Anguish Unfolds Read online

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  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, businesses, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living, dead or undead, is entirely coincidental and not intended by the author.

  ANGUISH UNFOLDS

  Copyright © 2019 A. E. Faulkner

  AuthorAEFaulkner.com

  All rights reserved, except for brief quotations in critical articles

  or reviews. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the author.

  Cover design by Michelle Preast

  Indie Book Cover Designs / Michelle-Preast.com

  Interior layout by Vanessa Anderson

  at NightOwlFreelance.com

  Manufactured in the United States of America

  Paperback ISBN-13: 978-1-949193-63-3

  This book is dedicated to all those who forge the path they were ultimately meant to follow, no matter what challenges attempt to slow or stop them.

  “It’s the end of the world every day, for someone.”

  ― Margaret Atwood, The Blind Assassin

  CONTENTS

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Author Note

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  Follow Her Work

  Further Reading

  The Nature’s Fury Series

  BOOK 1

  Chapter 1

  The firelight dances across my vision as my head melds into a folded gray sweatshirt. Tonight’s pillow. Aidan and Jeff had warned us it would be cold sleeping outside at the campground serving as their temporary home, but now that I’m snuggled up in a red fleece blanket, I really don’t care. While adrenaline initially fueled this evening’s adventure, my brain and body are calling it a day.

  My heavy eyelids flutter closed, snuffing out my view of the mesmerizing flames. I’m transported to the place my dreams always take me—home. My mind traipses through memories of holidays, birthday parties, and vacations. However, the respite from reality disappears in what seems like seconds.

  Yanking me from my memories, a vice-like grip jerks my shoulders upright, tossing my head back in a whiplash motion. A rough hand closes over my mouth while a strong arm wraps around my body, directing my focus upward.

  The dying flames throw just enough light onto the grimacing face to render it recognizable. Jim stands over my sleeping sister, one hand pressed to his mouth, pointer finger over his lips in a silent, “Shhhh.” His other hand is directed toward Quinn, a reflective glint flashes off the knife he grasps.

  My groggy brain is slow to process what’s happening. A cool night breeze washes over me, alerting my senses to the immediate danger. A single tear slips down my cheek as realization overwhelms me. They can do whatever they want to hurt us right now and there’s nothing I can do about it.

  Hot breath meets my ears as Dan whispers, “Stay quiet, Riley. We just wanna talk to you. Let’s get up slowly.”

  I nod slightly in acknowledgement.

  Dan’s grip loosens, but Jim’s cold eyes lock on me as I slowly rise. Trembling, my mind tingles with questions. What do they want with me? Why does Jim have a knife? Would they listen if I tried to talk them out of whatever it is they’re doing? What would happen if I scream right now? Would Aidan, Jeff, and Wes run out here and stop Jim and Dan from whatever they’re doing?

  I slowly turn toward Dan, who now stands behind me. His scowl confirms that Jim’s anger is contagious. In the waning firelight, Dan motions toward Jim and nudges my shoulder forward. I turn in time to see Jim creep away from our sleeping area, one sure-footed step at a time. I quietly follow, turning back to glance at Quinn’s sleeping form before we reach the path leading out of the campground.

  Jim’s steps transform into stomps the farther we get from Quinn and the ramshackle cabins. By the time we reach the campground’s entrance, Jim’s fury erupts. Turning on his heel, he charges toward me.

  Startled, I back up and crash into Dan. Cowering from both guys, a choked yelp escapes my throat.

  Alarm and pity sweeps across Dan’s features.

  “Riley! What are you doing here? And why the hell did you steal our bikes?” Jim barks, a blast of breath floating toward my nose.

  Beer. He’s been drinking tonight. I never thought he was as bad as Quinn always said, but I’m not liking this drunk version of him. Dropping my gaze to the ground, I wrap my arms around myself. “I… I…”

  “Calm down. You’re scaring her,” Dan interrupts. His effort is short-lived when Jim throws a finger in his face, pointing. “You stay out of this. I’m handling it.” Without hesitation, Dan backs away, his eyes landing on the overgrown dirt path.

  “Riley!” Jim wraps his meaty hands around my shoulders, the movement drawing my eyes to meet his. Anger and accusation reside in his deep brown irises. Lies flash through my mind. I can’t tell Jim the truth. He’s already furious, and maybe a little drunk. The last thing I want is to push him further.

  “Jim, we um, we just came here to get away for a few hours,” my quaking voice calms slightly as the lies roll off my lips. “We…we borrowed your bikes, but we thought we could get them back to you before you even noticed.”

  Pointing back toward the cabins he demands, “Who are those guys?”

  “Th-they’re just people Quinn met,” I stammer. My voice is hesitant as my mind races. “Wait, how did you know we were even here? And with other people?” My eyes narrow in question while Jim’s widen in momentary alarm.

  “Don’t you worry about that right now,” Jim snipes, recovering quickly. “Dan, get the bikes. We’re going home. We can all talk back there.”

  I shake my head in protest. “I can’t just leave Quinn. Look, I’ll answer whatever you want. Let’s talk here and then you can just take your bikes home. Quinn and I will find a way back.” My eyes volley back and forth between the guys. Dan remains fixated on the ground.

