The Next Ten: Beginnings Series Books 11 - 20

by Jacqueline Druga

  Joe nodded slowly then he chuckled. “I say, yeah. Cigarette?” He pushed the pack forward.

  Jason took one with a smirk. “Sure, why not? Problem solved.”

  ^^^^

  Danny Hoi let out small huffs of steam in his fast paced walk with Ellen to Mechanics. “I think this should help.”

  “If it is what you say it is, it will.”

  Slowing down by the door, Danny looked back at Ellen then opened it. “It’s in here.”

  “Thanks, Danny.” Ellen followed him in.

  “Should you be doing this, though?” Danny asked. “It’s pretty cold out.”

  “I know but this is necessary. Trust me and please don’t tell anyone.”

  “I won’t. Mostly because I haven’t a clue what you’re actually doing in the dark.” Danny walked to the closet.

  “You can say, if I was a carnivorous and sometimes cannibalistic creature, I am figuring where I would be.”

  “You lost a killer baby?” Danny asked horrified.

  “Close. We’ve given new meaning to Henry’s fallacy of killer rabbit.”

  The object Danny held nearly slid from his hand. “It’s running around Beginnings.”

  “Oh, wow.” Ellen took the thick pair of goggles. ‘These are cool.” She put them on.

  Speaking in a daze, Danny reached to the side of the goggles that were humongous on Ellen. “Power is here.”

  “Thanks.” The slight motorized hum made Ellen smile and she moved her head from left to right. “Everything looks normal.”

  “You aren’t outside. The left side controls the zoom.”

  “Oh, wow.” Ellen zoomed in. “Whoa. That makes me nauseous.” She giggled and lifted the goggles to the top of her head, making her hair stand on edge. “Thanks, Danny. I appreciate it.”

  “Ellen, should we inform Security about this.”

  “Why?”

  “Um . . .” Danny shrugged. “Maybe because the creature is deadly and you might get hurt.”

  “Don’t be silly, Danny, I’m like her mom. She won’t hurt me. I can’t let Security know. Letting them know is letting Joe know. Joe will have a fit if he finds out we’ve been playing with mutated genetics. Dean will have a fit if he finds out because he told me three days ago to put her in a steel cage. I said I did but I didn’t.”

  “And now she’s out.”

  “Oh yeah, hopping about.” Ellen reached for the door.

  “Good . . . good luck.”

  “Sure. I’m confident now.” With a loud exhale, Ellen lowered her goggles and walked out. “Well, I’m gone.”

  Danny whistled slowly with a tilt of his head. “Oh, yeah, you pretty much are.”

  ^^^^

  Henry walked rapidly with Hector with his shoulders hunched to block out the wind as they moved through the living section. “I just think I should have had ample warning.”

  “I gave you warning,” Hector stated.

  “Yes, one hour.”

  “Why do you need more warning than that?”

  “To mentally prepare. A date, Hector. A date with Jenny Matoose none-the-less.” Henry shivered. “And I’m supposed to pretend I like her.”

  “Yes,” Hector answered. “And don’t bitch tonight Henry. I like Misha.”

  “How is my bitching going to affect that?”

  “You’re my friend,” Hector said. “If she sees you bitch, she’ll think I bitch. I don’t . . .” His speech slowed down.

  “What?”

  Hector pointed silently.

  Curiously, Henry looked at the arched back of the bent over little body wearing a white lab coat. “That has to be Dean or Ellen. I can’t tell in this light.”

  Ellen lifted her head and with a cage in her hand, she turned around. “Hey.”

  Henry and Hector stepped back in a start when they saw the glowing green roundness illuminating on Ellen’s face.

  Hector lifted an inquisitive finger. “Ellen? Why are you wearing night goggles?”

  “To help me see in the dark.”

  Hector nodded. “Uh-huh? See what?”

  “What I’m looking for,” Ellen said with a ‘so there’ attitude.

  “Can I ask what?” Henry asked.

  “Bugs,” Ellen answered. “I’m collecting bugs.”

  With his mouth swishing from side to side, Hector nodded again. “Why do you need the cage?”

