Read Online Rise From the Ashes: Lena's Story by Laura Franklin - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Laura Franklin
Tags: Fiction/Action/Series
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at me and bringing up their guns. The sound. I lost my hearing for at least 30 minutes after. It was like I was hearing underwater. I think they got off a shot or two. They didn’t even hit one of us. We were so amped we just wasted them. I couldn’t stand it, I had us all digging a grave in the closest yard. Dumped them in and covered them up. I was numb. I still don’t feel guilty, just numb. They were just young college students. Just so young.
“I pushed us all on, literally – pushing our bikes and heading to the village green. We had to be able to see and hear. Ha, we couldn’t really hear anything. Anyway, it seemed the safest in case there were more of them. Then we saw the bodies hanging. They had to have been up there for days.”
Doug handed something to Mick.
“They were college students?”
“Yes,” was all Doug could say.
Everyone jumped as Ed spoke up, “Spoiled brats. Most expensive college in the 50 states. Pampered punks went crazy.”
Mick shrugged. “We can’t rest here. All’s been quiet so far?”
Doug nodded. “For just under two hours now.”
“Then get on your bikes and head up Rt 7 until you are out of town and set up a camp in some nice shady meadow. We’ll give our horses a workout and gallop out of here – to meet you as soon as we can. We can talk this over when we’re all drinking some coffee or something. Move On Out!”
Mick knew he needed to get them all away from the sight, smell and memory of this place. They would still remember it, but they would do better if they didn’t stick around.
No one had the heart to start talking once they were all around the camp fire. It was early afternoon, they could still get in another good hop forward. No one had the energy for it. I had been quiet the whole time, watching Mick supporting Doug and the others. I knew what they were going through. I had just been there only days ago when I to face these feelings after watching Mick shoot those other people.
“Guys, you know how we were talking about those enhanced abilities this morning?”
Glum nods all around.
“Well, I was thinking when it happened. Thinking about my college courses. So I’m going to say that I am now super smart.” I said it with a laugh in my voice, trying lighten things up; but I also had a purpose.
“My super smart powers are telling me first off that we can’t afford more than today to feel guilty and mope about this. Second off, there is a deeper meaning to all of this, one that is not bad.”
“God says murder is a sin.” Doug was clutching his mug so hard his fingers were white.
“So I hear. But so is suicide, and just standing there not fighting back feels like suicide to me.” I shrugged. I guess I was not quite ready to be of help yet. “I have so much rolling around in my head about this, but I don’t have the words yet. Give me time to get it all in place?”
“Sure.”
“Ok, well you guys can feel bad for everyone in town tonight. Maybe say some silent prayers. But I am going to look around some of these old farm houses and fix us all a feast for dinner tonight. We are going to celebrate Halfway There Day. A one-time special holiday.”
Off I went.
I pulled off a Thanksgiving type feast, using a gas oven and stove and some frozen turkey breast, instant mashed potatoes and a stocked farm pantry. Bless those farmers and people with deep freezers that held their cold! It did pick up everyone’s spirits that night.
“Here’s your Thanksgiving girl.”
I turned quickly, it wasn’t often that Ed spoke up. Mostly he just answered questions.
“My arm is better after just one day.” He pulled his shirt down his arm to expose the upper part. Sure enough, there was no red left. In fact, it looked like a wound from months ago, not days ago. “All the swelling was down when I woke up. All the ugly mess was gone when I just checked it
“I pushed us all on, literally – pushing our bikes and heading to the village green. We had to be able to see and hear. Ha, we couldn’t really hear anything. Anyway, it seemed the safest in case there were more of them. Then we saw the bodies hanging. They had to have been up there for days.”
Doug handed something to Mick.
“They were college students?”
“Yes,” was all Doug could say.
Everyone jumped as Ed spoke up, “Spoiled brats. Most expensive college in the 50 states. Pampered punks went crazy.”
Mick shrugged. “We can’t rest here. All’s been quiet so far?”
Doug nodded. “For just under two hours now.”
“Then get on your bikes and head up Rt 7 until you are out of town and set up a camp in some nice shady meadow. We’ll give our horses a workout and gallop out of here – to meet you as soon as we can. We can talk this over when we’re all drinking some coffee or something. Move On Out!”
Mick knew he needed to get them all away from the sight, smell and memory of this place. They would still remember it, but they would do better if they didn’t stick around.
No one had the heart to start talking once they were all around the camp fire. It was early afternoon, they could still get in another good hop forward. No one had the energy for it. I had been quiet the whole time, watching Mick supporting Doug and the others. I knew what they were going through. I had just been there only days ago when I to face these feelings after watching Mick shoot those other people.
“Guys, you know how we were talking about those enhanced abilities this morning?”
Glum nods all around.
“Well, I was thinking when it happened. Thinking about my college courses. So I’m going to say that I am now super smart.” I said it with a laugh in my voice, trying lighten things up; but I also had a purpose.
“My super smart powers are telling me first off that we can’t afford more than today to feel guilty and mope about this. Second off, there is a deeper meaning to all of this, one that is not bad.”
“God says murder is a sin.” Doug was clutching his mug so hard his fingers were white.
“So I hear. But so is suicide, and just standing there not fighting back feels like suicide to me.” I shrugged. I guess I was not quite ready to be of help yet. “I have so much rolling around in my head about this, but I don’t have the words yet. Give me time to get it all in place?”
“Sure.”
“Ok, well you guys can feel bad for everyone in town tonight. Maybe say some silent prayers. But I am going to look around some of these old farm houses and fix us all a feast for dinner tonight. We are going to celebrate Halfway There Day. A one-time special holiday.”
Off I went.
I pulled off a Thanksgiving type feast, using a gas oven and stove and some frozen turkey breast, instant mashed potatoes and a stocked farm pantry. Bless those farmers and people with deep freezers that held their cold! It did pick up everyone’s spirits that night.
“Here’s your Thanksgiving girl.”
I turned quickly, it wasn’t often that Ed spoke up. Mostly he just answered questions.
“My arm is better after just one day.” He pulled his shirt down his arm to expose the upper part. Sure enough, there was no red left. In fact, it looked like a wound from months ago, not days ago. “All the swelling was down when I woke up. All the ugly mess was gone when I just checked it
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