Refugee Road (Freedom Fighters Series Book 1) (12 page)

He got down on his knees in front of me and hung his head in shame. Being dramatic wasn’t going to make me forgive him, neither was a half ass apology. He had just done both. Again. Was he schizophrenic? I was pretty sure he was psychotic. This display of fake remorse was only making me angrier.

“I guess I can forgive you but it’s going to take time. More time than you wanted to deal with before because this almost made me leave the camp altogether. I would have too. Alec or Mal would help me. I bet they would leave with me right now if I asked so don’t think I don’t have anywhere else to go.” He gripped the arms of the chair and stood, his jaw locked. “You don’t control me Darren, not anymore.” I told him, my voice strong and defiant, and certainly not the reaction he was expecting.

He nodded, unable to speak for a moment, but I saw his eyes turn bitterly cold and distant. A chill ran down my spine. It made me suddenly afraid of him, terribly horribly afraid, and I wondered what he was thinking. Worse, what he would do. I had just defied him again, despite his punishment, and I was standing on dangerous precarious ground.

“I never endeavored to control you Lizzie. I always meant to keep you safe, to watch over you, since that night I met you. Please don’t leave camp. You are a great soldier and the refugees need you.” His half-hearted attempt was obvious.

“I know. That’s the only reason I stayed.” The empty void in his eyes made me pause. “I’m very upset Darren.” I had almost whispered that last part.

“I understand. I don’t blame you Lizzie.” His voice didn’t sound as sincere as it did a moment ago. It sounded angry. Angry and almost cruel.

“Ok Darren,” I replied. I backed away from him on the bed. Every instinct in my body told me to flee.

“I’ve lost you, haven’t I?” His voice held an edge.

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t force the lie from my throat.

“I see. It’s fine.” He almost growled the words at me.

I flinched, fearful of the look in his eyes. He wasn’t telling me the truth. What was he hiding? What was he going to do to me? I was suddenly overwhelmed with the feeling of apprehension and danger. I wanted to run instinctively. Would he hurt Mal or Alec just to keep me near?

“I forgive you. I was just mad,” I told him, trying to convince him, my voice wavering.

His eyes looked even harder than before. “Good. I feel better now. I’m glad you can see reason.”

But his eyes were lying. There was a firm distance now and a tick in his jaw. He was angry and something else. Cold. Determined. His hands clenched and unclenched at his sides. I gulped, knowing things were not right between us. And I was frightened that he might lose it completely.

I saw Alec’s tall frame from across the room. I jumped up out of hiding, tears filling my eyes, and I ran to him, throwing my arms around his neck, nearly knocking him over in the process. I hadn’t meant to cry. Not really. But all of the emotion rose up, joining the pain and fear, and I clung to him, sobbing into his shoulder.

We stood in the center of the abandoned building holding each other close. The place I always met him the last Friday of the month, at least I used to, but I had not been here in two months. One of his hands cradled my head and the other made a move to rub my back, but as he did the friction awakened the fire that burned my skin and I screamed, falling to the ground at his feet.

“What happened Lizzie? Are you all right? Baby, what’s wrong?” Anxiety and fear tinged his voice. Helplessly he bent to help me, confusion on his handsome face.

“I was…attacked…well, more whipped…” I tried to explain.

His voice was deadly quiet. “What do you mean whipped?”

“Darren bound my hands…used rope to tie me…”

Alec roared in anger. “What happened Lizzie?”

“He used a whip, lashed my back…I was so scared…” I told him, trembling.

“Oh God Lizzie…” he couldn’t finish. “Oh please, no.”

“I hit my head, broke my wrist…” I didn’t finish.

Alec held me close as I felt a shudder run through his body. He didn’t let go, not for several long minutes. Gently he raised the light brace on my left wrist like he was noticing it for the first time. His lips placed a kiss on my forehead. The hardening of his jaw left me in little doubt of his anger. His eyes were flashing silver, like a bolt of lightning in the dark sky, a message that read loud and clear. Darren would regret hurting me.

After a few seconds he kissed me softly and looked into my eyes.

“My darling. May I look?” Was that a good idea? Adding fuel to the fire of his anger?

I nodded. “Don’t tell me how bad it is,” I whispered.

He lifted my shirt gently, his fingers lightly removing the bandages. His touch was careful, I barely felt the bandages move from my skin. My body stiffened involuntarily when the air brushed my skin. Just that small exposure sent the pain crawling along again, across every nerve. I heard his sharp intake of breath. His hands trembled on my waist.

When the fabric covered my back again he turned to face me.

“I’m so sorry my love, so very sorry.” Sorrow mixed with the anger, the vibrant, barely concealed anger that shook his whole frame.

“It’s ok. I’m ok.” I whispered, more to placate him than to admit the truth.

