by Kip Nelson
“Where's this friend now?” Max asked. His voice thrummed with an accusing tone. David's head dropped slightly.
“He's dead.”
Tori and Max's expressions both changed. “I'm so sorry,” she said.
“What happened?” Max asked.
David sighed. “We were going about our business when we found two men snooping around our camp. We talked with them and decided to let them stay with us since they said they were in trouble. That was our first mistake. Their trouble soon became our trouble. Turns out one of them was being chased by a group of men, and he wanted to go charging back to find them and fight them. They were waiting for him, though, waiting for us. There was a fight and...and Mikey was killed. It wasn't our fight. We never should have been involved. That man lied to us, and my friend lost his life because of it. I came back here to try finding some help, to try finding someone to bring that man to justice.”
Max and Tori looked at each other awkwardly. David didn't really understand why. “Who is in charge now?” he continued. “Have there been any messages from the government?”
“You really have been away a while,” Tori said.
“There's no one. The city is just...it's a free-for-all,” Max said.
David couldn't believe it. No. This wasn't the way it was supposed to be. They had to be mistaken. His gaze drifted toward the window. He couldn't believe the city just was going to be lost to this thing. His eyes stung and he swallowed a lump in his throat.
“I'm sorry,” Max said.
“I wish I could tell you something different. God, I wish I could tell you everything was alright.” He glanced at Tori, a pained look in his eyes.
“It sounds as though you've been through a lot as well,” David said.
People loved talking about themselves. He knew these two weren't going to be a threat, but perhaps they could be of some use. He would need new friends if he was going to get his revenge on Nick and these two would be a good start. Max looked strong and Tori was beautiful. She probably wasn't very smart. After all, when you looked like that, why would you ever bother learning anything? But she probably had her uses. Plans began forming in David's mind while he pretended to listen intently to their stories.
“We've been here the whole time,” Max began.
“When it all went dark, we just thought it was a power outage, so we played some games and read. The hours went by and we started hearing strange noises from outside. People were panicking and battering down doors. We looked out the window and saw people running away, we didn't know from what. The building already was deserted. We didn't know where they were trying to run to, and we were too frightened to go outside. Eventually, we had to in order to get food and water.”
“We never went out for very long, though,” Tori said. “We didn't want to come back and find people squatting in our apartment. It's not nice out there anyway. People have turned into animals.”
“Some of them are alright, though,” Max said, “mostly the families. I guess they want to set a good example for their kids.”
“A lot of people were trying to get to other places. We heard some of them talking about the hospital. It was just rumors, though. We never had the guts to go out into the city. At night all we heard were people shouting and breaking windows. It sounded like a war zone,” Tori said. As she spoke she wrapped her arms around her body.
“I know that right now things look bleak, and there are plenty of things that have gone wrong. When people such as Nick are allowed to walk around the world freely we know we're in trouble, but that doesn't mean it always has to be that way. You've been shut up in this apartment, you don't know what the city is like now. But what I do know, and I think you know it too, is that you can't stay here. Things are going to get back to normal eventually, but until then we must try doing the best we can to make sure people such as Nick get punished.”
“What are you suggesting?” Tori said, glancing uncertainly at David. He would have to play this just right. He thought he could get through to them, he just needed the right words. They just were scared. What they needed was someone like David to lead them and show them the way.
“We're going to head out into the city and get to the police station. If there's anyone in authority, I have a feeling they're going to be there. It's all going to be okay.”
“I don't know...” Max said.
“Max,” David said, moving from the couch, placing his arm on Max's shoulder.
“I was a bank manager before all this began. I'm a responsible member of society and I know how these things work. This is just a blip. You admitted yourself that you've been holed up here. I bet things aren't half as bad as you say. We just need to get out there and see it for ourselves. The worst thing we can do is let our fear control us. There's a whole world waiting for us out there, and part of the reason it's like a war zone is because good people like us aren't standing up for what's right. Let's go and take this world back and show everyone the way it should be.”
