“Kevin. I love you. And Jake loved you. More than anything. When it’s so dark that you can’t see any light, remember your wedding day. Remember how happy you both were. Remember, he loved you.”
“Okay.”
“Call you tomorrow, my son.”
“Okay.”
His mother disconnected, and Kevin held the phone to his ear, not even having the energy to put it down.
He loved him.
He crumpled into a ball on the bed and wept.
Part VI
Impact
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Maggie
Maggie woke to a soft hand on her shoulder. She sat up fast, the sleeping bag falling to her hips.
“Sorry!” Jesse whispered. “I didn’t mean to scare you. You just said you wanted to get gone in the morning. It’s sunup.”
Momentarily confused, she looked around quickly. Cabela’s. She was in Cabela’s. Fifty other sleeping bags lined the aisles, with tired looking armed guards at the emergency exits. Others were being shaken awake, and Maggie figured they were switching out guard duty.
“Thanks,” she said.
“Coffee’s on at the commissary,” Jesse said, pointing towards the tills. “Paula will hook you up. With some rations for the day.” He held out a rifle. “Take this,” he said. “It’s all we can give you.”
She grabbed it. “It’s more than enough. Thank you.”
Dirby snored peacefully beside her.
“How’s Lindsay?” Her student had been taken to the back of the store to a doctor and a makeshift medical tent.
“She’s resting,” Jesse said. “Doc knocked her out and cut most of the necrotic skin off. He thinks she will make a recovery after rest and a shit-ton of antibiotics.”
Relief rushed through her.
“How did you get this organized?” She asked. “It’s only day two.”
Jesse held out his hand to help her to her feet. She kept the muzzle of the rifle pointed towards the ground. “Two tours in Afghanistan,” he answered. “Not my first shit show. There’s a few of us here from the base in Dundurn.” He shot her a smile. “We weren’t even here together. Apparently, once shit hit the fan, we all thought the biggest gun store was the place to be.”
They walked slowly through the sleeping bags, being careful not to step on anyone. Maggie looked at the sleeping, peaceful faces. Where would they be in one night? Or a week? Or a month? The sheer weight of responsibility crushed her shoulders. There was no getting around the inevitability of their doom. She’d caused this. All of this. And she knew there was no getting back. It wasn’t a dream.
This was now a new reality.
What the hell were they supposed to do about it?
Jesse glanced her way as they made their way up to the makeshift commissary, the smell of coffee inviting them in.
“It’s tough to think about,” he said. “So, don’t. One day, one hour, one minute at a time. We will get through.”
“What if we don’t?” She stared at him, tears brimming behind her eyes. “What if we don’t?”
Jesse shrugged. “Then we don’t. But worrying just means that we suffer twice.”
Maggie had no response. The answer was so simple. Too simple.
Easier said than done.
Paula, a sixty something woman with a shock of white hair and glittering eyes sat in a chair, knitting what looked to be a pair of socks.
“A couple coffees,” Jesse said. “And we need to give Dr. Knight some rations for the day.”
Paula gave him a warm smile and filled two brand new Stanley coffee mugs to the brim. “Enjoy it while you can,” she said sagely, giving Maggie a wink. “Once the grocery stores are out, I expect no more coffee. Unless this is heaven.”
“Heaven with dinosaurs?” Jesse said, winking at her. “You have a weird idea of eternal bliss.”
“Well, it ain’t hell, because I haven’t seen my worthless ex-husband anywhere,” Paula said with a laugh. She held out the coffee and a brown paper bag to Maggie. “Here, love. You make sure you eat. You look too skinny.”
Maggie gave her a forced smile and Paula returned to her knitting as Jesse walked her to the door.
“You’re sure you want to go alone,” he said, holding out the keys to the jeep. “I can send one of the boys with you.”
