Once he stops, he stands facing away from Phillip and says in a softer tone. “We both lost someone in that bunker.”
Phillip screams. “What happened, you crazy fucker.”
The Boss walks over to the wall and sits with his back leaning against it, reposed in the dark corner. “Everyone in the bunker was burned to death.”
Phillip screams and tries to break the cuffs hunching low with bulging shoulders. The Boss gives him a minute then continues. “This man, Paul and his guys are responsible.”
Phillips looks for him in the dark. “So are you, you mad fuck. God damn it.”
The Boss matches Phillip’s intensity. “It wasn’t my plan. Grow up, I’m only one man I don’t rule the world, people listen to me to a certain extent. This community is made up of factions of men, loyal to me, but more so to their group. Just like you were to your group and now how your friend Jude is to Paul, it’s human nature. God damn it.”
The Boss muses as he stands up with the wall’s help. “I can’t leave or stop being the Boss without a bullet in my head. So I’ll continue my mission and do what’s necessary until someone kills me or a good old fashion disease takes my life.”
Phillip’s wrists are bleeding and his throat is strep. “Just kill Paul and me.”
The Boss rubs his temples. “I don’t expect you to trust me, but I have a plan. Paul’s plans led to Jacob’s death, but I just can’t kill Paul; he’s an upstanding citizen and a legend in this community. Politics will never die. Earn your life back and your daughter’s.”
Phillip says. “She’s ALIVE. You bastard, don’t you dare touch her.” He’s stands and tries to run forward. Sweat is trickling down his face as he back kicks the metal pole.
The Boss walks around with his hands locked behind his back and chin down like he’s the prisoner. “Haven’t you been listening? I can’t show weakness and simply let you go home with your daughter. Besides, where would you go, the bunker is Paul’s now. Think long-term, son. The best I can do is raise your daughter as my own and preserve her innocence. She’ll replace what I lost.”
Phillip shakes his shoulders trying to break loose again. “I’ll kill you.”
The Boss says. “Save your strength I want to help you if you help me. I need loyal men, not dead enemies. Help me and become respected here.” He has a faraway look in his eyes and the crow’s feet around his temple multiple.
After some time, Phillip relaxes and says in a dry voice and with beads of sweat on his brows. “How?” His cuffs are digging into his wrists and drops of blood are sliding down his chafed skin. One of the four screws holding the pole in the ceiling is rattling from the constant torsion.
The Boss does a pushup off the wall. “We have a celebration in this community. A fight for spoils if you will.”
Phillip says. “Women…”
The Boss says. “Yes, no women here are killed or beaten, they’re treated the best. The only tradeoff is bearing children. The greatest enemy of a good plan is the dream of a perfect plan.”
Phillip says. “Fucking rapists.”
The Boss says. “No one is getting hate fuck up the ass. I’m a pragmatist, not a sadist. What’s more important? Love or preserving a species? In a hundred years, I will be known as the father of this nation and savior of mankind. And I’m not killing millions; I’m creating the possibility of life again. I’m laying the foundation for a better tomorrow. So don’t talk down to me, what are you doing for mankind besides looking out for yourself…So, I simply want you to do what you’re good at, looking after yourself, it shouldn’t be that hard. Everyone thinks their feelings matter, that’s the point of them, but don’t let them be your downfall.”
Phillip says. “People in power. Priests and politicians sticking their cocks in kids don’t excuse your behavior, no matter how many times you try to convince yourself.”
The Boss looks around the room at all the broken pieces. “After I’m dead and my men as well, whom you think are evil rapists. Good people could exist again because they don’t now. There are only levels of bad people, now. For every one person that’s alive, there are multiple stories of what horrible things they had to do to survive. Not wanting to die is not selfish. Don’t cheapen life by going against your nature.”
Phillip is not convinced. “I can tell by the tone of your voice that you actually believe the bullshit you’re spouting.”
