Aftermath (After the Fall Dystopian Series Book 1)

by Tom Lewis

  “They don’t see us as intelligent beings,” Lucas pitched in. “We’re just rats in a lab to them.”

  “Fuck them,” Paige snarled, clenching her fists, and taking a deep breath. “I’m going to kill them.” The fierce look in her eyes let everyone know she meant business.

  “Hey, we’re with you girl,” Trevor nodded. Valerie and Lucas both nodded in agreement.

  “And we’re about to have that militia out there on our side thanks to you and these tunnels,” added Lucas.

  “Let’s do this!” Trevor was getting pumped. “Outlaws, baby” he pledged, and the rest chimed in, “outlaws!”

  ***

  The pledge was still echoing in her mind, as Paige and her new Outlaws companions headed from the bunker, and into the surrounding field. The night felt warm, compared to the cool dampness of the tunnels.

  Then from the across the field they heard voices. They quickly ducked behind some rubble.

  “Shit, what the hell are they doing here?” exclaimed Trevor.

  “The drones, man,” replied Lucas. “The drones must have tracked us.”

  “We can’t let them find these tunnels,” stated Paige, turning to the others.

  “I agree,” Trevor nodded, along with the others. “So what’s the plan?”

  Paige thought about it for a minute. The sounds were getting closer. “Okay,” she finally said. “You guys go back in the bunker, and wait there… oh, say fifteens minutes. I’ll see if I can lead the guards out of the area.”

  “How are you gonna do that?” Valerie asked.

  “Run?”

  “You got balls, girl. I’ll give you that,” Trevor added.

  “Just make sure you wait in there long enough for the guards to leave,” she said.

  Valerie threw her arms around Paige. “Be careful,” she pleaded.

  “I will,” Paige said, nodding her thanks. “Okay, let’s do this before I chicken out.”

  Valerie, Trevor, and Lucas started sneaking back to the tunnels. Lucas turned, giving Paige a nod. “Don’t get shot.”

  Paige shot him a grin. Then she took a deep breath. This was it, she thought. She waited until they’d closed the bunker door, then she bolted out from behind the rubble and raced across the dirt field at an angle to the soldiers.

  “Hold it right there!” the guards hollered from across the field. The plan was working, albeit with her as the decoy. She sprinted as fast as she could, as bullets began ricocheting across the ground all around her.

  Up ahead was one of the canals which supplied water to the alien city. She had also seen these in the cornfields, feeding water into the irrigation ditches. She sprinted for the canal, leaped over the edge, and came down with a splash. Lucky for her the water was only about knee deep, but it still made running difficult. But she managed, splashing her way along.

  Behind her, the shouts of the soldiers grew closer. Paige sped up her pace, gasping for breath as she trudged through the water. She was approaching a long tunnel where the canal ran beneath the city. At least the soldiers would be forced to chase her through the water.

  As she passed through the tunnel, she was plunged into complete darkness. None of the phosphorescent stones to let her see where she was going. But the guards would be at the same disadvantage.

  ***

  It felt like she’d been running forever, and every muscle in her legs ached. Fortunately for her she’d trained for track back in her pre-rebel days, and Brad’s jock genes had seemed to run in her family.

  She had finally reached the end of the tunnel, where it spilled out on the far side of the city near the cornfields. Paige scrambled up the banks of the canal, now caked in mud, then sped off into the cornfields.

  She barely had time to duck down a row, when she heard the shouts of the soldiers scrambling from the canal maybe a hundred yards behind her.

  She dashed down the row to one of the irrigation ditches. These ditches, which criss-crossed the enormous field, had been dredged into the dirt. She leaped down into the ditch, which was maybe five feet deep, and had about two feet of water at the bottom. She frantically dug at the mud along the side, scooping out a small opening. She lay down, and squeezed the best she could into the small opening. She then scooped more mud across herself. Arms, legs, face, tunic. The only parts not caked in mud were her eyes and mouth. Then she froze. The guards were here.

