Survive (Cascade Book 1)

by Maxey, Phil

  “We should split into three groups of two, each explore in a different direction then meet back here when the suns at thirty degrees. Which I’m guessing is about three hours from now. Find some more water if you can.” Said Zach.

  Zach and Abbey walked to the south, Michael and Cal walked west down the main street, leaving Fiona and Ray who stood looking at each other until Fiona turned and walked north, Ray trying to keep up.

  CHAPTER 8

  Ray and Fiona stared at the thirty one-foot missile sticking out of the ground at a forty-five degree angle. It was one of many forming a steel tubular forest that was the Rocket display at the Baldo museum. In front of it was a small plaque “AirStar 10, First fired 1947.” The “Airstar” wasn’t the only missile leaning at the wrong angle.

  “Looks like a storm blew through here.” Said Ray half running after Fiona.

  “Try and keep up.” Said Fiona without turning around.

  The glass doors entrance to the museum were broken with shards lying on the floor. Fiona looked inside. An empty foyer with a reception area resided in a large light colored room with large images adorning the walls of bygone successes. Fiona kicked open one of the doors and moved slowly into the foyer. The smell of death hit her instantly, it was a smell she knew too well. Walking forward she peered behind the counter and saw two bodies lying on the floor, both with large gashes on their faces and arms. Animal attack? She had once seen a friend attacked by a bear and he had similar injuries but had survived.

  “Hey, anyone in there?” Said Ray peering through the broken glass.

  “Quiet!” Said Fiona angrily.

  “You see any food anywhere? Maybe in that vending machine?” Said Ray pointing.

  Fiona breathed heavily. “Wait.” A wide hallway was to the right of the counter, which led down to a larger room. Glass cabinets housing various metallic cylinders lined the walls. She looked down the hallway for any signs of life but there were none. Walking over to the vending machine, which was almost empty she used the pickaxe to hit the glass front until it broke, then grabbed the remaining chocolate bars and cans of soda and handed them to Ray.

  “Hold these, don’t move.”

  “Look young lady I’m military too you know, I’m not useless just because I’m a little over the hill.” Fiona’s cold expression wavered somewhat.

  “I never said you were old, but I need you to keep watch, make sure nothing comes in behind us.”

  “Ok, that I can do.”

  Fiona’s attention returned to the hallway housing the cabinets. She strained her hearing best she could in the direction of the room at the end of the hallway but no sound could be heard there. She slowly walked down the hallway into a large room mostly empty save for a few large glass cabinets containing rocket engines. Off of this room were three open doors leading to offices. Fiona entered the nearest office. Typed papers littered the floor and lay on a single desk. Filing cabinets were open. A large window offered a view onto some other non-descript buildings nearby. In the middle of the desk in front of a computer keyboard was a piece of paper with a message written in scrawling handwriting.

  “James, we have tried to get to the camp near Austin, can’t stay here military have told us threat too severe. Love Sylvia.”

  What threat? The creatures we have run into?

  Standing near the window the sun poured through the glass warming her arms. It had been many years since she had felt that kind of warmth and as she stood there eyes closed in the silence of the office, her mind drifted to thoughts of her daughter playing in her front yard.

  The sunbeam that was warming her momentarily became blocked and she was plunged into darkness, she opened her eyes and looked out the window but could see nothing, not even a cloud in the sky.

  The sound of glass hitting the ground came from the foyer behind her, she spun around and ran back to the foyer where a clearly distressed Ray was standing.

  “Did you see it?” Said Ray.

  “See what?”

  “The giant bird thing?” Said Ray.

  “There was a shadow but no I didn’t see it.”

  “Big as a truck, flew right over”

  “So you’re freaking out because you saw a big bird?”

  “How many birds have you seen with human legs and arms? At least that’s what it looked like, I don’t think it spotted me but it landed behind some buildings over there” Ray pointed to the southwest.

  “There’s nothing here of any use anyway, we should keep moving.” Said Fiona stepping over the glass and through the exit door of the museum. Ray looked uneasy about going outside, but followed anyway looking at the sky.

  CHAPTER 9

  Zach looked at the rotting corpse in the seat of the semi-truck. The door was open.