The Boss says. “Not all of the men here fight or want more women, I don’t partake. I have multiple projects going on now, not just children, its just one piece in a larger puzzle.”
He sweeps the wood aside with his leg so he can step into Phillip’s face. “Help me and fight to kill Paul and win your daughter back. It’ll be a fair fight, he’s as big as you and it’s a hand-to-hand fight.”
Phillip says. “You fight him. You’re an organization, I’m just one man.”
The Boss backs away. “This was a waste of time. I thought you would want this opportunity. What did I do to you? I had some guys punch and kick you to learn where my dead man was, can you blame me? You want to kill me because I want to take care of your daughter and offer her a good life.”
He stops halfway to the doorway, looking into the light. “Your bruises are going away. Get over it and be smart. There’s no judge here or moral council scrutinizing your choices anymore. All the righteous people turned or were eaten, you survived for a reason, don’t throw it away, that’s the ultimate sin. You can help me make this community better. Everyone in this group came together under dangerous and dire circumstances, there’s no nice and formal recruitment process.” The Boss walks to the door.
Phillip says. “Who was Diana to you?”
The Boss turns around. “She was my sister, she told me my nephew David survived as well, but she didn’t want him part of this community. I didn’t believe in fate until I found her in a small group. People who are immune are bound to run into each other, we all need the same things. Killing a doctor, especially her, a cardiologist, who was a medical professor as well, is sacrilegious these days, so she survived until I found her. And Paul exploited her mental problems and now she and David are dead. I’m the last one in our bloodline now.”
The Boss tries to smile. “Was David still a smart ass?”
Phillip doesn’t let on that he knows and cares for David.
The cold silence between them lingers on until the Boss breaks it. “I’ll give you a day to think about it, it’s a lot to process. Some of the best solutions are locked away in our minds, finding a way to see them is the real problem. You can trust me as much as I can trust you, I have no delusions. Believe in the reality of this situation. And in the meantime, that bag has things you’ll need.” The Boss kicks it towards Phillip with his heel and stares at the empty wall as if images of his family memories flash on the wall with his mind projector.
Phillip sees water, food, and clothes in the unzipped bag, no key.
The Boss says. “There is no right or wrong paths, only the one chosen and the one not taken.” Phillip continues to gaze inside the bag and then hears footsteps down the hall.
The Boss treads out and Phillip’s four-year-old daughter, Abigail runs in with a key.
Phillip shouts. “YES.”
The little girl walks up to Phillip and kisses him, and Phillip talks her through the un-cuffing. The time it takes is torturous.
The Boss steps back in. “Follow me.”
Phillip picks up the duffel bag and his salubrious daughter.
She says. “Where’s mama?”
2
David is up against the peak’s wall and as far from the edge as he can possibly get, the horses traverse up in the rocky pathway with high struts, the Indians are in the rear with a arrow loaded in each of their bows. David thinks they should be more concern about falling than the dead, he concentrates on each slow step before vertigo hits him again.
David and his new friends arrive at the hideout in the mountains. The Indians turn around to
peek over the edge. Youngblood says to David, “check out the view,” David walks backwards from the drop-off. “Pass.”
Ava runs up and hugs David as he turns around; he has Band-Aids across his nose and over his right cheekbone. She gets frightened when she sees the Indians walking their horses behind him. “Who are they, David?”
David says. “It’s a long story.”
Ava stares at him. “Tell me the short version, then.”
He says. “If I don’t help them, they’ll kill me.”
Ava backs away from David, aiming her assault rifle at them. David steps in front of the gun and grabs the barrel. “We have a common goal, don’t shoot.”
Ava yanks her gun free. “Stop being so vague and tell me what’s going on before I shoot you too.” She lowers her rifle then stretches her neck and stands on her tippy-toes looking about and waiting for Phillip to appear. “Where’s Phillip, I need to talk to him now.” It sounds like her throat is closing.
David woefully walks past her. “I need to talk to everyone, gather them.”
