by Nikki Landis
The sound of banging on his bedroom door woke him some time later.
“Boss! Boss, wake up!” It was Big Dog.
“Boss!” He called again.
Alec sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. “Coming.”
Big Dog stood awkwardly in the doorway when he opened it. His face held an unreadable expression.
“Well come in. Out with it big guy,” he teased.
“I…there’s an air raid tonight.”
“Where?” Alec asked, pulling on his boots.
“Green Acre Hills.” Big Dog’s voice was a whisper.
Sudden fear gripped him. He sank to his knees without noticing. “Are you sure?”
“I think so Boss. Scouts reported seeing the bombers in the air headed that way about twenty minutes ago.”
Oh God, Lizzie and little Benjamin. “No!”
The anguished cry ripped from his throat. He hardly realized he had said it. Tears filled Big Dog’s eyes.
“I have several jeeps ready to go. Say the word Boss.”
Alec blinked a few times to focus his eyes. He could scarcely draw a breath.
“I’ll be there in two minutes. See that everyone is ready.”
Big Dog left quickly, without a sound. In the emptiness that followed Alec sent a prayer up to God. Please oh please, let them live. He would bargain with God if he was able, give his life for theirs if it was required. Anything that was asked of him.
But this time Alec had no control, for God was not seated in those planes and the militia never backed down. Never…
Chapter Nineteen: Lizzie
Static. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. More static.
“Ladies and gentlemen we have breaking news.”
Static. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. More static.
“Ladies and gentlemen we have breaking news.”
It had repeated for ten full minutes now. I’m sure anyone with a radio was listening.
“Breaking news!”
Static.
“The militia has released an official declaration. The public menace known as The Reaper has been apprehended.”
Static.
“I repeat the militia is releasing an official press release.”
Static.
“The militia has amended their original statement. The Reaper has not only been apprehended but is dead. I repeat, The Reaper is dead.”
Static.
Behind me I heard a crash. Startled I turned from the radio to stare at Mal. He had dropped the plate he carried. It lay on the ground, clattering, the spilled food forgotten. His face was pale.
“The Reaper.” He repeated the radio.
I was confused. “Who is The Reaper?”
He glanced at me, swallowing. “The Reaper is the leader of the freedom fighters…”
Shock spread through my system. “What?”
He grabbed my hands, squeezing them. “I thought you knew. The Reaper is our leader, nicknamed by the militia in the hopes of capturing him. It’s Alec.”
I shook my head. No. I didn’t believe it. I would never believe it. He wasn’t dead.
“It’s a trick. I am certain of it. They just want to land a blow to the morale of the refugees. They want to promote fear and dissention. They must think he is quite important to go to such lengths.”
Mal looked unconvinced. “Sure honey.”
I took several deep breaths to calm myself. I would not believe such lies. I would not allow them to take root, not until I had proof. The militia had spread their propaganda before. This was nothing new. Just a ruse.
Static. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.
The radio was going off again. I reached over to turn it off when the emergency broadcast signal replaced the beeping.
“This is an emergency broadcast message. It will repeat every five minutes for the next three hours. This is an emergency. Please seek immediate shelter. Bombers have been sighted along the valley and in the following cities: Logan, Asheville, Clinton, Columbus, Green Acre Hills…”
The broadcast continued but I had stopped listening. Mal hastily shut off the radio. In the quiet that followed I could hear a low hum coming from outside the bunker’s walls. In horror I stared at him, not fully comprehending.
“The bombers Lizzie…they are coming. We have to get out of here!”
He grabbed my hand and pulled me into the bedroom. I stood in shock for a moment and then scooped up little Benjamin. There wasn’t time to bring anything from the room except his blankie and favorite stuffed bear. I quickly wrapped him around my body securely with the same sling I had used the last time I escaped a bunker. He fit snug next to my chest. Thank God he wasn’t too big yet.
