by G J Ogden
Instinctively, Ethan and Maria backed away as the creature bared broken, yellow teeth, and then from its putrid mouth came a half-growl, half-scream that was a nightmarish harmony of primitive fury. Step-by-step, they inched away, but a few meters from the slope rising back into the first cave, Maria caught her heel on a clump of rock and fell backwards. Twisting and throwing out her hands to break her fall, the sidearm flew from her grasp and clattered against the rock, shattering the silence and ending any chance of escape.
The wolf charged at Maria, jaws opened wide, but Ethan intercepted, striking it cleanly with the flat of his short-staff. It wailed and tumbled past Maria, but was back on its feet in an instant. Maria scrambled back frantically as Ethan struck again, this time to the animal’s face, causing it to screech and retreat several paces. Ethan could not tell whether it was a cry of pain, or frustration, but the noise cut though him like a freshly-sharpened blade. Then in the shadows behind it, Ethan saw a second creature begin to stalk towards them. The first shook its head violently and then began to edge slowly sideways, trying to circle behind them.
“Maria, there’s a second!” Ethan cried out in panic, as he wheeled backwards, keeping the first wolf to his front. There was no response from Maria, and Ethan dared not take his eyes off it in order to check if she was okay.
The first animal lashed a claw, but missed and in his haste to press the advantage Ethan misjudged his counter-attack and left himself open. The beast pounced, mouth wide, teeth bared, but fell heavily as three crisp shots rang out from Maria’s weapon. All three rounds hit, with the final bullet piercing one of the jet black eyes, through which now seeped dark, red blood.
The second wolf wasted no time and charged at Maria, but Ethan thrust out his staff and caught its trailing legs, knocking it off balance. Like the first, it recovered with alarming speed and darted to the side as two more shots rang out, this time hitting only stone and dirt. It then swung back in towards Maria and slashed the weapon from her hand. Maria jumped back, struck her head on a low overhang, and fell to the cold, wet stone, semi-conscious.
Ethan saw Maria fall and began to shout and scream at the creature, desperate to draw it away and make himself the target. The animal cocked its head towards Ethan and snarled, but then looked back at the easier prey, thick drool dripping from its jaws. Ethan threw the short-staff at it, striking it on its flanks, and then drew his knife and ran at it, forcing it to back away so that he could get between it and the dazed body of Maria. The wolf surged forward and Ethan slashed the creature’s face, leaving behind a gash that stained its dirty gray fur with a dark red smear. The creature howled, and backed away. Ethan could see that the wound was deep, slicing through to the bone. It was a wound that on any normal animal would have been enough to incapacitate or even kill, but this was no normal beast; this creature was maddened.
Ethan scanned the cavern floor, desperately looking for Maria’s weapon, but it had fallen beyond his reach and now lay behind the creature’s foot; blood from the gash to its face pooled around the barrel. He stared back into the animal’s black eyes; it had crouched low and Ethan knew it was preparing to strike. He adjusted his stance, pushing his right leg behind him and angling the tip of the blade towards the beast, gripping it tightly and placing his left palm under the base of the hilt. It pounced and Ethan also thrust forward, feeling its claws bite into his shoulders as the knife sank into its throat. It thrashed wildly, and Ethan slipped on the fresh blood that gushed onto the already greasy cavern floor. He fell and the creature fell on top of him, but Ethan drove the blade in deeper still, feeling it slide further into the flesh. The wetness of its blood, strangely cold, seeped into his clothes as it continued to flail wildly, but as its strength finally failed, Ethan threw it to one side and clambered away, leaving the knife buried deep into its throat. Unable to stand, the animal pawed at the knife in a desperate and futile last attempt to dislodge it, but then eventually collapsed and lay still. Fractured, guttural howls leaked from its blood-soaked mouth, filling the cavern with the sound of death.
