<°)))><

Perdu used up some energy getting back to the car but still felt chilled as she drove away from the shambles at that shack. She headed in the opposite direction from which she’d come and drove until she collected her thoughts.

The drive took her further into the damp Jurassic type world. She pulled over and looked at her dashboard clock. Mid-afternoon, and it was already getting dark. It must be the large ferns and trees blocking out sunlight. She half expected to see a dinosaur head appear through the shrubbery. Chilled even more, she turned on the heating and ramped up the noisy fan.

Now sufficiently warmed, she turned down the fan. Good. She could hear again. She saw a number of large black birds circling something. Vultures? Were there vultures in Australia? She didn’t think so. She could just make out a rumbling sound—it must be the rubbish tip, and the birds were crows. There must be another access road, as she couldn’t imagine rubbish trucks trekking this narrow road.

She’d passed an elevated house not far from the shack. It was for sale, looked vacant, and offered a good vantage point. The driveway came just after the For Sale sign and she turned into a lengthy driveway with numerous pot holes. She got out of the car and did a quick scout around and confirmed that the property was vacant. The view over the shack and its property was even better than she expected.

She saw some defence personnel darting around. They must have come in by helicopter. The sound of its arrival would’ve been well camouflaged with all the racket that had been attacking her senses.

Ah-ah-ah-aaaah

She looked up to see a few of the birds had decided to check her out. They landed not far from her vehicle, some on the ground, others sitting on a fence post. Why were there crows here? Do they think she was going to cark it?

Ah-ah-ah-aaaah

They were squawking loudly. She was tempted to shoot them. She walked over to shoo them off.

Ah-ah-ah-aaaah

She returned to her viewing spot. A soldier carrying a pink backpack was a site to behold. She could just see the tail end of the helicopter. He was heading in that direction and the technology was going with him. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. A strategy realignment needed to take place.

Ah-ah-ah-aaaah

Her gun was pointed at a crow. Her finger on the trigger. But she relented and turned her attention back to the shack.

A police car had arrived at the scene. Her view of the car was partially covered but using her binoculars she saw Isabella’s friend being escorted to the back seat. Isabella must already be in the car. Why weren’t they being transported in the helicopter? She’d no time to reason that out as the police vehicle would leave soon.

Ava rushed back to the car and started the engine. She wanted a head start on them.

Although professionally trained to manage her emotions, Ava considered her innate survival mechanics were complex, particularly her desire for revenge. Maybe her training had helped develop this thirst for vengeance. She knew not satisfying the desire was making it grow. She felt it—something was trying to burst out. She would do away with the girl and face the consequences later. Anthony and Ava would survive. Comfortably, in fact.

Why do things pop in your head? Thoughts of her dad. Why now? She hated him. He was a pig of a man. A violent man. Maybe that fed the vengeance. Next, thoughts of her mother came in. Such a miserable and depressed person, no doubt because of the miserable life offered by her husband. Ava often wondered how she survived her mother’s lack of care for her. But that lack of care probably made her what she was now—she didn’t need anyone to look out for her.

A small pothole brought her back to reality. She was back on the narrow dirt road. She had a plan and it was about finding the right place to execute it.

It did not take long to find. A blind corner, the view ahead completely obscured. She just hoped appropriate material could be found there.

Her strategy was now realigned.

41 – The accident

LUCAS STARED OUT THE WINDOW. He already missed Bella. The police officer in the front passenger seat reminded him of her. Was his ego trying to comfort him by seeking familiarity?

Drizzle made tracks on the windscreen. The wipers came on.

The police officer turned around to talk to Lucas. Her hair and style was the same as Bella’s. The ego was still at it. Was he imagining this lady looked more like Bella than she really did? His mind was racing.

“You . . . “

Streaks of green lights flashed through the car. Lucas felt like dirt had been thrown in his eyes, a brief burning sensation. He was shoved violently as the car swerved. Lucas got a quick glimpse of something on the road. A log. Or something like that.

