Jack sideswiped it, flinging it backward several meters. It smashed into another vehicle. The creature shook its head groggily, glared at him, and let out a horrific shriek.
“Get in!” Jack yelled at the woman, all the time keeping his eyes on the monster.
She whimpered, but hauled herself up with steely determination and jumped into Jack’s car.
“Go! Go!” Jack shouted out the window at Flatcap. Two of the creatures were still on top of his car.
Flatcap managed to get his car moving, and expertly spun the wheels in the loose gravel on the shoulder of the road. Wrenching the car side to side, he came out of the melee, throwing the two monsters off and into the ditch in the process.
Flooring the accelerator again, Jack squealed back down the road.
I’ll find you, Dee. Just stay put. I’m coming, promise.
“Holy shit, what the hell was THAT?” Jack said, more to himself than to his passenger. A cold sweat enveloped him. Images of what he’d just witnessed flashed through his mind. Jack tried to calm himself.
Deep breaths, in, out, in, out, in out. Deep breaths...
Though Jack could see Flatcap’s car up ahead, he was struggling to keep up with Flatcap’s panicked driving. Both cars tore through the night. He focused on the red tail lights, following his driving lines.
“What the hell was that?”
He barely heard the quiet response. “Dante’s bloody inferno.”
Jack nodded his head in agreement. “Bloody nightmare on legs. Did you see its mouth?”
“Hideous!”
He looked over at his passenger. She had her hands in her lap, clenched tightly. He could see by the way she leant away from him, curled against the back of her seat, that she wanted to be left alone with her thoughts. Staring out the windscreen, Jack had time to think.
He just couldn’t make sense of it. What the hell were those things he’d just seen? Were they what people became if they caught this virus? That just didn’t make any kind of sense. Outside of science fiction, that is. Surely no man had managed to create a virus that turned people into monsters? Surely? Jack shook his head. He had so many questions, and no answers. He banged the steering wheel in anger.
Sheesh! I’ve got to get home to Dee, and Mum! My family…
Jack looked down at his shaky, sweaty hands. He wiped them on his pants in turn, trying to get the sweat off. He clenched them into fists to try and stop the shaking, gripping and regripping the steering wheel as he did so. His mind just kept replaying the horrifying creature tearing out the poor woman's throat and lapping up her blood.
The car shuddered and swerved as it went over onto the gravel shoulder, threatening to skid out. Jack cringed, cursing at himself as he watched a road sign go under the front of the car. He took his foot off the accelerator, then pulled the steering wheel hard down to the right. To his relief, he regained control of the car. The car bumped slightly as he returned to the tarmac. He shivered as a cold frisson enveloped him. “Bloody hell! Sorry.”
Flatcap’s wife stared ahead into the darkness, oblivious. Jack looked back up the road toward the disappearing tail lights. Get it together, boy! He forced himself to take some deep, calming breaths. You have to get home first, then survive with Dee.
He had to survive. Jack had spent so many years alone, wishing for someone to share his life with. He didn't want to lose it now. Thinking of surviving reminded him of the stories his Nana had told him about living through World War Two. About how everyone had carried on as normal. How they looked after each other, helped one another when needed. How they’d sung songs down in the bomb shelters, frightened, scared, listening as the Luftwaffe rained down terror and misery. She would be telling Jack to “Keep calm and carry on.”
Thinking about how his grandparents had survived the Blitz helped Jack to calm down. He reached out and turned on his stereo. Humming along to John Williams, he drove on.
After thirty minutes, they had travelled about 20 km. The two cars came up to an intersection. Flatcap pulled over, allowing Jack to pull alongside. Jack’s passenger jumped out before the car had stopped, and ran over to her car. Jack wound the window down in time to hear her cry, “Babies! Are you okay?” The kids clambered out of the car to hug her.
Jack waved to Flatcap. “You all right?”
“Yeah, I think so. Hell, that was crazy! What the hell are those things?”
