The undead surround her as she lifts the blade
Fear dissolves now a quiet calm.
Red death rushes forward quickly fades
They are struck down by the hundreds.
Celeste turned off the music as we neared the highway on the outskirts of town.
“Almost there now. Don’t want to attract unwanted attention.”
“Before I forget Ember, remind me later about the present I picked up for you at one of the communities we visited. I remembered how much you loved that song when I would play it. Came across something that I’m sure you will carry around more than that bear.”
“Really? What is it Steph?”
“Wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise. You’ll just have to wait until we get back to the hotel.”
We turned off on a side road a couple minutes later within a wooded area. At the end of the road was a large white building. It was fenced in with a lock on a chain of the entry gates. Everyone got out of the vehicles moving to the entrance. Four men kept watch behind us baring assault rifles at the ready. Jessie unlocked the gate with one of many keys on a large keyring. The chain was secured back in place after everyone entered the fence. Four men remained keeping watch just inside gate as the rest of the group headed toward the building. Jess used a magnetic card to open the main door. Two more men took positions outside the main doors. Another two inside the now closed main doors. The lights automatically came on as they sensed movement.
“Why so much armed detail if the place is already secure?”
“The intelligent Fallen are getting smarter. We have had discussions where some are under the impression they can communicate with each other somehow. They believe that it is possible that they are learning from each another. Plus Fallen are not the only threat. You have to remember the human factor. There is a slim chance that a sleeper from another community or a mole might be among us. J23 would be a huge reason to chance an attack if the opportunity were given. Haven’t seen any in a few years, but there is also a slim chance of raiders. I don’t believe in taking chances.”
“How are you going to keep it safe outside the lab?”
“I’ll show you when the time comes. Until then this is a classified mission. Only a few people know what J23 is. Let’s keep it that way.”
I couldn’t believe that she had brought us along for something so important. At the room labeled Laboratory, Jess swiped the card again to gain entry. The remaining guard detail fanned out in the hallway remaining outside the room. At the far end of the room filled with lots of lab equipment was a plaque that said Clean Room. Celeste and Steph took guard outside the door while we entered. Closing the door behind us, Jess turned to Sandra and me.
“The two of you stay here. If the door opens for any reason you shoot. I don’t care if it someone you have known your entire life. They all know that is exactly what will happen if they do. Got it?”
We both nodded our heads. I was frightened at the thought of having to shoot Celeste or Steph of all people. I wasn’t sure if I could manage to if it was, but I also knew what it meant if that door did open. Jess swiped the card one more time being gone for a few minutes. Seeing her return a relief swept over me. She was carrying a small silver briefcase that was attached to her wrist by a pair of handcuffs.
As we exited passwords were spoken or special knocks on doors were made to let the guards know we were not being forced as hostages to exit the building. We walked at the rear of the group at all times. The trip back to the hotel was uneventful other than a Fallen who ran across the road at the wrong time in front of one of the Hummers becoming road kill. Back at the hotel for a momentary stop the three of us went inside. Jess showed us a massive strong safe that still housed expensive jewelry among other valuables from hotel stayers during the apocalypse. Inside she opened the briefcase placing several vials of J23 into a small safe.
“If something should happen to me the code for the safe is Ember’s birthday. Let’s get back to the caravan. One more trip to make.”
-3-
Exiting the hotel, Steph stood leaning against a wall smoking a homemade cigarette. She motioned for us to come over. A slender box that was about four feet tall sat propped next to her.
“Better open it quick so we can get going.”
Smiling I ripped the old gift wrapping paper off. Inside the box I found a large block of Styrofoam that held a gorgeous Japanese sword. There was extravagant etched detail along the dark red handle which had the head of bird on the end. Drawing the blade I saw it was black and red steel with a glossy finish.
“It is extremely sharp. I made sure of that myself. It is very durable, not one of those cheap crappy swords. The red steel design throughout the black gives the appearance that it is on fire doesn’t it? The Japanese characters on the blade are the name of the sword. According to the person I traded with its name is ‘From the Ashes.’ The name represents the phoenix head on the handle. I knew the moment I saw it that this beauty was made for you.”
I was so overjoyed with my present that I found myself crying as I gave Steph a huge hug.
“Thank you! I love it. What’s a phoenix?”
“It is a bird that upon death would burst into flames to later be reborn from the ash.”
Jess told me that she would show me how to use the sword when time allowed. We piled into the Durango following the caravan back outside the gates. About a mile from our destination we came to a large rockslide that blocked the road. With mountains on the left and a sheer drop into a valley on the right, we had to carefully turn around. We backtracked several miles to a less traveled road.
