Life Among The Dead (Book 3): A Bittersweet Victory by Daniel Cotton Page B

actually
found it difficult to drift off to sleep. It had come naturally on
the road, but though drained from the day’s events, she had too
much time to think. She felt guilty for surviving. Brandon should be here , she ruminated in the dark.
    Her recent loss made Brad’s advances rather
offensive, despite the fact he couldn’t have known about her fallen
band mates. Seeking carnal comfort in this world of death and gore,
fear and uncertainty, is the last thing on her mind.
    Time heals all wounds , she thought before succumbing to slumber, but she
doubts it can lick this one. She hadn’t been with Brandon long, but
she loved him. If she ever does decide to open her heart to
another, it’s going to be a long time coming.
    The night terrors abated, she opens her eyes
to find sunlight entering the room through slits in the thick
drapery. She wonders what time it is and if they’ll be leaving
soon. Above this, she wonders why she can’t move.
    “What the fuck?” Vida reacts to the bonds
around her wrists and ankles. She struggles against the lashings
but can’t break free. A yellowed lamp cord has been used to secure
her hands, and her feet are bound by her own shoelaces.
    Brad sits on the bed. “Good! You’re
awake.”
    “What the hell are you doing?” Her Latin
temper flares as she casts daggers at her savior turned captor.
    He ignores her question. “I laid awake all
night thinking about the future…”
    His casual tone enrages her even more, and
she must contain the volcano bubbling inside of her to look around
for anything that may be of help. Brad has drained the liquor
bottles while she slept.
    “I’m about to go back to base and return to a
life of absolute slavery. That’s what it’s like. Being told where
to be, what to eat, and when to sleep. When I bring you there,
they’ll call me a hero. I’m no hero…”
    No shit , Vida thinks, but keeps
the thought to herself lest she worsen her situation.
    “The guys on the bridge weren’t overrun. I
left them because I was scared. I didn’t want to die…”
    His eyes hold genuine sorrow for his actions,
but that doesn’t make up for imprisoning her. All she can do is
listen and hope for a miracle.
    “I remember seeing you at the blockade and
thinking ‘even in such an ugly world, beauty exists’. You were so
captivating. The guys stopped paying attention to what we were
supposed to be doing…”
    So , it’s my fault ? she thinks sarcastically.
    “Don’t go blaming yourself.”
    I won’t .
    “They were fresh out of boot and should have
known better. They weren’t synchronizing their fire. They were
shooting at the same targets and not accounting for reloading,” he
tells her. “They both ran dry at the same time! One should have
been covering the other so he could… I picked you up. I couldn’t
bear to let such a vision die like that. I figured we’d go to Eagle
Rock. I’d tell them we lost our foothold on the bridge, and I’d be
commended for bringing in a survivor.
    “Once we’re there, you’ll be given a safe
place to stay and meals. I’ll just be sent right back out in harm’s
way, put on endless watch bills. All I asked was for one night with
you before returning to all that. That’s how it’s supposed to be.
You save a girl, she shows you some kindness, right? Like a
gratuity for a job well done.”
    “My boyfriend, Brandon, sacrificed himself so
I could live. He led dozens of those things away so I could get
someplace safe. I promised him I would get to safety,” Vida tries
to reason with him.
    “And, you will,” Brad says while removing his
uniform blouse. “After.”
    Every muscle in her body tenses when he lifts
her from the recliner. She looks around for any sort of weapon or
way out and finds nothing. Her mind is racing but getting nowhere
fast. Vida can’t believe this is happening. Almost to the bed, she
does the only thing she can think of--she thrashes in his arms.
It’s no use. He’s too strong.
    He