Endgame (Book 2): Alekhine's Gun

by W. A. R.

  “And mine.” George was next, clapping both men on the shoulder over Shelly’s head. And slowly, one by one all of these people drew forward to him to embrace him, to welcome him and he understood whole-heartedly every single bit of reason why Amber had risked her life for these people and why she would continue to do so. He understood why she had broken down the night before, why she had cried and screamed until she could no longer move. These people were her, every person a piece of her, and in that long moment, with Ryder and the other men watching, they became pieces of him as well. All it had taken was one spark of trust and quickly it had spread between them all, growing into appreciation and acceptance so quickly that it was unbelievable.

  Finally, after a long moment, they dispersed and he pulled his tear-stained face away from his father’s shoulder. He felt like a child, and he was sure that he looked like one, but he didn’t care. He watched as Miles’s gentle brown eyes lit up with appreciation and Michael knew that everything he had done up to that point was the right thing to do. Miles nodded at him before turning to Ryder, who stood behind him, watching them with interest.

  “You knew? This entire time?” Miles asked and Ryder released a slow smile that made his eyes crinkle at the sides. Miles reached out his hand.

  “I may have.” Ryder replied before taking Miles’s proffered hand and shaking it. Miles pulled him forward into a brotherly embrace, clapping him on the shoulder.

  “Thank you. For everything.” Miles told him sincerely before releasing him and turning to George. Michael glanced at everyone else as they stretched their tight muscles, some snacking on the granola bars and some drinking the water that the other men had given them. Buddy gave him a few odd looks and quickly he wiped away whatever tears still stained his face. Miles was giving George a hug when he heard Cassie speak from beside him.

  “So…my mom…she is really alive, huh?” she asked and he turned on the balls of his feet his eyes wide. She looked at him with intent, arms crossed, tears also evident on her face. He brought a hand up to rub the back of his neck.

  “Very much so.” He replied and she nodded, pursing her lips as more tears filled her eyes. “Cassie, I know this is all a lot to take in, but I put it on my life that she is…alive. She is missing you as well.” Suddenly she threw her arms around his neck. He stumbled back in surprise before balancing himself. Well, this was certainly new. He was shaken, realizing then that he had more family, and had experienced more love from people (other than his own father) than he ever had before in his life. It left a tremor that radiated down to his very core.

  “Thank you.” She told him warmly before stepping back and searching for Shelly. Bobby-Jean stepped forward then and judging from the hardened look in her eyes as she absently rubbed at her frail wrists, he thought she might slap him. He grimaced in response to the thought.

  “How is she?” she asked instead and for a moment Michael was unsure of what to say. He was speechless. He didn’t want to lie, not after he had come so far for them to trust them. And so, he glanced nervously from her to Miles, who was slowly ambling up to him. What could she say? She had requested that he not tell them her secret…not until she was ready, and so he waited, debating on what honest response he could come up with.

  “Yes…how is she? Is she hurt?”

  Hesitation. “No, not really. Her ribs are bruised and her face a little beaten from the fall but physically she’s…fine.” He said. That would work. Be vague.

  Miles and Bobby-Jean both furrowed their brows at him. “What do you mean ‘physically’?” Miles asked, crossing his arms. Michael tossed a helpless glance at Ryder who sighed and shifted the gun on his shoulder.

  Michael cleared his throat, surmising the response he could come up with that was still truth. “She…she thinks you and Shelly are dead.” Pain flashed across Miles’s eyes and his gaze darted to Shelly where she stood talking to Cassie before turning back to Michael. Michael sighed in resignation. “Justin told her that whenever you tried to escape that he personally killed you both…Brian didn’t deny that it happened. And last night…she kind of had a breakdown.” Miles started, opening his mouth to speak but Michael held up both hands in protest, taking a step back. “I was there for her and she is fine now…I think.”

  “You think?” Bobby-Jean asked in disbelief.

  Michael dropped his hands to his sides in exasperation. “I had to leave to come meet you all. I left her in the hands of Ryder’s brothers. She will be fine. Especially whenever she gets this pleasant surprise.” Michael smirked. He then shifted on his feet and looked at everyone as they moved around easily. “You are all taking this so easily.”

