Tribulation: An Apocalyptic End-Times Thriller (Kingdom of Darkness Book 1)

by Mark Goodwin

The old man turned to the soldier. “Roy, what do you think? He looks sincere. Either he’s tellin’ the truth, or he’s a heck of an actor.”

  Roy squinted. “I’m not sure, Hinkle. You got an old rag around here? I’d like to wipe that blood off his mouth so I can get a better look at him. He looks kinda familiar like.”

  Hinkle motioned toward the crates. “Ought to be some paper towels over there. See if there ain’t a jug of water around also.”

  Emilio watched Roy. He noticed an Oathkeepers patch on his uniform. “I thought you guys were all with the Boogaloo movement. I didn’t think they meshed too well with Oathkeepers.”

  Hinkle snorted. “Folks can’t be so choosy about who they associate with these days. I’m with the Kentucky Militia. We’ve got a few of us here, along with the Tennessee Militia. Old Roy here brought some boys from Oathkeepers along with him.

  “It’s a big cave, so we made a little space for the Boojahideen. We don’t all see eye to eye. But, for the moment, our interests are aligned.”

  Roy poured water over a paper towel rather sloppily. He used it to dab the blood off of Emilio’s mouth. He wetted another towel and repeated the process. Finally, he used a dry one to give Emilio’s mouth one last wipe. He stared at Emilio for a while then turned to Hinkle. “You know who this is, don’t ya?”

  “I don’t have any idea. Enlighten me.”

  Roy shook his finger at Emilio. “That’s one of them boys that killed Lucius up there in Indianapolis. We ought to be hanging a medal around his neck; not havin’ him chained up like some criminal.”

  Hinkle looked at Emilio. “Is that true?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Why didn’t you say so?”

  “Like I said, it sounds a little farfetched without a way to provide proof.”

  Hinkle took out his keys. “Are you going to give me any problems if I let you go? You gonna hold a grudge about this little misunderstanding?”

  “Not at all. You have to protect your stronghold.”

  Hinkle unlocked the cuffs. “What about the girl? Is that your wife that you broke out?”

  “No. My wife is gone. That’s Mackenzie. She was in the prison with my wife. She was part of our group but was arrested back before the thing with Alexander. She’s good people. The GU held her because she wouldn’t give up info on the rest of our group.”

  Hinkle pointed to Roy. “Go tell David and Jessica to set the girl free. Then go get that runt, Sean. Tell him to get in here and give this boy an apology for busting his mouth.”

  “I’ll do it.” Roy left the area.

  “Y’all need a place to hang your hat? We’d be honored to have you as part of the team,” said Hinkle.

  “We have a spot. But I appreciate the offer.”

  “Okay, offer is always open. If you ever need to pass through here, tell the scouts 419, and tell them you’re friends with Hinkle. They’ll let you pass or bring you to me if you need to chat.”

  Mackenzie walked in rubbing her wrists. “That’s it? We’re free to go?”

  “Free to go.” Hinkle pointed at his two militia members. “Jess, David, go get these fine folks some new packs. Dom and those knuckle draggers he runs with cut the straps on their old ones. And bring a box of 9mm ammo also.”

  Hinkle handed Emilio and Mackenzie their pistols.

  Mackenzie asked, “How did you know we needed ammo?”

  “I can tell by the weight of the gun. What have you got, about three or four rounds each?”

  Emilio nodded. “Yeah, that’s about right.”

  Hinkle waited for the others to return with the packs and the bullets. “It’s dark outside by now. Sure you folks don’t want to stay the night? We’ll feed you a hot meal; let you get a warm shower. We’ve got clean clothes. I might not have beds, but I can guarantee you an extra-large cot and a comfy sleeping bag. What’s more, you can’t hear nor see the meteors from down here.”

  Mackenzie looked at Emilio. “What do you think?”

  “I’m all for it if you’re okay with the idea.”

  Mackenzie turned to Hinkle. “I’d like that very much. Thank you. It’s very generous of you.”

