by Carlos Hardy
As the camera pans towards the crowd, a group of African-American mothers stand holding signs stating Where Are Our Kids? while pockets of younger-looking activists show signs of this protest becoming physical.
“Jaylen,” Bree turns towards him, her expression full of worry. “What’s really going on?”
He shrugs, gesturing for her to look back towards the broadcast.
“This has to do with the storm,” Caleb adds. “It just has to. The storms are only affecting African-American citizens.”
“I told you the government is in on this.” Jaylen says.
“Don’t jump to conclusions, Jay.”
“Dude, what else are we supposed to think, bro?”
“Shh. You don’t have to wake everyone, you know.”
“Those bastards are hiding something, I’m telling you.”
“Caleb, I’m with Jaylen,” Bree says after a sharp inhalation. “Something strange is happening in our communities, and they’re not telling us what’s going on.”
Jaylen’s hands shoot to the sky, outraged and startled. “Yo man, we got to do something.”
“Jay, what can we do?” Caleb asks, frustration littering his voice.
“Let’s try and get out of here.”
“And go where? The storm is still out there.” Bree chimes in.
“There is no storm.” Jaylen says, moving towards the window. “F.F.N.” Bree waits for Jaylen to explain. Jaylen proudly adds “Fake Fucking News. A thump near one of the boarded windows rattles Caleb.
Caleb walks over towards the window, and begins pulling on one of the boards, plucking out a few nails. One side of the board pops off as Bree appears by his side.
“What is it?” She asks.
Caleb motions for Jaylen, and soon they’re all peeking out through the window.
“Can you believe this shit?” Jaylen says.
“Shut up, they’ll hear us.” Bree returns.
At a glance, they can make out a few military tanks positioned around the campus. The entire union area is sanctioned and sealed-off with caution tape, while large spotlights appearing in the center of the remaining buildings. The storm has settled enough to allow a group of soldiers to approach the building, guns drawn and stocks against their shoulders.
“Are they fucking kidding right now?” Jaylen shouts. Caleb turns around, sliding his back on the wall until he rests on the floor.
“I’ve got to call my dad.” He urges.
“The lines aren’t working, remember?”
“This is worse than I thought,” Bree adds, snapping photographs from the window. She can’t help herself, but when a bright flash shines in the direction of the soldiers, one of them turns their gaze up to her. Two others look the same way, guns pointed at the window. Bree slides down to the floor beside Caleb.
“Did they see you?” Jaylen asks hurriedly.
“I don’t know. I’m not sure.”
“It’s that damn flash! I knew that camera would get you in trouble one day. Bro,” Jaylen looks towards Caleb, “we got to move. Get up.”
Caleb remains still, sunken in the feeling of defeat. He feels helpless, terrified to move and get out of harm’s way. Screams and chaos erupt from the lobby, quickly forcing Caleb to his feet. The three of them rush into the lobby, finding students awaking from their sleep by the sounds of steel colliding with the front doors. A battering ram relentlessly pounds against the doors, causing students to rush for anywhere other than where they are now.
Caleb, Jaylen and Bree stand at the top of the staircase, taking cover behind a few discarded couch cushions in the corner. The doors burst open and slam against the adjourning walls, flooding the area with a whirl of dust. A large spotlight shines inside, moving from left to right to stake out the area.
One of the students appear nearby, curiously looking down the stairs. His arms cover his eyes from the blinding light as he cautiously walks towards the door. “Hello?” He offers. “Are you here to help us?”
“Hello?” He offers again. “We’re here. Please, help us.”
Bree’s eyes widen in the following moments. She stands from their cover, screaming as the student’s neck is met with an electrical current. He collapses to the floor, visibly unconscious. Every nearby student scatters throughout the lobby as panic overtakes the tension in the room. Caleb grabs both Jaylen and Bree by the arms, rushing them back towards the cafeteria.
Professor Green notices the chaos, limping over towards the three of them.
“There is no way out,” he says. “Follow me.”
