BEYOND THE GRID BOX SET: The Complete Beyond The Grid series (book 1-4)

by Connor Mccoy

  Pop! Pop!

  Two gunshots zinged from the open bunker door. Good going, Doms, Jacob thought. She and Jubilee had heard him loud and clear. “Now you get it. It’s going to be a fight to get anything from this garage. You can’t win. Pack it in and get the hell out of here.”

  Diablo did not reply further. Jacob waited. Every second felt like an eternity. What would Diablo do?

  Then Jacob saw Diablo’s form rise to full height. He turned and retreated out of the garage.

  Jacob almost laughed. It worked! Diablo, as evil as he was, was also no fool. He wouldn’t risk his skin on a no-win scenario.

  But as Jacob rose to his feet, the sound of gunfire rang out outside. Now what? Did Diablo shoot someone outside?

  “Dad?” Brandon called.

  “Stay there.” Jacob hobbled through the garage to the open door. For a moment, he wondered if Doctor Nguyen had returned and shot Diablo.

  But while Diablo was indeed lying on the ground, lifeless, he actually had died at the hands of the small mob of Trapp’s citizens. The number included Moses Travers, Sam’s friend Elliot Christensen, and some of the police. Almost all of them held a firearm.

  “Mister Avery!” Elliot said, “Thank God. We feared the worst when we found Sam inside.”

  The full weight of the day and night’s ordeal finally caught up to Jacob, and he collapsed on his knees. “I’m okay. My family…”

  “Jay!” Domino rushed up to him. Weeping, she knelt down and held him. Brandon and Jubilee piled in moments later.

  “I’m back,” Jacob whispered, “I’m back.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Jacob reclined in the tent that Domino and Doc Sam had set up to house the Lutz cousins. He was stripped down to a pair of cotton shorts so that all of his wounds could be checked by the town’s rescue party. Fortunately, he had not taken any bullets from the battle with Diablo and the Lutz cousins, just bruises and scrapes from all the running and ducking.

  The rest of his family just had been treated. All of them would stay in the tent while Elliot and the rest of the party would check out Doc Sam’s house and remove the bodies of Sam and Doctor Nguyen. The party promised they would allow Jacob and any member of his family to see the bodies if they wished before they started burial preparations.

  Domino took Doc Sam’s death the hardest. Jacob did not blame her. The man must have been like a father figure to her. Jacob thought of Domino’s actual father. Jacob had not interacted with the man very much, and he didn’t seem like a particularly warm person. He and Domino had not gotten along very well, and the two had not interacted at all in the past couple of years. Jacob only could wonder about his fate and the fate of Domino’s mother after the EMP.

  By now Domino had calmed down. She advised Jacob to get some rest, but he insisted on giving his two children what he had found in the pharmacy in Middleburg. He set his backpack down by his legs while Jubilee and Brandon surrounded him.

  Jubilee’s present was first. “I had a feeling that you would love this.” Jacob pulled out the Cutie Bruiser doll.

  Jubilee’s eyes widened. “Cutie Bruiser!” She took it and hugged it against her upper chest. “Aw, I love her!” She kissed the doll on the top of her head. “Thank you, Daddy!”

  Jacob glanced at his son with tired eyes. “And for you…” He dug out the small plastic red car that he had found, still in its plastic wrapping.

  “Cool!” Brandon took it. “Thanks!”

  Both children hugged Jacob. “Ow!” Jacob held his side once his kids quickly withdrew. “Sorry, just a little tender on that side.” He let out a long breath. “I noticed Cowell’s not around. Did your mom chase him out of town?”

  Domino chuckled. “Not quite. It’s a long story.”

  Jacob gazed into his wife’s eyes. “Long story. God knows I’ve got one, but I’m so whipped.”

  Domino slid a little closer to him. “At least we have time to tell each other everything.” She shuffled even nearer, but she slipped and nearly fell over if Jacob had not caught her.

  As he sat her up, he said, “Doms, you’re an amazing woman. I knew you could hold up.”

  Domino smiled. “Thanks. And you’re amazing, too.”

