46 Honestly (2/2)
”Strong, huh?” Ika comments to the hooded man.
The hooded man spits blood on the ground, his lower jaw is already forming a bruise. There are scratches on his face and he's lost his whistle.
”The strong know when they are beaten,” the hooded man stoically replies.
”Hmm...” Ika looks over the destruction and dead bodies.
His hands begin to tremble. He squeezes them into fists and puts on hand into a pocket.
”We're losing light here, Boss.” a female mercenary calls from atop the hill.
She is watching their vehicle, the road, and carnelian stripes spread across the sky.
”This place will be crawling with critters soon. What do you want me to do with them?” Priya asks.
Ika remembers something and turns around to call out to the retreating Savage pair. Nils is nowhere in sight. Raco is holding Slim up with her arm over his shoulder. They are walking down toward the road and the charred forest.
”We had an attack in the Wastes, a week or so ago. Was that you?” Ika asks.
”Week or so? Not I, Bossman. My squad and I were leaving Coldstone around that time,” Raco reveals. ”Breeding. Children don't raise well in the wild.”
”You don't consider Coldstone the wild?” Priya asks.
”It's definitely tame compared to the rest of this world. It seemed like a good idea at the time. Maybe I'll test out the bay area next.” Raco says before continuing to exit the area.
Ika rolls his eyes and turns away from the Savage pair. Priya watches them limp away.
”We aren't going to escort them closer to their camp?” a male mercenary asks from behind the hooded prisoner.
Ika and Priya ignore the question.
”You lived in those tunnels?” Ika asks the prisoner.
”Yes.” the prisoner replies through his teeth.
”All these years?” Ika questions.
”With the help of my partner, we were able to sustain ourselves with slaughtered insects and the supplies from travelers.” the prisoner answers while looking at the pit.
A long brown limb sticks out from the hole.
”Your partner?” Priya asks.
She raises her weapon and scans the area.
”The spider,” Ika says, the prisoner nods before averting his gaze to the ground. ”You won't survive very long without that thing to mooch off of. Dependence. That's a trait of the weak isn't it.”
The prisoner stays silent.
”Live in darkness, die in darkness...,” Ika mutters before telling Priya, ”Let's do these guy a favor. Light it all up.”
Priya nods and orders the rest of the men forward to help her complete Ika's orders.
”We're taking those explosives and destroying these tunnels. Leave their bodies where they sit. The critters will go straight for here. If you see anyone suspicious running away from the tunnels. Leave em. They won't survive long out here without their monster to cull people. Julie, get the wounded.” Priya commands.
Ika watches the prisoner wallow for a few minutes before deciding to find his lost blade and rifle. After retrieving his items, he limps over to the armored vehicle. The back is open. Pheno is treating Nard's arm. The black man seems to be alright. When Ika passes by they make eye contact.
Nard grimaces at the other male and looks to the bundle of clothing laying on the ground outside the truck.
Kid's headless body is wrapped in her jacket and someone else's. They'll never see her scarlet locks bouncing atop her head again.
Turner is unconscious. The tourniquet is still around his thigh. Below his knee is a mess. They'll have to amputate. He has stopped bleeding out, but he needs to be taken back to the medical ward at Warts as soon as possible.
Now that he sees that the rest of his men are alright, he returns to the passenger seat of his vehicle. His trembling hand opens the passenger door. He sets his rifle up against the dashboard and hops inside. He gingerly sits in his seat, sets his head back, and closes his eyes.
”Let it go....,” he mutters. ”Let it all go.”
Multiple explosions sound off and dark clouds of smoke rise up to further blacken the darkening sky.
Ika opens his eyes to see the progress the sun has made toward the horizon. A horizon none of Ralph's group will ever see again. Kid's sacrifice resulted in that lump of flesh lying on the soil. Turner will never walk with two human legs.
Ika tries to breathe slowly out of his nose and catch his breath. It's too much for him. He can't let it go.
Ika opens the passenger door. He leaves it open as he stalks back over to the pit area.
The prisoner's form is lit up by the blaze rising from the pit. The man's hood is down. Greasy brown hair sticks to his sweaty face. His arms sit in his lap as he watches his domain crumble.
When the prisoner hears footsteps approaching, he doesn't rise or turn to investigate. Ika stops behind the prisoners' form. Ika's breathing has calmed down. The unhooded man trembles as he hears explosions in the field and gunshots. But then...Finally...there is a lull in the noise.
A bead of sweat rolls off the prisoners face onto the shaking hands in his lap. The flames heat the air, but Ika finds the temperature to be refreshing. The stress lines on Ika's face evaporate. It's cleansing. His feet scuff at the dirt as he idles closer to the animated cadaver.
Both men hang onto their convictions until one of them can no longer endure the hush that has descended over the area.
”It's only--” the prisoner says.
Ika grabs the back of the man's head and his forearm. Ika pitches him into the pits raging flames. His body hits the melting hood of the truck with a thud. The man is ablaze in seconds. His screaming is muffled as his body slides down the wreck into the mass grave below.
Ika's hands no longer tremble. He returns back to the armored vehicle. It's about time to return to Warts.
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The armored vehicle speeds across the wastelands, but it's too late. They won't make it to their headquarters before the sun sets.
When darkness falls, they are nowhere near a structure to hide within. Their only choice is to drive with their headlights off. The driver puts on night vision goggles. They stick to their usual route.
An hour passes with no incidents, but an hour and 20 minutes into the drive they sideswipe a large structure.
The driver regains control of the vehicle and stops the car. Ika collides with the window and dashboard. He groans. The driver curses as he holds his head.
”Go check.” Ika orders passing over a thin penlight he retrieved from the glove compartment.
Quickly, the driver pockets the thin flashlight, grabs his pistol from the center console, and went to check the damage on the truck. He slams the door closed behind himself.
They don't have time to waste. The night hides unspeakable things.
”Damn it. Just one...one easy day.” Ika mutters while prodding at the cut on his forehead.
”What the hell did we hit?!” Priya shouts over the radio from the back of the truck.