“I don’t know, man. I really don’t know.” Jack shook his head. So many thoughts were buzzing around in his head, he was having trouble concentrating. He just wanted to get home to Dee. A few hours ago he had been happily enjoying the solitude of the wilderness, back before he read Dee’s message. He’d believed her, but seeing the creatures first hand had frightened the hell out of him.
He looked back at Flatcap and his family. “We better keep moving.”
Flatcap nodded in agreement. “Definitely. Which way from here?”
“Right for a few kilometers, then left for a bit. Just follow me. Lots of turns.”
“Sure. Let’s go. I really don’t want to see any more of those things.”
“Shit yeah.”
They travelled onward through the night. Jack plotted the course in his head, thankful that his adventurous spirit had pushed him to explore all these back roads. The fact that he hated being stuck in traffic had added fuel to his passion for exploration. Everywhere he looked, the glow of fires in the direction of built up areas lit up the night. Knowing what caused them made him hurry.
Coming over the brow of a hill, Jack saw the school where he had to turn left. Realising he was going too fast, he pushed down on his brakes. Flatcap’s car nudged into the back of his, causing him to spin slightly, like in a police PIT maneuver. He wrenched the steering wheel hard left, trying to correct it, but Flatcap’s car slammed into him again, causing both cars to slide out, tyres screeching. Both of them ended up in the ditch on the side of the road.
Shaken, but unhurt, he clambered out of his car. His back wheels were stuck fast, deep down in the culvert. A short distance away, the other car’s front end was also in the culvert.
Damn it. What else can go wrong tonight? I’ve been travelling for hours, just trying to get home to Dee.
He made his way to Flatcap’s car. “You guys all right?”
The young boy in the back replied, delight evident in his voice, “We went crash!”
Flatcap hauled himself out of the car. “Yes son, we went crash.”
He looked back at Jack. “We’re all right. What happened there?”
“Going too fast, simple as that. So do you think we can get these out?”
“Nah, I don’t think so. We’re in too deep.”
“Bugger it!” Jack spat. “I’ll go see if I can find a tractor or something. Plenty of farms around here.”
Flatcap moved the peak of his hat up and down his brow. “Yeah, all right. Probably best I stay here with my family.”
Jack nodded.
Returning to his car, he grabbed his pack out of the back seat, took out his headlamp, and checked to see if it was still working. Satisfied, he looked around. Spotting a driveway farther up the road, he headed off.
Turning into the driveway, a crunch under his foot revealed gravel. Fear of being detected, by either humans or monsters, made him tread carefully and silently. His gaze darted up toward the house and back to the vehicles. Plucking up his courage, he entered the property. As he crossed the cattle grate, one of his feet slipped and he went down, the resulting clang sounding like a gunshot in the silence of the night. Jack winced, at the noise and the pain, and rubbed his foot. He prayed there were no monsters around to hear that racket. But surely they wouldn’t be so far from civilisation? He crawled off the cattle grate and got back onto his feet, testing out his foot. It would be fine. Smoothing out his pants, he carried on up the driveway. He paused every few meters to strain his hearing for any sounds.
Jack could see the house and vehicle sheds in the darkness, t
heir silhouettes emerging from the gloom. Moving toward the shed, Jack thought he heard a popping sound. What was that? He froze. Heart hammering, he peered into the darkness. He wished he could turn on his light, but was fearful of attracting the creatures, or an angry farmer with a shotgun.
Maybe I should just knock on the door?
There were no lights on in the house, and no further sounds reached him. Jack wondered where everyone was. Had they made a run for it? Why would they? They already lived in the country; nothing out here except cows, cows, and more cows. He shook these doubts from his mind as he approached the shed.
The shed was enclosed on the sides and the back, leaving the front open to the elements; typical for farms.
He could see an old-looking tractor. Moving to the back of the vehicle, he saw that a wooden pallet forming a small platform was attached to the trailer. Piled on it was a rusty chain, and attached to both ends were large metal hooks. In the cab, the key stuck out of the ignition.
