Protocol One

by Jacqueline Druga

  I already had to deal with, “Why did my father just kiss you?” comment, and that was over only a peck to the cheek.

  I changed the subject with Joie.

  Thinking of her made me think how cold she would be. She was so thin as it was. I couldn’t believe Tony forgot the sweater. It irritated me, but then again, I wouldn’t say anything to him. It would only fuel the ‘I’m a bad father’ comments which still popped up intermittently.

  I also knew the reason Tony forgot it.

  He was pretty excited.

  He seemed less tense and smiled. “It’s D Day.”

  Thinking he was getting excited about the prospect of trouble, I asked him to clarify.

  “It’s the day where I believe, I will be proven wrong. And you know, what? I’m happy about that.”

  It took a second and I finally understood what he meant. It was already a few degrees below zero with temperatures rapidly dropping. Peter predicted that by the end of the day, by the time we had dinner, it would be somewhere around thirty degrees below zero... if not more.

  Unless they had arctic gear, they weren’t making it the four miles.

  There was a possibility that an impending attack was waiting right outside out walls, maybe even hiding out in the pharmacy down the road. They could have lit a bonfire, but it was so dark light didn’t carry.

  Thirty degrees below was possible. But any lower was highly improbable.

  Peter and Craig both agreed that if those who remained and survived outside weren’t somewhere protected and with heat, then they weren’t going to survive.

  Ten minutes of exposure meant death.

  Breathing in the air … was deadly as well.

  Until the sun came back, and that was a long ways off, things would be nothing but a big deep freeze. Even after the sun returned, it would be like living in northern Canada.

  So it was D-Day. If nothing happened, nothing would. Not yet and not for a while. And when it was possible again, for example when the sun came back out, we wouldn’t be blinded by the dark and we would see them coming.

  I didn’t sweat it. I didn’t worry about an attack. Tony had things far too well covered.

  While Tom and Tony talked about having a little relaxation party, unexpectedly, I cautioned against it.

  “Let’s just wait,” I told them. “When temperatures are stable at an unsurvivable level, then we will celebrate.”

  They looked at me strangely, but agreed. They were indulging in wishful thinking more than I was before they prepared.

  Even though it was only a few days, Tony was tired. He worried a lot, barely slept and constantly checked on things.

  He needed a break and some relief and I prayed he’d get it soon.

  By the time I took Joie her sweater, they had gotten bored with the chickens and were on their way back to the lower floor of Hive Two.

  Nelly said she was going to read with them.

  I went to the switch room and was somewhat dismayed because Peter was already on the radio with Damnation Alley.

  “You didn’t wait for me,” I said as I entered.

  “They radioed us,” Peter replied.

  “Anything new?”

  “Nope. No other contact.”

  “What’s the surface temperature?” I asked.

  “Negative eighteen. Tomorrow at this time we will be at a chilly negative thirty.”

  I peered up at the monitor that showed the outside. It was black. “It is even on?”

  “Yeah it is. We had to retract it to clear the frost. That wasn’t supposed to happen.”

  “Any good gossip?”

  “Nope. It’s boring. We need you and Tony to fight again.”

  I shook my head. “I’ll pass. That stressed me out.”

  I leaned back in the chair watching the monitor. That was our job. Just watch the black screen. See if a speck of light danced around, something. The day before, watching a black screen actually made me sleepy.

  Four hours and counting, I thought, until Tom showed up to take over.

  I wished I had a more important role to play in the ‘protect the community’ plan. But I suppose monitoring a black screen was a big deal.

  There was one problem, like staring at a pattern, after a while your eyes play tricks on you and I swore it was happening.

  The black on the screen changed. “Did I just see that?”

  “I don’t know. What did you see?” Peter asked.

  “It changed.”

  “How can it change? It’s black.”

  “It changed.”

  “I think you were looking at it too …” Peter stopped talking “There, was that it?”

