I do not own Henry Danger or any of its characters.
This story is a birthday gift for missmarthareads and honesty all you Charlotte whump fans ur flippin welcome
I drew inspo from True Grit, Wayne a little bit, and a lot of other stuff I can't rememberrrrr
p.s. I was so in my head with this there may be errors, points where you're like "wait what happened there or what about him?", well im very sorry but here it is
enjoy!(:
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In the pitch of black nothing could be seen. They walked by each other as fear naturally entered in from the unease of unknowns.
Suddenly erupted from the black a light of orange.
"Careful.", he said gently holding her back from a blinding hot body of embers. "The flames will burn your beautiful skin.".
She reassured his naive worried hand with a caress as she stepped forward. "There's no need to worry, for I am the fire itself.".
-
A moaning sun whimpered and melted into a shapeless puddle of crimson.
Summer crawled up toward the atmosphere with dawn coming in a hot swarm over Swellview.
He awoke with an unnerving feeling of something foreboding. Ray sat up scanning the room before he could let himself breath.
No threat showed itself as he looked at his inanimate space with confusion. He wanted to shrug it off but his instincts never allowed that. Mostly because they were rarely wrong.
Commotion from another room put his feet beneath him.
Into the man cave he walked running the sleep out of his bedhead with his fingers.
Three pairs of eyes looked in his direction. There was a strange lack of greetings, a lack of any speech at all, something was wrong.
"What happened?", asked Ray.
"Maybe nothing.", said Henry shaking his head. He pulled down his crewneck sleeves with his fingers in anxiety.
Ray cocked his head.
"Charlotte was supposed to be home last night. She's not answering her phone and I don't, I don't know it's just not like her.", explained Henry.
Ray said nothing as he thought.
Jasper walked over to the auto snacker as he asked it for something. A moment later his dry cracking knuckles held the handle of a smoking cup of caffeine. "What was she doing there again?", he asked. "In The Torches I mean.", he said almost flinching at the word.
The Torches was a mountain range about 300 miles south of Swellview that had once been one large blanket of trees. Half a year earlier wildfires spun like turbines rolling over their plentiful peaks and valleys.
Ruin sizzled and cracked from charcoal and ash. Now layed naked mountains and vulnerable hills, emptied of life stolen from oxygen.
"Her father had business with water carriers, she keeps his books.", answered Henry rubbing his chin that housed almost invisible neglected blonde stubble.
"Ray?", asked Schwoz.
Ray nodded without looking at him and without needing to hear the question.
"What are you doing Schwoz?", asked Henry as he leaned next to him on the desk.
"Tracking her.", he replied.
They all agreed to allow Schwoz to input advanced tracking capabilities in their phones a while back, though they vowed not to use it unless it was very necessary.
The screen showed a birds eye view of the burnt range as it zeroed in on a specific location with coordinates next to its pin point.
"Her phone went inactive 12 hours ago. This is her last recorded location.", explained Schwoz.
"It's somewhere to start. I'm not gonna sit around and just wait. Even if her phone just died and she couldn't charge it, better safe than sorry.", remarked Ray as he listened to the instinct knocking it's fist on the inside wall of his chest. He grabbed his green duffel bag and led the way.
The others gathered a few things as well before Schwoz, Jasper, Henry, and Ray all piled into Ray's truck.
From city suburbs to rural farm land and then nothing, an imperfect road hummed the truck into a soothing steady rumble that dozed eyes already warm from the summer sun.
Henry and Jasper sat next to each other in the back, one of them finding their head against the others shoulder unintentionally.
Blurry half open eyes looked out the window from their rested point of view. Light brown land was rittled in black. There layed shrapnel from battle in the form of charred plantlife caught in the warfare concieved by flame. If you looked hard enough you might still find a living ember hanging on for dear life.
The sun hung red and lazy in the sky where clouds were replaced with haze. The blue sky behind it sitting in bright cheerful deceit.
Henry swallowed hard as he looked upon the devastation, raising his head to look at the scorched Earth floor. He turned to wake Jasper whose muted eyes he found to already be open, dry and looking at what he was. The warm wind held any intent of movement captive.
As he looked back out the open window, Henry then realized they were no longer on a defined road but merely following the straightest line to what they hoped was Charlottes location or at least close to it.
It was a five hour drive but it didn't feel long or short. Every eye was either closed or softened and tight. The heat, the haze, it put dust in their thoughts.
"We're here.", said Ray breaking the five hour somewhat beautiful silence. Alertness hit them fast and hard.
A small structure stood ahead as they shut the truck doors and walked toward it. It was metal and half melted, possibly something left behind from someone or a government structure. Either way it was indistinguishable and about half as tall as Schwoz.
The disappointment of seeing not a soul in sight was considerable but not unexpected. And though finding no one, still they walked toward it.
Something glistened.
Henry reached toward the structure picking up the object that reflected the sunlight. He looked at Ray wishing somehow that he'd have an answer.
It was Charlottes phone. A terrifying uneasiness set in raising the hair off their necks. Etched into the screen was the word 'east'. Scratched on with a rock or a sharp twig, the writing looked rushed.
Jasper ran his hands down his face emitting what they all felt. They could no longer blame the mystery on something simple and safe.
Ray looked up at the sun then back down.
"East is that way, that's where we'll head.", he told them.
They nodded.
"I don't like this Ray.", Henry stressed as he ran his hand through his hair and looked down at a rock he lightly kicked.
"Me neither.", he responded simply as he shook his head.
"Schwoz, did you bring medical supplies just in case?", asked Jasper.
"Mhmh.", he answered with a nod.
"Hopefully we won't need it.", noted Henry as they all got back in the truck.
They craved back the drive where they told themselves that they'd probably find Charlotte and her father simply lost and at worst a little dehydrated. That they were worrying for nothing. That the heavy feeling in their guts was just anxiety toying with them.
The undefined road felt long and uneasy as they searched, keeping their eyes peeled for absolutely anything.
Finally something other than copy and pasted tan and black wasteland collectively caught their eye's.
An emergency water station stood untouched by any fire having been obviously put up after the fact. It was just a wooden rectangle standing about 10 feet tall with an informational plaque and a roof hanging over for shade. Two barrells of water were attached to the wall. One little stool hid in the shadow that Jasper took advantage of.
