Steps Back: The Left for Dead Saga, #1

By B.L. Hurst

In Book 1, Left for Dead, a disaster of unknown origin and proportions wipes out most modern technology, causing self-driving cars to drive into other cars, people and buildings.  Cell phones burst into flames, the power grid self destructs, and planes fall from the sky.

Book 2, Steps Back follows former prison inmate Asher Latham and his fellow survivors as they try to find a way back to their loved ones and protect the lives of those around them.  Asher Latham had been serving a life-sentence for murder in the State Penitentiary when the disaster struck.  He and several of his fellow prison inmates somehow managed to not only survive a gas attack meted out by rogue military soldiers intended to kill all the inmates housed in the State Penitentiary, but afterwards, when left for dead, they even managed to break free from their icy tomb.  They made a pact to do no harm and to help one another as they journeyed home.

Bethany Johnson and her new friend Cooper survived insurmountable odds the day of the event and have managed to gather her family and neighbors and his roommates in his house.  Together, they make the most of Cooper and his roommates computer hacking skills, working to find out who caused such a deadly disaster.

Preston Raymore and Melinda Bowman had been making their way around town searching for much needed supplies when they were attacked by a murderous lunatic, having survived the attack they find two of his victims alive but they need help.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: B.L. Hurst
• Release date: Oct 24, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201993016

Book preview

Also by B.L. Hurst

THE LEFT FOR DEAD SAGA

Left for Dead

Coming Soon from B.L. Hurst:

THE LEFT FOR DEAD SAGA BOOKS 3 & 4:

Facing Darkness

Seeking Home

To Courtney Hewgley, who taught me how to walk in Christ and instilled in me the love for all things mechanical.  Who cared for me, provided for me, protected me and loved me when I needed it the most.  I only hope I can make you proud, despite my many mistakes.  I know you are looking down from heaven.

Also, to Warren Hurst, who showed me love and kept me connected, despite the distance and who never tried to sugarcoat things.  You too are looking down from heaven.

Disclaimers

All rights reserved .  Any unauthorized duplication in whole or in part or dissemination of this edition by any means (including but not limited to photocopying, electronic bulletin boards, and the Internet) will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

This is a work of fiction.  All of the events described are imaginary.  Most of the characters in this novel are fictional.  A few real-life individuals gave permission for their names to be mentioned.  Aside from these individuals, any resemblance to living people is purely coincidental.  Any mention of any actual place, including, cities, states, or places of business is purely coincidental.

The information contained in this novel is intended for entertainment purposes only.  The medical details contained within this novel do not constitute medical advice.  Consult a doctor if you have any medical questions.

The purpose of this novel is to entertain only.  The author, publisher, and distributor shall have neither entity with respect to any loss or damage caused, or alleged to be caused, directly or indirectly by the information contained in this novel

STEPS

BACK

A THRILLER

THE LEFT FOR DEAD SAGA

BOOK TWO

B. L. HURST

Table of Contents

Chapter

Not Part of the Plan

Who’s There

The Strip Mall

The Clinic

Time to go Sissy

Professional Medical Treatment

Don’t Spray Me Bro!

Taking Care of Preston 

Saving Marlow

Bath Time

Chantel

Gunfire!

Settling In

Back at Cooper’s

Battle Time

Dr. Carlson Takes Over

Gotta Save Her

Just a Bad Dream 

Memories of the Fall

Computer Autopsy

Get Ready

Romance in the Air

Computer Parts Shopping

Can it be Fixed

Strangers at the Gate

That Was Close

Back at Bill’s

This is Bad

Getting Their Back-story

Takin’ Momma Home

A New Dawn

On Borrowed Time

We’re Being Watched

Mass Exodus

A New Day!

Hunting Trip

Time to Act

What’s the Government Doing?

Still Here!

Intel

Road Block

Waiting

Try It Again

A New Dawn

A False Sense of Peace 

Knowledge is Power

Looking for Witnesses

Mourning and Justice

The Attack

Back to Coop’s

Time to Talk

The Attack cont...

From Atop the Hill

The End and the Aftermath

More Intel

Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire 

Beaten and Battered

Eating

The Beast

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Asher’s Men – aka - Prison inmates

Asher Lee Latham - aka Polar Bear – 36yo, White, never married, no kids.  Church of Christ, jack-of-all-trades, serving time for murder.

Aaron Thomas - aka Aaron aka Jerk Face - 34yo, White, divorced, has one daughter named Darby.  Baptist, loyal, rail worker not-approachable due to natural facial expression often misread as angry, serving time for armed robbery.

Chris Anglin - aka Red aka Santa Claus - 40yo, White, divorced, three kids.  Baptist, contractor who grew up on a farm, serving time for drug trafficking.

Marlow Warren - aka War aka Milk Man – 30yo, Black, never married, no kids.  Muslim, extremely likeable, always smiles, former semi-pro boxer, serving time for murder.

Martin Carlson - aka Martini - 32yo, White, never married, no kids.  Undecided Christian who dislikes organized religion, wordy, highly intellectual, creative, overly analytical, and really tall, 6’8", serving time for accessory to murder.

Shane Gaston - aka Stain, 44yo, White, divorced, three kids, Pentecostal Holiness, farmer, contractor, serving time for aggravated assault and drug possession.

Gary Raymore - aka Ger-Bear– 45yo, White, married to Carrie, father of two grown kids, Preston and Peyton.  Baptist, who never shows anger, former executive, serving time for embezzlement.

Miller Jeffries - aka Brother Miller– 36yo, White, married, three kids.  New-aged Christian who talks about Christ 24-7 and calls everyone brother, hence the nickname Brother Miller, serving time for murder.

