My only concern is the Nevada deserts. If I find a 4x4, I am willing to take a risk of being noticed because of a loud engine. Otherwise, walking or biking that tough terrain would be too risky.
I hear someone screaming in pain. Shots from an automatic rifle follow it.
Three people are nearing the front fence, and one of them falls in the trap. I can see only half of his body.
They must have heard shots from our practice this morning. We thought the woods would prevent the noise enough to be heard from Old Fort. They must have been patrolling the area at that time.
It was Diego’s watch. I see him continuously shooting at them from the opening on the storage room’s ceiling.
Miguel and Val are running inside the house from the back door.
I look for Yolanda. I see her hiding behind the farmer cabin. She doesn’t have a gun or anything else to protect herself. I don’t know what she was doing there. Miguel told her to stay home until we came back.
A fourth person on the right side of the fence and is getting closer to Yolanda.
Another person is crawling toward the back of the house.
I wish we had radios. There is no way I can warn them from here. I also cannot shoot to cover them from this distance. There is only one option left.
I dig in the dirt next to the tent and take out the rifle. I did not think anybody would need to use this rifle anytime soon.
I run down the hill to get to the house as soon as possible. The Saviors are yelling, but I can’t figure out what exactly they are saying.
As soon as I reach the fence at the backside of the house, I slow down to scan the backyard. It’s getting darker. It makes it harder to see Saviors, but it will also work to our advantage since we know the house and the area.
Shots stop from both sides. I hear voices coming from the front of the house.
I enter the back door quietly and check the rooms one by one. A Savior is filling containers with our food in the storage room. He is facing the shelf. I think about taking him hostage, but I quickly abandon this idea. With the lack of tactical training, I may not be able to handle a hostage situation. It’s time to use my gun practice.
I shoot him from one leg. He winces and shouts for help. I pick up his rifle as well as his handgun and throw them far into the hallway.
I run to the living room to see the front of the house. All windows are down in pieces. Walls and furniture are full of bullet holes.
Miguel, Val, and Diego on their knees in the front yard while two Saviors point their guns at them. As soon as they hear the shot from my rifle, they start firing randomly to the house.
“Retreat!” the older Savior says, dragging Val with him. He uses her as a shield while he steps back to the front fence. The other Savior follows him. They keep shooting at the house. Miguel and Diego drop down on the ground to avoid bullets.
I take position behind one of the living room windows to have a clearer shot. They are getting farther away. I don’t want to take a chance since they’re using Val as a cover.
I wonder where Yolanda is. I hope she found a gun and ran behind them to take them down.
They continue shooting until they are no longer in sight. I wait a few seconds to make sure they are gone.
I glance around the front of the house. One Savior is dead on the ground inside the fence. Diego must have shot him from the roof.
Another Savior is stuck in the trap with no sign of life.
Miguel stands up with a devastated look on his face. He runs to the farmer cabin. I understand why shortly after.
Yolanda is lying with her clothes drenched in blood from her bullet wounds.
I run after Miguel. He checks her heartbeat. Then he hugs her desperately. My legs feel weak and shaky. I crouch on one knee and close my eyes in grief. This shouldn’t have happened.
Diego starts screaming while running to his mother with tears running down from his eyes. I get back up and stand in front of him to block him from seeing his mother in a pool of blood. He puts his head on my shoulder and keeps calling for his mom.
Miguel rushes toward the cabin door. “I am going to send these bastards to hell!” he yells, opening the cabin door that had been struck with numerous bullet holes.
I walk to the door. I see the SUV with a riddled hood and shattered windows.
He ignores how the car looks and gets in the driver seat. He turns the key several times, but the engine makes only a hissing sound. He throws punches to the wheel. Then he takes his head between his hands.
“Let’s take our bug-out bags and follow them! We have to get Val back and make them pay for this!” He gets out of the car and goes over to the dead Savior. He spits on his face after kicking his gut. He tries to rip his badge apart.
“Miguel, we are going to find them, but we shouldn’t try it now. They probably ran away in a car. They might have already passed Old Fort by now. We don’t have a chance of tracking them in this dark,” I say. As much as I want to find Val and take our revenge, I know that we need a better plan.
“No comprende. What is the difference between going after them now and tomorrow?” Miguel asks in disagreement. “How are we gonna find them tomorrow?”
“I have a plan,” I say.
Chapter 10
“Who are you?” the man next
