The first boy stands in front of me with a pistol just like Saul's in his hand, dangling at his side. He has short black hair and is no older than the twins. My neck relaxes, turning my head toward him. I want to say something, but I can't. Everything is blurry.
“I know you; you caused us some pretty serious headaches yesterday.” He looks around and sees the bodies, including Saul's. “You just keep causing us problems. Well no more.” I feel the cold steel barrel against my forehead. I can hear his finger begin to pull the trigger.
I think of Jo, and those two girls.
I didn’t let you down, father. See you soon.
Chapter 36: Jocelyn
Carter pulls at my right hand. I look back over my shoulder and see my brother for the last time. My free hand wipes away the tears. I follow Carter and the twins down over the embankment and into the SUV that is parked along the side of the road. Everyone jumps in the car and Carter slams on the gas. He heads north down the road. I roll the window down to get a little air, only to hear a pop way behind us. Then another. Then a final one that I barely hear over the engine and Sara's cries in the backseat.
Caitlyn pulls her sister’s head into her lap and runs her fingers through her hair. When I ran over the front lawn to Jon, I saw the bodies with the red arrows – the same red arrows still in Caitlyn’s quiver sitting beside her on the seat. The bow is on top of them. She watches as my eyes go from the bow to her.
“Are you okay?” I whisper to her.
“I'm okay. Why wouldn't I be? I'm not hurt.” She blinks at me and seems to look straight through me. I feel a chill. Caitlyn has become a child of this new world; Sara, on the other hand, is struggling.
We remain silent in the car for about another half hour before Carter breaks the silence.
“If we drive through the night, we should be able to be at the beacon by daybreak.” I nod and return my gaze to the window. In the back seat, both girls fall asleep.
Carter reaches over and grabs my left hand. I place my right hand on top of his. I stare out the window at the passing houses. I feel so tired but I don't think that I could actually fall asleep. I slowly rub the top of his hand. A few times I have to squeeze his hand to try and push the last image of my brother from my mind. When we are safe I can let it all out.
We drive all night, and few words are shared between any of us. There isn't much to say. Carter doesn't have to say why he came back; I know why.
After a few hours, Carter pulls over to refill the car with the gas cans in the trunk. He pulls out the map to double check our heading.
“We should be there within the hour.” He says to me. The girls are asleep in the backseat, but I bet they would be excited, if they could manage excitement after today. We continue our journey down the road. There is not a cloud in the sky and I stare straight up through the moon roof at the stars. At constellations. At heroes.
I wonder if Jon is up there now. The thought makes me smile briefly. It takes a lot of concentrating, but I stop the tears from falling.
“We're here,” Carter whispers. The headlights reveal an array of tents and paper scattered throughout a giant mall parking lot. We drive past a collapsed sign that reads “UN Emergency Relief and Relocation.” It's weird seeing a place that should have so much life look like a wasteland. Carter pulls between the tents and a giant helipad constructed on the corner of a parking lot leading to the mall. On the other side of the helipad are a few trees that become denser as they turn into a forest. He puts the car in park, and I look through the windows. It looks abandoned.
“Where is everybody?” Sara asks. The twins must have woken up.
Carter reaches behind his back and pulls out a gun. He checks the magazine.
“Jo, switch to the driver side. I am going to go check things out. If anything happens. Get out of here. I will meet up with you back down the road. After that, you know the drill: I have fifteen minutes to get to you before you head back to the cabin.” It bothers me how nonchalantly he describes his plan in case he dies, too. I'm tired of being told what to do if people don't come back. I can't lose anyone else today.
He opens the door and walks out, his gun up and ready. Carter shouts, “Hey, is there anyone here?” He waits. “We are peaceful; we were told we could come here for help.” Still no response. I watch him walking around in the headlights. After spiraling around, observing the area, he disappears behind a tent.
The girls and I hold our breath. One minute goes by. Another minute goes by. Then a third. I feel my pulse quickening.
