As usual, here is your warning that this story has cursing, sex (not graphic), innuendo, and violence.  It’s my Rated-R action adventure called Derailing Bedlam.  This is the fourth outing (third official) for Cassidy and Lloyd, so feel free to click on one of the two covers to see how it started.  Each one is 99 cents!

Cover by Jon Hunsinger

Cover Art by Jon Hunsinger

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The jeep barrels over the stony hill as the Holly Sage Express disappears around a distant bend. Lloyd does his best to drive down the slope without losing too much speed, but he knows that they are steadily running out of time. Skidding onto flat ground, they nearly flip onto a rise that is lined with pines. A low rumble from the other side of the trees gives Cassidy enough of a warning to prepare the small machine guns and look through the dome. She catches glimpses of the gang’s vehicles, but it is several agonizing minutes before they abruptly burst onto an open plain. Focused on the train, the gaudy cars and trucks do not notice the jeep until one of their number is riddled with bullets. The destroyed pickup flips forward and hurls the people in its bed, the bodies bouncing like ragdolls. Returning fire, the fleet of enemies slows down enough for their targets to pull ahead and bring the train back into view. As soon as Lloyd sees the caboose, a rocket soars from the roof and narrowly misses the jeep. A spray of machine gun fire barely hits the wok-helmeted man in the legs and he tumbles off the roof before exploding on impact.

“I told you that my shortcuts would get us here quickly,” Bart says while he sends a coded message over the satellite phone. Large headphones are over his ears, which makes it difficult to hear anything short of gunfire and explosions. “Good to hear that the Duchess studied the Morse code book I sent her. You were right about them killing anyone with enough knowledge to drive the train. Tyler is being kept with Cola as a human shield. She is with Luca and Dale in the kitchen. The Duchess hid in a cabinet while the others were in the walk-in freezer, so they are making their way to her room to get weapons. Where should I tell them to go? By the way, standing on the seat with your shoes on is why the fabric is wearing thin.”

“If you’ve smelled her feet then you’d know it’s better this way,” Lloyd jokes as he watches a turtle-shaped car get closer. With an evil grin, he shoots the bolt gun through a firing hole until the entire side of the other vehicle explodes. “I don’t know if this counts as a gun or not, but I think I want one. Only thing more effective would be hurling Cassidy’s socks at them. That might be too cruel. I mean, nobody wants athlete’s foot or whatever fungus you’ve got on their face.”

“That was months ago and it’s cleared up, jackass,” the mercenary growls, taking a moment to gently kick her partner’s chair. Using small bursts, she picks off anybody who is out in the open and destroys the bigger weapons of their enemies. “They aren’t too worried about taking damage since they have a larger force waiting in Nebraska. We need to get on that train, but I won’t leave my baby to crash or get taken by these bastards. Makes me angry just imagining what kind of monstrosity they would turn her into. Tell Katie to reach the vehicle car and open the door for us. She needs to clear a parking spot so we can jump or slide in depending on the terrain. Doubt it will be a smooth landing, but it’s better than trying to land my baby on the roof.”

“That would be a good plan if tunnels didn’t exist,” the serial killer childishly mutters. He squints and rubs at the windshield, the sight in front of him making his mouth go dry. “I think we have a problem. We’re about to run out of land. Not sure how far the drop is or what those action movie rejects are planning, but this could be really bad.”

Bart looks up from the satellite phone and shrugs as he mentions, “Get up on the tracks. The tires are tough enough to survive and the security system’s electrical system should protect us from the third rail. Betting our friends are going to do the same thing. If we get in front then we can take out their front care to create a blockade.”

