3. Riot
three
Riot
3 0 minutes prior…
My eyes flutter open to a dimly lit sky before the pain flooding my body registers. I groan out, taking stock of anything seriously wrong with me while trying to figure out what the hell happened in the first place. Everything comes back in flashes. The trials, our fucked-up fathers actively trying to kill us, Ali and all of us running while the town was exploding around us. I remember everything up until helping Ali up when she fell. We had to split from the guys and were making our way in the opposite direction when another explosion went off. This one right next to us.
The pain I’m feeling makes sense now. I must have been closer than I thought, but it doesn’t explain where I’m at now. Sitting up, a jolt of pain shoots through my head. I slam my eyes shut as dizziness hits, causing my stomach to roll. I force myself not to throw up, instead taking a few deep breaths and centering myself. After a minute or so, I slowly peek open my eyes, giving them a second to focus. When my vision clears, I realize I’m still in the middle of bumfuck nowhere. Because of course I am. Glancing around, I notice how quiet it is, which only makes me realize— there’s no Ali. But why? I try to remember if she was seriously hurt before the explosion that knocked me out, but she seemed fine, if not a bit scared. She had tripped but was getting back up. Could the explosion have hurt her too? But then how did I get behind this rock? I even notice that a few of my cuts have been tended to. So, where the fuck is my wife?
Deciding that my injuries aren’t life-threatening, I get to my feet. A little wobbly at first, but I manage to stay upright. What I wouldn’t give for pain meds right now. This time when I check my surroundings, I take in all the details. The sun is setting, I must have been out all day, but also because our previous playground is now nothing but crumbling bricks, ash, and dimming embers. So many questions run rampant in my mind.
Where is Ali? How long has she been gone? Is she okay? Did she try to go find the others because I hadn’t woken up? Could she have run off on her own? No. She wouldn’t. She accepted us last night.
Regardless of my thoughts, I know I need to move. Looking over the landscape, I see that a small part of the old town is still standing, untouched by the destruction of the bombs. That is where I need to head to. The area might still have medical supplies or weapons I could use. With the hope that Ali and my brothers are still safe, I make my way to town. And if Ali was smart, that is where she would have headed to as well.
I t’s a slow-going progress as I try to keep my steps steady and as quiet as possible. Also, because every step causes my body to ache in new ways. If I believed in some type of high power, I would be cursing them up and down right now. A shuffle up ahead catches my attention as I spot two figures creeping low and heading in the same direction as me. My brothers. I move with haste this time, wanting to catch up with them. With my excitement, I forget to stay quiet, and when I’m within whispering reach, Cash and Arsen are spinning on their heels, Cash’s blade raised at the ready and Arsen’s bat swinging up for a hit.
“It’s me, assholes!” I hiss, hands raised and ready for the attack to come. When realization hits them, they lower their weapons, but their eyes widen slightly as they take me in. I’m not even shocked by their concern. I haven’t seen myself in any mirrors, but the sweats I was wearing are barely hanging on. I’m probably a sight to see right now, all bloody and bruised.
Their shock doesn’t last long. “What the fuck happened to you?” Arsen asks at the same time Cash asks, “Where is she?” His tone telling me everything I was hoping wasn’t true.
Ali is missing.
I quickly explain what I remember before passing out. It doesn’t make sense she would run from us out here. She’s resourceful, but we don’t even know where the fuck we are. “Could she have taken the chance to run?” As if knowing my thoughts, Arsen asks exactly what’s been running through my mind.
But at his words, I know the truth, as I start shaking my head in answer. “No. Something shifted after last night. She isn’t running. She’s my wife now.” I know I’m right. Something about Ali tells me she doesn’t run from a fight, and if she really wanted to run from us, she would have left me for dead because I already promised that I would chase her to the end of the earth if she ran from me. And that’s a promise I never plan on breaking.
Needing us to focus, Cash begins to talk. His tone is calculating as his eyes track our surroundings. “It’s possible.” I frown at his words because it’s not possible. Ali wouldn’t leave us like this. “Which means she’s out of danger for now. She’s smart and resourceful. If anyone can make it out of here on their own, it would be her.” I open my mouth to protest, but he gives me a look. One that tells me now is not the time to pick a fight. When he sees I’m not going to argue, he continues. “Right now, we have bigger problems.” As if on cue, doors slam shut, and footsteps pounding the ground can be heard in the distance. “We need to move. Find an area to defend. Whatever happens, we are leaving in one of those vehicles.” We don’t have time to debate the matter, even as everything in me tells me we need to find Ali first. Instead, we move as one, quickly making our way toward the closest still-standing building.
