by Jeff Olah
Before Ethan had a chance to finish, Griffin slipped in beside him and peered out over the front gates. He gripped the edges of the window and made the same side to side motion. As he started to laugh, a wide smile shot across his face. And letting Ethan off the hook, he said, “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
And a moment later, he turned back to the others. “We’re gonna need to get out there quick. We’ve got maybe five minutes.”
Emma, Helen, and Carly also started toward the windows, although Griffin rushed them away. They followed him to the opposite end of the cafeteria and out into the hall.
Shannon held tight to Zach’s hand as she chased after the others. “What is it, where are we going?”
Ethan was also running, but didn’t know why. His legs not even close to being steady, he nearly toppled to the floor as he turned the corner and started up the long corridor.
Griffin was leading the way, shouting about how they needed to hurry. He moved at a pace that told the group they needed to be concerned; however, his face suggested something much different. As he took the flight of stairs at the end of the hall in only four steps, the smile plastered across his face continued to widen.
“Let’s go.”
Continuing to stumble forward and on the verge of losing what little sat in his stomach, Ethan increased his pace and was able to somehow catch Griffin just as the group moved down to the main hallway on the first floor. He attempted to speak in between pulling in deep breaths and trying to focus on something besides the pounding at the front of his head. “We need to stop … figure out what—”
“No time, let’s go.”
“What about the others, shouldn’t we have them hang back?”
Griffin didn’t respond, instead he continued running toward the set of double doors that faced the front of the school.
The others pulled back and waited cautiously as Ethan joined his friend at the doors. And although he was still unsure of what exactly had Griffin in such a frenzy, he began helping him remove the two by fours and the sheets of plywood acting as a makeshift barricade.
Still out of breath, Ethan put himself between Griffin and the doors. “You know what you’re doing here?”
Reaching for the handle and pushing aside the remaining pieces of wood, Griffin pulled open the doors and pointed out to the gates near the sidewalk. “You tell me.”
Ethan stepped out through the doors and continued to take in long slow breaths. His heart was racing, but somehow all he could focus on were the three individuals standing on the opposite side of the gate. He assumed his eyes were playing tricks on him and had to turn to Griffin to confirm what exactly it was that he was seeing. “We need to get down there.”
Griffin met him at the top of the steps and urged the others to join them. “We need to do this quick, the west side still isn’t completely secured.”
The group came together as one, standing along the set of stairs leading to the walkway that ended at the high school’s front gates. Out in front, now releasing Shannon’s hand and starting down the concrete steps, Zach was unable to control himself. “BEN!”
Ben Westbrook, Mayor Gil Walker, and an unidentified women who Ethan vaguely remembered from the mall in Vegas stood less than fifty feet away. Ben was out in front, smiling just as wide as Griffin, and held a cardboard sign that read Ethan Runner for President.
Down the steps, careful that each footfall found its proper place, Ethan hurried across the concrete walkway. Long forgotten sheets of college-ruled notebook paper kicked up as he began to run toward the gates, his head on a swivel. “Griff, can we get this gate open?”
Griffin was already on his shoulder, passing him five feet from the gates. “I’m on it.”
Ben was now shouting, but his voice was lost to those of his friends back on the stairs. He grinned as he stared through the metal bars, his arm perched around the mystery brunette to his right.
Keying the padlock, Griffin unwrapped the three-foot chain and quickly pulled apart the two eight-foot sections and stepped aside. “Good to see you, but we’re gonna need you to haul some ass.”
Ethan waved the trio in through the gates and led the way back up the stairs and then through the set of double doors beyond. He waited as Griffin relocked the gate and pointed back into the school, motioning to Emma. “Let’s head back to the cafeteria, we’ll catch up there.”
The group started back into the interior as Ethan helped Griffin once again secure the entrance with the sheets of plywood and the two by fours. Holding the last sheet up while Griffin forced the eight-foot length of timber into position, he peered over his shoulder and forced away the memories of what had brought him to his current condition. “I’m done.”
Griffin nodded. “Don’t do it for me, and don’t do it for them … and especially don’t make any promises you aren’t willing or ready to keep.”
Ethan was thrown off. He was expecting a much different response. He was looking for something closer to sympathy, but he should have known what he’d get from Griffin. And more than what he wanted, it was probably what he needed. “Yeah, I guess.”
Griffin turned away from his work, stood up straight, and arched his back. “You know no one is expecting you to be what you’re thinking you need to be. There are quite a few of us who can pull our own weight and then some … how about you try leaning a bit more on those of us willing to help?”
“I’m trying, it’s just not that easy. I’m kind of an all or nothing guy.”
“Yeah I get it, but that no longer works. You’ve got a choice to make, and from where I’m standing, it’s pretty obvious. Whatever it is, and for whatever it’s worth, I’m here to help.”
He could see that Griffin wanted him to do this on his own. His friend was usually a man of few words, so given the fact that twice in the last twenty-four hours he’d taken the time to talk with him about it, Ethan knew it was time for this to end. “Yeah,” he said, “I know.”
Griffin started to walk away, but then stopped and turned. He appeared to be searching for the right words. For a way to put an exclamation on his last thought. After more than a few seconds, he simply nodded and said, “I know too.”