  “He put up a fight, look at his hands, defensive wounds,” Said Zach. Abbey tried not to look. “For someone doing hard time in a military prison you seem kind of screamish.”

  “I don’t like death in real life, I was in that place for other reasons.” Replied Abbey.

  “Like what?”

  “I’m good with computers, they trained me to infiltrate enemy systems, stir the shit.”

  “You’re a hacker?” Zach tugged on the body being careful not to touch the skin and blood and pulled it down to the asphalt, then climbed up into the cab.

  “I don’t like that term, but yeah.” Replied Abbey.

  “Half a tank of gas and keys still in the ignition, he must have been trying to leave when what happened, happened, we’re only half a click from the meeting point, let’s leave it here for now and we will bring everyone back here, don’t want to start it up incase it draws unwanted attention. How the hell did you end up in a hole in New Mexico?” Zach climbed down from the cab, while putting the keys in his chest pocket.

  “Does it matter?” Said Abbey with a sarcastic expression.

  “Nope, just curious”

  They were standing in a diner car park. Along with the truck, a few other cars sat, some with doors closed others open, but no other bodies.

  “What do you think happened here?” Said Abbey.

  “This place is probably deserted at the best of times but there doesn’t seem to be anyone around, maybe our bosses were experimenting on animals and some got loose?” Replied Zach.

  Abbey looked around uneasily.

  “What about the glows we saw in the directions of the big cities?” Said Abbey.

  Zach looked at her, in some ways she reminded him of his wife Jaclyn.

  “Let’s look in the diner maybe we can find some food and see if a TV or radio are working, hell maybe you can do your computer thing as well.” Said Zach.

  The outside of the diner had seen better days, with sand caked up against the windows. As they approached the door, a beeping could be heard followed by a male voice.

  “I think it’s coming from behind the counter.” Said Zach. The inside of the diner was deserted. Half eaten bagels and stagnant coffee resided along the counter at various points. Zach picked up a stained and torn newspaper, which was lying on the ground behind a stool. On the cover was a picture of a front of a school with kids running and hundreds of large birds filling the sky above them like they were being chased by an angry cloud.

  “BIRDS ATTACK SCHOOL CHILDREN! GOVERNMENT ADVISES NATION TO KEEP CHILDREN INDOORS WHILE IT INVESTIGATES.” The date of the paper was June seventh.

  “That paper doesn’t look recent” Said Abbey.

  “No it doesn’t, we need to find out when now is.” Replied Zach. They both walked around to the back of the counter where a small radio was playing a constant drone noise, it then changed to male voice.

  “THIS IS AN EMERGENCY ANNOUCEMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT. AN EPIDEMIC HAS HIT ANIMAL LIFE AND IS CAUSING MANY ANIMALS TO CHANGE. THIS CHANGE IS CAUSING THEM TO ATTACK HUMANS. PLEASE REMAIN IN YOUR HOMES AND WAIT FOR FURTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS. THE DATE OF THIS ANNOUCEMENT IS JULY, TWENTY-THIRD.”

  “Animals change? Why was that such a
big deal? It’s July twenty-third?” Said Abbey reeling the questions off in quick succession.

  “Not necessarily, we don’t know how long that message has been playing for, by the slight chill in the air I would say it’s autumn, maybe mid September, maybe later.” Abbeys expression changed.

  “Look this is crazy, I’m sorry I have to leave, I have to get back to Boston.” Said Abbey while backing away towards the diner entrance.

  “And how you going to get to Boston from here?”

  “I don’t know I’ll think of something.”

  “I’ll take you, in the truck, or as far as we can go in it,” Said Zach, his hand lifting slightly towards her, Abbey stopped. “Going towards Boston is as good as any other direction, and like you said before, it’s good we stick together.”

  “No offence but all I know about you is you were stuck in a hole for the militaries worst problems, the kind that rape and kill.” Zach’s head hung, and he sighed.

  “I know this don’t mean squat to you right now, but I will help you get to Boston, you have my word on that. But if you want to find your own way well that’s your choice.” Abbey looked unsure, placing a hand on the diner counter.

  “Ok fine, for now I’ll see how things play out, let’s see if there’s any food around here, there’s not much time before we need to be back at the meeting point.” Replied Abbey.