  Jim crosses his arms. “Sorry, Ri, that’s not going to work. You’re coming with us.”

  What? With rekindled adrenaline fueling my tired muscles, I turn on my heel and run, pushing my legs to launch me as far away as possible. Just as the first cabin comes into view, a shoulder collides with my back in a tackle. My knees and palms break the fall, skidding in the dirt. Tiny rocks tear into my skin, lodging themselves within. A firm grip yanks me around, bringing me face-to-face with Jim.

  “Not happenin’, Ri,” he says, his voice low and steady. He jabs a thumb toward the cabins and the dwindling campfire. “You don’t cooperate, someone’s gonna pay and first in line is your sister.” His dark eyes narrow as he leans in closer. Warm breath, reeking of beer, stings my nose. “You have no idea what I’m capable of.”

  Oh, but I think I do. And I just got confirm
ation of it.

  Chapter 2

  I solemnly follow Dan and Jim as they walk the bikes out to the main road. Jim made it clear that I am to remain quiet and compliant. If I run, they’ll just catch me. If I scream, they will hurt anyone who gets in their way.

  When we reach the road, Dan throws a leg over one bike while Jim motions for me to climb on the back of his. Defeated, I gingerly slink onto the seat and wrap my arms around Jim. He starts the bike and tears off down the road.

  As the wind blasts my face, I struggle to hold back tears. We’re just going back to Jim and Dan’s trailer to talk for a little while. Then they’ll bring me back here to Quinn. I replay these thoughts in my mind until I almost believe them.

  Jim and Dan deftly swerve around the trucks, cars, and SUVs frozen in a gridlocked graveyard. They must have done this a hundred times since the crash. Dropping my head forward, I squint my eyes shut and block out the death and destruction surrounding me.

  Debris rests on the road at scattered intervals, as if forever abandoned by its former owners: a stuffed teddy bear, a flattened baseball cap, the crunched remains of sunglasses. A hint of oil and gasoline wafts in the air, but mostly the air is tainted by an underlying rot. I don’t want to think about what’s causing that smell.

  When the bike slows to a walking pace, I peek at my surroundings. Just outside the trailer park, some of the wreckage has been cleared away. How did I not notice this when Quinn and I were riding out of here with Aidan and Jeff? Maybe I was too focused on exhilaration fueled by freedom and a plan. That might explain why dread is enhancing my situational awareness.

  As we cruise through the trailer park at a snail’s pace, I notice dim lights in some of the windows. So there are others here. I guess they’re keeping to themselves like Quinn and I did. I release a heavy sigh as thoughts of my sleeping sister flutter through my mind. I pray she doesn’t notice that I’m gone. It would send her into a terrible panic. I can still make it back before she wakes up. I’ll just get this over with and maybe Dan can take me back to the campground.

  When the guys park their bikes, the engines stutter to silence and we all climb off. I follow Jim, close on his heels, to the front door. Dan trails uncomfortably behind. With a sense of purpose, I stride through the front door as Jim’s shadow.

  “Well, I’m glad to see you perked up, Ri,” Jim commends.

  Dan slowly wanders into the trailer and closes the door.

  Crossing my arms and plopping down on the couch, I decide to be honest. A little bit anyway. “Look, guys, let’s have our talk and then I really need to get back to Quinn. I mean, if she wakes up and I’m not there, she’s going to freak out.”

  Jim and Dan share a sideways glance before joining me on the worn gray couch.

  “How did you even find us?” I ask, wrapping my arms around myself. Dan barely looks at me. He knows this is wrong, but his loyalty to Jim must be stronger than his conscience.

  “Well, you see, Riley,” Jim starts sharply. “We don’t take kindly to strangers sneaking around the trailer park. And that’s exactly what those rats you were with did.”

  “What?” I ask shakily. “What are you talking about?”

  Jim stops short and turns toward me. “Riley, what were you doing with those guys? How do you even know them?”

  “I don’t really know them…” I stammer. “Quinn met Aidan a few days ago. He and his friends were kind of in the same situation as us. Stranded. Trying to get home.” I stop, not wanting to say too much and give him information that he’ll use against us.

  “Well, we saw them nosing around the trailer park,” Jim explains. “So we followed them home one night.” He nods toward Dan, smirking. “Wanted to see where the rats were nesting.” With this little bit of reassurance, Dan moves to stand next to his brother.

  My eyes widen. Wait, Jim and Dan were watching Aidan and Jeff? Do they know that the guys came to Aunt Grace’s trailer to talk to us?

  “So,” Jim continues. “We figured we’d teach them a lesson about sneaking around and stealing people’s stuff.” I focus on holding my features expressionless while my brain screams that Jim and Dan were doing the exact same thing at the trailer park. Not that I’m going to call them on it.

  “Yeah,” Dan chuckles. “We were just about to show them that we own that trailer park!” Jim elbows Dan in the ribs, promptly shutting him up.