Ethan took a long pause, matching his friend’s intensity. “Thanks … for everything.”
Again Griffin nodded. He then turned his focus down the long hallway. “How ‘bout we go see why our friends decided to leave Vegas?”
“Yeah,” Ethan said, “and how on earth they found us.”
13
Mitchell Blake was off his meds for the third time in as many weeks. He ran out, scavenged, found another partial bottle, ran out again, found an out-of-the-way pharmacy, ran out yet again, and then decided to forgo the constant search. He was off his meds for the last time and it felt good. Better than good, he felt in control. In control and absolutely unstoppable.
Today he was going to kill two birds with one enormous stone. Decapitate the dreams of two groups with one swing of the axe. Devastate more people than he could count just by doing what had now become routine. No more debating, no more wanting, and no more asking. He came here today to end the discussion and begin a new way of life. For his and his only.
He had it on good authority that the two who’d run from the building and escaped his men more than three weeks earlier were now holed up inside. He no longer cared about the reason or that Cedric had lied, he only wanted to make sure that woman and her traveling partner would never forget his name.
Running a close second and although a much more layered challenge, the man from the opposite end of town, the former songwriter with the enormous following, had taken things that belonged to him. Roland Mayhew and what he referred to as his “Family” had decided to make the massive fifty-acre campus their new home. However, as the self-proclaimed landlord of said property, Mitchell Blake was going to serve the eviction notice himself.
Today.
Standing behind the crowd of exactly twenty-eight, he was lacking in
numbers, but not firepower. That would change in the coming days and weeks, by his sword or his will, but it was going to change, of this he was certain. And to the men and women flanking the six vehicles, Blake said, “Who’s ready to fight for what they believe in?”
The twenty-eight voices came together as a chorus of one. “WHOOOOYAA!”
“Who’s ready to take back what belongs to us?”
“WHOOOOYAA!”
Blake stepped to the front of a tan Jeep CJ-5 with oversized tires that had its doors and roof removed. He pulled an Mk. 153 Shoulder-Launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon from the back seat and handed it to the largest man in the crowd. “Now,” he said, “who’s willing to do what comes next?”
The small crowd erupted with sharp thundering response. “WHOOOOOOOYAAA!”
From behind, another man—slightly shorter and not as well dressed—moved away from the others. While they continued to cheer, he stepped to within inches of Blake and appeared out of breath. “You know what you’re doing here?”
Blake almost laughed, but then his face went hard. “Is that a question or a statement? Because the way you phrased it made it seem like a question.”
The man stepped closer, almost as if to challenge the already incensed Blake. “This isn’t a game and you aren’t going to win this thing anyway. There are too many of them.”
“Listen,” Blake said, “you are my brother … we’re blood. So because we share the same parents, I’ll let you turn around and head back. We’ll pick you up near the highway once we’re finished. No reason for you to get your hands dirty.” Blake dropped his voice to a whisper. “When I have all these people who can do it for me.”
“All this because you finally found a group you can’t control? That’s not you Mitchell and it may just get some of these good people killed.”
“Gerry, it’s time for you to go.”
“You’re gonna regret this, trust me. We can go out and find you some more—”
“Enough, it’s already done. Now go.”
His brother paused a moment before finally shaking his head, turning, and walking away. He mumbled something inaudible and then quickly disappeared into the cheering mob and was gone.
From the shadows of Porter Avenue, Mitchell Blake stepped to the back of the crowd, keyed his two-way radio, and placed it near his mouth. He spoke in a calm and deliberate tone. “We’re ready, make sure they don’t have a way out.”
14
Into the cafeteria, Ethan was the last to enter. His toothy grin continued to grow as he crossed the cold linoleum, and although his head still pounded and his legs were weak—the unfortunate side effects from the night before—he couldn’t have been more at ease. This was what he needed. Not that his bond with the others wasn’t enough of a motivating factor to get clean, but somehow it now seemed more real, more complete.
Across the room, Griffin pulled in an additional two tables as well as more chairs than bodies. The group of twelve then quickly filed in, one by one finding their seats. Helen, Carly, Emma, and Zach sat nearest the exit as Shannon, Tom, Boone, and Griffin took up residence at the second table. And finally Ben, Mayor Gil Walker, and the mystery woman sat beside Ethan, looking every bit as shocked as the rest of the group.
Nearly exploding out of his chair, Ben couldn’t contain himself. “Ethannnnnn,” he said in a booming voice, drawing out the last note. “You look like absolute crap, but this is insane, I can’t believe we actually found you guys.” He looked back at the Mayor and the unnamed woman. “We did it, we really did.”
Leaning forward in his seat, Ethan rolled his head from left to right, attempting to break up the stiffness that had settled into the back his neck. For once, the man who was never at a loss for words couldn’t think of where to begin. He looked around the room—at the expectant faces—just completely bewildered. He let out a long breath and turned back to Ben. “How?”