  “To put them in,” Ellen responded.

  “How big is the bug, Ellen?” Hector questioned.

  “Normal size small ones. Why?”

  Hector indicated to the cage. “Don’t you think they’ll get out?”

  Quickly Ellen looked down at cage. “Yeah, they will. Silly me. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. I’ll go get a smaller cage. See ya.”

  After hearing Ellen singing out a beckoning call, Hector shrugged and started walking again. “Something is up.”

  “No kidding,” Henry said. “She’s Ellen. She’s part of Dean and Ellen and trust me, she’s not looking for any normal bug.”

  “Henry.” Hector laughed as they approached Jenny’s home. “Come on.”

  “No Hector. Bub the Savage, killer babies, deadly viruses, zombies . . .” Henry rang the doorbell. “I wouldn’t put it past them to have created a two foot cockroach.” Henry shivered his body. “It makes me shudder. And speaking of shuddering, even though I want your date to be a success, don’t expect me to put out for Jenny.” Henry flashed a grin when he noticed Jenny in the doorway. “Hello, Jenny.”

  Looking smug while flipping Henry off, Jenny opened the door wider only to be more perturbed when Henry whispered in his passing. ‘I’m not easy. Don’t get any ideas.”

  ^^^^

  It was usual for Robbie to run late, but he didn’t expect to be caught up in undoing Richie’s errors in Containment. It was all right. He had time and in Robbie’s mind, it was better late than never. Rushing home, he showered and impressively did his own hair well. He was read. Even though his participation would be limited, he still thrived for that feeling of getting back up on stage and the Starters were back full force for the first time in weeks.

  A whole four sets were planned. So many of the tunes Robbie could sing and a few, he could play bass. Of course, Robbie hoped Paul would be surprised to see that he had changed his mind. He had to admit it was pretty childish of himself, turning Paul down to participate. Maybe it was jealousy over the fact that James, who only played rhythm guitar, would be taking lead. But Robbie quickly extinguished that little bit of jealousy when he realized James was terrible at playing lead.

  Smiling at that thought and rounding the bend into town, Robbie lost the smile. It was replaced with a confused look, when still far from the Social Hall, he not only heard the music, he heard the cheers of people.

  The Social Hall sounded crowded, more crowded than usual. Everyone must have really been waiting for the return of The Starters.

  Another step and the next song began. Robbie slowed down. James played keyboards as well, but he heard keyboards, bass, and guitar. Thinking maybe Elliott Ryder was sitting in, Robbie hurried to the Social Hall.

  He flung open the door. The noise level was deafening. Not only couldn’t he hear, but he couldn’t see as well. A wall of backs was before him. The Hall was packed thick with what looked like every adult resident in Beginnings.

  Smiling with an ‘excuse me’, Robbie parted through two men and froze.

  It was something from the old world, a scene Robbie hadn’t witnessed in Beginnings ever. The dance floor was packed and there were women, a lot of women, in the Hall. Some must have come from the House of Lesbians and some from the Texas town.

  But the women weren’t the only thing ‘new and exciting’ the Texas Town produced in that Social Hall. Texas Town produced what was causing the level of enthusiasm to rise out of control.

  The band was playing loud and tight, and the dancers were bobbing, but none of that bothered Robbie as much as seeing the cause of it all. />
  Dale.

  Not only did he sing like Robbie had never heard, but he had pizzazz like no other musician. Dale didn’t just play that guitar; he breathed that guitar. It was an extension of his body he worked as well as any other. He played with smooth precision, smooth while he flashed a smile so bright. He seemed to charge the crowd with every note sung, lick played, and move his body made.

  Robbie’s heart sunk.

  Was Dale as good as he seemed or was he just magnified by Robbie’s heartbreak at that moment?

  Robbie knew the answer.

  Dale was that good.

  Any musician knows when another is better and Robbie could own up to that. In Robbie’s opinion, Dale played, sang, and worked the crowd better than he ever did. Robbie knew especially with his physical insufficiency not only was there no competition, there was no reason to even attempt to walk on that stage.