Alex Williams - aka Axle - 33yo, Asian & Caucasian mixed, divorced, one teenage son.  Messianic Jew, often mumbles when speaking.  Looks like Asian Jack Black on a diet and steroids, serving time for gun and drug possession.

George Wallace - aka Papa-Smurf - 74yo, White, no living family.  Agnostic, former Flea-Market owner, former biker, experienced outdoorsman, obsessed with word-searches, smart-ellic, serving time for murder and racketeering.

Alfred Stanford - aka Stack - 82yo, White, divorced, daughters live out of state.  Pentecostal, former Life-Insurance Salesman, stroke victim, wheelchair bound, serving time for murder.

Drew Glidden - aka Drewsky - 30yo, White, never married, no kids.  New-aged Christian, former college student, nerdy, strong, capable, rarely serious, serving time for forgery.

David Johnson - aka Super Dave - 60yo, Black, divorced, adult estranged kids.  New-aged Christian, former hustler, serving time for drug trafficking.

Duane Collins - aka Reefer - 45yo, Black, never married, no kids.  Jehovah’s Witness, electrician, serving time for murder.

Antonio Madden - aka Mad Man - aka Maña, - 62yo, White and Native American mixed race.  Divorced, adult estranged kids.  Christian who dislikes organized religion, grumpy, hence the nickname, serving time for murder.

Jacob Barker - Lance Corporal - 2nd Marine Air Wing, Desert Storm - 54yo, Black, divorced, grown kids, incarcerated since he was 22yo.  Christian, serving time for murder.

Kevin Wallace - aka Nutty - 34yo, Black, married, highly intelligent, but quiet.  New-aged Christian, former Music Industry Executive, serving time for drug trafficking.

Craig Johnson - aka Crash - 48yo, White, short, fit, bald headed.  Heathen Asatru, Fire fighter and EMT before ‘crashing out’ into drug addiction a string of petty crimes.

Bradley Smith - aka Big Country - 35yo, White, divorced, estranged children.  Atheist, former tow-truck driver, redneck, serving time for drug trafficking.

Marcos Mendez - aka Marquito - 36yo, Honduran, married, three children.  New-aged Christian, former contractor, serving time for drug trafficking.

DeMarcus Black - aka Black, - 42yo, Black, never married, seven kids all over the state.  Episcopalian, former truck driver, serving time for drug trafficking.

? – aka - Strong Man - He’s mute so nobody knows his actual age, his real name or really anything about him.  He’s black and maybe in his thirties but could be in his forties and none of the men know why he was serving time.

Timothy Dresden - aka Cut Throat - 34yo, White, married, wife and kids live in Alabama.  Pagan, former professional lifetime criminal, serving time for murder, kidnapping, and robbery.

Daniel Santaroni - aka Danno - 64yo, half Native Hawaiian half Italian mixed race.  Divorced, adult estranged kids.  Practicing Catholic, former pro surfer and Dive Shop owner.  Likes to call all non natives Haole, serving time for drug trafficking.

The Johnsons and Friends

Mai-Lynn Johnson aka Momma Mai - 55yo, Japanese ethnicity U.S. born, widow of U.S. Marine Mike Johnson, stay-at-home-mom, micro-green gardener.

Mike Johnson - Deceased husband of Mai-Lynn Johnson.

Bethany Johnson - aka Annie Oakley - 23yo, Vanderbilt Univ. Law student, daughter of Mai-Lynn.  Carries her father’s Heckler & Koch HK416 outfitted w/Leopold scope.

Ashtyn Johnson - 19yo, daughter of Mai-Lynn, Vandy undergrad.

Lilly-Anna Johnson - 14yo, daughter of Mai-Lynn, private Christian High School.

Cooper Allen - aka Coop - Vandy student, coder, hacker.

Wanda Ryder - Neighbor of Mai-Lynn.

Gregory Ryder - Wanda’s husband.

Randy Vincent - 18yo, Vandy student, East Tennessee native.

Nicky Landers - 19yo, Vandy student, Atlanta native, resembles pop star Rhianna.

DeMarcus Jackson - 21yo, Vandy student, St. Louis native.

Chantel Murphy - 18yo, Belmont Student, New Jersey native.

Angelica Peña - aka Angel - 19yo, born and raised in Texas although her parents are from Sonora/Chihuahua, Mexico.

Daisy Jones - Assistant General Manager of clothing store.

Kristen Goldberg - 44yo, lives in condo in Nashville.

Anderson Goldberg - 5yo, Kristen Goldberg’s son.

Hubert Decker - 68yo, widower of Martha Decker.

Martha Decker - Deceased wife of Hubert Decker.

The Raymores

Carrie Raymore - Author, wife of Gary Raymore.

Preston Raymore - aka Pretzel  - Son of Gary and Carrie Raymore.

Peyton Raymore - Daughter of Gary and Carrie Raymore.

Bowman Family

Dale Bowman - aka Chip n’ Dale - 64yo, retired, husband of Trina Bowman.

Trina Bowman - 62yo, retired, wife of Dale Bowman.

Ricky Bowman - Grown son of Dale and Trina Bowman.

Melinda Bowman - Grown daughter of Dale and Trina Bowman.

The Mackenzies

Mr. Mackenzie - Neighbor of Carrie.

Mrs. Mackenzie - Neighbor of Carrie.

The Wheelers

Mr. Wheeler - Elderly neighbor of Carrie.

Mrs. Wheeler - Elderly neighbor of Carrie.

