Two large hands locked around my throat and started choking me. I frantically tried to wriggle my arms free, but couldn’t move them. In desperation, I bit the man’s thigh, but this made his grip tighten from the pain. I was starting to black out as he raised my neck off the floor to get a better grip.
The last thing I remembered was a boot swinging towards my attacker’s face, my head hit the floor and everything went black.
Pain coursed through my body as I opened my eyes, everything was blurred. A duplicated woman was leaning close to my face shouting. I could also hear a man screaming in the background. After a few seconds, I started to come to my senses. The two women merged into one, and I recognised Lea.
“Thank God you’re not dead, are you okay?” she said.
My mouth was dry and I was having difficulty swallowing, I could only just see out of my left eye and my head was throbbing. I sat up cautiously.
To the left of me on the floor was my attacker. I found out later that Jack had kicked him in the face, and then Lea repeatedly slammed the butt of an AR-15 into the side of his head, until he lost consciousness.
The man Jack had been fighting was also lying on the floor, but was conscious and screaming. His arm was in an unnatural inverted ‘V’ shape, and his face was covered in blood. Jack had managed to fight him to the floor. As the man was on all fours, Jack thrust his boot into the man’s elbow joint, forcing it to snap. He didn’t get up after that.
Jack walked over to where I was sitting. He also had a swollen face, but I could almost detect a tear in his eye when he looked at me.
“Let’s get the fuck out of here, now,” he said.
Lea helped me to my feet. I felt unsteady but was present enough to ask, “Have you checked them for radios?”
“They’re clean,” she said. “We’ve taken their ammo as well. Come on. We have to move quickly.”
She led me through the entrance and I squinted in the bright sunshine as I looked around. I felt another wave of pain jolt through my head and paused for breath.
“I’ll drive,” Jack said.
“Don’t be stupid. I’m the one that knows where we’re going,” Lea replied.
Jack slid into the back of the Range Rover, so I took the passenger seat. In the cup holder was a full bottle of water. I unscrewed the cap, took a couple of gulps, and then poured some of it over my head to try to clear it. I twisted the rear-view mirror around to look at my battered face.
“That was a close run thing,” I said, “I thought we’d lost.”
“We can always go back, get the respirators and ear defenders, and then get as far away from here as possible. Why risk ourselves anymore? That was nearly the end of us,” Jack said.
“No. We’ve come this far now, so we have to see it through,” Lea replied. “Do you want to spend the rest of your life looking over your shoulder? Because that’s what will happen.”
It was difficult to think straight, but the only option I could see, was for us to carry on. Running away wouldn’t solve anything or make our lives any easier, Lea was right. If we wanted any chance of a future, it was now or never. I started to feel a deep surge of anger over what we had endured.
“So you’re in then, Lea?” I said.
“Of course I am, why wouldn’t I be?”
“All the way in?” Jack replied.
“All the way,” Lea repeated.
I nodded, “Straight to fucking Ron’s.”
“I hope you both know that this will probably be a one way trip?” Jack said.
“I don’t see that we have any other choice. The next activation is this morning, Genesis Alliance probably wants us dead, and the entire civilised world has fallen apart. We might not get out of this alive, but I’d rather die trying,” I said.
Jack and I made our rifles ready.
Lea pulled out of the car park and we headed towards Oak Street, the next few minutes were filled with silent contemplation. I was curious about what kind of man Ron was, a monster like that would be unrepentant, I imagined, but I would probably feel the same if I put a bullet between his eyes. Ron deserved nothing less for what he had done to the world, and was now going to reap what he had sown.
We reached the road leading to Oak Street just after ten in the morning, the route through Monroe to his house was clear. Not only were there no abandoned cars or rotting corpses, but there was also no sign of any guards. Perhaps our opponents at the plaza were supposed to be guarding the entrance to the road.
Lea drove slowly along Conant Street towards the entrance of Oak Street. As we reached within a couple of hundred yards, our vehicle stopped slowly.
“Get down!” she hissed.
I ducked into the passenger foot-well and Jack lay across the backseat.
“What is it?” he said.
“There’s two people dressed in black at the end of the Oak Street. They must be a couple of guards stationed by Ron.”
We had expected some form of resistance; it seemed unlikely that Ron would let anybody get within range to his house – if that’s where he was. The presence of these guards at the end of his street suggested that Ron was home.
“We can’t stop here for too long,” Jack said, “they might get suspicious, and we’ve less than an hour before the next activation.”
“Lea, wind the windows down and drive slowly towards the guards,” I said. “They’ll assume we are fellow members of Genesis Alliance, we’ll be on top of them before they know it. When we get close, tell us which side of the vehicle they are on and we’ll spring up and take care of them.”
“Where do you want me to go after that?”
“Drive straight up in front of Ron’s house. We’ll jump out of the car and use it as cover in case there’s any retaliation. I wouldn’t bet against more armed guards being inside.”
Lea paused for a moment, “What if you don’t take the guards out?”
“We will, just make sure you get close enough,” Jack said.
The Range Rover started to move forward slowly.
