Human Extinction Level Loss (Book 1): Nicole's Odyssey

by McClimon, Philip A.

  Billy and Jordan looked at each other. In the gathering dark, broken only by the light of the fire playing across their faces, Billy quietly slipped his hand into Jordan’s. He smiled deep within himself when he felt her squeeze his hand gently in return. They smiled at each other, then were lost again in the fire as Walt softly finished.

  The final notes seemed to hang in the air for a moment before drifting off on the cool evening breeze. Walt cradled the guitar and nodded, smiling.

  “That was beautiful, Walt. Did you write that?” Paul asked.

  Walt shook his head. “Naw, man. That’s by a group I heard of once called Redbird. I just thought it was real pretty, you know, so I learned how to play it,” he said.

  There was more silence, no one wanting to break the veil of the peaceful revere with words. Finally, Nicole looked around at the group.

  “Well, I hate to be a buzz kill, but we’ve got another long day of driving ahead of us tomorrow,” she said.

  Everyone began to stretch, suddenly remembering how tired they each were.

  “I’ll take first watch,” Paul said.

  Nicole nodded. “I got second. Walt, you then Sam, yeah?” she said.

  “Sure thing, Man,” Walt said.

  Paul climbed up on the top of the bus with a rifle and a flashlight. Everyone else crawled into sleeping bags around the fire. As Billy scrunched down, Jordan came over and whispered in his ear.

  “After my dad goes to sleep, meet me behind the office and we’ll make out.”

  Before Billy could answer she was away to her own sleeping bag. Billy scrunched down into his. All thoughts of sleep now gone.

  Twenty-Nine

  When he saw him get on the bus and ride away with the others, Dermot Mullney thought he had lost his Billy for good. He had vowed to get him back, and had convinced himself he would. Still there was that part of Dermot that was his own worst enemy. That part of him that berated him, made fun of him, and told him he was after all nothing more than a sick, disgusting pedophile, rapist, serial killer, who was not worthy of the love that Dermot Mullney so desired. Dermot thought that voice was pernicious. It egged him on, practically begged him to do the things he did, only to chastise, ridicule and condemn him afterwards.

  It had been a long walk back to his van from the highway where Billy was picked up. Dermot Mullney knew they were headed toward Woodford, and so that is where he would go, too. He didn’t know how long they would stay there, but he hoped it would be long enough for him to get back to his vehicle and get there, before they moved on.

  By the time Mullney was back on the road and into Woodford, it was dark. He cruised the streets and allies of the city looking for any sign of the GTO or the bus, anything to tell him they were still there, that he still had a chance.

  His heart sank and the voice was hurting his feelings with a steady barrage of contempt, when he drove into the heart of the city and saw signs for the Liberty Bell stadium. As he approached, he saw them. A thousand or more of the Dead clamoring around the stadium, most pressed up against the huge glass wall that formed the entrance.

  Mullney picked up a set of binoculars that were lying in the passenger seat next to him, and looked at the stadium. He wondered what had them so agitated, until he saw the GTO and the old bus through the glass. He lowered the binoculars.

  This was bad. He was so close to the object of his desire. Mullney thought there was nothing he could do. Even if he could rescue his Billy from the stadium, the others would not turn Billy over to Mullney the molester, or so the voice told him. Mullney looked around the city and saw a tall parking garage near the stadium. He turned the wheel and headed for it.

  Mullney parked the van on the top level, at a place that let him see the stadium. His thoughts swirled in panic.

  You’ll never figure this out, You’re too stupid and slow. You’re Derm the Worm, a useless-

  Mullney tried to calm himself down.

  “One thing at a time, Derm. We’ll figure this out,” another voice said, a voice that wasn’t nearly as mean.

  For two days he sat in the parking garage and watched the Dead clamor around the stadium. He was jealous and resentful of the Dead. He was sure his Billy was in there and the Dead closest to the glass probably got to see him everyday. It wasn’t fair, he told himself, they didn’t love him the way he did.

