Kingdom Come

by Michelle Smith

  “I expect you to do nothing,” Dr. Fowler said. “And I highly doubt finding a car will be an easy task at this point.” Looking exhausted, he let out a heavy breath. I felt his pain. “I need to find somewhere safe for you kids to stay while I take care of this.”

  At that, everyone started talking at once, each person trying to outshout the others. Still attempting to come out of my daze, I did my best to ignore the commotion and lowered myself to the floor. I brought my knees up and rested my head on them, and focused on my breathing. These moments could last for five minutes, or three hours. The only thing I could do was wait it out. Breathe in, breathe out . . . breathe in, breathe out . . .

  “There’s a fucking safe house out there!” Nate shouted so loudly, I jumped. There went my cool-down moment. “You heard the guy! And if you’re so set on stopping him, why don’t you just go where he says he is, you stupid shrink!”

  Dr. Fowler scoffed. “If you really think someone as clever as Bennett is right in the thick of things, then you really are daft, boy. Bennett Andreas is hidden somewhere safe at this very moment, I assure you. He cares about no one but himself.” He paused. “No one, except for her, it seems.”

  And everyone was gawking at me again. With the way my head was throbbing, the last thing I felt like dealing with was all this crap. “If he’s so interested in finding me,” I began, my voice still groggy from the blackout, “why didn’t he just put out a freakin’ bat signal for me?”

  Danny snorted, and Ethan even chuckled a little, but Dr. Fowler didn’t seem amused at all. “This is no laughing matter, Ms. Monroe.” He took a step forward and squatted until he was eye level with me. “I won’t pretend to know the toll that your ability takes on your body and mind,” he said only loud enough for me to hear. “But I do know that somehow, it links you with a man who scoffs at the word ‘no.’ He will get what he wants, and it seems that right now, you are what he wants.”

  I knew he was right. The question was why he wanted me. “I don’t know what to do,” I whispered shakily, feeling genuine fear for myself for the first time. “Why me? Why does he want me?”

  “I’m tired of saying ‘I don’t know,’ Ms. Monroe, and I’m sure you’re tired of hearing it.” He pressed his lips together in a thin line before standing to his feet. “But, truth be told, I don’t.”

  “So, where’re we going?” Ethan asked. “How do we stop this? What’s the plan?”

  “The plan,” Dr. Fowler replied, “is to find somewhere safe for you all. Then I’ll find a way to Ms. Sinclair’s, and—”

  “Sorry,” Danny interrupted. “New plan. I sure as hell ain’t staying anywhere around here. Not when there’s ass-kicking to be done.”

  “There will be no ass-kicking,” Dr. Fowler said. “And can you boys please control your foul mouths around these girls?”

  “I’m not staying here,” I said. The doctor gaped at me, but I kept on. I had to have answers, and I wasn’t going to find them in the storage room. “You can’t make me. You can’t make any of us stay.”

  “Thank you. The girl finally makes some sense,” Danny said. “We’re goin’ with you, Doc.”

  “Why?” Dr. Fowler crossed the distance between himself and Danny until he towered over him. Danny wasn’t threatened at all, though. He just stared and waited. “Why would you want to subject yourselves to such danger?”

  “Why would you?” Danny asked. “Why are you so set on being the one to do this? Is there no one else in this entire world who has the idea to stop this guy? Why you?”

  Dr. Fowler remained silent for a beat, then took in a long, deep breath. “Because I’m one of the few people who knows about this, and is also willing to bring it to an end. The problem is that the other people who know are the ones who are overcome with the lust for power. The Andreas family craves authority—that’s why they kept these scrolls for centuries, waiting for the perfect moment. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of family members who took this secret to their graves. Susan Sinclair is a former colleague of mine, and she knows as much as I do, if not more. Together, we can brainstorm and try to figure out where we can locate Bennett himself. If she’s managed to survive all this, that is.”

  “And what then?” Danny asked. “What happens when you find him?”

  “This is a very precise process, as I said earlier. If even one thing deviates from the chain of events, then the entire plan fails. If I can just do something to interrupt his actions, then the entire thing can be brought to an end.”

