The Ending is Everything

by Aaron M. Carpenter

  I slung the assault rifle off my shoulder and carried it in both hands, left hand on the grip, right hand on the trigger. On my left hip was the stun gun. Right hip, the pistol.

  As I crept closer, he heard me and spun around in his chair. “Hey, what are you doing still here? Didn’t you hear the announcement?” I stepped into the light, from the evening darkness. “Sergeant Anderson?”

  “I need you to open a cell,” I said.

  “What?”

  “You heard me.”

  “Which one?”

  “You know which one.”

  “You should know I can’t do that,” he said and rose from his chair. His hands began to move ever so slightly to his hip. I raised the rifle and pointed it right at him.

  “You can.”

  “Maybe. But, I ain’t.”

  “It’s just one cell. You open it and were gone. Never to be heard from again. You can tell them what happened. You won’t get in trouble.”

  “True. I won’t be the one in trouble.”

  “I need you to do this now.”

  “Not gonna happen.”

  “I will shoot you.”

  “Will you? Then you would be in a heap of trouble.”

  “Just do it. Now!” I said, stepping closer to him.

  “Not gonna happen. You can do it yourself,” Brown said. Then he made a move with his right hand to his pistol. I had expected this. I dropped my left hand off the rifle as soon as I saw the movement, pulled the stun gun from my hip and fired before he could get his gun out of his holster. No sound, just a light yell from Brown as he slumped out of his chair shaking.

  “Fuck!” I yelled. I went over to him and grabbed both of his pistols and put them on the table.

  “You ass-sshole,” he said, with tremors still running through him.

  “Tell me how to open the cell.”

  “F-F-Fuck you.”

  “Alright then,” I said and looked at his central computer. This can’t be too difficult, but I just don’t have the time. We need to be gone. There was a main system menu: Prisoners, Blocks, Schedule, Army. I clicked on Blocks. Locks or Lights. I clicked on Locks. Unlock Prisoner or Unlock Block. Oh shit. After all this time. I did not know which cell number Zero was in or even which block. I knew where the cell was, but not the details. That’s when it dawned on me.

  “What are you doing?” Brown said, behind me up on one knee, watching me.

  I turned to him and smiled, “What I have to?” His eyes grew wide as I clicked unlock block. I heard a loud clank to the left. Block six was open. Ten Blocks total. I would have to open them all, and I realized that’s what I needed to do anyway to secure our escape.

  “Stop!” Brown yelled and reached for me. I grabbed the stun gun again and shot him. He went down quick, whimpering and shaking. Block Five. Click. Block Four. Click. Okay, I figured out the pattern. I heard shouting and people running.

  “Cell Block three it should be,” I said aloud. I listened to the unlocking of the cells from the row Zero was imprisoned. I shot Brown one last time with the stun gun, to give me some more breathing room. He called me an asshole again, and I took off running toward Zero’s cell.

  As I moved down cell block three, prisoners of all shapes and sizes were emerging from their cages. They shied away from me as I approached.

  “Zero!” I yelled. From twenty yards down on the left, I heard the response.

  “Blake!”

  I saw him standing outside his dog crate, with a huge smile on his face.

  “You ready?” I said as I approached.

  He was still looking around, in a state of shock, as a group of people ran by us, keeping a wide birth of the two of us. “You did this?”

  “Of course,” I said and handed him the stun gun. “Take this. If anyone gets in our way. Use it.” He held it away from his body. “It’s just a stun gun.”

  “Like the ones the FEMA assholes used on me?”

  “Yep.”

  “Nice.”

  “Now. Can you run?”

  “Hell yeah. Ever since I quit smoking a month ago,” he said, with that Zero smirk.

  “Then let’s get the fuck out of here.”

  We ran. Ran into the desert night.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  12/10/2024

  “Which way,” Zero asked, bent over, hands upon his knees, trying to catch his breath, in the middle of nowhere. After escaping, we ran through the desert for ten minutes straight. Over desert brush, rocks and unidentifiable obstacles. Thankfully, a half-moon overhead projected just enough light to see large objects. We settled at a slow trot, as it was no use escaping only to break an ankle or leg. At first, many prisoners ran with us into the desert, but they weaved their own route, and now it was just the two of us.