  They both moved behind the counter and with batons raised walked through a small swing door to the kitchen. In the gloom, burnt pans lay on a small stove and cutlery lay scattered on the beige grease stained floor. Two other doors, both closed where ahead and to the right of them. The right one had “Storage” written on a piece of paper nailed to it. They both slowly moved towards it, Zach moved his head near the note trying to hear any noise inside. He then pressed on the door gently and pushed it open. A large tin labeled new potatoes rolled away from the door banging up against a rotting foot. They both put their hands over their mouths and tried not to breath as the stench burst out of the small space looking for freedom. Zach pulled on a small piece of string just inside the door and a dirty bulb came to life illuminating the source of the smell, as well as numerous cans of food lining both sides of the small room. Zach took a step back.

  “Similar wounds as the semi driver, her clothes are torn, ripped, looks like she bled out in here,” Abbey stood frozen looking at the corpse of the middle aged woman who’s final resting place was a food storage room. “Hey, we can’t do anything for her, but we can use that food, let’s find some kind of rucksack or large bag we can put this food in.” Abbey blinked a few times and breathed once heavily then started looking around the kitchen.

  CHAPTER 10

  “BEYOND THE DESERT MOTEL. $39 PER NIGHT”

  Cal and Michael stood looking at the sand blasted motel sign. After leaving the others they had walked past some burnt out cars and a few empty storage units but this was the first place they came across which might contain anything useful, the only problem was the damaged police car sitting in the parking lot. They crouched down.

  “We need to get out of these clothes.” Said Michael.

  “Agreed, let’s check those rooms see if there any clothes in them,” Said Cal gesturing to the open door of the closest room to them. “It’s so quiet, have you noticed that? No insects, no birds, nothing. It feels like the world died.”

  “Just as long as that includes no cops as well. “Said Michael studying the police car.

  Taking the lead Cal ran to the first room, ducking as low as he could. Michael followed closely behind.

  Rotting Chow Mein hanging out of various red cartons lay strewn across the minimalist carpeting. The room also contained a single bed, nightstand and a desk with a flat screen TV on top of it. Even $39 per night seemed too much.

  Cal closed the door behind them, Michael collapsed on the single bed.

  “Oh man, a real bed, wonder if you can still get porn.” Said Michael.

  “What is it with you and naked flicks?” Replied Cal.

  “A real bed, porn and a good Chinese takeout, whoever had this room before had the right idea.” Said Michael.

  At the back of the room was a door to a small bathroom. A laundry basket lay knocked over, containing two shirts, a sweat shirt with the phrase “I’m not your bitch” on the front, one orange t-shirt, a pair of jeans, underwear and socks, none of which smelt particularly good. Cal pulled the jumpsuit off and put the jeans on, followed by the light grey shirt, which fit more tight than he would of wished. Michael repeatedly pushed the buttons on the side of the flat screen TV, which resisted his attempts to turn on.

  “Maybe the powers out.” Said Michael while looking at the back of the TV.

  “While you continue your porn quest I’m going to check out these other rooms. I’ll see if I can find you pants, but put on that other shirt anyway just incase I don’t find anything” Said Cal as he left the room.

  A light breeze blew some trash across the parking lot. Cal wondered if the cop who drove the cruiser was still around. He looked for any signs of life amongst the windows of the various single rooms both on the ground floor and the second, but none could be seen. Cal quickly made his way past the rooms to the last one, it was similar to the one he had just left apart from a stack of food on the bed and the dead guy in his underwear on the floor, maybe this was the guy from the first room. He looked in his forties. The carpet around him was dyed dark brown and across his back, two large gashes made by something jagged. He had obviously tried to make it to the safety of this room and failed. Sweat started to collect on Cal’s forehead, making him wipe it away with his hand. He took the backpack off and stepped over the body towards the food. As he was placing the chocolate bars, cans of soda, and a few tins of canned fish into the backpack he heard a noise from outside. Quickly turning he saw an elderly dark haired man dressed in a cops uniform half walk half limp back into a room on the second floor, across the parking lot. Cal slowly pulled the room door closed keeping his eyes fixed on the room the cop went into. He then hurriedly put the rest of the food into the backpack. Looking through the nicotine smelling curtains to see if there was any movement outside he reached for the room door handle then stopped. Clothes. Cal looked around the room. Nothing. Entering the bathroom his attention was immediately caught by the dark pants on a towel rail, luckily they looked roughly Michaels size so Cal pushed them into the backpack which was now pretty full, had another quick check outside, then walked quickly back to the room were Michael was.

