Blood Red Sky (Post Apoc - closed)

Blood Red Sky
Closed for Soulweaver and Nessacary (replacing LovelyLauren until her return). Please PM either of us with comments or suggestions ......




Motor-Runner crouched low, coiled, ready for action. He wiped the serrated blade of his combat knife against the leg of his leather armour, careful not to scrape the attached metal plates and give off any tell tale noise. He looked back, making a sweeping motion with his hand. Behind him, his boys spread out, equally silent, surrounding the small farmhouse.

The lights had gone out about an hour ago. But it paid to wait, and be sure. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d been surprised by some old geezer sitting inside, in the dark with a shotgun. He had to begrudgingly admire these independent homesteaders though. Trying scratch out a living in the barren dust and dreaming of better times.

Unfortunately, better times weren’t coming to these folks. Competition for scarce loot was getting tough. The gang growing bigger was a good thing, but it also meant more food, and more resources were needed. So the Khans had been forced to send raiding parties out further. Deeper into the ash wastes, and to fight for leaner pickings.

Not that he was expecting much trouble tonight. It was just a couple and their daughter. They had watched the son leave a couple of days ago, decked out in NCR military service kit. The boys, well he’d promised them the loot, and the parents. The girl, was to be his . . .


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A warm wind had whipped up, strange noises echoing off the nearby hills. The bloated, mutated, Brahmin cattle were beginning to stir, and he knew they had to move soon, in case they woke up the occupants. Raising his arm, he circled his hand above his head, giving the 10 second sign, and moved closer to the door, crouching down behind a piece of rusting farm machinery.

Suddenly there was a blinding flash and a bloodcurdling scream. A body flew past and thudded into the machine next to him, splattering him in wet gore. One of the lads had set off a booby trap, a half buried frag mine on a trip line probably.

“Shit, get moving,” he yelled. Wanting to move fast now and salvage the situation before anything else went wrong.

He crashed into the door and rolled out of instinct. His ears rang as a shotgun blast whistled passed and straight into the gut of the raider behind him. His gun was up and he was pumping the trigger out of blind hope, not clean, but he didn’t care, just firing for effect. There was a soft thud, a stifled cry and the return fire stopped instantly.

For a second there was silence. Then he sprang to his feet as his boys crashed in, full of blood lust, combat drugs and more than a dose of crazy. Looking for revenge for their two fallen. Instinctively he smashed through the door and into the bedroom, hauling the young woman out from the arms of her screaming mother. He dragged her out, scarcely pausing to look behind, as the pumped up raiders began tearing the small farmhouse apart. Wet screams began to echo almost immediately, and the girl he was dragging went limp. Her mind blotting out things no one should hear.

He kept moving, putting some distance between him and his crazed men. He finally set her down, under an overhanging rock outcropping, and he crouched down to watch and guard. He knew from experience, to get anything of value out quick and then to leave them to it. The drug haze knew few friends and he’d rather not have to kill one of his own men tonight.



.

Her parents had tried to prepare her for this day, but they had hoped it would never come.

For so long they had been able to defend themselves and their home from raiders, and slavers. Her brother's military experience and her dad's skill with a shotgun helped with that. Lina was skilled with one too, but only from hunting experience with her family. Her shot still needed some work, especially when under pressure.

Their farmhouse was well hidden, so they didn't get too many visitors as of lately. So, her brother had taken that opportunity to take off and find food; they were running low. And it had only taken a few days after her older brother's departure for their visitors to arrive.

Lina had been sleeping when her father shook her awake, whispering to her. "Go sit with your mother, and whatever you do, don't let anyone in this room." He protectively pulled her out of bed before the blonde girl quickly got dressed into a faded pair of blue jeans, and didn't have time to pull a sweater over her tank top before her mom was stepping into her room in panic.

Lina sat there on her bed with her mother, the two holding each other while her father stood post in their living room. Just waiting for that front door to open. He regretted not being more prepared and being able to better protect his family, but he wasn't going down without a fight. As soon as that front door swung open, he began to fire away with a grin.

Lina wasn't dumb, she knew exactly what would happen to her father, and she hated that all she could do was sit there and let it happen. When her own bedroom door swung open and her mother was screaming bloody murder. Lina's small body was easily pulled away from her mom, but she wouldn't let them take her without clawing and kicking. Her dad and brother had tried to tell her and warn her what had become of the people in the world, but she never truly grasped on to the idea until now. These men were animals.

"Fuck, let me go!" She screamed, her body squirming and jerking, trying to break free from the strong man's grip on her. It wasn't until she saw her father's bloodied body on the ground that Lina froze. It wasn't a sight that any child to see of their parent, even if she was an adult now. And Lina couldn't even remember how she had gotten outside, only becoming conscious again when she was being set down.

Her green eyes looked around, gathering where she was. She could still hear her mom's screams echoing out of their farmhouse and over the hills before they finally came to a stop, somehow. Out of breath already, the man who had taken her was looking back at the house too. And it didn't take her longer than a second to turn and run.

“Aw Fuck . . . !”

He spun around, too late realising the girl was awake. More than that, she was up and running. Quick as he was, she was quicker and his gnarled hand slipped off her shoe and came up with a handful of dirt.

He paused, taking the time to flick Deadman, his beloved 10mm auto pistol, into his cross shoulder holster. His senses came alive, awash with the instinct of a pure, two legged predator. The girl was fast, but panicked, running on fear and adrenalin. And she was making way too much noise, for he wasn’t the only thing that hunted at night in the wastes.

He drew his knife and began to track her. Following in a long loping run, naturally fast, but with endurance born from running for his life since he was old enough to remember. Ahead. she crashed into something and slipped, scrambling for footing. He was close enough to hear her curse, not the girly scream he was expecting.

