Priscilla thought for a moment and then asked, “Do you know where he went?”
Oliver shrugged. “No. Another guy attacked us and we escaped through something that Uncle Giles called a dumbwaiter. We haven’t seen him since.”
“Maybe he’s with Daddy and everyone else,” Maggie commented.
Priscilla unfolded her fan again. “I’m starting to have a better feeling about tonight, but we need to be careful. Follow me. We’ll find the other members of our family.”
Before they could leave, an Utopian entered the bedroom with a machete. His face was still mangled from the altercation with Percy’s pocket watch.
“I’ve had a really rough night! My work isn’t done until I’ve eliminated your entire Steampunk family!” the humiliated man threatened, as he pointed the machete at Priscilla.
She smugly replied, “There’s a little something on your face.”
The terrorist lost his temper. “Shut up! Your patriarch is the one who mutilated my beautiful face! I haven’t been able to kill him yet, but the night isn’t over!”
“Beautiful? Don’t flatter yourself. Nobody on this island rivals the good looks of me or anyone else in my family,” Priscilla vainly said.
“You’re right, Mommy. He’s ugly,” Maggie stated.
“Stop making fun of me! You won’t find this funny when I start gutting you like a fish!” the Utopian threatened before he attacked Priscilla.
She quickly used her fan to shield herself from the rusty machete. They swiped at each other, causing sparks to fly from the impact of their metal weapons. Priscilla proved to be surprisingly strong and swift. She nicked the villain’s right arm with her bladed fan and caused him to flinch.
“I’m so tired of running into you and the other Utopians! You’re just a bunch of losers with inferiority complexes! Get a job and try earning a living for a change!” Priscilla ranted.
She used her bronze fan to slice open the skin on his chest. The wound was painful and it bled a lot. He stumbled backward and turned away. Priscilla slashed his back and caused him to buckle to his knees. The thug suddenly feared the possibility of death.
“Stop! I give up! Please, don’t kill me!” he pleaded.
Priscilla was unsympathetic. “Why should I show you mercy? I know you didn’t plan on showing us any mercy. Didn’t you threaten to gut me like a fish?”
The villain tossed his machete aside. “Take me as a prisoner. I know some of your relatives were capturing other Utopians and locking them in the basement. Just let me live.”
“Really? Show me the basement. I’m warning you not to turn on us. If I want to slice your throat open, it will only take the flick of my wrist,” Priscilla said menacingly.
The Utopian feebly stood up. “I won’t do anything. It’s becoming clear to me that we can’t beat your family.”
He led Priscilla and her children down the stairs and to the basement. When they reached the basement, he noticed the door wasn’t locked. He opened the door and turned on a light. The three captives glared at Priscilla.
“Another Steampunk. I never want to see a mutant again,” one of the hostages grumbled.
Priscilla pushed her captive into the room and then she motioned to a folding chair.
“Have a seat. Do you have handcuffs?” Priscilla asked.
“Yes,” the most recent hostage answered.
“Handcuff yourself and stay in that chair like a good boy. I’ll check on you later,” Priscilla firmly said.
The terrorist obediently handcuffed his hands to together and sat in the chair. Then Priscilla left the basement with her children.
“That was really cool. It’s like a real dungeon,” Oliver mused.
Maggie smugly said, “Yeah, I’m glad some of the bad guys are locked away.”
Priscilla had mixed thoughts about their reaction. “Are you serious? I feel slightly disturbed that you both enjoyed seeing the basement. Well, I guess it’s good that you’re not afraid. That’s one way of looking at it.”
They soon encountered Reb and Giles’ latest victim, who was hanging from the ceiling. He was a very strange, yet amusing, sight.
“What are you looking at?” he growled.
Priscilla was taken aback by the captured man. “You’re certainly trapped in an interesting situation.”
“Blame your sister-in-law and her macho husband. They beat me up and hanged me upside down. It goes to show that Steampunks aren’t capable of showing mercy,” the Utopian muttered.
