End of Days | Book 5 | Beyond Alpha

by Isherwood, E. E.

  He figured she’d be pissed, and in retrospect, he felt terrible for not telling her about it, but she surprised him by grabbing his hand. “Never do that again. I don’t want you to disappear from my life, okay?”

  He was taken aback.

  “Enough of this, you two lovebirds,” Phil admonished. “We have to move out.”

  Most of the group had already filed past the head guard.

  “They call us detainees, but we’re really prisoners, aren’t we?” he asked in a glum voice.

  “I think so, kid, but you’ve got an advantage because I’ve got my eyes on you.” Phil pointed two fingers at his own eyes, then he motioned toward the kids. The other guards saw the gesture, and probably took it to mean Phil was threatening them, but that was far from the case.

  “Thanks,” he and Lydia whispered.

  He and Lydia walked hand-in-hand toward the trail. Above, one of those weird birds let out a piercing scream. He figured the vultures were coming in to clean up after his group had moved out. He’d seen similar behavior in Central Park, though only with harmless pigeons.

  “Keep it moving,” the officer said with less force than he’d used in front of the larger group. Garth didn’t trust the guy after all the mystery of being marched into the woods, but that little crumb of decency made him consider if he was totally overblowing the threat the guards presented. He did have an active imagination.

  “Thanks,” he said to the guy as he walked past.

  He knew they didn’t have far to go since he’d seen the parking lot cut into the forest. After a short hike, they reached the edge of the lot and were guided into a long aisle with tractor-trailers lining each side. Two big white tents were about halfway down the row, perhaps a hundred yards away.

  Garth jumped a foot off the ground when a bird squawked from twenty feet away.

  “Shit!” he blurted.

  “Oh, my!” Lydia said as she latched onto his arm.

  The nomads and guards re-oriented to their right as a huge bird landed on the roof of a white Mack semi. The abrupt metallic screech had been louder than a car horn, which was why everyone was shaken by it. The rapid arrival of the surprisingly large bird caused his brain to reboot as it tried to process new data about a previously nonthreatening species.

  The black and white visitor was a giant, the size of a full-grown man. Its wings were thrown open, forming a span that could rival a small airplane. Its feet were flat like a duck’s, but it had none of the grace or innocence of that type of waterfowl. Instead, it wagged its long beak full of spiked teeth as if eying Garth’s flesh and wondering how it would taste.

  Once his mind caught up, he determined that yes, it was plenty scary.

  “Shoot it!” the officer yelled.

  The guards raised their rifles and wasted no time pulling the triggers.

  The parking lot air clapped with multiple gunshots.

  The bird jigged to one side and flapped its wings, obviously frightened by the noise. The bullets didn’t immediately put it down, assuming the barrage even hit the animal.

  Garth had had no idea they would get the opportunity, but escape had been the only thing on his mind, so he grabbed Lydia and pulled her toward the middle row of trucks and trailers.

  “Run!” he said to the tune of gunfire.

  Colorado Springs Fringe

  The unnatural silence of the subdivision street was broken by banging on the side of Buck’s cab.

  “The hell?” He jumped in his seat.

  It was Varriss.

  “We can take it from here, boy scout!” he shouted up to Buck.

  He pushed his door all the way open. The staff sergeant stood below him, surveying the dead neighborhood with his hands on his hips like he’d conquered the place in a big battle. It made Buck like him a little bit less.

  “What do you mean, you’ll take it from here?” he asked in return.

  “This place is obviously intact, so our mission is complete. We’ll lead you back to the Alpha Site so you can grab your people, then you can come back and live in these houses.”

  It figured they’d take charge on the return trip when everyone knew what was out there, but Buck tried to keep his cool while addressing the guy.

  “Look, I appreciate the offer, but we can’t leave yet. We’ve got to find someone who can tell us what happened in this city.” He pointed at downtown, which was miles away but clearly visible from their location because of the canted landscape. “We have to know if the whole city is tipping into the ocean, for God’s sake.”

  “Not our problem,” Varriss said with a headshake. “My orders were to confirm the refugees would have a place to go when the general enacts her order to clear the base. This is your place to go.”

  “Clear the base?” Connie grumbled from next to Buck. “You know that means throwing us out like trash, right?”

  “That’s insane.” The sergeant glanced at Connie. “I get the distinct feeling you two think I’m here to argue. I want the same thing as you. I want a safe place for you to go.”

  “Even if it means putting us out on our asses?” Buck remarked.

  “No,” he shot back. “Whatever idea you have in your mind, the US Army is not going to kick American citizens out on their backsides. We’re doing this to help you survive.”

  “Help us survive?” Buck scoffed. “You know your general gave me a deadline of sunset to get those folks moving, right? Tell me how that isn’t kicking us out on our asses.”

  Varriss thought about it for a few seconds.

  “There was a rumor about expediting your removal for an upcoming experiment, but I don’t act on rumors. It’s more likely the general wants to get you moving before people settle on that open field. She’s doing you a favor by getting you in these nice houses.”

  “I’m sure she is,” Buck deadpanned.

