THE AIR WAS full of chaotic noise and Aftershock fell to the ground face first, eating a mouthful of sand as his pistol was flung out of reach. With the wind knocked out of him and grit between his teeth, he stayed still, but to get out of there alive, he knew that he had to move.
“Jenny!” he shouted, finding the strength to crawl on his belly toward the gun. He reached out and using his fingertips, inched the grip close enough to take hold. Twisting his body around he readied his finger with little chance to aim, screaming, “GET DOWN!”
Jenny leaped forward, crashing into the ground in a dusty haze.
BANG!
Bullets zipped over her flattened body in both directions, Aftershock rolling out of the way and behind cover just as three struck the sand where he was.
“You said we’d be fine!” Jenny shouted; her coarse throat made it sound more like a groan
“You can kill me later!” Aftershock yelled, firing more rounds toward a formation of rocks that gave the area its name. There were shrouded figures tucked amongst the stones. “Though let’s get out of here first! I could really use your help right now to take down these goons.”
Jenny didn’t argue, grabbing the junk pistol from her holster while Aftershock swapped his for the rifle. The two aimed, then fired, sending a jacketed volley toward the attackers that blocked the way to the outskirts of the city. Jenny lost balance from the recoil but two of the bandits were struck, falling to the ground where Aftershock finished them off with headshots.
“Told you that gun had a kick,” Aftershock said.
Jenny stared harshly at the kit-bashed weapon, then right at him.
“I’m used to my old one,” she said, popping off a few more loud rounds.
Aftershock covered her as she reloaded, but more raiders came rushing in from the side.
“Shit!” he spat, firing the rest of his ammo into the mob. Hitting the mark each time, those attackers toppled but the rest kept coming. “Jenny, take care of the ones that are still under cover up ahead! I’ll be right back.”
“Okay…” she said calmly. “Wait, what? Where are you going?”
Pulling out a sharp blade that was strapped to his leg, Aftershock gripped it tightly in one hand while his pistol was primed in the other. Breathing deeply, he abandoned cover, bounding into the plains.
The ravagers drew closer, bringing with them axes, clubs with impaled blades, and gloves fitted with nails and razorjaw teeth. They shouted with bloodthirsty hatred, ready to kill.
Aftershock was no less enraged. He roared back at them, his battle cry fierce and when they met at last, metal clashed against metal, and skin, and bone. The attack was swift and brutal, the lone raider hacking and slashing his way through the Devil’s Shadow until only a few of their more skilled units were left. Some turned to strike, struck down by Aftershock’s bullets.
“Is that all you got?” he challenged, body coated in still warm blood. The raiders that remained began to scatter. “Thought so…”
Suddenly, a deep, pitiless laugh replaced the fear filled cries and a behemoth of a man strode through the chaos. The fleeing men froze in fear at the sight of him. He was beastly, adorned with an iron helm of horns from which a scruffy, square jaw jutted. His armor matched and powerful arms held an oversized sledgehammer. One end of it was flat, the other balled and spiked, both caked with stuff that reeked with the stench of death.
Aftershock recognized him right away as the leader of the Devil’s Shadow.
“Dante,” he whispered, the name too bitter on his lips to say any louder. “Long time no see.”
“Well, well, well. If it isn’t ol’ Seth Colton of Skinner fame,” Dante responded in kind, his voice fathomless. “Well, former Skinner fame. What the hell brings you this far out west, boy? It’s not the urge to fuck my men, is it?”
“Fuck you,” Aftershock snapped back, face red with anger. “You should know by seeing their bodies all around that it isn’t.”
Dante shrugged his large shoulders, which were at least twice as wide as Aftershock’s.
“Funny that I’ve been hearing different about you,” he replied.
“Yeah well, sorry to disappoint you, big man. Now, if you’ll just let us by…”
“Who? You and the whore over there? I don’t think so, Colton. It’s not that easy to waltz your way through Shadow lands.”
Aftershock sighed, licking his dry and gritty lips. He readied his finger on the pistol’s trigger, glancing to Jenny who was still occupied with the shooters holed up in the rocks.
“Okay, have it your way. If it’s trouble you want…”
“Nah, Seth, it’s not what I want, but it’s certainly what you’re going to get.”
“In that case, at least get my name right. It’s Aftershock these days.”
Dante chuckled, knocking over one of his own gang that had been standing too close. Struggling to get back up, Dante put his boot square on the man’s chest. He then pressed down with all his weight.
CRACK!
