by Hayden James
“She’s very pretty, and young!” the gunman answered back. “We will all have a fun time with her.”
“No! No! Don’t take my Isabel. There’s a pretty young thing that lives in that house over there. And she’s famous. You boys would have more fun with her!” the father of the young girl who was trying to be taken away.
The gunmen threw down the young girl on the street as he said, “Famous? I like famous!”
“They’re talking about Prue!” Liam shouted.
Without hesitation, Harv darted from where he was hiding in the bushes. “Stop right there, don’t go near that house!” Harv shouted.
Liam, without thinking, shot the masked man, straight in the head, killing him instantly.
The leader of the crew shouted, “Men! We have something else to take care of! Get the gasoline. Move now!”
Men left their post keeping the neighbors sequestered. A few of the gunmen went to the trailer and took out jerrycans of gasoline. Harv and Liam were not able to get to the house because they were in a standoff with another man, who aimed a gun directly at them. “They will set the house on fire!” Harv screamed, near irrational as he watched the men pour gasoline on the side of the house.
Within seconds, one of the men lit a match and set the house ablaze. Tears streamed down Liam’s face as he witnessed the very place where Prue and her mother were in go up in flames.
Liam fell to his knees, his heart pounding as though it would beat out of his chest. Harv wailed, letting out the most inhuman sound from the depths of his body, shouting, “No!”
Liam’s heart nearly stopped as he held his breath muttering, “Get out, Prue. Get out,” to himself as he kneeled on the cement.
Harv screamed as he stared at the blazing inferno that was once his house. The flames overtook the structure, engulfing it from all sides. Burning deep red and amber, the flames danced a livid purple as the fire incinerated various materials.
Liam lost hope as he watched the house burn. He was uncertain how Prue would get Carol out, being that they were probably both still in bed? How would Prue leave her mother in the house if she could not get her mother out in time? Tears streamed down his face, preparing himself for the worst.
Then, coming around the side of the house, Prue wheeled her mother with Chewy on her lap, evacuating their once safe place, escaping the deadly inferno and heading to the street. Looking around, Prue did not see Liam or her dad, as she made her way to the curb, breathing heavily, gasping for air. Her lungs must have been damaged by the smoke as she got herself and her mother out of the house.
Liam’s body was no longer numb, as he regained feeling in his legs, arms, and face. He arose from the street, having a resurgence of energy and strength. Harv still screamed, overcome by the emotional stress that he was put under.
As Prue wheeled her mom out, two men took her, one on each side. The two men each grabbed Prue’s arms and legs, picking her up off of the ground and moving her quickly to the truck.
Liam aimed his pistol directly at the head of one of the men and pulled the trigger. Hitting him square in the side of the head, the man fell to the ground, dropping half of Prue. The other man continued to drag Prue. Liam aimed at that one, shooting that one square in the head, careful not to hit Prue. Once the second man fell to the floor, Prue also fell. Liam rushed to her and helped her up to her feet. She wore only her pajamas, satin night shirt and matching pants. “How’s my dad?” Prue asked.
“He’s fine, he’s in front of the neighbor’s house.”
Harv had rushed over to Carol, wheeling her to safety while Liam rescued Prue. Liam and Prue joined them on the sidewalk as they watched their house burn to the ground.
Meanwhile, as the gunmen were setting the Dint’s house a flame, leaving the neighbors who sat on the curb unattended, the neighbors went and retrieved their weapons. The men who lived in the neighborhood returned with pistols and rifles, taking out each of the assailants one at a time.
Each side fired at each other in a standoff. The neighbors with weapons outnumbered the assailants, and slowly, the neighbor men took them down one by one, bullets flying from across the street.
