“Give up if you want! I’m going to end this problem tonight, with or without your help!” Victor ranted.
The trio heard footsteps on the floor above them.
“What’s that?” Claire wondered out loud.
Victor pulled out his handgun. “It must be one of those Steampunks. I’ll take care of it.”
He rushed out of the study and ran up a backdoor stairway to reach the second floor.
Meanwhile, Savannah headed down the stairs and ran into Cody before she reached the first floor.
“It’s nice to see at least one survivor. I don’t think many people are left,” Savannah mentioned.
He smiled and walked closer to her. “Maybe fate is bringing us together. We keep running into each other tonight and that must mean something. I know the ferry is going to be here soon and that will be our chance to get out of the swamp. You can still come with me. I know you have a family trapped here, but they’ll never be normal people. Do you really want to maintain that foolish Steampunk image? You can start over and have a new life with me.”
Savannah frowned. “I think you’re stalking me. At this point, you should know I’m not going to abandon my husband and children. Also, I’m not going to waste my time protecting you. The grafted metal in my body gives me an advantage, but you’ll slow me down.”
“Stop being so condescending! The Steampunk gimmick doesn’t make you better than me! I have every intention of surviving until sunrise!” Cody shouted.
While they argued, Victor found them and aimed his handgun at Savannah.
“Freeze! I’ve had enough of everyone here! Why can’t you just die?” Victor roared.
Savannah retaliated, “If you want to shoot me, go ahead! You’ll need fantastic aim to hit me in the right places! Bullets aren’t going to help you very much!”
“Well, I’m sure there are other ways to kill a Steampunk!” Victor threatened.
He chased Savannah down the stairs and grabbed her necklace. The jewelry’s lock picks, gears, keys, and iron wings left deep cuts in his hand. Victor pulled his hand away and accidentally gave Savannah the opportunity to escape. She pushed Cody out of the way, causing him to slam against the railing. After she reached the first floor, Savannah quickly disappeared around the corner.
Cody was furious at Victor. “This happened because of your subculture! The Utopians caused the Apocalypse and ruined everything! Life was normal before Boris, you, and other Utopians tried to overthrow the government! Savannah was a terrific woman at one point, but now she’s a freak because of you!”
“I didn’t create those disgusting Steampunks!” Victor screamed as he smacked Cody’s face with the back of his hand.
The actor lost his balance and tumbled down the staircase. He rolled helplessly down the stairs and broke his neck on the bottom floor.
Savannah felt dizzy from the night’s events. She wandered aimlessly on the first floor and encountered her victim, who was still pinned to the coffee table.
“Help me! I’ve been stuck here all night! My hand really hurts!” the terrorist pathetically complained.
“Stop whining, you big crybaby!” Savannah yelled as she kicked him.
The Utopian winced. “Why do you have to be so brutal?”
She left him and hunted through the various rooms until she reached the dining room.
“Percy, I want to find you! Reb! Gable! Somebody? Tell me you’re alive!” the former starlet hollered.
Percy ran in the dining room and was elated to see his wife. “Savannah! I knew you were still around!”
She flew into his arms and Percy used his great strength to pick her up. The couple embraced for quite a while. Percy stood Savannah back on the floor and then the couple kissed affectionately.
Savannah asked, “Have you seen the kids? I can’t find them anywhere. It’s really good to see you, but I’m so worried about Reb and Gable.”
Percy shook his head. “I’ve been looking for them everywhere. They’re survivors. We’ll find them.”
On the upper floor, Victor hunted for more victims. He found Octavio in the attic.
Victor was mildly curious. “Octavio, you’re still alive. I’m surprised that you didn’t flee to the pier. The ferry will come soon. For a smart guy, you’re not making a very intelligent escape plan.”
Octavio furrowed his eyebrows. “I don’t want to live anymore. You shouldn’t feel the will to live either.”
“What are you talking about?” Victor asked.
