Dampier Falls
Amanda Shepherd
Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2009 Amanda Shepherd
Chapter One.
" I just don't understand why we had to bring him. He doesn’t want to come on this trip, he'd rather be at home with his friends". Fiona flipped down the visor and briefly checked her hair in the little mirror on the visor and then flipped it back up again.
"Because this is a family trip and he's a part of the family". Shawn's voice had a stressed tone to it. The 4-wheel drive easily drove over the potholes and bumps in the dirt road, leading through the forest.
Shawn ran his hand over his short dark hair and impatiently put his hand back on the steering wheel.
"You know, Fiona, you and Adam used to get on really well. Now you can't stand the sight of each other". The car jerked and bumped more erratically, as they drove deeper into the forest. Shawn checked his mirror to make sure that his parents were still following behind.
Fiona turned and looked at the two kids in the back. She was relieved that they were asleep. They had been travelling nearly three hours and weren’t far off their destination.
She leaned back and pulled the blanket up over them, from where it had slipped. It was heading into late afternoon and the cool air was creeping over.
Tye slept soundlessly, his favourite stuffed dog clutched tight in his arms. At five years old, he was smart and sweet, Tye loved to play hide and seek as well as climb. He was little for his age and he had dark hair like his father and older brother. He also possessed those big dark eyes, like his sister.
Vanessa's head wrested on the window beside her as her one headphone still remained in her ear, the other hanging free. At fourteen years old, Vanessa was also smart, but sneaky. She always knew how to get her own way. She had the look of her mother. Average height, slender and her hair were between blonde and light brown. It hung down past her shoulders and she loved to wear it in a messy fashion, swept high on her head. She had large brown eyes like her father that had assisted in getting her own way on more than one occasion.
Fiona turned and got comfortable in her seat again. "We used to get on really well until he turned fifteen. Now I don’t even know him anymore". Fiona spoke, as Shawn sighed, he knew what was coming, as they'd had this conversation many times before.
"It seems as though he went from a lovely one year old, to a horror sixteen year old." Shawn impatiently sighed as he replied. "Give him a break, Fiona. I know he isn't easy to live with at the moment. You wouldn’t be either if your mother suddenly decided that she wanted a life without you. He's only been with us for six months, he's still really messed up"
Fiona stayed quiet. She knew that her husband was right, but she couldn’t help but feel that he was excusing her step - son's behaviour.
Vanessa stirred as they drove over a big bump, but she didn’t wake. "Can we all just try and get along this weekend? Mum and Dad have been looking forward to this camping trip and so have I." Shawn spoke.
He could tell by the look upon her face, that she didn't really want to be here. He felt a little sorry for his wife and he was no longer annoyed at her. He slipped his hand onto hers.
"Everything will be fine. I will make sure that Adam keeps his attitude to himself." She felt a little better at this promise and squeezed his hand in return. He placed his hand back on the wheel as they passed into a huge clearing on the waters edge.
Fiona climbed from the 4WD and stood in awe of what was before her. A huge natural lake sparkled before her.
She slowly walked to the edge of the water. Looking down, she noticed that it wasn't really a shoreline, but a little ledge that dropped down to the water.
The only sounds were that of the bird's overhead and the waterfall that was to the right, way up the other end of the lake. As the sun prepared to retire, the colours made the water sparkle. The sight took her breath away.
Fiona could feel the chilly night air creeping in, but paid no attention. The nights were still cold, but it was still warm during the day. Beyond the clearing, behind her were the woods, but most of her attention was on the water.
A car pulled up and Shawn got out of the 4WD. He slipped on his flannelette shirt as he shut the door. He approached her and placed his arm around his wife. "So, what do you think?" She looked into his eyes and realised that even though he had aged a little, he was still handsome. "It's beautiful". Fiona replied. "What are you looking at, Mummy?" Tye stood beside his mother, with his arms around her legs. "This is where we'll be staying for a few days" Vanessa ran down to the waters edge a little further up and Tye followed.
Leaving her standing there, Shawn approached the other car, as his mother and father got out. "How was Adam, didn’t give you any trouble?" He enquired. "As quiet as a mouse. Listened to his music the whole way" Replied Shawn's mother, Janis. Phil put his arm around Janis. "How about you go down there and keep Fiona Company, while me and Shawn set up camp ". Janis gave her husband a slight smile and then walked down to join her daughter in law as well as her grandchildren.
Shawn looked into the back of the car. Adam sat, still with his headphones in, knowing that they were at their destination, but without acknowledgment.
Adam sat with his head down, ignoring his father's glare from the closed window. He was already, at 16 years old, as tall as his father. His hair dark, and long on top, reminded Shawn of himself, but that’s where it ended. Adam's blue eyes were entrancing to teenage girls and he knew it. His tall, athletic stature made him noticeable and his hair and eyes captured attention.
He tapped his finger on his legs that were enclosed inside dark blue cargo pants. The MP3 player sat in the top pocket of his long sleeve top.
Shawn opened the back door and pulled the earphones, so his son could hear him. "Come on Adam, you can help set up camp". Adam glanced up at his father. He got out of the car, shoving past Shawn and glaring at him as he did so.
"The kids got attitude, too much of it. You'd want to keep a check on that". Phil stated in a soft tone, as Shawn shut the car door. "I know, Dad".
Chapter Two
Vanessa and Tye slept soundly in their sleeping bags, as the full moon shone over the lake and the camp. The adults sat around the campfire, as the waterfall in the background raged. Adam sat in his own tent, with his light and magazine, anything to avoid being with his family. As far as he was concerned, all adults were the same. They only want you around when they need something done.