  Hinkle replied, “Considering what we put you folks through, it’s the least we can do.”

  ***

  The next morning, Emilio awakened from a good night’s sleep. His lip was still sore from being hit in the mouth. His feet still throbbed from the journey. Even so, he felt better than he had since the quake. He sat up on the cot. Mackenzie was still out. The two of them had been assigned a private sleeping area. Most of the occupants of the cave shared spaces with cots and sleeping bags lined up in rows. Hinkle had treated them as royally as he could afford to.

  Emilio checked the time on his flip phone which was nearly out of power. Nine o’clock. Daylight is burning. I better wake Mackenzie. He gave her a gentle nudge. “We need to move out. No telling what we’re going home to. Best case scenario, we’ve got a lot of gear to haul.”

  She stretched and turned to face him. Her eyes were puffy. “I could have slept for a week.”

  “Once we get settled in, you’ll get your chance.” Emilio returned to his own cot and began rolling up the bag. The two of them packed their gear into the new backpacks. Finally, they were heading home.

  They passed by several other occupants of the cave on the way out. Emilio shielded his eyes when they hit the mouth of the giant cavern. Even the hampered sun was bright compared to the darkness of the cave.

  Hinkle was outside overseeing the running of cables from an array of solar panels to stacks of mismatched batteries and inverters inside the cave. “How did you sleep?”

  “Like a baby. I can’t thank you enough. Dinner last night was amazing,” said Emilio.

  “It was canned chicken with rice and beans. You’re easy to impress,” said the old man.

  Mackenzie said, “We ate stale, moldy hot dog buns with pineapple jelly for two days. I’m less snooty than I used to be. But even better than the meal was the hot shower.”

  “I’m glad it was to your liking. You watch out for one another. When you get bored, come on back.”

  Emilio started up the trail. “We may come for a visit, but I don’t think I’ll get bored. I’ve seen enough action for three lifetimes.”

  “We’ll see about that. Watch your six.”

  “Will do.” Emilio waved.

  The two walked to the road and followed it two miles to where they’d been abducted. Emilio paused to peer into the trees before turning onto Cedar Hill Church Road.

  “What are you doing?” Mackenzie asked.

  “Making sure we don’t have a tail.”

  “After everything they did for us, you still don’t trust them?”

  “I trust them to look after their own interest. As you saw, they’ve got several different groups sort of coexisting in there. Some may like us less than others.”

  She lifted her shoulders. “I don’t know about that. Even Lisa and Dom seemed welcoming to us at dinner last night. The only reason I think Sean was standoffish is because he felt like a jerk for being so rough on you. The rest of the people I met were extremely nice.”

  Emilio turned back around slowly. “Maybe so, but even Hinkle might like to know where we’re staying. I’d prefer to keep that between us for now. The Great Tribulation hasn’t even officially started yet. We’re in for a rough ride.”

  “I understand what you’re saying.” She walked close to him.

  “How many people do you think you saw in there?” Emilio asked.

  “More than I could count,” she replied. “My guess is around two hundred. But I didn’t recognize any of those people from the group who were coming in when we left.”

  “Yeah, me either. They’ll likely have new additions coming in for several weeks. I wish we weren’t living so close to such a large group. But I suppose it could be worse.”

  “Sure,” said Mackenzie. “We could have nowhere to go, or the group could be a lot
more hostile. At least if we have to be near a large compound like that, it’s good that they think of you as some kind of hero.”

  “I’d prefer that they didn’t think of me at all.”

  Two miles farther down the road and Emilio saw the remains of the quaint farmhouse. The old structure had collapsed sideways. He could still make out the upstairs bedroom window where he and Nicole had spent so much time together. He sighed and dropped his gaze to the ground. He walked toward the creek which was still running crystal clear. “At least we have water.”

  He led the way back through the trees, up the creek to where the opening of the cave had once been. “It’s gone.”

  A large uprooted oak tree lay diagonally across the space that had once been an entrance. Beneath the heavy tree was earth and rock. The cliff that had been over the opening had given way and come crashing down like a mudslide.