  As soon as Cal entered the room he could hear water-running coming from the bathroom.

  “Waters not that warm but it still feels great” Michael shouted from the bathroom. Cal appeared in the doorway.

  “I saw the cop, think he also saw me, he’s hold up in a room on the second floor, I think he might have been injured.”

  “You think he’s going to be a problem?” Replied Michael washing with some soap in the ink-spot stained sink.

  “Not if you put these on.” Cal held out the pants.

  Cal returned to the main room while Michael finished washing and finally emerged in his new clothes.

  “So what’s the plan? Do we talk to the cop or leave him and move on?” Said Michael. Cal was looking out of the window at the cop’s room.

  “He’s the first person we have seen alive, but we don’t know what went down out here, maybe he’s infected, crazy like the rest” Said Cal.

  “Crazy with a gun, reminds me of some of my exes.” Said Michael, Cal smiled.

  “There’s no way of knowing if he saw us come in with our jumpsuits on.” Said Cal.

  “If he did then why isn’t he banging on the door?” Said Michael.

  “World ended, maybe he doesn’t care anymore, or maybe he doesn’t fancy his chances with that injury,” Said Cal who stood in thought for a few seconds. “I say we just leave him and move on.”

  “If he’s got the keys, that cruiser might come in real handy.” Said Michael.


  “And what if he shoots us the first chance he gets? It’s not worth it, there will be other vehicles, let’s get out of here, we can split up, there were some homes across the street I’ll check them out, you have a look around the back of the motel, give it fifteen minutes then we both meet back in the street and head back.” Said Cal.

  Cal stood in the main street outside the motel. The town of Baldo looked like the kind of place the desert tried to forget. An assortment of single story wooden houses lay on both sides of the street. No sign of life thought Cal. The house on the opposite side of the street was the only place that looked like it had been inhabited recently. Wind chimes sung their tune and the screen door clattered in applause. Cal walked over to the front porch pulled the screen door open and looked through the front door. A pleasantly laid out hallway, gave way to a kitchen and two doors on both sides. Children’s drawings lay on the floor of the hallway. One in particular caught Cal’s eye, a figure lying with bright red crayon all over it with the words “Mumy” above, and next to that what looked like a child’s version of Satan. Wings, horns and a wide smile.

  The carport to the left side of the property was empty but it was well stocked with tools. A large oil can sat on the floor which gave Cal an idea, whatever vehicles they came across might be out of gas so this oil can might be useful to collect some if he found any. Cal picked up the can and walked around back of the property through an unlocked gate. A rusty barrel and a white wooden door lay covered in autumn leaves. At the back of the yard a child’s swing with a red-flaked plastic seat swayed in the morning breeze. To the right another carport, this one contained a blue pickup. Cal tried the back door to the property but it was securely locked like the first. It crossed Cal’s mind to break a window but something about the silence disturbed him and he wasn’t eager to make too much noise.

  Crossing the yard, he tried the pickups doors but both were locked, he then wondered about the gas this pickup might have, returning to the workshop he grabbed some garden hose which hung on the wall. Cutting the hose down with some garden shears he grabbed the remains and returned to the pickup and opened the hubcap, he then slid the hose down into the opening, then back out. The end of the hose was covered in a brown liquid. Gas. Placing the end back into the hole, he sucked on the other end until he saw something rising up the tube then placed the other end in the can, the gas started to flow freely. As he stood there he thought about his sister and his niece, and how he used to enjoy going to the park with them whenever he was back. He was resigned to what he had done, he knew he would never see them again, but now he was out, out in this silent world he wondered where they were now. Maybe all he would ever have were his memories of them. The gas overran the top of the canister burning his hand. He judged the canister would provide at least a half a tank for an average sedan. He started walking back to the street outside the motel when two loud bangs rang out.