Inhuman - Book 1 Read online

  After about ten seconds, I finally felt a moment of serenity so I squeezed the trigger.

  I looked away from the scope, only to see the truck continuing straight on like nothing happened. I was sure that I’d missed.

  Did I not even hot the truck?

  What the hell?

  As I went to line up another shot, it slowly veered to the left and then crashed into the woods – hitting so hard the back of it hopped up as the front crushed in around a large tree.

  I had to laugh. “Holy shit, it worked.”

  I directed Olivia not to move and quickly made my way closer – periodically looking through the scope as I walked.

  As a pillar of smoke began climbing into the sky, the passenger door flung open. A man staggered out, but only took two wobbly steps before he collapsed. His head was bleeding profusely.

  When he dug his fingers into the dirt and tried to push himself up, I aimed and fired – hitting him in the back and sending him down again.

  She said there were three brothers left, so I have to assume there’s at least one more – unlikely that they’d leave him behind.

  Move slowly…

  The road was mounded up a few feet above the ground, so I went to the opposite side and used the small rise of it as cover as I leaned down and crept closer – still seeing no signs of movement.

  Maybe they actually did leave the other brother behind.

  All I could do was move forward until I was directly across the road from the truck. The frontend had stopped smoking, the lights were still on and the driver was leaned up against the steering wheel. There was a bullet hole in the windshield at about chest level.

  Luckily, I stayed behind the rise of road because I soon spotted the top of a man’s head – then frightened eyes. When he saw me, he started moving around – most likely trying to get to a gun.

  I wasted no time sending a bullet through the door, but I must have missed because before I could send another round into the chamber he rose up and proceeded to fire back.

  I ducked and had to catch myself from almost falling. Then I set down the rifle and pulled out my pistol. I took a drawn out breath and rose up so I could shoot at the door again, but I immediately heard him firing – the bullets whizzed past and kicked up dirt right next to my face just as I dropped down again.

  We were at somewhat of a stalemate. All I had to do was put a few more shots through the door and he was done – the truck had no backseat so there was literally nowhere for him to hide. But if I stood up to try, he’d probably get me, so I just stayed down and decided to wait him out.

  If he tries to get out and run or sneak up on me I’ll hear it.

  Wait… He’s scared, his brothers are dead – maybe I should try and talk to him.

  I briefly mulled it over and then yelled out, “We just want the girl!”

  “Fuck you! You’re gonna die!” he screamed before firing another shot in my direction.

  So much for that. I guess he’s pissed because he knows all his piece of shit brothers are dead.

  No way I’ll be able to reason with him.

  I tried to come up with a way to draw him out of the truck. I even thought of looking back and attempting to count how many shots he’d taken. Only problem with that plan was that he could have simply had more bullets, so my only real option was to stick with the plan of hoping that he did something stupid.

  There was a long stint of silence before he eventually yelled out, “Alright, man, look – we got each other! I ain’t givin you that girl but, if you leave, I won’t try nothin – just let me go back home!”

  Fuck you.

  It was a tempting offer, but I found myself wanting to kill him – to know he suffered, just like when I killed his brother. I had to keep from trying to form ideas on how to only wound him and stay on task. I needed to kill him, and quickly.

  I heard three more shots, which pretty much suggested he was just trying to trick me… Didn’t do a very good job.

  I never answered him. I wanted him to know that I had no interest in talking – that one of us was going to die. I was hoping that it would scare him into making a bad decision.

  To my utter amazement, I heard Olivia’s voice come from by the truck “He’s dead!”

  I jerked my head around in confusion and cautiously got to my feet – she’d snuck around the other side while he was focused on me.

  Holy shit… The three shots were from her.

  I climbed up onto the road and ran over. “Are you okay?”

  She nodded and remarked, “Pieces of shit” as she scornfully grimaced and stared down at their bodies.

  I guess she’ll be able to help after all.

  Also means she’s dangerous.

  “So you’re absolutely sure it’s just a woman and an old man left?”

  “Yeah but, like I said, she’s a psychopath and a master of deception. Don’t let her get to you. She’ll try to play the innocent, scared girl act. It’s total bullshit and she’s just as good with a gun as anyone else.” Her brow dropped. “She’s the one who tricked us into going there.”

  What the fuck?

  “I’ll remember that. Now help me search them and empty their guns. Apparently they all have the same type of revolvers.”

  I was hoping to find some 9mm’s for my Walther – no such luck. Having to drop down to a revolver would be a huge disadvantage but it was only matter of time, so I took another one and tucked it in the back of my pants.

  No rifles either?

  Damn.

  I turned to Olivia as I emptied out the gun I’d found in the dash of the truck. “Hopefully, once I tell the old man we killed all his sons he’ll give up your sister to save himself and his daughter.”

  “I don’t know. I haven’t had any contact with him… I could just hear him yelling from upstairs. I think he drinks a lot, but he’s not like them. At least I don’t think so – otherwise he would have come downstairs and taken turns with-”

  I don’t even want that shit in my head.