Ava says. “David, where’s Phillip, tell me he’s okay.” She fears the worst as she says it.
David says. “I don’t know.”
She gets irate and pushes him. “What do you mean, you don’t know, your suppose to watch his back out there.” He lets her talk and get it all out. “He’s like a brother to you. And you, the brave and smart David, you don’t know about your friend.” She points in his face. “I will never forgive you if something bad has happened to him.” Ava stops for a second, pushes him again. “Damn it. Say something, David.”
David grabs her by the wrists. “I care about Phillip too, he’s the only friend I have in this shitty world, so don’t tell me what I need to do.” The shock on Ava’s face says it all and in silence she walks away wiping her eyes.
Ava assembles the group of a dozen survivors. They scramble and hike in front of David as he takes off his weapons and lays them in a pile. He hears his name in different tones and emotions in the group.
“David’s alive.”
“David’s back, why?”
“Traitor.”
Ava stands to the side of the group and tells David. “That bastard, Jude betrayed us all, he took Abigail, while we were distracted. The rest of the group is waiting for you and Phillip to return to the bunker. My sister didn’t want to leave the bunker, she’s stubborn. My plan was to lead everyone here then join Maria to go after Paul and Jude.”
David puts his head down and closes his eyes. “Little Abigail.” He then swallows the knot in his throat and addresses the group his voice cracks on the last word. “Everyone in the bunker is dead.”
There is no wind to carry his voice, so David speaks up. “Everyone is dead at the bunker.”
David purses his lips and his eyes swell with tears. He lets the words sink in. It registers first in their eyes. One loud moan turns into horrendous screams, and cries blanket the crowd under the blazing sun. All the different stages of grief appear in the group. A couple of people walk away, others have to be helped up. People talk over each other at David.
“Lies.”
“Why us?”
“Kill them.”
From his side Ava grabs David by the shoulder, choking back tears. “Maria?” David’s doubtful face makes Ava start to cry as she paces away. “Fucking Jude.”
Someone says. “Are you sure everyone’s dead? How did they die?” More visceral screams and mouths hang open in disbelief.
David tells him. “I rather not say how. If Jude did betray us, this place is not safe anymore, either.”
Another person says to David. “It’s all your fault. You had to go outside and be a hero. Look what happened to us. Fuck you. Where’s Phillip, I’m betting that’s your fault as well.”
David clenches his hand and gives the group a minute to process everything then gently starts to speak again. “Phillip has been taken by the same men who took his daughter and took his wife’s life.”
With her hands in her hair, Ava says over everyone else. “You have a plan, right?” David walks up to her and places his hands on her biceps. “I’m working on it.”
A voice in the crowd says. “It’s not my problem and I know what you’re going to say next, count me out.” David pauses, his face is boiling, he looks over the group to soothe his anger, then says. “I’m going to get Phillip and his daughter back or die trying. But I need your help.”
Casting an anxious look at David, someone in the group says. “You just be our leader now, you’ll do.”
Someone says. “Who do you think you are, Moses?”
David mumbles to himself. “Always Moses with this guy…”
Someone says. “Fuck Phillip.”
David knocks down Ava as he runs for the man in the back. Cooper grabs David by the waist and Youngblood stands in front of both of them, pushing David back. David yells over Youngblood’s shoulder to the doubter. “If you say one more word, I’m going to toss you off this fucking mountain.”
Ava says as she’s helped up. “David.”
He watches the man run out of sight, then says to Cooper. “I’m good, I’m good.” Then walks away from the crowd with his hands on his hips looking up, nobody gets near him.
David faces the crowd, bringing his hand to his chest. “Phillip is the heart and soul of this group. And he has always been our true leader. I’m no leader; I’m just a guy who knows how and wants to survive. There has to be more to being a leader. We need him. I need him. I know it’s easier to fear what’s in the dark, than to believe what’s in the light can save us. I get it, the unknown scares everyone. Believe in me and believe in yourselves. There is a light at the end of this long tunnel of struggle. It’s this community. And if we let someone take from us and do nothing. Then this community is doomed. I’m tired of someone or something taking from me. It stops now or what’s the point of living?”