"I don't see anything here.", stressed Henry with worry more evident in his tone now, frustrated by finding no one once again.
"Let's keep looking bud we'll find somethin.", said Jasper pushing himself up and patting Henry reassuringly on the shoulder.
Their eyes searched every inch of their surroundings. A gentle breeze blew across the earths surface where something long and thin was hung up on the edge of a rock. It fluttered as a stuck victim of the wind.
"Hey.", alerted Henry as he knelt, finding something almost unseen. His eyebrows creased with investigation.
Henry held up four or five strands of black hair.
He moved them between his fingertips confirming what he already knew.
"It's Charlottes. It's her hair.", he affirmed as he rubbed his nervous chin.
"They've been taken. I wasn't sure before. I hoped they were in some other kind of trouble but...at least we know she's able to fight back.", consoled Ray.
"Look, here.", said Jasper, his finger skimming something on the wood.
'NE', was cut into the wood with an arrow next to it pointing up and slightly to the right.
"North east?", speculated Schwoz.
"Alright let's keep going who knows how much time we have.", related Ray as they obeyed.
Ray drove northeast as his passengers scanned the land and wrung their hands in anxious thoughts un-relayed.
Eventually their eyes caught a shelter. a simple brown structure with four walls and a flat roof. It sat in a bare part of the land near a canyon that protected it from spreading flames. Ray stopped the truck as they all stepped out and walked toward it.
A window by the door was shattered outward onto the ground and tire tracks dented the earth.
There was no movement at all. Not a breeze or even a bug.
They looked at each other to make sure they weren't feeling the eeriness alone.
Ray led a careful approach to the front door that he slowly opened.
They walked in seeing mostly an empty room and rickety floor boards that creaked under their feet. Small holes in the roof from either bullets or termites sent little circles of sun onto the floor. Dust floated through them serenely.
A false sense of sinlessness set in when they nearly turned to leave.
And suddenly to their right, they found what they were looking for.
Schwoz took a step back in shock and eight wide eyes looked in doubt.
Charlottes wrists were tied above her to a post that stood alone supporting the roof. Her ankles were tied to the same post, her head hung in exhaustion and defeat. A gag was tied around her mouth, her wild curls fell recklessly past her shoulders.
She looked up at them in tired surprise and relief.
The boys quickly ran the short distance up to her as they each picked something to unbind.
After he untied them Charlotte's incredibly sore arms fell to Ray's shoulders who was directly in front of her. She breathed in a whimper like she was going to cry but she didn't. They watched her giving her time to relax.
Henrys hand went under her ear holding her head to give her comfort. Maybe it was for him too.
A red split tainted the beauty of both her top and bottom lips, a cut on top of a purple bruise layed on her cheek that made all four of her boys feel truly murderous.
"Charlotte, what's happening?", asked Ray gently.
She shook her head not wishing to believe what she was about to relay.
"My father...", her voice was slightly
strained. "He sells water to the southern governments along the border of the state. Just the smaller towns most affected by the drought. We were carrying barrels in a big trailer when these dirtbikers cut us off. They knocked out my father...broke his legs.", she paused a moment. "They took me and the water. There was only room for them to take one of us. And in case he woke up and somehow got help I was the collateral for his silence.", she finished.
She was steady as she relayed the story, though her struggle was obvious to them.
They had questions, remarks. But they'd wait. Wait till she was taken care of.
Her hand held her ankle that looked slightly swollen, clearly twisted. Ray noticed and without a thought slipped his large arms under her back and knees.
She held onto him and let him pick her up as they all walked out the door.
Before anything else Ray called in the information they had about Charlotte's father. It turned out he had already been found a few hours earlier and was stable but unconcious. Everyone slept on the drive home, Ray and Schwoz switched driving on and off.
Schwoz slowed the truck as it crackled over gravel and came to a gentle stop. As he shut off the engine Ray stretched and got out. He woke the boys with a finger to his mouth signaling silence and pointing to a snoozing Charlotte.
They nodded sleepily with only half open eyes as they shuffled into the mancave with Ray following them holding Charlotte who stayed asleep and that was the way they wanted it to stay.
Then wherever was even remotely comfortable each member of the group found themselves back in dreamland.
The sun glided back around after a while, up and over the atmosphere.
Yawns met stretches before eyes even opened.
The smell of coffee and maple sausages wafted through the man cave motivating hunger to defeat sleepiness.
Jasper scratched his bedhead making it even wilder as he sighed and stood up, bending to realign his achey back. He walked over to Schwoz giving him a thankful pat on the back, then he took plates and served up what Schwoz was cooking as he gave one to each person, then himself last. When handing Charlotte hers he gave her a sorrowful very light touch on her chin for just a half a second. She smiled softly understanding her own pity.
They started to eat quietly as Charlotte stopped and twisted her fork on her plate.
"Ray I have to go after them.", said Charlotte not sadly or bravely, but in a way that it hid behind a question.
Ray looked up slightly shocked. He opened his mouth to speak but then closed it.
"Why?", asked Henry genuinely but not patronizingly.
She paused for a moment forming her words in her head. "I watched them break his legs. They made me watch. The pain I saw in his eyes and heard in his screams. I love my father. And they would have killed him if I hadn't...they would've killed me.", she shook her head. "More than anything I want to settle. And I need to be the one to have them regret what they did.".
The intensity in her eyes and seriousness in her voice made them almost fear her, and fear for the guilty. Respect fell on her from the boys. It made one realize what people meant when they said to fear God. It was a fear that they offered out of respect for a beautiful figure that had the power of reckoning but restrained it out of love or merciful empathy. And to further the thought, when it was said that we were made in his image, perhaps that meant more women than men.
Charlotte looked specifically at Ray. She wasn't asking anyone else because these people really were dangerous and Ray was the only one she knew wouldn't be a risk to lose.
Ray was ready with his answer, a no at the edge of his tongue. But then he looked at her. This wasn't one of the kids asking him a frivilous favor. She wasn't hotheaded, thoughtless, or even emotional. He remembered the respect he had for her, a graceful young women with a strong head on her shoulders.
"Of course.", he responded. "But we'll need a plan".