  “Yes.” I grabbed the radio when both Peter and I saw the tiniest speck of light. It darted in then out like a star in a big black sky. “Tony, I need you in the switch room... stat.”

  It took a few minutes for Tony to arrive and during the time we waited. We saw the dot of light just one more time.

  He arrived with Abe.

  “What’s going on?”

  “It could be our imagination,” I answered. “But we saw a speck of light.”

  “Both of you can’t imagine the same thing,” Tony said and looked at the screen.

  Nothing was there.

  “We saw it twice,” I explained. “Both times it darted in and out.”

  Abe interjected. “The camera is on rotating. It can be coming from one area and hitting it on rotation.

  It happened again. “There.”

  “I saw it” Tony said then rubbed his head. “Okay, what is it?”

  “I can suit up,” Abe said. “Go out with a headlamp and night vision.”

  “Is that wise?” I asked. “That can be dangerous and the night vision may not work.”

  “If the head lamp can cast enough light, it will.” Tony said. “Camera is showing that dot east of the fence.”

  “I’ll come up through the hatch.”

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  Peter cautioned. “Cover all parts of you face. Try not to breathe in that air. It’s cold and you can only be out there only a few minutes.”

  “Got it,” Abe said. “Give me five and I’ll be up at the hatch.”

  I was uneasy about Abe going out there. Not only because of the temperature, but also the fact that someone was possibly there. Tony was nervous too. I could see it, even though he didn’t say a word.

  Abe was a trained professional and I told myself that. I wished him luck when he left and waited with bated breath until he radioed.

  “Climbing the hatch,” Abe said over the radio. “Christ, it’s cold already. I’m not even there.”

  “There it is again,” Peter announced.

  Tony spoke to Abe. “We definitely have something out there. Exercise extreme caution.”

  “Tony, what’s the plan if there is someone or people out there?” I asked.

  “This room gets secured. I want everyone else in their rooms with the doors locked.”

  Abe came over the radio. “Almost up top. Getting the head lamp ready.”

  “Roger, that,” Tony said.

  “Tony, you think just to be safe, we should move everyone there now?”

  “You know what?” Tony nodded. “Let’s do this. Peter I need you to start radioing Melissa, Craig and Duke. Tell them to secure their area and head to their rooms.”

  “Will do,” Peter turned the chair and began the task.

  “Nelly doesn’t have a radio,” I said. “I’m running over there.”

  Tony nodded and handed me a radio. “Get them out and to level two. Just to be safe.”

  I turned on the radio and when I did, Abe announced he was at the hatch.

  I started to leave, but Tony stopped me. “Watch my daughter.”

  “Absolutely.” I walked out of the switch room and to the walk away that led to Hive Two. Just as I began my short journey, I saw Nelly and the kids leaving. I raced to her. “Where are you headed?”

  �
�Oh, the kids are restless. I thought I would walk them around.”

  “We’re going on lock down. I need you to take them to your room and lock the door. Don’t come out until Tony or I give the all clear.” I said as I lifted Joie to my hip. “I’ll take her.”

  “Everything okay?” Nelly asked.

  “We're just being cautious.”

  Nelly nodded and holding the hands of the other two children, passed me and continued forward to Hive One.

  “What’s going on?” Joie asked.

  Abe’s voice came over the radio. “Tony, I’m out. Spotlight on. Damn, is it cold!”

  “Tell me what you see,” Tony said.

  Listening to the conversation, Joie on my hip, I walked to the switch room. I wanted to just let Tony know I had his daughter and that everything was fine. I arrived there and peeked in the room.

  “Not seeing anything.” Abe reported.

  “Keep looking.” Tony said, “Ben. Ben, come in.”

  I knew that Ben was on watch in the bay.

  “Ben, I need a report on those doors.”

  Nothing. No response.

  Admittedly, that made me nervous. I signaled Tony to get his attention and pointed to Joie.

