Ryan Westfield - Staying Alive

Max considered it.

Georgia had every reason to stay with him. She knew, as well as he did, that Sadie and Mandy had a better chance of avoiding capture if the men in the Bronco died. If Max went alone, and died without killing them, they’d still be on the hunt. They’d be more energized than before, more willing to do whatever it took to get what they’d wanted all along. Sure, it would give Sadie and Mandy a head start, but how far could they really get on foot?

The best case scenario would be if Max could stay behind to fight, letting them continue on in the van. But there wasn’t a situation where that would be possible.

“OK,” said Max. “Georgia and I will go in the van. Everyone else, we’re going to drop you off, and you’re going to run.”

“This is crazy,” said Mandy.

“It’s the only way,” said Max.

“I’m staying too,” said James.

“You’re going to stay with your sister, James,” said Georgia. There was finality in her tone. James knew enough not to argue. “She’s going to need someone to protect her.”

“I’ll stay then,” said Chad.

“It’s better if you go, Chad,” said Max. “You can protect them. James and Sadie are just kids. Sorry, James.”

“I’m not letting you two stay to die,” said Mandy.

“Who said anything about dying?” said Max. But he knew in his heart that the chances of him and Georgia surviving this were slim. But at least with the two of them, they’d most likely be able to kill the Bronco men too. They’d go down fighting.

“What goes for Chad goes for you too, Mandy,” said Max.

“Where should I pull over, Max?” said Georgia.

“Next curve,” said Max.

The atmosphere in the minivan was frantic.

“Mom, you can’t do this,” Sadie said.

“Take good care of her, James,” said Georgia. It sounded like she was trying to keep her voice steady, trying to keep herself from crying.

“Take food and guns with you,” said Max. “And water. Nothing else.”

They weren’t moving to get ready. They were stunned from Max’s plan.

“Come on!” shouted Max. “Get a move on it! When we pull over, you’re getting out. You’re only going to have thirty seconds to clear the van and get into the woods to cover. If they see you, the plan is over.”

That got them moving, scrambling around.

Max’s tactic was to shock them into movement, to get them to do something that they didn’t want to do, but something that would save their lives.

“Everyone ready?” said Max.

James knew the deal. He had sprung into action, and was moving around the van, distributing things.

“We’re close to the Ohio border,” said Max. “There’s a little town on the other side of 90, in Pennsylvania, called Albion. Head there. If we make it, we’ll meet you there, at the old granary outside on the edge of town.”

Albion was the only place Max could think of. He’d been there once, long ago, as a kid on a trip with his parents and his brother. He remembered that old granary for some reason.

Albion was as good of a place as any to meet. It was close to the big interstate, which would be easier to find than any other landmark. If they all lived, they could continue on over the border to Ohio.

“If you make it?” said Sadie. She was crying.

“Come on, Sadie,” said James. “We’ve got to get ready.”

“We can’t leave Mom and Max.”

“It’s going to be OK, Sadie. Everything’s going to be fine,” said James.

The minivan had just rounded the corner. The Bronco wasn’t in sight.

“Now!” shouted Max.

Georgia slammed on the brakes. The van jolted to an unpleasantly harsh stop.

“Go!” shouted Max.

James got the door open and was moving everyone out. He had to tug Sadie to get her out.

“Take care of them,” said Max, speaking to no one in particular. They were all responsible for each other.

They all had their rifles in their hands. They had some food with them. Just a little bit. It’d have to be enough. They had water. They’d make it. Max knew it.

Georgia already had her foot on the gas. They were moving. Fast. Max slammed the sliding door closed.

It was just Georgia and Max now. It was all up to them.

James, Sadie, and Chad had already disappeared into the trees, out of view. Mandy was partially visible. Max looked at her through the rear window of the minivan. He couldn’t tell, but it seemed as if she was looking at him. Then she disappeared.

Good, thought Max. They were out of sight.

They were barreling down a straightaway. Behind them, the Ford Bronco appeared.

“They’re back,” said Max. “Everyone got away safely.”

“So what’s the plan?” said Georgia, from the driver’s seat.

“We’re going to have to wing it.”

“You know you don’t have to do this, right, Max?”

“I know,” said Max.

He was watching the Bronco through his binoculars. The plan seemed to have worked. They hadn’t spotted the minivan stopping.

“We’d better lead them a little farther down,” said Max. “Give Mandy and everyone a chance to get a move on it.”

He noticed that he’d said Mandy’s name and no one else’s. But there wasn’t time to wonder about what that meant.

Georgia drove fast along the tree-lined rural road.

Max was busy getting himself ready. He checked to make sure he had his knife and his flashlight. He tightened the laces on his boots. He checked his Glock and his rifle.

“You have any family, Max?” said Georgia.

It seemed like a strange question, considering the situation. But she must have been thinking about James and Sadie, and what would happen to them if something happened to her.

“A brother,” said Max. “Estranged, though, I guess you could say.”

Georgia didn’t say anything.

An idea suddenly came to Max. His mind was racing with possibilities, but only one seemed like it would work well.

He was going to have to get underhanded. He was going to have to fight dirty if he wanted to survive. That was OK. This wasn’t the time for honor or principles. This was the time for staying alive, at whatever cost.

“These guys are in it for the fun,” said Max. “I’m going to give them what they want. Pull the van over.”

“Pull over? Are you sure?”

“Yeah,” said Max. “I’m going to challenge them to a fight. Man to man. Hand to hand.”

“Why would they do that? They could just shoot us. It’d be easier.”

“I’ll tell them that if they win and kill me, you’ll tell them where the girls are. Plus, they’re going to like this. If I read them right, they’re in it for the chase, for the adventures. They’re sickos. This’ll be right up their alley. Killing a man in hand to hand combat isn’t something most relish. It’s despicable. But these guys, I can see it in his eyes, this is what he’s been waiting for. He won’t pass up a chance like this.”

Georgia slowed the van down, eventually stopping.

In the pack taken from the farmhouse attackers, Max took a Ka-Bar combat knife and its sheath. It was a thin sheath, and Max was able to stuff it into the laces of his boot. He made sure his pant leg covered the boot, making the knife invisible.

“We’re going to play dirty,” said Max. “I want you to be ready with your rifle. Don’t hesitate to shoot if the moment’s right.”

“I can’t get them both,” said Georgia. “I’ll be able to take one out, and the other one will kill you.”

“Wait until the moment’s right then,” said Max. “And don’t let them see the rifle.”

Max slid open the minivan door.

“Max,” said Georgia.

“Yeah?”

“Thanks.”

Max gave her a stiff nod and stepped out onto the road.