  Shelly looked at him warmly, still unable to hide the sorrow in her eyes. “We are giving you the benefit of the doubt. You and your people have treated us well, we are free, and you promise to have Amber. George was even in on it and we trust him and apparently, Amber trusted you as well. If she trusts you with our safety, we trust you with hers. If you lie or go back on any of this though, there will be hell to pay.” And he knew her words rang true and Ryder stepped up to them interrupting anything else that Michael may have said on the matter. He might have expressed how he had held her and cried with her his own tears of loss and frustration. He might have told them all how much she loved them and that he now understood why she did. He even might have told Miles of how she cared about him, how they had settled in the long dark night staring at a porcelain music box that he had given her, and how they listened to the haunting melody in silence as they sagged against one another on the hardwood floor. He didn’t get the chance to express all of this, however, as Ryder’s hurried words interrupted him.

  “Alright, it is time to go. We need to make it back to the town so you can all get settled in. Everyone load up!” he called and everyone began moving uncertainly, unsure of where to go, what truck to take and even the slightest trepidation of whether or not to fully trust these people. Still, as Michael and Miles stood there for a few long moments watching, he saw that they were all going to go voluntarily, that finally, after so much work, they were going to go home where most of them would forever more remain safe. He glanced up at Miles and smiled warmly, his eyes still burning from their previous tears, and he turned and led the way to his truck. Miles followed behind him, climbing into the passenger seat as Michael started the engine. After a few minutes, everyone had loaded up and Michael pulled out first, turning and leading the rest of the people to the community. Miles shifted in his seat, finally ready to discuss what Michael knew he wanted to discuss.

  “Son…I looked for you.” Miles said gently, leaning back comfortably against the seat. “I spent months looking for you.”

  Michael swallowed back the emotion that threatened to come out. “I know. I’m so sorry…I…I’m glad you found them…they are good people. You deserve them. They deserve you.”

  Silence reigned for a few minutes until Miles spoke again, the lightness of his words trying to ease the heaviness of the situation. “So, are you going to tell me how in the hell all of this happened or not?” he finally asked, crossing his arms, and Michael, refusing to look at him, ran a hand through his hair. It was now or never.

  “I’m sorry…” he began but Miles cut him off as he rounded a curve.

  “Michael…I know you didn’t intend for any of this to happen…I just need to hear your side of the story, alright? I love you, son, and I have missed you. I thought you were…” his words choked up with emotion and he paused. He sighed. “Talk to me. Tell me what happened to you. I need to understand.” Miles asked gently and Michael sighed feeling tears spring once again to his eyes, only this time it was from guilt from the things that he had done.

  But talk he did, and his father, Miles Preston, sat there and listened quietly until he finished.

  Michael’s Story:

  The story always starts different for every person. For some, the outbreak hit them during the middle of the day while at school or at work. For others,
it occurred late into the night. It didn’t matter. The outbreak had happened so quickly and spread so fast that within 24 hours the whole of the world was corrupt and decimated into nothing. Just that morning the report began, explaining what the scientist had discovered, explaining how the day before he had gotten and performed autopsies on the two bodies of the first reanimated humans. Throughout the day the broadcasts continued, even as said scientist died at the hands of what he was studying. That morning…it was the first that anyone had heard of it, and that very same day they were all gone, dead. Some had missed the news, others were obsessed with it, as was life. The world was left in ruins and it was done so quickly that no one even had time to process what was happening.

  For Michael Preston, it had occurred in the early evening and he had heard nothing of it. It was crazy really, considering how most people were frantic by that point but he hadn’t noticed. He was nineteen and caught up in his own world, his own thoughts, and that had been the last thought on his mind. His friend Ryder, whom he had met at a local sporting goods store, invited Michael over that evening for dinner with his wife, daughter, and two brothers. He had known Ryder for almost two years having met him nearly immediately after moving to Colby, and though the age difference was odd, Ryder being much closer to his dad’s age, he still considered Ryder as his best friend.

