by Brian Keene
The cacophony continues from around the front of the store, but the noises in the alley are fading. Then, Terri hears a new sound—slow, plodding footsteps. Her eyes widen. When she looks at the others, she sees that their eyes have done the same.
Tick Tock’s shadow precedes him. When he finally appears, it’s all Terri can do not to scream. She holds her breath as he lumbers past, his greasy bulk only inches from the chain link fence. He’s close enough that Terri hears him wheezing like an asthmatic tractor trailer. Drool runs down his chin. His head tilts back and forth, back and forth, like some bizarre metronome.
“I hit him,” Shaggy whispers. “I know I shot…”
Mendez glares at him, forcefully holding a finger to his lips. Shaggy falls quiet.
Tick Tock pauses for a moment, his head still keeping time, and Terri is certain that he can hear her heart beating.
Then, he heaves himself forward again, moving on to join the rest of the horde at the front of the store.
“What the hell was that?” Mike mouths when he’s gone.
“A friend of ours,” Grady mutters, clutching his chest.
Another series of loud bangs rings out.
“I think those are our cars,” Mike says to Bryan.
Bryan nods. “So much for your idea about driving to the checkpoint.”
Terri notices that Bryan has a southern accent. She turns to him. “What checkpoint?”
“A guy said there’s a National Guard perimeter on the outskirts of town. We were debating trying to make it there when you folks showed up.”
“What guy?” Mendez leans forward, speaking in hushed tones. “When did you hear about this?”
Bryan shrugs. Terri still smells the booze on him, but his eyes seem clearer now.
“I don’t know. Maybe ten minutes before you got here. A guy passed by with a rifle. He said he had a police scanner, and before the power went out, he’d heard that the National Guard had set up a perimeter in the next town over.”
“Which town?” Grady asks.
“Dallas, I think?”
“Dallastown,” Mendez corrects him.
“Yeah, that’s it,” Bryan responds. “Sorry. I’m not from around here.”
A loud crash echoes from out front. It is followed by the sounds of the mob breaking into the store.
“We barricaded it earlier,” Mike explains. “Sounds like they’re inside again, though.”
“The fat guy,” Bryan mutters. “The one with the twitchy head? Is he looking for you?”
“We don’t know,” Stephanie admits. “Maybe. We’ve sort of been…on the run from him all night.”
Bryan sighs. “Sounds like he’s a determined son of a bitch.”
Terri’s eyes are drawn to Mendez. While the others whisper or glance around fearfully, flinching at every new noise, he remains calm, appraising the situation. He stares at a nearby door which has been blocked by a fifty-five gallon drum. Then he studies the retaining wall and the chain link fence.
“I don’t know if he’s hunting us or not,” Mendez says, “but they were obviously drawn here by the sound of the gunshot, or perhaps your shouts. It is pure luck they didn’t see us hiding back here, but that will change the moment they come through that door.”
“Don’t worry,” Mike says. “That barrel is full. It took both of us to move it. Damn thing weighs a ton. They’re not getting through there.”
“Then you haven’t seen what we’ve seen tonight,” Mendez tells him. “Eventually they will. We’re sitting ducks here. They can trap us easily. We need to move on.”
“Move on to where?” Terri has to struggle to keep from sobbing. She’s afraid that if she starts crying now, she won’t be able to stop, and that’s not going to help Caleb’s emotional state.
“Dallastown,” Mendez replies.
“Are you insane?” Grady gestures angrily. “You know how far a walk that is?”
“Yes,” Mendez says. “About two miles.”
“On foot,” Grady counters. “With however many of them there are between us and this National Guard barricade that we don’t even know for sure exists.”
“It beats sitting here waiting to die,” Stephanie says.
Terri nods. “I agree. We can’t stay here, tempting as it might be.”
The sounds of destruction inside the store grow louder.
“I’ve been thinking,” Mendez whispers. “These people haven’t been attacking each other. The only time they fight among themselves is when they’re in each other’s way. They’re like pack animals. So, how are they identifying each other? What’s the one thing they all have in common?”
“They’re naked,” Terri answers.