Maggie shook her head. “No. I won’t put them at risk. I’ll get my kids, then try to come back. If I find more survivors…”
“Send word.” Jesse said. “But something tells me that once easy to come by supplies are all used up, people won’t be in much of a sharing mood.”
The sun rose over the empty parking lot. Her Jeep was waiting in front of the doors.
“Thank you,” Maggie said. “For the kindness.”
Jesse smiled and held out his hand. Maggie took it and they shook.
“It’s what we do,” Jesse said. Then, shrugging, he added, “If this is hell, I’d like to work my way back into heaven.”
Maggie smiled. “I don’t think it is. I think I caused this.”
Jesse shrugged. “Was life fantastic before, though? Anxiety and depression were on the rise. People were dating through apps on their phones. Hell, my kids hadn’t looked me in the eye for a year, they were so busy on Facebook and some stupid site called Til Tok.” Jess smiled. “Change is violent. It’s hard for people. But, in my experience, it’s usually a good thing.”
As they looked on, the outlines of a herd of dinosaurs that looked like the Edmontosaurus lumbered by.
“This is better?” Maggie said.
They watched the shadow against the sky.
“Well,” Jesse answered. “I don’t think it’s worse.”
York saw her leave and jealousy rose. Why did she get a jeep? He needed to get out of here. All these people stinking up the store. They were going to be dinosaur food. He knew it.
Who put this Jesse guy in charge, anyway? Why wasn’t he allowed a car?
Rage burned, and York looked around, careful to avoid that slut and her friends. The last thing he needed was some tramp to spread rumours about him in this new world.
The keys to the remaining vehicles in the parking lot were being kept by Paula in the commissary. York needed to steal some.
He needed to get back to his office. He needed to get home and hunker down. Before that blonde started running her lying mouth.
And he needed to steal the keys.
And one thing was going to be a distraction. Slinking off to the employee exit, his eyes lit up as an Albertosaurus lumbered in the distance.
Well, there was one way of making a big distraction.
Chapter Forty
Officer Bennett Kura
They’d spent the night in the basement lab. Bennett had been on the door as guard duty for the night. He would not trust any of these kids with his sidearm, that was for sure. He’d slept a little, back resting against the closed door.
Nothing had followed them downstairs. Silence in the concrete stairwell behind the door told him as much. As Bennett drifted in and out of sleep, he couldn’t help but let his mind wander.
His family wasn’t in Saskatoon. A relief, now, more than ever. His younger brothers still lived with his parents on their farm outside of Radisson. Bennett was a full ten years older than his two brothers (twins). His heart started aching, and he shifted uncomfortably, trying to rid himself of the vision of his parents and brothers grieving by a massive crater.
They’d think he was dead. Bennett knew it in his heart. There was no going back to the present. Not now. The city would be here forever. Bennett didn’t know how he knew that. But he did.
Would they find their bones in the future? Fossilized humans found in a wrecked city with the dinosaurs?
He found that thought oddly funny, and his own snort brought him back into the basement lab. He stretched and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes.
Still nothing stirred outside. There wasn’t a sound.
His bladder hurt, it was so full. R
ising, he flicked his flashlight on and walked over to Padma’s sleeping form.
“Hey,” he said, squatting in front of the girl who was covered in her friend Shoji’s sweater. She stirred and groggily opened her eyes. “Where’s the bathroom?”
“Down the hall,” she slurred, and, without another word, she slipped back into sleep.
“Alright then,” Bennett mumbled.
“I’m coming too,” Cleo said from the ground beside Padma. She hopped up and stretched.
“You’re happy in the morning,” Bennett said grumpily.
“Used to it,” Cleo said, wide eyed. “I’m on the track team, remember? Lots of early practices.”
Bennett nodded. No light filtered into the lab. No windows in the basement.
What did academics have against windows?
“Okay, stay close,” Bennett said, leading Cleo to the door. “If you hear anything, just bail. Come back here and slam the door. There're sinks in the lab, we can use those.”
