Sudden Independents

He turned back from the flames, shaking her, questioning her. He wasn’t so beautiful now. Molly spat in his face and laughed, dizzy from the glare of the blazing house background.

Rough hands spun her around and in her anger she slapped the person who dared touch her like that. Her brother, Mark, was yelling at her now, his hands clasping her wrists, holding her tight. The air around them crackled with light and sound, exposing the darkness, as the roar of the fire grew warmer and brighter and louder. A buzz of excitement emanated from the crowd that gathered to gawk. The crowd’s little fingers pointed at her, accusing, threatening.

Vanessa screamed at her. “Where’s my brother, you stupid bitch!”

Molly blinked.

“Tell me where he is right now!” Vanessa demanded. Her fist struck Molly across the cheek hard, spinning her from Mark’s grip, knocking her to the ground. Molly rubbed her jaw while the metallic taste of blood filled her mouth.

Mark struggled with holding Vanessa back as she strained to give Molly another shot.

“Where is he? Where is he? Where is he?” Scout’s sister screamed.

Jimmy knelt beside Molly. He was calmer now, but there was still urgency in his words. “Molly, are they in there? Are Hunter and Scout in the house?”

Slowly, her mind caught up with all the fuss. She shook her head no. “I thought they were at Brittany’s.”

Jimmy turned to Vanessa. “They aren’t in there. They haven’t gotten back.”

Her body shaking, Vanessa hugged Mark. He stroked her hair, whispering in her ear. A few moments later, he left his girlfriend and walked toward Molly. She remained seated and dazed on the pavement with the fire roaring behind her and the crowd buzzing around. Mark gripped her arm and she felt helpless, staring into the hard eyes of her twin. He jerked her up.

“Mark, you’re hurting me.”

He tightened his grip.

As they passed through the crowd, Molly noticed the three strangers off to the side. One of them had dark, intense eyes. He smiled at her. She smiled back as Mark escorted her away.

Hunter drifted in painful unconsciousness, buffeted by the wave of exhaustion from the previous day. He noticed as he slept how uncomfortable his bed felt, and also the constant nudging. In his mind he knew it couldn’t be Molly-she’d gotten the boot. So who was messing with his sleep now? And why were his ribs hurting so bad?

He cracked open his eyes to darkness. His breath rose like clouds in the cold air.

And who the hell didn’t realize that it’s still nighttime? And why couldn’t he move his arms and legs?

The nudging rocked into him again. Hunter grunted. “What?”

Scout whispered close behind him, “Finally, you’re awake.”

“Are you spooning me?”

“Would you rather freeze to death?”

“Is that a trick question?” Hunter wormed an inch away, but the pain from the recent kick Jolanda laid into him halted his progress. “How long was I out?”

“Maybe three hours; four hours at most. Jolanda took off a while ago to meet with that Chase kid. Are you ready to bust out of here?”

Hunter peered around the barren room where he lay, securely bound. His vision adjusted, assisted by what little light filtered through the chalky window. He shivered from the freezing temperature, but would never admit to Scout that spooning had probably been a good thing.

“Aren’t we guarded?”

“Not now. Jolanda told the others to take shifts watching us, but they blew her off the second she walked. It’s been all snores ever since.”

“Then I guess all we have to do is magic our way out of here.” Hunter closed his eyes. The cold was unbearable. He gritted his teeth and wormed back against Scout’s warm body.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m freezing.”

“Look, I’m going to spin around. I need you to grab the knife strapped to my left ankle.”

Hunter frisked Scout’s ankle, found the knife and unsheathed the one-inch blade. He manipulated the knife, cutting the rope binding his wrists and then his ankles. The keen edge sliced through the braided rope as though it were a biscuit.

“Okay, I’m out. Meet you back home.”

“Just cut me loose. Jolanda could be back any time now.”

“Better not call her that, little Davey,” Hunter said. Smiling in the darkness, he severed Scout’s bonds. “She has one hell of a boot.”

“Next time I won’t be tied down. Now give me the knife.”

Hunter handed over the shiny blade. “You keep that thing sharp.”

Scout slipped the knife back in the sheath around his ankle. “What’s my motto?”

“Never Bathe?”

“Be Prepared. Let’s go. I hope I can find my backpack.”

“Screw that. We need to find our bikes. I’ll scrounge you up a new backpack when we get home.”

“All my stuff is in my backpack. I can’t leave without my stuff, and my book.” Scout’s voice rose in agitation. “I have to get my Boy Scout Handbook back. It’s the only copy I’ve been able to find.”

“All right,” Hunter whispered. “We’ll find it. Keep your voice down.”

Scout crammed the rope into his pockets. He opened the door slowly and Hunter followed.