  The pair embraced.

  Jacob, staring at the mirror, let the shirt collar hang loose, as it was impossible to button around his neck. The whole garment was a size too small and it looked hideous with Jacob’s muscles bulging against the fabric, but donning a jacket would help conceal the ill-fit. He wanted to look as dressy as he could for this solemn occasion.

  Domino walked up behind him. Jacob could see her pained expression reflected back through the glass. She was wearing a simple crimson dress that draped down to her ankles. Her heeled shoes made soft clicking noises as she walked.

  “You look great,” Jacob said to the mirror.

  “So do you,” Domino said.

  Jacob managed a pained smile. “I think you need glasses.”

  Laughing softly, Domino picked up the jacket lying on the chair behind them and started fishing her husband’s arms through it.

  Jacob wanted to help, but he still felt battered after last night’s ordeal. Fortunately, Domino pulled the jacket on him with no problem. He was grateful to Sam’s neighbors for lending him and his family these clothes.

  Domino patted his right shoulder. “Ready?”

  Jacob sighed. “Not really. But they deserve it. This is the last thing we can do for them.”

  Jacob, Domino, Brandon and Jubilee stood before the two burial plots that lay near the only tree in Doc Sam’s backyard. A small gathering of Trapp’s citizens flanked the Averys.

  Jacob couldn’t help but smile at the quality of the two headstones. The full names of Doc Sam and Doctor Nguyen were neatly carved into each headstone. The town really had come out to help give these two men their proper burial. Perhaps as a sign of providence intervening, Jacob even had discovered Doctor Nguyen’s birth date on an old army document in Sam’s house. Thus the two stones were able to list the birth dates of each man.

  The Averys watched as a young man draped an American flag on top of Doc Sam’s coffin. It was appropriate, as Doc Sam had served in the military. Hien Nguyen, on the other hand, was not part of the military and only had accompanied Sam on his efforts to help communities overseas following Sam’s time in the service. Even so, Avery decided that Nguyen should be commended for his bravery in fighting Diablo, so a second flag was added to his coffin.

  One of Trapp’s pastors, a man named Kyle Sorensen, led the invocation. Once Sorenson had completed his task, others were invited to speak of the departed. Elliot went first, speaking about Doc Sam. Moses followed. A number of young men and women gave quick words about Doc Sam. It was clear the eccentric man had left his mark among many young adults.

  Jacob was one of the last. As he turned to face the crowd, he felt a lump in his throat. This would not be easy.

  “We only had known Sam for a few days, but it seems like almost a lifetime,” Jacob began. “In our darkest hour, he was there for us. He saved my daughter’s life. But he was more than our doctor. He was a friend. He gave us a roof over our heads and food for our bellies. In these dark times he truly gave of himself in almost every way you can think of.”

  Tears started rolling down Jubilee’s eyes. Jacob cleared his throat. He could not directly look at his daughter or he likely would break down himself.

  “Judging from my experience with him, I know you all have suffered a big loss. From hearing your speeches, your testimonies, I know it even more. But I’m also glad to know that what he’s taught so many of you will live on. Even in these dark days, you’ll still draw upon his wisdom as you face whatever life throws at you.”

  Jacob hesitated a little, trying to extend his words. He felt he owed more to this town. “The days ahead are going to be hard. Without Sam, it’s going to be even harder. Throughout my family’s ordeal, I feared for the future. I still do. But I keep thinking of…”
Jacob laughed. “…Sam’s laughter, his jokes. He faced our current disaster with a wink and a smile. I don’t know if I can be that upbeat, but as I think of him, I do feel a little warmer inside. I hope all of you will feel the same way when you think of him.”

  Half the crowd nodded, with many of them smiling. Jacob was glad. He was giving Sam the right sendoff. Now he had to speak of Doctor Nguyen.

  “Sam’s friend, Doctor Nguyen. He was a good man, a man of great conscience. Without his help, I wouldn’t be here today. I never would have returned to my family. And through his incredible courage, he helped draw away Diablo and give me and my wife time to arm ourselves and take Diablo down. Doctor Nguyen died bravely. He spoke very warmly of Sam and I know that Sam would be very proud of Hien today. I’m sure Hien would be happy to be buried beside Sam.”