  “We can always go back with Hinkle,” said Mackenzie.

  Emilio shook his head. “That option has strings. Don’t think for a second that he was offering free room and board.”

  “I don’t mind earning my keep.”

  “It’s not a hotel. They’re not looking for a front desk person or housekeepers. The one thing those groups have in common is that they’re all fighters. They’re looking for soldiers.”

  “We’ve fought before.”

  “Yeah, and we’ve been captured before. But at least it was on our terms. When you pledge allegiance to another man’s army, you march when he says march, and you kill when he says kill. I’m finished with that.”

  “Then what are we going to do?”

  “Let’s go check out the old barn.”

  “I’m sure it fell also,” said Mackenzie. “Otherwise we would have seen it when we came onto the property.”

  “I’m sure it’s gone. It was about to fall before the apocalypse. But it has some tools that came with the place. A shovel and a pickaxe are all we need. Maybe we can break through and access the cave.” Emilio dropped his pack and left it near the creek. He led the way over to the location of the old shed which had most certainly fallen down.

  The two of them began tugging at loose boards, tossing them to the side. Mackenzie grabbed hold of a wooden handle. “I’ve got something! It’s stuck. Lift up on that board near your left foot.”

  Emilio did so, freeing the tool. “A metal rake. That’s better than a broom.”

  “Come on, let’s keep looking.” Mackenzie removed debris at a great speed, as if invigorated by finding the rake. “Here’s a hoe.”

  “Great,” said Emilio. “I see it! There’s the head of the pickaxe!” A large panel of what had been a wall was impeding their access to the tool. It took their combined strength, but they finally freed the implement from the pile.

  Mackenzie paused to catch her breath. “And look, right beside it was the shovel.”

  Emilio carried the pickaxe and the rake. “Let’s get to work.”

  Mackenzie followed close behind. “None of these things are going to cut through that tree. What we need is a chainsaw.”

  “If we can excavate the earth and rock, we might be able to dig out a hole that we can climb in and out of.”

  Mackenzie lowered her brow. “Like a badger’s burrow or something?”

  “Think of it as a fox’s lair. Being hard to get in and out of might not be the worst thing in our present environment.” Emilio arrived at the location of the cave and began swinging the pickaxe. He worked on the mud which covered the fallen tree. If they could break through the top side, at least they wouldn’t have to crawl through the water flowing from the bottom.

  He spent nearly an hour hacking at the area before pausing for a break. Mackenzie had diligently shoveled the dirt away from the worksite. She likewise needed a breather. “What if we don’t get through?”

  Emilio looked at the stubborn mound. “We’ll get through sooner or later. The water is still flowing beneath the mudslide. The wall of debris isn’t that deep.”

  “How much more do you think?”

  “We’ll know when we reach it.” After he’d caught his breath, he resumed the laborious task. They took breaks more frequently, about once every fifteen or twenty minutes. The work continued until well into the afternoon. But after nearly five hours digging, picking up large stones, and rolling away small boulders, they finally broke through. Emilio kept working until he had an entrance hole approximately three feet in diameter. Covered in mud, and wet with sweat, he lowered himself down into the hole. “Hand me a flashlight from my bag.”

  Mackenzie retrieved a light for him. “Here.”

  He turned it on and examined the inside of the cave. He called out to her. “It looks just the way we left it. Like nothing ever happened.”

  She handed him the packs through the hole then crawled inside. They ate from the food in their packs while they rested, then hiked far back into the cave where their goods were stashed. They brought up only enough supplies for the rest for the evening and get cleaned up. They were about to have lots of time on their hands. The two of them would have ample opportunities to bring the rest of the gear over the coming days.

  CHAPTER 15

  And he shall make a firm covenant with many for one week. But in the middle of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the offering to cease. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed destruction is poured out on the desolator.

