"Oh, that. As far as I know all of Hillsborough County was evacuated. The storm surge was supposed to be over twenty feet out here."
"So, what the hell happened?"
"The power outage, well the EMP. Things got dropped, signals got crossed and a few neighborhoods out here never got the memo. That's why the national guard came. I don't know what happened in your neighborhood, but they came to evacuate us."
I didn't immediately respond. I let his words sink in as I tried to make sense of what I'd seen and what he was telling me.
"They're just around the bend," he said and pointed. "Your family."
"Thanks," I replied.
He nodded.
"I mean for everything. For back there with...you know. Thanks. I didn't think I was gonna see my family again."
"Don't mention it."
"So how do you know all of that? How do you know it was an EMP?"
"I used to be military."
"That makes sense."
Koran laughed. "Nah, not like that. I mean, I was Navy. Handled communications systems on a ship, but they taught me how to shoot and a few things about surviving outdoors."
"You said you used to be military."
"Yeah, I'm a contractor at the base now. Well I guess I was a contractor at the base. The day all of this shit started I was at work. I shouldn't really be telling you this, but I guess it doesn't matter now anyway. That crazy lightning storm that happened set off CHAMP."
"CHAMP?"
"Yeah, it's a non-nuclear EMP system, the Air force has been working on with Boeing."
"That shit is real?"
"Yeah, still in the testing phases, but the storm set it off. Not everything was impacted, but being we're so close to the base we got the brunt of it."
"That's crazy," I said and rubbed my hands across my face.
"There they are," Koran pointed.
We'd made it to the nature preserve that ended at the marina. Melinda, Stephanie, and the kids were sitting on a bench facing the water. Alistair and Ashley were a few yards away, having what looked like a serious discussion.
"Looks like a few boats survived the storm. We're in luck," Koran said.
I took a deep breath, then headed toward my family. "Melinda," I called.
She stood up and turned around. A smile spread over her face and she waved. I waved back then suddenly felt the Earth shift beneath my feet.
The sensation was unfamiliar. I felt like I was standing on a beach ball trying to balance myself. Like I was walking on a treadmill that was on top of a merry-go-round inside of a crashing airplane.
"What the hell is going on?" Koran shouted.
To our left the ground split open and a stream of searing hot gas belted into the air. Ahead of us the water in the bay started to whip from left to right, crashing up against the dock, sending a salty mist toward the sky.
A loud grumbling echoed in my ears and I fought to stay upright. Every step I took toward my family seemed futile, the ground crackled and splintered, sending me stumbling backwards. The loose sand shifted and became a conveyor belt of death as the Earth swallowed everything that fell into the cracks.
Watching the floor rip apart, Steve suddenly came to mind. This couldn't be happening, but it was. I was watching it with my own eyes and I still couldn't believe it. He had been right all along and I'd dismissed him. But I couldn't deny it now.
"Earthquake!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.
CHAPTER 18
WE WILL SURVIVE
I'd never felt so helpless in my life. They were right there, close enough to throw something at, but I couldn't make it to them. My family needed me and the very Earth was trying to tear us apart.
"I'm coming," I yelled.
Melinda looked petrified. Tears streamed from her eyes as she grabbed the kids and tried to balance across the shaky boardwalk.
I leapt over cracks in the ground, recklessly trying to make my way toward them. Every time I got closer the ground would splinter and crack, sending me in a different direction.
With a loud snap, half of the dock cracked in half and plunged into the water. Melinda let out a shrilling yelp and ran toward the rocks on the far side. More of the dock split apart and disappeared beneath the churning tide.
Then as sudden as it started, the shaking stopped. The ground grew still and the buckled sheets of rock came to rest on one another.
I gathered myself for a moment and stared around in shock. The marina looked like a warzone, smoke plumed from giant fissures and boat debris stuck up from the sand like blades of grass.
But all was still, so without a second thought, I rushed toward Melinda and the kids.