Hearing no other suggestions, Lloyd speeds up and uses a small mound to get the jeep onto the tracks. Gunners come out of the back door and are immediately mowed down by Cassidy, who keeps an eye on the entrance. They watch as the ground steadily gets farther away, the boulder-covered shore and roaring river promising death if they fall. Only a handful of the pickup trucks get on the tracks and pursue the jeep while the rest risk going into the valley. Two of the descending cars hit large rocks and explode, their allies never bothering to turn around and check for survivors. As the gang members get halfway down the slope, horns honk and lights flash to signal a group of men and women by the river. A small armada of flatbed boats are pushed into the rapids, which threatens to drag them away along with the people holding onto the mooring ropes. The vehicles hit level ground and speed onto the ships, which are released as soon as they are full. Powerful engines roar to life and carry the gang members across the river where another group is waiting to receive them.

High above, Lloyd struggles to avoid smashing into the back of the train and getting hit in the rear by their pursuers. With a mild current coursing through the jeep, his and Cassidy’s hair start to stand up and they feel a weird tingling in their limbs. Touching any exposed metal gives them a small shock, which makes it difficult for the mercenary to use the machineguns. She braces herself every time she sees movement and has to fire, her aim off enough that she hits the train more than her targets. The loud noise and scattered bullets are enough to drive the gunmen away, but she knows it is only a matter of time before one gets the courage to stay in the open and fire a rocket at them.

Not far behind, the gang’s vehicles are sparking and the people inside are shrieking from the pain of being repeatedly zapped. When the lead car builds rumbles forward to hit the jeep, it is hit by a burst of electricity that comes off the over-stressed security system. The enemy’s engine smokes and dies, which causes those behind it to crash and burst into flames. As the survivors try to get out, the vehicles fall off the bridge and plummet towards the river. One of the flatbed boats is struck by a truck and splits in half, the gang members screaming while they are washed away in the strong current. A loud groan causes the train and jeep to speed up before the elevated track shudders and sways an inch. Having been hit by a falling car, one of the bridge struts has caught fire and been severely damaged. The entire structure begins to collapse as the Holly Sage Express reaches the other end of the valley.

“We’re not going to make it!” Bart shouts as he watches the track crumble behind them. His heart nearly leaps into his throat when Lloyd twists the wheel and sends the jeep flying onto the nearby slope. “You maniac! The suspension is probably damaged after that stunt. At least you could have warned me. Nerves aren’t what they used to be.”

“I think I bit my tongue,” the serial killer says while sticking it out. Focused on checking himself in the mirror, he nearly drives into a boulder that is at the top of the valley. “The jeep does seem a touch slower after that fall. At least we’re still moving and ahead of the cookware knights back there. Seriously, why waste a good saucepan by making it a helmet? Don’t even get me started on the big guy using a cheese grater as a codpiece. Kind of quiet back there, kid. You okay?”

Cassidy flexes her fingers and shivers at the numbness that will not leave her muscles. “I think the electric current was too much for me. You two seem fine, but I kept grabbing the guns and shocking myself. Focus on getting to the train and avoiding the gang because I need to rest a bit. My aim is so bad that shooting would be a waste of ammo. With any luck, I’ll be back to semi-normal by the time we get on the train.”

“Surprised either of us felt that considering how often we get zapped,” Lloyd admits while handing a brush to his friend. Taking a comb for himself, he does his best to fix his wild hair and frowns every time he shocks himself. “I’ve never been so envious of a bald man. Did you feel any of that?”

“I’m bald, not hairless,” Bart casually states while he finishes sending a message. Putting the satellite phone away, he reclaims his bolt gun and watches as the Nebraskans comes out of the valley. “I haven’t heard anything from our friends, but that could be because they’re busy. Focus on sticking with the train and I’ll do my best to keep our friends back. Don’t push yourself, Cassidy, because getting to Cola will require more energy than this. Though, it would be nice if your friends can clear the path before we get on board.”

Lloyd and Cassidy share a quizzical look, the pair imagining what destruction Luca and Katie may be causing on the train. As if to clear their lingering doubt, a body comes flying out of one of the front cars. Light glints off the metal plates on the woman’s clothing, confirming that she is not one of the original passengers or a crew member. Once she disappears into the bushes, two more people leap out while on fire and black smoke billows from the car. Nothing else happens, but the display is enough to make everyone in the jeep wonder if they are truly needed to save the train.