He flipped through the pages of the playboy magazine, as he listened to the muffled voices of the adults talking.
"Maybe we should make him come out and sit with us, might do him some good" Suggested Janis. "I think we should just leave him alone, mum. It's enough that he came at all". Shawn responded. There were a couple of minute's silence and then Phil spoke.
"Don't you remember what Shawn was like when he was that age?" Phil spoke with a smile on his face. "Oh yes, very secretive. Always doing something behind our backs". Janis chuckled and Fiona smiled. "Who wants a cup of tea?" Fiona cut in. All three of them motioned that they wanted one and Fiona placed the billy over the fire.
She thought a lot. She really was happy at this moment. The sparkling water under the moonlight, the sound of the waterfall and the pleasant chit chat around the fire. The kids were fast asleep and Adam hadn't given her attitude since arriving at Dampier Falls. The evening couldn’t get much better than this.
Pouring the water into the tin cups, they all chatted and laughed about many things. Fiona and Shawn sat at the fire; Shawn with his arm around his wife and Fiona nestled close to keep warm.
"Well, I have had a lovely night, but it's time I turned in". Janis spoke, as she kissed Phil good night and stood to leave the campfire. "Good night. See you both in the morning". She stated as she looked at Shawn and Fiona. "Good night" Fiona returned.
She watched as Janis disappeared into her tent. "Well, I might go to bed as well." She also kissed her husband as she stood. "I'll be in soon. We thought we'd have a couple of beers". Shawn replied to her. "Ok" she nodded as she too disappeared into the tent where Vanessa and Tye were fast asleep.
Changing into her pyjamas, she snuggled in between her two children. Fiona was glad that they had come on this trip. The children had enjoyed themselves and it was nice to do something different for a change. Without much more thought, she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.
Adam pulled his earphones out and turned off the music. Hiding his magazines under his sleeping bag, he pulled on his sneakers and climbed out of the tent.
He slowly made his over to where his father and grandfather sat as he pulled on his jacket. He sat on a large log that was beside the fire.
"We were beginning to think that you had disappeared" Shawn stated as he took a swig from his beer. "Just a bit hungry". Adam replied. "There are leftovers from tea in the esky. Help yourself". Shawn informed Adam, as Adam stood and made his way to the esky. "Maybe tomorrow you might want to come out of your tent and eat with the rest of the family". Shawn suggested, but in a laid back tone. "Sure Dad" Adam replied in an uninterested tone as he pulled opened the lid and began to look through what was in there.
He promptly joined the two other men, bringing with him a sandwich and a can of drink. In a world of his own, he opened the can and pulled his mobile phone out of his jacket pocket.
"You won't get any reception around here, mate. Not a place in sight for hours." Phil spoke as he finished his beer and got another. Adam continued to fidget with his phone, although he had heard what his Grandfather was saying, he refused to acknowledge him.
Rolling his eyes and grunting, he impatiently shoved the phone back in his pocket. He reached behind himself and grabbed a piece of wood to stoke the fire with.
Fiona slept deeply, as if she were at home in her bed. She slept so well, that she didn’t hear the rumbling of the V8 utility approaching the camp, or the high beam headlights that shone straight through the tent that they slept in.
The Ute pulled up close to the site. The men sat in the front and four in the back. "Good camping weather". One of them called out. "Yeah mate". Phil replied as they suspiciously watched the Ute.
One of them slowly glanced around, at what was there. The tents and the cars. Another focused his attention on Adam. "Can I help you mate?" Shawn called out, as his suspicions grew. "No mate, just seein who's down here. Catch ya later". The Ute revved up and slowly cruised by the campsite, the attention focusing on Adam. They then did a u-turn and headed back up the narrow road through the forest.
There were a few moments of silence before Adam spoke. "That was weird". Phil replied; "We probably took their spot". It wasn't long before Phil and Shawn were chatting and laughing away, again.
Chapter Three
"Mum." Tye leaned over his sleeping mother and then gave her a little shake. "Mum. Wake up, I need to go to the toilet". Fiona opened her eyes to her son leaning over her. She rubbed her eyes and slowly sat up. "What's the matter?" She questioned in a sleepy voice. "I need to go to the toilet". Tye persisted. "Ok babe. Just give me a minute". Fiona reached for her little torch and shone it on her watch that was by her sleeping bag. 1:30am. She could still hear the fire crackling and the water falling. She could still hear the voices of the two men sitting by the fire.
"What's going on?" Vanessa queried as she sat up and yawned. "Tye needs to go to the toilet. Since you're awake you can come with us. I don't want to have to get up during the night again". Vanessa sighed and pulled down the sleeping bag. "Ok".
Fiona grabbed Tye's dressing gown and helped him on with it and then his slippers. He picked up his stuffed dog and waited patiently. Fiona rummaged through the stuff in the tent, but couldn’t find her dressing gown. She knew that it would be cold outside and groaned in unwanted anticipation of going out in her long cotton pyjamas. Vanessa finished getting ready and waited as Fiona retrieved her socks and slippers.
"Ok, lets go, so we can come back and snuggle up." Picking up the torch again, Fiona unzipped the tent and held her little boy's hand, leading both of her children out into the night.
She glanced over at the two men and teenager sitting by the fire and was glad that Adam had finally come out of his tent. They failed to notice the three walking off towards the forest.
Shining the torch into the trees, she carefully led them to a spot. "I can't go here, they might see us." Vanessa let her mother know. "Who's going to see us?" Fiona questioned. "Alright then". Carefully, she led them a little further into the forest and once again, found a spot.
