The Rat Collector: A Dystopian Thriller (Age of End Book 1)

by Chris Yee

  Vince nodded. “It does. It sounds big. They have impressive technology. It will most likely be very different from Snow Peak.”

  “What are we going to do when we get there?” She asked.

  “We’ll have to wait and see. They might welcome us with open arms. Or they might try to kill us. Either way, they know we’re coming. Of that much I’m certain.”

  “What do we do if they fight us off?”

  Vince and Rupert answered together. “We fight back.”

  Rupert walked forward. “We’ve come this far. There’s no point in running away now. Like you said before, Saul risked his life to save ours. Now it’s our turn. We can’t let Patrick’s death be for nothing.”

  “You don’t have to convince me,” she said. “I’m all for fighting back. I just don’t think we should go in blindly. We need a plan.”

  “It’s impossible to plan for something like this,” Vince said. “We have no idea what we’re dealing with. The City could be a town of ten or an army of thousands. There are too many variables. For all we know, the City doesn’t even exist.”

  “Let’s hope that’s not the case,” Rupert said, “otherwise we’re stranded out here in the middle of nowhere.”

  “Stranded?” Ella asked. “This boat will get us back to shore in no time.”

  As these words left her mouth, the low hum of whatever propelled the boat went silent. The vessel slowed until only the gentle waves pushed it forward. She covered her mouth, as if her words had caused the malfunction.

  Alan entered the room. “What happened? Why did we stop?”

  Vince shrugged. “I don’t know. There must be something wrong.”

  Alan threw his arms up in the air. “Well, that’s just perfect. Now we’re stranded in the middle of the ocean.”

  “We’re not stranded,” Ella said. “We just have to figure out what’s wrong, and fix it.”

  “How in the world are we going to do that? This technology is way beyond our understanding. It took us long enough just to get the boat started, and that’s when it was working properly.”

  “We still have to try.” She turned to Vince. “Right?”

  “We should try. Saul is in critical condition. If we stay out here too long, he’ll die.”

  They could hear Saul coughing from the other room. Alan looked back. “Damn it. Okay. I’ll keep an eye on him. You guys get out there and figure out what’s going on.” He trotted out to tend to Saul.

  Ella grabbed Vince and pulled him out the door. “Let’s get to it.”

  “I’ll stay up here,” Rupert said, “in case Alan needs help.”

  Ella and Vince went back through the lounge, down the spiral stairs, and past the pantry. There was a hatch in the floor near the very back of the boat. Ella crouched down and pulled. It did not budge. “It’s locked.”

  Vince stood beside her as she struggled with the hatch, but he was too distracted to help. He stared off to the left, out to the water. “Woah…” he muttered.

  Ella looked up. “What’s wrong?”

  “There’s something over there.”

  She looked. “I don’t see anything.”

  “It’s there. I feel the energy.”

  “Energy? You mean someone else is out there? Another boat?”

  “It’s a strong energy. Maybe more than one person. But it feels different.”

  “Different how?”

  “It doesn’t feel like multiple people. It feels like one source.”

  “How is that possible?”

  “Whatever it is, it lives for a long time. Barnabus lived for as long as I did. Longer even. When we were in that cave, I could feel his strong energy. This feels similar. It may be someone from the City. It may even be the City itself.” He looked back down to the hatch, pulled out his knife, and spun the handle to face her. “Here, use this.”

  She took the knife and dug it into the thin cracks along the edge of the hatch. Vince knelt down and grabbed the door handle. He looked to her to see if she was ready. She nodded. He pulled up as she pried open. The door cracked and then popped free. Inside was a mess of metal and wires, twisting in every direction. They stood over the hole, staring down at the machinery.

  “No wonder this thing goes so fast,” Ella said. “They’ve got some serious stuff going on here. There’s no way we can figure this out. The camera took all night. This will take days.”

  Vince looked over his shoulder, out at the water again. “There’s definitely something out there.”

  “Don’t worry about that now. We have to find a way to get this boat moving. Suggestions?”

