A residential neighborhood, seemingly untouched by the war, stood one thousand feet below. Things looked different in the distance—darker—but this small part of the world looked livable.
“Do you think there are survivors?”
“I don’t see how it’s possible. Then again, I don’t see how this is possible either. I was expecting ruins everywhere.” As the EEP spun around, Austin saw a gleaming white circle below them. “There’s EEP Beta.”
Mia strained to see. The massive spacecraft had come to rest atop of a house, now flattened beneath it.
“EEP Alpha, do you read?”
Austin toggled the com system. “We hear you Reggie. What’s the score?”
“The system was right. I’m on the ground. The air is breathable. The Geiger counter is pinging at normal levels. No fallout anywhere. It’s like the missiles never dropped.”
“Have you seen any survivors?”
“Not a one.” Reggie was quiet for a moment. “No animals either. No birds. No bugs. Somehow this neighborhood survived.”
A stiff breeze caught EEP Alpha and began pulling them away from EEP Beta. “Looks like we’re going to touch down a few blocks away,” Austin said. “Stay where you are. We’ll come to you.”
“Copy that, Austin.”
Austin motioned to the chairs and sat down. “Better strap in, we’ll be on the ground in thirty seconds.”
Mia nodded, took her seat and began to lift the bar restraint over her body. But before she did, Reggie’s voice came over the speakers again. “Oh my God, I see survivors!”
Mia and Austin launched from their chairs and looked out the window. EEP Beta was further away, but still visible. They could see Reggie in front, waving his arms, and his group of survivors exiting the EEP behind him. Further down the street, a crowd of people approached.
“Looks like the whole neighborhood,” Reggie said. “Sounds like they’re shouting something.”
“What are they saying?” Austin asked, while keeping one eye on their distance from the ground. Maybe fifteen seconds left.
“Can’t tell. They’re all shouting. Making it hard to hear.” Reggie’s voice grew louder as he spoke to the people, who were now just a few feet away. “One at a time! I can’t hear you!”
A new voice, feminine, came over Reggie’s mic. “Please run! I don’t want to hurt—”
“Reggie...” Austin said. Something about the woman’s voice bothered him. But he didn’t get any further.
“What?” Reggie said, “I don’t—” The scream that followed was horrible, like something from a B-movie actress, but worse because it came from the voice of a man.
“Fuck,” Austin said. They were far from the action now, but the jerky violent movements of the mob as they descended on the survivors, coupled with Reggie’s scream told him everything he needed to know. They were being slaughtered. The last thing he saw was a group of the mob peel off and head in their direction. Then a tall power line passed by the window.
He shoved Mia into her seat and dove into his. “Hold on!”
The impact came a moment later. The EEP shook and screeched as they plowed through a house, scraped across the open street and slammed into a second home. The EEP tipped for a moment as the full parachutes tugged, but the heavy base settled to the ground with a thud.
They were still for only a moment when Austin leapt from his seat and yanked her up. There was no time to ask about injuries. No time to ponder what had happened. They needed to move.
“There an armory on board?” she asked.
Austin nodded. They were on the same page.
Though the neighborhood looked as American as they come, he didn’t know where they had landed. What he did know was that the locals were hostile and would reach them inside five minutes.
They had to run.
They had to fight.
The war, it seemed, wasn’t over.
TORMENT
18
America
“Everyone up!” Mia shouted as she rejoined the others. She felt happy to see Garbarino and Paul Byers jump up at the ready.
When Austin added, “Move! We have hostiles incoming!” Vanderwarf and White stood. Austin pointed to them, “You two, weapons cache. I want a firearm in the hands of everyone over seven years old in under a minute.” He turned to Garbarino and Byers. “Joe, break out the survival packs. One for everyone.”
Garbarino waved for Paul to follow him, then looked back. “What about the kid? She won’t be able to carry it.”
“I’ll double up,” Austin said.
