Afraid of the Dark

by Chris Hechtl

  “What the hell are you doing?” she hissed. “Get back here!”

  “Just a minute,” he said, hefting the bat and gun. He looked around carefully. Nothing. No sign of the cat creatures. Or the others people had been talking about. He went a little further and then stopped when he heard his wife following.

  “Go back inside,” he said turning and motioning her back.

  “I will when you do dummy,” she said. “What's wrong with you?” she demanded stage whispering.

  “I dunno. There's, I dunno,” he turned and winced at the bright sunlight. “Going to be a hot one,” he said. A few of the aliens looked up and turned, placing their backs to the bright sunlight.

  “Something... something,” Shane said softly watching warily. He studied the aliens and then unfocused, trying to think of what he was missing. Something was nagging at his sub consciousness. It wasn't quite there yet.

  “What?” Jen demanded impatiently. He could feel and hear her getting closer slowly. Someone else was at the door. He turned. A few people were coming out and looking around. One guy shielded his eyes from the sun. Suddenly Shane remembered his hypothesis and felt a wave of relief. For once something may have fallen in their favor.

  “I don't see any, just the little ones,” he said, pointing to the occasional alien beast they could see. “None of the hellcats.”

  “Yeah, come on let's get back inside,” Jen urged.

  “No, I'm betting something's going on. We've got a chance here.” He went slowly, hefting the bat in one hand and the shotgun in the other. The animals were all huddled with their backs to the sun, munching away. He watched one tearing at a bush, shaking it. Suddenly it came to him. They were eating the plants. The plants.

  “What are you doing?” his wife hissed eyes wide. “Get back here!”

  “I've got to check,” he said looking over his shoulder, he slowed but didn't stop. “Go inside, but tell everyone to get ready to move. We don't have a lot of time if I'm right,” he said.

  “Will you be quiet?” she said looking around nervously. Trina clutched at her mother from behind. “Damn it!” she said, hands going to the girl. She couldn't follow with Trina there. She couldn't risk it.

  “Just...” he cautiously moved up behind a small creature eating a bush. He made sure to keep to the sun side, but kept his shadow off it. Its four eyes were looking around, but when it looked toward the sun its eyes closed and squinted tight. He pointed the gun but it didn't react. He waited, nervously looking around and then edged closer, slinging the shotgun. The thing was about the size of a dog. His grip on the bat shifted to a two handed striking pose. When it didn't react he went over and slammed it with the bat. Hard.

  The animal squealed and limped. He could feel the shock on the metal bat when he hit the armor plate on top so he refocused his efforts to hit the flanks. He hit it again and again, knocking it off its feet and then hitting its exposed underside until it stopped moving. He poked it with the bat a few times and then he bent and checked. Carefully he pulled at the lips, grimacing at the slimy yellowish drool and tendrils. He flicked yellowish drool away with one hand. He pulled the lips back and smiled. He was right. Jen was going to kick herself for not realizing it sooner.

  “Herbivore. Right,” he said softly looking up. He looked around as he wiped his hand on the animal's hide. Other animals that looked to be the same species were looking at him. Some had plant matter dripping from their mouths. He examined them, shielding his eyes with his hand and bloody bat. Blue blood dripped down onto the pavement. There were at least twenty here in the parking lot, all were eating the plants. They slowly moved off, nervously watching him.

  He looked down to the animal he'd killed. It had small beady eyes, four of them. Unpleasant looking critter. No way would Jen or the kids want one as a pet thankfully. Well, hopefully.

  “Right,” he turned fast at the rapid approach of feet. “What! Damn man, warn a guy!” he said sharply shaking his head at Bill the guard. Bill was looking around wildly, clutching at his gun until his knuckles were white.

  “Dude it ain't safe out here,” Bill said grabbing his arm. “Come on, back inside,” he said urgently, eyes darting around like mad.

  “I think it is. I'm pretty sure it is actually,” he answered shaking the helping hand off.

  “What the hell?” the guard said, pointing his gun at the bludgeoned animal. “What the hell is that?” he looked at Shane.

  “Herbivore. Think of it as a funky looking goat or rabbit.”