The man cringed, tearful as his helmet was flicked off by one of the hammer’s barbs.
“Chief!” the raider begged. “No, please!”
“Aftershock you say?” Dante questioned with disdain as he raised his weapon high. “Interesting choice for a name. Perhaps you’ll reconsider it after you know what real ground-shattering power feels like!”
“Nooooo!” the pinned raider screamed as the flat end of the hammer came down on his face, smashing it like a melon.
The ground trembled; Aftershock recoiled.
He knew violence, having seen all kinds in his years, but that was one of the most ruthless.
“Vile!” he condemned, mainly due to the lack of honor he showed his own men. But Dante was unfazed, falling into a cold, bloodshot stare.
“Do you not have the stomach for such things anymore? Now I can see for myself why the Skinners got rid of you. Their time will come, but enough talk for now! It’s your turn to quake!”
Aftershock’s eyes widened as Dante moved with unexpected quickness. Swiftly, he was upon him and Aftershock was forced to leap out of the way.
Firing his pistol, a single bullet soared from the barrel only to ricochet off Dante’s chest plate. He was out of ammo with no chance to reload.
“Shit!”
Dante reached out, receiving a knife blade to the elbow where his protection was weakest. Blood pooled then splashed on the stained ground to join that of his men. He tried for Aftershock again and was sliced again, his target deftly weaving and carving between each of the massive man’s attempts to grab him.
Furious, Dante struck the ground several times with his hammer. The land shuddered with each concussive blow and Aftershock toppled, having to roll away from strikes and dart between fallen bodies to avoid being flattened.
The skirmish continued, Aftershock growing more tired as it raged on while Dante, now moving more slowly, expended far less energy.
“You’re a persistent pest,” Dante snarled, launching another oncoming swing.
“You’re welcome,” Aftershock smirked, dodging again. He leaped backwards, air rushing by like a tornado as the hammer missed. “I could do this all night.”
However, as he landed, Aftershock’s feet struck a nearby body, causing him overbalance. Falling hard onto his back, several spikes on the dead raider’s armor pierced his hamstring.
“You still haven’t learned the art of modesty, have you?” Dante said as he approached.
Aftershock was stupefied, the glower spread across his face a reaction to the sting in his leg, which was sharp but bearable. With little choice, he gripped his blade tightly, not about to take what Dante was going to give without a fight.
He didn’t have to wait very long; the beast of a man looming overhead with the sledgehammer resting across his broad shoulders.
Dante glared at Aftershock, laying beneath him while his imposing shadow stretched over the downed raider’s body.
“Here, let me show you how easy it is to be quiet,” Dante said, hoisting the hammer above him.
“I’ll pass,” Aftershock said as he threw his knife, and the last of his hope with it.
Dante jerked his forearm down and the blade sunk in with a clatter. Grumbling, he grabbed the fluttering end and yanked the blade free, chucking it into the dead body’s side.
Aftershock’s eyes grew, knowing he was completely out of options. Dante’s did too, savoring the thought he would be the one to end the infamous Seth Colton.
Breathing proudly, Dante raised the sledgehammer high and was about to bring it down…
BOOM!
The metal of Dante’s helmet clanged, a sudden pain surging in his right temple. He staggered back amid loud ringing, righting himself before he fell and…
BOOM!
There was a flash of intense white light, more ringing, and tight pressure at his temples. Dante’s vision became blurry, but he could make out a slender figure approaching as he turned his head toward the right…
BOOM!
Warmth flooded the space between skin and metal, running down the bridge of his nose. Dante fumbled as if he’d had too much Cactus Wine…
BOOM!
Pain came, Dante’s brain afire. A torrent of high-pitched whines and bright colors came then went, ending in eternal, silent black. Watched by his surviving men, Dante stumbled around aimlessly, chunks of his head and helmet scattered on the blood-soaked ground. They all had expressions of horror, awe, and even relief when his bulk finally hit the damp soil.
Jenny advanced uneasily, still aiming down the sights of her smoking gun. The air was still and quiet, the haze that had been stirred now settling.
“Aftershock?” she called, unsure if he was still alive but unable to check since her focus remained on the remaining raiders that were congregating ahead. They were distracted, but she didn’t know for how long.
“Jenny…” Aftershock answered, much to her relief. “I’m over here, skewered on this dead fellow.”
She didn’t feel comfortable looking away, not even for a second; these bandits had been so determined to kill them just seconds ago.
“There happen to be a lot of dead men laying around, AS,” she said, prodding Aftershock to speak more.
