The Semi-Mega-Sad Ending. Part II

This is the second part of the second ending. A little over the top, but certainly different from the first happy ending.

Today you can get all three of my Deserted Lands e-books for under $11 for the “This Sale Goes to Elevensies” Sale!

~L~

“All right, Zach. We’ll see you when you catch us.” Lizzie hung up the phone. She hit the bar that said Glen. His tired voice answered. “Glen? Are you okay?”

“Well. I got some food. They’ve got me. I am no longer a free agent. But they are as interested in preserving what I’ve got here as I am. It ought to be fine.”

“I hope so,” Lizzie said. “Good luck. We’re headed south.”

“All of you?” He asked.

“Yeah. Pretty soon. We’re supposed to meet the others. Dad’s gone on ahead.” She laughed. “I’m on a school bus full of rejects. Rejects for the birthers that is.”

“I don’t get it.”

“The Redeemer let us go. I talked him into the political thing. Get rid of the

troublemakers.”

“Like you?”

“Yeah. Like me and my kind.” The bus shook itself loose as the pulled onto the main road. She could hear it coughing. Probably hadn’t been driven since last school year. She leaned her knees against the thick green pad on the back of the seat in front of her. “Thanks again, Glen.” She laughed. “At some point I will get you more Mountain Dew.”

“You better. Glad you’re okay. I was worried for a bit.”

“Yeah, me too. Later, Glen.”

“Call me if you need something.”

“I always do.” She hung up and watched as the city of Provo faded into the distance. The rumble of the bus threatened to put her to sleep just like it had when she was a kid. Every field trip she’d ever been on, she’d woken up with her hair mussed and lucky if no one had pulled any jokes like writing on her face or putting M&Ms in her nose.
The bus lurched and she felt the breaks locking and unlocking as it slid to a stop. “Shit.” That came from the bus driver.

Lizzie pulled herself to her feet up over the giant padded seat. “Shit.” A row of men with guns was strung out from a couple of trucks. “What the fuck? Collectors?”

“Maybe worse.”

A gun smashed the bus door. A hand reached in and pulled it open. “Everybody out.”

“What the hell? We have safe passage guaranteed by the Redeemer.”

The guy who seemed to be in charge grinned humorlessly. “I’m afraid you’re already out the Redeemer’s territory. Sorry.” He shoved her toward the back of the bus. “Women to the back. Men to the front.” Somebody had pulled open the emergency hatch in the back and was forcing people out.

Lizzie stumbled forward into a group and slid her cell phone from her pocket. She hit text and Zach. ‘Need help now. South of Provo. Freeway.’ She glanced around. ‘Woods. Exit 263. University Ave.’

“Hey, you.” An ugly voiced called.

Lizzie ducked and glanced around.

A tall, gangly teenager with months of half-assed beard all over his face was shoving people aside and grabbing for her. “You. Girly. With the bleached hair and dark roots.”

No doubt who he’s talking to now.

“Give me your damn phone.” The brute shoved her against the bus.

“Here.” She shoved it at him. “Have it.” It dropped and she ducked out of the way. She tried to see BeeGee or Jess. The women, mostly dog-people were milling around confused. She pushed back toward the front of the bus. Then a gun barred her way. Brute boy again.

“Stay back, girly.” His eyes dropped predictably to her chest.

Shit, are 90 percent of men assholes? She stepped back into the press of bodies. No. But a lot of them seem to have survived.

A voice yelled. “Kill all the men. Line them up. Don’t waste any ammo. Six at a time.”

Lizzie pushed back forward. The dog-men were being herded forward. She watched in horror as the first group was lined up. Guns exploded and the bodies fell. As the echoes of the gunshots died, she heard another sound, a vehicle coming fast. It was her father’s jeep coming from the direction of Provo. But he was in a car headed south. As it drew closer and skidded to a stop next to the bus she recognized the Captain at the wheel. He jumped out of the car, grabbed what looked like an M-16, slammed the door and strode toward the leader of the renegades. “Cease and desist.”