  Why quiet the crowd? Why damper their good time? Robbie wanted cheers for his talents, not pity applause for his efforts, and getting up to even do one song would be nothing more than a pitiful attempt at what he used to be. In Robbie’s mind, The Starters letting him up on that stage was only a token good natured move to give a self esteem boost to the cripple.

  Every ounce of Robbie gnawed and twisted in a personal pain no one would ever understand. He felt useless, hurt, and angry. Every single emotion was rolled together in one knot that blasted him worse than the explosion that took his arm.

  The song ended, the screams entailed, and The Starters were ready to roll into the next song. Before he was spotted, before the click of the drumsticks counted off the next tune, Robbie raced from the Social Hall.

  ^^^^

  Dean had received numerous calls and reports that disturbed his ‘at home’ evening. They were calls to inform him that it had to be the most pathetic sight. Dean was told so many times that he had to up and leave the house just to see for himself.

  Dan from Security, Mark, and all the others were right.

  Positioning himself just a small distance, unseen from the east wing of the clinic, Dean witnessed the sight. In Dean’s mind, pathetic was an understatement. He felt bad, because in a way he found a demented amusement out of it. He knew why Security called him because he himself was the cause for it.

  Before undoing it, Dean looked again.

  The clinic room window was barely two feet by two feet yet Frank could be seen clearly. He had one arm above his head and his body hunched to peer out. A lost puppy dog look was upon Frank’s face in his gaze into a community he was not allowed to join.

  He looked orphan-like as if he hadn’t a friend in the world and every ounce of trouble rested on his shoulders.

  Was he wishing on a star? Was he thinking of ways to squeeze his oversize body out of that window? Dean didn’t know, but as entertaining as it was to watch Frank like that, it was time to end it.

  Frank turned from the window in surprise when he heard the unlocking of the clinic room door. He hurried and looked at his watch to check out the time. The ‘no visitors for Frank’ lock-in rule applied until morning, so Frank was baffled.

  He knew it wasn’t morning. The sun rising would of told him that unless something happened while he was in Limbo and Beginnings was cast into darkness like segment of the Bible coming to life. Or worse, the sun had burned out and the next ice age began. It did snow and it would only be par for the course. Apocalyptic plague, SUTS, killer babies, and now an ice age.

  “Oh, shit,” Frank whispered out.

  Dean slowed down in his entrance. “What’s wrong?”

  “Are we in the next ice age?”

  Dean hesitated before answering. A simple ‘no’ would have worked. “Why do you ask?”

  “It’s dark.” Frank pointed out the window. “It snowed. You’re here. You weren’t supposed to open that door until morning.”

  “Yes.”

  “Yes what?”

  “What you asked me.”

  “Huh?”

  “Frank!” Dean snapped. “You asked if we were in the next ice age.”

  “Oh, OK.” Frank nodded. “So are we?”

  “Yes.”

  “Fuck.” Frank stepped in disbelief. “Fuckin figures, don’t it.”

  “Yes, but it’s only lasting until tomorrow.”

  “That’s a good thing. But it still figures. Next thing you know a meteor will hit.”

  “It might.” Dean walked to Frank. “Now . . .”

  “When?”

  “When what?”

  “When will the meteor hit.”

  “I don’t know, Frank! Dean barked. “Why are you asking?”

  “Dean. Fuck. You brought it up. You said a meteor will hit.”

  ‘No, you said a meteor will hit,” Dean argued.

  “How would I know a meteor will hit. I’m not a scientist.”

  “Maybe you’re psychic.”

  Frank’s mouth dropped open. “Bet me I am. That’s probably how I know.”

  “Probably. Now . . .”

  “Are we on safe ground, or do you think it’s too early to tell?”

  “Tell what?”

  “When the meteor is coming.”

  Dean lifted his hand in an explaining manner. “Frank, listen. There’s no meteor coming.”

  “Dean, you said.”

  “No,” Dean came back. “You said.”

  “That’s right, I’m psychic.” Frank pointed to his own temple. “That always overrules science. So I need to figure out if we’re on safe ground and when the rock is coming.”

  Dean tossed up his hands. “Use your psychic ability.”

  “I will.”

