Tainted Future (The Rememdium Series Book 3) (13 page)

The will to survive rose deep from within Teresa’s mind. Tore away and destroyed the woman she had been, replacing her thoughts with those of a deadly killer—just as lethal as the undead. The instinct to continue breathing, make it another day, overrode the fear pulsing inside her body. Like a shot of morphine coursing through her veins, it numbed the pain.

Teresa Alvarado knew how to handle a man’s wants and needs. She’d let the scumbags abuse her body, waiting until that small window of ecstasy consumed them. Then, she’d strike with mortal blows.

Or, at least, take their favorite pieces of flesh with her on to the next life.

The shift in her mindset, the return to a predator crouched and ready to strike, gave Teresa a sense of peace. Holding still, keeping up the illusion she was still unconscious, Teresa didn’t move a muscle.

She didn’t think about their location, or the fact Miguel mentioned they were on their way to Dahlert, Oklahoma, where he was originally from.

Or food.

Water.

Sleep.

The gun.

No, all Teresa Alvarado’s thoughts converged on just one moment, and exactly how she’d execute it.

Thanks, Roberto, for paying for such a nice, strong set of dental implants. They’re about to come in quite handy.

Strong fingers dug into Teresa’s exposed arms, yanking her from the backseat. With almost zen-like control, Teresa never gave into the temptation to cry out, even when tossed onto the ground. The sting of rocks digging into her back and elbows didn’t faze her in the least.

She’d already endured enough pain for two lifetimes.

“Hope we didn’t wait too long. She’s not moving.”

“Ugh, she does stink.”

“So do you, Tomas,” Miguel said, laughing. “Look, there’s a small creek down that hill. No telling how long it’ll be before we find fresh water again. I say let’s put it to good use. Help me carry her down there.”

“You two go ahead. I’m going to check out that SUV over there,” Juan said. “Might be some stuff inside we could use.”

“Fine, but can’t promise you she’ll still be breathing when you come back,” Miguel answered.

“No matter. Her body will still be warm.”

Teresa felt Tomas and Miguel hoist her from the ground. She didn’t offer up any resistance. It took less than two minutes for them to reach the creek. Teresa heard the rushing water and guessed they were only feet away.

“Let me untie her. If we just throw her in, she might drown.”

“You sure? What if she wakes up and tries to fight back, Miguel?”

“Tomas, you really think this little piece of spoiled, rich flesh can hurt you? You’re a wimp.”

The men continued berating each other while one of them, Miguel she assumed, unbound her arms. Teresa’s head bounced against the ground after he yanked the blindfold away. She used the opportunity to open one eye, and noticed both men had guns strapped to their thighs.

“God, I’ve always wanted to fuck her sideways. Roberto was a lucky man, getting to bang her every night. Of course, back then, she was pretty.”

“Given what we’ve seen recently, I’d say she’s stunning,” Miguel answered, laughing. “You got her?”

“Yeah.”

“Good. Think I’ll make a deposit behind those rocks, first. All this stress has knotted up my guts.”

Teresa heard Miguel walk away as Tomas lifted her off of the ground. “Time for a bath, you El Salvadorian whore.”

The cold water made Teresa gasp as her head and body went under. Grateful for the liquid, she opened her mouth and took several gulps before her body freaked and she choked.

Tomas grabbed a handful of hair and pulled her head up. “Ah, you’re awake now. Good. I’m ready to see if I can make you scream with this.”

Tomas’ other hand grabbed his crotch. Teresa noticed he was naked from the waist down. He pulled her from the water and threw her down on the embankment only feet away. The last rays of the sun helped her while she scanned the area.

No signs of Miguel or Juan.

Perfect.

In just a few seconds, she sized up her quarry. Tomas wasn’t much taller than she was, thin as a rail, and young. Maybe twenty-two, if she remembered correctly. She could tell from the look in his eyes, the way he stared at her body, Tomas didn’t have much experience with women.

“You wish to fuck me, Tomas? Make me scream?” Teresa whispered.

