by Maxey, Phil
“Where are we going?” said Josh.
“To see your mother, young man.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
5: 18 a.m. Dallas.
Jess tried to crane her head upwards enough to see the top of the strangely shaped tower which loomed hundreds of feet above the truck in the center of the city.
Luci did the same behind her. “I… visited here with my parents, many years ago. You can see for miles from the top…”
Scott looked through the rear side window at the curved stone steps to their left, which led up to the fifteen feet of glass, spanning the base of the building. “No sign of any danger. This looks perfect.”
Jess pushed her door open, Sanchez doing the same, both jumping out. He moved to the back of the trailer, opening it while she scoured the darkness lurking beyond the nearby trees, then railroad tracks.
“Would be convenient if the Newgrove train comes past here,” said Scott.
Footsteps made her turn around to face Landon, Sam and Vance, the others stretching their legs and arms, further back.
Vance pointed to the gaps in the bushes to their right. “Main station is right there, on the other side. They should be good to stop here.”
Scott looked back to the tower, nodding. “Probably not long until we can reach them on the train as well from the top. Let’s go.”
The group moved past plastic signs that had fallen then up the four steps to the glass entrance. Scott pushed on the secure looking door but it remained locked.
Sam walked forward. “Let me try.”
“Umm… okay,” replied the soldier.
A glanced passed between her parents as she placed both hands on the circular metal bar and pushed, and despite the creaking sound the door remained firmly closed.
“Screw this,” said Millar. “Everyone get back.” They did as he raised his weapon at the ten-foot of glass panel to the left of the door and fired. The shatter of glass momentarily replaced the silence and a gaping hole filled with shadows looked back at everyone.
As the others walked over the fragments on the ground, Jess waited, listening into the night, but silence had returned.
“You hear anything?” said Landon.
She shook her head and together they moved into the cavernous lobby with circular walls. Placards and advertisements for restaurants and hotels sat alongside narrow corridors which curved around the central core, marked with signs for elevators to the top.
Scott slid his light across the glossy walls, quickly finding what he wanted, a sign for the stairs to the viewing gallery high above. “We don’t all need to go up.”
Millar nodded. “I’ll stay down here.”
“I’ll go with you,” said Sam to Scott. Lachlan and Jess saying the same.
Scott held his radio up, looking at those who had the same. “Stay on comms. If anyone sees anything that shouldn’t be out there. We let each other know.”
“Roger that,” said Luci.
Esther indicated that she needed help getting some supplies from the trailer, while Scott, Jess and the others entered the stairwell and started ascending.
Sam ran on ahead, quickly moving out of her mother’s sight. “Don’t go too far!” shouted Jess. “We don’t know what’s up there!”
“That’s why I need to get to the top quickly. I’ll let you know!” Sam shouted back down, already four flights higher up.
Scott noticed Jess’s labored steps. “You alright? I thought getting up here would be easy for you?”
She let out a breath, then made sure Lachlan who had also run on ahead was out of earshot. She stopped near the soldier. “Between us… I’m not how I was before… I mean, the past few days. I’m just—”
“Human?”
“Yeah…”
Scott rubbed his chin. “So the virus died out in you as well?” She nodded. He looked upwards. “But not in your kid.”
“It doesn’t look like it.”
“So Landon—”
“Doesn’t know.”
“Okay…” They started climbing again.
On the ground floor, Landon tried to use his good right hand to lift a box from the back of the trailer but the pain from the left stopped the effort. He felt his jacket pocket for the box of pills. The two he had already taken were already wearing off.
Vance moved past him, lifting the cardboard box from the back and continued towards the entrance. Words started to leave Landon’s throat, but never made it past his lips. There would be time to help the older man over his loss once they got through the next twenty-four hours, for now Vance needed to do what Vance needed to do, and whatever that was, was okay.
A flashlight’s beam swept around the inside of the trailer. “Grab that one… no, the other, with the red labels,” said Sanchez to Andy, who did so then appeared at the back near the open door. He jumped down then picked up the box and followed Vance.
“Why you standing around out there?” came from the trailer.
Anger bubbled within Landon who looked inside. The glare from the light covered Sanchez’s face. “You got anymore boxes to carry in?”
The older man walked from the shadows, an automatic rifle over one shoulder and stood on the end of the trailer. “Nah, but I got one of these.” He held up a bottle of beer. “Thought you could do with it.”
Landon smiled.
“Shit. You only got one good hand. I need to find an opener.”
Landon’s smile became a frown. “Give it here.” He took it and with one swipe on the rear step of the trailer knocked the cap cleanly off, then took a drink. The golden liquid brought with it memories of a normal world and he was sure the pain eased slightly from his wrist.
Sanchez jumped down.
“You’re not having one?”
“No alcohol or drugs for me. Always been a rule of mine.” Sanchez closed the rear trailer door. Leaning on it. “See them destroy too many lives, my parents for one.” He then looked more directly at the former detective. “We’ll get your kid back.”
Landon nodded then looked at the Russian designed weapon. “You got anymore of those?”
