Free Monster of the Apocalypse by C. Henry Martens

of heavy equipment, she realized the bikes were no longer parked in front. The bare dirt spoke to her. Three fresh tracks led back to the road. The dirt was damp when they left, the tracks were crystal clear, and so they must have left yesterday.
    Hal and Hey You were glad to see the siblings return, although for different reasons.
    Hal had a plan. He had expected the kid, Deo, to lead his sister back because of his crush on Toshi. He was prepared, his trap set. Hal would get rid of the boy and have plenty of time to enjoy the young lady. His head was full of variations on fantasies he would soon fulfill.
    The angle from her upstairs room was difficult for Hey You to watch Deo and Lecti’s advance. She was also expecting them to return. She recognized Deo’s state of mind just as Hal did. Knowing that Toshi would not be leaving with them, she came to a decision. It was difficult, but she worried that sooner or later it was likely that Hal would see through her coat of smelly rags and matted hair. If she could keep Deo safe, she intended to leave with him. That meant she would have to keep Lecti safe as well. Deo would not be leaving without his sister.
    As they came inside, she moved to the balcony shadows to watch.
    “Hey, good to see you back,” Hal greeted them with a friendly smile, “I thought you might have moved on after what happened. That wasn’t right. I just want you to know that. If I could have stopped them, I would have.”
    Lecti didn’t like his tone. He was way too cheerful. She was immediately on guard.
    Deo didn’t notice.
    “Where did they go?” he asked. “When did they leave?” He was all business.
    Hal looked hurt. It was part of his act. “C’mon, man, you don’t have to be like that. You’re fine, I’m fine, we’re all fine, and they’re gone. I’ll even give you your guns back.” He pulled them from underneath the counter and laid them on top. “See? I got them back for you.”
    As Hal knew, Deo wasn’t having it. Drawing his holstered pistol from across the counter and pointing it in Hal’s face, he snarled, “I don’t need my old guns. All I need is information. Tell me where they went and when they left.”
    “Whoa, whoa there,” Hal raised his hands. “They left about noon, yesterday, or a little after, and they asked me about the road east. Old Highway 50.”
    Relief flooded Lecti. She laid her hand softly on Deo’s extended arm. “It’s okay, brother. You heard what he said, and we have no way of catching up.”
    Feigning a concerned look, Hal replied, “Oh, if you want to catch up, I could help you with that. I’ve got resources. I’ve got just what you need. But why would you want to catch up to them? They don’t have anything you need, do they?”
    Hey You was listening as she heard Hal bait the hook.
    The momentary look in Deo’s eyes made Hal glad that Deo had lowered his gun. Deo wilted. Lowering his gaze to the floor, he said, “Toshi. They have Toshi.”
    The fevered flash of satisfaction in Hal’s eyes was obvious to Lecti. She was standing to one side, and Hal was concentrating his attention on Deo.
    Hal made a show of sudden understanding. “Oh, is that what you’re worried about? No, no, she didn’t go with them. She’s still here.”
    The information was unexpected. Both Deo and Lecti were stunned, Deo with sudden relief, and Lecti with disappointment.
    “Where is she?” pleaded Deo. “Why isn’t she here?”
    With a sympathetic look, Hal extended his arm across the bar counter and patted Deo’s shoulder. “Dude, it’s early. She’s still sleeping it off. When they left they told me not to disturb her. That she was going to sleep all day and wouldn’t be up until this morning. She’s just down the hall.”
    Hal spun and started off. “C’mon kid, I’ll show you.”
    Deo followed like a puppy. He had no concerns other than Toshi.

§
     
    When the bikers left and told Hal that Toshi was going to sleep through to the next