Tomas’ dark eyes widened in shock. They quickly narrowed down into small slits while licking his lips. “Glad that pretty little mouth of yours still works, Teresa. Yeah, I’m gonna do you right. Make you forget all about Roberto. And the others.”

Teresa pulled off the damp sweat pants and spread her legs, letting her hand slide down between them. “Oh, I’ve already forgotten about them, Tomas. You know, after what’s happened? Knowing any second could be our last moments alive—it’s an aphrodisiac, don’t you agree? I, too, have had my eye on you for some time. You are quite handsome. Juan and Miguel are too old. I’ve always had a thing for young flesh.”

Tomas’ excited gaze shifted to what Teresa’s hand was doing between her thighs. Looking around once more, seeing they were still alone, Teresa bucked her hips toward Tomas’ small erection.

“Hell yeah. I’m gonna take all of you, mamacita. Every hole will feel me.”

Teresa moved her other hand slowly toward Tomas’ head, giving it a gentle push. “I’m all clean now, Tomas. Have a taste before the others get back. Roberto always said my
pupusa
tasted like sweet nectar. He loved to lick me dry while I sucked his
paloma.
”

The temptation was too much for Tomas. Flipping positions, he buried his face in Teresa’s crotch while simultaneously shoving his cock into her face. She forced herself not to gag at the rank smell.

“No games, mamasita, or I’ll cut you in half,” Tomas mumbled.

“None at all, Tomas,” Teresa purred, grabbing the erection with her hands. She gave it a gentle stroke. “That’s it, um, yes. Your tongue is magic.”

The tension in Tomas’ muscles relaxed as he dug in, nipping, licking, and biting. Teresa pushed past the pain and zeroed in on her plan.

In one swift motion, and with the speed of a cat, Teresa clamped her thighs together, smothering Tomas’ face. With all her strength, she squeezed her legs and twisted, muffling Tomas’ screams.

Then, she opened her mouth, shoving the nasty piece of flesh inside. With all her might, she bit down, her teeth ripping through the flesh with surprising ease. The bitter taste of copper filled her mouth while blood seeped from her lips. Turning her head, Teresa spit out the limp chunk of flesh onto the ground. Hot, sticky blood poured from the wound onto her face and neck. Tomas’ body jerked and writhed in agony as his fingers clawed at her legs.

Years of yoga and kick boxing had made Teresa’s body strong. Though Tomas fought back, she held on with every fiber of her being until his struggles lessened.

In seconds, Tomas’ convulsions stopped. Just to make sure he was dead, Teresa reached for a sharp rock to the right, grabbed it, relaxed her thighs, and rolled left. Tomas collapsed onto the ground, blood soaking the dirt underneath him. He whimpered only once before Teresa smashed the rock into his temple.

Again.

And again.

And again, until Tomas’ head was unrecognizable.

Glancing at his chest, she could tell he wasn’t breathing, so Teresa scrambled to her feet. Tomas’ pants and belt rested in a crumpled pile about ten feet away.

And the belt contained the holster with the pistol.

Teresa smiled after checking.

It was loaded.

Hallelujah!

“Tomas? You done? My turn.”

The sound of Miguel’s voice was close, so Teresa hid behind a boulder.

Miguel appeared from the tree line, stopping short when his gaze found Tomas’ remains. On instinct, his hand went for the gun on his hip.

Two shots broke the quiet afternoon, yet they weren’t from Miguel’s weapon.

Or Teresa’s.

They came from the direction of the truck.

Miguel drew his weapon and immediately crouched low. He was mumbling under his breath, cursing the powers above while backpedaling toward Teresa’s hiding place. The distance between them was about twenty feet.

Then ten.

Then five.

When less than two feet away, Teresa raised the gun. She held the position until Miguel’s head was only inches away. Holding her breath, she extended her arm and stuck the barrel against the base of his neck.

Before Miguel had a chance to register his mistake, Teresa pulled the trigger.

“That’s two down,” she whispered to the destroyed head of Miguel. 

“Ma’am? You okay?”

Teresa spun around at the sound of an unfamiliar male voice, gun pointed in front of her. Two men stood at the top of the rise. Father and son, maybe, judging by their ages. Only the elder one on the right had a gun.