Liam, Harv, Carol, and Prue, who held Chewy, stood away from the commotion, hiding in the shadows of their next-door neighbor’s front yard, monitoring the blaze that continued to burn the Dint’s house to the ground. Flames came through the windows, as the glass of the windows broke from the pressure of the heat and fell to the ground. Nothing inside was likely to survive the fire. Liam watched intently, hoping the fire would not spread, as flames licked up in the air with the wind, trying to catch something else on fire, but finding nothing but air, and disappeared into the windy night sky, like disappointed flutters. Smoke bellowed; plumes of black angry exhaust released itself into the air.
“Oh no!” Harv shouted. “Not Jim Barnes!” Jim Barnes, the neighbor that helped collect the food was shot in the head as he endeavored to take down the assailants. Casualties happened on both sides, but the neighbors prevailed as the last of the gunmen was shot dead.
Liam, Harv, Carol, and Prue stayed out of the fray, allowing the neighbors who were enraged, subdue and defend their street and community. Finally, the last to the robbers fell to the ground, shot by Jim Barnes’s wife. She screamed in anger and horror that her husband had been killed in this altercation.
“Get water now!” a neighbor shouted, in an effort to put out the full-blown inferno at the Dint’s house. The community rallied and formed a bucket brigade for a nearby lake. Neighbors filled buckets of water, handing it off to others, up the line to the Dint’s home. Eventually, all the flames were extinguished, but it was too late.
The house in front of them was nothing but charred, black, debris as the house had been reduced to a pile of rubble, ashes, and smoldering wood items. A putrid smell filled the air all over the neighborhood and overpowered Liam’s nostrils. The neighbors gave their best effort but could not get to their house in time to avoid leaving the structure unlivable.
“So sorry about your house,” said Liam as he laid his hand on the back of Harv’s shoulder.
“At least the important things got out, Carol and Prue. I would say the rest is replaceable, but it was all we had. And with our nation like this for the time being, I’m not sure what will happen to us.”
“Why don’t you come with me?” Liam asked as one last ditch effort to get Prue and her family to Dwight’s.
Harv stood silent, not answering Liam. Tears came down from the corners of his eyes and he nodded before breaking down into sobs. Liam embraced Harv as Harv continued to cry, releasing all the pain and turmoil he endured throughout the night onto Liam who absorbed it.
Liam was certain that Harv was just now coming to terms with how the new world was. Liam recognized this realization as he had had it days ago. This new world was cold, harsh, and unforgiving.
Harv calmed down long enough to announced to Prue and Carol, “Girls, we’re going with Liam. We’re moving to Tennessee.”
Liam watch Prue’s expression as a large grin came across her face after hearing this news. He saw her eyes brighten and relief come across them. This warmed Liam’s heart as he was excited that the girl he fell for was coming to live with him in the safety of his grandpa’s home.
“How are we going to get there?” Harv asked.
Liam took a moment to look around, the VW bug was burned and charred from the fire. They needed a vehicle to get Carol over to Tucker Hollow. “Why don’t we take this old Mack truck?” Liam suggested.
“Great idea!” Harv exclaimed.
Liam unhitch the trailer of the stolen food. The assailants had been stealing food from other neighborhoods as well. Harv helped Carol in the back of the semi and Prue sat next to her. Liam took the driver seat, with Harv riding in the passenger seat.
Liam started the semi which had the keys left in the ignition. They were off, Liam was taking the Dints to safety to Dwight’s house.
Chapter Tw
elve
William Conner
Residence of Dwight Conner
Tucker Hollow, Tennessee
11:58 AM
“Who is all coming today?” Rachel asked as she hung streamers in the kitchen and set out festive paper plates on the table. They were not the unicorn plates that the girls had picked out at the general store that the shop owner would not sell to them, but they were pink and girly, exactly what the twins had wanted. Despite them being eighteen and grown women now, they wanted something that would bring them back to their childhood. They also had intimated that they wanted something that Natasha would enjoy, so they wanted the decorations and festive nature of the party for her.
“All the neighbors are coming; I spoke with them on the HAM radio. They’re all coming for Maddy and Addy’s birthday party. I think it was a good cover so no one would suspect that we are having a meeting as well. We’ll celebrate the girl’s birthday, but we’ll also have a meeting beforehand.”