“On whose order, Captain.” There was disdain in the response.

Shit. Are they working together? Of course, how else to get rid of us. Troublemakers. Old age and treachery will triumph over youth and skill. Don’t teach your grandpa how to suck eggs.

“The order of the Redeemer.” The Captain cradled the gun gently, ready. “And mine.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Fine.” The captain reached in his pocket and pulled out his phone.

Another sound came from the opposite direction. Two motors. A motorcycle pulled into view. Beside her, Lizzie heard BeeGee gasp. The tall shape had a bike helmet with braids coming down on either side. Randy Blackhawk, I presume. Then a car behind it. Dad.

The bike rolled to a stop at the edge of the gathered renegades. He had guns hanging off him. He kicked the kickstand and stood up. A shotgun hanging loosely from his right hand.

The captain nodded at the biker and fiddled with his phone for a moment then held it to his ear. “Your Excellence? Yes. I am here.” He listened for a moment then responded. “My granddaughter is having your baby. I have served you. Please. Don’t do this.” Another pause while he listened.

Her father’s car stopped behind the motorcycle. He got out and strode toward the inner circle. The Captain acknowledged him with a glance.

“Thank you, Sir. It’s the right thing to do.” The Captain motioned with the phone. “Here. He wants to talk to you.” The captain tossed the phone to the renegade leader.

The renegade snatched it out of the air. “Yes, Sir?” He listened intently. No one moved. A movement caught Lizzie’s eye behind the bus. Red hair. And black. Zach and Duke. She glanced back expectantly.

“Yes. Very good, sir. Long live your Excellence.” The renegade tossed the phone back. “He wants to talk to you again.” It flew through the air. “He said to tell you, “Dad, you’re retired.” The gun came up and it burped out bullets. The captain’s body shook with the impacts and the phone crashed to the ground. For a moment all was still.

Then Hell broke loose. Another single shot rang out. The renegade leader fell. But his gun was up and firing. Lizzie dove for the dirt as she saw her father go down. Randy ducked behind his motorcycle and blasted toward the rest of the renegades. The dog-people milled in a panic.  The next six who had been lined up ran for the woods. Lizzie heard shots and saw most of them fall. Behind her guns blasted. The Renegade leader was shooting randomly. His front was red with blood. Something caught her arm and threw it behind her. I’m shot. But it didn’t hurt. She slunk closer to the ground and crawled toward the Captain. He’d had a gun.

She got to him, behind his body. Another shot shook it. His body jumped into hers. She felt a pressure on her side. He grunted. So he’s not dead yet. She pulled him toward her. His eyes darted to hers. “Dugway. Proving Ground. Army base. Dead animals…” His eyes closed and his grip on her hand softened. Then he grasped harder and his eyes flashed. “I’m sorry. Tell your father. I’m sorry.” Then his hand went limp and fell from hers. His head collapsed to the ground. She grabbed the gun lying next to him and pointed it at the renegade leader and squeezed. The gun bucked in her grip, the body in her sights shook and then collapsed. The gun fell from the fingers. Her eyes searched for another target. Her right hand was numb. There was blood flowing freely from a wound on her arm where her oldest scars had once bled. She switched sides with the gun and used the Captain’s body to prop it.

***[See Zach ? Duke?]

The rest of the renegades were running. She squeezed off a few shots, aiming high. Her eyes searched for her father, the others.  She used the gun to lever herself to her feet. Her father was lying where he had fallen. She stumbled to him.

“Daddy?” He rolled over. She could see he was trying to talk. Blood dripped from his mouth. His chest was wet with blood. “Oh, god.” She tore at his clothes where the blood flowed from a wound near his left breast. A piece of bone stuck out at an odd angle. “Jesus, Daddy.” She pressed her hand on the wound.

“Lizzie. Sorry.” His eyes wandered over her. “You’re hurt.”

“Just a flesh wound, pops.” She watched the blood flow from her arm. The hand she pressed against his chest was numb, but it seemed to be staunching the flow.