"This will have to do. I don't want to go any further". She informed her daughter. Already, she was a little nervous of going this far into the woods. The crackling of the fire and the voices of the men around the fire were in the distance and out of earshot, even though she could still see the glow of the fire.
"No further, Vanessa". She called as her daughter walked a few more trees into the forest until she found the perfect spot.
As Fiona waited for her children to finish, the distant sound of rumbling came toward them. "What is that?" Vanessa asked, as she snuck up beside her mother. "I don't know". Fiona was worried, she had an uneasy feeling about something, but wasn’t sure what.
"Are you nearly finished, Tye?" She asked in a worried voice. "In a minute mum". Was his reply. The rumbling was becoming a little louder and then there was a bright flash of light through the forest as the Ute skidded around the dirt road and toward the campsite, where they came to a sudden halt.
They all sat in the Ute for a moment, three in the front and four in the back. They all sat quietly, staring at the men around the fire, while the seven younger men in the Ute drank.
Fiona couldn't hear what was being said, but she saw Shawn stand up and slowly approached the Ute. Tye had finished and was about to start walking back, but Fiona grabbed him. "No, wait a minute". Vanessa and her mother stood, watching as Tye wrapped his arms around Fiona.
There was a loud laugh from one of the seven men and then a deafening bang. Shawn fell to the ground and then there was another bang, a second before Phil blown onto the ground.
Vanessa let out a scream, as Fiona slapped her hand over her daughter's mouth to quiet her. She pulled her children to the cold ground behind the trees to hide them. Tears streamed down the daughters face and then the mother's.
Her heart had never beaten so fast or so loud and she had never known fear like this, before. If she was on her own, she would have collapsed into a fit of shock, but she wasn’t on her own and he had to keep it together for her kids.
Tye began to cry, as there was another shot. "I'm scared, mummy. I want daddy". She held her little boy close and held his head tight to her chest. "Shhh, just be quiet, just for a little while. Mummy won't let anything happen to you". Tye calmed down a little as she held him close.
Sitting up a little, just enough to peek through the bushes, she saw the 4WD taking off at top speed and also Phil and Janis' car. The sound of their only transportation disappearing made her heart sink.
Phil and Shawn remained where they fell to the ground and to Fiona's relief, Adam was still alive. One of the remaining men threw him to the ground and kicked him in the abdomen so hard that he rolled a couple of times, before being punched in the face.
The man reached into his jacket and pulled out a gun. He came close to Adam and took aim. More tears welled up in Fiona's eyes, as she felt powerless to save him. If she tried to stop them, they would kill her and the other two kids as well.
Another man said something and the gun were placed away. Bending, down he grabbed Adam by the hair and dragged him to the Ute, where he was thrown into the front seat.
Her tears slowed a little, as she felt there was a little glimmer of hope. Surely if they were going to kill Adam, they would have then and there.
The Ute pulled away and as it sped off into the distance, it was quiet. Fiona held her children by the hands and looked into their eyes. "Now listen carefully. I'm going to go and see if Daddy's ok. You both have to stay here, as still as you can be". Tye began to cry. "No. Don't leave us". He wrapped his arms around her neck. It pained her to have to leave them here for a few minutes, but she had to. There was no other choice.
"I won't be long. You hold onto Vanessa really tight until I come back." He loosened his arms enough for Fiona to be able to give him to her daughter. Vanessa grabbed Tye's doggy and placed it between them. "Now no matter what happens, don't come out, ok? I will come back." She slowly stood and her heart broke at the sight of her two children so frightened. She kissed them both and began to make her way out of the forest.
She shook with fear, so much that her legs and hands quivered. She had left the torch with the kids for comfort, because Tye didn’t like the complete darkness.
Her slippers tread silently as she slowly made her way toward the camp. Sweat beaded down form her face and underarms as she shook, both from the cold and from fear. She stopped and looked around. There was no sign of anyone around. She could once again hear the crackling fire and the falling water.
It was strange to think that only hours ago, she was happy. Her husband, the kids, the atmosphere of Dampier Falls. Now her life was about to change forever.
Realising that she was in no immediate danger at this moment, she ran as fast as she could to her husband's side. Her head wrested under his chin, as her tears came fast, flooding her face and his neck.
His warm blood saturated some of her hair, but she didn’t care. "No. This can't be happening". Fiona cried as she clenched his jacket. Raising her head, his chest was a mess. She hoped that it was instant and he hadn’t suffered.
Looking over at Phil, she quickly crawled over. Dirt covered the legs of her pyjamas as she forgot how cold it was. She held Phil's hand. They had shot him in the face, rendering him unrecognisable.
Fiona could feel her stomach churn and without warning, her dinner from earlier came hurtling up and onto the ground. Her mind and thoughts were a mass of confusion.
A gurgling sound startled her and she realised that it was coming from Phil and Janis' tent.
Scrambling to her feet, she catapulted herself to the tent. The door was unzipped and as she crept in, the smell of blood assaulted her senses. Blood had spattered all over the inside of the tent.
Janis lay there, still in her tent with half of her face missing. It was as if she could feel Janis' immense pain and fear. The huge wound from the gunshot was so bad that Janis couldn’t move or speak, just gurgle.
Fiona gently crawled up beside her and took her hand. There was nothing to say that was appropriate. Things weren't going to be all right and the gurgling was the sound of Janis drowning in her own blood.
She kissed the aged hand as her mother and law ebbed away. As a nurse, Fiona had been in the presence of people passing on, but this was different, this was her own family.
