The Vanishing (The End of Time Chronicles Book 1)

by Heath Jannusch

  When Lex was back to his original location, he took a couple of deep breaths to slow his breathing and then shouted, “It’s up to you Tyler! You can come forward and lose your entire command or you can go back the way you came! Either way, you’re not getting through this pass!”

  “Alright,” said Tyler, “you win this battle, but I’ll be back come daylight and then you’ll be dead. And don’t for one second think that you can just leave, I’ll find you.”

  “I look forward to it,” taunted Lex. “Now get out of here!”

  Lex watched as the men slowly retreated back the way from which they’d come. When they were out of sight, he quickly ran around gathering up all of the guns and headed back to the dune buggy. He dropped the guns into the backseat and was about to drive off, when he had an idea.

  Tyler had said they would return in the morning, but he could very well have been lying. There was nothing to stop him from doubling back around and making another attempt. Lex jumped out of the buggy with a gas can of fuel in one hand and his rifle in the other. He swiftly ran back to the pass and began to pour gasoline, a precious commodity, all around the opening. When the gas can was empty, he turned and ran back through the mountain pass. He found a good spot where he could see the opening and then waited.

  About thirty minutes passed before he saw movement below, as suspected, they’d returned. There were at least ten men making their way through the forest toward the mountain pass. Lex waited patiently, letting them approach. When they finally reached the area that had been doused in gasoline, he lit a torch and threw it into the bushes. Flames instantly leapt from the ground and spread fast to the surrounding trees and shrubs.

  The men, who were now illuminated in the fire light, began to scream, as the flames surrounded them. Several of the men were lucky enough to avoid the inferno and they quickly turned and ran back the way they’d come. At least three men were trapped in the middle of the fire when Lex left, but he didn’t wait to see what happened next. Instead, he ran back to the dune buggy and started the engine. He sped away, hoping that Cole’s friends could see the fire and were now on the alert.

  Ten minutes later, Lex almost sped right past the scouting party and their camp. As hoped, they’d seen the blaze and put out their campfires. He couldn’t see any trace of them. It was the scent of smoke in the air that caused Lex to stop the buggy.

  “Hello,” Lex called out into the darkness. “Is anyone out there? I’m a friend of Cole Higgins. He sent me to find the rest of his scouting party and warn them. Hello?” The only answer that Lex received was the sound of several gun hammers, clicking in the night.

  “Evening to ya lad,” said a voice from the darkness, thick with an Irish brogue. “Why don’t ya be kill’n the engine and stepping down from your vehicle? And keep your hands right where we can see ’em.”

  Lex turned off the engine and with his hands held high, climbed out of the dune buggy. “My name’s Lex and I’m a friend,” he said, straining his eyes into the shadows. “Cole Higgins sent me to warn you that there are about fifty armed men headed this way. I slowed them down, but not by much. We really need to get moving!”

  “Aye lad we saw the flames,” said the same voice, as a very large, bald man stepped out of the dark. “That was you then?”

  “Yes that was me,” answered Lex. “I slowed them down with that fire, but they don’t seem to be giving up.”

  “Why should we trust ya lad?”

  “Cole told me where to find you. Listen,” said Lex, trying to remain patient, “I was headed west when I heard some gun shots and decided to explore. I found Cole tied to a tree as a human target, while his guards shot at him. After I saved him, he explained to me that he’d been captured by a raiding party of about fifty men. Those men are now out hunting all of you and they’ll be here shortly.”

  “I want to believe ya lad, ya seem sincere. But how do we know that you’re not one o’ the fifty that ya speak of?”

  “You will have to trust me,” answered Lex.

  “Can ya maybe tell us something that Cole might have said to ya, something that might help us to have trust in what you’re saying?”

  “I don’t know,” said Lex, “he smokes like a chimney and talks like a surfer.”

  “Where is he then?”

  “He snuck down to the raider’s encampment to steal a truck and disable the rest of their vehicles. I headed them off at the pass and stalled them. He’s waiting for us a couple of miles to the northwest. My dune buggy carries only four men, which means I can take only three of you at a time. Hurry,” urged Lex, “we must get moving.”