David points at the ground with one hand. “Nobody can save the world, but you can help save a family and this community. Don’t give your power over to fear.”
David shifts his stance, forces a smile looking past the faces. “Phillip used to say to me. Doing things you don’t want to do, but have to do, is called adulthood. He was wrong, it’s called being human, all people may have the same design, but not all of us have a soul worth a damn. Phillip has taught us how to defend ourselves; we can’t turn our backs on him now, not today. You know when a person admits a weakness, they say I’m only human and blame it on humanity, but when they achieve something great, they alone take all the credit. You may think Phillip and I deserve all the credit for the safe life you had at the bunker, but you’re wrong, together we all built this great community and life for ourselves. I can’t do this without your help. I know our deep grief connected us in the past and present, but I will not let it paralyze me and run my life. We can and we will rebuild this community better than before.” Ava and the Indians walk over to David’s side, blocking the people rushing towards David.
Someone in the crowd yells. “We can’t trust the Indians.”
David says. “We have a common goal. Trust is hard, but vital for mankind’s survival and ours.”
David walks through the scared crowd. “I don’t have to tell anyone how dangerous it is out here. Nobody answer now, sleep on it. I’m leaving in the morning. And if you can’t come, find another way to help out, with supplies or information about Jude or Paul, survival tactics, or the terrain. Anything.”
A few people in the crowd say. “Don’t leave David, enough good people have died already, we need you here to protect the living. It’s not your fault, don’t blame yourself.”
David rubs his mouth. “Sorry, but I have to go. I will talk to whoever stays about what to do next, because you all can’t stay here.”
The same people on David’s side say. “See David, that’s why you should stay. I loved Phillip too, but he’s gone or soon will be. I’m not asking you to stay for me, but for every
one, even the people that hate you. Your mom would of wanted you to.”
David walks away and remains silent for the rest of the day.
3
It’s easy to be a good person when you have everything, try it when you have lost everything and everyone. Days become self-aware hyper-pessimism, and depressive realism is your world. What is the point of anything, anymore?
Once something is created, a second later, a millions ways to abuse it, is created. Once pain is initiated, it has to go somewhere. Pain demands to be felt, by either potential victims or a savior. People die or saviors take on the turmoil of killing. Faith in one’s actions has to be absolute or it’s worthless. Death changes every party involved and if you’re not sure, that will only create doubt to be added to your guilt for the rest of your life.
Don’t be something because you can, be something because you are. Be who you are for better or worst, I don’t know how to be anyone else. Borrowed time is the best I can hope for. I already changed into the last person I’m ever going to be, now it’s about what I want. Believe in yourself, no one else will, you can’t lose. Own your positivity and negativity. Better to ask for forgiveness than permission.
If you question what it is to be human, you may not like the answer. Who am I? A good man who does bad acts or a bad man who does good acts. There are no correct answers to subjective questions only emotionally charged opinions.
The horror, the horror, what the cowards did to my group. I know it was not my fault, but it’s my fault if I do nothing in retaliation. You never win being the bigger person, no one truly cares about that, but you. The other person is going to continue being their self and not accept blame and consequences. Perceived superiority is self-perpetuating. Pettiness is pride’s mistress and fucking never felt so good. Revenge is such a dirty world, but if I say and believe it’s to ensure democracy and safety, I might become the new president if I succeeded in killing everyone I want. The sport of kings. When did feeling anger about a wrongdoing against you become a bad thing? Good consequences can come from selfishness. How many people do you have to kill to feel safe, it’s never enough. I can’t change the world, I can only care about the people in it. Words fail to make a statement, guns don’t.
Genesis Virus Page 9