  ☣

  Mullney was asleep in the driver’s seat, his mouth open, a ragged snore disturbing the silence of the van. The sound of engines and spinning tires awoke him and he sat up with a jolt. For a second he did not know where he was, until he looked down at the stadium. What he saw brought a smile to his face. He watched as the glass door on the stadium rose and the GTO came shooting out. He stared, as first it, then the bus lost traction in the wet remains of the Dead. He thought any minute the Dead would be on them and it made him cry for his Billy, that the Dead would have his Billy instead of him. His mouth dropped in shock as a new man, one he had not seen before, jumped on the back of the bus, lowering the rear of it just enough for the tires to grab. He continued to watch, as the bus and the car made it to safety, as the mammoth glass door finally closed. He watched as the group celebrated in an embrace then walk across the street to the All-Mart.

  As they emerged from the All-Mart and loaded their vehicles, Mullney told the mean voice to go screw itself, then pounded the steering wheel in excitement.

  When the GTO and the Bus drove out of town, Dermont Mullney watched it go.

  Thirty

  Billy and Jordan crouched behind the office. They watched as Walt sat on top of the bus, his back to them. When they were sure that Nicole had settled in from her watch, and was asleep, they made their move.

  Billy watched Jordan slink off into the dark. They had agreed that he would wait a few minutes, then he would go, so as not to run the risk of making too much noise. As Billy sat in the dark behind the camp office, he smiled. He had kissed a girl and she had kissed him back. He felt a wave of renewed embarrassment wash over him as he thought about it. He came around in the dark and there was Jordan. They could not risk talking, and before he knew what was happening, she had grabbed him and kissed him. He kissed her back, but it was awkward and strange and he knew he wasn’t doing it right. They mostly just sat together and stared at the stars. As they relaxed in each other’s arms, their kisses became more natural. Billy thought he was finally getting the hang of it, when Jordan pulled away from him. With a final kiss, she slunk off into the darkness toward her sleeping bag.

  As she disappeared into the dark, a wave of euphoria swept him. That feeling did not leave him, as minutes later, he crept back into his own sleeping bag. It took him a long time to get to sleep, but when he did, he dreamed of her.

  ☣

  As the sun rose, everyone began to stir. Billy lay in his sleeping bag and stared up at the sky. He had a girlfriend. Every time he thought about it, a big smile broke out on his face. He knew he would have to watch that around Paul, but he could do it. He wished Paul would let Jordan hang around him, but it was fun having their own little secret, too.

  His thoughts were interrupted, when he heard Paul calling for Jordan. He sighed, knowing that for the rest of the day he would not be able to have any time with her. Still, thoughts of last night would get him through.

  As Paul continued to call for his daughter, his voice took on a level of concern that caused Billy to sit up and look around.

  “Jordan!… Jordan!” Paul called.

  As Nicole, Sam, and Walt loaded up the vehicles, Paul came rushing over.

  “Hey, Nicole, I can’t find Jordan!” he said.

  Nicole closed the trunk on the GTO and looked at Paul.

  “Well, I’m sure she’s around here, probably went off to use the bathroom, or—”

  Paul cut her off. “She wouldn’t go alone! And I’ve checked the bathrooms, everywhere! I can’t find her!” Paul yelled.

  Nicole put a hand on his shoulder and tried to calm him down.
/>   “It’s okay, we’ll all look. We’ll find her. You know how kids are,” she said.

  Paul nodded and tried to control his fear. Nicole turned to Walt and Sam.

  “Grab your guns, guys. We’ll spread out and canvas the whole area, just to be sure,” she said.

  Walt and Sam nodded and reached for their rifles. Billy finished rolling up his sleeping bag and tied it off. He saw the others approaching. Paul came up to him.

  “Hey Billy, you haven’t seen Jordan this morning have you?” he asked.

  Billy shook his head, “No, Mr. Baxter. Is everything alright?”

  Paul looked away. “I can’t find her, she may have wandered off,” he said.

