Third Avenue was lit by a few streetlights with boarded up businesses supporting a three story parking garage in front of her. To her right, Big Sandy Superstore Arena reflected wanly. It was a reddish orange box out of place with the new reality of things. What do you do with a sports arena when all of the teams don’t play anymore?
Small trees provided just enough shadows for cover. She found her feet picking up speed in their direction. In the shadows, that’s where you can stay out of sight. Molly inhaled slowly and tried not to feel like something was watching her, beckoning her.
You can always go back, had the spider on her spine now found a voice?
No, Molly slowly kept an eye out for anything that moved.
Curiosity killed the cat. She was reminded. It’s pride that kills the rest of us.
Listen for them. They always have that hissing, low growl about them. Molly felt her ears approach hypersensitivity. There was a low reverberation that seemed to fade in and out of the very edge of what was discernible. It was there, then, it wasn’t.
“Right,” A voice clearly spoke from close by. Molly turned and crouched down behind a tree that had been planted close to one of the arena’s walls. She slipped the dark, reddish color of her Louis Vuitton bag in front of her brown pants. The black hoodie and the bag helped her blend into the shadows. Two men had been standing behind a white van parked across the street. They emerged into the road. The van was one of those cube things that were so hard to see around at an intersection. A man in a camo short sleeved shirt tossed a lit cigarette away as he crossed the street with his partner in tow who cradled a hunting rifle. Camo man sported a highly visible side arm in a holster. He raised an object to his mouth.
“Don’t see her.” Camo man spoke. Of course not, you were hiding out and catching a quick smoke. Molly knelt down into the grass.
“........could be anywhere.” The radio replied. “Remember what to do if you see her.”
“Yeah, roger that.” The camo man seemed annoyed that his time pursuing his private vice had been interrupted. He lowered the radio and nodded to his partner and they walked toward the hotel. Occasionally, they would pause and hazard a long look down the street for a fleeting shadow on the move. Their backs were to Molly in a few minutes.
45 minutes, Ms Hunter. Molly reminded herself as she carefully stood up and crept among the saplings. It was so quiet she could hear herself breathe. The edge of the building beckoned closer as one footfall gave way to another. It occurred to Molly that she had no clue what was around the corner.
Just keep going, she inhaled slowly as her fingers crept along the painted wall of the arena, creeping in the dark for the corner. Just take a peek around it. Its’ safe, it’s got to be safe.
Three explosions counted off the seconds. Molly felt the brick around her shatter and spatter the darkness with debris. She was down on her knees and around the corner. Molly then stopped her heart and breath. Her eyes widened but found nothing to focus on.
“Got ‘em!!” An unfamiliar voice bellowed.
“Hell, yeah!” It was camo man. Molly crawled on her stomach and peeked around the corner. A dark shape was splayed on the grass. Fuck, it was tracking me and I had no idea. She realized coldly, staring at the thing that was a shade blacker than the grass. Molly was face down in the shadows now. There were two approaching figures in the white splash of the sidewalk. The man with the rifle paused at the edge of the grass.
“ I could’ve sworn there was another one.” The man with the rifle peered into the dark in her direction. He’s looking right at me. Molly tried to think in the shadows as she swore their eyes met. He sees me. I know he can see me.
“I only saw one.” Camo man seemed to be wishing out loud.
I dunno,” The guy with the rifle raised the barrel slowly and pointed it in Molly’s direction. “I coulda swore......”
“Virgil.” Camo man sighed and spoke in a logical, somewhat tired tone. “We are near the end of our shift. This is no time for heroics.”
Don’t move......Molly buried her face in the dirt. Don’t move, don’t breathe.
Her eyes were closed so she did not see them begin to walk slowly toward her. Their feet made no sound as the boots brushed the blades of grass aside. If they mistake you for one of them......
