by Russ Watts
“You have a car? When were you going to tell us this?” James appeared in the doorway, an empty beer bottle in his hand and his eyes wide. “A fucking car? What the hell are we doing here?”
“James, how long have you—”
“Give me the keys, Maria.” James slammed the empty bottle down on the counter.
“I don’t have them on me. I don’t need to lock my car out here. We trust each other round here, James.”
“Trust?” James laughed and his eyes looked from Akecheta to Maria. “We could’ve been out of here hours ago, and yet for some reason we’re still here debating what to do when we have a car right outside. I don’t get it. I vote we get the hell out of here. I can drive if you’re not comfortable. I’ll take Vic and whoever else wants to come. If you want to stay here, fine, but it’s time to leave. What are we waiting for?”
“I vote you shut the hell up,” said Maria. “You’re not taking that car anywhere, we may need it. Besides you can’t go out there, you saw what happened to those two kids earlier. That monster took them down in seconds. And you saw what it did to the tour bus. You think it’s going to ignore you and the car? You think it’ll—”
James laughed. “Don’t worry about me. I’ve got an idea.”
As he turned and left, Maria looked at Akecheta. For a moment, she wondered if she was going to have to get the gun out from under the counter. James really pressed her buttons. “What is that guy’s problem?”
“I wish I knew. He’s been nothing but trouble since he got on the bus this morning. Maybe I’ll have to have another word with him.”
Maria sighed and looked outside. There didn’t appear to be any movement from the monster. It seemed so peaceful and quiet. She knew that moments like this could be fleeting, especially given how the morning had been. The silence was like a glimpse into her old life, when all she had to worry about was when the next tour bus arrived or what time the delivery guy was arriving with more ice. That was before a giant dinosaur had wrecked her store and killed four people right outside.
“You don’t think he’s right, do you? You don’t think we could make it in my car?”
“Maria, I think he’s certifiable. Your car is how far away, fifteen or twenty feet? You go out there, it’ll know. You take one step outside that front door, and it’ll know. Even if we made it to your car it would crush us instantly.”
Akecheta could sense the atmosphere change, and the temperature was dropping. The clouds were thickening, but it was still unlikely they would bring rain, not here, not now.
Maria smiled. “Thanks, Akecheta. I guess—”
Suddenly, they heard a loud banging sound, followed by muffled shouting.
“What was that?” asked Maria.
The ground began to shake, and they knew that the Goliath was on the move.
More shouting came from the back of the store, and then the building began to vibrate as the Goliath slowly emerged from its subterranean home. Maria watched as huge cracks appeared in the front wall, sending roof tiles crashing down around her.
“Let’s move!” Akecheta grabbed Maria’s hand, and raced toward the back store room. “That ass James has really done it now. He’s killed us all.”
Maria pulled her hand out of Akecheta’s grasp.
“What are you doing?” he shouted. Akecheta balanced himself in the door frame. “Maria, come with me.”
“Go.” Maria knelt down beside the till. “I’ll catch you up. Just go, Akecheta.”
She put her hands on the box containing the gun and hoped to God she wasn’t going to have to use it.
CHAPTER 14
“No, James, stop!”
Once Laurel had taken Alyce to the bathroom, Mackenzie had tuned out the background noise of the radio. Vic was busy fiddling with it, always trying to get a better reception, and Michele was sleeping, so there was little for him to do. It was a rare opportunity to get some time to think, and he was trying to devise a way out. It seemed like the silence only lasted a minute, and any plans in his mind evaporated when he heard the scraping noises begin. Mackenzie had been reclining, his back turned to the door, when he heard a whining sound, followed by a grunting. Thinking that Vic was up to something, he turned to see James climbing the shelving underneath the hatch to the roof. It was almost comical watching him climb. He did so quickly, but ungainly. In the dark corner, where the light struggled to penetrate, Mackenzie saw James holding something under his arm. It looked like a pile of rags, yet it appeared to be moving. At first, Mackenzie couldn’t understand what was happening.
