Chapter 4A Chapter by CLCurrie“Didn’t risk anything,” he said. “The Duke Boys are dogs; someone had to put them down.”Abel held his gaze down the road, the car lights cutting a
hole through the darkness of the mountains. He could smell the blood on his
boots; it wasn’t the first time, and it wasn’t going to be the last time in his
life, no matter how much he wished the killing would stop. The Good Lord seemed
to have other plans for Abel. His father would always tell him that if he wants
to make God laugh, he should tell Him his plans. The statement seemed to become
more of a reality in Abel’s cruel life then he liked. And
yet, the killing seems to have some good for it. Abel was sending those wicked
men and women to the Almighty to be judged for their actions. With each death
caused by his hand, curling his knuckles around the steering wheel, he was
taking out evil in this world while helping those who couldn’t help themselves,
like Evangeline sitting next to him. She was
a tiny thing, almost reminding him of Hope, but Hope had shown him even a tiny
woman could still kill. Hope was not a woman to be messed with, but Abel doubted
this child next to him could hold a candle to his wife’s skills. She sat there
quietly, afraid, rubbing her wrist from the ropes that were around them. The
rope burn was nasty. It would be painful for the next few days, and there might
be some scars for the rest of her life. As she
sat there, not saying a word, Abel got the feeling this girl had seen more
death in her young life than anyone should. She seemed cold to the fact that
she might be heading to meet her end. She almost seems to accept it as a way of
life. Some people died, and often, some people killed them. It was
wrong; she was cold about the idea. It was
wrong; she had to be saved by Abel. He kept
driving, not slowing down even when a nasty turn came out. He let the light
lead him through the darkness, and like Evangeline, he was cold to the idea of
dying. Death wasn’t going to come facing Abel again. He would merely kick the
reaper’s teeth in like he did during the war. He didn’t fear Death, but the old
smiling scythe feared him. “Where
are we going?” Evangeline asked. “Where
do you want to go?” Abel asked. “To the
sky port in Charleston.” “Then
to Charleston,” he said. He didn’t smile; he never smiled on the road, but he
was glad she was heading to Charleston. His home was near the city, and he was
ready to be home. He was always ready to be home. “You
mean it?” “Yes.” “You
aren’t going to kill me?” “Wasn’t
planning on it.” “You
aren’t going to rape me?” “Not
that kind of man, darling.” “What
about handing me over?” “To whom?” “I
don’t know,” she shrugged, “one of the families.” “Don’t
know them,” he said, “if I did, then they would be dead.” “What
about my father?” she asked, rubbing her wrists and not looking at him. “Did he
pay you to get me?” “Don’t
know him,” he said. “No.” “Wouldn’t
mind if you killed him,” she said. “So, why did you save me from those pigs?” “It’s
the right thing to do,” he said, keeping his eyes on the road. “What?” “You
heard me,” he growled. “You
risked your life for someone you don’t know,” she said, “because it’s the right
thing to do?” He
grunted, nodding. “I
don’t believe it.” “Might
want to,” he said, “you’re sitting in my car, not going to change that at all.” “You
risked your life for me?’ “Didn’t
risk anything,” he said. “The Duke Boys are dogs; someone had to put them
down.” “Oh,”
she said. “Do you know my name?” “Does
it matter?” “You
almost died, and you don’t want to know my name?” She asked. Abel
rolled his eyes and then glanced down the hill. He sighed, making the car come
to a hard stop. Evangeline almost flew into the dashboard but caught herself
before hitting it. The dust from the road swirled around them. Her eyes were
wide as she looked at him, unsure of what was happening. Abel turned toward her
and asked, “Why were you in that cabin?” “The
Duke Boys kidnapped me.” “You’re
heading to the sky port and hate your father,” he said, “and you won’t me to
believe it was just a random event?” She
sighed, shaking her head. “Does it matter?” “To
me,” he growled, “it does. Why did the Duke Boys have you? If they were just kidnapping
you, then you would have be bloody and raped by now.” He leaned forward with
his massive head taking up all her vision. “Tell me the truth.” “My
father is Willy Arkansas,” she said. “I am Evangeline Arkansas. Do you know who
my father is?” “No.” “Oh,”
she said, “he runs the southern families, and he is a son of a b***h.” “Fine.”
“I
watched him kill my mother,” she said. “She was going to run away back to her
home. We were going to run there, and Willy found out. He beat her to death
while I watched.” She dropped her gaze from him, looking down at her hands.
“When I could, I ran. I’m going to go live with my grandfather.” “Where
is your grandfather?” “Omega
City,” she said. “His name is Lord Gryf Blazestorm, the Counciler of the Golema
Guild.” “He’ll
take you in?” “Yes,
he gave me his word.” Abel
growled, shaking his head and reaching into the car's back seat, picking up his
hat. He put it on and ordered, “Don’t run, you run, you’ll die. I’ll be right
back, stay here.” He opened the car door and stepped out into the night,
looking back at her and pointed in her face. “I mean it, you run, people will
die if you don’t go first, got me?” “Yes, sir." © 2024 CLCurrie |
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Added on July 30, 2024 Last Updated on July 30, 2024 Tags: #adventurestory #steampunk #hist AuthorCLCurrieHarrisburg, NCAboutI am a storyteller who comes from a long line of storytellers. I literally trace my heritage back to some Bards (poets and storytellers) of England. My family, in the tradition of our heritage, would .. more..Writing
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