That’s when Soozie noticed the hatch for the first time. It was the only logical explanation. Stu was inside.
But surely, he wouldn’t have left the girl on purpose? Soozie reasoned.
331
Sue and Tia
Inside the bridge of the superstructure
Somewhere off the shore in New York State
It was eerie without Emma in the wheelhouse, with only the small dog Tia to keep Sue company.
Tia had worn herself out barking and racing around jumping up at the deformed birds as they landed on the ledge of the thick viewing window. She was now curled up asleep next the Sue’s feet.
“Big help you are,” Sue muttered.
Following Smokie’s direction, Sue slowed the cargo ship. However, it was anyone’s guess if they would overshoot the oilrig. She’d heard that large vessels take miles to slow down and come to a stop. If that was the case, they would be well short of the platform. She presumed she could simply give the large engine a small nudge, flash it on for a few seconds to get the large ship to inch closer.
The oilrig was now huge on the horizon. Much bigger than she first thought. At the rate the ship was moving – even though it was slowing down – it would reach the platform in about twenty minutes.
Sue just hoped Smokie had come up with a plan.
She would kill for a mug of coffee right about now. It was one of the things she missed the most. Of course, there was still coffee in the world – there was large cans of it down in the galley – but she missed relaxing, sipping her favourite drink. Now, with the world the way it was, it just wasn’t the same.
The birds had been slamming into the main window for hours. She was so used to it; they no longer drew her attention. The sound of the impact and the squeaking of their bodies on the glass.
Until the sound of the slamming bodies intensified.
Sue looked up from the controls.
Dozens of deformed birds were hitting the window at once. The bodies piled up on the sill before falling away from view.
Suddenly, it seemed like a black and white mass of birds were hitting the window repeatedly.
Shit!
Tia was awake and barking like crazy – yapping at the striking birds.
“This is not good,” Sue muttered when she noticed the first cracks in the glass started to appear, spreading out across the length of the long window.
332
Bachman, Emma, Ralph, Pete, Tes, Carl and Eric
Zone 6
The underground bunker
Quirauk Mountain, Pennsylvania
“He was cut by one of the squids, as you call them. It infected his cut. We amputated before it spread,” Tes said.
“We hope,” Emma muttered.
“That’s some fucked-up shit!” Carl stated.
“If that ever happens to me, man, just kill me bud,” Eric said.
“Oh, no fear, bro, I will. For real.” They bumped fists.
“Are you shitting me?” Emma said with a sigh. “With everything going on, we find Bill and Ted.”
Pete groaned on the floor.
“We have to get moving,” Bachman announced. He moved forward and knelt next to Pete. “Help me lift him, Tes.”
“Moving? Where?” Ralph asked. He looked up from reloading his handguns.
“If there is anything in the area, they would’ve heard all the gunfire,” Bachman said trying to get a semiconscious Pete to his feet.
“That’s the truth,” Eric said.
Just then, a woman jogged around the corner. She was tall, thin and stunning, with long flowing black hair that cascaded over her shoulders and down her back. Her green eyes were the colour of celery. Even with the scruffy overalls, she looked like she belonged on the cover of a fashion magazine.
Emma instantly hated her. She reminded her of those women who always got what they wanted just because men thought with their dicks.
Emma also noticed the woman had a perfect ass and a larger than average chest.
“Great,” Emma muttered to herself.
“We have to get moving,” the woman said with a Russian accent. She didn’t seem bothered by finding a room full of strangers.
Emma wondered how a Russian ended up working in an American secret bunker. But before she could ask, the woman dropped a bombshell.
“There are creatures heading our way.” She pointed to the window.
Emma moved across the room and nudged the curtain to one side.
In the street outside was maybe a hundred squids. But most alarming, there was a smaller pod leading them all.
“Fuck! The fire didn’t kill all the pods!”
They were pouring into the building.
333
Smokie, and most of the crew
Inside the superstructure of the cargo ship
Somewhere off the shore in New York State
There was no way the group could move outside to get to Naomi, not without the birds attacking. So Smokie took just Alex and Terrance and headed down the steps on the interior of the superstructure to meet Naomi at the bottom.
“There’s no way she could have gotten away,” Terrance stated.
“She obviously found a way,” Smokie said as she jogged down the steps two at a time.
I’m getting too old for this shit.
“And why aren’t the birds attacking her?” Alex said.
It was a question Smokie had already asked herself. That was why she only took two people with her to go and check it out. More than enough firepower, while not endangering everyone.
“Did you see how she was walking; kind of staggering?” Alex said.
“She’s been through a lot,” Smokie said in her defence, even though it all felt wrong. Her gut was in knots.
Before long, the exhausted three were at the base of the superstructure, arriving just as Naomi stumbled into view outside the thick glass of the hatch.
That’s when Smokie noticed her eyes.
“She’s infected!”
Terrance sprung for the handle to lock it in place, to stop Naomi from entering the superstructure.
Naomi slammed into the thick door.
“Help me!” she cried.
“She needs our help,” Alex shouted.
“She’s infected, can’t you see her eyes?” Smokie shouted back.