  I stopped her. “Yeah, well it sounds like the whole family is fucked in the head. We’re gonna get your sister back. I don’t care if I have to kill them – they deserve it.”

  She just looked at me, clearly in agreement and ready to keep moving. Although, I could still tell that she was scared of me.

  I can’t forget – the way I killed that man in front of her – she must think I’m crazy… dangerous… She’s gotta be planning on shooting me or running away as soon as we got her sister back.

  Either way, I won’t stop you, Olivia…

  The patch of woods lining the front of the property was so thick and tall that it completely blocked the view of the house. Since it was dark and we needed good cover, when we reached the driveway, I said, “Let’s follow it from the woods” and we made our way into the dense tree-line right next to it.

  It was so dark that I could barely see anything. I actually had to keep a hand out in front of me to ensure that I didn’t run into any trees. I could hear Olivia’s footsteps close behind – I felt like an absolute moron for allowing it, but I continued on anyway.

  Nah, if she’s gonna do it she’ll wait until after I help her…

  After another fifty yards or so, I saw a dim light in the distance, barely illuminating the front porch of an old house.

  Olivia asked, “Do you see that?”

  “Yeah.”

  “One of them must be standing outside with an oil-lamp, waiting for the others to get back. Everyone around here has oil-lamps.”

  This is perfect. They might as well stand out in the open with flashing lights on their heads.

  “Keep going until I say stop. Don’t fire that gun.”

  She snapped back, “Please, I’m not stupid. You already forget I saved you back there?”

  “No – just be quiet and do what I say. I’m the one with the rifle.”

  Even though I have no idea what I’m doing.

  The woods eventually turne
d into a cleared out front yard with a near hundred-foot stretch to the house… Which means a lot of time for them to shoot at us with absolutely nothing to hide behind along the way.

  I raised my rifle and brought my eye to the scope. I could see the daughter sitting on the railing around the front porch. Her feet were swinging. She was smoking a cigarette and holding the oil-lamp.

  Must not be all that bright if she’d sit out in the open like that…

  And how did she not hear the shots?

  Unless she just happened to be inside at the time…

  Olivia loudly whispered, “What are you waiting for? Just kill the bitch already!”

  Of course, I wanted to. Judging by the pieces of the story Olivia presented it was clear that we were dealing with some truly evil and disturbed people. It was hard not to.

  But the logical section of my brain kicked in. “No. The father might lose his shit and kill your sister.”

  “Well then what are we going to do?”

  “I’m thinking – be quiet.”

  “Tell me to be quiet one more time” she muttered under her breath.

  And what? You’ll shoot me in the back?

  I didn’t feel like I had any other choice but to try and talk to them, and I already had an idea for what to say about her brothers. That man’s sons… Auron had taught me something very important – One of greatest weapons we have is the power of deception.

  I cleared my throat and yelled out as loudly as I could, “We have your brothers! Go inside and get your father so we can talk about this!”

  I brought my eye back to the scope. She froze, looked around the yard, dropped her cigarette and rushed inside, tripping along the way. The oil lamp smashed against the doorjamb and everything went dark. My ears just barely picked up the sound of the door slamming shut.

  Olivia remarked bleakly, “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

  Of course I don’t… But who the hell would in a situation like this?

  All I did know was that I couldn’t allow myself to be guided by emotion, just as she obviously was at the moment.

  When I looked through the scope again, I could see a light moving around inside the house.

  “They’re about to come out, so don’t say anything.”

  The front door eased open and a young girl appeared – her height alone told me that she was much, much younger than Olivia. Who could have only been the father was following close behind with a gun to the back of her head – hiding behind her like a coward.

  Behind a child.

  The oil-lamp wasn’t surrounding them with enough light for me to really see everything, but I saw enough.

  He was so much taller than she was. If I had been slightly more confident I might have taken the shot, but I couldn’t risk getting another child killed. The very thought of doing such a thing began to compromise my steadiness. I had to just see how it played out first.

  The man asked, “Where are my boys?”

  I came up with what I felt was a good lie – something that wouldn’t send him into a blind rage, but make him feel like he had to hurry if he wanted to save one of them. I also found it wise to trick him into thinking I had a large group of people with me.

  “We have them tied up and locked in a shed by the general store! I had to shoot one of them in the arm! He’s alive, but bleeding pretty badly. Just give me the girl and we’ll leave so you can go get them!”

  He paused briefly and then pulled the girl closer to him – I had the crosshairs right on his nose. I was literally ninety-fucking-nine percent sure that I could make the shot.

  Don’t do it.

  You don’t have the right to gamble with her life.

  You’re just a regular guy.

  “How do I know they ain’t dead and you’ll kill us once I let her go!” He began violently coughing – to the point where he temporarily moved the gun away from her head. The oil lamp hanging from his wrist was swinging back and forth.

  It doesn’t sound like he has too much time left anyway.

  After seeing him put a gun to that little girls head, I wanted nothing more than to kill him after her let her go if I could get a shot. Otherwise, we’d just leave. There was no need to push our luck. I’d just have to take comfort in the fact that he was far too old to hurt anyone without the assistance of his sons.

