Her family’s looks of concern quickly turn into looks of shock, and John responds, “I’m sorry to hear about your friend, but are you guys alright?”
Her mom, Stacy, places her hand on her brother’s shoulder. “Honey, are you okay?”
Maggie starts to cry a little. “We’re all okay physically but not so good mentally or emotionally. I miss you guys so much. I should have listened to you and moved up there. That was so foolish of me.”
Stacy dabs her eyes with a tissue. “Listen, honey, you moved down there for school. No one is faulting you for that. We‘re just glad you guys are alright and safe in the bunker. Just stay down there until help arrives and this is taken care of by the military.”
Maggie turns her head and looks directly at Eric. “We are, Mom. We’re not going anywhere. Eric and Nathan want to go out there and help people, but that’s not going to happen.”
Maggie’s dad, Bill, bends down and cranes his head into the screen shot. “Like hell you are! You guys stay put!”
John moves his head around Bill’s and gently pushes him back. “Under no circumstances should you kids leave that bunker anytime soon. You hear me, Eric and Nathan? The initial reports coming in say the people that were affected by this tear gas have demonstrated behavior like that of a rabid animal. They are attacking anyone and killing them! You saw what happened to your friend, Todd, and the same could happen to you if you venture out there. So until we learn more about this and gather more information on what’s going on, you are in no way to leave that bunker.
Because I’m not even sure if you would know who to trust out there anyway. At this point, we have to consider the possibility that this was in fact the police or government who caused this, and it wasn’t just another terrorist attack. I don’t think they would do something like this, but who knows? And by the way, how was your friend Todd attacked? Haven’t you been in the bunker since this all started?”
Maggie looks at her friends and turns back toward the screen. “We were actually in Denver when it happened.” The look of shock on her family’s faces force her to choose her words very carefully. “We— were part of the protest when the police fired the tear gas into the crowds. We were pretty far from the center of the protest, and we also had gas masks on. We got out okay, but on the drive home sitting in a traffic jam, some psychotic, crazed lunatic smashed the window and pulled Todd out and just killed him. Eric jumped out to help, but it was too late. He had to shoot and kill the guy.”
John slowly turns his head and glances at Bill, who is visually stunned at what they just heard, and then turns back toward the screen. “You guys were at the protest when this all happened.” He puts his hand on the side of his forehead and slides it through his hair and drops his head. “Jesus Christ, you guys, you’re lucky to be alive. Do you have any idea how fortunate you guys are that you weren’t all killed or affected by the tear gas! And why the hell were you carrying a gun with you, Eric? Do you always carry one around?
Eric hesitates but then enters the view of the screen. “No way, sir, I don’t usually carry a gun with me. Yesterday Maggie let us check out the bomb shelter, and I took a handgun without her knowing it. It was only for the day just for protection in case something happened, and I was going to return it with the gas masks we borrowed. I’ve apologized to Maggie, and I’m sorry to you, sir, and Maggie’s parents. It was stupid of me to take it.”
Stacy shakes her head and inches toward the screen. “Not smart, Eric. You could have accidentally shot my daughter or one of her friends.” Eric quickly casts his eyes away and looks conflicted.
John scratches his head and looks up. “Well, thank God you did. I guess doing something stupid turned out to be a life saver. Everything happens for a reason, you guys. Just be thankful you’re all okay and safe.”
Maggie replies, “We are, Uncle John, and you’re absolutely right; everything does happen for a reason, and we are just grateful to be safe.” She looks over at Eric and smiles ever so slightly.
Knowing that the whole Ark was full of very scared people wanting some answers as to what was going on, John takes over the conversation. He tells them they will be sending a drone out to recon the Denver and Boulder areas, anticipating the loss of news coverage in the next couple days. The government has already declared martial law in every major metropolitan area, and they’ve issued a state of emergency for all the protest states.
The National Guard has been dispatched, and all military troops serving in other countries have been ordered to come home in fear of another terrorist attack. He elaborates on the probability that this was a terrorist attack and that the initial reports said that the tear gas had been tampered with and was somehow turned into some kind of chemical weapon. He finishes by reminding them that things are going to get real bad out there and he needs them to sit tight and stay calm.
Maggie and Eric both nod their heads yes, and Maggie ends the call with saying I love you. She turns and looks at her roommates who have calmed down a little and have stopped crying.
“Alright, we’ll stay here for now.” Eric looks at Maggie and then everyone else. “Your uncle and you, Maggie, are absolutely right. We’re lucky to be alive, and we shouldn’t put ourselves in harm’s way if we don’t have to. The government will take care of this, and we’ll be out of here in probably a week or two tops. Until then, let’s just go through and inventory our supplies and keep up on the news and do a lot of praying.”
Maggie looks up at Eric and smiles. “Exactly, a lot of praying.”
The guys get up and walk over to the guns and begin inspecting the weapons. Maggie looks at her friends and smiles. “Come on, you guys. Let’s get our minds off of everything and go check out the food and water supply. I’m sure the guys are perfectly content with checking out the guns.” She stands up and reaches her hands out to her two roommates still sitting on the floor. They look up at her, grab her hands, and walk over to the food shelves, arms linked together.