Her gratefullness was known, it didn't need to be explained.
As the conversation carried on they indeed made a plan. They'd go past the shelter where they'd found her and head in the direction of the tracks now that they knew what to look for. Ray would either take their leader hostage or threaten them all somehow or just beat them up, whatever was strategically wiser once they found themselves within the actual situation. Whatever Charlotte wanted he would do. Then take back the water, wipe the dust from their hands and go home satisfied. Somehow he knew it wouldn't be as easy as that. And this time he didn't have a mask to hide behind, the name Captain Man wouldn't mean anything to anyone outside Swellview especially to real criminals like these.
With some food and sleeping bags the group piled back into the truck. The boys wore jeans or jean shorts with simple t-shirts and sweatshirts for the night if it came to that. Charlotte wore a black form fitting t-shirt that's sleeves stopped halfway off her shoulders like a precipice. She wore black cargo skinny jeans and tall black boots. Henry gently brushed through her thought to be too wild to be tamed curls. The mix of African-Cuban roots in her strands made for a feral storm of blackish brown spirals that were rarely successfully caged. He was soft and it pulled at the roots in a good sting with a shiver that felt nice across her scalp and spine. His fingers tickled her head as they created a french braid down her back. Ray wore a thick brown jacket that was stiff above his white t-shirt. His sturdy boots gave him the slightest bit more strength.
Ray handed Charlotte a gun that would only stun, though it did have a kill setting incase of whatever might happen. He trusted her to use it wisely. She hooked it tightly on her belt loop.
Before stepping into the truck Henry held Charlotte back by the elbow softly. She turned and he handed her a dark grey poncho. "It could get cold later tonight.", he said sweetly. She took it and smiled as a thank you. She'd hold it in her lap and smell him off it when anxiety beckoned.
Henry felt his gravity lean toward hers, wanting to hold her as tight as he could. He whispered this to her in his thoughts, flickering his eyes down sadly in the thought of this current impossibility. Even though he thought she may have wanted it, may have wanted him to. To be a comfort to her would be enough purpose for him, he'd need for nothing else to be alive. He trusted Ray to protect her, but his anxiousness was making a ragdoll out of him. He wanted to be by her side the whole time protecting her and watching over her shoulder. But he respected her too much to protest her or Rays wishes.
The truck wasn't as inconspicuous as they needed and as a solution Schwoz offered his sister in laws horses and horse trailer. They hooked it up to the truck leading the two large and beautiful equines inside, one dark coffee brown and the other a shiny jet black.
Charlotte sat in the back seat between her two boys that glanced at her with unsaid worrys and sympathetic thoughts.
Besides Ray and Charlotte, the others tagged along to keep a camp and wait. It wasn't super necessary but there was no question about it they were coming no matter what in one way or another.
The five relaxed for the repeated long drive they couldn't avoid and perhaps didn't quite want to.
Ripples waved to them in tempered heat outside the open windows. A somber orange waded in the air, it's light falling directly onto her skin. Her eyelashes caught the shimmer like the obsidion of space when God first said "Let there be light".
Her absolutely perfect dark chocolate skin drank every particle of light as she softly closed her almond eyes and breathed etherealy through her nose like an angel taking a rest between miracles.
They watched it pass them by. The skeleton of a lush forest disguised as a black desert, stripped and naked beneath a summer sun.
Half a mile passed the shelter was where they stopped.
A noon sun stared at them curiously as they got out of the truck. Jasper put his arm up blocking his eyeline from a citrine glare. He winced at it's natural ray.
"This is a good spot for a camp. Bare, flat, some shade.", said Schwoz.
Ray nodded agreeing. "Alright, you guys set up, sit tight, watch my truck and call us only if you have to.", he stated as he hung a pack on the brown horses saddle.
"Alright, be careful.", said Jasper petting one of the steeds.
One of the boys was about to offer their hand to Charlotte before she smoothly hopped up onto the horse like a trained equestrian who had done the act hundreds of times.
Henry walked in front of her horse, smoothing his hand down the nose in the direction of the silky charcoal hair. Then he spoke only so she could hear.
"Do what you need to Char, then come back.", he said looking at her with a beautiful plead. The hand he used to stroke the animal found it's way dangerously close to her own hand that sat on the shoulder. Ivory fingertips teased Pantheress fingertips as they inched closer.
Charlotte breathed, controlling her actions from taking everything they wanted. She felt herself being pulled toward him and if not for a sobering word from Ray reminding her of the current urgency, she'd have no choice but to concede.
"Let's go.", Ray said tapping the horse and leading him.
The motorbike tracks weren't hard to follow. There were at least ten bikes in all which told Ray what they'd be going into. He wanted to ask her more, but the chance of causing her any pain at all was not an option. He knew she was strong mentally and emotionally, but he wondered how well she'd handle herself. He questioned if she was up for it all.
"You're ankle feeling better?", he asked.
She nodded.
"Any idea where they're headed?", he continued.
"He said they were going back to base, I'm not sure if that's a town or a house or compound or what. I think the latter is most likely.", she answered.
"He?", asked Ray simply.
Charlotte continued watching the mane of her horse. Not yet looking toward her counterpart. "His name is Ilia. The leader.", she began. "He's...", she didn't finish, he didn't ask her to.
A few hours went by as the atmosphere became lilac. Miles across the scarred landscape Ray looked up and stopped his horse.
He scanned the area with sharp eyes.
"What is it?", asked Charlotte looking at Ray.
He shook his head. "I don't know.".
They waited for a moment, deciding silently that the coast was clear.
"Alright we should keep-", started Ray before the sound of not so distant engines bellowed.
Their heads shot to the hill over the horizon where dust was thrown up by treaded tires.
Without a second of hesitation they pulled the reins toward a group of scorched rocks.
From behind they hid and watched.
The location of the riders didn't move as they waited. Dust clouds flew up and hoots and hollers echoed around.
"What are they doing?", asked Ray.
Charlotte rolled her eyes. "They're just goofing off. They do that before they eat and then sleep. Just making jumps and racing and scaling steep ridges. Stuff like that. If there was a shred of innocence or good in any of them I'd have suggested helmets.".
"Hmm. Well sleep, that will be perfect. We'll wait here and once they're for sure asleep we'll do what we have to.", said Ray.