There were screams.

He undid his belt. He tumbled.

An explosion.

Darkness.

<°)))><

Perdu stood at top of the road. Far too steep for her to climb down. The car’s descent was halted by a large tree but had still travelled some eighty metres down the embankment.

One of the rear doors was open and buckled. The force of impact against that tree must have been significant. Among the steam and smoke, she could make out that the front of the car was mangled. The air bags had blown but by the angle of the bodies she doubted the occupants would have survived.

She scanned the scene with her binoculars. She could see little in the tangled mess. She got a glimpse of a head in the front seat, a woman with dark hair. Isabella? Would she have been sitting in the front? Country police could be a bit more relaxed with protocols. Isabella wasn’t a wanted criminal. Chances were high that it was her but Perdu wasn’t one hundred per cent sure. But the chance of survival was slim even in the rear seat.

She looked at the timber log. It had been dragged some distance before the car started its plunge. She would leave it, as it was all part of the accident. The laser beam she shone into the car would have temporarily blinded the driver and sent the car over the cliff anyway. The log just painted a different picture—her timing was immaculate.

Perdu smiled at her handiwork. And then came the explosion. Yes, they were all dead.

<°)))><

A loud noise woke Lucas. Layers of green, with blue filtering through—he was lying down. A warm flow of air brushed against his face. He touched his cheeks and then rubbed his forehead. There was a bump, he touched it gently. It was tender. He shook his head, hoping for clarity. On his knees, he turned and stared at the orange glow filtering through the surrounding bushes. It was a vehicle, and wasn’t far from him. A rear door was open. Had he come from there? Where was he? Who was he?

He smelled rubber. And then heard another bang; more like a loud pop. Tyres exploding?

Confused, he stood up and brushed dry grass and leaves from his trousers. There was a slight rip in the fabric covering his right shoulder. He placed his fingers in the tear and established he had only a surface cut. What had happened?

He looked up from the vehicle. The breeze was blowing smoke up towards what must be the road. Through patches of smoke, he was sure he could make out someone standing up there.

“Hey!” Lucas yelled—or tried to yell. His voice was hoarse. “Hey, you up there.”

He watched as the person turned and started to walk away before pausing and turning back. Did they hear him? As the smoke cleared, Lucas was able to make out that it was a woman. At least, he thought it was. Or a small-framed man. The hair was jet black with some kind of streak in it, short with a large flap to the side.

“Hey, down here.” He tried to shout but his throat was dry and it only came out as a rasp.

The person shrugged, turned, and walked off.

Disappointed, he staggered towards the vehicle, pushing shrubbery out of the way. It was a police vehicle. The heat was intense, and the smell unpleasant, and he couldn’t get close because of the thick smoke and fumes. The front of the vehicle was on fire, and there was no movement from inside the car. Judging by the front of the car, they may well have died in the collision, but if not the toxic fumes would have finished them off. He shook his head, confused. He backed off. There was little he could do for the occupants.

He walked away from the vehicle. A moss-covered log lay amongst the ferns. He sat down. No more creaks or groans from the vehicle. Silence. An eerie silence. No signs of civilisation, except the vehicle. He looked around and his thoughts drifted to those who came before. He sensed or wanted to sense the presence of the original land owners.

He stared towards a clump of trees. A mist rode in from somewhere. A figure stood between the trees. A tall, lean, dark man with long black curly hair—woolly or fuzzy would be a better description—smeared with red paint and draping both sides of his head. He was barely clothed and held something in his right hand: a long thin stick, obviously a spear.

Lucas stared. Not fearful because he sensed it wasn’t real. But then a darkness came up behind the figure, who turned and abruptly vanished. From the darkness came eyes like embers of coal, moving forward. Lucas was now afraid. He stood up and tried to locate a weapon but the ember eyes disappeared. The mist rolled out.