  “Alright lad, I believe ya. My name is Sam, Sam Sullivan. Come on out boys! We’re catching a ride with this fine young fellow.” Nine men came walking out of the dark, all carrying guns. “These are the boy’s from the town o’ Clearview. Lad’s, this here’s Lex. Alright now, you three are going first,” said Sam, selecting three of his men.

  “Why us?” asked one of the men. “You’re the Mayor Sam, you should go first.”

  “The three of you are all married men with families, you’ll be going first,” insisted Sam. “I thank ya Lex, for all that you’ve done and all that you’re about to do.” He then clenched Lex’s hand like a bear and shook it vigorously. “Go in peace lad, but try to hurry will ya,” he said, with a wink.

  “Don’t worry,” replied Lex, as the three married men climbed on board the buggy, “I’ll be back. If I were you, I’d give all your supplies to the three men I’m taking now and just carry your guns and ammo. Those raiders are coming fast and they’re not weighted down with more than weapons. Head along this road as fast as you can, no matter what, keep moving. When I’ve dropped these men off, I’ll come back for the rest of you.”

  Lex didn’t hesitate. Spinning on his heels, he jumped into the dune buggy and started the engine. He sped off, leaving the Mayor and the remainder of his men to temporarily fend for themselves.

  When they reached the rendezvous, Lex was disappointed and a little worried to find that Cole hadn’t yet arrived. He quickly unloaded the three men and their supplies. “Wait here for Cole to arrive with the truck,” he instructed.

  Then Lex set off, back in the direction from which he’d come, to pick up another load of men. When he found the scouting party, twenty minutes later, they were walking alongside the road. He spun the dune buggy around, pulling to a stop next to the Mayor and his men. “Alright who’s next?”

  “You three,” said Sam, selecting the three youngest men.

  As the men climbed into the dune buggy, Lex noticed the flashlight in Sam’s hand. “Listen, I know that it’s dark out here, but I don’t think those flashlights are a good idea. You don’t want them to know where you are.”

  “Aye you’re right Lex. Douse your lights lad’s,” ordered Sam.

  Again Lex returned to the rendezvous point, only to find the three men still standing there, waiting for Cole. Now he was really beginning to worry about the kid. The men quickly climbed out of the dune buggy and once again Lex set off for another load of passengers. This time, when he reached the group, it was just in time.

  Lex could see dozens of flashlights bobbing in the night, as the raiders came running down the road toward Sam and his men. Lex quickly pulled up next to the men and shouted, “Everyone get in! Those men are gonna get here before I can make another trip back!”

  “You three go,” said Sam, “I’ll stay and hold ’em off. They’ll be bloody sorry before they take me down.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” said Lex. “Three of you climb into the buggy and have the fourth man step up on the rear bumper, holding onto the roll bars. This is the last trip and I’m not leaving anyone behind!”

  “Sounds good,” said one of the men. “Go ahead and get in Sam, I’ll ride the bumper.”

  The men quickly piled in and Lex raced off, headed for the rendezvous. When he arrived, his heart was lifted. He saw a large army style truck, with Cole standing next t
o it smoking. “You made it,” said Lex, “as he climbed out of the dune buggy.”

  “Of course dude. Sorry it took so long, I kind of got a little lost,” admitted Cole.

  “I’m just glad you made it,” laughed Lex, as Kassie came running over and jumped up, with her paws landing on Lex’s chest. She barked and licked his face. “I missed you too girl,” he smiled. While the men quickly loaded the truck with their supplies, Lex refueled the dune buggy.

  “Hey bro, you should totally come back with us to Clearview. It’s an awesome little town,” said Cole, as he and Sam approached Lex.

  “Aye lad, you’re more than welcome. We could use a man like you,” agreed Sam.

  “It sounds nice,” replied Lex, looking down at Kassie.

