BACKWOODS RIPPER: a gripping action suspense thriller (7 page)

Chapter Nine

“You’re only taking my lower leg,” Hal repeated and laughed, it caught in his throat and turned into a shriek.

He tried to sit up, but the restraints held his chest against the stretcher. He raised his head as high as his neck would allow and saw Lizzy draping restraints over his thighs. Before she had the chance to fasten them, Hal jack-knifed his unbroken leg and his knee hit her in the temple.

He heard the air puff out of her mouth before she stumbled and her hands flopped across his groin. He moved his wrist under the restraints and managed to grab a swatch of her hair. Lizzy made a guttural sound and stabbed her elbow down on his nuts. Pain seared up as if a live wire had been inserted in his abdomen. He gritted his teeth but held on.

He brought his knee up again and gave her another whack, this time on her cheek. He heard her grunt, the sound reminding him of an angry bull. All the while he was aware of a high pitched bleating and his panicked mind wondered if a whole farmyard was loose in the house. The thought seemed so crazy, he almost laughed.

The struggle felt like it lasted for hours when, in fact, not even a minute passed. Lizzy put to bed any fight Hal had left when she raised her fist and slammed it down on his broken leg. He actually heard the bones crunch, it was a queer sound, like seashells rattling in a bucket. His vision blackened and his back arched. He let go of her hair as his whole body enveloped in a cold shaft of pain almost exquisite in its intensity.

He felt a vague awareness. First of restraints being pulled tight over his thighs and then his unbroken leg. Then, something hard being slid under his lower body. A thin leather strap was fastened around his thigh and pulled tight enough to cut into his flesh. He wanted to struggle, but the waves of pain still battered his lower body.

“Don’t,” he heard himself beg. “Don’t cut me,
please.
Lizzy, please don’t.”

She made a clucking sound with her tongue and turned her back. He could still hear the bleating and then his gaze found the big, dark woman. She was flapping her hands near her head and staring at his legs.

“Please,” he croaked. “Don’t let her hurt me.”

Soona’s eyes flicked up and locked with his for less than a second before they drifted to the side. Hal saw the fear he felt reflected back at him.

Lizzy turned back holding a syringe.
She must have a life time supply of those things.
Tears streamed down his cheeks.

“Now, you’re lucky I’m still going to give you this,” she said and waved the needle. “After the way you attacked me, I should just do without the pain relief.”

I bet you’d enjoy that, wouldn’t you? You crazy bitch
. “I’m sorry if I hurt you, but don’t cut me. I’m begging you Lizzy, don’t do this.” He tried to sound calm and reasonable around his sobs.

“You’ll thank me in the long run.” She spoke in a distracted way, as if answering an inquisitive child.

She walked around the trolley and injected something into his leg. “That’s a local,” she said and tapped him on the calf. “Can you feel that?”

“Yes. Yes, I can. His words came out in a shaky whoosh.

She gave a little laugh and shook her head. Hal wished he was in on the joke because from his point of view there was nothing funny about what the looney with the needle planned to do. Even as he begged and cried, he could see she would complete the job she’d set out to do. Lizzy was one of those “always finish what you start” sort of girls. If she said she was going to cut your leg off, well, you’d better get yourself a good prosthetic because come hell or high water, your leg was coming off.

“Soona,” Lizzy snapped. “Help me turn this trolley around. I want his leg near the instruments.”

Soona’s bleating quietened to weak mewling. She took the head of the trolley and spun it towards the door. Hal watched a large brown stain on the ceiling twirl and spotted a cobweb dangling from a bare bulb.

Lizzy picked up a large brown bottle and some gauze. A strong smell of iodine bathed the room, but Hal couldn’t feel anything on his leg.
That’s a good thing
. Then a feeling of complete understanding and utter terror. Not the horror movie kind, where the girl screams and covers her mouth, but the deep, bone-shaking punch-in-the-guts that steals your voice and loosens your bowls.

Lizzy moved back to the trolley, when she turned around she held the hacksaw. “That local I gave you will help, but,” she paused. “I’m not gonna lie, it won’t do a lot once I get down to the bone.” The empty look in her eyes panicked him more than the evil looking hacksaw.