“AS?” he replied crankily. “So we have little pet names now?”
“I’m only being concise like you’re used to. Maybe I should add one more S to the end, just so it’s clear we are talking about you.”
Getting her wish, the stream of words that followed her snippy comment let Jenny know exactly how well, and grouchy, Aftershock was. It also let her know where he was without the need to take her eyes off the Devil’s Shadow. Zeroing in, she picked up her pace. As she moved, the gang didn’t seem to notice or care, transfixed on their leader’s dead body.
When she arrived at Aftershock, she took on a similar impediment, all her concerns about the raiders fleeing from her thoughts.
He was on the ground, flat on his back with both legs up as if lounging on the dead body like a reclining chair. Yet judging by the expression he bore it wasn’t as comfortable as it appeared to be.
“Are you all right?” she asked, dropping to her knees.
“Been a lot better,” he answered, pointing to his leg. “But all things considered, it’s better than the alternative.”
Quickly, she maneuvered herself to get a better look. Blood was flowing from underneath his right leg, the area dark and wet. Jenny noticed the spikes studding the armor and realized that’s what Aftershock meant by his predicament.
“Does it –”
“Hurt?” he finished for her, heavy breathing stifled by coughs answering the question.
There was a rustle and some indistinct shouting. Jenny looked over her shoulder toward the bandits; they had started to remove parts of Dante’s armor, clamoring for possession of each piece.
“Time’s short; seems our friends are getting themselves worked up. Let’s get you off there so we can get the wound cleaned and us out of here.”
Aftershock winced as Jenny moved her hands into position, slipping her fingers under his leg into a gross and sticky wetness. After counting to three, she pulled as he did his best to lift, and his leg jerked free with a disturbing noise.
Aftershock let out a gasp, curling his teeth over his lower lip.
“When you get to Diablo, please avoid becoming a nurse.”
Jenny ignored him, tearing the denims away to get a look at the damage. Rough and bloodied holes lined the back of his leg. They weren’t too deep but were large enough to make her stomach flutter.
“Going by that look, are things bad?” he asked.
“I think it looks a lot worse than it is.”
“Famous last words,” Aftershock grumbled.
Seizing her rucksack, Jenny started tending to him. She pulled out the canteen along with a small bottle of whiskey. Using the water to rinse her hands, she followed up with a couple splashes of alcohol. Then, taking a clean cloth from the bag, she applied gentle pressure to the holes.
“So, the man I killed…”
“He was known as Dante. Honestly, I don’t even know if he had a last name or where he came from; not that it matters now that he’s worm food. What I do know is that he was leader of the fine group of bandits that tried to kill us.”
“I thought as much. The big armor gives it away.”
“Yeah, maybe I should break my old Skinner gear back out. Less narcissistic than the crap he has on, though.”
Jenny tried to imagine Aftershock in a set of overelaborate armor, but what she visualized was more silly than intimidating.
“Yeah, yeah laugh it up,” he continued, seeing her expression, “but I wasn’t too bad back then. Anyway, that ruthless son of a bitch came into power over the Devil’s Shadow about, hmmm, four years ago now. The area was being shook up by some expansion efforts out of Diablo. At the time, the gang was a lot weaker and ripe for a takeover. However, from the stories I heard, confirmed with my own eyes today with him killing his own man, Dante’s rise to power was fast but fueled wholly by fear.”
“What’s that mean exactly?”
“Means good luck for us, especially now that you killed him. The gang isn’t likely to finish carrying out his orders now; we’d probably be dead if they were. You see, for a raider fear is essential but it only gets one so far, the rest needs to be sustained by respect, amongst other things. I can tell you that there’s no respect for him here, because he had absolutely none for them.”
Once the bleeding stopped, Jenny took a quick look at the squabbling raiders, seeing what Aftershock meant by the way they defiled their leader’s body. Brushing away the grime collected in his wounds, she rinsed the area with more water afterward.
“There should be some lutrine salve in the sack,” Aftershock said tersely.
Jenny opened the bag, rummaging through it. She didn’t see it immediately.
“It’ll be in a small jar,” he clarified. “Probably fit inside your palm.”
Jenny found the little container soon after, removing it then unscrewing the cap. She scooped out a Cog-sized portion of the creamy substance – it smelled a bit citrusy – and slathered it over the injury. She repeated the process three more times to get good coverage before dressing his entire thigh.
“You’re going to have to get more salve, but nonetheless you’re taken care of,” she said spritely.
“Thanks.”