Naomi’s face slammed against the glass. Blood and black ooze smeared the window.
All three took a step back.
“The man infected her and then released her,” Terrance stated. It was the only facts that fit the situation.
“Help me!” Naomi screamed, as she slapped her palms against the thick glass, smearing the blood. She then dropped from view, as if her body had given up on her.
“There’s nothing we can do for her,” Smokie stated.
“We can put her out of her misery,” Terrance said quietly.
To do so they would have to open the hatch. It was a risk, but if they didn’t Naomi would get away and hide somewhere on the ship. She would be a time bomb waiting to happen.
We have enough creatures running around as it is, Smokie thought.
“I’ll do it,” Smokie stated as she gripped the handle and forced open the door.
She scanned the sky for birds. There wasn’t any diving in their direction. From her location, it looked like all the birds were occupied at the top of the superstructure, near the control room.
One problem at a time, she thought.
Smokie took the gun from Alex’s hand. Now wasn’t the time to use her axes. A bullet to the head would suffice.
A bullet through the brainpan.
Smokie raised the weapon.
“God forgive me for what I’m about to do,” she muttered as she slowly started to pull the trigger.
“Stop!” Naomi screamed as her head flew up, and her hand knocked the handgun from Smokie’s grip.
All three stepped back away from her.
“I have a message for you, from the Q
ueen pod!”
Smokie raised a hand to stop Terrance from finishing what she started.
“I’m listening.”
Naomi seemed to be fighting an inner battle. She gripped her head with both hands. Her eyes were wide, filled with pain, and blood, with black ooze dripping from her wide-open mouth as she knelt in front of Smokie.
“The Queen says if you take the boat to dry land, so she can leave unharmed, she will let you all live.”
Smokie stared in disbelief. The creature in the belly of the ship was using Naomi as a mouthpiece – controlling her.
“It cannot be trusted,” Alex muttered.
Smokie stared down at Naomi.
“You cannot seriously be considering this?” Terrance asked.
Just then, Naomi stared screaming and buckling, twisting and turning on the deck, while vomiting black bile that poured from her mouth.
The three stepped back even further.
Naomi lay still on the steel deck.
“Is she dead?” Alex asked.
“Fuck off,” whispered a voice.
“Apparently not,” Smokie said.
Naomi rolled onto her back. Her eyes had returned to their normal colour.
“Jesus Christ, the voices,” she muttered while gripping her head as she started to get up.
Terrance raised his rifle.
“Don’t point that fucking thing at me,” she muttered.
“How is this possible?” Smokie asked, seeing Naomi uninfected.
“Apparently, I’m proof that the Queen can be forgiving to those she chooses. She healed me to prove she can.”
Naomi spat out a glob of phlegm. She looked up to see why the three were so quiet. They were all looking behind her.
Lined up along the deck was the original dead crew, now all deformed and transformed into undead soldiers for the Queen. There must be at least thirty or more in a long row.
The people from the chamber. So that’s what the pod was doing with the bodies, Naomi thought.
There was even Troy at the end; he’d obviously pulled himself along by his hands, because his legs were twisted grotesquely behind him. He had the same vacant look in his dead eyes.
However, they stood their ground, unmoving, just simply swaying from side to side. An ungodly display. Twisted broken, rotten bodies, reanimated to do her will.
“Why aren’t they attacking?” Alex asked.
Naomi said, “The Queen is waiting for your answer.”
To be continued…
Part Thirteen: Abandon
About the Author
Glen Johnson was born in England in 1973. He used to live in Devon, just a stones throw away from the English Riviera, but in August 2014, he gave away all his belongings and bought a backpack, and he traveled around Southeast Asia for three years. He settled in Bangkok, while his house is finished being built in Krabi, southern Thailand. He is the author of 54 fiction and non-fiction books. While he travels, he will be helping charitable organizations, writing and releasing books about their foundations, leaving them with all the royalties. His first charity book called Soi Dog: The Story Behind Asia’s Largest Animal Welfare Shelter is available in e-book and paperback worldwide. He has also started to release a collection of books about his travel adventures as they unfold, and Living the Dream: Part One – Khaosan Road, Thailand is available from all good e-book retailers. He is also on the development team for a new computer game called The Seed (out now), from the creators of the award-winning S.T.A.L.K.E.R Misery mod. He loves to travel and has already visited forty-two different countries. At present, he lives in Bangkok, Thailand, but he has also lived in Mexico, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia and Singapore. He has also been married twice – and still refuses to say where he buried them.