“Exactly. I think we should be, too.”
“Absolutely not,” Stephanie says, her voice growing louder. “There’s no way.”
“Keep your voice down,” Mendez replies. “And on the contrary, it might be the only way. If we’re naked, they might mistake us for one of them. It could save your life, Stephanie.”
“No,” Stephanie insists. “I’m not taking my clothes off in front of a bunch of strangers.”
Terri hears the girl’s voice cracking with emotion, and speaks up quickly. “Me, either. I’m not comfortable with that. And I’ve got Caleb to think about.”
“If you’re really thinking about your son,” Mendez tells her, “then you’ll reconsider.”
Terri glares at him. Mendez stares back at her, unblinking, until she looks away.
“Okay,” he says, “does anyone here have a lighter or matches?”
“I do.” Bryan rummages in his pants pocket and produces a silver, stainless steel lighter with Bile Lords emblazoned on the side. “This is sentimental. The lead singer of the band gave it to me. Make sure I get it back, okay?”
“Thank you.” Mendez accepts it from him. “I’ll try my best. But no promises, of course.”
Grady frowns. “What are you up to, Mendez?”
There is a loud crash inside the store. Terri thinks it sounds closer than the others.
“They’re in the storeroom,” Mike says, his tone frightened.
“See that tiny manhole cover over there?” Mendez points.
Terri looks in the direction and sees it—a small, circular cover about five feet away from the gate, embedded in the pavement.
“That’s the storage tank for the gas pumps out front.” Mendez begins unbuttoning his shirt.
“Wouldn’t the tank be under the pumps?” Mike asks.
“No. They keep it located elsewhere as a safety precaution.”
“Shouldn’t you guys keep it down?” Terri asks. “What if they hear us?”
“The noise they’re currently making should offer us some protection,” Mendez explains, setting his shirt on the concrete and unbuttoning his pants. “But it certainly won’t last. My plan is simple. You’re all going to run while I blow up the convenience store.”
For the first time since their arrival, Shaggy stirs. “Say what?”
Mendez nods, pulling off his underwear while still seated. The position is not flattering. Terri averts her eyes. Then, as an afterthought, she covers Caleb’s eyes with her hand, which he immediately pushes away.
“Stop it, Mom. I want to know what’s going on, too.”
“What’s going on,” Mendez continues, “is exactly what I said. You guys are going to start down the alley and get as far away as you can, while I blow this place up. At the very least that will create a diversion, and we can slip away in the resultant confusion. With any luck, I’ll also take out Tick Tock and most of his army. That should get them off our backs. I would guess that any other crazies in the vicinity will be drawn to the noise. That should buy us some time as we search for the perimeter.”
“But how are you going to do this?” Stephanie asks.
“I’m not sure,” Mendez admits. “I won’t have to worry about the safety switch inside, because the power is out. But I believe that I can get the vapors to l
ight inside the tank itself.”
“Are you going to drop my lighter down inside the tank?” Bryan asks. “I told you that was sentimental.”
Mendez shakes his head. “No. Dropping a match or a lighter in there would achieve nothing. They’d be snuffed out as soon as they were submerged in the gasoline. The vapors are what’s combustible. If I can get that to light, then the gasoline will catch. Depending on how much is in the tank…well, as I said, you need to make sure you’re all as far away as you can get. Shaggy?”
“Yeah?”
“Since you’ve got the only gun, I need you to stick with them.”
“But what about you?” Grady asks.
“I’ll catch up. Don’t worry, Grady. I told you before—I’m not going to die tonight. I can’t. This is just one more way of ensuring it.”
“Not if you don’t have somebody watching your back,” Grady argues.
“True that.” Shaggy hands the gun to Grady. “Here. I’ll stay with him.”
“I work better alone, and the last thing I need is a babysitter.”
“Fuck what you need,” Shaggy says. “I owe that fat fuck and his friends for what they did to Turo.”
Mendez shrugs. “Suit yourself. But understand something, Shaggy. If this goes sideways, I will not wait for you.”
“Ditto.”
Grady takes the weapon from Shaggy and checks the rounds. “You sure about this? Both of you?”
