by Lowry, C. L.
“Burn it down,” he muttered.
Two of the men who stood by his side sprang toward the church. With Molotov cocktails in hand, they lit the incendiary devices and threw them inside the church. The bottle burst, and flames spread out across the floor. Two more bottles were thrown in, aimed at the walls. The two men began lighting more bottles. Just as the first bottle was picked up, a large beast came charging out of the church. The beast lunged at the men, knocking them both to the ground, along with the Molotov cocktails. The improvised incendiary device that fell to the ground ignited and sent flames spreading across the area where the two men fell. The flames also caused the other devices to ignite.
A ball of fire burst into the air, engulfing the men. They screamed and rolled around on the ground, which didn’t help as they began covering themselves more in the accelerant and flames. More beasts began pouring out of the church. The riflemen could not shoot fast enough to put them all down, as they began scattering throughout the street. The Underlings were outnumbered and attempted to retreat. The doors to the second ambulance closed as the vehicle sped off. A few of the beasts pursued the ambulance as the others attacked the remaining members. The church was now fully engulfed in flames. It was a true warzone.
CHAPTER 9
The sun had set, and all was quiet in the streets. In the distance, black smoke continued to fill the sky. The fire that was started in the church had spread to the neighboring buildings, leaving nothing behind but shells of buildings that were now charred. Some of the buildings were still smoldering. Soon, there would be nowhere else for the flames to spread. Between the clothing in the thrift shop and the stacks of paper in the print shop at the end of the row, the fire had enough fuel to burn throughout the entire day.
Sade grunted. A sharp pain shot through her left arm. She was underneath a pile of metal and plastic from the broken awning. She gripped one of the metal pieces and pulled herself up. After standing to her feet, she could tell something was wrong with her arm because she could not move it. One of the metal bars was stuck in it. She did not even know how much blood she lost because she was knocked out.
Her head was spinning and throbbing. She held onto anything she could find as she crawled out of the pile of metal and tried to make her way down the street. Stumbling forward, she leaned up against the building to prevent herself from falling over. Everything seemed to be spinning, and Sade struggled to stay focused. The large lump on her head was just one of many injuries she sustained as a result of the fall.
Working with one arm was becoming a battle. Sade needed assistance walking but was unable to use the injured arm to hold herself up. While leaning on the building, she took small steps, attempting to get out of the area. The last thing she needed was the Underlings finishing what they had started.
The head injury she suffered during the fall was taking a toll on her. She felt like she was being stabbed in the head, which made her unable to walk without staggering. Her senses were off too. She never even noticed the van that drove by her.
“Who the hell was that?” Wallace asked, looking out the filthy window of the van.
Brock hesitated to answer, his foot steady on the gas. He knew exactly where Wallace was going with the question. Wallace always did his best to help others in need, but Brock was the complete opposite. Brock was paranoid. He feared everything about the new world and what it had become. The reports of looting and murders built up a defensive wall that Brock did not want anyone getting behind.
“Brock, stop the car and go back,” Wallace ordered.
“No, we have to get back.”
“Brock.”
“Come on, man. We just got all this gas and supplies. We need to get it back. That was our job.”
“I know what our job is. But I think I saw somebody back there.”
“Wallace, maybe your mind is playing tricks on you because I didn’t see anyone on this road. It’s pitch black out here, so how do you even know if you saw someone?”
“Yes, you did. You had to see her. She looked like a kid. Now go back because maybe she was involved in that big fire we saw earlier.” Wallace worked his way to the front of the van to get a better look at their surroundings.
“That doesn’t help your argument. What if she was involved in that fire? You want to go pull up to a pyromaniac?”
“Just go back.”
Brock came off the gas, and his foot hovered over the brake pedal. The girl who Wallace spotted was now just a dark blur in his rearview mirror. Against his better judgment, he made a sharp U-turn and headed back. “If something bad happens, it’s on you,” he whined.
“Oh, be quiet. Nothing bad is going to happen.”
The rusty Chevy Express van cruised back down the road. Brock activated the high beams, which illuminated the street and sidewalk.
“Right there,” Wallace announced when he spotted the girl. She was staggering and appeared injured. Moments later, she collapsed. Brock pulled up, and Wallace hopped out of the van. Brock kept watch, knowing that danger could be right around the corner.
“You don’t look so good,” Wallace said to the girl who was staggering. He wrapped his arms around her to help her keep her balance. As soon as he did, he felt a warm fluid dripping down his arm. “Oh no, you’re bleeding.”
Wallace hoisted the girl over his shoulder and carried her to the van. With one hand, he slid the gas containers over to make room and laid her down.
“Yo, man, she is jacked up,” Brock blurted out when he saw Sade’s bloody arm.
“Thanks, Captain Obvious. Just hurry up and get us back.”
Sade was out of it. The head injury left her discombobulated. She had no idea she had been placed into a van and definitely did not know where the men were taking her.
“You have to hurry up!” Wallace yelled. “I have to stop the bleeding from her arm.”
