THE DESOLATE SOUTHLAND

CHAPTER 12: SAVIORS

Riko reached up to the sun visor and pushed a button.  The gate swung open and straight through they went with ease like batman entered the bat cave.  Once clear, the gate clanked shut and locked startling the teens in the back.

They all got out and headed toward the front door of the cabin except for the teen girls who crowded together leary of their saviors.  The boy, obviously protective of the girls, spoke first.

Looking at Riko with suspicion, "mister, we appreciate y'all stopping for us back there, but, if you will point us in the right direction, we'll be on our way."

Before Riko could reply, Harley spoke, "no! It isn't safe. Tell then Riko."

Smiling.  "Y'all are welcomed and she is right it isn't safe."

"B...but..."

"No buts.  You are safe here."

"Mister..."

"Look, first call me Riko, second, you three come inside and get something to eat. Third, we six can discuss what to do next.  Fair enough.?"

They all nodded in agreement.

They all went in and sat down in the living room.

Riko stood and started stripping.  They all stared in amazement.

"Riko, what are you doing?" Harley exclaimed, looking around at the others.

"Well, I know we said we were going to check each of them out  one at a time when we got here, but considering the scare they had, I felt it was only right to show them that they had nothing to fear from us first." And he finished undressing down to his skivvies.

Harley stood and did the same.  Standing in front of all of them, they stretched their arms out to the side and slowly turned in a circle.

"Y'all look for bites, sores scratches or anything that would lead you to believe that we are one of those jibbers that were chasing you."  Riko explained.

"Once you are satisfied, we kindly ask for you to do the same, however, you young ladies can go into one of the rooms away from the guys and do it in front of Harley.  The guys will do in front of me.  Once we have that cleared up we can meet back in the kitchen and discuss the best way to proceed while we fix lunch, good enough."

Simultaneously they all said, "yes."

The girls followed Harley and the boys Riko, to separate rooms.

****

Shortly, they were all in the kitchen sitting around the bar while Riko was cooking hamburgers and hotdogs.  Harley was setting plates and asking each what they would like to drink. 

"Well, you all know me and Harley.  Lets start by you introducing yourselves."

They all went in turn, Drake started.

"Hi, I'm Drake.  I'm 21, and I work at the grocery for Harley part time.  I go to Athens State, studying to be an EMT."

Next was Angela, a small petite blonde.

"I'm Angela.  My friends call me Ange.  I'm 17 and I'm a senior in high school."

Then the little redhead.

"I'm Hannah, just Hannah.  I will be 18 next month, also a senior in high school."

Riko looked over at the young boy.  Something about him looked familiar but he couldn't place him.  It ate at him like a cancer.

"Your turn."

"I'm 18 years old.  I'm half Choctaw Indian.  My name is Minko Umbachi.  You can call me Minko."

They began to eat lunch.  Riko watched as they hastily gulped the food down.  When everyone finished, he suggested they go out and sit on the porch and continue to talk.  Each sat down in log furniture and relaxed.  Riko was happy that they were getting more comfortable, it would make getting information out of them easier.  However, he couldn't shake the feeling that he knew Minko.  Riko sat down in the porch swing and Harley sat next to him.  She placed her legs across his lap and propped her arm on her shoulder.  Her fingers gently caressed his neck while he talked.

"Obviously, y'all are not from around here, so I guess the only question I have is, what were you doing in town."

Ange spoke up, "we are all from Scottsboro.  We were headed to Tuscaloosa, when we stopped off in Huntsville to stay the night.  We were in our Motel when it happened.  We barely got out of there.  We heard Scottsboro was devastated, so we decided to head to Tuscaloosa.  I have family there." She looked down, "at least I hope I do."

Hannah interrupted, "we stopped in Rogersville to get gas.  We thought we had gotten away from all those things, those monsters when we hightailed it out of Huntsville.  But when we stopped, we all got out and went to use the restroom.  When we opened the door, those things came barging out.  We just ran.  That is when we seen y'all.

Harley laid her head on Riko's shoulder as he began to talk.

"Well, you are all safe here.  I'm going to insist you stay with us until I can get in touch with someone and verify there is a reason for you to  continue to travel as well as being safe to travel."

Harley looked up, "how are you going to do that?"

"Well, tomorrow I will go back to town and get the dispatch radio from the sheriffs department.  I will swing by the sporting goods store and grab some things they may need if it is safe and clothes for them. I will also check their car and if it is able to make the trip."

"I am not going back there!" Hannah blurted out.

"No one is but me."

"No, Riko."  And Harley sat up quickly.

"Yes, and I need you here to make sure they all stay safe.  Besides, I can be in and out a lot faster if I am not worrying about others being in danger."

"What about me worrying about you?"

"Awe, Harley, you care about me?"

"Yes I do." She said before she realized it.

Riko just stared at her.

"Geez, get a room."  Drake said and laughed.

"Seriously, I will be fine.  But to make you feel better, I will drag out my com-links that way you can talk to me the whole time from here.  Matter of fact I will put the on charge right now so they will have a full charge.  Okay?"

"O-kay." She sighed.

Riko, took all them inside, and showed them where they will sleep.  And left them in their rooms to clean up and rest.

After they all got settled in Riko and Harley went for a walk around the plantation. 

"Why are you doing this, Riko?"

"I could of stopped it from happening if I just pressed harder.  My time was nearly up anyway, what could they have done to me?"

"But it is not your fault."

He stopped, looked into her eyes, grabbed her and kissed her passionately.