Back Woods

Chapter Fourteen

The sun was setting, casting long shadows over the desolate, abandoned industrial district. The once bustling area, now silent, was littered with the remnants of a bygone era. Tess, alongside her brother,  huddled together behind a makeshift barricade of wooden pallets and broken bricks, their eyes fixed on the imposing, derelict red-bricked building across the street. 

Casting a glance over her shoulder, her eyes flittered to gaze upon T-Dog and Rick behind her, their expressions masked with trepidation. She let her eyes linger on the ex sheriff, his face pale but determined and wondered whether he would be able to prove his worth. Daryl signaled with his hand for them to lower and she clutched the shoulder of their teen hostage in front of her and with an annoyed sigh she tugged him down. Crouched low, she peered through the gaps in the debris and saw shadowed figures in the dirtied windows. Daryl, also tensed beside her and they exchanged anxious glances, both their fingers twitching on their weapons. 

"Do you think they can see us?" whispered T-Dog, the burliest of the group, his voice barely audible through his haggard breathing.  

Daryl shook his head, his eyes never leaving the building. "I don't know. But we can't stay here much longer."

The building, with its boarded-up windows and crumbling facade, loomed like a ghost of the past. Now, it was a silent sentinel, its darkened windows hiding untold dangers. A sudden noise from the building made everyone freeze. The sound of echoed shouts reverberated through the empty street, growing louder with each passing second. Tess' heart pounded in her chest as she tightened her grip on the blade of her brother's hunting knife. 

"Let's get off the street," muttered Rick, "we can make a plan,"

Tess nodded as they began to creep away from their hiding spot,  moving swiftly but cautiously, the group navigated the labyrinth of abandoned streets and alleys, slinking amongst the shadows. After what felt like hours, they found a small, hidden courtyard, shielded from prying eyes by overgrown vegetation and crumbling walls. Settling on a large stone, Tess glanced at their hostage Miguel. The scrawny, talkative teenager who had not stopped jabbering since they'd snatched him.  With his upbeat, cocky demeanor, he seemed oblivious to the gravity of the situation.

"So, are we going to do this or what?" he asked, his voice echoing in the stillness. "I mean, it's getting dark, and G and the boys will come and get me soon,"

Tess clenched her jaw, the muscle twitching with barely restrained irritation. She exchanged a look with her brother, whose eyes mirrored her frustration as he nervously chewed the skin of his thumb. Running an arm over her brow to trap a stream of sweat, she rose her head upward. Around them, the sun was sinking low in the sky, casting a golden hue over the group. Closing her eyes momentarily, she let out a deep sigh trying to drown out the incessant chatter of the teenage boy.  She had endured his endless stream of questions and comments for the entire journey, but her tolerance had its limits. Feeling a presence beside her, her head sunk and she closed her eyes in irritation. 

"So...." Mateo began, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. He bit his lower lip in a gesture he hoped looked seductive. "mami, has anyone told you how beautiful you are?"

Tess' neck craned quickly towards him, her face contorted in an instant, caught off guard by the unexpected words. Her eyebrows shot up, nearly disappearing into her hairline, while her wide eyes blinked rapidly as if trying to process what had just happened. A flicker of confusion danced across her features, her lips parting slightly in disbelief. Tess sighed, a sound that spoke volumes of her exasperation. She blinked thrice at him, before her eyes rolled skyward.  "Do you ever stop?" she asked, her voice a mix of amusement and frustration.

Mateo grinned, unabashed. "Stop what? Telling the truth?" He gave her a cheeky wink, his lip-biting escalating to a full-blown, dramatic bite as he ran a hand through his hair. A loud snort with quiet chortling sounded behind her and she gave a glare towards her brother. Rick announced for them to move once more and she gathered all of her belongings, before grasping the teen's forearm, bringing him to his feet before nudging him forward.