An animal sound split the silence in two. It was followed by a scream of surprise. Molly lifted her eyes to see a shroud rise from the grass and pounce on the rifle man. He screamed a second time while camo man stepped away and fumbled with the side arm in his holster.
“It ain’t dead!! It ain’t dead!!” He struggled with his rifle, raising it as a shield from enveloping, cold fingers. Camo man pulled out his firearm and fired blindly. Adrenaline in his veins set the fire of panic within him.
Molly couldn’t count the gun shots. They were like a single rapport played out in an echo chamber. The two forms struggling staggered together like a drunken dancing couple and crashed into the soft grass.
“Aw Gawwwwwwwwd!” Camo man’s voice wailed into the night. He was frozen in place with only his mouth moving. A form rose from the darkened shadows and staggered upright. The second figure lay motionless in the grass beside his rifle. Camo man was suddenly fumbling in his pocket to reload.
Among the shadows and vague streetlights, Molly saw an outline face the camo man. The jaw dropped open and a low growl froze time between them. Camo man looked up and his face became covered in shock. The thing took a step toward camo man and the spell was broken. He ducked, turned and ran toward the hotel.
“Awwwww, sweet Jesus!!!!!!!” She heard him sob. “Sweet fucking Jesus!!!”
Molly slowly stood up in the shadows, shoulders shivering uncontrollably. Was it really this cold out all of a sudden? Her mouth had parted slightly as she stared at the thing. It was watching camo man as he retreated down the street. The head then turned slowly back to its motionless prize lying in the grass. The teeth parted in anticipation.
For an instant, a thought seemed to cross its face as it looked up briefly. His face was almost handsome, young and once full of life. He wore a checked shirt with crimson rings pocking the fabric. The nose seemed to wrinkle almost imperceptibly. The shoulders hunched with animal intensity. Something is here. the puss yellow eyes scanned the darkness.
He smells me, Molly swallowed. Oh god, he knows I’m here.
It took a step toward her. It was like the shadows peeled back before it and revealed her to him. She felt helpless, naked and frightened. Their eyes met through the shadows and for a second time the jaw opened and uttered an animal challenge.
Molly took a step back and then another. They were slow and careful foot falls. Their eyes were locked and riveted on another. It took another step forward and assumed a ragged stance in front of the body on the grass. Again, it hissed loudly without blinking at her.
Leave..........leave me now. It took a stand in the dark and spoke without words.
Molly backed away faster now and it did not follow. She turned to walk away at a quicker pace with her breath still trapped in her throat. Molly stole a terrified glance over her shoulder. It was making sure she was gone. The eyes seemed to gather what little light was around and reflect it back to her. God damn it, they seemed to glow with an inner fire. Molly was almost running now..
As she crossed the parking lot Molly dared one more look in its direction, satisfied that it had vanquished all threats, the thing turned back toward the dark grass, it carefully knelt down beside the motionless shape that was its’ prize. Two shadows then seemed to meld into a single, larger form and the victor extended his teeth into the soft, precious and still warm flesh.
Her feet felt unsure amid the curbs, grass and corners of buildings. A Wendy’s that had been closed and re- opened as a field kitchen offered no light in the darkness. The glass windows were hidden by wooden boards six feet high. The window peeking over the top of the new barricades gave a pill box impression. It was just another place under siege.
Molly watched the shadows carefully as her pace quickened toward the highway. Each one was a warning, a cold moment in time. The darkness seemed almost mummified. She carefully watched the blackest centers of the shadows, looking for a hint that the sable canvas would move and follow her. Molly’s eyes slowly traversed the territory. On the other side of Third Street a funeral parlor sign etched in concrete caught her attention. She took a fast run across the asphalt divide of the road and slipped in behind the concrete pillar. At one time, it would have been lit by off white, delicate luminescence.