He crested a rise and the vista of a dry pan bowl spread out before him, in the eerie red night. She was barely 15 or 20 yards ahead now, but there was no cover. Out here, with no weapons and no training, no cover meant death. As he watched, he sensed, more than saw, movement off to the right. A small Deathclaw had broken from the scrub covered ridge, and had begun to trot after her, its claws kicking up dust as it sped up.

There was no time to think. Normally he would have stopped, leaving the white flesh to its fate, even a valuable girl like her. But something kicked him into action. Maybe the fact she’d shown spunk, not screaming, foxing, running when she had a chance. Things he’d do. He broke his stride and leapt off the crest sprinting, knife balanced, poised, but not sure he could cross the gap before she was hit.

In front, she had sensed something, maybe something scarier even than the raiders. She tried to speed up but she was almost blown, gasping for breath in the thin desert air. The creature was alongside, it hopped and sprung off one foot, leaping with claws outstretched.

In slow motion he saw her dive, almost quick enough. A claw caught her shoulder and spun her over, tumbling. The creature scrambled to a halt, turned and stood over her, its maw gaping, silvery fangs dripping the promise of rending terror.

He hit it with all the force he could. No time to deliver a proper blow, just trying to knock it down. They both rolled over and over. He felt its jaws gnash closed with a wet snap, inches from his face. He landed half twisting, and the Deathclaw was upon him, impossibly quick. He just had time to throw himself backwards, to accept the blow it landed with its claw, to soften what normally would have shattered bone and removed his limb. He grunted as the creature stood over him, savouring its preys last seconds. Its weakness. His blade plunged up, and the Deathclaw sagged in surprise, not even able to scream as its green life fluids slopped to the ground, steaming in the cool night air.

He staggered up, right arm numb and dripping his own blood. The girl was sitting, legs drawn up, her head in her knees, but watching him. He shrugged off his torn armour, took another step, then dropped to his knees, a mixture of shock and protective adrenalines kicking in. He tried to speak, to tell her they had to move, the blood … it would attract others. But dust kicked up and swirled as he fell, his hot blood seeping into the cold, night sand.


.

With the head start, Lina had made some good distance between her and the man who had dragged her out of her home. She actually smiled as she sprinted off, dodging trees, stumps, and other rubble on the ground. She couldn't be more thankful that she remembered to put on shoes before the men had raided her house. Looking behind her, that blonde head of hers turned around to see that she was being followed, and he was fast too. Of course he was, bastard.

And just as she was looking behind her to see just how much of a head start she had, she nearly ran into a tree. Her feet had carried her so much faster than she could even remember running, and she struggled to catch her balance again before she was falling forward. Instantly, her hands came out in front of her to brace her fall, but she still hit the ground, hard. "Son of a bitch..." Her pretty mouth grumbled, a habit of swearing that took after her brother and father. And she didn't realize just how much out of breath she was until she was at a stop.

Just as she was beginning to stand again, she heard the noise off to the side. There was more than one predator after her. Swearing again under her breath in disbelief, she watched as the creature came at her. With the same speed, Lina dove forward to avoid it making contact. But she wasn't fast enough. She cried out as his claw scratched her shoulder, marking her skin and tearing at the thing fabric of the tank top she wore. She hit the ground again, and when she looked up, the girl almost gave up, ready to do. This is it...she thought to herself, closing her eyes to let it happen. The fight in her was gone; she just had no defense.

Before she knew it, the creature was rolling back with the man that had followed her. Those pretty green eyes widened in shock, watching the fight play out. Instincts told her to run, but her feet stayed grounded even after she had jumped to her feet. At least until the deathclaw fell in defeat, it's blood spilling on the ground. Mixing with the man's blood. She stared in shock, and fear, not even realizing that her whole body was trembling and shaking. She knew she should walk away now. And fast. But the blonde wasn't an idiot; she knew she wouldn't last another minute out here in the open. She had barely made it this far.

With a heavy sigh, and a groan, her fear growing into anger, Lina walked over to the fallen man and grabbed his arms. With all the strength she had in her, the adrenaline rush helping, the blonde pulled him with her out of the open area. In what seemed like hours, she found a small cave to duck into. It wasn't well protected, but it was hidden enough. Her plan? Stay there and not escape until daylight. And in the meantime, she disarmed the man of his knife, and pistol. As if she really knew how to shoot it, anyway.

He awoke with a start. He couldn’t believe he had slept, or passed out, probably both. Either could get you killed out here. He stifled a groan. Another learnt response. Don’t ever let them know how much you’re hurting. Ever. Period. It might buy you a second of time to escape or kill, as well as denying them the satisfaction of your pain

He was drifting he realised. He wasn’t in the pits leaning to fight, his will being broken and slowly crushed, until he was ready to submit his fealty to his new master. He was in a cave. He remembered, “The girl . . .” .

He shifted and winced. His arm was stiff, very cold and rapidly seizing up. Blood had pooled were he lay, still wet, he knew he was still leaking and needed help. The first rays of morning light were beginning to lighten the sky outside the cave entrance. A fiery yellow-orange glow, very fitting he thought. It matched his mood.

He glanced at the girl, she was propped up against the rock, looking out of the entrance. His equipment lay in a pile at her feet and she was absently toying with his pistol. In the half light he could just see the little red illuminated dot on the side. At least the safety was on. She wouldn’t accidentally shoot herself, or him.

He tried to speak, his voice a cracked groan. She turned, her face profiled to the orange glow outside. He stared. She certainly was a beauty. Not that that ever lasted long in the wastes. Either it was taken or eroded as the struggle to survive, things that had to be done, took their toll.

“What’s your plan?” he tried to move and only managed to kick up dust.

She looked, considering. “To run. To wait for daylight, and to run,” her voice was soft, but tinged with, anger, and regret. “And maybe to shoot you.”

He nodded. “Fair enough. I deserve it, been expecting it really.”

