Viral Misery | Book 3 | Revelations

by Watson, Thomas A.

  “We’re good,” he said, taking the harness off his head that held his night vision goggles. Shoving them in his backpack, Arthur pulled out the firefighter’s mask. “I radioed and Chad’s moving into position and Joseph is waiting on the signal. The air unit’s in the next room. I’ve propped the door open already.”

  “Let’s do this,” LL said, pulling on his mask as Wendy did the same. They grabbed the stuff and Arthur moved to the door. Arthur led them through the hall to a set of double doors.

  “Through those are the indoor swimming pool, and there’re Witchers swimming,” he told them, setting down the smoke generator. “Cover me,” he said as they put down the jerrycans. They covered Arthur as he worked fast, setting up the smoke generator. Connecting hoses to spigots on each jerrycan he hooked them to the smoke generator. “Make sure your mask is seated,” he told them, pulling out a lighter.

  When the fire was going in the metal cylinder, Arthur flipped a switch turning the smoke on and almost instantly, they were covered in smoke. Getting up and looking at the small screen that displayed the thermal image, Arthur had no trouble moving through the smoke to the double doors. He yanked them open and smoke billowed out.

  Cries of alarm and screams were heard as smoke started to fill the pool area, and Arthur shoved wedges in the doors to keep them open. Even though the ventilation system would spread the smoke throughout the castle, this just helped it along.

  They jogged back to the engine room with the electrical panel and Arthur flipped the main breaker, shutting off the power. Now they couldn’t even see the smoke outside their masks in the pitch-black darkness, and only had the tiny thermal screen to navigate by. Pulling the breaker out, just in case a Witcher made it down here, Arthur set it on the table.

  “Smoke on,” Joseph called out, followed by Chad.

  Turning to LL and Wendy and seeing their images on the tiny screen, “Wendy, let’s show LL around the castle,” Arthur said.

  “All right,” Wendy cheered, and LL couldn’t help but chuckle.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Slayers

  Two hours before the sun rose, in a large restaurant area at a resort ranch Linda Vahun dropped down in a chair at one of the many tables, feeling a hundred years old, despite the fact that just two months ago she’d celebrated her sweet sixteen. The girls had made a cake and there was a nine-year-old girl who’d had the same birthday, so Linda had to share her party. The ‘party’ consisted of eating a small piece of cake and getting the afternoon off from work.

  Work!

  It never seemed to stop, Linda thought, putting down the stack of notebooks she used to keep up with what was going on. Linda was the head of the seven-member council of the Slayers. She’d been one of the first who’d showed up at the resort ranch where the Slayers had set up operations. The ranch was near White Oak Mountain and her parents had brought Linda here several times, along with her brother and sister. She’d watched her entire family die in the span of two weeks in April.

  They’d lived in a nice suburb called Maryland Heights outside of St. Louis, and Linda had tried to get someone to come and get her family so they could be buried. What she soon found was the world had changed. Bodies were everywhere and those people still walking around, many weren’t nice. Using her mother’s gardening tools, Linda had dug graves in the backyard and buried them herself. Linda had then made the journey to the other side of Maryland Heights, using her dad’s bike, to her best friend’s house, only to find her best friend naked in her room with her throat cut.

  Pedaling as fast as she could, Linda had returned home. Her mom didn’t like guns, but her dad still had some. Even then, Linda felt guilty about opening the gun safe and taking out the pistol that her daddy had used to first teach the kids to shoot. She’d looked at the .22 revolver and then at the Glock her dad said was used to protect the family. Being a good daddy, he’d taught all his kids how to use all of the guns he had, all four of them.

  Packing the backpack she’d used for school, Linda hadn’t known where to go but she knew she had to leave. Her mom’s family was in Florida and her dad’s lived in Oregon. That was when she’d remembered the Ozark Family Resort. For the last four years, her family had gone there and stayed for a week. There were zip lines, horse rides, fishing, a huge swimming pool, water slides, tennis courts, and a golf course for her dad and mom. There were no streams close, but you could load up in a van and they’d take you to several rivers to float down.