Charlotte nodded in agreement dropping her pack and relaxing into her hidden place. Ray did the same.
As the sun crawled toward dusk Ray sat by a very small fire. The antagonistic group was far enough away where the smoke wouldn't be noticed. Charlotte fed and watered the loyal horses as Ray stirred stew in a small blue speckled pot.
"You seem used to this.", said Charlotte with a sweet smirk.
Ray chuckled a little. "My father took me camping a lot. I love it though I don't get to do it much anymore.".
Charlotte finished what she was doing and sat across from the firelit man.
"Do you miss him? Your father I mean.", asked Charlotte with the caring touch of a compassionate woman. Age has no differential on the maternal instinct that can't be helped within the female species.
Ray nodded looking down. "I don't think we knew each other as well as we could've. Never quite got the chance you know, I mean he worked constantly and then he died.", he said shrugging his shoulders.
Charlotte tilted her head. "He would've loved you. Who you are now, absolutely.".
"Think so?".
"Don't you?".
"I don't know. I'm just not the brainy type like he was. He was a genius you know. I can be kinda immature on top of that I guess.".
"There's a difference between scientific smarts and practical smarts. And that you have in spades. He would've been proud I've absolutely no doubt. He'd have loved you.", she said so genuinely and sincerely that it yanked Ray's emotional strings.
As he looked at her feeling a larger range of emotion than usual, he realized this was the longest one on one conversation that the two of them had ever had. Why that was he wasn't sure, but it was strange. A good strange. The kids were all different when without the other two around. It was interesting how they changed. Ray yawned with a stretch as his train of thought was left behind on the trail of his thoughts.
About half an hour later they were dozing off in the heat of the deep orange embers.
Rays head bobbed toward the ground as his eyes drooped shut. Charlottes head leaned against a rock and she'd fallen asleep minutes before as she began to unwillingly dream.
A sliver of a silver blade swept the edge of her clenched jaw. A young man tilted it with demented gratification in his deceptively handsome smile.
She breathed, pushing down her trembles in order not to satisfy his disturbing pleasures. Her eyes sent him instead a look of cavernous hatred.
His dismay for the expression could be felt on his hot angry breath. His smile fell in a way that horror-strick a cold sweat over her skin.
Pain shrieked from her synapses as red swallowed her nightmare and she felt it as real as she felt the earth beneath her.
Ray who was awoken seconds before by the sting of a stray ember watched her stir.
Suddenly her eyes shot open as she gasped and grabbed her throat.
Ray jumped and could only watch in confusion.
Charlotte stopped and looked at Ray as she sat up.
"Sorry.", she said with her hand on her own cheek slightly shaken.
"Don't apologize.", he sort of laughed at the unneeded apology.
Even if Ray had said something else she wouldn't have heard it. As she recounted the recent nightmare her fuel for revenge was refilled. The disgust and contempt she felt toward those people, that young demon. It was beyond anything she thought her tender self could feel. She imprinted half moon indents into her palm from angry fingernails having nowhere else to misplace their rage.
"They're asleep now. Let's go.", she said pushing down the vulnerable feeling rising within her chest.
Ray followed without a word.
Trillions of stars begged for attention above their stealth heads though the large moon took most of the spotlight. Their quiet feet walked over the hill and charred foliage toward the unbeknownst miscreants.
Ten mistreated and dented bikes layed in a haphazard group a top the already traumatized earth floor. Some black, some grey with faded red trim. All of them mischievously misused. Their characteristics didn't differ much from their riders, though their innocence was questionable.
They slept awkwardly on the abused ground that still smelled smoky.
Ray and Charlotte stood on the peak of the small ridge looking down on the group.
Ray looked to Charlotte on his left. Her dark clothes and skin melted into the black of night. Not pitch black though, the sky lit everything dimly.
"Now what Char. Your decision. I'll follow you.", he said honestly.
She drew an adrenaline fueled breath.
"Let's get the water, what we can carry. Then slash their tires and take Ilia.".
"Which one is he?".
She pointed.
Ray nodded.
Heels silently crunched dead soil. Adjusted eyes flickered from the sleeping threats, to their destination, and always back to the large intimidating moon.
Ray obediently sliced his swiss blade into treaded rubber. He knelt by the bikes that were his victims hearing only his own breath.
As Charlotte approached the water supply frustration choked her ruthlessly. It was almost all gone, only a few meager small jugs remained. What did they do pour it out? Give it to the oh-so flourishing plant life? She calmed herself and turned to look at Ray. He stood and walked over to the leader she despised so repulsively. She met him there leaving the rest of the water.
Ray looked at Charlotte motioning a quick plan and asking with his eyes if she was ready.
She nodded as he counted down from three on his fingers.
On three Ray used the young mans hair to keep his head where it was on the ground. His eyes shot open though Rays knee was on his chest and his large hand covered his mouth.
Meanwhile Charlotte tied his hands and feet together as she focused on her own fingers and avoided his eyes.
Struggle faded as a smile crept onto his cheeks below Rays palm. Confused disgust was expressed on Ray's face as he watched the gaze that led from Ilia to Charlotte. Their victim acting like he knew something they didn't was annoying and unnerving.
"Don't look at her.", he threatened in a whisper and a shove.
Charlotte finished as Ray threw him over his shoulder gladly letting his bones dig in as uncomfortably as possible.
Once over the ridge and a little ways away from the others Ray quietly whistled for the horses.
They galloped over swiftly as Ray threw him on stomach down in front where Ray hopped on behind. Charlotte got on her own horse as she led the way.
They rode further north at a steady pace for an uncounted amount of miles.
-
Back at the boys' camp rested eyes found anxious stars that were fading as they anticipated mornings arrival. Henry awoke to see Jasper put a few new logs onto the fire that warmed him perfectly. Schwoz snores were muffled by his own arm.
"Morning?", asked Henry who smiled while putting the ball of his palm into his sleepy eye ball.
Jasper looked over and chuckled. He nodded answering Henry's question.
"You're up early.", said Henry sitting up.
Jasper shrugged and blew on the fire til it roared to his liking. "It's nice out here.", he simply said.
