by Tim Moon
“Six months in Europe? That’s a dream trip. What countries did you visit?”
Charlotte told Ben all about her trip with Anuhea. Seeing her talk excitedly about it was mesmerizing. Her stories sounded pretty wild, but when you’re young and backpacking in Europe, that’s how it should be.
“What are you up to these days – work or more school?”
“I’m a nurse at George Washington University Hospital. I assist with cardiac surgeries,” Charlotte said.
“That sounds a lot more interesting than what I do.”
“What’s that?”
“I just finished teaching English in Korea, and I’m planning on going to China later this year. Before that, I worked for a military contractor called Black Tide, doing business acquisitions,” Ben said.
“That’s a bit of a shift. How do you like teaching?”
“Sometimes it’s tiring, but overall, I like it. It’s surprisingly fun and a lot more rewarding than I expected.”
“I bet the kids are adorable but why did you make the switch? That’s a big change,” Charlotte said, tucking her chestnut hair behind her ear.
Ben didn’t really want to talk about the relationship that caused him to leave his old job, but he also didn’t want to lie to her. “I was just at a point where I need a big change, and that seemed like the best move. Now I kind of wish I’d done it earlier, like right after college.”
Charlotte nodded. “I know that feeling.”
Ben smiled.
Charlotte was easy to talk to, more so than most girls he’d met. They continued talking, just relaxing on the beach sitting next to each other. He couldn’t have said how long they sat there chatting before he noticed that Ty and Anuhea were walking toward them.
“Hey Ben, we should probably head out. I need some sleep if we plan on keeping up with these ladies tonight. We’ll meet back up with them,” Ty said, looking at Anuhea, “say, eight o’clock at The Brewing Company?”
“Sure that sounds great,” Anuhea said. “It was nice to meet you, Ben.”
“Nice to meet you, too,” Ben said. He stood and offered a hand to Charlotte to help her up.
Her hand felt soft and warm in his. She stood and stumbled into Ben. Her free hand came up to his chest reflexively to catch herself.
“Oh, sorry.”
Ben caught her in his arms and smiled.
“It was nice to meet you,” he said softly. “See you tonight at eight.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
“Me too.”
Chapter Eleven
October 9, 2015
Waikoloa Beach Resort and Spa
1845 Hours
THE WAILING OF the hotel alarm clock invaded Ben’s sleep like an air raid siren. He bolted upright, feeling panicked. His heart was racing, and he suddenly felt sweaty. He reached over to hit the snooze button but Ty beat him to it.
Wiping sweat from his brow, Ben realized he’d been dreaming about the flight. Except, in his dream, the girl the marshal had shot was Charlotte. His subconscious had distorted the scene further and he’d found himself, rather than the marshal, lying on the floor of the plane. Charlotte’s black eyes glared at him, her face drenched in blood, screaming at him until the marshal rose behind her. The last thing Ben had seen before he woke was her face exploding, splattering his face with gore. Those last seconds flashed in his mind like an antique flipbook every time he blinked.
A cool breeze from the air conditioner danced across Ben’s chest and back. He shuddered.
Now that he was awake, Ben realized that he had to pee. Sighing loudly, he stood up. He didn’t get three steps before stubbing his little toe on the lone desk chair. A jolt of pain shot up his leg.
“Shit!”
He shoved the chair out of his way, as if it had stepped out in front of him, even though he knew damn well it was his own fault for not pushing it in earlier.
“Smooth. You okay?” Ty said sleepily.
“I’ll live.”
“Do I need to call a nurse?”
“Can I call your mom instead?” Ben said, shooting Ty a dirty look. “I’m going to go ahead and get ready.”
“Be careful,” Ty said with a sleepy chuckle. He rolled over and went back to sleep.
While Ben was in the shower, he noticed the pinkie toe on his left foot was starting to swell. It hurt like hell, but he could still bend it so it probably wasn’t broken.
Yay, for small miracles, he thought.
