by Jake Bible
“Do you know what’s happening up there, Dr. Probst?” Dr. Mannering asks. “Do you know what’s really happening?”
“I don’t know the cause, no,” Dr. Probst says. “But I could safely venture to say that we are under attack.”
“No, no, that’s just a byproduct,” Dr. Mannering says dismissively. “A reaction to what is happening. The monsters, or creatures, or whatever they are, are no more significant than a pine tree or a rock. They mean nothing in the grand scheme of things.”
“What is this grand scheme?” Dr. Probst asks.
“You don’t really know?” Dr. Mannering asks.
“No, tell me,” Dr. Probst insists. “I’m too tired to figure it all out right now.”
“It’s the end of the world as we know it,” Dr. Mannering says. “And no one feels fine. No one.”
“Yes, I figured once thousand foot monsters crawled out of a giant hole in the continent, the way things were might be at an end,” Dr. Probst says. “But, thank you for pointing it out.”
“No, you don’t get it,” Dr. Mannering says. “I don’t mean the end as in a shift, I meanthe end. All life on Earth is about to be no more. The reset button has been hit, and it’s all starting over. Humanity? Gone. Flora and fauna? Gone. This is the apocalypse, Dr. Probst.”
“Then call me Cheryl,” Dr. Probst says.
“I, uh,what?” Dr. Mannering asks, stunned.
“Call me Cheryl,” Dr. Probst repeats. “If the world is over, then use my first name. Dr. Probst is not how I want to be remembered. My parents named me Cheryl, so that’s what I want to die being called.”
“Who said you were dying?” Dr. Mannering asks.
“You did,” Dr. Probst replies. “You said the world is over. This is the apocalypse. It stands to reason my death,our deaths, are imminent.”
“No, I haven’t explained myself very well,” Dr. Mannering says. “You asked why I’m really trying to help rescue your friends, and I said because everything up there is going to die. Up there.Topside. Not down here, Doctor, uh, I mean, Cheryl. This facility can withstand anything. I’m helping because we need more people down here if we’re going to save the human race.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Dr. Probst responds. “Are you saying that you are helping so we have more people down here to...what? Breed?”
“Oh, shit no, I didn’t mean it to sound so gross,” Dr. Mannering says. “Whatever happens will happen. I’m just saying that if humanity wants a shot at continuing, then we’ll need as many survivors as possible. There are other facilities in this world like this where others are doing the same thing.”
Dr. Mannering blanches at the admission, and Dr. Probst can instantly see the fear in his features.
“Shit,” he whispers. “I shouldn’t have said that.”
“Other facilities?” Dr. Probst asks. “What other facilities?”
“Not my place to say,” Dr. Mannering replies, and starts to climb up the ladder. “Forget what I just said please.”
“There is no way in fucking hell I’m going to forget you just told me there are more facilities like this,” Dr. Probst laughs.
“Yes, you are,” Dr. Mannering snaps as he looks down at her, a wild intensity to his gaze. “You will never mention what I said. You will never even hint that I said it. If you do, then there is no point to any of this, understood? With feigned ignorance, you have a chance.”
“Feigned ignorance?” Dr. Probst asks. “Why? When has ignorance ever been a good thing?”
“When you don’t want the director of the facility to eject you into the Substance,” Dr. Mannering says. “Because that will be your fate. Unless she’s in a good mood. Then you’ll just get a bullet to the head. You have no idea where you are, Cheryl. It’s better you don’t. For now.”
“Jesus fucking Christ,” Dr. Probst replies. “What fucking rabbit hole is this place?”
Dr. Mannering responds in a way she does not expect. He laughs. And not just a simple chuckle, but with a full belly laugh that echoes throughout the shaft, dying off far above their heads.
“If we knew what this rabbit hole was, Cheryl,” Dr. Mannering answers, “then none of this would be happening. To be perfectly honest? No one has a fucking clue where we are or what this place is. No one ever has.” He glances up at the climb ahead. “Come on. This will take a while.”
“How old is this facility?” Dr. Probst asks as she grabs onto the ladder.