The Myers

Lance Myers - Neighbor of Carrie, manager at local print shop.

Julia Myers - Neighbor of Carrie.

Fiona Myers - Daughter of Lance and Julia Myers.

Matthew Myers - Son of Lance and Julia Myers

The Carlsons

Erica Carlson - aka Ricky Bobby - 2nd Lieutenant Carlson, Army 101st Airborne - 30yo, White, Martin’s sister, current microbiologist, former medic in Army mother of Max and Alyssa 

Max Carlson - 14yo son of Erica Carlson.

Alyssa Carlson - 6yo daughter of Erica Carlson.

Brandon Smith - 35yo, EMT, visiting family in Idaho when power goes out.

The Powers

Justin Powers aka Fireman - 29yo, White, Rail-worker, father, small-time organic farmer.

Mandy Powers - 28yo, Armenian ethnicity, born in U.S. Occupational Therapist, small-time organic farmer, wife of Justin Powers.

Finley Powers - 9yo son of Justin and Mandy Powers

Braydon Powers - 6yo son of Justin and Mandy Powers 

McKenzie Powers - 5yo daughter of Justin and Mandy Powers.

Motorcycle Shop Staff

Bill Yancy - Motorcycle Shop Owner.

Harriet Seymour - Motorcycle Shop General Manager.

Sabina Kinsey - aka Savage - Motorcycle Shop Head of Marketing.

Earl - Motorcycle Shop customer.

Major Daniels & His Men

Major Kirkland Daniels - U.S. Army 157th Infantry

Walter Riley - Truck driver.

Chad Stevens - U.S. Army scout sniper.

Paul Rucker - U.S. Army scout sniper.

Brad Camino - aka El Camino - Deputy Sheriff of county near Nashville.

Frankie Negowski - Retired NY police officer.

The Clinic Staff

Dr. Sawyers - Clinic owner and founder.

Betty Langford - Nurse at clinic.

Jack Elkins - Chief of Security at clinic.

Nicole Odenton - Receptionist at clinic.

Victor O’Shay - Patient of clinic.

Stella O’Shay - Daughter of Victor O’Shay.

Prologue

The entire southern half of the United States sat under several feet of snow.  The experts called it a Polar Vortex, an artic weather system that had blown down from the uppermost regions of the artic, inundating populations not ready for such winter weather events.  State, county and city governments scrambled to deal with the continuously falling snow and ice and rolling power outages.  Already strained, after the shut downs from COVID-19, businesses worked to keep supply chains in tact.

In Book 1 of the Left for Dead Saga, Left for Dead, the world had just begun to pull itself back together from the effects of COVID-19.  The U.S. was dealing with the shifting weather patterns that put parts of the South into the worst winter it had ever suffered through in recorded history.  And then, a dark threat revealed itself.

Planes fell from the sky, some seemingly flying themselves into ground-based targets such as police departments, hospitals and other important buildings.  Self-driving cars began piloting themselves into human beings, other vehicles and buildings.  Electrical grid transformers exploded, causing massive fires.  Cell phones exploded starting fires, burning many of their owners.  The world was in total chaos and the government, facing the same problems as its people, was in shambles.

Asher Latham had been at work in the main kitchen of a maximum security prison when the power initially went out.  Per prison policy, the prison went into a full lock down.  Within days, most of the prison guards, having learned that the world as they knew it had collapsed, abandoned their posts.  A small, mismatched force of National Guard soldiers, a few surviving local police, and other members of military and law enforcement arrived on scene, hoping to secure the prison.  Not long after, they decided they had other motives, and so they attempted to gas the inmates to death.

By the grace of God, Asher and several of his fellow inmates managed to survive the gassing, and after nearly starving to death, they found a way to get out.  Asher’s group was a small group of men, whose membership felt they’d caused enough harm in their past criminal lives.  They banded together, agreeing to help one another journey home as they each searched for their loved ones.  They also agreed to a new set of rules; they would do no harm, and only use violence in self-defense, they would only take what they needed if it was obviously abandoned, and they would provide assistance to whomever they came across.  The ultimate rule stood; no murder and no rape, period!

On day one of the collapse, Bethany Johnson was nearly killed on the campus of Vanderbilt University by a fellow student who wouldn’t take no for an answer.  Another student, Cooper Allen, stepped in to help, saving Bethany from a group of angry bystanders, bent on lynch-mob justice.  To return the favor, she took him along with her.

The pair escaped the campus in Bethany’s old, but heavily-customized Jeep Cherokee, and used the working vehicle to scour the city as they tried to locate Bethany’s sisters and mother, and to somehow find Cooper’s roommates and bring them all to safety.

Carrie Raymore was glad to have her grown children at home with her since her husband was in prison, serving a lengthy sentence for embezzlement.  A successful author, Carrie was working on her latest novel when her computer caught fire and she lost her work.  Her day went from bad to worse when she realized that several neighbors homes were on fire.  Her son Preston took the lead, helping Carrie and her daughter Peyton travel to the scene of the fire to offer help.  Once there, they reunited with a family whose son, years earlier had attended high-school with Preston.  The two families joined forces sharing resources to make the best of a horrific nightmare. 

Steps Back picks up where Left for Dead left off as these groups of survivors dealing with the after-effects of the disaster.

1

Not Part of the Plan - Martin

Third night of Freedom

The awesome force of the shotgun blast threw Martin’s good friend Marlow onto his back in the snow, knocking all of the breath from his lungs.  Martin immediately began screaming his sister Erica’s name as loudly as he could manage, as he grabbed his other friend Asher, pulled him out of the golf cart and hurriedly dragged him into the ditch that ran adjacent to the street desperately hoping they could seek cover.