  She didn’t know how to get there but knew the address. After burying her family, Linda soon discovered her cellphone wouldn’t connect most of the time so she couldn’t use the map app on it, but her dad’s GPS worked. At first, she’d thought about riding her dad’s bike, but when she’d seen the ranch was over two hundred miles away, she’d scratched that idea. Scared and hoping she wouldn’t get in trouble, Linda had loaded up her mom’s BMW SUV.

  The trip was easier than she’d thought it would be and when she had reached the resort, she’d found it empty. Over the next week, others had shown up. They were mostly kids and like Linda, had visited there with their families. Others from the area showed up, mostly kids, but there were two men and one woman. The ‘grown ups’ had tried to take all the guns away, saying the kids only needed them when they left the resort. Having seen people who’d been killed by others, Linda had just told them she didn’t have any. Four days after the men and the woman had gotten there, Linda had shot all three after catching them raping two sixteen-year-old girls. They’d been the last grownups to stay at the resort. In the beginning there’d been boys at the resort but soon, many of the older boys were acting like the girls belonged to them. Since there were twice as many girls as boys, the boys had been thrown out in May. From then on, only girls were allowed at the resort.

  Meeting other kids as they explored the area and learning the kids were naming their groups, the girls had met up and for two days tried to come up with a name for their group. Linda had never even heard of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but when a DVD collection was found and the group had watched every episode, they’d become the Slayers. Seven were chosen to run the Slayers and Linda was voted on the ‘Slayer Council’. Then, the council voted her leader. Linda hadn’t even wanted on the council, much less to be head of the thing, but the others saw she had the knack and intelligence to know what had to be done. But the most important thing, everyone knew Linda would kill for them. The fact she was easy to work with was a great bonus.

  With nearly five hundred girls, ranging from ten months to eighteen years in the two hundred rooms at the resort, Linda really hated her job, as did everyone on the council. There were some girls who’d tried to get on the council just to be in charge, but they soon found out they’d have to work more than anyone else. The Slayers soon learned if only a few didn’t do what they were assigned, everyone’s work increased tenfold to pick up the slack.

  Staring at the stack of notebooks, all Linda could think about was she should be practicing her cheerleading routines, going to basketball practice, and dance class. But no, she had to go over every area at the resort. Making sure there was food, and what was being cooked for the week. Did the horses have enough food and were they being tended to? What were the patrols finding? Did anyone miss guard duty? Was everyone doing what they were assigned? Was training still going on for everyone with guns, and where could they get more bullets? Along with a hundred other tasks. Then Linda had to do her main job of tending horses. The others on the council and those the council had put over specific areas, all did extra work like Linda was doing, and they did it before going to bed, but they didn’t do as much. Linda had tried that and found she would toil away all night. Doing it in the mornings at least gave Linda a stopping point when she had to go to ‘work’.

  Really wanting to cry, Linda took a deep breath and brushed her light brown hair from her face before grabbing a notebook to go over the supply list. This had to be done daily so the patrols going out knew what the prior
ity to be on the lookout for was. Ammo was always on the lists, but they really needed more feminine products.

  Working away, Linda gave a startle when nine-year-old Cathy ran up to the table out of breath. It was blatantly obvious that Cathy adored Linda. Putting down her ink pen, Linda turned to Cathy with a little pang. Cathy wore glasses and would need new ones very soon, but Linda didn’t know how to deal with it. Reaching over and brushing Cathy’s long black hair from her face, Linda noticed Cathy hadn’t brushed her hair yet. Before she could mention it, Cathy caught her breath.

  “You need to come outside!” Cathy blurted out.

  Glancing at her wristwatch, something Linda had only started wearing when she’d been placed on the council, she saw it was nearly 0630 and wake up would soon begin. “Cathy, you know what I have to go over every morning, I’m almost done,” Linda told her, tucking Cathy’s hair behind her ears. One of Cathy’s jobs, along with a dozen other younger girls, was tending the cats. A fucking army of cats. Since Cathy slept in the same room with Linda, she got up when Linda did and started feeding and tending to the cats. Any cat that wouldn’t let Cathy pet it, Cathy would chase around, keeping it away from the food bowls until it let her pet it.

