by Maxey, Phil
“It sure is an ugly mother,” said Beau. He looked at the detective. “I thought you were a gonna for sure.”
Landon remained silent, but felt the same. He resisted flexing his arm to relieve the pain.
Gregg held his radio to his face and hit the talk button. “It’s done.”
*****
Jess looked at her watch then back to the children arranged around the large wooden dining table, each young face eager for what Meg was cooking in the kitchen. Donnie enthusiastically sat outside the door, his tail wagging.
The scene felt oddly comedic to her, as if she had been transported into a sitcom, where she was the awkward parent of a large dysfunctional family.
Toby nudged Agatha who frowned at him, then turned her attention to the only adult in the room. “You are a scientist?”
Jess nodded. “I am. In microbiology.”
“Mi…cro…biol…”
“I study tiny tiny living things that effect all of our lives.”
“So you know why the people became the monsters?”
“Not really. There are some things that even scientists don’t understand. That’s why we have science. It helps us figure things out…”
“Do you think we will turn into monsters one day?” said Helen.
Jess smiled, hiding what she really thought. “Aren’t you a little monster, already?” The little girl giggled.
“That’s not an answer,” said Agatha, defiantly.
Jess resisted the urge to move her hand that was on her lap, she didn’t need to highlight her own transformation to curious kids. She looked at the older girl. “You’re immune. Everyone around this table is. Have you changed into a monster?”
“No, but—”
“Let it go,” said Sam.
Agatha looked at her with a frown, then looked away, her frustration obvious.
Sam looked at the door to the kitchen. “When are we eating?”
Jess hadn’t talked to her daughter about what had happened to them both. She thought it better for Sam to approach her when Sam was ready. “I—” A clang came from the other room, quickly forward by expletives which made some of the children giggle. Jess stood. “I’ll just go and see what’s happening.” She moved into the kitchen. Meg was running her hand under the cold water from the tap. “Everything okay?”
Meg nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine, just burned my finger. It’s nothing.” She turned to the large pot on the stove. “Not sure that’s going to be edible. I’m used to cooking for two… I mean, well, one.”
Jess walked to the pot and lifted the lid, a meaty earthy odor drifted to her nose which immediately made her salivate. She looked to the older woman with a smile, placing the lid back down. “If it tastes as good as it smells, I’m sure it will be great.”
Meg smiled. “Last time I cooked for a group was when my sister and her kids stayed with us…” The thought pinged in Meg’s mind, bringing with it memories she would rather not have.
Jess walked closer to her, glancing at the closed door behind, then leaned in even closer. “We’re leaving tonight.”
The older woman looked shocked. “You sure? This soon? I figured we’d have to, but… despite the head guy, most of these people seem, normal, good folk.”
“I got maybe another two days’s worth of… the stuff. After that we better hope the spores which carry the virus have dissipated. Either way the sooner we leave the—”
“What are you two whispering about?” said Agatha, standing in the open door behind. Jess hadn’t even heard it open.
She immediately walked to the pot, with a smile. “Whether or not this is ready.” She put the lid to one side and picked up a wooden spoon. “Want a taste? I can’t guarantee I won’t poison you.”
The young girl rolled her eyes, then walked forward.
CHAPTER EIGHT
10: 14 a.m. Main Street.
Landon leaned into the trunk of the silver sedan, making it roll forwards. Beau, in the driver’s seat eased on the brakes and it stopped up against the pickup in front of it, with a tap of fenders. Landon stood and observed the work he, the younger man, and three others had put in for the past hour. A wall of vehicles three deep now sealed off the south side of Main Street. The same being true at the junction half a mile to the north, the alley to the west and the exit to the parking lot to the east. He turned to the man on the sidewalk, whose idea it had all been. “What you think?”
Arlo nodded. “Yeah. It’s something, right?”
“Good thing a nerd survived the end of the world!” shouted Beau.
“I mean, it was a kinda obvious thing to do,” said Arlo under his breath.
Beau spotted the two horses and riders coming towards them. “Here comes the boss, try not to wet your pants.”
Arlo frowned.
Isiah stopped with Gregg, and looked slowly over the mini traffic jam. “Done, good,” said Isiah to Landon.
Landon gestured towards the man to his left. “It was Arlo’s idea.”
Isiah looked at the bespectacled man, who swallowed due to the attention. “Ha, ain’t that so. And how we going to get the wagons out of the street if we need to?”
Arlo pointed to the beige block-like building on the corner, about twenty-feet away. “That garage has doors on both sides. It will be a bit of a tight fit, but as long as its clear on the other side, then we can get the wagons through that. There are narrow streets and lots of houses and trees over there, which should give us cover to escape.”
Landon kept his smile. He could see the ‘boss’ was impressed.
Arlo continued. “But… it’s just a plan… I don’ know if—”
Isiah looked to Gregg on the other horse. “Get some men posted at these cars. All four sides.”
“We’re getting a bit thin on who to use…”
“Then use the youngsters. But we need eyes on these surrounding streets.”
Landon went to say something but held his tongue.