“Naw dude,” Jaylen says, shoving the professor away. “You are part of this. You’ve got to be.”
Electrical sounds flood the space below as blinding light ensnares the room. Screams and the thud of bodies fill the air.
“There has got to be a way out,” Bree says.
“Trust me,” Green offers. “If you don’t, you won’t make it.”
“It’s a trap.” Jaylen proclaims.
Caleb glances towards the rest of the lobby. Armed men are firing throughout the lobby. Tasers erupt in loud pings as the sight of lifeless student bodies engulf his fears. Some of the students rush the stairwell for safety, while trampling over their fellow coeds. Guns fire in every direction; students collapse, tumbling down the stairs towards the armed men. Caleb locks eyes with the professor.
“We’re going to follow your lead, Green,” he says. “Let’s move.”
“We’ve got to bounce,” Bree says, creeping up the staircase. “They’re coming.”
“I know this place like the back of my hand. Follow me,” Professor Green says, leading the three of them down a nearby narrow hallway. He peers to each side, ensuring they haven’t been spotted.
“Man, this dude is surely going to get us killed.” Jaylen mutters.
“No, I know where I’m going. I believe it’s this way.” Green offers, looking towards his right. “Yes, it’s this way.”
“Caleb,” Bree grabs him by the collar. “Why do you trust this man?”
Caleb simply shrugs her off and turns his back. “I don’t know,” he says. “I just do.”
Professor Green turns to the end of the hallway, and they arrive at what seems like a dead end. To the side is a fire exit, and it abruptly opens to reveal Micky.
“Inside here, c’mon,” she ushers them inside.
“Bro, I’m really not feeling this,” Jaylen says harshly, leaning by the doorway. “I don’t trust them.”
At the opposite end of the hall, guns cock upward with lights by their barrels. They’re caught off-guard by the blinding light as the same whirring electrical current they’ve been hearing rushes through the air in their direction. They duck, missing it by a hare’s breath as it singes the wall, leaving ruined plaster behind.
“Come on,” Bree yells.
“They’re hunting us like animals!” Jaylen exclaims.
Micky forces them into the stairwell behind the door, slamming it shut behind her. “We go up; there’s rooftop access at the top.”
“No,” Professor Green says sternly. “Downstairs leads to an underground bunker.”
“A bunker?” Caleb asks, half sarcastically.
“The school was built on a military base. There are tunnels leading to each building down below.”
They reluctantly follow Green down several flights of stairs, and he cautiously opens the door in front of them. Inside, it appears as a simple pantry loaded with dry goods. Green scans the shelves, noticing a few potato sacks on a nearby counter.
“We only have a few minutes,” he insists, tossing a burlap bag to Caleb. “Fill this up, we’ll need it.”
Caleb frantically grabs items off the shelves, filling the sack. “What are you waiting for?” He asks. “Get a bag, Bree.”
After a moment, Micky leans into the door. “They’re coming!” She shouts as the sound of a door being forced off its hinges echoes through th
e hallway. The clattering of rapidly moving boots on the staircase is all they can hear.
Professor Green limps towards a small door, leading down to a wine cellar. They follow closely behind, and he soon notices a wall of wine bottles. “I’m sure it’s here. There’s always a way.” he says, hearing the approaching soldiers.
“They’re coming!” Jaylen shouts, putting the sack of food over his shoulder. Caleb begins to panic as the footsteps get louder.
Green drops to his knees, his fingers reaching through the wine. “Over here,” he says to the students, and finally finds the level near the bottom shelf. He quickly pulls on a latch, forcing a nearby trapdoor to slide open. “Come on!” He shouts to them.
Caleb, Bree and Micky push an industrial mixer in front of the wine cellar door.
“I’m not dying hungry,” Jaylen says, tossing a piece of bread in his mouth. “Let’s roll, they’re coming.”
