August Burning (Book 2): Survival

by Tyler Lahey

  They were goggled and cloaked. They arrived as apparitions in black, cutting sharp outlines against winter’s first frosty embrace. Masked men clinging to icy running boards on rusting SUVs dismounted as the vehicles rounded the circular driveway. The hesitating crowd of somber survivors stood back, their scrappy frames and scraggly hair contrasting starkly with the confident aura of these newcomers.

  Jaxton’s survivors eyed their well-oiled gear and military style weaponry with wide-eyed apprehension, and wondered what their faces looked like beneath those black masks. They themselves gripped their own old hunting rifles and shot-guns that had jammed too many times to count, and wondered how much food they had brought with them.

  No fewer than twelve vehicles eased to quiet halts as the giant snowflakes drifted down around them. Several figures spread out around the convoy, weapons held at the ready.

  A door opened, and boots clacked down on a slick running board. Bennett licked his lips nervously, and shot a glance up towards the windows, where he knew Adira would be watching. Stepping forward, Bennett advanced through the snow.

  “You must be Bennett.”

  “You must be Lieutenant Agis.”

  There were little specks of snow settling in the man’s closely cropped black hair. He smiled charismatically, easily. He unzipped his coat and tapped the nametag and insignia near his chest. Lieutenant, Agis. His blue uniform was pressed and neat.

  “I took a little liberty with the title, I think it sounds better.”

  Bennett found himself smiling, simply because he saw the Lieutenant was. Bennett noticed happily they were the same height. He felt he was being judged with eyes that were warm and reserved simultaneously. Agis’ poise reflected none of the jittery impatience or flush of youth.

  “Welcome to the Citadel.” Bennett reached out, and the Lieutenant took his grip firmly, drawing him a little closer. He clapped him on the shoulder. Bennett found himself judging the man’s age. He appeared neither old, nor young.

  Agis indicated the survivors, standing in a mass near the open doors. “Your people look hungry. If I may?”

  Without waiting for an answer Agis strode to the front of the group. To his surprise, Bennett didn’t feel slighted. He felt himself stepping aside voluntarily, submitting to the man’s will. He watched him speak.

  “I would like to introduce myself, and my people. I am Lieutenant Agis. We are people like you, who have endured far too much pain, and far too much suffering. We have come from the east, and if you would have us, we would like to make a life here, with you. I am a police officer, as are several of the men and women with me. You are hungry. We have food. You are sick. We have doctors. You need more weapons. We have them.” He paused. Agis’ hands moved with a casual, well-deserved confidence, one that had no connection to arrogance. His eyes scanned the crowd.

  “What I would ask of you, is simple. I would ask you to remember where we came from. To remember civility, and decency…and know this is not a time to forget human morality. It is easy to act without greed, without lust, without violence, in normal times…When society is there, watching you. Well, society is gone. Now, is when it really counts. Now, is when you demonstrate, who you really are. Everyone who lives and works with me, will be expected to live up to those standards.”

  He signaled behind him, without looking. Two more police officers in bulky blue coats carried two big boxes towards the bedraggled crowd opposite. Once the grimy, emaciated crowd realized it was canned food, they crowded like ravenous vultures. The Lieutenant signaled again, and the SUV doors opened up. Dozens of men and women in more regular garb emerged, cheerful and flushed with good health. They came forward as a crowd, hands extended, and forced warm introductions upon the surprised survivors.

  “Why were you delayed?” Bennett found himself asking.

  Agis turned, grinning at the scene unfolding. He shrugged, “A little hold-up.”

  Bennett turned to see Jaxton in the second story window, peering down with barely concealed disdain.

  …

  When night fell, there were more than one hundred people in the cafeteria. The room stank, Bennett knew. He was getting used to the smell. There was a feverish excitement stirring in the air not seen since the summer. For the men, there were new women. For the women, there were new men. The Lieutenant had brought unimaginable quantities of supplies. Bennett estimated there were a dozen former police officers in their midst. For the most part, the others took after their lead.