“James?”
As he reached the top of the shelves, James shoved a shoulder against the hatch, thrusting upward and sending the hatch scraping across the roof. The sunlight bore down on James, and Mackenzie finally saw what James had under his arm. But nothing made sense; what did James hope to achieve by going up on the roof? Surely he knew that there was no way out?
James shoved against the hatch again, opening up his way to the roof completely. He turned and looked back at the store room with disdain. His eyes swept across the room, noticing Vic but ignoring him like everything else of no value in the room. This was what he should have done a long time ago. He was finally taking action, doing something about their situation instead of waiting for someone else to. His eyes settled on Mackenzie’s.
“See you later, Mac.” James grinned. “Good luck.”
Mackenzie watched as James climbed up onto the roof with Beers tucked under his arm, the little dog whining, unable to free itself from James’ grip. As he said goodbye, only then did Mackenzie understand what James was doing.
“No, James, stop!” Mackenzie struggled to his feet. “Stop, you’re going to get us all—”
The store began violently rocking, and the radio fell to the floor where the back panel fell off, exposing the batteries.
“Damn it,” said Vic, “what the hell is going on?”
Mackenzie pointed a finger at the exposed access way on the roof. “your fucking boyfriend is about to kill us all, that’s what,” he growled.
“What are you talking about?” Vic bent down to the radio. “Once the quake’s stopped, we can—”
Mackenzie grabbed a flashlight from the floor. He looked at Vic. “Come with me. Forget that damn radio, and follow me.”
As Mackenzie navigated his way across the floor of the store room, feeling like he was trying to walk on jelly instead of concrete, he heard Michele call out.
“Alyce? Where are you?”
“She’s safe. She’s with Laurel.” Mackenzie began to climb the shelving with trepidation. The last time he had gone up on the roof, Myles had died. Something had caused the Goliath to back off, but Mackenzie had a bad feeling they wouldn’t get lucky twice. Going up to the roof was a bad idea, a very bad idea. He had to get James back down. He was putting all of them at risk.
“Mac?” Vic looked up as Mackenzie neared the roof’s opening. The light that shone down through it was dim, gloomy, as if evening had fallen. Previously, the sky had been clear blue, but now as Vic looked up at the small square patch of sky, he saw dark gray clouds looming over them. “What should I do?”
“Just hold this still.” Mackenzie felt the cut on his hand open up, and blood began to seep through the bandage. He had one hand on the lip of the roof now, but the shelves were rocking back and forth, making it difficult for him to get purchase and lift himself up. “Hold it still for a second, that’s all. I’ve got to get your stupid…”
A huge booming sound drowned out the rest of Mackenzie’s sentence, a horrible noise from outside the store that almost caused Vic to wet himself. It was the Goliath, no doubt. It was awake, and it was coming back. Vic stood looking up at the sky, wondering what to do. The shaking hadn't stopped, hadn’t even paused, and the building was groaning as if it was about to come down around him. Maybe the best option was the roof. Perhaps James had it right. Had he known this was going to happen? Had he worked out what the monster wanted? B
ut how come James had left Vic down there with the others? He had to know what was going on. He had to get up there and talk to James directly, before it was too late. Tentatively, Vic put a foot on the first shelf, and prepared to lift himself up.
“Hold it,” said Akecheta. “I’m next. You stay here and keep an eye on the others.”
Akecheta pushed past Vic and began to nimbly ascend the rickety shelving. Vic knew that arguing was futile. The man was on a mission. What did they all know that he didn’t? Why was everyone suddenly so desperate to get up on the roof?
As Akecheta reached the top, Vic saw Maria enter the room, running awkwardly, as if she was trying to tuck something into her back pocket as she ran across the uneven floor. Her face was determined, though her eyes betrayed a fear that suggested their time in the store was up.
“What the hell is going on?” asked Vic, his fear growing exponentially. It wasn’t just the shaking and rolling ground, or the booming noise from the Goliath outside, but something else was happening, something to do with James. “Maria, what the hell?”