Without warning the lights come on in the car. The door has opened. I turn into the back seat and the door is already slamming shut. Sara is back there alone. I watch from the car as Caitlyn goes running out, bow at the ready.
“Caitlyn, get back in here!” I yell out my rolled down window. She ignores me and disappears into the night. More minutes go by. Terror is in me. I open the glove compartment and pull out the knife I acquired from what feels like decades ago. When I sit back up I see two figures moving back toward the car.
It is Carter and Caitlyn.
When Carter’s and my eyes meet, he shrugs his shoulders and says “I guess it’s empty. Grab the flashlights. We can at least see if there is anything we can use.” Sara goes into the back and pulls out a few of our lamps. I hand them out and we begin exploring the deserted post.
Chapter 37: Carter
If the UN was here, they have not been here anytime recently. The first tent looks like it had been some sort of medical center. Papers still slowly drifted around the tent. I grab a clipboard from the table. It seems to be an observation of a plague victim. The date on the paper is about two months old. It was done by a doctor. There are a few body bags in the tent, but thankfully they were all twisted and empty.
“Carter, you need to check this out.” Jocelyn calls from the nearby tent. I see her silhouette from her flashlight and make my way over to her. She is standing beside a radio. She hands me a bright red piece of paper. This tent is filled with them. On it are directions to call out. I begin to read it aloud.
“Due to unforeseen circumstances, we have relocated to a more secure location. If you are here to seek help and relocation please follow these directions. Security is not far away.” Beneath the note is a procedure. The first is to start the generator, dial to a certain frequency on the radio, and give the coordinates, “ECHO 67,” then describe your party. After that, we should hear a response and help will arrive.
We follow the directions. The generator still has gas and it roars to life with a few pulls of the chord. Jocelyn picks up the communicator. “This is site ECHO 67. There are four of us that need help. Among us are two young girls and they really need to get out of this mess.”
Silence answers her. Then a muffled voice comes back, “We will be there within the hour. Good to see you are safe. Don't worry, they will be out soon.”
The twins are standing at the opening of the tent when they hear the response and big smiles light up both of their faces. I smile back. I squeeze Jocelyn's hand, still holding onto the communicator. We share a smile. On the ground is a video camcorder; it's pink and seems out of place. I pick it up. There's a note taped to it that says, “PLAY ME!” I press the power button. It seems dead as it flickers for only a second.
“You girls want to see if you can find some batteries? Don't go far.” I give them something to do and walk with Jocelyn back to the SUV. I parked it next to the landing zone they had created in the parking lot. Both of us sit against the back tire facing the helipad. Our hands intertwine and I see the girls to the right running in and out of the various tents. They are opening boxes and stray packs. I close my eyes for a few moments and breathe deeply. I feel at ease. We are almost safe.
The sun begins to rise over the treetops. The helicopter should be here any moment. I sit beside the SUV, Jocelyn's hand in mine. The twins are rummaging through some boxes in one of the nearby tents. I look into her eyes. She has been through so much.
I lean forward and our lips meet for a moment. When I pull away I brush her hair behind her left ear.
“We are going to be okay.” I tell her.
“I know, thank you for everything.” She manages a smile and looks away. Her face is powdered with dirt and the water from her tears shows the flawless skin underneath. She reaches back and pulls her long red hair up for a moment with both hands. She exhales and lets it fall behind her. That is why I came back. I smile and look forward. Sara is running toward me with her hand stretched out in front and grasping a small box.
“Carter I found some batteries that should work in that camera.” She pulls out two AA's.
“Thanks.” I take them from her and pull the camera from the driver’s seat. She goes and sits in Jocelyn's lap. Caitlin comes over and sits on the ground beside me. I put the batteries in and hit play.