“No, you aren’t. But you will be. I’ll see to that.” The hard edge to his voice was disconcerting.

“What are you saying?” I could hardly breathe. Was he taking me away?

“Lizzie, I am being relocated. I’m not sure where they are sending me yet. I was going to ask you today if you wanted to come with me.” His eyes locked onto mine. “I already paved the way for you. I told them I was engaged. They will agree to my request for leave and to bring my wife to my new base. What do you think? Would you be willing to leave everything behind and come with me?” He asked, his voice hopeful.

I was more than ready. I never wanted to return with Darren anywhere again. No more pain and suffering, no more fear. No more living under his controlled thumb.

Maybe now, under Alec’s protection and love I could be safe and happy. This was exactly what I needed. A chance to start fresh. A new life.

I smiled brightly, brushing aside the melancholy that had gripped my heart. “Yes, how quickly can I join you?”

He laughed. “I might be able to get away with you tonight. I’ll have to check with my commander. If I speak to my superiors now, I may be able to get us out of here before everything goes down. The other officers have wives. They are very sympathetic. Give me a few minutes. Stay here and lay low. I’ll be back soon.”

He kissed me and left, sneaking out the door to the left. I waited, quickly becoming bored. After several minutes, I sat down on the floor and played with my hair, braiding it tight. I heard someone enter and I turned around, smiling. I should have known it was too quick to be Alec. My face fell, the smile replaced with cold fear as it settled in my stomach with an icy knot. Darren.

I scrambled to my feet quickly and started moving away. He followed me, backing me into a corner, against a stack of wooden crates.

“So, you’re leaving us all then? Planning on saying goodbye before you run off and marry your handsome stranger?” He sounded angry…and hurt.

“It’s not what you think. I can’t stay there now Darren. Not after what happened. Don’t…don’t you understand?” I asked him desperately, tripping over my words.

He shook his head. “No, I think you know where you belong, where you can have the biggest impact. Fighting the militia is what you love.” His hands lowered to my shoulders. The fear increased, making the blood in my veins rush, plunging in desperation, spurred on by the frantic beat of my heart. “I can change…I would change for you Lizzie. Give me a chance to prove it to you.” Was he insane?

“I don’t know.” I lied, desperate to push him away. “I want to talk to Alec first. I need to know his plan before I give you a decision.”

“I’m afraid that’s not going to be possible. You see, I’m going to make sure they know about him. I’m going to expose him as a traitor. They’ll deal with your Alec. But you will be long gone by then. Far, far away from here. Come, Lizzie, it’s time to go.” He gestured for me to follow, dropping his hands and walking toward the door.

Panic made my breath quicken. I could tell he wasn’t going to let me go with Alec. My mind frantically searched for a plan, anything to let me stay longer. I changed tactics, hoping to fool him.

“You’re right,” I told him, the lie bitter in my mouth, “no, Darren, I’m not leaving. Please, give me a few minutes. You know I can’t go anywhere with him. My home is with you and the rest of our group. Please…” I begged him.

“I don’t think so. He isn’t returning for you. He doesn’t really love you. Not like me Lizzie. I’ll show you, you’ll see.” He held out his hand. “Come with me, we need to leave right now.”

He was acting crazy. When had Darren become totally psychotic? “I’ll go but only if you let me say goodbye. Please Darren…for me?”

He seemed to think it over. “Fine, but if you say or do anything suspicious, anything at all, I’ll shoot him in the back of the head and drop him instantly.”

Darren wasn’t crazy. He was insane. Certifiably nuts. A sociopath. My eyes widened in horror. “Ok, yes, I understand. I promise to only say goodbye.”

Darren grabbed me and kissed me on the lips, then left outside again. Disgusted, I rubbed his kiss from my mouth. Full panic mode set in. Holy hell, what was I going to do?

I knew he was within firing range. I knew his marksmanship was a dead eye. He could hit a target from the longest distance of anyone in camp, even Mal. Dear God, would he really shoot to kill? The answer was yes, without a moment of hesitation, simply because Darren thought Alec was the enemy, and in his mind that was all the reason he needed.

I awaited Alec’s return anxiously. Pacing back and forth on the dusty floor, I was constantly aware of Darren’s eyes watching me, and acutely tormented by the fear that held me hostage. I was so anxious I could hardly move, barely think, gnawing on my lower lip.

He was back a half hour later. Alec ran to me and pulled me close, kissing me lovingly and then his forehead pressed to mine. “Everything is arranged.”

I hugged him tight, my fingers grasping his shirt in desperation, whispering into his right ear.

“Darren has a sniper rifle pointed at the back of your head. If I warn you and look like I am doing anything but saying goodbye right now he is going to kill you. He thinks I belong to him. Oh God, I’m terrified.” I stumbled over the words in a rush.

