Chapter 26

A few minutes later, I pressed my body up against the brick wall right next to the building’s corner. I poked my head around it and saw one of the guards waiting in front of the door, rifle pointed at it, just as Cameron had said. I pulled my head back. “He's there,” I whispered to Josh. “You're good to go.”

I expected him to give me some sort of snarky comment about staying in the office, but instead he simply nodded and ran around the building. I heard a “Hey! Come back here!” and then Josh came back around, running like his life depended on it. A few seconds later the soldier came around the corner, not seeing me until it was way too late. I tackled him to the cool grass and pushed his face into the ground. “Get his gun!” I shouted at Josh. “We need to make sure—”

I was suddenly thrown back as the man pushed himself off of the ground. Before I could realize what had happened, his legs bucked out and he managed to kick my chest, knocking the wind right out of me. I staggered over and collapsed to my knees, taking short, pained breaths.

The soldier stood back up and pulled a knife from his belt. He stepped towards me as I clenched my fists and tried to get back up on my feet. It wasn't enough. All the adrenaline in the world couldn't get my lungs refilled that quickly. Still on my knees, I held my arms up as the man held the knife above his head, like a butcher, and pointed it right at me.

A deafening gunshot erupted right next to us. I fell back onto the grass and looked over, my ears ringing once again. Josh had the rifle in his hands and was pointing it at the soldier. I couldn't hear what he was saying, but his lips seemed to be forming the words “Drop it.” I looked back at the man. He still had the knife in his hands and was very much still within stabbing distance of me.

“How 'bou… drop… the gun…” I could partially make out what the soldier was saying to Josh. I turned my right ear—the slightly less-damaged one—towards him. “Then… let your friend here live.”

Josh didn't even blink. He held the rifle up along his eyeline, still pointing it at the man. Since when did he know how to use a gun? Was that something he'd been taught here? “That first shot was a warning,” he said. His voice was strong. “I'm giving you three seconds. Two. One.”

The man tossed the knife aside. “There. Now lower the damn gun, okay?”

Josh didn't move a muscle. “Josh,” I said slowly, my breath finally returning to me. “Why don't you put the gun down and we can go.”

He shook his head slightly. “Nah.” He motioned back to the man. “Hands above your head.”

The soldier raised his hands. “Come on,” I said. I got back on my feet. “He did as you said. He dropped the knife. We need to get going.”

“You know, this guy, he had all the power at this camp.” Josh pointed the rifle slightly higher. “He'd tell me to do one thing, I'd do it, he'd hit me for doing it.”

“Right. Sounds like a real dick, but you're free now—”

“But now I have the power, you know? I could make him do whatever I want. Drop and give me fifty. Sing at the top of his lungs. Hell, I could get him to suck me off, right here and now.” He chuckled. “But there's only one thing I really want, and that's for him to suffer.” He grinned and fired again.

Three vastly different shouts filled the air: the man, crying out in pain as the bullet hit his shoulder from point blank; Josh, as the gun recoiled and jerked his arms back; and me, at the sheer surprise of his actions. The solider fell to the ground, writhing in pain, while I clenched my teeth and waited for the ringing in my ears to stop again. Josh held the rifle firmly, and as much as I wanted to admonish him for fucking shooting a guy, I really couldn't blame him. I wasn't in much of a position to do it anyway.

From my pocket, the radio crackled. “Please tell me those gunshots were part of your plan,” Cameron said.

“It didn't hit us, if that’s what you’re asking,” I replied.

“That's good, cause now you got the last guy going around the building. ETA is fifteen seconds.”

“What side?” I asked.

“Right side. Ten seconds and you'll be seeing him. Can you handle him?”

“All good. Turns out my boyfriend is a fucking marksman now.” I nodded to Josh, and he held the rifle up, pointing it at the right corner. A few seconds later, the staff member came around, his own gun raised. Without hesitation, Josh fired. The guy was on the ground, screaming, before he could ever get a shot across.

I calmly walked over to the soldier, grabbed his rifle, and tossed it aside. “Bet you didn't expect things to be like this when you woke up this morning, did you?” He only gasped in pain and grabbed his bleeding torso.

I turned back to Josh and spoke into my walkie talkie. “Cam, are there any other staff in the area that you can see?”

“None, Trent. The only one I'd be concerned about is the guy who went into the building.”

“Copy that.” I walked around the building and in through the side door. The metal door leading into the basement was fully open. I shut it again and attached the padlock. “Okay, he's been dealt with.”

“And without any gunshots. For once.”

“Didn't you learn anything in kindergarten, Cam? Violence isn’t always the answer.” I walked back out of the building. Josh was waiting for me, still clenching the firearm. “And now, if you'll excuse me, I need to prove it.”