I hold it out as the screen lights up. A little blond girl and a dog play on a front lawn. They look happy. The dog rolls around as the girl holds out some sort of stuffed animal. I feel the tension escape the four of us. Sara gives out a little laugh and Jocelyn squeezes her tighter. Caitlin puts her head on my shoulder. The scene changes and then the same girl and a man, her father I guess, open up presents in front of a Christmas tree. The dog runs in and then rolls among the wrapping paper, but the screen suddenly goes black.
“Well I guess that's it...” I am about to switch it off but then a boy’s face pops on the screen. He may be fourteen or fifteen years old. His face is dirty and he is breathing loudly. His eyes dart to each side of his face. He begins to talk.
“Whoever you are, you need to run. Now.”
Chapter 38: Walter
“I repeat you need to get out of there now. My friends came to this location on September 2nd. We were told that there would be safety by these people who would come to save us. I was the smart one and didn't trust people that just help others. People don’t just help. So I hid myself away when the “UN” came to save our group. They didn't listen to me; I told them to hide. But no – let’s not listen to Walter.” I start to laugh. I don't know why but this is all so funny. The irony of it all that I would be the most clever of them. I guess this is what they deserve for believing in hope. Pulling the dead girl's camera to my mouth, I continue.
“As I peered out from the locker I watched as my friends greeted the helicopters with open arms. Those fools. I almost revealed myself from my hiding place to yell but then I heard the first screams from Caleb, the oldest of our group.” Eighteen years old is the oldest. That's funny. The oldest is a senior in high school. We put our hope in a senior in high school. My God, are we stupid. I would have been better staying with sick mom and dad. Their bodies would have given better advice than Caleb, the damned neighbor.
“Caleb had been injured in an explosion while trying to siphon gas out of a car.” Smoking can be so dangerous – especially when I leave the cigarette in the wrong place. “When the men in the helicopters saw his injuries they pulled out a gun and executed him.” I still see the mess that shot left. I finally got to see all that intelligence out in the open. Not a lot of intelligence.
“Then they separated the children from the group. The really young children were loaded into one helicopter and then another. I watched as they tore a baby from Juliette’s arms as they slammed the doors to the chopper shut.” I guess they don't like babies too much... good thing I am not one. “A few men did a poor search of the perimeter and then the helicopters took off. I emerged from the locker and watched as the helicopters flew away. I don't know who these people are but they aren't exactly the UN Aid that was promised in the radio transmissions.”
“I grabbed this camera from a nearby corpse and thought I'd warn ya. Hopefully you didn't go calling for help. Oh well, your funeral!” My thumb pushes the red button. I set it on the radio receiver.
What to do. What to do. What to do?
I rummage through everyone's packs and take the best goods ever so carefully. They tried to hide the stuff that “mattered.” They said they couldn't trust me when I ran out of my pills.
Well look who is still free. Would a madman be so clever to outsmart men in black helicopters?
I turn to the forest.
Time to have some fun.
Chapter 39: Caitlyn
The screen goes black. All of us quickly rise to our feet.
“What are we going do?” Jocelyn pleads frantically to Carter. I can already hear the helicopters on the way. Jocelyn always seemed frantic about something and it’s beginning to get to me. She needed to calm down.
“We don't even know if that's real, Jo. Do you see all this official United Nation stuff lying around? How could they not be here to help? The kid seemed liked he lost it. Did you hear his laugh and that look in his eyes?” Carter started to yell as the engines and blades of the approaching helicopters drown out our voices.
“I think Carter is right. If there is a chance to go to a normal life I want it,” Sara joins in. She yells, too. I don't know who to believe. It’s too late anyway. The helicopters are landing right on the big “H” that isn’t too far away. We wouldn't get far if we were to run now.
The doors on the helicopters slam open. Men in gas masks and assault rifles jump out. They point them all at us. I think Carter was wrong.
“Get down on the ground!” They scream. All of our hands go up and we begin to lie down. Carter stays standing and walks towards the soldier. The men continue to yell, “Is anyone injured?”