  Paige could hear their voices on the path just above her. They were close, she could hear their heavy breathing. Other voices could be heard in the distance, as the guards fanned out across the field.

  She held her breath, as the voices above her moved down the path. They hadn’t found her. She said a silent prayer, as she lay there, unmoving, afraid the smallest movement might dislodge the mud from her body.

  Moments ticked by like this, till Paige felt her muscles starting to cramp. Un-freaking believable, she grumbled to herself, but she had no choice, but to give it time for the guards to get far enough away.

  Finally, after what had felt like an eternity, the voices and sounds were gone. Paige slowly rolled from the small indentation in the ditch wall, and into the water. She staggered to her feet, rubbing her legs.

  “You,” someone whispered from the path above her. Paige froze momentarily, before slowly turning towards the voice.

  A guard stood there, looking at her, but his gesture wasn’t menacing. He looked to be about Brad’s age, with a solid athletic build. “Are you with Valerie?” he asked.

  Paige nodded, afraid to speak.

  “Get out of here,” he whispered to her, “but do it quietly.”

  Paige nodded, climbing from the ditch. It was then she realized something. “Are you Tony?” she asked.

  He nodded, taking a worried look down the row. “Go. They’ll be back,” he whispered.

  Paige nodded again, whispering a “thank you.”

  Tony nodded, before hurrying off down the row in the direction the rest of the guards had headed.

  Paige took off at a jog back towards the city, her poor legs too worn out to sprint.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  The Summons

  The door to the apartment clicked open, and Paige stumbled in, completely exhausted, and caked in mud. Trish looked over from the top bunk. “What happened? You’re all muddy,” she asked.

  “Long story,” Paige responded, as she stepped into the shower, tunic and all. She turned it on, allowing the cool blast to wash off the mud.

  “So how’d it go with the Outlaws?” Trish asked, standing just outside the bathroom.

  “It went. And then I got chased,” Paige responded, turning off the shower, and shaking off the water.”

  “The guards?” Trish asked.

  Paige nodded. “Yeah. Can we talk about it in the morning.”

  “Okay,” Trish nodded, as Paige squeezed past, then slumped down on the floor. Wet tunic and all.

  Paige closed her eyes, and was just drifting off, when a noise outside caught their attention. Her eyes opened. It was that deep boom of the fog horn-like sound welling up over the city.

  She was awake. She climbed to her feet, and headed over to the window with Trish, staring down at the mall below.

  Once again, dozens of people were flowing out from the buildings, and shuffling off down the mall. All of them in that trance-like state.

  “Wait here,” Paige instructed, heading for the door.

  “Where are you going?”

  “To see where they’re going,” Paige replied, closing the door behind her on her way out.

  ***

  The eerie fog horn sound continued its deep boom, echoing through the city. The mall was filled with a flow of tranced people, all shuffling in the same direction.

  Paige crept out the back entrance of the enormous pyramid she was housed in. The gentle breeze through her wet tunic actually felt pretty good.

  She eased along the wall to the building’s corner, taking a peek around it. This direction faced the front, the
same as Paige’s apartment window. The Shamblers, as Paige was now calling the tranced-out people, were headed off in that direction.

  Six guards stood outside the front entrance, monitoring the Shamblers as they shuffled past. As before, none of the guards seemed to be affected by the sound.

  She waited there, for what felt like hours, before the guards went inside.

  Taking a deep breath, she dashed across the mall, ducking into the shadows of a building on the far side.

  About fifteen yards from her was a path, running between the buildings. The Shamblers were shuffling down the path, seemingly oblivious to Paige’s presence nearby.

  Paige followed along, keeping close enough to the building to be masked by its shadows. Then the noise of someone approaching came from behind.

  “Paige,” came Drew’s whisper.

  Paige spun around, to find Drew racing up to her.

  “You’re all wet,” he added, crouching down beside her.

