China
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SHATTERED WORLD III
China
SHATTERED WORLD III
China
Scott M. Baker
Also by Scott M. Baker
Novels
Nurse Alissa vs. the Zombies
Nurse Alissa vs. the Zombies II: Escape
Shattered World I: Paris
Shattered World II: Russia
The Vampire Hunters
Vampyrnomicon
Dominion
Rotter World
Rotter Nation
Rotter Apocalypse
Yeitso
Novellas
Nazi Ghouls From Space
Twilight of the Living Dead
This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things During the Zombie Apocalypse
Anthologies
Cruise of the Living Dead and other Stories
Incident on Ironstone Lane and Other Horror Stories
A Schattenseite Book
Shattered World III: China
by Scott M. Baker.
Copyright © 2020. All Rights Reserved.
Kindle Edition
No portion of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any electronic system, or transmitted in form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise, without written permission from the authors.
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to any actual person, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Cover Art © by Joolz & Jarling – Uwe Jarling & Julie Nicholls 2020
Editing © Michele Thompson 2018
Map © Petar Dekic 2020
To my father
He was a simple man of simple means who had one goal in life – to make sure his children were happy and successful. He did a great job on both counts. We love you and miss you.
Table of Contents
Half-Title
Title Page
Also by Scott M. Baker
Copyright Page
Dedication
Map
Book One
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Book Two
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Book Three
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Preview of Shattered World IV
A Thank You to My Readers
Acknowledgments
Author’s Bio
Book One
Chapter One
A small village, twenty-five miles north of Changchun, Jilin Province, China
The day after the closure of the portal in Siberia
Little Ah remembered the times before the end of humanity. Being only five years old she did not recall much, only the important things like watching television, playing with her toys, meeting her friends in pre-school, sleeping in a warm bed, and always having enough to eat. It had been over a year since the electricity went out and ten months since her parents had abandoned their apartment in Changchun and headed into the country in search of food. By now, Ah had grown accustomed to sleeping on the ground under a worn and dirty blanket, living inside of a tent that only partially kept out the rain and the cold, and eating whatever scraps the villagers could scrounge up that day. She did not enjoy her new life; she had only become used to it. She missed her favorite cartoons, her soft mattress, and hot meals at the table with her family. Most of all, she missed those times when her parents were happy. Although Ah’s mother remained cheerful during the day, she cried at night when she thought her daughter had fallen asleep. Her father was the same way, always smiling and rubbing her hair, telling her things might be bad now but would soon improve. Ah grinned and nodded to make her father feel good but deep down she knew things would not get better. She could see the fear and worry in his eyes and decided to make the best of the situation and not upset her parents. Her old life was gone and would never return.
Ah pulled the smelly blanket under her chin and rested her head on the backpack she used as a pillow. She had kept only one connection to those happier, earlier times—Ling Ling, a stuffed panda, the only possession her parents allowed her to bring when they left home. Ling Ling had seen better days. One of her eyes had fallen out and the white fur had become so dirty it blended with the black. For Ah, the stuffed panda was priceless because it comforted her through the uncertainty. She confided in it when she did not want to bother her mother or father. She cried on it when she was sad, or clutched it tight when afraid, both of which happened much more frequently than she cared to admit. Ah kissed the top of Ling Ling’s head before going to sleep. She would rather die than leave her panda behind.
A loud commotion outside the tent woke her up. She sat upright, clutching the stuffed animal to her chest. Yelling came from around the camp site and people raced back and forth. In the distance, she heard galloping horses, the noise becoming more intense with each passing second. Someone barked an order about defending the perimeter. Gun fire erupted. It lasted for several minutes and mixed with screams. Then, as suddenly as the uproar began, everything went quiet except for the sound of running footsteps approaching the tent. Ah tried to remain brave, but her body shivered from fear.
The flap flew aside as Ah’s mother raced in and rushed over to her daughter. “We have to get going.”
“Where?”
“Don’t ask questions.” Her mother’s voice wavered. She grabbed Ah by her left wrist and yanked her toward the exit. Ah dropped Ling Ling. Breaking free from her mother, the child ran back and picked up the stuffed panda.
“Hurry up,” her mother snapped.
Ah hugged Ling Ling and joined her mother. Before they could exit, a man carrying a large gun used the barrel to push aside the flap and enter. He wore a uniform that Ah recognized as belonging to the People’s Liberation Army, or PLA. Her mother gasped and stepped backward, dragging Ah with her. She wrapped her arms around her daughter and cried. “Please don’t hurt us.”