***

“Campers of Camp Freedom!” My voice echoed through the valley as I spoke into the microphone. On either side of me was a massive speaker, each one powered by its own generator. The Major sure did like to hear himself talk, back when he had been in charge. “I am hereby announcing that the staff who abused you, the Major who made you feel like you’re worthless because of who you are, and the camp that has ruined hundreds of lives, are no more!”

I'm not sure if I was expecting any cheers, but I didn't hear any. Still, I continued, “This means you are free to go, though before you do there is one last task required of you, and unlike all the other tasks you were given in this godforsaken hellhole, I think you’re actually going to like this one.” I looked over my shoulder at Josh, standing next to a large metal tank. He gave me the thumbs up. “See, I think we can all agree that this camp does not need to be escaped from as much as it needs to be destroyed. So, we’re going to leave a packet of matches next to the gas tank, and let you do whatever you feel must be done. Just avoid the admin building, as there are some people inside—the Major and his former acolytes, to be specific. Or maybe this will make you want to torch it even more. It's your call.” So long as it wasn't me or Josh committing the action, I was okay with it.

“One last thing I want to say, though—you are all beautiful for who you are. And maybe you don't always feel that way. Hell, I know I fuck up all the time. But God made you special, and you can't ever forget it. I hope that all those around you will be able to understand it, and even celebrate it, as well.

“Anyway, I'm out of here. If anyone asks, I never stepped foot in this camp and the violence and destruction was done by Bigfoot or something. Peace, guys. Over and out.”

I dropped the mic, sending a wave of feedback through the monitors. “Uh, sorry about that!” I shouted. I took a few steps, only to stumble again as the painkillers wore off and every punch, kick and hit I'd taken in the past three hours came back to me. Josh sidled up beside me and put his arm around my waist. Together, we slowly walked back to the main gates, which were now wide open. Cameron’s car was parked just in front of them, its driver half-leaning out the window, watching us.

We reached the car and climbed into the backseat. “You ready to go?” Cameron asked, turning the ignition.

“Oh no,” I said. “Why don't we stay here for another six hours and see what happens?” For that, Josh jabbed me in the side. I gritted my teeth to deal with the pain.

We were just leaving the gates when Cameron looked in the rearview mirror and said, “Uh oh.”

I turned and looked out the back window. The Major had emerged from the Admin building, looking like he'd just survived a bombing. There was a rifle in his hands. He looked right at me as he stumbled forward and threw the rifle aside.

“Stop the car,” I said. I was already reaching for the door.

“What?!” Josh screamed. “Are you crazy?”

“Are you actually asking me that, after all I've gone through to get here and get you out? I just need a minute.”

Cameron stopped the car. I opened the door and climbed out. Josh tried to follow, but I waved him away.

Despite all the pain he must have been in at that moment, the Major smiled as I limped toward him. “I knew you’d be a good soldier,” he said, his voice still strong. “It's a damn shame you decided to fight for the wrong side.”

“I'm not fighting for any side,” I said. “I just wanted my boyfriend back. And if you hadn't gotten in my way, your camp would still be intact.”

He laughed. “Strong, brave and cocky. I really do love it.”

“I don't care what you think.” I glanced back at the car. “It's over. For you, for your camp, for your mission. I’m sure you have a few friends who have been able to help you cover up your crimes up until now, but when your whole camp goes up in flames, you won't be able to hide what you've done.”

Another laugh, this one louder and longer. “Kid, if you think you know where this ends, you are sadly mistaken. This goes up so much higher than you can imagine.”

“As high as a Senator?” I asked. “Perhaps, I don’t know, Senator Brudin?”

His right hand twitched slightly. “You better watch your back. You've made some very powerful enemies today, ones that a kid like you has no business of making.”

There was an explosion to my left. In the corner of my eye, I could see one of the cabins going up in a ball of fire. “What can I say? I guess I'm pretty special.”

He laughed. “Cocky as hell. Boy, I wish I'd gotten you five years ago.”

“Guess you'll have to settle for all those other boys you had.” I raised my fist and flipped him off. “See you soon, Major.”

“Most definitely, Trent.” I was already walking back to the car. As soon as I climbed back in, Cameron gunned it down the tight, winding dirt road.

“What was that all about?” Josh asked.

“I needed a bit of closure.” As we climbed the hill, I could see plumes of smoke rising from the site. The campers were following my directions. I wondered if they were going to let the Major live. “But now that I have it, let's get out of here.”

Cameron picked up speed as we left the forest and hit paved road. I wrapped my arm around Josh and pulled him close to me. Then we kissed, starting light and then getting harder and heavier, until my tongue was nearly going all the way down his throat.

And if Cameron had been okay with it, I would have fucked Josh in the backseat, right then and there.