  “Some butt ugly mother rabbit.”

  “Yeah, tell me about it. We didn't see these last night Bill. Something tells me they come out to feed during the day.”

  “Um...” Bill looked uncertain. He glanced around nervously.

  “The others, the predators, I'm betting they are nocturnal,” Shane mused, looking around again. Yeah he was pretty sure now. He could smell the blood, it didn't smell coppery like Terran blood but there was definitely a scent. Arsenic? He wasn't sure. Jen might know. At that moment the creature's bowels voided. He moved clear, wrinkling his nose. Most of the bowel movement was undigested plants. Its stomach seemed to deflate.

  “You want to bet your life on that man?” Bill asked.

  “I just did. You did too, we're out here aren't we?” Shane asked amused. He glanced at Bill and then nodded to his wife and son in the doorway. “Bill, if I'm right we've got a very narrow window until all hell breaks loose again. I think we need to bust ass and get what we can done while we can.”

  “Um...” Bill raised his gun and looked around. “Seriously?”

  “You think the predators all left?” Shane asked, waving to the herbivores in the parking lot. “With lunch on the hoof wandering around?”

  “So man, what do we do about it? Kill em?” Bill asked looking at the animals wandering away.

  “We do and we're dog food. They at least are a distraction from us. Without that the predators will have no choice but to hunt us. No, we fort up.” He turned to see the cop Wayne and others approaching slowly. “Listen up!” he said raising his voice. A few startled, looking around nervously. One guy nearly shot himself. He started to tremble. Lois took his gun from him and patted his shoulder. Another guy, Ross, a battered vet looked a bit grim and determined as he passed them.

  “I said listen up. See that?” he waved around. He spun in place for a moment, bat in one hand, shotgun in the other. The bat dripped blood, he used it to nudge the animal he had just killed. “This thing is an herbivore. Cow! The predators, most of 'em anyway aren't around. I'm pretty sure they are nocturnal. They hunt at night. We've got a damn narrow window until they wake up.” he pointed to the rising sun and then to the Western horizon watching the eyes of his audience. Ross and others were catching on fast. Grimly they nodded. “That means we've got to get some shit done as soon as possible.”

  The cop nodded. He tapped his radio. “I'm still not getting anyone,” he said after a moment. “We're on our own.”

  Shane grimaced. He'd expected as much. People were dog food for the predators out in the open. Only behind prepared defenses did they stand a chance. They'd have to do something about that. Now. The first seventy two hours of a crisis were vital. He knew it. So did the cop from the look on his face. “Then we're on our own. Get your gear and we'll hit the stores nearby. Fire sale folks, everything must go.”

  “Where?” a woman, Jayne he thought, asked. She shouldered her way through the crowd. Yup, Jayne. “Here?” she asked indicating the mall.

  “I dunno yet, but we'll figure something out. Right now let's get organized. We're burning daylight, and that just became a really precious commodity.”

  Bill set up a table to arm people. Sports equipment, ammunition, and improvised weapons were there. Guns were in short supply so they were only going to those who knew how to use them. He'd heard small arms were about useless against the aliens, but something was better than nothing. For some just the reassurance of having a weapon around would
get them to go.

  “Hey man, we going out in our cars?” a big black guy said coming over. He hefted a fire ax over his shoulder. “Can I pick up a gun?”

  “You can shoot?”

  “Yeah man, Leon.” He held out his free hand. Shane shook it. “I'm out,” he indicated his holstered pistol. At Shane's inquiring look he shrugged. “I'm a guard, was an armed guard for Securitas. I'm also a sport shooter and FPS gamer.”

  “Okay.” Shane turned in place, lips puckering. A guy was working on a car. He had a battered Sears shirt on. “You Sears man!” he waved. The guy looked up, waved then went back to work. He trotted over to him.

  “You think you can hot wire some of the trucks so we can go shopping?” Shane asked.

  The man dropped the hood and then gave a thumbs up to the driver. The girl turned the key and the engine started. He grinned turning the smile on Shane and Leon. “What do you think I'm doing?” he asked. He pounded the hood. “You're all set.” He waved her off.