More shots echoed through the fluffy, falling snowflakes that brightened the otherwise black night.  Martin realized that they were being fired upon from the same window that had likely killed Marlow, though from a different gun.  The most recent shots sounded more like rifle shots than those from a shotgun.

He felt a round hit the dirt beside him, then another tore through the flesh in the lower part of his leg.  A stinging and burning sensation, like none he had ever felt, radiated through his muscle and he glanced down and watched the pure white snow turn red.  He’d become distracted by the sight of the blood coming from his leg, which reminded him of his youth at the State Fair, watching the concessions worker squirt bright red cherry syrup over ice for his snow-cone, but Asher pulled him back to reality.

We gotta’ crawl down the ditch to get out of sight of that window, Asher whispered.

As soon as they could no longer see the window, the shooting stopped. 

Again, Martin began screaming for his sister Erica and nephew Max over and over at the top of his lungs, while on the inside, he cursed himself for his own stupidity.  Of course, he should have considered, more thoroughly, the possibility that they would still be in the house, and his tough-as-nails sister wouldn’t be taking any chances with the lives of her two precious children.

Martin continued to scream so loudly that he thought he might rupture his vocal cords.  What else could he do but scream or die.  He would never shoot back, never!

INSIDE THE HOUSE, AS she ran for the front door, expecting the house to be riddled with bullets from their attackers who carried deadly assault-style rifles, Erica thought she heard someone calling her name.

"It can’t be, though," she thought to herself.

She and Max had fired at the two targets, armed figures who’d crawled out of range, down the ditch in her front lawn, so she told Max she was going to take up a new position.  She told him to continue guarding his side of the house, just in case other targets appeared.  Her ears were ringing from Max’s shotgun blast.  She knew the voice calling her name had to be a trick being played in her mind, a trick brought on by her own subconscious worries, because she had spent so much time thinking about her brother Martin, who had been in prison whenever the power had gone out.

Erica made it to the front of the house and was working to open the front door, when suddenly, as the ringing in her ears subsided, she heard the scream again.  This time, there was no doubt that the voice absolutely sounded like that of her brother.

Prior to that very second, Erica was getting ready to burst through the front door and take on the attackers.  Her brain confirmed her thoughts, and she realized it was in-fact her brother’s voice.  Also, exactly then, she also realized that she could hear her son Max firing through his own bedroom window, just as she had instructed him to do if he saw movement.

"Oh no! she thought, as she turned and ran to stop her son, I have to get him to stop shooting."

She entered Max’s room in a state of panic.  Max saw her out of the corner of his eye.  He turned and smiled at her, after once again pulling the trigger.  She could read in his expression that he was proud of his fighting skills and hoped she would be as well.

MAX...STOP SHOOTING! she screamed at him, over the roar of his gun.

He almost panicked at her scream, but calmed himself.

What are you doing, Mom?  I thought I saw one of them crawling back this way.  You’re supposed to be out front, Mom!  I’m keeping them pinned down in the ditch, like you wanted.

Erica reached for his weapon, Stop shooting, Max!  It’s your uncle Martin!  I heard his voice.

What?  Uncle Martin.  How’s that?  He’s in prison!  Max said, with obvious confusion.

Erica yelled through the busted window into the snowy night, MARTIN...  IS THAT YOU?

YEAH, AND YOU SHOT ME AND ONE OF MY FRIENDS!  COULD YOU PLEASE STOP SHOOTING AT US?

I’M SORRY!  Erica yelled back at him.  WE’RE COMING OUT TO HELP...  YOU’RE SAFE NOW!  WE WON’T SHOOT!

Erica began to cry, as she realized that she and her son had, more likely than not, just killed one of her brother’s friends.  She dropped her shotgun on the floor of Max’s bedroom and they both ran towards the front door.

As soon as Asher heard the ‘all clear’, he got up and ran over to help Marlow.

Erica and Max both reached the front door simultaneously, and realized that the door was still screwed shut.  Max ran back to his bedroom, to get his cordless screwdriver, while his mother fruitlessly pulled at the five-quarter boards with her bare hands.  Max returned in seconds and they worked quickly to remove the screws holding the two large boards across the doorway.

Asher rounded the side of the house, but instead of finding Marlow, he found a blood-soaked trail in the snow.  He followed the trail, and found Marlow, who had rolled onto his wounded belly, and was crawling around behind a bush.

Marlow.  I’m here, buddy!  Asher yelled at him, then grabbed him and rolled him onto his back.

Let me help you, man!  They know it’s us and they’ve stopped shooting!  Asher said, as Marlow stared back at him, his eyes wide in horror.

She shot me, man!  His sister shot me, man!  Am I gonna’ die?  He was shaking uncontrollably.

Shhh, you’re gonna’ be fine, Milk Man.  We just gotta get you patched up.

With all the blood in the snow, Asher felt like he was lying to his best friend, but what else could he do.  Asher unstrapped Marlow’s Molle vest, and then his body armor as he tried to locate to his wounds.

MARTIN!  GET OVER HERE, MAN!  Asher yelled in the direction of the ditch.  MARTIN!  I NEED YOUR HELP, MAN.  WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

Martin was lying on his back, staring at his own leg and watching as blood gushed from the bullet wound.  He was trying to apply pressure to it, but blood spurted through his fingers.

I’D LOVE TO MAN, BUT I’M PRETTY BAD HERE MYSELF!

FOR REAL, MAN?  CAUSE...  CRAP, MAN!  THIS CAN’T BE HAPPENING!  Asher yelled back.

