by Victor Cruz
As he continued to look down amongst the group, he noticed that one of the dead had an abnormally long arm. On the freakishly length arm was a hand that looked almost twice the size of its other hand. It almost looked like the creature had picked up a random limb and attached it to itself, using its own black tarry blood as adhesive. Without seeing it up close, Maxson knew he was only speculating and there were already enough things to worry about than what he saw; or didn’t see.
Catalina could be heard walking up from behind him. “Well, I think I got a good look at it.”
“And?”, Maxson continued to stare down at the pit. He would have guessed that about a quarter of them had vanished, but did notice their remains.
“What are you looking at?” Catalina asked, without answering him.
“The locals,” Maxson nodded down towards the pit.
“From the stories I heard from Konrad and Tyler I really thought there would be more,” Catalina seemed disappointed.
“There was,” Maxson responded
“I don’t understand,” Catalina waited for the explanation.
“I didn’t tell your earlier, but we witnessed them attack and eat one another,” Maxson said reflecting on it from yesterday.
“There seems to be a lot of things that I’m just learning about today, and I don’t like it. Don’t like it one bit,” Catalina scorned Maxson for the helicopter and now this. She sat that and thought about what Maxson had just said before asking. “The cannibals cannibalize each other?”
“Seems so,” Maxson said.
“But that’s a good thing, no?” Catalina said through her Spanish accent.
“Sure, but my question is why?” Maxson wondered.
Catalina thought about it for a moment, “Well, why are they eating us?”
“Military doctor from the rec-center said they thought they were eating us for food,” Maxson scratched at the back of his head as he stared down at the pit.
“You don’t agree?” Catalina questioned.
“Well, wouldn’t they have all starved by now if that were the case? Like Colton said, we haven’t exactly seen lots of people for them to feast on. And they’re too slow and dumb to feed off animals long enough to sustain themselves. Or at least that’s what we all thought as far as I know,” Maxson said trying to connect dots that were there, but still shrouded in its own mystery.
“I hear what you’re saying, but I don’t understand what you are telling me,” Catalina was using the binoculars to look down at the pit.
“See… how they’re all moving around in a circle?” Maxson said of the majority of dead that limped around the bottom of the pit together. “That’s weird enough, but look closely at the bigger ones versus the smaller one. Check out how they are acting different from the majority.”
“Hmm, yeah I see now. It’s like their veins all turned pitch black too, and they have a lot more of them. Gross,” Catalina commented while looking from creature to creature. “They all seem like they are… how do you say…. More aware?”
“That’s a good way to put it,” Maxson agreed. Mason felt dumb saying it, but he had to call it how he saw it and trusted Catalina enough to talk openly and honestly with her. “Like they’re herding the flock or something.”
“It does sort of look like that,” Catalina nodded, following them with her brown eyes as the slumbering forms continued their infinite circle.
“Check out the one in the middle,” Maxson said. “I think that’s the leader of the group.”
Catalina stared at him and though her eyes were covered by the binoculars, her mouth winced at the hideous leader. Her voice became soft, like she didn’t want it to hear her. “Maxson, what do you think this all means?”
“Honestly, I’m not too sure. Could mean nothing and I could just be going as insane as rest of the world. For all we know, they could be seeing hallucinations because they’re not meant to eat one another. Nature’s way of preventing them to do so. Like a poison?” Maxson thought out loud feeling like a science fiction junkie for even suggesting it. “Maybe they’re simply thinning out the weak and surviving off them, instead of us, like that army doctor said.”
“I understand, what you’re saying. You don’t think they’re evolving do you?” Catalina’s mind ran wild.
“I don’t know what I’m saying, Cat. I’m not a doctor or a scientist. But if it’s true, that would be a terrifying thought,” Maxson found himself saying it again, but this time, he said it with the fear that accompanied the words. “Either way, I’m not interested in waiting around to find out what they evolve or don’t evolve into.”
“Me neither,” Catalina now agreed with Maxson.