“Can you try and stand? We need to get a move on.”
Aftershock slowly sat himself up, refusing Jenny’s attempts at help. Scooting around, he slumped his back on the dead body while avoiding the spikes and took a deep breath.
“Gosh, he already stinks,” Aftershock said, reaching over to pull out his knife. He caught another whiff of something foul and cautiously raised his own arms. “Well, shit, it’s me.”
Jenny wasn’t fooled by his attitude, able to see Aftershock’s face riddled with stress plain as day.
“You are all right to walk, aren’t you?” she asked.
Aftershock was picking little pieces of debris out of his beard, but before he could say anything, Jenny was already answering for him.
“You aren’t able to, are you?” she asked, her voice breaking.
Aftershock finally shook his head. Jenny looked upset.
“Oh come on, it’ll take more than some gaudy armor to knock me out of commission,” he said, “but, for the time being, I need to get some rest. That’s down time you unfortunately don’t have.”
The other outlaws had stripped Dante bare, his scarred and naked body catching the light of the falling sun. Most of them were departing with their new spoils, heading deep within the rocks and caves littering the Pitchfork, but a few lingered for unknown reasons.
“Don’t be silly. I haven’t got a deadline.”
“No, but the sun’s going down and a pretty thing like you isn’t going to be very safe in this territory once it gets dark.”
“Yet, you’re going to be fine by yourself? Injured as you are?
“Yes! Look, I can handle those stragglers if they try anything. Done it many times over the years.”
“I’m sure you have,” said Jenny, though she had a hard time believing him. Aftershock’s words always seemed to turn on him like a curse. Not only that, his tan skin was looking pale.
“Aftershock…”
“Jenny,” he replied somberly, seeing that her eyes were already sparkling with tears. “You’ve known me for, what, less than two days? Trust me when I say I’ll be fine. As for you, you shouldn’t be this attached. I’m pretty much still a stranger and trusting someone so blindly could get you hurt in this life. You don’t know the baggage I carry. It’s hard enough as it is without –”
“Family?” she asked. “Or friends for that matter? I know that I’m naïve about a lot of things, but I’m not stupid.”
“I didn’t mean…”
“My life has been full of nasty people that prove your point ten times over,” she stressed. “I know not to trust everyone, but I am trusting you. Considering I just lost the last of my family – my entire life until yesterday – it’s a blessing to already have someone I can call a friend. Especially in this harsh world, no matter how short a time it’s been. You’re a friend and I think even you could agree with that.”
Aftershock reflected on her words.
“Guess you’re right,” he muttered. “I can’t argue since I rescued you for the very same reason. But… and yes there is a but… that still doesn’t change the fact that my goal is to get you to safety. That means out of here.”
Jenny felt more words forming on the tip of her tongue. They were ready to lash out, but knowing how stubborn both of them were, she stopped.
“Okay,” she said briskly, watching the sun creep its way toward the horizon “Where do I need to go from here?”
Aftershock was surprised she conceded so quickly, having mixed feelings about it. As much as he didn’t want to admit it, it was nice to have someone around for a change. It had been so long.
“The fringe of the city is past the rocks over where we had the gunfight,” he told her. “Oh, and speaking of guns, we should reload while I’m talking, unless the Shadows took them.”
Aftershock didn’t need to worry about his rifle; Jenny had it and the scabbard slung over her shoulder. She handed them over, then began looking around for his pistol. It was gone, so she focused on reloading hers.
“Damn Shadows took it, didn’t they” he barked toward the few that remained. “Shit. Well, never mind, it just happened to be my favorite.”
“The directions?” Jenny pressed.
“Yeah, sorry. So, from the rocks you’re going to head west. You’ll go that way for about ten, maybe fifteen minutes before you come to a collection of metal buildings. They’re nothing to gawk at, but they do mark the outer reaches of the city. They should be unoccupied, so you shouldn’t have any trouble out that way. The structures are used by Rangers when out in the field for storage, shelter, that sort of thing, so don’t go breaking in unless you’re looking for trouble from them. Once you’re past those buildings though, your technically in Diablo and safe.”
He paused, taking a long, hard look at his bandaged leg.
“You know, this injury may be a blessing in disguise. I had planned on taking you there but if we were together and someone else happened to be there when we arrived, things could have been messy. We would’ve had to deal with anyone we came across so you could get into the city with an unspoiled story. Even if nobody was there we’d have parted ways to avoid being seen by the watchers along the wall.”