“You do know you won’t get far, don’t you?” he continued as she looked on, toying with the gun. “If the Claw’s don’t get you, the RadScorpions, or my boys will.”

He let the idea sink in. “If you help me, I can help you. Protect you at least. Give you a chance . . . to survive.”

“What’s your name . . . .?”


.

While waiting for the man to come to, Lina paced back and forth in that cave for a few minutes. Though, she did have to duck a little with the low cover. When she finally settled, sitting uncomfortably on a rock with his belongings at her feet and pistol in her hand, she studied the weapon. Guns weren't much of a mystery to her, not in this world anymore, at least. Especially since both her older brother and father owned one. But in her state of mind, she couldn't even figure out how to turn the fucking safety off. So much for thinking she could threaten him with her own gun. Well, let's just see if he'd notice...

When the man finally began to stir, Lina looked over and notice he was looking back at her, studying her. Her blonde hair was a mess, half from the sleep that had been interrupted by the attack, and the other half due to the escape. The hair tie she had around her wrist was suddenly tying back her blonde hair from her face, exposing those green eyes of hers as she glared over at the stranger.

He had saved her life. Why? She hadn't a fucking clue. Maybe so he could use her, after. Or make her feel like she owed him. But fuck, if anything, he owed her her father's life back! And who knew what came to happen to her mother...

Lina listened to the man, pondering and actually considering what he had to say. But the stubborn side of her, the side that he could clearly see in those fiery green eyes, didn't want to reason with him. "Why the hell would you want to help me? I wouldn't need your help if it wasn't for you. Did you forget? You fucking killed my dad!" The reality of it cause warm tears to stream down the young girl's face, and she quickly wiped them away with embarrassment.

The girl was still human, unlike so many that had turned to animals. Doing anything to survive, no matter who they hurt, or what they did. Being lucky enough to have a family and a house to protect her, she hadn't been exposed to all of the wild, and dark things that they world had changed into. Her parents had protected her from that. But now, she had no one. No one to help her, no one to protect her to this new world she had hardly stepped foot in. Except him.

"Why did you save me?" she asked finally, after clearing her throat. "Back there. You could have let me get killed. Why?" She insisted on her answer, staring back at him. She wouldn't give her name, not yet.

He saw the confusion in her face, and wash through her deep, flashing, green eyes. They were dangerous. They could hold a man, make him . . . do things. Stupid things. He knew from experience that women could get you killed. They slowed you down, clouded your judgement, caused, problems, and that in a world where the slow usually ended up dead. Or worse. He moved his arm so the pain could wash some clarity through him.

Her tears didn’t have much effect on him. He’d had his fill of tears many years ago. But her effort to control them, to hide her embarrassment and appear strong. Well, now that, he could understand. She had pride, still. He wondered how long that would last out here. Any of the raider camps usually used captured women as whores. And in those camps there was a strict pecking order. Funnily, the women who had clawed their way up out of the mud, were usually the ones to enforce it. So new captives, had the worst conditions, and suffered the worst depravities.

He drifted under the pain. He wondered how she would look in the rack. In his camp, all new woman were tied to it. Often for days. Free to be used by any and all. Often, it was the only way the old, or infirm, or young men, got any females at all. Those not strong enough to fight for the pick of the crop. Strangely, he both wanted to see her like that, and also, completely uncharacteristically, wanted to protect her from that fate. He didn’t want to gaze into those eyes without that spark of pride.

Her silence got his attention. “What . . . why did I what?” he tilted his head, a soft, questioning gesture.

"Why did you save me? Back there. You could have let me get killed. Why?"

It wasn’t often he couldn’t answer a direct question. His instinct screamed at him to lie, to get what he needed from her, his stim packs, his armour and weapons, and to get things back to how they should be. For right now, his world was in danger of spinning out of control. But, she hadn’t killed him either. Despite the atrocities to her family. Sure, he’d saved her. But only to drag her off somewhere, into a life of slavery for all she knew.

He was getting weak. He knew that the blood loss was getting close to a critical point. His healing stims could only arrest so much damage. If the bleeding wasn’t stopped soon and she left him here, he’d bleed out in this god forsaken cave. If not today, he’d be dead tomorrow or the next day.

So he looked at her and took a chance. The truth.

“Really, I don’t know. I’ve never done that before. I’ve never wanted to save anyone if it meant taking a stupid risk. Not for . . . a long time anyway.”

She looked at him, he knew that wasn’t enough. She was strong, a strength suddenly he wanted. A strength he hadn’t felt since before his own family was taken from him, and he was broken and initiated as a Khan.

“I . . . see something. In you. Something I saw once, in someone I loved.”

They stared at each other, both seemingly at a crossroads. The silence in the cave seemed deafening. The only sound, the “click, click, click,” of the pistol, as she absently worked the trigger, sobbing silently to herself.”



.

Lina's green eyes were bright, intense even, as she looked back at the stranger. She waited patiently for his answer, and studied him all the while. It was then that she saw, and couldn't believe that she had forgotten that he was bleeding. Shit, she'd need to get that to stop soon.

She still waited for his answer though, and it wasn't as clear as she would have like. He seemed uncertain as to why he even saved her, and didn't leave her there to die. He never wanted to save anyone before? Apparently, he didn't have a family. Someone that loved him, and would fight back for him as hard as he would fight for them. But Lina still wanted a better answer than that. If he didn't know, he'd need to dig a little deeper. She had to know that -something- in him was still human. Otherwise she was alone in this world, and she wouldn't make it very far.

"I . . . see something. In you. Something I saw once, in someone I loved.” Lina's eyes didn't leave his, and she tilted her head to the side. "What happened to them?" She asked, not meaning for her voice to whisper so softly.

Before he could answer, she could see his face growing pale, his eyes dulling a little. Fuck, she really needed to help him. "Listen," Slowly, Lina stood up, and set the pistol down in the dirt before she held up her hands defensively. "I'm not going to hurt you, if you don't hurt me. But if we don't stop your bleeding here, we'll both be dead." Cautiously, Lina stepped closer to him and lowered herself to her knees in front of him.

