Afraid of the Dark

by Chris Hechtl

  “Not for long though,” Ross muttered. He looked over his shoulder to the kid. “Take a car and go get them. You and you,” he pointed to an adult.

  “Me?” the guy said getting off the box he'd been sitting on. “Why me?”

  “Cause you're just sitting on your ass. Might as well do something useful. Get the people or find out what's going on then get back here.”

  “Whatever man, come on kid,” the man said waving to the boy.

  “Yeah, hey can I drive?” the kid asked bouncing.

  “Not on my life kid. What are you twelve?”

  “Fourteen.”

  “Ask again in a year or so kid. Now let's move,” he said. Their voices faded. After a moment they could hear an engine start and then the car roared off. Ross winced.

  Ross nodded to the blood splattered man with a stethoscope around his neck. “You in charge?” he asked. It had taken them ten minutes to get to where Ross was parked overseeing the groups looting the stores.

  “Doctor Niederman,” Jerry said, looking back to the others. “And boy am I glad to see you. We've well... we're what's left.”

  “Left of what?” Ross asked.

  “Of the medical clinic. The monsters, they got in through urgent care and...” He shrugged helplessly.

  Ross nodded. He realized they were each on the ragged edge of sanity, this was too much. “Aliens doc. I take it they got in and you found a place to hide?” The doctor nodded.

  Ross pursed his lips. “What are you trying to accomplish now may I ask?”

  “Get away. Go somewhere safe.”

  “No such animal or place right now doc, but we've got the best in the area if you're up for it.”

  “Really?” Jerry asked tiredly. His hand shook. “I've um, got a lot of patients to move. I was trying to find a vehicle or two to start moving people.”

  “Well, we can transport them. That's not a problem,” Ross said. “And the good news is, it's not very far. Less than a mile really.” He waved to the others. “Pavel, Jerk-face whatever the hell you're name is. Go round up some people and trucks and head to the medical clinic. Once you've moved the people clean out the equipment and stores. Fire sale, same as here. Make sure you clear out the galley and vending machines and pharmacy. Everything. Even the staff lunch areas.”

  “Shit,” one of the guys muttered shaking his head as he turned away.

  “You want medical when you need it?” another asked as he brushed him in passing. “Come on we're losing daylight and it’s getting fricken hot out.”

  “Yeah, yeah,” the other sighed.

  “Who's in charge?” Pavel asked with a Russian accent.

  Ross took a look at him and the young man straightened under the intense gaze. After a moment of sizing him up Ross nodded. “For now you are. Listen to the doctors though.”

  “I'm it,” Jerry said pursing his lips. “I was in the back of urgent care when they hit. We were swarmed with people and then the monsters, I mean aliens, came and well...”

  “You're lucky you're alive doc. Do what you can for whoever you find. Get them back to the mall.”

  “The mall?” Jerry asked in surprise.

  “Least you won’t have far to go doc. We'll set up a better triage center for you. The one we've got right now has a slightly chewed up paramedic running the show.”

  “Okay,” Jerry nodded. Ross grimaced and pulled out his thermos and passed it to him. “What's this?” he asked.

  “Drink it. Last I've got,” Ross growled. Jerry took a belt and grinned. “Yeah its coffee,” Ross said snorting softly. “Too early for a drink even if everyone and his brother needs one right about now. Or at least thinks they do. Me, I'd rather be sober and clear headed for what's coming.”

  “And what's coming?” Jerry asked.

  “Nightfall,” Ross growled, looking at the setting sun with a sullen pock marked face. “We're against the clock doc, when it sets the predators come out again.”

  “Shit. I've got a couple people, a wounded cop went in the other direction. I think she was going to find help. Her name is Torres.”

  “We'll find her doc,” Ross said with a nod. “Get your people together and help Pavel move the critical stuff right away.”

  “All right,” Jerry said with a nod finishing the coffee. “Sorry.” He handed the thermos back.

  “No problem, you needed it more than me. Hopefully someone has more at the mall when we get in. Going to be a long day and an even longer night.”

