Gas Mask Girls Issue #5

A tense silence echoed through the large chamber. The shock of the sudden change caused everyone to freeze, but only for a moment. With sudden motion, all the settlers reacted, several rifles coming to bear on Gamble and Doze, cries of dismay and questions echoing from the bystanders.

Michael reacted quickly, hands raised in supplication to all parties involved. “Okay, let’s everyone just pause for a second. No one do anything permanent here. Let’s talk, we can figure this out.”

He slowly walked forward, gesturing for his people to lower their weapons. “Brandon is new here, like you. He came to help, like you. If you have a cause against him, let’s talk. Let’s resolve this peacefully.”

The man on the ground groaned softly, his shattered knee had to be killing him. Doze did not move her pistol at all. It remained firmly pressed against his head. Well at least she hadn’t pulled the trigger, Gamble thought.

“I don’t know who this man told you he was, but his name isn’t Brandon,” Gamble said, staying close to her friend. She was worried if she stepped back Doze might follow her desire and something “permanent” would be done. She knew she was a calming force on Doze, so she stayed near her. She lowered her bat though, a sign to the others she wanted to talk.

“His name is Damien, Damien Harris. But his “friends” call him Raz, cause he likes using a razor on people. Ain't that right, Raz?” Gamble loomed over the fallen man, the venom drip from her words was clear to everyone.

“I don’t know what they are talking about, Michael!” Damien, or Brandon, said writhing in pain on the ground. “I’ve never seen either of these two people in my life! They’re crazy!” He looked sincere, Gamble would give him that. He had always had an innocent-looking face, but Gamble and Doze had seen the victims of his handiwork. They knew that clean, cut boy scout visage hid a deeply disturbed monster.

Michael paused, inclining his head, and stared intensely at the man on the ground. The air grew quiet all around, the only sound was the heavy breathing of Damien. “Well that can’t possibly be true,” Michael said moving forward again, walking over to where the fallen man lay. “You recognized them, the look of fear on your face was obvious. You practically flew as you turned to run.”

Damien cursed quietly, the pain and shock of the sudden change in events clearly throwing him off. “I mean, yeah, okay, I know them. They're with the raiders! They’re here to betray you.” He was now sweating heavily, and not just due to the pain.

It was now Michael’s turn to loom over the prone figure. “Either you aren’t very good at lying, or you’re in a lot of pain right now. Cause you’re not really believable at the moment, and you REALLY want me to believe you right now. Trust me.”

It was like a switch went off and Damiens's countenance completely changed, the innocent wide-eye stare disappeared and a bitter smile replaced it. The malice behind his eyes shocked Michael who stepped back in surprise. “All right you got me,” Damien admitted, realizing he had panicked in the shock of seeing the two girls and then the pain of Gamble’s well-placed kick. “Fine, either get me some meds for my pain or leave me alone, either way, I have nothing to say.”

“Oh really?” Michael stepped forward again. “That’s what you may think now, but you’re going to change your mind. I have questions that need answers.”

“Look, you and your people are the sheep. The sheep don’t threaten the wolves. It’s just not in your nature. My advice? Give Bloodstorm what he wants and it will be easier on you. One of the things he’s going to want is me back in one piece.”

“Bloodstorm?” Michael laughed out loud. “I still can’t get over people adopting these stupid nicknames. It’s like they all watched too many movies. But I guess you’d know all about that, wouldn’t you, Raz.” The sarcasm dripped from his voice, but Damien just sneered in response.

“What? You think their names are really Gamble and Doze?” Damien challenged gesturing to his assailants.

Michael looked back at the two girls with a look that clearly asked, “Really, that’s your names?” They nodded, Gamble somewhat sheepishly. Michael shrugged and then looked back at Damien. “Funny, hadn’t gotten to their names before you interrupted us. But I guess those are better than Bloodstorm.” He snorted.

“But I wasn’t kidding about those questions and I wasn’t kidding about you wanting me to believe you. You call me a sheep, fine, but there’s one thing I take very seriously, protecting my flock. Very seriously.” As he spoke he leaned down slowly but surely, resting his weight on Damien's busted knee. Damien cried out, cursing in pain and thrashing uselessly as Michael lowered himself down to look him in the eyes.

“It’s true, I’m a nice guy, Damien. People always say that. “Michael, you’re such a nice guy.” I heard that all the time before it all ended. You know I used to be a dentist? Before everything fell apart. A dentist. Remember those? I had a good practice, Happy Smiles. Seriously, that was the name. I was so proud of that place. We were looking to expand to a new location. All seems so pointless now.” He continued to press down on Damien’s knee despite the profanity and protests from the man beneath him. Damien was really sweating now and squirming under the pressure.

“But you know, I still have my tools, and I really know my way around teeth. It’s not always a useful skill since Captain Yellow changed everything, but it still comes in handy from time to time, just not in the same way though. I mean I still help out with the occasional cavity, but x-rays and cleanings aren’t really all that high of a priority. But I’ve sadly found other uses for my skills. I’m not proud of it, but as I mentioned before, I protect my flock.”

“You’re bluffing!” Damien protested, fear beginning to dawn on him as he realized he may not be as safe as he thought.

“I’m not Damien, I’m really not,” Michael shook his head. “Susan!” he called out to someone in the group gathering behind them. “Will you please go get my bag from my desk?” A woman darted off down a corridor. “Will and Sandy, can you drag our new friend Damien down to the cool-off room? Don’t worry about being too gentle with his leg.”

Two larger settlers stepped forward and grabbed Damien from under his arms and by the legs. He cried out as they lifted him like a sack of potatoes and unceremoniously carted him down a different corridor.