Her back shoulder had also been scratched, but not hardly as bad as his wound. "Shit, where is it coming from? Where are you hurt?" Her fingers ran up to his arm where his shirt had been torn, searching for the wound where the blood was pooling and soaking through his clothes. Lina tore the bottom of her tank top, just a strip of cloth, and used that to bandage when she found the spot where the deathclaw had dug it's claw into his flesh. She tied it tight around his arm, and used another piece to try to clean away some of the blood and bury it in the dirt beneath them.

"What happened to them?"

He tried to answer, tell her, "he couldn’t . . . didn’t want to . . ." but a wave of clammy nausea washed over him. His vision greyed and he started sweating, a cold sweat, he was about to pass out.

Dimly, he watched her approach, palms opened and green eyes soft. Her voice though, the tone. It soothed him. He knew she was trying to help, but, it soothed. More than the offer of help. More than she knew.

He closed his eyes and let her search for the bleeding. He heard a moment of panic in her voice as she struggled to locate it, winced as she wiped and probed. Finally, she found the torn artery, applying pressure and binding it tightly.

“Tighter . . . “ he groaned at her. She blanched a little, nodding, chewing her bottom lip as she tightened it further. Finally she was done, rocking back on her heels and admiring her handiwork.

“Not a bad combat dressing,” he managed a horse whisper and weakly poked her arm. She grinned for a second, totally losing her guard.

Then, she looked away, fussing, cleaning her hands in the dry dust. He was surprised as she scraped at the pooled blood, burying it, and the soaked remains of his shirt, under a pile if earth. She was smart, and obviously a quick learner. As he watched her, his eyes strayed to her clean stomach, exposed when she tore material off what was already a small top, to use as a bandage. Finally she sat down, looking at him, her head cocked to the side, “Well?” she demanded.

He grinned, waiting for her to look away. When he could see she wasn’t going to be easily put off, thinking "she has a stubborn streak too,", he slowly nodded.

“OK . . . but first, my name . . . my real name, is Jess.”

When he had complimented her after applying his bandage, Lina did smirk a little, without even realizing it. She was proud, and had almost forgotten just exactly who she was helping here, and who she was talking to. This man was still dangerous, and so were his friends.

When Lina caught herself, she looked away and silently cursed to herself in her head while looking around for something to distract herself. Instead, she cleared her throat and sat back down, demanding him answer her question again that she had asked earlier, "Well?"

She only sighed when he delayed his answer again by introductions, and it was clear this man was just as stubborn. "Jess." She repeated with a little nod, her eyes studying him as if to determine if his name actually fit him. "I'm Lina." She nodded a little, getting that out of the way just incase he bothered to delay his answer again by asking her her name.

"So, who's this person you're talking about? I loved someone too, you know. My parents. And you killed them." Her accusing eyes burned into his as the tears came back again, and this time she didn't bother hiding them.

"Are your friends going to come back, Jess? To come looking for you?" She motioned with her blonde head outside the cave, but didn't look. She couldn't tear her eyes away from him from both curiosity, and mistrust.

His eyes followed her waved hand, and he looked outside. The sky was lightening quickly, and already a watery heat haze was blurring the view of the distant hills. She was bathed in bright light, almost like blood he thought, and quickly looked away.

He leant back against the rock, closing his eyes. Its cool hard surface a comfort. It was something solid, dependable and unchanging. He wished life had more rock.

He could feel her eyes on him, studying and measuring. He was older than her. Mid 30’s, though even he didn’t know exactly how old he was. Birthdays weren’t really things people celebrated much anymore, well, not those out of the vaults anyway. The seasons were the only way his kind of people kept track of the march of time, the seasons, and the stars.

He wasn’t tall, but was powerfully built, and mean-fast with it. Most thought size meant toughness, but not in his world. You had to be able to move and get under your opponent, land your blow first, but be strong enough to take a hit too. His tattoos though, were his pride, each with some sort of meaning to him. Not like the "ink for inks' sake" that many of the younger warriors and captives applied. His were memories.

She was fidgeting, flexing her fingers and rubbing them. Watching her eyes though, he knew she wasn’t just going away, nor would let him off the hook easily. Whatever else happened, he needed her, but now she was demanding some sort of emotional trade off, before she would go any further.

He cocked his head, fixing her with a steady gaze.

“They came, and they stayed . . . for days.”

He closed his eyes again before continuing. This was the first time he’d ever spoken of this, to anyone. “They murdered my wife . . . and they murdered our unborn child, eventually.”

He couldn’t look at her.

“They raped her, again, and again and again. And our baby died inside her. Then . . . she killed herself.”

“I was bound, gagged, couldn’t move, couldn’t help.”

“All I could do, was watch, watch as she lost herself . . . and then . . . went. In front of my eyes.”

He fell silent, and very still . . .

Those intense green eyes of hers never left Jess, waiting for his answer. She was curious. Who was this person he had lost? And why did she remind him so much of them?

Listening intently, Lina leaned forward a little while she fidgeted and fumbled with her hands idly. A nervous habit. When he explained, probably some of the heavier details left out, Lina only nodded. She felt horrible, sick even, for knowing what had happened to his wife. She could see the sadness in his eyes that made him look more human than the others who had broken into her house, but a part of her still wasn't ready to forgive him and forget everything that had happened only hours ago.

"I'm sorry for your loss." She said sincerely, looking back at him as he kept quiet after that. She really had meant it, but was he sorry for her loss? Probably not. Her father had been killed, his dead bloodied body left there in the living room like trash, while her brother...well, she didn't know her fate. But Lina could only assume that she'd been raped as well, and died, much like his wife had. And now Lina was alone, if you didn't count the stranger next to her who she had helped bandage up. But he didn't let her die, so she returned the favor.