Sanchez nodded to the base of the tower. “The fire guy took them inside already. Got five pieces and plenty of ammo.”
Four hundred feet above them the wind buffeted Sam’s face as she stood on the open deck which ran around the edge of the globe like exterior. She looked east through the bars and mesh to the metropolis of similarly tall buildings in downtown Dallas and then north to the flatter suburbs. That was where ‘they’ would be coming from. She strained to see any light or movement amongst the various shades of absolute black but even her enhanced sight gave her nothing in return. She heard the others coming up the steps behind, but for a moment she was alone. Free. Part of her wondered if she could sprout wings and fly like a bird, sailing above the city… Her little brother’s smiling face came to her and she choked back a tear. In the trailer she had let the past week, especially the last twenty-four hours overwhelm her. She had been used, changed… She died. She was sure of it but somehow she was still here and she was going to make the crazy scientist pay.
The glass door opened and Lachlan came out, her mother and the soldier still a few flights lower down.
“Cool, view,” he said, bending over, out of breath.
She looked at him, starting to reply then realized he wasn’t like her anymore. He was normal again… More commotion came from the exit to the stairwell, Scott and Jess appearing, both similarly fatigued. Her eyes caught her mother’s and both knew Jess was just as human as Lachlan. Sam looked away, back to the sprawling blocks and high-rises.
Scott pushed open the door, his radio already in his hand and held it to his face. “This is Chief Warrant officer Scott Woods. I’m sending this message from the top of a tower in central Dallas. Does anyone hear this? Over.”
All four waited, listening to the static, trying to hear any sign of a voice but none came.
Scott nodded to himself. “Luci, you rea
d me? Over.”
“Loud and clear. You see anything coming our way?”
He held his binoculars to his eyes, looking out into the dark but not seeing anything of alarm. “Nope. You situated down there, if we get visitors? Over.”
“Getting there. Over.”
“Keep me informed. I’m going to keep trying for Galveston. It’s far but we might get lucky. Over.”
“How long until we move out?”
Scott looked at his watch. “We’ll give it thirty minutes, tops.”
He looked at the other three. “I need each of you to keep watch to the north.” They nodded in agreement and he moved back inside, cutting across the large room within.
“Think I’m gonna… see the view to the south…” said Lachlan, strolling away.
Sam’s eyes flicked to her mother who was looking to the east and the block-like structures crowding every corner. “I know you’re not like me…”
Jess looked down.
“It’s okay… it’s good…” Jess looked at her daughter. Sam continued, forcing a smile. “Your mom, again.”
Jess hugged her close. “I’m so sorry about what happened to you. We’re going to get Josh and Rackham will pay—”
Sam pulled back. “No! No… you can’t fight him like you did. I can’t lose someone… I…” The tears she was holding back burst from her into sobs and her mother held her again.
“I won’t. I promise. But we will get Josh back. I promise you that.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
5: 59 a.m. Dallas.
Landon sat with most of the others on some comfy chairs in the lobby area. The smell of beer hung in the chilly air, and the bottles were being shared as well as some chips and a tin or two of fruit had been opened and passed around.
Sanchez stood, walked to a trash can and dropped an empty packet of chips into it. “I’m looking forward to a home cooked meal,” he said to no one in particular. Luci and Millar emerged from a dark curved corridor in front of him. Sanchez sniggered. “I never thought you two would be into each other.”
Luci scoffed.
“In your dreams,” said Miller to her who then frowned.
She walked to the almost empty box, pulled out a packet of chips and threw it to Millar then took one herself, immediately opening it and crunching on some of the contents.
Landon looked across the occupants of the lobby, each face lit by the glow of a single battery operated lantern and each expression heavy with what the person had lost. In a few hours the sun would rise to a world rid of the plague which befell it, but nobody would be celebrating. He turned to face the shadows and pulled out the box of pills, opening it and—
Static then Scott’s voice burst from Luci’s radio.
“They’re coming!”
Everyone who was seated, stood, some running to the large glass windows.
“I don’t see anything,” said Andy, peering out into the dark.
“Which direction? Over,” said Luci.
“North… south…” Sam’s voice could be heard shouting in the background. “Everywhere! Are the charges set? Over.”
All eyes flicked to the two soldiers.
“You set explosives?” said Esther.
Luci ignored her question, answering Scott’s. “Everything’s ready! Get your ass down here! Over.”
The sound of the clapping of boots on steps came from the radio’s speaker. “Get the truck fired up! Over.”
Sanchez ran to the artificial exit and promptly skidded to a stop on the shards, then raised his weapon. The others ran forward.
“What did you see?” shouted Luci.
He shook his head. “I swear I saw something in those trees on the other side of the road.” He stepped over the threshold, his weapon still pointing at the swaying branches and bushes, all smothered in an almost absolute blackness.
A circle of light appeared as Millar focused his beam where they were all looking. The bushes moved.