  “So you think you’re going to be the savior of mankind?” Nate said. “A real hero, huh?”

  “Not a hero,” Dr. Fowler said with a shake of his head. “Simply someone who doesn’t want to see the world at the mercy of a truly disturbed young man.”

  “Well, we’re going with you.” Danny crossed his arms in front of his chest. “At least, I know I am. You’re not leaving me here.”

  Ethan stood beside Danny, mirroring his stance. “Count me in,” he said.

  “What about our families?” Haven asked. “Can’t we just, you know, go home? Stay there for the time being?”

  Dr. Fowler gave her a regretful look. “I doubt you have a home anymore, dear girl.”

  A small whimper escaped as she clasped a hand over her mouth. The meaning of his words hit me then. “How can you say such a thing?” I whispered in amazement. “You . . . you don’t know that. Our families could have found shelter, just like we did. Just like—”

  “You mean, just like the dozens of other people who worked in this facility?” Dr. Fowler cut in. He gestured around the room. “A majority of the world is likely dead tonight, Ms. Monroe.” He glanced down at his watch. “We can’t leave now. We’ll need light. We’ll wait a couple more hours, then see if there’s anything we can possibly salvage from upstairs. If you children insist on going with me, then I’m not taking any chances. Rest. Please, for the love of all that’s good in this world, rest. There’s no telling what awaits us.”

  He shined his lantern around the room, gesturing for us to settle back down. How in the world were we supposed to rest at a time like this? My mind was still reeling from Bennett’s call-out, and I was desperate to come up with some sort of excuse as to why it wouldn’t be me. The vision I had immediately after kind of eliminated any sort of reasoning, though. Could it really have been a coincidence?

  “Hey.” Ethan held his hand out for me.

  I still felt a little out of it, but I took hold of his hand and let him pull me to my feet. Haven was curled back in her corner with her hair falling in front of her face. Danny and Nate were still talking to Dr. Fowler, but I couldn’t hear their conversation.

  “I don’t know how he expects us to relax at a time like this,” I told Ethan while we walked back toward the stairs. He plopped down on the floor, and I followed suit. “I just . . . I want to . . .”

  “To what?” he asked when I couldn’t come up with anything to say. “Go up there, when it’s still pitch black? The power’s out down here, so chances are things are dead up there, too.” He swallowed audibly. “Get some sleep,” he said after a pause. “We’re going to need it.”

  “No offense, but how the heck am I supposed to sleep right now?”

  He looked like he was about to argue again, but before he could speak, Danny appeared in front of us. He could have been Ethan’s twin, just a skinnier version with green eyes instead of brown. If he wasn’t such a loose cannon, he would have actually been sort of cute.

  “That was a badass trick you pulled, Pretty,” he said, sitting on the floor.

  I scrunched my eyebrows. “Pretty?”

  “Short for pretty girl.” He winked, and even though my cheeks heated up immediately, I rolled my eyes in response. “Seriously, though. You all right? You looked out of it.”

  “I’m okay. I’m used to it.”

  “Gotta be here for a reason, huh?” He smirked, and even though there was playfulness to his question, I couldn’t return his smile
. I already felt like a nutcase, and my spacing out in front of everyone only reaffirmed that.

  As if sensing my embarrassment, Ethan placed his arm around my shoulder. It calmed me down earlier, and this time was no different. It was weird, though. I’d never been so comfortable around someone who was a stranger, which is what he was, technically. I mean, I knew him, but I didn’t know him . . . ugh. My brain hurt.

  “Get some rest, Mr. Hawkins,” Dr. Fowler called out to Danny.

  “Pfft.” Danny jumped to his feet and sauntered back across the room. “I’m too pumped to sleep, Doc. I’m ready to do the damn thing.”

  “Language.” Dr. Fowler groaned.

  Danny only laughed, then plopped down on the floor beside Nate, who looked like he was seething about something. It was becoming clear that, even though he had some impulse issues, Danny still had a playful side to him. I wasn’t sure I could say the same about Nate. He just seemed genuinely angry at everything.