  He nodded in acknowledgment.

  “Abe,” Tony called out. “Anything?”

  There was no reply.

  Just as I stepped back to leave, I heard Tony call out one more time.

  “Abe, come in. Ben?”

  Moving to the stairwell, I saw Tony rush from the switch room. “Peter, bolt this.” He called out then shut the switch room door and called to me as he ran. “Take her to your room... now.” He lifted the radio. “Skyler, I need you on the second floor.”

  “Already in route.”

  “Abe. Do you read?” Pause. “Abe.”

  Then everything stopped.

  At least for me it did.

  It seemed as if everything was suspended in time when a male voice spoke over the radio and it was not Abe.

  “Abe’s not available. But will I do?” the gruff voice spoke. “I’m already here.”

  The sound of the unknown voice sent a bolt through me, causing a shot of nerves to tingle every inch of my body. With a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach and legs feeling like jelly, I didn’t even bother to look to see what Tony was doing. I clenched Joie and high tailed it to those stairs. Our floor was one flight down and my room was not that far.

  That was my safety goal.

  36 – Unlikely

  They came and had made it inside.

  That was what was on my mind as I ran top speed down that single flight of stairs. That voice that called over Abe’s radio. We used three channels. One for security, one for general chatter and one that no one but Peter and I used to chat back and forth.

  Tony had his radio on the security channel. That voice was familiar. It was Lenny. Without a doubt in my mind, it was Lenny.

  My concern was on Joie and getting her to my room. The theory was, if anyone broke into our bunker, they would be more concerned with getting our weapons and our strong people. Those people wouldn’t be hiding in their rooms. So there was a safety factor.

  Just as I arrived at my room, I saw the two fire hall children race down the hall in the direction of the stairs.

  Nelly moved as best as she could. She wasn’t spry or young, so it was difficult.

  “Here, come in here with, Joie.” I said. “I’ll get them.”

  “No. No. I got this, go.”

  She hurried passed me yelling to the kids to stop.

  Why were they running?

  I flew into my room with Joie, still holding her tight. After shutting the door, I realized … there wasn’t a lock. I never noticed because I never locked my door.

  “Are you kidding me?” I blasted at the door.

  “What’s wrong?” Joie asked. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” I set her down and inched her back. “Go by the other door.”

  The door opened inward, and not only did I have to secure the main door, but the adjacent door was well. I looked around. What did I have? The dresser, the table, the bed, the chairs. What would be easier to move, yet keep that door shut?

  The chairs. I would prop one under the door handle.

  I took a second to gather my thoughts. There was no more chatter on the radio and I smacked it against my hand to make sure it was working. The light blinked. Nothing.

  Immediately I was struck with fear. What happened? What was wrong? But I couldn’t let that consume me. A clear head was needed. Maybe everything was all right. Surely, if there was a take over there would be gun shots?

  If I heard chickens in the middle of the night, I would hear shots.

  Nothing.

  It was eerily quiet, like the calm before the storm.

  The suddenly, I heard the ‘bang’ of the second floor stairwell door. A sound I was used to because every time Duke walked through that door, he let it slam.

  That was the sound I heard.

  But it was more pronounced as if done loudly on purpose. It caused me to jump. It wasn’t a good sign, I knew it and felt it.

  I spun to Joie and told her, “Hide.” Then grabbed the chair and ran to my door.

  Everything Tony had said, felt and tried to convey, proved me wrong right there and then when the door blasted open and Lenny stood there.

  I remember the clothes we gave him, the dark green button work shirt and dark pants, and he still wore the same clothes.

  Had it been a movie, the cliché scenario would have him shut the door, pull out a gun and erupt into some deep speech on how he had returned, why he returned, and what he was going to do.

  But it didn’t happen like that.

  He blasted open that door, and stood with his arms to his side like a gorilla waiting to attack. He kicked back with his foot to slam the door and I got one call out on the radio, “Tony!”

