by Maxey, Phil
“Why not just keep on going all the way to Galveston?” said Sanchez.
“We will, but only after we send out a radio message. We need to warn whoever’s on the coast of what’s coming, as soon as we can, and that will be when we reach Dallas, which…” He looked down at the few panels of folded map and switched on his flashlight. “We are not far from. Maybe ten minutes from the base. Actually—” He looked at Jess to his right. “Pass me the radio.” She did but his efforts to find a reply in the darkness met with just static noise from the speaker.
It wasn’t long before the frequency of gas stations and ranches increased.
“We’re here. Northern Dallas,” said Scott. He tried the radio again with no response from the other side. “Not looking hopeful for the cavalry to be in Fort Worth. We should pass by anyway.”
Abandoned cars and trucks appeared on the eight-lane route making them slow.
“Which way?” said Sanchez to those behind him. Without need to check his map Scott guided them off the highway and through the maze of roads, moving south and west, the larger buildings of the business district visible against the lighter night sky.
“How far you reckon they’re behind us?” said Luci looking through her side window. It wasn’t a question at anyone in particular but Jess answered as she had been wondering the same.
“Probably no more than forty minutes. Whatever we’re doing in this city, we need to do it quickly.” It was a sentiment that sent chills through most in the cabin around her.
After exiting a smaller highway they headed north, passing shopping malls and restaurants, the streets being littered with vehicles, slowing their progress.
Just as Sanchez started to ask for more directions a green sign appeared in their headlights mentioning the base and he took the next right, spiraling around until after a short drive, they were facing double guard-posts.
“Keep driving,” said Scott, his tone flat.
Sanchez did, taking the only lane large enough for the truck and trailer to fit through. Substantial, monolithic buildings passed by on both sides. They stopped at an intersection. An empty parking lot sat ahead of them with another concrete multi-storey building.
“They’re not here,” said Scott. “Turn us around, we need to head east.”
“Sheesh,” said Luci. “Was hoping something would be here. An outpost maybe. I guess they haven’t ventured this far inland yet.”
Millar continued looking at the sky through his window. “Or maybe what we were told about an offshore refuge was all bullshit.” Luci shot him a look which he wouldn’t have seen in the dark even if he were paying attention.
“Lucas… or Rackham, whoever the hell it was, believed it, so I believe it,” said Scott. “We just find the tallest building in downtown Dallas and I’m sure we’ll get a reply.”
“And if we don’t?” said Millar, now looking back inside.
“I’m not thinking about that.”
*****
4: 51 a.m. Highway 287.
The vibrations through Arlo’s seat had changed, becoming more inconsistent. The thrum thrum had transitioned to a jolting as if his abductor’s vehicle was moving over uneven ground. He had been pretending to be unconscious for about an hour, and despite the burning curiosity to see where they were, he dared not open his eyes. He was also sure at least two ribs were broken, and perhaps something fractured in his left wrist. That was good though. The pain kept his mind sharp. Each moment he felt exhaustion threaten to take him a stabbing would emerge from the damaged area of his body, bringing with it clarity.
Worse than the pain was knowing he had failed. Not only himself for getting caught, but not rescuing the boy who he knew was seated next to him. For some reason Josh had fought the attempt to be free and those few seconds cost them everything.
It would have worked…
It was a phrase he tried not to repeat over and over, but there was also anger for even trying, and then guilt for feeling that. A debate had raged in his mind from the moment he became aware he was in the backseat of a car until it was settled with a single word. Survive. Somehow his overweight, nerdy ass, a man that had trouble holding down a regular job, who had never had any real friends or wanted them had got through to the finish line in a race against the virus and the mutants.
Why didn’t I just…
He stopped the regret in its tracks. Too late now. The monsters have—
“When are you going to tell us your name?” said the older man in the front passenger’s seat.
Arlo couldn’t control his body from shaking in reply.
“I have been listening to your heightened heart rate for over an hour. I know you have been conscious. I know you have been listening to our infrequent conversations.”
Everything in Arlo told him to keep quiet. This person, whoever he is, is insane. How could he listen to his heart rate?
He’s a mutant… he knows things…
“His name is Arlo…” said Josh.
Arlo’s eyes flicked open at the boy a few feet away.
“Ah, so you do know each other,” said the man.
“Why are you…” Pain flowed through various limbs, making him wince.
“Why have we taken you?”
“Yeah…” The word came out with a groan.
“It was for your own good. The creatures would have… eaten you, if we did not intervene. They are quiet protective of the boy.”
Confusion crossed the black and blue face of the man in the back. He looked at Josh, who looked away. Arlo looked to the front, awkwardly pushing himself higher in his seat. He wanted to shout and scream. Try to claw answers as to who these people were and what was their involvement with what happened at the school, but instead fear kept his teeth clamped together. His left hand held the door handle but all he could see of the world outside was an impression of a concrete wall and perhaps tall buildings not too far off. They were in a city, but he had no idea which one.
“Do you not want to know who I am?” said the man.