  “I can practically hear your brain racing,” Ethan said. He gave me a small smile. “You kind of freaked us all out, you know. You gonna be all right?”

  I nodded, mustering up a smile of my own. “Like I told Danny—I’m used to it. It’s been happening for as long as I can remember.”

  “Seemed scary.”

  “It kind of is,” I agreed in a small voice. The chill of the room settled over me once again, making me shiver.

  “Here.” Ethan tightened his hold on me, drawing me closer to his side. “Better?”

  Now, even though most guys saw me as “crazy Kerrigan,” I’d kissed a few of them in my life. But never had a guy putting his arm around me felt so natural. So right. I’d heard of girls having butterflies in their stomachs, but it felt more like my heart had actually turned into a butterfly. And I kind of loved it.

  “Sleep, Kerrigan,” he said, shifting a little. “I have a feeling tomorrow’s gonna suck. Big time.”

  I yawned loudly, then rested my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes. “I think you’re right,” I murmured just as sleep overtook me for the second time that night.

  Chapter 5

  My eardrums nearly burst thanks to a piercing screech that ripped me from sleep. My eyes popped open and I searched the room frantically for the source of the noise, which sounded like nails on a chalkboard times five thousand. Dr. Fowler rushed over to the radio and fumbled with the buttons.

  “What the hell?” Ethan asked from beside me. His voice was still thick from sleep. “What’s going on?”

  The shrill noise continued to pierce the room, making me cringe and slap my hands over my ears. This was worse than any alarm clock I’d ever owned. “What is that?” I shouted over the noise.

  Seconds later, the sound was replaced by crackling from the radio’s speakers. Then it hit me—it must have been one of those emergency warnings that radio stations broadcast. Ethan straightened up, and I did the same as I focused my full attention on the little black box that had turned my world upside down only a short time earlier.

  “Citizens of Pennsylvania, this is your governor speaking.” This man’s voice was nothing like Bennett’s, which was composed and smooth. No, our governor’s voice was laced with panic and pure, unadulterated fear.

  “This area is in a dire state of emergency. The National Guard has been called in, but until they arrive, please find shelter anywhere you can.” A loud bang sounded over his voice, which cut him off. Only his labored breathing could be heard.

  “I don’t even know if they will arrive,” he continued after a pause. “Find somewhere safe and stay there. If you’re listening to me now, then I assume you heard the announcement over our airwaves just an hour ago.”

  Only an hour had passed since then? With the way my body ached from sitting on the cold cement floor for so long, it felt like it’d been a week.

  “Do not attempt this trip. It’s too far, and too dangerous. Just stay where you are. We’ll find a way through this together as a community. I wish I could tell you more, but this will be taken minute by minute.” He paused again before clearing his throat and adding, “I’m told that there are no cars. There are no planes. No trains. Nothing. It’s just . . . it’s just us. Godspeed.”

  With that, the six of us were left with silence once again. I studied Dr. Fowler, who was staring at the radio with a pensive look on his face.

  One hundred and fifteen seconds. One hundred and sixteen. One hundred and seventeen . . . Two full minutes passed before he moved an inch, but when he did, he moved swiftly.

  “We’re going now,” he announced, making a beeline for the stairs. He walked so quickly that I felt the air move when he passed Ethan and me. The two of us jumped to our feet and watched him climbed the steps. Danny, Nate, and Haven congregated at the base of the stairs with us. Was this it? Were we actually venturing out there? Anticipation and fear coursed through me at what could be waiting on the other side of that door.

  “Why?” Haven asked. “You heard the governor. Things are getting worse. Doesn’t that mean we should just stay put for now?”

  “It means that, if things are getting worse now, they’re going to be ten times worse hours from now. It’s time.” Dr. Fowler stopped at the top of the staircase, and faced us with a grim expression. “This is your chance,” he told us. My heart pounded at the dread in his voice. He was making it plain and clear—he didn’t want us to go. “If you want to stay here, then this is your out.”

  “We’re going,” Danny said without hesitation. “We’re doing this. At least, I am.”