  Bennett felt his heartbeat quicken. The Lieutenant was beckoning to him. Bennett approached their table with as much swagger as he could muster. The band of officers all had uniforms on, crisply pressed and clean. Their hair was short, and their faces, clean shaven. As Bennett wove through the increasingly raucous revelry in that smoky, low hanging room, his self-consciousness raged. He was acutely aware how unkempt he looked.

  “It’s the first party I’ve been to in many months, I’ll tell you that much.”

  Bennett took the seat indicated. He felt the cold gaze of several officers on him. Only the Lieutenant seemed warm. “I can’t tell you how glad I am, that you guys finally made it.”

  “What has it been like? I hear there have been some unfortunate…incidents.” Agis’ face affected supreme concern, and his brow furrowed to reveal deep wrinkles.

  “It…hasn’t been easy.” He paused to cough- he had never gotten used to the smoking torches. “There have been fights. One of us tried to…well he tried to rape another.”

  “Hmm. That kind of thing won’t be happening anymore. That speech I made before, it sounded nice, right? Humans are animals. If someone didn’t keep them in line, they would kill each other.” He leaned close to Bennett, till he could smell the tangy canned chicken cubes. “That problem can be avoided. We’ll be controlling the weaponry. Only the officers, and those performing duties outside this…what is it the Citadel, you call it?”

  Bennett felt his stomach turning. “The Citadel, yeah. So you plan to take the guns?”

  Agis surveyed the room, and had to raise his voice to be heard above the growing din of merriment. “Naturally. You can’t expect everyone in the society like this to be armed. They drink. They sleep with each other’s partners. We’ll maintain the control- don’t you worry.”

  Bennett nodded quickly.

  Agis continued, not looking his way. “We’ll have to make some changes around here. It’s clear you haven’t had any real leadership. ” His eyes flashed to Bennett, where they remained fixed. “Any help or advice you can provide will be much appreciated. We need to rebuild. Re-mold. Everyone has their place.”

  Bennett nodded, unsure if he should bring up his old friend.

  “Sir. A suggestion.” One of the officers approached in a baggy blue uniform. This one had orange hair, and flushed pale skin. Bennett found himself looking at the man’s yellowing, crooked teeth.

  His name tag, shimmering in the low torchlight, said Hernandez.

  Agis leaned back. “Go on, Will.”

  “Why don’t we, uh, start things off on the right foot?” His voice was raspy. He didn’t look like a Hernandez, Bennett thought. The ginger’s eyes were feasting on a girl with long auburn hair that fell to her waist. “Why don’t we break into the supply, I’m thinking five bottles.” The auburn girl turned- the side of her head was shaved- it was Harley. She had already attracted a crowd of admirers all vying for her attention, Bennett noticed stonily.

  Agis shrugged. “Not a bad idea. No drinking for the corps tonight, though. Just them.” He flicked his hand out. Will kneaded his hands and nodded his head fiercely. Agis rose, and as he did so one of his officers snapped to attention. “ATTENTION!” He roared, till the veins on his necks bulged with the effort. The room trickled down to silence.

  Agis raised his hands. “I should stress to you all a very important fact. I am not, though you may assume, too much of a stickler to have a little fun. We’ve all made new friends today. Let’s make things a little
more interesting then.”

  The ginger officer raised his pasty hands, clutching large glass bottles of liquor, and the people cheered.

  Through the crowd, Bennett saw a figure approaching. Most of the crowd parted before him, though those who were unfamiliar saw the weight he carried in his face and clapped him on the back in foolish attempt to erase his pain. Ignoring all these, he strode to the fore, a shotgun strapped to his back. His long, dirty brown hair framed a gaunt, fierce face with a well-defined stubble. There was no fear, or anxiety in his gait. Jaxton stopped before the Lieutenant, who remained seated. “I need a doctor.”

  Agis leaned forward. “We haven’t met yet. Lieutenant Agis.”

  Jaxton eyed the hand for a long time before shaking it briefly. “I need a doctor. Do you have one among you?”

