“Hey y-…” The convict screamed out but couldn’t finish the would be alert to his partner for Michael had hit the man in the throat with his palm exerting just enough pressure to make the man collapse to the floor but not to kill him. The idiot, perched on his knees was fighting to regain a breath just before he went unconscious. Michael rolled him to the side out of sight. The buffoon will probably be dead soon. Michael had hardened his state again. He had regained his daughter and he had to protect her with ferocity of the warrior he once was. There was no time to be soft.
A bullet zinged past Jack’s ear and busted a light on the side of the wall. He felt that was too close for comfort and rushed the kids even harder to their exit. Jenna tripped and fell hard. All in one motion Jack pushed the unknown kid making him run faster while not breaking his increasing stride when he bent down and swooped Jenna from the ground by her should and he placed her on his shoulder. Jordan ran as hard as he could. Jack could tell his son knew these men weren’t people they wanted to take lightly. They burst out the door in a panic. Jack gave a quick view around and seen no immediate presence. He set Jenna on her feet.
“Across the field. Quickly!” He gave the group a hard shove and they ran fast with himself on their heels bringing up the rear and Jake leading the way
Michael hurried against a wall where the convict in the cafeteria wouldn’t notice him when he came to investigate the gunshot. Just as Michael suspected the convict came around the corner out of the cafeteria holding a box of dehydrated bananas unaware that Michael was waiting for him just a few feet away around the corner.
“Jesse? You ok out there? What’s all that shootin’ about?” The oblivious scumbag walked right out into the open. Jesse was out cold. The once imprisoned convict's face was contorted with confusion.
Michael snapped into action. He grabbed the man’s wrist and kicked the back of his knee from behind forcing him to his knees. The bananas fell everywhere. Michael grabbed his other hand and raised him up. He could tell by the weight of the man he was quite a bit smaller than his partner however his partner and Michael’s current prisoner shared the same rotten stench. He pushed the man against the wall and head butted him in the nose. A river of red gushed from the man nostrils. He was only able to stand on his feet by the help of Michael. Michael then grabbed his captive and dragged him halfway down the hall and opened the door to the room that contained the massacre of innocence. He again leaned him against a wall forcefully.
“Look around,” Michael paused. The man looked down. “Look around damn it!” Michael pulled him from the wall and slammed him against it once more.The man looked around. The blood poured from his nose.
“Did you do this?” Michael asked the man seething with hatred.
The convict waited for a while. He looked around as if he were remembering the incident and then looked up into Michael’s eyes and said with a deep twisted mixture of pleasure and hate, “Yeah we killed ‘em. You know what? I loved every minute of it.” He sneered and then spit a bloody wad of saliva in Michael’s face.
Without hesitating Michael took a step back leaving the man pressing himself against the wall to keep himself up. He withdrew his Desert Eagle and fired one round into the man’s head. His brain painted the wall that he slowly slid down leaving a red streak on the classroom wall..
Chapter Ten
No Time To Mourn
The kids were out of breath. Everyone was panting right along with Jake. Jack had heard a second gunshot and even though Jack had more than confidence in Michael’s capabilities he still wondered if his best friend was alive. Flying off the handle was Michael's specialty and under these circumstances he was dangerous and reckless.
“You three get in the truck and keep watch.” Jack grabbed the two way radio from his deep green park ranger pants. He unstrapped the shotgun that he had slung over his shoulder during his recon in the field earlier. The gun was laid in the back of the truck. He was relieved he didn’t have to use it on anyone.
“Keep an eye out for what?” The large boy asked.
“For anybody.” Jack looked at the boy’s face crusted with blood. Then at Jordan’s right hand. The boy’s knuckles were red and one was split open. Jack tried to not laugh out loud at his discovery but he did feel an overwhelming proudness for his son. Jordan had set off for school to do exactly what his father had instructed early that day.
They climbed into the truck and Jack climbed the small hill to the top of the field.
“Michael… Come in… Michael where are you?” There was a silence over the radio.
Jack lifted the binoculars and peered at the end of the school only to find, once he came into focus, that the convict’s truck was no longer parked where it once was. Jack feared the worse. He hung his head. There was no way of telling for sure how many former prisoners were there. Only hearing two sets of footsteps could have made Michael overconfident and they could have gotten the best of him.
"Michael...," Jack waited for a sound. "Come in Michael...Do you hear me?"
No sound but nonetheless he waited. The silence was eerie. Jack peered through the binoculars once more and then tried the two-way one more time before he started preparing to search for his best friend.
"Michael please do you copy... Do you read me!" Jack was pleading
Suddenly the radio gave a small chirp and then Michael exploded on the radio. “Yeah I’m here Buddy! Comin around the corner!” The radio was silent once more. Jack’s expression changed in an instant and he ran down the hill to look at the end of the block.
Michael came careening around the corner in the convict’s red pickup truck. Some boxes were falling out of the back. He slowed to a stop in the middle of the road parallel to his own truck. He parked but kept the engine running. He hopped out of the red truck with glee in his face. He smiled big and brushed the long hairs out of face. He happily slapped a couple of boxes as he came around the rear end of the pickup to greet Jack.