“If you get too exhausted to climb, then just say so,” Dr. Mannering says, ignoring Dr. Probst’s question. “We’ll have to take breaks here and there. This won’t be easy.”
Dr. Probst decides not to push, and lets her question fall away unanswered.
“Where will we come out?” Dr. Probst asks as she places her foot on the ladder and starts her climb, surprised at how far above her Dr. Mannering already is.
“We’ll come out close to the front entrance,” Dr. Mannering says. “You said odds are they are in one of the break rooms, correct?”
“Correct,” Dr. Probst replies.
“Good, good,” Dr. Mannering says. “That’s perfect. Well, if it’s the right break room. If not, then we may have to do some searching.”
“This shaft empties out into a break room?” Dr. Probst asks. “Really?”
“Close. There’s another that empties into the barracks, one that empties into the cafeteria, and more that empty into other main areas,” Dr. Mannering says. “Anywhere people might congregate.”
“It’s like some fucking Nazi death camp,” Dr. Probst says.
Dr. Mannering freezes for a split second, then continues climbing. Dr. Probst doesn’t miss the hesitation.
Eight
The flames from the naval station can still be seen to the south as Linda and Terrie work their way through the tangle of abandoned cars that choke the street leading down to a massive marina overlooking the Sound.
“Technically, this is Possession Sound,” Linda whispers as the two women shove their supply laden cart between two pickup trucks. “But everyone calls it the Sound, which is what they call Puget, so in the end it all becomes one Sound.”
“Good to know,” Terrie says, and holds up a hand. She rests against one of the pickup trucks’ bumpers and pulls off her face mask.
She wipes the sweat from her brow and looks up into the night sky, seeing nothing but blankness far above. The ash cloud is so high and so dense that even the reflections from the horrible conflagration far behind them barely register. Terrie can see flickers and hints of the light on the cloud, but if she didn’t know it was because Naval Station Everett was burning to the ground, then she wouldn’t have given them a second thought.
She starts to speak, then coughs and chokes on the air, and quickly puts her face mask back on. A couple breaths of the filtered air and she nods to Linda, then down at the marina below.
“This island you know of,” Terrie says. “You said it was secluded. That marina doesn’t look like a place that caters to secluded.”
“It doesn’t,” Linda replies. “But it’ll have a few more boats to choose from than the smaller marinas.”
“A boat without an engine, I presume,” Terrie responds.
“Yes,” Linda says. “If I can find us a small sailboat, then we’ll be good. If not, then we row.”
“We just walked ten miles, Linda,” Terrie says, the pain of the hike evident in her voice. “I’m bleeding through my dressings for sure. What do you think rowing will do to my sutures?”
“I’ll row,” Linda states as she holds out her hand.
Terrie takes it and is helped up as she shakes her head.
“You are not going to row us and our supplies across the water to whatever island of yours we’re going to,” Terrie says. “You have to be as exhausted as I am.”
“I’m a lot younger,” Linda says. “I can handle it.”
“Yeah, you keep playing that age card, girl,” Terrie says. “We’ll see how far it gets you.”<
br />
“Farther than you,” Linda laughs. “Now come on. We’re going to want to get to a boat and out on the water before the sun comes up. I don’t want to get caught in the open with those things out there when dawn comes around.”
“What makes you think they aren’t nocturnal?” Terrie asks.
“Nothing,” Linda says. “But if they do attack us in the dark, at least we won’t see them coming. It’ll be over before we know it.”
“Not sure I completely agree with that philosophy, but I do see your point,” Terrie replies as she grabs one of the handles of the cart. “Let’s go then. We’re burning darkness.”
Biscuit, who had been sniffing around the various abandoned vehicles, gives a sharp bark as he starts backing away from a Mercedes SUV. He retreats to Terrie’s side, his hackles up, and continues barking until Terrie places a hand on his head and makes a clicking noise with her tongue. His barks subside into low growls.
“Come on out,” Terrie says. “My dog doesn’t lie. I know you’re in the vehicle.”