Just then, Erica and Max burst from the front door and across the yard, heading towards Martin.  She arrived in tears, fell and hugged her brother.

Go check on Marlow.  That’s who you shot through Max’s window, Martin said.

I’m so sorry!  I’m sorry I killed your friend!  Erica cried, as she assessed her brothers’ leg injury.

Shhh, he’ll be fine.  He tried to comfort her.  We’re all wearing ballistic body armor.  He’s probably just pretty angry and super sore!  Martin tried to laugh.

Ballistic body armor?  What?  I don’t understand!  Erica was having trouble processing how her brother was even at her house, much less how he was armed and dressed like some weird soldier.

Just go, please!  Martin pleaded.

Max, go get Brandon’s EMT bag from our bedroom and bring it to your uncle.  Erica ordered, as she got up and ran toward the side of her house.

Erica’s boyfriend Brandon was an EMT and happened to be visiting his family in Idaho when the power went out.  Erica, who, until the day of the event, worked as a microbiologist, began her career during her time in the Army, where she worked as a combat medic.

Asher was cutting away Marlow’s T-shirt using his K-bar, and worked to peel it back from his friend’s chest when Erica joined him, kneeling beside him in the blood-soaked snow.

Hey, Erica, Marlow said, coughing as he tried to catch his breath.

Erica smiled back through her tears.  Hey, Marlow!

You shot me, Marlow said, in a surprisingly calm and positive voice.

Erica and Marlow had met many times in the prison visitation area whenever she’d go to see Martin.

Erica leaned over and kissed Marlow’s forehead.

Yes, I did shoot you.  And, I’m really, really sorry about that!  We’re gonna’ get you fixed up, though.  I promise!

Oh, hey Asher, glad to see ya’, Erica said, noticing for the first time, that the other man in her yard was yet another one of Martin’s friends from prison.  Another man that she had met over the years, during her many visits to the prison.

Hey, Erica!  Glad to see you, too!  Although, not exactly under these circumstances.

Marlow’s torso was covered in blood.

Max arrived with the EMT bag.

Max, I told you to take that to your uncle!

I did, Mom...  Uncle Martin grabbed a bandage and told me to bring the bag to you, he scoffed, shaking his head out of frustration.

Sorry I snapped, son!  We need to glove-up and help him.

Erica put on gloves and began inspecting Marlow’s wounds.

You’re gonna be okay, Marlow.  We need to get him inside.  Max, you and Asher help me get him on his feet.  We’ll put him in the kitchen.

Marlow groaned when they picked him up, obviously in a lot of pain.

Martin, we’ll be right back to help get you inside, too, Erica called out to him, as they rounded the front corner of the house.

The house was dark inside, and so to illuminate their path when they entered its dark confines, Asher immediately switched on his head lamp.

Max, who wasn’t really helping to carry Marlow’s weight, let go and hurried ahead, to clear off the kitchen table.  They laid him on its wooden surface, and as they did, he let out an awful cry of pain.

I’m gonna to go get Martin, Asher said, as he rushed out of the dark kitchen.

Max, we need light, now! Erica called out.  Get anything we can use for light.  I have to be able to see to fix him up.

I’ve got a flashlight in my pack, that I dropped at the side of the house and my headlamp is somewhere in the snow.  Marlow barely got his words out through gritted teeth.

Go get ‘em, Max!  I’ll grab some of your candles, Erica announced.

Asher and Martin entered the kitchen.  Their two headlamps helped to illuminate the room, and then Max returned carrying both Marlow’s pack and his headlamp.  They hung two of the headlamps from the incandescent light fixture that hung from the ceiling over the table, and lit several of the homemade candles around the room.

Where’s Alyssa?  Martin asked, looking around for his precious niece, as they worked feverishly on Marlow’s many wounds.

She’s locked in the attic, listening to her headphones.  She’ll be fine up there for a while.  I haven’t been letting her listen to them much lately.

Erica carefully probed and studied each wound that Marlow had suffered from her shotgun blast.  The board and window did, as much, if not more damage than the buckshot itself.  His torso was riddled with several long wooden splinters and several small shards of glass.  I’m gonna have to operate on him.  He’s got a lot of shrapnel and buckshot that will have to come out or he’ll get a really bad infection.  But, the lighting in here is horrible!  Erica complained.

Do ya’ll have any lanterns or a generator?  Asher asked.

No, these homemade candles Max made are all we’ve got left for light.

We’re staying not too far from here.  Can he travel?  Asher asked.

Yeah, I mean, I guess so.  If we have to.  Why, do ya’ll have better lighting there? she asked.

Yeah, lots better!  We’ve got a generator, lots of lights, medical supplies, and more people who can help us.  I don’t want to move him, though, if it’ll put his life in jeopardy.

Can’t you go just ahead and get these splinters out of me?  They hurt like you wouldn’t believe!  Marlow cried out.

No one in the room doubted he was in excruciating pain.  Suddenly, Marlow reached his hand up, trying to grab a long splinter that protruded from his abdomen.  Erica swatted his hand away with an amount of force that startled her patient.

Don’t touch that!  Any one of those splinters could be preventing you from bleeding out.  That’s why I’ll need to operate on you.  That way I can carefully deal with each wound and then clamp off and sew any bleeders that may exist, she looked back to Asher.  What were you saying, Asher?

Asher looked at her with a tiny grin on his face from where she’d smacked Marlow so hard.  Oh, nothing, just that I didn’t want to risk hurting him worse by moving him.  Asher chuckled and turned his head so Marlow couldn’t see him, still replaying the slap in his mind.

