Exodus (Aftershock Series Book 2)

by Michael R. Watson

  Darby nodded as he stood in the stirrups to gain some height and looked toward the prison gates, wondering where the others were. The ex-Guard and their families were now clear of the compound and there was no one in pursuit. From what he could see, there didn’t appear to be any activity near the gate or inside the fence. All appeared quiet. The only movement was the twirling blade of the wind turbine extending high above the buildings top level.

  He stayed where he was, watching and waiting. The families bringing up the rear were about to pass him by and he hadn’t seen the others yet. He asked the last man if he had seen any of them, with the man only shaking his head.

  He was worried. What had happened to Gant and the others? He had to assume his good friend, Ryder, was still inside the compound. But who was keeping him there? Were some of the Guard still there, remaining loyal to the governor? They would only find the answer inside. And after freeing Ryder and Levi, if opportunity presented itself, they could pursue a second objective, the stockpiled food and supplies. Even though it hadn’t been discussed, Darby thought it would be ridiculous not to haul away as much as possible to distribute to other Raiders and their families.

  Darby had no idea how many of the Guard were left, but he had to assume there were some. And based on the number of men he saw leave, there couldn’t be many. It appeared that opportunity had indeed presented itself. He looked back at his men and smiled. They appeared anxious. “Are you men still with me?” he shouted out, resulting in a thunderous and resounding “Yeah!”

  “Let’s go get Ryder!” Darby kicked his horse in the flanks, leading the galloping army toward the still open main gate.

  After riding through the gate, Darby was suddenly overcome by a tightness in his chest and the hairs rising on the back of his neck. It was too quiet. Eerie. If he didn’t know better, he would have sworn someone was watching them and they were walking into a trap.

  “Watch out for any guards that remained behind.”

  ***

  Peck was coming out of the ground floor main door when he saw the Raiders come through the gate. He ducked back inside before he was spotted, locked the doors, and bounded up the stairs two at a time and down the halls back to the governor’s office. The door had been left open. He burst inside without knocking, “The Raiders! They’re here!”

  The governor’s face went white. “What could they possibly want?” he frantically asked Damon. “The brothers are gone.” Just when he thought the danger had passed, he was again feeling a sense of panic. “What do we do?” squealed Davis, on the verge of a nervous breakdown. “Will we be safe in here?”

  “I don’t know,” stated Damon calmly. “The Guard were here for their families. I don’t know what the Raiders want. Maybe they want the prison, or you.”

  The governor hadn’t thought of them having an interest in the prison itself. “What do you mean? You think they’ll stay?”

  “I don’t think it’s out of the realm of possibilities. Here, they would have shelter, food, water, and safety.”

  “But they have no right to be here,” declared Davis. “I am the governor. This is my prison.”

  “I know, Governor, but they may not see it that way. Besides, we have no way to defend it. Everyone is gone and they’re already past the gates.”

  The governor turned to Peck. “Why didn’t you lock the gate after the traitors left?” He didn’t wait for an answer, continuing his rant. “If you had, we wouldn’t be having this problem.”

  “Sorry, sir. I’ve been kind of busy,” responded Peck with a hint of sarcasm seeping out. Even though the reprimand upset him, he knew it was just the governor’s fear talking, and served no purpose. He was the only one besides the governor and the counselor that remained. They needed him.

  “Hurry and lock all the doors leading into the building,” Damon ordered Peck calmly. “And keep us apprised of their activities.” At this, Damon hustled him out of the governor’s office.

  Peck turned back. “What about the guards at Tent City?”

  “I don’t think that’s the priority right now, do you?”

  “No, sir,” answered Peck. Damon slammed the door and Peck heard it being locked from the inside, followed by the scraping sound of the governor’s desk being pushed across the floor until it was in front of the door.

  Damon thought for a moment in silence. “You know, Governor, I don’t really think they’re here for you.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Just a gut feeling. I’d wager they’re here for the supplies stockpiled in the lower level. Perhaps they’ll grab what they can and leave.”

  “But they’re mine. We need them to start over.”

  “If they get inside, we won’t be in a position to stop them,” explained Damon.

  “Then Peck had better be successful in locking the doors and keeping them out.” For the moment he’d found his backbone.

  “Even locks won’t keep them out forever,” Damon pointed out. “And it may already be too late.”

  The governor sat slumped back in his chair. Suddenly he sat upright, a ray of hope appearing on his face. “I know what we need to do. It’s a last resort and I didn’t want to do it, but now I don’t see any other choice. We need to contact the chief governor and ask for his help, to let him know my life is in danger.”

  Damon stared at the governor, surprised at him even considering it. “Are you sure you want to do that? We don’t even know whether you are in danger yet. And if you make the call, he’ll want to know what happened here and why. You’ll have to answer all kinds of questions, ones you won’t want to answer. And you could even lose your position.”

  “I’m one of his governors. He has to protect me,” declared the governor. “And I won’t let them run me off so easily. I guarantee that.”

  Damon knew it was all talk. If Chief Governor Grayson wanted Davis out, he was out.