Arlo could see the side of his face. It was covered in grooves as if he had been hideously burned, but even through the scarring he could tell this individual was older than him. “Okay…”
“I am Arthur Rackham. Chief scientist at the Biochron facility. What is your profession?”
Arlo knew the name, but pain surged through his joints and bones, almost stopping him from replying. “Computer games…”
Rackham snorted. “I see. The immunity to the virus was indeed random in who it chose. There will be no need for that kind of thing in the future. Everyone will have a role to play in the society which grows from the ashes.”
“How… how do you control the things?”
Rackham turned in his seat, his face still bathed in shadow but close enough for Arlo to see the madness behind the bloodshot eyes. “They are my children.” No response came from Arlo so Rackham returned to facing the road ahead, which the younger man was thankful for.
“Where are we going?” said Josh.
“To see your mother, young man.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
5: 18 a.m. Dallas.
Jess tried to crane her head upwards enough to see the top of the strangely shaped tower which loomed hundreds of feet above the truck in the center of the city.
Luci did the same behind her. “I… visited here with my parents, many years ago. You can see for miles from the top…”
Scott looked through the rear side window at the curved stone steps to their left, which led up to the fifteen feet of glass, spanning the base of the building. “No sign of any danger. This looks perfect.”
Jess pushed her door open, Sanchez doing the same, both jumping out. He moved to the back of the trailer, opening it while she scoured the darkness lurking beyond the nearby trees, then railroad tracks.
“Would be convenient if the Newgrove train comes past here,” said Scott.
Footsteps made her turn around to face Landon, Sam and Vance, the oth
ers stretching their legs and arms, further back.
Vance pointed to the gaps in the bushes to their right. “Main station is right there, on the other side. They should be good to stop here.”
Scott looked back to the tower, nodding. “Probably not long until we can reach them on the train as well from the top. Let’s go.”
The group moved past plastic signs that had fallen then up the four steps to the glass entrance. Scott pushed on the secure looking door but it remained locked.
Sam walked forward. “Let me try.”
“Umm… okay,” replied the soldier.
A glanced passed between her parents as she placed both hands on the circular metal bar and pushed, and despite the creaking sound the door remained firmly closed.
“Screw this,” said Millar. “Everyone get back.” They did as he raised his weapon at the ten-foot of glass panel to the left of the door and fired. The shatter of glass momentarily replaced the silence and a gaping hole filled with shadows looked back at everyone.
As the others walked over the fragments on the ground, Jess waited, listening into the night, but silence had returned.
“You hear anything?” said Landon.
She shook her head and together they moved into the cavernous lobby with circular walls. Placards and advertisements for restaurants and hotels sat alongside narrow corridors which curved around the central core, marked with signs for elevators to the top.
Scott slid his light across the glossy walls, quickly finding what he wanted, a sign for the stairs to the viewing gallery high above. “We don’t all need to go up.”
Millar nodded. “I’ll stay down here.”
“I’ll go with you,” said Sam to Scott. Lachlan and Jess saying the same.
Scott held his radio up, looking at those who had the same. “Stay on comms. If anyone sees anything that shouldn’t be out there. We let each other know.”
“Roger that,” said Luci.
Esther indicated that she needed help getting some supplies from the trailer, while Scott, Jess and the others entered the stairwell and started ascending.
Sam ran on ahead, quickly moving out of her mother’s sight. “Don’t go too far!” shouted Jess. “We don’t know what’s up there!”
“That’s why I need to get to the top quickly. I’ll let you know!” Sam shouted back down, already four flights higher up.
Scott noticed Jess’s labored steps. “You alright? I thought getting up here would be easy for you?”
She let out a breath, then made sure Lachlan who had also run on ahead was out of earshot. She stopped near the soldier. “Between us… I’m not how I was before… I mean, the past few days. I’m just—”
“Human?”
“Yeah…”
Scott rubbed his chin. “So the virus died out in you as well?” She nodded. He looked upwards. “But not in your kid.”
“It doesn’t look like it.”
“So Landon—”
“Doesn’t know.”
“Okay…” They started climbing again.
On the ground floor, Landon tried to use his good right hand to lift a box from the back of the trailer but the pain from the left stopped the effort. He felt his jacket pocket for the box of pills. The two he had already taken were already wearing off.
Vance moved past him, lifting the cardboard box from the back and continued towards the entrance. Words started to leave Landon’s throat, but never made it past his lips. There would be time to help the older man over his loss once they got through the next twenty-four hours, for now Vance needed to do what Vance needed to do, and whatever that was, was okay.
A flashlight’s beam swept around the inside of the trailer. “Grab that one… no, the other, with the red labels,” said Sanchez to Andy, who did so then appeared at the back near the open door. He jumped down then picked up the box and followed Vance.
“Why you standing around out there?” came from the trailer.
Anger bubbled within Landon who looked inside. The glare from the light covered Sanchez’s face. “You got anymore boxes to carry in?”