A barrage of bangs and clatters hit the door, forcing the mixer to quickly topple over onto the floor. Soldiers rush through the room, their electric rifles pointing in different spots and corners. An old pair of black dress shoes glide across the dusty stone floor.
“Find them.” Adviser Doley states. “They’re more valuable alive. We need every one of them we can find.”
Chapter Ten:
The Light in the Tunnel
Guided by the light of their phones, the group travels through the narrow alcove beneath the university. Apart from being damp and cramped, it’s eerie as can be. Their footsteps splash through occasional puddles along the way, echoing down the corridor for what seems like ages.
At the end of the pack, Professor Green takes a much needed rest. Hunched over with his hands on his knees, he looks to see Caleb turned in his direction.
“Guys, wait.” Caleb requests, breaking the silence.
“Professor, we’ve got to keep moving.” Jaylen states rather sharply, continuing his path. “Keep it moving bro.”
“We can’t just leave him. They’ll kill him.” Green sits down, disregarding the puddles, as he inhales slowly. “You okay?”
“I’m not as young as I used to be.”
“You’re basically ancient.” Jaylen chuckles while Bree and Micky each grab one side of the professor. Micky points up ahead.
“Look there. There’s light up ahead. We have to carry him.”
“Carry him?” Jaylen snaps. “Dude, ya’ll bugging.”
Green motions for them to move ahead without him.
“No, we aren’t leaving you.” Caleb assured him.
“Yeah, he saved our lives,” Bree adds in.
“Well, you and the son of man can stay here. I’m out.” Jaylen says. Caleb quickly grabs him by the arm.
“Jay, we have to help him. It’s the right thing to do.”
“Take your hands off me, Cal.” Jaylen jerks away, breaking Caleb’s grasp. “Stop trying to convince us you’re the good Samaritan here. We get it.”
Caleb steps up to Jaylen, nose-to-nose, toe-to-toe. “I’m tired of your dismissive and repugnant attitude. You’re toxic.”
“And what are you going to do about it?” Jaylen responds, his voice gravelly and fierce.
“Please,” Micky says, trying to separate them. “We can’t stay here.”
“Step back, Mary Poppins. Ya’ll, the reason we’re in this damn tunnel.”
“Apologize to her,” Caleb demands, inching closer to Jaylen.
“What, now you have some sort of fetish? You can play in the snow, but I’m good.”
“Jay, you’re losing it, bro. We’re in this together.”
Jaylen accusingly points towards Micky and Green. “You are missing my point. They got us into this four-hundred years ago dawg. They gets no more play from me.”
“Are you insane?”
Bree remains quiet. She wants to understand what Jaylen’s getting at, but she’s visibly torn. Her expression isn’t making Caleb’s stance any easier. He attempts to calm the moment, but it doesn’t last.
“Either you’re with us…” Jaylen says with a huff. “Or you’re on your own.” He passes a glance at Micky and Green. “This is for the birds. They are going to get ya’ll killed.”
Jaylen makes a mad dash for the end of the tunnel, disappearing somewhere between them and the light. Caleb begins to shout after him, looking towards Micky, who’s startled and embarrassed. Caleb’s shoulders slump, looking down towards where Jaylen was just standing; a feeling of defeat washes over him.
“It’s okay,” Bree offers. “He’s always been a hothead. Don’t take it personal.” But she knows he can’t but help take it any other way. All of their lives, the two have been inseparable, disagreeing on a number of subjects, but always finding common ground in their friendship. Caleb turns back.
“Where do we go from here, Professor?”
“If my memory serves me right,” Green begins, doing his best to regain his footing, “then there should be a split up ahead. The left leads us to the east side of the campus, and the right goes to the river bank. These tunnels were designed for survival.
Green uses what’s left of his energy to begin striding through the dark tunnel. Bree rigs her camera’s flash to stay lit while they walk, giving some insight as to what’s ahead. She snaps a photo. “This must go on for miles,” she says.
“Ten miles of tunnel, all throughout the underside of the university.” Green comments.