Celeste carefully navigated the Durango down into the valley. Along the valley road there were trees, abandoned cars, and other debris we had to maneuver around. We found the Eufaula colony members just up the rise of the valley. They came across the rockslide as well before backtracking. Among their group were seven men and three women. They were driving a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and a large U-Haul truck. Not making acquisitions of possible treachery, Jessie politely asked to inspect the vehicles to see what kind of supplies they had brought. They had no problem opening them to show the supplies knowing full-well that any logical leader would want to verify the contents before allowing them to drive into their colony. The man in charge of the group went by the name Roberto Agular. He was six-foot five, looked about two-hundred pounds give or take, and had an intimidating impression like someone that had done prison time. He also had piercing dark brown eyes, brown hair that he kept tied back, and a scar on his neck. His entire right arm had a sleeve made of tattoos (skulls, naked women, a dragon, and many others). All the members of the group were armed with various firearms except Roberto who looked like he used his bare hands to crush the life out of his enemies. He had one of the women do the talking with Jessie until she said that their weapons would be taken at our gates.
“You ask for our help, our supplies, but won’t allow us to defend ourselves if necessary? You disrespect us by even making the suggestion.”
Jessie walked over to Roberto standing inches in front of him. She looked up at him as he stared down at her.
“What I am saying is that it is common practice for any colony regardless of its predicament to blindly trust strangers regardless of their seemingly generosity. It is the world we live in now. Would Eufaula not do the same if the roles were reversed?”
He stood silently for a moment with his arms crossed sizing Jess up.
“I respect your courage and comprehend your view. However, it is my opinion that the strong should never bend to the weak. It is necessary for the strong to protect them. Therefore allowing the weak to take away the means or necessities of the strong to do so is not beneficial to either party.”
“I completely understand what you are saying, but you seem to be a little confused about our roles. Don’t worry we will protect you and hold your hand if any of you should become frightened without your weapons.”
Hearing Jes
sie’s response there was a tense moment in the air. Roberto broke the silence with a deep laugh.
“You’re alright. Not like those little weasels from the Montana community. I’m Roberto, second in command of Eufaula. Not trying to create conflict. Just wanted to test your resolve.”
“Guessing you had a similar run-in with Montana spies like we did years ago. I’m Jessie, currently in charge of Alpine. No worries about my resolve, its rock solid. Tell me Roberto, what did you do before the world went to shit?”
“My last position was making sure people paid their loans or breaking a few bones if they didn’t. Before that I was in the Army Thirty-Seventh Infantry Brigade Combat Team for many years. And you?”
“Should have guessed with that thick skull. I was a Colonel in the 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, oversight for Special Projects, and member of the Sciops.”
“They don’t exist. They’re a myth made up by some general to frighten other countries into submission”
Jessie laughed, “That’s a new one. Sciops seriously did exist. Normally anyone leaking information would simply be disavowed or erased from ever being part of the Marines. Worse things could happen depending on the information that was leaked. However, seeing how military secrets no longer mean much I don’t mind sharing. Yes, we were an assassination squad as rumors said. Special projects was even more secretive than Sciops. They developed weapons of mass destruction, dealt with unidentified artifacts, and interterrestrial or extraterrestrial objects among other things. I’m sure you can understand the necessity for the secrecy they had.”
“Forget the weak and resolve conversation we had a few minutes ago. I don’t feel like sleeping with one eye open the rest of my life.” Roberto smiled a goofy grin.
“Forgiven. Shall we head to our current camp? I may just be arming your men again by nightfall so you know. Seems we may have a horde of type two coming our way.”
“Seriously? Who pissed in the devil’s Cheerios around these parts? First the destruction from at least an F4 tornado. Now a horde of type two Fallen! I have never fathomed that many of them together.”
“In case you have forgotten, we are all living in a world full of the undead. Pretty much nothing tops that. Better get moving”
Seeing the destruction from the storm while driving gave their group the perspective of how bad things really were. Back at the hotel Roberto’s group were impressed with the defenses we had thrown together so quickly. Large rigs with cargo trailers had been moved to further blockade the fencing around the block. There were snipers posted in various positions around the perimeter keeping a lookout. Near dark a large bonfire was lit. Spotlights came on before the sun set. They faced out in all directions. Laser sensors had been put up to set off an alarm when anything crossed their paths. There were even a few cameras set up blocks away in each direction which were being monitored. The heavy artillery had been brought out. Among the stock pile were a few grenades, a fifty caliber rifle with about a couple hundred rounds, and a large rusty chainsaw among other things. I had a feeling after this was all finished that we were going to have to send out several parties to resupply ammunition that was already becoming low after all these years. Luckily plenty still existed if you wanted to hit up the big city residential areas. Of course acquiring the ammunition and safely returning while among thousands of Fallen was the tricky part. Would probably be safer to hit up a military depot or something.
The darkness crept in as the hours slowly crawled by. Dinner for most consisted of old stale nutrition bars that had no expiration dates. Around three in the morning the elderly and children of the population had long ago retired for the night. Many of those on duty were halfway dozing off when the radios crackled with a frightened voice.
“They’re here! I repeat, they are here. I can see them on the cameras coming from every direction.”
Jessie’s voice replied as calmly as she could muster, “Do we have an estimate on their numbers?”
The other voice responded, “Negative. There are too many to even guess.”
