by Cooper, DJ
It was only moments before the vehicles began to roll into sight. John hurried to the door and raised it for them just enough for them to get through. He hurried to Dickie and Ray and told them what he thought he saw and how he felt they were being watched.
Roger manned the door as the three of them headed for the office door again. They remained in the shadow of the office as they watched the area John thought he saw movement.
John jabbed Dickie in the ribs pointing to the area said, “There, did you see it?”
Dickie nodded, saying, “Yeah, I saw it mate, but you didn’t have to nail me in the ribs like that you wanker.”
John stammered, “Guess I was a little over zealous, sorry there guy.”
Narrowing his eyes as he strained to see, Ray said, “I think we need to check this out, did anyone notice a back way out?
They both shook their heads, no. Ray instructed John to keep an eye on the place they had seen the movement and to go ahead and appear be looking around inside with the flashlight, but take care not to shine it outside.
Ray explained that he wanted the attention on what John was doing so that he and Dickie could get to them hopefully unnoticed.
John watched as they made their way to the place the movement was observed, he made a big show as he shuffled about the office flashlight flailing wildly about in the darkness. John watched the observers as he continued his distraction. In his clumsiness he stumbled, bumping a light switch. He felt shocked and blinded when the fluorescent lights flickered to life. Frantically he fumbled at the light switch and quickly switched them off. Scolding himself, he said, “Well, I guess that is something that will hold their attention.” He grumbled at himself as he continued to shuffle about the office area.
With all the antics and moving around he was doing he failed to notice that there were two other figures in a dumpster directly across from the office door. He slapped his forehead in embarrassment, as if someone were aware of his inattentive moment. To anyone outside he appeared to be occupied with some unknown interest.
Unbeknownst to them, he maintained this appearance of oblivion to keep them watching him, while still he kept his eye on them. He noted one moving from the dumpster to a point of cover near a jersey barrier, shrinking into it until the figure was almost imperceptible; John watched closely and kept a mental note as to the exact shapes in the area.
Flashing his light around, he was sending the beam of light repeatedly out the door. Appearing random, yet it was carefully orchestrated. The movements with his light, he wanted it to look like he was just careless, although he was secretly signalling Dickie and Ray that there was more movement.
John left the doorway and entered an office where he turned off the flashlight, trying to make it appear as though he had gone back inside the warehouse. He crept back to the office doorway to continue in the darkness to keep watch on the figures. The second figure began to dart in and out from behind the office walls, making his way to the spot where the first one had hidden and still remained crouched behind the Jersey barrier.
He could see Dickie and Ray making their way to the place where the first pair sat hiding. Watching the second pair he decided to create a diversion as Dickie and Ray moved on the two hiding nearest them. John slid himself back into the office and headed for the warehouse. Summoning Mark he instructed him to turn on the back office light when he asked him to.
John took a position near the door that still allowed him to see the two behind the Jersey barrier. He watched as Dickie first crept up on his intended target and Ray made his way for the second one. He signalled Mark to turn the lights on. He could see the two lean over the barrier straining to see what might be going on inside the office room.
John signalled Mark to turn the light off by dragging his finger across his throat. Mark understood and killed the lights; this made the two figures strain harder to see and lean further into view. While John continued to keep their attention, Dickie and Ray came up on the others. Before he knew what was going on Dickie and Ray had subdued his audience and were herding all four of them into the warehouse.
Once they could all be seen, it seemed apparent that they were just like them, and simply looking for someplace to hide out for the night. They introduced themselves to the group, a woman spoke first saying,
“I’m Mandy and this is my son Aaron.” After which, one of the two teens spoke saying,
“My name is Martin and this is my girlfriend Cindy.” Cindy waved in a shy fashion while clinging steadfastly to Martin’s arm.
The ladies had already prepared some beans, and canned spam, and they were serving them with a rather odd looking salad concoction that they had gathered on the way. John was sure it was edible because he saw what they had gathered, but not so sure how it would taste. The salad was mostly made of Dandelion greens along with some lettuce and a few tomatoes that they found in a garden behind a vacant house. Most agreed that it was not the best food ever, but they were happy that there was plenty for everyone and that it was filling.
John blurted out, “That salad wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be.” While the men had all been thinking it, the men all looked at John like he had lost his mind and the ladies looked at him like he had just spoken an unmentionable line, one that would surely be considered the crime of the century. At that Danny burst out laughing saying, “Dude, you’re in the doghouse for life, even I know better than that.” Everyone burst into laughter, even the newcomers were laughing. Amy glared at John like he had done the unthinkable and he shot her his best puppy dog eyes begging forgiveness.
Once dinner was finished and the laughter had subsided Danny said,
“Ok, well, what’s your story? Why are the four of you out here?”
Mandy spoke up first saying, “Aaron and I live downtown, that is we did until two nights ago.”
Danny asked, “What happened two nights ago?”