“Th—”
Before Millar could finish a dark mass of limbs burst forth, surging across the four-lane road, past the back of the trailer and onto the bottom of the stone steps where it met a hail of gunfire. It raised one then two and more spindly hooked limbs, but fell with a slump to the ground.
“Where are you?” said Luci into her radio, panic evident in her voice.
A breath came from the speaker along with rustling. “Was that firing?”
“There’s something else out there!” shouted Tracey, looking to their left, to the north. Everyone strained to see the shapes moving amongst the dark.
Luci swore. “They’re already here!”
Sanchez ran outside, towards his truck.
“Get back!” she shouted, but he was already jumping down the steps. Millar sprinted after him, vaulting over the quivering creature as Sanchez ran down the side of the trailer, pulling the driver’s door open and climbing up.
“Look out!” shouted Luci walking forward, firing at one of the dark forms that had broken from the rest and was charging down the road towards Millar.
He turned and immediately fired, she and five others doing the same, but the shadows clung to the four-legged thing which was almost a blur and clattered into Millar, lifting him into the air as he fired down towards it.
Luci ran forward firing projectiles into the thing, which roared, dropping the soldier to the ground then spun around in anger. Another volley tore into it as parts exploded in red and it fell to the concrete. She with Landon ran to Millar as the truck started to reverse towards them. Shouting and screams, human and otherwise filled the air as the two of them lifted Millar, dragging him back up the steps best they could as neon streaks flew past them towards countless angry shapes moving their way.
With Vance and Andy they pulled him over the broken glass into the lobby as the trailer’s wheels bumped up the steps, reversing all the way until it slammed into the wall, covering most of the glass windows.
“Sanchez is out there!” shouted Esther from inside.
Just fifteen-feet away Sanchez looked out his side window at the things filling the street from both ends and the others stumbling from the trees. Pushing his door open, he started to jump down but things were charging up the steps. Grabbing the frame of the door, he swung around, climbing onto the hood, then climbed higher onto the cabin roof. A claw scythed at his foot, almost catching his boot which he pulled back just in time. He fired his weapon down into the creatures fighting to reach him, backing up against the wall above the windows. Spinning around without a second thought he jumped up, grabbing the bottom of the railings then pulled himself higher, clambering onto the first floor roof.
Below him, Scott, Jess, Sam and Lachlan ran out of the entrance to the stairs and into the lobby. Scott immediately spotted the trailer covering the way out, then ran to Millar, kneeling.
“We have to get to Sanchez!” screamed Esther.
Landon looked up. “I think I can hear something above us. Maybe he climbed up! I think he’s on the roof.”
Millar’s mouth opened and closed, but only blood came from his lips. Luci gripped his hand, which then fell limp and she immediately started to pump his chest. “Come on, man. Don’t give up!”
Glass shattered across the lobby as something awkward, lumbered through a jagged hole of one of the few remaining uncovered windows. A hail of bullets slammed into it as it screeched, falling backwards, then onto the dying remains of a large plant, collapsing, lifeless.
Vance and Esther ran forward, firing as more things tried to enter from the same hole, but Luci’s only focus was her friend. Scott put his hand on her arm but she shrugged it off. “He’s strong, I just gotta—”
Scott dragged her backwards. She turned on him with fury and bloodshot eyes.
“He’s gone!” he shouted.
Any protest soon left her as she looked across the room to what was almost inside the curved space.
“Everyone upstairs!” shouted Landon. Most of the others were a
lready running towards a single door marked with ‘stairs to first floor’ and he followed them, just behind Jess and Sam, pushing the door open then surging up the narrow staircase and bursting out onto the glossy tiles and more entrances to the elevators. Vance and Esther almost fell out of the stairwell as well, behind him, the latter scouring the windows to the roof outside. A shadowy figure lit up as Sanchez fired his weapon into the street below, which was followed by roars.
Esther ran to the window, hitting it with her fist, shouting at Sanchez to move her way, but the sound from outside was deafening. She took one step back and fired, shattering the window. Sanchez spun around almost firing at the dark form emerging from the rows of windows, but quickly raised his weapon running forward.
“Get in here!” shouted Esther.
Inside, Lachlan’s eyes weren’t the only ones large with fear. “What are we going to do!” he shouted.
Most of the others were at the windows, looking at the street outside and the things flooding into it. Flashes of teeth and claws belong to oddly sharpened appendages came and went within the darkness, the noise of hungry things, incessant.
“Why did you set charges?” said Landon to Scott.
“A going away present for those things outside.”
“But we’re in here with the bombs!” shouted Vance.
Luci and Andy both standing on the roof, fired down into the street.
“I know!” responded Scott. “That wasn’t part of the plan!”
Jess with Sam were watching the movement outside. Jess trying to gain some understanding from the creatures just tens of yards away, looking for a pattern of behavior, something she could use to distract them. Sam was only thinking of tearing them apart with her bare hands, or whatever her hands would become when she let the rage overwhelm her.
“Conserve your ammo!” shouted Scott on the roof with the three others. As things leaped and jumped up at them from below, he looked up at the top of the tower.