Neither of them had the answers, but felt better about at least being cognizant of something else, in simply posing the questions. Planning for everything is simply impossible, but being of aware of the possibilities can keep one prepared and thus alive.
Climbing down the ladder from the roof, Maxson tried to help her get down, but she declined his invitation with disdain. She wasn’t the type to accept a helping hand and possibly more so for the simple fact that it was him over someone else.
They passed the garage that held his ’68 Comanche and Maxson could see part of the vehicle through the window. The back part of the vehicle remained slightly uncovered by the tarp due to its size, but it was enough to catch Maxson’s eye. His brown hues glimmering from the sparkling black metallic color that complimented his own dark physical features. He couldn’t stop to stare though, as they continued their way to the rest of the group. Colton, Slug and Diego were a random bunch. Diego being the only one of them with much sense, but Colton could talk anyone into doing just about anything. Growing up with the man, Maxson had fallen victim to him a few times.
Suddenly, Catalina stopped and turned towards him, “I’m assuming your toy is in here?”
“It’s not a toy,” Exclaimed Maxson adding a nod towards the garage. “But yeah, it’s in there.”
“Well show me where it is,” Commanded Catalina.
“Really?” Maxson was surprised and his heart jumped.
She smiled sweetly, “Yeah. I want to see what all the fuss is about.”
Maxson took lead inside of the garage and bee lined it directly to the backroom, only patient enough to hold both doors open for Catalina. He did his best to hold back his excitement, but couldn’t help himself when he pulled the tarp off the Comanche.
“Isn’t she beautiful?” Maxson’s voice was filled with lust and admiration.
“More badass than beautiful!” Catalina said walking around the vehicle to inspect it. “Still in good condition, too.”
“Like I said, just needs more gas,” Maxson hinted to how easy it would be to take ownership of the vehicle.
“You men and your leather.” Catalina was bent over the passenger door of the car and leaning into it to check out the leather interior. Maxson could see down her tank top that was beneath her unbuttoned rolled up shirt and felt his eyes leaving the Comanche in preference for Catalina’s ample cleavage. She took a whiff of the air inside of the car. “Nice and fresh. Smells good still.”
“Bet the exhaust smells even better,” Maxson further hinted.
She finally stood from the car, “Then what are you waiting for?”
Maxson gave her an odd, questioning look, but said nothing.
“Don’t look at me that way. You don’t think I saw the gas in the back of the pickup?” Catalina said with an all-knowing smile. “On one condition.”
Done. Maxson had already answered in his mind before he heard the terms. “What’s that?”
“Take me up to Paradise Falls. I have a good feeling about it,” Catalina softly said with an optimism that was nice to hear.
“I’ll take you to the gates of hell in this car,” Maxson could barely contain his excitement. Retrieving the gas cans and filling the tank of the Comanche only built his anticipation. Opening the garage door Maxson finally got to sit behind the st
eering wheel with his hands on the key.
Catalina said, “You ready?”
“Born ready.”, He flipped the ignition and the car thundered out an angry cry. The initial rumble could be felt vibrating in their chest and Catalina even squeaked which was unlike her. Maxson gave it a few reckless revs before Catalina smacked him. Switching gears to the manual transmission sent the car slowly rolling forward smoothly and feeling like they were gliding on ice.
Colton and Diego came running around the corner to see what was making the commotion. Slug was holding his pants up as he hobbled behind to finally catch up. The rounder man was breathing hard and sweating compared to the other two who were younger and in good shape. Slug was a big guy, but wasn’t exactly strong and was definitely not athletic.
Their faces were all the same when they saw the vehicle that Maxson manned at the steering wheel. In awe of the Comanche, their mouths dropped as though they had just seen a supermodel walk by. The Comanche’s rambling was the sound of harnessed power waiting to be unleashed onto the roads. And that was exactly what Maxson was planning to do.
“It purrs like a kitten!” Colton gave a very light pat on the hood of the car as it drove up to him.