“No. There.” He nodded to her left side. “Your side.”

Lizzie glanced down. Her left side was soaked red. Her vision swam. “Daddy.”

“I’m sorry, Lizzie.” Her father’s eyes closed. Then blinked open

“No, Daddy. Don’t go.” A hand pulled her hand away and replaced it with a bandage on her father. Arms pulled her away. “No. Please.”

The horizon flipped. Lizzie saw sky.

Nev’s face swooped in. “Lay still. We’re helping your dad. And you.” She held Lizzie down.

Lizzie tried to fight, but nothing obeyed her. “Daddy… Nev, please.” Her eyelids dropped and she could see nothing. She fought to open them, but they would not. She felt blood beating and the cold numbness, now in her arm and also in her side. Daddy, don’t die. Lizzie could hear noises, people shouting, but they sounded far, far away. A chill flowed through her and she thought she felt her body shake. Someone called to her. She heard her name somewhere in the distance. She could not tell who called. Then she realized she was floating. The darkness receded and in the distance there was light. She could make out the voices now. Her mother. Jason. Calling her. Her father’s voice was somewhere behind her. Oh my god. Daddy. Don’t go. I don’t want to leave you.

Lizzie. Stay with us. Lizzie.

Zach? Not you, too.

Faces flashed before her. Zach. Dad. Spike. Charley. Nev. Rachael. Saj. Oh, god. Saj. No.

Lizzie, stay with us. Now the voices begging her to stay were in front of her. In the light. Lizzie spun, feeling buffeted by a wind, many hands on her dragging her, hugging her. From all sides voices called her name. Lizzie. Stay. Don’t go. Lizzie. The voices continued. Mama. Jason. Zach. Dad. In the distance she heard a baby crying. Jason? No. Saj.

NO! She screamed with all her might. She felt her body or what had been her body harden. “I want to live. Saj. Daddy. Mama. Jase. I don’t want to die.” Her body softened and spun out of control again. Then the voices faded from all sides. She felt a pain in her heart and her body contorted out of her control again. Then all went black.

~M~

Manny woke to darkness. It was no relief from the preceding darkness. He knew he was alive. But he’d seen Lizzie go away. Seen her eyes leave. As she begged him to live. He’d fallen in the first hail of gunfire. He knew that. Down without firing a shot. He’d seen Lizzie’s friends running from cover, firing. Two young men, red-headed and dark. He had seen both go down. But the renegades had fled. Someone had helped him. He remembered the last face he had seen before the darkness came. Jess. His body shook. He could feel himself strapped down. His shoulder throbbed. He strained to talk. “Help.” He brought his head up, trying to see around himself in the dark. “Anybody there?” His voice came out in a whisper. Then there was a face above him. The same. “Jess.” Her hand touched his forehead.

“Rest, Manny.” She smiled. “Glad to see your eyes.

He had to ask. “Jess. Who made it?” He couldn’t hear any of his words after Jess and neither could she. He faded again as he saw her nodding. Waiting.

~

The next time he woke there was light behind his eyelids. He opened them tentatively. BeeGee was sitting at his side, staring off into the distance. He tried to say her name, but a gurgle just came out. She turned to him. Smiled.

“Water?” She held his head up as he sipped from the plastic cup. “That’s better.”

“Thanks,” he croaked. “Lizzie?”

BeeGee nodded sadly. “She’d still alive. But she hasn’t woken up. She got shot in two places.”

Manny nodded and closed his eyes. The darkness returned.

~

He woke to the throb of pain in his chest. Pain is a good sign. I will live. He opened his eyes slowly, not trying to sit up, or speak or do anything but be. He listened. He heard breathing.

Labored in the distance and fluttery and close on the other side. It felt like a hospital, the overhead ceiling tiles with the myriad of little black holes told him it was definitely some sort of government building built by the lowest builder and as boring as possible. The slightly sitting angle he was at and the metal bars of the bedrails reinforced the idea of hospital. He sucked up the liquid in his mouth and swirled it around. “Hello?”