  More nods among the crowd. They didn’t know Doctor Nguyen, but Jacob’s words no doubt helped paint a good picture of him. He was almost out of words to say, so he decided the only thing left was…goodbye.

  With a turn to the two coffins, Jacob said, “Sam, Hien, thanks for everything. May you two go with God.”

  That was all he could muster. Tears welled up in his eyes. He turned from the coffins to meet Domino, who took him, cradled him in her arms and cried with him. His son and daughter embraced him as well.

  The burial was completed with time to spare before sundown. The heaviness in Jacob’s heart lifted. The final act of putting these two men in the ground had provided great relief. The duty he owed these men had been accomplished.

  Before Jacob could return to Doc Sam’s house, Elliot approached him. “You did great out there,” Elliot said.

  “Thanks,” Jacob said, tiredly. “Your words were beautiful. I know everyone thought so.”

  Elliot looked down briefly. “It’s going to be…well, a little dull around here without him. Look, I hate to bring this up so soon after what’s happened to you and your family, but some of us were talking. From what you’ve told us, you’re an experienced farmer. We could use more people like you. In fact, I’m sure every town could use more farmers.”

  “I have no doubt,” Jacob replied.

  “So, what do you think? It wouldn’t be hard to set you up. That is, if you’re looking for a community to settle down in,” Elliot said.

  Jacob silently admitted that Elliot’s offer was tempting. Trapp appeared to have held together well so far in the immediate aftermath of the EMP, and it seemed the community was made up of decent people. However, he wasn’t ready to make such a change to his plans on the spot, nor did he want to give Elliot and the rest of these people too much hope that he might choose to stay.

  “It’s a very gracious offer,” Jacob said. “I think for the moment that we should return home. We haven’t been back there since this all began. Our kids need to sleep in their own beds again. What happens next, I don’t know.”

  “Absolutely. I see where you’re coming from.” Elliot looked over Jacob’s shoulder. “So, when do you plan to head on home?”

  “I’d like for us to stay at least another day. There’s no way we’re ready to go now, and my daughter’s still healing from the arrow.” Jacob glanced at Doc Sam’s house behind him. “I didn’t get a chance to ask, but is there anybody who Sam passed his house to?”

  “Not that I know of. You can stay in there until you’re ready to leave, of course. I know Sam would have wanted that.”

  Jacob was the last to sit at the dining table. Domino, Brandon and Jubilee all sat with their arms crossed on the table, their eyes heavy.

  “Dad?” Brandon asked, “Are we really going to stay here?”

  Jacob scooted his chair in. “It was very nice for Elliot to offer it, but I think we belong at our homestead. I don’t think it’s a good idea to hang around any town for the next few weeks or so. It’s not because you can’t find good people there. We’ve met fine people here, too. The problem is when people can’t find food or medicine, they start overrunning any town that looks like it has its act together. When you get a lot of desperate people showing up at once, it could spiral out of control. I can’t put you or your sister or mother in that kind of trouble. Our homestead is off the main arteries of traffic. It’s not going to be easy to find.”

  “So are we just going to hide there for the rest of our lives?” Jubilee asked.

  “No.” Jacob tried to smile, to put on a pleasant face even amid the grim subject matter.

  “For the moment, we are going to have to keep our heads down. But that’s not going to be forever. People are going to survive this. They’re going to rebuild. The new communities that will spring up, they’re going to be adjusted to handle this new world. People are going to trade, barter. There’s going to be more agriculture, farming. I’m sure we’re going to join in with that. We’ve got more than enough food. We can trade for clothes or anything else we need.”

  Jacob tilted back so he had his son and daughter in sight. “These are dark days, but we can hope for better days to come.”

  Brandon opened his mouth, but he didn’t speak at first. He seemed troubled by what he had to ask, perhaps fearing the answer. “Our friends?” he asked, “Are we going to try to find them, when we get home?”