"Are you okay?" I asked as I grabbed her by the shoulders.
"I'm...I'm fine."
I looked at the kids and gave them each a hug. David and Charlie had wild looks on their faces, but they were unharmed. Alistair looked more amazed than anything else and Ashley stared off toward the water.
"I guess we do have earthquakes now," Alistair said with a grin.
“Smart ass,” I coughed.
"Ashley," Stephanie cried out as she pulled her daughter into her arms.
Ashley scoffed and let out a grunting noise. Koran stopped at their side and wrapped his arms around the both of them.
"I thought I was going to lose you guys," he said.
I looked around at the fractured landscape. Giant cracks and crevices riddled the ground like scars. The sidewalk was warped and at places pushed together so the concrete rose into the air like a tent. It was hard to believe we'd been in the middle of it all and were still alive.
The bay had calmed down, but the marina was trashed. Boats that were previously tied to the dock had been ripped away and crushed. Many of them were slammed into the seawall and were now slowly sinking.
"It was just a tremor," Koran said.
"We almost died," I retorted. "That wasn't just anything. We need to get out of here."
"Well, your sailing plan might be out of the window."
I looked around at all of the demolished boats and sulked. "Not sure we want to be on the water after that anyway."
Koran laughed. "I don't want to be on the land."
"Dad!" Alistair called.
He'd walked down the remainder of the boardwalk and was staring out into the water. He waved his hand at me and then pointed at something nearly half a mile out.
"Will that work?"
Out in the water, floating like a beacon of hope was a thirty-foot catamaran. It was white with blue stripes down the hull and bright yellow sails. A small motorboat was tied behind it and bobbed gently in the swaying water.
"I'll be damned," Koran said excitedly.
"Can you sail that thing?"
"Oh yeah. I can sail that."
I smiled and felt a bit of relief then realized, we still had to get the boat. Staring into the gray water, I frowned and looked back at Koran.
"We're gonna have to swim to it."
"Yeah, I'd figured that much. You okay with that?"
I nodded. I wasn't sure I had a choice, my limited sailing experience told me it would take at least two of us to get the boat moving.
I turned my head and gazed back at the demolished marina. My eyes rested on a small building that had buckled and caved in on itself. It was possibly moments from collapsing to the ground completely. "Fuck," I grumbled.
"What is it?" Koran asked.
"The guard station," I groaned and pointed at the crumbling remains. "The keys to our plan are in there."
"Shit," Koran replied. "I'd really like to get out of here before something else happens."
"I'll take Alistair and try to find the keys."
"Okay, I'll see what I can scavenge from the boats. We're gonna need gas to motor back to pick up everyone."
"What about us?" Melinda asked.
"Ashley can stay with the kids," Koran said. "You two can help search for supplies."
"Be careful," I added. "
If it looks too dangerous just leave it. I don't need you falling into one of these trenches."
Melinda smiled and I gave her a kiss on the forehead. I turned to Alistair and raised my eyebrows. "You ready big guy?"
He shrugged which was about as optimistic as he got these days. I took it as a good sign he didn't outright refuse to join me on my treasure hunt.
"Alright, I'll start with the boats that haven't sunk. Let's hurry up, the weather isn't looking too promising," Koran said then headed off.
With Alistair following, I cautiously made my way toward the guard station. A lamp post that once stood next to it had been knocked over by the earthquake. It smashed through the roof and flattened part of the rickety structure like matchsticks.
"How do we know which keys belong to which boat?" Alistair asked.
I grinned. "We won't, but they were doing renovations over here for the park. Only ten or so boats were being kept here. So we'll just take them all. The hard part is gonna be getting to the keys."
I bent down and tried to lift a panel of boards that had once been the wall to the station. Straining, I pulled as hard as I could but it didn't budge.
"You could've helped," I said and cast a glance at Alistair.
