The Death: The Complete Trilogy

by John W. Vance

  “This is madness!” Janine hollered.

  Lori watched and wanted to do something but knew anything she did would not matter. Travis’s fate was sealed, and he’d want her to remain silent.

  Travis looked at the axe, the edge gleaming in the sunlight. He then looked at the executioner, who stood ready to carry out his gruesome task. “Please make it a clean cut,” Travis pleaded.

  “I will,” he said as he raised the axe high.

  Travis lowered his head and closed his eyes.

  The crowd continued to howl with excitement at the spectacle.

  The executioner held the axe high in the air and with a swift and forceful blow brought it down on Travis’s wrist.

  Denver International Airport

  The candles flickered, casting long shadows across the large dining room. Horton tossed the linen napkin on the table and leaned back in his cushioned high-backed dining chair. A pleasant expression graced his face as he looked at Wendell and his family sitting around the table.

  “How was everything?” Horton asked.

  “Very good, thank you,” Mrs. Wendell replied.

  “Good, I personally loved the dessert, nothing like a mousse done right. My chef is the best. I’m blessed to have him.”

  “The pudding was the best,” Wendell’s young daughter blurted out, a bit of chocolate on her chin.

  “So glad you liked it,” Horton said, smiling.

  Wendell had left earlier feeling apprehensive; that feeling still lingered. The hours in between his meeting and the dinner were torturous for him. One horrific image after another entered his mind, and having his family sent there unexpectedly scared him the most. He was willing to suffer, but the thoughts of his family being harmed sent chills down his spine. Deep down he knew what he was doing for the chancellor and the Order was nothing short of genocide, but surviving himself was his top priority.

  Horton stood and said, “I want to thank you all for coming. If you don’t mind, I need to meet with your husband a bit longer. I’ll have one of the guards escort you back to your residence.”

  Mrs. Wendell smiled and said, “I hope to return the favor, and by the way, our accommodations are amazing. I’m honored that you thought of us. I just know Tom appreciates this and will do his best in his new position.” She reached out and touched Wendell’s arm and caressed it.

  “I’m sure he will. Till next time.”

  Mrs. Wendell and her daughter stood and left.

  “Let’s go to the lounge and have a drink,” Horton suggested.

  Wendell watched his family leave before joining Horton. While he was still extremely nervous, the fact that he had survived dinner meant something positive for him. He entered the lounge and found Horton looking at a map on the large leather ottoman.

  “Sit down. I want to show you something,” Horton said.

  Wendell did just that and looked closer at the map before him.

  “Nice family you’ve got there,” Horton said.

  “Thank you.”

  “Now let’s get to why I’ve called you out here,” he said, waving his hand over the map. “This map is the area I’m responsible for managing. You know it as North America, but that is the name of old. It is now called Arcadia, and our capital, which will sit here, will hold that sacred name too. Now everything we’ve accomplished started out as an idea many years ago. A group of us came together with a vision for a better world. It took us many years to put it all together, but we finally executed that plan seven months ago. Now that vision is being jeopardized by some in that group who have maintained their greed and lust for the pleasures from the past. I need to build a new core that will ensure the vision is completed, and I think you can be part of that core group. You see, you did as you were told and you believe in our plan.”

  “Chancellor, what is it that you need me to do for you?” Wendell asked, getting right to the point.

  “I’ve been accused of being too verbose, and I can see that critique is holding true. Tom, I need you to continue the cleanse, but I need you to cleanse some traitors.”

  “Who are these traitors?”

  Horton hesitated saying it, but after all, he felt he had the leverage on Wendell with his family being at the DIA. “We are going to remove the other chancellors.”

  “But, I, um, I’m not a killer. I don’t think I’m the right person for this.”

  “Yes, you are, without a doubt. You killed every person I asked you to.”

  “But I never killed anyone before.”

  “Tom, I don’t expect you to actually kill them personally. I expect you to create a team that will accomplish this.”

  Wendell sat hunched over the map, his mind lost in thought of the new responsibility he had just been given. Not only did the task seem extremely difficult but impossible. “How do you want this to happen?”

  “Glad you asked. I’ll give further details later, but assemble a team of six people. I need them ready to deploy in thirty days.”

  “Can you give me any more details outside of this? Something that will help me pick the best candidates for the job?”

  Horton paused and thought it a good question, “Just between us, this mission will be a suicide one. You should expect these people to never return.”

  “Oh.”

  Horton stood and said, “Great dinner tonight. I expect we’ll have more over the coming months.”

  Wendell stood and responded, “I hope so, sir, and thank you for the honor of fulfilling the dream that is Arcadia.”

  Day 224

  May 13, 2021

  Pine Bluffs, Wyoming

  Travis sat on the porch, staring at the rotting wooden fence that ran the perimeter of Janine’s property. The wicker rocking chair had become his daily sanctuary from his new life, but even when he would lose himself in thought, the phantom pain from his absent left hand would remind him of his new existence. It was hard for him not to feel like a prisoner even though Janine did her best to make him feel at home and comfortable. All he did each day since his sentence was carried out over two weeks ago was mope around and sit out back staring. He did think of Lori, but his mind was eased that she had taken shelter with a loving family and her true identity or connection to him was still secret. Immediately after losing his hand, he worried for her, but as each day passed, he came to realize that Lori was a very self-reliant person.

