by Hamid, Dean
They made it over to the stairwell silently and cautiously looking around, eased down the steps, and then Kevin stopped and told Jamal to hold up. He peeped around a corner and saw some creatures lingering around. He put his finger to his mouth, letting him know to be silent. He eased back up and whispered, “Quite a few down there, just lingering.”
“What else?”
“A lot of dust. Like, something happened.”
“No sign of them, huh?”
“I haven’t seen anything.”
“We still have to look.”
Kevin sighed. “Man, look. They could be on their way back.” He checked his watch. “We’re pushing for time as it is.”
Jamal pushed past him. “I’m still looking.” He eased around the corner and down the last flight of stairs. Gun pointed out in front and ducking down low. When he got to the last landing, he saw the boiler and how it had been toppled over. He realized that’s where all the dust that lingered in the air had come from. Looking around some more, he spotted one of the jugs that Kalene had stashed.
He also saw some of the creatures, and they were pushing up against a hole or something. It looked like an entryway on top of the boiler. He crept further and noticed that there seemed to be a gathering. They weren’t going to leave. They seemed to be waiting.
He wondered why, then he thought as he eased a little closer, he saw that the entryway was large enough for people to crawl in. Maybe, just maybe, they crawled inside. But, how could he found out and know for sure?
He turned to let Kevin know, and he was right behind him. “Yeah. I see it too.”
He pointed to the hole. Even if they went in. They’d have to move some of the concrete around so, that even if they were in there, they could make it out.
They needed a diversion.
Jamal pointed towards a bay area where the large industrial structures were pulled in and out the facility. “I’ll post up over there and try to draw them away. They’ll come running my way and that should give you enough time to get them out, if they’re in there.”
“Naw. That’s too dangerous bruh.”
“We don’t have a choice. I can hold them off until you get them out; then, we can all handle them together.”
Kevin sighed. “Damn! I don’t like it, but we don’t have time to argue.” He looked out the overhead window and could see the sun was starting to set. “Let’s go then.”
Jamal stealthily crept around the side of the maintenance shop to the bay area. He posted up and tried climbing on top of a ledge to get a better spot. When he did, his leg kicked over a stool and it fell to the ground. All hell broke loose.
The creatures looked his way and screamed. It was like an alarm. They all looked and rushed his way. He scrambled up further on top of a pipe leading to a water main system above. Kevin held his ground, then eased over to the boiler which they’d now left unoccupied. Creeping around to the hole, he took the butt of his gun and tapped three times. He waited. Then, tried three times again. Nothing. He was just about to leave and go help Jamal when he heard three taps come back.
Easing back, he put his face to the enclosed hole and said, “It’s me, Kevin. Ed? Kalene?”
Ed answered back, “Yeah. We’re here.”
“Ok. I’m going to have to move some of this concrete from around the entryway and then… we’ll see if we can get you out.”
“Yeah. There’s something on the outside pushing against it.”
“I got it.”
Kevin pushed on the heavy steel beam that had flipped up and jammed the big concrete slab up in front of it. It wouldn’t budge. He spotted a long, three-inch black steel pipe and figured he could use it as a wedge to hopefully pry back the concrete slab that was jammed against it. He wedged it in, then pushed at it a few times. It finally budged, then he hollered out to them, “Okay, I got it!”
Ed moved the steel he had blocking against the entryway from the inside, and he and Kalene climbed out.
Ed helped Kevin ease the steel wedge down so it wouldn’t draw any attention to themselves. Kevin pointed over to where the creatures were trying to get at Jamal. Kalene gasped and started over his way, and Ed stopped her. He pointed her towards the jugs. “Get the jugs.” He looked at Kevin and said, “Over here.” He pointed towards the opening where they’d come in. “That way leads directly outside. Get the jugs, and I’ll get Jamal.”
Kalene pulled at Ed. “No, we’ll go together.” She reached for his hand caressingly. Ed reached out and kissed her hand. “I got this.”
