— ~~~

It was early morning, only a little after five as Walter stepped out of the Luna Mesa. His snakeskin cowboy boots scrapped in the dust as he made his way through the parking lot. In the light haze of the beginnings of a sweltering hot day, he noticed Mac's orange truck still parked in the lot. Feeling the clutching hand of panic suddenly close around his heart, the old bandito shot glances in all directions. Seeing nothing, he cautiously approached the vehicle. As he neared, he found Mac passed out at the wheel and he let out the breath he had been holding.

Mac had managed to keep himself together thus far, by walling off the shameful, rage inducing memories, but Walt knew his son was near the edge. In the back of his mind he knew what he had done would haunt him, and it was all for the money. And now he felt something coming, like the low rumble of a tidal wave approaching.

The fear driven obedience embodied by the terrified boy, still dwelling inside Mac, had been slowly changing and was becoming something else entirely. Something that Walter could only describe as a wild dog. A dingo scratching and gnawing away at the sinew and bone, getting right down to the nerve, a bleeding nerve that had been hidden and forced to be forgotten for so long. And that wall which his son had built was crumbling. Crumbling and revealing something raw and terrifying. Mac was encased a shattering emotional cocoon. Only what was so come was no butterfly, but a violent tirade of anger and bitterness. Walter knew he had created a monster, a monster he must destroy before it could fully form.

For a moment, Walter watched Mac's face as he slept and could tell it was certainly not a peaceful rest. His son's tightly held futures twitched as he slept. The meth in his system still fighting the booze he drank.

Slowly backing away Walter headed toward his late 80's Mazda pickup truck.

It would have to be tonight, the old bandito decided, as he guided the small truck down the canyon road and he knew just how to do it.

He had purchased an unmarked tank of propane. After moving the precious product from the cave he'd replace the natural gas tank that Mac used to cook meth. Propane burned much hotter and Mac would over heat the ammonium nitrate without even realizing. It'd be over in minutes, in a giant blaze of chemical fire.

With his elbow resting on the open window, Walter twisted the end of his mustache. It would be an unpleasant way to go, but a fitting one. He'd send that man made demon dwelling within his son straight to hell right through the front door.

— ~~~

Mac groaned as he awoke to a heavy hangover, that was made worse by the heat. Squinting from the early morning sun, he glanced around the deserted Luna Mesa parking lot, forgetting he'd passed out in his truck sitting at the wheel. Rolling his shoulders and stretching his stiff neck he felt something shift in his lap. Jittery images of the tarantula and evil chuckling mouths flashing before his eyes, he immediately he became violently defensive. Jerking away, he reached down and grabbed a fist full of blonde hair. Throwing the unwanted intruder off of him and into the passenger side door, his eyes refocused and fell upon the face of a frightened girl.

He definitely didn't remember her, but guessing by his own condition the dumb tramp probably just fell asleep with his whiskey dick in her mouth.

"What the fuck, asshole!" The girl angrily shouted rubbing the back of her head.

"Get out!" Mac snapped, still slightly shaken, though he hid it well with the anger that always followed his episodes.

Pressing against the door of the truck, his hackles raised, Mac's sharp glare was enough to make the woman back down and she quickly opened the door then jumped out.

After glaring the woman out of the truck, he turned the diesel over and sped out of the parking lot, watching as her silhouette disappeared in the distance through his side mirror.

Speeding down the dirt road to his home, Mac steadied the wheel with a knee and took a hit of meth, his mind wondering back to last night's events. Part of him knew that instead of screwing around with that piece of ass and making deals with Harley, he should have been worrying about why Devon had even showed up in the first place, especially after everything that happened. Either Devon was just really fucking dumb or there was something Walter wasn't telling him. Mac's paranoia turned to agitation, causing his jaw to tighten and his eye twitch.

"Fuck." He angrily growled, as his knuckles struck glass and cracked his own window.

Taking a breath to calm himself, blood squeezed from his knuckles as he gripped the steering wheel.

In the time it took him to light up and finish a cigarette, Mac pulled up to his house and was greeted by Boss's wild and excited barking.

"Shuddup!" Mac shouted as he flicked the butt and hopped out of the cab. As usual Boss obediently laid down, his tail happily sweeping over the dust. Walking over to the kennel Mac felt a stab of guilt upon noticing the water bowl was dry.