A gentle reminder of services offered that no spoke about. The lights on the sign had been extinguished long ago. The services offered now were cremation or closed casket burial after decapitation. Most chose cremation, a final assurance against return. Crouching behind the concrete block with etched characters, Molly pulled out her secure Blackberry and checked the time. She had made the distance from the hotel in a remarkably brief period.
It only felt like a million years inside her head, her heart was playing out her life rhythm loudly. She swallowed hard with a dry mouth and began to walk towards a rusted sign post that was still readable.
TO HIGHWAY 7 HIGHWAY 527
CHEASAPEAKE
There was a gentle incline upwards toward the bridge across the Ohio River. Molly used the terrain to try and stay out of the line of sight of any sentries. They probably wouldn’t be looking this way, anyway. Molly slowly turned three hundred and sixty degrees as she started to walk slowly across the 6th Street exit ramp. She was thankful for the silence of her shoes on the road. The quiet of the night time was far from calming, however. What had she thought back in Elkin?
It’s too quiet.........
It came at her from the sliver of moonlight in the sky. A dark bat-like shape that seemed like it was only visible to her eyes as a shadow that blotted out the stars. There was a barely perceptible hum in the air. It had the same volume of an idling car engine. The form passed over her and landed softly in a small indentation of green and shadows between a squat building and more highways.
Molly instinctively crouched down and eased over the concrete dividers and let the embankment speed up her pace to the awaiting helicopter. The sound of the beast grew louder as she approached. A soldier casually had one foot out of the open side of the machine.
“Evening, Miss,” he smiled. “Nice night for a walk.”
She looked at him for a moment and wrinkled her mouth. This kind of cool never did much for her, false bravado, an almost casual one-uppance.
“Where are we going?” He started to straighten up a bit and prepared to leave.
“That way,” Molly pointed west without breaking eye contact.
“I need you to be more specific, Ma’am.” There was a nasty curl on his mouth. The eyes were hooded orbs.
“That way, will do for now.”
“Ma’am, we’re wasting time.” He leaned forward and raised his voice slightly. “I need to know where we’re going.”
“And I need to make sure you’re not going to kick me out after you’ve found out where Beauragard is.” Molly replied firmly. “So for now, that way will do.”
His mouth opened slowly as he shook his head and leaned back impatiently with a play of his hand to the co-pilot, an invitation to join in the conversation.
“Ma’am.” The co-pilot began. “I need co-ordinates to put into our GPS.”
“Good,” Molly nodded with a sly curve of her mouth. “Put in that way.”
“God damn it, Ma’am.” The soldier piped in and then paused long enough for Molly to cut in:
“Now, who’s wasting time?”
“Sir, we need to get a move on.” It was the pilot now.
The soldier Molly had been parlaying with sighed and made room for her in the entranceway. He took a spot in the rear compartment and looked away. He was done with her for now. As soon as Molly had found a seat and something to hang on to the co-pilot turned to her once again.
“Ma’am,” his voice sounded very young all of a sudden. “Which way did you say?”
“That way,” she replied in a neutral tone with a point of her finger.
The ground fell away as they gained altitude like an almost spectral phantom. As they passed over the bridge, Molly swore she saw a sentry look up to the sky in shock. His face was paper white against the darkness as his features were stone cold in their surprise. A second sentry broke away and fumbled with something on his belt. As he watched the soundless bird head west he raised a radio to his mouth.
In an instant they were both memories in the dark as the ribbon in the landscape that was the Ohio river passed underneath them. Molly eased herself back and let her head touch the slightly vibrating metal of the passenger wall. Her heart beat was returning to normal now. My god, her thoughts reflected on camo man and his partner. What was his name?
He died. he died right in front of you. She barely felt the vibration of the helicopter as she saw the shadow of the dead thing rise up from the grass in her memory.
His eyes...........Damn.........his eyes,
A chill passed over her shoulders. Molly crossed her arms for warmth and comfort. She’d seen so many of them over the years. But, it was always different. They were not a faceless horde. Their faces held individuality, the child on the road on the way to Elkin, the one who had grabbed her in Cleveland and the poor homeless man in Washington. Each face had distinct definition in her eyes. They were something to someone at one point in their lives.
