Grasp Grace: A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Thriller (The Pulse Book 2)

by Hayden James

  Liam took aim and hit the next target, followed by the subsequent four. “New I still had it,” he muttered, relieved that he could still aim just as well as when he spent his summers with his grandpa. They often went to the indoor range in town, Liam assumed that Dwight must have built this after his grandma passed as Dwight had gotten more and more reclusive.

  Dwight then stepped up with the AK-47. “I won’t be aiming at the targets, I’ll just be burying the ammo in the haystacks. Thankfully, I have about five years worth of these rounds. I need practice with charging the rifle without losing my grip.” Dwight took his stance with his left foot in front, hunched over the barrel, he engaged the trigger.

  Liam watched his grandpa fire the machine gun. The first magazine was secured in the rifle, he came up under the gun with his left hand. Using his open palm, he pulled the charging handle to the rear and let it go. He allowed the recoil spring to do its job and seat the bolt.

  It was now time for Dwight to reload the rifle. He took the next loaded magazine and held it at an angle with he bullets facing outward and away from him. He then used the magazine body to hood and sweep the rifle’s magazine latch. This released and cleared the empty magazine out. He then hooked the forward edge of the fresh magazine into the well and rocked it back.

  After he emptied that magazine, Dwight turned to Liam and said, “I’ve been working on cutting my reloading time by at least half. This will come in handy if our compound is ever attacked.”

  Looking confused, Liam asked, “Do you think we will be under attack?”

  “I don’t have a doubt,” replied Dwight. “I have to show you something. Help me with putting the firearms away?”

  “Of course,” answered Liam.

  “Let’s go this way,” motioned Dwight leading Liam and Prue to one side of the mountain close by the shooting range.

  Once they made it to an enclave of boulders that led to a bank vault quality door. Dwight explained, “You two will have one of the combination sets. The combination locks are set the same on both sides.”

  “Both sides?” Liam interrupted.

  “Yes, this is the escape door. Having an underground bunker without an escape door is digging your own grave,” answered Dwight. “The main door is not he other side of the mountain, it is the closest point to our main house.”

  “I see,” Liam replied, confused as to what this whole thing was.

  “So you and Prue will have one set of the combination and as more people come here, like you dad and mom, I will give them the other half of the combination. That way, you will not be able to enter the bunker without someone else with you. That should eliminate a double agent within us. I realize that if anyone of us turns against us is nearly impossible as time goes on, I am only trying to keep the bunker secure and a safe haven. I tried to think of everything,” rationalized Dwight. “You and Prue with have the same half of the combination, it is #144132##. I am the only one who knows both combinations. Go ahead, put in the combination on the lock on the right,” directed Dwight. Dwight put in the combination on the lock on the left and engaged the handle to release the dead bolts.

  The escape door led to a long passageway that must have been at least fifty feet long. Small loose stones littered the floor, causing Prue to trip. “Careful,” warned Dwight. “This passageway was the last thing I put in. There might be debris around.”

  Dwight shut the door behind them, yet there were still lights outlining the path. “Grandpa, where is the electricity coming from?” Liam asked.

  “Solar panels on the top of the bunker. It’s not perfect, but it’s better than nothing.”

  The passageway was dug out of muddy brown rock of the mountainside. Dwight arranged the boulder enclave that camouflaged the escape exit in such a way that it would be difficult for anyone observing the property to spot.

  Dwight worked his way to the front of Liam and Prue and said, “This way.” He led them down the lit passageway to where they came to another bank vault quality door. “This vault, I will be the only one to know the combination,” explained Dwight. After putting in the combination and releasing the dead bolts of the door, Dwight opened the vault giving way to the armory.

  “What in the world?” Liam said under his breath.

  Prue looked amazed, “This is quite a collection,” commented Prue walking her way to the middle of the armory and turning around taking it all in.

  “Grandpa, what is all of this?” Liam asked.

