The sledge felt light as it made its path across the distance and then – bam! Into the wall it went. A center strike, the wall shattered on impact. Concrete exploded back into the room and into the tunnel itself. The bang was so loud that it echoed for what seemed like miles down the long endless tunnel. He could hear that noise as it disappeared into the black, consumed by that hungry dark.
When the dust and noised settled, he grabbed a nearby flashlight and shined it forward, dropping the sledgehammer to the floor.
What he could tell, from the yellow beam of light, was that the tunnel went straight for a very long time with nothing connecting to it.
He shined the light to his right and there it stood.
The door was a shiny, metal object, at least eight feet high, twelve inches thick, with a circular wheel on the outside, very plain and very basic, no window to see out of or into for that matter.
He reached out and touched it, ran his hand over the smooth cool surface. He moved the door ever so slightly and looked at the back side. Smooth as a glass, nothing on it. He pushed it back against the wall and left it alone. He wasn’t about to get stuck in here when there was still so much left to do.
He turned from the door and investigated the tunnel he was standing in. Metallic silver floors, walls, and ceiling. It was square, boxy, and not cylindrical like most tunnels. There were clear unlit bulbs running forward down the center of the roof, disappearing into the distance. There were monitors attached to the walls on hanging hooks. These monitors looked like flat screen TVs at least 20 inches in width. They were empty and dark, dust free, silent portals waiting for another time and place.
Investigation complete, he shut the flash light off and made his way back into the basement. He cleaned up all the plaster and concrete, piling up the destruction in a corner, covering it with a blanket. The entrance to the tunnel was now smooth and clear, free of any obstacles that might get in his way on Friday night.
He turned to leave and stopped.
What would happen if one of the kids or Barbara came down here?
What would they say or do if they saw this tunnel entrance?
What would happen if they got locked in there?
Those questions had never occurred to him until just now, because all he was concerned with was just getting the tunnel entrance open and ready for them on Friday night.
He scanned the basement and the answer came to him in the form of a gigantic armoire. This piece of furniture was made of oak, with double doors, and two cabinets underneath. He was the only one in the house who could move it, so once it was in place it wasn’t going to be moved without his assistance.
He walked over to this behemoth piece of furniture and pushed it across the basement, securing it in front of the tunnel entrance, which covered it with just a few inches to spare on either side. He stood back and dusted off his hands. He was satisfied with his work, and the armoire’s concealment.
Danny looked at the clock.
Lunchtime.
He felt his stomach rumble, as he made his way up the basement stairs. He closed and locked the door then went into the kitchen to get some food. After he ate, he took a shower and put the second part of his plan into place, which was the packing and the planning. He had just enough time to get it all done before the rest of his family came home for their nightly rituals. Time was going to be tight and pressed right up against the numbers, but he thought he had enough of it to finish everything he had to do. He went down to his car, climbed in, and when the garage door closed, he made his way out to the local superstore.
*
Danny lay in bed that night, and he thought about what life would be like once they all went underground. He thought about the tunnel and the way its blackness had looked like it wanted to swallow you up. He thought about other things as well, but the one thought that scared him the most, the one that was really keeping him awake was this one. Would they all be better off if he just left them lying in their beds asleep? They would probably feel nothing as the radiation consumed them, lost in their peaceful dreams. But there was a problem, the other part to that scenario. What would he do if he let them all die peacefully in their sleep? He had no shot; he had no peaceful way of ending it all. What would he do? Grab a strong beer and a lawn chair? Sit outside and toast the end of the world as his skin melted away. What if he left them sleeping and then went into the tunnel by himself? How could he live knowing he had murdered his entire family even if he hadn’t held the murder weapon?
New questions formed as he lay there.
What if he let his family lie there and sleep, and the radiation didn’t kill them? What would happen to them? Would they be mutated and deformed? Would they die with their skin melting away, insides liquefying, screaming in agonizing pain as the world began to glow? All the while, he would be in that tunnel alone, safe and secure, not knowing of their agony, not suffering like them.