  That was it.

  It happened so fast. He reached out for me, knocking the radio from my hand, grabbed my arm and yanked me to him.

  I didn’t see a weapon, but did he really need one?

  He pulled me into him and my chest hit his. He lifted me up by my arm and my shoulder ached as I fought to stand on tip toes.

  He wasn’t getting the best of me. I struggled and fought, even though he was a much bigger man.

  My left hand slammed into his gut, but it didn’t make a difference. He whipped out his other hand, slapped it against and over my face and spun me around.

  His hand nearly suffocated me. It covered my mouth and the foul stench of his fingers crept up my nose.

  He braced his arm around my waist pulling me against him, my back to his chest, and he whispered in my ear. “Easy now. Just gonna take you to the others.”

  I shifted my body back and forth, left to right.

  “Though I think you and I may have some fun before I cut your fucking head …”

  His words ended with a grunt, his hold released at the same time as he groaned out a quick cry of pain.

  I fell immediately to the floor. He grabbed at my shirt in an attempt to hold on. As I hit the carpet, I saw the reason.

  Without a doubt, she proved that she was her father’s daughter, even at five years old.

  Joie stood there, looking in shock, her eyes wide. Protruding from Lenny’s thigh was the pair of scissors.

  Joie’s scissors, the ones she used to make her collage.

  “Run,” I ordered Joie. Without hesitation, I yanked the scissors from his leg while at the same time he snatched me from the floor and brought me back to him. I swung my hand upward and jammed the scissors directly into the center of his throat.

  He released me and stumbled back, gurgling as he did. Before he could grab the scissors, I did. I was motivated by fear and rage fueled by something that caused me not to think, only to react. I pulled the scissors from his throat, and buried them into his neck again. Once more I retracted them and did so quickly. Lenny�
��s hands shot to his throat and blood poured over his fingers. He tipped forward, stammering and his eyes lifted. He fought to keep his balance, and as I made eye contact with him, I jammed the scissors into his ear.

  That was the final blow.

  Lenny’s hands dropped, his head cocked up and then Lenny fell face forward to the floor. He landed hard, making a crunching sound when he connected.

  My head spun and I tried not to think about what I had just done. My shoulders shook as I fought to catch my breath. A pool of blood was forming under Lenny’s body, and I stepped back lifting Joie.

  “Oh my God, thank you.” I kissed her. “Thank you.” I kissed her again.

  Her frail arms wrapped around my neck.

  My first inkling was to run, race from the room and get help, but I didn’t. Reality kicked in. What if there were more right outside the door? What if there wasn’t any help?

  I had to think.

  While I did, I cradled Joie’s head into me. “Don’t look at him.”

  “Why?”

  “Just … just don’t look.”

  “Is he dead?”

  “Yeah.”

  What to do? Then I spotted the radio and grabbed it.

  I depressed the button to call out and stopped. I called once for Tony, he didn’t come. I didn’t need to be a GSS person to know something was terribly wrong.

  On my dresser, connected to my tablet were ear pieces I used to listen to Jackson’s music at night. I put the end into the radio, the other piece in my ear, and knowing that Peter was secure in the Switch room, I tuned the radio to our private chat channel.

  “Peter,” I whispered. “Peter, please be there.”

  “Oh my God, Anna. Where are you?”

  “Peter, Joie and I are in my room. We’re fine. What’s going on?”

  “Listen to me, Anna. How fast can you run?”

  “Fast.”

  “Get out of the room, run to the stairs, come directly up here. They're on their way up from the fourth floor. You can beat them if you go now.”

  “Who?”

  “Run!”

  I didn’t need to be told twice. With Joie in my arms, I stepped over Lenny’s body, cautiously opened the door and peeked out. When I saw no one in the hall, I did what Peter instructed and I ran. Radio in hand, child attached, I ran.

  My heart raced like it had never done before when I heard the voices on the stairwell below me.