This chapter is a little brutal at the end. It deals with child abuse and is a little rough so please be warned...
Thanks for those reading and enjoying this story. I have about four stories going at once and I will be working on trying to finish the others so if I dont get to update soon, hang tight... its coming!
Chapter 2
The ride from the Mountain to Bailey was long. In fact Mr. Smith was positive he could count the number of words said to him by his traveling companions on one hand. There was plenty to say to each other, but not to him. They had chewed over the weather and all that went with it on the chilly late fall day. Mr. Smith was consoled in the fact that once out of the bouncy, shockless Rover they would have to communicate with him… at least a little. He was starting to think he had in fact made a mistake by answering Marcus. He hadn't really even thought about his answer until now. Marcus asked them to go and he was told to go by his inner voice, the voice of GOD. He knew better than to look at the two with him and tell them that "GOD told me too." He was already in enough trouble for not asking them first but how many times had he not been given a choice in where they went or what they did.
The truck halted and then stopped momentarily at the side of the road. Kurdy then shifted in his seat and backed the Rover effortlessly into a thicket to hide the uncommon vehicle. He then threw the glorified truck into park and climbed out. Kurdy looked around slowly making out the world around as the sky began to darken. He then slammed the door closed while making his way to the front waiting for Jeremiah and Mr. Smith to join him.
"I say we call it a night and camp here." Kurdy suggested slowly.
"I agree, the sky's getting dark and I'm ready to walk around for a while. I can't feel my ass." Jeremiah responded shaking his legs and arms out as he looked over at Kurdy.
"We're probably a few miles out of Bailey." Mr. Smith suggested throwing his olive green back pack on the front of the Rover.
"Great. Smith… you can cover the Rover while Jeremiah and I scrounge up some food and a fire." Kurdy advised.
"Wonderful…" Mr. Smith replied unhappily surveying the front of the truck.
This think is freaking huge!
Mr. Smith surveyed the front of the truck and then walked around to the back pulling the tattered camouflaged canvas from the back of the truck. He then began to fumble with it as he slid it across the top and then over the vehicle. It only took him a little while before he had covered it with the canvas. He then began to survey the area for loose branches or something small he could use to cover the front of the vehicle to make it a little less obvious from the road and sky.
--
"Smith… what is GOD telling you about this?" Jeremiah asked almost sarcastically.
"About what." The smooth faced Mr. Smith responded looking up from his thoughts.
"About this whole trip. I assume that since you jumped all over going that your GOD told you to go?" Jeremiah's words were almost mocking as he tossed a small twig effortlessly into the dancing flames. The tone of his friend's voice was almost cold as Mr. Smith lifted his head. His green eyes reflecting the torment he carried in his heart.
What they don't know… Mr. Smith furrowed his eyebrows as he shifted his gaze from Jeremiah's stare to Kurdy almost laughing at the cruel dig. Tears… no tears… He thought to himself. If they only knew… After all he had been beaten up by people less important to him for his unsolicited messages. I don't want this! Why am I the one carrying this burden?
"You know what Jeremiah…" Mr. Smith shouted jumping to his feet. His small stocky frame cast a giant sized shadow of himself on the trees behind him. "You haven't got a fucking clue what I was told. You know what else… you two volunteer us… all of us for missions without running them by me first. Do I complain? NO! I go. I go for the good of all of us. So fuck you for having a bad day and fuck you for having plans that I obviously ruined."
"Hey Smith… calm down… We're just giving you a hard time." Kurdy stood up grasping the smaller man by the shoulder.
The mostly calm Mr. Smith turned shoved Kurdy's hand from his rigid shoulder his normally calm eyes shimmered with anguish and frustration. The two men watched helplessly as the smaller man ran off into the darkened forest leaving his belongings at the campsite.
"Hey Smith… come on man…" Jeremiah jumped up from his place in front of the fire. He suddenly realized the impact of his and Kurdy's silent treatment and constant ridicule. He just couldn't understand why Mr. Smith was suddenly so upset over the jokes and ribbing he and Kurdy had put him through. They never though about what they put him through. "Kurdy… should we go after him?" Jeremiah gesturing in the direction of the blackened forest; his voice suddenly very concerned.
"Let'em go man." Kurdy put a hand on Jermiah's shoulder offering him reassurance. "I've known him a while now and he just needs some space." Kurdy and Jeremiah watched the wooded area with concern as their friend disappeared through the darkness. Kurdy took in a deep breath as he got a bad feeling about why they were here.
--
Tears… I haven't cried in so long. Why now! Jeremiah and Kurdy are just having a bad day… they didn't really want to stay in the woods right now. Who could blame'em its cold tonight? Hell, I'm cold. But GOD, you said "GO!" Far be it for me to question the word of GOD. It had saved my life, Kurdy's life, Jeremiah's life. It had saved us all from the evils of Valhalla Sector. Why had it hurt so badly when Jeremiah had begun to ridicule me again? I do hear him… my daughter, Rose, she hears him. Of course she always refers to him as the voice, but she can hear him too. GOD Rose… to just hold her in my arms right now would mean so much to me at this moment. Her gentle, unscathed view of life and the world was preserved to perfectly at in the protection of that house so far from here.
"I miss you little Rose…"
Mr. Smith wiped the tears from his eyes sniffling as he looked up at the sky. He watched the stars as they twinkled, dancing carelessly in the distance. He ran his hand over his nose again as he realized a tissue would have been helpful right now. The sound of a twig brought him back to the reality and blackness around him.
Great… Jeremiah and Kurdy out to give me a hard time again!