Henry nodded agreeing. "Wish I could enjoy it.", he said rubbing his nervous neck. "They're not back yet?".
Jasper shook his head dissapointedly. "No.".
Henry sighed and it turned into a yawn as he stretched. A deep breath of pure air felt like a remedy in every sense of the word.
A relaxing sense of perfect air and elating ambience fought with antsy nerves and a ticking of an internal clock.
-
Charlotte breathed dawn up as it hinted at it's own arrival with a drip of dark blue in the distant atmosphere. The curve of the earth over above the edge was turning early yellow and dark orange, almost like a sunrise jealous of sunset. Charlotte felt the light brushing her softly. It was a kiss of bright. She closed her eyes for only a moment in it's perfect glory. She gave it permission to go deeper than her skin.
She'd accepted what she was doing, what she was making Ray do. She could do nothing else if she tried.
She waited until the sun reached it's full potential before pulling the reigns, Ray followed her lead.
She hopped off her horse and walked over to theirs.
She pulled his shirt from the back so he slid off the steed defenselessly landing onto the ground.
Then she stood and looked him in the eye as he softly smirked looking up at her in disgusting content. She cut the rope between his ankles and kicked dust into his eyes. She then mounted her horse once again slapping the reigns. Ray followed without looking back.
Even if the young leader started now he wouldn't be found, or find someone else for a good while. It wasn't exactly broken legs but it fed Charlotte's vengeance enough for her to sleep at night. And when the authorities found him and the group she'd be complete.
Silence and miles passed by like an orange lucid dream. Warm wind flowed over her like ribbons of current, she shut her eyes in submission to it and the emotion taking over her breath.
Dusted tendrils bounced in distress by her unsure eyes. Was this satisfaction or damage she wondered. Charlotte felt Ray's protective watchful eye at her back trying to read her mind. She sighed through her nose and hung her head to look at her horses dry mane.
Suddenly her head shot up as the wind seemed to change.
She looked at Ray who felt it too, his face expressing worried anticipation.
Then they both looked forward.
In one thick mild heatwave was the camp where they left their three friends. Three blobs looked toward them that turned clear and defined as the horses rode slowly closer.
Relief hesitatingly set in seeing they were there and alone unharmed despite the eerie emptiness.
As they got closer Ray waved and Charlotte opened her mouth to say something. But she stopped now close enough to see the expression on their faces. It was wrong and unsettling.
Before anyone could make a move or say a word out from behind the truck and boulders and the boys came eight of the bikers with blades and other janxsy weapons.
A knife went straight at Rays stomach as it ricocheted off to their shock. Charlotte yanked the reigns around and slapped them hard and fast.
She turned as her horse rode in the opposite direction. She looked at the scene where she pulled her weapon and shot with impressive aim. The wind tore her hair from it's braid and blew past her face.
Schwoz, Jasper, and Henry watched her take out four of their captors as knives were held at their throats.
Her dark form melted into her obsidious horse like a swift shadow as they became one silver shimmer under the white sun. Her long thick hair covered everything but her scared eyes that looked at her family being threatened.
Black ornaments of sweat fell off of them into a sweet escape. The sun touches her so hungrily yet desperately gentle, holding back its violence out of sympathy for a haunted land.
They looked at her relieved for her help and current escape.
Suddenly she was ripped. A bike on either side held a rope between them buckling her steeds legs beneath him.
She flew like a dandelion blown into a wish. Her and her horse rolled across uneven imperfect landscape with every scorched jagged rock and burnt branch beating them up in envy of their life.
She gasped for the air to come back into her lungs as she squinted at the sun suddenly staring at her. Whimpers from her fallen horse drew her attention though her vision was suddenly black. A body blocked the sun as she breathed heavily trying to make out the face.
His tall skinny body crouched down as a thin finger moved the hair from her eye. She found the ground had no give when she uselessly tried moving her head back away from him.
"She knows not what she does.", he said in a horrific forgiveness.
Pain throbbed and stung throughout her every inch, though if she had one wish it would only be to get away from him as soon as she could.
Ilia's face was her whole view and she prayed Ray would come thundering over. But he didn't. And the next thing she knew she was fighting to stay awake.
Blurrily she was able to look over to them, her four.
Ray fought hand to hand with them all at once in a heated struggle. And one of the boys who was being held got free. Going to help Ray he went though wasn't fast enough as a blade made it into his torso. She gasped and felt tears flooding her eyes while she began to slip.
Ilia looked half worried half satisfied as her rattled beaten head took her away into blackness.
Four hearts beat heavily as they watched her scene unfold, and their own beginning to crumble.
-
She twisted her head against a creaking wood.
Pain pushed her eyebrows together as she whined in confused agony.
"Thank you for the water. Did I ever thank you?", Ilia said as he sat on the edge of a stool six feet or so away from her. His ruffled thick dark hair made his brown eyes look almost black. A cigarette hung between his fingers and a red cut on his bottom lavender lip was beautifully contrasted by his pale white skin. A truly perfect boy with smooth gentle shadows dripping in his cheek bones.
A shelter like the one she was held in before was where they found themselves. Charlotte was bound again by her hands and feet, though her mouth stayed free.
She cracked open her eyes with a helpless breath escaping her dry splitting lips.
"Here.", he said in a low rasped tone that seemed so normal. So caring she could've trusted it.
His fingertips held a canteen of water before her. Carefully he fed it to her, and oh how she wanted to let it slip down her throat. But she couldn't, her hatred would never let her.
She spit it into his face that didn't even flinch. She was too exhausted to hold a angered expression to explain the meaning for the action but he seemed to understand it.
He smiled softly and looked at her as he lifted his shirt to wipe his face. "You know what they say about a woman scorned.".
"Charlotte.", he continued. "Do you know what else they say? They say a beautiful woman is a lonely woman. Is it true?", he asked.
He stood as she watched him walk out the door and sit on the porch by the window. He watched her and the horizon back and forth. His wicked eyes were the last thing she saw before falling back asleep.
Every once in a while her delirious eyes would open and it would sometimes be early morning, sometimes it would be midnight.
She didn't have many thoughts, she had no dreams. The only thing she did experience was the memory of the hazy boy being stabbed and his knees meeting the earths surface. She knew it was probably Henry though she couldn't accept it. Maybe this was all a horrible concussion or exhaustion induced nightmare and she prayed for that to switch places with reality.