Maria glared at Vic. “Stay here. Make sure Michele, Laurel and Alyce are safe. Stay here, Vic.” Maria put her hands on the shelves, unsure if she could get up there. “Just…stay here.”
* * *
“James. James, get back here,” hissed Mackenzie. He stumbled across the shattered solar panels toward the front of the store where James was stood. Beyond him, the Goliath erupted from the ground, its dark form shifting within the shadows and cloud of dust until it emerged into the light and rose into the air like a plume of black ash spewing from a volcano. “James, for Christ’s sake, what do you think you’re going to achieve by—?”
Mackenzie was cut off by the monster letting out a roar as it planted a foot on the ground and stretched its head up to the sky. The air trembled as it roared, and Mackenzie clasped his hands over his ears. It was as if he was standing beside a jet plane as it took off, the roaring whooshing hot air almost deafening him. The monster’s red eyes looked around and Mackenzie knew it was seeking them out. When the roaring ended, Mackenzie looked at James.
“Back off, Mac, this is my only chance. Maria’s been holding out on us. She has a vehicle, a car, right down there on the southern side of the store. It’s our ticket out of here, don’t you see? It’s not only the best chance of getting out of here, it’s the only chance. Maria was saving it for herself. She was telling Akecheta about it, I heard her. I know what happens out here. Save your own neck before anyone else, isn’t that about right?”
“James, I know you think you have no options, but you do. We all do if we stick together. Nobody is out to get you. We’re all scared, but we’re trying to figure this out like adults.” Mackenzie noticed the looming storm clouds on the horizon. They were low and sullen against an ashen sky. The Goliath was approaching the store again, and it would only take a few seconds to reach them. Every step it took was like a thunderbolt charging through the ground sending vibrations up through the store, up through Mackenzie’s legs, and into his racing heart. “James, please, listen to me. You wouldn’t get more than a few feet in Maria’s car.”
James glanced over his shoulder. When he looked back at Mackenzie, his eyes were alive, his skin was bristling, and he knew what he had to do. The monster was close, closer than ever before, but it would work.
“You could come with me, you know? You and me, Mac. I’ve worked it out. I can get past it. I can beat the Goliath.”
Mackenzie heard someone come up behind him, walking over the broken panels on the roof, grinding them beneath their feet. He remained focused on James and tentatively stepped forward. There was a cool breeze stirring up, probably from the edge of the storm that was flirting around the horizon looking for a place to land.
“James, you’re not thinking straight. I couldn’t leave my wife. What about the others? Look, come down and maybe we can figure out—”
“Fuck it.” James grabbed Beers and held the tiny dog out over the edge of the store.
“James, don’t you dare, don’t you fucking dare.” Mackenzie had seen him tuck the puppy under his arm as he’d climbed the shelving. All the time they had been talking, James had kept it there. Beers had been quiet, shaken perhaps, but not quite scared enough to know he was in danger. Mackenzie had hoped it wouldn’t come to this and hoped that James was just bluffing. Instead Mackenzie came to the realization that James didn’t want any help. He was psychotic.
James turned around to face the Goliath. He held Beers out with both hands, and Mackenzie could hear the dog begin whining and barking.
“James, let it go. Come back from there and let the dog go.”
Beers was lifted high into the air. It was like James was offering the Goliath a sacrifice, holding the dog up as an offering, a token of submission.
“Don’t get in my way, Mac,” shouted James. “This is the only way!”
Though the air was humid, Mackenzie broke out into a cold sweat when he saw what happened next. Beers struggled to get free, his little legs pumping furiously but kicking only air. Then James stepped up onto the edge of the store and dropped the dog. With barely a sound, the puppy disappeared from view as James let it fall.
“No!” Akecheta pushed past Mackenzie. “What have you done?”
“I’m saving us all, you idiot.” James looked at Akecheta. “While it’s distracted going after that dumb dog, I’m taking Maria’s car and getting the hell out of here.”