Ethan lay back, breathing heavily; adrenaline masking the pain from his wounds. He got up and went to Maria, who had recovered in time to see the creature’s gruesome last dance. It remained motionless, its black eyes open and staring out blankly towards them. Maria noticed the glint of the blade inside its blood-soaked jaws as Ethan pressed himself back against the wall of the cave, utterly exhausted. He looked at Maria, expecting to see relief in her eyes, but she was still staring out towards the beast with a look of horror.
“Ethan, there’s another one!”
Ethan snapped his head back towards the dead animal and there, crouched low behind it, was a third. Instinctively, Ethan held Maria and she held him back; neither spoke, but both knew there was nothing more they could do. Exhausted, injured and unarmed, they were finished.
“I’m sorry I got you into this,” said Maria, as the creature stalked forward.
“This was my choice, Sal,” replied Ethan. “I’m only sorry we can’t see it through.”
Light from the luminescent strip above them flashed in the animal’s black eyes as it launched itself forward. Ethan shut his eyes and gripped Maria tightly, waiting for the pain to bite, but it did not come. Instead the cavern was filled with screeches and yowls and Ethan opened his eyes to see the animal lying on its side, blood staining its fur. It scrambled to its feet, injured and confused, and was instantly hit in the side, as if its body had been struck with an invisible hammer. Awkwardly, it returned to its feet, but was hit again and again by the invisible hammer blows, eventually collapsing to the stone floor like a carcass that had been flung off the back of a moving cart.
Ethan pushed himself up and cautiously stepped closer trying to understand what had killed it, and saw four metal shafts, like arrow heads but cruder, lodged deep into its flanks. The wolf looked into Ethan’s eyes, still battling to reach him, despite the life leaking from its body, until it let out a long, vile groan and became silent.
Maria stood and looked deeper into the cave in the direction the blows had seemingly come from. Silhouetted by the light from an open doorway was the figure dressed in the black suit, holding something in its hands; perhaps the weapon that had saved their lives. The figure stepped out towards them, and though Maria’s first reaction was defense, she was too overwhelmed to do anything other than stand and stare.
“Who are you?” the figure demanded, its voice electronically modulated though the helmet.
“We’re survivors,” said Maria. She was still in a mild state of shock and answered with what first came to mind.
“Survivors?” said the suited figure. “Of what?”
“From the GPS space station,” said Maria, beginning to regain her composure. “Do you know about GPS?”
“Yes, of course we do,” the electronic voice replied.
“Who are ‘we’?” said Maria. “There are more of you?”
“We monitored an impact in Green Haven,” the figure said, ignoring Maria’s question. “Was the space station destroyed?”
“Yes,” said Maria. “It’s a long story.”
“Why are you here?” asked the figure. “How do you know of this place?”
“I’m from the space station. We had records of places like this,” said Maria. She had regained her senses enough to have the wherewithal not reveal herself as UEC – if this suited figure knew about GPS and the space station, then perhaps it also knew of the UEC’s role in the destruction of the planet too. “There aren’t many of us left. Most are children and they can’t survive down here, not for long.”
“Children?” said the voice. “From the space station?”
“Yes,” said Maria. “Please, can you help us?”
The figure lowered the object it was holding and stood motionless for a moment. “He said there would be others,” the figure said. “I didn’t believe it could be true.”
“What do you mean? Who said?” said Maria, confused.
“He’s from a nearby settlement on the planet,” said Maria, looking back at Ethan. “His name is Ethan. I’m Maria. He’s helping me.”
“There are no settlements on the planet’s surface,” said the voice said with a defiant sureness, while also raising the weapon ever so slightly. “Everyone died, a long time ago. The only life that exists on the surface now are things like those.” The figure pointed beyond Maria, to the bodies of the maddened animals they had just fought.
“Not everyone died,” said Ethan, raising his voice to almost a shout so that the figure could hear him. “Some survived. Including yourself, it seems.”