  “Walt right?” Shane asked, looking at the name tag sewn onto the guy's shirt.

  “That's my name, don't wear it out,” Walt said and then spat.

  Shane smiled a little then nodded. “Walt, I'm putting you in charge of the motor pool. We need trucks and SUVs to get as much gear and people moved as possible. You up for it?” He checked the guy's face. He was all there, purpose was keeping him focused. Good.

  “Yeah, sure,” Walt said distracted, looking at another group trying to wire a small van. “Yo! Someone go find everyone who drove here and tell them to bring their keys out so we can get this party rolling!” he scowled at a group fighting near a truck. “Ah hell, look boss, I'll get on it, just gimme a minute here,” he said walking off and starting to cuss softly.

  Shane shook his head as he looked at Leon. “He'll get it sorted out. I hope,” he said.

  “Yeah, right,” Leon said dubiously, looking over his shoulder.

  “Hope, and trust,” Shane said. “Come on let's go get you some ammo and something bigger. That pissant revolver isn't worth firing against these things,” he said.

  “Tell me about it,” Leon muttered shaking his head then brightened. “Time for an upgrade,” he said.

  “That's the spirit,” Shane snorted. “Let's find Bill, Wayne, that guy Ross, and a few others, like my wife, and bring them up to speed on my plan.”

  “What is your plan?” Leon asked as they walked.

  “You'll know when they know. Simple really, the ladies will love it. Shopping.” He grinned.

  “Fire sale you said. Everything must go.”

  “Pretty much.”

  Chapter 6

  After a frantic twenty minutes of running around and getting people into teams he called a quick meeting to get them all up to speed on the goals he was laying out for them all.

  A few of the people who had driven in the convoy had been reluctant to come out. They had either forked over their keys or watched their cars being hot wired. A couple looked pissed over that. He didn't care.

  “Okay folks, here's what we're going to do. Walt and his crew scared us up some vehicles to use,” he nodded politely to Walt and the men and women around the big mechanic and then turned to the deputy sheriff standing next to him. “Officer Wayne here,” he touched Wayne on the shoulder, “is going to take a group of volunteers to look for more people, weapons, and a better place to fort up if there is one.” Wayne nodded, hands on his MP-9 SWAT rifle. He had his body armor on and he looked like he was ready for war. Good.

  He turned to Bill. “Bill and Leon here are going to take two teams of armed people to sweep the mall and make double damn sure everything here is locked down tight. Once they are done with the inside they'll check the perimeter and start moving cars and stuff out of the way and form barricades along the perimeter in case we can't find somewhere better.” He nodded to Bill who nodded back.

  “Alfredo Gonzalez, Big Bob, and Art are going to take a team to Lowes over there to get some material to help fort up here or wherever we end up,” he said nodding to each man.

  “Eric, Torrie, TJ, and Ross are our designated grocery shoppers. They are going to hit the grocery stores, restaurants, and other places and stock up on food and anything useful they can find. Ross, you've got security for the group.” He looked at them as Ross nodded back. “Start with the perishables, but don't forget the water and the canned goods.” They nodded in unison. “Each of you pick ten to twenty people and get going here in a sec.”

  “My wife, Jill, Jayne, the rest of you not assigned and the kids are our unload team. You've got about an hour before things start arriving. Plan on where to store it all, clear space in the mall and store rooms. Bulky outdoor stuff stick out here in a wall. We'll build something as we go,” he waved to indicate the food court.

  “Big Bob over there is our architect and contractor. He's going to work with Alfredo to make a plan to seal this place up and turn it into a fortress if we can't find anything better within, oh, two hours or so. That's the plan anyway.”

  “What about you kimosabe?” Alfredo asked.

  “Me?” he asked cocking his head and then hefted his rifle. “I'm going to take a team of volunteers and hit the gun shops,” Shane said, brandishing his shotgun. Many people nodded or looked relieved at that idea.

  “Then we're going to pass out our goodies, then back the rest of you up or go shopping for other stuff and look for better digs on this end of town while Wayne checks other areas and tries to scare up some more support. I'll be breathing down everyone's necks so don't slack off.”