Michael stood back up and looked at Gamble and Doze. “Well,” he began. “This will be some nasty business. I’m sure you have both been hardened by now as travelers…but still, no reason to watch things you don’t have to.”

Doze stepped forward following the departing Damien. Gamble knew Doze would want to witness some justice against this man, but Gamble stopped her, “Maybe he has a point Doze. Besides, we need to get something to eat.”

Doze paused, looking at Gamble, desire for revenge warring with the knowledge that Gamble did not like this part of their reality. “It’s a broken world, but it doesn’t have to break us.” How many times had she heard Gamble say that? And truth be told, she worried sometimes that hunting monsters like this man was changing her. She finally nodded and turned to Michael. “He was following a man named Akuto before he was with this Bloodstorm character. Please find out what happened, and where Akuto went. He has my sister.”

Michael nodded wearily. The weight of what he had to do clearly pressing on him. “Sure, I will ask him. And we owe you both a debt. He was probably sent by the raiders to spy and sabotage before the attack. Had you not revealed his true nature, he probably would have succeeded. I’ll find out about your sister. Get something to eat.”

As he turned away in resignation and began to follow the others Gamble grabbed his shoulder to stop him for a moment.

“Michael, he’s a bad man. Doze and I saw plenty of his handy work in our travels. If he’s a wolf, then he’s a rabid one. There’s no guilt in putting him down.”

Michael shrugged and pulled away, but then stopped. “Thanks for that,” he said looking over his shoulder at the two. “But I’m going to feel guilty all the same.”

Gamble and Doze watched him go in silence, the anger radiating from Doze was enough dialogue for the both. After a bit, Gamble stored her bat and started in the general direction Michael had gestured when mentioning food. “C'mon Doze, things will look better on a full stomach.” Doze hesitated a moment then followed.

The settlement was surprisingly well-equipped. It had clearly been quite the operation before the disaster. A large cafeteria was just off the main entryway and the two were able to get a hot meal. It was stew, of course. “Perpetual stew” Doze always called it. Stew had become the ubiquitous meal of the apocalypse. Gamble figured it was easy, didn’t require as much meat, and boiling stuff before you ate it just seemed like a good practice these days. Besides, it was warm and the world was cold. Both of them gratefully accepted bowls and ate in silence.

Surprisingly the stew was actually quite good tasting and after half a bowl Gamble felt a returning desire to talk with Doze. One look told her Doze was not ready yet. She would brood for a while. Anything regarding her sister set her to brooding. Gamble could understand the anger but felt it was unconstructive. Of course, saying that to Doze would be VERY unconstructive. So they ate their stew in silence and later were directed to a small abandoned office room when they asked for a place to sleep.

The next morning Gamble was surprised to smell baking bread as she awoke. Fresh bread? How long had it been since she’d had something like that?

“At least since Houston,” Doze answered, reading her friend's thoughts. “Maybe coming here wasn’t such a bad idea after all. Information on Akuto and fresh bread? This is shaping up better than I expected,” she laughed bitterly.

Doze and Gamble headed to the cafeteria, which was far more crowded this morning than the previous evening. There were about sixty or so people, starting their day. Gamble envied them, the stability they had. Routine life, what would that be like? The people were reserved towards the two girls, but they treated them with respect. They seemed to view them as half-tame beasts, crucial for the help they could provide, but wary that they might turn on the settlers at any moment. But since they gave them a double helping of bread, Gamble was inclined to ignore the stares.

They were both savoring their last few bites when Michael walked into the room, his exhaustion evident in his hunched shoulder and the haunted look in his eyes. When he saw the two sitting at the table he immediately walked over and sat with them.

“Well, you were right. Right about everything. That man was a piece of work.”

“Was?” Gamble asked.

“Was,” Michael confirmed, the regret palpable in his voice.

Doze just nodded clearly satisfied with the outcome. “And my sister? Akuto?” she asked.

“Vegas,” Michael stated without preamble. “He said they all went to Vegas.”

“That can’t be right,” Doze protested. “Vegas is a madhouse. The Dancer, the mutant animals, it’s certain death! He must have been lying!”

Michael shrugged apologetically. “Oh, he wasn’t lying. As far as he knows they went to Vegas. It’s why he parted ways with them and hooked up with this Bloodstorm fellow.” He nodded in thanks as one of the workers brought him a steaming pile of bread slathered in butter. Butter? Gamble noticed incredulously! They had butter?

“They were heading to Vegas. That Akuto guy assured them all that he had a way in, that there were supplies, guns, tech. Reasons to risk it. I guess most of them went along. Damien and a few others slipped off in the night and joined up with other gangs. I’m sorry. I’m sure you want to go, and we won’t hold you back, but we really could use your help here when the raiders return.” He lifted a piece of bread and smelled it with relish.

“We don’t have time!” Doze rose from her chair so suddenly that it clattered to the ground behind her, stopping many conversations in the room. “We have to leave now!” Michael sat holding the bread in his hand as he looked back and forth at Doze and Gamble.

Gamble sighed and tried to think of how to delay Doze’s fierce demands. Her objections died on her lips as an alarm began to suddenly ring out startling all the people in the cafeteria. A man came running into the room breathlessly, frantically looking for Michael. He came running over as soon as he saw him sitting with Gamble and Doze. “Michael! Michael! The raiders are coming! Scout 1 just reported them, they’ll be at the gates in about 15 minutes!”

Michael sighed, dropping the bread back onto his plate, “I’m not going to get to eat this, am I?”

Next Issue