  “Then consider this,” reasoned Damon, “if the Raiders take everything, there’s not much point in requesting help.”

  “We are going to start over,” Davis stated flatly. “You can either support me or leave like the others did. I’m sure Peck would be glad to take your place.”

  “You don’t want that. He’s an idiot.” He paused. “I was just playing the devil’s advocate. I’m with you, Governor. I’ll do whatever you want,” claimed Damon.

  There was a loud pounding on the governor’s door. “It’s me, Peck.”

  Damon slid the desk out of the way and let him in, locking the door back. “Did you do as I asked?”

  “All the doors are locked. They were almost to the main door just as I got there. I could hear them trying to get in, cursing at the door,” reported Peck, smiling. “What now?”

  “We’re going to send for help,” answered Damon without looking at him.

  “From who?” asked Peck, who was surprisingly upbeat, annoying Damon.

  “Chief Governor Grayson,” said Damon.

  Peck could see that their current bad situation was about to be turned around for him personally. He was already on the ground floor, third in succession, prepared to be placed in a position of re-claimed prominence.

  “How do we get hold of him?” asked Peck.

  Damon was getting aggravated at Peck’s questions. “We’ll use a short-wave radio.”

  “How long will it take them to get here?”

  “Just a matter of hours,” said Damon.

  “Really?” asked Peck in disbelief.

  “I’m going to the radio room,” Damon told Davis. He wanted to check things out and to get away from Peck. “Are you sure this is what you want to do?”

  “Yes!” he shouted, irritated at Damon questioning his decision.

  “Very well, sir,” said Damon with an unconvincing tone. “I’ll check to see if the batteries are charged and I’ll let you know when it’s ready for you to make the call.”

  “Good,” said Davis and then after glancing at Peck, “and take him with you. Show him
how to use it.” Damon cursed under his breath.

  This brought a smile to Peck’s face. Things were working out just the way he had hoped. Between the three of them he accepted the position of grunt, because he knew the future offered a position of prestige.

  “C’mon!” said Damon gruffly.

  “What if we run into the Raiders?” asked Peck.

  “We shouldn’t, unless they break through several sets of doors. But, if they do, and we run into them up here, it can only mean one thing, that they are coming for the governor for retaliation and then none of us will stand a chance.”

  ***

  Darby cursed at finding the main door locked even though he half expected it. He was sure there were some who had stayed behind, whether out of loyalty to Governor Davis or because they were too afraid of him to leave. How many, he had no idea. Regardless, they needed to maintain a certain degree of caution. “Spread out and check any other doors,” he directed his men. “And be ready for anything. Get inside any way you can. Okay?” The men nodded and took off in different directions around the building. The building covered a lot of ground and it would take a while to check the entire perimeter. Darby hoped at least one door could be found unlocked.

  A few of the men stayed with him to help get through the front door. A locked door was more of a nuisance and a deterrent rather than a barrier. They would be able to get inside. Without further delay he said, “Step back!” and backed away from the door. He raised his weapon and nodded to the two men on either side of him. “Fire!” he shouted as all three shot in the area of the lock, mutilating the door as well. He stopped and held up his hand for them to stop too. He took a step forward and kicked hard at one of the doors with it flying open. Darby turned and smiled at his small party.

  The men followed him into the foyer. He motioned for them to check the doors on each side of the corridor that lay ahead. All were found to be unlocked and empty of personnel, all just small administrative offices. Now that they were inside, he had no idea of where the stockpiled goods were being kept. “Split up! We need to find those supplies!”

  ***

  Gant led the way, moving quickly to get them all back to the exit before they were discovered. Levi, weak from his beatings and not able to keep up on his own, was helped along by his brother. Gant only had to ask Aaron and Adam once on which way to go. He suddenly came to a stop, tilting his head slightly, listening with his good ear toward a sound he couldn’t quite identify.

  “Dad, what’s wrong?” asked Adam.

  “I thought I heard voices. Did anyone else?” whispered Gant.

  The others exchanged looks, each shaking his head. Following Gant’s example, they all stood perfectly still, also straining to hear anything. Momentarily satisfied that it had been nothing, Gant began to move forward again. Then abruptly stopped again. This time there was no question. They had all heard the voices, and they were getting closer.

  They still had a ways to go before reaching the exit where they’d come in. Now they could hear the sound of running footsteps. Gant motioned for them to scatter and hide. He and John ducked into a hole between boxes on one side of the aisle while Aaron and Adam did the same on the other. As Ryder pulled Levi into a nearby nook, Gant blew out his lantern. The others blew out their candles, immersing the room into total darkness. The footsteps were almost on top of them. It was hard to tell how many there were, but it didn’t sound like many. The sound of the footsteps stopped.

  “I tell you I saw a light over here,” one of them said.

  “What difference does it make?” another one asked. “We just need to let Darby know we found where they’re keeping the supplies.”

  “Then you go tell him. I’m going to stay here and look around.”

  “Suit yourself. Just try not to get yourself killed before we get back.”

  Then Gant’s group heard footsteps running away, disappearing after hearing a door close. John looked for Ryder. If Darby was there with his men, searching for the stockpile of goods, all of the guards must have left.

