Scars

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE Atlas's Tracks

ATLAS 

I sat outside warming my hands against the fire I had burning. I was cooking some pig that I had hunted and cleaned and everything. Arctic sat in the tent I had pitched sleeping away. It was close to being dark out but I was used to being out here alone in the woods and away from society. But the cannibal community had deemed me a hero to them so they don't bother me. I don't bother them none either. I started eating a strip of flesh from the wild pig I had hunted he tasted gamey but I didn't mind it. But what I really wanted was a big piece of fresh apple pie with ice cream on top. 

I would probably go up later to the Bronx's to see if they had any pie. After I got done eating I put out the fire and packed the rest of my pig up and sacked it up. I got in the tent next to Arctic and started closing my eyes I would be heading out early in the morning. Ever since Tonya had been brought back home I kept hunting for Barkos, I had a feeling that he may still be alive. I have informed the Bronx's and Wilcox's of this, but told them to not tell Tonya. I didn't want her to be afraid. 

I closed my eyes and fell asleep quickly. When morning came I could see the sky was a bit lit so I grabbed all my hunting gear mostly a bow and arrow and some knives and Arctic. We went out in the woods till we got to the dirt road of the community and started our hike up the road. I would track for hours at a time for any signs of feet or blood or anything. I knew where that shed was where Tonya said that Barkos and Brenda had held her captive. 

I have made my way up there two days ago but no signs of anything except for Tonya's blood. But then again it was getting pretty dark. As I headed my way back up there for a second look it would take me at least a few hours of a hike. My legs and body were toning up because of these every day hikes I have been doing. I could tell that some of the young ladies in the community were beginning to eye me. While I must admit that I hadn't dated since I was a young boy in high school, I wasn't focused on that as much so I just put it out of my mind. 

I had finally made it to the old shed, I saw Tonya's blood that we all followed. However, I then noticed a second set of blood drips next to it. There was no Barkos anywhere here, in the pit of my stomach I knew he was still alive. Tonya said she had stabbed him in the leg like Barkos did to Jay and Jay lived so that means that unless she had managed to hit a major artorie he was still alive. 

I followed the trail for a while but I couldn't go on for much longer. I was becoming too exhausted, I fell to my knees about to pass out when I saw a blue truck pull up to see it was the Wilcox family. "Well hey there Mr. Atlas. Can we give you a lift back to our house?" Charlie asked smiling. "That would be nice. I am really tired. Arctic here could use some water too." I said almost pleading. 

I wasn't a begging kind of man unless I was in dire need of something. I was a tough son of a gun and I never complain or whine or cry when I'm in pain. I could take a bullet or a punch like a man. So Gabriel helped me in the back of his truck and as he carried Arctic and put him in the back of the truck. He got some rope tying it around Arctic's neck and tying it to the truck of he wouldn't fall out. 

We had made it to the house of Gabriel and his family when I noticed that the basement door looked like it was crack open but I didn't say anything because I figured they must have forgotten to shut it completely so I ignored it. 

They sat me at the table while Lindsay got started on dinner. Charles rest his right leg on a spare chair moaning at the pain in his knee. He climbing that age of being close to dying possibly so I would imagine he would be in pain. 

Theo and Jared and Jimmy and Tommy were all in the living room playing and pretending to stab one another while acting like they had captured another human being to have food for their meal. I laughed while Lindsay brought us all our meal of soup and bread. "I didn't add meat to your soup hun so it would be mostly vegetables in beef broth is that ok?" Lindsay asked. "Sure thank you." I said after clearing my throat.

"You could use a good shower son, and get your dog a bath as well." Said Charles. "While that is nice of you all, I must really be heading back home tonight." I said just wanting to eat pack up some bread and water and be on the road but they wouldn't let me leave. "No, you are staying here for the night. Your dog can stay inside the house since it looks like he won't be without you. He's just laying there by your feet at the table while we are eating." Gabriel said smiling. "Yeah, he's so cute." Said Lindsay as she handed my dog some human meat in broth in a bowl for him and some water. After Arctic got done eating he then jumped at Lindsay knocking her down on her bottom licking her face. "Aww, good boy there Arctic good boy." She said laughing. 

"Hey there now dog that's my wife." Said Gabriel. I could tell her was joking. We all laughed while I pulled Arctic off of Lindsay and Gabriel showed me to my room upstairs where I would be staying for the evening. There was a bathroom inside. Thank God because I really had to go and I was so used to going outside like an animal any time I am near a bathroom I will use it. 

So I closed the door locking it while Arctic laid on the floor falling asleep I closed the bathroom door dong my business then washing my hands and hopping into the shower. I enjoyed the hot water that ran down my nasty dirty body. I felt my hair go down to my eyes and the back of my neck I could really use a hair cut and a shave. So, after I got out I went around the bathroom to look for a pair of scissors. Which there were none to be found. Maybe Lindsay wouldn't mind giving me a hair cut so I dried off and got dressed into a grey t-shirt and some pj bottoms that were a dark navy blue color and went down stairs while Arctic followed me. 

"Lindsay, do you have a pair of scissors? I could really use a shave and a hair cut." I said nicely. "Oh honey, yes of course. Come here and sit. I'll cut your hair for you and I can also give you a shave." She said smiling. I smiled back and sat in the chair while she took a towel and placed it on the back of my shirt combing my hair which felt really good and started snipping some of my hair off. "Now hold still honey, I'm gonna be getting around your ears and eyes." She said warning me as she snipped around those areas too. She then did a final comb to my hair before moving on to my long beard. It took about maybe two hours but she finally got all my beard off leaving my face smooth as a baby's butt. 

I then looked at myself in the mirror while she swept up the mess in the kitchen and I was impressed by her work. "You did a wonderful job thank you." I said hugging her. "Oh it was no problem." She said smiling. Arctic and I headed back upstairs to our room to just relax for a bit. It was still too early to sleep so we just laid in the bed together for a while. I must have dozed off after a while because I was woken up by startling scream in the house. But not just any scream, a scream of someone being murdered it sounded like. 

"Get off of her you bastard!" I hard an angry Gabriel scream. "Leave our dad alone!" I could hear Theo scream after. What was going on? Arctic looked at me whining and whimpering. He only barked when I would command him too. I trained him well so he was good at staying quiet unless I said other wise. "Shhh." I whispered while he stopped whimpering and whining. I got up to investigate when I was hit in the head knocking me out.