Sord in Prosperity - Hope Beyond the Apocalypse

EP. 157 - SCREAMS

SORD COULDN'T TURN TO look behind him and was fearful any movement or noise on his behalf might mean instant death. He gasped for air as Matt tightened his grip, bringing Sord's skull in painful, crushing contact with Matt's shoulder.

"So get the fuck out of here! This is our business. Me and my son's."

Matt was walking faster as Sord's toes continued dragging along the floor.

"Let the boy go. Now." she stated flatly.

"Look, you little wretch," he screamed, turning backward momentarily, "I told you that's not our boot. I have a very naughty son here who just jeopardized Prosperity with his illegal antics, and I'm taking him home to receive his due punishment. Back off before you get hurt."

The boot dropped to the floor with a loud pop, and Matt's eyes turned forward to follow a shard of bioplas that skidded in front of him.

"Appears she got the message," he boasted.

He listened for her footsteps, knowing he didn't want to turn back again to provide a more complete view of his face. With his limited Search and Rescue training, he understood Sord's disappearance would set off a chain of events. He feared any linkage to him would propel Prosperity's law enforcement on a relentless and likely successful search for both of them in the mountains.

"Stupid, naive shits," Matt thought. "All the tech at their avail, and they use virtually none of it. Not even cameras in these tunnels. Jackasses."

Then he heard something snap.

"Fuck!" he screamed suddenly, sensing his right foot on fire. This was followed quickly by his right knee as searing pain shot down his calf. His head dropped downward to determine the cause.

"What the hell?" he yelled, loosening his grip on Sord.

After disabling his leg, Ms. Lam jumped atop Matt's large frame. In a single movement, she clawed her left hand across his eyes while using her right hand to thrust his jaw in the other direction.

At the loud snap of his jawbone, Matt dropped to his left knee.

"Want to be sure you don't move from here," she affirmed, standing in front of him, "Break your shoulder."

With a quick thrust of her leg, another bone cracked. His left clavicle broke in half, and blood spurted from the fractured bone as it protruded awkwardly outside his collar.

"You're a lucky man," she advised. "Could have nipped the jugular vein with that kick. But I think of another future for you, if you can still see in that future."

Matt was screaming in pain but unable to move. His snapped clavicle was too painful, a far greater pain than the many injuries he had sustained before arriving at Prosperity.

Sord fell stunned to the ground, just managing to crawl out of harm's way.

"My boy, don't be afraid. It's me, Ms. Lam. He's not your father, I know."

"No," Sord stuttered, trying to regain his breath. "He's my mother's ex-boyfriend. I thought he was already kicked out of Prosperity."

"Speak up," she demanded. "Can't hear you over his screams."

"No, he's not my dad," he yelled. "I said he was my mom's ex-boyfriend."

"Saw him wrestle you at the shuttle stop. Thought you came for the flower. Surprised you went the other way. Looked like he treated you badly, so I followed and watched. Knew you wanted that boot. You kept holding to it. Then you dropped it. Name tag fell out. I know that name."