  Brandon no doubt feared for his friends, both young and old. Jacob understood who Brandon was thinking about, and knew Jubilee thought of the same. “Once we get settled in, I think we are going to try reaching out to as many of them as we can. I know some of them probably are going to come to us to find out what happened. We’re probably going to establish lines of trade with them. I’m sure our friends are going to need a lot of help.”

  Domino reached out and hugged her right arm around Brandon. He leaned into her, and she kissed him on the top of his head. Turning back to her husband, she asked, “Do you think we should go back to the truck first, before heading home? I don’t think we can get it all the way back home, but there are still some supplies in there.”

  “It might have been ransacked by now,” Jacob said.

  “I locked it up tight before leaving it.” Domino withdrew her arm from Brandon. “It’d be damn hard for anyone to get in.”

  Jacob smiled. He knew they might have to abandon their truck on the road in case of an emergency, so Jacob had rigged all the compartments with locks. In the event they had to leave the vehicle, the remaining supplies and papers would be locked up, even the glove compartment.

  The glove compartment…

  With a sigh, Jacob sank his head into his hands. “Yeah, but that doesn’t mean we’re out of the woods yet.” Lifting his head, he added, “We still have our insurance cards and state registration inside the glove compartment. If someone breaks in there, they could get our personal info and find out where we live.”

  Brandon pointed to Jubilee. “See? I told you we should have put a self-destruct mechanism in the truck!” Jubilee just rolled her eyes.

  Domino laughed softly before commenting, “You make a good point, Jay. God knows who might find our information. You think we should try?”

  Jacob nodded. “I think so. If we leave here early in the morning, trek out to the truck, do our business and leave, depending on what we have to do, we might make it home before nightfall. And we got to keep in mind that you pulled over on a pretty well-trafficked state road. We could run into refugee lines going that way.”

  Jacob scratched the stubble on his cheek. “I’m going to have to plot our course, keeping us parallel to the road but not actually on it. That’d be the best option. We’ll keep watch on the road from a distance and if we have to, we’ll turn around.”

  Domino reached over to Jubilee. “We won’t leave until you’re feeling up to it. Just let us know how you’re doing, Baby.”

  Jubilee smiled. “Thanks, Mom. I think one more day sounds okay.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Domino pulled her work shirt tight as she walked down the hall for what she believed would be the last time, assuming that she never visited T
rapp again. She didn’t know what the future would bring, so she vowed to never take anything for granted again.

  The house was clean, showing no obvious signs of the fierce battle that had taken place a few days ago, except for the bullet holes in the walls, doors and support posts. Those would take longer to repair, although Domino overheard debates among some people as to whether the bullet holes should remain as a memento of what had happened. Domino would just as soon have them fixed, as she wanted to see this place unblemished by the gunfire of evil men.

  She passed close to Doc Sam’s bedroom. Peering into it was tough. Seeing the empty bed just would remind her that he would never sleep in it again. She quickly moved on.

  “Oh!”

  Domino backed up. She nearly crashed into Camilla Varney, one of Doc Sam’s young students. The short woman was clutching a cloth that bulged against her arms. “Excuse me,” Domino said, “I’m so sorry. I guess I was a little too deep in thought.”

  “It’s okay.” Camilla let the bag dangle from her fingers by the straps.

  “Actually, I was looking for you.” She set the bag down on the floor. “I wanted to give you these.” She fished out that picture of Sam, Hien Nguyen and Dan Sullivan that had hung in Doc Sam’s treatment room. The picture, mercifully, had been spared the barrage of bullets from the gun battle. “There are more in here. Doctor Sam did not have any family. I’m sure he would have wanted you to have these.”

  Domino took the picture from her hands. “This is…this is wonderful. Thank you.” She took in the visages of the three men, with Sam and Nguyen in particular looking so much younger than she had seen them.

  She handed it back to her. “I think you should keep this one here. Put it back on the wall. That way, everyone that comes here for help can see his face, and the faces of his friends.”

  Camilla took it as she handed Domino the straps of the bag. “Okay. Thanks.”