Isiah looked back to Arlo. “Good work.” He then turned his horse’s head and with Gregg trotted away.
Landon saw Arlo let out a breath. He walked to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Keep the good ideas coming. I’m going to check in on my family.”
*****
Jess scrubbed a plate. The last of eight which were already stacked on the counter. A particularly stubborn piece of food stuck to the enamel, which she rubbed and… there was the slightest of cracks and the piece of crockery broke in two. She swore under her breath, taking a quick glance behind her at the door to the dining room then walked to the trash container and dropped the two halves in. Her extra strength was still something she was getting used to, an imbalance in her physiology which she hoped her husband still hadn’t noticed, but at the back of her mind, knew he had. He was keeping his thoughts to himself which bothered her even more than if he had just come out and asked what had happened. She had kept her almost transition to something even more monstrous, quiet. So much had happened that she hadn’t fully had time to process what it would mean moving forward. Once the virus had run its course and the things which people became were put down, then she might consider what she was. What this new version of Jessica Keller had become.
Just got to get through to tonight.
She still wasn’t sure how she and at least five others were going to get past the lookouts on the rooftops who scoured the nearby landscape with sniper scopes, or beyond that, how they would get away from the small town. Unlike Isiah she was happy to still use vehicles if they found any that still functioned.
The other kids…
She sighed. Could she leave Agatha, Toby and Helen behind? She wasn’t sure she even trusted the oldest of them. Earlier, she had felt Agatha’s eyes on her when she moved around the living room area. A child’s curiosity or something more? Maybe the English kid was judging her? Trying to understand if Jess would make a good guardian? Jess didn’t know and wasn’t sure if it was worth risking all of their lives, finding out… b
ut then, she also didn’t know if she could live with leaving them all behind…
Footsteps came from outside the backdoor, which promptly opened. Landon came in smiling, but the expression quickly evaporated on seeing his wife.
“You okay?” The question felt pointless due to the situation they were all in, but the stress on Jess’s face was obvious.
She went to reply when Arlo’s appeared behind him, also entering the kitchen.
Landon turned to him. “This guy came up with a good idea. There’s now no easy way into this street. Should be able to sleep a bit easier tonight.”
“Ah, well, I still haven’t worked out, how to stop the flying kind of things from getting to us.”
Landon patted him on the shoulder. “One problem at a time.”
A silence fell on the room and Arlo suddenly felt the tension between the other two. “I’ve… got some reading to do.”
Jess smiled as he left the room and Landon moved closer to her. “What’s going on?”
“We should leave tonight.”
“Tonight? You don’t think we should at least give it another day. Have a rest before we’re back out there…”
She glanced at the door to the dining room making sure it was still closed. “The longer we stay here, the sooner they might learn the truth. We can’t risk it, Landon. We have to go as soon as we get the chance. Do you think Arlo would want to come with us? Can we trust him?”
Landon looked down. “I don’t know. Last night I would have said he would have wanted to leave, but now… Maybe there’s a place here for him.”
“With murderers?”
“Jess. Most are just normal, good people. Yeah, Isiah, some of the others are to be watched—”
“You mean the ones in charge?”
He briefly looked away again. “I’m just saying. If we can take out Isiah, maybe the others would accept us.”
It was a possibility she hadn’t even contemplated. “And what if that fails? They’ll kill us, Landon. I can’t leave Josh, Sam and Tye, with him.”
“How about we plan to leave tonight. But I’ll feel out some of the others in charge of things. I think Gregg likes me… not sure what he thinks of Isiah. It seemed liked there was some tension between them.”
She let out a breath, shaking her head. “They can’t know. If they find out—”
He put his arms around his wife. “They won’t.”
She pulled away. “I’m worried about Sam. She’s different…”
Landon looked confused. “Different?”
“Yeah, she—”
The door from the dining room sprung open. Agatha walked in with an empty glass in her hand, then proceeded to go to the sink to refill it.
CHAPTER NINE
11: 42 a.m. Main Street.
Meg sighed. The small dog was taking its time. “Sure, pick the most perfect spot to do your business. Why not. It’s not like it’s the end of the world or anything…” Donnie continued to sniff at the wall, and ten other things which piqued his interest. Meg frowned, then looked up at the street and the wagons which packed its length. At any other time, the scene would be one of joy. A parade or historical recreation perhaps. She imagined the former townspeople moving from one old wooden transport to the other, inspecting them, asking questions of the owners. Maybe some of the bonnets contained goods, which had been made locally and were being sold… It was the kind of thing she had always envisaged for Rocky Pine, but the mayor always thought the idea too old-fashioned, instead preferring to shoo people towards the new casino that had opened along the river.
To the right side of the wagons was a bank, parking lot and beyond, City hall. To the left a series of shops which appeared functionary at best, their walls and windows needing paint, the sidewalks split by weeds. It was a forgotten town for sure. Maybe a place where people could start again. Only problem was the person in charge was a psycho. Not exactly the foundation of stable government.
Maybe that’s what they need…
The men patrolling the rooftops around her, their rifles pointed more inwards then out, quickly reminded her that nothing good could come from Isiah telling everyone what to do.