Cleo looked at him in disgust. Bennett flashed her a smile, “Drains still work. For now, anyway. You really have the option of that or a bottle.”
“Chicks don’t use bottles,” Cleo said.
“Then I guess it’s the sink.”
“We can hear you,” Shoji mumbled from a couple of blankets on the floor.
“Well, the same goes for you guys. There’s gotta be some time until the sewer fills. Might as well use it while we can.”
“If too many people think like you, we’re going to be standing in knee deep shit,” Shoji mumbled, eyes still closed, trying desperately to keep the day away and to hold on to sleep. “Literally.”
Bennett shrugged, “My bladder is saying I need a right now answer,” he said. “The knee- deep shit seems like a future Bennett problem. Plus, we will be above ground by then.” He looked to Cleo. “Ready to go?”
She nodded, face gaunt in the LED light.
Bennett turned the handle and shouldered the door open. It creaked open and Bennett winced. Of course, the labs would have creaking hinges. Why wouldn’t they?
He flashed the light down the hallway, hand on his gun.
It was clear. The dark concrete eating his light. The staircase they’d ran down the night before was directly to their right, white door guarding their backs. That left the bathrooms to be to their left.
The door remained closed. Nothing had followed them into the basement.
Keeping the flashlight on, he led Cleo down the hall. Two brown doors with the different signs for Men and Women appeared out of the darkness on the right- hand side.
“Come on,” Bennett said, leading Cleo to the Men’s room.
“That’s the men’s,” she said, voice high out of fear.
Bennett looked at her.
“Right. That doesn’t really matter right now, does it?”
He shook his head. With a swift motion, he opened the door. It creaked again, and Bennett flinched and jumped, making Cleo jump behind him.
Nothing. The flashlight had just caught the open stall door. Bennett breathed out. Apparently, the sudden appearance of dinosaurs had put him on edge.
“There,” he said, waving the light toward one of the three empty stalls. “I’ll keep watch.”
His bladder objected loudly, but Cleo did not. If he wasn’t careful, he’d piss himself. But they couldn’t both be in a compromising position. Not with what was out there.
It didn’t take Cleo long to use the bathroom, which Bennett really appreciated. Before long, they were both done and back down the hallway into the lab. Shoji and Padma had risen from their makeshift beds and, using the flashlights on their phones, they were rifling through the drawers.
“Found another resistor,” Padma said, holding up a small circuit piece.
“Good,” Shoji said from across the room. “I have the capacitors,” he referenced an old book that looked like it was falling apart and published in the fifties. “We need a transistor. And something to use as a mic.”
“Will this work?” Bennett said, holding out his radio. “Battery is dead, though.”
Shoji lit up, “This will work well. I know I said AM before, but an FM transmitter is easier to build, and we have the parts. Shouldn’t take me more than an hour. I have to make the circuit board,” Shoji gestured towards the door, “Any chance you can go through the other labs to find a 9-Volt battery?”
Bennett stared at him. The last thing he wanted to do was to split up.
“No need,” Padma called from behind them. She quickly sprang onto the top of one of the tables. “Light.”
A demand, not a request.
Shoji used to how she spoke to him, shone the light of his phone up to the ceiling.
“Save yours,” Bennett said, shining his LED light. “Mine will have more battery life.”
A smoke detector was illuminated with the light.
Padma pulled a small screwdriver out of her pocket and with a few dept twists, Padma had a 9-Volt battery in her hand.
“Labs are old,” she said. “They haven't upgraded these yet.”
Shoji smiled, “Let's make an FM transmitter.”
Chapter Forty-One
Lindsay
The pain woke her.
A screaming, searing, nausea inducing pain. Nothing slow about it, not a slow burn until she was awake.
She sat straight up and let out a yell. Well, it wasn’t really a yell. More like a guttural scream.
Someone came running to her side.
“You’re okay,” the woman said. “It’s okay. Breathe.”