  “I’m telling you, one of your boys is dying! If you wanna get to him in time just let the girl walk away!”

  I looked back at Olivia. She hadn’t said anything or made even the slightest sound, so I suddenly felt the need to see if was still there. The whites of her eyes were practically glowing in the moonlight.

  He didn’t respond so I took a chance and threatened him a little. “I could put one between your eyes right now! But I’d rather let you go save your boy and live your life!”

  He ducked down, tightened his grip on the girl and started backing toward the door.

  “Fuck. He’s taking her back inside” I loudly whispered to myself.

  As soon as he got in the doorway, he threw her to the ground and slammed it closed behind him. Then the lights inside the house disappeared. I actually took a while for my brain to accept that he’d really let her go…

  “He let her go. Just don’t go out there yet. Call her to us – I’m sure he has a rifle too.”

  Olivia crept forward in a squatting position, attempting to get a better look. I did my best, but I couldn’t even see her through the scope anymore.

  She yelled out, “Nina! Just come forward and I’ll find you!”

  Her voice filled the open area, somehow having been amplified – there was nothing other than silence in return.

  I kneeled there, scanning the front yard with my scope when, finally, I saw some movement – then the outline of a small girl slowly coming toward us, holding her hands out in front of her to navigate through the darkness.

  I turned to Olivia, said, “Stay here” dropped my rifle and sprinted out into the yard.

  It probably scared the little girl half to death, but I just ran up to her as quickly as I could, threw her over my shoulder and took off back to Olivia.

  She burst into tears and began struggling… She’s so weak… I could only assume it was from starvation.

  As I ran, I said, “I’m taking you to Olivia” but I had feeling she didn’t really hear me – she was too frightened and panicked.

  When I got back to the tree line, Olivia rushed out so I gently put Nina down. Olivia began to cry as well once they reunited – while hugging her as tightly as they could. “I’m so sorry, Nina. Everything’s going to be okay now. This man is helping us, but we have to run away now, alright?”

  I said, “I’ll carry her for a while, just get my rifle.”

  The moment Olivia picked it up, shots started coming from the house. I grabbed up Nina again and headed for the driveway, knowing that we could move substantially faster without having to navigate through the trees in the dark. “Just go! Run! Use the driveway!”

  When the shots stopped, I called out, “Don’t slow down! They could decide to come after us!” Then I remembered the truck that the first two brothers left in front of the general store. “We just have to make it to that truck by the store, so run as hard as you can!”

  By the time we made it around half way, I had to slow down to a walk. The weight of the girl had my knee and shoulder in agony, making it painfully obvious that I hadn’t healed as much as I’d thought.

  And Olivia, being rather small and very light, was already about ten yards ahead. When she noticed that I fell behind she stopped, so I waved her on. “Just get to the truck. I got shot in the shoulder a few weeks ago so I’m gonna have to slow down! Turn it around and come get us, don’t wait!”

  Nina cried out, “No, Olivia, don’t leave me!” and brought her skidding to a halt.

  I pleaded, “Just go! They could be coming after us!”

  Olivia seemingly took a few seconds to decide whether or not to trust me. �
��I’m sorry Nina! I have to!” Then she continued on, substantially picking up the pace.

  Nina reacted by crying hysterically and trying to get away from me again. If not for her being so weak, she probably would have due to my shoulder. “It’s gonna be okay, Nina.” I spun around to check for anyone following us and then forced myself back to a slow jog. “You’ll see her again in a minute. I promise you.” When I saw that Olivia was already out of sight, I gnashed my teeth and pushed even harder.

  GO!

  You’ll be able to sit down soon...

  To my near staggering relief, it wasn’t long before I heard the roar of an engine and saw the headlights flying at us. More than anything, I wanted to collapse, but I called on the last bit of energy I had to move even faster until we met up.

  Twenty seconds...

  Ten seconds…

  I put Nina down, flung open the door, helped her inside and then jumped in. Olivia cut the wheel, floored it, spun the truck around and kept her foot all the way down. After checking to see if Nina was alright, I closed my eyes and leaned my head back against the seat… I was actually seeing stars.

  As she swerved around the abandoned cars, making my body shift back and forth, she said in a panicked voice, “Oh come on, it’s almost out of gas! The empty light is going to come on any minute! What should we do?”

  I didn’t even open my eyes. I simply let out a long sigh and said, “Just keep driving until it runs out.”

  Day 68

  It was just past midnight, and I’d only had my eyes open for about a minute when the truck briefly shuddered and then died. I was thinking of what to do next.

  Shit… where are we?

  Nina was leaned up against Olivia, fast asleep. I couldn’t bear to look at her. She was so small – so young.

  How the fuck can people do that?

  When Olivia saw that I was awake, she promptly asked, “So, what now? We’re in the middle of the woods… uh… What’s your name, by the way?”

  “Chris.”

  She reached around Nina and touched my shoulder, looking me in the eyes as she said, “Thank you so much.”