Jess is right. We should leave…
She wasn’t totally convinced of it though, despite her inner voice trying to persuade her of the microbiologist’s plan. Where would they go? Even if they managed to get away under darkness, avoiding the people whose sole job was to watch the surrounding streets. Even if they could do that, they would need a small bus or a van to get everyone out. It would take fuel, they would need—
Will she give me the vaccine again?
It was a thought that had crossed her mind as soon as she got her first dose. There was only so much to go around, would the Keller’s allow for her to have another bottle? When it could go to one of their children?
A door opened a few buildings down in one of the stores now being used as a residence. She watched a middle-aged woman scurry to a wagon, then turn around to return. The woman looked at Meg and started to smile then saw the dog and continued walking. “No… he’s not going to—” The woman had already run back into the former dentists, before she could reassure her that the enthusiastic but small dog was no threat. She looked down at him. “If you turn into a monster, you have to promise not to eat me.” He tilted his head to one side. She sighed again, looking back to the street, ready to turn around and return to her temporary home. She hadn’t heard the horse’s hoofs behind her, so caught up in her own mind was she.
“Morning, Ma’am,” said Gregg. He touched the rim of his stetson, which she secretly admitted she liked.
She looked up at him. “Almost noon, but morning to you too, Mr. Mathews. I heard you took care of the town’s only monster?”
He nodded. “Sure did. Ugly thing, but then aren’t they all. Still boggles my mind that they used to be people… Almost took your friend’s head off.”
“Landon?”
“Yup.”
“He’s okay?”
“Yup. Been working with him and the tubby guy, and some others to get our wall of cars in place. So, you can sleep better tonight. Nothing is getting in here. Completely safe.”
“Well… that’s—”
A voice came from the radio on his hip. He frowned. “I have to take this.” She nodded. “I’m here. Go ahead. Over.”
“This is Warren. I’m seeing movement on the highway.”
*****
12: 17 p.m. Howser Street. Water tower.
Seething, oily, beige skinned things slithered, crawled and walked across the mud stained fields in Landon’s view. He reckoned they were five or six miles out, to the south of the town, although more may have been on the other extremities but the water tower he was crouched on only allowed a good view to the south and east. He had watched them develop from brown dots almost lost to the mist hanging above drooping stalks of corn, to awkward shapes which belonged in a horror movie. The kind of film he used to enjoy watching with some freshly microwaved popcorn and a beer. The silly late night matinees that would entertain you for a few hours before falling asleep on the sofa.
His mind still didn’t fully accept they were real, but there they were, making their way towards the small town and its newly installed population of around a hundred immune souls.
“You really think they heard the one we killed?” said Warren, by his side.
“Maybe. Or maybe they can just somehow know where humans are… they sense us or something.”
The bearded, plaid shirted man, also had a pair of binoculars. “Some of them sure are crazy looking. Like one of those fancy paintings you see on the TV sometimes.”
Landon knew exactly what he meant. Beings born of an insane artist. Eyes which were wrongly placed and sized, together with limbs which were ill served to propel the body above it. He raised the eyepieces, removing them to rub his eyes, then looked again. Yup, there were more dots on the horizon.
Jess was right. We have to leave tonig
ht. Before we can’t.
“There’s more coming.”
Warren looked at him then back through his own binoculars. “Shit. Yeah I see them. Ten or so miles out…” He lowered the binoculars and rubbed his chin. “I don’t know if staying in this town is a good idea. What do you think?”
Landon remained looking across the landscape, not meeting the eyes of the man looking for leadership. “I think that’s up to Isiah.”
“Oh, yeah, I know that. Isiah’s in charge of us.” Warren looked back to the creatures again. “It’s just… there’s so many…”
“We can—” Jess’s voice came from Landon’s radio. He immediately clicked the talk button. “I’m here. Everything okay? Over.”
“Everything’s fine. But Josh wants to know if the water is—”
Landon didn’t hear the rest of the sentence, because the words that his wife was sending to him, were not what they appeared to be. A chill ran through him. He looked at Warren. “I need to go. Need to help my son with something.”
“I’ll let Isiah know what’s coming. I’m sure he’ll know what to do.”
“Sure.”
CHAPTER TEN
12: 21 p.m.
Jess felt sick. Not merely a physical sensation in her stomach and throat, but a numbness that had settled in her mind, like a migraine. In front of her stood in the corner of her room was Agatha, small glass bottle in her hand. The second the kid had held, the first one now being in pieces on the floor. Its life saving liquid already absorbed into the wooden boards.
The girl looked at her captor with conceit. “I’ll break another one!”
Five or so minutes before, Jess had gone to the room to check on the bottles. A feeling she couldn’t explain made her return there. Just to make sure. It had been her second trip to confirm the floorboard was in place during the morning, but this time she stumbled upon Agatha holding one of the small phials in her hand, which she promptly dropped on being discovered, then tried to run out, but Jess blocked her way, causing the girl to run back near the window and grab another of the bottles.