"But what would your wife say now? What would she say about what you do? You're no better than the men who hurt her, are you?" She fired at him accusingly, and instantly regretted it. It was a hurtful thing to say, but the pain of her parent's death still stung at her, and she was running her mouth. Something the fiery girl always did, he'd soon find.

"It's not too late for you, you know You can change what you do. You could start over." She shrugged slowly, looking down at her fingers that were still fumbling, and she placed them in her lap to calm herself. "I know you can. I don't know why, but you pulled me out of my house back there. And you saved me. Something in you is still human, and still knows what's right and wrong. And what they did to my dad, to my mom...it's so wrong." Yes it was the way of life now, and almost the dorm. But only if they let it be.

“My wife . . “ he began, then stopped, memories welling up. They were so young, she had thought the same things, that they could survive out there on there own. Leading a decent life, raising a family. His instincts had fought, railed against her, but once she got an idea in her head, it was useless trying to argue with her. So they’d set up house, and look how that worked out, he thought bitterly.

“Yes. I am the same. I survived.”

He fixed his eyes on her. “Think yourself lucky. I . . . I am sorry for your parents. But you’re lucky you haven’t had to, to do things to survive. Because they change you, and you forget.”

His tone changed, his voice cracked a little, deep but full of controlled tension, “Do you really think though, that I don’t know what my wife, what she would think?” he flashed his own eyes at her, steel grey and unreadable.

“There isn’t a day that passes that I don’t suffer the blame of her death, of . . . their deaths.”

He looked away. “I made a promise to her. Silent, but she knew. I promised her I’d kill everyone in that room, and the people they loved. So yes. I did what I had to do. I changed, I got stronger, let them take me in . . . “ his words trailed off.

“Look. Right now, I don’t know what to do, and that scares me. I don’t like feeling out of control, out here . . .” he waved his hand around dismissively, “out here that’s dangerous.”

“I do know some things though. We can’t stay here. We have to get moving and we better do it before the day gets too hot. You were right though, they’ll be coming for us. But I know a place we can go, to hide while I think.”

He could see the indecision on her face, and added, “Its safe, safer than here anyway.”

He tried to raise himself, struggling to stand.

“Now, are you going to pass me my gear and help me up?”

Lina could feel Jess get defensive, with good reason. She had accused and blamed him for being no better than the men who had fucked, and led his wife to her death. But he was different, she knew that. Maybe not perfect, but who was in this world anymore? Lina's own innocence and view on the world had just been so protected because of the amount of time she was kept up in that family house in the middle of no where. Her brother and father were able to bargain or protect her and her mom, but only for so long. Now Lina was exposed, and thrown out into a world that she no longer knew. And was in no way prepared to face. She needed him.

And she knew he was right; they needed to go, and soon. The others would be looking for him, and she didn't want to be around for that to happen. She was hesitant at first, but she knew they needed to go. Slowly, Lina began to stand back up again, and gather up his things. "Alright, we're leaving. But this is mine." She stepped closer to him, handing him his things back, minus his pistol. "You'll get it back, when I know you're taking me someplace safe, and not leading me back to the others." She said as she looked him right in the eye, before he could protest.

Brushing away some of her blonde hair out of her face, Lina cautiously looked around outside before stepping out of that cave and leading him out. "Where is this place that you know where to hide?" She asked curiously as they walked, the pistol positioned with its barrel in the waist of her jeans.

He took his battered leather armour, twisted and struggling to put it on. Finally he admitted defeat, “Lina, please?”

As she helped, fussing at the buckles, straps and zips, her fingers couldn’t help but brush over his skin. Lingering just a fraction more than they should before they moved on. At least that’s what he imagined, as he grunted and stepped away, settling himself with a final shrug of his shoulders.

He thought about demanding the pistol, but had to admire her spunk. She was right not to trust so quickly. Maybe she would do OK out here, given enough time to learn.

“At least turn the safety off,” he indicated with his finger and grinned, “you know, the little latch on the side. Its safer to be prepared, just, remember, never point a gun unless you’re prepared to pull the trigger.” She blushed and snipped the safety, the red dot being replaced by the worn, green telltale.

She brushed absently at her hair, something he loved to do on his Shelly. Wow. He hadn’t thought like this for so long. Yes, occasional pangs at night, or when some little thing reminded him of something she had liked, or would say.

He stepped out into the sun, blinking as his eyes adjusted.

“We need to go south, deeper into the wastes. Theres an abandoned mine. It's high so we’ll have some advantage. And its in dangerous territory. Most . . .” he didn’t think he should say all, “most of the scouts we've sent down that way haven’t returned.”

He turned as she stood looking at him. “C’mon, what are you waiting for?” He couldn’t resist flashing her a grin.

They walked for an hour or so, keeping to the shadows and hard rock as much as they could, so as not to leave tracks. She soon learned to stop when he did, crouch when he did. And thankfully, she was silent. Yes, he had to admit, she was a very quick learner.

At the crest of the hill he’d been working them up, he paused. Down in the valley below them, oily black smoke was rising from a still smoldering farmhouse . . .

Lina was hesitant to take that first step forward when he told her where they were going. A fucking mine, was he serious? It definitely didn't make her want to go more when he told her that people didn't come back, but when he seemed amused as her hesitancy, Lina stepped forward and walked with him.

Even if there was so much she wanted to know, or ask him, Lina kept silent. Instead, the stubborn fiery girl actually listened and took his advise; by picking up the pace when he did, crouching, and was careful not to leave tracks. A woman's tracks were more distinct than any man's shoes, and that would be only more motivation for whoever found them.

