by Chris Hechtl
The anchor looked around left and right, apparently both ways were blocked. Then something ripped through the set backdrop and dragged him back screaming.
The woman was hysterical, shrieking and kicking. Something got her leg and began to drag her. Frantically she kicked and clawed at things but she was dragged off. They heard a wet crunch and then munching sounds.
The lights blinked and then went out. They could just make out stuff from the emergency lighting as something knocked the camera over onto its side, breaking the lens. They could see what looked like a reptilian chimp tear into it and then the signal went to static.
“What the hell?” Julio demanded. He began to shake his head. “No man, this, this is a joke right? One of those things, you know, Scare tactics or something,” he looked around. Finally he looked at Wayne in earnest appeal.
Wayne shook his head as Bill finished taping his arm. “It is no joke kid. Come on,” he said getting off the edge of the desk and hefting his shotgun. “Grab a pistol and plenty of ammo. You're going to need it. You've just been deputized,” he said moving off. Bill nodded and followed.
Julio stood there, stunned until Bill yelled. “You coming or what?” he demanded.
Julio looked around and then hastily grabbed stuff from the armory. “Shit man, I ain't dying alone. Wait up!” he yelled, heading after them at a trot.
Shane swerved around wreckage, Everywhere was carnage, screams, roars, screeching, metal rending,the crackle of gun fire and real fire. He glanced in the rear view mirror, all three kids were hunkered down, not looking, Jen had taken the night vision goggles from Nick.
The road ahead was blocked, three cars had collided and one had flipped on its side. There was no sign of anyone around. Cursing under his breath he cut the wheel to the right, up onto a curb. Jen clung to the oh shit bar as he drove along it to get around the obstacle.
“Hope there aren't many more of those,” he muttered glancing in the rear view to make sure Jayne and the others followed. Fortunately he could still see her headlights.
“Look out!” Jen said, pulling the wheel. A figure, human darted out screaming. Something, an animal, was chasing her. Jen's pull on the wheel swerved them around the girl but not the animal. They felt the impact then the car bucked as they drove over it. He slowed and looked back.
“Did we hit someone?” Nick asked, looking over his shoulder.
“I don't think so,” Jen said, “God I hope not,” she said softly. They could see the thing get up on all fours and stagger. Jayne swerved into it, slamming it to the side and into a light pole. It fell with a crunch but kept trying to get up.
“Damn things are hard to kill,” Shane muttered, eyes on the rear view mirror.
“Will you keep your eyes on the road!” Jen growled, flashing her eyes at him. He gave her a tight nod, eyes front.
A man jumped out into his headlights waving his arms, he looked desperate. They pulled up and he rushed over. “Thank you thank you,” the man said. Shane could see blood dripping from the guy's face. “Get in quick,” he said. “Trunk,” he said hitting the release. The man nodded and waved, a family huddling under the streetlight nearby came over and climbed in. The man pulled the door shut and they could hear his wife sobbing.
“We're heading to the mall. It’s the best I can think of,” Shane said.
“Whatever man, as long as it ain't here,” the man said. “Name's Robert Jones, call me Bob. My friends call me Big Bob.”
“Okay Bob, we'll get your family some medical attention as soon as we can. Just hang in there,” he said, glancing at Jen and then speeding up.
He looked back to see Jayne slow to pick up a man being chased by a pack of animals. The man dived into her passenger window head first but one of the animals had caught up and bounded after them. It latched onto a kicking leg and hung on. Shane winced as it twisted and flopped against the side of the car, not letting go. The man must be freaked, he thought. He made the turn and they were out of sight for a moment. When Jayne came around the bend she came around fast. The animal and the guy's torn bloody leg whipped around onto the hood. It slammed into the windshield and then let go, bouncing off it flopped over the roof to fall to the roadside. The next car in line ran over it as it passed.
“Good riddance,” Bob said. Shane glanced back at him and then nodded.
They could hear alarms going off everywhere. Fires were tearing the apartment complex apart. Some people had gotten into the school, they were breaking into class rooms to hide but it looked like the alien animals were following. As they passed a few people milling about pointed and then waved. A few others got in their cars and followed.
They passed an animal attacking an electrical utility box. It kept slamming itself against the metal, screaming and clawing. Finally it got its head in and tore at something. It seemed to freeze in place suddenly jerked and then slumped. As it did they heard a crackle and popping sound and all the lights in that neighborhood cut off all at once.
“Damn it! Isn't there anyplace safe?” Jen muttered. She shivered at the sight of four red eyes glowing in the dark. After a moment more began to appear.
“The mall,” Shane said. He raised his voice and glanced at the mirror. “I'm the security commander for the mall. I've got one of my people on duty; he said the entire area is dead, very little alien activity there.”
“What the hell are they? Aliens you said?” Bob asked.
“Yeah, remember that meteor shower they've been talking about in the news?” Jen asked, turning in her seat to look at them. She stroked Trina's head. The girl looked up and then back down, stroking her cat.
“Yeah,” Bob said. His wife was dabbing at his forehead. Head wounds gushed freely since the blood vessels were so close to the skin. “You mean those? This is Armageddon?” he asked.