Mal took my hand again and grabbed the bag we kept packed by the bed. I was thankful in the moment for two things. One, little Benjamin was sound asleep. I would be running and needed him quiet and safe. Two, Mal had the foresight to fully stock and update the supplies and necessities in the jeep right after Alec left. At the time I had thought it was just a precaution. Now I knew better.
He pulled me along through the narrow corridors of the bunker. The buzzing and humming was louder. I knew the bombers were closing in. Frightened, I gripped Mal’s hand tighter and he squeezed it back.
“We will be all right Lizzie. Don’t worry,” he whispered.
The first bombs fell on the bunker. I knew the sounds they made, the death screech as it sailed through the air, and the way the ground shook when they hit. In those few seconds I was right back in my house, years ago now, running for my life with my mother and sister. I didn’t realize I had started shaking, but Mal must have noticed the trembling in my hand.
“It will be fine. Stay with me Lizzie.”
K.D. Kill Day was back. No, not back. It wasn’t a nightmare. It was real. Here. Now. I held back a scream. Oh God. Oh God please. Please don’t let us die.
Boom! As if in answer suddenly everything began shaking. Dust plumed in the air and settled around us. It filled the hallway. Visibility became poor as the lights flickered. Some of the door frames sagged. Creaking and snapping could be heard behind closed doors. I coughed as Mal pulled me close against his chest, shielding us from the blast. I felt his body tremble and knew real terror in that moment.
“Oh God Mal,” I mumbled against his chest.
“Don’t Lizzie. This is not the end. Do you hear me darling?”
He held me close a few seconds longer and then pulled me along again. I never answered him. I was gripped with fear and apprehension. How were we ever going to escape out of this mountain alive? What if we didn’t make it? What if something injured us? I had two lives in my hands in addition to my own. What would I do?
Boom! Boom! Boom! More bombs fell, one right after the other. The walls and ground shook harder, dislodging drywall, concrete, and pieces of overhead plastic light covers that shattered from impact tremors. Like an earthquake, the aftershock of the bombs continued to shake and pound the interior of the bunker.
I stumbled repeatedly, Mal’s grip the only thing keeping me from falling. The hall was thick with smoke and dust, causing me to cough, again. Mal pressed me against the wall, tore off his outer shirt, and tied it around my face loosely. It blocked the worst of the smoke and I nodded at him.
The bombing had cut off the power. Eerie green lights popped on above, some of them broken, when the power generator kicked on. The hallways were already creepy but the green light made them alien and foreboding. It added an extra layer of fear and trepidation.
I shivered.
We were running again, until a large piece of ceiling fell down in front of us. I stifled a scream as a corner of it scraped against Mal’s shoulder and across his bicep. A deep gash appeared, oozing a thin strip of bright red blood. He tore off the bottom of his remaining t-shirt and handed it to me.
“Tie it tight Lizzie.”
I promptly obeyed.
“Sorry,” I apologized when he winced from the pain.
He winked in response.
Taking my hand again we finally emerged into a small cave. It was almost black in here. I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face.
“Don’t move. I’ll be right back,” he promised.
I heard him rustling around in the darkness until he emerged with night vision goggles and placed them on my head. He was wearing a pair too.
“No lights,” he whispered.
He led me farther down into the cave until we stopped close to the jeep. Outside the sky was almost black from the bombs and smoke. I could see with the goggles out of the mountain side. They were surprisingly accurate. I could clearly see everything.
The opening of the cave wasn’t much larger than the jeep, maybe an extra few feet on each side. I had forgotten. In my months of solitude here I had forgotten a great many things.
Sudden fatigue filled my body. Pregnancy already made me tired but the added stress and adrenaline coursing through my body zapped me of energy. All I wanted to do was rest. I slid to the ground, backed up against a large boulder, and waited on Mal.
I peeked at my son, relieved he was still safe and warm and sound asleep against my chest. He was so small, so delicate. My heart lurched inside my chest. I held him close, wrapping my arms around him.