“I’m not surprised. This looks like Reb’s handy work,” Priscilla commented.
Oliver was impressed with the display. “Dude, Aunt Reb and Uncle Giles kick butt.”
Priscilla grabbed her children’s hands and steered them into a different section of the mansion. “We need to keep moving. All of these things go in our favor. Our relatives must be alive if they’re capturing Utopians.”
She knew Oliver and Maggie were handling the entire situation well, but she also knew they both lost an element of innocence during the night.
Chapter 19
A celebrity pair eventually found a room that seemed moderately safe. It was an exercise room on the first floor that appeared to be untouched by the evening’s destruction and murder. The room was stocked with exercise bikes, treadmills, and weightlifting equipment that could serve as possible shields from gunfire. Earlier in the evening, they had encountered Percy and one of the Utopians. They didn’t trust anyone on the island. The male celebrity was only armed with a shard from a broken vase.
He suffered from a severe bought of anxiety while they waited for help. “I can’t do this anymore. We’ve been running around and hiding all night long. When is the nightmare going to end?”
“You don’t have a choice. Both of us are stuck here until the ferry comes back,” his wife remarked.
The man lost his temper. “Will you stop criticizing me already? You haven’t done anything to show emotional support for me tonight! If we survive, I’m done with you! I need someone who will actually care about me!”
“Good! I should have gotten a divorce years ago! You’re a coward who whines and cries! I don’t feel safe with you at all! In fact, you’re a liability! Because of you, those psycho killers will probably find us!” the female celebrity shouted.
The man leaped on top of his wife and strangled her. “Shut up! This is a lot better than a divorce! I don’t have to pay alimony if you’re dead!”
She choked and tried to speak, “Don’t kill me! We can find a solution! I’m sorry!”
He ignored her pleas and strangled her for quite a while until she stopped moving. Afterward, the atrocity of his actions occurred to him.
“No! What have I done? She was my wife! It was my job to protect her!” the man cried in a terrified tone.
He took the shard of ceramic and huddled in a corner, feeling guilty, fearful, and confused by his own actions.
Meanwhile, Gable searched for his family. He stumbled across the exercise room and noticed the woman’s body. He looked at her husband who appeared dazed and numb.
“I saw you earlier this evening. You don’t seem like a homicidal Utopian. What happened?” Gable asked.
The aristocrat stuttered and struggled to speak, “I killed her. It just happened really fast. We argued and then I couldn’t take it anymore. I strangled my wife to stop her from criticizing me. The rage overpowered my sense of morality. What kind of husband am I? It was my responsibility to help her during the massacre. Instead, I murdered my wife. A weakling like me doesn’t deserve to live.”
He held the shard up to his neck.
Gable tried to negotiate with him. “That’s not the answer! You made a terrible mistake, but it doesn’t have to end like this! Don’t you believe in second chances?”
“Stop trying to encourage me. My life was over before I came to this island. People like me don’t fit in this Steampunk world. It’s better this way,” the man said in a melancholic tone.
; Despite Gable’s efforts, the man slit his throat and collapsed as blood from his neck pooled on the floor.
“Poor guy. I’m going to make sure that doesn’t happen to me or anyone else in my family,” Gable muttered.
The casino owner unhooked his belt that was weighted down with decorative bullets. He knew it could serve as a flail or another makeshift weapon. Gable peered through the doorway and saw a clear corridor. He took a deep breath and trekked through the hallway. Within a few moments, one of the Utopians popped out of another room and aimed his crossbow at Gable. The casino owner crept backward, but he stopped when a female terrorist walked up directly behind him. Gable knew he was trapped between the two Utopians.
“Where are you going? Our group might be shrinking, but we’re still going to make sure the Steampunks won’t leave the island alive,” the male antagonist threatened.
“That’s funny, because you should be afraid of us. It seems like your group keeps running into bad luck,” Gable said, as he tightly gripped his belt.