"Dad, all of us together couldn't lift that. But I think I can fit in that gap."
The way the station fell, two of the walls collapsed on one another, creating a little tunnel to what remained inside. The problem was it looked like it was all going to come crashing down at any minute.
"Yeah, that's not a good idea Alistair. If you get in there and it falls over, there's no way for us to get you out."
"Well, you can't fit and it looks like that's our only way in. So, it's that or stay here Dad, and I don't want to stay here."
I groaned and took a deep breath. He was right, but I still didn't like the idea. With my foot, I pushed against the outside wall and it seemed to hold. If he was quick, he might just survive.
I looked up to the darkening sky. Thick, black clouds were starting to collect over our heads and I realized the weather may keep us here longer than we wanted anyway.
"Alright, hurry up. If you don't immediately see the keys, get out of there and we'll try something else."
"I'll be fine Dad," Alistair replied.
He dropped to all fours then stuck his head into the little gap between the propped-up walls. Army crawling, he slid forward like a snake until only his feet were sticking out.
"You okay?" I asked.
"Yeah just had to move a few things," he called back.
Seconds later, he vanished inside and I could hear things rustling around. I balled my fists together, trying to fight off my anxiety. Every passing second felt like an eternity.
"Dad!" he suddenly shouted.
I jumped out of my skin then dove to the ground and crammed my head into the narrow gap. A box met my face and I stopped.
"Take this," he said as he tried to shove some supplies back through the hole.
With a breath of relief, I straightened up and pulled the box out. It was stuffed with flares, a pair of binoculars and two black and yellow radios.
"What about the keys?" I called to him. "Just get those and get out."
"But there's tons of stuff in here Dad," he called back and pushed another box out.
This one had waterproof coats in it, a parka and a few life preservers. I couldn't lie, we probably needed everything that was in there, but the guard station wasn't gonna stay propped up like that forever.
"That's enough Alistair. Come on out."
"Okay, okay. I got all the keys."
I could hear him moving around to crawl back through the opening. Suddenly, the ground started to shift again. I lost my footing and fell back, rolling over a pile of rocks.
The tremor lasted only seconds, but in that time the light pole slid further down the roof and the entire building collapsed.
"No!" I shouted as a gust of sand and debris pelted me in the face.
I jumped to my feet and ran forward yelling. "Alistair! Alistair!"
A cloud of dust hung in the air and I swiped my hands wildly, trying to fan it away. Once it finally cleared I saw Alistair's legs sticking out from the pile of rubble that was once the guard station.
"Oh my God!" I groaned in pain.
But before I took another step he pulled his head out and rolled over. With a smile, he stood up and brandished a handful of keys hanging on multi-colored, floating key chains.
"I got em all," he laughed.
"Are you insane? You almost died."
"I'm fine Dad. Let's go."
I looked at him for a moment and repressed the urge to smack him in the back of the head. Grunting, I snatched the keys from him then headed back toward the pier.
"You guys okay?" Melinda asked as we approached. "I thought I heard you screaming."
"It was nothing," Alistair quickly answered.
I gave him a dirty look then turned back to Melinda. "You find anything?"
"Some clothes, couple of pockets knives and a few gas cans."
"Same here," Koran added.
With our scavenging complete, we gathered everything on the pier. It was a nice-sized pile of treasure. Probably would've been more if the place hadn't been destroyed minutes earlier.
Sighing, I dropped my hiking bag and sat down at the edge of one of the planks. I started to untie my shoes and looked back to Koran.
"So how are we gonna do this?" I asked.
"Well, we swim out, climb aboard, and drive the boat back here," he replied then smiled.
"That easy huh?"
"Yeah...it really is. I'm gonna take one of those plastic gas containers with me just in case the tank is empty. But with it being in the marina it should be full."
"Here," I said and handed him five of the keys. "No sense in one person having them all."
"We'll be fine," he replied as he stuffed them into his underwear.