  “Whatever,” Varriss replied as if he’d had more than enough. “Just turn the truck around, and we’ll report back that you’re coming.”

  “Can’t do that, partner. Go back if you want to, but me and my friends are going to search this place until we run out of time. The only way I’m bringing my son here is if I’m sure it’s safer than where he is now.” Unstated was that he didn’t currently know if Garth was safe.

  Buck tried to close his door.

  Varriss grabbed it, but not in anger.

  “Sir, you ever served?”

  “Yep.” Buck nodded. “Marines.”

  “Well, then you know the spot I’m in. I got transferred to this unit in the dead of night a couple days before the world got wiped away. Me and my boys got tapped to join you because we were the only ones who had actual field experience.” He sighed heavily. “I’m trying to make the best of all this. Now, I don’t have orders to force you to return with me, but I don’t want to leave you guys here without any backup.”

  “We appreciate that,” Connie chimed in.

  “However,” the soldier went on, “my main mission is to get back in one piece like any good recon asset. I have to debrief my CO about what’s out here.”

  Buck knew the Army had more of a reason for being there than making sure some civilians would have a roof over their heads.

  “You’ll have to leave us, then,” Buck advised.

  Varriss rolled his eyes.

  “Since you’re a Marine and need the extra help, I’ll do you a solid and escort you through this subdivision, but once we’ve checked it out, I’m turning left to go back up the highway toward Alpha. I strongly recommend you do the same.”

  Buck chuckled despite himself. “I need the help, huh?”

  Varriss laughed with him. “Yeah, I had an uncle who was a knuckle-dragging jarhead like you. He’d want me to help you, which I’m going to do, but he would also tell me not to throw away my career unless it was for an insanely hot woman. You, my friend, are the opposite of a hot babe.”

  “Fuck you,” he joked, “but also thank you.”

  The sergeant tipped his co
ver.

  “If you want—” Varriss started.

  An animal bellowed from behind one of the nearby homes. If an elephant had swallowed an air-raid siren, it wouldn’t be far from the volume and oddity of the sound.

  “You know what that is?” Varriss looked up at him.

  “Hell, no. I’m just a dumb Marine.”

  The other guy got the joke.

  “I’m getting to hard cover back in my truck,” Varriss advised. “Keep your eyes open.”

  The animal bellowed again.

  Buck’s head went to swivel mode, but before he saw the source of the commotion, he noticed a hand waving at him from inside the front window of one of the closest homes.

  “There!” he said to Connie. “A living person!”

  “But why is he waving us over?” Connie asked.

  A third howl rattled the inside of Buck’s chest.

  “Maybe he knows what’s out there?” he suggested.

  “And that’s why he’s inside,” she replied.

  Sixteen

  Above Alpha Site

  Faith didn’t look back or to the sides since the angry screams of the giant birds left no doubt she was being pursued. She tried to run next to the base of each pine tree or through small clusters of saplings, praying it would throw them off. However, before she’d made it halfway to the emergency exit bunker, the sea birds appeared ahead of her and to the right as if a flock of them continued to arrive from over there.

  She slid around a tree trunk to find a bird swooping down on her from a low branch.

  “Scat!” she shouted.

  The bird extended its talons on its way down, but her speed and noise-making made it change its mind. It swooped about five feet over her head with a terrifying screech.

  “Don’t stop,” she told herself, panting.

  Faith had jogged a little for years. It was her way of waking up in the morning and preparing for her scientific challenges. The cool, dry Colorado air had made it a pleasant experience while working at SNAKE. Now, in the humid air and fiery heat of their new world, she found herself lagging.

  Two birds hopped on the ground about fifty feet ahead of her. It seemed as if they changed directions to zero in on her position using the calls of the other birds.

  One of those newcomers spread its massive wings, which had the effect of cutting off her path in that direction.

  The second bird kept coming at her.

  Going left would take her farther from the bunker.

  She still didn’t look behind her.

  In a flash, she changed directions and headed directly for the one with its wings spread. The pterodactyl-like head and beak were drenched in dark red viscera, the same as the one she’d seen earlier by the bodies. It appeared as if they’d gotten a taste for human flesh and were keen to get some more.

  The standing bird opened its long beak and revealed rows of jagged teeth. They were uneven and of different sizes like it had tried and failed to chew on big rocks, but there was no doubt it could get those jaws around an arm or a leg and do serious damage.

  She rammed into the raised wing of the waiting creature without slowing.

  “Ha!” She shoved it aside.

  It poked her in the shoulder with the point of its beak as she passed, but it wasn’t fast enough to open its mouth and get a taste.

  Its piercing cry was deafening and the fear in her gut felt like a dragging anchor, but she managed to keep her footing and pumped her legs toward safety.

  “A little farther!”

  The flapping of many wings erupted from behind as she went all-out for the door.

  Faith imagined a flock of feral flying foxes following her. If she fell and the others found her, she’d have fifty mouths pecking at her flesh.