“No one is hurt. We are cool man; we are just looking for help...” Carter's reply is cut short when one hits him in the stomach with the butt of his gun. Sara screams. One of the men grabs her and yells at her to shut up. She keeps screaming. He hits her across the face with his hand. She goes limp.
Before I know it, I am on top of the nearest soldier kicking and biting him. “Let her go.” I scream. Jocelyn struggles but one of the men has her two arms and is dragging her to the nearer chopper. Some blood leaks from Carter's mouth as two men carry him to the same chopper.
“Leave them alone!” Jocelyn screams. She is thrown in. Carter is hoisted in behind her and the door to the helicopter is slammed shut.
They keep trying to get hold of me. I feel light headed as the man keeps hitting my head. He finally manages to pick me up under his arm.
“Sara!” I yell as she is loaded into the other helicopter. The other one is taking off and I see Jocelyn banging on the window out at us. A gloved hand quickly covers her mouth and pulls her back.
My vision becomes blurry. I stop kicking and screaming. It isn't working anyway. They carry me to right in front of the helicopter. The one holding me and one in front of him are the only ones in front of the chopper.
How did all this happen? We were so close to safety. This meant everything to them.
Then I see my opportunity: the soldier’s knife hanging off his gear on his chest. I look up at his mask covered face, finding a seam by his neck. He seems to be ignoring me; he thinks I am out like my sister.
I grab his knife and thrust it under his mask and into his neck. He falls without a yell. As he collapses, my feet find the ground. With the knife in hand, I charge to the nearby woods at the other end of the helipad parking lot. Those men won’t be happy when they notice who I’ve killed.
As I get to the dense trees, the bark beside me splinters away and I hear the shots beneath the sound of the helicopters. The masked men are shooting at me. I keep running until I find an old, withered tree and climb behind it. The shots spread throughout the trees around me.
I peek out after a few moments go by without any gunshots. The second helicopter is taking off. They must not want me that badly.
Sara. I feel sadness sweep over me, but this is no time to cry.
I watch the helicopters flying into the sun, east. Soon they are out of sight. I come out of the forest and go to the dead soldier. His mask is now off, so I see who I killed. Maybe I should feel sadness for this, but I feel nothing.
He has a cell phone clipped to his belt. I take it. I open it and it has service. What’s more, it has a full battery. Somehow I feel lucky at this moment.
I walk to the car, grabbing my backpack with my bow and arrows. The helicopters did not take long to get here after we called. They cannot be too far. I look up at the rising sun and tuck the soldier's knife into my backpack.
Swinging my gear over my shoulders, I run into the forest. I have killed four people in the last several hours – not bad for a twelve year old. I will kill as many as it takes to get my family back– especially to get Sara back.
End of Book I
Thank You
Both of us appreciate your time and hope you enjoyed book I of the Humanity Gone Saga. “After the Plague” is an accumulation of original and “borrowed” ideas from throughout my life. Over a year ago, I started a rough outline of the story on a piece of sketch paper. It was partially inspired by O.T. Nelson's The Girl Who Owned a City, a book I read way back in middle school. A world without supervision always held a certain appeal to me. However, in his book the magic age was 12. I wanted to up the ante and incorporate young adults. Young children can be mean, but young adults could be barbaric.
The concept of shifting perspectives stems from several sources. In my mind, I wanted something between K.A. Applegate's Animorphs series, and George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series. That could be the first time those two works have ever been compared. The presentation was also meant to be cinematic in a sense by relying on dramatic irony in key moments across the story.
Originally this started as a solo project for the first several months until I realized that I needed help as it grew into a real pandemic of sorts. I enlisted Dean to help with editing, but soon found him to have invaluable ideas of his own that have been incorporated throughout the work.
After the initial manuscript was finished, we bounced drafts back and forth. I was lucky to even have author Jay Wilburn add his two cents at the revision stage, and I thank him for his thorough critical response.
Humanity Gone: After the Plague Page 15