“I took care of that bastard,” Michael said but then noticed the kids filing out of the truck so he lowered his voice. “One of those guys confessed to me that they were responsible after I reminded him of what he had done. So after he spit in my face I did what I had to do.”
“You killed him.” Jordan stated in a matter of fact kind of tone. Appearing next to them his expression was emotionless.
Jack felt the awkward situation growing stronger between the three so he ignored the statement. “Here take Jake, put him in the back and then climb in the truck.” Jack instructed his son and handed him the unclipped leash. Jordan did as he was told. His lack of emotion disturbed Jack. He wondered just how much his son had seen and been through in his absence.
Jack scratched his head and was glad the obstinate situation had ended. “So what about the second guy? There were two.”
“Out cold.” Michael responded.
Jack was happy to hear not both the men had to die but the way Michael was acting so cheerful after this intense and stressful situation raised alarms. Jack remembered there was a time when Michael enjoyed killing his enemy back in their infantry days. That was a scary time for Jack because Michael tended to get a little unpredictable during the heat of battle. Jack put these thoughts out of his mind and dismissed Michael’s demeanor as nothing. Besides they hadn’t had that kind of excitement in a long time. Jack as well felt a tiny sense of bliss from the exhilaration which he himself had to admit he missed.
“Well we need to get back to the house as quick as possible.” Jack suggested as Michael and Jenna embraced in a warm hug. He watched Michael lean down and whispered something in her ear. She pulled back and looked up at him. Her eyes were wide. Jack guessed that Michael had told her about Anne.
Michael and Jenna proceeded to the red truck. Jack looked around just to make sure no one was watching them. The streets had been eerily silent for an area that hasn’t been evacuated. Then again, the convicts could have went on a rampage throughout town over the last few hours. Af
ter all it was a small town. Jack looked to his left past the large warehouse and he saw someone looking through the curtains and when the person seen that Jack was looking back they disappeared behind the curtains. That was one of the few signs of life he had seen. It got him curious. Is everyone around downtown just scarred and staying inside? Or were they choosing to for some reason. Maybe they are scared of the newly freed prisoners or maybe they are being forced.
“You can hop in the back with Jake.” Jack instructed once he had seen the bloody nosed kid standing around awkwardly. He stared at the dog while he climbed in the back. The kid was even more terrified once Jake became aware of his riding partner. Once the kid was in the truck Jack started the engine. He looked over at Michael and gave him a hand motion telling him to go ahead. Jack wanted to bring up the rear just in case any boxes fell out of the truck. Jack wasn’t quite sure what Michael had planned for the newly acquired load. Most likely storage of food but there may not be enough room. Jack forced the mundane thought from his mind.
He had his son back. Marilyn will be relieved and the terrible burden had been lifted from his shoulders. In this new hell of a world this small aspect of their children being safe made the whole difference. Hopefully Michael's demeanor will stabilize now that he too had been reunited with child.
“So do your parents live close?” Jack asked the boy while he pulled onto the road traveling behind Michael.
“No. I got a text message from them before the phones went out. My dad said they were being evacuated.” The kid hung his head.
From the talks Jack has had with Jordan about this kid led Jack to think this kid was pretty tough but he sat in his seat with a red nose whimpering. Then Jack noticed Michael made a left turn. Jack was confused because it was a straight shot until they reach their neighborhood.
“Michael. Do you copy?” Jack picked up the radio and spoke into it.
“I copy.”
“What are you doing? It’s a straight shot to our side of town back a road over.” Jack waited for a response.
“Just thought we should take a slightly different path just so anybody who might have seen us won’t see us coming back the same route.” Michael replied.
“Good thinking brother.” Jack put the radio down. They took a right and were then travelling again in their former direction only three streets over and a little deeper into the downtown area which used to be a small hub of people and tiny businesses. The once vibrant area was a desolate desert. The automobiles were parked haphazardly and there was fewer signs of life, no people in the cars, no people visible in shops, there aren't even any lights on in the home unless of course they're power had gone out already. The sun had began to set and not a soul was outside for the last few hours of light.
Jack opened the small window behind so he could talk to the boy. “So what’s your name kid?” Jack attempted to start a conversation with the sobbing child.
“Cody.” He strained to speak over the wind.
Of course Jack knew his name as soon as he saw Jordan’s knuckles. He knew he and Jordan had problems but he wanted to know what the kid would say. “Are you friends with Jordan?”
“No I really don’t like him.” The small tears in his eyes stopped and he straightened up. The boy seemed to get a little serious.
Jack was surprised by his honesty. Suddenly his whimpering didn’t make him seem so meek. “Oh really?”
“Yeah for the longest time I thought he was a wimp but earlier this morning he punched me pretty hard. I gotta say he didn’t hold back or walk away. So I guess we're friends just not good friends.”
Jack laughed. “You’re alright kid.”Jack looked in the bed of the truck to check on his dog who sat content and looking ahead.