  “Or ask Jason.”

  “Uh!”

  Dean jumped back. “What?”

  “Jason. Jason . . .” Frank shook his head. “He’s not dead anymore. That shocked me.”

  “Jason was never dead.”

  “Oh, yeah he was, Dean. He was blown up into a million fuckin pieces . . .” Widening his arms, Frank made an explosion noise. “Gone. But he’s back.”

  “Back from where?”

  “The dead. Like our zombies. Did you have anything to do with that?”

  “No, Frank. Jason never died.”

  “Was he hidden then?” Frank asked.

  “No,” Dean became perturbed. “Can we stop this? You worry about the meteor and whatever later. Right now . . . right now, I’m letting you out. You don’t need to stay here.”

  “Oh, yeah.” Frank smiled.

  “But it’s not a full release. Come home with me and I’ll explain it all.”

  “Sounds good.”

  “Are you up for company? Your granddaughter’s at the house.”

  Frank slowed down in his walking out. “I’d love to see her. How come you have her?”

  “Denise is at the Social Hall. Ellen volunteered, but Ellen is working on our cryo project.”

  “So you have the kids plus Amber?”

  “And Nick,” Dean added.

  Frank laughed. “No wonder you’re releasing me. You need my help.”

  Dean smiled. “Yeah, I guess I do.”

  Frank gave a clap of his hands, inhaled deeply, and stepped with his usual Frank cockiness into the hall. “Smell that freedom and just in time. Ice age, destructive meteor. Oh, yeah, I’m gonna be busy.”

  ^^^^

  The buzz from the shifting of one magnification view to the next sounded like an old toy robot to Ellen. The night goggles made a slight hum and buzz as she zoomed in, focusing between the trees of the wooded area near the fields.

  She figured that foliage would be the best place to start. It was dark, a terrain rough enough to hide, and close to the chicken coop which would be a virtual feeding ground to Majestic.

  She looked around the area, making several different noises as she did.

  She sniffed quite a bit from the cold, huffed out her breath, and her movements.

  Sniff, huff, shift, hum, buzz.

  Tree. Ellen ann
ounced in her mind what she saw. Shift-hum-buzz. Squirrel, tree, Robbie, tree . . . ‘What?”

  Ellen turned, increased the zoom and with a churn of her stomach, she saw him again. Robbie. Walking to him, with the cage in hand, she lifted the goggles from her head. She didn’t need to use them to see him. More than just the way he sat with his knees brought close to his chest and his head down, Ellen could see something else. His hurt.

  “Robbie?” she whispered in question, setting down the goggles and cage as she stepped right before him.

  “Oh, hey, El.” Robbie lifted his head and blinked.

  “What are you doing up there?” Ellen asked, staring intently at him.

  “Solitude. Prayer. You know. I needed some peace.”

  “That’s not it.” Ellen kept her eyes still on him and sat down. “Don’t bullshit me. What happened?”

  He locked a stare back at her, then with a swallow and movement of his full lips, Robbie grew a slight pucker and he closed his eyes.

  “Robbie, what happened?” Ellen moved closer.

  “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “Why?”

  “Because if I start going off, it will sound like I’m making a soap box plea for someone to feel sorry for me.” He shook his head. “Pity.” In almost a defeated disgust, he tossed out his hand. “Do you know what’s disgusting, El? I want that. I need that, and that fuckin sucks. I don’t . . . I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “I understand.” Ellen, still close, read him. She watched for signs, anything that would tell her what set him off.

  “So, why are you up here?” Robbie asked.

  “I lost an experiment. But shh. Don’t tell Dean. I’ll find it. Wanna help?”

  Robbie exhaled. “Yeah, I’d love to. What are we looking for?”

  Ellen bit her lip.

  “What?”

  “It’s kind of like, I don’t know, a mutated bunny. That’s it.”

  “And no one’s spotted it. It must not be that mutated.”

  “Not really. Her name is Majestic. I’d appreciate the help.”

  “Sure.” Robbie stood up. “I need to look for a lab creation, slightly mutated or not. I’m glad that’s what you’re doing. I saw you in town.”