  “Come over and meet my brothers. They are closer to your age. Y’all will have fun.” Ryder had teased him and Michael had only shaken his head. Ryder had pulled up to pick him up about an hour later, Michael’s truck stranded in the parking lot of the apartment complex with a shot alternator, and Michael had gotten in willingly without fuss. He knew Ryder meant well but the truth of the matter was that his entire life he had always gotten along better with people that were older than him or small children. The in-between, people his own age, never stayed around long as they drifted in their lives finding their places. Michael, however, had found his place and he valued the stability and dependability that older people had, as well as the innocence and the honesty of small children. He admired the wonder and awe that the two categories seemed to share on life in general. He chalked this up to his father, how the man had always been there and as Michael grew older, had become his best friend more than a parent. He had no grandparents, and as far as friendships go he never had any life-long ones, not yet. He was waiting, searching for the friends and the love that his father had; the friends and the love that seemed to always be there, whether they knew it or not.

  He had locked his apartment, had left everything there, not knowing that he would never be making it back. Ryder had driven down some back roads, ignoring the crazier than usual traffic that was happening on the interstate and main roads, and whenever they had finally made it to the house, Riley stood at the door watching with arms crossed as Rusty rushed forward and eyed Michael up and down.

  “When you went out, we didn’t expect you to come back with a pet.” Rusty laughed and Ryder chuckled. “Maybe Abby’ll let you keep him.”

  Ryder laughed harder as Abby stepped past Riley and onto the porch, wiping her hands on a small towel before rushing forward and swatting Rusty away from the grateful Michael. “Darn straight I am going to let Ryder keep him.” She tossed over her shoulder before hugging Michael tightly. “Come on in Michael.” she ushered him. “Destiny has been waiting for you and she has grown anxious.”

  With that, they all ambled in, the men cracking jokes while Michael played with Destiny and Abby cooked. Ryder snuck up behind his wife and hugged her from behind, whispering something in her ear and Destiny gagged in disgust. Michael had only laughed and Rusty came around to play with the child as well. Before long, Riley and Ryder also joined in. There was laughter and curses here and there, a pointed look from Abby and a stern warning from her mouth. This made Michael happy and he suddenly missed his father and wondered what he was doing. He looked at these people, this family that had welcomed him and he knew that Miles would appreciate them just as much as Michael did. This delusional joy didn’t last long, however. Before dinner was complete a gunshot was heard and every movement stopped. They had all turned towards the door, Ryder and Riley immediately in a protective state of mind. Even as Abby tried to step around them, Ryder wouldn’t let her. Gunshots were unusual in their neighborhood. Their silent tension and worry only increased as another gunshot sounded, and then another, each one getting closer. Ryder reached around for Abby and Destiny behind him, ensuring their safety.

  “Rusty, take them upstairs. Riley, go get my gun.” And both men did as he said. Everyone left the room then as screams were heard from outside, sending shivers down Michael’s spine. He stepped forward, standing next to Ryder and staring at the closed door. The loud banging of someone slamming into it jolted the both of them with surprise. There were begs of mercy as they tried opening the now locked door. What was happening?

  It wasn’t long before Riley returned with two shotguns. Michael listened for the closer screams and cries that drowned out the distant ones and the three men stood there, too afraid to open the door and witness what was happening but also too proud to move. Michael didn’t feel his phone vibrate with an incoming call from Miles…over and over he had called, but Michael didn’t notice and by the time he did, it was too late. Cell service was down forever more.

  They stayed holed up in that house for damn near two days until the screaming and gunshots ceased completely. There had been a few attempts from someone outside trying desperately to get in but they never had and Michael was so thankful in that moment that Ryder wasn’t fond of windows and enjoyed his privacy. They had waited patiently until things seemed relatively safe, not wanting to risk the lives of Abby or Destiny, before they decided to take action. They had gathered the courage to step outside and witness the brutality that was then the world and as soon as they had opened the front door, they saw blood and gore, they witnessed death on their doorstep and Riley had been the first to take down a barely living zombie. Michael had felt sick and within minutes they knew they had to get out of the middle of town. The zombie apocalypse was really happening. It was no longer just a TV show, a book, or a movie. This was no parody and this was no fictional outcome for the end of the humanity; it was real. They knew how to kill them, how to stop them from advancing but it didn’t make the task any less difficult. Staying in that house wouldn’t last and they needed to leave as soon as possible. And so, Michael had gone through the house with Abby and Rusty, little Destiny frightened, and they gathered whatever weapons they could find and whatever food was available.

