CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
With deafening bursts of explosion, the land mines seemed to explode like a symphony, the bass of drums booming one after another. In the distance, another robot was making them go off at another part of the property.
Through their night-vision goggles, the men watched as people scrambled from their homes, armed and racing to vehicles as they drove toward the disturbances.
“All are deployed. You’re clear,” came the calm voice of AJ.
“Roger that,” said Ham. “Move forward.”
The men moved in teams, Zane at Remington’s side. He wore the same protective equipment and stealth suit as the others. Adept at using a weapon, they’d given him one handgun so that he wasn’t left unarmed.
“That’s her,” he whispered to Remington, pointing toward the porch.
“I think I would have recognized her anywhere,” said Remington. “She’s just as you described.”
“Mean as a snake, a thousand times bigger,” frowned Zane. Remington saw the fear in his eyes, even in the darkness.
“You can stay right here, Zane. We’ll get your brothers out.”
“No. No, I have to do this,” he said.
“Okay, go around back, carefully. Wait until I signal you and then go in the back door and get them. Get them as far from here as you can. Understand?”
“Yes, sir. Sir?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you.”
“Just don’t get yourself killed. Your brothers need you.”
Remington smiled as the young man took off behind the house, while the others were all still running toward the commotion. With Florence on the front porch, he might have a chance.
Remington knew that the others were bringing the men and women down, one at a time. He could hear the communication in his comms as they zip tied each one, leaving them for collection later or for the snakes or coyotes to eat.
“ The animals are safe,” said the voice of Gaspar. “Three of the sweetest bears ever. They think the others were killed already.”
“Damn,” muttered Remington.
Suddenly, breaking the chaos of the night was a howling scream like a wounded animal. He looked behind him and saw nothing, then looked in front of him. Florence stood on the porch, turning to look behind her.
“No. Damnit, no!”
“What’s wrong?” asked JB running toward him.
“Zane. He’s in that house and he just let out a howl.”
“I’ll go around back. You stay here.”
She stood on that front porch like she was guarding the gates of hell, and she most likely was.
“I know you’re out there!” she yelled. “You’re not taking me or what’s mine. You’re going to die out there!”
“Put the weapon down!” yelled Ham. “We’ve got everyone locked up and you’re next.”
“You won’t take me,” she laughed, slowly backing up. Remington heard shuffling in his comms and his father telling someone to stop. Then there was silence.
“Shit,” he muttered.
Standing from his spot in the tall grass, he knew he was still invisible to the woman as he moved closer, his weapon aimed right at her chest. Before he took another step, two bullets fired one right after another.
The front of Florence’s head was no more. The splatter on the porch telling everyone she was dead but for some reason, her heavy body stood. Then it slowly fell forward with the help of Zane’s boot.
JB stood behind the young man, then reached slowly for the weapon dangling from his hand. He loosened his grip, gently taking it form his hands.
“I’ve got it, son. It’s done now.”
“What the fuck happened?” asked Remington, removing the stealth hood. He looked like a floating head but the others were used to it. JB shook his head.
“She killed them,” said Zane looking at him. “She killed all of the kids. That’s why they’re not running out of the houses. They were in her basement and everyone let her do it!”
“Fuck, I’m sorry, Zane,” said Remington. “I’m so damn sorry.”
He crouched low over the dirt, staring at the woman who’d tormented him his entire life.
Nothing could give him back his childhood, his family.
Nothing. It was him and Jeremiah, that’s it.
If it weren’t for Jeremiah being back at the cottage, he’d kill himself right here. There was nothing left to live for.
“Am I going to jail?” he asked innocently. JB pulled him close, hugging his body as he sobbed.
“No son, you’ve done your time.”