“So will you,” Mia said to Garbarino as she pulled Liz free of her restraints and picked her up. “I’m carrying Liz.”
He frowned for a moment, but then nodded. It made sense.
“Explain the situation to them while I check things out.” Austin said as he moved around Mia and headed for the exterior hatch.
Mia watched him unlock the hatch and step outside, no pause or consideration given to the survivability of the atmosphere. When she turned back, Mark, Collins and Chang were staring at her wide-eyed.
“What’s happening?” Collins asked. “Is it the Russians? Did they survive somehow?”
“We’re in a residential neighborhood,” Mia said, and then thought about her next words. She didn’t want to scare Liz further. She could feel the little girl’s limbs shaking as she silently held on tight. “EEP Beta landed a few blocks over. They...encountered a large hostile group.”
Chang sucked in a breath. “They’re dead?”
Mia shot her a look as Liz tightened her grip.
Chang looked at the floor. “Sorry.”
Mia tried to think of a way to say things without Liz understanding. She decided on military speak, which she knew thanks to Matt. “They’re KIA,” Mia said. “Yes. Some of the group is coming this way.”
“Hence the backpacks and weapons,” Mark said. “We’re on the run.”
Vanderwarf and White reentered the room, each carrying a small arsenal—several handguns, spare clips, two shotguns and three MP5 submachine guns. They laid them out on a reclining chair. Mia had spent a lot of time at the shooting range with various men in her former life and was a pretty good shot. She felt thankful for that as she took a Sig Sauer handgun and four spare clips, and shoved them all into a pocket with one hand while holding Liz with the other.
Collins took a handgun as well. He didn’t look comfortable holding it.
“You’ve shot before?” Paul asked him.
“I’ve only fired a gun a few times. My father took me hunting. Never liked it.” He moved the weapon up and down, feeling its weight in his hand. “Not sure I could shoot someone.”
Mia let out scoffing laugh. “Says the man who pushed the button.”
Collins stiffened. “Hey—”
“No time for talking, you two,” White said. “Focus on surviving or you’re likely not to.” He held a handgun out to Mark. “Not going to be a stereotype, are you?”
“Hardly,” Mark said, taking an MP5 and a Sig Sauer.
Vanderwarf squinted at him, motioning to the MP5. “You know how to use that?”
“The handgun, yes.” He held up the MP5. “This thing, no—”
Garbarino and Paul returned, a slew of backpacks on their backs and in their arms.
Mark pointed to Paul, “—but he does.” After taking two spare clips for the MP5, Mark handed the weapon to his brother, who had just deposited the bags at their feet.
Paul inspected the MP5, checked the clip and chambered the first round. “Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it,” Mark said as he slipped on his backpack.
The exterior hatch swung open. Austin entered and found several weapons aimed in his direction. He paused for a moment, realizing he’d almost been shot, then stepped in and claimed a second handgun for himself. “Those who have never fired a weapon, please don’t aim or fire at something until those of us with experience say so. The switch on the left sid
e is the safety. Switch it to the off position—” He demonstrated this for them. “—point it at your target and pull the trigger.”
“Right,” Chang said. She placed her handgun in her backpack and slung it over her shoulder. She still wore her work clothes. She wasn’t wearing high heels, but her shoes weren’t exactly made for running. “How far do we have to go?”
While most of the people looked at her the way they might a mental patient, Austin said what they were all thinking. “As far as we have to, now—”
A distant scream cut through the air.
“What’s that?” Chang asked.
Austin moved to the hatch, leading with his gun. “They’re coming.” He turned back to the group. “Get those packs on and grab as many weapons as you can carry.”
Garbarino picked up two handguns, one of them being the weapon taken from him previously, and a shotgun. Vanderwarf and White had the MP5s and one handgun each. Collins took the second shotgun.
A gunshot echoed loudly inside the EEP sending hands to ears.
“Fuck!” Garbarino shouted.
