by Tara Ellis
We’re alongside a gorgeous lake with spots of open meadows so it’s an ideal location. Jim explained that there’s another, smaller lake not far from here. We should be able to reach it by nightfall tomorrow if we keep up a steady pace. I trust him now when it comes to that kind of statement. We’ll set out at sun break, and keep riding hard the way we have been for the past three days. We’re halfway there.
Chris is sitting silently next to me, deep in thought. I can tell by the expression on his face. Although it’s nearly completely dark now, I can clearly see him. I’ve noticed the past couple of days that my night vision is getting better. That the darker shades of gray have gotten lighter and I can make out more detail.
“Your eyes have gotten lighter.” Startled, I realize Chris is now staring intensely at me. Guess I was actually the one lost in my thoughts.
“What do you mean?” I ask warily, hesitant to discuss my physical changes. Especially if they’re continuing to change. It makes it harder to accept things and move on if it’s still evolving.
Leaning in so close that for a moment, I think he’s going to kiss me again, Chris reaches out to hold my face. Tilting it slightly toward the light of the fire, he nods, seeming to have confirmed his suspicions. “They’re not violet anymore,” he explains. “Well, not in the middle at least. They’re turning more of a light blue but the edges are still violet so that it makes an outer ring.”
Curious, Missy leans in from the other side to scrutinize me. “Oh, you’re right!” she gasps, moving in front of me. “They look really cool.”
Pulling away from them, I stand and then stagger back a step. “It’s not cool, Missy,” I manage to say, not sure why I’m so upset. “What if I’m turning into a Shiner?” I ask without even realizing what I was going to say.
Taking my hand to prevent me from walking away, Chris stands next to me. “I’m sorry, Alex,” he says sheepishly. “That was pretty thoughtless of us, but I don’t think you need to worry about suddenly turning into a Shiner after all this time. It’s probably just your body still reacting to the antiviral meds. Maybe you’ll even go back to normal, eventually.”
I know he’s trying his best to be encouraging, but it isn’t helping. I can feel a rising sense of panic, of a complete and total lack of control over my own body. Baxter whimpers softly and comes to sit next to me, leaning into my legs. Reaching down to pet his head, I try to find comfort in the gesture and fight the anxiety.
“That Nator guy said the Nephi2 virus in you wasn’t contagious anymore when that thing scanned you,” Seth says from across the fire. Looking at him, I struggle to remember the conversation he’s referencing. “I’m sure that if the virus were still actively doing things, it would have picked up on it, right?” he asks, turning to Benuk.
After a brief pause, Benuk nods his head in approval. “You’re right. Alex would have never been permitted to leave the quarantine scan if any active threat were determined.”
Looking from Seth to Benuk, I want nothing more than to believe them. It makes sense. My heart slowing a bit, I take a deep, cleansing breath and try to think about it rationally. What am I really scared of? I mull it over for a moment. I guess what it comes down to, the most terrifying aspect of the Shiners are their inability to feel any emotions. That and the connection to a hive mind is what makes them inhuman and threatening. Okay. I certainly am not lacking emotions right now. If anything, it’s just the opposite. And I still have absolutely no clue how they all seem to communicate with each other and carry out the same mission or plan without any apparent guidance.
Once I acknowledge how obvious it is, it’s my turn to feel bad. I sit back down next to missy and wrap my arms around her. “I’m sorry, Miss,” I whisper into her hair. “This all just freaks me out.”
Turning into my hug, she squeezes back and I know she’s not upset with me. Missy’s dealing with a lot right now, too. Not only is she separated from her Mom and sister, but also her dad. He was taken by the Mudameere and then infected, the day before we got to the senator’s house. I know what it feels like to lose a parent to this virus.
