Chapter Twenty

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Dane hobbled back to the building in which they were staying and made his way over to a cabinet. The whole time he was mumbling to himself. It was his way of dealing with stress. He was in the middle of nowhere with a cute girl who didn't seem to be at all interested in him.

Opening the cabinet, Dane grabbed a blanket and a box of snacks. When he closed the large cabinet door, he was startled by a man standing mere inches away. Dane screamed and dropped the blanket.

"Who the hell are you?" Dane asked.

The man's face was covered except for his eyes, which were painted with dirt. The uninviting stare resembled the intense focus of a lone wolf. The man wore military attire, but not Government Issue. He looked more a kin to a rebel commando of some kind. Dark camouflage and fake moss dangled from his clothes. If he were to lay down in a field, he would be completely undetectable by sight.

Dane continued to asked questions, but was quickly silenced with a punch to the mouth. The blow was enough to drop Dane to the floor. 

"Ow, what did you do that for?" Dane whined, cupping his hand over his mouth. 

Dane struggled to regain his composure and began crawling away. Another pair of military-style combat boots stepped into his field of view. His eyes cascaded up to a large man holding an assault rifle.

Before he could warn Allie, Dane felt a pinch in his back an immediately began convulsing. The pain was paralyzing and he was unable to scream. Two men held him up while a third stood in front of him. His legs gave out and he went limp like a wet noodle. Just when he thought he was going to die, the voltage stopped and Dane was brought to his feet. Dane's chin was buried in his chest as he didn't even have the strength to look straight ahead. Then, a thick cold hand grabbed him by the throat and jaw, propping his head up.

"Where is she?" the man asked in a growling voice.

Dane's eyes shot over to the campfire and saw that Allie wasn't there.

"It's... just me," he mumbled out of his squished mouth.

Without warning the man slapped Dane and asked him again.

"I know you're not alone. There's at least two of you here. Two beds, two sets of clothes, two dinners, two chairs by the fire. Where's your girlfriend?"

"I don't have a girlfriend," Dane said. "She left me because—" Seconds later an unexpected fist slammed into Dane's stomach, knocking the wind out of him and buckled his knees.

"Ow, what the hell. Why do you keep hitting me?" Dane wheezed. 

As Dane gasped for breath, he looked around and counted dozens of boots. He was surrounded. This was not a battle he and Allie would win.

"We couldn't find the other one, sir," one of the soldiers reported.

"Keep looking. She couldn't have gone far."

"Yes, sir."

"What are you two doing out here?" the man asked, staring intensely at Dane.

"It's a long story," Dane said with a laboured breath.

"I've got time."

"We're part of the fringe."

"The fringe? What's that? Some kind of band?"

"No, the fringe, as in, we're being sent to the slaughterhouse."

"What are you talking about?"

"Wait, who are you?" Dane asked. "You're not here to kill me?"

"I haven't decided yet. Keep talking."

"Each year, the government assesses the output of all its citizens... as I'm told. The least productive members of society are gathered against their will, packed on a bus, and sent to be executed. I was with a group that escaped. I'm surprised you don't know about this."

"Get up."

Dane brought himself to one knee and pushed himself up. He wasn't sure if the man was a friend or foe so he continued to be cooperative. It appeared he had information that the man wanted. That could very well be his only bargaining chip keeping him and Allie alive.

"Tell me everything you know," the man said.

"Look, it's been a long day, would you mind if I sit down and get a drink of water?" Dane asked, buying himself some time so that he could think. The man thought about it for a moment, then nodded.

Just then, six soldiers came running back to report their findings. "We found something disturbing, sir," one of them said.

"What is it?"

"Bodies, six of them. They appear to be brutally beaten and killed."

The main soldier had yet to respond. He looked at Dane with confusion.

"Where are the others?" the man asked. "How many in your team?"

Before Dane could answer, a gunshot rang out, causing everyone to be on high alert. Everyone scattered behind objects, including Dane. With weapons drawn, they aimed out of the building.

"Stay alert!" the captain shouted.

Four more shots entered the building, but missed their targets. Sparks flew as bullets ricocheted around.

Then the brigade of rogue commandos fired back. A fury of hellfire blasted into the night, lighting up the sky in flashes, at some unknown target. The melee lasted several seconds as Dane turtled up under a table, covering his ears.

"Cease fire!" the main soldier commanded.

After a pause, another round of gunfire came back, this time from an automatic weapon. Allie wasn't going down without a fight.

Without saying a word, the man in charge signaled to some of his troops to head out the back and circle around. As badass as Allie was, she was in way over her head. Outmatched, outnumbered, and overpowered, this was a fight she was not going to win. Dane didn't want to see her get hurt so he yelled out. "Stop!"

This gave the lead soldier an idea. Shielding himself behind a large metal structure, he yelled out into the dark.

"Hold your fire! We have your boyfriend and if you don't surrender, we'll kill him."

"Dude, I'm not her boyfriend," Dane uttered through his bloody mouth.

"You have exactly five seconds to make up your mind. Five. Four. Three. Two—"

"Okay!" a voice shouted back.

"Come out with your hands up. Walk toward the light where we can see you. We have you surrounded. If you try anything funny, we'll kill both of you."

It took a second, but Allie came out from her hiding spot with her hands in the air.

"Okay, I see you. Very good. Now, keep walking toward me. Nice and slow."

Allie was still in battle mode, they could see it in her eyes. She hated herself for giving up, but it was the smart thing to do. Once she was out in the open, four soldiers approached her cautiously with their guns drawn.

Dane watched on, unsure if she would fight back in one last ditch effort of heroism. When the soldiers finally put their hands on her, Allie yielded and allowed them to detain her.

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