Placing the elderly hand down, Fiona was scared by the two lights that cut straight through the tent. The 4WD pulled up and two men's voices were heard. She laid down flat on the floor of the tent, really still, so that the lights shining through wouldn't detect her.
Two car doors slammed. Outside, one of the men approached Shawn's remains and rifled through his pockets and wallet. Taking money and the wedding ring off his finger.
"C'mon man, we shouldn’t even be back here." The one from the Ute called out. "Hang on, there might be somethin valuable 'round here". Fiona could hear him rustling through the pockets of Phil and Shawn. It wasn’t enough that they took their lives and her husband, but they had to also take their personal belongings.
"C'mon man" The friend in the 4WD impatiently prompted."Yeah, wait fuck ya" Was the reply. "I'm goin to check out the old bird. She's probably got something worth takin".
Her heart sank, and her pulse raced as she realised that he was coming to this tent. Her breath halted as she heard his footsteps coming towards the tent. He approached the opening and placed his hand on the unzipped flap.
The 4WD started up. "I'm goin. We already have anything that’s valuable from here." The friend in the 4WD yelled, meaning that they got the cars. "Yeah, whatever. But when we come back tomorrow to torch all this shit, I'm takin what I want". Letting go of the flap he stomped away. "Whatever. Just get in the car".
Driving off, the wheels spun and they were quickly out of earshot.
Fiona wasted not a second, once they had left. Scrambling around, she escaped the tent. The air outside was fresh, but the smell of death lingered in the air. The fire had begun to die down.
The mother chose to not look at her deceased husband and father-in-law, instead choosing to concentrate on the task at hand.
She ran to her tent and rummaged through their belongings, until she found Shawn's little backpack. Along with the pack, she scooped up some shoes and exited the tent, running back to where her children were in the forest.
Kneeling down, beside her frightened kids, she pulled off their slippers and began to put Tye's shoes on. Vanessa quickly tied her sneakers and it was then, that Fiona realised she hadn't grabbed her own.
A rumbling sound drew close and Fiona shook with fear. "What's in the backpack?" questioned Vanessa, noticing her mother's nervousness. "Essentials. It's…was your father's hiking pack". Her daughter fixed her eyes on her mother's bloodied hair.
The blood had begun to dry and was binding the ends of her blonde hair together. Fiona realised what her daughter was looking at. The colour had drained from Vanessa's face and her lower lip trembled as she asked; "Is that Dad's?" meaning his blood.
The rumbling grew extremely close and Fiona chose not to answer her daughter. Instead, she quickly pulled her hair up again, in an effort to hide the blood. But as she looked down at her pyjama top, she saw Shawn's blood on the front and knew whether the kids saw her blood stained hair, didn't matter.
The Ute tore around the bend of the dirt road and the bright headlights cut through the trees.
"They're back." Vanessa whispered as she began to shake. Without warning, Fiona tossed the pack on her back and grabbed her children's hands. "Run". Was all the mother could muster, disappearing deeper into the forest.
Chapter Four
All three of them, sat deep in the forest. Fiona with her arms around both of them. Tye and Vanessa were warm, but Fiona tried hard to contain her shivering. Since they had stopped running, she had cooled down a lot.
Vanessa and Tye had stopped crying and were feeling safe in their mother's arms. "What do we do now, mum? We could walk further and try and get a signal off your mobile". Her daughter suggested. "It was in the 4WD". She answered. There was a moment or two of silence and then Vanessa spoke again.
"Well, mum? What do we do now?" She repeated. Fiona knew that she needed an answer for her daughter, but she wasn't sure of what to say. She took her arms from around them and noticed that Tye was asleep. She gently laid him on the ground and he failed to wake.
Unzipping the bag, she rustled through it. There was a little first aid kit with the essentials in it. She pulled out the tiny razor sharp nail scissors and made sure that she tucked them carefully into the little pocket in her pyjama pants. "Well, first we wrest just a little bit and then we find the road and hope someone passes by". Vanessa wasn't satisfied with her answer. "What if no one comes along?" Fiona had a feeling that her daughter would ask that question.
In her mind, she knew that if no one came along the road, then they would have to walk, but she also knew she had to find Adam, leaving him wasn't an option and she knew what that meant. "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it". Was all she could bare to say.
She handed Vanessa some bandages, leaving one in the kit. "Keep it on you". She ordered. "Why?" She asked her mother as she shoved the bandage into her dressing gown pocket. "Just in case, and before you ask in case of what' I am saying, just in case".
Digging deeper to the bottom of the pack, she pulled out a lighter and slipped it into the pocket on the other side of her pants. She was relieved to have found a small water bottle that was full, a compass and a few other things that she felt may come in handy.
It wasn’t long before Tye was awake. "We have to get to the road". Fiona stated as she helped her son sit up and then they all climbed to their feet. She looked up to the moon and noticed that clouds were passing over, realising that there may be a storm on the way.
The air had become even crisper and Fiona was cold, she wished she had of grabbed her dressing gown, but it was now too late. "What if we get to the road and they see us?" Vanessa's question came out of nowhere. Fiona realised then, that it was a possibility and it was too dangerous for them all to go together. "We will hear that Ute coming, we will be fine". Fiona wasn’t confident that they would come across anyone, but she had to stay positive.
"Mum, do you think Adam is OK?" Fiona took her daughter's hand in her own. "I think he's still alive. I think they have him and we need to get him back." Vanessa felt a little at ease at her mother's words, even though she hadn’t really answered her question. She knew how determined her mother was and she believed that they would get her older brother back.