Slowly, the neighbors began to fill Dwight’s kitchen, spilling out into the backyard patio. The neighbors brought gifts for Maddy and Addy as well as food for the party.
“Happy birthday, girls,” Dana said as she gave the girls each a purse she had crocheted, finding them out on the patio. “These decorations are so cute!”
“Thank you,” said Addison, hugging Dana. “These are gorgeous,” she said, looking at the red stitches of yarn that Dana had crafted the two purses with.
“Thank you, these are lovely,” Maddy added, giving Dana a hug as well.
“I thought you girls could use a new bag, and since times have changed, I made them for you. Before, I’d buy something online and even opt to have it gift wrapped. Now, I make everything I want. In a way, things are much more personal.”
Dwight manned the barbecue grill, cooking ribs while the alliance had their meeting. All the neighbors in the alliance were in attendance, the Andersons, Bud Elrich, and several others who came in from the neighborhood. Many of the neighbors rode horses, some bicycles, and others dirt bikes. For the occasion, Dwight made a birthday cake for the twins, using one of his late wife’s recipes and cooked it in the solar oven.
The birthday party was good cover for the neighbors to get together and strategize their next plans. Rachel and William held the meeting before the birthday party in the kitchen as the neighbors assembled in the kitchen, it full to the brim. Neighbors sat at the kitchen table, while others stood near the counters and lined the walls.
“We need to have a system in place that if anyone is in danger, we can get to them quickly,” suggested William as he opened up the meeting, soliciting for suggestions.
“We have our HAM radio,” interjected Dana. “They have been very useful for how we get information to each other.”
“Right, if the Mayor or Sheriff aren’t listening in,” interrupted Rachel.
“They most likely are,” confirmed Bud. “They probably know we are all here, right now!”
Bud brought the party and the upbeat mood down by that reality check. Despite the current climate of the town, the neighbors had been excited to celebrate the Conner’s’ twins turning eighteen. They desperately needed something to celebrate.
“All right. Well, we will need a distress call on the HAM, that’s for sure,” suggested William, trying not to allow them to focus on what could happen, but rather taking control of their futures by controlling what they could do about it.
Sharon Walker, a neighbor who lived close to the Yates said, “We should designate one of our frequencies to emergencies only. We could have the frequency opened at all times in case one of us is in danger.”
“Brilliant idea,” confirmed Rachel.
Bud added, “We can also do, hourly check-ins. We could designate someone from our families to check in at every hour, even though the evening if we believe a threat is imminent.”
“Another great idea,” said William. “Do we need to do through the evening hours as well?”
“I’m afraid if an attack will happen, it will most likely happen during the night,” relented Bud.
“Each household will designate someone to do a night shift,” concluded William. “I don’t want to take any chances. I don’t think it should be too much of a burden. Most of us have at least seven people living with you all.”
“It’s only us two,” countered Tom Anderson, who only lived with Dana.
“Oh, right?” William hesitated, and then suggested, “The Anderson household will not be responsible for the hourly check-in from 10 pm until 7 am.”
“That sounds reasonable,” affirmed Tom.
William continued to lead the meeting where the neighbors worked out a system for helping each other guard their places.
“You hear that?” Bud interrupted William as he spoke.
“No, what?” William answered, not hearing anything out of the ordinary and trying to conclude the meeting so everyone could enjoy the ribs that Dwight was smoking in the smoker.
“I’m being serious now!” Bud shouted. “What is that?” Bud asked looking alarmed as he did not recognize the sound that was being made.
“I have no idea!” William shouted alarmed as well, now able to hear the thunderous roar. “Let’s go find out!”. Everyone in the meeting headed for the front door since the noise came from the Conner’s’ driveway. The neighbors were in the middle of the meeting, when they heard the roar of allowed engine.
“Oh my word! What is that?” Dana Anderson asked.