Standing carefully in the shower to avoid putting pressure on his foot, Ben turned his thoughts to the pending dinner date with Charlotte and Anuhea. After the afternoon they’d already spent together, Ben felt certain that Charlotte was attracted to him. But he was going back to Asia – most likely China – after this trip and she lived in the U.S. on the East Coast. He knew that he didn’t want a long-distance relationship.
It’s not like someone like her would consider me for a fling. I’m no Ty.
Still, Ben couldn’t help feeling both nervous and excited, like high school dating all over again.
Finished in the bathroom, Ben walked back into the room and noticed that Ty was still sleeping.
Ben went over, shook Ty’s bed and yelled, “Earthquake!”
Ty’s foot shot out at him, but Ben easily dodged it. The look on Ty’s face was priceless. “Your turn,” Ben said, still laughing at the glare he’d received.
“Yeah, yeah.”
Ty got out of bed, slapped Ben on the back of the head, and ran into the bathroom. Ben heard the click of the door lock, which made him laugh harder as he rubbed the back of his head.
Thoughts of those thirty-six dead people invaded Ben’s head. Worst of all were the images of the woman’s brain – thankfully no longer Charlotte’s – splattering on the overhead bin. His mind had a hard time mulling it all over. Even though he hadn’t spoken with any of the other passengers, the fact that Ben had seen them in their last hours was a strange feeling.
Ben turned on the TV and flipped to a local station, hoping to catch some news on whatever had killed the passengers. If knowledge was power, Ben hoped that knowing what had actually happened would help put it to rest.
The gorgeous weather woman was cheerfully going on about how sunny and warm it was going to be, as if they didn’t know. She spoke with the enthusiasm of someone who was used to reporting rain, like the weather guy back home did when they had their few days of summer.
Seriously, the entire 10-day forecast was sun and mid-80s. This had to be the most boring place to be a meteorologist. Maybe that’s why they’d apparently hired a supermodel. Anything to keep things interesting.
After the weather model was done talking, they cut to a video of a hotel fire. Fire fighters hosed down a building before the image cut to fire inspectors poking around in the ashes. At least two floors of the hotel had collapsed into what had been the lobby. Flame and smoke damage could be seen everywhere the camera panned.
A reporter interviewed one of the inspectors who said that the cause of fire was undetermined. Eye witness reports led the reporter to suggest the fire may have been caused by one of the small stoves that kept food warm during the breakfast buffet. A few of the witnesses came on camera and mentioned an altercation between two men. The inspector was shown again, refusing to comment until the investigation was complete.
At least three people were dead.
Next was a piece about a local school sporting event and the impending annual triathlon.
Nothing was said about the dead tourists. Perhaps, there wasn’t much more to say. But not knowing specifics about what had happened and why they’d died kept the issue percolating in the back of his mind.
A quick internet search on his phone only brought up short articles that repeated what he already knew. There was still no word on whether they’d been exposed to something or contracted a disease, how they’d become sick, or why they apparently rose from the dead with a taste for human flesh.
Th
inking about that part grossed Ben out. He flipped through the channels to find something entertaining to take his mind off it.
Chapter Twelve
October 9, 2015
Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway
1945 Hours
THEY CRUISED DOWN the highway from Waikoloa to Kona on their way to meet the ladies. The sun sat low on the horizon, casting a warm glow on the island. Nature put her best face forward with every sunset in Hawaii.
Soon, the island would be drenched in darkness. If Ben were to turn off the headlights, the road would be pitch black, like a cave. Only the faint glow from the impressive blanket of stars overhead would illuminate the night. When he’d asked about the lack of street lights along the highway and the sparse lighting in town, one of the hotel staffers mentioned there were light restrictions on the island because of the observatories on Mauna Kea.
Ty leaned forward and turned the music down a little.
“So what do you think of Charlotte?”
“She’s nice,” Ben said, casually. “Why?”
“Just nice?”
“Well, I mean, she’s funny, easy to talk to, and you’ve seen her – she’s smokin’ hot.”