“They’ve seen us, but they’re not moving,” Lea said.
A few seconds later, when we must have been very close to the end of Ron’s Street, Lea said, “They’re both armed, but the rifles are slung by their sides. They’re coming around to my window…”
“Stop talking, and let us know when they’re a few yards away. If they get too close, then they’ll see us,” Jack said.
“Now!” Lea shouted.
I sprang from my crouching position in the foot-well and saw the two guards very close to Lea’s window. I aimed for the female, who had a look of open-mouthed surprise on her face, and fired twice into her chest. She dropped to the ground. I heard Jack’s rifle fire three times in quick succession.
“Drive,” I yelled.
She sped away from the scene, and I looked back. Both of our victims were motionless on the ground.
“I think they recognised me,” she said. “I’ve seen both of them before in the house.”
“That’s probably the last you’ll see of them,” Jack replied.
The Range Rover screeched to a halt in a matter of seconds.
“We’re here,” Lea said, “it’s the one on the right with the wooden door and large porch.”
“Out. Get out now!” I shouted.
Lea flung her door open and exited quickly. I dived over her seat and jumped out of the same door. Jack was already crouched beside Lea with his AR-15 ready. I turned back to look through the vehicle windows at Ron’s house.
Jack nudged my shoulder and pointed left and right. Two black Range Rovers had appeared at the far ends of the street – about three hundred yards from us in either direction. This was starting to feel like a suicide mission, but it was our last roll of the dice. The only way we would get out of this alive now, would be to capture Ron and use him as leverage to escape. We had to move quickly, as we were exposed on the street. If more Genesis Alliance showed up, we wouldn’t last long in a firefight.
>
“We’ll have to go into the house, but Ron needs to be taken alive. Are you ready to move?” I said to Jack and Lea.
Both nodded.
“Lea, what’s the layout?” Jack asked.
As he said this, I looked to my left. Slowly appearing around the corner, was another vehicle.
“Fuck it,” I said, “there’s no time. Straight through the front door.”
I looked up and saw the door to Ron’s house open. An old man with silver hair, wearing a red checked shirt and cream trousers, appeared with his hands up. He was smiling.
“Is that Ron?” Jack asked Lea.
“Yes.”
“Guys, there’s no need for all of this. Come in and I’ll fix you a drink,” he shouted over in a strangely jolly voice.
I looked at Jack in confusion. He shook his head.
“Come on in,” he shouted again and beckoned us towards the house before he disappeared back into it, leaving the door open.
I looked at either end of the street; both our exits had been cut off. I checked my watch; we had fifty minutes before the next activation.
“It could be a trap. He didn’t seem stressed at all,” Jack said.
“That’s the way Ron is,” Lea replied, “he’s a cool customer.”
“I think we’ll have to take our chances following Ron. He is what we came here for, and he’s the best chance we have of getting out of this alive. Lea, you go first. He’s less likely to want you killed,” I said.
She rolled her eyes.
“I wouldn’t bet on that.”
“Right, we’ll just have to go with the flow on this one then. If we find any raised weapons, we shoot first and ask questions later. The first chance we get to take Ron, we do it.”
“What do we do once we have him?” Lea asked.
“We’ll make him to tell us how to stop the activation. After that, we’ll bring him back out at gunpoint and get the hell out of here,” I replied.
“Let’s go,” Jack said.
Lea stood up and started walking across the street towards Ron’s front door. Jack and I followed behind. As we walked up the drive, Ron appeared again at the door, smiling.
“You’re going to have to leave your weapons outside. I’m sorry, but it’s the house rules.”
“Do you really expect us to do that?” I replied.
“Yes. I do. Or you can stay outside and take on those nasty machine guns I’ve just stationed at either end of the street.” He looked at Lea. “Why don’t you tell these two gentlemen that I’ve never allowed any weapons into the house.”
Ron’s tone wasn’t threatening, but the mention of machine guns had sent a shockwave through my body. Jack and I glanced at each other. I was trying to appear confident, but my swelling face and bruised jaw were probably telling as much as they were hiding. As I looked across at Lea, I noticed that the vehicles had closed in and armed men were crouched around them. We were surrounded at a close range.
“What if we just kill you now?” Jack asked.
Ron laughed loudly and slapped a hand on his thigh.
“Put your guns down, and come on in.”
He disappeared back into the house.
The guards who were now pointing weapons at our backs would probably fire if we took a step further without following Ron’s orders. If we turned on them, it would take a huge slice of luck for us to get out of Monroe alive.
“Let’s do as Ron says,” I said. “I can’t see any other way out of it.”
“Neither can I,” Jack replied. “You lead the way, Lea.”
Lea carefully put down her Beretta and entered the house. At the door, she took her shoes off.
We both laid down our rifles and followed, Lea waited for us in the entrance hall.
“Ron also doesn’t allow outdoor footwear in the house. He loves his carpet,” she said.