“If you don’t want to end up like them, go. Leave me be.”

“Ma’am, we mean you no harm. I swear. I just shot the other man. He was tryin’ to rob us. You weren’t with them willingly, were you?”

Teresa answered by shaking her head.

“Looks like you handled yourself quite well, ma’am. Quite well. I’m Cooper Hollingsworth and this here’s Mason Hall. We’re survivors, like you, just tryin’ to get home.”

“Yeah, well good for you. Again, leave. I don’t need—or want—any help. As you can see, I can take care of myself.”

“I thought the same thing, but changed my mind after I saw dead people chasing live ones. There’s safety in numbers,” Mason offered.

Teresa stared at the kid then back over to the other man. Part of her wanted to believe them, but the other, stronger part, feared them enough to sacrifice the potential safety they offered.

The men who’d raped and tortured her were dead, and she now had three weapons and a vehicle. But, where would she go? Would she just drive around until the gas ran out? There was no home to go back to; no one waiting to be rescued. Teresa started to shake.

“Please, ma’am. It’ll be dark soon, and it’s much harder to stand guard against the dead at night. We just stopped here to refill our gas tanks, eat, and rest up a bit. Planned on leavin’ soon. You can stay in your vehicle with the doors locked. We’ll do the same. Just, please, come on up here. Won’t sit well with my soul if we just leave you all alone out here.”

Teresa lowered the gun. Stepping over Miguel’s body, she grabbed his weapon then moved over to where Tomas’ pants sat. After yanking them on, she almost laughed at the absurdity of wearing the clothes of a man she’d killed.

She shoved the extra gun into the waistband, then looked back up. The men hadn’t moved.

“I did this. To both of them. Won’t hesitate to kill again if either one of you tries to hurt me. I swear.”

“Don’t doubt that one bit, Miss?” Cooper said.

“Names don’t mean shit anymore. Keep your distance. I’ll be gone by morning.”

Teresa made her way up the hill, gun trained on the men named Cooper and Mason. They backed away until Teresa slipped inside the SUV. When she locked the doors, both turned and headed back to their own vehicle.

After setting the guns in the passenger seat, Teresa searched for food and water. She found a few backpacks crammed in the front floorboard, each full of supplies. She ate and drank until she could do neither anymore while night descended from the sky.

For the next several hours, Teresa kept an eye on the vehicle with the two men, waiting, watching for any signs of movement. Though the one named Cooper mentioned they wouldn’t hang around long, they had yet to leave. Once, she climbed over to the backseat and dug around to see what else was inside, happy when she discovered her purse.

The trio of fools hadn’t touched anything inside of it, including the money, and Roberto’s journal. Digging deeper, she remembered her makeup bag had a few items of use inside. Yanking it out, she felt around until she found the hand sanitizer and a few tampons. After cleaning her hands, Teresa took the cotton from the tampons and dabbed some sanitizer on them, then set about cleaning the wounds to her face, arms, leg and chest.

All her other wounds would simply have to heal on their own. Some, she knew, would be with her permanently.

Teresa poked and dug around every inch of the SUV, looking for anything of use. She stuffed the flashlight and extra batteries she found inside her bag, along with a long switchblade. She nearly squealed with delight when she pulled out an entire carton of cigarettes from under the front passenger seat. Though she’d given up smoking years ago, the craving rushed back while holding a pack in her hands.

If ever there was a time to smoke, it was now. A victory puff for the new woman she’d become.

She was, after all, the daughter of Mario Alvarado, and today, Teresa’s actions would have made her father proud. The memory of standing in the den at home, forcing her mind to imagine herself as a badass, was now her new reality.

Teresa cussed a blue streak when she realized there wasn’t a lighter anywhere inside the SUV.

“Duh, use the one in the dashboard,” she muttered.

She turned the key in the ignition and popped the lighter. The first few drags made her cough, but she pushed on and kept puffing. Soon, the interior filled with smoke, and she had to pee. She grabbed a gun and opened the door, stepping out into the cold night air.