Maxson revved the engine. “You mean roars like a lion!?”
“Woo!” Catalina sounded like the one purring.
“Beautiful!”, Diego chimed in while Slug was still catching his breath and unable to speak. He was nodding his head vigorously in approval though and even gave him two thumbs up to convey it.
“We’re going to check something out,” Maxson parked so that he was right next to Diego and Colton to look up at them from the driver seat.
“Hell yeah, after listening to you ramble on and on about this car, I’ve been wanting to ride in this thing all day!” Colton hollered.
“No. You guys are about to keep working here and making sure that truck and trailer are loaded up,” Catalina leaned over Maxson to tell Colton.
“Wait what? Ah-Nah! C’mon!”, Colton urged. “Well how long ya’ll going to be?”
“Few hours,” Catalina shrugged. “Maybe less, depending on how irresponsibly fast Maxson can drive this thing.”
“I wouldn’t test me,” Maxson grinned.
“Diego?” Catalina got his attention. “You’re in charge of getting this loaded up and brought back home.”
“What?! Why him?” Colton looked to Diego. “No offense. Just asking why not me?”
“¡Ay-ay-ay!” Diego just shook his head at Colton before turning to the Latina in the passenger seat. “Bueno, Catalina.”
“Adios amigos!” Maxson said amidst Colton’s complaints. His large boot slammed on the petal to rip the tires and leave the group of men in a puff of gray smoke. Peeling off down the road Catalina gasped at suddenly being thrown back into the seat. Maxson laughed heartedly, “You might want to put on your seatbelt.”
Maxson watched them all waving the smoke from their faces and coughing in his trail in his rear-view mirror. Colton kicked a rock disappointingly which made Maxson chuckle sadistically to himself knowing his best friend would be doing the exact same if the situation was reversed.
It didn’t take long before they were all out of view, not to be seen until they all met back at the farm. The two were heading towards the resort on the lake in search for a new home. A search that would lead them into the wooded, small rocky hills of new terrain and unfamiliar territory.
paradise falls
The Comanche was powerful enough to climb the road on the hill without exhausting itself. Radical turns made become more dangerous as continued their ascent into the wooden territory. Maxson’s driving had slowed down compared to the flat roads before and he inched closer to the center of the road middle of the road at Catalina’s request. She was not one for heights and the drop off on her side of the road was becoming steeper. They reached the peak and began to descend for a few miles, but could now see the view of a lake on the horizon. Rays of sunlight skipping off its calm waves and mirroring the ball of light illuminating it.
“Wow…” Catalina gasped.
Maxson didn’t say anything, but admired the view with her. His pace on the road was steady, but still comfortably safe.
“It is… so beautiful…” Catalina managed to say.
“It is,” Maxson responded. He guessed it was an open sourced lake based on being in the hills and how the water seemed to move when he first saw it from Greenbrook.
“Deer!” Catalina said pointing down at one that was bent down and drinking from a stream that emptied into the lake. Maxson’s heart jump thinking she meant on the road. Partly angry and partly relieved that she meant in the woods.
“Yup, I see it,” Maxson said agreeingly, not wanting to ruin the moment.
The deer sat in the middle of a stream that was so clear that Maxson could see its hooves standing in it. A great big rack was on his head that Maxon counted eight points in total while they slowly rolled by. The animal continued to drink, cautiously watching them slowly approaching. Spooked, the buck abruptly began to run off trampling through the shallow waters and retreated up the hill and out of view.
Catalina voiced her admiration. “Wasn’t that beautiful? I told you I’m having a good feeling about this place!”
“Whoa, little lady, settle down there,” Maxson tried to manage her expectations. “We have no idea what this place is even going to be like.”
“I suppose you’re right,” Catalina muttered.
I should write that down.
The road cooled down by the surrounded trees that shrouded them in darkness the deeper they drove into the woods and the closer they got to the lake. Before they reached the coast of the main lake, there was a turn off the road. Maxson pointed towards the sign hanging on a metal pole. The sign stated “Private Road. No Trespassing” in big bold red letters. “I’d have to imagine it’s that way.”