Before she falls asleep that night, Maggie thinks about how fortunate they are that she has someone who cares about her so much that he would build a bunker under her house just in case of something like this ever happening. Not many people have the luxury of such an extravagant thing as this safe haven they now all sleep in, and for those people who aren’t safe tonight, her heart aches.
Chapter 16
Peter sits in his chair, flipping through the channels of nothing but the news on almost every channel. Three days after the initial incident, Denver is in total lockdown with no one in or out. What’s left of the National Guard has been allocated further outside the city, surrounding it in attempts to contain the infected but with very little success. Because the threat of an airborne toxicity is no longer an issue, the surrounding suburbs have lost all control and the people are starting to loot and pillage. The remaining police force has attempted to maintain law and order, but they are so busy fighting off the infected that roam the streets of almost every suburb within a mile of Denver. The news reports also state that similar scenarios are occurring in every major city that has been affected by the tear gas.
Peter just wants to give up as he listens to yet another news report detailing the breakdown of modern society. With power grids starting to shut down in random parts of the city and its surroundings, people continue to panic. Shootings and stabbings are being reported all over the metro area, and the emergency phone lines are so overwhelmed that they are unable to answer most calls. Every flight coming in and out of the country has been shut down in fear of terrorist attacks being carried out at a very vulnerable time. The military has yet to move in to help out the affected cities with reasons unknown.
Simon sits at the table talking with the rest of the group, explaining to them what he told Peter about his knowledge and experience with this type of chemical weapon. Just as stunned as Peter was, Jason, Kelly, and Dave sit and listen, trying to comprehend what they are hearing. Kelly tries her best to hold back her tears while Jason an
d Dave sit there stone-faced but obviously devastated by the information.
After Simon’s explanation of his past experience, they start to discuss a plan and strategy for what they need to do. Time is not on their side, and action needs to be swift and concise. After coming up with a plan, they decide to bring Peter into the conversation.
Simon turns around in his chair and looks at his son, again flipping through the channels. “Peter, hey, would you come over here for a minute? We need to discuss something.”
Peter looks at his dad, turns down the television, and walks over to the table and sits down, not saying a word.
“Alright, listen, son, we’ve been talking, and after I explained to them what I told you about this chemical weapon, we’ve come up with a plan on what needs to be done, okay?”
Peter nods his head in agreement as Simon continues on. “Alright, now with the extra people that will be staying here, our supplies aren’t going to last that long. I only stocked enough provisions for the two of us, and with an extra three people, the food and water that we have just won’t last us as long, of course. So we’ve come up with a plan on what we’re going to do. The looting around town has already begun, and if we wait any longer, then supplies will be gone and we’ll be left with scavenging houses, something I would like to avoid for as long as possible. So we’re going to have to go out there, and we’ve all agreed that our best chance of survival is that we all go out and work as a team.”
Peter looks at his dad with furrowed eyebrows. “Yes, son, and that means you too. At first I didn’t want you coming with us. I thought it might be too dangerous. But as I told them, quite frankly, you’re the best shot I’ve personally ever seen with a sniper rifle. These two military guys didn’t believe me since you’re so young, but I think I’ve convinced them. So, the plan is to leave here at dawn tomorrow and hit the grocery store and pharmacy and get as much food, water, and medical supplies as we can get. Now it’s been decided that the three of us, Dave, Jason, and I, will enter the store alone. While you and Kelly camp out about a hundred yards away in the trees with a sniper rifle, you’ll watch our backs, and Kelly will watch yours.”
Peter looks at Kelly and then at his dad. “Ah, she’s going to be watching my back . . . What does that mean? Why can’t I go with you guys?”
“Because, son, we need you to be our eyes and ears out there, but we will be in constant radio communication, so you just need to make sure no one hostile surprises us while we’re inside gathering supplies. And Kelly will do fine. She knows how to handle a weapon.”
Kelly looks at Peter and says, “I may be just a girl in your eyes and have never been in the military, but I do know what I’m doing. My daddy taught me how to shoot when I was young. So like your dad said, I know how to handle a weapon. Not to mention I’m married to a military man, so you don’t have to worry about me. I have your back, okay?”
Peter lowers his head and lets out a sigh while he shakes his head. “Alright, if you say so.”
Jason grabs his wife’s hand. “Alright, then it’s settled. We leave tomorrow at dawn.”
Peter nods his head yes, and they all get up from the table. Kelly goes over to some cans on the shelves and begins to prepare dinner for the group. Over dinner, they discuss a few details about their plan but eat quietly and quickly. They then all retire to the bunk beds with Dave having to sleep on the floor. He isn’t very comfortable there on the floor, but not a single one of them will sleep well this night.
Chapter 17
The next day, they awake at four o’clock, eat a hearty breakfast, gather their supplies for the day, weapons, gas masks, food, water, and get ready for their departure. Peter finishes getting on his combat gear and checks his sniper rifle for the third time, trying not to show the group how much his hands are shaking. After checking communications, they all nod that they are ready, so they leave the bunker, walk upstairs, and open the basement door.
