I follow the marks in the dried sand for several miles before they make a sudden left turn down an embankment and across a dry riverbed to a small one-level house. Behind the house I see a smaller building with a door on the front and a smaller door on the side. There’s no good place to sit and observe as the area is completely vacant of any vegetation and rock mounds. I decide to take my chances and hastily run up to the smaller building. As I’m half-way there, four men exit the front door of the house. I have nowhere to hide, so I quicken my pace and go behind the garage. They get into a truck idling a few feet away, and leave.
I wait until their taillights are gone before crouching down next to the side door where I listen for any signs of movement on the other side. There’s only silence so I slowly turn the knob and slide into the room, shutting the door quietly behind me. I’m met by a foul odor, but it’s one I’ve smelled before. Against the wall are rusty metal containers which I know hold gasoline, as Devlan had a couple in the shed to fill up his truck and my bike. The lone light in the room is coming in through several tiny windows lining the back wall above a work table. I recognize the brown truck sitting just a foot in front of me. It’s one of the trucks I saw the other night outside the Refuge. I stand up and peer inside, noticing that it’s empty, but through the passenger window I see a figure tied to a pole in the middle of the floor. Walking around the front of the truck, I bend down and lift Quin’s face.
“I knew it was you,” he says, in a tired voice.
“Liar,” I say, with a half-smile. “Where’s Terrance?”
“He’s in the house.” Quin nods with his head indicating the direction. “Get out of here before they see you.”
“How many are there?”
“Six, but I think some just left.”
“How did they get you?” I ask, as I move to his back where his hands are tied.
I notice the thick rope has been wound at least ten times around his wrists and the post.
“As I was entering the tunnel to go to the oasis, I heard a scuffling noise on the other side of the rocks. I’d left Terrance with the truck since he’s too big to fit through that tiny crack. I don’t normally take him with me when I’m going to Oasis Eight, but Rena insisted.”
I take out my knife and begin cutting away the restraints. They’re so tightly wound that I wind up cutting Quin’s arms a couple of times. He winces, but doesn’t complain.
“You could’ve taken all of them, what happened?”
“They used a couple of stun guns on me then struck me in the back of the head knocking me out. When I came to I was tied up in here. After I broke the restraints, they decided to wind the rope multiple times practically cutting off the circulation to my hands.”
“What are they doing with Terrance?”
“Torturing him. They were going to kill him at the start, but when they realized he couldn’t speak they thought they would have a little fun first at his expense.” The last of the rope gives way and Quin is free from the pole. He rubs his hands, working the blood back through them. “Now, get out of here. I’ll get Terrance.”
“No,” I say firmly. “I’ll get Terrance, you get the truck ready.”
“Are you nuts?” he says as he grabs my arm, turning me to face him. “They have a Levin gun.”
“I know.”
He looks at me, trying to figure out how I know this. He lets go of my left arm, but holds onto my right, rubbing the material covering it.
“This isn’t a burn, is it?”
“No, it’s not.”
We exit out the side door, my gun in one hand and knife in the other. Quin goes over to his truck and joins me at the sliding glass door. His armament of choice is a crowbar. I’m guessing his real weapon is inside the house. I quickly peek inside to see where the targets are. Only two remain and they are both sitting on a couch with their backs to us, but I can’t see Terrance.
I crouch down as Quin uses the crowbar on the door, sliding it open slowly so not to make any noise. I squirm into the small opening, Quin following close behind me. I stand up and see Terrance bent down, his back being used as a foot rest. He spots me and makes a little noise. It’s enough to alert the other two of our presence. The first shot is fired by the man with the Levin gun. His aim is off so he winds up blasting the patio door sending glass shards flying. I fire my gun and hit him in the shoulder. The other one is on his feet fighting Quin with a Pugio blade. Terrance is curled up in a ball on the floor. I go over to him to help him up, but hear a noise from the man I just shot. He’s up again, gun in hand, and I don’t have time to jump out of the way. Quin, however, is already diving for the gun as the man fires.
The blast of energy hits Quin in the upper right part of his chest and exits out his back. Terrance tries to scream, but only gurgling noises come out. Quin goes down, blood pouring from his wound. I take my knife and throw it at the man, hitting him in the middle of the throat. He’s dead before he hits the floor.