Why not add Glen Johnson as a friend on Facebook. From his author’s page, you can keep up to date with all his new releases, and when his kindle books are free. He checks it daily, so pop on and say hello! Don’t be shy he’s a friendly chap.
www.facebook.com/GlenJohnsonAuthor
Contact Glen Johnson via email:
[email protected]
Glen Johnson has published 164 books worldwide (via two publishing companies he owns). As well as his own work, he also publishes modern-classic-fiction books that can be found at:
https://www.facebook.com/RedSkullPublishing
Also by Glen Johnson from Sinuous Mind Books
(Available in ebook or paperback from Amazon)
Horror
Lamb Chops and Chainsaws Vol.1: Nine Disturbing Short Stories About the Darker Side of Human Nature. UK USA
Lobsters and Landmines Vol.2: Another Nine Disturbing Short Stories About the Darker Side of Human Nature. UK USA
French Fries and Flamethrowers Vol.3: Nine More Disturbing Short Stories About the Darker Side of Human Nature. UK USA
The Human Nature Trilogy Vol. 1-3: Twenty-Seven Disturbing Short Stories About the Darker Side of Human Nature. UK USA
Condoms and Cabbages: A Short Horror Story. The Twisted Human Nature Series UK USA
The Watchers. UK USA
Horror/Occult/Supernatural
War of the Gods: Part One – The Devils Tarots. UK USA
Horror/Post-Apocalyptic/Dystopian/Zombie
The Sixth Extinction: An Apocalyptic Tale of Survival. Part One: Outbreak. UK USA
The Sixth Extinction: An Apocalyptic Tale of Survival. Part Two: Ruin. UK USA
The Sixth Extinction: An Apocalyptic Tale of Survival. Part Three: Infested. UK USA
The Sixth Extinction: An Apocalyptic Tale of Survival. Part Four: The Ark. UK USA
The Sixth Extinction: An Apocalyptic Tale of Survival. Omnibus Edition. Books 1 – 4 UK USA
The Sixth Extinction: The First Three Weeks. Noah’s Story. UK USA
The Sixth Extinction: The First Three Weeks. Red’s Story. UK USA
The Sixth Extinction: The First Three Weeks. Betty and Lennie’s Story. UK USA
The first Three Weeks: Omnibus Edition. Books 1 – 4 UK USA
The Sixth Extinction & The first Three Weeks: Omnibus Edition. Books 1 – 8 UK USA
The Sixth Extinction: America. Part One: The Black Spores. UK USA
The Sixth Extinction: America. Part Two: False Hope. UK USA
The Sixth Extinction: America. Part Three: The Pods. UK USA
The Sixth Extinction: America. Part Four: The Long Road. UK USA
The Sixth Extinction: America. Omnibus Edition. Books 1 – 4 UK USA
The Sixth Extinction: America. Part Five: No Turning Back. UK USA
The Sixth Extinction: America. Part Six: A Friend in Need UK USA
The Sixth Extinction: America. Part Seven: All Aboard UK USA
The Sixth Extinction & The Sixth Extinction America. Omnibus Edition. 1 -8 UK USA
The Sixth Extinction & The first Three Weeks & The Sixth Extinction America. Omnibus Edition. Books 1 – 12 UK USA
The Sixth Extinction: America. Part Eight: New Hope UK USA
The Sixth Extinction: The Seven Seeds of the Gods. Book One – Ancient Egypt. UK USA
The Sixth Extinction: England & The First Three Weeks England & The Squads First Three Weeks & The Sixth Extinction America & The Seven Seeds of the Gods. Omnibus Edition: Books 1 to 22. USA UK
Fantasy
The Event: The Answer to Mankind’s Prayers Becomes an Apocalyptic Nightmare. Part One: The Last Hope.UK USA
The Spell of Binding: Part One. UK USA
The Gateway: World One of the Seven Worlds. Close the World Enter the Next. UK USA
The Keystone: World Two of the Seven Worlds. Close the World Enter the Next. UK USA
Elven Jewel: World Three of the Seven Worlds. Close the World Enter the Next. UK USA
Children/Young Adult
Parkingdom: You Can Be Small and Still Make a Big Difference. UK USA
Ghost/Horror
Sea of Trees: A Short Ghost Horror Story. UK USA
Child Angels: A Short Ghost Horror Story.
UK USA
Non-Fiction/Travel/Charity
Living the Dream: The Story of Two Brothers Journey in the Exotic East. With 102 Colour Photos. Part One – Khaosan Road, Thailand. UK USA
Soi Dog: The Story Behind Asia’s Largest Animal Welfare Shelter. (With 108 Colour Photos). UK USA
THE EVENT
The Answer to Mankind’s Prayers
Becomes an Apocalyptic Nightmare
Part One: The Last Hope
UK USA
The first in a new series of short stories, from the author of the best-selling Sixth Extinction Series.
Mankind number less than nine million. The world is on the brink of the next mass extinction.
THE DYING WORLD
The year is 2073. The world stands on its final footing. Back in 2048 the world’s population numbered over a hundred billion. Wars were fought over food not land. A new organization was put to work; to find the cure for world hunger.
THE MACHINE
They used the best scientists from every nation and succeeded in creating D.E.F (Digitally Enhanced Food.) However, the name came to have a more sinister meaning. The machine manipulated time, speeding up the growing process. However, it caused rips in time and space, allowing another dimension – which had been poised waiting for mankind to make such a mistake – to churn through, reaping death and almost total destruction. The answer to their prayers became their worst nightmare.
The Sixth Extinction America Omnibus [Books 1-12] Page 67