At the top of the hill, Lina stopped there when he did and placed her hands on her knees. Even if her slender body seemed to be in the best shape possible, she breathed heavily from their climb while she looked over at Jess to find out why he had stopped this time. It wasn't until she saw the smoke that she felt her heart sink. She only glanced down at the house for a second before she looked away. She didn't want to look back at the house she had grown up in for years, the house where her mother and father's life had ended. While she was here. Alive. And fighting for her a life, with the most unexpected of men.

"Can we keep moving?" She asked, unsure why she was even whispering. Her breath caught in her throat a little, fighting back the tears again as she looked back at Jess. "Please." She whispered again, those bright eyes of hers pleading with his.

He risked placing his hand softly on her arm, feeling her trembling slowly stop. “Lina, I’m sorry. For the last 20mins I’ve been trying to figure out another way over this damn hill, so you wouldn’t have to see.”

“Theres a sink hole up ahead, we can grab some water there, but we shouldn’t stop for long. Not until tonight . . . are you OK to carry on?”

He waited a second until she nodded.

“Look, can I at least have my knife, you know, just in case?” he peered gently as she looked back at him, and slowly handed it over. He tucked it into his boot quickly, “let go then,” turning and beginning to skirt the rise downhill, being careful not to kick up dust or create a stonefall. He noticed she took one last, lingering look back, and then followed him, as balanced and as composed as she could.

The midday sun was fierce now. He waved her to a halt and moved low, crouching, then sliding up to the top of a small crest, settling down on his stomach and peering down below. The first thing he saw were the circling carrion birds. He’d seen then a while ago and now he could see why they were there. It was too far away to make out any details without the help of optics, but there were bodies around the sinkhole.

The birds were picking them over, feeding on any soft exposed bits and fighting at each other. Territorial screeches and pecks with razor beaks, allowing the larger birds first pick of the wettest parts . . .

http://www.easyimage.us/media/files_image/user3645/13885e6179bf.jpg

A small update as we leave the prologue behind and slip into part1 . . .

Lina knew that Jess was sincere when he told her he tried to avoid her seeing her own home burning to ash. But it seemed there was no way around it. His hand on her arm was gentle, so she didn't flinch like she thought she would. It helped her trembling body and lip slow down until it stopped, when really the young woman just needed to be held. But maybe that was pushing it a bit.

Jess had at least deserved his knife back, for his own protection, and hers again if she needed it, so she carefully handed it over to him and watched him put it in his boot before they were on their way. Lina was quiet again on their walk, just mostly working on keeping up and keeping herself strong and composed. Even before the apocalypse, the girl had always had a mouth on her, was stubborn as hell, and had an attitude that lit up many fires. So, she tried her best to keep that that persona, knowing that would hopefully keep her alive longer rather than the broken, fragile girl she momentarily felt like.

On their journey downhill, Lina was fucking hot as well. She could feel the heat of the sun blaring down on her soft flesh exposed to it at her chest and arms, and she needed water, soon. After she had stripped him of his belongings on him, she knew he carried none. She licked her lips in thirst and had hardly noticed that Jess had stop until he held up his hand to motion for her to halt before she was crouching down with him curiously.

With the sun in her eyes, Lina's blue eyes squinted a little as she looked down, shielding those blues with her hand. She couldn't make out exactly what was going on down there, but she could see the birds. "What is th--" She whispered, but cut her own words off as her mouth dropped open. She wasn't sure what the hell was down there, but she could see the blood, and lots of it.

"Jess," She whispered again, gripping on tightly to his good arm. "We can't go down there. There's got to be another way around." She could tough through a little while longer with no water if she had to. Hopefully. Her blonde head slowly turned, looking behind them, and then to side. It was then that she realized she was holding on to his arm, and she quickly pulled her hand back and let go.

He scanned the nearby crests and rocks, his eyes naturally seeking out those perfect ambush spots. Something had killed those people, and it wasn’t those pesky RocVultures. It was quiet, too quiet.

He glanced at her, a sideways glance, studying her. She was squinting in the bright midday sun, her mind trying to process what her eyes were showing. Her hair was pulled back and tied up, a long ponytail draped down her back. It wasn’t that he was looking at though. It was her neck, the back of her neck. He wanted to lean over and kiss it.

"Jess." He almost shivered, as she whispered his name and gripped his arm tightly with her small hand. "We can't go down there . . .”

He shook his head. Damn, this is exactly what he was talking about. Women. Dangerous.

He spoke in hushed tones, “Look, Lina. I have to go down there. We need water, out here, its all basics, and water means life. Now you have to wait here, be brave, and very, very, quiet. Don’t move. When I turn and wave, then come down. Not before and don’t come down, if . . . you know, something happens down there.”

Not waiting for her to respond, he got up crouching, ready to move. He looked down at her, now stretched out, laying on the sandy outcropping. “If anything happens, promise me you’ll run. Head east,” he pointed with an outstretched hand. "About two days from here, there’s an NCR protected hamlet. Don’t stop until you reach it.”

With that, he scrambled down and onto the mesa floor. Walking balanced and slow, scanning all the time, he slowly approached the sinkhole. The birds scattered, cowardly and smart enough to fear men, unless they were already dead that is.

He reached down, and casually removed the knife from his boot, hefting its weight. Allowing himself a ripple of pleasure at its familiar balance and at the comfort of being armed again. As he got closer he could count, four, maybe five bodies. Some parts were hard to identify, largely being red dismembered piles. At least two were women though. One body had a broken off blade wedged under the base of its skull and all around were scattered shell casings. He knelt and picked one up, turning it over in his hand. 10mm.

The hairs on the back of his neck bristled. He kicked at the broken-off knife with the toe of his boot. It had a red design painted on it . . . “Khans, his Khans” . . . .

Without even looking, Lina could feel Jess' eyes on her, watching her. She wasn't sure why, but it made her feel even more hotter, if that was even possible. But that strong face of his looked so composed when she finally looked back at him, telling her that he was fucking going down there. "What? Jess, don't..." She was whispering, but the pleading in her soft voice. But he was already up and on his feet, and before her hand could even grab his arm again he was heading down to the sink hole.