  “Keep heading the way we’re headed,” I said, also breathing heavy. That direction, I believed, was southwest. “We should see the camp lights shortly.” It was only a ten-minute drive from the Army compound to the main camp, but that was a twisted route via the main road. I figured if we cut through the desert in a straight line we would be there in twenty minutes at this pace.

  “As you say, boss,” Zero said.

  We ran a short distance further when a slight glow began to materialize to our left on the horizon. I grabbed Zero by the shoulder and pointed. Then, as the light grew brighter, we heard, what sounded like firecrackers, popping off, intermittently, in the distance. With the destination in sight, we ran as quickly as we could, our boots kicking up the desert dirt as we went. After five minutes of hard running, the camp appeared below us, just as we crested a small ridge. More gunshots, intermingled with screaming voices, echoing across the desert. As we descended the hill, we found ourselves in the parking lot for the camp. I kneeled behind a car and caught my breath, Zero followed suit.

  “Here’s the plan, you get to your truck, get it running and ready to go,” I said. “I will find the group and bring them to you.”

  “Umm. I don’t have my keys.”

  “Can you hotwire it?”

  “What do you think I am? Some master thief?”

  “Damn Zero, we need a vehicle to get out of here,” I said. Why didn’t I think about keys before now? “Are they in the tent?”

  “No. They took them when we arrived.”

  “Fuck. We need that truck. We’re running out of time.”

  “I got it. I will have the truck ready.”

  “How?”

  “I have a spare key in the wheel well somewhere,” he said, and I raised my fist to punch him in the arm. “What? I forgot.”

  “Okay, whatever, just get it running. Stay back here along this back row. This is-” I looked at the lights surrounding the camp and counted, starting at the east edge of the camp. “Light number ten, count to twenty-four and your car should be somewhere along that row.”

  “Got it.”

  “Good luck.”

  “You too,” he said. Then with that wry, Zero smile, turned and ran off into the night.

  I began making my way west, hiding behind cars. I snaked my way through the parking lot. I could hear an array of commotion in the camp, but nothing I could see, even though the exterior lights were shining at full power. The lights were supposed to be at half power after ten, but I guess not on this night. At light number fifteen, I saw the entrance gate, that lead onto the auxiliary road that ran along the outside of the camp. I approached the gate and put on my soldier face. Opened the gate and ran across the road to the inner fence and its gate. That gate was open as well, which surprised me, these were usually locked. I entered the camp. I could hear shouting more clearly now. The center of the camp, with all the FEMA trailers and trucks, was to my left. A small glow emanated from the middle of the camp. A fire maybe.

  I turned and ran to my right. Past Section BH.

  Hurried through section BI.

  I saw no other soldiers. A group of people, ran in my direction, toward the fence. They turned and began to climb t
he fence as I approached them. They stopped dead in their tracks when they saw me in my Army uniform. A man clung to the fence, halfway to the top, like a lizard on a desert wall. I ignored them and ran on.

  Section CB.

  One more section and I was there. I kept my rifle at the ready as I ran. On my right, I saw some soldiers running the opposite direction on the road between the fences. Probably to stop those trying to escape.

  Section CC.

  I turned down the mess hall path. Ten rows of CC.

  Section CD. Row 3.

  I was there. I ran down the row. More people got out of my way. All quickly returning to their tent at my sight. I didn’t care.

  Tents thirty-six and thirty-seven.

  I burst into tent thirty-six… and was immediately punched in the face. My legs buckled.

  “Blake!” I heard Jenna yell.

  I looked up at Jenna, Aaron, and Ethan. All looking like they saw a ghost, mouths open, eyes wide.

  “Sorry man,” Aaron said and was trying to help me up. I stood and tried to catch my breath. “I didn’t mean... I thought you were...Well, I guess you are.”

  I tried not to laugh. “I guess we’re even now,” I said while rubbing my jaw.

  Jenna jumped into my arms. Ethan came up and gave me a hug as soon as Jenna pulled away.