He’s stable enough to move, but the quicker I can get all of that out of him, the better.  Marlow, I’m gonna give you something for pain.  So, you just go ahead and rest, Okay?

Rest.  I can’t rest like this! he argued.

I beg to differ!  Erica smiled as she injected him with morphine.

Sure, you try to rest, with...what is tha....  Marlow smiled and then slurred his way out of consciousness.

Let’s apply some bandages, and then Martin, I’ll need you to sit up on the counter, and let me have a look at your leg.

Martin did as ordered.  As soon as she finished bandaging Marlow’s wounds, Erica cut Martin’s pant leg off using a set of shears from the EMT kit.

The bullet went through, brother.  But, the bad news is that it looks like it hit a small artery.  I’ll have to try to sew it off or you could still bleed to death.  Erica made eye contact with her brother then glanced from Asher to Max.  I’ll need you to hold him still! 

Martin, please don’t move on me!  Erica grabbed a wooden-handled-spoon from a drawer, and handed it to her brother.  Bite this...  this is gonna hurt now, I’m serious!  Martin put the spoon in his mouth and bit down, smiling at his sister.

Then, Erica doused the wound with antiseptic solution, before cutting into it with a brand-new scalpel she’d pulled from the EMT kit.  Martin’s smile vanished, as he grunted loudly in pain.  Erica made two incisions across the circular wound to open it up further.  Then, using forceps, she grabbed the artery and pulled it towards her.  Martin moaned, squirmed and began sweating profusely as she worked.  Erica worked as quickly as she could and was barely able to reconnect the small artery due to the poor lighting and miserable conditions.  She doused the wound again with more antiseptic solution, and then she put a couple stitches in her incisions, but left the bullet wound itself open.  She wrapped the leg in gauze, and leaned back from her work, feeling exhausted from the adrenaline rush wearing off.

How long before you and your kiddos can be ready to leave?  Asher asked.

Ten minutes.  What’s this place like that ya’ll are stayin’ at?

It’s a railroad maintenance yard.  It’s not as cozy as your nice home, but it has a lot of fuel for cooking, and heat.  And it’s much safer, because its way back from all the neighborhoods and it’s fenced-in from the road side.  We brought a bunch of friends out with us, also, so you know, we’ve also got strength in numbers.

That sounds nice, although I never imagined living in a rail yard. 

He was impressed by her positive mentality.  Good!  So, then grab anything you can.  While you do, I’ll back our trailer up to the house so we can help ya’ll load anything that you wanna take.  Be sure and grab food, water, fuel, medical supplies, clothes, guns and any weapons or ammunition that you may have.

We don’t have much food!  But, we’ve still got plenty of water.

"Well you don’t have to worry about the food.  We’ve got plenty of food and water.  Ya’ll just grab whatever you do have."  Asher nodded.

Erica turned to her son and spoke, Max, go get your sister from the attic and take her to her room and help her pack.  Hurry up, though!

Max took off like a rocket, and she marveled at the energy her young son had.  "If only I had half of his energy," she thought to herself.

Max reappeared around the corner.  Hey, Mr. Asher, I’ve set nail traps on both sides of the gate in the fence of the back yard.  They’re like the one Marlow spotted under my window, only on longer boards.  You can kick them off to the side and you’ll be fine.  But, if you don’t, you’ll pop your tires or stab your foot.

"Good lookin’ out, kiddo.  You almost got Marlow here with the one underneath your window.  He didn’t spot it.  We did!"

For real?  Max brightened.  I thought he saw it!

"Nope, I did, actually.  Of course, I warned him.  So, good work, kid!  Oh, and kid, you can just call me Asher, no Mister needed.  Most people would have fallen for your trap.  I just know what to look out for.  Go on and get your little sister and meet me out back.  We’ll load her up snug in the cab of our golf cart where she’ll be a little warmer than in the bed or on the trailer."

Cool, Asher.  I got her.  Max disappeared around the corner as he headed for the stairs that led to the attic.

Smart kid!  Nail traps.  He made those?  Asher looked to Erica.

Yeah.  Nothing gets by that kid, she added.

2

Who’s There? - Preston

Day One

Melinda, Ricky and Preston had nearly been killed!  After arriving at a local motorcycle shop, hoping to find and purchase parts her father would use to get several ATV’s running, a man named Earl, who claimed to be an employee, lured them into a trap.  Earl splashed a pot of hot coffee on the trio, then knocked out Ricky with a pipe, seriously injured Preston with the same pipe and then tried to rape Melinda.  She’d shot Earl, killing him and saving them all.  And then, she began to help her brother and his friend.

Her bother was unconscious, having suffered a severe head injury, so she and Preston searched the shop, hoping to find something to use as a stretcher to get Ricky to a clinic down the street.

They headed into the Personal Watercraft section of the showroom, which stocked all sorts of water sports gear.

I say we use one of those surf boards, you know, like a back board, and strap him onto it with one of those ski ropes, Melinda suggested.

Sounds good to me, Preston said.  What other option do we have?

They grabbed a board from the display and when they turned, they both spotted something else concerning.

Look!  More blood.

A lot of it!

Preston and Melinda gingerly stepped between a row of cruiser-style motorcycles.  He saw a large pool of blood, and then a long smear, but no body.  A mop bucket sat nearby stained with red water.

We should check the rest of the building, he said, looking to Melinda.  There might be somebody else who needs help.

The dealership was large, but they searched it room-by-room.  They found blood in several spots, but Earl, the customer who had tried to kill him and rape her, had obviously begun to clean up after himself.  The showroom was clear, as were the sales offices.