She no longer felt pain from the fall, even if she had been lucid enough to realize it. She was completely numb.
She was pulled so dizzily back and forth between consciousness and unconsciousness. Time had no figure in her dazed mind. She also sensed that she was alone, and that she had been for a while.
Her eyes opened suddenly clearer than before. She didn't remember them opening though she found them staring out the empty window. Purple bled into a peachy sky, not yet sunset though a dark and soft evening that met her internal clock in confusion.
The last thing she expected was suddenly happening before her and it tore her into sobriety. The greyish brown wooden door opened and there stood Henry. White bandage wrapped his torso that peaked out below his t-shirt.
He ran to her untying her and quickly picking her up, blue and red lights flashed reflecting off every surface. Why he was alone she wasn't sure but she didn't care. Sirens pierced her ears and a feeling of justice being served was somehow in the air.
Everything felt like black and white. The atmosphere was warm, her head on his chest. His heart beating in her ear like a melody so soft.
A sleep so sweet followed and before she knew it her eyes opened to the man cave.
Her body didn't ask her for permission as she sat up.
"Hey hey slow down.", said Henry from behind her as he set a hand on her shoulder.
"Take it easy Charlotte you need a lot of rest.", said Schwoz looking at her vitals that were next to her.
That's when she noticed a little IV giving her what she'd been stripped of.
Cotton tan fleece comfortably held her injured skin. She ran her confused hand through her hair that fell on her shoulder in a fresh braid.
"I'm so happy to see you're all okay. Especially you Henry, I thought...", she started as she looked at his torso. She touched it gently not believing it was really healing.
"Just a flesh wound, it didn't hit anything important.", he reassured as he grabbed her hand.
"Guys we should let her sleep, you look tired Char.", said Jasper.
"Do I.", she wondered aloud as she held her own cheek.
"Uh yeah. Not looking so good around the eyes you might want some of those girly under eye ice things ya know.", teased Ray.
Charlotte laughed as Jasper swatted him.
"I really don't wanna sleep anymore. Hey can we play some monopoly or something?" she asked.
"I'll get it!", said Schwoz going to the cabinet.
Charlotte smiled happily pulling at her sleeves as Henry kissed her on the head.
Many laughs and a couple of boyish squabbles later Charlotte yawned heavily.
"Hey it's probably time for you to get to bed.", said Ray.
"No no I'm good let's play another round.".
Jasper looked at her with a sympathetic smirk. "Char.".
"No please just a little longer.", she said in almost a beg.
"I know you want to keep going, but we can't.", said Ray in empathy.
"Why?", she asked feeling tears blur her vision as she wiped them quickly.
Henry took her chin and turned her gaze toward himself. His fingers softly caressed her hair and made their way to her cheek.
"We can't stay here anymore. This isn't real.", he admitted with a sorrowful smile.
She shook her head. "Please just a few more minutes please.", she pleaded with a wet crack in every word.
And suddenly the walls turned from metal to oak. Her rope bound hands couldn't hold her weeping body as she wished she could fall to the splintered floor.
The delirium induced fantasy took the hope from her senses and hurt her worse than anything had so far.
Relief had left her quicker than the rude awakening had come. As she realized Henry's life was still questionable and her death still inevitable she prayed for the first time for unconsciousness.
Her vengeance had caused only horror onto herself and the ones she loved. Regret was not a good enough explanation of what she felt. She grieved in repentance as she screamed at herself and God.
The wisdom she held pride in, the grace she'd been given as a gift by her creator and had always used beautifully. It was all burning under an ashen cloud above her. It consumed her and she felt herself becoming part of the deceased forest that surrounded her for what felt like millions of miles. It may as well have been.
-
As Ray punched one and threw another soon all of their attackers layed unconcious on the ground. Ilia and the other with him had already gone with Charlotte in seconds. How they'd fixed the bike tires so fast was beyond him but that was the last thought on his mind as he went to Jasper who layed on the dirt hovering his hands around the blade in his torso.
Ray ripped off his jacket and pressed it into the wound avoiding the knife best he could.
"Ch-charlotte.", he breathed uneasily in pain and shock.
"Hold this down hard.", instructed Ray ignoring what he'd said.
Jasper did so as Ray went to untie Schwoz and Henry.
"Let's get to the truck.", hurried Ray as they all lifted Jasper as carefully as they could. He hissed and tried his best not to visibly writhe in misery.
Ray drove over to the injured black horse that they got into the trailer with a lot of prayer and sweat.
Ray drove faster than he ever had to the closest hospital and then animal hospital of course.
After a lot of big stitches, a quick blood transfusion, and a tight wrap Jasper took the IV out of his arm and ran out to the waiting room where Ray, Henry and Schwoz waited anxiously.
He assured them he was gonna live and they rushed to the police station.
After a lengthy explanation that they tried making as short as they could, they had the attention of the simple town authorities. Once Ray explained the connection between the discovery of the man that was Charlottes father, a known water trader, it began to make sense. The two cases became one and before they knew it they were back in that truck, combing the Torches for her once again. Though this time five rangers traveled with policeman in off-road vehicles alongside them.
Henry sat next to Jasper in the back as they searched every inch of land that they could see, afraid to blink and miss something. Jasper patted Henry's tense shoulder who noticed the irony of Jasper who nearly died giving him comfort.
"How far could they possibly have gotten?", stressed Henry.
Schwoz shook his head in disappointment of his own lack of an answer.
The next place they stopped was the shelter where they'd first found her. Every ounce of hope they had pushed their legs to run inside looking helplessly for Charlotte beneath the thin roof.
They knew it would be empty, not only were they not that lucky but Ilia probably wasn't that stupid.
They walked outside, Jasper running his hands through his hair and Schwoz throwing his baseball cap on the ground. Henry rubbed his hands down his face. Ray yelled angrily as he took a branch from the ground and swung it at the weak structure.
Even as night came they didn't stop. Even a pale and slightly bleeding Jasper was not letting himself rest until she was found.
Soon dawn met them with distress in it's colors. They'd sleep for a few hours here and there and keep searching non-stop.
A few beyond hellish days had passed and they had only covered a little more than half of The Torches. A day in the police and rangers had found and arrested the motorbiking gang of thieves, the boys wished they been there to see it but they couldn't stop for a second. Without more evidence or clues to Charlotte's location the authorities had haulted the search for a while much to their chagrin. For the time being their ankles were swiped with soot and they were on their own.
Henry was losing it. Schwoz was never so silently anxious. Jasper never so exhausted physically or emotionally. And Ray was never so internally violent. He beat himself from the inside so hard you could almost see the bruises.
Tired, out of hope and out of gas Ray stopped just short of a ridge that overlooked another plain. The sun was growing heavy in the sky.
He got out and the others followed needing a stretch and a breath.
Ray took one of the last red cans of spare gas and stuck it's nozzle into his gas cap.
"What are we gonna do?", asked Jasper leaning on the hood.
"Not stop. We can't.", said Henry.
"Don't worry we won't. She has to be here somewhere.", answered Ray.
"What if she's not alone this time?", asked Schwoz.
Henry shrugged. "What do they have to gain with her? Why did they take her for a second time?".
Ray sighed stress. "The leader Ilia, he's oddly enamored with her. He looked at her with a look I didn't like. Somehow I still think he wanted revenge though. Well revenge for her revenge.".
The boys were almost nauseous from his words.
Henry felt so lost. Without her guidance, her presence, he felt adrift. She was the stone he clung to when choppy waves beat against his back. She was his reason when nothing else held clarity.
Then as his aching legs paced close to the edge of the ridge, he caught a flicker of promise.
Below the precipice was a thin cabin, part of it burnt taken by the flame all that time ago.
Schwoz, Ray, and Jasper saw Henry stop and stare at what they couldn't see. They followed him over, hoping for a sign of something.
Their surprised feet stopped and looked down. Litter, tire tracks and remains of a camp fire long burnt out sat next to the structure.
And suddenly eight legs moved faster than they ever had.
They raised dust up as they sprinted down the steep by the dangerous ledge. The evening sun harnessed out of sympathy, their shadows unable to keep up.
Ray reached the door that was either locked, boarded, or just jammed shut. He bashed his boot into the innocent door that came down in a crashing thud.
Their adrenaline pumped hearts beat even harder or maybe they stopped all together as their eyes finally found her.
Henry went first as he went to his knees, silently letting tears slip out as he bowed to her feet.
Life was not sensed in her closed eyes. She leaned against the wall with her hands tied above her head. Her dusty hair seemed longer and even wilder and the time that she'd been gone seemed so long. Streaks of dried blood stained so much of her perfect skin.
They'd had her. After they'd found her the first time, she was safe. Why did they let this happen why did they let her go. These regretful thoughts circled the still room.
Jasper was the only one brave enough to reach for her wrists. He untied carefully as he let the ropes fall to the ground, and her hands to his hands. Schwoz's fingers reached over and felt her pulse as he breathed a sigh of relief.
Suddenly she breathed in like it had been inhibited for awhile. The fall and tumble from her horse, her injuries untreated and no food or water for far too long not to mention her unsaid unsure emotional state, it all amounted to them not having relief from the anxiety that had plagued them for days.
Ray's guilty regret stabbed him in the chest as he looked at her. He bit back his current self hatred, replacing it with the decision to try and do what he could to fix it.
His big hand cradled her head carefully as he put his large arm under her thin legs. He lifted her and hated that it was familiar. Out the door they walked as the sun mercifully hit them as softly as it could.
They were a black silhoutte against the overwhelming gold setting sun. Her head hung toward the ground with her long wild hair reaching the dead plantlife.
Heavy dust flowed up with wind that blinded them.
They couldn't get home fast enough. Fast enough would've have been thirty seconds after they found her. This was the longest drive in the history of time and it didn't matter to Ray that it killed his tires and shock absorbers with every speeded bump and hill.
Finally they were home and to stay this time. Ray set her down and stepped away letting Schwoz do what he knew how.
Sleep pulled at all of them but agitation kept them awake. Not to see if she was okay, they knew she would be. But to hear she was from her own lips. The unknown of what all happened, what she'd been through, what they knew she had been, it was shuddering. And more so, who would she be when she woke up.
Against all odds and personal promises, one by one they fell asleep. Schwoz was last as he drifted off still holding bandage in one hand and medical tape in the other.
Some time after Charlotte felt the waking world pull her toward itself.
Reluctantly she opened her eyes expecting to see her wooden shelter of damnation. When it was her silver haven and four saviors relief just flooded her cells and senses. She almost didn't let herself feel it because of the hallucination or dream from before, whatever it was it was convincing. But this she knew was real. When her eyes counted four her heart dropped. They were all here, their chests going up and down like they were supposed to. She looked at Henry who's head hung slightly off the back of his chair. His dusty hair and charcoal covered shoes told her he hadn't stopped looking for her and his tired eyes in a deep sleep confirmed it. She was happy for the moment she could look at him that she didn't have to steal in small glances. She wanted to curl up in his ruffled tufts and drown in his comforting familiar scent. Suddenly she remembered her train of thought, Henry looked uninjured. She saw no sign of wraps or discomfort.
She looked to the only other boy it could be as guilt ripped her to shreds. Jaspers torso was wrapped in bandage that could be seen under his shirt. A slight look of pain sat on his sleeping face and it told her how much he loved her. Though the remorse ate her from within, it was lovely to know that she was so cared for by people that weren't obligated to or getting anything in return.
Charlotte held her own arm as her fingertips felt the layer of blood, dirt, and trauma. A hot shower would absolutely drown it all away. She got up carefully and quietly not just for them but for herself.
Maybe she should've asked but he was asleep. She had to use Rays shower which was surprisingly very clean and smelled like mahogany and aftershave. She wanted to smile at the silly superman toothbrush by the sink, giggle even. But what she'd just been through was so so heavy. She held her chest at the weight.
She shook her head not wanting it to take over. Shakily she breathed trying not to cry. She hadn't yet, why would she now.
Charlotte took a brush out of the drawer and carefully handled the knots and tangles of her almost untameable curls. She took the black outfit off thinking the trash was where it belonged as it was full of holes and memories too recent.
Nearly boiling water spilled over her head as she closed her eyes. She breathed in the healing steam letting it fill her bruised chest.
It hurt to move, everything was stiff with her cuts and scrapes stinging away the dirt. The concussion she knew she had wasn't causing her too much trouble as long as the lights stayed dim, her bruised ribs she kept cradled with her arm. She felt bad having to discard Schwoz's nicely wrapped bandages here and there, but she also knew he'd want the wounds cleaned and that he wouldn't mind doing it all again.
She would've got on her knees if she could've in that moment. Thanking God for the remedial water, her rescue, it wasn't enough. She'd give him all of her if she thought it was enough in return. She'd give him all of her anyway.
A heavy sleepy Ray woke in a slight fright at her disappearance until he heard water rushing through the pipes. He was worried though relieved. She was doing what she had to and he'd be relieved to see her washed and clean. The crimson stains were horrid.
He rubbed his eyes with a yawn and rifled through his bedroom drawers. A folded gray sweatshirt, olive green pajama pants with a draw string so she could fit into them and a pair of socks were placed outside the bathroom door. She had to wear something and there weren't a lot of other options. Little did he know that what he thought was a poor choice, to her it was a warm fresh outfit with comfort in every fibre. Ray had gone right back to his spot from before and fallen back asleep. She'd pull the oversized sleeves over her hands and smell the laundry detergent, or was that the dryer sheet hiding inside. Then she'd lay back down near the rest, falling asleep where she'd woken up a little while ago.
Hours later a subtle summer morning came with warm gentle yellow sun and happy little robins chirping their contentment.
Henry woke by stretching before he even noticed he was doing it. But it was a good stretch, the kind where you scrunch in your chin and make a groan or something.
The first thing he thought of was her as he looked across from himself. She was curled up looking clean and comfy. The room was staticky with warmth and safety setting troubled hearts at ease.
He was happy finding himself to be the first one up as he realized he could do his favorite thing without a time limit for the first time ever. He could look at her.
Shivers crawled over his body as his breath was taken. Her beauty always shocked him without fail and this was a new high, even with the purple and red that vandalised the work of art that was her face.
His hand unconsciously covered his own mouth in amazement letting out a quiet gasp that said 'wow'.
Henry's cherished perfect moment was interrupted by a groan from Jasper. He held his sore injury before his eyes even opened and Henry's annoyance at his interruption turned to worried guilt.
"Hey.", he whispered with a swipe to Jaspers knee.
Jasper looked at him.
"You okay?".
Jasper nodded.
Henry didn't quite believe him but his thoughts were interrupted by Schwoz and Ray waking up.
Henry pointed at Ray's crazy bedhead as they collectively giggled as silently as they could.
Then it faded as they sat in silence wondering what the next step was.
"Did she shower?", whispered Schwoz.
"Yeah.", answered Ray.
"M'kay. I'll have to rewrap and bandage some stuff. A wrap around her torso would probably relieve some of the pain in her ribs too.", added Schwoz. "We'll just keep the lights soft and give her some headache medication for the concussion.", he muttered mostly to himself.
Ray shook his head remembering his heavy burden. He put his head in his hands. "Why did we ever let this happen.".
Henry solemnly shook his head focusing on a thread that he tugged from his jeans. "If her family wasn't struggling financially so much for so long she would've probably let it go. Her father works so hard for them, I think it's part of the reason she loves him so much. And her mom can't work because she has her sisters babies to watch. That water was everything they had. Not the water itself but their secure customers you know.".
Ray thinking it couldn't get worse was quickly proven wrong as Henry finished.
Just then the AC kicked in and it had a habit of whistling loudly. The four of them jumped up quickly scrambling all at once to turn it off tripping over things and each other. Though as Jasper reached the off button they looked over to see Charlotte sitting up looking at them with a smile at the sillyness. The recent sleep showed around her tight eyes as she yawned deeply.
"Sorry Char.", said Henry.
"No no I'm happy to be awake.", she said honestly.
Ray and Henry sat back down as Schwoz went to Charlotte and Jasper went to the autosnacker.
You could tell she was uncomfortable with the attention as she tugged at her sleeves. So much needed to be said by everyone and therefore there was silence as Schwoz respectively treated her injuries.
Suddenly a hot cup of coffee was in front of her from Jaspers strong hand.
That was all it took and she bit back so hard but it rose to her throat and eyes.
She took it and shook her head.
"You don't want it?", asked Jasper ready to take it back before he saw the glimmer in her eyes. It was horribly unfamiliar to them. Through all the years Charlotte had never cried, not once. And now the tears were slipping off her cheeks before she could catch them.
"Char.", said Jasper in a sympathetic statement partly like a question.
"You got this for me so selflessly. After all I did. To all of you. Jasper you could've died and I just...", her shaking hand did circles around the rim of her mug as she started to lose control.
Their hearts didn't just break. They smashed into the floor and then the floor broke.
"Charlotte you didn't do anything.", Ray said in a breath as he stood and hugged her sitting form. He held the back of her head as her arm sat on his back. His big body swallowed her up in protection and empathy.
He pulled away as she wiped her cheeks with her thin dainty fingers.
"We were the one's who were supposed to look out for you. We knew what we were getting into and we did it for you Char. We'd do it again easily.", assured Henry who would've cried himself had his pride allowed it.
"And I'm fine. I should've been more careful, this is totally on me.", said a heartbroken Jasper gesturing to his wound.
She nodded feeling comfort in their words as she sniffled.
"Drink it, it'll help.", said Schwoz referring to the coffee as he taped down a square bandage.
She did as she was told and as always he was right it did help. The tears that were hard to stop on their own were pushed down by the hot liquid.
"How bout I make something to eat. Pancakes? French toast?", offered Schwoz.
"French toooaaast.", layered the voices as they all voted for the same thing.
As Schwoz cooked Henry brushed and braided her hair as he'd done before and would do again.
Charlotte would heal physically though the memories and nightmares would occasionally visit her. But even when they did she felt the comfort of the four boys that loved her so much.
And as for them every time they saw her smile or laugh it was a relief to their worried hearts. Their respect for her deepened, the group's strength together never deeper, and their trust now bonded by the belief that with each other they'd never be lost.