“Anuhea said she seemed into you. Too bad she lives so far away,” Ty said.
Ben couldn’t help but laugh. “You know I’m moving to China, and we’re on vacation in Hawaii. No matter where she lived, it wasn’t likely to be near me.”
Ty shrugged. He enjoyed setting people up, like a real life Cupid. Maybe because meeting people came so easily to him, he wanted to share the connections he made and redistribute it to those who were less adept.
“I’m just saying, she’s a great girl. Though, she would have to be to be such good friends with Anuhea.”
“Oh what’s this? Has Cupid been hit by his own arrow? We hardly even know these girls. We’re definitely not at the falling for them stage.”
“I’ve known Anuhea a while,” Ty said, defensively. “It’d be nice to give it a real go for once.”
“Are you having an emotional crisis?” Ben smirked as he glanced at his friend. When Ty didn’t answer right away, Ben realized that he was. In a way, maybe they both were. “What’s up, Ty?”
“Well, it’s just…you know, life’s short. With all those people dying out of the blue, it kind of put things in perspective – how quickly things can end. I might be good at meeting girls, but I’ve never had a real, long-term relationship,” he said softly.
This was an unusual conversation for them to be having, but Ben didn’t want to push his friend back into silence.
“I understand the feeling. My only long-term relationship was with Kristin, and we both know how that turned out,” Ben said through the awkwardness. “But I think we should just focus on having a good time. If something develops between you two, cool. If not, no biggie. For me, it has never turned out well when I’ve tried too hard.”
Ben thought for a moment. “I wish I could offer you something better, but that’s all I’ve got.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” Ty sounded reluctant, but he leaned forward and turned the music back up. He rolled down his window and began to sing along.
Chapter Thirteen
October 9, 2015
The Brewing Company, Kona
2010 Hours
“IS OUR SERVER on a lunch break?” Charlotte said, with a frustrated shake of her head before standing up. “Be right back.”
She walked away before any of them could say anything, heading toward the bar.
Ben watched her go. Blue shorts hugged her curves, and firm, athletic legs led down to a pair of what looked like short Spartan sandals.
When Ben looked up both Ty and Anuhea were smiling at him.
“What’s that?” he asked innocently, pretending that he’d missed a question. He could feel his face burning.
“Nothing,” Anuhea said, laughing.
Ben took a drink of his brown ale to hide his embarrassment.
“How’s your drink?” Ty asked with that knowing grin.
He was holding Anuhea’s hand, stroking her knuckles slowly with his thumb. Ben glanced down at his glass and realized there was maybe one sip left. He gulped it down and stood up. “Empty.”
He joined Charlotte at the bar. “Hey, I figured you could use a hand.”
“Not really.” A coy smile played across her lips. “But thank you. Those two are really hitting it off, huh?”
She glanced over her shoulder at Anuhea and Ty. Ben knew they were holding hands, but he turned to see what she meant. He couldn’t help the groan that escaped. Ty was holding Anuhea’s hand up between them like he was going to kiss it. Their faces were inches from each other, smiling like newlyweds.
Charlotte laughed at the scowl on Ben’s face and punched him lightly on the shoulder.
“By the time we get drinks and get back there, they’ll be planning their wedding,” Ben said sarcastically, rolling his eyes.
“Shut up, it’s cute. I haven’t seen Anuhea this happy in a long time.”
Ben turned away from the love birds to say something to Charlotte, but a movement behind her caught his eye.
Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, a guy lunged toward a couple leaving the restaurant. He looked drunk. The girl shrieked and the boyfriend stepped forward and pushed the guy who stumbled and fell. The couple turned around and quickly walked away.
“Did you see that?” Ben asked Charlotte.
“I turned when I noticed you staring outside. Just another drunk guy falling over, happens all the time at bars,” she said with a wave of her hand.
Ben agreed that drunk people could be dumb, especially on vacation. He decided that the man was probably a tourist from the mainland, giving all visitors a bad name.