They continued in a straight line. The lawns were still kept for the most part. There were no lawn mowers running or water hoses spraying which meant they could be around possible hostiles, Jack just hoped someone would be visible. Just one sight of civilized regularity of any degree would brighten his idea of the near future. Just as the thought passed they drove past a road and off in the distance was a bonfire. Or what seemed like a bonfire. Jack slowed and took a closer look. He squinted his eyes. Then his eyes went wide with panic and he sped off. The fire was consuming bodies. A large pile of people were set ablaze. There was no doubt that those people had to be victims of some sort of large attack from those freed prisoners or some group like them. People in turn were throwing corpse after corpse, feeding the flames. Human flesh burned and plumed into the air leaving an indescribable stench in nearby nostrils.
Jack hated the fact that there could be more groups out there who could cause this much havoc. The pile of bodies had to be lit by someone who survived in that neighborhood because he knew for sure that the convicts wouldn't go through the trouble of moving the bodies into a pile once they’ve been killed. Everyone saw the large fire in Jack's truck and remained silent for a time.
Michael didn't know if anyone else had seen what it was that was burning. He sped up a little faster taking care not to spill the boxes but he wanted to get back to the comfort and safety of their home. He thought the plunder would aid them in the coming weeks. He was sure the nation was in a bad state, a state beyond repair. They needed to be prepared. The fire of bodies somehow seemed not so surprising to Michael. He figured if things are as bad as he thinks then this kind of thing would so be the norm before any civilized group could establish a viable life. Now that Michael had Jenna he had a new goal and that was to survive at all cost.
“I’m sorry you had to see your friends go that way.” Michael comforted Jenna.
She sat silently remembering the incident. Michael reached over and put his arm around her pulling her close to him. They drove that way the whole way home. Clothes began to appear on lawns with doors left wide open. Soon once running lawn mowers sat idle from lack of fuel. It was still a rough picture to swallow knowing this was home. Michael maneuvered through the abandoned suburban streets until he pulled right into his own driveway. Jack pulled in alongside of him and continued into the garage.
The group was greeted on the front lawn by Marilyn who quickly snatched her son from amidst the group and squeezed him tightly until he winced. Tear welled in her eyes. “I’ve worried so much.” She squeezed Jordan once more. She at him down and began interrogating him with thousands of well being questions in between sobs and bursts of happiness.
“We all need to get in the house,” Michael suggested. “Before anyone decided to drive through and ask how we’re doing.”
Pete greeted the children and dog at the door. Jenna ushered Cody and Jordan into the the Steele residence. Jack and Michael were about to follow them when Marilyn stood, grabbing Jack’s arm. Jack turned to his wife. Michael stopped and turned as well.
“We’ve already had someone come by.” Marilyn said.
“Who is it? They in the house?” Jack asked quickly. His mind was once again frantic.
“He lives down the street. From what he says he saw you two pull up. To me sounds like he has been spying on us.” Marilyn looked concerned.
“Why did you let him in?” Jack asked with a stern demeanor.
“Well he seemed harmless.” Marilyn said naive and unknowingly.
“You don’t let anyone in you don’t know. You especially don’t let them in knowing we’re gone. He could have watched us leave and picked that time to come and do whatever he wanted. You have to understand the situation we are in here.” Jack’s tone started to rise.
“I’m sorry honey. I am but really he is harmless.” Marilyn pleaded.
Michael who had been listening leaned in and asked. “You want me to look into it?”
“Yeah I’ll help.” Jack and Michael turned to go into the house.
Marilyn followed. “Please don’t be mean. He just wanted to talk to you. ”
“We’ll do what we have to do to get the truth out of him.” Jack stated.
"People don't spy for their o
wn health." Michael took the lead.
The three walked into the house. In the living room sat the three children on the couch. Pete sat in the recliner and Jake sat next to him staring with a low growl. There was another figure in the room next to the window that overlooked the front lawn. He was a tall but slender man. Short black hair and wore glasses that complemented his black tie and white button up shirt. He stood nervously looking at the three children who had just entered the room. Jack guessed he had been peeking out the window at Jack and Marilyn’s previous conversation. Jack immediately knew just by sizing the man up that he was no physical threat.
As soon as the man sees Jack and Michael he rushes to them with an outstretched hand. He had apparently waited to meet and talk with the two. "Hello, how are you? I just wanted to talk-"
Michael cut the man's sentence short. "We want to talk to you too."
Jack took the outstretched hand and pulled the man close and aggressively grabbed his elbow. He then, followed by Michael, escorted the stranger upstairs. The three kids watched in wonderment.
“W-what are you doing? I just want to talk." The skinny man was petrified at his new abuse. Jack forced him forward.
"I told you we want to talk as well." Michael said mocking the captive. Michael opened Jordan's door and Jack pushed him in.
The man stood in awkward horror. Michael gave the man a slight push and he fell upon Jordan’s bed. He sat there looking terrified.“Let me ask you something,” Michael got inches from the man’s face after he heard Jack shut the door. “How stupid do you have to be to come into our home after we’re gone if you just wanted to talk?” Michael was almost at a yell and he spat in the man’s face when he talked.
“What is your name?” Jack demanded.
No Time To Mourn Page 11
