Chapter 4

The next morning, June was the first to wake up. She quietly rose and packed her things, looking in the cabinets for something to eat.

As she reached for a can of peaches, someone touched her waist. She gasped and froze as the hands made their way around, pulling her close.

“Don’t scream or it’s gonna have to get ugly. I don’t wanna hurt you.” Thomas whispered in her ear as he guided her towards the bedroom. They had all agreed that they’d leave the bedroom empty, just to be fair.

He quietly opened the door and shut it behind him.

Montana heard the door squeak, and jerked awake, catching a glimpse of the closing door. He slowly sat up, and looked around, noticing the two missing. He had a pit in his gut. Something was wrong.

Thomas pushed June onto the queen-sized bed, her heart racing. She reached for her knife but he grabbed her wrist sternly, making it clear that wasn’t an option.

He crawled on top of her, holding both her hands above her head.

“Please.. don’t..” June begged with tears in her eyes.

“Don’t what? As I said, I don’t want to hurt you. I like you too much for that..” he whispered as he reached up her shirt, unhooking her bra and kissing her neck.

Montana carefully walked up to the door, listening closely. He knew June didn’t like the new people too much, especially Thomas, so her going into a bedroom alone with one of him was more than a little suspicious.

“Please.. stop.” June begged as Thomas took one of his hands and made his way down to her pants, unbuttoning her jeans and tugging on her underwear.

Montana, still standing outside the door, heard June yelp in surprise, followed by what sounded like crying. He tried to open the door but it had been locked. So, taking out his gun, he hit the handle full force, breaking it loose and opening the door.

Thomas immediately backed up, surprised anyone was awake, and came in looking for them.

“I can explain-” he said as Montana charged at him, punching him straight in the nose.

Thomas fell back, now pissed off. Montana was a big man, a strong 6 foot, 200 lbs, and he was a former Marine. Thomas took one look at him and knew he wouldn’t win a fight against this man.

Montana reached back and started punching Thomas repeatedly, eventually getting him on the ground and holding a knife to his throat. Thomas never tried fighting back, knowing it was useless. By now, everyone else had woken up and rushed to see what was going on. June had fixed her clothes but hadn’t moved from the bed, with tears still streaming down her face.

“Hold it!” Rufus yelled, trying to gain control of the situation. “What the fuck is going on?” He asked Montana.

“This sick bastard was doing something’ nasty. He deserves to die.” He pressed the knife a little harder, making Thomas shake even more and bringing tears to his eyes.

“What do you mean?” Rufus then noticed June on the bed crying and shaking. No one even bothered answering, it was pretty clear what had happened.

“I don’t tolerate that and you know it. Either you get rid of him or I do.” Montana hadn’t broken eye contact with Thomas this whole time, his rage-filled dark brown eyes meeting Thomas’ terrified light green ones.

“Monty, we can’t just throw him out for the dead-” as soon as those words left Rufus’s lips, Montana sliced the knife, cutting open his throat. Everyone fell silent as Thomas lay bleeding out. After he was dead, Montana reached down and drove the knife through his skull so he wouldn’t turn.

“Problem solved.” He said, looking at the scarred group.

No one protested against what Montana did, not even Thomas’ friends. They all just took one more look at Thomas and Montana before slowly exiting the room one by one and packing their stuff. They had planned to stay a couple of days and rest, but after the events that just went down, they all silently agreed it would be better to keep moving.

Montana stayed behind in the room with June and caught his breath. Then he turned around and saw June shakingly trying to get up and fix her clothes. He walked over and gave her his hand, which she gladly took.

“Thank.. you.” She said, still trying to process what just happened.

“No problem. I don’t tolerate rapists and I never want to see you hurt.” He replied with a warm smile, which June did her best to return.

After the two went to the living room and everyone finished packing, they all grabbed what food they could carry and use and then headed out.

Heading back to the interstate, June stayed back from the rest of the group. Montana noticed her isolation and fell back with her.

“What’s up?” He asked, even though he knew.

“Nothing.” She simply stated, both knowing it was a lie.

“Come on. You can tell me.” Montana gave her a quick and warm smile, playfully and lightly slapping her arm.

June sighed. “It’s just...I should have been able to stop him.” She finally said. “But he was stronger than I am and I was afraid of him. I wish I had just stabbed him in his sleep.” She admitted.

Montana just nodded in response. “You know, you’re still pretty strong. Just because you couldn’t stop an asshole doesn’t make you weak.” He was trying his best to make her feel better but he was never good with words.

“Thanks.” She said, kicking a stick to the side.

“If it makes you feel any better, I’m gonna be keeping a close eye on everything. Nothing like that’ll happen again.”

June just gave him a little smile, hoping he was right.

“Come on, let’s catch up with the rest of the group before they leave us behind.” Montana and June started jogging to catch up.

Once they reached the interstate, they continued to head south toward Atlanta.

Just wasn’t sure why, but she felt safe with Montana around. She always did but this morning set it in stone. She liked him more than the rest of them and she couldn’t pinpoint what it was about him.

I mean, he IS handsome.. And he can protect.. What’s not to like? She thought to herself with a smile. After a few more minutes of wishful thinking, she told herself to get back to reality.

The harsh truth was: there was no time or room for romance or feelings of any kind. Her first and only priority must be to survive.