Yesterdays Gone: SEASON TWO (THE POST-APOCALYPTIC SERIAL THRILLER) (Yesterday's Gone)

not gonna kill or rape her or anything.”
    “So, why do you think they took her?” Adam asked.
    “I have no idea,” Charlie said. “But when Boricio finds out, he’s gonna wage a goddamned holy war against them, don’t ya’ think?”
    “Oh yeah,” Adam said. And then after a long pause, he asked, “Do you think Vic made it out of the storm?”
    Charlie flashed back to the asshole’s shocked face, eyes the size of softballs, the instant before he slit his throat.  
    Could Adam have seen me do it? Is he testing me, checking to see if I’ll tell the truth?
    Adam was likely too far away to have seen him do it, but maybe he had. The thought invited a chill back into his body despite the roaring fire. That left him with only one possible reply...
    “I killed him,” Charlie said, flatly, watching Adam’s face to gauge his reaction.
    Adam’s eyes expanded like a balloon for a moment. “Good. He was a dick.”
    Charlie laughed, laughed so hard it hurt his ribs, more relieved than amused.
    Adam caught the laughter bug and started howling too.
    When the embers of laughter died, Adam said, “Though, it would’ve been good to have his help getting Callie back.”
    “Yeah, probably, but I think Boricio is an army all his own, right? We don’t need Vic. The guy was a ticking time-bomb. If he didn’t make a move on us, he might have made one on Boricio. Guys like him aren’t loyal, not like you and me.”
    “Thanks,” Adam said, smiling sheepishly.
    “How long was I out?” Charlie asked.
    “More than a day. I was worried you weren’t going to wake up. I got you some clothes from another house. I hope they’ll work.”
    “A Day? Shit! We need to get going. How far are we from the compound?”
    “About a half hour by car, I think,” Adam said.
    “OK, let’s go.”

    **

    They arrived at the compound just before dawn. The house was dark. Charlie flicked the lights to signal whoever was on watch, if anyone was. There were only two others left in their group, Boricio and Harry, the stoner mechanic who rarely did guard duty at night because he couldn’t be trusted not to get wasted or doze off.
    Charlie honked the horn and flashed the signal again.  
    Moments later, the front door opened and Harry came running to the gate, flashlight bobbing up and down as he ran. Charlie noticed with displeasure that Harry wasn’t even armed.
    “Charlie, is that you?”
    “Who else would it be?” Charlie said, annoyed as he stuck his head from the Honda so Harry could see.
    “Shit, man, Boricio was wondering where you all were! He took off a while ago looking for you.”
    “Fuuuuck!” Charlie said as he pulled the car inside the gate.
    “Don’t lock it,” Charlie said to Harry, “We’re gonna head back out. We need to get supplies, then find Boricio. Do you have something gassed and ready?”
    “Yeah,” Harry said in his drawl, “Got the F-150 gassed and ready to go if you want it. Where’s Vic?”
    “Vic was held up,” Charlie said. “We’re gonna get some shit from inside. We’ll meet you in the garage in five minutes, okay?”
    “Alright,” Harry said with a smile. He took the Honda as Charlie and Adam darted to the house.
    “What are we getting?” Adam asked. “I got a whole bag of guns in the car.”
    Charlie grabbed a flashlight from just inside the front door, clicked it on and headed upstairs to his room, Adam on his heels.  
    Charlie pulled out the bottom drawer of his dresser, reached his hand into the back, found what he was looking for, then pulled it out.  
    “What is it?” Adam said, stepping closer.
    Charlie pulled out a small wooden cross that Callie had carved for him two months ago. He’d hidden it not out of shame, but because it was his most valued possession — the first gift anyone had made for him since he was a child.
    “A cross,” Charlie said as he slipped out of his borrowed clothes.
    “I didn’t know you were Christian,” Adam said.
    “I’m not, well, not much, anyway,” Charlie said, as he slipped into his jeans, tee shirt, black jacket, and sneakers, then slipped the cross into his jacket pocket. “Callie made it for me. For luck.”
    Adam went to his room and changed into some fresh clothes, then they dashed downstairs and headed out the door. Charlie froze in his tracks, heart flatlining, at the sight of a red Mustang just inside the gate, parked with its lights off. The F-150 was running idle in front of the garage, lights illuminating the