“They’re here!” Austin squeezed off two rounds. “Garbarino, take them south. I’ll slow them down!”
Mia followed Garbarino out of the EEP and on to the street of the McMansion lined neighborhood. The blacktop street smelled of new pavement and was bisected by two bright yellow lines, perhaps days old. The maple trees lining the street were bare, and the grass brown, but being the middle of February in what looked like the American Northeast to her, that was expected. What wasn’t expected was the temperature, which Mia pegged around eighty degrees. Other than that aberration, the neighborhood looked like so many others hastily built over the previous ten years. There was no rushing mob, but she did see two bodies lying face down one hundred feet away. As the others exited and followed Garbarino around the backside of the EEP, Mia stopped by Austin. “You shouldn’t stay by yourself.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“You could die.”
“I know I’m not paid to do this anymore, but it’s still my job.” Austin motioned toward Liz. “And it’s not like you can help.”
“What about Garbarino? Why did you put him in charge?”
“He’ll toe the line as long as he feels respected,” Austin said. “If I don’t make it back, he’s in charge in a fight, you’re in charge of everything else. He’ll go for that.”
“If he doesn’t?”
Austin looked over her shoulder. “Then you’ll have help.”
Paul had waited for her. He stood there, brandishing his submachine gun like a true war hero. And he’d heard everything.
“But that’s not going to happen,” Austin said. “I just want to give you a head start. I can catch up.”
A terrified voice called out from the distance.
“Is that one of ours?” Paul asked.
“Wrong direction,” Austin said, taking aim past the two bodies he’d already shot. “Now go!”
Paul took Mia by the arm and led her around the EEP. She was surprised to see Garbarino waiting there for them and wondered if he had heard any of their conversation. But he just waved them on, shouting, “Move your asses!”
Two shots rang out from Austin’s position.
Mia saw the rest of their crew jogging down the street, away from the EEP and the oncoming crowd. She looked back the way they’d come. It didn’t feel right, leaving Austin. But then Liz leaned back, looked her in the eyes and said, “What the hell are you waiting for, Auntie Mia, move your ass!”
She started forward. Then two more shots set them all to running, like horses out of the gate. They didn’t slow until they caught up to Collins, who was already out of breath.
Mia thought about it and realized she’d never seen photos of or heard news about this president going out for jogs. In fact, she seemed to recall he had heart problems. Great.
Two blocks from the EEP, more gunshots rang out. Then a scream. A man’s scream.
Then silence. They all stared back at the EEP, waiting for Austin to come running, but he didn’t.
After a moment, Mia turned to Garbarino, placed her hand on his arm, and very intentionally said, “Lead the way,” all the while feeling like she’d just handed them all over to the devil.
19
Within twenty minutes, Mia, Collins, Chang and the Byers brothers lagged behind their three Secret Service escorts. Mia was in shape, but lacked endurance, especially when carrying a fifty pound seven year old. Liz seemed to sense this and tapped her shoulder. “I can run now,” the girl said. “I’m not afraid anymore.”
Mia looked the girl in the eyes. “You sure?”
She nodded.
“Stay right next to me.”
The nod continued. Mia put her down, then put her hands on her knees while she caught her breath. The brothers and Chang stopped with her, while Collins walked on ahead, his body soaked in sweat.
Garbarino heard the number of moving feet behind him change and turned around. “Hey! Keep moving.”
“We need to rest,” Mia said.
“Those people might still be chasing us,” he said, stomping toward her.
“There hasn’t been a sound or a gunshot for a while,” she countered.
Garbarino stood above her. “That’s probably because Austin is dead and those sons-a-bitches are sneaking up on us. Now...” He took her arm and yanked her up. “Move!”
“Hey!” Liz shouted and went to hit Garbarino, but Mia caught her little fist.