  Agis looked him up and down, inspecting his shaggy survivalist gear. “We do, of course. How can we help-What do you need her for?”

  Jaxton’s tired eyes flicked to Bennett, and back. “I’d rather not say. If you have one though, I’d like to have her come with me.”

  Agis nodded briefly. “Of course.” One of the officers in blue entered the seething crowd of drinking survivors. Jaxton and Agis remained silent, staring at one another.

  The officer returned, with a woman in tow. She had been pretty once, but this was not her time. Streaks of grey tainted her hair. She had soft eyes, but a hard mouth. “Yes?” She asked impatiently.

  “Annabelle, this young man requires your assistance. I told him you would make yourself available.”

  Annabelle, seemingly alone among the survivors, was still wearing jewelry and regular clothing. She had a long skirt on with tights, and a sweater. Her heels clicked incessantly on the floor as she spoke. “Not now. I’ll be making a sweep tomorrow though.”

  Agis smiled. “Annabelle, please. We are trying to make friends here, remember?” His tone hardened, and Annabelle’s resistance evaporated. “Follow him, now.”

  Her hard mouth tightened even more. “Very well. Lead on, brigand.” Jaxton did not smile, though Bennett thought he would have appreciated the exchange in better days. They stalked off together.

  The crowd was growing louder as they set upon the liquor with a fervor. Bennett spotted Liam, Wilder, and Duke sitting apart, drinking slowly with stony eyes. Harley was already good friends with several newcomers, male and female. Joseph and Leeroy stuck together in the crowd, in discussion with a pair of the new officers.

  “You have no girlfriend.” Agis wasn’t asking a question.

  Bennett stammered, wondering where Adira was. “I- well no, not here.”

  His response was met with a cunning smile. Agis rose and approached a curvy girl Bennett had never seen before. She was dressed provocatively, far too scandalously to be an effective survivalist. Bennett thought he noticed eyeliner on, as well. What was this? Now she was approaching, and suddenly she was right in front of him, staring with somewhat vapid eyes and a mouth that was always slightly open. Though, of course, he was attracted to her.

  “Are you going to introduce yourself?”

  Bennett felt himself stammering again, angry that a girl could still make a fool out of him. He stopped and collected his thoughts. “You approached me.”

  She shrugged. “I saw you looking at me. Do you think I’m attractive?”

  Bennett started stammering again. “I mean, you were looking at me.”

  “What?” She asked.

  “Nothing,” he replied, flushed in the face. “Yes, you are.”

  “Can we go somewhere private?”

  “What? No I don’t think so, that’s not a good idea.”

  She pressed herself against him. “Why not?” Her eyes were even more uninspiring up close.

  “Umm. Well.” And Bennett couldn’t think of a good reason, so he went.

  As Agis seated himself back at the head of the revelry, there was greed in his eyes.

  …

  “Shhhh, she’s coming back.”

  The dame burst into the room with a crisp, assuming air. She held her graying head high, with pride. “I couldn’t come sooner. It appears most of you idiots have managed to spread some venereal diseases around by banging like jackrabbits. In addition, there’s some lice, malnourishment, and…who’s been setting the broken bones around here?”

  Adira croaked. “I have.”

  The dame’s eyes thinned. “Well, that’s been the ray of sunshine in all this rainy weather. You did a good job.” She referred to a notebook. “My prognosis, is that three, and possibly four of your ribs are cracked. Now, considering you have not gotten an infection or died by this point, you will probably be fine. Your breathing is troubled, to say the least, but I obviously can’t do an x-ray. I can only use my hands, and my knowledge, which, lucky for you, is quite considerable. I don’t know what you idiots were doing…but…are you crying dear?”

  Adira bit her trembling lip, and struggled to contain the wells of tears that were building around her eyes.

  Jaxton moved to her at once, resting his hand on hers. “She’s a little sensitive, is all.” He absentmindedly moved his hand to her thigh, but she recoiled.

  Annabelle came closer, peering at them and pursing her lips. “How did you obtain these injuries?”

  Jaxton’s mouth hardened. “None of your business.”