  Jerry took in a shuddering breath as he now looked at the setting sun. “Yeah,” he sighed.

  “What are you doing?” Bob demanded as people moved into the JC Penny store. He'd seen trucks pulling up to the lower entrance but hadn't known what they were doing until he'd had the time to get closer. When he had seen them unloading hospital equipment and even people on IV’s and stretchers he was about ready to drop kick all of them someplace, anyplace else.

  “Setting up a hospital, what does it look like?” Doctor Niederman said giving him a look. The surviving staff was working on moving the wounded and equipment into the building. Some had torn down the coverings over the lower entrance to get in.

  “Um... anyone bother to inform us?” Bob asked. “I mean, I am the guy in charge of securing this place.”

  “They just did,” Jayne said shaking her head. “How are you doing doc?” She gave him a look. “Jerry right? We've met.”

  “Right,” he said shaking her hand absently. He was still a little beat but that coffee had helped revive him a little. Jayne took a good look at him and then nodded again.

  “Don't they have a perfectly good place down the street?” Bob demanded. He waved his hand in the general direction angrily. They had just been swarmed with people from the hotels and the condos in the area. The mall was a zoo.

  “Had. We were swamped with wounded until the aliens came,” Jerry said shaking his head. “The chief on duty locked us in and died saving us. But the place is all glass on the ground floor. Or was, most of its been shattered. We can't be secure there. Some guy named Ross sent me here,” he said waving.

  “Yeah, I can understand that,” Jayne said looking around.

  “Okay, I feel you there. But we've got a lot of people,” Bob said spreading his hands.

  “So do we,” the doctor said. He suddenly grinned at a woman fighting against the flow of the crowd. “Stacy?” he yelled. Her head snapped up and to him. Her eyes filled with tears and she stumbled and then came running, hand to her mouth. She flung her arms around him.

  “I take it that's a friend,” Jayne said glancing at Bob. Bob looked a little embarrassed at the woman who was embarrassing the doctor. She was practically grafting herself to him. “Come on, let's give them a moment,” she said jerking her head to one side. Bob nodded and followed her a few meters away.

  “What the hell are we going to do?” Bob asked.

  “Put it this way Bob, do you want access to modern medical care? You know what we're up against, and how easily people can get hurt in war, let alone construction right?” she asked. His lips puckered. She nodded as his face cleared. “Thought so. So do I and everyone here. There is a little trauma bag around here we've used up already. Soooo, let's let the doctor have his store.”

  “The entire place?” Bob asked annoyed.

  “He's got a lot of wounded. We do too. In fact I'll turn over our wounded to him. He's trained to take care of them. We'll get them set up. Imagine turning this place into a micro hospital Bob,” she said indicating the building.

  “What about county? Or the other hospital? Or those offices on Alessandro?”

  “All either swarmed or overwhelmed. I'm not sure, but they don't have space or a defensible set up. We do.”

  “Seriously?” he asked. “I thought this was all temporary!” he said. He looked about ready to cry. She felt for him, but they didn't have the time.

  “I don't see the aliens going anywhere anytime soon Bob,” she explained gently. “There
is unfortunately plenty of meat around to hunt,” she said flicking her fingers at all the people around. The big man gulped and paled. “That means we've got to take steps to protect our remaining population. Keep a sliver of society going. A nucleus we can build from to take back the area over time,” she said.

  He looked around thoughtful. “I...” His face sobered even more. “Is it really that bad?” he asked after a moment. She nodded.

  “Think of the mall as a castle right?” she asked. He nodded in reply. “Macy's and the ground stores can be the barracks. Food court and restaurants are the galley. That wall you're building is going to be our curtain wall,” she said.

  “What wall?” he asked. She pointed to the wall of goods being deposited around the perimeter. “Oh, that one,” he said.

  “It’s temporary. Think of concrete, rebar, steel and defenses,” she said. “You're a contractor, go wild. Well, not too wild.”