“N- N- No,” Hal managed around chattering teeth. But Lizzy’s head was already bent over his legs, her elbow moving back and forth.

Hal’s eyes were wide, so wide it felt like they might burst from their sockets. He stared at the ceiling, focusing on the brown patch. He could hear a wet slopping sound and then a slow drip. His mind pulled him in all directions, but one insane thought kept circling,
she didn’t even wash her fucking hands.

When the hacksaw hit bone, all coherent thought ceased and Hal screamed. His screams piled on top of each other until blessed darkness rose up and took him.

Chapter Ten

A dark stain was all that remained of the snake.
The rest carried off by birds no doubt.
Paige ran the toe of her battered tennis shoe over the bloody mark – the only evidence that she and Hal had ever been there. The Silver Island Cheese factory loomed just as it had the day before, at odds with the bucolic setting.

Paige wandered over to the loading dock and sat down. She leaned back, her palms flat on the cool concrete, and stared at the spot where the Ford had been. It was easy to imagine Lizzy out here during the night, huffing and puffing, her large rear end pointing skywards while she fitted the spare tyre. At first, Paige had felt an overwhelming rage towards the woman, so much so she’d considered jogging back to the house and attacking her.

She’d even pictured the scene: she’d walk into the kitchen, pick up a pan, the heavy cast iron job she’d seen Lizzy use to fry eggs.
Eggs!
That got her blood boiling. She’d use a little trick Lizzy taught her and smack her in the forehead with the old pan. Bamb! But that had been half an hour ago and the energy that came with the rage quickly ebbed, leaving her exhausted and helpless.

Instead of swearing and imagining revenge scenarios, Paige tried to think through her options. She could try to walk back to the freeway or on to the roadhouse. If she had water, she could probably make it.
If I go slowly and stay on the road.
She looked down at her ankles, they were twice their normal size and an unhealthy scarlet.

“Bloody hell,” she whispered, leaning forward and dropping her head into her hands. It was too far to go back, and too far to go forward. Where did that leave her?
Up shit creek
.

The light faded as dark shadows swallowed the carpark and loading bay. Paige checked the time. Four-thirty. She’d been gone for hours. She thought of Hal, probably waiting to hear the sound of approaching sirens coming to take him to hospital. Then inevitably, her thoughts turned to Lizzy.
Now what?
She most certainly would know Paige was gone. Would she do something to Hal? Paige pushed the thought from her mind. If she meant to hurt him, she wouldn’t be trying so desperately to keep him alive.

The thought gave her some comfort. Lizzy had taken care of his wounds. She’d given him medication for the pain. Why would she do all that if she wanted to hurt him? Hurting Hal made no sense. She put her hand on her belly and stretched her back. Nothing about Lizzy’s actions made sense but she couldn’t take the chance that Hal might be in danger. She’d have to walk back to Mable House.
I’ll find another way
.

Paige got to her feet and winced at the throbbing in her ankles. She looked around the carpark one last time as if hoping the Ford would magically appear. Then she headed for the road; it would be easier than going through the bush. She heard a kookaburra winding up into a full blown laugh. As she headed back towards her captor, she was sure the bird was laughing at her.

Paige rounded the corner and walked along the turn-off for Mable House. Moving slowly, like an old lady, it took her twenty minutes to get even that far. The sound of her breathing came out loud and laboured, it filled her ears eclipsing all other noises. Not until the Holden bared down on her did she become aware of the rumbling engine.

The pale green ute veered over to the side of the road and came to a stop about ten meters ahead of Paige. She could see Lizzy in the cab, her broad shoulders hulking over the steering wheel. The woman made no move to get out.

* * *

The passenger door opened with a protesting squeal. Lizzy’s eyes remained fixed ahead, she barely acknowledged Paige until the door closed behind her.

“Hal’s taken a turn for the worse,” she said, her bulbous grey eyes roving over Paige’s face and body.

All the things Paige planned to say and do were forgotten. “What do you mean?” She asked, terrified of the answer.