The older man walked from the shadows, an automatic rifle over one shoulder and stood on the end of the trailer. “Nah, but I got one of these.” He held up a bottle of beer. “Thought you could do with it.”
Landon smiled.
“Shit. You only got one good hand. I need to find an opener.”
Landon’s smile became a frown. “Give it here.” He took it and with one swipe on the rear step of the trailer knocked the cap cleanly off, then took a drink. The golden liquid brought with it memories of a normal world and he was sure the pain eased slightly from his wrist.
Sanchez jumped down.
“You’re not having one?”
“No alcohol or drugs for me. Always been a rule of mine.” Sanchez closed the rear trailer door. Leaning on it. “See them destroy too many lives, my parents for one.” He then looked more directly at the former detective. “We’ll get your kid back.”
Landon nodded then looked at the Russian designed weapon. “You got anymore of those?”
Sanchez nodded to the base of the tower. “The fire guy took them inside already. Got five pieces and plenty of ammo.”
Four hundred feet above them the wind buffeted Sam’s face as she stood on the open deck which ran around the edge of the globe like exterior. She looked east through the bars and mesh to the metropolis of similarly tall buildings in downtown Dallas and then north to the flatter suburbs. That was where ‘they’ would be coming from. She strained to see any light or movement amongst the various shades of absolute black but even her enhanced sight gave her nothing in return. She heard the others coming up the steps behind, but for a moment she was alone. Free. Part of her wondered if she could sprout wings and fly like a bird, sailing above the city… Her little brother’s smiling face came to her and she choked back a tear. In the trailer she had let the past week, especially the last twenty-four hours overwhelm her. She had been used, changed… She died. She was sure of it but somehow she was still here and she was going to make the crazy scientist pay.
The glass door opened and Lachlan came out, her mother and the soldier still a few flights lower down.
“Cool, view,” he said, bending over, out of breath.
She looked at him, starting to reply then realized he wasn’t like her anymore. He was normal again… More commotion came from the exit to the stairwell, Scott and Jess appearing, both similarly fatigued. Her eyes caught her mother’s and both knew Jess was just as human as Lachlan. Sam looked away, back to the sprawling blocks and high-rises.
Scott pushed open the door, his radio already in his hand and held it to his face. “This is Chief Warrant officer Scott Woods. I’m sending this message from the top of a tower in central Dallas. Does anyone hear this? Over.”
All four waited, listening to the static, trying to hear any sign of a voice but none came.
Scott nodded to himself. “Luci, you read me? Over.”
“Loud and clear. You see anything coming our way?”
He held his binoculars to his eyes, looking out into the dark but not seeing anything of alarm. “Nope. You situated down there, if we get visitors? Over.”
“Getting there. Over.”
“Keep me informed. I’m going to keep trying for Galveston. It’s far but we might get lucky. Over.”
“How long until we move out?”
Scott looked at his watch. “We’ll give it thirty minutes, tops.”
He looked at the other three. “I need each of you to keep watch to the north.” They nodded in agreement and he moved back inside, cutting across the large room within.
“Think I’m gonna… see the view to the south…” said Lachlan, strolling away.
Sam’s eyes flicked to her mother who was looking to the east and the block-like structures crowding every corner. “I know you’re not like me…”
Jess looked down.
“It’s okay… it’s good…” Jess
looked at her daughter. Sam continued, forcing a smile. “Your mom, again.”
Jess hugged her close. “I’m so sorry about what happened to you. We’re going to get Josh and Rackham will pay—”
Sam pulled back. “No! No… you can’t fight him like you did. I can’t lose someone… I…” The tears she was holding back burst from her into sobs and her mother held her again.
“I won’t. I promise. But we will get Josh back. I promise you that.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
5: 59 a.m. Dallas.
Landon sat with most of the others on some comfy chairs in the lobby area. The smell of beer hung in the chilly air, and the bottles were being shared as well as some chips and a tin or two of fruit had been opened and passed around.
Sanchez stood, walked to a trash can and dropped an empty packet of chips into it. “I’m looking forward to a home cooked meal,” he said to no one in particular. Luci and Millar emerged from a dark curved corridor in front of him. Sanchez sniggered. “I never thought you two would be into each other.”
Luci scoffed.
“In your dreams,” said Miller to her who then frowned.
She walked to the almost empty box, pulled out a packet of chips and threw it to Millar then took one herself, immediately opening it and crunching on some of the contents.
Landon looked across the occupants of the lobby, each face lit by the glow of a single battery operated lantern and each expression heavy with what the person had lost. In a few hours the sun would rise to a world rid of the plague which befell it, but nobody would be celebrating. He turned to face the shadows and pulled out the box of pills, opening it and—
Static then Scott’s voice burst from Luci’s radio.
“They’re coming!”
Everyone who was seated, stood, some running to the large glass windows.
“I don’t see anything,” said Andy, peering out into the dark.
“Which direction? Over,” said Luci.
“North… south…” Sam’s voice could be heard shouting in the background. “Everywhere! Are the charges set? Over.”