Did they still have souls? Molly looked at the fine point between the landscape and sky on the horizon. The ever defining edge between the Earth and stars offered a clue. There has to be a cutting point between the living and dead. We just haven’t found it. Perhaps we shouldn’t go there just yet. Molly concluded. We might not be ready for what we’d find.
Evening Miss, nice night for a walk. She glanced at the soldier and tried to keep her mouth from wrinkling up in disdain.
When was the last time you had been afraid like that? She asked herself. Always, the answer was quick on the tip of her tongue. You are a woman walking at night through an unknown neighborhood. Fear came with the territory. It just came in varying degrees. But it was always there in the corner of your mind.
Fear......
The things you can’t see, the footsteps of someone behind you or the car passing by slowly. It all amounted to the fear of being a woman. You’ve felt it all the time. You just feel it more now. That’s right, the fear of being a woman. She chanced a casual nod toward the soldier. He seemed to be napping now. Just try to explain that to a man like him, just try to explain living with fear. She watched him now for a long, extended heartbeat.
Would he understand? Could he understand? She exhaled slowly. A closed mind is a closed mind, that’s it. They are the ones who say they never understand woman, the thread of thought wound to its’ conclusion. But, we might have some level of understanding now.
These days, we’re both afraid to walk alone at night.
Her thoughts wandered from the star light to the pilot’s compartment as the control panels spoke in equations she could not understand. Molly sat up slightly and watched modern chronometer’s move with the pitch and feel of the machine. Molly’s memory recalled other airborne rides with troops in the last five years of struggle. The control panels had a more retro feel to them. They were basic, simple and straightforward. The odd upgrade had been bolted or cut into the control panel here and there but the feel was always the same, whirling metal blades that reverberated through the entire fabric of the vehicle and into your bones.
Her eyes explored the LED displays over the pilots shoulder. Molly tried to be nonchalant while taking in as much as possible. The smooth symmetry of everything in the cockpit was in a word futuristic. She placed her fingers carefully on the compartment wall and let her fingertips touch the non-metallic surface. The feel was different here. The jarring resonance of older machines had been replaced by an
almost pulsing whisper. It was like a magic carpet ride.
In her mind’s eye she saw the machine earlier appear out of the darkness suddenly, barely visible in the night sky. As she came closer Molly saw a hub cap like device above the rotors, a deflector of noise by studious engineering. The roar of the machine had been reduced to a purr. There was the body of the airborne beast to be considered as well. It was sleek and black, like the muscular skin of an athletic race horse. There were no hard edges, just rounded curves wrapped in infinite black.
“This is a stealth helicopter.” Molly whispered suddenly. The soldier she had talked to earlier seemed to raise his head when she spoke.
“That is impossible, ma’am.” The co-pilot replied amicably, he was checking a dial or two and tweeking something on the control panel to his right.
“Really?” Molly raised an eyebrow.
“Stealth helicopters don’t officially exist, ma’am.” The co-pilot turned around to face her with a polite smile on his face. “How could we be possibly flying in something that doesn’t officially exist?”
“You’re right,” She followed his train of thought with a half-smile and a nod. “We couldn’t possibly be flying in something that doesn’t officially exist.”
“Exactly my point, ma’am,” The co-pilot replied.
“How silly of me,” Molly almost gave him a wink.
“Not at all, Miss Hunter.”
*
“Coming up on the Dixie, sir,” The lead vehicle spoke briefly into the radio.
The commander sat up in his hatch and pulled the night vision glasses up to his eyes. The ride had been slow and steady. The lack of road signs on the Gene Snyder Freeway had created a nagging sensation that they were lost. Finally, a green sign had announced:
5 Years After (Book 2.5): Smoke & Mirrors Page 2