Terrie reaches into the cart and pulls out an M4; she racks the slide, and puts the weapon to her shoulder.
“I don’t plan on asking again,” Terrie says. “Come on out or I send some bullets in.”
“We should just keep going,” Linda says. “Who cares if someone’s in there?”
“I do,” Terrie says. “I don’t want to be searching this marina for a boat when I know someone is at my back.”
Terrie moves forward carefully and taps the barrel of her carbine against the back window of the SUV.
“I said come out!” Terrie snaps. “Hands up! Nice and easy!”
The SUV rocks to the side a little, then the rear hatch is cracked open, and a hand pushes it up enough for the hydraulics to kick in and lift it all the way.
“Don’t shoot, please,” a man says as he shows Terrie his hands. “We weren’t going to do anything to you. I just needed a place to sleep.”
“Who’s we?” Terrie asks, nodding towards the vehicle. “Who else do you have in there?”
“Listen, please, we don’t want trouble,” the man says. “Please don’t rob us. All we have are some blankets. No food and no water. I swear, okay? There’s nothing you want in here.”
The man starts coughing and automatically lowers his hands to cover his mouth, but Terrie moves forward quickly and thrusts the M4 in his face.
“Keep those hands up,” she orders.
“It’s...it’s hard to breathe,” the man says as he tries to get his coughing under control. “The air is better in here. Please. Just let me close the door. Please.”
He coughs some more and is quickly echoed by two more coughs from inside the SUV. His eyes go wide as Terrie tries to look past him and deeper into the vehicle and at whoever is bundled up in the wad of blankets.
“Show yourself!” Terrie orders.
The coughs continue. A quiet moan is also heard, and Terrie glares at the man.
“Everyone out, now,” she says.
“Please,” the man pleads.
“Get out of the vehicle,” Terrie says.
“Terrie? Don’t,” Linda says, and moves closer.
“Linda! Get back!” Terrie snaps. “We don’t know who-.”
“Oh, shut up,” Linda says. “I thought you said you had a grandson.” Linda smiles at the man whose eyes are locked onto Terrie’s weapon. “Can’t you tell the difference between the coughs of an adult and a child?”
Linda pulls back one of the blankets to reveal the dirty face of a small girl, maybe six years old.
“Hey there, sweetie,” Linda says, and crouches down so her face is level with the girl’s. “What’s your name?”
The girl doesn’t answer, just tries to burrow down lower into the blankets.
“It’s okay, we won’t hurt you,” Linda says, then looks over her shoulder at Terrie. “Will we?”
“Linda, step away from there,” Terrie says. “We do not know who this man is or what he’s capable of.”
“I’m capable of nothing,” the man says, the agony of grief on his face. “Just running and hiding. You could be holding a pencil, lady, and you’d still take me. I’m useless.”
“You are not helping your case,” Terrie says.
Linda gets up and deliberately puts herself between Terrie and the man.
“Hey!” Terrie exclaims.
“Knock it off,” Linda says, then focuses on the man. “What’s her name?”
“What?” the man asks.
“Your daughter,” Linda says, nodding at the blankets. “I assume she’s your daughter?” The man nods. “What’s her name?”
“Lana,” the man replies. “I’m Lester. Lester Renault. Are you military? With those clothes and those masks, you must be military.” He looks past Linda at the glow of the far off burning base. “Are there more of you coming?”
“No,” Linda says. “There are no more coming. Not that we know of. Why are you and your daughter here, Lester?”
“Daughters,” Lester says. “My oldest is in here too. Krissy. She’s not...well.”
“Terrie? Grab three of the extra masks, please,” Linda says.
Terrie starts to argue, then a wracking cough and a couple more moans stop her. She lowers and then slings her carbine, and turns to the cart. Biscuit growls some more, but stops when the coughing in the SUV turns towards the painful. He whines a little and bumps against Terrie’s leg.
“Yeah, I know, boy,” Terrie says. “We’re going to help them.”
“You are? Why?” Lester asks, visibly confused.
“Why wouldn’t we?” Linda asks. “You’re human beings.” She points towards the base. “The things back there are what we really need to be afraid of.”