He spoke passionately, and although the other two were conflicted, they eventually agreed to follow David's lead. He smiled smugly. These were his type of people. They were young, but he could teach them how to be wise. They didn't always need to believe what they saw. Just because the city looked to be in an awful state didn't mean it was falling apart completely.
They walked out of the apartment building to the center of the city. David had to admit to himself as they walked along that it was in a worse state than he imagined, but he still clung to the belief that the government was working to get it back to normal. The storm had died down now, and they could walk without fear of getting soaked to the bone. Tori and Max were skittish, always jumping at every little noise. David wasn't, though. He strode forward with his crossbow in hand. They made their way without incident to the police station, which was unguarded. David pushed open the door and called out, but there was no answer. Dust hung in the air.
“I wonder why it's taken so long for the government to do anything? I suppose they might be taking care of the major cities first, but you would have thought they'd have left some kind of force here to maintain order and keep us informed of what's going on,” David said.
“I think you might want to reconsider your views about the government. I don't think they're gonna do what you want. Hell, it's not like they were that competent before all this anyway.” When David heard this, he flew into a rage. Swinging around, he pushed Max up against the wall, using the weight of the crossbow to pin Max there by the throat. Tori's scream was a faraway sound to him.
“Don't you ever say anything bad about our government,” David snapped.
Unpatriotic people were the worst kind. That's probably why they had gotten into this mess in the first place. David released him and stalked through the station, eyes dark, soul haunted. He muttered to himself as he made his way to the gun locker. It had been ransacked, but there still were some rifles and pistols left. When he reached for them his lips formed a wicked smile. He ran his hands along them, stroking the cool metal.
“Nick is going to pay,” he said, to no one in particular. Violent images filled his mind. He was going to make Nick suffer for what had happened to Mikey. Maybe he'd make other people suffer, too. Talking against the government was treason, after all.
Chapter Seventeen
Though the bed was comfortable, Nick could not sleep. The rain still was slashing down outside, and he wondered if it ever would stop. Since the solar flare had hit Earth, everything had changed. Maybe the weather was part of it. He lay in bed with Backdraft next to him, stroking the dog's head. Backdraft whimpered. His tail slapped against the mattress. At least he was getting some sleep. Samantha used to hate Backdraft sleeping on the bed. Another reason why the relationship had been doomed.
His thoughts turned to Tanya. She seemed like a sweet girl, although he still couldn't figure out how old she actually was. She looked to be in her early twenties, but there was a vulnerability about her that
made her seem younger. He couldn't imagine the things she had seen, or why she was alone in this world. He wasn't sure he bought her story about making her way to Alaska. She seemed reticent to talk about her past, but he wasn't going to press the issue. It was her business, after all, and she'd bought Backdraft back to him, and for that he was eternally grateful. He'd noticed the way she looked at him too, not that he returned the affection. There was too much going on to think about romance, and even though he wasn't sure of her age, he did know she was far too young for him.
Nick felt a little guilty for not giving her concern more attention. He figured she was just skittish because of everything that was going on. Even he had to admit Jim made him uncomfortable, and this farmhouse wasn't exactly the warmest and most comfortable place, not with the wind whistling through the cracks and the house groaning under the strain of the weather. He'd just wanted her to get some sleep and to calm her mind. Jim probably was harmless and not used to being around people other than his family, but that didn't mean he had to disregard Tanya's feelings.
After everything that had happened with John and that gang, after everything he'd seen in this new world, Nick had hardened his heart. Closing himself off to the possibility of trusting others, he'd become used to the thought that he would be alone in the world, forging his own path. Yet, now he was in a group again, and he had to relearn how to trust others. With his firefighter brothers there had been unconditional trust. There had to be when going into a dangerous situation. He knew what each and every one of them were thinking, and he didn't have to worry about any of them. It would take a long time to get that connection with other people. Nick didn't even know if it was possible. He had to try, though, if he was to survive.