What about the stockroom in the rear?  Preston asked.  Even the shop where we came in.  That part of the building is huge!

But, he had us come in that way.  Why would he do that if he was hiding someone there?  Melinda asked.

Think about it, he rushed us right out of there.

That’s true.  Yeah, now that you mention it, it did seem like he was in a hurry to get us out of there.  I thought it was to get us away from our long guns, but I bet you’re right.

They headed through the building towards the rear, dropping the surfboard they’d found in the break room, as they passed by it.  The parts storage area was clear, but then they noticed a pair of doors.

Bathrooms.  Melinda pointed at the far end of the cavernous room.

And blood.  Preston pointed to a small streak near the door.

As they approached, they saw another mop bucket with more bloody water in it.

Here, take my Colt .45, just in case he has a partner in there.

They pushed into the Men’s Room first.

It was empty.

Then, when they entered the Ladies’ Room, they found a scene straight out of a horror movie.  Just inside the door, the body of a large man, who had been cut open across most of his abdomen, his guts hanging loosely from his body, lay sprawled out on the floor.  He was partially wrapped in a tarp that had fallen open.  The man also had several deep gashes on his arms.  It appeared he’d battled Earl, fighting desperately for his life.  Melinda gagged and turned to face Preston with her hand over her mouth and nose.  Just then, a muffled sound came from one of the stalls.

Who’s there?

No response, but they both had clearly heard the sound, and knew that someone else was in the room with them.

Come out now, or we’ll shoot!  We’re heavily armed!

Then, a moaning sound could be heard.  And it sounded like a panicked moaning.

I SAID, COME OUT!  Melinda yelled.

More moaning.

Melinda squatted down so she could peek under the stall.  She could see at least two pairs of bare feet and a lot of blood, ripped panty hose and women’s high heel shoes, laying askew on the floor.

Oh lord, Preston!  They’re victims.

What?

Melinda pushed the door open to the large, rear, handicapped stall and found two half-naked women tied to the handicap grab bars.

She held her hand back towards Preston, warning him off, Stay there!  Go grab two blankets from our four wheeler.

Okay.  What...

GO! she yelled, cutting him off.  We’re safe, Preston.  Just go!

Okay! he said, as he ran from the bathroom.

He headed toward the rear shop where he had parked, thankful he’d thought to pack a few blankets in the plastic tote on the trailer.

INSIDE THE BATHROOM, the sight of the gun in Melinda’s hand frightened the women, who cried through gags, in wide-eyed terror.  Their clothing had been cut open, revealing their naked skin, and hung in shredded tatters from their bodies.  They each had long, deep slashing wounds all over their nakedness.  The wounds had bled profusely adding to the horrific scene.

Shhh.  I’m here to help!  Melinda managed a strained smile, hoping to ease their concerns.  You’re safe now.

She put the gun on the floor and tried to untie the women, but they had been bound with small, but sturdy, cord and duct tape.

I need to cut these.  I’ll be right back, I promise!

They both whined, as if they somehow doubted her words.

It’s okay.  Earl’s dead.  I shot him!

Melinda’s words seemed to open a floodgate of emotions from the two women.  They both closed their eyes and sobbed.

I’ll be right back, okay?

They both nodded.

Melinda headed from the room, and ran right into Preston as they both tried to pass through the narrow door at the same time.  She grabbed the blankets from his hands.

Go get a knife or something to cut with.

He pulled Earl’s bowie knife from its sheath, which was now affixed to his belt.

No... something else.

What?  Why?

Just go, Preston.  Ugh!  And put that thing in the tub on the trailer.  Don’t bring it back in here! she said, pointing to the knife.

Okay.  But I’m really confused.

Melinda had an image in her mind of Earl cutting the women with his bowie knife, leaving the horrific wounds that she’d seen only moments before.  The last thing she would do would be to come anywhere near those two women with the same blade.

Melinda returned to the two women and wrapped them up, the best she could, in the blankets.

My friend Preston is gonna get something to cut you free.  He’ll be right back.  I’m sorry... my name is Melinda, by the way, and my brother Ricky... well, he’s knocked out, like totally unconscious...  Earl attacked him and I’m afraid... well, he’s hurt badly...  Ricky...and well, he’s in the break room...  I’m sorry, ladies!  I know I’m rambling, but I’ve never been through anything like this.  She began to tear up again.

The older of the two women shook their heads, as if to tell her it was okay.  Then, she mumbled something that Melinda took to mean continue.

Well... okay.  Earl, well you see, he lured us into the break room, you know.  He offered us coffee and it’s cold out there, so coffee sounded really good.  Then, he just ambushed us.  We just came to buy a bunch of four-wheeler parts, you know, but he went all berserk on us.  Hit my brother Ricky so hard with a steel bar or a pipe or something, that he’s still out, like I said already and well, Preston, well Earl totally split his head open like a melon, and burned his hands with the coffee, and then he was gonna try to get his hands on me and well, um...  She stopped, as she realized they knew full well what Ricky wanted to do to her.  I’m sorry!  It must have been awful, but you’re safe now, for real!  Preston has lots of guns and he’s such a nice guy.  If he could have, he’d have shot Earl himself.  I boxed him, though.  You shoulda’ seen his face.  See, my dad got me into kickboxing when I was little, and then when MMA became a big thing, I got back into fighting for a few years.  So, Earl wasn’t expecting that.  I knocked out one of his nasty teeth and then he got real mad!

The younger of the two actually grinned through her gag, seeming to laugh a little bit.

