Restitution: A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Survival series (The Dark Road series Book 8)

camp through the narrow slot.
“It’s not your fault, you know. There was nothing you could have done.” She put her hand back on his shoulder.
“I’m not so sure about that.” Ben’s gaze remained fixed outside the container. He doubted there was some way he could have prevented all this, but he felt guilty nonetheless.
“We were outnumbered, and they had guns on us. If anything, we’re all to blame. We should have been paying attention to our surroundings. Maybe we would have spotted them before they got that close to us,” she reasoned.
Ben sighed. “No. They were already there. I think they were watching us since the downed tree on the highway. They set this trap, and it isn’t the first time.”
“Yeah, I saw the other vehicles. They’re from other people they’ve captured, aren’t they?” she asked.
“That’s my guess. All out-of-state tags.” Ben strained to look toward the rear of the compound and the row of vehicles parked there, but he couldn’t put eyes on them from inside the container. He hated not being able to see what was going on out there. That was no doubt the purpose of putting the containers back here.
Not knowing what was happening to the dogs and to their trucks was nerve-wracking, but after the first couple of hours, Ben grew numb to the knot in his stomach. Thankfully, the kids had fallen asleep leaning against each other and the side of the container. Sandy sat close by and drifted in and out of sleep herself. Ben didn’t blame them; between the rough night they’d had with the bears and the heat inside this oversized tin can, his eyelids were heavy as well.
The only thing keeping him awake was the thought that he might miss an opportunity to escape if he dozed off, although nothing was happening right now and the camp seemed quiet. They hadn’t seen a soul since they were locked in here, and he wondered if there was even anyone else in the camp.
Ben looked over at the kids and watched as they slept. He was glad they were temporarily unaware of their situation. Sandy noticed him looking and forced out a smile. Ben acknowledged her with a nod before turning back to face the slot in the door. He had to figure something out. And soon. He couldn’t let his kids down. This wasn’t how their story ended. It couldn’t be.

Chapter Two
Despite Ben’s efforts to stay awake, he drifted off a few times for short periods as the hours dragged on. There wasn’t anything to keep his interest piqued or his eyes open until later in the afternoon, when he finally heard some noise coming from the far end of the camp. Before long, the distant crunching of dry leaves turned to heavy footsteps, and a small single-file string of people came into view.
Ben sat up and pushed his face close to the slot in the door but held back enough so he couldn’t be seen from outside. He glanced back at the others, but all except for Sandy were still sleeping. It was probably just as well. Ben held his finger up to his lips, and Sandy nodded that she understood. He turned back to the small opening and continued to watch.
Altogether, the line comprised five people. Two of them Ben recognized as part of the gang that had captured them. The three in the middle were strangers, though, and unmistakably being held captive. There were two men and a woman. Ben didn’t think any of the three would make it the last twenty yards to their container holding cells.
Sandy joined him at the door and crouched down close by so she could see out of the rusty slot in the door as well. They watched together in silence as the three prisoners were forced onward. Ben wondered how old they were but couldn’t even guess; too much dirt and mud covered their bodies. They staggered the last couple of yards. Then the two armed guards pushed the man and women into one of the containers and the remaining man into a separate container a little ways away. The guards locked the doors and walked away without saying anything until one of them stopped and turned back toward the row of containers.
“What are you doing?” the other guard asked.
“I just want to check on the newbies.” The guard who had originally stopped was headed straight for their container now. Ben backed up and helped Sandy to her feet while the two of them retreated to the shadows in the rear of the container.
Ben stood in front of the kids. He wasn’t sure why, but he felt like it was the least he could do. He was surprised to see the guard stick his face right up to the slot in the door. Not a smart thing to do on the guard’s part, but based on his observations so far, Ben didn’t exactly figure any of them for tactical geniuses. He imagined himself standing just inside the container door, within reach of the opening, and punching the man in the face. Or worse. He rubbed his thumb across the knife handle protruding from his waistband. It took all of his resolve to keep from rushing the man as he searched the container.
“Ah, there you are. Don’t worry. We ain’t forgot about you all.” He laughed through his disgusting yellow teeth, and it echoed off the steel walls of their prison before he pulled his face away from the opening. It was enough to partially wake the kids, though, and Ben instantly hated the man even more, if that was possible.
Fortunately, the guard seemed satisfied with his dose of harassment, and both of them made their way back toward the center of the camp, leaving Ben and the others alone in their container. Once they were out of earshot, Ben called softly to their new neighbors.
“Hello, can anyone hear me?” He waited for a few seconds and listened