  “Our salvation,” replied Dwight. “This is how we will defend what is ours.”

  “Again, you keep talking about defending, but I still don’t believe that people are going to come to this property and take stuff,” argued Liam.

  “Well, believe it!” Dwight shouted. “It has gotten desperate. Desperate people are only going to do more and more desperate things. Also, I seem to have a pest.”

  “A pest?” Prue asked. “Like a rat?”

  “Oh, he’s a rat. He’s name is Sheriff Murphy, but I call him Sheriff Pinko,” answered Dwight.

  “Sheriff Pinko? Why that?” Liam asked.

  Dwight explained, “Pinko is a term that describes someone who is sympathetic to communism. When you’ve been alive as long as I have and seen this country go through the influences of the Communist Party. What it does is it threatens our democracy. In the end, communism just plain doesn’t work.”

  Liam thought about what his grandpa was talking about and then replied, “Socialists are becoming more and more popular in politics. They are the ones wanted free healthcare, free college educations, and helping those who are going through a tough time.”

  “Communism. That’s what communism is,” shouted Dwight. He took a moment to cool off. “I realize you do not have the historical framework as I do. Let me explain. You mean socialism enables people to look for a handout and to take advantage of the system,” argued Dwight. “If you can’t afford it, don’t go to college or work to put yourself through it, but don’t rely on others to pay for your schooling. If you didn’t plan and prepare for a disaster and have a stockpile and a way to take care of themselves and their family, then they have no business taking my stuff.”

  “I agree they shouldn’t take you stuff,” interjected Prue.

  Dwight appeared to be frustrated, “Liam, I’m sure you’ll come around. You’re starting to sound like your father.” Dwight hung up the AK-47 next to the eight others on the wall. He put the handguns away in their drawers and returned the unused ammunition. “Let’s get going,” muttered Dwight.

  Prue and Liam followed Dwight through the bunker. Dwight appeared to be angry and wanted to get out of the bunker while Liam and Prue were taken aback by the attention to detail that was spent on something that one would only use in an emergency.

  “Grandpa, did you build all of this?” Liam asked.

  “I did,” he replied, not turning around, but heading for the door.

  “This place is astoundingly beautiful,” blurted Prue. “And to think all of this is in the middle of a mountain.”

  The trio moved through the meticulously organized kitchen and pantry where Liam noticed that there was running water. “Grandpa, this bunker has running water?” he asked.

  “Yes, in the kitchen sink and in the shower. The last thing we need is the spread of infection. Washing will be one of the most important things we can do while we are stuck down here,” explained Dwight, appearing to cool down some.

  Dwight led them through the passageway that led to the main entrance. “Right this way,” directed Dwight.

  As Dwight shut the main door and engaged the lock, Prue interrupted the tension, “So, I think tomorrow I will head to Spartanburg,” she said.

  “You’re leaving?” Liam asked in clarification.

  “I have too. I have to go find my parents,” she explained as they followed Dwight back to the main house.

  “Just stay here. You’ll be safe here. Look at all the things that my grandpa thought of that will keep
us comfortable,” argued Liam.

  “I have to go. I just have to. I’ll come back,” reasoned Prue.

  “You are more than welcomed to bring your parents back here,” invited Dwight as he opened the backdoor to the main house and let Liam in Prue in.

  While in the kitchen, Liam answered, “I understand. If my parents were missing, I would be searching for them until I found them.”

  “I’m glad you understand,” replied Prue. Dwight went to the fire pit in the backyard to start dinner of pork ribs.

  “So, I will come with you!” Liam said as he sat at the kitchen table. “We’ll leave in the morning. And when we find them, we will bring them back here.”

  While Dwight was getting the food ready Liam took the opportunity to tell Prue how he felt about her. “I can’t let you go by yourself. I like you and I couldn’t live with myself if anything happened to you while you were finding your parents. I have no option, but to come with you and make sure you and your parents are all OK.”