  “I already did actually,” he said nodding. “I was focusing on the building actually,” he said.

  “Building first yes, but we're going to push the perimeter out in stages,” Bill said coming up behind them and nodding. “I know my boss, he'd insist on it if he was here. It’s easier to hold them off at a distance than at your door. How is it going?” he asked.

  Bob nodded to him. Jayne shrugged and turned to him. “A few teething issues we're working out. We need to get this hospital sorted out though.”

  “I've got more wounded coming in actually,” Bill said motioning to a dozen vans and cars coming down Centerpoint in a convoy. The other two and others around them looked. “We've got hundreds of people coming in. Some of them wounded. We're going to need facilities set up soon,” he said glancing at Bob.

  “Which is on me,” Bob said grimacing. “Tamara had it right I guess. I figured a small store next to the dentist office would work,” he said.

  “Not with this amount,” Jayne said moving off to help an injured woman out of a van. Drivers were getting out calling to others to help. “I gather everywhere else is overwhelmed and we're the last resort.”

  “Lucky us.”

  “Save what we can Bob. Our friends and neighbors deserve whatever we can do. I don't want them out there waiting to die, waiting to be eaten,” Bill said. Bill muttered something else but didn't speak up when they looked at him.

  Bob shivered and then nodded. “Shit,” was all he said as he swung back into action. The big security guard watched the unloading for a moment, nodded when he recognized the signs of organization in the seeming chaos of the moment and then moved off to work on the next project. They had a lot to do and not a whole hell of a lot of time to do it in.

  Chapter 8

  They pulled up to the U-haul and stopped. “What gives man?” “Thought we were on the clock?” the guys in the back said. Shane leaned back and looked at Dave. Dave had mentioned he could drive a truck. They'd already dropped a guy off to drive a battered Miller truck back to base.

  “Dave take George, and seven other guys. Grab a truck each and get them to the others. One each. Pass them onto someone there and then snag a ride back here with a couple more volunteers and grab more trucks. Spread the word, if you find any trucks hot wire them and get them back to base or better yet to the nearest store.”

  Dave nodded. “Righto boss, smart. Better than trying to toss crap in the back of a pickup,” he said giving his partner a punch on the arm. “Come on, you get to go to Lowes, I'll check with the boss man.”

  “Yeah, Walt, Dave, um...” he glanced at the heavy set male getting out.

  “You find any shipping containers make a note of it! We'll need to pick them up ASAP,” Shane yelled. “Food and weapons first though,” he said.

  Walt ducked his head back inside and rested one arm on the door jam. “Grocery stores and stuff, gotcha,” he said with a nod. “We'll get it done boss,” he said.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  Driving down Sunnymead he noted the aliens, the occasional burning wreckage to avoid, but then was surprised to see a few people coming out. They waved frantically to him. He wasn't happy about pulling over, he didn't want to get car jacked but he knew he had to take the chance.

  He pulled up to a knot of people who immediately climbed in. “Buster I don't care where you're going, we're going with you,” a fat bald guy said.

  “Works,” Shane snorted. “As it is we're going to the gun stores and then the military surplus store. I'm from the mall. I take it you folks want in?” he asked checking the rear view.

  The fat guy and the four people in the back looked at each other. “Safety in numbers,” the woman in the middle said. She had a bandage pressed to her arm.

  “We've got some medics at the mall,” Shane said.

  “Good,” was all she said, looking down at the arm again and turning away. He noted the ripped ear and nose and tried not to wonder about it.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  In the parking lot of the military surplus store he was met by a group of people. He slowed as one guy tapped a bat in his hand meaningfully.

  “Looting?” the black guy growled. He was a big mother, with long side burns on either side of his face. He had a military and a football linebacker look to him. Solid, dependable.

  “Who's asking?” the fat guy asked looking wary.

  “We're from the mall. We've got a couple of hundred people with us. You want to come you can. Grab your gear and anyone who wants and get here pronto. Bus leaves in thirty,” Shane warned.