The soldier stared at them, his face expressionless. Turning his head, he waved for someone to join them. Ah’s mother gripped her tightly and sobbed.
A young woman entered the tent. She wore civilian clothes—leather pants, a white shirt, and a tan leather jacket, none of which were soiled or tattered. Her raven black hair hung past her shoulders, clean and well groomed. She stood five and a half feet in height and, although by no means overweight, she did not have that emaciated appearance the others in camp did. Her deep brown eyes switched between Ah and her mother. After a few seconds, the woman smiled. “My name is Mei. Please, don’t be afraid. We’re here to
help you.”
“You shot at us,” growled Ah’s mother.
“Your people shot first.” Mei’s pleasant demeanor did not falter. “We only defended ourselves. Now please, gather your belongings and follow me.”
“Suppose we want to stay here?”
“I’m sorry. We can’t allow anyone to stay behind.”
When Ah’s mother refused to budge, Mei moved across the tent and squatted in front of the child. “What’s your name?”
“Ah.” She hugged the stuffed panda.
“That’s a beautiful name.” Mei reached toward Ah. Her mother held her close but Mei showed no interest in the child. She petted the panda’s head. “What’s her name?”
“Ling Ling.”
“Do you trust me, Ah? Do you think I intend to hurt you or your mother?”
For some reason, Ah did not feel threatened by this woman. Maybe it was Mei’s joyful expression, or maybe the glint in her eyes that promised her intentions were in everyone’s best interest. Ah swallowed hard. “I trust you.”
“Good.” Mei grinned. “Do you and Ling Ling want to come with me?”
Ah glanced up at her mother. “Can we go with her?”
Her mother trembled and, for a moment, Ah thought she might cry. Finally, she gave in to the inevitable. “Promise me you won’t harm Ah.”
“I promise,” Mei said with sincerity.
Taking Ah by the right hand, her mother headed for the exit. Mei and the PLA soldier moved aside, each holding up one end of the flap. Once outside, they followed Mei to a clearing on the western perimeter. Most of the people from the camp were present, while a group of people she did not know, each carrying a gun, stood behind and on either side of them. Ah searched for her father but could not find him. She wondered if he was one of the bodies lying scattered around the field. Before she could ask her mother, something in front of them caught her attention.
Three horses approached camp, one in front and two slightly behind and on either side. The figures riding the rearmost horses wore black cowls that covered their hands and extended below the stirrups. They bowed forward in their saddles so that the hoods draped over their faces and hands. The rider of the lead horse wore a similar cowl, only blood red. Thirty feet from the group, the last two horses stopped. The animals shook their heads and stamped their hooves; the drivers remained motionless, as if there they were not alive. The first horse continued ahead and stopped directly in front of Ah. As the rider dismounted and approached, Ah tried to get a look under the cowl but the features remained hidden in the shadows. Mei spoke loud enough for everyone to hear.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is Bai, the head of our group. She will lead you to the Promised Land. All you have to do is trust her, like we do.”
A flurry of questions followed Mei’s statement as those in the group asked at once where they were going, how long it would take, and what they could expect when they arrived. Mei calmed them down when Ah asked, “Are you going to hurt us?”
“We’re going to save you.”
“Save us from what?” asked Ah’s mother.
“From all of this.” Mei gestured toward the camp site. “We’re going to save you from discomfort and starvation, and from the Xiongnu. The world as you once knew it has come to an end. Things will never return to what they used to be. We’re creating a new way of life and are giving you the opportunity to join us and make this world a better place. You can stay here if you want, cuddling in fear and living like vermin. Or you can come with us and have a purpose.”
Ah stepped forward. “Is Ling Ling invited to join?”
Mei began to speak but Bai raised her right hand, cutting her off. Ah caught a glimpse of Bai’s fingers and shuddered. She wanted to run away. Then Bai spoke, her voice soft and reassuring, mesmerizing yet unsettling at the same time. “Who is Ling Ling, my child?”
Ah held up he stuffed panda.
Bai reached out and rubbed her forefinger along Ah’s cheek. This time the child did not flinch. “Everyone is welcome into this new realm.”
Ah grinned and hugged her panda.
Bai remounted her horse, turned it around, and headed back the way she had come. As she passed, the other two horses fell in line behind her. Mei motioned for the others to follow. Ah surged forward, dragging along her mother. One by one, the others followed until the entire camp was on the march toward their new destiny.