This seemed absurd, but the situation we had found ourselves in had left us no option. I sighed and took my trainers off. Jack took off his walking boots, and Lea led us into a large open plan living area. The décor seemed old fashioned for a house that looked quite new from the exterior. Around the immediate edges of the room, were two brown leather recliners, a brown couch, in the centre was a glass coffee table. At the far end of the room was a wooden art-deco style table and chair set, and a drinks cabinet. The carpet was cream in colour and felt lush below my socks. Softly playing in the background was some kind of swing, or big band music, which was coming from a record player, positioned on top of the drinks cabinet.
This supposedly welcoming room felt more dangerous than the airport terminal.
“How do you boys take your coffee?” Ron called from another room.
Jack looked at me with a puzzled expression. I shrugged my shoulders.
“Please don’t be fooled by him like I was,” Lea whispered.
“He’s not trying to fool us yet,” Jack replied, “he’s offering us a drink.”
“Both white, with sugar,” I called out.
“Coming right up,” a shout came back.
We were all standing in the room around the coffee table. Lea looked frightened. Through the sheer curtains, I could see figures moving outside. I walked over and pulled the material to one side, our AR-15’s and Lea’s Beretta had been taken. We could still take Ron hostage, but it was going to be tricky to pull off.
Ron appeared from an entrance at the far end of the room holding a tray with four cups on it.
“Don’t just stand there. Have a seat.”
Jack and I sat in the two recliners, and Lea sat on the couch. Ron put the tray on the glass table and handed a cup each to Jack and I.
“White, one sugar, right?” Ron said. He gave Lea another cup, “I know which way you take it, sweetie.”
He picked up the final cup, took a loud slurp, and then sat on the couch next to Lea and put his hand on her thigh.
“You caused me a couple of minor headaches, Lea. At least you’re back now.”
“Minor fucking headaches?” Lea replied with venom, brushing off his hand. “I think you’ve caused more than a couple of those in the last few days.”
Ron turned to us and smiled.
“She always was a feisty one. You two boys have caused me a couple of headaches as well. You killed two good people on your way in here just now…”
Lea jumped up and cried, “I want to see Martina.”
“All in good time, honey, now sit back down.”
Jack smiled at Ron, and then poured his full cup of coffee straight down onto the carpet in a circular motion. Ron’s expression didn’t change, and he ignored the taunt. I guessed that Jack was trying to test him, to see if his seemingly unflappable confidence and composure were only superficial. Either he had a great poker face, or he really was confident about how things were going to proceed.
“We’re here to stop the second activation,” I said. “Although you’ve probably guessed that.”
Ron clasped his hands in front of him.
“Now why would you want to do that?”
“Why do you think? To stop everyone who is left from killing each other.”
“That’s not the intention of the second activation,” he said, beaming. “The next objective is to rebuild. You’ve been listening to that idiot Jerry Caisley. I know you were at his farm, he’d say anything to save his own skin.”
“It doesn’t matter what he told us,” I said.
“We came off a plane and witnessed your handiwork. Stop bullshitting us,” Jack shouted.
“Such language. Do you speak in your own home like that?” He said, shaking his head.
“I probably don’t have one now, thanks to you.”
Ron stood up and started pacing slowly around the room.
After a moment, he turned to us and said, “I take it that I don’t need to mail Jerry his tax papers?”
“We don’t know where he is,” Lea replied.
“What happened to the sweet young girl you used to be?” Ron
chuckled.
“Stalling for time isn’t going to work, Ron. We can do this the nice way, or the nasty way. You know why we’re here,” Jack replied.
Ron nodded.
“Calm down, boys. The second activation is designed to round up survivors for processing. Genesis Alliance is going to rebuild a better society than you could ever imagine.”
“Do you expect us to believe that after what we’ve seen?” I answered.
“The devices are multi-purpose,” he continued. “They will eventually be used as a sophisticated communication and control network throughout North America. The next activation will lead all survivors to a prison in Michigan. From there, we will process everyone, allocate jobs, titles, and resources, in order to build again.”
“How do you seriously expect to deal with thousands of people all turning up at once? You’re lying,” Jack said.
“That’s a great question. What is your name, by the way?”
“I’m Jack, and that’s Harry.”
“Well, Jack, one of the reasons for the cluster deployment of the North American devices was so that we could handle this part in a phased approach. Activating in different areas at different times avoids the very issue you raise. There’s also geographical distance to factor. Don’t think we haven’t considered every angle.”
“And if it takes more than three days to get to the prison?” I asked.
“My, my, Harry, you have been paying attention. Very good! The effects don’t subside from the next activation. They have to be locally neutralised, we’ll do that once the person is safely under lock and key, and ready to listen to reason.”
“Why would anyone do what you say? You’ve probably killed all of their family and friends,” Jack snapped.
“What choice do they have? I can offer survival and things they have probably never even dreamed of owning – an expensive car, a nice boat, whatever they want. All I expect in return is that they play a part in forming a comfortable new world for us all to live in.”
“And if they say no?”
“Then they will form part of the manual labour force. I have taken into consideration that some people will not be open minded enough to accept reality. They will be de-neutralised.” Ron sighed.
First Activation: A Post Apocalyptic Thriller Page 23