With wide eyes, Lina watched him every second that he was in her sight. Her hands clenched instinctively as she waited patiently, but her heart was racing nervously in her chest, and she couldn't stand waiting. Add impatient to her list of quirks, or flaws, if you will.

But damn it, this was her first time out in that scary world without her family, and he was leaving her alone! Lina turned her head every now and again, cautiously and nervously looking behind her until she couldn't take it anymore. So, the stubborn blonde cowardly moved to her feet and began to follow after Jess.

He must've seen her coming, because Lina wasn't as graceful and quiet as she would've liked to be. And before she could even make it down to join him, Lina heard another noise, and it wasn't her.

"Don't move," A low, manly voice called to her, pointing a 10mm at the back of her pretty blonde ponytail. Luckily, he hadn't seen Jess yet, and Lina froze, her hands slowly raising. But all her instincts told her to reach for that pistol that was ready to go...even if she knew the second she did the trigger would be pulled on her. She could feel the man's eyes on her, and he was alone. At least at the moment.

Fuck, where was Jess?!

He risked a look back. He could just see her head bobbing up and down, trying to get a better look. He hoped she didn’t think she was signalling him, “Stay fucking down . . .” he found himself muttering under his breath.

There was only one reason his raiding party would be this far south, they were tracking them, or at least had taken pretty good guess at where they were headed. Probably the later, to have gotten here so fast.

“Damn!” The real implication of what was happening hit him like hammer blow. There was no turning back for him now. His mind raced, not unless the whole party could “disappear,” and even if he could get them all, what if they’d sent a runner back to their main camp. He shook his head, talking silently to himself as he always did, it helped to calm his mind and clarify his decision making. No time for this, the water was useless, contaminated at best, poisoned now more likely.

A movement caught his eye. “Stupid fucking bitch!” He swore deeply under his breath. She was scrambling down the rise after him. He wiped his hands in the dust and turned, freezing to the spot. One of his men, Flick, named because he like to cut his women, not to kill, just to bleed and mark them, well, he was standing there, his autopistol pointed at Lina.

He melted back into the shadows, the sinkhole was already getting shadow from the rock shelf it was nestled under. He crouched low, scanning. “Where were the others?”

As he watched, he could hear Flick leering at the girl. He was getting excited and waving his gun and knife around. “Should have shot him ages ago,” Jesse grunted to himself, the man was a pig, and clumsy too.

Lina started to protest and was hit with the back of his hand. He could see her get shakily up and hesitantly begin to paw at her clothes. Sobbing but staring definitely at her captor, she began to slowly wriggle out of her jeans. The animal grabbed her arm and hauled her off back up the hill, half naked, her soft skin glowing under the harsh desert sun.

He had no choice. He waited until they were out of sight, then dashed across the exposed sand. He kicked at her jeans. “Good girl, very good girl." She had managed to keep his gun hidden amongst them. Smart. But would he be in time? He grabbed the weapon, bringing it up into a firing stance and moving silently up the crest . . .

Lina didn't move, especially suddently, not wanting to give the man any reason to pull that trigger. But as always, her mouth on her just couldn't shut up. She was pissed at herself for not following Jess' instructions, and she knew he'd be pissed as well. But damn it, she'd been scared and didn't want to be left alone! Well, now she had her wish. Only, this was not exactly the company she had in mind.

When the man moved to her side, those bright blue eyes of hers glared back at him with fire, but he didn't seem the least bit phased since he technically had the advantage with his gun and knife. She had a gun too, but it wasn't doing much help tucked inside her jeans. "So, you got away from Jess, did you? Or is he with you?" Flick momentarily looked away, as if to look around, and Lina snapped a smart ass comment at him to keep him from spotting Jess, wherever the hell he was hiding. Bad move, because her pretty face was struck by the back of his large hand, and her body collapsed to the ground. "Take off your clothes." Flick ordered next, and clicked off the safety to his gun to signal he meant it.

Trembling, warm tears were streaming down Lina's cheeks now, almost unsure that Jess would even save her this time. Fuck, maybe this was all a trap, for her! God, she felt fucking sick. But just incase, having nothing to lose, Lina slipped off her tank top and tugged those faded pair of blue jeans off her hips and down her slender legs. She was careful to keep that weapon hidden as Flick's dark eyes were too busy eye-fucking her body. And she hoped to God Jesse would find it.

When that arm gripped her arm, easily pulling the girl from the ground, Lina squirmed and tried to jerk free from his grasp. If Jess couldn't save her, she certainly wasn't going down without a fight.

Once up that hill though, Flick greedily couldn't wait any longer, not by feeling and seeing the half naked blonde in his arms. He wanted her. Flick struck her again, just so he could watch her fall to the ground again, her knees hitting the ground hard as her hands braced her fall to keep from landing on her face. Before she knew it, the heavy man was turning her onto her back and pulling her hips toward him as he slid roughly between her legs. Lina still struggled with tears, and bit him, hard.

Flick cried out, giving Lina just enough time to crawl away and stand up to take off in a run, much like she had with Jess. But Flick was right behind her again, and pushed her toward a large stone, her body crushed between the rock and his behind her. Lina groaned out, and Flick took advantage of the position of her bent over in front of him, knowing she couldn't escape, or bite him again. "Don't struggle, sweetheart...it only gets me more excited." He whispered in her ear, leaning over her body.

Flick's hands behind her slowly moved around her body to feel her breasts through her bra while she felt him grinding his groin against her panty-covered ass. Lina cried out in protest, and it only encouraged the man as he began to pull down her panties over her ass while his other hand began to unbuckle his pants.

The noises of wet struggles rang in his ears. He could hear male sounds, guttural, the sounds of grunting. And her. He knew her voice now, but not these sounds, the noises of sobbing, hopeless surrender. “No, not surrender,” he thought, “Not her.”