  “I appreciate the warm welcome, but we have to go now,” I said once the air was back in my lungs.

  “Go?” Aaron said.

  “What’s going on?” Ethan asked.

  “The camp is falling apart as you can hear,” I said. A loud gunshot went off not far from us. “See.”

  “Fuck me,” Ethan said.

  “You have one minute, then were gone,” I said, when Kaitlyn, Drew, Alicia and the children came into the tent.

  “What?” Drew said. I turned around.

  “Blake!” Kaitlyn said, and for the second time in twenty seconds, a beautiful woman jumped into my arms.

  “Blake, what are you…?” Alicia asked. “What happened?”

  “No time to explain.”

  “At least give us something?” Drew said.

  “Joined Army. Broke Zero out of prison. Zero is at the truck. We are leaving in one minute,” I said with Kaitlyn still in my arms.

  “Well. Okay then,” Ethan said.

  “Zero is okay?” Drew asked.

  “For now,” I said. “Look I know everyone has questions, but we have to go.”

  Everyone began packing bags. No suitcases, backpacks only. Drew’s family, along with Kaitlyn went to tent thirty-seven. I found my backpack in the corner. Grabbed some underwear, and threw a pair of dirty pants inside along with a long sleeve t-shirt, and my only coat. I left everything else.

  Outside, the sound of gunfire grew louder, as I waited for everyone. It took two minutes, but eventually, they were all outside.

  Alicia handed me The Hobbit and said, “Don’t want to forget this.”

  “Thanks,” I said and slid the backpack off my back and jammed the book inside. I stood up readjusted my rifle and helmet and said, “There is a gate to the west of here. It may be locked, but that’s where we’re headed. If it’s locked, I’ll break it. Ethan, Aaron and I up front. Then Jenna, Kaitlyn. The Children, Alicia and Drew at the rear. If you have to carry them,” I said, pointing at the crying and scared children. “Carry them. No matter what happens, we must keep going. This place is going to get nasty soon, we need to get out now.”

  They all looked at me, and I realized how scared they were. I had spent the last two weeks with soldiers. Now, I was back with my friends, and I needed them to understand the stakes, even just a little.

  “Let’s go,” I said, and we headed off.

  The chaos had grown in the last five minutes. People running, going in all directions. Rapid gunfire was heard, thankfully it came from the opposite direction we were headed. Ethan, Aaron and I began to get ahead of the rest of the group. So, I slowed down a bit, the rest followed suit.

  “We need to pick up the pace,” I said.

  “I know,” Alicia said, but she was struggling with Natalie who was crying intensely and thrashing in her mother’s arms.

  I stopped and went back to her. Aaron and Ethan stopped as well, but I waved them on. “When you get to the fence wait for us.” They turned to run on. “Wait,” I yelled, and they turned around. A group of five men ran by us almost knocking Kaitlyn to the ground. “Take this,” I said as I handed my handgun to Ethan. “The safety’s off,” I stated with a smile. Ethan took the gun and ran along with Aaron and Jenna followed. I motioned to Alicia. “Give Natalie to Drew.” To Drew. “I will take Jane.” Drew handed me Jane. Alicia handed the crying Natalie to Drew. “How you doing?” I said to Jane. She didn’t say anything. “You ready to go home?”

  “Really?” she asked.

  “Yes, but we need to go, so hold on real tight. Okay?”

  “Okay.”

  I ran ahead, Drew behind me. Alicia and Kaitlyn at our sides. Another group almost collided with us and were about to yell something when I pointed my rifle, now held in my left arm, at them, Jane in my right arm. They took off south into the night.

  We finally emerged from section CC into the dirt warning track ten yards from the interior fence. Twenty yards to my left I spotted Ethan, Aaron, and Jenna, standing against the fence. They saw us and pointed.

  We ran to meet up with them.

  Also to the left, forty yards down, I saw two soldiers heading toward the unaware cluster at the fence. I slowed, put Jane down and pointed. “Behind you!”

  The soldiers were already aimed at the group at the fence. I pulled my M4A1 level and ran. Ethan turned around with the gun in his hand.