  “Liam, I like you too. But stay here. Stay and wait for your parents and keep Dwight company,” protested Prue. “I’ll be fine, and we know I can ride a motorcycle better than you.”

  Dwight and gotten dinner together and interrupted the discussion going on at the dinner table, “What are you kids talking about?”

  “Grandpa, I am going to go with Prue to Spartanburg to help her find her partners,” revealed Liam.

  Dwight’s face turned beet red. He slammed down the freshly grilled pork ribs he had just taken off of the metal grate that went over the fire pit. “You’re not leaving, Liam. And that’s the end of it,” Dwight said with a stern tone.

  “But, I am,” he argued. “I’m a grown man and I can make my own decisions. Plus, I need to protect Prue. You even said yourself that desperate people are doing more and more desperate things.”

  “You are not going, and that is the end of it,” seethed Dwight before he stormed off to the front living room.

  Liam knew he was angry. He was angry that he would be leaving after making it all that way to his compound to safety. He also knew that Dwight would not understand why he would leave that safety to help someone else. This was going to be a difficult issue for them to get over.

  Liam waiting a few moments, him and Prue not even thinking about touching the pork ribs that appeared they would fall off of the bone as soon as they picked them up. He then went to the front living room, “Grandpa, can I talk to you?” Liam asked.

  “If you want,” replied Dwight.

  Liam walked closer to Dwight who sat on the couch in deep thought. He sat down on the couch across from him. “I know you don’t want me to leave, but you can’t change my mind. I don’t know what I would do fi anything happened to Prue,” explained Liam.

  “I get that,” started Dwight. “I felt the same way about your grandma. But I just got you back. And you might be the only one who makes it. I don’t know for sure, but what if it is? And then I lose you too.”

  “I promise, I will come back,” confirmed Liam. Dwight stood up and so did Liam, and they met for a long embrace. Tears formed in Liam’s eyes as he held his grandpa and realized that although he hopes that his parents will make it with his sisters, they very well may not.

  Dight broke the affectionate moment with his grandson and interrupted, “I’ve been noticing that you have been walking with a limp. What’s going on?”

  Liam did not want to answer because he did not want to worry his grandpa further, but he replied, “I was shot in the leg two days ago.”

  “You were shot in the leg! And you’re blaming me for worrying about you?” Dwight responded.

  “It went straight through, thankfully,” replied Liam.

  “You still could get an infection, Liam. You know that. Wait here, I’ll get something for it. Oh, and you and Prue are not leaving until you’re better, you hear?” Dwight barked before stomping off yet again. It appeared he was agitated by learning of Liam’s gunshot wound.

  A few minutes later, Dwight returned with Fishmox to hasten the healing and prevent infection of Liam’s would. “Put some of this on,” instructed Dwight. “Let’s get eating before it gets cold.”

  Liam took the Fishmox and went to the restroom to apply the ointment on his wound which was in his leg. He then joined Prue and Dwight in the kitchen to eat the ribs.

  After dinner, the trio went to the porch to unwind, each sitting in a rocking chair. “This reminds me of sitting on the porch with your grandma,” Dwight said to Liam. “We spent each night after dinner on this porch talking about you guys, friends from church, what was going on in community. Your grandma was much more involved in the community than I was.”

  “Brings back memories,” empathized Liam. “I miss her every day. She was a good woman.”

  “Right. I wish Maddy and Addy spent more time here like you did,” lamented Dwight.

  “I wish they did too, they would enjoy learning all the stuff you taught me.”

  “And I don’t even know that cute as a button Natasha. Your dad stopped bringing his family here when your grandma passed.”

  “I know, He just told us that you guys had a falling out and since I was leaving soon to head to Nashville that we mostly went to my mom’s side for holidays.”

  Cutting the tension by changing the subject, Dwight interrupted, “Oh! I almost forgot. I’ll be right back.” Dwight headed back into the house.

  He returned a few moments later carrying a jar with an amber-colored liquid. Prue asked, “What is that?”