My eyes became heavy, my eyelashes fluttered, and I nodded off.
“Lizzie, no honey. Wake up!”
He shook my shoulder. “I know you are tired but you can’t sleep yet. I need you to get in the jeep in a minute. We are going to leave soon and make a run for it. I’m just listening for the bombers-”
He was cut off. Another succession of bombs catapulted toward the ground, amid a steady buzz that sounded like a thousand bees flying together, and to my horror they hit right next to us.
An explosion blasted just outside the cave entrance. I felt the shock wave as it let loose. My last thought was of our immediate death as Mal threw himself in front of us and became a human shield.
Ka-boom!
Chapter Twenty: Alec
Alec was never going to be fast enough. Even as he hit the accelerator and pushed it to the ground with his boot, he knew time was against him. The bombers had been spotted on their way an hour ago now. Even going as fast as he was, nearly 100 mph, he couldn’t cover the distance before they reached their target.
The militia would drop those bombs exactly as they were intended. Concise and deadly. Experience told him to prepare for the worst.
Alec’s jeep emerged from the surrounding trees as the mountain finally emerged into view. He was too late. The countryside was littered with thick dark smoke and craters as wide as a house. The bombers had done their duty, leaving death and destruction in their wake. K.D. Holy hell. Another K.D.
Anger coursed through his veins, hot and thick. Damn the militia! He was sick of death and destruction, sick of bombs and raids, and sick of always falling short of his goal. Wearily he shook his head. Was there no end in sight?
The jeep sped along the ground, jostling from side to side as he maneuvered around the craters and debris. Occasionally it would pitch sharply to one side. Alec barely noticed. He pushed the vehicle to its limits, holding the gas pedal down. He never hit the brake.
What would he find when they reached the bunker? From here it looked like it had been obliterated, and maybe that was the mission. But how would the militia know of his wife and son? Who could possibly have given that information to the enemy? It had to be coincidence. There was no way they knew Lizzie was there.
He was certain the militia did not know the high value targets inside that mountainside. They never would have bombed it so carelessly if they thought it held any importance. No, this was not a calculated risk. It was just bad luck. Really bad luck. And the worst of it was the lack of warning. Had Lizzie enough time to get away once she heard the bombers coming?
Mal would have known. He was smart. Smart and calculating and strategic. Those were the reasons Darren had coveted him among the refugees. Mal had been an invaluable asset and so he had been made an integral part of the freedom fighters. All of that experience combined to make him one hell of a soldier. If anyone could save his family it was Malcolm.
These were the reasons Alec had asked him to stay with his family. There was hardly any person alive he would trust with Lizzie’s life but Mal was one of them. Despite his obvious feelings and infatuation with his wife, he had acted honorably. It had earned Alec’s respect and trust.
He continued to drive, dodging holes and swerving around debris. The closer he got, the more he saw the extent of the damage. Good God. He could hardly believe that anybody could survive this. Panic made him drive faster, almost recklessly so, in the effort to reach her. Please be alive, he thought, please Lizzie be safe.
Chapter Twenty One: Mal
Mal awakened to the feeling of excruciating pain. He blinked and tried to focus, his eyes adjusting to the darkness. He must have lost his night vision goggles during the blast. Feeling in front of himself with his hands, he tried to find Lizzie. He hadn’t realized he was practically right on top of her.
“Lizzie,” he whispered softly.
Nothing. Silence. Then he heard whimpering. Little Benjamin had awakened. Mal lifted him from his mother and spoke to him gently.
“Hey little man.”
“Mow,” he answered.
His little voice sounded normal.
“Shhh little buddy. I’m here. Everything is all right.”
He rocked him for a moment and then stood. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small gas cigarette lighter. The bright light illuminated around him. He surveyed his little charge, relived to find him unharmed. They had saved his life, shielded between Lizzie and Mal. No injuries that Mal could tell. Not even a scrape. She would be happy. He let a sigh escape. That was good news.