  Once past the blocker bird, she steadied her pace at a near-sprint, giving herself a wide berth from those still sneaking in from her right. This species of bird seemed well-adapted to attacking and intimidating poses, but their big wingspans made it difficult for them to move quickly through the pine tops, and they weren’t particularly fast on the ground due to their heft. As long as she kept in front of them…

  As she approached the bunker, one of the monster birds flapped to the top of the concrete box as if daring her to try to get inside.

  “Well, shit!” she exclaimed.

  Faith was close enough to see the wording on the door, which was clearly stenciled with KEEP OUT. It was exactly where she needed to be.

  For the last twenty yards, she zigged and zagged enough to dip and snatch up a broken branch about five feet long. She held it for a second, judging its weight, then slowed and brought it around her backside.

  “Take this!”

  She hefted the length of wood in a sideways throw out of instinct. The stick flew toward the bird as it raised its wings in its “Do not pass” pose.

  Faith raced for the door in front of her.

  The stick cracked against the topmost edge of the bunker, snapping in two. One piece deflected down, but the other continued above the roof and slapped the bird across both legs.

  “Fuck off!” she screamed at the top of her lungs.

  The bird was flapping furiously from being struck by the branch, but Faith wanted to think it kept going upward due to her vocal threats. She wasn’t going to let herself be intimidated by prehistoric birds, no matter how smart they seemed.

  She hit the door and pushed through.

  Emergency exits had to be unlocked and accessible at all times. It was one rule she was happy to see Strauss had not changed.

  Once inside, she immediately tried to shut the door again.

  It gave her a moment to look at where she’d come from.

  “Well, isn’t that grand?”

  More birds had arrived.

  A lot more.

  Destiny, the animal lover, would have a million things to say about the swarm of birds pressing down on her. She’d probably know the species. What they normally ate. Where they built their nests. Why they’d swarmed her. All great stuff.

  Not caring about any of that, Faith slammed the door.

  She might never go outside again.

  Location Unknown, Pacific Ocean

  Destiny held onto the side of the small inflatable motorboat as if she might fall out at any moment. They were only about fifty meters from shore, which kept them out of the worst waves, and she could see the bottom a meter or two down, but she tensed each time the boat slapped over a crest.

  She rubbed her head when she noticed pain there.

  “You okay?” Zandre asked.

  “Yeah, I’ve been so consumed by saving myself the past few days, I almost forgot that damned Tasmanian tiger tried to take a bite out of my head. Can you see where he nicked me?” She leaned over.

  “Yeah, a bit of dried blood there,” he replied. “You should have it looked at when we get back to the boat.”

  “Sure, mate. When we get back to the boat.”

  “When I asked how you were, I wasn’t only talking about your head,” Zandre said in a fatherly voice.

  They cruised next to the beach in the direction the Majestic had gone, but the breakers had grown a little, so they could no longer see it on the water. It upset her to know she was at the mercy of the crewmen around her because there was no way she could get out to the ship otherwise. Only Zandre knew about her fear of water.

  “Yeah, I’ll be fine. We’re not in the deep, right?”

  “That’s right. And you’ve got good blokes with you. There’s nothing to worry about.”

  She chuckled at his obvious attempt to minimize the situation. As a matter of logical observation of their predicament, it was more accurate to say they should worry about everything. However, she understood Zandre was leaning into his role as her surrogate dad, so she let him think he was doing a good job.

  “Thanks, Z. That helps.”

  A few moments later, she pointed at something on the beach. “Please tell me that isn’t our ship?”r />
  Far down the coast, a kilometer or two short of the fog bank, a massive hulk had washed ashore a little above where the waves reached their highest point on the sand. It was large and cylindrical and far from any of the other debris on the beach.

  Barlow stood up to get a better look.

  “What is it, Captain?” Zandre pressed.

  “I don’t think it’s my boat, thank God, but my eyes aren’t what they used to be. It looks more like a blue whale has washed ashore. Every bit of thirty meters. We should check it out, though.” He sat back down. “I’ve got to take a leak anyway.”

  “A break it is!” Zandre celebrated.

  It took ten minutes to reach the beached animal, which gave them time to discuss what it was. They’d ruled out any chance it was the Majestic as they got a closer look at it, but they also eliminated “blue whale” due to its color. Between the salty ship’s captain, his two mates, and Destiny’s background with animals, one of them should have been able to identify it, but she couldn’t deliver.

  She waited until the boat was dragged out of the surf before she hopped out.

  “God, it stinks,” she said, trying not to gag.

  “It smells like a whale,” Barlow said as he sped toward the front of the body. A few small white seabirds hopped playfully on top of the corpse, and little mouse-like animals ran up and down the beach where the skin rested against the sand. Sandpipers ran back and forth at the waterline, pecking at morsels exposed in the wet sand.

  “That’s no whale I recognize,” Tim replied. “Look at those scales and the leathery gray skin.”

  They stood near the underside of the sea creature since it was on its side. Farther up the flank, foot-wide scales covered the body from its long tail to the front. Incredibly, as she followed the footprints of the captain, she realized the entire head had been lopped off. It must have been a car-sized piece, but it was nowhere in view.

  “What the hell could have done that?” Tim asked as he stepped closer.

  “I’m just going to water the beach for a second.” The captain kept walking around the bloody stump until he was out of sight.