Yes! Finally! thought Jack. Some good luck.
Jumping into the seat, he checked to see if the tractor was in neutral. Then, with his fingers crossed, he turned the ignition.
The tractor coughed once, then turned over. Too loud! Too late. Engaging the gear, Jack eased his way back down the driveway. He looked back at the house every now and then, half expecting someone to come running out, or one of those hideous creatures to come tearing over. He shivered. But it all stayed quiet.
Arriving back at the cars, he found Flatcap and his family sitting on the hood of their car, their feet resting against the small clay bank. The children were eating, nestled into their parents’ sides. Pulling up alongside the cars, Jack called over, “I’ll reverse up and get yours first.”
“All right, cool.”
“You chain it up around the axle.”
“Yup, sure thing.”
He reached down and put the tractor in forward. Looking back up, he saw movement over Flatcap’s shoulder.
Several figures were moving through the school yard toward them. Their limbs seemed strange, elongated, and they moved with jerky, inhuman movements. One of the creatures let out a bloodcurdling scream. They all dropped to all fours and, with an incredible burst of speed, flew across the intervening ground toward the group.
Jack gave an inarticulate shout, but there was nothing he could do for Flatcap and his family. Within seconds, the monsters were on them. Two of the creatures slammed into Flatcap and his wife, tearing and snarling. The stench of blood permeated the air, and Jack could taste iron.
Time shifted into slow motion as he reacted. He leaned over and grabbed the chain off the platform. Unfurling it, he swung it at the nearest creature, which had grabbed one of the boys. Slamming the hook into its head, he was shocked when bits of skull and black gooey sludge fountained out. The creature slumped against the car, dead. Pulling the boy into the cab and onto his lap, Jack floored the accelerator. The tractor lurched forward down the road. With one hand on the wheel, he swung the chain at two more of the creatures. Jack couldn't believe how fast they were, easily dodging his wild swings.
The boy on his lap screamed in agony as one of the creatures tore open his leg. Jack managed to boot it in the face, smashing its sucker. It fell off, then crunched under the back wheels. Jack grinned, satisfied.
Three more of the creatures were now coming at them, flanking them in a classic pincer movement. He lost the grin.
Ugly, but not bloody stupid.
Jack was still managing to keep one creature at bay with swings of his chain. He knew he couldn’t outrun them on this old workhorse. He’d just have to outmaneuver them. The tractor might not have speed, but it did have torque.
Jack swung the wheel hard right, down a steep embankment.
Bounding over the rutted ground, the creatures drew closer.
So damn fast.
They slammed into the side of the tractor with abandon, causing it to tilt over like a listing ship. Cradling the boy, and trying to tuck himself into a ball, he leapt off the vehicle. Thumping into the ground, the boy jolted free of Jack. Immediately, one the creatures caught up to him and, with a sickening sound, tore a hunk of his muscle from his torso. The boy screamed in terror and agony, his eyes finding Jack’s. Pleading for the monster to stop.
Jack rolled to a stop at the bottom of a ravine, next to a small bridge crossing over a river. Two blurs of black came flying toward him. To his surprise, he found he was still holding the chain. Channeling his inner Viking berserker, Jack swung the chain with all his leftover strength. It connected with the closest creature, smashing into its horror hole. It ripped away the monster’s lower jaw and continued up through its eye socket, taking out black muck and brains, and killed it instantly.
Before he could turn fully, the other creature careened into him, smashing him against the bridge railing. Pain streaked up his spine and his breath fled from his lungs. The creature’s sucker mouth snapped at him, its claws trying to grasp him. Jack swung his arms, fists clenched as he thumped a few blows against the beast. Kicking out, he fought for his life.
I will not die this day.
Jack managed to get the chain up under the monster’s chin to hold off its snapping jaws. The terrible stench of rotten fruit emanating from its mouth making him gag.