  “I think we should leave the boat behind.”

  “You want to ditch the boat?”

  He pointed to the deck. “We have all of these wooden planks, and we brought plenty of rope. We can build a raft and paddle the rest of the way.”

  Ella’s face was cynical.

  “We have to get there somehow, and we don’t have time to fix whatever this is,” he said, pointing to the hatch. “If that energy is the City, we’ll have no problem paddling over there.”

  “But if it isn’t, we’re stuck in the water with nothing left. We can’t fit our equipment on a raft. We’ll run out of food.”

  Saul screamed from the second floor. “Vince!”

  He popped up and dashed towards the stairs. “There’s no time to argue about this, Ella. Saul is going to die. Whatever is out there, it could help him. I know there’s a risk, but we have to try.”

  Ella ran along his side, climbing up the stairs. “Whatever you decide, I’m with you.”

  They ran through the lounge back to the bedroom. Saul was hysterical, screaming and twisting about. Alan and Rupert were trying to restrain him. Vince rushed in to help. “We have to calm him down.”

  “How?” Alan asked.

  “I don’t know, but he’s going to hurt himself.” Without warning, he passed out again. His body went limp, and he flopped back down onto the bed. Vince hovered his hand over Saul’s chest. “He’s weak. I can just barely feel his energy.”

  Ella placed her hand on his shoulder. “It’s your call. Stay here or build the raft?”

  He looked at Saul’s unconscious face. “Let’s build the raft.”

  Alan looked up. “Raft?”

  Ella nodded. “There is something or someone out there on the water. Vince can feel its energy. It might be the City. Right now this boat is useless. But there are wooden boards down there on the deck, and we have plenty of rope. We can build a raft and paddle the rest of the way.”

  Alan clapped his hands together. “Sounds like a plan. Let’s get moving.”

  They went out on the deck and started prying up the floorboards, building a pile in the middle. When they had enough, they unpacked the rope and started tying them together. Vince showed them, and they followed his technique. Within an hour, they had a functional raft, big enough to fit all of them.

  Vince and Ella went back upstairs for Saul. They moved him back onto the stretcher and carefully carried him down. They tied off the raft and threw it overboard. It began to float away, but the rope yanked it back towards them. Rupert climbed down first to help with Saul. He took the stretcher from Vince, and he gently laid it down near the back. Once Saul was safely on the raft, Ella and Vince climbed down, each holding extra boards for paddling.

  Alan looked down to them. “Hold on one second. I’ll be right back.” He left, and when he came back, his arms were filled with food from the pantry. He passed them down one by one. “Might as well take some food, right?”

  Rupert grabbed the boxes and placed them in the middle. “Good thinking.”

  Alan climbed down and squeezed on with the rest of them. Vince drew his knife. “Ready? Do we have everything?” They all nodded. He swung his arm and chopped the rope. They floated away from the boat, into open waters. Vince pointed ahead. “It’s over there. The energy. We need to go that way.” They each took a board and started paddling.

  T
he sun beat down through the clear sky. They shed their coats as sweat began to drip from their faces. They panted in unison with each stroke of the paddles. Ocean salt splashed up and stained their skin. The cool breeze had stopped, leaving them with stale air. They all struggled. All except Vince.

  Alan stopped to rest for a moment. “How do you keep up that pace, Vince? It’s way too hot out here for this.”

  “You’re not used to the heat yet. The transition from Snow Peak must be jarring. I’ve seen much worse than this.”

  Ella pointed up ahead. “Look.” Emerging in the distance was a small mass of land. “It looks like an island.”

  Rupert shaded his eyes. “That’s one small island.”

  Vince nodded. “Yes, very small, but the energy I feel is incredibly intense.”

  Saul lifted his weak hand and reached towards the island.

  “You feel it too, don’t you Saul?”

  Saul nodded and tried to speak, but his words came out soft and slurred. “I feel it, Vince. It’s a beautiful feeling, to know that an energy that strong can exist.” He lowered his arm to his side. “The pain is gone, and that terrifies me. I’m not ready to die.”