The fluttery breath next to him caught. “Daddy?”

“Elizabeth?” His heart pounded and threatened to take him back under. Breathe. You’re alive. She’s alive. He forced himself to let the breathe go.

“Yes. I’m here. I can’t see you.”

“I’m here.”

Manny heard footsteps crossing the floor. He saw Jess off to his left.

“The sleepyheads are awake.”  Jess smiled at him and disappeared for a moment.

He could hear her moving something and then he heard a motor. Then she was back grinning. She pushed something near his head and he felt his body lifting, The ceiling spun and his stomach flipped. Hold on, Manny. He closed his eyes tight for stability.

“Open your eyes, silly,” Jess commanded.

He did. Lizzie lay across from him. Her grin from ear to ear.

“Daddy. You scared me.”

“Scared myself.” That was all he could get out. He lost sight of her as tears flooded his eyes. “I love you, Elizabeth.” His eyes closed. “See you in the morning.” He let himself drift back off to sleep.

~L~

Lizzie let her head fall back against the pillow. She smiled up at Jess. “Thanks. I didn’t know he was alive.”

“I told you…” Jess’ voice fell; darkness crossed her face and she looked quickly away. “You don’t remember?”

“Remember what?” Lizzie could see tears in Jess’ eyes. “Jesus, Jess. What?”

“I told you. The drugs must‘ve… You don’t remember.” Jess sat down on the bed and buried her face in Lizzie’s shoulder.

“What the fuck, Jess?” She tried to move her arms, to shove Jess up, but she didn’t have the strength. Jess was sobbing softly. “Tell me, Jess. I’m sorry you have to tell me again. Please. Tell me.”

Jess’ eyes raised to face her. They looked like she’d been doing a lot of crying. “Zach.”

“Oh, God. No.” Lizzie’s stomach twisted and heaved. She felt bile climbing in her throat. She couldn’t turn she couldn’t stop it. Her stomach gurgled and contracted vomit came up, not much, but it burned her eyes. And fell back into her throat. She couldn’t breathe. It gagged her. She tried to clear her throat, but it just kept contracting. Jess pulled her forward, her fingers inside Lizzie’s mouth. Then air, smelly vomit soaked air returned to her lungs. She spit as the tears cleaned the bile from her eyes. Pain stabbed at her side. “Jes-“ Lizzie pointed to her side. She could see blood on the bandage and everything spun once again into blackness. Zach, you bastard. Why’d you leave me?

~L~

“Zach is dead. Spike is dead. BeeGee’s husband Blackhawk is dead. I don’t get it.”

“The Redeemer got what he wanted. He got rid of us, potential troublemakers, future martyrs and he got rid of others who might oppose him in the near future. ‘And the meek shall inherit the earth.’ Or they think they shall. Only the Redeemer will have them right there in the palm of his hand.”

“But-“

“Lizzie, he was hoping he could get rid of you all, blame it on the renegades…” Her father sighed. “But Captain Foote got in the way. Blew his cover. And I ran into Blackhawk. I can’t believe how close the Redeemer came to making it all work out. You need to rest.”

“Do you think they’ll come after us?”

“I don’t think so. We’re headed south. It’s safer there. Hopefully our war is over.”

“Okay.” She watched the tears roll unnoticed down his ruddy cheeks and into his beard. “It’s not home, but it might as well be.”

She lay her head back down and she felt his left hand rubbing her head. His chest shook and she knew he was crying like she was.

In a tight voice with a kind of croak he started singing. “Hush little baby, don’t say a word, daddy’s gonna buy you a mockingbird.”

Lizzie hugged her dad as tight as she could and let her tears fall into the tired cloth of his ranger’s shirt.  His heart beat thrummed in her ears, strong

He sang many more verses of his own making. Then finally, “If that horse and cart fall down, you’ll still be the sweetest little girl in town.”

The End

Here are the other bonus scenes from ALL IS SILENCE. 1st Draft Beginning, the 1st unsatisfying ending and Lizzie’s debut vignette from 2011.