One of its claws gouged deep into his thigh muscle, causing him to scream in fury. Delving down deep inside himself, and finding an inner strength he never knew he had, Jack wrapped the chain around the creature's neck. Reaching behind him, he coiled it around the railing, then secured the hook over it. The creature dug its claws deeper into his thigh, its sucker mouth smacking at him as it strained to get at his face. With a last grunt of frustration, he tumbled over the railing, clasping the snapping creature in his arms. The chain went taut and, with his added weight, the creature’s head ripped off, covering him in black gunk. He plunged down to the river, letting the creature’s body go on the way down.
The cold water prickled his skin as he splashed into the river, its frigid embrace a welcome respite. He kicked back to the surface from the blackened depths. Gasping, Jack prepared himself to be torn apart by approaching reptilian nightmares.
To his surprise, the remaining creatures stayed on the riverbank, apparently reluctant to enter the water. They snarled and hissed at him, their joints popping as they paced up and down. He welcomed the reprieve. Struggling to keep afloat, he removed his hiking pack and cradled it in his arms. Turning over, he let the current drag him away.
He stared up at the stars. His stars, the pinpricks of light.
Years of wondering what hellish creatures dwelled out in the infinite reaches of space, and Jack had never imagined he would find them on Earth.
I never knew their names…
I didn’t save the boy...
I’m sorry Dee…sorry...I tried...I’ll try…I’ll try...
CHAPTER TWO
Dee peered out through the ventilation grating. The late afternoon sunlight dappled the lawn as it shone through the beech trees bordering her back yard . She held her breath. Several of the creatures moved around her yard, sniffing at the air. She stepped backward a couple of feet, deeper into the shadows, fearful they would see her. The creatures took their time, sniffing, moving, pausing, sniffing. As they moved, popping sounds emanated from their bodies. She could see their veins through their translucent dark skin. Willing them to move on, she watched, terrified. Finally, they hopped on top of the fence and, shrieking, bounded off.
Letting out a breath, Dee nearly choked on the sewage stench as she inhaled again. She had hidden down here in the basement for three days now. It was a dumb bit of luck that had led her to discover that the creatures used their heightened sense of smell to find new victims. At first she had just barricaded the doors and windows with furniture, but by the second night the creatures had started to come past more frequently and, peering out the curtains, she had seen them hunting in packs.
On the third day, she had de
cided to hide down in the basement and, as she was transporting food down, she had tripped on a step, spilling spices everywhere. As she got more supplies out of the pantry, she’d heard some of the creatures howling. They’d sounded really close. Dee had pulled the pantry door closed. One of the creatures had come right up to the back door. Dee had heard it sneeze several times, and then it had scampered away. After that, she had purposely ruptured the sewage line to disguise her presence.
Dee took stock of her situation. She had about a week's worth of food, maybe ten days of water, and one weapon. Thank God Jack bought me that Katana in Japan that I’d been obsessing about. But will it be of any use against these nightmares? And no Jack.
She tried to remain calm, but her worry for her husband of three years was taking its toll. Not for the first time, she pondered whether to head on to the cabin without him or not. She remembered their first year together.
Nights spent in, cuddling on the couch, sharing their favourite movies and TV shows.
Talking late into the night about anything and everything.
Weekends spent in the wilderness exploring, sharing a love of nature. Learning, teaching each other.
Teaching what it meant to care for someone deeply. Learning tolerance of others and their situations.
Dee had thought it too late, too much of a Princess fantasy to find that “one”, but she had.
She had fought her demons, her insecurities, every day with Jack. Her anxiety got the better of her some days, causing her to stay inside, hiding from the world. Cocooning herself away.
One night, after a few drinks, Dee had opened up to Jack, poured her heart out. She had told him about all her demons. Jack had cried, pouring out his own heart and releasing his own deeply hidden demons.
That was that golden moment, that moment told in all the fairy tales.
Extinction NZ (Book 1): The Rule of Three Page 2