Without pause, the young man who nearly got him killed on more than one occasion, spoke much louder than was necessary. “It actually wasn’t too hard. Jonah had us follow the twins just like you guys did and when we—”
Ethan again smiled and shook his head, the others holding back laughter. “No buddy, what I meant was how on earth did you find us here? The chances of that happening are astronomical.”
Ben turned to the Mayor and then toward the table to his right. He grinned as he nodded at the man seated beside Tom. “It was Boone.”
Before the others could ask, Griffin jumped in. “Excuse me?”
“Boone helped us get here, it really wasn’t all that hard.” Ben’s words were flying out at a breakneck pace. “I mean, I couldn’t read the tracker at all, Mayor Gil had to figure it out, but once he did, it didn’t take us more than a day. Also you have the SUV parked in the back, we were pretty sure that you were here once we saw it.”
“Wait, wait, wait.” Ethan again looked around the room. Every other face—with the exception of Boone—shared the same confused look. “Tracker? What do you mean tracker?”
“Oh yeah that’s right, you guys didn’t know.”
Carly leaned forward. Looked like she was growing tired of the back and forth. “Come on Ben, spit it out. How’d you get here?”
Ben turned to Boone and raised an eyebrow. “Okay?”
Boone sat up in his chair, unfolded his arms, and nodded. “Sure.”
The kid looked around the room, a devious smile creeping across his face. “Boone left me a phone in Vegas. Said he knew I’d want to track you guys down at some point. Said he’d leave his phone on and as long as I was within fifty miles or so, I’d be able to get a signal from his phone.”
Ethan looked to Boone. “The towers are all down?”
Boone shook his head. “Don’t need cell service if you get within fifty miles, the phones are tied together through BXF’s network. Goodwin launched three satellites into orbit about a year ago. May end up saving our lives someday.”
Ben was already turned away and whispering something to Zach. The boy laughed at whatever it was that Ben had said and put his face in his hands. And as Ben leaned in once more, Ethan laid his hand on his shoulder.
Ethan motioned toward the yet unknown woman seated between Ben and the Mayor. “Aren’t you going to introduce us to your friend?”
“Oh man, I’m such an idiot.”
The others laughed.
“This is Mila Wagner—sorry Mila—she’s from Vegas.”
“Yeah,” Shannon said, “that’s obvious, nice to meet you Mila.”
The others also offered their new friend a warm greeting. One by one smiling and nodding. And as Griffin—the last to speak—finished, Ben was quick to jump back in.
“She lost her parents a few years back.” Ben hesitated, his face changing as he turned to her. “Anyway, she wanted to see California, even if it wasn’t under the best of conditions.”
It was as if every eye in the room had moved to the pretty brunette. Short hair, exotic features, possibly Hawaiian, with the muscles of a gymnast. She smiled shyly, tucked into Ben’s left side and offered the others a wave. “Hello, I’m Mila. I can’t tell you how nice it is to finally meet all of you, well officially anyway.”
Many in the group of twelve looked confused. Mila correctly read their reaction. “I’m sorry, I think I may have met a few of you at the mall in Vegas, my hair was a bit longer then.”
Nods of realization and smiles filled the expansive cafeteria. Helen spoke next. “We’re glad you’re here with us … and safe.”
“Thank you,” Mila said. “Ben has said such wonderful things about all of you.”
Ben momentarily turned away from Zach, appearing to want to give Mila his undivided attention. But as his eyes slowly drifted across the opposite side of the table, he stopped and quickly jumped to his feet.
He pushed away from his chair, looked toward Emma, and held out his arms. “I can’t believe … I mean, I didn’t think to … wait a minute, you’re Ethan’s sister.” His
voice shot up. He was nearly shouting now. “WAIT, YOU’RE EMMA!”
Emma stood as well. She moved away from the table, stepped around Zach, and offered Ben a quick hug. “Yes, I’m the extremely lucky sibling of that guy.”
She also introduced Ben, Mila, and Mayor Gil to Tom before returning to her seat and tossing her arm around Zach. When no one else spoke, she looked back toward the kitchen and said, “You guys hungry?”
Mayor Gil pulled his chair in close to the table and folded his hands. He looked at Ben and Mila, and then back to Emma. “If y’all don’t mind.”
Helen stood and pointed toward the kitchen. “We’ve got plenty. Let me just get in there and put something together real quick.”
On the opposite end of the trio of tables, Tom’s attention was pulled back toward the hall. Looking to Griffin and Boone, he said, “Did you hear that?” He turned to the side and closed his left eye. “Sounds like laughter.”
Ethan moved out of his chair and started for the hall. He had heard something as well, although he couldn’t readily classify it as laughter. There were voices that hadn’t been there before, and given that someone else had confirmed it, he also knew they weren’t simply a byproduct of two solid weeks of abuse to his frontal cortex. Striding to the door, he said, “Stay here, let me see what this is.”
15
Night was maybe an hour away when Bryce again stepped out onto Tenth Street. Sawyer was right on his heels. The pair quickly made their way through the alley behind the forgotten bar and alongside an unfamiliar two-story vintage clothing store. Their target was less than a mile off, although the eerie silence of the surrounding area had the men a bit spooked.
Bryce slowed and peered out from behind the old brick building. “Something isn’t right.”