Chapter Two
The Trans-Siberian Railroad, ten miles west of Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China
One day later
Jason McCreary shifted on the pile of hay to get into a more comfortable position. Lucifer did not notice the movement, despite his stomach being used as a pillow. The werehound continued snoring. Lilith, who had been cuddling beside Jason, whimpered as her master rolled over. When he settled down, she inched her way over until she sidled up against his back. A few minutes passed before Lilith’s breathing grew shallow. Jason envied his pets. He wished he could sleep as soundly as they did.
Closing his eyes, he allowed the rhythmic clacking of the wheels and gentle sway of the stock car to lull him. Resting had been difficult enough with everyone on the train crammed into the sole surviving sleeper, so he had opted to camp out in the rolling stock that transported the team’s horses. However, even the relative quiet of this space had not helped. He was not bothered by the overpowering smell of dung and the constant neighing and snorting of the horses. In fact, he found it soothing. Jason could not rest because his mind raced.
After closing the interdimensional portal in Paris three months ago, Jason had formed a new team, comprised mostly of survivors of the first mission, to travel around the world and close the remaining four. Their first destination had been Moscow. Meeting up with the Russians in Minsk had been fortuitous because it gave his team the resources and manpower necessary to defeat the demons guarding the portal in Red Square and shut it down. Unfortunately, their victory celebration had been short-lived. In the first few days of the apocalypse, the Russians had attempted to close the portal with a nuclear device, failing in the misguided effort and inadvertently punching open a second one near the Siberian town of Irkutsk along the shores of Lake Baikal. General Zhirinovsky, the leader of the enclave, had offered the services of his own private, heavily-armed train to protect Jason’s team on their journey east. Even this mode of transportation had proved sorely lacking against what they faced in Siberia. A hundred ravagers guarded the portal. Every time Jason closed his eyes, he recalled images from the battle. How the demons had swarmed the train, tearing through it and ripping apart anyone who got in their way. How they had derailed most of the sleeper cars, forcing his team and the Russians to fight the Demon Spawn in brutal hand-to-hand combat. How Sasha had mounted the anti-matter device on the lead steam engine and rode it into the gate, using her minigun to clear the Golem blocking the tracks.
Jason lost several good people in Russia, and their faces haunted his dreams. Reinhard, who had been with the team from their first raid into Paris, had sacrificed himself in Red Square to save the others, being engulfed by dragon fire. Werner, who had once been a member of the protective force defending Mont St. Michel before joining Jason’s team, had been torn apart by ravagers while helping others escape from the overturned sleeper cars. Neal, who should never have gone with them in the first place, but who was the only medic they could find following Doc’s death in Paris, had died protecting the anti-matter devices. And, of course, Sasha, although technically she did not die near Irkutsk because she previously had been killed in Paris and resurrected from Purgatory to come back to Earth and help close the portals. Jason knew he would be reunited again with Sasha.
It was the only certainty he could rely on.
His team had extinguished three portals and traveled across Eurasia, an impressive accomplishment, yet Jason could not rest on his laurels. Doc had created six anti-matter devices to close the five known portals, and three of them already had been used. Discovering th
e existence of the second portal in Russia had been an unwelcome surprise because that required him to use his only spare. If any more portals existed that he did not know about, or if one of the remaining devices malfunctioned, their mission would have been for nothing. Even if one remained open, it could spew out enough Demon Spawn to eventually overrun the planet. If those concerns did not generate enough stress, Jason still had no indication of the exact location of the remaining portals, just vague references that they existed in northeast China, Japan, and somewhere along the east coast of the United States. Nor did he have any idea of how he would get to Japan and, more importantly, how he would cross the Pacific Ocean to reach the United States. When all these variables were factored together, Jason wondered how he got any sleep.
Physical exhaustion eventually won out and Jason dozed off. He awoke when the train lurched to a halt. Lucifer and Lilith raised their heads, their ears perked up for signs of danger. Jason sat up in the hay, his heart racing and his insides tightening as his body went into fight-or-flight mode. He listened, expecting to hear gunfire, the cries of men coming under attack, or the screeching of demons. Thankfully, the only sounds were the rustling of the horses as they moved about their stalls. A few minutes later, the door at the far end of the stock car slid open, and someone approached, not running or panicked, but walking casually. Jeanette appeared in the opening of the stall and leaned against the jamb. Her face beamed.
“Well, you’re finally awake.”
“What do you mean?” Jason ran a hand through his hair. “I’ve barely slept since we left Lake Baikal.”
Jeanette chuckled. “I have news for you. You’ve been asleep for almost eighteen hours.”
“You’re kidding.”
“I’m afraid not. You missed dinner and breakfast.”
“I don’t feel rested.”
“That’s because you’re exhausted. You’ll feel better once you’ve been up awhile.”