The mind raced, he stirred on the bed.
“Danny. Are you okay?”
Barbara had woken up, and now she reached out to him from some far off distant land. Her entire family would probably be dead in a couple of days, and he knew about it. As a husband wasn’t it his duty to tell her, to tell her to call all of them one last time and say I love you and goodbye? How could he live with himself knowing he hadn’t told her or done more for her? How could she live with him? How could she ever forgive him? How could their marriage survive with such a gigantic deception placed upon it?
The mind raced, thoughts stirred.
“Danny?” She asked.
He looked over at her with weary eyes. Should he have done more – told more people? Would they have believed him?
Thought drums pounding in his head with a tribal beat.
“Danny?” She asked again.
“Go back to sleep. It’s okay.” His voice was distant and far off, from a deep chasm of worry and guilt. It wasn’t his voice. It was someone else’s, someone who had to make the tough decisions no one would ever want to make. Maybe he could just buy a gun, a big shotgun with no waiting period, maybe . . .
NO!
He wouldn’t even entertain that thought, even though it would be the easiest solution of all.
Barbara snuggled close, and fell back into slumber.
Danny’s eyes grew tired, lids like concrete. He fell into restless sleep.
Morning came.
The sun woke them.
It was their day off and their anniversary.
The Earth had one full day to live as it currently lives.
*
20 years of marriage had passed for Danny and Barbara, kids when they had started out together, growing now into middle-aged adulthood. It was a perfect life, so far as married life goes. Sure there were moments of disagreements, moments of joy, moments of pain, moments of laughter and tears, but that was marriage. Marriage was a living breathing thing; and it had to be treated as such, otherwise, the marriage would wither away and die.
So how did these two spend their twentieth anniversary?
I’ll summarize because by now you are ready for what you came for. Ready for the end of the world and how it all goes boom, but first I will need to get you through Friday, the day before the end. Be patient, dear reader, and take a deep breath. We’re almost there.
*
THE MORNING: Danny allowed Barbara to sleep in. He let her sleep deep into the morning, and he himself made sure the kids got off to school okay. Johnny bounced his way out the door while Michael pissed and moaned like he always did. Danny watched them both get on their respective buses as he sipped on a cup of coffee. Like Thursday, he had avoided his morning routine of catching up on the news and sports. He just wanted to enjoy the time he had left. Once the kids were on the bus, Danny went back inside and stripped everything off. He stood naked in the parts of the house you weren’t supposed to be naked in when you had kids at home. He then grabbed himself and worked it up a bit, which was getting a lot harder to do the ol
der he got. Nearly erect he walked up the stairs, dropped his clothes in front of the door, and then went in to greet Barbara. She stirred when he slid underneath the sheets. He kissed her neck without turning her around. He slid off her underwear and kept on her tee shirt. She guided him, and Danny pushed in. Seconds turned to minutes as they made love, his hands fondling the loose breasts inside her shirt, both working towards climax, which happened fast. Afterwards, they fell asleep together and woke up around noon – starved, and naked.
THE AFTERNOON and EVENING: They ate lunch naked, in bed, sandwiches and potato chips. They made love again and then lay there and passed the time. Food settled, they dressed, and went for a run together, something they rarely ever did because of their conflicting schedules. The run was supposed to be for 8 miles, Danny pushed them to 10. Barbara complained, but Danny knew this would be their last chance to be outside for a while. It was a nice day, with blue cloudless skies, warm, with the buds of spring starting to open up. It was almost a shame to be running because you just wanted to stop and smell everything in bloom. The run ended, they took a shower together, and then got ready for their date. The kids came home while Barbara was dressing. Danny went out onto the porch to watch the sunset. It was a grand sunset, with a beautiful red light covering the sky, with beams that seemed to stretch for miles. It was as if God’s own hand was reaching out to Danny telling him it was going to be all right. The babysitter arrived, and the phone rang inside the house. Danny was happy to hear it was Barbara’s parents. Somehow a miracle had happened, and she had a chance to talk to them one last time. He heard her say I love you, and then Barbara was standing beside him. She looked absolutely radiant in her jeans, white cotton shirt, and tennis shoes. It was just a simple couple out on a simple date. What was the date, some big fancy dinner at the Angus Barn? No, it was a hamburger dinner and a movie. That’s all it was. The evening concluded, and it was time to go home. The babysitter needed to be relieved.