Holding onto the child, he glanced down at Lizzie. She was unconscious, her head leaning against a large slab of rock. There was a cut on her forehead that started in her hair line and dripped blood down her face and over her right cheek. In panic he dropped next to her and frantically felt for a pulse. For a few heart stopping seconds he didn’t feel anything, then slow and steady, her heart beat thrummed beneath his fingertips.
Mal needed to take care of her wounds as soon as possible but first he had to see little Benjamin safe. The jeep was his first thought. It would be sheltered from falling debris. Looking it over thoroughly, he checked it for damage. It was dented on the hood and in several places, the front windshield held numerous cracks, and one tire was completely flat. He sighed in relief. It was drivable.
He walked around the car and kicked at each remaining tire to be sure it was solid. They would hold. The rear passenger door on the right wouldn’t open but that wasn’t a big deal. He could get little Benjamin in and out easily on the left. As far as he could tell the car had survived better than the three of them.
He opened the left side door and placed his little guy in his car seat carefully, just in case any injuries were internal. He buckled him in, kissed him on the forehead, and handed him his blankie and stuffed panda bear.
“Mow, bye-bye,” he told him happily.
He was such a smart little boy.
“Yes, bye-bye. But I have to get Mommy now. You be a good boy and stay here.”
Little Benjamin smiled as Mal shut the door.
He practically ran to Lizzie. He only tried to wake her after reassuring himself again that she had a pulse.
“Lizzie. Lizzie, wake up.”
He was afraid to shake her. Who knew what injuries she had? He tore another piece off his shirt and tried to stop the bleeding. He wiped her face gently with his heart in his throat.
“I’m sorry darling. I’m so sorry.”
She moaned and he thanked God she was waking up.
“Lizzie.”
She moaned again. “Mal?”
“Yes, I’m here Lizzie.”
She seemed to have difficulty taking a deep breath. It sounded raspy and off.
“Mal…it
hurts. My head…”
“I’m sorry honey. Are you hurting anywhere else?” He asked, concerned about her breathing.
“I…don’t…what happened?” She sounded confused.
He sucked in a breath of air. “Don’t you remember?”
Her head turned just a little. “Where am I?”
Lizzie sounded weaker. She was fading. He took several deep breaths to calm himself. How hard did she hit her head? Or did something hit her? There was no way to be certain. They were surrounded by a cave full of rocks, boulders, and debris. It could have been either or both.
He took the lighter and checked her body for more injuries. She was cut and bruised. Her clothes were torn and dirty. There were smudges of dirt on her face that mingled with dried blood. He felt the bones of her arms and legs and sighed in relief. Nothing broken. He gently probed her skull and found a large bump and dried blood. That was the problem, likely a concussion.
He could only hope her injuries did not cause her to miscarry. She would be devastated. He knew she was ecstatic to be carrying Alec’s child in her womb. He would do everything he could to help her. Everything he was able to do to prevent something disastrous from happening.
“Lizzie.”
She didn’t answer.
“Lizzie, do you hear me?”
“Hmmm?” She answered faintly.
This wasn’t good. “Lizzie. Lizzie!”
“Uh…yes.” She groaned.
“Honey we have to get you into the jeep. You’re hurt. We need help. Do you understand?”
“Mal…I’m hurt?” She asked, her voice small like a child.
Fear filled his gut and he was suddenly nauseous. Oh God she was really hurt. She mumbled incoherently while Mal lifted her body close to his.
“Ow!” She yelled, closing her eyes tight.
“Sorry darling. I’ll be careful.”
Carefully, so very carefully, he cradled her until her body rested in his arms. He rose on unsteady legs, almost crying out with the effort it took him. She wasn’t heavy. It wasn’t her. His body was recovering from the shock and intense pain seemed to fill every core and crevice.