Dave takes point. He crouches down on one knee and scans the kitchen, listening for any signs of an intruder. He knows that the house has a security system that would alarm them of anyone who entered the house, but he’s not taking any chances. Jason taps him on the shoulder, and they move into separate rooms, clearing the living room and dining room and the entire first floor. Simon and Peter swiftly walk up to the second floor and clear the bedrooms. They scan the outside from the first and second floor windows with no signs of life outside.
They enter the garage and load their gear in the Toyota Tundra king cab pickup truck. Simon gets behind the wheel as Jason grabs shotgun. Kelly and Peter get in the back seat, and Dave jumps in the truck bed, weapon in hand. Simon starts the engine with relief of the sight of a full tank of gas, thankful that he had just filled it up a couple of days before the incident. He presses the garage door button. While the garage door opens slowly, Dave is crouched in the truck bed with his weapon pointed at the opening door. Dave taps on the window and gives the thumbs up, and the pickup slowly rolls out of the garage and onto the driveway. Simon closes the garage door as Dave scans both directions of the street. No visible threats are in sight.
They slowly drive down the street without headlights on, not wanting to attract any unnecessary attention, just using the dim light of the dawning sun to light their way. As they leave the neighborhood, the scene quickly changes to that of car accidents at intersections and dead bodies with their heads blown off on the sides and middle of the roads.
There are screams in the distance, which makes everyone in the car tense and on edge. Their hopes of this being easy and without problems are slowly fading. Gunshots not too far off send shivers up their spines, a little too close for comfort.
They finally arrive at the grocery store and park just inside the tree line roughly one hundred and fifty feet from the front of the store. Simon shuts off the truck as Dave continues to scan the surrounds from the back of the truck. Jason gets out and looks around, followed by Simon, then Kelly and Peter. They move to the edge of the tree line, and everyone hits the dirt and lies on the ground, surveying the situation.
Simon lifts his head up and looks at everyone and whispers, “Alright, from here on out Dave has tactical command, so he is in charge. Now, everyone just stick to the plan, and hopefully things should go as smooth as possible. Things seem pretty quiet around here, so let’s keep it that way; no shots unless we have to as we don’t want to attract anyone or anything close by. Is everyone clear on their duties?”
Everyone replies with a “copy” and a nod.
“Alright then, Kelly, whatever you do, do not turn around to see what’s going on unless it’s an emergency. You watch my son’s back, and he’ll take care of the rest. Is that clear?”
Kelly replies with another “copy” and turns to face the opposite direction, rifle up and eyes already scanning their backdrop.
Simon gives a quick nod and turns back to Dave. “Alright, buddy, you have command; we move out on your order.”
Dave nods and gets up on one knee and takes one last look. Satisfied with what he sees, he whispers on the radio to move out. All three men simultaneously stand up and move toward the grocery store with Dave at point, followed by Jason and then Simon. They move quickly in the dim light with weapons up and while looking through their sights. They move in close formation as quietly as possible, all while scanning the parking lot for any signs of life. Suddenly, Dave stops and puts up the hold sign. They all crouch down next to a group of cars.
“Contact, fifty yards at two o’clock. I’ve got what appears to be a middle-aged male in between some cars. Do you copy the visual?”
Jason answers, “Copy. I see him. He doesn’t look right in the head. He looks the same as the ones we came in contact with on the way to Simon’s house, and he’s got blood all over him.”
Simon looks though his scope and fears the worst. He knows what he’s looking at; he’s seen it before. There’s no question in his mind what he’s looking at: the first infected person he’s
seen on his own soil.
Dave shoulders his weapon, pulls out his knife, and looks back at his brother and Simon. “Alright, this infected needs to be taken out. We cannot leave this threat to linger. If it makes noise, it could attract more of them to us. Jason, you’re on me. Simon, you keep that thing in your sights, and only pull the trigger if you have to. And that goes for you too, Peter. Do you copy? Do you see what we’re looking at?”
Peter whispers “copy” in the radio and pulls the slide back on his rifle, loading a bullet in the chamber.
Dave moves through the cars crouched down with Jason right behind him. As they get close to the man, they notice a horrid smell and stop for a second. They look at each other and move into position on the other side of the car, opposite the infected. Dave looks back at Jason and gives a quick nod before he moves around to the back of the car. Dave peers around the side of the car to get a better look at the man just standing there and swaying back and forth, unaware of their presence.
He takes a deep breath and moves out from the back of the car and right up behind the man. He slits his throat from ear to ear. The man tries to make a sound, but only a gurgling sound comes out. It turns and lunges at Dave, who is already stepping back, obviously surprised that it’s coming at him. He takes another step back, raises his knife, and plunges it into the forehead of the man, bringing it to its knees. Blood gushes from his neck and head.
Dave lets go of his knife and steps back just as the man falls to the ground. He quickly pulls his rifle around and points it at the dying man. Jason gets off his one knee and keeps his rifle trained on the man on the ground as he moves toward them.
Dave turns to look back at his brother and gives a nod. “Threat eliminated. Situation secure. Simon, move up to our position. Peter, what’s our sit rep? How’s it look from your view?”
The Ark of Asylum (The Ark Series Book 1) Page 11