  “Tell me something I don’t know,” she smirked.

  “Okay,” he smiled. “Did you know you look cute when you’re wet.”

  She was too tired for this. “Do you wanna feel how hard I can punch,” she replied.

  “Not really,” he smiled, slipping out of his shirt. “Here, put this on, so you don’t catch a cold” he said, handing her his shirt.

  This chivalry actually caught her off guard. It was thoughtful, and kind, and made her instantly regret snapping at him. Maybe all guys weren’t creeps after all.

  “No, you don’t have to do that,” she responded, softening up a lot. “But thanks.”

  “Humor me,” he said, holding out the shirt.

  “Okay,” she finally agreed, taking his shirt, and slipping it on over her tunic. It fit like a tent. She gave him a smile, to let him know her thanks.

  “So what’re you doing out here?” she whispered.

  “Your roommate told me to keep an eye on you.”

  “I don’t need a babysitter,” Paige protested.

  “Trish thinks you do,” Drew smiled.

  Paige just shook her head. “Look. I appreciate the offer. And you scored major points for the shirt. But you really should go back.”

  “And face Trish’s wrath?” Drew replied. “I think it’s safer out here.”

  Paige couldn’t help but smile at the thought. She had no doubt that little girl wasn’t afraid to stand up to anybody.

  “She’s your sister,” Paige chuckled, making sure to keep it at a whisper level.

  “She tells everyone that,” Drew responded. “And we did grow up in the same foster home, so I guess she is like a sister.”

  “You take care of her like a big brother,” she replied.

  “I just don’t want to see her get hurt,” Drew said.

  Paige nodded along, recalling how Brad had always been there to protect her. Even when she didn’t deserve it.

  “My brother was like that,” Paige reflected, “always looking out for me.” She paused for a moment before adding, “and I was the biggest bitch to him.”

  She paused again, glanced at Drew, then turned away. “I just miss him so much.” There, she said it. Finally. The bitch sister from hell, actually admitting that she loved her brother. Only it was too late for him to hear it.

  She took a deep breath, trying to recompose herself. There was no way she was going to uncork all of that grief. Drew seemed to sense this.

  “He knew it,” Drew said, giving her shoulder a soft squeeze.

  “No, he didn’t. How could he?”

  “Because he was your brother,” Drew replied. “You learn to read between the lines.”

  Paige couldn’t help herself. She threw her arms around Drew in a tight hug. She had needed to hear that. “Thank you,” she whispered in his ear.

  “Anytime,” he whispered back.

  She finally released him, but gave him a warm smile. “You really should go back,” she said.

  “Assuming that’s not an option,” he replied, “what’s the plan?”

  “I’ll let you know as soon as I think of one.”

  ***

  Paige and Drew kept to the shadows of buildings, as they followed the Shamblers in their trance-like daze. No moans, or talk, or any indication of consciousness or awareness came from them. Just the single purpose focus of continuing on in that direction.

  They reached the northern most outskirts of the alien city, and continued on. The terrain was rocky, which served as concealment for Paige and Drew now that the buildings were disappearing behind them in the distance.

  Then up ahead they noticed something, as the flow of Shamblers seemed to be disappearing. As they approached, they discovered the reason. The Shamblers were descending down into what appeared to be a crater.

  Paige and Drew sprinted the last hundred yards to the edge of the crater, ducking behind some boulders for cover. They slowly peeked over the rocks to see what was happening.

  The crater was massive, maybe a mile wide, and several hundred yards deep. In the center of the crater stood an enormous compound, looming in the darkness like a giant Mayan temple.

  The Shamblers, looking like ants from this distance, were crossing the crater floor and entering the temple. Paige also noticed that there were dozens of guards positioned along the route.

  Then something like a loud gong toned, and the Shamblers remaining on the crater floor turned around and headed back in the direction of the city.

  “That’s gotta be it,” Paige whispered. “That’s gotta be where they took Chad.”