She stood face-to-face with the man, and when she did she realized she stood a good two inches taller. “Right now, if those people charged us, I wouldn’t have the energy to run. We’ve been through a lot and the non-stop adrenaline rush of being launched into space by a series of nuclear blasts, watching the world be destroyed, floating in zero gravity, dropping back down to Earth and then being attacked by crazed survivors, is starting to wear off.”
Garbarino’s face slowly fell as he listened to her. The words seemed to suck the energy out of him. He looked around the neighborhood. “Houses up there look big. Might be a good place to hole up.”
Mia looked up the road and saw several new and very large houses. They were the kind contractors built in a month, the kind she mocked when she drove by, but right now they looked incredibly normal and inviting. She smiled. “Thank you.”
“Let’s move,” Chang said. “Maybe the plumbing still works.”
Mark followed after her. “I could go for a shower.”
“I’ll take a bath,” Paul said, loping ahead of the other two, looking ridiculous with his submachine gun.
Mia took Liz’s hand and nodded at Garbarino. “You did the right thing.”
“Yeah, well, let’s hope it doesn’t get us killed.” He motioned for her to get moving and followed behind her. She looked back and was happy to find him walking backwards, keeping watch behind them.
They reached the line of massive homes five minutes later and selected a three-story giant. The choice had nothing to do with how opulent the house was, with its perfectly shaped, leafless hedges, a waterless fountain and a new BMW in the driveway. The third story fire escape appealed to all of them. If trouble came through the front, back or garage doors, they had an alternate escape route. The third floor would also offer them an excellent view of the neighborhood and anyone that might be looking for them.
While the others let themselves in through the unlocked front door, Mia stopped in front of the house. She pulled her handgun from her pocket and ejected a single round. It landed on the sidewalk. She bent down and positioned the round so that it pointed toward the house.
“What are you doing?” Liz asked.
“Leaving a message.”
“For Mr. Austin?”
“Yup.For Mr. Austin.”
She stood and scooped up Liz. “Can he be my new daddy? I’ve never had a daddy.”
Mia laughed. “You like him that much?”
She bobbed her head up and dow
n. “And you can be my new mommy.”
“Liz...” Mia didn’t know what to say. She had avoided the subject for as long as possible, but now it seemed Liz needed to process the loss.
“I know she’s dead,” the girl said. “Everyone is dead. Except for us.” Tears formed in her eyes, causing Mia to tear up as well.
This is a new world, Mia thought. As awful as it felt, if Liz was going to survive, she would have to get tough. They all would. And she swore to herself that this was the last time she would cry. Blurry crying eyes couldn’t aim a gun very well. And they didn’t evoke confidence in the people she now led.
A knock on the door turned her around. The priest stood there with the shotgun. “Shake a leg, ladies.”
Mia wiped her eyes and put Liz down. “I’m your mommy now. I’ll keep you safe. I promise.”
“And Mr. Austin?”
Mia smiled. “I’ll let you ask him.”
“You don’t want to marry him?”
The smile faded.
“You still love Uncle Matt?” Liz answered the question in her own mind and shook her head. “You’re right, I don’t think he would like that.”
Liz ran to Mark, who was waving her on. She left Mia standing alone on the sidewalk, frozen with guilt. For a moment she wished one of the savage survivors would leap out from behind a tree and tear her to pieces. She deserved nothing less. She had betrayed the man she loved. Over what? A little boredom. Some lonely nights? Her fucking libido?
“Mia!” Mark was whispering now, but more insistent. His voice snapped her from her reverie. She turned toward him and found Liz waving her in, too. If it weren’t for Liz she might put the gun in her mouth and escape this horrible world once and for all.
After scanning the area, she entered the house and closed the solid red door behind her.
And open concept interior and a group of relieved faces greeted her.
Mark had just taken a seat behind a baby grand piano.
The three Secret Service agents and Collins were searching through kitchen cabinets and sharing a box of Funny Bones.
Paul exited a bathroom and announced, “Water’s running.”
TORMENT - A Novel of Dark Horror Page 9