He continued to tell her more about the city’s wall and the process of getting inside the gate, at least for non-outlaws.
“So be sure to tell the guards about the attack on the Gulch and you’re a survivor. I’m sure word has reached the sheriffs across the Barrens of what happened there.”
Jenny seemed okay with the plan, but one point did nag at her.
“That’s all well and good,” she said, “but what if I’m asked details about how I made it out this far by myself?”
Aftershock mulled over it, noticing the few remaining Devil’s Shadow members approaching.
“Good point; you’re probably going to be asked that very thing. It’s best that you tell them you were captured. Even though there are Eliminators, the guards know that raiders like to get their hands on female prisoners. You could have escaped during the night, coming the rest of the way to the wall. That sort of thing happens all the time. Keep your scrap pistol on you but leave the rest with me. That should be enough to convince the guards. Also, as much as I might like how mouthy you are, remember Diablo’s a different animal, like the Gulch times a thousand. Be sure you don’t end up raising more questions than you need to, trying to start a new life. As tough as it is going to be, just go along with what you see and hear.”
Jenny nodded, observing the raiders approaching herself. She stood up quickly, knowing that she had to go but was struggling to say goodbye.
“Come with me,” she said impulsively. “I’m sure there are opportunities, and at least medical help, for you there.”
She knew it was an impossibility, given the state of things there, but the words certainly felt good to say. They felt good for Aftershock to hear, too.
“If only you were in charge, Jenny, but we must part ways,” he reiterated. “It’s the only way you are going to get inside. I may be different from your average outlaw, but those within that wall aren’t going to take the time to find out about it. Anyway, like I told you before, the city isn’t meant for me by any means.”
“Where will you be?” Jenny asked unwillingly.
“Out there, amongst the grit and tumbleweed. I’m going to see if I can find out why the Vipers were so coordinated; something is definitely wrong with that. Hell, maybe I’ll earn some new contacts along the way. Sort of like these fine fellows here.”
Jenny didn’t know what Aftershock was talking about, but when she turned, members of Devil’s Shadow were already standing close. They had been fast and quiet, reaching out to grab her.
“I don’t think so,” Aftershock said, chambering one of his newly reloaded rounds. “Leave her be.”
Jenny had already brought up the junk pistol when the raiders stopped. They just stood there, staring, making her feel even more uneasy.
“Get going,” Aftershock said.
“But…”
“Go!” he insisted. “Now.”
She gulped, wishing she had the level of confidence he had about getting out of the situation alive. It was an awkward situation. Why weren’t the other raiders attacking? Why weren’t they even talking? What did they want?
With little choice and no answers to the questions filling her mind, she wished Aftershock well and began to step away. The wall of raiders didn’t budge.
“I’ll be just fine, Jenny, just like these men will be if they just let you continue on your way.”
Two of the ruffians grunted, stepping to the side. Jenny slid through the gap between them.
“And Jenny,” Aftershock said to her as she walked away, “thanks for reminding me there is still good in the world. If ever you need some wasteland help in the future, you know where to find me.”
With tears in her eyes she carried on walking, deciding it best if she did not turn around. She marched to the rocks, threading between them until the area opened back up into a wide desert. Ahead on the horizon was the broiling skyline of Diablo, dark against a vivid orange sunset.
Trudging toward it, she was worried about Aftershock, thoughts reeling about what was happening behind with each step forward.
I should have looked.
I should have helped him.
I haven’t heard any gunshots.
That must be a good sign.
Unless they used a knife!
Oh, I hope not…
I should have looked.
She wanted to scream, indebted to him, a raider of all things. Without his help, she never would have made it this far. She didn’t care who he was, vowing then and there on her grandfather’s memory that if she didn’t get swallowed by the deep recesses of the city, or otherwise happened to lose her way, she would make sure to find him and repay him, assuming he was still alive.
Nervously checking her pocket watch, she really didn’t care what time it was. The rusted metal buildings were coming into view and immediately, her mind switched, packed with more questions. How was she going to find food? Earn money? Look for a place to stay?
Jenny knew that she didn’t have to figure it all out before she got to the wall. With the losses of her home and her family, those questions would still need answers no matter the location. However, as she walked with her heart as guide and long shadow as company, she was grateful to have some time to consider things alone.
Yet a faint prickling at the back of her neck made Jenny feel on edge and unbeknownst to her, high atop one of the rocky outcroppings bordering the western edge of the city, a Frost Enterprises guard was watching her exit the Pitchfork, radioing its findings back to headquarters.