He had been mistaken when he thought he could have survived on his own. He had disregarded one of the most fundamental lessons he had learned in firefighter training; being a lone hero was a quick way to die.
Feeling restless, his mind alive with all these thoughts, he rose from bed. Backdraft stirred and rose with him, his soft paws thudding against the floor. Nick walked across the corridor to Tanya's room. He knocked softly a few times. When she didn't reply, he called out her name. Pressing his ear to the door he still could not hear anything. She probably was sleeping and there was nothing to worry about, but over the years Nick had developed an innate sense for danger. It was tingling now. He slowly turned the brass knob and pushed the door open. The soft glow of the candles bathed the bed in an orange light. An empty bed. The sheets had been thrown off and Tanya was nowhere to be seen. Furrowing his brow, Nick turned and walked down the corridor to the bathroom. He and Backdraft both stiffened when they saw the door was open.
Now his danger sense wasn't just tingling, it was full-blown ringing in his head. The shadows danced along the walls. Nick ran down the stairs, not caring about the noise he was making. His heavy boots thumped on the wooden stairs. He thought about waking Cosmo, but there wasn't any time. Somehow, he knew Tanya was in trouble. He cursed himself for thinking they were safe. When was he going to learn his lesson and stop trusting people so easily?
Lightning cracked outside, illuminating the windows in an electric blue glow. Suddenly, Nick thought back to the way Jim had acted when they were together in the kitchen. How he had warned them to say in the main farmhouse and not go anywhere else. How he had reacted when Nick asked him about his family. How he hadn't even looked at Tanya. Nick wasn't a detective, but that was strange. A man who was isolated out on his farm would have his head turned by a pretty girl like Tanya, even if he was married. The fact that he didn't even look at her meant that he was making an effort to avoid doing so...but why?
Soon enough, Nick was in the kitchen. There was no sign of Tanya yet, and everything was the same except...Backdraft barked. Nick saw the open door. He ran to the top of the stairs and saw Jim with his hands all over Tanya. She was struggling against him, her arms and legs flailing against the strong farmer, but having no effect. His muscles were sinewy and taut, made strong by a lifetime of laboring on the land. Tears streamed down Tanya's face and she couldn't scream for help since Jim had his hand clamped over her mouth. His back was turned to Nick. The firefighter saw Tanya's eyes widen as she caught a glimpse of him. Nick and Backdraft leaped into action. They ran down the stairs, Nick taking two at a time. Jim heard them and twisted around in surprise. His face was twisted in his efforts to hold Tanya's writhing body. Every wrinkle on the farmer's face was accentuated, and his flesh was a dark shade of crimson.
Tanya dug her nails into Jim's arm and screamed. She stamped her foot down on his and he yelled in pain. With the grip loosened Tanya managed to pull herself away. Nick came in and slammed a punch into Jim’s midsection. The old man doubled over. Nick grabbed his top and threw him against the side of the room. The walls shook under the impact. Dust fell from the ceiling. Jim groaned and cradled his head. Tanya yelled and ran up to him. She kicked him and then fell to the floor, screaming in rage as her small fists beat down upon the large farmer. Her clothes were torn, hair matted to her face, eyes raw with tears. Nick ran up to her and pulled her away. She struggled, but Nick was too strong. He held her in his arms and breathed deeply and slowly, trying to get her to go along with his rhythm. Backdraft stood guard over the farmer.
“It's okay, you're safe now,” Nick said softly.
“I'm never safe,” Tanya mumbled softly.
She sniffed and clung onto Nick's body. Nick looked down at Jim. This was all Nick’s fault. He should have insisted they all stay in the same room together, or at least insisted that she take Backdraft for the night. If he hadn't decided to check on her...if he had been moments later.... Clearing his mind, he remembered more of his training. It was no use thinking about the different possibilities. All that mattered was what happened and how you dealt with it.