  Dr. Fowler looked directly at me, and even though my brain was screaming at me to stay here and hope for the best, I nodded in agreement with Danny. As terrified as I was to leave, I was even more frightened of being left here by myself.

  The doctor sighed, then rubbed a hand over his face. “Very well,” he said. “When we emerge from this room, we won’t have any time to spare. We search for flashlights. Bags. Nothing more than what can be carried on our backs. Nothing that will slow us down. We have to move, and we have to move quickly.” He held up a hand. “Five minutes, and we’re on our way. From the moment we step through this door, I am no longer your doctor. I’m not your friend. I’m your guide. And as much as it will tear me apart inside, I will leave you behind if you do anything to slow down this group. I expect you all to abide by the same rules. Do we have an agreement?”

  The five of us looked at one another. Danny and Nate were pumped and ready to go, Ethan’s face was set in determination, and Haven looked scared out of her mind. As for me? Fear clenched my gut with ice-cold fingers. But there was no way I was staying behind. Call it stupidity, or curiosity, but I had to know what connection I had to this Bennett guy. Of course, Mom always said that curiosity killed the cat.

  “All right, then,” Dr. Fowler said. “Up we go.”

  He climbed the remaining stairs, his lantern shining brightly on the door that led to infinite possibilities. Danny followed closely behind, and Nate was practically on his heels. After taking an audible breath, Haven fell into step behind them. Ethan stepped ahead of me, and when I didn’t move, he turned to look at me.

  “You okay?” he asked. It felt like the hundredth time he’d asked me that. Heck, it probably was the hundredth.

  “I’m scared.” The words escaped before I could stop them. Admitting fear was admitting weakness. After my show earlier, the last thing they needed to see was another sign of my inability to function like a normal person.

  Ethan stared at me for a moment before nodding once. “So am I.” And with that, he held out his hand to me. I grasped it, and his fingers curled around mine. I wasn’t sure why he’d taken me under his wing, so to speak, but I was pretty darn grateful he had. Something about him made me feel safe. Just as I climbed another step, the door was pushed open, and a whoosh of wind swept across us.

  “My god,” Dr. Fowler said breathlessly. My stomach sank.

  Everyone stood still for what felt like ages. If they were an
ything like me, they were too scared to keep going, especially considering Dr. Fowler’s hesitation. Finally, the doctor stepped into the darkness ahead of him. I knew we were still in the early morning hours, but surely dawn had to be approaching, right? All of us followed in complete silence until Danny crossed through the doorway and let out a loud gasp. We filed out behind him, one-by-one.

  “Son of a mother fu—” Nate couldn’t even get the words out. All I could do was stare in stunned silence. This wasn’t real. This couldn’t be real.

  There was no facility for troubled teens. There were no rooms, there were no offices, there were no beautifully decorated walls. There were no walls, period. All of it . . . all of it was just gone.

  My mouth dropped open while my eyes adjusted to the darkness of the night sky, because other than the doctor’s lantern, we had nothing to illuminate our pathway. The moon was hidden behind a thick blanket of clouds, as were any stars that might dare to shine on a night such as this. A night of destruction.

  I turned around. The only part of the building that remained was the section attached to our safe room. How was that even possible when everything else was reduced to a pile of rubble?

  “We were damn lucky,” Danny said from behind me.

  I swallowed back the lump that had risen in my throat. “Lucky?” I scoffed and turned to meet his eyes. He was no longer the tough guy from downstairs; he was scared crapless like the rest of us. I gestured wildly behind me. “Everything is gone. Gone! How the hell are we lucky, Danny?”

  He shrugged a shoulder, unaffected by my screams. “Everything may be gone, but we’re not.”

  “I’m starting to wonder if that’s good luck or bad,” Nate mumbled, brushing past me on his way back to the staircase.

  “Flashlights,” Dr. Fowler reminded us. His voice was nearly lost in the wind that still whistled around us. It sounded ominous. Evil. “Bags, small blankets, bottles of water, food, anything you can find that can be carried without difficulty. Five minutes. Go.”