"Jeremiah… Kurdy…"
There was no response to his questioning.
"Jeremiah… Kurdy…"
There was a wrestling in the bush neared to him as he turned to look at what was making all the noise. He watched as a raccoon poked his nose out at him and then pulled it back into its safe haven for protection.
"Hello to you too." He sarcastically commented
He heard a small cry to his right as he turned his head back. Who was that? The child like noise started again and this time it was accompanied by a voice.
"Please… I didn't mean too… OUCH! Please… NO!"
The voice was desperate and was definitely a young child's. Mr. Smith was sure it was a small girl as he quickly made his way towards the voice. She didn't sound much older than his Rose. She was crying now and there was an occasional scream when he saw her.
Her matted hair, her tear stained face. She lay on the cold ground. Her filthy clothing hung in rags barely covering her tiny frame. There was a rope around her midsection and then tied to a tree. She was crying holding her grimy hand over her mouth and nose. Mr. Smith halted his hands out to the sides when she sat straight up. She sniffled lightly slowly taking her hand from her nose to reveal blood. Her eye glistened with tears as she never took her eyes off of the stranger in front of her.
"Are… you… the angel?" She stammered.
Mr. Smith's jaw dropped as her words touched his ears. An angel… shit… Jeremiah and Kurdy would die if they heard this one.
"GOD said you'd come. Are you the angel?" She asked again another tear sliding down her face as she continued to wipe the blood from her nose.
Mr. Smith felt his lip begin to quiver as he realized she was the reason he had been told to come. She was so young… too young to be so abused. His eyes softened as he took another small step towards her.
"My name is Mr. Smith… I'm not an angel… but I'm here to help." He answered softly as he came closer to the young girl his heart breaking with each step.
The girl coughed as Mr. Smith reached her side. Tenderly the kindhearted man reached his hand up and wiped the tears from her soft filthy cheek.
"What's your name?" He asked softly.
"Lilly." She whispered letting out another cough.
Mr. Smith swallowed hard as he looked at her face glowing in the cold moonlight. In the distance he could here the voices and laughter of people. He could smell the smoke from their fire. His stomach growled at the scent of meat roasting over an open flame.
"Lilly… I'm gonna get you out of here." He affirmed calmly untangling the knot of rope holding her in place. He watched her let out a breath as the tight bond holding her from leaving was released. Gingerly she rubbed her aching chest with her filthy hand. Mr. Smith tried to force a smile but then quietly asked "Who did this to you?"
"I did." The voice was low and cold.
Mr. Smith swallowed hard and looked up at towards the heavens. Slowly he turned his head and rose to his feet. Their eyes connected coldly. He was tall, very tall. His broad shoulders almost shut the light from the moon out. The bigger man raised en eyebrow at the smaller man in front of him. Mr. Smith took a deep breath as he shielded the small child behind him.
"It's called discipline." He declared as he took a menacing step towards the smaller Mr. Smith.
"It's called… abuse." Mr. Smith corrected taking a step towards the much bigger man.
Behind him Mr. Smith could hear the quickened hitch of the small child's breathing. It was apparent she was terrified of the man. She whimpered as the considerably bigger man took a step towards her angel. Mr. Smith turned his head to see her covering her face and shrinking into the ground. She was cowering in fear at this beast of a human.
"You're not gonna touch her again." Mr. Smith threatened as he turned his attention back to the hulk in front of him.
A cold smirk danced across his face as three more people showed up behind him. It hadn't dawned on Mr. Smith that he was in trouble until it was all together too late.
"Hey Rex… want me to take care of the elf here?" The man in the back jibed.
"Nah… he questioned me on how I discipline my help and I want to show him what the differences between the two are." Rex replied coldly a sinister look dancing within his dark eyes.
Mr. Smith feeling suddenly alone glanced to his right and left and then back at the man standing like a dragon ready to attack over him. Oh crap…
--
The first blow landed hard on the right side of his face. Rex effortlessly grasped Mr. Smith by the hair and slammed his face into what felt like his solid steel knee. Mr. Smith let out a gasp as he toppled to the ground. The right side of his face exploded with pings of pain accompanied by twinkling lights all around. The world looked off kilter and fuzzy as he was drug back to his feet for more.
"You want more Shorty!"
The words sounded like they came from a world somewhere outside his world. The voices were muffled, like before the Big Death a radio used to sound when someone played it loudly in a car. He grabbed his head on each side of his temples holding tightly in hopes of stopping his brain from exploding through the sides. The next hit landed on the right side of his rib cage dropping him flat to the ground again. His breath was ragged and shallow as he rolled onto his stomach clutching his cracked ribs in his hands. HE hadn't even gotten in one good hit as he pulled himself to his knees. He watched as young, innocent Lilly's eyes flooded with tears. She bit her lip, wiping the blood from her nose again. Her jaw quivered as she watched the expression of pain spread across his face.
"Go…" Mr. Smith whispered between his teeth as a foot slammed mercilessly into his side. Lilly watched the crowd swarm around the man struggling on the ground. "GO!" He shouted as a spatter of blood sprayed from his lips; his face contorted as he received another brutalizing slam onto his body. Fortunately nobody noticed the little girl slipping away.
--
Lilly slipped quietly under the brush as the mob continued to brutalize their victim. She watched him as he took hit after hit to his body. She closed her eyes as a tear droplet fell from her cheek to the ground. She cried harder as she watched him struggling to cover his face and his torso from the rain of debilitating kicks and blows. She wiped the tears away as she slipped further into the brush and then into dark forest for the night.
Please read and review... Thanks again for reading and reviewing!