"Shit." Mac unlatched the kennel and patted his thigh. "C'mon." He let the dog follow him into the house and out of the heat. Snapping his fingers over the couch, Mac invited the dog up as he continued to the kitchen and got a bowl of water.

"Five minutes you spoiled shit." Mac said as he plopped down on the couch and offered the bowl to Boss.

Absently scratching the dog behind his pointed ears, Mac continued to talk to the animal.

"What would you do, huh bud? Aw hell, I know what you'd do." Mac sniffed.

The day Mac picked up Boss as puppy, he had also brought home Shooter, Boss' littermate. The two brothers had grown up together, side by side, eating the same food and drinking from the same bowl without a problem for three years. It was just that one day. One day it changed. Without so much as a second thought, Mac chucked a beef bone in their pen just like he'd done every Friday. But for some reason it was like a switch just flicked in Boss' brain and he went after Shooter like they'd never even met before. Viciously biting at his throat and violently shaking. By the time Mac hopped the kennel fence and pulled Boss off, Shooter lay motionless and bloody. And Boss, he just picked up the bone and trotted away, gnawing at the treat in the corner like nothing had happened.

"Yeah I know." Leaning back into the couch, Mac whispered.

As the dog lapped up the much needed water, Mac's eyes traveled to the window. There was only one road leading to the Ashton place and if Devon went anywhere, he would easily be able to follow him. It wasn't like Walter could be there to protect him all of the time. Sure there were bound to be consequences but he did tell that little bitch never to come back here. And after the dust settled he'd just take what he wanted in the first place.

— ~~~

Devon angrily chucked hiking supplies into the back of the van, anymore of this and he was about to fucking lose it. And seeing Mac again didn't help things. Devon's hand dug into his pocket squeezing the plastic baggie of meth he took from Carmen. If Mac had done that knowing what would fucking happen, the hick was a lot smarter than he looked. And the fact that ho bag didn't seem the least bit frightened of the bastard had Devon even more apprehensive. He has too much to hide and too much riding on keeping it hid, for this to happen now.

There was a crack in his veneer and lying beneath the fragile layer was nothing but a dark sociopathic vacuum.

Devon didn't even realize how tightly he was clamping jaw, as he grinded is teeth in anger until Terra rounded the side of the van.

"Hey Samir and Regina are about ready." Looking over the supplies Terra's eyes fell on the wood stock of the shotgun that she nearly found with her face the other day. "What are you taking that for?"

"It's not a bad idea to have a gun around here." Devon said plainly. In truth he was terrified of his brother, and after hearing what Walter had to say about his behavior, Devon had no idea what to expect.

Terra reached out and stroked the bruise lining his left eye socket. Luckily he had been able to convince her that the bump on the eye was from the scuffle with Mac rather easily. The truth would have just lead to a fight, stress he didn't need right now.

"Are we going to have to worry about that guy?"

"No, Mac's a mean drunk but he's harmless." Bile followed his words up his throat but he managed to fight back the bitterness. "Well, we should head out before it gets too hot." Devon said as he slammed the back doors of the van shut.

"Shouldn't we wait for Tom and Carmen?" Terra scratched her head as she stepped back.

"No, sounded like they were getting along just fine last night." A whole day away from her ought to be enough to pull his shit back together. Just the thought of it put him at ease, allowing him to better play his part. "You did say, you thought they'd hit it off." He teasingly nudged Terra's arm.

"Yeah…" Terra rolled her eyes. "Well she needs a nice guy in her life."

"I think you're the only one in the free world to describe Tom as a nice guy." Devon laughed as he wrapped his arm around Terra's waist, laying it on a little too thick, as he led her to the front of the van.

"Believe me he's a fucking saint compared to the guys she's been with." Terra smiled and opened the car door then climbed in the passenger's seat, leaving Devon shaking his head.

Fuck that was easy, as long as he maintained and stayed in control. He even waved at Samir as he stepped down from the porch holding Regina hand.

"Let's do this." Samir said spreading his arms as he approached.

"Good, you sound pumped. It's a pretty intense hike." Devon nodded as he opened the sliding door for them. After they were settled, Devon hopped in the front seat and started the van.

