by Akart, Bobby
He became more and more nervous as time passed. He began to question whether Carly had become injured as she attempted to look for him at the bottom of the ridge. Or had she been captured unbeknownst to him? He sighed more than he breathed as the minutes ticked away.
For the tenth time in as many minutes, he glanced through the curtained entrance; then his eyes lit up. Muzzle flashes in the woods preceded a glorious sound that only a passionate hunter could describe—the sound of dual Remington .308s unleashing 150 grains of power on their unsuspecting targets.
One of the guards was taking a drag on his cigarette as the bullet smashed into his face, killing him instantly. Invigorated, Levi didn’t hesitate to get his side of the party started.
“Now! Everybody! Now!”
Shouts could be heard throughout the compound as the inmates took back the asylum. One of the guards came stumbling down the steps of the trailer, juggling his rifle and trying to button his pants at the same time. His feet never touched the ground.
Levi tripped him and grabbed his rifle in one fluid motion. He used the butt end of the shotgun to smash the man in the stomach to take away his breath, and then administered another blow to his nose, making that two broken noses to notch on his belt.
Another guard came through the door, leading the way with a handgun. Levi spun, racking a round into the Mossberg 590 as he positioned himself. The slug flew out of the shotgun and blew a gaping hole in the man’s chest. He was killed instantly.
More gunshots rang out, and the large utility lights on the far side of the compound were shot out in rapid succession. The explosions caused by the large four-hundred-watt lights being destroyed were nearly as loud as the gunfire.
At this point, white-clad inmates were running throughout the compound, waving their arms and screaming all kinds of nonsense to create the chaos Levi had asked for. He struggled to find another target, searching the melee for anyone not dressed in white.
He made his way to the intake tent and burst inside, swinging the rifle from corner to corner in search of anyone. It was empty. He pushed through the crowd of people who filled the walkways, some high on oxycodone who were simply joining in the fun, others doing their best to win their freedom.
He found his way to the tent where the leader of the camp was quartered. He took a deep breath, pulled the pump action on the shotgun to load another shell, and burst inside.
Squatch was taking out weeks of frustration on the man responsible for the deaths of several FEMA personnel and the suffering of a hundred or more Americans who were simply looking for a way to survive.
Blow after blow was administered to the man’s head and limp body. Squatch was covered with blood, as every part of the man’s face had been bludgeoned.
“Help! Help!” a man shouted outside the tent.
“Get him!” came the response.
Levi turned to make sure they were undisturbed.
“Hey, um, Mr. Squatch. Leonard. Um, this guy’s really pretty dead already, okay?”
The burly man reared his bloodied fist back for one final shot across the dead man’s jaw. The crunching sound Levi heard could have been jawbone, teeth, or even the bones in the big man’s hand. Regardless, the death sentence had been administered, and Squatch was ready to mete out more justice.
“Let’s go,” he growled.
He pushed past Levi and ran into the center of the compound, looking for someone to pulverize. Near the front gate, a group of people were mercilessly beating one of the guards. Squatch lumbered through the crowd to join in when more gunshots rang out and the last of the utility lights exploded, sending the entire camp into darkness.
Chapter 39
FEMA Camp S-53
Near Martin’s Fork Lake in the Cumberland Mountains
Three Point, Kentucky
“Levi’s making this happen!” shouted Chapman. Isabella ran just ahead of him, slightly more fleet afoot as she scaled fallen trees and avoided getting entangled in the underbrush. A shotgun blast filled the air, causing them both to pick up the pace. None of their group carried a shotgun, so it had to come from inside the compound.
By the time Chapman reached the corner of the fence, she was already squeezing the trigger of her AR-10, blasting out the three utility lights with ease. Out of breath, Chapman made light of it. “What do you need me for?”
“Moral support,” she said with a laugh. “He needs our help.”
Shots rang out from the other side of the camp, and the compound was immediately immersed in darkness. Using the fence as their guide, they rushed toward the front in search of Tommy. He’d already arrived at the fence and was making quick work of cutting a four-foot slice from the ground upward. Several people dressed in white immediately discovered the opening and pushed their way through.
Chapman tried to question them, but they were too frightened to stop. “Let’s head around the front. I saw a lot of them running in that direction.”
Leading the way, he raced along the fence until he reached the corner. Kristi and Carly were waiting for him.
“They’ve gone batshit crazy in there,” said Carly breathlessly. “I’ve been watching through the scope.”
People began shouting near the exit created by Tommy. Soon, the entire fence began to sway back and forth as the prisoners tried to cram their bodies through all at once.
“Is this some kind of asylum?” asked Tommy.
“I don’t know, but I’m goin’ in to find my husband.” Carly ran back toward the opening where the prisoners were continuing to push their way out.
Chapman shouted after her, “Carly, no! We’ll make another opening!”
In fact, Tommy was already at work, cutting a hole in the fence behind the generator. Because the large obstruction hid their progress, they didn’t have to fight the panicked escapees to gain access to the compound.
