Page 41 of Redemption
With a grunt, I place my good arm below my chest and push, forcing myself to get up. I need to get out of here, and I need to find the others. I’m unsteady as I get my feet under me, swaying like I was drunk and not out here auditioning for the latest Jackass movie, but at least I’m standing.
For now.
Nausea creeps back in as dizziness takes hold. The forest around me sways as my vision goes in and out of focus, my poor eyesight not helping my evolving migraine in the least.
Fucking hell.... Probably concussed... Just add it to the list of ailments at this point.
I search through the trees, up to the road and beyond, but all I see are broken-down vehicles lining the pavement and, unfortunately, no signs of Aly, Cole, or Hawk. If there were other vehicles driving alongside mine, surely, they would have stopped and checked on those in the accident, right? They would have seen us go off the road. I can’t imagine they’d just leave them there.
A sickening thought creeps down my spine.
If they were desperate enough, they might have simply stuck to their directive and continued on to their destination,not wanting to interrupt transport and provide a vulnerability for someone like me to expose. If that’s the case, they’d probably leave these guys for dead or for others to find and assist later on.
Shit.
I gently lift my left hand and squint... hard... forcing my eyesight to clear as I orient myself with the help of my watch’s compass. My vision is barely there, but I’m just able to make out the arrow indicating North to the left, which means to the right—the way we were headed—is South.
The same direction as that Phoenix Rising encampment.
Is that where these guys were from?
That one guy who tried to get us to stop was definitely sketchy, but could he be the type to pull something like this? Villains can come in every shape and size imaginable, so I guess anything’s possible. Even while wearing penny loafers. Actually, that makes sense. Only someone purely evil would be caught wearing business casual during an apocalyptic event. If it were up to Aly, I’m almost positive he’d be public enemy number one in her book.
Needing to find more answers, I trudge back to the vehicle, swaying and stomping the entire way. My knees almost buckle a few times as pain and exhaustion try to overtake me but I make it there.
The van is absolutely fucked and, upon inspection, I don’t believe I need to worry about the three I left in there. Even though they were wearing seatbelts and managed to stay in their seats during the crash, they’re all unconscious.
I walk around the side, searching for any clue that might be useful, and find one the moment my gaze meets thesliding door—the sight of the fiery emblem painted on the side confirming my suspicions.
Since I don’t see Aly and the guys or any other transport vehicle, they must have taken them there, to Phoenix Rising. That guy... What was his name? David? He seemed really intent on getting us to stay, not killing us. Especially when, not even a week ago, he said they needed people like us to join their community. Which means they’ve probably been taken into custody and now makes Phoenix Rising my top priority destination. I turn with unsteady steps and a desperate need for painkillers to head south, but—
“Hold it right there!” A man calls out, aiming a gun—a real one from the looks of it—right at me. His friends do the same.
Now, I must really be fucked up if I missed these assholes sneaking up on me. Where the fuck did they come from?
I hold my one hand up in a surrendering gesture, needing some time to count the number of assholes that are about to get involuntary facial reconstruction.
One. Two. Three... Eleven. Eleven assholes. Shit. With stealth, diversions, and an arsenal of weapons, I could probably handle them, but I’ve got nothing. Despite the fact that my wrists are no longer confined—the zip ties having been ripped apart at some point during the crash—my shoulder’s still fucked.
“On your fucking knees!” the first guy yells out, stomping closer to me, the gun still aimed at my head.
Fuck... Think. Think. Think.
Do I engage with them and risk potentially dying? Or do I comply and let them take me back to Phoenix Rising? If they have Aly and the guys, that’s where they’ll be. And, if I’m beingcompletely honest with myself, I’m not feeling the greatest and am in no shape to take on fucking eleven guys—unless that’s my double vision acting up...Fuck my head hurts—to then get there on my own. Especially not when that’s where I’ll be headed anyways.
Two birds, one stone.
Decision made, I slowly drop to my knees and raise my one hand to rest behind my head, the other remaining cradled against my chest. The leader of the group cautiously closes the distance between us, analyzing every little micromovement and twitch my body provides. The others stalk closer as well, forming a tight circle around me. I go to rise up to my feet—so they don’t drag me to their vehicles or whatnot and end up further hurting my back, my shoulder, or anything else the car crash already jacked up—but before I’m even able to lift my boot back onto the ground, my face meets the business end of one of their guns. White-hot pain radiates from my cheek before I’m hit the same way on the other side, the blow whipping my head in the opposite direction. My arm drops to join the other in front of me as warmth trickles down my face, but I’m not able to comprehend the red droplets falling onto my fingertips. Not when a final hit to the back of my skull forces my eyes to close for the third time.
Chapter Fourteen
Cole
“If your enemy is quick to anger, seek to irritate him.” — Sun Tzu
Well... I can honestly say I’ve never been inthisposition before.
The cramped compartment I’m trapped in is almost pitch black when I come to, the memory of being attacked back at Tryon Palace being the first thing on my mind. At first, I thought they shot a bullet through my chest. I thought it was over. The proximity to my heart was unmistakably close.