Guiding the vehicle down the road Devon warily eyed his surrounding as they passed Mac's house. Mac's truck was parked out front but there was no sign of him as Devon crept the van along. His eyes practically remained glued to the rearview mirror at least a good five miles passed the old shack.

— ~~~

Carmen hummed in pleasure as Mac's hand snaked up her skirt and began rubbing her clit over her panties until her juices soaked through the cloth and her hips pushed upward with want.

Hooking his index finger around the crotch of her panties he jerked them down her legs. Hanging from his finger, he then trailed the red lace over her bare stomach and over her breast then shoved the cloth into her panting mouth.

"You're gonna need this." Mac smiled darkly as he pressed a heavy palm over her gagged mouth.

Carmen stirred from the vivid dream when the smell of Axe douche bag body spray hit her nose. She woke to find Tom's arm slung around her and her cheek pressed his chest. Wide eyed she abruptly shoved him away, rudely waking him.

"Uah! Don't cuddle on me!" Carmen shouted.

"You cuddled on me!" Tom said automatically defensive, still blinking away sleep and surprise.

"Like fuck I did!" Carmen shot out of bed, ripping off the sheet. She wrapped the cloth around her to cover herself while she hunted for her shirt and her bra. Forgoing the bra she threw on her shirt from last night and left the room, leaving Tom hangover and confused, as the sheet fluttered to the floor.

Still feeling spun from last night Carmen trailed her fingernails over the wall as she moved down the hallway and into the kitchen. The place smelled like coffee but the pot was empty and the house, even to a sober person, was too quiet. Shrugging, she grabbed herself a glass of water and downed it, when she saw a note on the table. Carmen picked it up and read it aloud to no one in particular.

"Hey guys, went hiking, be back about five. Have fun climbing and be safe. Smiley face." Her brows rose at the sight of hearts dotting the i's and knew Regina must have written it. "Great." She huffed as she crushed the note into a ball and hucked it over her shoulder.

Last night was a big fucking mistake and not even a very good one, now they were going to have to spend the whole day together. But she supposed spending the day with Devon and Terra would have been worse. Thinking about it, she had to smile at herself. Punching Devon had felt better than the sex and Carmen wound up shadow boxing back down the hallway.

After a shower to scrub the stupid off of her, Carmen went back into the bedroom she and Regina shared. Sitting on the edge of the bed she began to towel off. The high from the meth was still lingering just like the touch of the man that had given it to her. Just from the small thought of him, she felt a tingle run though her body and her thighs involuntarily squoze together.

"Stop!" Carmen slapped her palms over her face and fell backward on the bed. "God just stop it already! Christ!" When his image refused to dissipate, she kicked her legs in annoyance like a kid throwing a tantrum. After a few moments she lay still, breathing slowly. "Handle your shit bitch." She scolded herself then sat up.

Roughly combing her finger through her damp hair, she pulled it back into a high French braid. Holding the towel over herself she dug into her bag then got dressed in her rock climbing clothes, a white cropped tank and black stretch capris. She swung her gear back up on her shoulder then headed out.

In the kitchen she found Tom at the table, sitting down with a cup of coffee, looking fresh from a shower. When she came into the room a small wince of annoyance showed on his face.

"So are you like, mad or something?" He asked in a condescending manner.

"We fucked Tommy, don't make it weird." She rolled her eyes.

"Oh yeah, no totally." He said sarcastically. "It's just you're the one who stormed out of the bedroom so…"

"Not a cuddler or a morning person. Not a big deal, relax." She answered flatly.

"Alright I get." He nodded.

"Going into the weird area again." She warned.

"Look I was just making sure you were ok with it." Tom threw up is arms washing his hand of it all.

"Yep, I'm a fully developed human being after all." She stole Tom's joke from the other day to clear the tension. It worked and a small smile of relief slid across Tom's face as he stood up.

"So what's up? We still going rock climbing or what?" He asked.

"Ya ready?" Carmen cheekily raised her brows.

"Yeah let's do it." He replied and upped the bass in his voice.

"Can you handle it?" Carmen mimicked his jock intensity. "Can you handle this?" As a joke Carmen pulled out a climbing pick from her bag and hopped into a mock fighting stance.