  Annabelle’s mouth twitched. “I’m going to give you painkillers. You need to keep breathing deeply as often as you can, or else you could get pneumonia, and, die.”

  Annabelle turned to leave. “Another thing. If you want my help again, don’t lie to me and tell me she fell off a horse.”

  Jaxton dug his nails into the futon.

  …

  “Everyone has a place. We’ve got a list of jobs here, and they must all be filled. I hope to do this with volunteers, of course.” They could see his breath on the air. The day was bleak, and cold. Winter was coming.

  Agis had gathered them, one hundred in all, on the roof of the school.

  “Night guards. You will rotate guard shifts among yourselves, and you will patrol the roof, and all exits from dusk till dawn.”

  Wilder looked to Duke, “You’re not that fat anymore, you know.”

  “You’re a breath of fresh air, did you know that?”

  “I’ve been told all the time,” Wilder whispered.

  “Good to see you’re back to being you,” Duke grumbled in reply.

  Wilder stiffened. “No, not yet pal. Not a day goes by when I don’t think about Tessa.”

  Duke nodded, “I know bud.” Agis droned on above their voices, detailing the latrine pit teams.

  “Where’s Jaxton?”

  Duke sighed. “I don’t know man, I think he’s still with Adira. Night and day.”

  “We need him back. Someone is filling the void.”

  “This Agis guy, doing a pretty good job, though, isn’t he?”

  Wilder examined the crisply dressed officer. “Fuck this. Want to go back to that one huge house with the glass chandelier and smash it?”

  Duke groaned in mock disapproval, before instantly warming. “Game on.”

  The pair turned to leave, and began strolling toward the hatch in the roof. Wilder felt its frigid metal at the same time a hand touched his shoulder. It was a burly officer with a red face, shivering in his winter uniform. “Stay a while. Lieutenant Agis is just finishing up.”

  Wilder recoiled at the man’s touch. “Get off me. We’ll be going.” He went to touch the hatch again, and a boot stomped down on it.

  “Just a few more minutes, please.”

  Wilder and Duke exchanged wary glances. “What’s your name?” Wilder challenged.

  “Bill.”

  “Bill.” Wilder tapped him on his name-tag. “Bill Beaumont.”

  “That’s it. Come on back to the group here.”

  “Laissez-nous tranquilles, connard.”

  “What did you just say to me?”

  “Really? So you managed to pick
up their manners but not their language?”

  “Alright that’s enough. Back to the group.” The burly officer grabbed Wilder by the arms and dragged him across the rough, gritty roof.

  Wilder struggled furiously and broke free. The others began to stare.

  “What is going on?” A pasty ginger with crooked yellow teeth approached.

  “Will, I was just reminding these men of their social obligation here.”

  “What the fuck is it with you guys’ names…” Duke muttered, eyeing the Hernandez tag on Will’s uniform.

  The pasty man drew closer, his yellow teeth flashing. His right hand dropped to his belt, where there was a heavy metal baton. “Listen here.”

  Bill sniffed, and Will stopped. He turned back, and saw near thirty people were watching the exchange. Will took a measured step back, and smiled effortlessly. “I’m sure you men have important things to take care of. We’ll be sure to put your names down for something. Carry on then.”

  Wilder stared at the red-haired man for another few seconds before descending into the warmth of the school.

  …

  “I mean he’s doing good things. Organizing people. There’s a different atmosphere here, now. People have hope. Real hope they can touch too, not just some blind…clinging….”

  “Real hope they can touch? What in the fuck does that even mean?”

  “We don’t have to worry about food for the first time in weeks! The Citadel is protected.”

  “Doesn’t something about them strike you as a little off?” Liam spat as he talked, unable to get the images of Harley’s frolicking last night out of his head.

  “What do you expect? No one is totally sane any more. If you go outside for too long, you’ll eventually come across other humans who want to eat you. How can anyone be normal with that knowledge?”

  Harley sat on the old nurse’s office chair, colored aqua blue, and sorted pills and creams into various bags. They were to combine their resources with Agis’s.