  Vince’s eyes began to water. “We’ll get you help. We’ll save you.”

  “It’s okay, Vince. I know you tried, but there’s no one on that island that can help me.”

  “Don’t say that. There is someone on that island. They’ll help you. They have to help you. If they don’t, I’ll make them!”

  Saul laughed. “You were never the aggressive type, Vince. I know I didn’t show it when we were kids, but that’s something I’ve always admired about you. You care for others. You stand up for the weak. You stick to your principles.” He coughed. Blood dripped from his lips and down his cheek. Vince leaned forward to hear his next words. “You always find hope where there’s none to be found, but I’m afraid for me there is no more hope.” His eyes rolled back, and his breath stopped. Vince still felt a glimmer of life, but it was fading fast.

  Ella pointed to the island again. “Vince, look.”

  Vince glanced over and saw a giant tortoise crawling onto the shore. Without a thought, he picked up Saul’s body and dove into the water.

  He wrapped Saul’s arms over his shoulders he swam towards land, leaving the raft behind. He kicked his legs and paddled his arms, exerting all of his energy. His chest pumped with adrenaline as he raced through the water. There was no time to rest. No time to think. This was his last chance to save Saul.

  He reached the shore and collapsed in the sand, Saul falling beside him. The waves crashed over them as they lay on the ground. He glanced at Saul’s almost dead eyes and forced himself to get up, dragging Saul along the sand. The giant tortoise had walked up the beach and was heading towards a patch of grass. The hot grains shifted beneath Vince’s wet feet. His toe caught a rock, and he stumbled over face first. When he got back up his face was covered with sand. He grabbed Saul and kept on marching.

  When they reached the tortoise, he collapsed beside it. The creature ignored him. Vince hovered his hand over the rough shell and felt the pulsing energy. He grabbed Saul’s hand and pressed it again the surface. “Come on Saul! Drain!” A tear ran down his face. “I know you’re still there. I know you can feel it.” Saul didn’t move. “Don’t give up on me, damn it. Drain!” He shook Saul’s shoulders until his eyes peeked open. A confused, delirious daze washed over his face. Vince pointed to the tortoise. “Saul! Drain! Now!”

  Saul looked over, reached his hand out, and leaned against the shell. The tortoise let out a loud moan, reacting to the touch of Saul’s skin. It pulled away, but Saul leaned in with it. Its legs gave out, and it fell to its stomach, squirming around in pain. It retracted its head into the large shell. Sounds of death chimed from within until finally all noise and movement stopped.

  Saul’s hand dropped to the ground as he fought off a coughing fit. Vince patted his back. “There you go. Just breathe.” He looked into his eyes again and saw life. “Are you okay?”

  Saul grabbed his stomach. “I think so.” He lifted his shirt to see the healed wound. In its place was a deep red scar. “It still hurts, but it’s better.”

  The raft reached the shore, and the others ran up the beach. Alan reached them first. When he saw that Saul was okay, he ran up and squeezed him in his arms. Confused, Saul tilted his head at Vince. Alan let go and stepped back. His cheeks turned a rosy red. “Sorry,” he said. “You don’t know me.” He stuck out his hand. “My name is Alan.”

  Saul grabbed his hand and firmly shook. “Nice to meet you, Alan.”

  “You saved my life. I couldn’t be more grateful.”

  Ella and Rupert came up behind him. Rupert stepped up and shook his hand next. “I’m Rupert. This is Fred. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Vince has told us much about you.”

  “Not too much, I hope.”

  “We know your past. We know what you went through in Rodin. But you seem to have turned around. It’s good to see you’re on our side.”

  Lastly, Ella shook his hand. “Ella. Glad you’re doing better. You were getting pretty bad, but it looks like that drain did the trick. You’re all healed up.”

  Saul scanned across all the new faces. “You know about draining?”

  Rupert nodded. “Vince told us.”

  Vince looked at the giant tortoise shell. “Ella, the giant tortoise can live for over two hundred years.”

  They all laughed.