He removed his belt and placed it on the upper portion of Sade’s arm. Wallace pulled the belt as tight as he could, and the makeshift tourniquet seemed to slow down the bleeding. He removed the plaid shirt he was wearing and pressed it firmly against her wound.
“Is she going to make it?” Brock asked.
“Only if you drive fast and get us there. I don’t think she’s conscious. She needs a doctor.”
CHAPTER 10
Standing in the doorway of the home, Londo stared at the twinkling stars in the sky. Hours ago, he had watched as a large fire burned a few blocks away. He wondered who set the fire, but Micah chose not to go and investigate it. Londo thought Micha was just scared, but the leader heard the gunfire and knew it wasn’t coming from the man they were currently hunting. Howls could be heard coming from a distance. Where did this guy go? He can’t make it that long out here alone. Maybe he had something to do with that fire.
These thoughts thumped Londo’s awareness, and suddenly, the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. Londo quietly closed the door and ran behind a parked car that was a few houses down. He ducked behind the older model sedan and peeked out.
The heavy paw of one of the beasts dented the front of a newer model Honda Civic that was parked on the corner of the street. It stepped up onto the roof the car. It looked up and let out a shrieking howl.
Londo patiently watched the mutated creature’s movements. The cool breeze blew its fur back. Blood and saliva dripped from its mouth. Londo’s focus turned to three shadowy figures that were approaching from the intersecting street. From the darkness, three more figures appeared and worked their way up to the beast that was standing on the Honda. Londo clutched the handle of the machete that was strapped to his back. He glared at the furry figures, calculating their next moves.
The beasts on the Honda jumped down and huddled up with the others. The beasts rubbed up against each other, licking their fur and letting out steady growls. Londo noticed that a lot of the attention was focused on one specific beast. It was smaller than the others, and gray streaks of fur lined its back. Its movements were slower tha
n the others. Another howl came from the distance, causing the beasts to perk up. Seconds later, they took off running. All of them sprinted off, except the creature with the black and gray fur. That creature hobbled over to the Honda and leaned up against the damaged vehicle.
Londo noticed the beast’s hobble. He crept from behind the vehicle and slowly approached. He carefully took each step, doing his best not to make a sound. Londo stepped in front of a home, his eyes still locked on the beasts. It was odd. From his experience, Londo knew that the mutations caused the beasts to have heightened senses, but this one did not budge for anything.
Picking up a loose brick from the front patio, he threw it across the street and struck a station wagon. The beast slowly turned to the sound of the brick crashing into the driver’s door of the vehicle, but it did not move from its current position.
Londo ran over and, with one swipe of the sharp machete, took off one of the beast’s back legs. It then let out an ear-shattering squeal. The beast whipped its head around, attempting to take a bite out of Londo. He took another swipe at the injured creature, missing it by inches. It attempted to lunge forward at Londo but could not do so because of its missing leg. Londo gripped the machete with two hands and took another swipe at the creature, slicing it on its side. It fell onto the vehicle.
Londo followed up with several more swipes to the face and body of the creature before taking off. The creature let out a few gut-wrenching howls before becoming silent. It panted heavily, still leaning on the vehicle. Blood smeared down the vehicle as the beast slumped over, taking its last breath.
It took approximately twelve minutes for the other three creatures to return to the area. They returned with four others of different sizes. Londo was crouched down in the window, enjoying the show. A sinister smirk spread across his blood-splattered face. The creatures let out heavy growls and began sniffing the area around the slaughtered creature. A couple of them began tracking the scent they picked up, leading them to a vehicle, then to the front door of a home. Londo looked on. One of the creatures stood on its hind legs and began scratching at the door of the home. The deep scratches tore through the door and ripped the knob off. The creature got back on all fours and charged the door, bursting into the home. The other creatures followed.
Londo sat back and stared at the bedroom door with his machete in hand. Blood trickled down the blade and onto the tan carpet. Dannie looked over at Londo like he was a mad man. Dannie had run to the window when he heard the creature squealing. He watched everything Londo did to it.
“Are you expecting those things to come over here?” Dannie asked.
“You better hope they don’t,” Londo responded.
“Come on now, handsome, don’t get beside yourself. I saw what you did out there but don’t for a second think that you’re the only one who can draw blood.” Dannie held up the AK-47 that he brought with him on the hunt.
“Since we’re locked in this room together, there are some things I need to know.”
“Like what?”
“I want to know all about your friend, Kyle. What are his mannerisms? Strengths? Weaknesses?”
“I don’t know how many times I have to tell y’all this, but I don’t know that man. I was all on my own, just me and my dog. This man and his two friends rolled up on me. Obviously, they seemed like nice people, so I tagged along with them, and we ended up at The Association. That’s it. I didn’t even know them for a week before we got to your place, but for some reason, you guys don’t want to accept the truth.”
“That truth is very hard to believe.”
“Well, I don’t know what to tell you.”
“You’re going to tell me how I can catch him.”
“And how exactly am I going to do that?”
“By giving me something that I can use,” Londo said, approaching the gun-toting man.
