charlie, “When we move you two come up to the tree line.” Alden looked around and saw three big oak trees growing together in a bunch. “Set up behind them, it will give you good cover.”

Charlie nodded and started to grab the bag that held his machine gun as Ceara looked at Alden. “What about Maximus?” Alden’s face lightened for a
m
om
ent, “Honey you got Charlie, I got Colt, the girls have each other, Max will be with Tonto. Trust me Max will follow Tonto’s lead and he’ll be just fine.”

Ceara knelt down with Maximus, “You do what Tonto does, nothing more okay?” She rubbed his fur the hugged him. Charlie reached down, “Come on honey we need to go.”

As Ceara stood she looked at Alden one more time, ‘You promise?”

“I Promise,” he said softly.

Beth looked over at Tabitha and pulled her Beretta out from behind her, checked to make sure it was loaded then put it back where it was. Reaching down she picked her M-16 and held onto it tightly. Quickly, she gave Tabitha a nod then darted off into the night air moving with stealth speed and barely making a single solitary sound. After Beth had left Tabitha looked over at Alden and then once more at the others. This was now her family and by fucking God nothing was going to rip them away from her. Within a matter of seconds she too darted off just as Beth had done. It had taken less than four minutes before Beth and Tabitha got to their positions. When they were sure that they both were where they needed to be, Beth looked off in the distance while holding onto her M-16.

Beth
could see the whole entire camp and what was worse was what she could see the pens. As soon as she saw
what was in them,
her coal black orbs turned even blacker from the anger that was building within her. Beth realized right then and there that it was kill or be killed and she sure wasn’t goin
g to be the one getting killed.

Alden checked his watch and turned to Colt, “Mount Up.” Colt climbed on his horse. It stayed put and he felt more comfortable this time. Alden took the rope that had held Stephanie and began to unwind it from around her body lengthening it to about twenty five feet. He climbed on his horse and looked to Tonto and Max. He gave the horse a sligh
t nudge and they moved forward.

Colt looked at him, “Alden you ain’t going to do what I think you’re going to do?” Alden shook his head, “Naw
,
probably not.”

His eyes stayed focused at the camp ahead as they came out of the trees. Alden was walking his horse slowly with Tonto and Maximus in the lead. His eyes and ears alert to the sounds from the camp. The drunken singing had quieted down and he could hear the sounds of men and women moaning. The sounds of sex he thought. He watched as a man rose from a lawn chair by the fire and started to walk towards Tabitha’s side. Colt pointed and Alden shook his head, “He’s going to take a piss, that’s all.”

They had moved within fifty yards when the man returned and sat down picking up first his weapon then a bottle. Alden looked at Colt and could tell he was getting nervous and why he shouldn’t be
?
Here they were out in the open on a moonless night. They’r
e proverbial asses hanging out.

Twenty five yards out Alden stopped. He shifted his weight and looked to Colt, “You ready?” Colt nodded and looked to Stephanie, “What about her.”

“Oh her” Alden looked back
to Stephanie,
then back to Colt, “I’m going t
o let her go in a few minutes.”

Colt nodded looking forward, and sighed, “Let’s do this.”

Alden snapped his fingers and Tonto took off at a full run with Maximus right behind. Alden took the reins and whipped the horse which sped off pulling Stephanie off her feet and dragging her through brush. Colt followed suit before he realized what Alden was doing. Turning his head back for a
m
oment
he saw Stephanie’s body bouncing off the rocks and bushes. He looked to Alden just as they reached the camp he heard Tonto and Maximus start to bark.

Snapping his head forward he heard the first shot come from the guy who had been sitting in the chair. The man fired straight into the air. The second shot came from his right and seemed it was aimed harmlessly behind the dogs. The horses were running full speed as they made it to the center of the camp and Alden let go of Stephanie’s rope and she rolled into the campfire. Embers flew from that and landed on some of the tents. Stephanie began to scream as her clothes caught fire. The rope broke loose and she tried to stand and started running covered with flames and screaming.

She fell into a couple of tents which in turn immediately caught fire. The people inside came crawling out and kicked at her to get her off their tents only to cause more flames and embers to fly off her.