  Dwight turned to Liam and asked, “Do you know what this is?”

  Liam answered, “That’s our family’s old moonshine recipe. Apple pie moonshine, one of the greatest drinks on Earth.”

  “That’s right!” Dwight said with excitement. “Made with apple cider, cinnamon sticks, brown sugar, and nutmeg. Here, Prue take a nip.”

  Prue took the jar that Dwight handed her and took a swig of the liquid. Wiping her mouth from the dribble that fell from the mouth of the jar as she poured it into her mouth, she said, “Wow! That’s really good!”

  “Isn’t it?” Dwight retorted. “My family has been making it in caves since the Prohibition era. Liam, you’re next.” Dwight handed Liam the jar.

  As the night went on, the three were laughing at just about everything. It was one of the moments of pure enjoyment that Liam had felt in a long time. As the laughter continued, something caught Liam’s eye at the edge of the driveway. “Hey grandpa, who is that?” Liam asked.

  The sound of the horse could be heard throughout the compound. Dwight lifted his eyes for confirmation, “I think I may have mentioned something about a Pinko,” replied Dwight.

  Sheriff Murphy dismounted his horse and walked up to the porch were Dwight, Prue, and Liam sat. “Good evening Mr. Conner,” the Sheriff said as he approached.

  “It was,” answered back Dwight.

  “Since that’s the case, I will get right down to business. Tomorrow, we are having a town meeting. The mayor would like everyone in Townsend and Tucker Hallow to attend,” explained Sheriff Murphy.

  “Of course she does,” interrupted Dwight.

  “That would include you as well,” clarified the Sheriff.

  “I got that. I’ll be there,” answered Dwight.

  “That’s all I had to inform you about. As you were,” the Sheriff said as he waved at Liam and Prue on his way back to his horse.

  Liam waited until Sheriff Murphy was gone before he asked, “Grandpa, that is not like you.”

  “Like what?” Dwight retorted.

  “You’re not much of a community type. I’m surprised you agreed to go to the meeting,” explained Liam.

  “I know. I’m not attending the meeting because I’m a community type. I’m attending the meeting because I want to know what they are planning.”

  Day Nine

  Chapter Thirteen

  Rachel Conner

  Victoriaville, Indiana

  7:48 PM />
  “Natasha! Natasha!” Rachel shouted as she woke from her deep slumber. Her head still pounding from the day before and the stress from the thought of losing her youngest was more than she could take.

  The night before, she did not even eat dinner, but went straight to bed when they returned home. William and Dr. Tate helped Eric with preparing dinner, and the rest of them spent the night being grateful for the safe return of Natasha.

  The day was much easier to face now that Natasha was back, but Rachel still had the remnants of post-traumatic stress from the day prior. She was not sure if she would ever let herself not feel guilty for leaving her daughter, even though she was running off a threat. She knows better. She knows never to leave a child alone, especially when the world has gotten much more dangerous than it was before.

  As protective as William was, if he did the same thing, she knows she would have a hard time forgiving him and she also knew she would never forget that he did something like that. Despite William being her hero, and understanding the circumstances of Maddy and Addy’s kidnap, she eventually forgave him for allowing her twins to be stolen. At least they were able to get them back. At least they got Natasha back. The only issue was that Rachel was confident that she would never forgive herself.

  Natasha was already up when Rachel made her way to the campfire to prepare a cup of coffee. “Come on, sweetheart. Let’s go get the fire started,” she said to her blonde little girl, not allowing her out of her sight again.

  When Rachel had the fire going, she took a seat in one of the folding chairs that Eric had set up around the fire pit. There she held on tight to Natasha, smelling her hair and reminiscing about the time when she was just a few months old. As the water boiled in the kettle, it was difficult for Rachel to set down her daughter to combine the water with the instant coffee in her cup, but she did only for a moment before setting Natasha back on her lap while she sipped her morning brew.