I pulled my pants off and laid them in a pile with my shirt and shoes. The cold air sent goose bumps up and down my arms and I stared down at the water and shivered.
"How cold do you think it is?"
"Sixties maybe. Swim fast and you'll be fine."
"Yeah, swim fast," I echoed.
The water splashed up against the dock and salt sprayed my face. I shuddered and regretted the entire idea of getting a boat.
"Damn it!" Koran groaned.
I followed his eyes out into the water. The sailboat was nearly a mile away now. What we hadn't noticed was the wind and the outgoing tide. It'd be great for sailing, but we needed to get the boat first.
"Let's go now," Koran said. "It's only gonna get further away."
With that, he jumped into the water and started to breaststroke through the waves like Michael Phelps. I groaned and hesitated for a moment. A half mile swim was pushing it and now it was almost twice that, but like he said it was only getting further away.
"Wish me luck," I said and winked at Melinda.
She smiled and blew me a kiss as I dove into the frigid water. It hit me like a block of ice. Either Koran was crazy or sixty degrees was much colder than I imagined. Either way, the shock on my body was like being electrocuted.
I seized up as I sunk into the murky depths. My mind forgot everything, including what water was and that I couldn't breathe it. At least a gallon of the sea found its way down my throat. I choked and flailed my arms helplessly.
The sensation of drowning finally awoke my senses and I kicked my legs with desperation. I could feel the cold darkness pulling at my toes. Every thrust pushed me further away and closer to life.
As I broke the surface, expecting a lungful of air, a wave smashed into me and pushed me back under. At that point I lost all logic and panic took over.
I ineffectively clawed at the water as an undercurrent pulled me down. More of the icy salt-wash found its way into my mouth and my vision darkened. I gagged and swallowed the sea in an attempt to drink my way out of the ocean
. But I couldn't escape the reality of what was happening.
I was going to die. I'd overestimated myself and now I'd pay with my life. The cold water was swallowing me down and every attempt I made seemed useless.
My head broke the surface again momentarily. I managed to take a quick breath before a piece of the broken dock slammed into the side of my face. I felt a sharp pain and an intense icy, burn. Then the blackness consumed me.
CHAPTER 19
BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA
I don't know how long I was unconscious, but I awoke to cold and darkness. My head bobbed around and I realized I was still in the sea.
Frozen hands gripped my shoulder and pulled me across the churning surface. I sucked in cold air and coughed out the salty death. With every breath, my head cleared a little more and life returned to my limbs.
I felt my feet brush up against a cluster of rocks. Jagged barnacles clawed at my skin, claiming their own piece of me. As we moved further up, the water released me and under my own weight I collapsed.
"Can you stand up?" a voice asked.
"Alistair?" I said in surprise and wiped my face and tried to focus.
"You almost drowned," he replied in a serious tone.
"Randall!" Melinda shouted as she rushed to the edge of the shore.
I stood up and started to climb up the rocks to the beach above. Alistair kept a close eye on me, following me with every step. Once I reached the top I flopped and rolled onto my back.
"Are you okay?" Melinda asked and dropped down next to me.
My head bellowed in pain, but that was superficial. I stared up at the swirling, gray sky and felt another sensation that I wasn't familiar with. A sensation that had nothing to do with my physical injuries.
"I'm okay," I replied with a scratchy voice.
"That gash looks really bad," Stephanie declared. "It's gonna need stitches."
I looked at her and nodded. With a deep breath, I sat up then nausea hit me like a semi truck. Leaning to the side, I gagged then puked up a shower of salt water.
Melinda patted my back and whispered "it's okay," in my ear. But I knew it wasn't okay. I dropped my head and let my face crash into the sand.
Lurching forward, more water spewed from my icy lips. I gagged and hacked up the ocean. My stomach twisted in pain, straining and contorting with every convulsion. I stayed in that position until the sickness passed then I wiped my mouth and sat up.
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