THE NIGHT: When they arrived home, Danny’s perfect day turned to absolute terror.
*
“What do you mean he’s not home?” Danny yelled, as Margaret cringed back against Barbara. She was just a teenager, almost eighteen, and he was yelling at her like a full grown adult.
“Danny! Don’t ruin our day. We’ll find him,” Barbara replied, trying to keep the situation calm even though she was just as angry.
Danny’s mind raced as he thought of his plan crashing down on him like a wall, a big heavy sucker, full of concrete and brick. The plan for the night was supposed to be dinner, movie, off to bed, sleep, shots, down to the tunnel in that order. It wasn’t supposed to be dinner, movie, Michael screwing it up, chasing him around all night, missing the shots, not getting underground, and waiting around for their skin to glow.
“This is just . . . how could you let this happen!”
“Calm down. You’ll wake Johnny. It’s not like it’s the end of the world.”
“If only you knew,” Danny thought, as he paced. What now, what to do, what now, what to do, what now, what to do, like a broken record it played on in his head.
“You told me not to bother you on your date. I thought . . .” The babysitter trailed off as Danny glared at her. She shrunk back even further against Barbara, and Barbara gave her shelter.
“My son runs away and you didn’t want to concern us because we were on a date!”
“Danny, lower your voice.” Barbara was upset as well, but she had to be the voice of reason. “Go cool off and come back. You are not you, when you’re angry.”
Danny thought of the three shots he had upstairs, the plan, and how it was all coming a part. He had to do something, and quick. He walked over and grabbed his car keys.
“Where are you going?” Barbara asked.
“To find him,” he replied, looking at Margaret. “Where the fuck did he go?”
“What is wrong with you? Don’t take it out on her. You know how Michael is.” Barbara put her arm around Margaret and hugged her close; soft tears found Margaret’s eyes and escaped down her cheeks.
“Where?”
“Out. Towards town I think. Maybe the mall, kids like to hang out in the parking lot.”
“I’ll find him.”
“Margaret needs a ride home,” Barbara replied, not sure Danny should be driving, but not sure how to stop him.
“She walked over, she can walk back.”
“You know we don’t let her walk home after dark.”
“Fine! Come on.”
“Cool it, Danny. Honestly. What’s gotten into you tonight?” Barbara paused. “How about I take her home, you cool off, and then you can go look for Michael?”
“No. You need to stay here with Johnny, and you need to sleep. I’ll handle this.”
“I can’t sleep knowing Michael is out there.”
“Please, Barb, just go to bed. I’ll find him, I promise.” He looked at the babysitter, and then the clock. How long did they have? How long before the world went boom? He didn’t know, but what he did know was that time was wasting. Seconds were becoming minutes, and those minutes would soon turn into hours.
“But . . .”
“No, Barbara, please, just take care of Johnny. We can’t leave him sleeping alone.”
“What’s going on?”
They all looked up to the top of the stairs, and there Johnny stood wiping sleep out of his eyes, wide awake.
“Nothing honey,” Barbara replied.
“Fuck,” Danny replied, as he shook his head. There went the plan, now everyone was up.
“Danny,” Barbara replied, turning his face to hers. “Calm yourself, and drive safe. I love you.”