  He pointed to the rising sun. “There is our clock people, no time outs, no resets, no pauses and definitely no do overs. We get one chance to get this right. Ticking clock people, counting down. We've got a shit load to do and not a whole lot of time to do it in.” Wayne nodded to him in agreement. He saluted the cop back nonchalantly.

  “Just so I don't feel lonely,” Bill said with a weak grin. He nodded to Leon who nodded back. “You take one end, I'll take the other,” he said. Leon nodded again.

  “Don't count on it pal, we're all going to be in each other’s pockets soon enough. I figure we've got until sundown before the predators come out. That means we've got a lot to do and only a few hours to do it in. Like I said, ticking clock people.”

  “The marines say the only easy day was yesterday,” Wayne said. “What?” he asked as people looked at him in amused disbelief. “Heard it on NCIS LA I think.” He looked puzzled. “Yeah, yeah...”

  “Not the marines, the Seals homey,” Julio Cortez said with a smirk. The kid was leaning nonchalantly against a car, arms folded across his chest. He was carrying though, they could see the bulging weapon under his oversized shirt. He gave his friends near him an amused look.

  “Right. Let's move people. Julio, you know the area?” Shane asked, coming over and asking quietly as the others dispersed. The young man nodded.

  “Think you can take a couple volunteers to somewhere that has some firepower and bring it back? Plus anyone you find? Take the other side of the 60 and get anything and anyone you can find back here pronto.”

  “I gots to check on my rents man,” the kid said cold sober now. He looked concerned.

  “That's the idea. Bring them and anyone you find back if they want to come. Bring as many guns and as much ammo, food, and water as that thing can haul,” he waved to a Black Chevy Yukon.

  “Seriously?” the kid asked in surprise.

  “You do know how to hot wire a car right?” Shane asked with a knowing smirk. The kid was from the hood, or acted the part. He'd be surprised if he didn't.

  The kid made a snicker and spat. “Do pigs come when you wave a doughnut and call sooee?” Wayne gave him a dirty look from across the way. He snorted and flipped the guy the bird.

  “Whatever just get it done. We've got to get cracking,” Shane said. He slapped the kid on the shoulder. “And Julio?”

  The kid turned. “Yeah Holmes?”

 
“Stay safe man,” Shane said. “We're going to need you.”

  “You know it,” the kid said with a pair of fingers pointing to Shane. “Stay cool bro, I'll be back,” he walked off, whistling. A pair of teens followed. One was a Hispanic girl covered in tattoos and piercings. Shane shook his head.

  “Think we'll see them again?” John asked softly.

  He turned to the cop. “I don't know. Anything is possible. They know it’s safe here for now.”

  “Think we need them?” the cop asked, eyebrow raised.

  “Right now anyone with a gun and the knowledge of how to use it is an asset. Hell, the prisons are probably the safest place to be right now. Fortresses.”

  John shook his head chuckling. He rubbed his temple. “Wanna bet people are beating on the doors trying to get in? First time I've ever thought about being in prison and wanting to be there.”

  “Funny that,” Shane said. “Come on, let's go.” He pulled Jayne aside. “You know...”

  “I know. Get the perishables inside before it gets too hot. Keep everyone hydrated. Get as much water as possible.”

  “Right. I was going to say though to prioritize things. Stick the stuff that can stay out, out of the way or in the courtyard. We'll deal with it when it gets closer to dark. But I was also going to say to get people to fill water jugs. Hell any container that will hold water.”

  “Water?” Jayne asked as Jill and his wife came over. “Keep them hydrated.” She nodded but when she realized he didn't mean just that she blinked. “Why...”

  “Water. Like the lady said on TV. We're not sure how long we're going to have utilities. If this is as widespread as we think that means we may lose water and...”

  “And electricity, gas... shit. I'll tell Alfredo to grab some generators for the refrigerators. And some freezers and fridges for that matter,” she turned and whistled then waved to the team moving off. “Alfredo!” she called. “Walkie-talkies man! And I've got a list!” She waved a clipboard, he wasn't sure where she'd got that from.