  He looked down at the white gauze bandage tightly wrapped around his lower arm and stub. He couldn’t lie to himself, he missed his hand, but it was gone and not coming back. Deep down he fought the depression that was ravaging his mind, but he found it very hard. It wasn’t just the loss of his hand but the fact that he believed he had failed. He had failed Lori, her unborn baby, and the deepest pain he felt was that he felt he had failed Tess. Never before had he ever believed that he’d never see her again till now. Even when things had gotten tough, he’d still held out hope that they’d see each other again. But now he was trapped in a sick and twisted world that had cost him his hand and could cost his life or the lives of others if he didn’t obey the rules or what the people of Hope called the covenant.

  “Hey, you hungry?” Janine asked from behind the large screen door, a large tray in her hands.

  “I’m fine.”

  She nudged the door open and stepped outside. “Listen, grumpy pants, you need to eat.”

  “Please don’t patronize me. I’m not grumpy, I lost my fucking arm,” he barked, holding up his bandaged stump.

  She walked around him and forcefully placed the tray down on a small side table. She placed her hands on her hips and glared at him.

  He looked down at the tray. On it sat a plate of scrambled eggs, sausage and a glass of milk, all fresh. He glanced up at her and said, “I’m not hungry.”

  “I put my life on the line for you, not to mention I saved your life. I could have let them hang you. Is that what you wanted? Let me tell you I saw a glimmer of something decent in you, and when you looked at me, you
r eyes told me that you were sorry. Now get over it, suck it up and deal,” she barked and stormed off.

  He watched her and at that moment was tempted to respond, but his injured ego wouldn’t allow it.

  She stopped at the door and turned towards him again. “And take a damn bath, would you?”

  He held up his stump again.

  “I know, you lost your hand.”

  “No, I’m giving you the middle finger.”

  “What a child. I obviously made a huge mistake,” she snapped and stormed inside.

  He laughed to himself and looked down at the plate of food. He had lied about not being hungry, he was, and the aroma from the food was only increasing his appetite. However, not eating became one thing he could control, a rebellion of sorts.

  “There’s a set of clean clothes on your bed. I suggest you put them on after you bathe.”

  “Just please leave me alone!” he hollered back.

  She stormed back outside and said, “Unfortunately for me, my fate is connected to yours. Unless you want to go out smelling like a dirty rag, I suggest you eat, bathe and get dressed.” She looked at her watch and said, “And do all of that in forty-five minutes.”

  “What’s happening in forty-five minutes?”

  “The magistrate is having you picked up; he’s putting you to work. Finally time to start paying back the debt you owe for your miserable life.”

  Travis wanted nothing more but to resist and not go, but he couldn’t. Janine was right; her fate was tied to his. Like Lori before, he had another person attached to him. He didn’t ask for it; it was just his life. He laughed at how never before had he had such occurrences happen, but for whatever reason, God had chosen him and given him the burden.

  Begrudgingly he put on the clothes and admired himself in the mirror. Apparently, Janine’s husband, Carl, and he were the same size. What were the odds of that? he thought. But that was where their similarities ended. For Travis, Carl had zero taste or style, but he imagined a man who would live in the middle of nowhere didn’t care for such a thing. It had been years since he had worn Levi’s 501 jeans, and the red flannel shirt was nice but reminded him more of something he’d have worn if he had been living in Seattle during the heyday for grunge rock.

  He stepped out of his room to find Janine waiting. “They fit nicely. Glad to see you in something besides pajamas and a robe.”

  He couldn’t stop himself and smiled slightly. “Yeah, they fit perfectly.”

  “I know it. Carl was lean and broad up there,” she said, pointing to his shoulders.

  “I see you ate too,” she commented.

  “Yeah, the eggs were good.”

  She took a step towards him and said, “I know you didn’t ask for this, but I didn’t ask for it either. For whatever reason, we were meant to meet.”

  “I know.”

  “How’s the arm? Need a fresh bandage?” she asked, looking at his arm.

  “I’m good. It’s healing nicely. You did a good job with cauterizing it.”

  “Saw that in movies. I know I shouldn’t admit that, but it seemed like the best way to ensure it didn’t get infected.”

  “Well, if an infection was coming, I’d have one by now.”

  Janine pushed loose strands of her long brown hair behind her ears. If she could describe herself, Janine would say she was tiny with a big personality. She was five foot two inches tall, curvy and ‘top heavy’ is how she’d put it. She was not a native of Pine Bluffs but had moved there after meeting Carl. She was born and raised in Oklahoma City and had met Carl one night. He had been stationed at Tinker Air Force Base. They fell in love and moved back to Pine Bluffs, his hometown. After the outbreak, they felt blessed, as none of them had died. But the blessings they had counted came to an abrupt end a month after in a scene that was so horrific it had prompted her to step forward to save Travis’s life.