“My hand,” Lindsay moaned, the fire burning down her arm into her hand. “It hurts. So bad.”
The woman pressed gently onto her shoulder. Lindsay allowed herself to be pushed back to lying down. “Lindsay, my name is Dr. Harris. I’ve been working on you for the last twelve hours.”
“My hand,” she said through gritted teeth. “What’s happening to my hand?”
Dr. Harris sat down on a camping chair beside Lindsay’s air mattress. “Your hand is gone,” she said. “It was gone when you got here, but only at the elbow. I had to take it off at your bicep. There was dead skin, and I was worried about infection.”
Lindsay worked her eyes open and looked. She didn’t want to, but something drew her to her limb.
It was gone. But her hand hurt. So bad. Worse than anything she had ever experienced in her life. There was no hand. There was no elbow. Dr. Harris wasn’t lying. A white wrapped stump stared back at her, mocking her with pain in a limb that was no longer there.
“It’s called phantom pain,” Dr. Harris said, “You’re not crazy. It often happens with traumatic amputations.”
“Make it stop,” Lindsay said. Sweat was pouring off her forehead. “Please make it stop.”
Dr. Harris was spared from answering. A giant crash sounded at the front glass.
Followed by a roar unlike anything Lindsay had heard in her life.
York sprinted towards the caravan as fast as his short fat legs could carry him. The Albertosaurus (the name of which he only knew because of some snot-nosed kid in Cabela’s) had followed the flare just as Jurassic Park had shown. And it had smashed through the glass front of the store with ease. Giving York a chance to grab the keys from Paula’s desk as she ran away in horror at the descending rows of teeth.
“LIGHT IT UP!” The ringleader Jesse yelled, and short bursts of gunfire behind him interrupted the roar.
But York didn’t care. He’d gotten the keys. The white van was parked in front of him.
He needed to get to his office. If they fixed this, he’d lose his job. And he needed to make sure that the blame rested on Knight’s shoulders.
And if it got out that the whore was a TA, he’d lose everything. His wife would never forgive him.
Office to burn the records, then home.
As a scream sounded behind him, he opened the door of the van and threw himself inside. Without a thought to the people behind him, he fire
d it up and took off.
“STAY HERE!” The doctor yelled. She sprang up and produced a pistol from somewhere, then ducked out of the medical tent.
Lindsay looked around. She was on an air mattress set on the vinyl flooring of the store. A large tent with medical supplies and first aid kits surrounded her.
Screams sounded, and shots were fired, sending Lindsay a moment of clarity through the pain. She had to save this tent. Their survival depended on it.
Lindsay rolled off the air mattress and fell hard onto her knees.
A gun. She needed a gun.
A roar sounded, this time louder and more pissed off before. Someone screamed, and more shots fired.
Lindsay scrambled out of the tent.
She was at the back of the store where the Clearance Center was. She knew this store. Cabela’s. That meant… She turned to her right and smiled.
The bows and arrows were beside her.
Archery was Lindsay’s stress release. Few people knew that. And she wasn’t a bad shot.
Hustling to the bows, she picked up a compound bow and stared at it, willing her missing arm to pick up an arrow.
The stump stayed dead. Her arm still missing.
A scream snapped her back into attention. The monster was charging. Fishing rods flew as it charged through the aisles towards her.
A crossbow shook free from the aisle and landed at her feet. Taking it as a sign from the divine, she kicked it towards her and picked up a bolt.
The Albertosaurus roared, now only twenty feet away.
Leaning the crossbow against her leg, she loaded the bolt into the bow. Picking it up with one hand, she rested the bow on the top of a standing deer target. The dinosaur spotted her and roared, turning to close the space.
Taking a deep breath, Lindsay sighted the bow.
Shots fired and, distracted, the dinosaur ran past her. She aimed just behind the front leg.
Prehistoric Survival | Book 1 | Doomed City Page 15