So, then well, I teased him, you know, like as-if he was cute.  Ugh, gross, by the way!  She stuck her tongue out making a disgusted face.  Anyways, I flirted to distract him so I could grab my gun.  Well, it’s Preston’s gun, and I’m such an idiot, because I forgot I even had it, like during the whole dad-gummed fight.  And, then I was like, duh, I’ve got a gun.  So, I made him think he and I were gonna have some fun, you know, so I could distract him, and then boom!  I just shot him, well like boom, boom, boom, over-and-over, I shot him a bunch of times.  He tried to twist and run and dive out of the way, but I got him good!  I’ve never shot someone before, and it felt weird you know.  But, you know, he wasn’t dead.  So Preston told me to get his gun and shoot him again, you know, like in the face.  She hesitated.  "So, I did.  I couldn’t look though, ‘cause he was all like, please don’t, you know, begging.  But look, I had to, right?  He’d have died anyways, right?  So, it was kinda like, putting him out of his misery, right?"

They both nodded, thankfully.

Preston’s coming back soon, I promise.  The whole time she talked, she fumbled with tucking the blankets around them.  I want to cover you ladies up, since Preston is here, you know.  For your own modesty, you know.  I’m sorry, I’ll shut up.

The women shook no again.

Okay, well.  Her eyes drifted up as she searched for something else to talk about.  There’s this clinic down the road, and it was open when we passed by, so we were going to take Ricky there, when we realized we should check... well, actually, we saw blood, and realized that other people might be here.  So, that’s how we found you two.  You know the whole city is burning?  Like, there’s fires everywhere!  And, the Fire Hall over on South Hedrick is burned.  Well, actually, it got hit by a plane, and then it burned.  It’s so crazy out there!  Like I said, my Daddy’s got a shop full of old four wheelers.  Momma says its all a bunch of junk.  But, Preston wants to buy parts to fix them up, you know, since none of our cars work, which is why were here, you know.  I always tell Momma to leave Daddy alone and quit fussing at him, because he has blood-pressure problems, you know, but she just drives him till he’s so red in the face, and all.  She’ll kill him one day, I’m afraid.  I’m surprised they’re not divorced the way she goes at him.  I guess they’re used to each others craziness you know, ‘cause this one time...

Melinda... it’s me, Preston.  I’m back and I’ve got something to cut with, Preston called out, sheepishly, interrupting her verbal diarrhea.

Come on in, Preston.  It’s alright now.

He stepped in and took one look at the scene.

Crap!

Yeah... oh crap!  Ladies, this is Preston.  Preston these are... well... we’ll get them untied and then we’ll find out who they are.

He handed her a slim box cutter, one with the orange plastic sheathing and the little blades that were scored so that one could break them off every quarter inch or so to get a new sharp edge.

Be careful! he warned, as Melinda began to free the women.

No, duh, I thought I’d create some new wounds on them so I could practice my super-glue skills.

One of the women furrowed her brows at Melinda’s comment.

Preston noticed as Melinda began to cut the women free.

She super-glued my scalp back together, Preston said, as he leaned over and showed them his head injury.

The older woman, with bright red hair and a plump full figure raised her brows and moaned sympathetically.

You’re right to moan.  I’m pretty sure the glue hurt worse than the injury itself.  He managed a laugh.

Yeah, look at that mess that was his beautiful, curly hair.  Melinda cut her eyes towards Preston, I glued him back together though.

She cut the elder of the two women’s hands loose first and then began working on her gag.  The tape had adhered itself tightly to both her hair and her skin really well and was painful to get off.

Melinda freed the hands of the red head first so that the woman could then help remove her own bonds.  As soon as she had the woman’s mouth uncovered, she began filling them in on who they were and what they had been through.

She began by thanking them profusely, and then told them her name was Harriet, and that the younger woman bound beside her, with stunning jet-black hair, was Sabina.

Harriet, who looked to be in her late forties, explained that she was the General Manager of the motorcycle shop and that Sabina was the Director of Marketing.

While Melinda worked to get Sabina’s hands free, Harriet explained that Sabina was twenty-four and was Armenian.  Harriet pointed out that when Sabina wasn’t covered in blood, she favored Courtney Kardashian and could have been her younger twin sister.

They explained that the dead body in the bathroom was that of Bill the owner of the business and that Earl had shown up about forty-five minutes after the power initially went out.

He claimed to have a new motorcycle that had broken down on the interstate.  That’s how he convinced us to let him in, Harriet said through tears, as they worked to free Sabina.  The rest of the shop’s employees eventually left and walked home and when Bill asked Earl to leave, he pulled out this huge knife and they got in this big nasty fight! she stopped talking and began sobbing.  He stabbed Bill so many times! she said through sobs.  And then, before we could do anything to help Bill, the guy ran over and locked the front door and then he came after us!  I thought... well, I guess we all three thought that Bill was dead.  But, he wasn’t.  And once Earl had us tied up back here, Bill somehow got up and came after Earl you know, to try to help us.  And that’s when he did kill him, he cut him wide open and it was over!  With that last statement, she cried harder than she had so far.

Sabina reached over and pulled Harriet in for a big hug.  Melinda joined in wrapping her arms around the pair of women and they cried together for a long moment.

Melinda let go and looked at the bloodied pair.

Ladies, I know you’ve been through a lot, but the awful reality is that there’s no Police, EMS nor Fire Department to come here and help us.  We’re on our own and look, I realize you’re both injured, but we could really use your help!  We’ve got to get my brother Ricky to the clinic.

Honey, you saved us!  Harriet said, wiping tears from her cheeks.  "We’ll help you anyway we can.  Won’t we