Spiced Molasses

Chapter 41

Beth's shoulders had slumped on Candy's exit. What options did they have left at this point? Tyreese's eyes were practically spinning in his head as he looked around the room for a way out.

Karen had gone very quiet and Beth couldn't begin to guess if she was plotting an escape or consumed with disappointment with Beth. As for Haley, she was on her feet, pressing her ear against the door, every now and again looking over her shoulder and shaking her head to indicate something. Maybe that she couldn't hear anything useful or maybe couldn't hear anything at all.

Beth didn't get long to wallow. The roar of cars outside startled her and Karen jumped at her side. The sounds of shouting sent a cold shiver down her spine. She knew exactly what was happening. They were back for her.

In an instant, Tyreese and Beth had joined Haley in standing. The buzz of adrenaline wiped away any residual fuzziness from the blow to her head earlier. Karen sat for a minute longer before pushing to her feet clumsily. Her blank expression was replaced with something edged and focused, which relieved Beth.

"We have to get out of here," Tyreese hissed.

"They only want me. The rest of you will be fine!" Beth was shocked at how calm her voice sounded.

"Not yet," Haley grumbled just as the door opened. A solitary figure in black entered, the radio clipped into his lapel was squawking instructions.

He opened his mouth to say something but didn't get to finish. Haley snatched up the metal bucket from the floor and clubbed him square in the face with it. The guard registered surprise before collapsing to the floor.

"Holy shit!" Tyreese exclaimed, impressed and stunned in equal measure.

Haley flicked the bucket and snorted. "Metal. What a bunch of amateurs."

Karen was already tugging the man further into the room so that she could shut the door. There was still shouting but it didn't seem to be coming from the level they were on at least.

Beth helped Karen move the unconscious guard and Haley slammed the door shut. The three of them repositioned the body to block the door. It wouldn't hold long but it would give them a few extra seconds.

Tyreese was already relieving the man of his weapons. He took the gun and handed the knife to Haley. He shot a stern look at Beth. "Keep behind me as much as possible."

He raised the gun and winced, the movement obviously paining him. He levelled it at the window and fired one bullet.

"We have to go now," Karen stated, looking out the empty space where the window had been and calling back her assessment. "We're not that high up and I think we're round the back if the house." With no more information than that, Karen had thrown her leg over the window sill, carefully avoiding stray jagged edges.

"Who are these women?" Tyreese asked, grabbing Beth's elbow and pulling her towards the window too.

"Survivors," Haley answered from behind them.

Beth tuned any further conversation out. She had never been afraid of heights but she had never faced the prospect of climbing Spiderman style down a wall.

"Come on, Beth!" Karen urged her. Beth sucked in a deep breath; she didn't have time to delay. Gritting her teeth with determination, Beth followed Karen's lead, who had somehow managed to manoeuvre herself down a level. A shaky figure balancing in the darkness.

She threw one leg over, feeling with her toes to feel some kind of ledge. When she found none, she gripped the ledge tightly. A sharp stinging sensation cut up the side of her palm. A sluggish trickle of blood reminded Beth to be careful where the glass was. Karen was now silently pointing the way as best she could in the gloom.