“I don’t have much in common with you, but neither of us are Steampunks. We’re a dying breed. Somebody is favoring those spliced freaks. Call it evolution, God, fate, or whatever strikes your fancy. You don’t realize it, but Utopia collapsed a long time ago. It’s time for you to give up,” Octavio explained.
Victor spit out, “Never! You can go extinct, but not me!”
“Finish it and kill me then!” Octavio hollered.
Victor furiously pushed Octavio out the window. He fell toward the ground and became impaled by a tree branch. Victor looked out the broken window and glared at the fallen computer tycoon.
He fumed and said out loud to the empty room, “It will never be over. Not for me.”
Chapter 21
Percy and Savannah walked numbly through the mansion, stepping over the broken glass and destroyed furniture.
“Worst party ever,” Savannah mumbled.
“I haven’t seen any signs of life for a while. Most of the partygoers are probably dead at this point. I’m going to make sure we escape from this island,” Percy said.
Arnold and Claire fled through the mansion until they ran into the Steampunk couple.
“Help! Victor’s a madman and he’s going to kill us!” Arnold pleaded.
Savannah exploded. “Why should we help you? Think about all the people who died tonight! Besides, how do we know you’re not trying to fool us? Maybe you’re still working with Victor and trying to gain our trust!”
Claire defended their actions. “It’s not a trick. Victor is a convincing speaker. He said we’re special, smart, valuable, and capable of making great changes to the nation. I thought it was a righteous cause.”
“Is Victor the only Utopian left? The mansion is eerily quiet. It doesn’t seem like there are many people still alive,” Percy mentioned.
Arnold shrugged. “Victor thought we were the last ones. Don’t underestimate him. He’s a dangerous guy.”
“I have to be honest. Everything boils down to survival tonight,” Percy stated.
Savannah cracked her knuckles. “That means we’re not going to trust Victor’s minions.”
They punched Arnold and Claire’s faces, knocking out the Utopian duo.
Savannah sighed and looked at Percy. “I ran out of patience several hours ago. Sometimes efficiency is better than diplomacy. I don’t want to stay in this mansion anymore. Let’s go outside and get some fresh air.”
“That sounds like a good idea,” Percy said, as he led her toward the front door.
Percy and Savannah immediately exited the mansion. The muggy swamp air seemed unusually refreshing when they stepped on the porch. Both of them sat on the front porch and tried to quietly rest. Soon, Gable and Priscilla also exited the mansion with their kids. The Nelsons were delighted to see each other. Percy and Savannah gladly hugged their grandchildren.
“It’s really good to see you guys. I was so worried about you,” Percy admitted.
Maggie replied, “We’re okay, Grandpa. Oliver and I were smart about hiding from the bad guys.”
“Grandma, did you kick butt? We saw Mom and Uncle Giles in action tonight,” Oliver mentioned.
“I kicked butt and then some. That’s a story I’ll explain when you’re a little older,” Savannah said, while she stroked the boy’s hair.
Gable and Priscilla sat on the porch and relaxed.
The casino tycoon turned to his parents. “I thought our family was going to be torn apart. Usually, I don’t admit it, but you’re bo
th really important to me.”
Savannah placed her hand on his shoulder. “We love you too, Gable.”
“Now you’ll have another survival story for the media. It might be interesting publicity for your casino franchise,” Percy mentioned.
Gable shrugged. “That’s probably true, but I just want to get some rest and relaxation for a while. Maybe I’ll take a short vacation. What do you think, Priscilla? We could do something relaxing this summer. How about a trip to Paris? That would be a lot better than hanging around a swamp like this.”
Priscilla liked her husband’s suggestion. “Paris sounds very tempting right now. The kids won’t be in school during the summer. It would be a good opportunity.”
Savannah had an idea. “I just thought of something, Priscilla. Did you beat up any of those Utopians? You’re a Nelson woman. I hope you didn’t run away like a spineless girl.”
“Actually, I cut up someone with my metal fan. It made a surprisingly effective weapon,” Priscilla admitted.
Percy added his thoughts to the conversation. “Steampunks carry all kinds of weapons. We’re always armed.”