Once they were all inside, Chapman gave the orders. “Okay, we all stick together. Shout Levi’s name and keep an eye out for anyone with a weapon or not dressed in white.”
“Flashlights?” asked Kristi.
“Absolutely. Come on.”
Chapman and Isabella simultaneously pushed the buttons on the tactical flashlights affixed to the rails of their AR-10s. Tommy dropped the bolt cutters and pulled his sidearm. He held a larger flashlight in his left hand like an ice pick and crossed his right hand over the top of his left wrist to steady his grip.
The three of them led the way, with Kristi and Carly watching their backs.
“Levi!”
“Levi! Where are you?”
They continued to shout his name as more and more people appeared around them. Soon they were being shouted at and threatened.
“You’re gonna pay for what you did to us!”
“Your guns don’t scare us anymore!”
Chapman tried to explain. “Hey! We’re the good guys. We came to help our friend escape. Do you know Levi?”
Carly shouted, “Levi! Are you here?”
He responded from the dark compound, “Hey! Hey! I’ll come to you!”
Seconds later, Levi was pushing past the people who’d just mistakenly threatened their rescuers. Carly shoved her rifle at Kristi and busted through the crowd to embrace her husband. The two of them squeezed each other, not wanting to let go, as tears streamed down both of their faces.
Levi pulled back and looked his wife in the face. “I’m okay. I love you. I knew you’d come for me.”
“My god, Levi. This really sucks.”
“I know. I know. This part’s over.”
Levi stretched his right arm past her and squeezed the hands of his family.
Tommy was the first to ask, “Do we need to bail out of here? These people seem to be certifiable.”
“Nah, they’re just a little hyped up,” replied Levi. “Well, some are on Oxy, so don’t let your guard down. It’s not by choice.”
“We know,” said Carly. “I heard them beat you at the front gate.”
&nb
sp; “I’m sorry you had to see that.”
“It’s okay. It’s over, I guess.”
Levi gave his wife a quick hug and then led her by the hand through the crowd toward the center of the compound. The mob had spread out, and many were raiding the supplies of the camp. It only took Levi a second to find Squatch, who towered over everyone else.
“Holy shit, look at that beast,” muttered Kristi.
“He’s one of the good guys,” said Levi with a laugh.
“Jeez, good thing,” added Chapman.
Levi shouted at his new friend, “Hey! Squatch! Wait up!”
Mayor Rogers and Squatch turned and approached Levi. She was the first to speak. “Thank you, young man. Thank you so very much.”
“Don’t thank me,” began Levi. “Thank my family.”
He took a moment to make the introductions as the front gates were forced open by the prisoners. Many of them ran outside the fence, danced for a moment, and then came back to join the rest as they pillaged the supplies.
“You are all very brave and we owe you our lives.”
“No worries, ma’am,” said Chapman. “I hope this is over for you.”
“Well, we have lots of work to do. First, I have to try to restore some order; otherwise, they’ll binge eat every last MRE in the camp, and we’ll have nothing. Second, I have to find a way to explain this to the FEMA people when they come to bring more supplies. Somehow, these thugs were able to pull the wool over their eyes. I’ve gotta come clean.”
Levi laughed and gestured toward her protector. “Just take the same approach you took with me. Let him do the talkin’.”
The group laughed as Squatch chuckled, his enormous chest and belly rising up and down as he did.
“I might have to do that,” said Mayor Rogers. “Would your group like to join us here? It’s not very fancy, but with your help, it can be safe.”
Levi hesitated. “Well, I guess that is something we can talk about. We really don’t have a—”
Chapman cut him off. “We’ll be fine, ma’am. Thank you, though. After you get settled, we might come back over this way to see how things are going for you. Okay?”
The new mayor of FEMA Camp S-53 gave Chapman a puzzled look, as did Levi, but she nodded in response. “Our door is always open to you all. Again, Levi, thank you for risking your life to help us, too. It won’t be forgotten.”
“Yes, ma’am. You’re welcome.”
One of the mayor’s assistants handed Levi his Bowie knife. “I know what this is, and I’ll bet it’s yours.”
Levi took the knife that had been in his family for generations. “Yeah, thanks. Um, I have a gun here, too. Y’all can have it.”
Mayor Rogers spontaneously stepped forward and gave Levi a hug. She whispered in his ear, “Godspeed, Patriot.”
The sun began to rise, and the tired group made their way out of the compound. They crossed through the tall grasses of the field, leaving a path knocked over from their strides. Then, one by one, they glanced over their shoulders at Camp S-53 before disappearing into the woods.
Chapter 40
Raven Rock Mountain Complex
Liberty Township, Pennsylvania
President Houston continued to work toward providing the most amount of help to the greatest number of people. With each passing day, the nation’s satellites in low-Earth orbit were coming back online. It appeared from the best available prognostications of the scientific community that the rapid pole shift had paused and the geomagnetic reversal had stabilized. There was not, however, any indication that the wandering poles would return to either geographic north or south, where they’d resided for many hundreds if not thousands of years.