“I’m sure,” Mendez replies.
Shaggy pulls off his shirt. “I’m sure as shit.”
“Wait a minute,” Bryan interrupts. “Don’t Mike and I get a vote?”
Mendez begins rolling up his shirt. “No. If you prefer to wait and hide, you’ll need to do it elsewhere. I have an opportunity to eliminate our enemies. I’m taking that chance.”
Something hammers against the door. They all turn toward it in alarm, but the barrel remains firmly in place.
Shaggy pulls off his shorts and rummages in the pocket. Then he hands Grady a small handful of remaining bullets. “Here.”
“Get going,” Mendez urges. “I can’t stress enough how much I think all of you should strip. But in the end, it is your choice. I’m not doing this for you. I’m doing it for me. And one other thing that just occurred to me—don’t talk. We haven’t heard any of them speak tonight. If you’re naked, and you communicate only in grunts and cries, that may help fool them into thinking you’re one of the pack.”
Terri’s heart hammers as more blows rain down on the door. This time, they are hard enough to make the fifty-five gallon drum wobble. Inside the store, she hears growls of frustration.
“Caleb,” she whispers. “Take off your clothes. And hurry.”
He looks at her in wide-eyed disbelief. “All of them? Even my underwear?”
She nods, slipping out of her t-shirt and unhooking her bra.
“And I won’t get in trouble?” Caleb asks.
“No, honey. We’re all going to do it.”
For the first time this evening, Caleb grins. “This is going to be funny.”
The others also begin to undress, casting their clothes aside after Mendez points out that carrying them might reveal they aren’t like the others. Only Stephanie hesitates.
“I don’t know about this,” she says.
Then, another series of blows rattle the door. The barrel scuffs an inch across the concrete. Swallowing, Stephanie takes off her shirt. Terri sees panic in the young woman’s eyes—a different sort of fear than the kind they’ve faced so far tonight. Stephanie trembles from head to toe, and her breathing comes in short, desperate gasps.
“Stephanie?” Terri whispers.
When the girl raises her head, Terri sees tears welling in her eyes.
“It’s going to be okay,” Terri says, trying to reassure her. “I’m here with you, okay?”
Stephanie nods without speaking, and goes back to undressing. She still looks upset, but her breathing has returned to normal.
Terri feels eyes upon her as she slips out of her panties. She looks up and sees Shaggy leering, and Mike casting furtive glances in her direction. She scowls at them both. Mike turns away, blushing. Shaggy just grins. Then he turns his attention toward Stephanie. He opens his mouth, but Terri steps toward him.
“Don’t,” she snaps. “Whatever you were going to say, just don’t.”
“Damn girl. You’re feisty.”
“Fuck you.”
Caleb gasps. “Mommy! You said the eff word.”
“I know, baby, and I’m sorry. Mister Shaggy made me mad, but that’s no excuse, I guess.”
“Everybody ready?” Grady asks.
They nod in unison.
“Good,” Grady says. “How about we knock off the bullshit?”
Terri can’t help but notice how low the old man’s testicles are hanging. She supposes she’s heard they do that, as a man ages, but she’s never seen it before now. The sight is simultaneously revolting and fascinating. When Grady catches her eye, she quickly looks away. She glances at Shaggy again, instead. His grin grows even larger.
Grady tiptoes over to the gate, pistol at the ready, and unlatches the hasp. He slowly opens it and peeks around the corner of the fence, looking in both directions. Then he turns back to them and nods, indicating an all clear. Finally, he sneaks out into the alley, followed by Stephanie, and then Bryan.
Terri glances at Mike. He holds out his arm, gesturing for her and Caleb to go before him. Squeezing her son’s hand tightly, she follows the others. Mike shuffles along behind her. She can tell he’s making an effort to be quiet, but she can hear him breathing nevertheless. It sounds very loud, despite the cacophony coming from the front of the store.
Grady guides them over into the shadows beneath a row of maple trees bordering the alley. The leaves and branches rustle, swaying in the breeze as a light wind kicks up. Terri shivers. Despite it being summer, the air feels chilly on her exposed skin.