“You all should really be wearing these,” Jim states emphatically, as he approaches us from the now darkened tents. I appreciate the distraction. Hanging from his hands are several of the N95 flu masks. He handed them out when we first started on our trek, but no one had actually kept one on. I don’t need a mask but tried it on earlier anyway, just to see how they are. I understand why they found their way back into the bag. It’s hard to breathe with the thick material covering both your mouth and nose. We’ve only seen a few people so far, from a distance, so there wasn’t a sense of any real, immediate danger.
“We’re going through a more populated area tomorrow,” he explains, as he passes them out. “Including a couple of large neighborhoods, so we’re likely to encounter some people. Best to keep one of these around your neck at all times.”
“And our rifles at the ready,” Kyle adds while taking the offered mask.
“Hopefully that won’t be necessary,” Chris says, taking over Baxter’s grooming. Rolling onto his back, my dog happily exposes his stomach and Chris obediently starts scratching. “Either the masks or the rifles.”
“Well you’re being extremely optimistic,” Seth sneers. “Be careful not to underestimate the Mudameere. Just because we’re in the middle of nowhere, doesn’t mean the Shiners aren’t a threat. My father and the other leaders are long gone into hiding by now, but I’m sure they established an efficient deployment of the virus first.”
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you sound kind of proud,” Chris retorts, his expression looking dangerous in the shadowy light.
“So, you really think RA is out there scouting for the best place to start mining?” Kyle interrupts, and I silently thank him for breaking up the mounting tension. “Because I thought that’s what the pyramids were used for. Why doesn’t he just fire those babies up?” The ship hasn’t turned up again, which is a relief, but it’s also ominous not knowing what’s happening elsewhere.
“That was five-thousand years ago, Kyle,” Benuk answers patiently. “They are made of stone and were beyond repair long ago. Nator converted the main ones for the antivirus anyway, so they wouldn’t even be able to mine if they were in good working order. No, it will be much easier and beneficial for RA to find other areas rich in gold, and start over there. With the workforce and resources he expects to have, it will be a much easier task than when he was here last.”
“Oh, well I figured since it was alien technology and all, that maybe the rock was a disguise on the outside,” Kyle says a bit defensively. “It seems like if these guys are smart enough to build a spaceship they could come up with a better way to get gold.”
“He has a point,” Nate interjects. Kyle eyes his friend suspiciously. It’s rare they ever agree with each other. Nate turns to Benuk seated beside him, scratching at his red hair while thinking about it. “Why haven’t they developed better technology? I know it’s well beyond what we’ve created so far, but still, if you can beam yourselves around using a rock, why can’t you just zap the gold out of the ground and up to the ship or something. Or why can’t they use something else for a power source?”
Benuk closes his eyes for a moment before answering. I can tell he’s doing his best to explain things without becoming irritated with our lack of understanding. Although he only looks about twenty, I know he’s much older. At least a couple hundred years, maybe even more. I’ll have to ask him sometime.
“It isn’t that simple,” he finally says. “The quartz reacts with organic matter of a specific DNA composition. Inanimate objects directly connected to the person’s being, such as clothing or a strapped-on bag, are also encompassed. You must be careful about the volume of inorganics, or else it could lead to a…mishap. To use it to transfer something such as gold, you would only be able to move a few bars at a time, depending on the weight of the carrier. It would be highly inefficient.
“When it comes to transporting larger inanimate objects or groups of people to specific areas, Nibiru has a smaller shuttle that is capable of landing on the surface.
“As to the properties of gold and why other elements are inadequate, this is something that our scientists here on earth have not quite figured out yet. The theory has been hypothesized, but to explain it to you would require a lot of schooling that frankly, you wouldn’t understand. It’s because of its unique atomic structure that no other replacement has yet been discovered.”
“Oh,” Nate responds, disappointed. “Good to know.”
“Why didn’t RA just spend the last few thousand years to come up with a better way?” Seth presses.