  That meant they wouldn’t have to leave the same way they’d come in. They could leave through the front door. John’s eyes were beginning to adjust to the darkness. He could see all the members of their little group from where he had knelt down. When he spotted Ryder, he whispered, “Did he say Darby? What is he doing here?”

  Ryder could only shrug and shake his head. John looked at Gant who had no idea either.

  Adam began to lift himself to where he could see. His dad quickly motioned for him to stay down. The safety of his two sons was paramount to him. In the silence that followed, Gant could no longer hear the one who had stayed behind. Suddenly, rows of lights began to come on one at a time. Undoubtedly, the one who had stayed behind had found the switches. The low-voltage LED lights were dim, but adequate, with just enough light to see the interior of the entire room. The enormous room was almost completely filled with stacks of boxes. Under the direction of the governor, essential lighting and other electrical needs had been tied into the power supplied by the solar panels and wind turbines.

  John looked at Gant, whispering, “There are lights in here? Then why were we using a lantern and candles?”

  “We’ll have to ask Aaron and Adam.” Gant could see his sons, who must have overheard their names, because they were looking over at him. He mouthed the words ‘lights?’

  They smiled and nodded. Aaron moved slightly closer. “We didn’t want anyone to know we were down here, did we?”

  Gant nodded that he understood. He also realized it wouldn’t take long for them to be discovered now with the lights on. If it was one of the Raiders who had remained behind, the chance of being shot was lessened only slightly. At the surprise of seeing someone lurking among the boxes, it was quite possible any one of them could be shot, being mistaken as a remaining Guard. And a Raider could still have some animosity toward Gant. And if caught by surprise, there was always the possibility that even Ryder or Levi could be shot, just by pure accident. The Raider could shoot first and ask questions later if he was startled. Gant didn’t think he was willing to make his presence known just yet. Accidentally being shot had the same outcome as being shot intentionally.

  “I know there’s someone down here,” the man yelled. “Come out and I won’t shoot.”

  They were all skeptical and chose to stay put. Even Ryder could see the logic of staying put, even if the man was one of his own. Accidents happened, some fatal. He was content to stay silent and to take care of Levi. He wasn’t completely feeling up to par himself.

  Gant attempted to weigh all their options. There were six of them and it seemed that only one man was currently down there with them. The numbers were in their favor.

  Then they heard a single set of footsteps coming in their direction once again, quickly at first, and then they would stop, and then the action was repeated again and again. Gant could tell he was conducting a search, getting closer, and he was being extremely cautious. Adam motioned that he could club him when he got close. Gant emphatically shook his head no. There was always a chance the man would pass them by and give up the search and then no one would get hurt.

  They heard the door swing open followed by the footsteps and voices of several people. Perhaps this was Darby. If they were careful in making their presence known to him, they could avoid an incident. Even though learning that the Raiders were in the building came as a surprise to Gant’s group, Darby shouldn’t be surprised if they ran into Gant and the others. They were supposed to be there.

  It was difficult to kneel down behind the boxes and depend only on sound to figure out what was going on. The sound of footsteps once again ran away from their location back to the entrance door.

  “There’s someone in here! Right over there!” one of the men said.

  “Did you see them?” another one asked.

  Ryder couldn’t be sure, but it sounded like Darby.

  “Well, no, but I saw a light earlier,” the m
an said, “and I thought I heard voices.”

  “If there is someone else down here, I don’t think they’ll be a threat. Do you?”

  “I don’t know, sir.”

  “Don’t call me sir. It’s Darby. Just Darby.”

  Now, Ryder knew.

  “Yes, s…,” he began, catching himself.

  “You men did a good job,” Darby said to the two who had made the discovery. He had a handful of other men with him now. “There’s even more here than I expected. Start opening boxes. Take a rough inventory of what we have down here. You,” he said pointing to one of the men, “go spread the word that we found it and tell them to come here. And you two, go and keep watch. I want to know if any trouble comes our way. I don’t want to be surprised.”

  Gant and his group had run out of choices. Staying out of sight and waiting for them to leave was no longer a viable option. They were about to be found without a doubt, and each of them knew it. Ryder made a 'psst' sound to get Gant’s attention, then signaled that he was going to show himself.

  He had been best of friends with Darby over the last four years. He would have the best chance of attracting his attention without being shot. His only hesitation was in potentially startling him or one of the others before they realized it was him, and shooting him in the process. Gant acknowledged that it was the best option and nodded his approval.

  Ryder slowly rose up, stopping when his head was just high enough to see over the boxes and see Darby and the others near the entrance. Even in the dim light he could see his friend directing the others in checking out the contents of boxes. He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, “Hey, Darby!”

  Darby and the others immediately stopped and stood upright, looking intently in Ryder’s direction while pulling out their weapons. Ryder lowered himself slightly, seeing that they apparently hadn’t recognized his voice. He raised a hand in the air, waving it to draw their attention. “Don’t shoot!”

  Darby slowly took a few cautious steps toward the person, motioning for his men to circle around. “Come out with your hands up!” commanded Darby, continuing toward him.