Tanya was shaking in his arms. Nick had the feeling she only was able to stand upright because she had him for support. If he let her go, she likely would fall to her knees. Sobbing fretfully, she shuddered as he rubbed her back to try calming her.
“What are you doing down here? Did he bring you down here?” Nick asked, in an effort to piece together what had happened.
Had he been so lost in his own thoughts that he hadn't heard Jim drag Tanya out of her room? No...he couldn't believe that he, Backdraft, and Cosmo had been that unaware. Tanya wasn't able to form coherent sentences, though. She merely sobbed and lifted a weak hand toward the freezer. Nick's brow creased as he looked at it. He gently let Tanya go and guided her to the floor, then walked over to the freezer. The red stain seeped down the white metal. Nick opened the freezer. He expected it to be cool, but then remembered there was no electricity. Sometimes it still was so hard to remember everything that had changed in the world. There were so many things they had taken for granted.
Nick froze when he looked in the freezer. Staring back at him were severed limbs and lifeless eyes. The same eyes as those he had seen in the picture of Jim's family. He had seen many horrors in his time as a firefighter, but this was one of the worst things he ever had seen. The body parts were starting to rot. The flesh stank. It was a heavy smell, the kind that worked its way into your nose and throat so much that you could taste the death in your mouth. He gagged and slammed the freezer door shut. He shook his head at Jim. The farmer still was not moving. Nick was sickened by what Jim had done. Part of him wanted to string him up and find out why he had done this, but no explanation could have been good enough. This was inhuman, and it was another sign of how the world had gone mad. How could there have been justice for something such as this?
Nick helped Tanya up and called for Backdraft. They made their way up the uneven, creaking steps. Nick had managed to find some wire in the basement and quickly had tied it around Jim's wrists. It would hold the man for a little while, but not forever. They didn't have time to deal with him properly, though. They needed to get away from the farm and away from him as soon as possible. The house was cursed, and even th
ough the storm still raged outside, it was more palatable than remaining in the same house where such heinous crimes had been committed. Thunder rolled, and lightning flashed, but the horrors of the world were nothing compared to what he had seen in that basement. It was all he could do not to vomit. Tanya still was a wreck beside him. They walked so quickly that they stomped up the stairs and created a great racket. When they emerged from the basement Cosmo was opening his door, a weary look on his face. He yawned and ran his hand over his head.
“What's going on?” he asked, surprised to how Tanya looked. Nick shook his head, still supporting Tanya, who had a faraway look in her eyes. Nick relayed to Cosmo what just had happened, even though he found it difficult to actually voice the reality of the situation. It was hard to believe all of this was actually real.
Cosmo whistled and cursed. “I knew there was something fishy about that guy. This is why you can't trust people. Either they're fools who sell you out, like David, or they're psychos, like Jim. How is this even possible?”
“I have no idea. Frankly, I don't care why he did it. But we can't stay here,” Nick said.
“Damn right. I don't fancy going out in that storm again, though,” Cosmo said.
“I'd rather be out in that storm than in here with that madman. I just hope...”
“What?” Cosmo asked. Nick didn't want to say anything more, but he had started now.
“The food...” Nick said. Cosmo gagged. Nick almost did, too.
“I'm not staying here one minute longer,” Cosmo said.
He disappeared into his room and gathered his gear. Nick did the same. He took Tanya into her room first, though, and sat her down on the bed. His face was filled with sorrow when he saw a picture of Jim's daughter. He turned the picture down.
“Tanya,” he said in a slow, calm voice, the same voice he used whenever he had spoken to people who had been caught in a fire, “I'm going to need you to try being brave. I get that this is scary, but try breathing deeply. Keep inhaling and exhaling. We're going to leave this farm. I'm not going to let anything happen to you. I'm going to grab my gear. Backdraft is going to stay with you the whole time, and I'll be back soon. We're going to leave, and we're going to find a safer place, okay?”