The alarm from the laser sensors went off shortly after jolting awake those who were leisurely snoring at their posts. Gunfire began moments later from the snipers. Fallen crawled under or over the rigs advancing on the fences. Thousands of pale blue eyes seemed to glow in the darkness. The air was quickly filled with their rotting smell as they made their way over the dozens of bodies impaled on the fences. Their numbers were so great that they pushed each other forward, many being impaled on the stakes instead of avoiding them as the intelligent ones would normally have done. Dozens were blown apart from the small explosives buried in the dirt. Molotov cocktails were tossed down on them. Others were set on fire being pushed into the bonfires by their own masses. For every one taken down, ten more took their place. They amassed around the hotel and the medical center. They pounded and pushed against the wood at the old bank where the medical facility was set up. Eventually the wood and even the doors gave way. Hundreds piled inside. Watching from my window on the sixth floor I smiled a huge grin.
A few minutes later several explosives blasted throughout the medical center. Fire poured out while large chunks of concrete fell crushing large numbers on the outside. I had recalled part of my nightmare relaying it earlier in the evening. Everyone had quickly been relocated to the hotel right before nightfall. Roberto had come up with the idea to set the explosives as a surprise.
The Fallen left mainly focused their attention on the hotel. They gathered pressing against the ironwood doors. No matter the force pressed against them they didn’t budge. Several began climbing the bars on the windows hoping that some were loose or they could find some other way inside. At the other buildings where snipers were posted they began taking down Fallen with precise aim. They were quickly spotted. Dozens climbed those buildings to attack the snipers. We lost several men good men. Only a couple managed to safely secure themselves. A little further down the block was an old apartment building that was half missing from the tornado. Roberto waited watching from the top of the building for a signal. As the undead amassed the walls of the hotel a light was flashed a few times in his direction. The main door quickly opened and closed at the apartments. Firecrackers started going off popping loudly. They drew the attention of about half of the Fallen who began running towards them. Around ten feet away they started falling as the loud rounds of the fifty caliber began shredding through their numbers. Most of the ones still at the hotel faltered adjusting their attention towards the apartment. Only a couple dozen remained as the rest rushed away towards the commotion.
Quickly out of ammunition Roberto stood watching down as they gathered. He began tossing down grenades wiping out many others from existence. They broke through the windows piling inside. The man just inside that had thrown the firecrackers took out a little over a dozen with a double barrel pump action shotgun before he was overcome being torn apart. There were about fifty remaining that made their way to the second floor. Where two of Roberto’s group barricaded the staircase. They opened fire with assault rifles slaughtering over twenty before they lost their lives. At the top of the stairs to the third floor those remaining found Roberto waiting with the rusty chainsaw. He gave them a wild grin as they rushed towards him. He cut them down, blood and body parts flying everywhere. Not able to completely defend against so many, one snuck around sinking its teeth deep into the muscle of his left forearm. It ripped a chunk of flesh off before being flung away. During the last few moments he had kept an eye on the one that bitten him leaving it unscathed and temporarily at bay while he decimated the remaining few. Roberto tossed the chainsaw down the stairs. Seeing the danger of the chainsaw being tossed away the one that had bitten him lunged forward to finish its meal. Roberto grabbed it by the throat lifting it off the ground. It flailed wildly with its immense strength. Roberto squeezed tighter and tighter crushing the neck until it snapped. The Fallen became limp no longer struggling. It was thrown down hard on the floor. The last sigh
t those pale blue eyes saw was a large boot coming down on them as Roberto crushed the skull underfoot.
A few minutes later Roberto came out the front door carrying two assault rifles (one in each hand) which looked like small toys in his arms. He yelled loudly at the Fallen that still remained.
“Hey, you fucking blue eyed maggots want a meal? I’ve got one for you right here!”
The ones on the walls made their way down. Others among the block immediately ran in the direction of the loud voice that heckled them. Bullets poured through the air. Many pierced through them doing little damage. A few dropped from stray bullets that struck them in the head. Roberto’s remaining crew rushed out of the hotel where they had taken up guard just inside as a first defense. They yelled trying to draw some away from Roberto. Others from the Alpine community came out to join them also armed. About half of the Fallen returned to charge the larger group. Many noticing their numbers had dwindled to nearly nothing along with the growing threat commenced to escaping the area. The group from the hotel took down the Fallen that came at them (only one Alpine citizen lost their life). Ten remaining closed in on Roberto. Out of bullets, he cracked the skull of one with the butt of his gun while knocking several others away. He took down six with a large survival knife. Two snuck in biting at his thighs. A third tore some flesh from his lower arm making him drop the knife. He flung that one several feet away. Then he grabbed the two trying to tear through his thick jeans by their heads smashing them together before falling to his knees. The last Fallen saw an opening rushing forward focused on Roberto’s neck. Inches away it was shot in the head. Jess stood off to the right of Roberto with a smoking pistol.
“Sorry I didn’t get here quicker.” She looked down on Roberto while frowning. “What were you thinking going outside with guns blazing?”
“I’d already been bitten upstairs. Figured I would take as many as I could with me before I turned. Speaking of turning, would you do the honors? I’d hate to ask any of my people.”
Through the Eyes of the Phoenix Page 6