He edged around the rock, torn between wanting to gut Flick like the dog he was, and needing him alive. Not for long, but long enough to find out where the others were. The noises were close. He moved silently closer.

The sight shouldn’t have been a surprise to him. Not that he joined in, but he was used to letting his boys have the run of any spoil. It was just, “Fuck, and damn her.” She was already under his skin and look at the trouble she’d managed to cause in just over a day.

He could see Flick now, side on to him. He had Lina bent roughly over a rock. His head was locked at her neck, slobbering threats and his pig like grunts into her ear. His cock was dissapearing in and out of view, in time with his noises, his knees flexing as he thrust and pushed it up her. His pants were around his knees though and he'd be unlikely to react with any speed, intent as he was at spewing his seed into her cunt. He’d even dropped all of his weapons, sure his own bulk was enough to control the small sobbing girl. “Shit, he deserved to die just for being stupid,” Jess thought.

At that moment she turned her head towards him, wet tears streaming down her face. Her eyes widened in shock, and shame. He held up his hand to silence her, hoping for once she’d do as she was told.

He slipped behind the man as he groaned and thrust, speeding up, now oblivious to almost anything. As he tensed over his victim, ready to finish inside her, Jesse poked the gun into his belly, “Back off . . now you fuck!”

Flick groaned and scrambled back, his thick cock spewing strings of his dirty cum, out onto the hot desert sand. He tried to stammer and grab at his pants all at once.

Without looking at Lina he hissed at her, “Get dressed, quickly.”

He held the gun aimed at Flicks’ head and slowly placed the razor sharp tip of his knife against the mans groin. “Where are the others? and fast, or I’ll bleed you, real slow, and dump you out there for the claws.”

Flick stammered, “Jess, stop man, it doesn’t have to be like th . . .” his voice tapered off as Jesse pressed, drawing blood.

The man tensed, sweat pouring off him. “OK, OK . . if I tell, will you release me?” Jesse considered, “Sure, but make it fast.”

“OK, um, Redman, he said you’d need water and drove us here. Newt was sent back to camp, to tell Father. The others, they wasted those stupid caravaner's at the hole,” his voice managing to let out an insane giggle. "And then they went south. I stayed, see, one of the women, she wasn’t dead, Tehehehe hee eee e . . .” Flick grew silent as Jesse's hand clamped over his face, pinching his nostrils shut. His knife was already deep inside the mans bowel, his arm covered in hot wet blood. Flick let out one wet, burbling gurgle and went silent. "Consider yourself released," Jesse spat.

He looked around to see her standing there, silently, face wet and streaked with tears. But, there was something else, a look in her eye . . .

As much of a fighter that the blonde was, there was only so much she could do with her young body pinned and covered. And the more she struggled, the more that man behind her pushed her to the hard stone and was anxious to get his dick inside her. But God, Lina hoped like hell and half expected her savior to come up that hill any minute and stop Flick. But no. With one quick thrust, his cock was roughly pushed inside her as Lina cried out. Flick had bent over her body, his weight pushing and holding her down while his dirty mouth was right at her ear. One of his hands tugged at her hair, pulling on that blonde ponytail while the other wrapped around her waist, holding her ass tighter to him as he thrust his cock in and out, in and out.

Lina was tight around him, she could feel that much, and him roughly shoving his length in her and forcing her to take on his size was painful for her. Those warm tears continued to stream down her cheeks as Lina had to stop struggling, it was only making it hurt that much worse. Her surrender made her feel defeated, and that spark that had once been in those pretty blues were darkening.

It wasn't until Lina saw movement off to the side with her cheek pressed against that rock that she recognized it was Jess. Her heart raced faster, if that was even possible, and her eyes were wide. She didn't call out to him though, not wanting to spoil the surprise for Flick, and she groaned when she could feel the man throbbing inside her, so ready to blow his sticky loud inside her tight body. Oh, fuck.

Just as fast as he had entered her, Flick's cock pulled out of her as he backed up out of her while Jess was right after him. Lina shakily stood up straight and tried to pull herself together, but damn it, the young girl's innocence had just been taken; beaten and raped right out there in the open, to no one's fault but her own. Reaching down, she pulled up her panties from her ankles and pulled them back up to her hips before straightening her bra that had been pushed to the side a little. She watched Jess with shock, not wanting to waste another second before she ran over to her jeans and shirt that Jess had brought up with him to the top of that hill. When she was dressed, the blonde stood there, her hands and shoulders trembling as she cried. She felt broken, shamed, and fucking stupid for coming after Jess even after he had insisted she stay up there out of the way. Never again would she stubbornly ignore his demand.

Lina tried to listen at the two men, but none of it made any sense to her, and it probably didn't help that her mind was racing. Who was Father? And Redman? All people she didn't want to know, she was sure of it. Lina's arms were crossed in front of her as she trembled, just watching and crying silently to herself. She stared over at Flick with both fear and hatred, and she didn't blink once when Jess ended his life without a second thought. In her mind, there was just one less person in the world now to rape, or hurt her, or anyone else.

Those blue eyes looked back at Jess, silently looking back at him with an apologetic look, and shame. She waited for him to lash out at her, to yell at her for being so stupid. To tell her that she had brought this out on herself. But he didn't. He knew she learned her lesson...the hard way. And if he was going to say anything, Lina didn't give him much of a chance before she quickly strode over to him and to both of their surprise, her arms wrapped around him and held him close to her. "Thank you," she breathed, exhaling slowly before she began to sob with her cheek pressed against his shoulder. "I'm so sorry." She spoke between cries, squeezing him tighter, not wanting to let go.

She had been raped for the first time, which was probably a miracle in this day and age that she had made it this long...but the positive thing was that she was alive. Even if just thinking about Flick's hot breath on her skin made her shudder all over again.