I pointed at Shadow. “I didn’t realize we were taking a dog with us.”
Anna nodded toward her sidekick. “German shepherds are a protective breed and smart. We’d be wise to bring her along. I’ve worked with them in the past and they are amazing dogs.”
“I don’t know if you’ve noticed this or not, but she doesn’t seem too keen on leaving, or being around me for that matter,” I shot back.
Shadow looked at the outside world, then drew closer to Anna.
I ran my hand over my face, then sighed.
“Go and we’ll catch up.” Anna said, nodding in the direction of the SUV.
“Really?”
“Yeah. We’ll find our way and won’t be too far behind you. I’m just going to give her a minute.” Anna rubbed the canine’s head, trying to ease her apprehension.
I shook my head. “All right. Don’t take too long.”
“I won’t. We’ll catch up to you.”
Shadow looked up to me, then licked at the tips of Anna’s fingers.
I dipped out of the barn and hoofed it across the field. The rucksack on my back jostled about, shifting up and down with every hard step I made.
The vehicle offered ample incentive to battle the ash, the dropping temperature, and the soreness that stabbed at both knees and my side.
The blades of grass slapped against my pant legs. The makeshift mask covering my nose and mouth made it cumbersome to breathe.
The stinging in my eyes and nose burned slow and steady, like the tip of a cigarette being extinguished in both. I coughed hard, then blinked, erasing the watery sheen that coated each eye.
I looked past the tree line for the SUV or a house for that matter, but found nothing more than soot and darkness within the woods.
My foot dropped. I fell forward. The ground rushed up. I hit hard and skidded over the grass, my face buried in the ash.
I pushed off the ground and stood. I shook my head, wiped my face clean, then continued on. My ankle radiated pain, adding to the rest of the torment that punished my body. I limped along, gritting my teeth as I trudged through the remainder of the field at what felt like a snail’s pace, then through bushes and trees.
A dirt road materialized on the other side. Tire tracks smooshed bits of grass that grew along the road. I looked in the direction of the main street, then back toward the barn. This had to be the path they came down.
Anna and Shadow were still MIA. I wished they’d hurry up.
I looked at the tire tracks, following the road that slithered through the remainder of the field and into the dimness of the trees.
I limped along the matted grass, tracking the vehicle. Darkness lurked in the canopy. The ash lessened under the covering, giving me a reprieve from the toxic mess.
The surrounding woods showed no signs of life. Birds, squirrels, or any other creatures remained silent and out of sight.
The wind attacked the canopy overhead, whipping the ash-covered branches and leaves about in a violent manner.
I followed the tire tracks out of the trees and discovered the SUV and a brown truck parked beside a large, two-story log home. I worked my way up the drive toward the home with my arm shielding my face.
The windows facing me sat dark and void of any lights. I spotted no movement around the vehicles or the porch of the home.
Where are we and who are these people?
My stomach twisted in knots the closer I got. An unsettling feeling crawled the length of my spine. Having worked for many unscrupulous thugs and mob bosses over my life, I’d visited many remote areas to conduct interrogations and other brutal acts. The dwelling showed no signs of such things happening, but the feeling remained.
I approached the home with caution and took cover on the far side of the black SUV. I peered around the back end of the vehicle and studied the home.
A light flickered through the window on the bottom floor. Beams of yellow light shot through the glass toward the SUV. I ducked, then leaned away from the back end of the vehicle.
I turned on my heels and moved toward the front passenger side door. I pressed my nose against the window and placed my hands around my face–shielding my eyes from the falling ash.
The tinted windows made it hard to see inside the vehicle. My hand slid down the window, then to the door handle, testing to see if it opened.
A muffled gunshot sounded from inside.
My heart jumped into my throat. I froze, wrenched my hand away, then ducked below the window. After a few seconds, I swallowed my heart back down, stood, then peered over the bottom of the window.
My mind raced, piecing together what happened inside the home. More lights flickered into existence, shooting through the windows.
I peered at the dangling keys, not wanting to leave the vehicle that sat ripe for the picking.
A shadowy figure moved beyond the corner of the dwelling, snaring my attention. They took a few steps past the home, then stopped shy of the front end of the brown truck.
A green-camo jacket and hood concealed the man’s face. A shotgun draped over his shoulder. He tilted his head forward, then brought his hands up to the hood.
A flicker of light flashed, illuminating his wiry beard and dingy face for a brief second. He shook the lighter in his hand, then tried again.
I peered down the winding trail the vehicles carved out of the ground for Anna or Shadow, but didn’t spot them.
Shit.
Green Camo stepped in front of the driver’s side door of the