“Some of Victor’s followers weren’t good enough for the job. The two of us are completely different. More importantly, you’re trapped. That silly-looking belt isn’t going to save you,” the female Utopian gloated as she fiddled with her hunting knife.
Her companion fired his crossbow, but Gable quickly stepped out of the way. The arrow struck the woman’s forehead and instantly killed her.
“No! That wasn’t supposed to happen!” the male terrorist cried in disbelief.
Gable’s temper rose. “What did you expect? Did you honestly think I would stand here and let you shoot me?”
“Yes!” his opponent angrily replied.
“Screw that!” Gable yelled.
He used the belt as a flail and slammed it against the side of his enemy’s head. The weight of Gable’s belt caused blood to splatter, and then the Utopian’s knees buckled. Gable hurried to his enemy and tossed the crossbow aside.
“No fair! You guys have better weapons,” the terrorist weakly said before he passed out.
Gable checked the man’s pulse and realized it was still strong. He dragged the injured villain down the stairs before venturing into another hallway. Along the way, he saw Reb and Giles’ victim who still hung from the chandelier.
“This is quite impressive. You’re almost like a really twisted work of art. Which member of my family did this to you?” Gable inquired.
“I’m not telling you anything. It seems like everyone walks by and stares at me like I’m some kind of museum exhibit,” the Utopian pouted.
Gable proceeded to drag the unconscious man away. “Fine. You can just hang there all night long for all I care,” he called out over his shoulder.
Nearby, Priscilla heard Gable arguing with someone.
“Guys, that sounds like your dad. Come with me,” Priscilla said as she led the kids toward the hallway.
Gable was glad when he saw his family run toward him. The foursome reunited, feeling excited and relieved to see each other alive.
“Daddy!” Maggie cried out as she hugged her father.
Oliver joined them. “I knew you were alive! Those psychos aren’t strong enough to hurt you!”
“I’m really glad to see you guys too. How did you stay safe?” Gable asked the children as he firmly hugged them.
“It’s a long story. First, we hid in the attic. Uncle Giles saved us, but then we got separated. Mom found us and beat up a guy before locking him in the basement. It was really cool!” Oliver explained.
Gable stood up and faced Priscilla. “I shouldn’t be surprised. You’re not a helpless woman.”
Priscilla confidently approached him. “Perhaps, I should have been the one to save you from those murderous Utopians. It looks like you had a rough night.”
The couple tightly embraced and reveled in each other’s comfort.
Gable pulled away and said, “I love you, Priscilla. This nightmare can’t end until I say that to you. It’s been on my mind all night.”
“I love you too, but you already know that,” Priscilla responded.
The southern belle became distracted when she noticed an Utopian man, unconscious on the floor.
Maggie asked, “What are we doing with this guy?”
“I think he belongs in the basement,” Gable answered.
“He has friends down there who can keep him company,” Priscilla added.
Gable was curious and asked, “How many of them are down there?”
Priscilla had to think about it. “Four, if I remember correctly. I stuffed one of those killers down there earlier tonight.”
“We’re even. I speared a guy in the leg and locked him the basement too,” Gable admitted.
“A javelin? That’s pretty impressive. Anyway, we should get rid of this guy before he wakes up,” Priscilla said, as she looked at the unconscious villain.
The family tugged their captive to the basement. Gable used some duct tape to tie up the unconscious man’s wrists and then they tossed him in with the other hostages.
“It’s those desert-dwelling Steampunks from Las Vegas! I knew it was going to end sooner or later! They’re harvesting us for food! Victor warned us about cannibalism! That’s why they’re throwing us in the basement!” one of the Utopians hysterically shouted.
Priscilla shook her head, “My taste is much too refined for the likes of you.”
“That’s not why they’re bringing us here! The Steampunks are going to experiment on us! They’re going to find a way to create zombies, mutants, cyborgs, and other monstrosities! We’re going to lose our humanity!” a second terrorist wailed.