The president had grown impatient with FEMA’s inability to help the government officials and their families who’d been forced to reside in Raven Rock’s mess hall. He lamented to anyone who’d listen that he couldn’t be expected to bring America back onto solid footing if he couldn’t manage to help the people under his own roof.
A water taxi system of sorts was finally put in place to ferry refugees out of Raven Rock to higher elevations. Some of the governmental officials who were ordinarily labeled essential personnel during a time of crisis were no longer given than status. The nation wasn’t at war, nor was the threat of a nuclear conflict realistic. As a result, some of the intelligence and military personnel could be moved to a less secure location.
The rest of the nation’s government, including the president, would begin to evacuate the flooded Raven Rock Mountain Complex that day. The less secure facility at the Greenbrier would become their new, temporary home.
Situated two hundred fifty miles southwest of Raven Rock, and where Washington, DC, used to stand, the famed hotel was nestled in the Allegheny Mountains near White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.
The staff of the Greenbrier began pampering their guests in 1778 when it was built. Over two and a half centuries, the hotel had hosted presidents and foreign dignitaries. It had acted as a hospital and a military headquarters for both the South and the North during the first American Civil War. During World War II, the hotel was converted into a two-thousand-bed hospital. Over the course of four years, twenty-four thousand soldiers were treated at the surgical and rehabilitation center.
Then came the Cold War. The federal government once again called the Greenbrier into service, this time as an emergency relocation center for upper-level cabinet members and high-ranking members of Congress. Project Greek Island, as it was known, maintained a constant state of operational readiness as the Cold War with the Soviet Union garnered the constant attention of the nation’s foreign policymakers.
The underground bunkers were constructed with an aboveground addition to the hotel designed for the U.S. government to function in a time of crisis. The end of the Cold War resulted in the Greenbrier being decommissioned as one of the government’s emergency operations centers in favor of Raven Rock, Cheyenne Mountain, and Mount Weather in Virginia. However, the secretive labyrinth of bunkers and communications centers were still in place, and therefore, at an elevation of two thousand feet, the Greenbrier became a logical location for the new White House.
Not to mention it was, in fact, white.
The president had been informed by the Secret Service and the Department of Defense that he’d be among the first personnel to be evacuated from Raven Rock to the Greenbrier.
President Houston addressed his Director of Homeland Security. “Marc, I’ve never been to the Greenbrier, but I certainly know where White Sulphur Springs is located. I’ll never forget that campaign stop in Beckley during the primary. Senator Manchin insisted I make an appearance if I wanted to carry the state, and he was right. I won it in the primary and in the general.”
Ducci nodded. “Yes, sir. I remember. We held the rally in an airport hangar and froze our asses off. The crowd was sparse, but the media from around the state turned out in droves. Merely showing up won their hearts.”
The president laughed. “Um, yeah, until I put the coal mines out of business. Anyway, how are we gonna get there from here?”
“Well, it’s a little bit convoluted, but it works. The Navy has put together a flotilla to pick us up nearby. For safety’s sake, we’ll be accompanied by the Navy’s fast boats used to combat drug running in the Gulf of Mexico. All of these vessels were hardened after terrorists began selling the targeted EMP weapons to the cartels in exchange for smuggling their operatives across the southern border. The geostorm activity has not affected most of our Coast Guard and border patrol boats.”
“I’m not much of a geography expert, but if the Greenbrier is located at two thousand feet, we’ll still have some work to do.”
Ducci nodded as he waited for the president to finish his statement. “Yes, sir. The boats will take us down the Shenandoah Valley, which is bordered by the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east and the Appalachians to the west.
“When the waters rose, as you know, everything along the c
oast from New York to the Chesapeake was flooded. The water filled the Shenandoah Valley, allowing large islands to be created out of the mountains. The boats can travel unobstructed down the old valley along what used to be Interstate 81.
“We’ll disembark at a small community called Buffalo Gap, where Humvees dispatched out of a nearby West Virginia Army National Guard base will greet us. After that, we’ll have to travel through the mountains, but the road has been secured by the military.”
“What’s the condition of the hotel?”
“Remarkably good, sir. It sits high enough to avoid the floodwaters, and its grounds slope, so water didn’t accumulate during the long rainy spell. Naturally, the hotel itself is without electricity, but the bunkers and the EOC were hardened decades ago to withstand a Russian nuke, so the constant solar activity hasn’t negatively impacted our ability to conduct the nation’s business.”
The president sighed. “If we would’ve known, we could have gone there in the first place.”
“Nobody could’ve known about this, sir.”
A gentle knock at the door ended the conversation. The Secret Service detail indicated they were ready for the president to leave Raven Rock. He and Ducci, along with the president’s acting chief of staff, walked through the corridors of Raven Rock for the last time. As they did, the president was philosophical.
“Since the beginning, there have been efforts to move the capital elsewhere. Heck, Washington took office in New York City, but by the time he was reelected in 1792, the capital had been relocated to Philly for a decade or so. Jefferson was the first to be inaugurated in Washington. I guess that makes me a historic figure in a sense, as the last to be inaugurated there.”