"But we have to start walking and you both have to keep really calm and do what I ask of you. Ok?" Inside, Fiona had never been more scared in her life, but the confidence in her voice was obvious. She knew that she had to make her children believe that they were going to leave here alive.
Tears rolled down Vanessa's cheek and Tye tightly clung to his mother. "Now here's what we will do. I am going to hide you both really well and I will head for the road. When it's safe, I will come and get you". She hurriedly walked with the children a little deeper into the forest.
Huge trees surrounded them. Fiona spotted a huge tree that was hollow. She turned on her flashlight and shone it inside. It was big enough for both the kids and the opening was just wide enough to climb in, so they wouldn’t be exposed.
"In here". Fiona knelt down to Tye's height. He trembled. "It's scary here. Why can't you stay?" He began to cry and Fiona was heartbroken. "Listen. I have to get help, but I have to make sure that you are both safe first." She calmly explained. "But we could come with you". Pleaded her trembling little boy. "No, honey, you can't. It's too dangerous. Vanessa won't let anything happen to you. Just stay really quiet and only come out when I come back".
Fiona stood to face her daughter, she held her hands. "I will come back, I promise. No matter what, I will come back for you." Vanessa knew by the look in her mother's eyes that she meant every word that she said.
Turning to them both, she held both their hands. "Now listen carefully. You are safe here, as long as you stay in there. I know this is scary, but we have to be calm and you have to do what I tell you". The children stopped weeping and calmed down. "I will never let anybody hurt you". She stated. "What if the bad men come back mummy?" Tye queried. "Then you play mouse and don't move a muscle". She ordered.
The mother motioned for her daughter to climb into the hollowed out tree and then she gently helped Tye in. he clung to her hand. "It's ok". He willingly let go and Fiona pushed the little pack in as well. "There is water and a few muesli bars in the pack. I may be a little while. If your legs cramp up, just stand up in there. Don't think about coming out, Ok?" Vanessa nodded in agreement.
"Mummy, it's dark in here". Tye complained. Fiona took her torch and placed it inside. "Make sure that this is hidden. If you hear a noise, turn it off. I love you both, be brave for me". She ordered them Inside, she was dreading walking away, but this was the best option. "I'll look after him, mum". Vanessa reassured.
Fiona gently pulled away from them and looked around. The moonlight was just enough for her to spot a bush. With great effort, she ripped it out of the ground. The tiny thorns stuck into her hands and fingers, like little razors, but she failed to notice as she turned to the hiding spot and frantically began to dig into the dirt with her bare hands creating a hole just deep enough to stick the bottom of the bush into. She filled in the shallow hole with dirt and stepped back a little, relieved that the bush was hiding the opening. She then looked around for a marker.
An old bottle caught her eye and she pushed it onto the end of a stick, upside down, placing it in the ground, a few trees away, so she would find the hiding spot when she were to return. The long stick swayed to and throws as she ran towards the roadway.
Chapter Five
Bats rustled in the overhead trees and then screeched as they flew away. The early morning air nipped at her face, neck and hands. As she ran, stray branches ripped at her clothes, scratching her skin. She could feel the stones and hard debris on the forest floor, through her flimsy slippers and her bedsocks.
It seemed as if she had been running forever, as she came to the dirt road that was on the outside of the forest border, leading away. Keeping to the edge, partially hidden by the large bushes and little trees, she walked.
Fiona could hear her own heartbeat and footfall, as everything remained silent. A strong breeze blew over, whipping the tops of the trees into frenzy and the temperature suddenly dropped. It was an eerie atmosphere. If the wind wasn’t blowing the trees and if the bats weren't screeching it would be dead silent. Death was present in the air and all around.
The faint sound of a car in the distance made her move quicker and closer to the roadside. Two headlights came into view and she knew that it wasn’t the Ute. "Yes. Yes". She excitedly cried to herself. They were all going to be saved. As it drew a little closer, she knew that it wasn't the men from the campsite.
Tripping over, as she scrambled to the road, she stood in the middle, waving her hands. It was a 4WD. As it came so close, it slowed, she realised it was her and Shawn's 4WD. "There's the bitch". One of the guys called out as they screeched to a complete stop and opened their doors.
Terror invaded Fiona's body as she launched herself back into the forest, trying to lead them away from where her children were hiding. A terrifying bang rang through the forest, sending the rest of the bats screeching from their trees. It was then that Fiona realised, she was being shot at.
Another deafening shot rang out, as a bullet drove itself into a nearby tree, only inches from her. "Man, I knew we should have bought the Ute. We could have put the spot lights on her". One of the men stated, as she other let out a loud laugh and tossed his empty beer can into nearby bushes.
"This is half the fun. The hunt is on". He quoted. They were unfazed that she had escaped and that worried Fiona. If they weren’t worried about her disappearing into the forest, chances were that they knew this place like the back of their hands.
So she ran as fast as she could, into the dark forest, until she was sure that they couldn’t see her. It was until she stopped to catch her breath that she realised how sore her hands were. Blood and dirt mingled together and as she stood there, her heart beating faster than ever before, she felt a raindrop and then another, until the rain fell steadily.
Getting caught in the rain, any other time would have bothered her, but it was a kind of relief, at this point in time. It would be less likely that they would hear her in the forest. She held her hands out, the water felt well on her sore hands, washing away the dirt and blood.
The rain fell in sheets and as Fiona felt that she had caught her breath, she began to run again. Suddenly the rain ceased and she was worried. Suddenly it was quiet again, except for raindrops dripping from the canopy of branches high above her.