Alden fired his pistol at the man from the lawn chair whose head in turn exploded. Others were starting to come out of the tents running, some naked some still trying to pull their pants on and hold onto their rifles at the same time. Colt was holding on as a shot seemed to pass right by him. His focus was to get to the other side. Alden was firing methodically and one by one the enemy was dropping. Alden reached down into his side pocket and put his pistol away and produced two small round looking b
alls. He held them to his teeth, then
spit
; he
dropped them and yelled, “RIDE BOY
,
RIDE!”

Colt saw Alden’s horse pull ahead as he was whipping it with the reins. Colt followed suit. As the two reached the edge of the camp and began to peel off Colt heard the explosions. His horse bucked and ran out of fear to get away from them as Colt tried hard to steer him the way he wanted. Hearing the gunfire from the woods he knew Tabitha and Beth had started to join in. Getting his horse turned he could see the fire from the blasts and hear the screams of injured people. He also saw Alden who had not turned away but rather seemed to have turned around and was
getting ready to head back in.

Colt reined up not sure if he should follow Alden or Alden’s orders, but Colt knew Alden would have a fit if he thought Colt risked himself trying to help him. Colt pulled the horse around and headed for Beth’s area.

The horse skid to a stop as Colt pulled up on the reins as he jumped down. Screams and chaos was going on behind him in the camp, “BETH!! WHERE ARE YOU?? BETH??”

Beth quickly stood, waved and she dropped back down. Colt bolted to where she was, jumping over some brush and landing near her, “What the hell is Alden doing?”

Beth shoved Colt’s M-16 to him, “I don’t know but we got to cover him!”

Colt pulled her back, “I have to go in there, I don’t want to say why but I have to do something and I’ll be back!”

He jumped out of brush and made his way into the
camp;
he could hear all kinds of gunfire and then realized he was shooting too. He got to the first set of trees that held the women, this one was a wanderer. She was gagged but that was the only clothes any of the three had. It was the first time Colt felt sorry for any wanderer other than Jessica. “No one, not even your kind should be treated like this.” He put his revolver to her head and pulled the trigger, he did the same to the other wanderer but when he got to the third
she was crying trying to scream
she was human.

Colt yanked the gag out of her mouth and she started screaming for him to help her, he was yanking on ropes trying to untie her. He had her first arm undone and he reached to untie her first foot to allow her some balance. As soon as he stood she screamed and he immediately ducked as a reaction, when he stood the woman was limp with a bullet hole in her chest. Colt quickly looked around and felt a bullet grazed his head, “Fuck!”

He ran back shooting anyone he saw till he landed beside Beth. “I can’t believe I risked my life to save her
,
just to have her get fucking shot!”

Beth was kneeling there with the most confused
and pissed
look on her face. “Ummmm YA! I CAN’T BELIEVE THAT YOU DID THAT TOO!!! I mean if all it took was for me to get butt ass fucking naked for you to risk your life for me. Well, let me just strip right fucking now!!!!!!”

Just then bullets were buzzing over the tops of their heads. “Well I am sorry alright?!” asked Colt very sarcastically but tilted his head when he thought about her naked.

Beth smiled and immediately said, “Let’s save this for later and try to get the fuck out of here alive shall we?”

Colt looked back to the camp and took aim with the M-16 doing just as Alden told the girls, he had it on semi-auto and swung as he shot. On the third sweep he saw guy taking aim for Maximus as the dog took down another man. He pulled the trigger without hesitation this time and the man fell with three bullet holes in him. “That was
for Ceara, you son of a bitch!”

Several in the group were now under some kind of cover and firing back, “Beth, we got to get better cover or we are going to get shot!”

They peeled back just as a group darted trying to leave the camp. Alden’s horse came out the other end of the camp without him. Tonto had taken three or four of the bad guys down. Sounds of men yelling
rang through the early morning air
, “GET HIM
,
WHERE THE FUCKED HE GO NOW?” Alden’s silhouette would appear from behind a vehicle or tent then disappear again. He had his knife out now and was moving through the carnage with amazing speed. Hand to hand combat was his field and he was killing the men as one would swat flies.