  “Well then, there ya go, it’s settled.” The truck’s engine roared to life and Sam asked, “Ya riding with him Cole or are ya riding with us in the truck?”

  “I think I’ll ride in the dune buggy,” said Cole, glancing at Lex. “If that’s all right with you dude?”

  ‘Sure,” smiled Lex, “hop in.”

  Gifts from Above

  The Vanishing – Day 7

  Clearview, Nevada

  Shiloh arrived back on his ranch in the late afternoon. He found Alfonso in the front yard, working on the repairs from the damage caused by the meteor shower. The old Mexican was boarding up a window that had been shattered, when he saw Shiloh coming up the drive.

  “Hello Señor Evans!” he called, waiving his hammer in the air, with a huge smile on his face.

  Shiloh could see the relief on Alfonso’s face, as he climbed out of the station wagon. The two men embraced each other for the first time in the twenty years they’d known each other. Until that moment, Shiloh had never before realized how much he meant to Alfonso or how much Alfonso meant to him. “Where have you been?”

  “In town mostly,” answered Shiloh. “The meteor shower and earthquake chased me into the old silver mine just off of route eighty-three. When I finally found my way out the next day, I walked to the St. Clair’s farm, where I found Ian. His parents had apparently vanished in a blinding, bright light. We took their station wagon into town for supplies and I ended up getting stuck there for a few days. I’m sorry that I took so long to get back old friend.”

  “I understand. No problem,” smiled Alfonso, while squeezing Shiloh’s arm. “You’re back now. You must be hungry, come, I’ll make food.”

  “Gracias,” said Shiloh, as he followed Alfonso into the house.

  The damage to the house was not quite as extreme as Shiloh had been worried it was going to be. All of the windows had been blown out and several of the doors were missing, but surprisingly enough, all of the walls and the roof still stood strong.

  Alfonso started heating up some oil in a frying pan on the wood-burning stove. He poured a can of pinto beans into a pot and added diced onions. In another frying pan, he started to cook some freshly butchered ground beef. He diced up more onions and tomatoes, grated some cheese and then chopped some lettuce. He added some of the onions to the simmering ground beef, along with a variety of other spices.

  “Can I help?” offered Shiloh. The aroma of the food made his stomach begin to grumble, as he watched the old man prepare the meal.

  “No, I’m fine, you sit and rest,” said Alfonso, without even looking up.

  When the oil was hot enough, Alfonso began making taco shells out of corn tortillas. The shells were finished about the same time as the beans and the meat. He started scooping the beef into the shells and topping them with lettuce, cheese, onions and diced tomatoes. He prepared two plates, with five tacos on each, and then scooped re-fried beans onto the plates.

  Shiloh grabbed a couple of glasses from the cupboard and two sodas, as Alfonso sprinkled cheese onto the beans. The two men ate in silence for a few minutes, crunching away on their scrumptious tacos.

  “Thanks Alfonso, it’s delicious.”

  “Si Señor, my pleasure,” he nodded graciously.

  “Any news of your daughters?” asked Shiloh, his mouth full of food. Alfonso had three beautiful daughters that lived down in Cozumel, located on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Raquel, Marlene and Isela occasionally came up to visit their father, but it’d been well over a year since their last trip.

  “No, but I pray they’re okay,” said Alfonso, softly.

  “I’m sure they’re safe,” said Shiloh, trying to reassure his friend. “Hey, whatever happened to that fella that arrived the other day, ya know, right before I left? I think his name was Gabriel.”

  “Oh yes, Señor Gabriel, he ate and drank, right where you’re sitting. I turned my back and when I turned again, he was gone, he just…disappeared.”

  “Did he disappear almost at the same time as the meteor shower?”

  “No Señor, the storm came much later, after he’d already gone.”

  “What about a bright light? Did you see anything like that?”

  “No Señor Evans, I saw no bright light.”

  “Weird. Did he say anything?” asked Shiloh, as he bit into another crunchy taco.