"Whoa Jesus! That thing is mean looking! Let me see it." Tom took the climbing tool from her and studied it's curved serrated edge.

"Pretty awesome, but we should head out of here soon." Carmen pulled the pick from his hands and re-stored it in her bag.

"Well it looks like they took the van so we can just grab one of the bikes" Tom said looking out the window with his hands on his hips.

"Make it the ATV, I have another bag with gear for you too and I'm thinking it's not gonna fit on that dirt bike." Carmen pushed the bag into Tom's chest and quickly ran to get the other one.

After loading up the blue four-wheeler, Tom hopped on and Carmen climbed up behind him. As they made their way down the road, Carmen made an effort to hold on with her legs rather than having to wrap her arms around Tom's waist the whole time. The ride went along smoothly but they neared this Mac character's house, Tom inexplicably slowed down. While she glanced around for the Redneck, Tom glared at the dog who was in his makeshift kennel barking. Carmen notice the man's truck was gone and let loose a breath.

"Why did we stop?" She asked trying to sound casual.

"Did we bring the map?"

"No." Carmen answered. "So?" She quickly added not really wanting to have to go all the back.

"So?"

"We're fine, people don't get lost and die anymore, Tom." Of course she knew they did, but she was still buzzing and just wanted to get on with it.

"Fine. We get lost and go hungry, I got dibs on your thighs." Tom said as he readied to hit the throttle.

"Gross. Just go." Carmen huffed, her legs now tired, she begrudgingly leaned into Tom and clasped her arms around his waist.

After about an hour's ride in the desert heat, Carmen spotted a decent climb site and pinched Tom's rib meat. He eased on the breaks and came to a stop, eyeing the red cliff towering over the road.

"Here?" He turned back, looking at her over his shoulder.

"Sure." She said as she hopped off the ATV and began pulling as the straps securing their gear bags.

"Sweet." Tom finally said as he joined her in unloading the wheeler.

Carmen laid out the rope and harnesses and stepped into hers, pulling it up her legs and over her thighs.

Securing it around her hips she looked up as saw Tom staring at her.

"What?"

"Damn, that's really gonna smash my balls."

"Most of your weight will be on your hips, you're boys'll be fine. See there's only straps that go around your thighs, nothing between." Carmen laughed as he warily pulled on his harness.

Considering, the day went alright. Carmen showed Tom a few climbing pointers and he picked things up pretty quick. They had climbed the original site and took in the view, before hiking around the ridge and finding a decent place to respell down. The climb and the hike ate up most of the day and by the time they made it down to solid earth, it was nearly 5. They stripped off their gear and stuffed it into Carmen's back pack, and pulled out a bottle of water to share.

Wiping the sweat from his bow Tom huffed in a breath.

"That was intense."

"Good thought right?"

"Yeah totally. Just one question."

"Shoot." Carmen said as she took a swig of water.

"Where's the ATV?" Tom looked over at her squinting from the evening sun.

Carmen looked around, then turned, her sneakers scratching in the dirt. Not seeing their vehicle Carmen's fists jabbed into her hips.

"Well shit." She paused for a long while, still glancing around. "You hike around that way and I'll check over here. I'm sure it's close."

"Yeah uh huh, famous last words." Tom complained but began to head off in the direction she told him, but not before snatching the bottle of water from her.

— ~~~

As Walter pulled up to the cave, the white pickup came to a bouncing stop on bad socks. Walking around to the side he reached into the bed of the truck and hoisted out the propane tank, his aging bones creaking in protest.

"Hijo de puta." Walter groaned, as he slowly made his way into the mouth of the cave, with the weighty tank throwing his stride off balance.

Pushing the plastic draping a side, Walter scanned over the equipment and supplies filling the chamber and limped over to the lab. Setting the tank down with a sigh of relief, Walter began disconnecting the Natural gas tank and prepared to swap them out. The rusty old tanks were nearly identical and nobody would have ever known the difference.

After the deed was done Walter went on to move the product. There's no way he'd leave 30 bricks of dried marijuana worth over 750,000 dollars just to be burned up. After all he was a businessman and had promises to keep.

With the last load of bricks in his arms Walter huffed as he trudged out of the Cave. His exhaustion had dulled his senses; however shock grabbed him when he suddenly felt a presence. Slowly turning his head he caught sight of a girl rounding the corner of red rock wall.