“What in the world?” William shouted. This might be an attack!” William put his hand on his gun that was strapped to his back, never again unarmed. William pointed the rifle right at the driver, as he watched a large, blue Mack truck barreled down the driveway. The neighbors filter outside to where a Mack truck was coming down the driveway. It must have busted through the gate.
The other neighbors drew their guns, ready to fire. With a strong stance and his finger on the trigger, just about to pull it, William stopped. William recognized the driver. “Liam!” William shouted. Relieved at what he is, as this was a very threatening sight to see. “Hold fire!” William shouted, waving his hand at the others who aimed their guns at the threatening truck. “It’s my son. He’s home!”
“It’s Liam?” Rachel asked whispering in Williams ear. William put down his gun, “Yes, it’s Liam. I forgot he had a key to the gate.”
William breathed a sigh of relief as he held Rachel tight, his arm over his shoulders as he watched his son return home. He was proud that Liam had gone and collected Prue’s parents and brought them to Dwight’s safely.
Liam put the massive truck in park and cut the engine. He opened the door and jumped down from the driver’s side.
“Dad!” Liam shouted, running to William. The two embraced. “Mom!” Liam said as he hugged his mother, tears pouring down her face.
“It’s so good to have you home,” muttered Rachel, not letting go of her son.
Harv got out of the passenger side, helping Carol down and getting her wheelchair set up. Prue followed Liam and gave William and Rachel a hug. “It’s a good to see you again.”
“Good to see you too, Prue,” replied Rachel. William was glad to see Prue and the Dints since that meant that Liam would be staying at Dwight’s for the foreseeable future.
“What is going on?” Liam asked after he saw there were around twenty neighbors assembled in Dwight’s driveway.
“Well, You are just in time!” William announced putting his arm on Liam’s shoulder.
“In time for what? I know you weren’t expecting me today, so this can’t be a welcome home party,” joked Liam.
“I’m sure if you knew what day it was, you would know what this is about,” said William.
It appeared that Liam remembered what day it was. “I know what today is. It’s the twin’s birthday! Where are they?”
“They’re in the back helping Dwight with the barbecue,” answered William. “Let’s go, they’ll be thrilled to s
ee you and Prue. This will be the best present they could ever get.” William put his arm around Liam as the father and son led the rest of the neighbors to the back where the party was taking place.
As Liam and William came around the corner of the house to where the girls and Dwight were waiting, an audible shriek and screams came from the girls.
“Liam! You’re home!” Maddy screamed, running up to him and throwing her arms around his neck. Addison followed, their blonde hair fluttering as they ran.
They hugged Prue as well as the girls had grown close, despite them not knowing each other for long. Gary and Vince came up to Liam and shook his hand. “Glad you made it back,” said Gary.
“Just in time for the party,” said Vince as he shook Liam’s hand. Gary and Vince had been helping Dwight with the meat.
Natasha was the last to see Liam as she was playing with her dolls off to the side of the patio. She ran up and hugged her brother. Prue set Chewy on the ground, and he reacquainted himself with Regis who helped with the smoker and grill. Harv pushed Carol’s chair as they came around the corner of the house to the back patio. They made small talk with a few of the neighbors, doing their best to fit in. William kept his eye on them, as he wasn’t sure how’d they fit into the household just yet. However, he knew that Dwight invited them, so he would make them feel at home.
“All right everyone, looks like the ribs are ready. Grab a plate and a slab and let’s celebrate my girls’ birthday!” William shouted, not wanting to remind Gary and Vince that his two daughters were now eighteen.
As the party went on, the neighbors lined up at the barbecue where’s Dwight gave each one a slab of ribs. They ate on the patio furniture that Dwight had made years ago.
Addy and Maddy who sat at a table with Gary, Vince, Rachel, William, Bud, and Sharon discussed more things that we are going around in the town. “Rachel and I had heard rumblings that the Mayor and Sheriff had meetings every afternoon. Maddy and Addy told us about them. Seems as though they seem them meet up shortly after lunch every day and head to the Mayor’s office,” explained William.