  Just as I arrived, I felt a warm mist of moisture spray across my face and heard the automatic rifle. To my right, Ethan, Jenna and Aaron all collapsed.

  Ethan had lost the side of his face.

  Aaron was gurgling blood from a neck wound.

  Jenna was crying, hands over her head, on the ground between them.

  “He had a gun,” I heard the soldier say.

  I closed my eyes. I recognized that voice.

  “Sergeant Anderson?”

  I turned, they were ten feet in front of me, gun raised and for a split second, the shock of recognition made them lower their weapons just enough. I rose my weapon, aimed and pulled the trigger. Twice in quick succession. I shot both Private Gooding and Private Jensen before they knew what happened.

  It was quick. Like most horrible things. I went over to where Gooding and Jensen lay. Jensen was bleeding from the neck, but still alive, blood bubbling around his gasping lips. Gooding was dead from a bullet wound through the forehead, his helmet hung slightly askew on his head. His eyes wide open staring into nothingness.

  “Helppmmm,” Jensen tried to say. Arms outstretched reaching out to me, grabbing my leg.

  “Sorry,” I said and shot him in the head.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  12/10/2024

  I felt nothing. I should have. I didn’t.

  I grabbed Jensen’s weapons. Put the pistol on my left hip, in the band of my pants. Slung the rifle over my left shoulder, turned around and went back to where Jenna and the rest were crying over the bodies of Ethan and Aaron.

  Ethan’s right side of his face was gone. The bullet entered his left cheek and exploded out the right side of his face. Bone and brain matter littered the chain-link fence behind him.

  My best friend, from the age of five, was dead.

  Killed by soldiers, I had trained.

  I reached up to my face and with my index finger ran it down the side of my cheek and looked at the blood that must be covering my face.

  Aaron was dead as well. He bled out from the neck wound.

  Jenna was crying in between them. Alicia and Kaitlyn were trying to get her up.

  “Jenna, are you hit?” I asked. No response. I knelt next to her and did a cursory pat down to make sure she had not been shot. She had
not.

  I heard more gunshots to the south. I stood up.

  “We have to go,” I said. They looked at me like I spoke a foreign language.

  “Blake, what did you do?” Kaitlyn asked.

  “What I had to. We need to go.”

  Jenna kept whimpering on the ground, saying, “No... No... No...”

  “Kaitlyn, help me get her up.” I reached down to Jenna.

  “No. Leave me be!” she yelled.

  “We need to go!” I yelled right back. I grabbed her by her arm and pulled her up. She just slumped in my arms like a bag of sand.

  The children were back in their parent’s arms, both parents had a hand on the back of each child’s head forcing their faces away from the bodies.

  “Kaitlyn, grab her other arm. Help me, or we all end up like this!” I pulled Jenna’s left arm around my shoulder. Kaitlyn lifted her right side and put Jenna’s right arm around her neck.

  We began to move. Leaving the two bodies behind.

  Jenna just kept crying in between whispering, “No.” But, she slowly began to walk. It took ten minutes, but we eventually reached the gate. It was open. Others in the camp went through just as we arrived, two teenagers who were just as surprised as we were at the gate being open. They went through laughing.

  Drew and Alicia walked through, children in hand, followed by Kaitlyn and me, guiding the weeping Jenna. Across the dirt road, we went, to the outer fence and through that open gate. Then just as quickly entered the parking lot.

  “Hold up here,” I said, helping Jenna to the ground behind a 1990s Plymouth. Hiding in the shadows cast by the cars we all sat down and caught our breath. The children still wrapped around their parents. Kaitlyn had her arm around Jenna. I stood up and looked at the camp. I saw more people trying to climb the fence and into the parking lot.

  “Zero should be at his truck about ten rows down,” I said, pointing to the east. “Stay low and move quickly between the rows, when I give the go-ahead.” I looked at Kaitlyn who now had Jenna’s head on her chest, right arm around her. “Kaitlyn, you got Jenna?” Kaitlyn nodded an affirmative. “I will lead.” I stood up, keeping my head low. “Let’s go.”