Ed started moving over towards Jamal and then Jamal spotted him. He opened fire on the creatures, drawing their attention from Ed. Ed shot at them from behind. They’d eliminated quite a few, allowing Jamal to ease down. He got up with Ed and dapped him. “Is Kalene alright?”
“Yeah. She’s making her way out with the fuel. Her and Kevin.”
“Cool.”
They started to run that way, and one of the creatures attacked Jamal from behind. Jamal wrestled with him, and Ed started kicking at him to get him off. Then, more of them came and Ed fired what was left of his rounds, dropping a few but more came. The sun was now setting, and Jamal was now swarmed with them all over. Ed tried kicking and hitting them with everything he could grab, but he could see that Jamal had already been bitten. They were literally trying to eat him alive. Kalene and Kevin heard the commotion and came running back. Kalene screamed out, “Jamal!” That attracted the creatures their way.
Ed tried pulling her away, but she fought against him. “We gotta go, it’s too late!”
Ed shouted at Kevin, “Let’s go!”
Kevin turned and said, “No. That’s my man. Go ahead!”
Kalene called out to him, “No, please no!”
Ed grabbed her and shoved her towards the window, then picked up the jugs and said, “We gotta go.”
They scrambled out the window they came in and ran. It was getting dark, and they could see the creatures coming out of their holding spots. They continued running as hard and fast as they could until they made it to the projects. Ed banged at the door. It was unshackled and open. He and Kalene fell in, tired and breathing heavily.
Curtis asked, “Where’s Kevin? Jamal?”
Ed put his head down and Kalene cried. Suddenly, someone hollered out, “Look! Coming up the block. Running!”
Curtis looked out. “It’s Kevin!”
Kevin had made it to the door and, as soon as they opened it, he dived through. There were a bunch of the creatures behind him.
He was bloody, so they all backed up and he said, “It’s not mine.” Then, he turned around to go upstairs, looked over at Kalene and said, “It’s Jamal’s.”
CHAPTER NINE
It was as noisy as it was the first time. More restless, the place was filled with anxiety. Finally, the tally was all done. All the chips that were given out with the numbers on them were done. Each person was given a number. A number that they only knew. The same number was on a chip that they were also given. Those chips were put in a huge barrel. A barrel that was made to spin and subsequently mix up the chips.
Then, the elder. The same woman from before was to reach into the barrel and take out the chips. One at a time, until they reached 24. Then again, 24. Then, one more time, 24. Three times. The number of times the bus would go to the Island. 72 people would be the start. Men, women, and children.
There were some that declined. Some elderly. Some disabled. Some that were against leaving, thinking that it was safer in Brooklyn. The elderly woman looked over at Ed and said she was ready. Then, it got quiet.
The first group consisted of eight men: six women; seven children, and three elders. Not including the driver, rear security, a mechanic, and Ed and Kalene.
The first run was to be in the morning. Small bags of necessities, nothing heavy. Once the bus got back, there would be another pick. They all agreed on that.
Ed caught up with Curtis and asked, “Do you think we’ll make it?”<
br />
Curtis looked over at the bus and said matter of factly, “Sure. But, that’s on a normal day, and this shit is anything but normal.” He took a rag from out his back pocket and wiped some oil from his hands. “Shit, your guess is as good as mine, Ed,” then walked off.
Ed stood there in thought, thinking about Roosevelt Island. He knew he had to get everyone on the bus there safely. They had to make their way up Broadway to the Williamsburg Bridge, cross into Manhattan, and then make their way up Second Avenue to the tram taking them to Roosevelt Island. The old Coast Guard station.
But, his main concern was not so much the route but the creatures along the route. Would they attack the bus? And, if they did, could they hold them off? That was his main concern.
He glanced over at Kevin. He knew he was still feeling fucked up about Jamal. They were tight. He wondered if he would still be down to ride shotgun on the second run. He figured now was a good time to ask.
“Yo, wassup Kevin. You alright?” Ed reached for his shoulder, and he shrugged it off.