  With no hesitation, Jim explains. “We planned to pay the rats a little visit, but wouldn’t you know, Riley, our bikes were gone. Along with you and Quinn.” Narrowing his eyes, he taps his chin as if contemplating this information for the first time. “I’d say that’s a mighty big coincidence.”

  Inhaling a deep breath that fails to slow my rapid heartbeat, I push words out of my mouth. “I told you, Jim. We…we just wanted to borrow your bikes for the night and get away.” Yeah, that’s believable. When did I become so good at lying? It spurs me to continue. “You know we were cooped up in Aunt Grace’s trailer for so long. We had to just get out and see what the world outside our door looked like.”

  He raises an eyebrow, assessing my lie. A minute later, satisfied with my response, he passes a slight nod to Dan. While Dan holds his gaze, no words pass between them. Turning back toward me, Jim’s agitation has dissolved, and his expression softens.

  “Riley, we gotta get outta here,” he implores. “Things aren’t great now but they’re gonna get worse. This weather, it’s changing. And the problems it’s causing, well, the authorities can’t keep up with it.”

  Dan chimes in, lending his support to Jim’s theory. “Yeah, Riley. Route One still isn’t cleared all the way. If we stay here, the people that can’t get out for supplies, well they’re gonna start takin’ them, if you know what I mean. And you don’t want to be around for that.”

  Tag-teaming, Jim announces his solution. “But you don’t have to worry, Riley, ‘cause we have a plan.” Looking at each other momentarily, both guys break into a grin and slide their eyes my way. “And we want you to be a part of it,” Jim says, smirking.

  Chapter 3

  The guys brim with pride as confusion and fear sweep through me. Before words form, I slowly shake my head back and forth. Shifting my eyes between Jim and Dan, I push past the sinking feeling in my gut and find my voice. “Guys, I…I need to get back to Quinn now.”

  Crossing his arms, Jim’s expression sours in disappointment. “Now, you haven’t even heard us out yet. At least listen to our idea.”

  “And you know, I tried to talk to you about this before. Before you just took off with our bikes,” he says, pointing between him and Dan. “Did you even get my note? I told you we needed to talk.”

  Burying my face in my palms for a moment, I contemplate my answer. I really don’t care about any of this right now. I just wanna get back to that campground before Quinn wakes up. “Yes, I got it. I just…didn’t get a chance to...everything happened so fast and...I just. I don’t know.”

  Pushing back into the worn cushions, I smooth my goose-bumped arms. My eyes refuse to meet Jim’s or Dan’s. They flit around the room as if the walls will inch closer if I look away. Movement catches my eye outside the living room window and the hair on the back of my neck prickles as if I’m being watched. When I squint at the window to better my focus, the voices around me mute.

  I’m startled out of my seat when a hand flicks in front of my face, fingers snapping loudly. “Riley! Pay attention, we’re trying to talk to you,” Jim commands.

  “Sorry, go on.” I’m sure it was nothing. Just let them talk and then figure out a way to get back to the campground.

  Jim heaves out a frustrated breath and glares at me. Rubbing his stubbly chin, he cuts to the point. “Riley, here’s the plan.” Just as quickly as his anger flared, his features soften. He drops a knee to the floor in front of me as if proposing. “Dan and I are headin’ south. To Langley Air Force Base. We’re gonna stay there until everything here is cleaned up.”

  Narrowing my eyes
in confusion, I question, “That’s a good plan. I’m glad you guys figured out what to do. But why’d you have to bring me here to tell me that?”

  Meeting my eyes intently, he declares, “Cuz, Riley, you’re coming with us.”

  My protests fall on deaf ears. Jumping to my feet, I plead my case. “I can’t go!” My eyes bounce between Dan and Jim with each word. “I need to get back to my sister. I need to be with her.” My hands fly together, wringing uncontrollably.

  I see the moment Dan’s conscience cracks. His nervous eyes shift to his brother. Scratching his head in an attempt to appear casual, he murmurs. “Maybe we should just take her back to that campground and get on our way.”

  Hope surges through me. Briefly.

  Jim’s emotionless eyes remain fixed on me as he mutters, “Shut the hell up, Dan.” Although I’ve never been close enough to confirm this, I’ve heard that a shark’s eyes are soulless. As if they harbor deep nothingness. That’s what I see in Jim’s dark irises.

  Hot tears spring to my eyes when he steps toward me, grasping my shoulder and leaning closer. “Now you listen to me, Riley. Quinn is not a part of this. I am not putting up with her shit ever again. She can go back home, and she’ll be just fine.”

  Sorrow slides down my cheeks as he releases his grip and swipes a somber mask over his features. How does he transform from raging to sympathetic in a heartbeat? Could he be mentally ill?

  Glancing at Dan, he sighs and runs a hand through his short dark hair. He turns back toward me with a much softer expression.

  “Hey, it’ll be okay. We’ll figure this out.” A sappy smile washes over Jim’s face and his voice lowers to a whisper. “You know, Riley, I always thought we were meant to be together. Even when we were little kids.”

  With those words, my stomach twists in fear and uncertainty.

  Jim insists that we all get some rest before we start this journey. He doesn’t want to drive overnight. While Dan retreats to his bedroom, Jim throws a blanket on the couch for me.