The suited figure did not answer, and for a moment there was silence, punctuated only by the drip, drip of water falling from the roof of the cavern into the pools below, some of which were now stained red.
“Well, today certainly is a day for surprises,” said the figure. And though the voice modulator masked the inflections somewhat, Ethan was sure it meant a happy surprise, rather than an unpleasant one.
“It’s not safe out here, as you’ve already discovered,” the suited figure continued. “We need to get you inside, and decontaminated. The man’s wounds will need to be dealt with, also, to prevent infection.”
And then without another word, it turned and walked back through door, disappearing out of sight. The door itself remained tantalizingly open.
Maria turned to Ethan, intending to suggest they follow, and it was then that she noticed the extent of his injuries. The clothing on his shoulders and upper chest was torn and bloodied and Maria could see that some of the cuts were deep.
“Damn it, Ethan, you’re a mess,” said Maria, “We need to get this sorted. Come on.”
“I’ll follow you in a minute,” said Ethan, still too pumped full of adrenaline to feel much pain. He strolled casually back to the second of the maddened wolves; the one he had killed with his knife.
“What are you doing?” asked Maria, with curiosity.
Ethan didn’t answer. Instead, he reached down, wincing in pain as he did so, and pulled the knife out from the throat of the dead, corrupted beast. The accompanying noise was as repellent as the sticky black-red blood that was left on the blade. Ethan wiped it on the creature’s fur and then turned back towards Maria, while examining the weapon for any damage. Satisfied there was none, he replaced it in its sheath. He noticed that Maria was staring back at him, her expression a mixture of horror and disgust.
“What? It’s a good knife! Make sure you don’t forget yours...” he pointed towards Maria’s sidearm, which was now fully enveloped in a thick pool of blood.
Maria’s face scrunched up even more tightly. She walked over and gingerly lifted the sidearm out of the pool of blood by hooking her pinky finger through the trigger guard. The black-red substance dripped thickly back into the pool below, causing Maria’s expression to contort further.
“I don’t recall you being so squeamish!” Ethan laughed, and then immediately regretted it, as pain shot through his shoulders and chest. Once this had subsided, he ripped a strip of fabric from his already torn tunic and tossed it to Maria, who caught it. “Here, use this.”
“Thanks,” said Maria, using the rag to wipe away the worst of the blood, before discarding it and wiping her hand on her trousers.
“Is that door really there?” said Ethan, staring at the rectangular white hole in the cave wall. “I honestly don’t know if I’m alive or dead; awake or dreaming.”
“Well, let’s see if you feel this,” Maria removed a small injector from a shoulder pocket and moved closer, aiming it towards Ethan’s neck; but before she could administer the serum, Ethan caught her hand and pulled it aside.
“Wait,” he said, still holding her hand with gentle pressure, “You need that more than I do.”
“Relax, it’s just a painkiller, nothing I can’t live without,” said Maria. “It’s just until I can get hold of a proper medkit.”
Ethan nodded and let Maria apply the injector, feeling the stab in his neck, accompanied by a sharp hissing sound; a noise that resurfaced memories from the time he had spent with Maria, years ago. Maria discarded the injector, and then he realized he was still holding her hand. He expected this realization to make him feel awkward and embarrassed and want to instantly let go, but instead it felt reassuring and familiar, like the first sip of a hot drink on a cold and dreary morning. He looked into Maria’s eyes and he could see she felt the same. It was the same as it had been when they had first met, but also different. They were both different now.
“Let’s go and meet our mysterious friend,” said Ethan, letting Maria’s hand slip from his.
“Lead the way, planetsider,” Maria replied with a smile, and together they walked through the open doorway.
Chapter 21
The dust cloud had swept in with frightening speed and completely enveloped the settlement of Forest Gate, blanketing it in a haze that was thicker than the worst seasonal fog and making the air taste of ash.