“Yeah. I’m cool. Why?”
“Just figured I’d ask. I mean, I know you and Jamal were boys.”
“Yeah. We... were boys.”
“I’m sorry about what happened.”
Kevin turned and looked at him sideways. “Bruh. I begged him to wait. Wait until the morning.”
“That probably would have been best-”
Kevin gawked at him, then said, “You’re kidding me, right.” He turned facing him and pointed his finger in his chest. “He wanted to get that broad. Save her ass.”
“Broad?”
“Yeah. The broad that you’re fucking. That broad.”
“Hold up. There’s-”
“You see. He liked that fucking... broad, that you’re fucking, so goddamn much that he risked his own damn life. His life. And, now you say something fucking stupid like, he should have waited until the morning.” Kevin looked at him sideways, then said, “Yeah. This way he wouldn’t have interrupted y’all little fuck fest.”
“Whoa, hold up Kevin.” Ed got up in his face.
“What? What? I mean. Did I say something wrong?”
At that moment, Kalene came down the stairs overhearing some of what was said and asked, “Hey, what’s wrong you two? Is everything alright?”
Kevin looked at Ed, then sucked his teeth. “Yeah. Thought so.” He turned saying, “Everything is alright. Trust me. Everything is fucking alright,” and walked off.
Kalene started to go after him, but Ed pulled her back. “Let him go. He’s feeling bad about Jamal.”
“Damn. Can you blame him?”
Ed watched as he walked off and said, “Naw, I can’t blame him at all.”
The bus driver was in place. Kalene was on the bus in the back with a shotgun. Ed stood at the back entrance of the building. Curtis came out from the lobby telling Ed, “Okay. They’re ready.”
Ed signaled to the bus driver to crank up. He did, and Ed told Curtis, “Tell them to come now.”
It was early. The sun hadn’t quite come up yet. The creatures were making their way back into their hiding spots. There hadn’t been much activity that night aside from the few that would always look for an opening. Bang on the door. Look for scraps. Stuff like that.
The door opened, and everyone that was going ran out. At the same time, the bus cranked up, and Ed and Curtis pulled up the rear. The building doors were locked and shut. There was no coming back. Ed secured the bus doors and told the driver, “Let’s go.”
Hearing the bus crank up drove the creatures back out into the streets. They screamed and ran towards it, but they took off. A few jumped in the way, but they were ran over. The bus driver didn’t even slow down until they were quite a ways away, then Curtis had him slow down some to save on fuel. So far, everything was okay.
Everyone on the bus had ducked down in their seats and were safe. But, when the sun had fully come up, some had peeped out the windows. The bus had hauled ass across the bridge into Manhattan, and they felt a lot safer.
But, that wouldn’t last long. Manhattan was swarmed with creatures too. They were walking around in the day. Ed told everyone to duck down. The driver eased his way through a swarm of them here and there. A few even banged on the bus. Ed and Kalene were waiting for any of them to try to hang on, but none did. They seemed to pretty much ignore them.
The driver wiped sweat from across his brow and kept going. Ed passed him some water and said, “You’re doing good.”
A few moments later, they were on Second Avenue. “Halfway there,” Ed said.
They finally made it to the river and the tram that they’d take across. However, as Ed and Chris looked closer, it was partly damaged. Damaged to the point that they couldn’t go across it. “It look like it’s been partly destroyed,” Curtis said as he looked closer, analyzing the damage.
“Intentionally at that,” Ed said.
The driver, Al Benida, stretched his neck looking, then he recalled. “Yeah, yeah. I remember. The creatures were trying to make their way over, and the people-”
“But I thought no one lived over there.”
“Naw. There were some. Small hippy type of thing.”
“Hipsters?”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever. Same thing. Well, anyway. They destroyed the tram to keep them from coming.”
“So, how did they get on and off?” Curtis asked.
Al looked around towards the docks and spotted what he was looking for. “Over there.” He pointed towards the docks where the ferry was normally moored. The ramps were destroyed. But, off from the pier was the ferry sitting halfway across the inlet in the water. Ed spotted some activity onboard. “Go over there.”