  “No, you really need to come now!” Cathy panted out with a wide smile as she bounced on her toes.

  Knowing it would be easier to just go outside to see what Cathy wanted instead of trying to explain, again, Linda pushed back from the table. Before Linda held out her hand Cathy grabbed ahold of it, leading her to the hall and the front entrance, only slowing for them to pull coats on. Feeling the excitement from Cathy, Linda couldn’t help but grin and was certain she was being led to see yet another litter of kittens. One thing Linda had come to find out, cats could breed.

  Looking down at Cathy as they pushed through the doors, Linda’s mind was going over what she still had to do and wasn’t prepared when Cathy just stopped outside the door under the awning-covered courtyard that guests used to drive up to. Glancing around the courtyard for kittens, Linda didn’t see any.

  About to ask where they were as she looked up Linda froze, and stopped a startled yelp from escaping her mouth. Even though the sun wouldn’t be up for a few more minutes, Linda had no trouble seeing in the dim light. Standing in the circular driveway was the Caravan Man with his two dogs. Another person was standing beside the Caravan Man and Linda thought it was a woman, but with all of the gear on, she was making that guess based on the figure’s stance.

  “See?!” Cathy cried out in joy, pointing at the Caravan Man. “I told you that you wanted to come out!”

  A part of Linda felt fear, because all she had was the pistol that she’d taken from home on her hip. Another part of Linda didn’t even care if Caravan Man killed her, just hoping he would do it fast and she wouldn’t have to worry if she was making a mistake in her job. Cathy turned from the Caravan Man to Linda and thought she looked scared.

  “Remember the radio?” Cathy whined out. “If he shows up outside, he wants to talk. He’s already killing people if that’s what he comes for and you know, it’s the Caravan Man.”

  “I prayed the Pokémon weren’t lying,” Linda mumbled, trying not to cry. She just wanted a little help from someone who could tell her how to do things. Slayers had already died, and others had been captured because of mistakes Linda had made. She just stood there staring at the two as the sun’s light exploded over the area, and for the very first time, Linda didn’t dread a new day.

  Not even caring what she looked like, Linda gripped Cathy’s hand tight and led her out from under the awning to the circular drive. She stopped ten feet from the Caravan Man and could now see it was a woman with him. Then she nearly gagged from the smell of diesel the two reeked of.

  “Mr. Caravan Man,” Linda said with a smile. Yes, like all the other kid groups, the Slayers were terrified of the Caravan Man because he didn’t just kill gangs. He wiped them out. And the Slayers, like all the others, thought of themselves as a gang. It was only yesterday when the Pokémon had sent a group over, saying one of them had met with the Caravan Man and said that he wanted to meet with some of the gangs in the area. Not to kill, but to join into a coalition with him. Then the Pokémon had said the Caravan Man would offer them some aid. Just hearing that, Linda had been ready to go and find the Caravan Man.

  “Linda,” Arthur replied, and the smile fell off Linda’s face. She turned and looked down at Cathy to find out if she’d told the Caravan Man her name, but saw the shock on Cathy’s face as well. “No, I’ve been around here checking you out and know many names here,” Arthur told her, and Linda slowly turned her wide eyes back to him.

  “We have lookouts and patrols. We even started putting in traps like the Pokémon and Terminators taught us,” Linda panted out.

  Nodding, “And they’re impressive and should work on the average asshole, but I’m a bit above average,” Arthur told her, and Wendy chuckled.

  “Babe, you are off the asshole scale. Unless you piss me off and I move you back on it,” Wendy told him.

  Tilting his head to Wendy, “The love of my life, my wife,” Arthur told Linda and Cathy.

  Getting her emotions under control, “I hope you didn’t see something that pissed you off,” Linda managed to get out.

  “If you did,” Cathy blurted out, then paused for a second, “don’t hurt the kitties,” she begged.