Their drinks finally arrived, no thanks to the still-absent server. They each grabbed two of the pints and started back over to their table.
“That took long enough,” Charlotte muttered.
The normal murmuring of the crowded restaurant was interrupted by an explosion of shattering glass. Shards from the main window tinkled onto the concrete floor, silencing everyone in the restaurant. Everyone turned toward the source of the noise.
Startled, Ty’s drink slipped through Ben’s fingers and smashed on the floor in a burst of golden ale.
“Damn it.” Ben hated to waste such good beer.
The damn drunk that had fallen outside had somehow smashed through the window, leaving a jagged hole behind him. He stood clumsily, growling like a dog. He was pale, with dark, ominous eyes and a thick mane of sun-bleached surfer’s hair. A sliver of glass fell as he pulled himself upright, unzipping his cheek. But he didn’t even flinch. Ink-colored blood started pouring down his cheek. The drunk groaned like an old man as he shuffled through the broken glass, people scattering away from him as he approached.
Arms reaching out, the man went straight toward a small group sitting at the bar. All five of them just sat there looking at him, too stunned to move.
The crazy guy lunged the last few feet toward the group at the bar. Most of them scattered like sandpipers, but one girl was not fast enough. With a wild look in his dark eyes, the man latched onto the girl’s arm and sank his teeth in.
Like the sweet juice of a ripe peach, blood dripped down his chin as he savored the bite. He tore in for a second bite, devouring her arm like a chicken wing.
A collective gasp of horror was punctuated by the agonized screams of the girl. Out of the corner of his eye, Ben thought he saw someone vomit.
“Holy shit, not again,” Ben said. A chill transformed his arms into braille. How could this be happening here?
Charlotte glanced at Ben with a confused look. He grabbed her elbow and pulled her back toward their table. Fear saturated the restaurant. People bolted for the exits, yelling and screaming in panic.
Flailing wildly, the girl at the bar battered the drunk with her free arm. Her nails tore at his face like a wildcat, opening the tear
on his cheek even wider and leaving angry trails across his face that began dripping with dark, almost black, blood.
Her red blood glistened brightly on his lips, a contrast to his own hideous, blood drenched face.
One of the guys in the girl’s group plucked up enough courage to punch the man in the face. The attacker’s head cocked back with the force of the blow, but it did little to deter him, as he closed his mouth around her arm again.
Adrenalin coursed through Ben’s veins. Memories from the plane made him hesitant to step in, but he’d hate himself if he just stood by and watched like an idiot as this girl was devoured.
Ben set his drink on the table and glanced at Ty, he was transfixed like the others.
Ben’s hands clenched into fists as he started forward. He felt a pull on his arm. Surprisingly, it was Charlotte, trying to hold him back.
“Don’t go.” Her eyes pleaded with him to leave it to someone else.
“I have to help,” Ben said as he gently freed his arm.
“Ben, wait,” Ty said. But he pretended not to hear Ty.
Ben hadn’t been able to do much on the airplane to help anyone. He couldn’t let that happen again.
A server yelled for someone named Keanu. Ben saw a muscular man with a Brewing Company shirt emerge from the kitchen. He looked at the crazy man, assessing him. It was obvious that Keanu was the restaurant’s problem solver.
Before Ben could act, Keanu ran around the bar, pushing his way through the fleeing crowd, and almost knocked Ben over as he barreled past. People were still fighting to push their way out, causing a traffic jam as they tried to flee. The fear that rolled off of them was almost tangible.
Keanu charged the attacker, grabbed the man by the arm, and twisted sharply with trained skill as he tried to pull the man off the girl. The attacker barely seemed to notice the awkward position of his arm and lunged in for another bite with the determination of a starved dog.
So, Keanu changed tactics. He slung an arm around the man’s neck, to keep him from biting the girl, and hauled him off with brute strength. Once he forced the man away from the girl, Keanu threw him against the bar. The attacker slammed into a stool and tripped.