  Billy looked over to where her sleeping bag still lay on the ground.

  “I’ll help you look for her, Mr. Baxter,” Billy said.

  Paul nodded and the two joined in the search with Nicole, Sam, and Walt.

  ☣

  They spent an hour going through trailers, kicking open bathroom stalls and calling out Jordan’s name to no avail.

  “Trouble is, even with all the trailers, there just isn’t that many places to hide or get lost, you know?” Walt said.

  “Why would she hide from me?!” Paul yelled, glaring at Walt.

  Walt’s face sunk. “Oh, no, man. I didn’t say she was hiding from you, I was just…” Walt let his words trail off.

  Before Paul could lose it at the thought of more gruesome propositions, Nicole cut in.

  “There’s no sign of attack and I don’t smell anything. If it was the Dead, they wouldn’t just wander off,” Nicole offered.

  Paul rubbed his head. He was about to speak when Sam’s cry cut across the campground.

  “Over here!” He called.

  At his voice, they all took off running. Sam pointed down. The ground was soft, and imprinted in the soil were a set of boot prints.

  “I followed them to a bunch of trees behind the office. From there they lead back here,” Sam said.

  Nicole looked at the tracks that made a circuitous route, to the trees and back again. She began to follow them as they led away. The tracks led back to the highway and stopped at the edge of the road.

  “We don’t know for sure that… that someone took her, I mean we had a watch all night,” Paul said.

  “We had a watch, but it was dark and we were looking for things that weren’t trying to be quiet,” Sam said.

  Nicole bent down and picked something off the ground. Paul came over and looked at it.

  “Oh my God! That’s Jordan’s barrette. What are we gonna do, how did someone get her!?” he cried.

  Billy stared at the boot prints and did not want to think about what they meant. He recognized the sole. This morning he was glad he and Jordan had a secret, but now he knew he could not keep quiet.

  “A man… a bad man named Dermot Mullney has her, and I know where he lives,” Billy said.

  All eyes turned to Billy.

  “How do you know that?” Paul asked, hope and fear colliding in his voice. Billy looked up from the boot prints into Paul’s face.

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Baxter. Jordan and I like each other. Last night we snuck out of our bags and met behind the office. We just wanted-”

  Paul cut him off. “You led my daughter away?! Into the darkness?!” Paul screamed at Billy who jumped and took a step back.

  Nicole came up and got between them.

  “Okay, take it easy. Let him finish,” she said.

  Nicole put her hand gently on Paul’s chest and pushed him back.

  “I’ll kill you, you little-!” Paul shouted.

  “Paul! Let’s hear what he has to say, okay?” Nicole interjected.

  Paul’s eyes burned at Billy but he quieted down. Nicole looked at Billy.

  “Go on Billy, tell us what you think happened,” she said.

  Billy took a deep breath and looked at the faces of the group all staring back at him. All the good feelings from last night were gone and he felt like he was back to being William. He wanted to run and hide, to disappear, but knew there was now more at stake than his own fear. Jordan was gone, probably more afraid than she had ever been in her life and he knew where she was. Of course he did, it was his fault. He felt that the first second he saw those boot prints in the dirt.

  “When you guys picked me up, I was running from a guy named Dermot Mullney. He was nice to me at first… but then he… wasn’t.” Billy’s words faltered.

  “It’s okay, Billy. Just tell us what happened. Anything you know will only increase our chances of getting Jordan back safely. Go on,” Nicole said.

  Billy took another breath. “He kept me in a cage in his basement-”

  Paul’s cry cut him off. “Oh Jesus!”

  Nicole ignored Paul. “It’s okay, Billy. Why did he keep you in a cage?” she asked.

  Billy looked at her. “He said anybody could kill something they didn’t have feelings for, but it took somebody special to kill something they loved.” Billy said.

  Paul rushed at Billy. “You killed my daughter! You killed my… Jordan!” he cried.