Lizzy took her time. She crunched through the gears and performed a text book three-point turn. “The bite was infected after all.” She didn’t look at Paige as she spoke, keeping her eyes on the road. “I did what I could to stabilise him.”

When Paige heard herself speak, her voice sounded hoarse. “What do you mean stabilise?”
What have you done?

Lizzy let out a long sigh as if Paige’s questions were tiresome. “I’ve done what I can to combat the infection.” She shrugged. “Now we’ll just have to wait and see how he goes.” Another pause. “Either he’ll come good or he won’t.”

Paige closed her eyes and balled her fingers into fists. She knew she shouldn’t antagonise the woman, provoking her would only put her and Hal in a worse position. But she had to ask. Whatever the outcome, at least there’d be no more pretending.

“Drive me to the roadhouse?” Paige asked, her tone flat and truculent.

For the first time since she’d mentioned Hal, Lizzy looked over at her. The look in her eyes made Paige’s skin crawl; a look of sly pleasure. Paige got the feeling she had finally got a good look at the real Lizzy Hatcher.

“Let’s just worry about one thing at a time,” Lizzy said, and looked back at the road.

* * *

This time, Lizzy parked the ute around the rear of the house, near the ramshackle outbuildings. As soon as the vehicle stopped, Paige sprang out of the cab and headed towards the back door. She could hear the woman behind her slamming the driver’s door. Paige wondered if Lizzy would try to stop her entering the house or seeing Hal. If she did, then Paige decided, she’d hit the woman in the head with the frying pan. She’d do whatever it took to get to Hal.

To Paige’s surprise, Lizzy didn’t seem to be following her. When Paige entered the kitchen, she paused and looked back through the screen door. Lizzy headed away from the house and towards the sheds.

Paige wanted to rush through the drawing room and up the stairs, but she made herself stop at the sink. She forced herself to slow down and think of the baby. She felt a wave of light-headedness and knew she couldn’t go much longer without a drink. Paige grabbed a glass from the draining board and filled it under the tap. The water was tepid, but it tasted wonderful to her parched throat.
Next time I’ll take water
. The thought took her by surprise. She refilled the glass and nodded to herself.
Yes, there will be a next time. I’ll find a way to get us out of this mess.

* * *

When Paige reached Hal’s room, the door was closed and the air on the third floor redolent with an unpleasant smell. Paige couldn’t place it – somehow heavy and metallic at the same time. It put her teeth on edge and made her uneasy. She rubbed her damp palm on the front of her dress and grabbed the battered brass knob.

The first thing that struck her was Hal’s breathing; it sounded deep and even, as though he were asleep. The sun had disappeared and darkness blanketed the house. Without turning on the light, it was difficult to make out his face. She grabbed the phone from her bra and switched on the light. A cloud of soft blue illuminated the bed. Hal’s eyes were closed and his mouth slightly open.

Paige took a step closer and sat down beside him. She put her hand on his brow to feel for a fever and was alarmed by how cool he felt. She noticed the tube running from his arm up to the drip and wondered if Lizzy was giving him antibiotics. In the glow of the phone light, his skin looked strange, almost bleached of colour. Paige leaned closer and put her cheek against his.

She felt the need to be close to him so strongly it almost overwhelmed her. Since this nightmare began, it seemed like something had yanked him away from her by forces beyond her control. Even now, he seemed changed, as if something about him had been snatched away.

Hal moaned softly in his sleep, his breath warm on her cheek. Paige pulled back and looked into his face, he grimaced in pain. He didn’t have a fever; his skin was too cool. If his bite were infected, surely he’d be hot? She wondered about the pain.
It must be his broken leg.

She ran her hand over his arm and leaned forward so she could kiss the tattoo on his inner wrist. His skin felt icy, his pulse thin and distant. Something touched the back of her head and she looked up startled.

Hal’s eyes were open and his right hand gently touched her hair. His green eyes were red-rimmed and raw. She thought they were watering, but when a tear ran down his cheek, she realised he was crying.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “The car was gone, I had to come back.”

Hal nodded, but he didn’t seem to be hearing her. “Paige,” he whispered. “She took my leg.” His voice trembled so violently she wasn’t sure she’d heard him right.