  After this, they left Colby. Michael never went back to his apartment, and he figured he would never see it again and that was alright with him. The one and only regret he had was being unable to search for Miles amid all of this chaos without risking the lives of those with him and one look at Destiny’s frightened hazel eyes told him that he couldn’t endanger them no matter how badly he wanted to search for his father. He found solace knowing that his dad wouldn’t give up so easily. His dad would find him, or vice versa, and he just knew that it would happen. His dad would search for him, and even if he couldn’t find him, even if he thought Michael was dead, he knew that he would keep going to find a zombie that looked like him. He would either do this or go searching for her…for Amber…because Michael understood, even if Miles didn’t, that she could ease the anguish that would roar inside of Miles at losing his only son. Michael had sincerely hoped on the latter. If Miles could find her and then Michael fi4nd them both, he knew that the end of the world wouldn’t be so bad.

  And so they traveled north, bypassing El Dorado and Calion, Crow Ridge, and Benton and before long they were on their way to Carthage. They were searching for a home, a safe place and whenever they reached the gated community of Carthage, they knew that they had found it. And so, they began their work. Rusty and Riley had found machinery from construction work in Benton and within a few hours they were digging a wide and deep trench to keep Biters from advancing o
nto their walls. They even dug up a section of the road on each entrance, and in turn had to build a passageway across. Michael had enjoyed those weeks, the weeks of searching and working, looking for any way to make the place they called home safer. Of course, there was the occasional Biter that they came across in the community, one that had been hidden away in a house, but they were slim to none. The idea of reinforcing the walls with some form of strong, impenetrable metal came after they came across the first humans they had seen since the outbreak.

  They were on the outskirts of Tiger Point, Abby and Destiny in the truck waiting patiently as the men searched for food, for seeds to grow to maintain a garden. They were searching for any kind of weapons or traps, snares for meat, and even clothing, bath necessities. By the time they had come across the other humans, they had already come near death multiple times and had two truckloads of items to show for it. As they were searching for more, for whatever they could find, they met them. Lance was his name, and with him men named Damien, Justin, John, Keith, and a woman they called Kat, which they later learned was short for Katrina. It had been a month since the outbreak had occurred, at the very least, and the small group was unsure of what to think upon finding more people. These people were nice enough, but something compelled Michael and the brothers to remain silent of where they had been staying. Even Abby and Destiny picked up on this and told them that they were but weary travelers, unable to escape the undead and so they stayed mobile. It was a blatant lie, and Michael wasn’t sure what compelled them all to agree that what Abby had said was true, but they did.

  After initial introductions, Michael lying about his last name, agreeing to Kingston and portraying himself as one of the brothers, Lance and Damien had told them of a safe and secure place to live. They offered hot and running water, electricity, secure boundaries, plenty of food, and a population that was steadily growing. They promised health and satisfaction and even a way to better the world and change it back to the way that it used to be. Though they wanted to refuse, something told them that would not be wise and so they kept silent about their small town in Carthage for the time being and they followed these strangers to their home. When they arrived, they began to mentally take note of their advancements and the techniques they used in order to get through with the little luxuries that Michael had forgotten about. They took note of the solar panels and the high steel walls; they took note of the guarded sentry at every corner, and the heavy-handed security they had. They were immediately accepted, receiving a house and care, and even Adrian, the most respected man in the community, seemed charming. Maybe they were wrong for wanting to leave, Michael had thought one day, watching as they brought in more people. He had thought it different, as these people were bound and gagged and quickly led to one of the large warehouse type buildings. He figured they had put up the fight that Michael and the brothers had not done. Where Michael’s group had complied, adjusting their attitudes to fit those of the strangers (which provided for easy acceptance), this group hadn’t. They had struggled and were posed as a threat, a danger. Oddly enough they were all clean for the most part, all in their right minds but one man stood out. Michael couldn’t explain why he caught his attention because he was just like every other able body that trudged quietly towards the warehouse. He was physically fit, with no blood or dirt covering him. He had, considering the circumstances, come out of the cruel world on top with no ailments whatsoever. They had disappeared within the building’s confines, and Michael sighed, unsure of what occurred in there. He figured he would never know, considering very few people were allowed in. Still, before long there was a woman released from the building. Her name was Sara and Michael watched as Damien took a liking to her.