Beneath her feet, the forest floor was drenched and it seeped through her slippers and socks, making it difficult to run. Slowing down to a complete stop, she began to cry. She didn’t know where she was going, she didn’t even know if she was being watched. But she knew that they must be around her somewhere. Maybe they have houses somewhere or maybe they were camped somewhere.
Off in the distance, the water cascaded over the fall and she knew then, that she wasn’t that far away from camp. Fiona was scared for them all. For her children that were hidden in the tree, for her stepson that was being held captive and then for herself. If they killed her, what would become of them all?
It was about twenty minutes later, that she realised she had slid to the forest floor and was laying in the wet, not realising that she had nearly drifted off to sleep.
It was the faint smell of campfire that raised her to her feet. The fire back at her families' campsite would now be out, so either there were other campers around, or it was their campfire.
Heading in the direction away from her children, the aroma of smoke became stronger. She seemed to be walking on an incline. Hearing voices laughing, she knew it was they. The male voices carried, but they were not clear enough yet to hear what they were saying.
Walking the incline became a little easier as it levelled out. A faint glow greeted Fiona's eyes. Keeping low, she changed direction and cut across, so she was closer. The waterfall was really loud now and it was clear that this campsite was sitting not far from the waterfall.
One of the men threw his empty beer bottle to the ground and jumped into the cab of the Utility. He revved the engine to a load roar and was going round in circles, mud flicking everywhere and with the exhaust blowing smoke. The other cheered as they drank.
Fiona took advantage of this noisy display to scramble up further and closer so she could see a little better. They were all there, seven of them. Then she counted an eighth. He was there; Adam was sitting on the ground, against a large log. His hands bound behind his back. His head drooping and then bobbing back up, trying hard to not fall asleep. His hair and clothes were drenched; they had obviously left him as it poured.
Adam sat, propped up against the log, trying to control his freezing body. He didn’t want to shake, or look up at them, encase it drew unwanted attention. His arms were aching, as he had been captive in that position since they had bought him here.
They had literally thrown him from the back of the Ute; he landed face first on the ground and had scraped his forehead and face. He had scrambled in a bid for freedom, but instead had been dragged by his feet to the log, where they had bound his hands behind his back.
Being stripped of his socks and shoes, they had been throwing knives at him, the knives sticking into the log inches from him. They were trying everything they could to break his spirit, but he had blocked it all out.
He had been informed that he would not get far without his shoes and if he tried, they would stick enough holes in his body to kill him.
So now, Adam had estimated, it would have been about an hour since they last paid any attention to him. Now he would wait. Be quiet, do as he is told and then make a run for it when they were to put their guard down. They had to sleep sometime and he would attempt escape them that was if he was still alive by then.
His dirty, damp hair hung over the front of his face; he could watch these men without them being aware of this.
The Ute stopped, and he got out. Adam looked at them through his hair and one of them was coming toward him. Adam's heart began to pound as the man pulled out a sawn off shot gun and stood before him, looking down at the boy.
He placed the mussel against the top of Adam's head. "You wanna die boy?" He growled, even from where he sat captive, he could smell the alcohol on the man. Adam tried to answer "No". But his trembling voice wouldn’t allow him too. "You deaf boy? You wanna hole in yer head? I said, do ya wanna live?" The man pressed the rifle harder against the teenage boy head, as he spat on him. "Yes". Slipped from Adam's voice, "Yes I want to live". He pushed out in a loud voice. The man hit the boy with the butt of the rifle, as hard as he could into the boy's mouth, smashing his front teeth.
Pain gripped the boy's upper and lower jaw as blood spilled out and he was thrown down to the ground. The pain was so bad; he buried his face in the dirt to hide his tears.
Another man came over and knelt down beside Adam, bringing with him a bottle of vodka. "We should keep this one. Make him a man. Might come useful". He grabbed a hand full of Adam's hair and roughly pulled him up to a seated position that he was in before. "How 'bout that son? You wanna live or die?" Adam's mouth was in a lot of pain, but he squeezed out the words, loud enough to be heard. "Live. I want to live". The man looked as though he was in his mid thirties. His teeth were rotten and the smell made Adam feel sick. The smell of body odour was over powering and Adam doubted if he had changed his clothing in the last six months.
"Good choice, son. But the minute ya cause trouble or try and escape I'll blow a hole in yer eye. Got it?" He pulled the boy's head back, so they were nose to nose. "Got it". Adam stammered.
The man let go of his hair. "Welcome to the clan, kid." He pulled a knife out from his jacket and roughly threw the boy face down, cutting the ropes from Adam's hands, releasing him.
Adam slowly pushed himself up, so he was once again sitting with his back to the log. His arms cramped up and he rubbed them, to make them feel a little better. "By the way kid, me names Ted, whats yours?" Ted demanded to know. "Adam". The teenager replied. "Lets do something 'bout those teeth, Adam". He grabbed a hold of the boys jaw and forced his mouth open, pouring the alcohol over the gums and down the throat.
Adam gagged and coughed from the overpowering taste of alcohol and blood mixed together. He pulled himself away from Ted and began to spit out broken bits of teeth and blood. "Don’t forget son, ya run from us, we kill ya. Nowhere ya can hide 'round here, we know this place well. That’s the oath ya know, in our family. You wanna leave, the others kill ya".
With that, both the men walked away, leaving the petrified sixteen-year-old sitting on his own.
Adam was going to do what he was told; he was even going to be a part of their group, for now. He was determined to escape, but now he was more determined than before that he was going to kill them, even if it was at the expense of his own life.