— ~~~

Stepping around a fallen rock formation in the afternoon heat, Carmen swept a forearm over her brow, pushing away the hair that came loose from her braid. Looking up, she immediately stopped in her tracks. Her eyes shot from man she recognized as the bartender from last night, to the enormous blocks of weed in his hands. Taking in the scene Carmen was familiar enough with the drug business to realize she was in big fucking trouble.

"This is unfortunate for you." The man said as he dropped the bricks and produced an ivory handled revolver.

Breaking the surprise that momentary froze her limbs, she turned and bolted, hopping over the fallen rocks.

"¡Maldita sea!" She heard the man curse as she felt a bullet wiz passed her shoulder but she just kept running.

Carmen moved quickly as she dodged rock formations and jumped small crevasses, and the old man soon fell behind. Flying through a maze of red stalagmites, Carmen dared glace over her shoulder and saw no one, but suddenly slammed right into something… someone.

Kicking away in the dirt Carmen realized that it was just Tom when knelt down to help her to her feet.

"Whoa easy there killer. I found the-

"We're hiding."

"Wait, what?" Tom's question was soon answered when the echo of a ricocheting bullet reverberated through the canyon. "Oh holy shit."

Carmen quickly shoved Tom down and back into a small alcove, barely large enough to hide them both. Ducking away, they held their breath as they watched a pair of cowboy boots run passed their hiding spot.

"Why is there a guy shooting at us?" Their faces practically in the dirt, Tom's breath kicked up dust as he whispered.

"I accidently saw him with whoooole lotta drugs." She said as the diameter of her eyes increased dramatically.

"What-

Before he could finish Carmen slapped a palm over his lips as she heard the man's boots scraping against rock nearby.

"Listen, girl!" The man's heavily accented voice suddenly sounded out. "Let's make a deal huh? I am not that unreasonable. You come out and I make you a deal. I saw you in the bar. You are… a party girl? Come on out and I'll make you a deal ok? Not need to be afraid. I put the gun away."

Carmen remained silent as she listened to his movements. He was defiantly closing in.

"Maybe it's legit?" Tom whispered.

"God damn you're fucking dumb." Carmen hissed.

"I'm fucking scared alright. What should we do then?" His eyes grew large and Carmen suddenly felt like the mature one at the moment.

"He only saw me." She breathed.

"So what's the difference?"

"How far is the ATV?"

"Not far." He answered afraid of what she had to say next.

"Ok stay here I'll run that way and when he follows me, get to the wheeler and go call the cops." She paused her eyes rolling upward in reflection. "Jesus, I never thought I'd say that."

"What no way! He'll fucking shoot you!" Tom grabbed her shoulder attempting to regain some sort of dominate role.

"Shhh! We don't have a choice. We can't stay here he'll find us and shoot us for sure." Carmen asserted as she shrugged off his touch.

"Look Carmen I know you think you're some big bad ass but this-

Before Tom could even finish the sentence, Carmen pushed up out of the niche and took off.

"Car-" The sound of feet hitting the ground quickly silenced Tom's protest, as the man once again ran passed the crevasse and after Carmen. "Fuuuuuuck." Tom whisper still concealed within the rock.

— ~~~

It was the sound of her shoes in the sandy earth that gave her away, as Walter spun around just in time to catch a glimpse of the girl before she disappeared around a red stalagmite. In a frantic jog he stared after her, knowing full well she didn't pop out to take the phony deal.

The bitch was fast, Walter had to give her that, as he wheezed to keep at least ten feet behind her, but he was enviably going to lose her, as he fell behind inch by inch.

Sucking down breaths Walter came to a stop, and was about to let it all ride on one last bullet. With his legs spread he brought up the gun in both hands. Pinching one eye shut he took carful aim.

Blam!The shot probably echoed for miles through the rock canyon, the sound still ringing in the old bandito's ears.

— ~~~

Chapter inspired by:

Spitting Venom - Modest Mouse

Author's note:

Sorry if this chapter is a bit sketchy:/ It was running way long but there was a lot that needed to be set up. Hopefully with more practice I'll get better at these middle transitioning chapters, but I really wanted to get this up and keep things moving.

Thank you all so much for reading! Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions :)