Not Alone: The Beginning (The Fighter Series Book 1) Read online

  “Okay,” Riley said climbing in the truck.

  “Let’s go Riley. Why aren’t we going?” Utah said.

  “What’s wrong? What did you see?”

  “A really big kitty.” Megan said smiling. She was amused unlike her sister.

  “How big of a kitty?”

  “A tiger!” Utah said.

  “The wild animal park.” It was only a few miles from here.

  “Riley, we should go!” Utah pleaded.

  “The truck won’t start,” she said trying to turn the key again. Riley stopped and sat there for a minute trying to think. “Utah, I need you to come up here. To the front.”

  They both climbed over. Megan’s body pressed next to hers. Riley could feel her warmth as well as smell them both. Megan went rigid when she pulled out the pistol.

  “I have to go outside. It’s probably just a loose connection. Where was the tiger?”

  Utah pointed, but Riley saw nothing.

  “Be careful.” Utah whispered.

  “Shit!” Riley whispered.

  Her attempt to be calm failed. Her hand trembled. She felt stupid. Riley had dealt with bears and cougars for over five years but never a tiger. Typically, those animals hadn’t been feeding on human corpses.

  She lifted her gun as a soft breeze stirred swishing the tall grass to the sides of her. The hairs on her neck rose. These wild animals, transplanted from other countries been living as wild animals do, hunting food to survive.

  The smells twisted into the wind and she knew something was wrong. Glancing up to the window, Riley saw two small faces peering outward. She looked back. Nothing. Her heart raced. She lifted the hood; the engine was a beast and a maze of high tech engineering and wiring. There were hoods and covers for everything.

  “Sweet Jesus, where is the engine?”

  People went to school for years to work on these babies, but Riley took a stab in the dark and bet her money on something simple. The wind shifted again but this time her senses heightened.

  Unable to see the girl’s faces because of the hood and hearing no warning she turned her attention back to the truck. She looked down at the one thing she’d touched the day before, the battery cables. The negative connection had jarred loose from the rough roads. Tightening down the battery cable, she prayed it was the problem.

  Just about to slide down off the truck, she heard a throaty rumble behind her. Aware of imminent danger, she gripped her pistol. In a slow but I’m about to get eaten mode, she turned. The tiger went to a prone position in the grass not a hundred feet away. Sliced by dark jagged stripes, his coat shone brilliantly in the afternoon sunlight. Even at a distance, Riley could see the green golden circles wrapped around pupils fixed on her. She was prey.

  “I’m in trouble.”

  The bite of adrenaline and fear swallowed her.

  Tap, tap, and tap. Then silence. The cat fixated his gaze on the sounds coming from inside the cab of the truck and then on her again. White whiskers slicked back as he wrapped his tongue across his nose.

  Tap, tap, and tap.

  No choice but to remain in an uncomfortable position, she fought off the urge to move. If she lost her footing, she’d be dead within seconds. What she needed was a distraction.

  “Think girls.” Riley whispered.

  Pressing into the engine compartment was causing the muscles in her calf to fail. Then, she heard the ignition click and a window roll down. Something flew from the opening and for a moment, she thought about Max. The tiger rose to an attack stance. The flying object gave her a chance to escape. Cringing from the pain in her calf, she pulled the hood and shoved her body towards the door. Saying a Hail Mary, Riley grabbed the handle and leapt. Slamming the door behind her, she found Megan clutching Max in her arms protectively. Riley smiled at her between catching her breath and turned the key.

  Outside of the truck, the cat circled them with long strides. Irritated, he sprang forward swatting at the air. The cat was a picture of health, it showed in his coat and body. When another tiger trotted out of the brush towards its mate, Riley sucked in a deep breath.

  “That was close,” Utah, breathed. The color in her face had drained.

  “Wow! Thank you girls. We are going to make a fine team.”

  “I’ve never seen a tiger.” Utah whispered.

  “Let’s get going.” Riley watched as they drove away. The cats grew smaller in the rear view mirror.

  SEVEN

  Lily looked at her mother. “Mama, where do baby horses come from?”

  “From the mama horse” Lynn said smiling. Lynn knew that the question would lead to the next one.

  Her daughter was at that age in which there was an endless storage of questions. She handed Lily a tablet of paper and a box of crayons.

  “What are you going to draw today?”

  “Ummmmm, maybe a baby horse and a baby duck. Why don’t we have any baby ducks mama, why not?” Lynn forced herself not laugh. Not only were her daughter’s questions coming in rapid sessions, but also her speech and the usage of her words were excelling.

  Lily was full of life and curious about everything and still Lynn worried about her daughter’s future. Lily was five years old, she had a long way to go before she’d have to adapt to this new chaotic world. Lily was the reason why they were there.

  Prior to the shift, Lynn’s husband Nick had been a successful surgeon in Phoenix. Making better than good money allowed them to buy an upscale flat in a middle-class neighborhood, but when Lynn became pregnant, they began to reassess their lives. Lily arrival changed the dynamics of everything. Therefore, they moved Nick’s practice to Prescott, closer to Lynn’s parents and to a community that understood the meaning of family. It had been a wise decision, because they probably wouldn’t have survived the Shift otherwise.

  Less than a week after the effects of the Shift, Nick moved his family to the ranch. In dire need of a doctor, Jack made enough room for Nick to see patients at the house. Medical supplies were tough to acquire but with Jack’s help, Nick had everything he needed to save lives. The locals needed the Colton’s now more than ever and they’d expressed how fortunate they were to have a doctor so close.

  As the violence slowed and the patients became fewer and fewer, Nick, with a few other doctors, re-opened clinics in Phoenix. Twice a month he traveled, with an entourage of fighters, over to the city to do his shiftwork. Today, Nick was in the city.

  Lynn stared at Lily. She was a reflection of Nick. Dark hair, green eyes, and a smile that could lighten even the darkest of rooms. Lily was an easy child always entertaining herself. Lynn taught her how to read by the age of three. By the age of four, Lily was doing basic math.

  Lily drew a house, a sun in the background. She added a smiley face and then studied her drawing. Lynn shifted in her seat as her daughter set the finished drawing to the side. The distant barking of a dog drew her attention away from her daughter. Ryan was sleeping in the bunkhouse. Ben would be napping near the barn. Two Rhodesians Ridgeback hounds were on patrol outside warning her.

  In normal times, she would’ve never had her gun on her, but these weren’t normal times. Lily started humming just as the two ridgebacks began barking again. The alarm system Jack installed could wake the dead and yet she felt a slight shiver of fear hearing nothing.

  “Quiet.” Lynn said to Lily in a soft tone.

  She moved to the window scanning the yard. When the dogs appeared, they were running back and forth barking. The ridges on their backs had risen to full height. They darted to the opposite side of the yard disappearing. She motioned Lily to stay and then grabbed up the papers and crayons tucking them away in a cupboard. With her pistol in one hand, she motioned Lily forward with the other.

  Snatching the hand held radio off the table; she went to her knees crawling past the windows toward the center of the kitchen. Lily’s fingers wrapped around Lynn’s shirt, her small body pressed into her mother. Pausing at the double glass doors, she searched for t
he two Ridgebacks. Lynn pulled Lily toward her. One of the dogs yelped and then went silent.

  Glass shattered and the alarm followed cutting deep into the silence of the house. Lynn jumped. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Sadie, the female ridgeback, run toward the house. Then she was gone yet again.

  Lynn half crawled hurrying to the false electrical outlet that hid a key panel near the refrigerator. She slid the panel to the side and keyed in the code to the safe room. A section of the paneled wall opened and Lynn motioned Lily through the door. Lily obeyed.

  “I’ll come get you,” Lynn kissed her forehead. Lily knew what to do. She moved into the opening and out of her mother’s sight. As the opening closed, it also disappeared.

  Lynn pressed into the wall waiting for Ryan. The alarm screamed above her. A short amount of time passed.

  “Where are you Ryan?”

  If he were here, he would silence the alarm. That was the drill. She broke into a cold sweat. Her stomach knotted up as she moved away from the wall and down the hall to the master bedroom. The alarm whined at a high pitch pinching at her eardrums. Lynn stepped into the Master Bedroom facing the alarm’s access panel. She paused and then stepped back. She wasn’t alone.

  It happened too fast. A hand clamped over her mouth and another locked both her arms to her sides. She tightened her grip on the gun, but her hand was useless. The gun dropped. She tried to scream, but it was lost. Unable to breathe or move, Lynn’s thoughts went to Lily.

  The intruder stood behind her, forcing her head back, locking it back against him. Her lips pressed into her teeth, cutting into skin. The taste of blood trickled inside of her mouth. She was on her tiptoes as he pulled on her.

  “Turn off the alarm.” He said.

  She didn’t move. She felt dizzy from the lack of oxygen. A haze was beginning to settle in her eyes, making it impossible to see.

  “Turn off the alarm.” He screamed into her ear. She could smell stale cigarettes on his breathe and old blood on his skin.

  His anger permeated off him and onto her. She pressed a few keys, and the pad flashed error. After several futile attempts, she frantically keyed in the correct code shutting down the alarm. The man’s hold only tightened. She thought of Lily and started to struggle. He was much bigger, but she was thinner. Light headed, she sucked in a deep breath, wrenched free, spun and brought her knee up hard. Her knee connected to his groin. Free of his hand, she let out a shrill scream.

  Whipping his hand out, the intruder jerked her forward bringing her off her feet. Pulling her up toward his face, he glared at her in warning. In the wake of her silence, he spun her back around and clamped his hand roughly over her mouth. The force caused her teeth to bite into her lips again.

  “You’re a feisty one. I like that.” He said sliding his fingers across her breast. A cold fear consumed her skin. Was Ryan dead? Was Ben dead? How long could Lily survive in the very room made to keep her safe?

  EIGHT

  Jack felt a knot in his stomach. Something was wrong. The chalet was within sight, but his family felt further away than he wanted. He nudged Sam forward, but the horse was already feeling his anxiety and stepped out on his own. Sam knowing where to go stopped near the small four-stall barn and waited. Jack slipped the saddle from his back and then led the horse through the gate releasing him.

  The path leading to the front door weaved in a pattern of soft turns around large cactus and boulders. The chalet style log home had a southwestern flavor. Smooth poles were fastened together to create a tall archway leading to the front door. The handles, made out of twisted antlers, gave the entry a woodsy feel. More importantly, the place was a fortress carefully constructed to keep almost any intruder from entering. Jack slid his finger off to the side of the cement siding, up and under the lip made of rock. From there, he pressed a well-hidden latch releasing the door.

  This was home to Jack. He appreciated every intricate detail. This was his secret, camouflaged in the Arizona timber. Daylight sprayed a beam of light inward as he accessed a hidden panel releasing metal barriers blocking the windows. Streams of sunshine poured into the chalet snuffing out the blanket of darkness.

  The log style cabin lacked nothing in size or quaintness. There were three floors total, the first floor was under Jack’s feet. The living room, small dining room, a wet bar, guest bedroom, small office, bathroom, and a laundry room took up the second floor. The master bedroom took up the entire third floor, which was Jack’s room. Looking outward, every window overlooked the lake. All utilities, powered strictly by solar, were functional year round thanks to the Arizona sunshine. To be safe, Jack had hauled over two Honda generators last year as well as a generous supply of gas for backup. The chalet was off the main grid, well hidden, and hard to find.

  Jack looked out the window towards the lake trying to shrug off the anxiety eating at him. He knew something was wrong. It’d take him several hours to get back to the ranch and already he was cursing the ride. Letting out a soft sigh, he shut down the windows of the chalet. Disappointment and worry consumed him. Sam wasn’t going to be happy either. The horse would still be damp from the ride here. Jack glanced at his watch; it was 10:45 AM.

  NINE

  “Guns. Where are they?” He yelled into Lynn’s ear.

  Lynn squeezed her eyes shut praying for Ryan to show. The trespasser’s hold was so tight making it hard to breath. He forced her head against his chest restricting her movement even more. The smell of death on his skin was pungent. When he spun her around, he pulled on her arm causing her skin into a burn. Now facing him, she could see the darkness in his eyes. There was a distinct intent shadowing his glare. Vacant was the ability to give a dam. Jagged scars crisscrossed the left side of his face to the corner of his eye.

  “Where are the guns?” He gritted his teeth. Lynn’s mind raced with scenario after scenario but she said nothing.

  “How bout I ask the little one.” His tone lowered. Her gaze turned to fury.

  The quietness of the room magnified. It would take a man, not of strength to gain access to Lily, but a man of intelligence. She was betting he was neither. Therefore, she was careful to choose the right words.

  “Fuck you.”

  “It’s my pleasure.” He spun her back around and into him handling her like a rag doll.

  Panic surged through her. Squeezing her eyes closed, she tried to think. He was moving fast. His fingers undoing the button on her jeans, hand sliding down as he licked her ear. His fingers were rough scraping against her skin.

  “Where are the guns?” He whispered.

  Lynn said nothing fighting under his hold. The more she fought, the better he liked it. He lifted his fingers from her jeans ripping her shirt wide open. His fingers were on her bra pulling, ripping when she felt his hold on her loosen. It was a split second to her advantage. She let out a blood-curdling scream and rolled out from under his weight. As his hand broke loose, he struck out catching her on the cheek. There was another burst of heat and a bright light. Stars flickered as she fell backward. She scrambled to keep her feet under her, but lost. Disoriented and trying to shove the pain away, she rolled over just as the toe of his boot connected with her body. Before she could try to stand, he planted another hard kick into her side. The impact sucked the wind from her lungs and she felt an excruciating pain feeling ribs snap in her ribcage.

  “You want to play rough?” He yelled spit flying from his lips.

  Lynn heard him, but she couldn’t see him. Her vision blurred, her breathing labored, and a searing pain ripped through her entire body. The sting felt electric, pulsating, and agonizing. With near unbearable movements, she curled into a fetal position and retrieved the knife hidden under her pant leg.

  The blurry figure turned toward her. Wrapping her fingers around the knife concealed in the palm of her hand. She whispered Lily’s name.

  Then tasting blood, she fought for breath. She accepted the pain while fighting off the urge to fall into darkness. Sudd
enly, he reached down and swept her to her feet.

  Hate consumed her giving her strength. The fog cleared. He unbuttoned his pants. She smiled wanting to look into his eyes when she plunged the partially serrated knife into his heart. With her feet dangling, he locked his fingers around her hair and the back of her shirt. He pulled her head back.

  The blade opened with just one pull of her thumb. He never saw it coming as she brought the knife up missing his chest and sliding across the inside of his arm near the elbow. She sunk the blade into his flesh ripping muscle, tissue, and tendon. Going deeper, it hit bone. Blood squirted into the air and across her skin. He released her for a split second, but then laced his fingers around her neck. The harder she fought the tighter his hold became. For Lynn it felt like an eternity. Oxygen starved, she began to fade.

  Almost to the point of no return, Lynn heard a muffled pop. The hand around her neck loosened and with a second wind, she struggled to free herself. The man shuddered, but remained standing. Grasping and clawing at his hand, she was able to take in a deep breath. His eyes were beginning to glaze over and yet, he still had her locked in place.

  The grip on her neck tightened. There was another pop. The second shot buzzed past her hitting the man in the back. The bullet exited out his chest only inches from Lynn. Blood splattered across her face. His hand released and she started to fall forward. Ryan reached out and caught her.

  He pressed his finger to his lips. “There’s more. You okay?”

  She nodded and glanced down at the mud red liquid covering his shirt.

  “Two more…” he hesitated, “out of the five that I saw anyway”. He grinned clutching his side. “I’m fine.”

  Lynn reached out and picked up her gun. The sharp ache in her side worsened, but Ryan took her hand and guided her from the room.

  “Lily,” she whispered.

  He nodded. A dead trespasser lay in the hallway. Blood pooled under his body and onto the hardwood floor. Lynn stepped around the puddle. The rancid smell of death hung heavy in the house.