Chapter One
Things in Whiskey Bendwere finally settling down again.Snake had a new route as security for the farm and the area.The Misfits had lived through too many events in the last six months to just assume no one would trespass.
Walking along the river and back he used the alley between the city and the woods beyond.He made his loop twice a day, usually early morning and when darkness approached long after everyone was in their homes at the end of the day.
He loved the quiet around him and he never minded being alone.Sometimes he thought about the past on these walks.Often, it had been what he and his fellow soldiers had gone through while in the Middle East.Sometimes, he thought about the past he’d left behind to join the service.He grew up on the streets of Chicago.Things were getting bad in his neighborhood even all those years ago and he knew they were even worse now.He didn’t go back when he got out of the service as he felt like he had nothing left there to go back to.
After he turned eighteen and was working, his mom and stepdad died in a car crash.So, his family was gone.Just before he left, his best friend had turned his back on him, blaming him for being left alone after Snake joined the service.But no matter what he said, his friend just shouted that Snake was getting out while he couldn’t.Snake remembered that last day as he boarded the bus.
Jesse just glared at him as he watched him board that bus.Then at the last minute, he’d torn the bracelet from his wrist that they’d made for each other and flung it at him.“You ain’t worth it man, you’re walking away from me like I don’t matter.Well, you don’t matter to me now.”Jesse snarled.“Don’t come back here when you get tired of playing soldier.I’ll put a bullet in your head the next time I see you, brother.Oh wait, you ain’t my brother no more.”Then Jesse turned and walked away.
This scene kept running through his mind as today was the anniversary of the day he left home, eleven years ago.
With a sigh, Snake leaned against the stone wall behind him at the back of the local diner.He waited as darkness was settling in around the small town of Whiskey Bend.He would soon make his way back to the woods.
He just stood there leaning against the wall behind him.His thoughts were troubled as he wondered what had happened to his ex-best friend over the years.He wondered if Jesse was doing okay.That town was dangerous.Especially, in that area where they lived.
Suddenly, the back door opened and a young woman came out while carrying a huge bag of garbage.
Snake remained hidden in the dark part of the alley as he watched her with disinterest until a shaft of moonlight hit her bright hair.He paused and studied her for a long moment trying to recall where he’d seen that shade of blonde before, then his eyes widened in memory.“Della?”he called out softly.
The woman whipped around and when she saw him clearly, her eyes widened in fear.“Oh God, no.Not you!”She panicked as she moved back.
Snake frowned at her reaction and stepped toward her.
With a gasp, the young woman turned and ran away from him.
Confused, Snake just followed as he called out, “Della stop!Talk to me, why are you afraid of me?”
Della didn’t stop though, she just ran.
Snake followed her for three blocks.
Finally, she had to stop and lean on a parked vehicle to take a few deep breaths.But the moment she heard his step behind her she twirled around with a knife in her hand.She glared at him and growled, “Stay away from me, Jack.”
“What the hell are you doing?”Snake growled back.He motioned at her blade.“What the hell is that for?”
Della glared at him and snapped, “Most people use knives for protection and I’m no different.”
Snake shook his head.“Della, you don’t need to protect yourself from me.Hell girl, you know me.”
Della nodded.“Yeah, I knew you once upon a time, but that was a long time ago and the last time I seen you, Jesse was walking you to the bus you took to go into the service..After that, things went to shit fast for everyone you left behind, especially me.So no, I don’t trust you anymore and now I have to leave here because I can’t trust you to not inform Jesse where I am.I will never be found by him I’d rather die first.”
Snake shook his head while feeling perplexed.He exhaled and ran his hands over his head then he looked at her.Holding his hands out in a manner that should have told her he meant her no harm, he tried reason with her, “Look, I don’t know what went down after I left but the last time I saw Jesse, he threw his bracelet at me, saying we were no longer brothers.That I was walking away from everything that was supposed to mean anything to me, even him.I knew he meant it.But I just couldn’t stay in that fucking town one more day.I had to get out before it swallowed me whole and spit out my bones.”Shaking his head he admitted, “I haven’t seen Jesse again nor have I been back.What the hell happened after I left?”
Della stared at him for a long moment then exhaled slowly and shook her head.“When he came back home after that he was a different person altogether.He just shut down, like nothing mattered to him anymore.He even stopped talking to me...”She paused then whispered, “He was my brother, you know?But after seeing you off, nothing else mattered to him.Not even me.”
Silence filled the air between them.
Snake tipped his head back and sighed hard.Then he stared at her and noted her defensive stance while still holding the knife.Her actions and expression portrayed her readiness to run.“What happened that made you leave Chicago?You seemed to be fine with living there.”
Della shook her head slowly.“I never wanted to leave really.But after you left, things happened so fast I didn’t have a choice.Not if I wanted to be safe and live free, I didn’t.”
Snake stared at her and asked, “What the hell are you talking about?”
Della glared at him before she growled, “Oh, you mean you didn’t know?”
“Didn’t know what?”Snake growled deep in his throat.