Dannie held up the gun, pointing it directly at Londo’s chest. “What are you doing?” Dannie asked. “Back up.”
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you. If you fire that shot, all seven of those monstrosities out there are going to run right up here. Is that how you want to die?” Lonzo continued walking forward, placing his hand on the gun, and pushing the barrel down toward the ground. “I highly doubt that being ripped to shreds by a bunch of furry beasts was the way you envisioned that you would die.”
Dannie licked his lips. “So, I’m guessing you have a suggestion. Let me guess. You sweep me off my feet, and we go on the run and never look back.”
“My suggestion is that you tell me how to find your friend, and I promise you will get a chance to start over. Right now, there are a bunch of people that want you dead. I suggest you help me help you.”
Dannie rolled his eyes. “This is the last time I’m going to tell you this. I don’t know where Kyle is. If I knew, I would put a bullet in him myself.”
“Suit yourself. It’s your funeral,” Londo said before walking out of the room.
“Wait, what is that supposed to mean?” Dannie asked, trying to stop the man from exiting. “And where are you going?”
“I’m leaving. I went through that other house before coming back in here. It’s only a matter of time before those things come sniffing over here, following my scent.”
“So, what am I supposed to do?”
“Try not to die.”
CHAPTER 11
Back at The Association, it was business as usual. Jin stood outside the locked room, waiting for the gas to disseminate. He readjusted the mask that covered his mouth and nose, then looked down at his watch. It should be about a few more seconds. He approached the door, accompanied by two armed men, and unlocked it. The three men entered the small, bare room. There were two windows that were partially open. Dry blood stains decorated the walls and floor. Jin kneeled to check the vital signs of a man who was unconscious in the corner of the room. The man was completely naked and made no movements. Jin placed two fingers on the man’s wrist, then the side of his neck.
“No pulse,” he muttered through the mask.
As soon as Jin made his statement, both gunmen aimed their pistols at the unresponsive male. During previous experiments, the test subjects mutated into creatures within a minute. The gunmen were there to ensure any mutated subjects would be immediately executed. The man’s blood would add to the current décor of the room. Jin watched as the minute hand on his watch ticked away. After two cycles went by, he glanced back up at the body. It hadn’t mutated. Jin immediately stormed out of the room and removed his gas mask. He used the walkie-talkie to transmit to the rest of his team.
“I need another canister of the gas we just used on Subject 27.”
“Really? Did it work, boss?” Sierra asked during the transmission.
“No, it didn’t. There was no mutation.”
The sound of the front door of the building opening made Jin smile. He watched as Sierra entered his makeshift laboratory and ran up the stairs toward him. She was cradling a gas canister as if it were a football. She handed the canister to Jin who immediately headed toward another room. The two gunmen followed him. Sticking the key into the locking mechanism, Jin unlocked the door. He pulled the mask up on his face and cracked open the canister. Red smoke began seeping out of the top of the canister. One of the gunmen opened the door slightly, with his pistol pointed inside, as Jin tossed the canister into the corner of the room. The door was slammed shut and immediately locked. The men backed away from the door. Each of them ensured that their masks were put on properly. The red smoke began seeping under the door, forcing the three men back even farther. As expected, the smoke rose and disappeared into the air within minutes.
Jin began advancing on the door. Hs stopped in his tracks, noticing one of the gunmen had grabbed him by the back of his lab coat. It was Brody. Brody was one of the troops on the convoy that was attacked by The Association. After the attack, he submitted to the group, knowing it was his only chance of survival. Although some of his brothers in arms
joined him, they also had to watch as some were gunned down during the initial attack, and others were imprisoned only to be experimented on by Jin and his research team. Brody often felt like he betrayed his troop by choosing to conform and not be killed. This was a guilt that ate at him daily.
The other guy was a younger man named Mikey. Mikey was one of the stragglers who was brought into The Association early on. He knew how to follow specific orders, so it was not long before Micah assigned him to a security team. Mikey readjusted his mask, which was digging into his nose. He hated putting it on because of this reason.
“Give it another minute,” Brody said to the eager doctor. The last thing he wanted to do was rush into the room, knowing what was waiting for them on the other side of the door.
Jin looked at his watch as sixty seconds quickly went by. Brody approached first, putting his ear up to the door. He did not hear anything. He pointed to the doorknob and gave Jin a head nod. Jin slowly unlocked the door, and Brody raised his gun, preparing for a possible attack. The door crept open, and Jin allowed his protection to lead the way. Brody was the first in, hooking to his left upon entry and digging into the deep corner. Mikey crossed to the right. Both men cleared the respective side of the room until they finally had their guns pointed at the subject in the far corner of the room. Just like in the other room, there was no movement, but instead of a man in the corner, it was a beast. It was tied up to an old radiator. The beast was sprawled out on its back.
“See if it’s alive,” Jin suggested as he tiptoed into the room. Sierra soon followed.
“What’s wrong? You don’t want to go over there a check its vitals, doc?” Brody laughed.