Mandy pulled her knees up to her chest and put her head down onto her knees. Her long sandy hair swept down covering her knees as she silently wept.
Aaron, who Danny thought was about twelve years old said, “A bunch of guys, like a gang, came in and took a bunch of stuff. One of them made me carry all of our food out to their truck. Mom kept screaming but they just laughed.” He hung his head saying, “I know they hit my mom a bunch of times. Then they burned our house so we don’t have any place to live now. Mom said we would look for a new house out in the country near Grandpa’s.”
Martin and Cindy had similar stories, but something did not sit quite right with them or their story for Danny. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but knew there was something gnawing at him about their stories. They felt contrived, a little too similar to Mandy and Aaron.
Rubbing his chin in a thoughtful manner, but not wanting to voice or show his suspicion he got up and went for more coffee. Amy noticed him shaking his head as he walked to the small camp stove and followed him.
Joining him for coffee, she glanced back to the others and said in a hushed voice, “You don’t believe Martin and Cindy either, do you?”
Danny shifted his eyes back and forth as if looking for something and said, “They’re after something, I just don’t know what yet.”
Amy nodded in agreement saying, “Food maybe or supplies?”
Danny sighed, saying, “I know this much, we will have our usual watch for trouble on the outside, but I’ll be watching the inside, something feels very wrong with this. Maybe I’m just suspicious of people right now, but I feel very uneasy for some reason. Another thing bothers me, we went through all those towns that had Ebola, how do we know they are not infected?”
Mark came walking up and in a loud tone bellowed, “Hey, you guys gonna share some of that joe?”
It startled Amy and Danny, but as he got closer he looked at each of them shifting his eyes with pursed lips. While moving toward them, he whistled the Folgers best part of waking up tune and then shot his eyes up and to the right, with a barely pe
rceptible head tilt in the same direction as his eyes went. He was indicating they had observers.
Danny, looking at Mark, but past him also noticed Martin with a fixed gaze in their direction, very deliberately focused on the trio. Laughing loudly and seemingly making a show of whatever the joke was, Danny said loudly,
“You know it guy, but we knew if we waited too long you would likely have downed the whole pot before we even got a sniff.”
Motioning him over he said, “Care for a cup?”
Mark, moving closer, said, “Don’t mind if I do.”
Amy was facing where Martin and Cindy were sitting and began chatting in a normal tone about breakfast with the guys, she was seemingly oblivious to the stares from either of the onlookers.
However, Mark and Danny, who faced her had their own conversation going on and talked quietly about their suspicions, they occasionally nodded at her to make it appear they were listening to her. The three felt certain that something was not as it seemed about these two and were determined to keep an eye on them. They began to discuss who should take the first watch, eventually settling on Amy. It was decided that they would lie in their spots and observe the group until it was time for the next watch. The person on watch would have a coughing fit that would continue until the next person responded they were awake with a small cough.
Tonight’s watch on the office door would be John with Dickie and Roger to follow. Mark thought this was good because the three of them were what the group considered to be the most experienced in things like this.
Amy turned, reaching for the fresh pot of coffee, when the lights flickered off briefly before coming back on. She had accidentally touched the hot pot, startling her and causing her to cry out.
Matty and Georgia came running in from the offices telling John that Rita had sent for him. She was on watch at the office door, they said she had told them to tell him she saw something and wanted him to come and check.
John already wasn’t sure how he felt about some of the members of the group keeping watch and this was surely a dog or something roaming through the parking lot. He let out a heavy sigh and rose to go to the offices. It was no secret how he felt about Rita and she knew his eyes, she could do nothing right. As he reached the place where Rita was, the lights flickered again and went out.
John grunted and with exasperation in his tone said, “What’s the issue Rita? Show me what you saw.” Rita hushed him by placing her hand on his mouth. It was dark with the lights out and she could barely make out his form in the moonlight.
They crept up to the doorway and keeping low to the floor, they peered out the door. John was shocked, she had indeed seen something. There, standing in the middle of the parking lot, not even trying to keep hidden were five figures, obviously looking for something.
They were silently watching them when John felt a tap on his foot. He looked back in the direction of a whisper, “John a word please?” He could barely see that it was Mark waving him to retreat into the next office.
Looking at Rita he pointed to his eyes and then to the outside hoping she would understand that he wanted her to keep watching. She nodded that she understood and responded by pointing to the small flap on the door that mail could be dropped into and tapping her ear questioningly. John was impressed that she not only understood, but had the idea to try and listen to what they were saying outside.
He signalled her no, but put up his finger meaning ‘in a minute’ pointing in Mark’s direction and covering his ears. He figured she would figure out he didn’t want to take the chance of them hearing him and Mark talking in the next office. She nodded in agreement and understanding as John slid himself backwards into the next office.
Mark whispered to John, “What’s up?”
John said, “There are about five people outside in the parking lot sniffing around.”
