The Badass Protector

Iris

FOR HOURS, the tension rose thicker and thicker in the air.

Colt’s knuckles remained white as he gripped the steering wheel throughout the ride, glaring toward the road, and his jaw muscles were clenching most of the time.

They were tensed like there was a battle ahead.

Silence lingered on Gael-if he was not to check his watch, he tapped his fingers against his knees.

Silence.

More silence.

Plainly, the humming of the engine or a rumble when the tires hit the gravelly road and the alarm when the car turned left or right or passed its speed limit.

Annoyed, I groaned. “Okay. Guys, this is not the trip that I was expecting, and so far, the most boring I’ve ever had. I should have brought a book with me if you two would just keep your mouth shut throughout the ride.”

Still scowling, I slid the window open-the hot air rushed in. “Anyone needs a cold drink? It’s burning hot!” It was appealing, but they knew it was a lie because there were no cold drinks, and I was just craving one.

Silence.

“Oh, my God. I hate you both right now!”

Silence.

“Unbelievable!”

Giving up, I folded my arms over the window frame and tucked my chin as I silently watched the wide and open country road as we passed by. The white lineage posts were nearly lost in the weeds.

I slipped my head out, meeting the hot striking sun. The blue sky with a few streaks of clouds above with zero planes flying overhead. The smell of hot pavement mixed with dust and dry grass was the only thing I could breathe in.

This is my real life now.

The thought of it made me regret something that I wished I had done-to be more adventurous and try skydiving in Dubai, or I could have joined the climbing expedition to Mount Everest in Nepal for the greater cause. But no one had ever predicted this to happen.

“Nada plane. Zilch.”

“Anything digital won’t work. Technology was crushed down by the plague. The agricultural aircraft might still work, though. We are back to the stone age, but one thing different is that the world is full of industrial junk and bullshit.” Gael spread the map on his lap and tapped the encircled location. “We’re halfway through. We’ll stop at sunset to rest for the whole night.”

“I can still drive. And the car has enough gas to get us there,” Colt said through gritted teeth, still glaring.

“It’s dangerous to get in and out of there during the night. So we trade in the morning and quickly leave discreetly. We don’t want to catch the attention that we drove all the way there just to trade. It’s too suspicious,” Gael explained, and he had a point.

“Don’t keep me in the dark, Gael. I want to know what your plan is so that I’m prepared when things go south.”

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“I killed Cora.”

“What?” Shocked, Colt and I asked in unison.

The car halted to stop-tires screeched against the pavement. My body crashed against the driver’s seat.

With wide eyes, I stared at Gael in disbelief. My breathing held, trying to rethink if I heard him right or if this whole situation was playing tricks on me.

In one swift move, Colt was already pointing his gun at Gael, aiming at his head. His finger was ready to pull the trigger, and his nose was flaring in anger.

I was beyond shocked, frightened, and horrified to stop them, and I was shivering with fear that everything would change in a blink of an eye.

I let out a deep breath and spoke, “Put that gun down, Colton.”

He ignored me.

After I took a few deep breaths, I ordered them, “You and Gael, get out of the car!”

I opened the door, jumped out, and slammed it shut. Gael was the first to hop down, then Colt vigilantly followed. Still, the gun was pointing at Gael.

“Put that goddamn down!” I yelled, then faced Gael, but Colt grabbed me in the arm.

“Stay away from him, Iris,” he hissed. “He brought us here to kill us just like what he did to Cora. He planned this all along-to lure us out for trade. Then when he gets back to the camp, he will tell them that we died in an ambush. Am I right so far, Gael?”

The tension between them thickened. My knees weakened.

Calmly, Gael raised his hand slowly, then he spoke, “I don’t have to lure you out to kill both of you. I could have done it in the camp if I wanted to. Take my gun, Iris. If you think I will shoot you and Colt.”

“Stay beside me, Iris,” Colt ordered, extending his free hand. “You better start talking, old man!”

“You know she shot Darick. When he came and told me what happened, I didn’t want to believe it, but when Hamid spotted her sneaking out, I told him to let her in and out of the camp as if no one knew what she was doing, and I’d handle the rest. She did that for a couple of nights. The moment she left, I walked into her cabin, and she had supplies that didn’t come from scavenging. It was in packs; water, protein bars, tuna, canned chicken, etc., like a care package.”

“Go on,” said Colt, seemingly convinced.

“So last week, I followed her. I ordered you and Templeton to go hunting and watch out for the campers to make sure they were still there. That day, before I killed her, she was already planning on leaving and took a few of her things with her. I let her go for a couple of minutes, then Templeton came to inform me. It took an hour for you both to go after her, while it only took thirty minutes for me. I crossed through the lake, and that was when I saw the two armed men with her.”

“Why did you have to keep it from us?”

“I don’t want you getting involved. She crossed me and betrayed us. She told them everything-about our camp, about us, everyone, and about Iris.”

“What?” My back stiffened-mentioning my name gave chills down my spine.

“Cora told me everything. Those men are from the same group, but not the same men who were with her the night she shot Darick. The previous ones were ruthless and refused to tell her the name of the leader. She described them to me, though.”

“Then why did you have to kill her?” I asked and watched them closely as I was afraid that the two of them might slit each other’s throats in front of me or choose the easy way-shoot each other. If one of them started, I had my gun at my back.

“I killed the two men and burned them.”

“So, it was you, huh?” Colt grunted.

“Yes. Burying her was a mistake, Colt. You shouldn’t have done-”

“If you only trust us with your plans, none of these things have happened. Or I would be aware of what to do.”

“Now it looked like someone came there to kill those men and buried a woman. The men who were with Cora that night would recognize her once they dug the grave. Anyway, we’re all already at risk. That’s why I had to kill her.”

“Then why are we going there? I am sure we are not going to trade, am I right?” I asked Gael.

“Part of it was to trade, but yeah, I want to kill the other two men who knew Cora.”

Colt snorted, “You’re out of your fucking mind! As if killing them is as easy as eating a banana.”

“You’ll help me.”

“I won’t! You lied to us, to everyone. And I don’t know what else you did behind our backs,” Colt said harshly while shaking with anger. “You don’t trust me enough. That’s all because I failed you once, and you thought I would fail you again!”

I totally got why he was angry at Gael. He felt betrayed by the person he respected and trusted most. And I couldn’t do anything to help solve this problem. And one thing I was scared of was that I could possibly put their lives in danger.

“I trust you, Colt. You know that. One day you will understand why I am doing this. That’s why I want us to make a stop because I want to tell you everything about my plan. You shouldn’t have found out this way, but whether you like it or not, you will eventually have to help me.”

Colt snickered. “After what you did to us, you’re still so sure about that?” He shook his head. “Here’s my plan, Gael. I’ll drive you there because you lead the group, but you will be on your own or whatever you are planning to do. I’m not gonna risk Iris’ life.”

“If it involves Iris, I know you won’t think twice.”