A third villain also had a theory. “Both of you are wrong! They’re going to kill us and harvest our pheromones! The Steampunks are a lustful breed who uses hormones for recreational purposes!”
Gable was baffled from their wild accusations. “What are we going to use hormones for? Victor told you some really bizarre stuff.”
“I still have to pee and nobody cares,” the fourth Utopian griped.
Priscilla had enough of their paranoia. “Gable, I think it’s time for us to leave before the conversation gets worse. Obviously they’re not going to tell us anything useful about Victor. Their brains are just fried.”
“I agree. You guys are jacked up. Lay off the hallucinogenic drugs,” Gable muttered.
The Steampunk family exited the basement and left their five captives alone together.
As they walked away, Priscilla said, “Maybe those Utopians will start killing each other in the basement. That would be very convenient.”
“I doubt it. They’re injured and tied up. Otherwise, I would say that it’s a definite possibility. Those psychopaths are totally unstable,” Gable stated.
Chapter 20
Percy ran through the second floor’s hallway until he reached the attic. He hoped that some of his relatives had chosen the attic as a hiding place. However, he found Octavio instead. Percy’s rival gazed out of the window and ignored him.
“Octavio, I certainly hope you’re not one of those Utopians. What are you doing here?” Percy wearily asked.
The other man turned around and glared at Percy. “Victor is my enemy too. I hate those Utopians. But I’m not thrilled with Steampunks either.”
“We don’t have time for petty grudges right now. Have you seen Savannah or anyone else in my family? I haven’t been able to find them in the rooms or hallways,” Percy said desperately.
“No, I haven’t seen any of your relatives. You shouldn’t worry about them. It’s clear to me that everything was in your favor from the very beginning,” Octavio commented.
Percy was confused. “What do you mean?”
“The Utopians can’t beat you. I don’t know why, but Steampunks are almost a superior race compared to modern humans. All of you are strong, fast, and relentless. Your clothes are bulletproof and the grafting in your bodies gives people the power of a steam engine. I never understood this phenomenon until tonight
. Soon, every nation will adapt the Steampunk image because people will want to become stronger and less vulnerable. Ten years ago, we had a true Apocalypse because it marked the beginning of human extinction. Something else will inherit the earth within the next few decades,” Octavio cynically explained.
Percy lowered his guard. “Steampunks are still human. It’s just time for a change. The sun will rise soon and the ferry will come. There’s no reason why you can’t survive the night. Come with us and start over. It’s not too late.”
Octavio became upset. “Are you serious? I’m not going to become a Steampunk! It’s unnatural and bizarre! Do you expect me to inject liquid iron into my bones, or graft pieces of metal on my skin? I’m not going to wear clothes from the Victorian era with brass trimmings! It’s what people do nowadays, but I refuse to conform!”
“If you stay here it will be a death sentence! Is that what you want?” Percy snapped.
Octavio looked away. “My time ended with the Apocalypse. Go find your family and get rid of Victor. Leave me behind.”
Percy almost felt guilty. “It’s too bad you don’t believe in second chances.”
He left Octavio in the attic and continued his search.
Meanwhile, Victor berated Claire and Arnold, who were in the study with him. “This is a disaster! We’re the only Utopians left! How can one Steampunk family take down an entire organization? I’m tired of your cowardice and incompetence!”
Claire responded, “This isn’t what I wanted! At first, I thought our cause was righteous, just, courageous, and in the best interest of our nation! Something about you changed! Tonight, you started killing your own followers! Everything is about conquest, power, and revenge. I can’t handle it, Victor!”
Arnold agreed. “Claire’s right. We wanted to make the nation a better place. I didn’t sign up for genocide, terrorism, or hate crimes. You told us these celebrities were cruel and corrupt butchers who stomped on the working classes, but now I can tell they’re just regular people. I think we should surrender to the Steampunks and let the police deal with us. Maybe we can get a plea bargain.”
The Post-Apocalyptic Society: A Nelson and Hyde Revolution Page 10