Pixie lets go of me and messes with her pants. Though I worry she’ll yank them off and run around bare ass, she isn’t a child. She understands rules, even if she hates them. That’s why I’m certain she’ll do as I tell her when we get to the Village.
PIXIE
As we return to the Village, the black car—called an SUV—is surrounded by big bikes. Anders keeps glancing at me in the seat next to his. He’s nervous. I am too. I woke up feeling as if Mama might be in her next story. No matter how strong, she can’t fight the demon guns.
“Mama,” I whisper as we arrive at the Village’s front gates.
“Don’t leave the car,” Anders tells me again.
“What if Mama is dead? Will you get Dove and Future?”
“I’m taking your family with us.”
Nodding, I want to tell him how he is so strong and special. But Anders is in his angry bear mood, and I worry nice words might upset him.
Holding a demon gun, Jeffiko stands at the gate and refuses to let us inside. The biker men have many more weapons. I see a few of them point theirs at the single man at the gate. Anders touches his demon gun between the seats.
“Don’t,” he says when I put my fingers on it.
“I need to have a weapon. I can shoot them in the face,” I say, touching myself where the bullet erased Myles’s eyes and nose yesterday.
Anders flashes a panicked look at me. “You’re going to get killed, and I’ll never have a honey. Why can’t you just do what I say?”
“Because I have feelings of my own,” I mumble.
“Please, Pixie, let me handle this. I swear I’ll do right by your family.”
My heart cares so much for Anders, but I can’t be in chains to his will. I have to protect my family and tell people no. If I’m not me, I’m not anyone.
But I don’t know how to fight all these angry people. I can’t work the demon gun. There’s a button on it that makes the bullet come out, but I don’t understand how that works. Anders does, and his friends do. Mama says to know when to bow. I will do that today at the Village—for my family and Anders.
The Executioners make their bikes loud enough that I have to cover my ears. Finally, Jeffiko backs down and opens the gate. He shouldn’t be helping John Marks, anyway. Jeffiko’s family is as hungry as mine. Why doesn’t he use his demon gun on that fat man stealing our food?
A few big bikes roar past Anders and me. The SUV bounces on the rocky road leading to the Village. I wrap my arms around myself and press my lips together. No yelling or jumping out of the car. I’m going to bow, while Anders and his big friends handle the dumb tyrant and his brainless toadies.
“I’ll roll down my window, so you can hear what’s said,” Anders whispers as the SUV stops moving. “That doesn’t mean you should jump out or help with the conversation.”
“I’m not a kid.”
“Prove it.”
Though I frown at him, Anders doesn’t see me since he’s busy getting out of the SUV.
Nearby, several brainless toadies hurry to face the Executioners. Most are young men who believe they’re regaining the glory stolen from them. Except the Village has always been poor. Our crops are never enough to feed the community. Every winter I’ve been here, people struggled to survive.
Yet, these young men believe they can defeat a hardened enemy. I notice them fumbling with their demon guns. Meanwhile, the biker men show no fear. Yesterday, Myles shot at Anders first, yet the younger man is the one living his next story. The Volkshalberd can’t win against the Executioners.
Gunther hurries over and gestures for the younger men to lower their demon guns. The male guide believes in the old ways, including how the Village shouldn’t fight larger forces like the government or the Executioners. Gunther no longer gets a say, though. Not since the witless tyrant came along and wanted guns.
I hear Bronco talk about how the biker men will take demon guns instead of money. Gunther doesn’t know what to say. He isn’t the torch bearer and can’t decide. John Marks should speak to Bronco, but he’s afraid. I’d laugh in his ugly face if I weren’t so scared for my family.
“We will inform our torch bearer of your offer, Mister Parrish,” Gunther says to Bronco.
“John Marks is going to get you all killed,” says the biker man. “I hope his leadership is worth your dead families.”
A very nervous Gunther still doesn’t know how to respond. The young men are playing with their demon guns. The Executioners begin roaring their bike engines. I want so badly to speak up and ask about Mama. Instead, I keep my mouth covered, so I won’t forget to stay quiet.
Once the younger Volkshalberd lower their weapons, Bronco signals his men to quiet their engines.
“Before we go, we want the girl’s family,” he says. “Get them out here, so we can leave.”
“I can’t agree to such a thing without a discussion with the torch bearer.”
“Is my girl out there?” Mama yells from farther in the Village.
As my heart leaps at the sound of her voice, I scoot closer to the front window.
Gunther notices me and points. “You took a member of our community. That wasn’t part of the punishment set forth months ago.”
“Shut the fuck up,” Bronco mutters. “Is that her mother?”
Mama rushing forward. I feel sick at the sight of bruises on her beautiful face. Future is wrapped in her arms. Mama drags a weak Dove along. As they get closer, I see my mama’s swollen lip. Clenching my hands, I want to punch my enemies.
“Where’s my girl?” Mama asks Anders. “You took her.”
The grand sequoia remains silent against my mother’s anger. He only gestures to the car. I wave at Mama.
“Come out, Pixie.”
Shaking my head, I wave for her to join me. Mama refuses to get into this SUV or go with these biker men. She wears the same expression as when the government men came to our commune and killed Papa.
“Give her back,” she growls up at Anders. He doesn’t speak, though Bronco tries. Mama waves him off. “You took my girl.”
I promised Anders I would remain quiet, but I see the young men playing with their guns again. I also notice Bronco’s shoulders getting tight like when Anders is upset. Mama won’t bow.
I open the door, drawing everyone’s gaze to me. Stepping out, I look right in my mama’s fair blue eyes. I find fear and rage storming inside them.
I think of how Anders said the people at the Village should rise up against Marks. If the Volkshalberd were hungry enough, they would fight. I don’t know if that’s true. But in case he’s right, I choose my words carefully.
“Mama, food,” I say in my strongest voice. “We need to eat.”
I don’t know if those words will stir up anger in the hearts of the Volkshalberd against the torch bearer and his toadies. I do know Mama’s resolve cracks. She looks at a limp Future in her arms. Even when he hears my voice, my brother can’t lift his head. Dove seems ready to collapse. Mama pretends to be a rock, but I see how she struggles to hold Future.
“Come, Mama,” I say, waving for her to move toward the car.