Chapter Six
Fiona was close enough now, to see clearly what was going on, but even though she could hear their voices, she couldn't quite make out the words. She had seen them point a shotgun at Adam and beat him. Fiona once again felt powerless, but at least he was still alive.
Scanning the site, there were a few small tents and some esky's. Fiona guessed that some of the men slept under the stars.
Further to the right, she could see her 4WD and her in-law's car. For a few moments, she fixed her eyes upon it, imagining the four of them driving away to safety in it.
Counting the men again, there was six, not seven. She counted them again and still, there were only six. Fiona felt uneasy; the Ute was still there, so none of them had left.
A blinding pain radiated through her skull, beginning from the back. Her vision blurred as she was knocked to the ground. Blood from the back of her head dribbled around to her face, dropped off the tip of her nose and into the dirt. Her eyes watered and her hands automatically came up to her face, smearing the blood. It was warm and slippery between her fingers.
Her stomach contracted at the sight and smell of her own blood.
Before she could push herself up from the ground, she screamed, as there was a great pressure on the back of her head. Someone took a tight grasp on her hair and began to drag her backwards.
She scratched and pulled at the hand attached to her hair, but it was futile. So she kicked her feet and pushed them firmly into the ground for resistance, but it didn’t work. Her slippers fell off her feet, leaving only the drenched socks.
Screaming in pain as her head ached worse than it had ever before, she was dragged across the forest floor, sharp fauna jabbing and scratching her skin, drawing a little blood.
Fiona screamed in terror as she was exposed to the rest of the party, including Adam. The man let go of her and she instantly jumped to her feet and tried to escape. Not knowing what was happening, her feet left the ground and she was harshly thrown face first onto the hard campsite ground, just as Adam had been.
Dirt invaded her nostrils and mouth, she convulsed into a coughing fit as she heard the words "Good one Ian" and then the others laughed. Again, he approached and grabbed Fiona's hair, this time at the crown of her head.
"You think we wouldn’t find ya Bitch?" This man was the tallest and most solid man that Fiona had ever seen. His dirty ruffled hair hung in his eyes, but he paid no attention to it. He tossed her against the log, where Adam sat, but so there was plenty of space between the two.
Adam watched everything, still keeping the thought that he was determined to kill them all. Inside he seethed with anger, wanting to stand up and do it now. But he knew it was best to wait. They had weapons and he had nothing. Now wasn't the time.
Ian knelt in front of Fiona, with his huge hand around her throat. "I know these woods like tha back of me hand. When I find those kids of yours, I'm gonna gut 'em like a pig". He paused and then continued. "We knew ya would come lookin' for him." He gestured toward Adam.
Tears ran freely down her face, as she now knew that they would be looking for her children. They had just used Adam as bait to lure her and it had worked. "You move a muscle and I'll do stuff to ya that ya aint never heard of". Ian roughly let her go and slowly walked over to the others. He grabbed a beer.
Adam and Fiona glanced at one another without moving their heads. They could both read one another's look and they both knew that they had to get out of this situation, quickly. They both took comfort in one another, even though they weren't sitting close to each other.
They both listened intently to their conversation, both of them too terrified to move. It was lucky that they spoke loud, because not far from where they were, the waterfall flowed.
"What do ya reckon, make him a man or what?" Ian suggested as he took a swig from his can. "Dunno. I was wantin this one for me. Prettiest I seen in a long time". Remarked Ted. It was that comment that made Adam and Fiona realise what they were talking about. A sick feeling rose inside of Fiona.
"You could still have her. We could all have 'er. Bit of a treat". One of the other's cut in. "First we gotta make him a man. Then we get a go". Fiona began to shake. "Run". Came Adams whisper. "Run now". She got up to run and jumped the log, but as she did, something hard hit her in the back, knocking her on her front.
Ted put his sling shot back in his pocket. "Always comes in handy". He remarked. Ian and Ted marched over to the pair. Ian roughly grabbed Adam. "Time to be a man, Son. You gonna love this". His hand wrapped tightly around the boys arm, lifting him to his feet, effortlessly.
Ted grabbed Fiona around the waist, picking her up, as if she were a weightless rag doll. As she steadied her stance, her pyjama top was ripped from her and her thin Singlet was all that remained on her upper body.
She crossed her arms over her breasts in a bid to cover them. "Touch her". Ted ordered Adam. He looked away from his stepmother in disgust. "I can't". He tried to inch away, but the men wouldn’t let him. "She's gonna die anyway, so will you if ya don't touch 'er". Warned one of the men.
Still, Adam couldn’t bring himself to touch her. They pushed him closer to her. Fiona glanced around, her face covered in blood, as well as her white Singlet. They were all around now "Just do it, or they'll kill you". She whispered. "Here that boy's? She wants it!" With that comment one of them made a grab for her breasts and then let go.
One of them stepped from the shadows and took hold of the boys arm, forcing him to touch Fiona's breast. Neither of them could look at one another. "There ya go. Isn't that nice. Gettin' along just great." This man was a smaller built man, a little younger than the others, with short, blond greasy hair. "Show em how its done Anthony". One of them jeered.
Adam's hand was allowed to drop from Fiona as Anthony approached the woman. "I can do one better. I can show em what happens if it aint done". Grabbing Fiona's hands, he forced on the crotch of his pants. She hastily pulled her hand away. "That does it for me too, luv" He laughed. "But watchin you too go at it will get me goin' more" She was disgusted at this mans words. Her fear subsided, with the acceptance of what was about to happen to her.