“What are we waiting for?” Stephanie asks Grady.
He nods toward the store. “Those two. I don’t care what Mendez says. We’re not leaving them behind.”
“We could leave Shaggy behind,” Terri says.
Grady chuckles. “Yeah, that boy’s not right. But regardless, we can’t just abandon them.”
“The hell we can’t,” Bryan whispers. “You heard the man. He’s going to blow up the store. I’m going to find a new place to hide.”
Grady shrugs, not taking his eyes off Mendez and Shaggy. “If you want to go, then go. Good luck to you.”
Bryan glances at Mike. “You coming?”
Mike looks at Terri. She gets the impression that he wants her to say something, but she’s not sure what. His eyes have a plaintive, pleading expression. He’s scared, yes. But there’s something else.
When she doesn’t respond, he shrugs. “Yeah. Let’s go. Good luck, you guys.”
“You, too,” Stephanie murmurs.
Crouched low, the two men hurry down the alley. Terri sees Mike glance over his shoulder once as they flee. Then the two disappear into the darkness, as if they were never there.
Terri turns back to the rear of the store and sees Mr. Mendez and Shaggy prying open the cover to the gas storage tank. Mr. Mendez is using the length of pipe he armed himself with after the swimming pool. From her vantage point, she can almost see around the corner of the store, into the parking lot. Shadows flicker and dance on the pavement, seeming to stretch and flow, as the horde gibbers and rampages. She hears a furious, renewed attack on the store’s rear service door, and glances back at Mendez and Shaggy. Mr. Mendez is holding his rolled up shirt over the flame dancing atop Bryan’s Bile Lords lighter. The cloth catches fire quickly, sending puffs of oily black smoke curling skyward. Mr. Mendez holds it over the opening, letting the flames climb higher. When it is fully engulfed, he drops it down the hole and then runs. Shaggy leaps to his feet and darts along behind him.
“Oh sweet Jesus,” Grady whispers.
There is a whoomp sound, and a brief, small flash of light. Then, just a moment later, the sound repeats, but much louder.
WHOOMP
The concrete buckles and cracks. Flames and smoke shoot up from the fissures. Mendez runs toward them, but Shaggy pauses to turn and look.
WHOOMP WHOOMP WHOOMP
The concussions spread out into the parking lot, heading toward the gas pumps. Terri has to shield her eyes as miniature geysers of flame spring up out of the pavement.
KA-WHOOMP
The ground buckles and roils beneath their feet. Terri sees Shaggy tumble backward, falling on his ass, his arms held up to ward off the fire. She spins around, shielding Caleb from the blast.
Then, a second explosion follows, and night turns to day. Terri feels a wall of heat slam into her. She tries to gasp, but all the air is gone. She can only stand their gaping, struggling for oxygen, feeling her son tremble against her. Her ears pop. Then, just when she thinks she’ll pass out, the air comes rushing back in. Terri gulps oxygen, and then checks on Caleb. He looks up at her, beads of sweat running down his dirty face.
“That was cool,” he says, smiling.
Terri hugs him close, and starts to cry.
“I’m okay, Mom.”
Mendez dashes by, glancing at them in confusion. Terri notices that he doesn’t stop or slow down.
“I told you not to wait,” he gasps as they take off after him.
“You put me in charge,” Grady wheezes. “I left enough people behind in Vietnam, and it’s haunted me all my life. I wasn’t about to leave you behind, too.”
They flee down the alley, Mendez in the lead, Stephanie bringing up the rear. Terri turns when she hears footsteps behind them, expecting to see more crazies. Instead, it’s Shaggy. He looks exhausted. His mouth hangs open and there are black smudges on his face, arms, and chest.
“You okay?” she calls.
He nods, gasping, and motions at them to keep running. She notices that he’s holding his side.
The group draws closer together. Terri glances around, looking for Mike or Bryan, but there is no sign of them. Luckily, there’s no sign of anymore naked people, either.
“Do you think they—”
“Shhh,” Mendez cautions her. “No more talking from here on out. Not if we can at all help it. Remember, we want to blend in.”