“Why would he bother himself with something so beneath him?” Benuk retorts. “Look, in order to understand why RA does things, you must first grasp the culture of the Nephilim. RA sees himself as one’s ultimate genetic perfection: a god and leader of gods. During the Nephilim’s time on earth, under RA’s rule, the hierarchy system was further developed. There has always been the upper and working class, but each was still treated with equal respect. Not anymore. By the time RA fled earth 5,000 years ago, the working class was used as aids and caretakers but not afforded the same quality of lifestyle or recognition among their peers. From what I have learned, this has only worsened since they’ve been gone.
“RA will not have even considered spending any more of his time or energy on this planet and its vermin. That is what he sees you as, you know: something to be used and then tossed aside. What he needs to suck the life out of the earth is already here. He’s just stopping by to check on things, make sure it’s moving forward and then reap his just rewards as a god should.” Pausing to throw a log on the fire and poke at the burning embers, Benuk’s bright blue eyes reflect the flames and I feel like I’m a kid again, sitting around at camp telling scary ghost stories. Only this is real, and I won’t feel better about it once the sun comes up.
SIX
Jim was right. We did encounter some people the next morning. There were four men and two women, one of them holding a small child. They weren’t Shiners, as far as we could tell. I would have offered to help them if it weren’t for the fact they ambushed us. Three of the men had guns, but it was obvious they didn’t expect us to be well-armed. We convinced them our gear and horses weren’t worth a fight, and no shots were fired.
That was two days ago and we’ve been heading east through the mountains ever since. Until now, that is. Jim is adamant there’s no way to avoid the small town before us. The mountain range to the north is too steep. Heading to the south would add more than a day to our journey. So we are trying to move forward, sticking to the outskirts of the town.
We see houses and signs of life: smoking fires and wet clothes blowing in the breeze. In spite of the beauty around me and the warmth of the day, there’s a chill working its way up my spine. I can’t shake the nagging sensation we’re being watched. We have rifles, but other than that, we don’t look threatening. We’re just a bunch of teenagers and one small, older man. Where are the people of this town? Are they all hiding?
Chris and Benuk are leading, and Seth and I bring up the rear. We planned it this way, strategically placing our strongest and most accurate shooters. Nate, Kyle, Missy, and Jim ride more closely together in the middle, surrounding the horse with all of our supplies. Baxter, as always, is by my side. Looking down at him, I can see the hairs at the scruff of his neck are sticking up. So he feels it too.
We’re on a small, paved road, the weeds already starting to retake their rightful place. Ahead to the right is a burnt-out gas station. Directly across from it is what’s left of a small store. A dark traffic light dangles above a deserted intersection, nearby cars vacant and abandoned. I can see a couple of other buildings down the road, but other than that, this appears to be merely a small outpost.
As Chris nears the gas station, I’m about to call out to him, but he and Benuk stop before I issue the warning. They start talking to each other, debating the route.
“I don’t like this,” Seth says to me, bringing his horse up alongside mine.
“No. Something isn’t right,” I agree.
“All we need are some corn fields for the little kid Shiners to come out of.”
I try not to laugh at the imagery, because at the moment it’s not funny. I turn to Seth, but as I open my mouth to speak, I’m overcome by the same sensation I felt back at the lab. Deafening, white static noise explodes inside my head and resonates throughout my body. Gasping, I grab at my ears in an attempt to block it out and almost fall out of the saddle.
Baxter begins to bark aggressively, and it takes Seth a moment to realize I’m in real agony, not just reacting bizarrely to his joke. His confusion turns quickly to understanding, and he yanks hard at the reins. Kicking his horse into a gallop, he yells. “Shiners!”
Sliding off my horse to the ground, I hold Baxter as he quivers against me. I fight to stay on my feet. This is so much stronger than what I experienced in the past, and I know it’s only happened when there were Shiners close by. My thoughts are confirmed as I look up in horror to see over a dozen of them pouring out of two buildings near Benuk and Chris. I know instantly that their plan isn’t to kill us but to infect us.