Paige wrapped her fingers around his hand. “What, Hal? What did she do?”

“She cut off my leg,” his voice louder now and filled with anguish. His grip on her hand tightened. “She cut off my leg,” he repeated it as if he couldn’t believe his own words.

Paige shook her head and opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. She could see the truth in Hal’s raw, haunted eyes. Her gaze travelled down the bed and by the faint blue glow of the phone, she saw the depression in the sheet at the end of his left leg.

“No. Oh no. No, no.” The words tumbled out. Paige could see the evidence with her own eyes. She could hear the jagged horror in Hal’s voice, but couldn’t take it in.

Her mind kept coming back to the smell; she realised that when she’d come up the stairs she’d smelt blood. Hal’s blood.
This is my fault. I did this to him
. She’d left him alone with a mad woman who’d punished him for Paige’s attempted escape. She had no doubt Lizzy amputated Hal’s healthy leg to punish her.

She put her head on Hal’s chest and felt him wrap his arms around her. She wished she were strong enough to pick him up and carry him out of this house of horrors. She could feel him sobbing into her neck, as his arms clung to her like a drowning man.

“I’m sorry, Hal. I’m so sorry,” she whispered, but no amount of regret would undo what Lizzy had done to him. An image of Hal kicking a soccer ball on the beach in Bali flashed in her mind. They were on their honeymoon, he wore dark blue board-shorts and a straw trilby. He’d started kicking the ball with some local kids and pretty soon they had a game going. In her mind, she could see him, tanned and healthy, smiling at her as she watched him play.

She stayed in his arms sobbing for a few minutes, but as strong emotions do, her grief faltered. Her mind kicked in. Fury took hold, racing through her like poison. She wanted to punish Lizzy, hurt her the way she’d hurt Hal. But then another thought crept in,
why?
Why was it so important to her that they stay?

She pulled back and took Hal’s face in her hands. “Tell me what happened?”

She could see Hal battling to get himself under control; her heart went out to him. She wanted to take his pain away and give him comfort, but right now she had to work out what Lizzy wanted from them.

“She came in and asked where you were.” Hal dragged his forearm over his eyes and took a shuddering breath. “She didn’t even give me time to answer. She told the other one,” he frowned.

“Soona?” Paige offered.

“Yeah. She told her to help and they put me on a trolley.” He gave a humourless smile. “I tried to fight her off, but she grabbed my leg.”

Paige listen as Hal recounted the story. There were times when he struggled to speak, moments when Paige wished she could cover her ears and turn away, but she wouldn’t allow herself that mercy. She needed to hear what he had gone through. She had to know what Lizzy was capable of.

When he finished, Paige kissed him on the mouth. His lips were cool and she could feel a tremor in him that ran through his entire body and out his mouth. She guessed he was in shock and wondered how hard it would be for him when this nightmare ended and they were back in the real world.
If we get back to the real world
.

“I’m going to get us out of here.” It came out with more strength and conviction than she felt.

“No,” Hal said. “I want you to go as soon as you get the chance. But this time, don’t come back.”

“I’m not leaving you again …”

“You and the baby come first,” he said gripping her arm. “Get as far away from here as you can. Do it as soon as you can.”

Paige wanted to argue, but the exhausted look on his haggard face made her hold her tongue. “Okay, but let’s wait a few days.” She could see him ready to protest so she spoke quickly. “Just long enough for her to drop her guard, and to give me time to plan how I’m going to do it.”
And for me to make sure you come back from this.

“Okay,” he said and closed his eyes.

Paige leaned her head on the bed and listened to his breathing, at first shallow and then gradually deepening. When she was sure he slept, she turned off her phone light and sat in the darkness watching his outline, listening to him moaning in his sleep.

* * *

Things moved slowly over the next two days. If Lizzy had expected anger and recriminations, Paige didn’t give them to her. She kept her emotions guarded. After the night she found out about Hal’s leg, she only spoke of what happened once – thanking Lizzy for saving her husband’s life. Lizzy responded by reminding her that Mable House wasn’t a resort and she should be doing more to help.