“More like invasion,” Nick said. “We'll kick their asses, just as soon as we get our feet under us,” he said. “I think.”
“Damn straight kid,” Bob growled. Jen and Shane both nodded. Nick smiled a little.
“I guess all your video games are about to pay off,” Jen teased. She watched him flash a grin and duck his head a little. She reached out and rubbed his hair and then caressed the girls. “How are you hanging in there?” She asked.
Trina sobbed, hugging the cat, but didn't look up. Tori did, she had tears in her eyes but she was tracking. Jen stroked her cheek. “We'll get to the mall soon honey,” she said.
“It’s never going to be the same again is it?” Tori asked.
“I don't know honey,” Jen said. She caressed the girl's hair and then as the car swerved again she sat back, looking at the road ahead. “I just don't know,” she said again, softly.
...*...*...*...*...
They all were on edge as they left the heavy residential areas of Moreno Valley and turned on Sunnymead. It was a mess, people were running around, there was a gas fire and fire trucks nearby were abandoned, only parts of the street were lit.
They slowed to cut through a parking lot to get around an accident. Shane looked back as he splashed through the water gushing from an open fire hydrant. A fireman stepped into view, clutching at one arm, injured. He waved feebly. Shane pulled up and dropped his window down. He took the first aid kit from Jen's lap and handed it to the man. The man tucked it under his injured arm.
“Get in with Jayne behind us. She's got wounded with her I think,” he said jerking his thumb. The man nodded and hobbled over to the next car. Shane waited until he had the door open and then started moving again.
They passed the hotels on the right, most were lit up and strangely the aliens weren't around. People were nervously looking out of the windows.
Jen reached down and turned the radio on. She went through the channels but only got static, even on the satellite stations. “What's wrong with this thing? You don't suppose that impact knocked it out?” she asked. “Or did they?” she asked, eyes suddenly going wide as she looked at him.
He cut his
eyes to her and then shrugged a little. She placed her hand on his arm. He reached over and patted it. “We'll get through this Jen,” he murmured. She squeezed his arm. He maneuvered around another wreck, in front of Chuck-e-cheese. Carefully he pulled to the left, driving down the wrong side of the road.
“Hope no one comes flying around that corner,” Jen said. He nodded. He made it to the corner just as a car came flying up. It blew through the intersection, he just caught the approaching lights in his peripheral vision and slammed on the brakes, throwing everyone forward.
“Damn that was close,” he growled watching the car fly by and then looking for more. When no more seemed to be coming he turned onto Frederick and then made the right onto Centerpoint drive.
“We're nearly there,” he said.
“It’s quiet,” Bob observed, looking out the windows. His wife was huddled down, stroking their children's heads.
“See anything?” Shane asked, glancing in the mirror. Jen and the kids were looking too. The Towngate shopping complex was lit up and deserted.
“Are we forting up here?” Bob asked.
“The mall. There is a police substation there and a small medical kit we can access,” Shane replied. “There is also a dentist office and a crap load of food.”
“Oh,” Bob said. He glanced out the back to the long line of cars behind them. “Lot of people,” he said.
“Yeah,” Shane said. “Looks like we picked up tag alongs,” he said in amusement.
“People will follow anyone if they point in the right direction. Even if it’s the wrong one.”
“Panic will do that to you. We're just going to have to get them out of their shock and moving fast.”
“Easier said than done.”
“We've got a lot of people,” Shane mused. “Resources are going to be stretched. The good news is the more we have the more bases we can cover.”
“The more the merrier,” Jen said looking and then looking out her side. The 60 freeway was packed. People were honking, shouting and screaming at each other. Total gridlock. “Do they even know where they are going? Do we?”
“Better than home miss,” Bob said from the back. “My place was swarming.”
“We weren't that bad but it was bad enough,” Shane said, turning onto Towngate circle. “Home stretch,” he said smiling. There were cars in the parking lot, it was lit up and he couldn't see any of the alien creatures in the bright lights. “Looks deserted.”
“Thank god,” Bob's wife said fervently.
“We'll change that,” Jen said looking behind them again as they made the final right turn into the parking lot. They raced for the lower Sears entrance. “I think I see Bill and someone else by the doors,” she said. “Two other guys,” she pointed out.
Shane looked. Sure enough the big guard was standing near the door. When they pulled up he waved to them urgently. “Go, I'll get out of the way so others can park,” he said. Jen glanced at him and then squeezed his hand and piled out, taking her purse, weapons, and bag with her.
“Grab what you can folks, we may need it later,” he said. He leaned out. “Drop off and park,” he said waving to Jayne next in line. She nodded.
“Bob get your family in and get someone upstairs to keep an eye on the other entrance,” Shane said as Bill opened the door and waved urgently. There was a man there with him, a deputy sheriff from the look of the torn uniform. He was holding a pistol and nervously looking around. There was a third guy behind them, a scared looking Hispanic kid.
...*...*...*...*...
“Come on, get in here,” Bill said urgently waving. “We don't have all night,” he said. He looked at the long train of cars and grimaced. “Shit, you bring the entire town?”