  Daniel 9:27 MEV

  The weeks and months passed. Emilio and Mackenzie lived austere lives. The winter was harsh; worse than most because of the darkened sky, which blocked warmth from the sun. The inside of the cave remained at a steady 54 degrees. This proved to be a saving grace in the otherwise-hostile environment.

  They eventually cleared all the debris from the entrance of the cave except for the fallen tree to allow for maximum airflow. This permitted them to maintain a fire in the living quarters. The warm glow of a constant blaze provided a minuscule amount of relief from the ever-present darkness that weighed on them whether inside or out.

  The blackened haze over the assailed earth prevented them from being able to efficiently recharge batteries using the small solar set-up. A pair of batteries that once could have been charged in a couple of hours, took several days to completely re-charge. Radios and flashlights had to be used sparingly.

  Nevertheless, they were grateful. During the hard trek from Indianapolis, they’d encountered thousands who were homeless as a result of the earthquake. Food was also scarce for those without hidden provisions.

  Together, Emilio and Mackenzie studied the Bible. In addition to the one scavenged from the truck cab, they found a few more in the recesses of the cave. Among those, were several small New Testaments at the bottom of a box containing Rev’s effects.

  They searched the Scriptures and made notes of what to expect of their remaining time on the planet. Additionally, they examined the Holy Text to grow closer to their Creator, to learn more about the life and sacrifice of Jesus, and to gain an understanding of His fantastic grace. Through this endeavor, they grew close. But the relationship that blossomed was that of two siblings. After all, they were brother and sister in Christ.

  ***

  One Tuesday morning in late March of the following year, Emilio came into the cave carrying a load of firewood. Mackenzie was huddled inside her sleeping bag near the fire with the Bible and a notepad. The sleeping bag was on top of a mattress that had been stashed in the cave with a few other articles of furniture before abandoning the location. The legs of the bed frame on both Mackenzie’s and Emilio’s beds had been shortened with a hacksaw to get them closer to the low fire. They had a table and chairs, a small sofa and coffee table, a couple of dressers, and a few other miscellaneous pieces. Everything was arranged around the fire pit.

  Emilio stacked the wood in a rack constructed of scraps of lumber taken from the fallen farmhouse. “You should come outside. It’s the first day that’s been above freezing since
before Thanksgiving.”

  She closed the Bible and placed it on a small nightstand. “Really? Is it nice?”

  “Nice being a subjective concept in our present situation, yeah, I’d say it is—relatively. The sun even seems brighter. The clouds are more like a gloomy day than that fog of smoke and ash.”

  She crawled out of her bag and put on her boots. “We should see what WNN has to say over the radio. Maybe we can recharge the batteries right away.”

  “Okay,” said Emilio. “You get the radio, and I’ll pull the solar panels out. On a day like today, we might be able to pick up some pirate radio stations on the shortwave.”

  She walked back toward the storage shelves made of stacked buckets with scavenged boards going across from one to the other. “I’ll get one of the handhelds also. We’ll see if anyone is broadcasting locally on UHF or VHF.”

  Emilio lifted the solar panel up to keep the cables from dragging through the creek as he walked. He climbed over the fallen tree and stepped onto the small bridge which permitted them to get in and out of the cave without wading through the water flowing out of the cavern.

  Mackenzie trailed behind him with the hood of her heavy coat pulled snugly over her head. Upon exiting the cave, she pulled the hood off. “Wow! It is a nice day—comparatively speaking.”

  Emilio positioned the panel. “Turn on the radio. Let’s see what they have to say.”

  “Do you think we’ll be able to have a garden in the spring?” She pulled up the antenna. “I’m thankful that we have such a good stockpile, but it would be nice to have some fresh food.”

  Emilio looked upward. Buds had formed on the bare trees and looked as if leaves might soon appear on some of the more hearty varieties. “If the sky continues to clear up, maybe. We’ll look through the seeds; try out the ones that could possibly survive without direct sunlight.”

  Mackenzie walked to the clearing and sat on the bench that Emilio had made out of boards from the old house. Emilio watched her adjust the tuner and took a seat beside her.