Savannah glanced around the environment. “Has anyone seen Reb or Giles? I have no idea what happened to them. I’m sure they must be around somewhere.”
“Gable and I saw Reb when the chaos started. She helped me throw one of those Utopians in the basement, but I don’t know what happened after that,” Percy replied.
“Neither one of them will be dead. They’re too stubborn and competitive. Reb and Giles survived for months on Oklahoma’s prairieland after the Apocalypse ended. One night in a swamp shouldn’t be a problem,” Gable said while he rested with the two kids.
Priscilla looked toward the bayou. “Maybe they tried to escape across the water. That worries me because the wildlife could tear them up. Also, the metal in their bodies could make them sink.”
The Nelsons were all concerned about Reb and Giles, but their fears were quickly abated. Reb and Giles hurried to the mansion from a deeper part of the bayou. When they reached the front porch, the couple sat down and were panting.
“I can’t believe it took all night for us to find you guys. We ran into plenty of serial killers,” Reb muttered.
“It’s nice to see you too. Where on earth were you guys?” Savannah wondered out loud.
Giles responded, “We tried to find another exit through the swamp. I don’t recommend it. We ran into a lot of snakes and alligators.”
Percy was glad to see them alive. “Well, I knew you were both going to be okay. You’re a scrappy couple.”
Reb pulled off her goggles. “Giles and I felt pretty confident until we entered the bayou. These night vision goggles are awesome, but it’s a jungle out there. I think alligators gobbled up a couple of those anarchists. We saw pieces of human bodies floating around in the water, and they looked really fresh. I guess those Utopians didn’t have enough meat on their bones because the alligators still had enough of an appetite to chase us too.”
Savannah was repulsed. “That’s gross. Are you guys okay?”
“We’re fine. Retreating to the mainland seemed like the best option. Steampunks might be tough people, but the alligators would win,” Giles admitted.
“By the way, Reb used an old Jeep to slam into one of the Utopians earlier tonight,” Gable remarked.
“Really? You’re quite a vicious little thing,” Priscilla quipped.
Reb countered with, “That was an accident. He had it coming anyway.”
“You know what? Oliver told me that Giles fended off several men at the same time,” Priscilla mentioned.
“Yeah! He’s my hero now!” Oliver declared.
Gable was somewhat insulted. “What?”
“Sorry, Gable. I didn’t mean for that to happen,” Giles admitted.
“Yeah, but I’m sure you won’t complain about your new title,” Gable muttered.
Percy rubbed his forehead. “On a more serious note, it’s almost sunrise and the ferry will be here soon. Aside from captured Utopians, we might be the only survivors. A lot of innocent people died tonight, and we need to be grateful for our luck and resilience.”
Reb chimed in the conversation. “It should be greater motivation for us to move forward. After the Apocalypse ended, we promised to make the world a better place. I think getting rid of the last Utopians is part of that mission. We should be proud of our identities and culture. Regardless of everything that happened during the past several years, I don’t regret my decisions.”
Giles agreed. “You’re right. I have no regrets either.”
Reb looked at the adults in her family. “It’s what all of you should believe. I want to hear you say it; No regrets.”
Percy nodded his head. “I agree. No regrets.”
“I never have regrets,” Savannah replied.
“Same here. No regrets,” Gable agreed.
“I don’t have any regrets either,” Priscilla concurred.
Reb turned her attention to the mansion’s doorway.
“What’s the matter?” Giles asked.
Reb tightly gripped her baton as she sat on the porch. “There’s one more thing I want to finish before we leave the island.”
Chapter 22
Victor frantically fled through the mansion, knowing the ferry would arrive soon to pick up everyone. Before he could reach an exit, a hard metal object struck his face and caused him to fly up in the air. He slammed hard on the floor and was momentarily stunned. When Victor looked up, he saw Reb standing next to him.
“You win! Just leave me alone! I lost this battle!” Victor growled.