“What's left of it, it seems,” Jen said passing. She went inside and pointed to Nick. “Go take your sisters that way to electronics then meet me in power tools,” she said.
“Power tools?” Nick asked lifting the goggles.
“Your father is going to want to fort up. I know him,” she said.
“Good, I'm a contractor, I'll help as soon as I get my family settled,” Bob said passing. “Your husband said...”
“I know. Ma'am, go with the girls over that way, let's keep the door clear for incoming people,” she said as people stepped inside and then hesitated. She moved to one side and then nodded to Jayne as she helped a wounded man in. A fireman was holding the guy up on the other side. He was losing a lot of blood. He had claw and bite marks all over his right side and leg.
“We've got a tourniquet on the leg but if we don't get him stable soon he'll bleed out,” she said.
“We should leave him. The blood man, it'll attract the animals!” a woman said hysterically. She was shaking her head, eyes wide.
“Shut it lady, get a grip,” Nick snarled. “Dad's working it out, just chill.” He waved her on. His mother and Jayne flashed him an approving tight lipped smile and then went back to work.
“Where is he?” Jen muttered craning to see past the crush of people.
“Probably playing rear guard,” Jayne said coming back. Jen looked at her. “He's settled as best we can and the paramedic is with him. I sent someone up to get cushions and blankets. Hopefully the wounded won't go into shock. We need to get them to Riverside medical. It’s just down the street,” she said.
“Not happening,” Jen said hefting a screw gun. “We're here for the duration.”
“What are you going to do with that?” Jayne asked amused. “Screw them to death?”
“No, um...” She looked at it, realized it was tethered to the display so she set it down and grabbed a package nearby. She started ripping it open.
“He's going to want to fort up. We're going to need to block the entrances once we've got everyone inside,” she said as Bob and a few men came over. A few were sporting guns, a few had sporting equipment. One or two had children's night vision goggles like Nick had. She blessed the guy who made them. Nick might complain about how bad they were, but right now, something, anything, was better than nothing. She snorted at the guy holding a hockey stick. He dropped it in favor of an electric chain saw.
“Bob, top entrance?” she asked.
“Secure for now. You're right though, we need to get them barricaded. They are just glass,” he said looking at the display of tools. Someone flipped the lights on and they all blinked and covered their eyes until they adjusted.
“Thank you whoever for that,” Bob growled sarcastically.
“Sorry,” a voice said from down the way. He snorted and waved a dismissive hand.
“Bob, grab some volunteers and gear and head up there, keep an eye on both entrances and check for more. We'll send someone else up in a minute,” Shane said coming in. “Folks this is Deputy Wayne, he's going to help us secure the area.”
Wayne nodded at the looks he was getting. He knew he was in a position of authority but right now he felt like a dog's chew toy. “We'll do our best.”
“Bill checked, there aren't any aliens in the mall yet. So let's keep it that way if we can. We're going to send people to each entrance to secure them and keep a watch.” He turned so they could see people muscling appliances towards the doors. Only a few people were still trickling in.
“This place is a sieve,” a man said shaking his head. “We should have found someplace else,” he said.
“We'll we're here now,” Jayne growled hefting her own screw gun. “I have no intention of going back out there if I can help it. So I say we get to work. We've got a lot to do and I'm not in the mood to play games. Anyone see some plywood or screws?” she asked. “Or can anyone work a welder?”
“We'll work it out,” Shane said nodding to the others. He patted Jen on the shoulder and then glanced at another man holding an ax. It still had a piece of cardboard hanging from the handle. “Go find some of the furniture kits. The stuff that's not put together. Shelves, desks, book cases, and stuff like that. We can use that for now until we can get plywood.”
“They're scared,” Jen said softly.
“Ain't we all?” Bob growled. “Can't lock up,” he said. “We've got to keep them moving, they start pissing themselves and turtle and we're all screwed.”
“Gotta get back on the horse,” Bill said with a nod. She glanced at him. “People who have a bad traumatic experience lock up, if they let the fear rule them they'll shut down,” he said.
“Bill get to security and check the monitors,” Shane said turning back to them. “I've got someone here in the Sears office but we need someone in Mall security keeping an eye on the entire perimeter.”
“Got it here boss,” Bill said pulling out his smart phone. He tapped at it and then showed them. “See?” they could see a split four way screen of various video screens. “Got this remember?”
“Shit, I forgot,” Shane said shaking his head.
“Couldn't remember everything boss. We just debugged it last week,” Bill said in commiseration. “Your phone's probably not set up for it.”
“Thanks,” Shane said with a nod. “Everything is still clear?”
“Yeah, I've got people milling about everywhere though boss, what do we do about merchandise?” he asked. He winced at Shane's expression. “Sorry had to ask.”
“Don't worry about it. Right now saving lives is the name of the game. Speaking of which get someone to find medical kits. First aid kits and the trauma kit we've got in security. Use clothes if we have to.”
“Roger,” Bill said. Nick came up behind him and bumped into him. “Kid don't do that!” he said, hand going to his gun.