  Alan looked past Vince and pointed. “Guys, look.” They turned their heads, and in the distance, at the very edge of the horizon, there was a wall. It was a great distance away, stretching far off in both directions. “Do you think that’s the City?”

  Saul squinted. “Looks like an outer border. A wall to keep outsiders like us out.”

  “That’s the border?” Ella said in disbelief. “The City must be huge.”

  Vince nodded. “Bigger than I anticipated.” He looked to the setting sun. “Come on, let’s get moving. The day’s almost gone. If we leave now, we can get there by morning.”

  They walked to the raft and pushed out into open waters. Vince and Saul paddled while the others slept. They did not know what dangers awaited them, but they knew they would face them together. They drifted towards the unknown. Towards the City. Towards Victor Greene.

  AGE OF END:

  KINGS AND CROWNS

  PREVIEW CHAPTER

  ONE

  THERE WAS A room, walls lined with monitors. Screens on top of screens, side by side, emitting an aura of video footage. In the center of the room, sitting on a rolling chair, was Charlotte.

  Her eyes were glued to the wall of monitors. She watched in amazement as Vince and the others sailed across the ocean. She was fascinated by the events in the cave. She knew Barnabus was a loose cannon, but slaughtering everyone in the cage? Greene would not be pleased. And now Vince and Saul were on their way. She scribbled notes into her journal, keeping track of everything.

  A man popped his head in the room. “It’s happening again. More bombings.”

  “More?” she said. “Christ, Trevor. Sometimes I just don’t know about this world. Do you think we’re safe?”

  “Oh yeah. There’s no way they’re getting through the walls. Anything interesting happen in here?”

  Charlotte leaned back in her chair. “You have no idea. Barnabus is dead. Vince shot him with his own gun.”

  “I can’t say I’m not surprised. It was bound to happen at some point. The man got stabbed in the eye on his first assignment. He was careless. Always has been.”

  “He had it coming, too. That crazy son of a bitch slaughtered all of Greene’s subjects. Dismembered them in the cage.”

  “Holy crap! I’ve talked to him a few times. He did seem a little off his rocker.”

  “I know, right? He gave me the creeps.”

  “But your name sounds so similar to his.”

  “Ugh, don’t remind me. Marble was such a pleasant last
name until I met Barnabus Carbul, weirdo of the century. I don’t know why Greene likes him so much.”

  “They go way back. They’ve been working together for a long time. He’s about as loyal as they get.”

  “Until he snaps and goes on a murdering spree.”

  Trevor chuckled. “Yeah, well, not everyone’s perfect.”

  Charlotte glanced back at the wall of screens. “Anyway, now Vince, Saul, and the others are headed this way. They took his boat and their sailing across the ocean right now. They say they’re going to stop Greene. Saul’s pretty injured, too. Barnabus shot him. I think he’s going to die.”

  “Wow. You’ve seen some exciting stuff these last few days.”

  “Jealous?”

  He smiled. “Cosmetic test subjects aren’t nearly as exciting. You really lucked out getting assigned to the vitality sector.”

  “Luck had nothing to do with it. I worked hard to get where I am.”

  “I know. I’m just teasing you.”

  A rumble came from outside. Charlotte turned. “Are you sure we’re safe? Those bombs sound close.”

  “There are three walls around the Spire, all armed with cannons. We’ll be fine. That’s probably just our guys firing back.”

  The lights in the room turned red, and the alarm blared over the speakers. A loud automated voice called out. “Potential spire breach. Secure all data and proceed to your designated safe room.”

  Charlotte took one last look at the screens against the wall, hit the record button, and grabbed her journal. “So much for safe. Think we’ll finally get to use the evacuation pods?” She walked through the door.

  Trevor followed as they walked down the hall. “The alarm sounds if they breach the first wall. They’ve still got two more to go. There’s no way that will happen. It never has before.”

  “You never know. Simon is resourceful.”

  “Simon is a crazy terrorist with a messed up sense of justice. He plays dirty.”

  “Even more reason to take this seriously.”