  Drew thought about it a moment. It made sense. He turned to her. “Then let’s figure out how to get inside there, and get him out.”

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  The Best Laid Plans

  It was a muggy morning in the cornfields. It was probably around ten, Paige guessed, but that was based entirely on the sun’s position in the sky. Their “hosts” had taken their watches, along with their iphones, ipads, and everything else that made a teenage girl’s life fun.

  The humidity was horrible, and her tunic clung to her like a damp washcloth. And if this wasn’t bad enough, every muscle in her body was sore. Arms, hands, butt, legs, back… all she wanted to do was jump in a nice cool swimming pool, and lay there all afternoon.

  But there was a bit more spring in her step. Discovering the temple, and what she hoped was Chad’s location, felt like a giant step forward. But she was going to need Valerie’s help, and probably help from her new Outlaw buddies. She still grinned every time she thought of that name.

  Valerie gave her an excited wave when she showed up at the cornfield that morning, happy to see that Paige had survived her decoy chase with the guards last night. Paige couldn’t wait to tell her the details of the chase, and about the temple they’d found, and plan they came up with.

  She and Drew had spent the walk back to the city, and several hours after that in her apartment, going over the pros and cons of different ways to infiltrate the temple, and hopefully rescue Chad.

  The approach that seemed the most viable was to disguise themselves as guards, and use that to sneak in. It would be her and Drew going in, it was finally decided. Paige had resisted, not wanting to expose him to the danger, but in typical Drew fashion he insisted. And of course Trish did too. God bless him, she thought. And those beautiful blue eyes, and broad shoulders. He barely knew her, and didn’t know Chad at all, but he was still willing to risk his life to help her.

  She wasn’t blind. She’d felt the flirting, and was pretty sure he had a crush on her, at least maybe a small one, but you don’t risk your life just to hook up with some girl. No, there was definitely more to this guy. It was this dedication and loyalty he kept showing that convinced her he wasn’t just trying to hook up. She honestly felt he cared about her. And despite a lifetime of building walls around herself, this guy was actually finding the openings in her walls. And that scared her. It was uncharted territory for her, all this vulnerability stuff.

>   “O’Connor,” the task master hollered, snapping Paige from her musings. Seig Heil she thought, as she returned to the corn.

  By noon, the temperature was just ridiculous. The task master disappeared momentarily to refill his canteen - how about sharing some with us, asshole, she thought - so Paige looked around for Valerie. She spotted her several dozen yards away. Paige made a small wave of her hand to get her attention, then ducked in between the corn stalks.

  Minutes later, Valerie squeezed through the stalks, and grabbed Paige in an excited hug. Finally pulling away, she had the biggest smile. “What you did last night, that was just so crazy!” Valerie exclaimed, but kept it to a whisper. “I think you made fans for life of me and the boys.”

  Paige smiled. She had really taken a liking to Valerie. “It was scary,” she admitted. “And I actually met your friend, Tony.”

  “Oh really,” Valerie asked, “What happened?”

  “I’ll give you the whole scoop later,” Paige replied. “But I really need your help with something.”

  “Sure,” Valerie nodded. “What is it?”

  “I think I found where they took Chad.”

  Valerie’s eyes lit up with a smile. “Where?”

  “I followed all those people last night, and they went to this crater about a mile north of the city. There’s this huge temple looking building in the middle of it that the people were going inside.”

  “You mean all the spooky, zombie people?” Valerie asked.

  “Yeah. I’m calling them the Shamblers.”

  Valerie grinned. “Gotcha. Go on…”

  “That’s it,” Paige replied. “They let maybe a couple dozen people in, then they shut the doors and sent the other people packing.”

  “And you think that’s where they’re doing the experiments on people?” Valerie asked.

  “It’s the only thing that makes sense,” Paige replied.

  “Either that, or they’re eating them,” Valerie said, apparently in a total Paige move of engaging mouth before engaging brain. “Did I just say that,” Valerie grinned.