“What?” Ten miles? Caleb, we can’t walk ten miles.”
Micky rolls her eyes “You people are just negative.”
“What do you mean you people?” Bree snaps back.
“I didn’t mean it like that.”
“Sure you did. It came out the way you intended.” Bree turns towards Micky, snapping a photo and blinding her with the flash. She takes another. “Why lie, girl? Just confess.”
Micky simply rubs her eyes without backing away. “Well since I’ve been with you, all you’ve done is complain.” Bree closes the gap between them, going toe-to-toe with her.
“Bree, chill,” Caleb says, stepping between the two of them. “She didn’t mean it like that.”
“I know what I heard, Caleb.” Bree puffs out a hot breath. “Professor, you heard it?”
Green remains silent, his eyes trained on the dark tunnel. With a fist balled by her side, Micky’s voice rattles with malice. “I don’t even know why I’m trying to help you. It’s the two of you that they want.”
“Girl, you are not doing us no favors. Bye.” Bree turns away, facing Caleb.
“Shut up!” Caleb shouts, his emotions uncontainable. The strength and emotion in his assertive tone creates a light vibration across the floor of the tunnel, echoing down the corridor. Professor Green pushes past the girls. His curiosity gets the best of him. He glances at the floor then to Caleb.
“How did you do that?” He asks.” Caleb brushes off the moment by nonchalantly throwing his hands up.
“Just trying to lighten the mood, Professor.”
Footsteps clatter from down the tunnel. “I think they’re coming,” Bree says hurriedly as the footsteps grow louder, faster.
Professor Green and the others rush towards the opposite end of the dark tunnel, soon reaching the end. Caleb glances over his shoulder to notice the glaring white light coming towards them, then turning back to see three different paths ahead of them.
“Professor,” he says through gritted teeth, “I thought there were only two ways out of here.”
“My apologies” Green offers rather flatly. “The river bank is to the right I know for sure. The other university buildings are this way. I’m not sure where the third tunnel leads.”
“We have to make a choice,” Caleb insists, barely able to raise his words over the boots behind them.
“The soldiers will be securing the river,” Green says.
“So we go to the building?” Bree asks quickly.
With a nod, Gree
n leads them down the second dimly lit tunnel, and the once-near footsteps behind them cease completely. After a few moments of walking, they come to a ladder on the wall at the far end of the tunnel. Green gestures caution as they continue.
“This ladder leads to one of the buildings on the campus grounds.” He says, looking towards Caleb.
Reluctantly, Caleb takes the plunge and agrees to climb first. His wrists are shaky, but he quickly shoves away negative, pessimistic thoughts, and continues on. Ascending the rungs of the ladder, he reaches a square hatch door.
“Hey, what’s up there?” Bree whispers.
Without answering, Caleb uses his strength to budge the latch open, feeling the tension in his arm as he pulls on the rusty lever. After a few attempts, he finally gets it to budge. Cautiously lifting the hatch door, he peers inside a dark room, listening attentively for any signs of life: breathing, chatter, but there’s nothing at all.
Micky assists Green up the ladder right after Bree, climbing up over the top and joining each other. Green begins securing the hatch door, listening to the others breathing heavily from the run and damp conditions.
“They’re close behind,” he says confidently. “We have to keep moving.”
After Bree’s flash lights up the area, they can see nothing but brooms, mops and cleaning supplies: they’re in the janitor’s office of another building. Caleb quietly approaches the door, opening it slowly without creating a sound from turning the knob.
“All clear,” Caleb whispers back to them.
“Are you sure?” Bree asks nervously.
“I’m sure. Let’s move.”
They make their way down a narrow white hallway, with old portraits on the walls. Everything seems oddly untouched by the storm, including the stark white double doors at the end of the hallway. Caleb places his ear to the door, expecting to hear soldier chatter on the other end. There’s nothing to be heard. Bree gestures for him to open the door carefully, and as his hand grips the metal bar handle, he pushes slowly to prevent any creaking.