  Nicole threw herself against Paul and tried to hold him back. Walt and Sam stepped up and held Paul back. Nicole turned back to Billy.

  “So he wasn’t going to kill you right away? He held you for a while?” she asked.

  Billy nodded. “I lost track of time, but he kept me locked up for a long time. I finally got away… I tried to stab him but I only hurt him… I ran away and you found me. I saw him in the woods watching me, when you took me with you…”

  Paul went ballistic again. “You knew he was following us, and you didn’t say anything?! How?!-”

  Nicole spun around and looked at Walt and Sam. “Sam, take Paul over there until we can get this sorted out, please,” she said.

  Walt and Sam led an inconsolable Paul away. Nicole turned back to Billy.

  “Billy, if he kept you in the cage and you lost track of time, that would have to be awhile right?” she asked. Billy nodded.

  “Yes, ma’am. He didn’t try to kill me right away. I don’t know when he would have done it had I stayed around. I just knew he meant what he said, and…” Billy’s words trailed off as fear and sorrow began to wash over him.

  Nicole stooped down, put her hands on Billy’s shoulders and looked him in the eyes.

  “It’s okay, Billy, you are doing really good. You have told us that Jordan is still alive. There’s just one more thing I need to ask you. You said you escaped. Do you think you could find the place where he held you? Could you show us where he took you?” she asked.

  Billy looked up and into her eyes. “Yes, ma’am. I could do that,” Billy said.

  Sam, Walt, and Paul all looked up at Nicole as she approached.

  “There’s every chance that she’s still alive. Billy says this Dermot Mullney kept him locked up for a while, enough for him to lose track of the days,” she said.

  Paul’s face took on a pleading look. “Does the kid know where this… monster held him?” He asked.

  Nicole nodded. “He says it was two towns over from Woodford, a town called Lake City. Says he thinks he can find the house where Mullney lived,” Nicole said.

  Paul stood up straighter and wiped his face.

  “Well let’s go!” he said. Nicole nodded.

  “We’ll take the GTO. It will be faster. Our stuff should be okay,” she said.

  “Who gives a damn about our stuff! All that matters is Jordan!” Paul yelled. Nicole looked at Paul.

  “Of course, Paul. We’re going to get her back,” Nicole assured him. They all went to the GTO.

  “Billy, you ride up front with me, call out when you think you’re sure,” Nicole said as she jumped behind the wheel.

  ☣

  Two hours later, they were in Lake City. They cruised neighborhood after neighborhood. Billy scanned every house but he could not be sure. Lake city was an older township and all the houses were large and built the same. As they cruis
ed the streets, the Dead wandered in yards and alleyways. Several times Nicole was forced to hit the gas and speed away from those that tried to get at them.

  “See anything yet, Billy?” Nicole asked for perhaps the tenth time.

  Billy was silent, only shook his head as he continued to scan the houses on either side. In the back, Paul was beside himself with stressed anticipation.

  “Are you sure this is the right town, Billy?! I mean if you’re wrong-”

  Nicole cut him off. “Paul, he’s trying. Give him a chance,” she said.

  Paul slumped back in his seat. Nicole turned down one street and started up the next.

  “This is the third neighborhood we’ve tried, Billy. Does anything look-”

  Billy jumped forward. “There! I remember that was hanging on the porch!” He cried.

  Billy pointed at a house that looked like every other. Hanging on the porch was a hummingbird wind-chime, tinkling softly in the breeze.

  Thirty-One

  Nicole did not slow down. She drove the GTO past the house.

  “Hey! Where are you going?!” Paul cried.

  Nicole drove down the street and around the corner. She parked the car and shut off the engine. Paul continued to stare at her.

  “Billy said that was the house back there! We need to go get my daughter!”

  Paul continued to yell at Nicole. Nicole spoke in soft but firm tones.

  “I understand, Paul, but if we just barge in there, he will know we are coming. He could… hurt Jordan before we ever get a chance to get to her. The element of surprise is our best weapon right now, which is why we are going to go back on foot and look around first.”