Now was the time to figure out how to escape afterwards. She knew that this moment was about to change her life even more, but she also knew that she would try and separate her mind from her body.
"Lets clean 'er up a bit". Was a suggestion and without warning, one of them had splashed beer in her face, stinging her eyes. It ran down over her Singlet, making it cling to her breasts. Again she folded her arms across her chest, even more self conscious than before.
The blood on her face thinned from the liquid and ran down her skin, but some dried blood remained.
One man stepped forward with a bright lantern. Anthony grabbed Fiona's arm. "Time to show ya what happens if ya don't let 'im do it". He gestured toward Adam. "Maybe we need a little privacy".
They sat the lamp on the damp ground, as Adam and Fiona were taken a little further away from the site.
Ian grabbed Fiona again around the throat. He shoved her backwards, causing her to trip over a log. Sitting up, she realised that it was no log. It was shorter and felt soft. If Adam could have been able to see Fiona's face properly, he would have seen how pale she had become.
The blood drained instantly from her face and her bottom lip trembled. Not knowing whether the tears were about to flood or not.
She was lying on her front, with her face in the opposite direction to Fiona. Her tears finally flowed as she gently moved closer to the woman. She was completely naked, her long Auburn hair, tangled with small twigs and natural debris.
Fiona gently touched the girls back. Her skin was icy cold and pale. Even in the low light, she could see that from her shoulders to her feet, she was covered in bruises and cuts.
She felt disgusted for this woman. Knowing what these animals must have done to her. She crawled to the other side and brushed the woman's hair from her face.
A wave of horror washed over her. This was no woman, but a teenage girl, no older than sixteen. Her face was all puffed up and bruised, her eyes were swollen shut and for a moment, Fiona envisioned her daughter lying there.
Snapping back her hand as a low moan escaped her swollen lips. One eye tried to open as tears escaped. Fiona lunged forward, touching her hair, not knowing how to comfort this tortured girl.
It was as if she was trying to whisper something. Fiona bought her face closer and the girl whispered again, with all her strength. "Leave. Run!"
Fiona screamed in terror, as there was a loud pop and the back of the girl's head splayed everywhere. Fiona panicked and frantically began to brush brain matter from the front of her as she sobbed loudly and uncontrollably.
Still sobbing, Fiona was hauled to her feet, as Ian kept a tight grip on her upper arm. Adam turned and vomited, not believing what he was witnessing.
Ted grabbed a hold of the boy and forced him to turn toward the corpse and his stepmother. Ian forced her to look at the young woman. "That's gonna be you. We had 'er for a week, if yer lucky we'll use ya up quicker".
Once again, Fiona had found herself on the ground, still horrified at what this girl had been subjected to. What she would never know is that this girl and her mother had broken down along that long stretch of road.
Before the women knew it, there was a Ute and they were forced into it. The two were separated, both subjected to the unimaginable, the daughter outlasting the mother.
They had stripped this girl of her clothing and then her dignity and as the teenager touched the small gold cross that hung from her necklace, Anthony had ripped it from her, taking away her faith and hope.
He had held the chain in his hand and to the girl, stated; "God can't help you, because he has forsaken you. No one can help you". Then he had thrown the chain.
Ian pushed her on her back and laid on top of her. Ted undid his pants. "We'll break 'er in for ya, son". Ian roughly groped and grabbed at Fiona's body, but she fought him with everything she had.
Reaching down to where she had concealed the scissors, Ian suddenly ceased and held his fist to her cheek. "Is this what yer lookin for?" She cast her eyes down and realised he was holding the scissors.
Suddenly inside, she was confident. "That’s exactly what I'm looking for". Grabbing his fist with both hands, in the matter of seconds, she had twisted his hand and pushed the scissors into her attacker's eyeball. She then proceeded to knee him hard in the groin. He rolled off, yelling and as this happened, Adam took a large, sharp rock and smashed it into the back of Ted's head.
Fiona quickly scrambled, until she got to her feet. Grabbing Adam's hand and pulling him towards her, she began to run towards the waterfall.
Ted stumbled around and took out his handgun. He began to take random shots at them as he held his other hand firmly upon the gaping wound. "We have to run". Stated Adam. "There's nowhere to run". Fiona replied as she gazed down at the dark, churning water. She knew that at any moment, the others would come running to see what was going on.
The shots came closer to them. Adam realised what she was considering. "We'll die if we jump from the waterfall." Adam commented with fear in his voice. "We'll die if we don't". She replied.
The shots were even closer now. Fiona kept a firm grasp of Adam's hand as they ran to the fall. "Hold your breath and don't tense your body," She shouted over the loud sound of gushing water.
More shots rang out, as the two took a running leap and disappeared into the water, angering their captors.
Chapter Seven
The running water pushed Fiona to the bottom. She was disorientated after going over the waterfall and as she opened her eyes and held her breath, everything was dark and silent. She felt as if she had been tossed around inside a giant washing machine. The back of her head was stinging from the wound, but it felt cleansing.
Using her hands and feet, she quickly moved upwards through the water, to the surface. As the water from the fall, hit the surface, it created a fine cold mist. In a panic she scanned the water in a bid to find her stepson.
It was dark and she was having trouble seeing him, but just as the worst was crossing her mind, she saw movement. Swimming over to the side, where the huge rocks were, he was draped over the boulder, half in and out of the water.
"Adam". She cried as she climbed out of the water, checking him over, pulling him completely out. She was relieved that she had found him. Blood ran from his upper arm and he gripped it, in pain. His body shook at the sight of his own blood and he was speechless. He tried to talk, but his words came out jumbled.
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