Mark said, “I needed to let you know Amy, Danny and I were observing our new guests and we don’t trust that couple. Something isn’t kosher there.”
John nodded as he replied, “Dickie and I were just discussing the same thing a little bit before we ate. We were planning on keeping an eye on them.”
Mark replied, “So what’s up at the door? Do you think there is a threat out there?”
John said, “I don’t know, but I don’t want to give away that we are here either, so go get everyone into the very last office and have them stay quiet.”
Mark nodded and turned to leave when John added, “And keep a close eye on those two, I’m curious if they are somehow tied to this group outside.”
Mark nodded and headed off in the direction of the warehouse, while John crawled back to the doorway, tapping Rita’s foot as he crept alongside her to let her know he was there. Rita looked at him with wide eyes that instantly sent chills down his spine. Rita was tipping her head toward the door indicating for him to look outside. He leaned in her direction and saw what had her scared, one of the guys was sitting outside on the step in front of the door smoking a cigarette. It wasn’t the person that had her nervous so much, as it was the shotgun carelessly slung across his back, as he sat smoking.
John motioned for her to retreat into the office doorway and followed her. Once in the office, he whispered to her, “Go get Dickie and Ray, but be quiet about it. Just tell either one of them that I said ‘it is go time and I have no fire’.”
She whispered, “They will know what that means?”
He replied, “They should get the hint, but mostly I don’t want to give anything away about the situation. I have a bad feeling about that couple and in case they are involved with these guys we don’t want them to try to send a warning.”
She nodded in understanding, but stood wringing her hands as if overcome with anxiety.
John could see how unsure of things she was and continued, “After that I need you to go to Roger and quietly tell him what is going on, he will tell Mark. Then go get Matty and sit near Amy, make sure to keep the kids quiet. Let the girls know what’s going on too, but do it quietly.” She nodded; a tiny tear glistened on her cheek in the moonlight.
As Rita turned to retreat into the darkness of the inner offices, John whispered, “Oh, and Rita? Good job spotting these guys.”
She smiled and returned the thumbs up before disappearing into the darkness.
Rita went into the warehouse and quietly made her way over to Dickie and Ray, telling them what John had instructed her to. Hoping they understood, she looked at each of them with raised eyebrows seeking acknowledgement, both nodded to her and silently made their way to the office door; hoping to not raise suspicions that there was anything out of the ordinary.
Moving to gather the children to Amy and share what was going on she failed to notice the strangers were keenly aware of her every move.
Mandy spoke, “Excuse me, miss?”
Startled, Rita turned, looking at her like she had seen a ghost.
Mandy came close and in a whisper said to her, “I’m sorry I can’t remember your name and I don’t know what is going on. I can tell there is something so I think someone needs to know… so can they.”
Tossing her head in the direction of Martin and Cindy she continued, “I don’t know if it is anything but, they are watching every move you people make and whispering.”
Rita squinted her eyes to see in the dim light of the candles and it took only a moment to see what Mandy had been talking about, Martin and Cindy were definitely keeping tabs on everyone. Tilting her head quizzically at Mandy she gave her a slight nod and motioned for her to follow.
The ladies made their way to where Amy was sitting; with her were Jules, Matty and Georgia. When Rita approached, she looked relieved and let out an audible sigh of relief to see Matty. After Rita conveyed John’s message to Amy and the others, she sat with Mandy and Aaron, and motioned for Matty to join them.
Everyone sat quietly, looking about the room waiting to hear from the guys at the door. Kimmie let out a faint scream when a bright flash l
it up the room, immediately followed by thunder sounding like an explosion. Mark quickly cupped his hand over her mouth. Between the lightning and the scream it had inadvertently triggered Martin to act.
Chapter 12
“The Storm”
“I have noticed even people who claim everything is predestined, and that we can do nothing to change it, look before they cross the road.”
-Stephen Hawking
The lightning flashed, illuminating the silhouettes of at least six people, John could see that they were each armed with some kind of long guns, although in the darkness he couldn’t make out what kinds. He felt a tap on the back, turning he could see Dickie. He handed him his M9 and gave a slight nod with his chin, silently asking what was going on and with a toothy grin he whispered,
“Someone order up a rifle?”
Grateful they had understood what Rita told them he quickly made hand signals for silence followed by pointing to his eyes, then out the door, the sign for watching.
John glanced over to Ray, who was looking back into the offices with a troubled look. He tapped his ear pointing into the offices and whispered,
“I heard something.”
John tilted his head as though he were straining to hear and shrugged his shoulders, nodding a ‘No.’
With a slight head shake Ray disappeared into the darkness, back the way he had come to investigate. John and Dickie look at one another, wondering if they should follow or continue to keep watch at the door.
John whispers to Dickie, “I think we need to keep an eye on these guys. If Ray needs help he will let us know.
Dickie nodded in agreement and whispered back, “So what's is going on here? Have you been able to figure it out?”