Everyone springs into action, while the increasing pain in my head leaves me immobilized. Kyle, Nate, Missy, and Jim spin their horses around. They pull their masks up from their necks and take off across the fields to the south. We already agreed that if we came under attack we would run as far and as fast as possible. The virus is airborne, so sticking around for a gunfight won’t save us, even if all the Shiners are killed.
Benuk and Chris are too close to them, and their horses are bucking wildly. Chris is an incredibly good horseman and manages to stay on, but it requires both of his hands, so he isn’t able to grab his rifle. Benuk has opted to leap from his mount and take a knee, his rifle already coming around. Just as Seth reaches them, shots begin to ring out.
As the first bodies hit the ground, an explosion of pain erupts through my temples. I cry out, falling to my hands and knees. It’s almost as if I can feel a clawing at my brain as if my soul is being ripped out. Baxter is torn between his loyalty to me and the fight playing out in front of us. Racing in circles, he whimpers, and then howls, his anguish apparent.
“No!” I scream. “Get out of my head!” I crawl forward, sucking in ragged breaths. I look up to see the Shiners pulling Chris from his horse. Seth and Benuk are trying to get a clear shot without the risk of hitting Chris, but they’re unable to.
Racing into the crowd, Seth slams the butt of his rifle repeatedly into the backs of the Shiners. In the chaos, I can’t even see Chris anymore. Other attackers emerge from the buildings, and Benuk continues to shoot. The body count is quickly rising.
I can’t let them take Chris! I think desperately, not willing to accept what’s happening. I won’t let you! Almost immediately, the wave of pain and noise recedes, retreating from my thoughts, but then slowly slithers back into place.
“I won’t let you!” I yell hoarsely, still crawling slowly in their direction. “Do you hear me? I won’t let you take him from me!” My head begins to clear, and feeling empowered, I stagger to my feet. I’m still several yards from Benuk and even farther from Chris and Seth, but I can hear each of them clearly: breathing, yelling, in agony.
“Get away from him!” I say with more strength, desperate now. “LET … HIM … GO!” My final words sound more like a roar, and the effect is immediate. All of the Shiners stop and turn toward me, their dull, lifeless eyes searching me out. They ignore Chris, Seth, and Benuk as they step around them and gather in front of me.
I don’t know what I expected, but this certainly wasn’t it. Confused, my confidence falters and I take a step back. This seems to break whatever spell I’ve cast and the noise begins to overwhelm me again as they start to turn away.
“Move, Alex!” Seth shouts to me an
d I leap aside, out of the line of fire. He quickly eliminates the remaining Shiners and I cover my face with my arms to block out the carnage. I know we can’t help any of them now, but they’re still victims: husbands, wives, teens who aren’t any older than we are. The last thing we want to do is kill them, but the sudden silence in my mind confirms the finality of it.
“Come on.” I look up to see Benuk standing over me, a mixture of concern and anger clouding his nearly perfect face. He has brought my horse to me. I take his hand and he pulls me to my feet with ease. “More will come. We need to leave before they get here. I don’t wish to shoot anyone else today.”
Nodding in agreement, I look around frantically for Chris. To my relief, I see Seth helping him back onto his horse. Encouraged, I climb up into my own saddle, and we race away in the same direction as the rest of our group.
After several minutes of galloping, I manage to ride up beside Chris. I glance over, try to gauge if he’s all right. As he turns to look at me, his flu mask hanging in torn remnants from his neck, my worst fears are confirmed. His expression of dread can’t be mistaken for anything else. He’s been infected.
*****
The type of total darkness that is only found deep in the mountains presses in on us. I can still see, which is why I’m in the lead, but everyone else is virtually blind. The moon has yet to rise so we have no light to guide us.
Chris is already getting sick. It’s been nearly twelve hours since the attack. We’ve hardly slowed down, but it’s still not clear how much farther we have to go. Jim has tried to determine where we are, but we’ve been searching for a logging road for hours now and have yet to cross it. We might be lost.