Summer relayed final orders to the last of the twenty-eight rangers and twelve volunteers who had all insisted on staying to defend their home. To each and every one of them, Forest Gate was more than just the place they rested their heads at night; it was a symbol of resistance and struggle and, ultimately, triumph. This damaged world had not broken them – they had not fallen – and they refused to let their home fall now. They had defied the elements, the savagery of the roamers, and the odds, to live another day. This day would be no different, Summer resolved. Whatever came through that haze would meet its end, or she would. But if it was her time then she would go down fighting; never running, never cowed.
Summer climbed down a narrow ladder connecting the wall to the settlement grounds below, and looked for Elijah. He was talking with his mother, Katie, just outside the bakery that Katie owned and ran. Right where they had both planned her to be. Summer approached and exchanged a knowing look with Elijah and then turned to his mother; a woman who was, to all intents and purposes, her sister.
“Let’s check the bakery one last time,” Summer said to Katie. “To make sure the space is cleared and we have clean water and towels.”
“What, again?” Katie answered, her uneasiness apparent to both Summer and Elijah. “We’ve checked it twice already!” Katie was as stout-hearted and determined as any in Forest Gate, but her skill-set in a situation like they were about to face did not equal her courage.
“They are my orders, K,” Summer continued, calmly. “Everything has to be triple-checked, just to be sure.”
Katie was wringing her hands together, unable to remain still. She acknowledged Summer with a succession of frantic little nods. “Okay, okay, I’ll check it again, if it makes you happy,” she added, irritably. “I wish this awful haze would lift, it’s making my skin crawl!”
Both Elijah and Summer had witnessed Katie’s emotional stability deteriorate rapidly since the cloud had moved in, and they knew it was time to enact the plan they had both agreed on from the moment Elijah had insisted he would stay and fight, knowing that his mother would never leave his side.
Katie unbolted the door of the bakery and stepped inside, followed by Elijah, who hung back momentarily to seek the final reassurance from Summer that he was doing the right thing. Summer’s unwavering green eyes stared back at him, and this was all he needed to be sure.
Elijah waited until Katie was well past the threshold and then grabbed the door handle. Katie, realizing that Elijah was not beside her, stopped and turned around. She was as white as the flour in the canvas sacks piled up against the thick stone walls of the bakery.
“Elijah, what are you doing?”
“I’m sorry, mother, but I have to make sure you’re safe.” Elijah was unable to hide his shame at having deceived her. He pulled the heavy door shut and barred it using a metal rod that he had placed alongside the outer wall earlier for this
very purpose. The thud of Katie’s fists on the other side resonated through his arms as she pounded on the door.
“Elijah, what is this? Let me out!” came the muffled cries, but as much as Elijah hated what he had done, he believed it was the right course of action. Katie was not a fighter, and her concern for Elijah would cloud her judgment and make her more of a liability than a help in the battle to come.
“I’ll come and get you when it’s all finished,” shouted Elijah over the dull thuds of flesh hammering on wood. “I’m sorry...” And then he backed away from the door, head bowed, and halted beside Summer, who was standing tall, as straight as the arrows in her quiver.
“You’ve done the right thing,” Summer said softly to Elijah. “Believe me, that was the easy part.”
“It didn’t feel easy.” Elijah suddenly realized he was angry, but not at Summer; he was angry with himself. He felt Summer’s hands on his shoulders, turning him to face her. He looked into her green eyes and it felt like the first rays of morning sun, washing over him.
“Take that anger and use it,” Summer said. “Use it against what’s coming; use it to survive. Your mother will forgive you. Hell, she may even thank you. But if you get killed, she’ll never forgive either of us, understand?”
Elijah nodded and smiled back at her. Summer always had a way of making him feel invincible.
“And another thing, Eli. Don’t be a hero.”
“I don’t know what you mean?” Elijah frowned.
“I know it was your choice to stay, and I respect your decision,” Summer continued, “but you have nothing to prove. Not to Ethan. Not to me. Not to anyone. You fight smart and stay alive. Got it?”