  The guy stared at him for a moment and then turned to someone huddling around the corner. He stared at them for a long minute. Shane's gaze was naturally drawn there. He saw some kids and a couple of women hiding there.

  “You can come out, we're not going to hurt you. I save that for the aliens,” Shane called, waving them over. “We need all the help we can get,” he said, hefting a box of MREs. Something told him the things were going to be worth their weight in gold very shortly.

  “Come on,” the man said after a moment. He waved to them. “You on the low man?” he asked.

  “Yeah. Former marine, former cop. Now I'm in charge of the mall of all things. You folks are welcome,” he said nodding to the group as they hesitantly made their way forward. He turned to the guy still holding the bat. The guy was built, probably did some line backing back in the day. Or baseball from the way he held that bat. He hefted it and rested it on his shoulder.

  “You're welcome to get some payback too when we're settled,” he said, meeting the man's eyes.

  The guy's grip tightened momentarily. Others around them stopped what they were doing and looked at them. After a moment the guy nodded grudgingly. “You got that right,” he growled.

  “Good, so let's get this moving. I've got to check on the other teams as soon as we clear this out,” Shane said. Just as he said that a convoy of trucks passed the shop.

  “Wonder where they are heading,” the woman said.

  “Who cares,” the teen with her said.

  “I do,” Shane said. He had been surprised to see Jayne driving one of the trucks. “That's one of my people. I'm wondering what's going on,” he said.

  “Better check then,” the guy with the bat said with a nod.

  “Good idea,” Shane said. He tossed the box up into the truck and then pulled his pistol. The guy stiffened but he reversed it and held it out to him. “Here, can you keep watch?” he asked.

  The guy stared at the gun for a moment then took it. “Sure,” he said, shooting Shane a wondering glance.

  “I've got spares,” was all he said as he used his other hand to pull his phone out. “I'll want it back though before we leave here. See if you can pick up one for yourself.”

  “I heard that,” the guy said with a nod.

  When the last load was loaded he pounded on the truck. They'd picked up nearly fifty people. If this was how it was at the other sites their population was in the process of exploding. He wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not.
>
  He pulled out of the parking lot and headed over to where he had seen Jayne go. He was curious to see what she was after.

  He slowed as he noted the trucks and people near the stores. He caught sight of Jayne leading a crew over to the grocery store next to Staples. Some had spread out, hitting the restaurants, and even the sporting goods stores and the hardware store. From the looks of things they were probably hitting Big Lots as well. Good.

  There were crews already at work cleaning out Big 5. Men and women were handing out rifles and boxes of ammo. Hopefully they weren't just making off with it he thought with a pang. Hell, hopefully they wouldn't have any accidents. They last thing they needed was some idiot to go to bed with a gun under his head and then pop off some shots because he saw a shadow or had a nightmare!

  Or some twit forgetting the safety and popping a round off and startling others into shooting wildly. Everyone was on edge. He really didn't need a blood bath on his conscious.

  That thought played in his mind a few times as he maneuvered through the area. Getting into the Sunnymead plaza was a pain when you were on the wrong side of the street and traffic was bad. Now traffic was dead, literally, which was almost worse.

  He passed the tool store and noted crews coming out with solar panels, generators, and other things and nodded. They were thinking ahead, thinking of power generation not just now, but a week from now. Going renewable was the only way now. He'd have to make a note to pull every solar panel they could find. He wasn't sure about the model planes and helicopters, but right now he wasn't going to stop to argue about it. He spotted the crew Jayne was with around the bend.

  He made the turn and pulled in, Jayne looked up and waved the others on.

  “How is it going?” he asked.

  “Fine,” she said, turning and dusting her hands off. She sauntered over to his truck. She had a floppy hat on and didn't look at all bothered by the heat.

  He looked over his shoulder to catch sight of the team and then nodded in approval as she got people organized and cleaning the store out.

  “We've got to get moving, the perishables aren't going to last more than twelve hours in this heat if we lose power. That means...”