Alec smiled widely and started talking in a whisper. “Lizzie, everything is going to be fine. I got my leave granted. We are going to get out of here alive. I swear it.” Then his voice became louder. “I don’t want to say goodbye, not ever.”

I shook my head. “I have to leave. I can’t go with you. He is going to expose you as a traitor and try to have you executed for crimes during war. I’m losing you all over again.”

My voice broke, and I started crying, tears falling on his impeccable navy uniform. He held me close, a gesture meant to calm and soothe me, but nothing could do that, not with a sniper rifle pointed at his head.

He whispered to me this time, a softness that belied the anger and concern in his eyes.

“Everything is settled. I have horses waiting. We are getting away from here when the first bomber arrives. This is no surprise tonight. The refugees will be destroyed.” I gasped but he hurried on. “I warned them Lizzie, securing our position as faithful servants of the militia and the government. You aren’t leaving my side, not tonight, tomorrow, or ever again.”

“No, Alec! I have to leave. I have to go. They have to be warned. We can’t just let them be killed.” I panicked, forgetting I was supposed to be pretending.

“We can’t stop it Lizzie.” There was a firm resolution in his voice.

“What!” I yelled, no longer trying to be convincing.

I was really in a panic about the refugees now. What would happen to Big Dog, Mal, Diva, and all of the others? Would they survive to fight another day? Oh God, Mal, not Mal. Not my only friends left in this world. Mal! I screamed his name in my head.

“I love you Lizzie. I always have. I’m not letting you go. The refugees will have a fighting chance. They will know what happened when the bombs start falling.” He pressed his lips to my forehead. “I can’t lose you. If given the choice of saving your life or theirs, I’m afraid there is no hesitation. It’s always you I’m going to protect, my love.” I heard the catch in his voice and knew it was not a choice he made lightly. “We don’t have long now. Keep it up, just a little longer.”

My breath was coming in quick gasps. Every second I awaited the bullet that would tear him from me and take his life. How long would Darren let us stand here and hold each other close? How long until he figured out our deception? Surely he was becoming suspicious already.

“Alec, you have to let me go. I have to return to my people. We have an important job to do. Let me go. Let me go back to Darren.” I begged him, pretending again. I had to make sure Darren didn’t pull that trigger. I had to protect Alec. If he was strong, I could be strong too.

“Never, over my dead body will you ever return to him.” The venom in his voice surprised me. There was nothing false in his tone. “I’ll die first. He’ll never touch you or force himself on you, or hurt you ever again.”

Alec’s voice shook with his anger and the truth. I knew he meant it, even if we were acting now to keep him alive. We continued this way for the next five minutes when the sound of planes could be heard overhead, the loud hum and buzz of the bomber engines, just as I remembered. Exactly like my nightmares.

Alec grabbed me and we fell flat on the ground, just as gunfire entered the abandoned building. He sheltered my body with his; rolling to get away from the sniper shot we heard hit inches above us, close to our heads, shattering the wood and sending splinters flying into the air. Darren.

As soon as the bullets stopped, we jumped up and out of the building, making a run for the trees and the pair of horses. Bullets grazed passed us, whizzing past our heads and lodging into the ground and trees. Luckily nothing hit. I don’t know how. Bullets should have riddled our bodies but not one ever found its mark.

Alec helped me up on one horse while he jumped on the other. He kicked his horse into a full run, holding the reins on my mare tightly who followed close. We rode like the hounds of hell were chasing us, fast and unrelenting, until the sounds of buzzing planes, bombs exploding, and gunfire faded into the distance.

We paused to look back only once. Lighting up the dark night sky, flashing red and orange, climbing higher and blazing like an inferno, fire dominated the horizon. It glowed eerily. With heavy dread sinking my heart I watched for several minutes in silence. What fate led me here? To this moment? What dark path still lay before me? And what of my friends and comrades, did they survive? Or were we all just pawns in a larger game, ruled by death, and led by fear?

Alec led us away again, riding hard until dawn. We finally stopped at an inn, exhausted and needing nourishment. He paid the couple who owned it and had the horses stabled for us, led by a young boy in his teens, a scar running the length of his face. One arm was badly mangled and hung limply at his side. I was struck by the absurdity of it, by the sad horror and reality that children in war were just as scarred and maimed as the rest of us.

We were led to our room, with the promise of a late dinner tray to be sent up within the half hour. I glanced around the interior, a single double bed in the center, and suddenly felt nervous. Shyly I kept my eyes downcast, letting him take the lead.

Alec locked the door. He pushed a chair against the doorknob and locked the windows, just in case. The likelihood that we were followed was minimal but precautions had to be taken. He turned to me, watching my reaction, and took a step in my direction.