  Bending down to Cathy’s eye level, Arthur reached out pushing her glasses back up on the bridge of her nose and was shocked when Cathy didn’t even jump. “Cathy,” Arthur said, and that made her jump. “Just a little advice. You’re feeding the cats too much. You want to feed them but not too much, so they’ll kill the rats and mice.”

  “Holy shit!” Linda gasped, realizing just how fucking close the Caravan Man had been able to get. But on the plus side, Linda found out they could cut back on cat food. “Um, I thought you were going to set up a meeting for us, not come and visit,” Linda blurted out, but was thankful he had shown up.

  Shrugging, “We were in the neighborhood,” Arthur chuckled standing back up, and Linda turned to Wendy as she spoke.

  “Yes, we took out the Witchers last night,” Wendy told her and Linda just blinked, suddenly convinced she was still asleep and dreaming. They knew the Witchers were to the north somewhere because they were one of the biggest threats to the Slayers. Linda and many others were convinced the only reason the Witchers hadn’t tried them in the last few months was because the Slayers started talking and trading with the Terminators.

  Closing her eyes, “If I’m asleep, I don’t want to wake up,” Linda stated firmly, and opened her eyes to still see Mr. and Mrs. Caravan Man there. “Thank you,” she offered, but it seemed insignificant for what the Caravan Man had done. “The Witchers are the reason we’ve had to double patrols to the north, and that cut down on how many we could send out to gather stuff.”

  Nodding because he’d known that, “A word of advice on your patrols. Have them overlap each other and not stop when they reach the edge of another group’s patrol. That leaves seams open in your defense, and just makes it easier for someone to sneak in,” Arthur told her, and saw tears well up in Linda’s eyes.

  “I read four books on tactics and even read another by some colonel that had to be the most boring book ever written,” Linda blurted out on the verge of crying. She was trying as hard as she could and no matter what she did, it was never enough. “I swear, I’m trying! But for everything I find out, it only lets me know there’s more we need to know and do!”

  Stepping closer, Arthur put his hands on Linda’s shoulders and she looked up at his face with tears now leaking down her cheeks. “You’re doing an excellent job, Linda. You and all the Slayers. That’s why we’re here, and why we went ahead and took out the Witchers. I’m not being an ass when I say, I didn’t expect teen girls to be doing the things you’re doing, but you are. This group never makes the same mistake twice. You all work together and I hate to say it, and only j
ust learned this, for teen girls that’s an accomplishment I’m in awe of,” Arthur told her, and that made Linda feel better.

  “Our daughters aren’t that bad,” Wendy said, but was trying not to laugh.

  Not turning around, but speaking over his shoulder so he could still look at Linda, “Wendy, Izzie broke down two days ago because someone washed towels with shirts. Then Shelia and Michelle nearly started fighting on how silverware should be placed on the table. I can go on but like I told them, who gives a shit?” Arthur told her.

  “Oh, you wait till more of our daughters reach that special time in life,” Wendy snickered, since Shelia was one of Arthur’s mini-mes. The fact that Arthur had just whipped off names wasn’t lost on Wendy, and she was pissed that it’d taken her a few minutes to even place Izzie as one of the teens brought in during the summer.

  Finally taking his eyes off Linda and looking up into the partly cloudy sky, “Lord, I’m begging for more patience, so please grant me that,” Arthur pleaded.

  Dragging her forearm across her nose, “Try living here,” Linda challenged. “There’s not a single day that at least ten aren’t in that time of the month. Near the end of the month, try seventy at a time.”

  Still looking at the heavens, “Lord, patience all around for everyone,” Arthur amended his plea, then looked down at Linda again. “You’re trying, doing your best, and doing a very good job at it,” Arthur told her with a grin. “Will you send Cathy back inside to tell some of the others, so someone doesn’t come out here and get nervous?”

  Dejected she hadn’t thought of that, Linda turned to Cathy. Without being told by Linda, Cathy let Linda’s hand go and took off. “Mr. and Mrs. Caravan Man, could you please give us some ideas or hints on what we’re doing and if we’re doing it wrong?” Linda begged, turning back to Arthur.

  Dropping his hands off her shoulders and stepping back beside Wendy, “That’s why we came to visit, Linda,” Arthur told her.