  Travis’s almost brutish stubborn and selfish behavior since his hand had been cut off had prevented them from talking. He had wondered what her story was, but he’d vanquished the thought when he looked at his stub, but her persistence was beginning to wear him down.

  “I’ve been wanting to tell you—” he said but was interrupted when a loud bang on the front door echoed down the wood-floored hallway.

  “Tell me later. Don’t keep the magistrate waiting,” she said and ushered him out.

  Outside, he met one of the guards who had been with him the day he had lost his hand. “This way.”

  Travis followed him to a black Ford Expedition.

  The guard opened the rear door for him and said, “Get in.”

  Travis did and found he wasn’t alone. Sitting across from him was the magistrate.

  “Captain Priddy, how’s the arm?” he asked smugly.

  The arrogance behind the question made Travis want to punch him in the face with his bandaged stub, but he let it go. “Much better, I’d thank you for asking, but, oh yeah, you were the one who had my hand cut off,” Travis sarcastically responded.

  “I didn’t cut off your hand, you did. Your actions caused your punishment, and until you come to grips with that and hold yourself responsible, you’ll never be able to grow as a person.”

  “Enough of the self-improvement lesson. Where are we going?”

  “To my office, we have much to discuss.”

  North Topsail Beach, North Carolina

  Devin pulled the Humvee over a few blocks away from their house. He exhaled heavily and rested his head against the steering wheel. He gazed out the windshield towards the ocean and watched the waves move towards the shore. So often he was amazed at how the world around him, the wind, the seas, the trees, weeds and grasses kept on living, even thriving after the decimation of the human species. Each wave that came in took no notice that mankind was gone for the most part and would continue to go on lapping the beach for many eons.

  “What are we stopping for?” Tess asked from the hatch. She bent down and asked again, “What’s up? Why did we stop?”

  “I’m frustrated. It’s been two weeks now, and we’re no closer than we were when we started.”

  “We can’t quit.”

  “I’m not quitting, I’m just venting. We’ve checked every single site, all abandoned, nothing, no one. Not even any encounters with Renfield’s people. Where did they go? It’s like they vanished.”

  “Do you suppose these guys were just full of shit?”

  “That doesn’t make sense. Alex knew the one man. He said there were more.”

  “Maybe there was then.”

  “I just don’t know what we’re going to tell him and the others. They’re counting on us.”

  “Maybe their territory is vast. Maybe they’re headquartered somewhere far away.”

  “Could be.”

  “Maybe the map is nothing more than locations they were ransacking or held some importance.”

  “Like what? They were all random. There was nothing there that told me anything or gave us clues. This entire thing is so frustrating,” Devin bellowed and gripped the steering wheel tightly in anger.

  Tess reached out and patted his shoulder. “Settle down. I need you thinking clearly, not in full rage mode.”

  “Where is everyone, though?” he exclaimed.

  “Good question, makes no sense at all.”

  “Everywhere else we went we found some survivors, but none here, unless…”

  “Unless what?”

  “Maybe the government had mandatory evacuations and took everyone away, literally everyone.”

  “Those marks on all the doors, I know where I’ve seen them before. I’ve seen them in footage from hurricane disasters. EMS or police will mark doors, letting whoever comes behind them know the house had been checked and what was inside.”

  “You’re just now figuring this out?” Tess joked.

  “I didn’t hear you chiming in, oh, brilliant one.”

  “If they were evacuated, where were they taken?”

&nb
sp; “The base.”

  “Well, that partially answers some questions but not all. One is why weren’t the kids taken away, and where are these Renfield people?”

  “The keys, it has something to do with the keys,” Devin stated.

  “They look like lawnmower keys or something, or a golf cart.”

  “We’re spinning our wheels here. Let’s go back, get some food and keep talking,” Devin suggested.

  “Poor Alex is going to be heartbroken.”

  “I’m heartbroken too,” Devin said. His mind raced to find an answer, but he was starting to believe that the teens were gone and would never be found. While he didn’t want the children to suffer more than they had, he began to start planning what their next step would be once they gave up the search.

  When Brianna saw the Humvee pull into the driveway, she raced down the stairs barking unintelligibly.

  “Why are you yelling?” Tess asked from her position in the hatch.

  Brianna held up the radio and said, “I’ve been trying you guys all day!”

  Devin looked at the radio and pressed the transmit button and spoke in the receiver. “Test, test.” He heard his voice come from her radio and finished by saying, “You know these things have a limited range.”

  “It is what it is. You guys need to come with me!” Brianna exclaimed.

  Seeing the stress on her face and her urgent plea, Devin and Tess didn’t hesitate. They jumped out of the Humvee and followed Brianna.

  “Alex, Alex!” Brianna yelled.

  Alex popped his head out of the house.

  “Take watch. I’m taking them to the beach.”

  Alex signaled with a thumb up that he had the watch.

  “Bri, what’s going on?” Devin asked, finally jogging up next to her.

  “We had a little surprise wash up on shore,” she answered.

  When they crested the small dunes before the beach, Tess could see a body sprawled out, the waves lapping up against it, slowly nudging it.

  “Is it one of the kids?” Tess asked.