Terrie and Lester snort at the same time.
“That’s a bit naive,” Terrie says. “There’s no scarier monster on this planet than a desperate person.” She walks over and hands Lester a face mask. “Put yours on first, then get them on your daughters.”
“Like on an airplane,” Lester says as he tugs the mask over his head. He takes several deep breaths, fogging up the mask instantly, then laughs. “I never thought the smell of plastic and rubber would be so nice.”
He turns and lifts the blankets to reveal Lana as she drapes herself across an older girl of about sixteen. The older girl has bandages wrapped around much of her face, and it’s obvious, even in the dim light, that blood has soaked through them completely.
“Jesus Christ,” Linda exclaims as she hurries forward. Lana jumps and scurries into her father’s arms, and Linda holds out a hand. “Sorry, sweetie. I didn’t mean to scare you.” She pats Lester on the shoulder. “I need to get in there. Can you move, please? I’m a nurse.”
“Oh, thank God,” Lester says.
“Well, that statement balances out your blasphemy, Linda,” Terrie says. “You a religious man, Lester?”
“I am now,” Lester says as he moves away from the SUV, Lana wrapped in his arms. “Who wouldn’t be?”
“Amen to that,” Terrie says. “Set her down, and get that mask on her. She needs filtered air ASAP.”
“Right, yes, of course,” Lester says as he sets a reluctant Lana down and struggles to get the face mask over her head as the little girls squirms and fights it.
“Hey now,” Terrie says. “Let your father put that on, alright? It’ll help you breathe just like him.”
Lana’s struggles lessen but don’t completely stop, and Terrie smiles at the girl’s willingness to keep up the fight.
“I need light,” Linda says as she crouches over Krissy, her body scrunched up in the tight space of the SUV. “Terrie? Can you grab a candle and some glow sticks?”
“Sure,” Terrie says, and reaches into the cart for the supplies. She grabs two candles and a handful of glow sticks, then holds them out. “Give these to her.”
Lester nods and relays the supplies to Linda.
“Thanks,” Linda says. “And I’ll also nee
d-.”
“Right here,” Terrie says, already holding out the medkit. “But I don’t think I need to remind you about the time.”
“No, you don’t,” Linda says as she takes the offered medkit and sets it next to Krissy’s head. She cracks a couple of glow sticks and holds them over the bloody bandages. She studies the dressings for a second, then shakes her head. “These are old and dirty. If I take them off here they’ll rip the skin right off her face and possibly make whatever wounds are underneath even worse.”
“There isn’t much skin to rip,” Lester whispers as he holds his hands over Lana’s ears. “They took most of it.”
Terrie and Linda look at the man, their faces mirroring each other’s shock.
“What are you talking about?” Terrie asks. “Who did what to your daughter?”
“Men,” Lester says. “A lot of men. They ambushed us. We were coming from Granite Falls, hoping to find a ship to get us out of here when everything went dead. Our flashlights, our radio, everything. We’d just gotten to this side of Lake Stevens when they came out of nowhere.”
“They took you and your daughters?” Terrie asks. “How’d you get away?”
“I waited until they were occupied,” Lester says quietly. “They had us for a day. When they were done with Krissy, I grabbed her and Lana and ran.”
“How were they occupied?” Terrie asks. “Weren’t you being guarded?”
“They weren’t very organized or smart,” Lester replies. “I got my hands free while they had Krissy. They dumped her at my feet and then started in on… I took the opportunity, and I got my girls out of there. I did what I needed to do.”
“I want Mommy,” Lana whimpers behind her mask.
“Oh, dear Lord,” Terrie says.
“What?” Linda asks, looking up from her cursory examination of Krissy.
“You left your wife behind, didn’t you?” Terrie asks Lester. “That’s why the men were occupied. They had your wife.”
Lester starts to sob, and he clutches Lana to him.
“She told me to,” Lester says. “She knew what was coming, especially after what they did to Krissy. She said I needed to get Lana out of there. That was the plan. Get Lana to safety.”