“Like hell you are.” Akecheta charged at James, his face a maelstrom of anger and hatred.
Mackenzie watched as Akecheta grabbed James, and the two men fell back onto the rooftop. All the time the Goliath was still advancing on them, and Mackenzie wondered for a moment if James’ plan would work. He heard a faint whining sound and raced to the edge of the store. Leaving Akecheta to fight with James, Mackenzie knelt down and peered over the rooftop at the ground below. Beers was there on the dusty ground, limping slowly away from the shop front. It looked like one of his legs was broken, but the puppy was still alive. It began to bark as the Goliath came closer, and Mackenzie sank back, unable to watch, knowing the dog was about to become the monster’s next meal.
Mackenzie saw James and Akecheta standing now, still grappling with one another, and then suddenly James twisted Akecheta around, holding one arm behind his back. Pulling his hand from his jacket, James pulled out a knife and held it to Akecheta’s throat.
“Mackenzie, get the fuck up. Get away from there, and let the monster take the dog. I need to get to the car, and this is the only way. Give it what it wants. See? It’s just a dumb fucking animal at the end of the day. A big one, I grant you, but an animal all the same. Feed it, and it’ll be happy.”
Mackenzie nervously got to his feet as James marched Akecheta slowly over to the eastern side of the rooftop. Mackenzie could tell Akecheta wasn’t afraid. He had a cut lip, and sweat covered his face, but he wasn’t scared of James. He looked angry, annoyed even at the inconvenience of having a knife held to his throat.
“James, this isn’t right, this isn’t you.” Mackenzie glanced back at the monster. It seemed to have paused, and though it towered over them, its head was looking away. Something had drawn its attention elsewhere. Perhaps Beers was making a run for it. Even with a broken leg, the will to live was strong, and Mackenzie had no doubt that little pup would do what it could to survive and protect Alyce.
“James, drop the knife. Just think for a second. Any moment now that monster is going to see us all up here. There’s no time for the car. There’s no time for—”
“Shut up. Just shut up.” James ushered himself and Akecheta right up to the lip of the roof. He was perilously close to the edge, and Mackenzie could sense that James wasn’t sure what to do next.
“This isn’t how you thought it would happen, is it? Look, James, just let Akecheta go. This isn’t helping you. You want the car? Take it. We won’t stop you.” Mackenzie wasn’t lying. If James was suicidal enough to go
out there in the car, then he’d let him. If it meant getting the others back inside and drew the Goliath away, then James was welcome to leave. “Just go, okay?”
“It’s true,” said Akecheta. “You can go. See how the monster’s distracted? You were right, James. It went for the dog. You can make it.”
They all looked at the monster. It was shuffling around in front of the store, looking around, and stomping its feet. Mackenzie knew it wouldn’t take long to make a snack out of Beers. As they watched it, the monster bent down, and reached out a thick arm. They heard a snapping sound, and then the Goliath’s arm retracted quickly. It dropped something into its mouth, and let out the bellowing sound of victory as blood dripped from its jaws.
“Fuck,” said James, quietly. “I thought it would take longer than that. Stupid, slow fucking dog.”
Another booming sound echoed across the desert, this time from away to the south. Mackenzie looked at James, the sour mood etched on his face matching the depressing gloom of the gray sky stretching out above him.
“Hear that, James? There’s a storm coming. We need to move,” said Akecheta. “You listening to me, boy?”
“Give me the knife, James, quickly, before it comes back.” Mackenzie held out his hands, the palms facing upward and open. “You can do it.”
James stared at Mackenzie, and then frowned. He shook his head. “No. There’s not enough time. I need more time. The dog wasn’t enough.”
“What are you talking about?” Mackenzie watched as the frown left James’ face. James closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, Mackenzie wished he had gone with Amy to San Diego, or stayed at home to watch the Brewers, or been anywhere but on that damn rooftop in the desert at that point in time. He wished he was anywhere else when that hideous smile crept across James’ face.