“I never saw a sign for the resort,”, Catalina questioned.
“Nah. I’m assuming it’s because they want to keep out all the poor people,” Maxson deduced.
“Well c’mon then! Let’s go become rich!” Catalina was becoming impatient.
Maxson turned off the road and went past the sign. Thick woods made it harder to see the skinny road, even during the daylight, and he tested the headlights on the vehicle which were in perfect working condition.
I love this car.
Weeds, bushes, limbs from trees and all sorts of plant life were beginning to invade the gravel road that lead them away from the main one. Maxson went slow and veered swiftly around anything that could potentially scratch the Comanche.
“Could you go any slower?” Catalina huffed.
“It’s dark as night!” Maxson defended himself.
“What are you complaining about? I can see fine!” Catalina said without sympathy. She sat in the back of her chair and took a minute to look around. “I guess it is kind of dark for being daytime though, isn’t it?”
The small and narrow path had one last spirally turn before they reached a large structure blockading their path. It was a giant black metal barred gate that was closed with a large gold crest in the middle of the gate that looked like a shield. On the shield, inscribed in a fancy font, was one word; Paradise.
To the left of the entrance was a small box that appeared to be an intercom system. They both still couldn’t see anything beyond the tall stone wall that was ten feet in height with the only visible opening being the metal gate.
“Mighty big gate just to keep us peons locked out,” Catalina commented.
“Stay in here, I’m going to see if it’s actually locked,” Maxson had found plenty of doors that were left unlocked since the collapse. Pulling up to the front of the gate, he stopped fifteen feet in front of it and parked the car. Maxson reached into the backseat to grab the axe from the floor before exiting the vehicle.
“Be careful,” Catalina called after him.
“Lock the doors behind me,” Maxson replie
d.
He could hear the water from the lake and feel its breeze. There was an awkward feeling that rushed over him that sent a chill down his spine. Shutting the door behind himself before hearing her lock the doors he stood upright. The axe was clenched tightly as he scanned his surroundings and listened for a moment. The woods were dark, even during the day, but as his eyes adjusted, he could see nothing dangerous was nearby; at least any that he could see.
Cautiously, he approached the gate and looked at the crest and looked at it. There was something else written around the circular crest outer edge. It appeared to be in Latin, but Maxson didn’t know for sure. In fact, he wasn’t even sure why he thought it was Latin.
Reaching to grip the cold metal gate to give it a push and a tug. Locked firmly shut, it barely moved under Maxson’s attempts and gave a light rattling noise.
Reaching his hand around the crest to see if there was some sort of latch that he could turned or twisted to unlock the gate. A minute of feeling around revealed nothing. Looking through the gate he could see the road continued and descended down a path that lead to a structure that was much larger than he previously thought. It was too dark to tell what was further down the path, but he was beginning to trust Catalina’s feelings about the place.
The tip of his finger rubbed at what felt like a notch or a hole, but he couldn’t tell from the side of the gate that he stood on. However, he knew the only way into the place was through the gate and set the axe down on the ground in order to stick his entire arm through the gate. He was up to his shoulder onto the other side of the dark side of the gate. His hand blindly reaching and feeling around to find anything he could press, pull, unlatch.
By the time he heard the kick of gravel, it was too late. A hand was reaching from the dark shadows and a figure followed behind it gripping at Maxson’s arm. Opened mouth, dripping with black sludge from the creature’s mouth as it snapped at the arm it had.
“Motherfucker!” Maxson jerked his arm. Luckily, the dead was small and he was able shake its first bite off. However, it still gripped his arm tightly and would attack again. This time its dripping teeth grazed at his arm, but did not penetrate due to his arm being covered in multiple layers of clothing. It came in for a second attack, but this time Maxson could not dodge and it sunk its teeth into the same arm.