Danny looked at her, but there was no calm inside him. He just needed it all to go according to plan, and it wasn’t. There was no way he was going to be calm until all the pieces fell into place. “Please Barbara, both of you need to go to bed. I’ll find Michael, and I’ll take Margaret home.”
Barbara kissed him, and made her way up the stairs. She led Johnny back to his room, as Danny took one last look at them, prayed to himself they would be asleep when he got back. He then ushered Margaret out the door, as she was putting on her coat.
The Chevelle was sitting outside since it was the car they took on their date. Danny pushed Margaret into it and slammed the door, nearly catching her foot. He climbed into the driver’s seat and backed the car up into the road with smoking spinning tires. He stopped, slammed the car into gear, and then sped on down the road.
Barbara watched from the window of Johnny’s room in amazement. She had no idea what to think about what had just happened. She had never seen him like this.
“Is dad okay?” Johnny asked, concerned.
“He’s fine. Let’s get you in to bed,” Barbara replied, helping her son get situated under the covers. When he was settled, she exited out of the room, and tried to find her calm. She went downstairs and poured herself a glass of wine, dropped onto the couch, and started to read.
At Margaret’s house, Danny slid the car to a stop. Margaret looked at him as he got out the cash, and tossed it at her. He just wanted to be rid of her as quick as he could.
“I’m sorry, Danny,” she replied, starting to cry, collecting her cash, looking ashamed at what she had allowed to happen.
Danny froze.
In his rage he had blanked out, lost his mind, gone loco with the coco, and her tears had brought him back. He knew he had to find his son, but he had no reason to be a jerk about it.
“I did the best I could. I tried, but he just wouldn’t listen.”
“I know, and I’m sorry about the way I acted. Michael is just difficult right now,” Danny replied. “He doesn’t listen to me either.”
“Will you find him?”
“I’ll try. Now you go in and get some rest. I really am sorry. I’ve just got a lot on my mind.”
“It’s okay. Will you need me again soon?”
Danny thought about that for a moment, thought ab
out her, and where she might be tomorrow at this time. Maybe her dad or mom was one of the lucky ones with a basement and a security plan. Maybe she would be okay. Danny thought for a second about asking her if they had a basement and thought better of it. He had enough stress to take to the other side without adding more to it. It was best he didn’t know.
“We’ll see. Good night. Thanks for everything.”
“Good night.” She climbed out, and then made her way inside.
Danny took out his phone, and called home. Barbara picked up. “I just wanted to say I love you, and I’m sorry.”
“Don’t you ever act like that again.”
“Promise, I won’t.”
“I love you too. Now go find Michael, and both of you come home safe. How’s Margaret by the way?”
“Home safe with an apology,” Danny replied.
“Good, now go on.”
“Will do. You guys get some sleep.”
“Will do,” Barbara replied, hanging up the phone.
Danny punched the end button on his cell phone, and with frantic cylinders went off in search of his son.
*
11 P.M.
12 A.M.
1 A.M.
2 A.M.
3 A.M.
4 A.M.
The hours moved forward as Danny drove through all of the towns, Apex, Cary, Durham, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina, Raleigh, and then back to Apex. He filled the gas tank often, got one speeding ticket (who cares – he would never have to pay it), and finally just as dawn was approaching gave up.
The clock clicked over to 5 A.M.
What Danny didn’t know was that the nuclear plant near Apex was scheduled to blow at 7:30 A.M. He had just two and a half hours to get things sorted out.
He pulled the car into the driveway and opened the garage door. He shut the garage door without even thinking about the rattling motor waking anybody up. If they were awake because of it, it was too late to do anything about it now. He would just have to make a new plan, one designed to fit the current situation.
Car secure, he hurried inside and found he was in luck.
The house was quiet.
Barbara was asleep on the couch; still dressed, still wearing her shoes, book lying open on the coffee table. He turned from her to the rooms upstairs. He hoped Michael was there, and Johnny was still asleep.
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