Reb planted her baton on the floor. “Not so fast. I’m not letting you escape to brainwash more weaklings. The Utopian subculture was virtually gone when the Apocalypse ended. However, you escaped and that’s all it takes. One person can spread those demented ideals like a cancer. People can be very gullible, especially those who are vulnerable. You preyed on the losers of society, making them feel special, accepted, and loved. After a while, they believed it when you said genocide was a righteous cause.”
“It doesn’t matter if I lose tonight. If I don’t exterminate the Steampunks, someone else will do the job for me,” Victor threatened.
The humiliated Utopian pulled out his handgun but Reb kicked it out of his hands. She furiously beat him with her baton and broke one of his hands. Afterward, she repeatedly kicked his torso. Both of them could hear his ribs break and crack during the assault. It was very painful for him to breathe.
Reb took a deep breath and regained her composure. “Your entitlement repulses me. It all started with Boris. He said that losers like you deserve special treatment and shouldn’t answer to authority. You’re lazy and nobody else caused your failures. Take some responsibility. Why should I view the Utopians as a powerful and menacing subculture when you’re simply a bunch of underachieving junkies?”
Victor’s pain increased with every breath. “A Steampunk like you would never understand. Boris tried to change America for the greater good. I remember what you did. You murdered him and mutilated his body. In fact, I’ll bet you ate parts of him. I know this is true because you threw his head at me.”
“Your messiah blew himself up! Boris tried to kill me with a grenade, but he was dumb enough to recite a lengthy manifesto so the bomb exploded in his hand. That jerk was killed by his ego. Thanks to him, I have this nifty limp. Even metal grafting couldn’t fix it,” Reb explained.
Victor was distraught by this revelation. “That still doesn’t explain why we can’t kill you.”
Reb rubbed her chin. “I wonder if God wants the human race to evolve. Your Utopian subculture set the Apocalypse in motion. Ultimately, it will mark the end of contemporary human beings in the near future. I should thank you. After all, the Utopians created us.”
Victor glanced at the handgun that lay on the floor. “Fine. Take my handgun and show your superiority.”
Reb picked up the handgun a
nd aimed it at Victor’s head. “You certainly deserve to die.”
“That’s right. I know you’re a monster. Pull the trigger so the entire nation will know the truth!”
It was a very tempting offer. However, Reb’s conscience prevented her from carrying out Victor’s wishes.
Reb lowered the weapon and tossed it aside. “Sorry, but I’m not a killer like you. No matter what you say, I’m not the one who’s poisoning the nation. You call Steampunks cannibals, mutants, and savages, but Utopians certainly aren’t role models. It seems like regular people are losing their sense of purpose or morality. Perhaps, you should think about what a real savage looks like.”
Victor’s broken hand trembled as his rage festered.
“Kill me already!” Victor hollered.
“Shut your stupid face!” Reb shouted back.
She kicked his jaw and knocked out some of his teeth. Victor’s eyes rolled up in his head and he quickly became unconscious.
Chapter 23
A night of brutality, fear, murder, and cultural turmoil was over. The ferry arrived at sunrise to pick up the celebrities. Upon seeing the bloody aftermath, the ferry’s captain sent a message of distress to the closest police station. Police offers sailed to the island and were horrified by the grim sight. They carried the surviving Utopians away on stretchers to receive medical treatment. A coroner arrived and took away the victims who had died during the night.
When they reached New Orleans, the police spent hours interrogating the Nelson family. Even though the Nelsons proved to be obnoxious, stuck-up, and eccentric, there was no evidence that labeled the family as murderers. The authorities also interrogated the remaining Utopians. Victor refused to cooperate with the police, but they still found enough information and evidence to press charges against him.
Eventually, the Nelsons returned to their homes and normal lives. However, they were haunted by the atrocities that took place on the island. Much of the nation’s media coverage focused on the massacre that killed many prominent celebrities. Instead of dwelling on their recent trauma, the Nelsons chose to make their customers happy again with a plethora of quality products that were affordable for the average American.
The Post-Apocalyptic Society: A Nelson and Hyde Revolution Page 11