  “He said that I should go downstairs after he left. He said not to come up until the shaking and noise stopped. He saved my life. Did you see a bright light?” asked Alfonso, continuing to look at his food while he ate. He didn’t want to look at Shiloh. Sometimes it was easier for him not to look at people, when he talked about something that was so difficult.

  “No I didn’t, but I keep hearing about it. A lot of people vanished in a bright light, right before the earthquake struck. I thought maybe it was the same with this Gabriel fellow.”

  The two men spent the next two days making repairs to the property and all of the buildings on it. By noon on the second day, the house looked as good as new. So they headed out to the mine shaft to dig out Shiloh’s truck. Both men were surprised to find that the old Chevy hadn’t taken as bad a beating, as they’d imagined. It had scrapes and dents all over, from the rocks that had collapsed on it. All of the windows were shattered, but luckily the tires still had air in them.

  When Shiloh turned the key in the ignition, it just clicked as he suspected. It took a while, but they were finally able to extract the Chevy from the mine shaft and tow it back to the ranch. When they arrived, Shiloh started working on the truck immediately. He always had extra parts for the truck on hand and was glad when he realized that he already had everything needed for the repairs.

  On the third day, since returning to the ranch, Shiloh woke up early to finish working on his truck. He’d worked through most of the night, stopping only to eat and sleep for a few hours. When the engine was working again, he was happy to finally be able to go and check on his secret project. He knew that they’d need it now, more than he could’ve ever guessed. Before losing his family, he and his wife Sheila, had been drawing up plans for their dream business venture, a secluded bed and breakfast resort.

  The plans included blueprints for an octagon shaped event hall, potentially seating over two hundred guests, for weddings and other events. Its structural design resembled that of a village in Switzerland. Each of the bungalows, were uniquely modeled after different styles of architecture from around the world. The end result was a beautiful resort that represented various countries and architectural designs.

  He’d started with the event hall, moved on to the twenty bungalows, and finally built the main house. Before the meteor shower, Shiloh had spent the last few days working on some final touches. Now he was just hoping that some of the buildings were still standing.

  There was a good chance that the damage wouldn’t be as extensive as it had been in other places, due to the location that Shiloh had selected. He’d chosen to build the small village in the center of a narrow valley, surrounded by beautiful mountains. The location was just a few miles west of the ranch house. Although it wasn’t very far away, it took a bit of time to get there by vehicle. All the roads that went to the area required the right type of transport
ation. This was something that would have to be changed, if Around the World Bed and Breakfast ever opened for business, but for now it seemed perfect.

  The small valley was only visible from the air and there was only one way for a vehicle to enter. It was a very narrow opening, allowing only one car to pass at a time. As he drove through the entrance, Shiloh held his breath in anticipation of what he’d find on the other side. “At least I’m the only person alive who knows about this place,” he thought, as he drove through the thick trees surrounding the hidden entrance.

  Much to Shiloh’s surprise, all of the structures still stood and there was no visible damage. He let out a chuckle of relief, mixed with disbelief, as he shook his head. He parked his truck and started to walk around the small village, searching for damage that he never really found. He’d been waiting for the other shoe to drop, but it seemed like it wasn’t going to happen. Lately his luck had been terrible, but now it seemed to have finally turned around. Entering each and every house, he examined his detailed work and found everything in its place.

  In the end, Shiloh was very pleased at what he found. He slowly managed to let go of the knot that had been in his stomach since he’d heard the emergency alert warning on the radio. He sat down briefly and let himself be glad for just a moment. He couldn’t call himself happy, but it seemed like someone was looking out for him.

  There were only a few minor repairs that would be required. The high mountains surrounding the area provided the village with all of the protection that it needed to survive the blast waves, caused by the falling meteors. The heavy-duty, steel reinforced, concrete frames in the buildings must have spared them from any damage during the earthquake.

  It was near the end of the day and Shiloh was finishing the last of the repairs, when he saw a dark shadow moving fast along the ground. He was patching the roof of the Irish Cottage when he looked up, nearly falling off of the ladder, and saw a green parachute descending with a large crate attached to it.