As we enter, we move to the furthest corner, shrouded in shadows. Perfect for concealing us while my father’s henchmen attempt to clear the town. We can hear radios crackling and bodies moving about. The sounds are faint to my ears as they try to stay quiet. As we wait to see what happens, I realize the guys both still have weapons, but I lost mine. Damn it, I really liked that chain. It still needed to be clean, but I’m sure the fire sanitized it. Maybe I can go back and find it?
My thoughts are interrupted as a man decked out in tactical gear enters the room. I didn’t get a chance to see where we had taken up hiding, but the place is completely dark now that the sun has disappeared. He swings his gun from side to side, searching but suddenly pauses. The small stream of moonlight shining in from the doorless entryway has me spotting an earpiece. The man turns to glance in our direction, his face half covered in shadows before he reaches up to his collar. “Copy that. Hold tight. I’m on my way.” He continues to stare into the dark corner before he suddenly turns and walks out. I let out the breath I didn’t even know I was holding.
What the fuck was that about?
I can hear more murmurs outside a second later. “Continue the search. We need to find the bodies. Kill everyone on sight.”
“Yes, sir. The buildings still standing have been cleared.”
“Good. Your team can head back once you’re done. But not without confirmation first. Do you understand?” The threat in this man’s words is clear. Either they find us dead, kill us, or don’t bother returning.
“Yes, sir.”
Footsteps lead away in two different directions a second later. None of us say a thing as we remain still. Car doors and engines starting up has me believing that the guy that was barking orders is now gone. What I don’t understand is why come here at all if you weren’t going to ensure the job was done yourself anyways? I mean, assuming we are dead plays in our favor. We still don’t know how many men were left to “find” us, but we will take what we can get.
“Okay. We need to see what we have to work with. Ri, you good?” Cash whispers, still not wanting to take a chance someone is close enough to hear us.
“I’m good,” I tell him, lying straight through my teeth. I’m not good. My body is screaming, and the longer I stay still, the more exhausted I get. The only thing keeping me upright right now is pure stubbornness and knowing if we want out of this shithole alive, we have one last fight.
“Stay close to the buildings. No survivors. We can’t let them get a chance to radio back that we aren’t in fact dead,” he tells us, as if this is our first rodeo. I would laugh, but right now even breathing gives me a tinge of pain. So probably a broken rib or two, cool.
“Let’s go.” With that awesome pep talk, we move. We skim the edge of the buildings; my brothers move slower than usual, for me no doubt. Keeping our heads on a swivel, we watch for any more movement. I’m half hoping Ali will pop out from somewhere, yelling “boo” like this was all just a fun game to her. Oh, how I wish we were playing who can drop the most bodies for a blowjob right now.
As we near the last building, Cash halts. We freeze, waiting for his signal before he throws up one finger, then moves his hands like he was holding a steering wheel. Before holding up another two fingers and pointing ahead. Letting us know that he can see one vehicle and two men ahead. Somehow, I doubt they only left two men for us, but if we can take them out and take their gear, we would be better off against anyone else left.
Without saying another word, Cash and Arsen charge forward. I don’t bother trying to keep up; rather, I turn and keep an eye out for anyone else who might be near. Seconds later, and a few thumps and grunts, the two men are disarmed and lying limp on the floor. I move closer then as Arsen and Cash collect what weapons they find and search the vehicle for anything else useful. I stare down at one of the men, an idea sparking to life.
“No keys. So, whoever has them is still searching. Let’s move these fuckers bodies and hide in that building. Give them an element of surprise,” Arsen tells me, grabbing the legs of the other man as I reach down and grab the radio from this one. Next, I search his pockets for some type of ID but find nothing. Improvising it is.
“I have a better idea.” Cash and Arsen frown as I grin, pressing my finger to my lips to shush them. Pressing the call button on the radio, I put my plan in play. “Hey, fucker. Hurry the fuck up pissing. I think I saw movement in one of the buildings.” Static fills the air as I wait to hook my prey.
“Stand down. Stand down. Wait for reinforcements.” I smile wide up at the guys. Both rolling their eyes at my antics. Hook, line, and sinker.
“Copy that,” I tell them before tossing the radio and grabbing the blade Arsen holds out to me. “Well boys, I couldn’t let you have all the fun. Plus, the faster we get out of here, the faster I can find my wife.” Adrenaline begins to flood my system in anticipation, the pain receding a bit as we move to get in position.
Now we wait.
Ali, wherever you are, you better hide. Because when I get my hands on you, I’m going to punish you real good.