They drove over and waved at the people that were standing on deck. Some waved back, then someone shouted, “What can we do for you?”
“We’d like to get across, over to the Island.”
After a pause and what seemed like a little discussion on their end, the same person hollered back, “No!”
Curtis was taken aback. What the hell? “Why not?”
“Well, for one, we don’t ever know who the hell you are. And two. Why should we?”
Ed looked at Curtis and said, “I thought you had this worked out.”
Curtis looked back at him and said, “I thought I did too.”
“Well, then, what the hell are we going to do? It’s getting dark soon, and we need to make a move.”
Curtis got off the bus and walked over towards the pier. Ed tried stopping him, but he resisted. Ed convinced him to at least let him go with him, just in case. He agreed to that.
Kalene secured the doors once they got closer to the water. Once there, Curtis yelled out, “Let me speak to Jeremiah!”
“Who?”
Curtis shook his head and said, “Look. We’re not going anyway until I speak with Jeremiah.”
The ones that were on the boat huddled up, and then someone went inside the cabin. A few minutes later, he came back out with a short and stocky bearded man who smiled at Curtis and yelled, “About fucking time!”
“What kind of games are you guys playing?”
“They don’t mean any harm but, hell, they don’t know you. It’s getting harder and harder to trust people.”
“But, damn Jerry. I’m your fucking brother.”
Ed twisted his neck around towards him. “Brother?”
“Yeah. My brother. Let’s go back and pull the bus over and unload these people.”
The ferry picked up its anchor and came closer towards the pier and docked. They tossed a line over, and Curtis and Ed pulled it closer. Kalene opened the bus door and the people came out and boarded the ferry. Curtis’ brother stepped off and gave him a hug. “It’s about time you came.” He reached his hand out to Ed. “Jeremiah, but everyone calls me Jerry. I’ve been trying like hell to get my brother over here.” He watched as the people boarded. “That’s all you got?”
“No,” Ed replied. “We’ve
got more. We’re bringing more back tomorrow.”
“Ok-ok. Around the same time, right?”
“Just about.”
He turned to board the ship and said, “Then, we’ll be expecting you.” He turned and boarded the ship, turned back around, and asked, “How many times?”
Curtis put up two of his fingers and hollered back, “Two more!”
The ferry was untied from the pier and started drifting away, and Jerry hollered back at them. “Then, you better go now.” He looked out into Manhattan. Place got real ugly close to dark. It’s like zombie land or something.” He waved and said, “Tomorrow.”
Ed and they got back in the bus and Kalene said, “Well, so far, so good.”
“Yeah, so far,” Curtis said. “So far.” He turned towards Al Benita and pointed. “Let’s get back to Brooklyn before it gets too late.”
The ride back was pretty uneventful. Ed did comment on the fact that there weren’t as many creatures roaming about. He mentioned that was pretty strange, considering what had been going down the last few weeks. Curtis mentioned that it seemed to be only happening down their way. But Ed mentioned to him, what about Downtown Brooklyn?
The next day the second pick climbed onboard the bus. Everything went fluid. Across the bridge into Manhattan. Second Avenue to the waterfront across from the Island. Then, the ferry, with Jeremiah on board, met them and took them across and then, once again, they left.
Curtis did, however, mention something strange. Not only did he not see any creatures, but also no people. The living. He thought about mentioning it to his brother the next time he saw him.
After crossing back into Brooklyn, they seemed to run into a roadblock of sorts. A few cars were turned into the street, causing Al to detour around to a side street. Ed questioned about the cars, but there were no answers. He wanted to investigate, but Kalene advised against it. It was late in the day and she didn’t think they should chance it. Curtis agreed.
Again, they made it back with no real problems. Once inside the building and after securing the bus, Curtis walked over to Ed and asked, “What do you think was up with that roadblock?”
Ed looked at him and said, “Been thinking about that my damn self.”
